[Sir Charles Metcalfe MacGregor.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Ch MacGregor Qr') to 'O.C. Jagdalah', writing from Afghanistan [during the Second Anglo-Afghan War?] and instructing him to 'send a sufficient party to hold Seh Baba'.

1p., 8vo. On grey paper. Aged and worn, with chipping, glue stains and remains of gummed label. Laid down on leaf removed from album. The document reads: '548 [i.e. the number of the despatch] | Kabul 28 Decr | To O.C. Jagdalah. | In continuation of this office No 544 the O.C. is directed to request he will at once arrange to send a sufficient party to hold Seh Baba. | He is also to arrange to escort the <?> sent with Capt Tucker as far as Lataband or Butkhak if necessary, on their return journey. | They should return on Wednesday'. According to MacGregor's entry in the Oxford DNB, 'Macgregor was placed on special duty in charge of the Khyber line of communications at the beginning of the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1878, 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.' Tucker ('Political Officer in Jamrood Fort') features in a photograph taken by John Burke while on the mission referred to in this letter, surrounded by Afghan chieftans.