and tenable; at least this was the message brought by Capt. Bellew: to
which Sturt said but one reply could be made--"Practicable if the men
will fight: tenable if they do not run away!"--but that he considered
that the great object was to destroy it; as he more than doubted the
willingness of the troops to garrison it, although daily relieved.
Objections were raised as to any other measures being taken than firing
at it to batter it down, which was accordingly done all day. The enemy
showed again; but their numbers are thinning: they fired at us all day;
and the balls from the brass seventeen-pounder just opposite came
whizzing over and about Sturt's house and garden.
Our chiefs are very anxious regarding three galleries that the enemy are
said to be running from various points to the Bazar bastion. They are
said to have mined 100 yards towards it from the captured fort. Hadjee
Mahommed, the famous miner from the Kohistan, has twenty men with him;
and the enemy have great confidence in his skill, and have given him
12,000 rupees.
I wonder if they paid the conquering hero of the captured fort their
promised reward of 4000 rupees?
The report is, that the Affghans have sworn on the Koran to take the
Bazar fort and the Magazine fort: for the latter they are to receive
10,000 rupees.
The Envoy is in hopes to get in five days' provisions from the Bala
Hissar.
Mahommed Akbar Khan sent in, offering us terms to go out, bag and
baggage: but this was before the fort was taken, and he will now
probably rise in his demands, which have not transpired. No reply has
yet been given, as hopes are entertained of the arrival of Gen. Nott's
force before we are quite starved: besides, as Zeman Shah Khan has not
given up the power to Mahommed Akbar Khan, he may not be able to
guarantee our safety.
_8th._--The first news of the day was, that the ammunition destined for
the Bala Hissar during last night set out, eighty yaboos, escorted by
some of Skinner's horse, under Capt. Hay: when they got to the camel
sheds they found themselves between two fires, of which, however, but
one shot hit a trooper. On the first shot being fired, many of the saces
threw off their loads, and galloped as hard as they could. Only
forty-four laden yaboos arrived: five were lost altogether, with many
yaboos and loads of private baggage; for there was (now, when the
enemy's suspicions were raised) an idea of trying to throw ammunition
into the Bala Hissar, and of eventually endeavouring to force our way
there: and a good deal of private property was attempted to be sent in
with it. We did not send any thing, expecting that our goods would never
reach their destination.
Had Sturt's wish been complied with, long ago we should have been safe
in the Bala Hissar, with plenty of provisions, and might have set all
Affghanistan at defiance until an army could arrive from the provinces.
The orders given to the reserve last night were, to go to the rescue if
the convoy was attacked on its return; but as there was no order to
defend the animals laden with ammunition when going, they waited until
Brig. Shelton should arrive, and when of course it was too late, and all
was over.
Conolly and Jan Fishan Khan have come in, I believe to press the subject
of our all going to the Bala Hissar.
The General now says that it was Sturt who objected to the attempt on
the Captured fort:--rather an odd assertion, as he was not likely to
object to his own proposition!
There is a report that the Wallee of Khoolloom is coming to our
assistance. To-day there has been much firing in the city; and Dr. Duff
says he saw with a glass the people in the Kuzzilbash quarter fighting
from the tops of the houses.
Yesterday the servants of Mr. Steer and of some other officers asserted
that they heard distant firing of artillery across the gorge behind
Cabul, but no one gave much credit to it. This morning both Sturt and
Warburton heard the booming of very distant artillery, and several other
persons did the same. Ghuznee is only about eighty miles from us: so
that the firing might be from thence: but it is confidently asserted
that the Kandahar force must be near; and three days are given as the
period for their arrival.
Great anxiety, occasioned by a new mine reported to be commenced at the
mill, which Kershaw has examined, as also Sturt and his sergeants, and
there does not happen to be any such thing!
Two days since we saw a funeral procession, with about fifty followers,
going away by the road leading towards the ground lately occupied by the
Shah's camp.
To-day we saw a number of laden camels and yaboos, and sheep, and
people, all going away: they were escorted off in safety by horsemen,
who returned as soon as they were out of sight of cantonments. A number
also went off towards the Kohistan; and we think the confederacy must be
breaking up, as we see very few of the enemy now, either horse or foot;
and the information from the Bala Hissar now rates their numbers at 2500
fighting men.
A letter was sent by the General to the Envoy, finding fault with the
site of cantonments, adverting to our want of provisions, &c.; and also
urgently pointing out the necessity of the Envoy's negotiating with the
enemy for the best terms he could get from them. This letter was signed
by the four members of the council of war,--Major-Gen. Elphinstone,
Brig. Shelton, Brig. Anquetil, and Col. Chambers. Anquetil appended to
his signature, "I concur in this opinion in a military point of view."
_9th._--Another letter, much of the same tenor, from the General to the
Envoy.
Letters received from Jellalabad, but not by me. I wrote to Sale by the
return cossid, from the 18th inclusive. Mackeson had thrown provisions
into Alimusjid; and 400 Usutzyes were raising for its defence. The
Afreedees' allegiance was doubtful, and they were likely on any reverse
to become our open enemies.
Sale had written to the Commander-in-chief to say that reinforcements
for this country must be much greater than those now on their way; that
there must be a strong siege train, engineer officers, with all
_materiel_--light infantry, British infantry, and dragoons; and had
stated that the whole country was in insurrection, and up against us. In
a postscript he mentions that on the day he wrote the first, they had
sallied and entirely defeated the enemy.
Treating is still going on. We have only three days' provisions! The
Ben-i-shehr is rich in grain. Conolly at the Bala Hissar offers to take
it with the escort, but is not permitted; and to send a force from
cantonments it would require a much larger one than we can afford; the
same misfortune attaches to Killa Bolund and Khojeh Rewash.
The King wrote to say that John Conolly and Jan Fishan Khan, who came
into cantonments, must not return to the Bala Hissar last night, as
there were Juzailchees out for the purpose of cutting them off. They
therefore went in at five this morning. They got in safe, though their
escort was fired upon.
We had Sturt's yaboo paraded this morning, who did not seem to feel the
smallest inconvenience, notwithstanding that he had been knocked down by
a nine-pounder shot yesterday. The ball struck the rampart and rebounded
on to his neck, which was protected by such a mane as would not be
believed on description, being of the very shaggiest of those in this
country.
At one this morning Sturt was roused up to examine a wall that Brig.
Shelton wished to have pulled down, and was kept out, with Capt. Hawtrey
and fifty men, for an hour. It proved to be a mare's nest, and the party
were sent on a harassing duty for no purpose!
The 44th have asked for a court of inquiry, and it is to sit to-morrow:
but there is but too much evidence to prove that the Europeans were the
first to run away from the Captured fort. The artillerymen in the
bastions all assert that they were so, and also the first into
cantonments; and the rest of the regiment have _cut_ that company; and
men are generally good judges of their comrades' conduct.
Capt. Trevor was sent by Sir William to meet several Ghilzye chiefs who
had volunteered to enter into terms with him, on payment of two lakhs of
rupees, which sum was taken by Trevor that night, but only one person
met him, who said that the others had seceded from the engagement, and
they would not receive the money. They had declared that, although
connected by marriage with Mahommed Akbar Khan, they had no regard for
him, and would, if Sir William wished it, bring his head; but he
replied, assassination was not our custom.
The alarm was sounded, and at the same time there was a signal flying
from the Bala Hissar, of the enemy being in force in the Shah's garden.
They were making a place to fire behind; from which we drove them. We
had the usual firing all day, and dismounted one of their guns.
Early this morning I was awakened by firing, proceeding from a party
under a Duffodar, in charge of twenty yaboos, with 100 sacks to be
filled with grain at the Bala Hissar. They were fired on by the enemy;
and came scampering back without their bags, and having lost six ponies.
Capt. Hay was this day sent with a message of consequence to the King,
attended by an escort of fifty horse. He went out of cantonments at a
brisk trot, and forded the river. The enemy kept an excellent look-out;
they were immediately in pursuit, but our party got safe into the Bala
Hissar. It was a beautiful sight to see Hay with his cap pulled down on
his brows, his teeth set, neither looking right nor left, but leading
his men with the air of a man ready and expecting to encounter the
worst, and fully determined to do his _devoir_. We were all very anxious
about him, and were delighted to hear that he had got back safe, for
they were fired on in returning, and ten horses without riders were the
heralds of their return. One man only is missing, and we hope he may yet
find his way in, as it is very dark, and the enemy may miss him.
To avoid the enemy, they had to make a _détour_ out of the road some
miles, and the men got dismounted by their horses stumbling and falling
into ditches, &c. There was much anxiety relative to the purport of the
message. It was supposed to be an urgent entreaty from the Envoy to the
King, that the latter would come into cantonments for the purpose of
retreating with the army to India: whatever it was, it produced an order
for the immediate evacuation of the Bala Hissar by our troops.
The enemy have been busy to-day making a platform (said to be 12 feet by
4) behind the commissariat fort.
It is surmised that this is a contrivance to cross the ditch with; but,
as that is 20 feet wide, it is not likely to succeed. They are said to
have appeared to be trying its strength by walking over it.
This day orders have been issued to deprive all camp followers that are
not mustered of their grain rations; but those who will take meat are
permitted to have it in lieu. We have commenced giving our servants two
sheep a day. Between Sturt's servants, mine, and Mr. Mein's (who is
staying with us), we muster forty.
Sturt was told yesterday that two of his sappers were going to desert,
and he had the circumstance reported; but the General and Capt. Bellew
would not put them into confinement, because their plan being overheard
was not considered as a sufficient proof of their intentions: so they
ordered them to be watched; and the end of the story is, that to-day
they are not to be found. A second case of most excellent surveillance.
_11th._--Early this morning, a convoy went to and returned from the Bala
Hissar, having conveyed bags there to be filled with grain.
An armistice; and chiefs came to treat with the Envoy: they met on the
plain; and whilst the negotiations (which were lengthy) were carrying
on, the enemy were busy throwing up works and placing guns in position.
A letter was received last night from Ghuznee: that place was invested;
and Col. MacLaren was marching up with troops, who were somewhere
between Candahar and that place.
As we have only two days' provisions, terms have been accepted. As far
as I can learn, four political hostages are to be given--Pottinger,
Trevor, MacGregor, and Conolly--to insure the return of the Dost.
Mahommed Akbar Khan is to go down with us. They say they will give us
carriage, and we are to be off on Tuesday. The 54th from the Bala Hissar
are to come in to-morrow morning.
_12th._--The troops from the Bala Hissar have not come in, at the desire
of the chiefs; who have now decided that they wish the Shah to remain,
and only require us to go. They wish the King to strengthen their
allegiance by giving his daughters in marriage to the chiefs, and
receiving theirs in return.
They were anxious to have our ladies as hostages, but it was refused.
The Kuzzilbashes have every thing to lose, should the Dost return, and
the Barukzye power come in.
_13th._--Another letter from Gen. Elphinstone, urging the Envoy to treat
with the chiefs.
A report prevalent that it is wished the force should remain; which is,
however, discredited.
The Kohistanees are in great numbers in Behmaru, the Shahbagh, &c.; and
unless the chiefs take possession of the forts _near_, and probably have
a party _in_ cantonments, they will certainly get in, and loot
immediately on our going out.
A curious scene occurred to-day. The men are to leave their old muskets,
and take fresh ones out of the magazine. Without any order or
arrangement the Europeans, Sipahees, and camp followers all got into the
midst of the stores, and helped themselves to whatever came in their
way; it was a regular scene of plunder.
_14th._--The troops left the Bala Hissar last night, but it was
considered unsafe for them to come on here on account of the lateness of
the hour. Immediately on their getting outside the gate, a rush was made
by Mahommed Akbar Khan's men, that chief wishing to seize on the Bala
Hissar, and the person of the King. His majesty had the gates shut, and
in so doing shut in the quarter guard, with some prisoners of the 54th.
Finding that the force could not come on, Conolly returned to the gate
to ask to be re-admitted, at which time he was saluted with a discharge
of grape, had one horse shot under him, and another wounded. This was
afterwards explained away as having been intended for the King's and our
mutual foes: if so, they were not very particular as to which party they
fired at. Our troops remained out all night; and this morning had to
fight their way in, against a mixed rabble of Ghilzyes, Logurees, and
Cabulees.
The bullock drivers ran away from the nine-pounder gun; of which the
enemy took possession. They carried off the bullocks; but being near
cantonments, fresh animals were sent out (it was on this side of the
Siah Sung Hill), the gun was soon recaptured; but not till an
unfortunate artilleryman, who being sick rode on it, had been cut to
pieces.
Osman Khan sent to say that if one of the three lakhs promised to him
was sent this evening, he would send in provisions, of which we are in
great need, having only sufficient for to-day and to-morrow's
consumption. In the evening three and a half lakhs were sent.
_15th._--There is a very evident change in politics. "The good King," as
Sir William used to call him, is now thrown over by us, as he refused to
deviate from his accustomed hauteur towards his nobles, or to admit of
his daughters marrying the chiefs as they proposed.
Shah Shoojah has also set his seal to a proclamation calling on all true
Mussalmans to fight against the Feringhees.
A small quantity of ottah was brought in to-day.
Negotiations are still going on.
The chiefs are very anxious to have all the married men and their
families as hostages for the Dost's safe return.
Two days since the King was to have come into cantonments, in rather
light marching order, to accompany us to the provinces. At that time it
was decided that Osman Khan (head of the Barukzyes now in the country,
and at present Vizier) should remain at Cabul: and it being expected
that the expulsion of our force would be a scene of bloodshed and
disaster, a running fight all the way down, Sturt said, that if he could
see Osman Khan himself, and make his own terms with him for our safety
and protection in his own house, he would not object to being one of the
hostages, and keeping his wife and mother with him: he authorized Capt.
Lawrence to say as much to the Envoy. To his great astonishment he heard
that his name had been proposed to the chiefs without any further
communication with him, and with a state of politics wholly different
from those under which he would have acquiesced in the proposition. In
the first place, Shah Shoojah is not going with our army; but is doing
all he can to raise a party against us, and sits at a window of his
palace in the Bala Hissar, whence he distributes shawls, khelluts, and
bhoodkhees to the Ghazeeas. In the second place, Osman Khan is one of
the chiefs who it is now decided are to go down with the Envoy.
Sturt's having talked imprudently to a friend, and its being taken
advantage of, prevents his interfering in the affair; but _I_ am not so
tied, and have represented (through friends) to the General in a
military point of view that he ought to object to Sturt's being taken as
a hostage, on the plea that should there be any thing to do on the way
down, through the Khyber or in the Punjab, he is the only engineer
officer we have;--a circumstance which the General acknowledges escaped
his recollection, but he quickly remedied the ill by writing to the
Envoy on the subject; and time must show the result.
Determined not to put his wife and myself in the enemy's power, he wrote
to the Envoy as follows:--
"My dear Sir William,
"Within the last hour a report has reached me, that myself, Lady Sale,
and Mrs. Sturt, had been proposed to the Cabul chiefs as hostages, in
exchange for Capt. Trevor.
"I have a very distinct recollection of having told Lawrence to mention
to you, that I had no objection to such an arrangement _under certain
terms_; but not having been made acquainted with the fact of such a
proposition having been made, or further consulted on the subject, I
write in much anxiety to inquire if there is any foundation for the
report, and if there is, to be made acquainted with the arrangements
proposed, under which I can be expected to acquiesce in them as far as
regards Lady Sale and Mrs. Sturt; for myself I am ready for any
circumstances likely to benefit or aid in bringing negotiations to a
satisfactory conclusion. I trust you will ease my mind upon this point,
for reports have reached me from several quarters, all of which are
more vague than satisfactory.
"Very truly yours, "J. L. D. STURT.
"15th December, 1841."
This elicited a reply from Sir William stating that he was much hurried
by business, and did not recollect whether Sturt's name had been
mentioned to the chiefs or not; but it was of no consequence, as no
ladies were to be sent as hostages, &c. The letter was evasive and
diplomatic; and did not inform us whether Sturt was to be sent from us
or not. It was, I believe, unfortunately thrown amongst a heap of papers
which Sturt was destroying, for I could not find it afterwards.
_16th._--The impudence of these Affghans is very great! Yesterday some
men who were looting our people close to the gates were warned off, and
they replied, that we might keep within our walls; all _without_
belonged to them.
To-day a well-dressed man, one of Mahommed Akbar Khan's personal
attendants, was attacked by them close to the walls, and stripped of his
garments.
Mr. Baness, the merchant, was standing talking to some of the Affghans
by the gate; a man snatched his watch from him, ran up to a suwar,
knocked him off his horse, mounted it, and galloped off.
This day Sturt was fortunate in purchasing a bag of otta sent in to him
by Taj Mahommed; whose man brought another which our servants were
purchasing.
In a moment there was a cry of otta! and the garden was filled with camp
followers and Sipahees. I never saw such a scene: the joy of those who
got a handful for a rupee, the sorrow evinced by those who were
unsuccessful, and the struggles of all to get close to the man! The
gentlemen had to stand with thick sticks to keep the people off. There
was no weighing; at first the man gave two handsful for a rupee, but the
quantity soon diminished in consequence of the great demand for it.
To prove our good faith and belief in that of the chiefs, we are to-day
placed entirely in their power.
They know that we are starving; that our horses and cattle have neither
grain, bhoosa, nor grass. They have pretty well eaten up the bark of the
trees and the tender branches; the horses gnaw the tent pegs. I was
gravely told that the artillery horses had eaten the trunnion of a gun!
This is difficult of belief; but I have seen my own riding-horse gnaw
voraciously at a cart-wheel. Nothing is _satisfied_ with food except the
Pariah dogs, who are gorged with eating dead camels and horses.
This evening the Rikabashees fort, Zulfa Khan's fort, and the Magazine
fort, were given up to the chiefs.
Misseer Aollah Khan, brother of Nawaub Zeman Shah Khan, came in as a
hostage.
In the Magazine fort our allies are said to have placed 4,000 men. The
chiefs promised, as soon as they were in possession of our forts, to
give us grain; and about half an hour after our garrisons were withdrawn
155 maunds of otta and a small quantity of bhoosa was brought in.
They have also promised to procure us 2,000 camels and 400 yaboos.
To show how strangely military matters are conducted at present; we were
taking our evening walk on the ramparts, when a Sipahee quite out of
breath came up, and asked for the Brigade Major, saying that he was sent
from the Rikabashees fort to ask for the order to give it up, as the men
were waiting outside the gate ready to march off, and the Affghans were
also waiting to march in; as we plainly saw, when we stood near
Bygrave's bastion. I do not attach any blame to the General in this; but
to those whose duty it was to issue the orders and see them executed.
At eleven P.M. heard some firing, and began to think there was going to
be some treachery.
Our allies, as they are now called, will be very magnanimous if they let
us escape, now that they have fairly got us in their net. It is said the
Bala Hissar will be attacked to-morrow by those who are neither the
King's nor our friends; though they are now termed allies instead of
enemies.
_17th._--There has been news from Jellalabad to-day up to the 7th. I
hear that Sale and all are well there; but it came out by accident. The
Sikhs have refused to assist us, which is breaking their treaty, and
portends military movements in the Punjab;--an additional reason why our
only engineer should not remain in Cabul.
Accounts from Candahar and Khelat-i-Gilzie. All is right again, they
say, at the former place; that prompt measures were taken; a chief
seized and blown from a gun, which terrified the rest into subjection.
No further news from Ghuznee; which, by the last accounts, was invested.
Both otta and bhoosa brought in to-day; but not more than for the day's
consumption, and only for the commissariat. Camels were brought in, and
some sold to the commissariat for 140 and 150 rupees each. We offered
1000 rupees for eight camels; but for so few they insisted on receiving
200 for each. The plunderers were, as usual, outside attacking all who
passed, friend or foe, and were fired on from the magazine fort: the
garrison there were also firing.
Sturt was standing at the rear gate, when a man inquired if he was an
officer; and, on his asking why he wished to know, and what he wanted
with him, said, half drawing his sword, "to fight."
It is said that our departure depends on the King's reply, which was
expected to be given to-day. He is either to go with us to Loodianah, to
remain here, or to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca.
In the city Zeman Shah Khan now reigns.
The people say that, as soon as we go, there will be dreadful fighting;
not such as they have had with us, but chupaos on each other's houses,
sword in hand, and cutting each other's throats: that we shall be
attacked all the way to Khoord Cabul, but not after that, as that part
of the country belongs to Ameenoollah Khan, whose son goes with us.
Nothing decided regarding Sturt, but it is said he will have to remain.
_18th._--When we rose this morning the ground was covered with snow;
which continued falling all day.