Colonel Henry Pottinger’s Arrangements in Sinde [Sindh] Regarding the Advance of the Army of the Indus

Content

Copies of correspondence, minutes and other documents chiefly relating to logistical and financial arrangements made by Colonel Henry Pottinger, Resident in Sinde [Sindh, also spelled Scinde and Sind in this volume], in connection with the Army of the Indus arriving and marching through Sinde (and Khelat [Kalat]) in advance of the British invasion of Afghanistan.

The papers notably cover and include:

• Arrangements for landing of troops at Kurrachee [Karachi] and stationing at Tattah [Thatta], including costs of building temporary store houses at Kurrachee (f 275)
• Obtaining treasury funds to finance operations, provision of supplies, means of transport and secret intelligence
• Acquisition of camels for the Army of the Indus and their strategic placement along the marching route
• Arrangements for the Dâks (postal communication service) and salaries for runners (ff 302-303)
• Relations with the Ameers of Sinde, notably regarding: treaty negotiations; currency values and exchange rates; route of the Bombay [Mumbai] division of the Army of the Indus through their territory; protection of the British troops from attack and robbery; and how they will handle capturing the murderers of Captain Hand of the 2nd Grenadier Regiment on 21 March 1839
• Dilapidated state of the Fort of Bukkur, on the Indus River (ff 270-272)
• Pottinger’s communications with and instructions to Brigadier J Valiant, Commanding the Sinde Reserve Force, Kurrachee, and Lieutenant Whitelock, Assistant Resident in Scinde at Tattah.

The principal correspondent is Colonel Pottinger. Other notable correspondents are: John Pollard Willoughby, Secretary to the Government, India; and Brigadier Valiant.

There is a note before the papers commence stating: ‘Enclosure in Bombay Secret Letter No. 56, dated 8th May 1839, is missing from this collection’.

Extent and format

1 item (105 folios)

It is part of

'ENCLOSURES TO SECRET LETTERS FROM BOMBAY', Vol 13

1294 images

Ref: IOR/L/PS/5/375

Arrangement

The papers are not in chronological order.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival item

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/L/PS/5/375, ff 217-322

History of this record

Date(s)

Feb 1839-May 1839 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

First Anglo-Afghan War (1838-1842)Military expenditureAlliancesSuppliesEquipmentMilitary logistics

Places

Balochistan

People & organisations

Resident

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Colonel Henry Pottinger’s Arrangements in Sinde [Sindh] Regarding the Advance of the Army of the Indus, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/5/375, ff 217-322, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100110385087.0x000004> [accessed 16 July 2026]

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