endeavouring to remove the barricade at the gate of the mission
compound: on being discovered, two Europeans galloped away, who were not
recognised. The third, ----, a writer in Capt. Johnson's office, was
taken prisoner: he refuses to name his companions, and says they were
going to Mahommed Akbar Khan to obtain provisions for the army. ---- is
a man of bad character; he has lately got himself into bad repute by
writing letters in the newspapers under the signature of "Sharp." He was
also connected with a man of the name of O'Grady Gorman in a
correspondence with the Russians; which was proved by letters found
amongst the papers of the latter after he was murdered at Candahar.
Two men of the 54th have made their escape out of the Bala Hissar; they
passed a rope through one of the loopholes and let themselves down. They
say the King has been tampering with them, offering to give them 15
rupees a month, and to promote all the non-commissioned officers; but
that not one has accepted his offers.
This day we bought camels at 150 rupees each.
_19th._--More strange things have occurred. Brig. Shelton wrote
privately to Mahommed Akbar Khan for forage for his own use, and
obtained ten loads of bhoosa. He made the man who brought it a present
(writing to Sir William that he wished to have a pair of pistols or a
chogah of small value from the Tosha Khana to present to a respectable
native), and the present was sent with a bill attached to it for 30
rupees. On its arrival, Shelton left the room to receive it, and during
his absence the Affghan appropriated to himself a sword which had been a
gift to the Brigadier from Shah Shoojah. On this he applied to the Envoy
for its restoration, which brought the whole story to light; and
occasioned the Brigadier to receive an admonition for having, unknown to
the Envoy, entered into correspondence with one of the chiefs. The
General, having heard the former part of the above story, wrote to the
Envoy to ascertain if he also could not obtain forage from Akbar direct;
but Sir William was extremely indignant at any attempt at correspondence
being entered into with any of the chiefs by individuals, and
peremptorily forbade it; having the courtesy to add, that he was in
expectation of obtaining some for himself, of which he would permit Gen.
Elphinstone to have a part.
The chiefs are evidently fearful that we are getting in supplies to a
greater extent than they wish.
We had been fortunate enough to purchase some otta and barley for our
servants and cattle. A servant of Mahommed Akbar Khan's came into our
verandah and wanted to take it away by force; but I saw what was going
on, and called Sturt, who took him by the collar, and expedited his
departure by a kick; to the great astonishment of sundry Affghans at
such indignity being offered to the servant of a sirdar.
Snow again fell to-day.
In a letter from Gen. Elphinstone to the Envoy to-day, he observes,
"that the force is not in a state to act in any way necessity might
require; but he hoped that it would be better disposed to-morrow!"
_20th._--Taj Mahommed Khan came again to see Sturt; and through his
servants we got some new cheese. He told us that Shamsuddeen's brother
died last night.
Taj Mahommed assures us of the intended treachery of Akbar; and says the
force will be annihilated, and is most anxious that we should accept
such protection as he is willing to afford us somewhere in the hills
until the return of the English;--for that a strong force will be sent
to retake Cabul, and avenge the meditated destruction of our army, is a
general opinion amongst the thinking Affghans, several of whom, as well
as Taj Mahommed Khan, obtained written testimonials of their friendship
towards the English, that they may hereafter produce them for their
advantage. We can only thank him for his good intentions. It is
difficult to make these people understand our ideas on military
subjects; and how a proceeding, which was only intended to save a man's
life, conjointly with that of his wife and mother, can in any way affect
his honour. Certain it is that we have very little hope of saving our
lives.
The Envoy seems to fear treachery on the part of the chiefs; and
evidently wishes to break the treaty. If he does so, it must be by a
simultaneous attack on the three forts we have given up to our "allies,"
and also on Mahommed Khan's fort. It would, if successful, give us a
decided advantage, and perhaps alarm many into siding with us; but the
plan is too late a one. Sturt was applied to for a sketch of operations,
which he gave, for the attack on Mahommed Khan's fort, but was of
opinion we were too weak, and our men too dispirited, to attempt it. On
this subject he received a letter from the General, of which the
following is a copy:--
"My dear Sturt,
"I do not know whether Thain has written to you the substance of a
conversation I had this day with the Envoy. He thinks it possible we
may be driven to hostilities, and asked, with the view to the recapture
of the magazine (fort omitted), whether we had ladders, or the means of
making them. I hope they will not drive us to this, although things
look very ill and very like treachery.
"Yours, "W. K. E."
"20th Dec."
The Envoy had a meeting with the allies this evening: he says they have
not broken their treaty, but are fearful we shall break ours. The chiefs
rise daily in their demands; and to-day required that we should send the
guns and ammunition that were to be left at once into Mahmood Khan's
fort.
They now will not give up Trevor; because, as the Envoy wishes to get
him back, they take it for granted he is a person of consequence. The
affair of the sword has made the same impression regarding Brig.
Shelton, whom the chiefs have demanded, with Captains Grant and Conolly.
Trevor is with them, and Drummond and Skinner are still detained in the
city.
Chiefs, or their deputies, daily come in to negotiate; but we have only
Moussa Khan with us as an "honoured guest."
Sturt has proposed to the General that we break off all treaty, and
openly retreat to Jellalabad; directing Sale to remain there, and the
whole force to await the arrival of troops either at Jellalabad or
Peshawer; not to leave our sick, as was intended, with Zeman Shah Khan,
but to take all officers' and other private baggage for them, and the
ammunition, allowing a small portion for women and children. The staff
and sick officers to be allowed a riding horse, the others to march with
their men. This is a public-spirited proposition of his; for we had
succeeded, at great expense, in obtaining carriage for his most valuable
property, which, by this arrangement, must be abandoned, and for which
it was possible he would not receive any recompence.
We hear that the inhabitants of the fortress of Ghuznee communicated
with the enemy without; and by a coalition have driven our troops from
all other parts than the citadel and the Cabul gateway. Now, had we
retreated to the citadel in the Bala Hissar, as Sturt recommended before
the Rikabashees' fort was taken, and often afterwards, we should not now
be in the humiliating situation that we are.
The troops sent to the relief of Ghuznee only got two marches beyond
Khelat-i-Ghilzie: their further progress is said to have been prevented,
not only by the overpowering numbers of the enemy, but also by the snow,
which rendered the passes impracticable; they fell back upon Candahar,
leaving reinforcements in Khelat-i-Ghilzie.
Orders were despatched yesterday to Ghuznee, for the surrender of that
place. The troops will have to march through the Zoormut country, and go
down by Dera Ismael Khan.
Thursday is at present said to be the day for our departure.
_21st._--The hostages are decided on,--Airey, Pottinger, Warburton, and
Conolly, who are to start immediately for the city.
The Envoy met Osman Khan and Mahommed Akbar Khan in conference.
_22d._--The waggons, ammunition, &c., given up to our "allies."
Lady Macnaghten's carriage and horses given to Mahommed Akbar Khan.
The troops were kept under arms for two hours about nothing. Some
cavalry horses were sent out to be shot: the Affghans wished to take
them away, but the guard (37th) bayoneted one man, and shot another; on
which they dispersed.
The Affghans say, that if, when we retook the gun on the hill, on the
23d of last month, we had pursued to the gates of Cabul, they would
never have made head against us again. They say they cannot understand
Shelton's conduct on the hill on that day; and that, if our generals can
do no more, the Affghans have nothing to fear from them. This is nearly
verbatim what has been remarked before, but I am not attempting to shine
in rounded periods; but give every thing that occurs as it comes to my
knowledge: and this was the saying of an Affghan gentleman, and also of
several of the lower classes, who came both to-day and often, to see
Sturt, to give him warnings, which, alas! were by those in authority
slighted.
A general opinion prevails amongst the Affghans that a force will be
sent up against them; and many persons are getting letters to prove who
are our friends.
Macgregor writes that for reasons of the utmost consequence, it is
impossible for Sale's brigade to leave Jellalabad. Yesterday there was a
grand discussion in the chiefs' durbar. One party objected to the
departure of the English, urging that, _coute qui coute_, they should be
killed: the Nawaub Zeman Shah Khan said, "If that is your opinion, I
shall go into cantonments; after that, do as you will: for me, I will
never lend myself to any act that is contrary to good faith." Our
friends in the city seem to think that this chief's character is not
understood by our chiefs in cantonments. Zeman Shah Khan does not wish
our departure; but he fears his followers, and dares not openly say what
he thinks.
The Envoy, in taking the part of Mahommed Akbar Khan, and in giving him
money, has given him the means of doing much harm. Before he received
money from us he had no power, and was not a person of any consequence;
now he is in force, with the disadvantage of possessing a very bad
disposition; and until the Nawaub said, "if you put difficulties in
their route to Jellalabad I shall go into cantonments," he did every
thing in his power to embarrass the council. At present, all appears
_couleur de rose_.
It is said that yesterday Mahommed Akbar Khan went to Osman Khan's
house, and swore on the Koran that he would do whatever the Nawaub
desired. This act they say decided every thing; and it was settled that
the troops should march on Tuesday the 4th, Osman Khan to go with the
army; he appears to be a good and an intelligent person. The son of the
Nawaub also goes, but he is not considered a shining character, though a
good person. It is believed that Shah Shoojah will have a strong party
after the English depart; but the Nawaub's faction treat this opinion
with ridicule.
_23d._--Humza Khan is a Ghilzye chief, now in Mahmood Khan's fort. He
was the governor of the Ghilzye country; and, when the insurrection
broke out in the end of September at Bhoodkhak, he was sent by the King
to suppress it: instead of which he organised the rebel force.
On the return of this chief to Cabul he was put in irons in prison, and
was to have been sent to the fortress of Ghuznee; he obtained his
release when the insurrection of the 2d of November took place. This
said Humza Khan has proffered to the Envoy, for a large consideration,
provisions, if we will hold out; but his reputed bad character for faith
renders him perhaps unsafe to deal with: besides, it may be a mere
_ruse_ to ascertain whether we are sincere or not in regard to the
treaty we have made. There are said to be 2000 men in Mahmood Khan's
fort at present.
Our sick men were placed in doolies to-day, preparatory to their removal
to Zeman Shah Khan's house in the city; but their departure was delayed.
Some of our ammunition waggons were taken away by the allies; as also
shrapnell and eight-inch shells.
Capt. Skinner came in at eleven last night with two Affghans; one, I
believe, was a half brother of Mahommed Akbar's, by name Sultan Khan. At
one this morning they returned to the city on important business. Moussa
Khan was also sent into the city early this morning on some affair
connected with negotiations.
The 54th, Shah's 6th, and some guns are ordered for a secret service;
which the staff officer who gave the order said was to attack Mahmood
Khan's fort, and from thence to bring away Amenoollah Khan, dead or
alive. This force was ordered on an especial requisition of the Envoy's:
I was present at mid-day, when Capt. Lawrence told Capt. Boyd that he
was to purchase any quantity of grain and provision in his power, even
to the extent of fifty days' supplies; and if it was not required, the
loss would fall on the Government, should we go away and leave it
behind. This conversation took place just previous to the Envoy going
out to meet Akbar Khan, on the plain between the cantonments and the
Siah Sung Hill.
I remarked that Lawrence styled the chiefs rebels instead of allies;
which, coupled with the order to the commissariat officer to lay in
provisions, looked very suspicious.
About two o'clock we suddenly heard firing, and all went to the rear
gate to see what the matter was; when I met Mr. Waller, who informed me
that the Envoy had been taken away by the chiefs.
The clearest account we have yet obtained was from Le Geyt, who
accompanied the Envoy. It seems, when he arrived at the burnt bridge,
the Envoy sent back all his escort except ten men.
Brig. Shelton having expressed a wish to be present at the conference,
and not having joined the party, Le Geyt was sent back to hasten his
arrival. The Brigadier said he was occupied, and could not go; and when
Le Geyt returned it was too late, and he met the escort, who said that
Lawrence and Mackenzie had ordered them back.
Many shots were fired, and some of them came into cantonments. Le Geyt's
saces, who had been desired to remain when his master returned to
cantonments, now came up; and reported that on the Envoy's arrival he
found the chiefs seated on a loonghee on the ground; that he sat there
with them and discoursed, whilst Trevor, Mackenzie, and Lawrence
remained on their horses; that after a time two sirdars came, and stood
behind the Envoy, who rose, as did Akbar Khan; that the Ghazeeas came
and cut in between them and the cantonments, and firing commenced; that
one of them drew Lawrence's sword from his side; that Akbar Khan took
the Envoy by the hand, and led him, and all the gentlemen dismounted,
towards the Yaghi fort; but it is generally believed that they are all
safe, but taken into the city; however, great anxiety prevails regarding
their fate, and that of Skinner, Conolly, and Airey, who are in the city
as hostages.
The regiments were got under arms, the walls manned, &c.; but nothing
was done. Grant declared that it was impossible to say whether it was a
piece of treachery on the part of the chiefs, or friendship to save the
party from an attack by the Ghazeeas. The only certain thing is, that
our chiefs are at a non-plus.
The Affghans are greatly alarmed at a letter they have intercepted from
Major Leech, political agent: this letter was of an old date, in which
he tells the Envoy to hold out, that reinforcements are coming from
Candahar, and that by hook or by crook he will obtain other aid from
Hindostan.
There is also a native report, that four regiments are between this and
Jellalabad. A cossid has come in from Macgregor; where he has been
detained we know not; but the letters he brought were of the 16th of
November. There is a general opinion in cantonments that faith has been
broken on both sides, and that the Affghans have made the cleverest
chupao.
Boyd has seven days' provisions; and says the bazaar can furnish seven
more.
The bridge is taken up at the rear gate, and the camels that came in
with grain have not been allowed to go out again. Neither is egress
permitted to any respectable-looking Affghan who is in cantonments. The
Meerakhor (one of the hostages, and the general go-between in our
negotiations) has promised to get a letter conveyed to Sir William in
the morning and to obtain a reply: he says there are too many Ghazeeas
about to attempt it to-night.
The plain was at one time covered with people; but the horsemen seemed
wending up and down trying to quiet them, and they gradually dispersed.
There was a great crowd about a body, which the Affghans were seen to
strip: it was evidently that of an European; but, strange to say, no
endeavour was made to recover it, which might easily have been done by
sending out cavalry.
A red flag, said to be Amenoollah Khan's, went with about thirty men to
reinforce the Rikabashees fort; and subsequently a greater number.
The Magazine fort was crowded with men.
_24th._--I received a note from Lawrence, enclosing one from Conolly
(Sir William's nephew) to Lady Macnaghten, and had the sad office
imposed on me of informing both her and Mrs. Trevor of their husbands'
assassination: over such scenes I draw a veil. It was a most painful
meeting to us all.
Numerous reports are current. That of to-day is, that Sir William was
taken to the city, and arraigned before a tribunal there for want of
faith; and that Trevor suffered from the assiduity with which he
executed the Envoy's orders. All reports agree, that both the Envoy's
and Trevor's bodies are hanging in the public chouk: the Envoy's
decapitated and a mere trunk; the limbs having been carried in triumph
about the city.
A fallen man meets but little justice; and reports are rife that the
Envoy was guilty of double-dealing, treating with Akbar Khan and
Amenoollah Khan at the same time. In justice to a dead man, it should be
remembered that the only person supposed to know the object of the
Envoy's going out on the 23d was Skinner; who is now in the city. Sultan
Khan was, I believe, the name of the person who came in with him, with a
letter from Akbar Khan, on the night of the 22d. In that letter, which
was read by a friend of mine, Akbar proposed that he should be made
wuzeer to Shah Shoojah; he was to receive thirty lakhs of rupees, down,
and four lakhs per annum: our troops to remain eight months; and then
only to go if the King wished them to do so. He urgently requested the
Envoy to come and talk it over with him.
We must hold in mind that, although we had performed all promises made
on our part, given up our waggons, ammunition, forts, &c., the treaty
had never been signed by the chiefs; nor had they fulfilled a single
condition which had been specified verbally, beyond giving us grain in
small quantities. The sequitur is, that the Envoy was perfectly
justified, as far as keeping good faith went, in entering into any
arrangement by which the condition of the troops could be ameliorated
and the honour of our country be insured. He only erred in supposing it
possible that Akbar Khan, proverbially the most treacherous of all his
countrymen, could be sincere.
It was a part of Akbar Khan's plan to have Amenoollah Khan seized and
brought to cantonments as a hostage.
It was a most decided piece of treachery on the part of Akbar. They were
seated on a bank together: Lawrence, a very spunky active man, felt as
if something was wrong; and when urged to sit, only knelt on one knee,
that he might start up on occasion: but his pistol and sword were seized
and his arms secured instantaneously, which rendered him powerless, and
he was hurried away behind a chief on horseback; as was Mackenzie.
At that time Mahommed Akbar Khan had seized the Envoy by his left wrist,
and Sultan Jan held him by the right; they dragged him down the bank, he
exclaiming, "Az burai Kodar!" (For the love of God!) At the moment he
was laid hands on, Mackenzie, Trevor, and Lawrence were disarmed, and
forced away _en croup_ behind different chiefs. They saw no more of the
Envoy alive. Sultan Jan uttering an opprobrious epithet, calling him a
dog, cut poor Trevor down, as did also Moollah Momind. Mackenzie would
have shared the same fate had not Mahommed Shah Khan, behind whom he
rode, received the cut on his own arm, which went through his postheen.
Lawrence's life was saved by hard galloping: but he received some blows.
This account I had from the surviving principals in the tragedy; so it
may be depended on as the true account. The body we saw from the rear
gate was that of the Envoy.
A letter has this day been received, signed by several Kohistanees, of
no great consequence, setting forth that they do not care for either
party; that they can muster 400 men, and are ready for a handsome
consideration to escort us down safe to Jellalabad. No notice was taken
of this letter, but the idea was laughed to scorn.
The original treaty between Sir William and the chiefs has been sent in
again; with three additional clauses:--
To leave all our treasure:
To leave all our guns excepting six:
To exchange the present hostages for all the married men and their
families; and General Sale's name particularly mentioned. No doubt he
was not forgotten by Mahommed Shah Khan the Ghilzye, whom he defeated
at Jellalabad, and 500 of whose followers were killed.
General Elphinstone said he might give the officers as hostages; but
that their wives and families were not public property: and, unless the
husbands consented, he could not send them.
Major Thain was accordingly sent round to ask all the married officers
if they would consent to their wives staying; offering those who did so
a salary of 2000 rupees a month. Lieut. Eyre said if it was to be
productive of great good he would stay with his wife and child. The
others all refused to risk the safety of their families. Capt. Anderson
said he would rather put a pistol to his wife's head and shoot her; and
Sturt, that his wife and mother should only be taken at the point of the
bayonet: for himself, he was ready to perform any duty imposed on him.
There certainly appears to have been a fatality about the events of
yesterday. I have mentioned that Sir William applied to Gen. Elphinstone
for two regiments and two guns for a secret service, which were in
readiness, but never went out of cantonments: had they done so, it is
more than probable that the surprise never would have occurred. Added to
this, with his usual vacillation, Gen. E. wrote a note to the Envoy,
which never reached him, as it arrived at his house after his departure,
and was not even opened at the time. In this note he stated that we were
too weak to send two regiments out of cantonments; particularly as the
magazine fort was now garrisoned by 400 men instead of 40, the number
the allies had stipulated should be thrown into it: and that if two
regiments and two guns were to go out, the safety of the cantonments
would be endangered. The Envoy had only ordered ten of his escort to
attend him. Lawrence had taken sixteen; but a part of these returned of
their own accord, feigning orders from Lawrence and Mackenzie. They
probably had some knowledge of what was in contemplation; for there can
be no doubt that the Envoy was surrounded by spies and traitors. Persian
notes, that have arrived, have on different occasions been offered for
perusal by his chuprassies--who were unable to read themselves, and
anxious to know the contents--to Capt. Trevor's elder boys, who could
read the characters; but they, imagining it was pure curiosity, and
having no turn of a diplomatic description, refused to read them; and
the notes were probably taken to others who did so, and made bad use of
what intelligence they contained.
As it appears extremely uncertain whether we shall get on with the
treaty or not, we are busy making up hammocks to carry the sick. They
are making up in Sturt's compound; so light that two men can carry a
heavy man in one easily.
Reports are assiduously spread that the Envoy's and Trevor's deaths were
the act of the Ghazeeas; and that Mahommed Akbar Khan greatly regrets
all that has passed.