The First Afghan War
During the 19th century, a "cold war" played out between Britain and Russia focusing on influence and control over the mountainous region separating Russia from India. This "Great Game," as it was called, involved espionage, bribery, and political intrigue. The British harbored an irrational fear of a Russian invasion of India, and the Russians suspected that Britain was attempting to block their expansion into central Asia. A coup in Afghanistan had replaced Shah Shuja, who supported British interests, with Dost Mohammed, who had made contact with representatives of the Tsar. This led to an invasion in 1839 by an army including 1000 European regulars, 20,000 Indian troops, 38,000 dependents and camp followers, and tons of supplies carried by 30,000 camels and some elephants. All the comforts of home were brought along; 1 wine cellar required 300 camels, and there were fox hounds and several camel-loads of cigars. Ironically, the whole enterprise was unnecessary because the new ruler in Kabul had already cancelled the Russian visit. Overcoming episodic resistance, the invading army occupied undefended Kabul and reinstalled Shah Shuja in his fortified palace. Dost Mohammed had been deserted by his supporters, who preferred to be on the winning side. Several of the regiment and also the commanding general were then withdrawn before winter closed the passes to India
The new commander, appointed by the East India Company, which ruled India from its London offices, had been sponsored by Lord Raglan, who, in the Crimean War several years later, would order the catastrophic Charge of the Light Brigade. The governor-general in Calcutta, George Eden, Lord Aukland, also approved. In February 1840, Lord Aukland encountered the nominee, who happened to be an old friend and neighbor from Scotland, while traveling back to Calcutta from his vacation home in the Himalayan foothills. He was Maj Gen William Elphinstone, who had been retired since Waterloo 25 years earlier and suffered greatly from gout, but had returned to active service to pay off his growing debts. Emily Eden, the governor-general's sister, was very disturbed by his appearance, because he was "…in a shocking state of gout poor man! One arm in a sling and very lame." He was traveling in a litter and could walk only a short distance using a cane. She concluded that his gout was "the worst I ever saw."
Upon his arrival in Kabul in April 1841, Elphinstone was in despair over the magnitude of the problems facing the expedition. An insurgency had erupted in the countryside, and supply caravans from India were under attack. A force sent to open the passes sustained heavy losses and was under siege in Jalalabad, near the border. Most of his troops and stores of food and ammunition were in an indefensible cantonment outside the city, surrounded by hills occupied by hostile tribesmen. Timely, decisive action was called for but was not forthcoming because Elphinstone's attention was completely diverted to his illness. Dr Campbell, his surgeon, reported in a letter in late July: "Gen Elphinstone has been very seriously ill since his arrival here. His malady attacked him in all of his limbs, making a perfect wreck of him…. He is reduced to a perfect skeleton, both hands in flour and water, and legs swathed in flannel and in a very low and desponding condition, totally incapable, I feel assured, of giving any attention to any affair howsoever important…."
Elphinstone had sent a letter to Lord Aukland, asking to be relieved of his command. One of his officers found him "in a pitiable state of health, absolutely unfit for duty." When insurrection spread to the city, he failed to deploy troops to suppress it, nor did he give orders to secure supplies of food and ammunition. When insurgents bombarded the cantonments with captured cannons, from the surrounding hills, a third of the British forces were lost in a single day. The higher-ranking officers met and decided that Elphinstone should be "set aside." When the son of Dost Mohammed arrived with a large Afghan force, the British met with him and agreed to leave Kabul and return to India, if their safety would be guaranteed. The snow was falling in early January 1842, as 4500 troops and 14,000 dependents and camp followers evacuated Kabul. Despite promises of safe passage, attacks started immediately. Army units were picked off piecemeal and baggage and supplies looted. The misery was compounded by starvation, frostbite, and abduction of women and children. Elphinstone and other high-ranking officers were taken hostage and held for ransom, but many, including Elphinstone, died in captivity. Many dependents were sold into slavery. In mid-February, a lone, wounded survivor reached the British outpost in Jalalabad. He was William Brydon, a surgeon who had been assigned to care for Shah Shuja and his household. In April 1842, the Shah was killed while attempting to reach Jalalabad.
The destruction of the British expeditionary force sent shock waves throughout the empire. In parliamentary debate, the role of Elphinstone's disability was recognized, but blame was focused on Lord Aukland for approving his appointment. The disgraced governor-general was recalled and replaced. To save face, an "Army of Retribution" was dispatched to Kabul, but after punishing a few Afghans held responsible for atrocities against the British, Dost Mohammed was restored to the throne again. Thus, the status quo ante was reestablished and the army departed for India.