Sketch of Ghazni fortress from the manuscript journal of Lieutenant Thomas Gaisford, Bombay Artillery, 7 December 1838-April 1840

Protected by thick, 60-feet high walls, the fort at Ghazni (or Ghuznee) presented a major problem for the British who lacked heavy artillery. They were only able to capture it because Mohan Lal, a Kashmiri interpreter, spy and assistant to the political officer Captain Sir Alexander Burnes, managed to discover that one of the gates was poorly defended.

Gaisford's diary describes his service during the 1st Afghan War (1839-1842) with the Army of the Indus and is illustrated with sketch maps and drawings. The volume also contains details of horses and transport vehicles, copies of orders and press cuttings on the campaign and an inventory of personal kit for himself and ten servants and followers. Also included is a manuscript copy of a letter from Kabul, dated 20 August 1839, and a printed abstract of his services.