the Bala Hissar at 4 A.M., and arrived in cantonments before daybreak,
without meeting with any opposition on the road.
The troops were left in position as follows:--
At the city gate of the fort were 2 companies of the 54th, 1 gun horse
artillery, 1 of the mountain train. At the centre square above the
palace 2 companies 54th, 2 guns horse artillery, 1 eighteen-pounder, and
just under it a nine-pounder. The Sikh horse encamped in the square.
At the Lahore gate, 100 men of the 54th under Lieut. Melville, with 50
of the Shah's Juzailchees. On a bastion to the left of the Haram Khana,
1 company of the 54th. On the upper tower of the fort, commanding the
whole, 100 of the 54th, 100 Juzailchees, and 1 gun of the mountain
train. The remainder were in reserve at the palace square, with their
different parts allotted to them in case of an alarm.
On this day the men at the Bala Hissar were put on half rations in
consequence of the large supplies of ottah required to be sent to
cantonments, and which Capt. Kirby is getting stored as fast as he can.
Ammunition, by the directions of the Major-Gen., is now beginning to be
thrown into the Bala Hissar, under charge of Capt. Walker, commanding
detachment of 4th local horse, who has orders to bring back all the
ottah he can collect in time to return before daylight; but, owing to
the men (who are half starved in cantonments) always, immediately on
depositing their loads, leaving their ranks to forage for themselves,
not more than half the loads usually arrived.
We now began to bombard the city in earnest from Nicholl's battery,
beginning at eight o'clock every evening and continuing until eleven,
firing at intervals of about ten minutes from the 5½-inch mortar, and
the nine-pounder. The effect was beautiful to us in the cantonments; but
it is to be feared that was almost the only effect it had, as, from all
we could learn, four or five were the usual average of victims, being a
very small number for so great an expenditure of ammunition. Amenoollah
Khan's house was the principal object of attack, and one or two shells
went completely through it; but as, immediately on the shelling
commencing, he and all his family left it for some other residence, the
loss of a few of his horses was the utmost injury he suffered.
Regarding Brig. Shelton's view of affairs, it may be remarked that, from
the first of his arrival in the country, he appears to have greatly
disliked it, and his disgust has now considerably increased. His mind is
set on getting back to Hindostan; and it is worthy of remark that from
the first, on going into the Bala Hissar, he desired Capt. Nicholl to
fill all the ammunition boxes, as fast as it was expended, with flour
(ottah), to be ready for provision in case of retreat.
_9th._--The enemy showed themselves again on the hills, and were
permitted to remain unmolested.
The Envoy wished troops to be sent out; but deference was paid to
Shelton's opinion, who would not attack them, being all for a retreat to
Hindostan.
_10th._--Having bullied us with impunity yesterday, the enemy again
showed themselves on the hills, and rushed with a shout into the village
of Behmaru, which they occupy and vacate as the whim takes them. They
also lined the Siah Sung hills, came down to the river, and kept up such
a heavy fire, that we could not keep our gun outside the rear gate, and
we had to bring it in.
The enemy are in possession of several forts near us. The 44th and part
of every corps were out under Shelton, but considerable delay took
place, and it was only on the Envoy assuring the General that he would
take the responsibility of the act on himself that the troops were sent
out.
They attacked the Rikabashees' fort. By some blunder, Bellew did not go
at the gate, but blew in the wicket. Lieut. Bird, of the Shah's 6th, and
a few others, got in, when the enemy's cavalry charged, and the 44th
turned--"sauve qui peut." Here Shelton proved a trump. Cool and brave,
he with much difficulty succeeded in rallying the men, to save those
inside, and when they did return they fought like lions. It was a very
fearful affair as witnessed by nearly all in cantonments; and the men,
both Europeans and natives, in the second attack behaved with undaunted
courage. Capt. Westmacott, 37th, had been skirmishing in front, and
commanded the advance No. 2. and 3. companies of the 37th. On the
retreat of the troops, Lieut. Hawtrey (37th), Capt. MacCrea (44th),
Lieut. Cadett (44th), Lieut. Bird (6th), Lieut.-Col. Mackrell (44th),
and two or three soldiers (44th), and a havildar and four or five of the
37th, were left in the fort, having rushed in at the kirkee (wicket).
Lieuts. Hawtrey and Cadett returned to endeavour to get more of the men
up. Bird's account of the affair is, that when they got in they
experienced a most decided opposition, but the enemy rushing out at the
opposite gate, they took advantage of it, when abandoned by their
comrades, to close the entrance, securing the chain with a bayonet. The
enemy, seeing the success of their own charge outside, rallied, and,
cutting a hole in the door with their long knives, they got out the
bayonet, and opened the gate again. Bird and one Sipahee, 37th, and one
or two others, retreated to a room in which there were two horses, and
through a small opening kept up a sharp fire, luckily killing the few
who saw them enter, and afterwards picking off all who passed in their
way. Above thirty were thus killed, fifteen of whom fell to Bird's
share, and six to that of the Sipahee of the 37th, for which the Sipahee
was afterwards promoted, by Bird's especial request to Major Griffith.
Col. Mackrell went to the door, to look if relief was coming,
disregarding Bird's advice to remain with him coolly and steadily till
they got reinforcements. The Colonel was wounded and fell, and the
cavalry cut him up dreadfully. He was wounded in both legs, one below
the knee, the other on the thigh; he had three cuts in the back, two
toes cut off, and three or four cuts on the arm, which was taken off
immediately after he was brought in. Poor man! He said, "This is not
battle, it is murder!" He still lives, but is not likely to survive:
better had he been shot at once. To persons accustomed to civilised
warfare, these details must be revolting. Even a dead enemy is never
passed without a cut at the body. They cry "Aman" themselves, but never
show mercy to Kaffirs.
Capt. MacCrea was in the fort all but one arm, by which they seized him
and dragged him out: his was a very similar fate, but his sufferings
were less protracted, for he was dead when found, with, I believe, his
skull cloven.
Poor Westmacott of the 37th was cut to pieces near the kirkee. We must
have killed a great number of the enemy. Mr. Bird says he himself saw
above 100 killed, but that as fast as a man fell, others came and
dragged him away. Major Scott in vain tried to rally the 44th: excited
to tears, he called for volunteers to follow him, when a private, named
Stuart, was the only man who offered to go, and for which, on its
reaching the Envoy's notice, he was, by Sir William's earnest entreaty
to Shelton, promoted sergeant.
When the storming party came up the second time under Shelton, a cruel
scene took place. The enemy could not have had less than 150 killed and
wounded. We had ourselves fully that number. There were 26 killed and 28
wounded of the 44th; above 50 killed and wounded of the 37th. I did not
hear the number of the Shah's 6th, and have not access to records; not
that they are kept very correctly, for Sturt was never returned as a
wounded officer.
The conduct of the 37th is highly spoken of: they drove the enemy (who
had got on the top of a bastion) with their bayonets clean over the
side, where they were received on the bayonets of the 44th.
The dreadful slaughter of our men is attributable to a desperate rush of
Affghan cavalry. It is supposed that some very influential person was in
the fort, and has been killed. A body richly dressed was found, but the
head was carried away. This they do when they cannot take the body, as
the head then receives Mussulman burial, which the Affghans are very
particular in observing. A horse was taken, and a sword that was much
bent; both are said to have been recognised as having lately been in
possession of Moollah Mobend of Zoormut. Four other forts were taken,
from which the enemy ran on the capture of the Rikabashees'.
Shelton led the troops out towards the Siah Sung hill, where the enemy
was in force, and where Eyre did great execution with two horse
artillery guns. The troops remained out till dark, when, having
completely overawed the enemy, they returned. Three times the sappers
were ordered (and as often countermanded) for the purpose of blowing up
these forts and firing them. At length it was decided to keep the
Rikabashees' fort, and to occupy it. There is known to be a large store
of boussa and lucern there; and we hope also to find grain. Zulfar
Khan's fort was also occupied by us. These forts were not above 400
yards from cantonments. The furthest fort is memorable as the spot where
a murder was committed not long ago, and was perhaps 1000 yards distant;
of this the four bastions were blown up, and the place itself fired. As
Brig. Shelton has always been supposed to be greatly disliked by his
men, it has excited much astonishment that the men of the 44th were all
inquiring after the "little Brig.," as they call him. They say they are
ready to be led to any work there may be for them to do.
This event has already produced its effect. Khojeh Meer of Behmaru has
sent his salaam to know our pleasure. The Envoy's reply was, "If you
wish to keep your two forts, sell us grain."
The events of to-day must have astonished the enemy after our
supineness, and shown them that, when we have a mind to do so, we can
punish them.
Our spirits are raised and depressed by the barometer of public events.
Could any thing have roused us at first to action, the insurrection had
been crushed in the bud. When the 44th turned and fled to-day, the Gen.
asked the Envoy if he was prepared to retreat to Jellalabad as to-night;
but Sir William replied that he would do his duty, and never desert the
King; and, if the army left him, would die at his post!
Now we are uppermost we hold up our heads, and hope not to have to sculk
into the Bala Hissar without baggage. Were Sturt's advice taken, we
should nightly send ammunition there, and, when a sufficiency is
conveyed, all make one bold night march in very light marching order,
just what we can carry on our horses. In there, we can be lodged (not
comfortably, I grant) in the houses of the inhabitants, who would be
well paid for vacating them. They have laid in their stores for the
winter, which would be bought at any price--and then we might defy all
Affghanistan for any time. However it seems hopeless to think on such
subjects, for those who with a great end in view might be brought to
abandon public works and property for a time, will not consent to part
with their own! A horse, with handsome silver-mounted saddle, &c., has
been brought in by Lieut. Vanrenen, who sold it for 120 rupees to some
one who fancied it because it was supposed to have belonged to a chief.
Sturt's recovery and energy appear little short of miraculous; he nearly
possesses the power of ubiquity. He cannot yet mount his own tall
horses, and must astonish my little Cape horse, for he gallops him the
whole day from bastion to gate, and gate to bastion, laying guns, and
off like a shot; his aim being to show the enemy that all our batteries
and gates had guns in position, which we could fire nearly
simultaneously,--for they know how weak we are in artillery officers.
The enemy kept up a smart fire for some hours; the bullets flew about
briskly, and fell plentifully in the verandahs of Capt. Boyd's house.
An artilleryman was killed whilst sponging his gun; also two bheestees
in the Mission Compound.
Sir William told Sturt this morning that if we beat the enemy to-day, he
felt convinced that in five days they would all be off; and the
circumstance of Khojeh Meer's salaam is a favourable sign.
To-morrow early we are to endeavour to get grain from Khojeh Meer at
Behmaru.
The grain in the Commissariat fort is still burning, and the fort itself
still in possession of the enemy, who annoy us from thence and from the
Shah bagh and Mahmood Khan's fort. The latter place we are not strong
enough to take unless Sale's brigade or Nott's arrives: this is much to
be regretted, for in all disturbances in Cabul, whichever party kept
possession of that fort was always the conqueror in the end.
Gen. Nott may be here with his brigade in three weeks: we have plenty of
ammunition, and if we can get grain we may hold out till they arrive.
_11th._--Yesterday's lesson has made the enemy shy, and very few showed
themselves on the hill, and those were all horsemen: none were seen on
the Siah Sung hills.
Two regiments were sent to cover the foraging party collecting grain
from the captured forts. 600 maunds of wheat have been brought in,
boussa, &c.; this gives us three and a half days' provisions.
Ottah is ready for us at the Bala Hissar, and the chief of Behmaru has
tendered his civilities again, now that Meer Musjudee's people have
retired from the village; but our 900 maunds of grain that were paid for
are gone.
A large grave, or rather pit, full of bodies has been found outside the
Rikabashees' fort, which the enemy had not time to cover over before
they retreated.
Bad news from Candahar. A party of the Shah's troops under Lieut.
Crawford, who were escorting state prisoners, are said to have been
attacked and cut to pieces, and it is feared that Capt. Sanders
(Engineers) was with them. Capt. Skinner is reported to have been killed
in endeavouring to escape out of the city in women's clothes. A dog of
Col. Dennie's, and another of Major Kershaw's, having come into
cantonments, has caused much excitement: as we have not heard from
Sale's camp for some time, we think it may be a proof that they are on
their way back.
To-day we have been throwing shells into Mahmood Khan's fort, both from
the cantonments and also from the Bala Hissar. We hear that to-morrow
night the enemy intend to take the cantonments, and that they have
fifteen ladders to escalade with, and bags filled with boussa to cross
by filling up the ditch. Our men are all in high spirits.
Meer Musjudee has sent to Sir William to say he will come in to treat;
his vakeel was in cantonments yesterday. The Ghilzyes have been (it is
said) brought off by the Envoy. It was a reinforcement of 1000 Ghazees
that joined the enemy yesterday at the Rikabashees' fort; it is supposed
that they suffered very severely in the action.
_12th._--Arrangements have been made by Sir William with Meer Musjudee,
who is to receive 60,000 rupees if he brings in Codrington's regiment:
he, poor man, has died of his wounds. The expected attack on the
cantonments has not taken place, but there was a good deal of firing all
night, and shells were thrown from one o'clock at Mahmood Khan's fort.
_13th._--The Ghilzye chiefs expressed a wish to treat: however that may
be, the enemy showed themselves on their favourite heights (Behmaru);
they are supposed to be reinforcements from Zoormut. They took two guns
up with them, which they played upon cantonments. On this Brig. Shelton
was sent with a force against them. It was with great difficulty the
Envoy persuaded the General and Brigadier to consent to a force going
out; and it was late before the troops were ready, consisting of--
A squadron of Anderson's horse, 120 men, under himself:
The Envoy's cavalry escort, about 60 men, under Le Geyt:
The 5th cavalry, all but their usual guards, about 250, under Col.
Chambers, being two squadrons, the rest being with Sale:
A troop of the 1st and another of the 4th locals, or Skinner's and
Alexander's horse, under Capt. Walker:
6 companies of the 44th, under Major Scott; 4 weak companies of 40, or
160 men, of the 37th; the Shah's 6th, the 5th, I believe six companies
each.
There were three columns; two companies of the 37th led the left column
under Thain, with the 44th in the centre and Shah's 6th in rear. The
right column was under Scott, the reserve under Major Swayne.
Civilians and women are fond of honour and glory, and perhaps do not
sufficiently temper valour with discretion.
It appears that the Affghans attribute our forbearance, whatever may be
its motive, to fear, which gives them courage to beard us lions in our
den.
The General again (as in the late attack on the Rikabashee fort) asked
the Envoy if he would take the responsibility of sending out the troops
on himself; and, on his conceding, the force was sent. The Envoy had
also much angry discussion on this point with Brig. Shelton.
But all these delays of conference lost much time, and it was between
four and five P.M. before operations commenced.
The Affghan cavalry charged furiously down the hill upon our troops in
close column. The 37th N. I. were leading, the 44th in the centre, and
the Shah's 6th in the rear. No square or balls were formed to receive
them. All was a regular confusion; my very heart felt as if it leapt to
my teeth when I saw the Affghans ride clean through them. The onset was
fearful. They looked like a great cluster of bees, but we beat them and
drove them up again.
The 5th cavalry and Anderson's horse charged them up the hill again and
drove them along the ridge.
Lieut. Eyre quickly got the horse artillery gun into the gorge between
the Behmaru hills and that to the left (the gorge leading to the plain
towards the lake): from this position he soon cleared that plain, which
was covered with horsemen. There was another stand made at the extreme
left; but we were successful on all points, captured both guns, brought
one of them in, for which we had spare horses in the field; and having
no means of bringing the other away, it was spiked, upset, and tumbled
down the hill.
The enemy had taken these guns up the hill with the King's elephants;
but unfortunately they had sent the animals back, or they would have
been fine prizes for us.
Brig. Shelton, perhaps not considering the lateness of the hour,
deferred his return to cantonments until the shades of evening had
closed over the troops; and it being impossible to distinguish friend
from foe, we could not assist with our guns from cantonments, which in
daylight would have swept the plain, and have prevented the enemy from
following up our return to cantonments.
The enemy cut in between cantonments and our men, and their horsemen
came up close to Sale's bastion. Our anxiety was very great, for all
this time our front was attacked (it is said by 400 men); the firing was
sharp and long-continued. The Brigadier did not get back till 8 o'clock;
and it was some time after that before all was quiet. When the men of
the 37th were upbraided for turning, they replied, "We only retreated
when we saw the Europeans run, and knew we should not be supported."
We moved into Sturt's house this evening, as Brig. Shelton was grumbling
about the cold in a tent.
The enemy saluted our house with six-pound shot, which rattled about and
passed us, and several struck the house; one was imbedded in the wall
under Mrs. Sturt's window. At night we threw shell as usual into Mahmood
Khan's fort, and could plainly distinguish the sound of "Ullah ul Alla"
as they burst.
Major Thain and Capt. Paton were wounded: the latter had to suffer
amputation of the arm; the former had a deep flesh wound in the
shoulder, twelve inches long, and one deep.
Sturt, going his rounds at night, narrowly escaped being shot in the
back.
_14th._--We had a quiet night; which was a great blessing, as Sturt was
suffering very much from the wound in his face.
The chiefs complained that we broke faith with them yesterday in
attacking them when they had expressed a wish to treat: however, we were
not the aggressors, for we did not do so till they had fired at us.
To-day they have requested we will not fire on the hill, which has been
agreed to: they are (they say) busy searching for their dead. They had
lights on the hill all night, burying their slain, and they are now
searching for swords and any thing they can find, also picking up balls
of all kinds.
A number of swords have been taken.
The two sons of Abdoollah Khan are said to be wounded. We could hear
Abdoollah Khan's nagura beating on the hill quite distinctly.
Had Sale's brigade been here, it is probable we should not be so
peaceable; but our men are so hard worked that they require a day's
rest.
The Affghan cavalry yesterday were not inclined to try a second charge:
Col. Chambers invited an attack, which they declined. Their infantry
seem to be contemptible in the plain, but they fight hard when cooped up
in forts. They fire from rests; and then take excellent aim; and are
capital riflemen, hiding behind any stone sufficiently large to cover
their head, and quietly watching their opportunities to snipe off our
people. There is also a peculiarity in the Affghan mode of
fighting,--that of every horseman carrying a foot soldier behind him to
the scene of action, where he is dropped without the fatigue of walking
to his post. The horsemen have two and three matchlocks or juzails each,
slung at their backs, and are very expert in firing at the gallop. These
juzails carry much further than our muskets.
The Envoy went out to meet some chiefs in Zulficar Khan's fort: they
kept him waiting a long time, and then said they could not come. Meer
Jaffier Khan, the son of Naib Shureef, has returned from collecting the
revenue, with 300 Hazir Bashes: being all Kuzzilbashes, we presume he
will not be against us. The old Naib has been fined 1000 rupees for
having associated with, and eaten with, us infidels.
Meer Musjudee is said to be sick even unto death in the city. A cossid
has arrived from Macgregor, and a letter from Sale of the 9th from
Gundamuk. The enemy are evidently spreading false information, through
persons professing to be travellers. No travellers are on the roads now.
Cossids are scarcely procurable; the few that have been sent to recall
the brigade have not succeeded in their attempt. The man who went on the
6th was stopped and his letter read by a man who was educated at
Loodianah. The enemy have another sçavant, who imbibed literature at the
college of Delhi. There is also a prisoner, a Mr. Tierney, in the city;
whether he assists them or not we do not know.
The day has passed off quietly, and we look forward to a good night's
rest, which is most desirable for Sturt.
_15th._--After a quiet night, we have had a quiet day.
Our camels are dying fast: we see several dragged away daily; and as
they are only just thrown without the gate, the air is tainted by their
carcasses.
Major Pottinger and Mr. Haughton have made their escape from the
Kohistan; the former has a ball in his leg; the latter has lost his
hand, and is severely wounded in the back and neck. During the time they
were beleaguered in Charikar, they were, in common with the Sipahees of
the Shah's 4th regiment (Ghoorkas), subjected to great misery from the
want of water; the allowance for the last four days being one wine glass
full per diem for each man: the horses they rode on had not had a drop
to drink for ten days, nor food for five.
The site of the cantonments was badly chosen. In addition to there being
no water, which of itself rendered the site unfit for a military post,
their position was completely commanded on two sides by the enemy; who,
having cut off their supply of water from above, gave the few defenders
no rest by night or day. Added to these trying circumstances, the
garrison were encumbered with their wives and children, who had been
encouraged to come up from Hindostan in great numbers. It is affirmed
that they did so by permission of Lord Auckland; it being supposed that
they would have no wish to quit the country with their families settled
along with them.