Or perhaps he was just their bravest conservative. They must have still had liberals in command, because they still wanted to talk.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Still, even after this, the English officers went on negotiating. They thought that they could neither remain in Cabul nor force their way back to India, and that therefore nothing could be done but accept the terms which the enemy offered them. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
They raised the white flag... And tried to flee in the dead of winter...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Briefly, these were that they were to evacuate the country, and, in consideration of this, were to be allowed to return unhurt, with their arms and property. On January 6, 1842, a bitterly cold day, with the snow lying deep on their road, all that was left of the British army, with the women and children that belonged to them, left the city. There were 4500 men in all, of whom 690 were Europeans, an army quite strong enough to hold its own even then, if it had been well commanded. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Oh this was smart. They left their fort and went and camped in the open in the snow...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>All the day was occupied in moving out, and from the first the enemy broke in the cruellest way the promises made by their chiefs that the British should be allowed to retreat in safety. The first day only six miles of march were accomplished. The army and its followers bivouacked in the snow, without fire, shelter, [184] or food. Many soldiers and camp-followers, accustomed to the warmth of an Indian climate, perished of cold. During the night a part of the native troops deserted. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Now WHO would have guessed that the enemy would NOT keep their word?
Anybody?!?
http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=church&book=english3&story=pass