On the 18th of September Colonel Dennie moved out with a detachment to
drive a force of the enemy out of a valley near Bamian. Soon after
eight o'clock, two horse artillery guns, under Lieutenant Murray
Mackenzie, two companies of the 35th Native Infantry, two companies of
the Goorkha corps, and about four hundred Afghan horse, marched out to
meet the enemy. About half an hour afterwards, Dennie, with two more
companies of the native infantry regiment, and two also of the Goorkha
corps, followed, in support of the advanced detachment. Instead of
coming merely upon the advance of the enemy, the Brigadier found an army
in his front; but, in spite of the slender force at his command, and the
apparently overwhelming numbers of the enemy, he did not hesitate for a
moment. His men were eager to advance, and he himself was full of
confidence and courage. The enemy had got possession of a chain of
forts reaching to the mouth of the defile, and were collected in bodies
round the several forts, and upon the hills on either side of the
valley. Mackenzie's guns began to play upon them. For some short time
the Oosbegs, forming part of the Dost's force, stood the fire, but the
guns were ably served, and the shrapnel practice told with terrific
effect on dense bodies of men, who had nothing to give back in return.
The Oosbegs retreated; the British guns were pushed forward, opening a
destructive fire, first from one distance, then from another, upon the
wavering enemy. The Dost's army was soon broken to pieces, and the
British cavalry were then let slip in pursuit. Following the disorded
masses of the enemy for some miles along the defile, they cut down large
numbers, and dispersed them in all directions. The defeat of the Dost's
army was complete, and he and his son owed their lives to the fleetness
of their steeds.