to protect our only means of subsistence (the Godowns), in the event of
a siege. The King, Envoy, and General appear perfectly paralysed by this
sudden outbreak: the former is deserted by all his courtiers, and by
even his most confidential servants, except the Wuzeer, who is strongly
suspected of having instigated the conspiracy; and suspicion attaches to
his Majesty again. It is here necessary to observe, that several months
ago letters calling on all true Mussulmans to rise against the Kaffirs
(English unbelievers) were widely disseminated: they bore the King's
signature; but Sir William Macnaghten always insisted that they were
forgeries of a very peculiar description, that papers bearing the
veracious signature had had their contents washed out, and these
seditious writings inserted. The Shah of course said, "An enemy has done
this;" and, as dead men tell no tales, much of the obloquy was allowed
to rest on Moollah Shekoor, who had paid the penalty of other state
crimes.
In Affghanistan the English act as they do in all other countries they
visit,--keep to themselves, and even (generally) employ only servants
brought with them. The Envoy kept but few Affghans in his employ: he had
a news reporter, at 150 rupees a month, who had the credit of concocting
splendid untruths; an old moollah picked up at Kandahar, who, I believe,
receives 200,--a man greatly in Sir William's confidence; there is also
an old cossid. These people adhere to the Envoy, and flatter him into
the belief that the tumult is _bash_ (nothing), and will shortly subside.
This day there was a grand bustle, getting guns into all the bastions.
Capt. and Mrs. Trevor, and their seven children, came into cantonments.
Trevor's Hazir Bashes brought them in safe; but they had to walk through
the river, and to carry the children, saving only the clothes they had
on. As they escaped at one gate, their tower was taken possession of by
the rebels from another.
That the insurrection could have been easily crushed at its
commencement, is evident from the circumstance that on the 2d of
November a considerable number of chiefs went to Capt. Trevor's house to
lend him assistance; amongst them were Osman Khan, Abdool Rahim Khan,
Khan Shireen Khan, Taj Mahommed, Gholam Moyenoodeen, &c. The Nawaub
Zeman Khan sent one of his younger children to Trevor, and desired him
to keep him as a hostage; but finding that no assistance came from
cantonments Trevor declined keeping the boy, and, accompanied by some of
the above-mentioned persons and their followers, he made his way into
cantonments on the 3d.
It is further worthy of remark, that Taj Mahommed Khan went to Sir
Alexander Burnes the very day before the insurrection broke out, and
told him what was going on. Burnes, incredulous, heaped abuse on this
gentleman's head; and the only reply he gave him was, "Shuma beseeah
shytan ust!" on which Taj Mahommed left him. This anecdote was told us
by himself.
Two of the Shah's mountain train guns, under Lieut. Green, and 400 of
the 54th N. I., were sent, escorted by cavalry, to take ammunition and
carcasses to the Bala Hissar, as also bedding for the men.
There is a report that the city is about to be fired.
A large party bearing the religious flag (green) came towards the rear
gate: they fought with much _jee_; but one of our guns played on them,
and then the cavalry dashed out and cut them up. Lieut. Le Geyt, of the
Shah's service, with a small party of Anderson's horse, feigned to fly,
and drew a party after them, on whom they turned and dealt destruction.
At the Bala Hissar the troops were allotted to their different stations;
though, in consequence of a great portion of the 54th N. I. being in
cantonments, as yet no permanent division of the troops could take place.
One of the most important posts was the tower on the summit of the hill,
which was held by 100 men of the 54th, the same number of the King's
Juzailchees, one gun of the mountain train, with two officers. The
centre post, being a commanding position over the town, was occupied by
four companies of the Shah's 6th, two of Nicholl's H. A. guns, and some
large guns of the King's. The rest of the troops were scattered in
different parts of the fort, two companies being at each of the gates.
During this day many projects were entered into for the purpose of
putting down the rebellion, but none were put into practice. The Wuzeer
went into the town, accompanied by some troops; but soon returned,
having made no impression. The King wrote to Sir William Macnaghten,
proposing that a free pardon should be offered to all offenders, and
that all should be forgiven and forgotten if the leaders of the
insurrection would come to his durbar, and, acknowledging their faults,
return to their allegiance. This, of course, was never carried into
execution. Five companies of the 54th, commanded by Capt. Corry,
accompanied by some cavalry, arrived; having lost on the way, between
cantonments and the Bala Hissar, the baggage and clothing of the
grenadier and light companies, who, consequently, were exposed to the
rigorous nights without a single article of clothing. Although fired on
the whole way, they had only three men wounded. The cavalry returned,
but the 54th remained with the headquarters of their regiment.
_4th._--At two in the morning firing recommenced at the city. Khan
Shireen Khan and some others are conjectured to have driven the fighting
party out of the city; but we do not hear of the heads of the faction
(Abdoollah Khan, the proprietor of the Pisheen Valley, Amenoollah Khan
of Logur, and Sekunder Khan) being seized. The insurgents in great
numbers took possession of Mahmood Khan's fort, the Shah bagh, Mahommed
Shureef's fort, and the garden between the Godown fort and the fort
called the Bazaar of the European regiment.
Our guns from the south bastion opened early, and played almost all day
on Mahmood Khan's fort, and on any body of Affghans that showed
themselves. Lieut. Warren, who held the Commissariat fort with fifty
men, wrote to the General to say, that, unless reinforced, he could not
hold out; that he was surrounded by the enemy, who he feared were mining
the walls, and they were preparing ladders for the escalade; adding also
that some of his men had already left him.
In the evening a party of cavalry and infantry were sent to aid him in
evacuating his position! Capt. Boyd, the Bengal Commissariat officer, on
hearing the object of this force from Capt. Grant (Assist. Adjt. Gen.),
proceeded in person to Gen. Elphinstone, accompanied by Capt. Johnson
(the Shah's Commissariat officer). They urgently entreated him to recall
them, and, instead, to send such reinforcements as were required to hold
a position of such vital importance; pointing out the certain
destruction of the whole force in cantonments, in the event of the
capture of all our supplies. The General acquiesced in their views, and
promised to issue the order for reinforcements. The above detachment was
very shortly obliged to return to cantonments, having suffered most
severely in men and horses, who were fired upon from behind every face
and from every loophole of Mahommed Shureef's fort, without their being
able even to see an enemy. Previous to this detachment going out, a
party of Europeans, under Capt. Robinson, went down the Kohistan road to
effect the same object. Capt. Robinson (H. M. 44th) being killed, this
small party was obliged to retire, having suffered severely. Two horse
artillery guns accompanied the party. Lieut. Waller, H. A., and Lieut.
Fortye, 44th, were wounded. The whole of this occurred within 250 paces
of the south bastion. In the evening no reinforcements had been sent to
Warren, and the two heads of the Commissariats, Johnson and Boyd, again
went to the General, to entreat he would not lose any more time in
sending aid to that officer, and informed him there were but two days'
provisions left in cantonments; pointed out the great fears entertained
that we could not procure supplies from the surrounding country, with
the enemy in force in the neighbouring forts, and the consequent
destruction of our force from famine, unless the Godown fort were taken
possession of at all hazards. The General conceded to these opinions. As
Mahommed Shureef's fort commanded the only gate of the Commissariat
fort, it would be requisite first to take possession of that fort. The
political authorities had no persons from whom they could obtain
information! For a reward of fifty rupees one of Johnson's servants
proceeded to the fort, and brought back intelligence (in about half an
hour) that he saw twenty or thirty men with lighted matchlocks sitting
on either side of the wicket: he judged, from the silence that
prevailed, there were but few then within, and affirmed there were none
on the road. Johnson subsequently sent another man, who confirmed the
reports, but did not see any lights near the wicket. All this was made
known to Gen. Elphinstone, who determined on taking possession of the
fort, and Capt. Boyd volunteered to carry the powder to blow in the
gate. The General, however, afterwards listened to other advice from
other of his staff officers, who were averse to the proceeding, as
involving too much risk! During this time another letter was received
from Lieut. Warren by the adjutant of his regiment, stating that unless
he was immediately reinforced, he must abandon his position, as many of
his guard had gone over the wall to cantonments, by which his force was
much weakened. Capt. Boyd and Johnson left the General about midnight
under the impression that Mahomed Shureef's fort would be immediately
attacked and the Commissariat one reinforced.
A letter was written by order (by Capt. Bellew) to assure Lieut. Warren
that he should receive reinforcements by two o'clock in the morning.
Capt. Mackenzie held his (the King's Commissariat) fort until his
ammunition was entirely expended, and then cut his way through the town;
but in so doing was wounded in three places. Strange to say, this
officer owed his life to beating a woman! He told his people to abandon
their property and save their lives. A woman put down her child to save
her pots and pans; and expostulation being of little effect, and time
most precious, Mackenzie drew his sword to strike her with the flat of
it, by which means he had it in his hand when he was attacked
immediately afterwards.
Trevor's tower has been burnt. Had reinforcements and ammunition been
sent to Trevor's tower and Mackenzie's fort, they might have held out
for ever against any force the rebels could have brought against them.
The Hazir Bashes refused to stay to defend them, because they saw they
must be sacrificed, and that no reinforcements were sent. Had they
arrived, the Kuzzilbashes would have declared openly in our favour, with
Khan Shireen Khan at their head; but unless supported by us, they
dreaded giving offence to the insurgents.
Another party has been sent out with guns; it is said they are to fire
the city, but most likely it will be a mere demonstration. Such it has
proved. The guns were sent to take possession of the Lahore Gate; they
got not quite to Mahmood Khan's fort, and had to come back again.
The enemy have now possession of the Commissariat fort, the fort
opposite the Bazaar fort, or Mahommed Shureef's, and the Shah bagh; the
two latter posts appear to have been left unoccupied for the enemy's
especial advantage.
The only mortar we have being a five-and-half-inch one, has little more
effect than a popgun of large calibre.
A gun has been sent to attempt to blow open the gate of the Shah bagh,
which Sturt says will be a work of time with a gun; and they cannot use
a powder-bag, as the gate is not _get-at-able_ for the crowds of people
fighting all the way from the Bazaar fort to the Shah bagh, and thence
to the city.
A large party of horsemen have shown themselves coming down the Siah
Sung hill: the cavalry are sent to look after them. Mahmood Khan's fort
is occupied by the enemy, who are to be shelled out, it is said; but we
have been throwing shells into the small fort opposite the Bazaar
(Mahommed Shureef's) since 12 o'clock, and now at 4 they are still at
it, and seem to have done nothing.
A Kulassy of Capt. Maule's has just come in from the Kohistan half
naked: he reports, that the Kohistanees are all up; that Maule and
Wheeler were killed at Kar Durrah, and that they were overpowered.
This day Lieut. Gordon, of the 37th, was killed; Capt. Swayne, 44th,
ditto; Lieut. Walsh, of the Shah's service, wounded in the thigh;
Hallahan, 44th, in the shoulder; Warren, 54th, wounded; Capt. Robinson
and four men, 44th, killed, and sixteen wounded.
The cavalry had brought in six wounded, and had thirty-one missing at 5
o'clock. The 5th cavalry went up to the gate of the Shah bagh in gallant
style; but it was shut too quickly for them to get in. Hamilton's horse
shot under him in the ditch under the gate.
At tea-time we had an alarm, and very smart firing like a _feu de joie_;
but it was a false alarm. I believe no enemy was seen: it occurred on
the rampart near to Sale's bastion.
After we had, as we thought, settled poor Sturt for the night, between 8
and 9 o'clock Capt. Lawrence came to see him and ask his advice. Sturt
had wished to have communicated with the General on the defence of the
cantonments, and, ill as he was, he had written a letter to him; but
thinking that advice from so young an officer might not be relished, he,
notwithstanding my remonstrances on the subject, tore it up. About 10
o'clock, Lieut. Eyre, Deputy Commissary of Ordnance, and Capt.
Warburton, the Shah's Topshee Bashee, came; and as they had received
information that there are men posted outside the gate of the captured
fort, with matchlocks all ready, the plan in agitation of blowing open
the gate with a bag of powder would not answer: they, therefore, with
Sturt, decided on getting the two nine-pounders into the bastion, and on
setting to work forthwith to cut the embrasures to fit them; and between
2 and 3 o'clock in the morning was fixed upon as the time to commence
playing on the fort to breach it, and at the same time to throw in a
proportion of shells to create confusion. The place to be taken by
assault. If this does not succeed, we shall probably have to retreat to
Jellalabad. Sturt strongly advises the troops being all thrown into the
Bala Hissar, and the cantonments being abandoned until we get up
reinforcements; but the cry is, how can we abandon the cantonments that
have cost us so much money?
The enemy's force are estimated at from 1500 to 2000. Brig. Shelton is
expected in from the Bala Hissar, where they are said to be short of
provisions. Here we got six seers of ottah for the rupee yesterday, but
to-day none is procurable. The servants are to get half rations from the
commissariat to-morrow.
At the Bala Hissar two companies!!! were warned for service under Capt.
Corri, 54th, for the purpose of entering the town to cause a diversion
during the expected attack which it was understood there was about to be
made from cantonments. However it was, as usual, only one of the
theoretical plans so often talked of, and so little practised. Conolly,
Troup, and Hay had gone there for the purpose of assisting with counsel;
but there was "great cry and little wool," and nothing was done.
The supplies are become very limited, and it becomes a question how the
troops and Horse Artillery horses are to be fed: to-day there were only
three days' provisions left; but owing to the great exertions of Capt.
Kirby, Acting Assistant Commissary-General, a very large quantity was
laid in, Damel Khan and Timor Khan, two Armenian merchants, being very
instrumental in procuring them. Immediately in the neighbourhood of the
Bala Hissar were fields of wheat stretching out for many acres; the
wheat being the second crops, and some half a foot high, was found to be
excellent food for the cattle: the groves also, in the vicinity, were
all cut down for firewood, which, as long as it lasted, was very
liberally distributed to the troops by the King.
_5th._--At 5 o'clock A.M., no reinforcement having gone to the
assistance of Lieut. Warren, although promised by 2, that officer
vacated the Commissariat fort. No blame can attach to him, but much to
those who withheld aid. The enemy took possession, depriving us of our
only means of subsistence. Nor was this all the mischief: it gave both
confidence and much plunder to the enemy, and created great disgust
amongst the Europeans, who lost all their rum; a worse loss was all the
medical stores, sago, arrow-root, wine, &c. for the sick.
The men in cantonments were employed all day, the guns and mortars
throwing shot and shell at the Mahommed Shureef's fort; Major Swayne
being ordered with a very insufficient force to attack it, only two
companies with two Horse Artillery guns, under Lieut. Eyre. The latter
were ordered to be placed on the Kohistan road, outside the gate of
cantonments, and to keep up a heavy fire on the fort; whilst Major
Swayne was to advance rapidly on the fort, and blow open the gate with a
bag of powder. Lieut. Eyre obeyed his orders; but his ammunition was all
expended before the arrival of Major Swayne's party, who, instead of
advancing, had, on a fire of matchlocks being opened from the fort,
taken cover under some walls from the heavy fire of the enemy; and
having expended all their ammunition ineffectually, the whole had to
retire with some loss of men and horses. This was the only opportunity
that offered of retrieving our loss. The enemy were busied in hundreds
all day in carrying off our stores, all which we plainly saw from
cantonments. The troops retired by order of Gen. Elphinstone, to my no
small surprise, for the enemy had begun to run out from a broken
bastion; but when they found our people retreating, they took courage,
and no more left the fort, on which shot and shell kept playing all day.
After stating this, it is unnecessary to add that Sturt's suggestions
had not been acted on.
When the 44th retreated from Mahommed Shureef's fort, all were in
amazement; the 37th asked leave to go and take it, but were not
permitted to do so. The Sipahees are grumbling at short allowance, and
not being allowed to do any thing. The 37th were anxious to be employed
in recovering the Commissariat fort, though no actual proposition to
that effect was officially made to the General.
On this day a report was carried to the King and Conolly that the rebels
had mined from the Shôr Bazaar to immediately under H. M.'s palace,
which said mine was to be sprung the same evening. The King instantly
left the palace, and took up his abode at the Gate of the Haram Serai,
where he remained during the rest of the siege; and all day, seated at a
window commanding a fine view of cantonments, telescope in hand, watched
anxiously the course of passing events in that place. He was at this
time quite sunk into a state of despondency, and would gladly seize any
opportunity of asking the opinion of any of the officers as to what was
likely to be the issue of the struggle. He put off for the time all the
insignia of royalty, made the officers sit by him on chairs, and seemed
quite _gobrowed_ (an expressive eastern term, to be rendered something
between dumbfounded and at one's wits' end). The Shah's conduct in the
particular of the chairs is the more worthy of remark, as he had been in
the habit of keeping the officers for hours standing with folded hands
silently in his presence, and then ungraciously dismissing them without
even a passing remark. He now sent to each Sahib a warm silk resaiz and
a pillow, which were very acceptable, as they were all starving with
cold.
_6th._--Major Kershaw, Lieut. Hobhouse, and eleven soldiers of the 13th
Lt. Inf. (who had been left at Cabul in consequence of illness) this day
volunteered their services.
Sturt, having fretted himself half mad at every thing going wrong,
determined, weak and ill as he was, to go out and do his duty. He is the
only engineer officer at Cabul. He was unable to dress, but went out in
his shirt and pyjania to the works. Although he was out himself a little
after 6 o'clock, he could not get things or people into their places
until 10. General Elphinstone gave him permission to make any
arrangements he considered as safe from chance of failure for taking the
small fort; but when he had with great exertion got three nine-pounders
and two twenty-four pound howitzers at work (the latter across the
road), Major Thain was sent to him to desire he would be careful not to
expend ammunition, as powder was scarce! there being at the time a
sufficiency for a twelvemonths' siege! However, Sturt made no alteration
in his proceedings, and by 12 o'clock an excellent breach was made, the
bastion being thrown down and great part of the curtain, so that ladders
were not required: the gate was blown in at the same time by Capt.
Bellew, Assist.-Adjt.-Gen. There was a small crack in the rampart near
Sale's bastion, of which I used to take advantage, as a stepping-stone
to enable me to see what was going on; and from my position I saw the
storming party ascend the breach, under a heavy fire, with a commendable
steadiness and great alacrity: they quickly drove the enemy from their
stations, who then escaped through the wicket into the Shah's garden.
The storming party was commanded by Major Griffith, of the 37th N. I.,
consisting of the light company of the Queen's 44th, Lieut. Hobhouse and
ten men of H. M. 13th Lt. Inf., one company of 5th N. I., one company
37th N. I.; in all about 150 men. Lieut. Raban, 44th, killed whilst
waving his sword on the highest point of the breach; Mr. Deas, 5th,
wounded. I believe we had nineteen killed, and several wounded; amongst
the latter, one of the 13th. The flag taken from the enemy was waved on
the crest of the breach by a Sipahee of the 37th, who captured it, and
who was promoted for the act. He and a havildar of the same corps,
though belonging to the rear company, were, with Lieut. Raban, the first
into the fort. But few of the enemy were found killed; but it is
difficult to estimate the numbers of their slain, as they are so
particular regarding Moslem burial that they always, when practicable,
drag the bodies away. Great numbers escaped to the hills behind, which
were quickly covered with horsemen, from 2000 to 3000 men. A party of
Anderson's horse charged straight up the hill (just to the left of the
gorge leading to the lake) in most gallant style, and drove the enemy
along the ridge to the extreme left. Meantime, the 5th cavalry rode
along the foot of the hill to the left, and charged up at that end; by
which manœuvre the enemy were hemmed in, in the centre of the two
cavalry corps, when a very severe encounter took place. From the top of
our house we saw every thing distinctly; the gleaming of their swords in
the sun, and the fire of their pistols and matchlocks: fresh horsemen
came pouring on to the assistance of the enemy from the back of the
hill; they buried our cavalry and Anderson's horse, who, overpowered by
numbers and a most galling fire, were forced along the ridge to the spot
whence the first charge took place.
The Affghans have many advantages over our troops: one consists in
dropping their men fresh for combat; each horseman takes a foot soldier
up behind him, and drops him when he is arrived at the spot he is
required to fire from. Their horsemen are either gentlemen or yeomen (as
we should denominate them), all well mounted, and their baggage ponies
can manage the hills much better than our cavalry horses; in fact, the
Affghan horses seem to me to climb about with as much unconcern as goats
do. As regards pistols, we are on a par, as most of theirs have been
presents from the Posha Khana; but their juzails carry much further than
our muskets, and, whilst they are out of range of our fire, theirs tells
murderously on us.
A standard bearer with a white flag was killed; he was evidently a
person of some consequence, from the great anxiety evinced to obtain
possession of his body. There were two red flags in another division.
Capt. Anderson distinguished himself, killing four men with his own
hand; he rode up the gorge to challenge the enemy again, but they had
the advantage of position, and would not come down.