[MACGREGOR, Sir Charles, editor]. The Second Afghan War 1878-80. Abridged Official Account. Produced in the Intelligence Branch Army Head-Quarters, India. London: John Murray. 1908.
8vo. Original red cloth, spine lettered and ruled in gilt, front cover lettered and ruled in black, top edge gilt; pp. x, 734, 8 (pubisher's catalogue), numerous mostly folding maps in two or more colours, plates after photographs ahd drawings (including several large panoramams); cloth a little darkened and marked, browning to endpapers as usual, pp. 239/40 with tiny paper flaw, affecting four letters, pp. 353/4 with repaired marginal tear, light spotting to and offsetting from maps; otherwise a very good copy of a rare and important work.
First edition. A joint effort of several leading mitlitary figures, including Lord Roberts of Kandahar, at creating a coherent narrative of the scope of the Second Afghan War. The military strategist and soldier MacGregor was the ideal leader of this enterprise. Born in India in 1840 and commissioned in the Indian army in October 1856, serving during the Indian Mutiny. Many campaigns followed and in 1878 Macgregor 'was placed on special duty in charge of the Khyber line of communications at the beginning of the Second Anglo-Afghan War ..., accompanying General Maude's expedition against the Zakha Khel Afridis in the Bazar valley as chief of staff. Later he was appointed chief of staff to Sir Samuel Browne, with whom he served during the advance from Jalalabad to Gandamak. After the conclusion of the treaty he made arrangements for the withdrawal of the Peshawar valley field force. He was created a CIE in January 1878 and was made a CB for the Afghan campaign' (ODNB). After the war he took command of the intelligence department of India, and wrote the privately printed book The Defence of India: a Strategical Study.
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