Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-11-29
SCRAP FROM HISTORY.
The Afghan Campaign Of 1s42-How the
English Army Was Destroyed.
" s5-;s4f, Cincinnati Commercial,


Both the English and Afghans have good
reasons for remembering each other. In
1887 the conduct Of Russia in connection
with the Persian siege Of Herat excited an
uneasy feeling in the minds Of the 1hdo.
English government, and Burnes was sent
by the governor general as resident to the |
ameer's court at Cabul. Dost Mohammed
and the English disagreed upon terms, and
the English determined to attempt to re-es-
tablish Shah Shuja, who had long been a
refugee in British territory. The king of
the Pugjab pledged his cooperation, but
afterward refus d the English permission to
cross his territory.
The 'army Of the Indus" numbered 81, 900.
They assembled at Upper Sind in March,
1888, and advanced under the command Of
Sir John Keane. They met with little op-
position. but suffered great hardships. The
khan Of Khandahar fed to Persia, and in
April 1889, the city was occupied, and Shah
Shuja and his English allies continued their
victorious march, and finally Dost Moham-
med and his army being completely van.
pushed they entered the capitol. The war
was thought to be at an end. Sir John
Keane, who was made q peer, returned 10
India with q large part Of his force, leaving
behind, besides the Shah's force, 5000 men.
Sir w. Macpaughten remained rs envoy,
and Sir A. Burnes as his colleague.
Dost Mohammed surrendered in Noyem-
Der, 1910, and was sent to India. Shah
Shuja and his allies retained possession of
Cabul and Kandahar two years. Meantime
instructions AGAINST the new government
we're frequent, but the au horitiea, confident
of their strength, paid little or no heed to
these warnings. November 2, lS41, a vio-
lent revolt broke out at Cabul, and Burnes
and other officers we're massacred. The
commander Ct the British army, General
Elphinstone, was shattered in health and in
poor condition to direct resis ance to such a
hot of maddened men. Besides, the posi-
ton Of the British camp, its connections
with the citadel, and the location Of the
stores, we're the worst possible. Disaster
followed disaster.
After the capture of Dost Mohammed, his
son Akbar Khan took the lead. With bim
a conference was arranged for the 23d of
December, at which the envoy, Macnaught-
en-. was foully murdered by Akbar's own
hand, aud with a ball from q pistol which
had presented him only the
day before. The naked and mutilated body
Of the envoy was dragged through the bazaar, |
and for days exposed to the view of the rab-
be. AT the same time Macnaughten was
killed, the chiefs with Akbar made an at
Jack upon the staff of the envoy, and nearly
of them we're cut down. The scufle was
'een from the English camp, and when those
Who had escaped reported tho murder, FL
ohinstone was solicited to at once attack and
the city. He only secured q small
Of grain, and this after hard fight.
ng.
In . short time however, Elphin stone,
force had been much reduced BY the
Of several regiments to secure
communication with the Khyber, saw that
omething must be done. Snow had begun
0 fall and food was scarce. Fires and fight
occurred every nightand during the day.
instead Of fighting like = soldier, he opened
egotiations with Akbar. The terms finally
greed upon were most disgraceful. Only
1e ill-health Of Elphinstone can account
snch evident imbecility. The army,
ter han ling over its treasure, was to be
to retreat unmole,ted on con-
ltion of never returning, and of
awarding . certain sum of money from
ada. That army was never given
opportunity to return. For tie fulfill.
tent of the terms, the women and children
ere handed over to Akbar. The retreat
egan. How many there was is moi known.
bet ssen $4,000 and rs, 900, most
+ them camp followers. They had
ardly left camp when fires, shots, and
lies Of anguish showed how the promises of
'e Afghans were to be kept. From every
'ck and bush bullets were fred into the re-
eating hosts, and the panic stricken follow
9 continually impeded their progress. A
lsh was made for the Khyber pass. which
icy imagined = harbor of safety. When
icy arrived they found it occupied BY mum.
ers too great to overcome. To the thous-
ads of blood-thirsty Afghans who followed
lem were added thousands equally savage.
I'LL an advance was ordered, until only one
regiment was left. OF this one but
20 had gone that far, and there the next
ring, when the avenging army passed over
le ground, were found their whitened skel.
ons, lying close together. Only one
'ounted officer escaped, and even that is
TO have been purposely permitted,
lat no doubt Of Akbar's vengeance might
e entertained.
When Akbar heard Of the approach Of