The Massacre of Elphinstone’s Army 13 January 1842 The last surviving troops of the 1842 r

The Massacre of Elphinstone’s Army

13 January 1842

The last surviving troops of the 1842 retreat from Kabul made a final stand near the village of Gandamak on this day in British history, 13 January 1842. Following an uprising in Kabul, Major General Elphinstone negotiated an agreement with Akbar Khan by which his army was to withdraw to the British garrison at Jalalabad, more than 90 miles away. During the retreat, Afghan tribes continually attacked the army. In the end, out of more than 16,000 people from the column commanded by Elphinstone, only one European (Assistant Surgeon William Brydon) and a few Indian sepoys reached Jalalabad. A few dozen British prisoners and civilian hostages were later released. The painting above is a depiction of Brydon’s arrival at Jalalabad and is entitled ‘Remnants of an Army.’

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http://todayinbritishhistory.com/2014/01/survivors-the-massacre-elphinstones-army-reach-safety-13-january-1842/