The First Afghan War: And Its Causes

The First Afghan War written by Major General Sir Henry Marion Durand, K.C.S.I., C.B contains detailed account of the First Afghan campaign of Great Britain. General Durand was commissioned in Corps of Bengal Engineers after passing out of East India Company College, Addiscombe on June 7, 1828. General Durand saw the entire campaign closely and accompanied Sir Willoughby Cotton's division to Quetta and then he was with Sir John Keane's force in the advance to Candhar. From Candhar, after bearing part of the Sale's expedition to Girishk, he marched with main body upon Cabul where he commanded the explosion party that was tasked to destroy the Cabul Gate. Book explains number of such historic events and throws light on the way of maintaining supply lines at that time, how British Indian army ran on half/quarter rations and events and wrong decisions that led to complete annihilation of the Elphinston's Army, only example of its kind in the history of the British Army. In short, this book has explained the entire campaign in such a way that takes the reader back in history and visualizes the entire campaign.

This book was first published in 1879