consisted of half a seer of wheat per diem, with melted ghee or dhal,
for fighting men; and for camp followers, for some time, of a quarter of
a seer of wheat or barley. Our cattle, public and private, had long
subsisted on the twigs and bark of the trees. From the commencement of
negotiations with the chiefs, otta, barley, and bhoosa were brought in
in considerable quantities; the former selling at from two to four seers
per rupee, and the latter from seven to ten; but neither ourselves nor
our servants benefited by this arrangement: it came to the commissariat
for the troops. The poorer camp followers had latterly subsisted on such
animals (camels, ponies, &c.) as had died from starvation. The men had
suffered much from over work and bad feeding, also from want of firing;
for when all the wood in store was expended, the chiefs objected to our
cutting down any more of the fruit trees; and their wishes were complied
with. Wood, both public and private, was stolen: when ours was gone, we
broke up boxes, chests of drawers, &c.; and our last dinner and
breakfast at Cabul were cooked with the wood of a mahogany dining table.
When the advance had proceeded about a mile, an order was brought for a
return to cantonments, as Mahommed Zeman Shah Khan had written to say
the chiefs were not ready; but shortly afterwards a counter order
arrived to proceed without loss of time.
When the rear guard left cantonments, they were fired upon from the
cantonment then filled with Affghans. The servants, who were not
concerned in the plunder, all threw away their loads, and ran off.
Private baggage, commissariat, and ammunition were nearly annihilated at
one fell swoop. The whole road was covered with men, women, and
children, lying down in the snow to die.
The only baggage we saved was Mrs. Sturt's bedding, on which the ayah
rode; and keeping her close to us, it was saved.
The Mission Compound was first vacated: and when the force from thence
came into cantonments in order to pass through them, it was immediately
filled with Affghans; who, in like manner, occupied the cantonments as
our troops went out.
It was the General's original intention to halt at Begramee, close to
the Loghur river, and about five miles from Cabul (reiterated was the
advice of our Affghan friends--alas, how little heeded!--to push on at
all risks through the Khoord Cabul the first day): but the whole country
being a swamp encrusted with ice, we went on about a mile further, and
halted at about 4 P.M. There were no tents, save two or three small
palls that arrived. All scraped away the snow as best they might, to
make a place to lie down on. The evening and night were intensely cold:
no food for man or beast procurable, except a few handfuls of bhoosa,
for which we paid from five to ten rupees. Captain Johnson, in our great
distress, kindly pitched a small pall over us: but it was dark, and we
had few pegs; the wind blew in under the sides, and I felt myself
gradually stiffening. I left the bedding, which was occupied by Mrs.
Sturt and her husband, and doubled up my legs in a straw chair of
Johnson's, covering myself with my poshteen. Mr. Mein and the ayah fully
occupied the remainder of the space. We only went in all six miles, and
had to abandon two H. A. guns on the road: we were also much delayed by
the bullocks that dragged the planks, in case the Loghur bridge should
have been destroyed. We had, however, positive information that it was
all right; and so it proved.
Previous to leaving cantonments, as we must abandon most of our
property, Sturt was anxious to save a few of his most valuable books,
and to try the experiment of sending them to a friend in the city.
Whilst he selected these, I found, amongst the ones thrown aside,
Campbell's Poems, which opened at Hohenlinden; and, strange to say, one
verse actually haunted me day and night:--
"Few, few shall part where many meet,
The snow shall be their winding sheet;
And every turf beneath their feet
Shall be a soldier's sepulchre."
I am far from being a believer in presentiments; but this verse is never
absent from my thoughts. Heaven forbid that our fears should be
realized! but we have commenced our retreat so badly, that we may
reasonably have our doubts regarding the finale. Nearly all Hopkins's
corps, the Shah's 6th, deserted from this place; as also the Shah's
sappers and miners, 250 in number.
We afterwards heard that 400 of Hopkins's men went back to Cabul the
next day.
_7th._--Yesterday's rear-guard did not get up to our bivouac till two
this morning, as there was no attempt to form any lines. As stragglers
came up we heard them shouting out, to know where their corps were; and
the general reply,--that no one knew any thing about it.
During last night, or rather towards the morning, there was an alarm.
Had it proved the enemy, we were perfectly defenceless; fortunately it
was only camp followers, &c.
At daylight we found several men frozen to death, amongst whom was Mr.
Conductor Macgregor.
The reason the rear-guard were so late was, that they did not leave
cantonments till sunset. Previous to their quitting them the Affghans
had entered; and set fire to all the public and private buildings, after
plundering them of their contents. The whole of our valuable magazine
was _looted_ by the mob; and they burned the gun-carriages to procure
the iron. Some fighting took place between the Affghans and our
Sipahees. About fifty of the 54th were killed and wounded; and Cornet
Hardyman, of the 5th Cavalry, killed. A great deal of baggage and public
property was abandoned in cantonments, or lost on the road; amongst
which were two Horse Artillery six-pounders, as before mentioned.
The officers of the rear-guard report that the road is strewn with
baggage; and that numbers of men, women, and children, are left on the
road-side to perish. Captain Boyd's office accounts, to the amount of
several lakhs of rupees, have been lost.
Two or three small tents came up to-day.
The men were half-frozen; having bivouacked all night in the snow,
without a particle of food or bedding, or wood to light a fire.
At half-past seven the advance-guard moved off--no order was given--no
bugle sounded. It had much difficulty in forcing its way ahead of the
baggage and camp followers; all of whom had proceeded in advance as soon
as it was light. Amongst them there were many Sipahees; and discipline
was clearly at an end. If asked why they were not with their corps, one
had a lame foot, another could not find his regiment, another had lost
his musket: any excuse to run off.
The whole of what little baggage was left, was not off the ground ere
the enemy appeared, and plundered all they could lay their hands on.
As the mountain train, consisting of three three-pounders dragged by
yaboos and mules, was passing a small fort close to our back-ground, a
party of Affghans sallied out, and captured the whole. Scarcely any
resistance was offered on the part of our troops, and the saces
immediately absconded. Brig. Anquetil and Lieut. Green rallied the men,
and retook the guns; but were obliged to abandon them, as the 44th,
whose duty it was to guard them, very precipitately _made themselves
scarce_: but this was not done until Anquetil and Green had spiked them
with their own hands, amid the gleaming sabres of the enemy.
As the troops advanced on their road, the enemy increased considerably
on both flanks; and greatly annoyed the centre and rear.
It was the General's intention to proceed through the Khoord Cabul pass
to Khoord Cabul; and as it was not above one P.M. when the advance
arrived at Bhoodkhak, having only come five miles, it was with dismay we
heard the order to halt.
We left Cabul with five and a half days' rations to take us to
Jellalabad, and no forage for cattle, nor hope of procuring any on the
road. By these unnecessary halts we diminished our provisions; and
having no cover for officers or men, they are perfectly paralysed with
the cold. The snow was more than a foot deep. Here, again, did evil
counsel beset the General: his principal officers and staff objecting to
a further advance; and Capt. Grant, in whom he had much confidence,
assured him that if he proceeded he risked the safety of the army!
On our arrival at Bhoodkhak, the enemy had very greatly increased around
our position; and we heard that Mahommed Akbar Khan was with them.
Scarcely any baggage of either officers or men now remained. In a very
small pall of Johnson's we slept nine, all touching each other.
We were also indebted to Johnson and Troup for food. They had a few
Cabul cakes and some tea, which they kindly shared with us.
During this short march we were obliged to spike and abandon two other
six-pounders, the horses not having strength sufficient to drag them on.
We have only two horse artillery guns left, with scarcely any
ammunition.
Again no ground was marked out for the troops. Three fourths of the
Sipahees are mixed up with the camp followers, and know not where to
find the headquarters of their corps.
Snow still lies a foot deep on the ground. No food for man or beast; and
even water from the river close at hand difficult to obtain, as our
people were fired on in fetching it.
Numbers of unfortunates have dropped, benumbed with cold, to be
massacred by the enemy: yet, so bigoted are our rulers, that we are
still told that the Sirdars are faithful, that Mahommed Akbar Khan is
our friend!!! &c. &c. &c.; and the reason they wish us to delay is, that
they may send their troops to clear the passes for us! That they will
send them there can be no doubt; for every thing is occurring just as
was foretold to us before we set out.
Between Begramee and Bhoodkhak, a body of the enemy's horse charged down
into the column (immediately after the 5th and 37th had passed); and
succeeded in carrying off an immense quantity of baggage and a number of
camels, without experiencing the least resistance.
_8th._--At sunrise no order had been issued for the march, and the
confusion was fearful. The force was perfectly disorganised, nearly
every man paralysed with cold, so as to be scarcely able to hold his
musket or move. Many frozen corpses lay on the ground. The Sipahees
burnt their caps, accoutrements, and clothes to keep themselves warm.
Some of the enemy appearing in rear of our position, the whole of the
camp followers rushed to the front; every man, woman, and child, seizing
all the cattle that fell in their way, whether public or private. The
ground was strewn with boxes of ammunition, plate, and property of
various kinds. A cask of spirits on the ground was broached by the
artillerymen, and, no doubt, by other Europeans. Had the whole been
distributed fairly to the men, it would have done them good: as it was,
they became too much excited.
The enemy soon assembled in great numbers. Had they made a dash at us,
we could have offered no resistance, and all would have been massacred.
After very great exertions on the part of commanding officers, portions
of their corps were got together. The 44th, headed by Major Thain, drove
the enemy off to a short distance, and took up a position on a
commanding height. The cavalry were also employed. Bullets kept whizzing
by us, as we sat on our horses, for hours. The artillerymen were now
fully _primed_, by having had some brandy given them from the 54th's
mess stores, which were being distributed to any one who would take
them. They mounted their horses; and, with the best feeling in the
world, declared that they were ashamed at our inactivity, and vowed they
would charge the enemy. Capt. Nicholl, their immediate commandant, came
up; abused them as drunkards, and talked of punishment: not the way,
under such circumstances, to quiet tipsy men. They turned to Sturt
shortly after their own officer had left them, having showered curses
and abuse on them, which had irritated them dreadfully. Sturt told them
they were fine fellows, and had ever proved themselves such during the
siege; but that their lives were too valuable to be risked at such a
moment: but, if need were, and their services were required, he would
himself go with them. This, in a certain degree, restrained their
ardour; yet still they kept on talking valiantly. These men listened the
more readily to Sturt because they knew him well: he was daily and
hourly in the batteries with them, encouraging them by being ever the
foremost in the post of danger; and on those dreadfully cold nights
during the siege, whilst there was a bottle of brandy to be had at any
price, after his own small store was expended, he gave those men on duty
each one glass to warm and cheer them--a comfort they fully appreciated,
as they had long been without what was now become necessary, though it
is in general the soldier's bane. For myself, whilst I sat for hours on
my horse in the cold, I felt very grateful for a tumbler of sherry,
which at any other time would have made me very unlady-like, but now
merely warmed me, and appeared to have no more strength in it than
water. Cups full of sherry were given to young children three and four
years old without in the least affecting their heads.
When Major Thain took command of the 44th, he took part of the 37th N.
I. with him. The 44th lines were nearest to the men who were firing into
our camp; which was only saved by the promptness of Thain and Lawrence,
who brought up the escort at a trot in the direction of the firing. He
had to pass to the right of the 44th, and there he found about 150 of
that regiment falling into their ranks. Major Thain was about 200 yards
in advance, apparently reconnoitring the enemy, who were creeping up
under cover of the ravines and hillocks, and keeping up a desultory fire
on our camp. About this time a company of the 37th N. I. formed on
Lawrence's right, and on Thain making a signal all moved forward, and
drove off the enemy in good style. Anderson's horse were formed on the
opposite face of the camp, with orders to keep back the camp followers,
who were rushing towards the entrance of the pass. Major Thain appears
to have acted on the spur of the moment; which is the only reason I can
assign for his commanding the 44th. Lawrence was not under any one's
orders; as the General, before quitting cantonments, told him that his
escort would be an independent body.
I am by no means certain that our chiefs pursued the wisest course. Had
they, when the enemy first appeared, showed a good front, and dashed at
them, they would probably all have scampered off as fast as they could.
The Affghans never stand a charge.
The General and Major Pottinger soon discovered that Mahommed Akbar Khan
was there, and entered into communication with him: he agreed to protect
the troops, on condition that he should receive hereafter 15,000 rupees;
and that Pottinger, Lawrence, and Mackenzie should be given over to him
as hostages for General Sale's evacuation of Jellalabad; but that the
troops should not proceed further than Tézeen until information be
received of the march of the troops from that place. These disgraceful
propositions were readily assented to; and the three officers went off
to the Sirdar.
Capt. Lawrence received a note from Conolly, telling him to be cautious,
to put ourselves as little as possible in Akbar's power, and above all
things to push on as fast as we could: but this note did not arrive
until the conference was over, and all points adjusted.
We commenced our march at about mid-day, the 5th N. I. in front. The
troops were in the greatest state of disorganisation: the baggage was
mixed in with the advanced guard; and the camp followers all pushed
ahead in their precipitate flight towards Hindostan.
Sturt, my daughter, Mr. Mein, and I, got up to the advance; and Mr. Mein
was pointing out to us the spots where the 1st brigade was attacked, and
where he, Sale, &c. were wounded. We had not proceeded half a mile when
we were heavily fired upon. Chiefs rode with the advance, and desired us
to keep close to them. They certainly desired their followers to shout
to the people on the height not to fire: they did so, but quite
ineffectually. These chiefs certainly ran the same risk we did; but I
verily believe many of these persons would individually sacrifice
themselves to rid their country of us.
After passing through some very sharp firing, we came upon Major Thain's
horse, which had been shot through the loins. When we were supposed to
be in comparative safety, poor Sturt rode back (to see after Thain I
believe): his horse was shot under him, and before he could rise from
the ground he received a severe wound in the abdomen. It was with great
difficulty he was held upon a pony by two people, and brought into camp
at Khoord Cabul.
The pony Mrs. Sturt rode was wounded in the ear and neck. I had
fortunately only _one_ ball _in_ my arm; three others passed through my
poshteen near the shoulder without doing me any injury. The party that
fired on us were not above fifty yards from us, and we owed our escape
to urging our horses on as fast as they could go over a road where, at
any other time, we should have walked our horses very carefully.
The main attack of the enemy was on the column, baggage, and rear guard;
and fortunate it was for Mrs. Sturt and myself that we kept with the
chiefs. Would to God that Sturt had done so likewise, and not gone back.
The ladies were mostly travelling in kajavas, and were mixed up with the
baggage and column in the pass: here they were heavily fired on. Many
camels were killed. On one camel were, in one kajava, Mrs. Boyd and her
youngest boy Hugh; and in the other Mrs. Mainwaring and her infant,
scarcely three months old, and Mrs. Anderson's eldest child. This camel
was shot. Mrs. Boyd got a horse to ride; and her child was put on
another behind a man, who being shortly after unfortunately killed, the
child was carried off by the Affghans. Mrs. Mainwaring, less fortunate,
took her own baby in her arms. Mary Anderson was carried off in the
confusion. Meeting with a pony laden with treasure, Mrs. M. endeavoured
to mount and sit on the boxes, but they upset; and in the hurry pony and
treasure were left behind; and the unfortunate lady pursued her way on
foot, until after a time an Affghan asked her if she was wounded, and
told her to mount behind him. This apparently kind offer she declined,
being fearful of treachery; alleging as an excuse that she could not sit
behind him on account of the difficulty of holding her child when so
mounted. This man shortly after snatched her shawl off her shoulders,
and left her to her fate. Mrs. M.'s sufferings were very great; and she
deserves much credit for having preserved her child through these
dreadful scenes. She not only had to walk a considerable distance with
her child in her arms through the deep snow, but had also to pick her
way over the bodies of the dead, dying, and wounded, both men and
cattle, and constantly to cross the streams of water, wet up to the
knees, pushed and shoved about by men and animals, the enemy keeping up
a sharp fire, and several persons being killed close to her. She,
however, got safe to camp with her child, but had no opportunity to
change her clothes; and I know from experience that it was many days ere
my wet habit became thawed, and can fully appreciate her discomforts.
Mrs. Bourke, little Seymour Stoker, and his mother, and Mrs. Cunningham,
all soldiers' wives, and the child of a man of the 13th, have been
carried off. The rear was protected by the 44th and 37th; but as they
neared the pass, the enemy, concealed behind rocks, &c. increased their
fire considerably upon them. The companies that had been skirmishing on
the flanks of the rear-guard closed in; and they slowly entered the
pass, keeping up a heavy fire on the assailants, who had by this time
got amongst the straggling camp followers and Sipahees. Owing to a halt
having taken place in front, the pass was completely choked up; and for
a considerable time the 44th were stationary under a heavy fire, and
were fast expending their ammunition. The 37th continued slowly moving
on without firing a shot; being paralysed with cold to such a degree
that no persuasion of their officers could induce them to make any
effort to dislodge the enemy, who took from some of them not only their
firelocks, but even the clothes from their persons; several men of the
44th supplied themselves with ammunition from the pouches of the
Sipahees: and many proceeded to the front owing to their ammunition
being expended. Major Scott and Capt. Swinton, of the 44th, had also
gone to the front severely wounded; and the command of the regiment
devolved on Capt. Souter. Lieut. Steer, of the 37th N. I., with great
difficulty succeeded in bringing to the rear a yaboo loaded with
ammunition: but scarcely were the boxes placed on the ground, opened,
and a few rounds taken out, than they were obliged to be abandoned; as,
owing to our fire having slackened, the enemy became bolder and pressed
upon the rear in great numbers. They had the advantage of being covered
by our stragglers, which compelled our men to retire, firing volleys
indiscriminately amongst them and the Affghans. At this time our men
were dropping fast from a flanking fire from the heights; and, seeing it
was useless to attempt to maintain a position in the rear, under such
circumstances, with only about sixty men, they were withdrawn; and with
difficulty forced their way through the crowd to a more commanding
position, where the rear-guard of the 44th was joined by Gen.
Elphinstone, Col. Chambers, of the 5th Lt. Cavalry, with some troopers,
and Capt. Hay, with a few of the Irregular Horse, and the only remaining
gun, one having been abandoned in the pass. The 37th and the camp
followers gradually passed to the front; but the Affghans were checked
from following them.
After halting full an hour to let the stragglers, &c., get well to the
front, they resumed their march; but, owing to the depth of the snow,
the troops were compelled to assist the gun by manual labour, the horses
being unable to get it on. In this way they reached the encamping
ground, without molestation from the enemy.
On leaving Cabul each Sipahee had forty rounds of musket ammunition in
pouch, with 100 spare loads--we have now not three camel loads left; and
many Sipahees have not a single cartridge in pouch.
500 of our regular troops, and about 2500 of the camp followers, are
killed.
Poor Sturt was laid on the side of a bank, with his wife and myself
beside him. It began snowing heavily: Johnson and Bygrave got some
xummuls (coarse blankets) thrown over us. Dr. Bryce, H. A., came and
examined Sturt's wound: he dressed it; but I saw by the expression of
his countenance that there was no hope. He afterwards kindly cut the
ball out of my wrist, and dressed both my wounds.
Half of a Sipahee's pall had been pitched, in which the ladies and their
husbands took refuge. We had no one to scrape the snow off the ground in
it. Capt. Johnson and Mr. Mein first assisted poor Sturt over to it, and
then carried Mrs. Sturt and myself through the deep snow. Mrs. Sturt's
bedding (saved by the ayah riding on it, whom we kept up close with
ourselves) was now a comfort for my poor wounded son. He suffered
dreadful agony all night, and intolerable thirst; and most grateful did
we feel to Mr. Mein for going out constantly to the stream to procure
water: we had only a small vessel to fetch it in, which contained but a
few mouthfuls.
To sleep in such anxiety of mind and intense cold was impossible. There
were nearly thirty of us packed together without room to turn.
The Sipahees and camp followers, half-frozen, tried to force their way,
not only into the tent, but actually into our beds, if such
resting-places can be so called--a poshteen (or pelisse of sheep skin)
half spread on the snow, and the other half wrapped over one.
Many poor wretches died round the tent in the night.
The light company of the 54th N. I., which left Cabul, thirty-six hours
previously, eighty strong, was reduced to eighteen files. This is only
one instance, which may fairly be taken as a general average of the
destruction of our force.
_9th._--Before sunrise the same confusion as yesterday. Without any
order given, or bugle sounded, three fourths of our fighting men had
pushed on in advance with the camp followers. As many as could, had
appropriated to themselves all the public yaboos and camels, on which
they mounted.