IOR/L/PS/5/139

The volume contains manuscript copies of secret letters, despatches, memoranda, translations of letters, intelligence reports, financial statements and some local newsletters, relating to diplomatic, military and logistical aspects of the British-led invasion of Afghanistan by the so-called Army of the Indus.

Packets (individual or groups of documents) are numbered 931-1264, and all annotated ‘No: 18 of 11th July’ (the volume is labelled 'Jul to Jul 1839'). Each document records the date received at the Presidency, Fort William, Simla [Shimla], Secret Department, and Secret and Separate Department, 26 November 1838-21 July 1839, as well as the date of the original document, the correspondent and a summary of the content. Original documents mostly date from January to April 1839 but the volume includes some from November and December 1838 and May 1839. Copy letters end on folio 810. Folios 811-838 contain: ‘List of Packets to the Hon’ble [Honourable] the Secret Committee of the Hon’ble the Court of Directors. Per "Water Witch"’. The list includes dates and correspondents only.

The principal correspondents are: William Hay Macnaghten, Envoy and Minister with the Court of Shah Shooja ool-Moolk [Shah Shuja ul-Mulk]; Henry Torrens, Officiating Secretary to the Government in India with the Governor-General; Thomas Herbert Maddock, Officiating Secretary to the Government in India with the Governor-General; Henry Pottinger, Resident in Sinde [Sindh]; A C Gordon, Assistant Surgeon, Political Assistant on Duty in the Bhawalpore Territory [Bahawalpur]; Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Alexander Burnes, Envoy to Kelat (late on a Mission to Cabool [Kabul]); Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Mackeson, British Agent, on a Mission to Bhawalpore; Major-General Sir Willoughby Cotton, Commanding Bengal Column of the Army of the Indus; Eldred Pottinger, British Political agent, Herat; Lieutenant-General John Keane, Commander of the Army of the Indus.

Other correspondents include: R Leech, Political Assistant; George Clerk, Political Agent, Umballah [Ambala, North India]; Lieutenant Elliott D’Arcy Todd, Political Assistant and Military Secretary to the Envoy and Minister; Lieutenant William Joseph Eastwick, Officiating Political Agent of Khyrpore [Khairpur] and Assistant to the Resident in Sinde (Henry Pottinger), also referred to as Political Agent in Shikapore, and later, in April 1839, deputed back to Hyderabad to take over from Henry Pottinger, assisted by Ross Bell); Captain H Johnson, Paymaster and Commissariat Officer, Shah Shoojah’s Force; Lieutenant Colonel [I] Stuart, Officiating Secretary to the Government in India, Military Department, with the Governor-General; Major-General E H Simpson, Commanding Shah Shoojah’s Force; Major-General William Casement, Secretary to the Government of India, Military Department, with the Governor-General; and various British diplomatic and administrative officials and military personnel.

Matters covered notably include:

• Supplying the Army of the Indus (Bengal and Bombay Divisions and Shah Shoojah’s Force), particularly: obtaining grain, rice, forage, camels and artillery; recruiting non-military personnel, such as camel drivers; problems encountered by British agents in obtaining supplies, notably A C Gordon’s complaints about Bhawal Khan [Mohammad Bahawal Khan III], Nawab of Bhawalpore, whom he suspects of purposely reneging on treaty promises (contradicted by F Makeson, who considered the Nawab was doing his best despite genuine difficulties)
• Maintaining cash supplies to finance the expedition, particularly for: purchase of animals and food; payment of salaries; recruitment of suitable soldiers; payment of bribes, for example, to deter desertions; compensation of local famers for loss of animals, crops or infrastructure; purchase of woollen garments for Shah Shoojah’s force; enhancement of the police establishment due to numerous criminal acts committed in Shah Shoojah’s camp. Also covers methods of conveying cash during the advance and arrangements for conveyance of Shah Shoojah’s treasure and bullion
• Progress of the lines of advance, notably: communications between the two columns of the Army of the Indus; strategies of Keane and Cotton; crossing the river Indus and keeping its navigation open; the dilapidated state of Bukkur Fort; encampment at Shikapore [Shikarpur]; route to the Bolan Pass and Quetta; stationing stores depots and reserve forces along the route; reports of skirmishes, and plundering by Belochee (also spelt Beloochee) [Balochi] tribesmen on the route to Candahar [Kandahar]
• Relations between Henry Pottinger, Resident in Sinde, and the four Hyderabad ameers (Meer Noor Mahomed Khan, Meer Nusseer Mahomed Khan, Meer Mohamed Khan, and Meer Sobdar Khan), regarding British policy in the state, notably: British suspicions of the ameers’ perfidy and accusations of withholding ‘promised’ camels and grain for the Army of the Indus; Pottinger’s attempts variously to conciliate, chivvy and threaten the ameers; treaty terms issued to the four after the conquest of Kurachee [Karachi] in February 1839; Pottinger’s temporary retirement from Hyderabad in March 1839 due to stress and his quarrel with Alexander Burnes for allegedly undermining him
• Intelligence and situation reports notably from R Leech and Alexander Burnes on supposedly anti-British, pro-Persian and pro-Russian intrigues in Candahar and Cabool, activities of Russian envoy Captain Vitkievitch [Jan Prosper Witkiewicz] and Afghan Ruler Dost Mohamed Khan; and affairs in Herat and attempts by Eldred Pottinger, Political Agent, to convert and retain the authorities as friends of the British
• British policy of conciliation and occupation with a view to securing the route and maintaining lines of communication and supply through Sinde, the Punjab and into Afghanistan, notably: hostile occupation of the strategic Moonarah [Manora] fort and the port of Kurachee by the British and treaty ‘of surrender’ with the local governor, 3 February 1839; British proclamation issued to the chiefs of Candahar and Cabool exhorting submission to the ‘rightful ruler’ Shah Shoojah; arrangements to keep reserve forces in Vikkur, Kurachee, Tatta (also spelt Tattah) [Thatta], Hyderabad, Khyrpore [Khairpur], the river Indus crossing, Bukkur, Shikapore, Quetta, and other strategic locations; attempts to solicit favour of Mehrab Khan [Mir Mehrab Khan Baloch II], the Khan of Kelat [Kalat], particularly to prevent his collusion with British enemies and to reduce attacks by Beloochee tribesmen on the daks [or dawks, mail service], supply chains and camps during the advance to Candahar (including idea to turn them into allies by employing them).

Volume also includes Henry Fane’s views on the Western Frontier of British India (explaining where he thinks all points of the compass frontiers should be and why), dated May 1839, folios 757-764.