The 1842 retreat from Kabul or Massacre of Elphinstone's Army was the destruction by Afghan forces, led by Akbar Khan, the son of Dost Mohammad Khan, of a combined British and Indian force of the British East India Company, led by Major General William Elphinstone, in January 1842, during the first Anglo-Afghan War.
After the British and Indian troops captured Kabul in 1839, an Afghan uprising forced the occupying garrison out of the city. The East India Company army of 4,500 troops, along with 12,000 civilian workers, family members and other camp-followers, left Kabul on 6 January 1842. They attempted to reach the British garrison at Jalalabad, 90 miles (140 km) away, but were immediately harassed by Afghan forces. The last organised remnants were eventually annihilated near Gandamak on 13 January.
Only one British officer from the army, Assistant Surgeon William Brydon, and a few sepoys survived the retreat and reached Jalalabad. A number of British prisoners and hostages were subsequently released.
Read more about Massacre Of Elphinstone's Army: The British Campaign, British Occupation, General Elphinstone, Afghan Uprising, Retreat and Massacre, Aftermath
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