east of Jalalabad. The fort was captured on 18 Jan. 1840, and Abbott was Highly commended in Orchard’s despatch (Calcutta Gazette, 15 Feb. 1840). He took part in the expedition into Kohlstan under Brigadier-general (afterwards Sir) Robert Henry Sale [q.v.] who attributed his success in the assault and capture, on 29 Sept., of the fort and town of Tutamdara, at the entrance of the Ghoraband pass, to the excellent practice made by Abbott’s guns. On 3 Oct. Abbott distinguished himself at the unsuccessful atack on Jalgah, and was mentioned in despatches as meriting Sale’s warmest approbation (London Gazette, 9 Jan. 1841). On 2 Nov. 1840 Dost Muhammad was brought to bay at Parwandara, and Sale’s despatch relates that a force of infantry, supported by Abbott’s battery, cleared the pass and valley of Parwan, crowded with Afghans, in brillant style (ib. 12 Feb. 1841).
In September 1841 Abbott was employed in an expedition into Zurmat under Colonel Oliver. He crossed a pass 9,600 feet above the sea, and, after the forts were blown up, returned to Kabul on 19 Oct., in time to join Sale in his march to Jalalabad. Abbott commanded the artillery in the actions at Tezin and in the Jagdalak pass, where he led the advanced guard (ib. 11 Feb. 1842). Sale occupied Jalalabad on 13 Nov., and Abbott commanded the artillery during the siege. He took part in the sally under Colonel Dennie on 1 Dec, when he pushed his guns at a gallop to a point which commanded the stream, and completed the defeat of the enemy. He drove off the enemy on 22 Feb. and again on 11 March 1842, when he was slightly wounded. He commanded the artillery in the battle of Jalalabad on 7 April, when Akbar Khan was defeated and the siege raised. He was most favourably mentioned in Sale’s despatches, and recommended for some mark of honour and for brevet rank (ib. 7 and 10 June, and 9 Aug. 1842).
After the arrival at Jalalabad of Sir George Pollock [q.v.], to whose force Abbott had already been appointed commandant of artillery, Abbott accompanied Brigadier-general Monteath’s column against the Shinwaris. The column destroyed the forts and villages, and on 26 July, by the accurate fire of Abbott’s guns, was enabled to gain the action of Mazina. Abbott was thanked in despatches (ib. 11 Oct. 1842). He again distinguished himself in the actions of Mamu Khel and Kuchli Khel on 24 Aug., at the forcing of the Jagdalak pass on 8 Sept., and at the battles of Tezin and the Haft Kotal on 12 and 13 Sept., when he was hotly engaged and Akbar Khan was finally defeated. Kabul was occupied two days later. For these services he was mentioned in despatches (ib. 8 and 24 Nov. 1842). Abbott returned to India with the army, and as one of the ‘illustrious’ garrison of Jalalabad was welcomed by the governor-general, Lord Ellenborough, at Firozpur on 17 Dec. He received the medals for Jalalabad and Kabul, was made a C.B. on 4 Oct. 1842, and was appointed honorary aide-de-camp to the governor-general, a distinction which was conferred on him by three succeeding governors-general. An order was issued that the guns of his battery should be inscribed with the name ‘Jalalabad,’ and that they should be always retained in the same battery.
In 1865 Abbott succeeded to the office of inspector-general of ordnance, and in 1858 to the command of the Bengal artillery. He was a member of the committee which reported on the defences of Firozpur. Ill-health compelled him to return home in 1859. He died at Cheltenham on 25 Feb. 1867.
Abbott married, in 1843, Sophia Frances, daughter of Captain John Garstin of the 66th and 88th regiments, by whom he had, with four daughters, three sons, all of whom followed military careers. The eldest, Augustus Keith (b. 1844), was major Indian staff corps; the second, William Henry (b. 1845), major-general, commanded Munster fusiliers; and the youngest, Henry Alexius (b. 1849), is colonel Indian staff corps and C.B., commanding Malakand brigade.
Abbott was considered by Sir George Pollock to be the finest artilleryman in India, and Lord Ellenborough caused his name to be inscribed on the monument erected in the garden of Southam House to commemorate the services of those to whom he was especially indebted for the success of his Indian administration.
On Abbott’s journal and correspondence Mr. C. R. Low based the history of ‘The Afghan War, 1838–42,’ which was published in 1879.
[The Afghan War, 1838–42, from the Journal and Correspondence of Major-general Augustus Abbott, by C. R. Low, 1879; India Office Records; Royal Engineers Journal, 1893; Professional Papers of the Corps of Royal Engineers, 1879; Stubbs’s History of the Bengal Artillery; Vibart’s Addiscombe, its Heroes and Men of Note; Stocqueler’s Memorials of Afghanistan; Kaye’s History of the War in Afghanistan; The Career of Major G. Broadfoot; Havelock’s Narrative of the War in Afghanistan; Gleig’s Sale’s Brigade in Afghanistan, with an Account of the Seizure and Defence of Jalalabad; Geographical Journal, 1894; private sources.]
