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July 27, 2011 January 1887 the British government ordered Sher Ali, the Afghan ruler, due to moves by Russia into the region, to accept a British agent in Herat. Lord Lytton was now Viceroy to India as Queen Victoria was now Empress of India following the imposition of direct rule from Britain following the suppression of the Indian mutiny. Ali was unimpressed. In January the British government ordered Lord Lytton to order Sher Ali to accept a British agent in Herat. He refused. A state of war now existed between the two countries. General Browne (of Browne belt fame) advanced through the Khyber Pass for Jalalabad. A second column under General Stewart arrived in Kandahar early in January to find the Afghans had fled. The third column under General Roberts met stiff resistance attempting to seize the Piewan Kotal. A difficult flank march supported by a frontal assault eventually bought Roberts into a position where he could shell Afghan positions forcing them to flee in disarray. Lyttons success left him wondering how he could protect his supply line. A meeting between Cavagnari, the British agent now in place, the resulting treaty of Gandamak returning Kandahar and Jalalabad and leaving the British in control of Kurrum and the Khyber Pass and a permanent British agent installed; Britain now in control of Afghanistan's foreign policy. It had been too easy, General Roberts the only one able to appreciated this this his father having served as the Shah Shunja's contingent commander. Cavagnari had not been at his post six months when the Afghan regiments began showing signs of resentment over the fact that their pay was in arrears. They went to the British residency in order to seek redress, a fight ensued where Cavagnari was killed and later his whole legation. When news of this reached Simla it was found that the only troops available were those of General Roberts in Kurrum who arrived at the frontier on Sept the twelfth with 7,500 men. General Roberts entered Kabul after fighting off a strong Afghan force. There he conducted trials for those accused of Cavagnari's murder. There were 87 executions which were urged upon him by Viceroy Lytton, Roberts officers stating that there were more than 87, only eleven of those executed directly involved in Cavagalis killing. Lytton was investigated by London, he responding by putting the blame upon Roberts saying that there was misunderstanding of his instructions. However even Lytttons own Indian governing council described the executions as judicial murder. The British now ruled with no Afghan on the throne. Supplies were brought up by them depriving the Afghans of food, harsh measures and feeling of xenophobia triggering resentment against the British. Two attacking columns appeared. They, the British, went out to engage, they were outmanoeuvred, 300 cavalry encountering an army of 10,000. There was a fighting retreat, General Roberts rushing to the scene preventing a major calamity. That the British were seen to have been outmanoeuvred encouraged the Afghans to attack in force. Roberts retreated to his cantonment, Yakob Khans, (now in exile in India preferring being a grass cutter in India for the British rather than a King in Afghanistan) handed over the crown jewels kept by his mother in order to finance the resistance. The commander of the Afghan forces invited Roberts to retire to India but he having childhood memories of the first war declined electing to fight instead.There was an attack which he repulsed inflicting 3,000 casualties,he himself receiving 11, killed and 46 wounded. The Afghans dispersed and Roberts reentered Kabul. In the spring of 1880 General Stewart marching from Kandahar took over from General Roberts on the way harassed by Hazzaeras tribesman who, keeping out of range, looted and burned villages as he followed. At Ahmed Kel Stewart was confronted by several thousand Ghanzi's throwing him into confusion, the general staff at one point having to draw their swords in order to protect themselves. The attack was repulsed with about 1,000 Afghan casualties, the general assuming command of Kabul. A force now set out to rescue those left Behind in Kandahar. A an army under the Ayab Khan advanced from Herat.The British went out to meet him but in this case British firepower was insufficient, Ayub Khan managing to out general his counter part General Burrows in what was to be known as the Battle of Maiwan, one of the few actions where native troops defeated British forces in a set battle. The fighting retereat resulted in 1,000 British and Indian casualties as they fell back to Kandahar. General Roberts eagerly accepted the task of relieving Kandahar and with 10,000 hand picked troops managed to cover the 300 miles in the scorching heat in a record of twenty days, 15 miles day. Upon his arrival the garrison marched out and together they defeated the Afghan army of Ayub Khan
Sher Ali was confirmed as ruler, Lytton now renouncing the forward policy now that Disrali was no longer Prime Minister, the Russian hawks also no longer a factor.
Read Mike Haran's essays on history at
http://www.geocities.com/manzikertca/
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