Böcker av James Outram

This riveting firsthand account of the Lucknow campaign during the Indian Rebellion of 1857-58 offers a unique perspective on one of the most pivotal events in British colonial history. With detailed insights from a key military figure, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in Indian history and military strategy.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

These extracts from the personal journal of Sir James Outram (1803-63), which he kept while serving with the 23rd Regiment in the British Army of the Indus, describe the British campaigns in Sindh and Afghanistan in 1838-9. In the preface to the book, originally published in 1840, the author explains that his 'rough notes' are not attempting a narrative of the military operations but have been printed 'for the perusal of valued friends'. The work begins in Sindh, where the author joins the campaign that aims to restore Shah Shuja to the throne of Kabul, the ultimately disastrous First Anglo-Afghan War. It is dedicated to Sir William Macnaghten, who was later killed during negotiations with an Afghan chief. Outram himself later clashed with the Napier family over Sir William Napier's account of the Conquest of Scinde, and both books are also reissued in this series.

This work by Sir James Outram (1803-63), subtitled A Commentary and originally published in two parts in 1846, is an attempt by the author to vindicate his reputation which, he believes, was sullied by Sir William Napier's book The Conquest of Scinde (1845; also reissued in this series), in which he is represented as devoid alike of military and diplomatic skill. (William Napier was the brother of Sir Charles Napier, the British Commander-in-Chief in India, and his account is not unbiased.) In Part 1, Outram declares his intention to expose these misrepresentations and to vindicate a reputation which for a quarter of a century he had 'maintained unimpeached'. He claims to corroborate his version of events using personal correspondence, describing in detail and in the first person the political and diplomatic intrigues and the military actions which led to the conquest of the Province of Sindh by the British.

These 'rough notes' are in fact an eye-witness account of the first Afghan War in 1838-39, by Major James Outram, who won fame as a General twenty years later for his Relief of Lucknow in the Indian Mutiny. The war was fought as part of the 'Great Game' for control of the north-west approaches to India between Britain and Russia. It resulted in the deposition of the pro-Russian ruler of Afghanistan, Dost Mohamed Khan, and the restoration of the pro-British Shah Shooja Ool Moolk. Outram took an active part in the campaign, including the storming of Ghuznee, and pursuing Dost Mohammed after his defeat, as well as commanding subsequent operations to subdue hostile tribes. With appendices and two maps.