Major Cavagaari.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3361, 30 September 1879, Page 2

Major Cavagaari.

Major Pierre Louis Napoleon Cavagnari, C.S..L, who was the chief political officer of the Afghan campaign from the time ol* his now historical rebuff at Ali Musjid on the 21st September, 1878, down to the signing and sealing of the definitive treaty of peace with the Ameer, Yakoob Khan, at Grandmak, on the 26th May last, was of Corsican origin. His grandfather was Private Secretarj to Napoleon the First; his grandmothor was a French, woman. His father General Adolphe Cavagnari, served in the French army, and became Secretary to Prince Lucien Ucnaparte. His mother, however, was an Irish lady, the daughter of Mr Hugh Lymes Montaomery.of Ballmvel, County Leitrim, and his education was almost entirely English, as lie passed his early days at Christ's Hospital, and subsequently became one of the East India Company's direct cadets. A man of powerful energy, great geniality, and personal courage, young. Cavagnari speedily rose to distinction as one of our best frontier officers, acquiring a more thorough knowledge of the habits and temperament of the frontier tribes than almost any officer living, and ultimately was nominated Deputy Commissioner of Kobat, where he conducted numerous negotiations between the Imperial Government and the ever-unruly Afridi tribes. When it was decided to despatch a mission to Cabul under Sir Neville Chamberlain, Major Cavagnari was attached to the staff, and when the mission halted before the entrance of the Khyber Pass, he with a small escort of guides rode forward to demand a safe passage from the commandant, Faiz Mahomed, with whom he was personally acquainted; the result of this interview was a direct refusal of the Afghan General, and the consequent commencement of hostilities by our troops. Major Cavagnari throughout the campaign

was with General Sir Sam Browne, and his valuable, advice, added to his experience and personal knowledge of the various tribes of Afghanistan, undoubtedly greatly contributed to the closing of the war. In his negotiations with Yakoob Khan he was officially Dominated the Viceroy's Plenipotentiary, awd conducted his difficult and hazardous task with great firmness and skill. After the sign* ing of the treaty of peace, Major Caragnari became Deputy Commissioner of Peshawurw and Political Officer on official employ with the Jelialabad Field Force. Eeoont telegrams inform us that during an attack on the British Residency at Cabul, Major Caragnari fell while making , h gallant defence. Ho was a Companion of the Star of India.