Beschreibung:

The scarce and intriguing Ghuznee Medal to General C. M. Carmichael, C.B., who led the 3rd Bengal Native Cavalry in the First Afghan War and was awarded the Order of the Durrani Empire for his role in the capture of Ghuznee, 1839 An outspoken critic of Lord Auckland's handling of that conflict, Carmichael wrote several letters on the subject which are held by The National Army Museum Carmichael's younger brother, Colonel George M. Carmichael Smyth, is remembered as the man who commanded the 3rd Bengal Native Cavalry at Meerut on 10 May 1857, and whose unpopular insistence on the use of greased cartridges led directly to the Indian Mutiny Ghuznee 1839, the reverse field contemporarily engraved 'Bt-Colonel C. M. Carmichael 3rd Bengal European Cav', with silver top riband bar, very fine [C.B.] London Gazette 20 December 1839. [Afghanistan, Order of the Durrani Empire, 3rd Class] London Gazette 9 February 1841. Charles Montauban Carmichael, christened Charles Montauban Carmichael Smyth, was born in London on 21 December 1790. He was the fourth son of Dr. James Carmichael Smyth F.R.S. of Aithernie, a prominent physician who attended King George III during his long bouts of illness. Charles's older brother Henry became stepfather to William Makepeace Thackeray and may have inspired the character Colonel Newcombe in Thackeray's The Newcomes: Memoirs of a Most Respectable Family (1848). Charles's younger brother George, the physician's eighth son, is famous for all the wrong reasons (of which more later). Educated at Charterhouse School 1801-05, Carmichael was admitted to Barasat Cadet Institution, Bengal on 17 March 1806. After training there he was commissioned a Cornet in the 3rd Bengal Native Cavalry on 21 June 1806, with a gratuity of 1,200 rupees. Advanced to Lieutenant on 12 April 1810, he took part in the reduction of Kalinjar, a key Mughal stronghold, in 1812. Carmichael was present at the battles of Rewah and Alwar in 1813-14, which led to the deposition of Maharaja Bakhtawar Singh. He served as Adjutant of the 3rd Bengal Native Cavalry throughout the Third Mahratta War, including the Siege and Capture of Hattras in 1817. His service papers note that he 'shared Deccan Prize Money'. Granted furlough on Christmas Day 1818, he was promoted to Captain on 27 March 1821, returning to India on 30 October 1822. He was Brigade Major of the Meywar Field Force during the expedition against the Bhils in 1823-25. Between 16 July 1824 and 17 October 1838, he commanded the 4th Local Horse in a series of campaigns against the Thugs. His service papers note that on 30 May 1833: 'An outlay of 300 rupees [was] sanctioned to reward the distinguished services of the Native Officers and Men of the 4th Local Horse in the apprehension of Thugs.' Major-General Ramsey inspected the 4th Local Horse on 4 March 1837, praising Carmichael as 'a very zealous, steady and good officer who has the good of his Regiment at heart.' Raised to Lieutenant-Colonel on 1 November 1838, Carmichael returned to the 3rd Bengal Native Cavalry on 1 January 1839. He commanded this regiment during operations around the fortress of Ghuznee during the opening phase of the First Afghan War (1838-39). Sir John Keane Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Indus, ordered Carmichael's cavalry to watch the south and west walls of the fortress to stop Afghans escaping on the night of 23 July 1839, when it was taken by storm. Keane observed that this role was performed 'greatly to his satisfaction.' After Ghuznee fell, the resolve of Dost Mahommed's followers broke. Carmichael led his Regiment in the advance on Kabul, a tortuous journey in which men starved due to lack of supplies. Carmichael was made a Companion of the Bath for his services at Ghuznee, although Keane later published a letter in the Agra Newspaper complaining of Carmichael's 'unmilitary appearance in public'. He was also permitted to accept and wear the insignia of the Third Class of the Order of the Durrani Empire, w