Decision and indecision in warfare

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Elphinstone and the Retreat from Kabul

The First Afghan War took place from 1839 to 1842. British forces marched on Afghanistan in March of 1839. They advanced through the country toward Kabul, which fell on 6 August 1839. Ousted leader Dost Mohammad Khan fled and later surrendered. His son, Akbar Khan, began a guerrilla war, drawing followers from the rural areas. Their continued harassment restricted the movement of British forces throughout the spring and summer of 1841. At this time, General William Elphinstone became commander of the British troops. His indecision led to the slaughter of 16,000 troops and civilians, the most humiliating defeat in British Imperial history.

Afghan Fighters' Revolt

On 2 November 1841, Akbar Khan and Kabul revolted. Elphinstone was caught unaware. Afghan fighters murdered Sir Alexander Burnes, one of the senior British political officers, along with his staff. Elphinstone took no action in response to the killing. On 9 November, Afghans stormed the British supply fort within Kabul. State Secretary William Hay Macnaghten tried to negotiate a retreat for the British and Indians remaining in Kabul. On 23 December, upon his delegation's arrival to meet with Afghan forces, the men were seized by Akbar Khan and subsequently killed. Afghans dragged Macnaghten's body through the streets of Kabul. Elphinstone again took no action. Instead he signed capitulation agreement on 1 January 1842. British forces handed over their gunpowder reserves, newest muskets, and most cannon. For this, they were assured a safe retreat. Those who were injured or ill were left behind, assured of safety by Akbar Khan.

The British Leave Kabul

British forces and civilians started their journey to Jalalabad on 6 January. As soon as they left Kabul, Akbar Khan massacred those left behind, by setting their tents on fire. All were killed. Elphinstone refused to accept that he had been tricked and dawdled along making no haste in traversing the dangerous Khyber Pass and as a result, Afghan fighters seized it ahead of British forces and positioned themselves to shoot at the group with their own guns. By 9 January, of 16,000 people, 3,000 had died – from cold, from being shot, and from suicide. At this point, Elphinstone had ceased giving orders; he simply sat silently on his horse. On 11 January the officers' wives surrendered and were taken hostage by Akbar Khan. The same day, Elphinstone and his second in command, Brigadier Shelton, followed suit. Elphinstone's soldiers struggled on and made a last stand on 13 January. Afghan fighters surrounded them and offered surrender, to which a sergeant famously replied, "Not bloody likely!" Two survived, but only one soldier reached Jalalabad. Assistant surgeon William Brydon reached the gate on 13 January. When asked what happened to the army, he reportedly replied, "I am the army!"

Aftermath

The loss of 16,000 people was a shocking and humiliating defeat for Britain and India. Upon hearing the news, Lord Auckland, Governor-General of India, had a stroke. Elphinstone died in captivity on 23 April. In 1842, an "Army of Retribution" levelled Kabul and rescued the hostages still held by Akbar Khan. British forces released Dost Mohammad in late 1842. Akbar Khan also died in late 1842, possibly poisoned by his father. The British then abandoned any involvement in Afghanistan's internal affairs.

The consequences of the defeat were far-reaching. Before the war, Britain was considered unconquerable in the East. The defeat at Kabul critically undermined British prestige. It directly contributed to the 1857 Great Mutiny in the Bengal Army. The annihilation of 16,000 provided a stark military lesson: character of officers is pivotal to morale and success. Elphinstone prevented his officers from putting down the revolt early on and made sure they couldn't command in his place, but he was inept at commanding an army himself. His indecisiveness led to his death and the deaths of the 16,000 people under his charge; the blow to the Empire's reputation was incalculable.

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Croesus Stalin Johnson Guy de Lusignon