The precarious situation at Kandahar demanded immediate measures, and once more Sir Frederick Roberts was chosen to vindicate British honour and to teach the Afghans that they were powerless in the face of well-led and well-handled British troops; and he was placed in command of the following compact force, with instructions to march to Kandahar with all possible despatch, and crush the anti-British movement in Southern Afghanistan.
Details of the Kabul-Kandahar Field Force.
Commander-in-Chief: Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Roberts, K.C.B.
Cavalry Brigade—Brigadier-General Hugh Gough, V.C., C.B.: 9th Lancers, 3rd and 23rd Regiments of Cavalry, and Central India Horse.
Artillery Brigade—Colonel Alured Johnson: Three mountain batteries.
Infantry Division: Major-General Sir John Ross, K.C.B.
First Brigade—Brigadier-General H. Macpherson, V.C., C.B.: 92nd (Gordon Highlanders), 23rd Pioneers, 24th Punjabis, and 2nd Gurkhas.
Second Brigade—Brigadier-General T. D. Baker, C.B.: 72nd (Seaforth Highlanders), 52nd and 53rd Sikhs, and 5th Gurkhas.
Third Brigade—Brigadier-General C. M. Macgregor, C.B.: 2nd Battalion King's Royal Rifles, 15th Sikhs, 25th Punjabis, 4th Gurkhas.
The total strength being 2,562 British and 7,151 native troops, with eighteen guns.