tiny and the Afghan War.

CHAPTER VIII

THE MASSACRE OF THE GUIDES AT KABUL, 1879

The annals of no army and no regiment can show a brighter record of
devoted bravery than has been achieved by this small band of
Guides. By their deeds they have conferred undying honour, not only
on the regiment to which they belong, but on the whole British
Army.... The conduct of the escort of the Queen's Own Corps of
Guides does not form part of the enquiry entrusted to the
Commission, but they have in the course of their enquiries had the
extreme gallantry of the bearing of these men so forcibly brought
to their notice that they cannot refrain from placing on record
their humble tribute of admiration.

So wrote the brave, bluff soldier, Sir Charles Macgregor, as president
of the Committee appointed to enquire into the causes of the dreadful
tragedy which in a few hours ended in the massacre of Sir Louis
Cavignari and the whole of his escort.

When Cavignari, as minister and plenipotentiary on behalf of the British
Government, signed the treaty of Gundamuk, one of the provisions of
which was that a British Embassy with a suitable escort should be
established at Kabul, there were many who, unable to forget the
long-drawn history of Afghan treachery, looked with grave apprehension
on the proposal. The Amir Yakub Khan, himself but lately and unsecurely
seated on the throne, was not strong enough, it was urged, to uphold
this new departure, even were he honestly anxious to do so. But against
all opposition Cavignari placed his commanding personality and strong
prevailing will; and by degrees he calmed not only any doubts the Amir
on the one hand may have expressed, but on the other removed by
convincing argument the objections raised by the prophets of evil in our
own camp. Finally, to prove his unwavering confidence in the
practicability of establishing a British Embassy at Kabul, he asked to
be allowed in his own person to prove the soundness and safety of the
policy he advocated.

The treaty of Gundamuk was signed in June 1879; but the Amir asked for a
short respite, that he might return to his capital to prepare quarters
for the Embassy and also accustom the minds of his people to its
proposed arrival. It was not therefore till July 24th that Sir Louis
Cavignari and his escort arrived at Kabul.

This escort consisted of twenty-five, of all ranks, of the Guides'
cavalry