3-052-345 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The War in Afghanistan: entrance to the Jugdulluk Pass, 1880. 'The Jugdulluk Pass, as well as the Khoord Cabul Pass, which lies through the same group of mountains, between the plain of Jellalabad, or the Khyber river valley, and that of Cabul, has an ill-omened reputation, from having been the scene of the terrible slaughter of the British Indian army in the disastrous retreat of January, 1842. Its eastern entrance is only about twenty miles from Gundamuk [Gandamak], and it was first traversed, in this campaign, on Nov. 6, by the advanced force dispatched to form a junction with the flying column of General Macpherson from Cabul. The pass was then described by an officer, who says it is "about as nasty a place for an army to be caught in as one can well imagine. It is very narrow, about 30 to 40 ft. broad at its broadest, and narrowing at places until at two spots the rocks are scarcely 8 ft. apart, and a laden camel touched both sides. Tall, thick cliffs, perpendicular in many places, and everywhere excellent cover for sharpshooters at the top. In places it is very gloomy...the enemy last week attempted to cut off a detachment of our troops...going through the Jugdulluk Pass, but the attack was repulsed'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.