|
1841
was a year of impending crisis. Locally Shah Shuja was once again
proving to be a weak and ineffective ruler who could not control
the Afghan chieftains. In far off London the government was becoming
increasingly concerned at the cost of the occupation and ordered
maximum economies. One of the two brigades at Kabul was withdrawn
to Jelalabad halfway back to the Khyber Pass and Peshawar, and
most of the subsidies which were being paid to the chiefs to guarantee
safe access to Kabul were discontinued, which resulted in widespread
disruption of communications. Discontent throughout the country
escalated into revolt. British garrisons under strong and active
commanders at Kandahar and Jelalabad held firm but at Kabul Major-General
Elphinstone was aged, ill and indecisive. A treaty was negotiated
whereby the British at Kabul were promised safe passage back to
India in return for leaving hostages behind to guarantee the return
of Dost Mohammed. On 6th January 1842 British soldiers, civilians
and camp followers set out for Jelalabad and India. There was
already a foot of snow on the ground; all was muddle, and the
straggling procession was fired on when it was hardly clear of
the cantonments. Only one survivor reached Jelalabad.
Seen from India the situation was unclear. It seemed, however,
that Jelalabad would be under siege, and military measures were
initiated to secure its relief. Among them the 31st Regiment was
ordered to move from Agra to Meerut, and from there to Peshawar.
The regiment set out on 15th January in high spirits at the prospect
of action. On reaching Meerut it established a depot for families
and the sick, and despatched a detachment to the fort at Saharanpore
where Dost Mohammed was being held, but a few days later it was
recalled and the regiment moved on for Peshawar to join the army
which was being assembled there. An attempt by the Ferozepore
Brigade to break through the Khyber Pass and reach Jelalabad had
failed and the only good news appeared to be that Maharajah Shere
Singh, who had succeeded his father, Ranjit Singh, when he died
in 1839, continued to permit the direct approach across his country.
|
