appearing to be, "Come along; we are all going, and half the men are
off, with the camp followers in advance!" We had gone perhaps a mile,
when the whole were remanded back to their former ground; and a halt for
the day was ordered, in accordance with the wishes of the Sirdar; who
had represented to the General, through Capt. Skinner, that his
arrangements were not made either as regarded our security or
provisions. Skinner urged the General to show some mark of confidence in
the Sirdar's promises; which he instantly did by sending Capt. Anderson
to order back the troops and baggage.
Mrs. Trevor kindly rode a pony, and gave up her place in the kajava to
Sturt, who must otherwise have been left to die on the ground. The rough
motion increased his suffering and accelerated his death: but he was
still conscious that his wife and I were with him; and we had the
sorrowful satisfaction of giving him Christian burial.
More than one half of the force is now frostbitten or wounded; and most
of the men can scarcely put a foot to the ground.
This is the fourth day that our cattle have had no food; and the men are
starved with cold and hunger.
Reports are prevalent in camp that the Irregular Cavalry, and the
Envoy's escort, are about to desert to Mahommed Akbar Khan; and also
that the Affghans are tampering with our Sipahees to leave us and return
to Cabul. The Subadar Major of the 37th N. I. has deserted: he was a
Subadar Bahakur of the Order of British India.
Shortly after Pottinger, Mackenzie, and Lawrence arrived at the Khoord
Cabul fort with the Sirdar, he turned to Lawrence and said that he had a
proposal to make, but that he did not like to do so lest his motives
might be misconstrued; but that, as it concerned us more than himself,
he would mention it; and that it was, that all the married men, with
their families, should come over and put themselves under his
protection, he guaranteeing them honourable treatment, and safe escort
to Peshawer. He added, that Lawrence must have seen from the events of
the day previous--the loss of Capt. Boyd's and Capt. Anderson's
children, &c.--that our camp was no place of safety for the ladies and
children. Lawrence replied, that he considered the proposition a most
admirable one; and, Skinner coming in just then, he repeated what had
passed to him, who replied, "This is just what I was thinking of
suggesting." On which Lawrence begged he would go off and get the
General's sanction, and bring them all without delay. Major Pottinger
concurred entirely in the expediency of this measure.
Our present position is one of imminent peril. Immediately on Skinner's
arrival about mid-day, we set off escorted by some chiefs to a fort
about two miles distant, where Mahommed Akbar Khan had taken up his
temporary residence. Capt. Troup, Brigade-major to the Shah's force, who
was wounded, accompanied the party, as did also Mr. Mein of the 13th,
who, having been sent back with a year's sick-leave to Cabul, after he
was wounded in October, followed Mrs. Sturt's and my fortunes, not being
attached to any corps, nor having any duty to perform.
There can be little doubt but that the proposition was acceded to by the
General in the twofold hope of placing the ladies and children beyond
the dangers and dreadful privations of the camp, and also of showing the
Sirdar that he was sincere in his wish to negotiate a truce, and thus
win from him a similar feeling of confidence.
Overwhelmed with domestic affliction, neither Mrs. Sturt nor I were in a
fit state to decide for ourselves whether we would accept the Sirdar's
protection or not. There was but faint hope of our ever getting safe to
Jellalabad; and we followed the stream. But although there was much talk
regarding our going over, all I personally know of the affair is, that I
was told we were all to go, and that our horses were ready, and we must
mount immediately and be off.
We were taken by a very circuitous route to the Khoord Cabul forts,
where we found Mahommed Akbar Khan, and the hostages. Mr. Boyd's little
boy had been brought there, and was restored to his parents. Mrs. Burnes
and young Stoker were also saved, and joined our party. Anderson's
little girl is said to have been taken to Cabul, to the Nawaub Zeman
Shah Khan.
Three rooms were cleared out for us, having no outlets except a small
door to each; and of course they were dark and dirty. The party to which
I belonged consisted of Mrs. Trevor and seven children, Lieut. and Mrs.
Waller and child, Mrs. Sturt, Mr. Mein, and myself, Mrs. Smith and Mrs.
Burnes, two soldiers' wives, and young Stoker, child of a soldier of the
13th, who was saved from people who were carrying him off to the hills,
and came in covered, we fear, with his mother's blood: of her we have no
account, nor of Mrs. Cunningham, both of the 13th. The dimensions of our
room are at the utmost fourteen feet by ten.
At midnight some mutton bones and greasy rice were brought to us.
All that Mrs. Sturt and I possess are the clothes on our backs in which
we quitted Cabul.
Here I must divide the account. I shall go on with my own personal
adventures; and afterwards, from the same date, follow up the fortunes
of our unhappy army, from the journals of friends who, thank God! have
lived through all their sufferings.
_10th._--Mahommed Akbar Khan left us, to escort our troops. 500
deserters are said to have come in to him. It is reported that the
thieves have nearly exterminated our force; and that four of Mahommed
Akbar's sirdars are killed. Akbar is expected back at night; and if the
road is clear, we are to march at night and go thirty miles. Some
officers are said to have taken refuge in a fort near this place. A
letter came from the General, stating that he wished Capt. Anderson and
Capt. Boyd to return: this was in consequence of a representation made
to him that Anderson's making over the command of his corps to Lieut. Le
Geyt, and going away, might have a bad effect on his men, who now showed
symptoms of an inclination to leave us to our fate. But it was decided
by the politicals that for those officers to return would have the
appearance of their faith in the Sirdar's promises being shaken, and
that it would be productive of much evil: they remained therefore with
us. Here was another instance of the General's vacillation. Anderson, on
his return from taking the message to bring the troops back, was ordered
by the General to go off with the other married men and families.
Whatever may have been his own sentiments on the occasion, his opinion
was never asked, and he had but to obey.
_11th._--We marched; being necessitated to leave all the servants that
could not walk, the Sirdar promising that they should be fed. It would
be impossible for me to describe the feelings with which we pursued our
way through the dreadful scenes that awaited us. The road covered with
awfully mangled bodies, all naked: fifty-eight Europeans were counted in
the Tunghee and dip of the Nullah; the natives innumerable. Numbers of
camp followers, still alive, frostbitten and starving; some perfectly
out of their senses and idiotic. Major Ewart, 54th, and Major Scott,
44th, were recognised as we passed them; with some others. The sight was
dreadful; the smell of the blood sickening; and the corpses lay so thick
it was impossible to look from them, as it required care to guide my
horse so as not to tread upon the bodies: but it is unnecessary to dwell
on such a distressing and revolting subject.
We hear that Mahommed Abkar Khan offered to escort the army down,
provided the troops laid down their arms; but that the General went on,
upon his own responsibility.
We arrived at the Tézeen fort, where we were well treated; and where we
found Lieut. Melville, 54th. He had, in guarding the colour of his
regiment, received five severe wounds. He had fortunately seven rupees
about him; these he gave to an Affghan to take him to the Sirdar, who
dressed his wounds with his own hands, applying burnt rags; and paid him
every attention.
_12th._--We went to Seh Baba; and thence out of the road, following the
bed of the river, to Abdoollah Khan's fort. We passed our last gun,
abandoned, with poor Dr. Cardew's body lying on it, and three Europeans
close by it.
During the march, we were joined by Mr. Magrath, surgeon of the 37th N.
I., and six men of the 44th. He had been wounded and taken prisoner on
the 10th, whilst endeavouring to rally a party of some forty or fifty
irregular cavalry, and bring them to the assistance of the unfortunate
wounded men, who were being butchered at the bottom of the Huft Kohtul.
On his coming up with this party, and again ordering them to halt, to
his great disgust he found Khoda Bukh Khan, a Ghilzye chief, amongst
them; to whom they were apologising for not having gone over the day
previous, as their comrades had done. Mr. Magrath had several narrow
escapes; and, when surrounded by Ghilzye footmen with their long knives
drawn, owed his life in a great measure to an Affghan horseman, who
recognised him as having shown some little kindness to some of his sick
friends at Cabul.
At night we had snow.
Our whole party, ladies and gentlemen, crammed into one room; one side
of which was partitioned off with mats and filled with grain. Here an
old woman cooked chupatties for us, three for a rupee; but, finding the
demand great, she soon raised the price to a rupee each.
_13th._--We travelled over mountain paths, where the camels found it
difficult to get on with the kajavas, till we arrived at Jugdaluk: near
the Ghavoy there had been fearful slaughter, principally of Europeans.
We found Gen. Elphinstone, Brig. Shelton, and Capt. Johnson here in
tents.
Having brought our party safe to Jugdaluk, I now return to the
proceedings of our unfortunate army; taking up the tale at the period
when the ladies and their party took protection. On the 9th a round
Affghan tent was pitched for the ladies; and we felt the courtesy of the
sirdars, who slept in the open air to give us shelter, even such as it
was, for the wind blew in in every direction.
Immediately after our departure the irregular horse, with the exception
of about eighty men, went over in a body to the Sirdar; and as they were
afterwards seen in company with a body of Affghan horse at about a mile
distance, there was an attack from them apprehended: all was
consternation. Several of our Sipahees absented themselves during the
day, also a number of camp followers. A message was sent to Mahommed
Akbar Khan, and a hope expressed that he would not favour the desertion
of the troops; and he promised that all going over to him should be
shot, which was immediately made known to the men. One of the Mission
chuprassies was caught in the act of going off, and shot.
Lieut. Mackay, assistant to Capt. Johnson, was sent in the afternoon to
the Sirdar (to the fort where the ladies were), for the purpose of being
the bearer of a letter to Gen. Sale at Jellalabad, to order him to
evacuate his position. This letter was written by Major Pottinger.
All the dhooley bearers either deserted or were murdered the first day.
The whole of the camels and yaboos have been either taken by the enemy
or plundered by our no less lawless camp followers and soldiers.
The greatest confusion prevailed all day; and anxiety and suspense for
the ultimate fate of the army was intense; all expecting that if in a
few hours they were not deprived of life by cold and hunger, they would
fall by the knives of the Affghans; which, had they been then attacked,
must indubitably have occurred; for on the return of the troops after
their set-out in the morning, commanding officers had great difficulty
in collecting sixty files a corps: but even of these many could scarcely
hold a musket; many died of cold and misery that night. To add to their
wretchedness, many were nearly, and some wholly, afflicted with snow
blindness.
_10th._--No sooner was it light than the usual rush to the front was
made by the mixed rabble of camp followers, Sipahees, and Europeans in
one huge mass. Hundreds of poor wretches, unable to seize any animals
for themselves, or despoiled by stronger persons of those they had, were
left on the road to die or be butchered.
After much exertion, the advance, consisting of the 44th, the only
remaining six-pounder, and about fifty files of the 5th cavalry, managed
to get ahead of the crowd. The Affghans were appearing on the hills
early: on arriving at the Tunghee Tareekee, a narrow gorge about ten
feet wide and two miles distant from their last ground, Capt. Johnson
was sent with the advance; the heights were taken possession of by the
enemy; who fired down incessantly on the road, from which they were
inaccessible. The snow increased in depth as the army advanced. There is
a gradual ascent all the way from Khoord Cabul to Kubber-i-Jubhar, a
distance of five miles; the progress was necessarily slow, and many poor
fellows were shot.
After getting through the pass, not above fifty yards in length, they
proceeded to Kubber-i-Jubhar; where they halted for their comrades.
Latterly no Affghans had been seen, except at a distance; the horror of
our people was therefore the greater when a few stragglers from the rear
came up, and reported themselves as the remnant of the rear column,
almost every man of which had been either killed or wounded: Capt.
Hopkins had his arm broken by a musket ball. There was now not a single
Sipahee left of the whole Cabul force.
A desperate attack had been made by a body of Affghans, sword in hand:
our men made no resistance, but threw away their arms and accoutrements;
and fell an easy prey to our barbarous and bloodthirsty foe.
The rear-guard was composed of the 54th regiment. On arriving at the
narrow pass called Tunghee Tareekee, or "the dark pass," a turn in the
road shut out from their sight the enemy, who had followed close on
their heels, but on whom they had received strict orders not to fire;
although the Ghilzyes, from the heights and ravines, had kept up a sharp
discharge, killing many Sipahees and camp followers, and cutting up all
wounded and sick left behind. On arriving at the above-mentioned pass,
the turn in the road allowed the Ghilzyes to close up; and a general
attack was made on all sides: hundreds of Affghans rushing down from the
rocks and hills cut to pieces their now reduced regiment. Here Major
Ewart, commanding 54th, had both his arms broken by bullets from the
Juzails; Lieut. Morrieson, the adjutant, was wounded; and Lieut. Weaver,
of the same corps, slightly. Lieut. Melville, on observing the Jemadar,
who carried the regiment's colour, wounded and dropping his charge,
seized it; and, after vainly attempting to tear it off the staff, to
which it was too firmly attached, made his way on foot (his horse having
been killed), with the colour in his hand. This made him a mark for the
enemy; and ere he had got out of the pass, being nearly, or quite, the
last man of the column, or rather rabble, he received a spear wound in
his back, which threw him on his face: ere well able to rise, a severe
sword-cut in the head again laid him prostrate; but he contrived to
crawl as far as the fast retreating column; when again the knife of an
Affghan wounding him in the neck, and a spear in the chin, he gave up
all for lost. He was now surrounded by a dozen Ghilzyes; and no man,
save the dead and dying, near him; when the enemy, observing a box of
treasure on the opposite side of the pass, left him, for the purpose of
rifling the money, either supposing they had already killed him, or
intending to return when they had secured the more valuable booty. This
pause gave Lieut. Melville an opportunity of escaping and regaining the
column; which, although weak from his wounds, he availed himself of; and
by going through the snow in the ravines, he contrived to reach the
column; where a pony without an owner, or saddle of any description,
presenting itself, he scrambled on to it; and, with the assistance of a
Mehter, gained the centre of the column, where the 44th and one gun
still kept some order. Lieut. Melville was tied on the gun, and was told
by Gen. Elphinstone, that he should be sent over to the charge of the
Sirdar, Mahommed Akbar Khan, on reaching Tézeen, or at any opportunity
of going.
On a report of a large body of horse being observed in the rear, the gun
was ordered there; and Lieut. Melville was placed on a bank on the
road-side. The column passed on; and he was expecting the fate of the
other poor fellows who had fallen; when, providentially for him, a
horseman rode up, who had known him in cantonments, and who strapped him
on his horse, and took him over to the party of horsemen, consisting of
Mahommed Akbar Khan and his followers; who received him most kindly,
and, binding up his wounds, gave him a loonghee, his regimental cap
being cut to pieces.
The loonghee is the cloth worn as a turban commonly by the Affghans, and
is generally of blue check with a red border: those worn by the
Khyberries are much gayer, and have a large admixture of yellow.
Melville gave to Omer Khan, the horseman who saved his life, seven
rupees, being all the property he possessed.
Every particle of baggage was gone.
The small remnant of the army consisted of about seventy files of the
44th, fifty of the 5th cavalry, and 1 six-pounder gun. Observing a body
of cavalry in their rear, they determined to bring their solitary gun
into position, and make a last effort for existence. Finding it was
again Mahommed Akbar Khan, Capt. Skinner (Assist.-Com.-Gen.) by
direction of the General, went over, under escort, to him; to
remonstrate on the attack made on our troops after a treaty had been
entered into for our protection. He replied, he regretted it, he could
not control the Ghilzyes (the inhabitants of this part of the country)
with his small body of horse, about 300; but that as the remnant of our
troops was merely a few Europeans, he would guarantee their safety, and
that of all the European officers, to Jellalabad, if the General would
conduct them all disarmed, whilst the Affghans were to have the use of
their weapons. He said his motives for this were, that should they bring
their arms with them, his own followers would be afraid of treachery. To
this proposition the General would not assent.
Mackay returned with Skinner from the Sirdar, as the road to Jellalabad
was said to be unsafe.
The troops continued their fearful march: the remnant of the camp
followers, with several wounded officers, went ahead: for five miles
they saw no enemy: all who could not walk were necessarily left behind.
They descended a long steep descent to the bed of the Tézeen Nullah. At
this dip the scene was horrible: the ground was covered with dead and
dying, amongst whom were several officers: they had been suddenly
attacked and overpowered. The enemy here crowded from the tops of the
hills in all directions down the bed of the Nullah, through which the
route lay for three miles; and our men continued their progress through
an incessant fire from the heights on both sides, until their arrival in
the Tézeen valley, at about half-past four P.M.
The descent from the Huft Kohtul was about 2000 feet; and here they lost
the snow.
About 12,000 persons have perished!
A quarter of an hour after their arrival, the Sirdar and a party came
into the valley to a fort higher up belonging to his father-in-law,
Mahommed Shah Khan. A signal was made to his horsemen to approach: two
came, and Capt. Skinner, by the General's desire, accompanied them to
Mahommed Akbar Khan, to devise some means of saving the remnant--about
4,000 people of all descriptions.
Skinner returned at dusk; and brought back the same message as from
Kubber-i-Jubhar, regarding disarming the Europeans: and again this was
refused.
The General then decided, weak and famished as the troops were, and
without any prospect of procuring provisions at Tézeen, to march at
seven in the evening (they had left Khoord Cabul, fifteen miles from
Tézeen, half-past six A.M.), and proceed, if possible, through the
Jugdaluk pass by eight or nine the next morning. In this consisted their
only chance of safety; for, should the enemy obtain intimation of their
approach, the pass would be occupied, and the object defeated. Johnson
pointed out to the General that Mahommed Akbar Khan and his party could,
by means of a short cut across the mountains, start long after them, and
arrive before them, ready to oppose them.
Jugdaluk is about twenty-four miles from Tézeen; the pass about two
miles long, very narrow, and commanded on both sides by high and
precipitous hills.
At Tézeen Gen. Elphinstone received a note in cypher from Capt. Conolly,
warning him that Mahommed Akbar Khan had quitted Cabul, with the avowed
intention of getting into his hands the person of the General, and all
the married people with their families.
A message was sent to Mahommed Akbar Khan that they were going to march
to Seh Baba, seven miles from Tézeen (this place is sometimes called
Tukeea-i-Fakeer): the road lies down the bed of a Nullah, with high
hills on either side. The place is only remarkable from having a few
trees and a grave or two under them; and from the latter I believe it
takes its name.
The camp followers having been the bane of this unfortunate army, they
hoped to move off quietly and leave them behind; but no sooner did they
start, than they found that all who were able to stand were accompanying
them. They left their remaining gun behind; and Dr. Cardew, who was
mortally wounded at the dip into the Tézeen Nullah, was laid on the
carriage to await death, which was rapidly approaching: he was found
dead by Mahommed Akbar's people the next morning.
The night was fine and moonlit, and they reached Seh Baba about
midnight; here a few shots were fired on them; and the rear being
attacked, the whole remains of the 44th, with the exception of about
nine files to form the advance, were ordered there; and thus the column
remained until their arrival at Jugdaluk; their progress being again
impeded by that evil which always attends Indian armies, the camp
followers; who, if a shot is fired in advance, invariably fall back; and
if in rear, rush to the front.
_11th._--From Seh Baba the road turns off sharp to the right over the
mountains to Jugdaluk; and across the Nullah is seen the short road to
Cabul, but which cannot be travelled by guns or camels.
At Seh Baba Dr. Duff (the Surgeon-General to the forces in
Affghanistan), who had had his hand cut off with a penknife at Tézeen,
in consequence of a severe wound, was from weakness obliged to lag
behind, and was two days afterwards found murdered.
Bareekub is three miles from Seh Baba: there is a clear stream of water,
and several caves cut in the rocks. Here our force observed a number of
people in the caves; with whom they did not interfere, as they did not
molest them. They eventually fired some volleys on the rear.
At daybreak the advance arrived at Killa Sung, about seven miles from
Seh Baba, where there are some streams of water: this is the general
encamping ground, though very confined, and commanded by hills all
round.
They proceeded about half a mile further on, and then halted, until the
rear-guard should arrive; but they, having been much molested on the
road, did not arrive for two hours. On their first arrival not an
Affghan was to be seen; but shortly several made their appearance on the
hills, and the number continued every moment to increase. Not a drop of
water was procurable; nor would they get any until their arrival at
Jugdaluk. They had marched for twenty-four hours consecutively, and had
still ten miles to go before they could hope for rest. On being joined
by the rear-guard they continued their march; the enemy in small numbers
watching every opportunity to murder stragglers from the column.
At two miles from Jugdaluk the descent into the valley commences.
The hills on each side of the road were occupied by the enemy, who kept
firing from their long juzails; and again the road was covered with dead
and dying, as they were in such a mass that every shot told.