The March to Kandahar

The book describes the role of Frederick ('Bobs') Roberts in the 2nd Afghan War, culminating in his celebrated march in 1880 with 10,000 picked British and Indian soldiers, 300 miles in twenty-three days, from Kabul to Kandahar, to defeat the Afghan army of Ayub Khan, pretender to the Amirship of Kabul. The 300-mile march, completed in twenty-three days, made Roberts one of late Victorian England's great military heroes, partly because of the achievement, partly because the victory restored British prestige after defeat, and not least because of Roberts' astute use of the press to puff his victory. It overcame the earlier damage done to his reputation as a result of his hanging over eighty Afghans in revenge for the massacre of a British envoy and his escort. It also enabled the liberal Viceroy of India, Lord [George Robinson, 1st Marquess of] Ripon, to extract his forces from an Afghan imbroglio with prestige restored and with an emir placed on the Afghan throne who, for thirty-nine years, maintained friendship with British India. ..."--Back cover.