Journal of a March from Delhi to Peshâwur,

Eyewitness to Wade's march to Kabul

First and only edition of this uncommon diary account of Wade's advance on Kabul via the Punjab and Khyber Pass during the First Anglo-Afghan War. Contains a detailed description of the Sikh Empire and is appealingly illustrated with high-quality lithographic plates from Barr's own picturesque landscapes. Barr, who commanded a column of horse artillery and two 24-pounder howitzers in the campaign, subsequently served, and was awarded the medals for, the campaigns in the Sutlej 1845-6, and Punjab 1848-9.

"The following pages were originally written for the amusement of a valued relative, and without any intention of being offered to the public. As the Author of them is not aware that any account of the operations undertaken in 1839, by Colonel Wade's auxiliary army, has yet been detailed by an eye witness... he has yielded to the suggestions of his friends, and now ventures, with some diffidence, to submit his roughly-penned notes to the consideration of other readers" (Preface). The book seems to have been moderately well-received at the time largely because of the timely information that it brought about the Punjab, and the Sikhs; "The march... through the Punjab, brings immediately before us, a territory and a people that are at present engaging much of the attention of our Indian rulers, there being every prospect of problems thence accruing that will force themselves upon the British politician..." (Monthly Review, II, New Series, 1844, p. 383). Chopra confirming that Barr's narative is "very useful" with its "detailed description" of the Sikh empire (pp. 21-2).