Before it was suspected to what extent the insurrection in Afghanistan
would reach, Sir Robert Sale was placed in command of a brigade which
was ordered to return to Hindostan. His road led through the Ghilzye
defiles. Here, for several days, he was attacked by the mountaineers,
but fighting his onward way, he reached Gundamuck. Here he heard of the
outbreak at Cabul. Deeming it important to push on, he left a
considerable portion of his camp equipage at Gundamuck, under charge of
some Afghan levies; but they proved traitors, plundered the baggage, and
set fire to the cantonment. Captain Burn and the other European
officers were pursued by the insurgents, but succeeded in reaching the
British camp.
Sir Robert Sale renewed his march the next morning, but already the
whole armed population of the district was on the alert. The Afghans
crowned each height as soon as our pickets were withdrawn, swarmed like
hornets round the camp, and were repelled only by the most strenuous
efforts. They permitted the advanced guard and the main body to pass
through the town of Futtehabad without interruption. Bodies of them
even came in guise of unarmed suppliants to beg for protection. But no
sooner had the rearguard passed the houses and fort of this town, than a
destructive fire was opened upon it. Captain Broadfoot and his sappers
turned fiercely round more than once, and inflicted vengeance for this
treachery; and Colonel Dennie, in the end, dexterously decoyed the enemy
away from their walls into the open plain, and then the cavalry, under
Captain Oldfield and Lieutenant Mayne, charging among them with headlong
valour, strewed the ground with 150 slain. That night the force
encamped under the walls of Jellalabad, and took possession of it next
morning, the 12th of November. It was a most important object to occupy
this place, in order to establish a post on which the corps at Cabul
might retreat it necessary, and then form a link in the chain of
communication with India. A glance at the map will show the immense
distance which the British forces were from all support, with intricate
passes, lofty mountains, deserts, and broad rivers intervening between
them and India; while on every side swarmed hostile tribes, accustomed
to warfare, and sworn to destroy them.
Jellalabad was the winter residence of the rulers of Cabul, and inferior
only to that city and Candahar. The walls were, however, in a state
which might have justified despair as to the possibility of defending
them. They were also far too extensive for our small force, embracing a
circumference of upwards of 2300 yards. There was no parapet, except
for a few hundred yards. In many places the walls were not more than
two feet high, while rubbish had accumulated to such an extent that
there were roads over them into the country.
The population within was disaffected, and without were ruined forts,
walls, mosques, tombs, and gardens, from which a fire could be opened at
20 or 30 yards. Captains Broadfoot and Havelock and Colonel Dennie
assured the General that the works might be restored by adequate
exertions, and it was therefore resolved to occupy the town.
The brigade was scarcely within the walls, when the plain was darkened
by masses of the enemy. They had expected that the British troops would
continue their progress towards India, and looked for a rich harvest of
plunder of their baggage between Jellalabad and Peshawur. It was
determined to read them a salutary lesson, and Colonel Monteith was
ordered to drive them away. He issued from the gate on the morning of
the 14th of November, with horse, foot, and artillery, 1100 in number,
of whom 300 were Europeans, and fell on the enemy with such vigour and
skill, that the masses broke up and fled, leaving 200 dead on the field.
At noon not an Afghan remained, and all molestation ceased for fourteen
days. On the 15th, the work of clearing away the ruins and restoring
the fortifications was commenced, under the direction of Captain
Broadfoot. The day was spent by him in superintending the work, the
evening was devoted to his plans and calculations. Working parties were
told off, who laboured from dawn to dusk--officers and men worked with
emulation; and in a few weeks the ramparts were ready to receive the
guns, and everything around the town that could afford cover to the
enemy was, as far as possible, cleared away. The chief cause of anxiety
to Sir Robert Sale was the deficiency of ammunition, which a single
prolonged engagement would go nigh to exhaust. The men were therefore
ordered not to expend a single shot uselessly.
On the 29th of November, large bodies of Afghans poured down upon the
plains from the surrounding valleys, and opened a desultory fire on the
town. As they interrupted the workmen on the fortifications, Colonel
Dennie sallied out of the gates soon after midday on the 1st of
December, with 300 men from each regiment, to disperse them. The
Afghans fired a volley and fled--the troops followed. The guns dealt
destruction among the fugitives; the cavalry, galloping in pursuit,
drove some into the river, and cut down others, till 150 bodies strewed
the plain. The garrison enjoyed a long period of repose in consequence
of this spirited repulse of the enemy. At length news reached the
gallant band of the disasters at Cabul; and Dr Brydon arriving in the
city, confirmed the sad news. Councils of war were held, and there was
some talk of evacuating Jellalabad; but there were brave spirits among
the garrison, who saw, and loudly spoke, not only of the disgrace, but
of the suicidal folly of such a measure. Their bolder counsels
prevailed, and it was determined to hold out to the last extremity.
There was Havelock, whose name was afterwards to be in the mouth of
every British soldier, as one to be loved and imitated; there were
Broadfoot and Dennie, true heroes of the noblest stamp.
On the 19th of February a letter was received from General Pollock, who
had arrived in Peshawur, approving of their resolution to hold out, and
promising to advance as soon as possible to their aid. Sir Robert
replied that the whole of the horses of his cavalry and artillery must
perish in another month if he was not succoured before that time, and
that then a retreat even on a force advancing to his relief would be
impossible.
Major Havelock and Captain Wade were seated by Sir Robert's side, the
former writing the reply to General Pollock, when the house began to
shake violently. A fearful earthquake was taking place. The shocks
continued, without intermission, with frightful violence--a confused,
rumbling sound wildly mingled with the crash of falling houses and the
outcries of the inhabitants. The earth was so uplifted that it was
scarcely possible for the people to keep their feet. But the
destruction of the defences was most appalling. All the parapets were
shaken down, several of the bastions were injured, all the guard-houses
were cast to the ground, a third of the town was demolished, and a
considerable break made in the ramparts of a curtain in the Peshawur
face, while the Cabul gate was reduced to a shapeless mass of ruins.
The garrison did not lose heart even under these appalling
circumstances. The camp of the enemy they knew was only seven miles
off, and he might be upon them in a few hours. It was also necessary to
guard against a rush which any parties of the enemy concealed in the
neighbourhood might make against the ruined walls. At the sound of the
bugle the troops assembled on the ramparts. When it was ascertained
that no enemy was near, they piled their arms, and set to work with
brave determination to restore the defences. Temporary parapets of
loose clods were thrown up, the earth was cleared out of the ditch,
gabions were filled to block up the main breaches, and palisades fixed
to impede the progress of assailants through others. In a few hours the
walls wore a more encouraging aspect. The Afghans, when a few days
afterwards they approached the fortress and saw the wonderful state of
repair in which it had been placed, believed that it had escaped through
the power of English witchcraft. The difficulties of the garrison,
however, increased great anxiety was felt for the subsistence of the
cavalry and artillery horses. Foraging parties were sent out daily
under an escort, and were constantly attacked by the enemy; and the
close investment of the place by Akbar Khan made it impossible for them
to get in the needed supplies.
At length, on the 11th of March, the Afghans approached so near the
walls, that it was suspected that they purposed undermining them. To
prevent this Colonel Dennie made a vigorous sally with 800 men, and
ascertained that they had commenced no operation of the sort. Akbar
Khan then advanced on the city with his whole force. It was a critical
moment, but the hearts of none of the garrison failed them. He was
received with so hot a fire from the ramparts, while horse and foot
attacked him with such heroic courage, that he was compelled to fly,
leaving more than 100 dead on the field.
Starvation now threatened the garrison. For many days the European
regiments had been on half rations of salt beef, without vegetables,
while the native troops subsisted mainly on flour; and it was doubtful
whether this allowance would be continued beyond the second week in
April. When, however, they were almost reduced to despair that help
would come in time to preserve their lives, some large flocks of sheep
were seen grazing on the plains before them. At first it was believed
that they were placed there to lure them out to destruction, but the
desire to capture them at all hazards became too strong to be resisted.
About 200 men of the 13th, and the same number of the 35th, with some
sappers and miners, were allowed to sally out to bring in the prey.
They succeeded beyond their most sanguine expectations, and 500 sheep
and goats were captured and brought in amid shouts of laughter by the
men. This success raised the spirits of the whole garrison, and made
them more than ever determined to hold the fort until rescue should
come.
On the 6th of April the situation again changed and the fortunes of the
garrison once more seemed desperate. Spies had brought in rumours of a
serious check inflicted upon General Pollock by the enemy at Ali-Musjid,
and Akbar Khan had salutes fired in honour of this supposed victory.
Few of the officers believed these reports, but they were only the more
eager to attack Akbar in force, and so, it victorious, effect their own
relief, and support General Pollock if the report should turn out to be
true. This plan of action was especially urged by Havelock upon the
General, and though at first Sir Robert Sale, brave as he was, shrank
from the responsibility of ordering so daring an effort, he in the end
agreed. On the 7th of April the infantry marched out in three columns.
The centre, under Colonel Dennie, consisted of the 13th, 500 strong; the
left, of the 35th, under Colonel Monteith, mustering the same number of
bayonets; and the right, under Captain Havelock, composed of one company
of the 13th, another of the 35th, and the detachment of sappers under
Lieutenant Orr, the whole amounting to 360. Captain Broadfoot lay on
his couch, suffering from a dangerous wound received in a sortie on the
24th of March.
It was at this time reported in the town that Akbar Khan was preparing
to retreat.
Without sound of bugle or drum, at early dawn the troops fell into their
ranks and marched out of Jellalabad. Notwithstanding the report of his
flight, Akbar Khan's troops, 6000 in number, were found drawn up in
front of his camp, his left resting on the Cabul river. Havelock moved
on rapidly in advance with his column, and driving the skirmishers
before him, pushed on towards the enemy's camp, the other columns
following. Sir Robert Sale was with the centre column. At about
three-quarters of a mile from Jellalabad, a flanking fire was opened
from one of the forts on that column, and Sir Robert ordered Colonel
Dennie to storm it. Accordingly, rushing on with his men of the gallant
13th, he passed the outer wall through an opening, but found himself
exposed to a murderous fire from the inner keep. Here fell the brave
Colonel Dennie, mortally wounded by an Afghan marksman. He was
acknowledged by all to be one of the most gallant soldiers in the
British army. This false move nearly produced disastrous consequences.
Akbar Khan, seeing Havelock, who was much in advance, unsupported,
brought down a body of 15,000 cavalry on his feeble column. Havelock
posted the company of the 13th in a walled enclosure on his right, to
pour a flanking fire on the enemy, and formed the rest into square.
That he might be able to command both parties, he himself remained
outside the square till the horsemen were close upon them. His horse
rearing, he was thrown, and the animal galloped back riderless to the
town. He would have been killed by the Afghans had not a sapper and two
men of the 13th rushed forward and rescued him. The enemy's horse,
charging with much resolution, approached within 30 yards; but their
leader was shot, and, exposed to a heavy fire in front and flank, they
retired in confusion. Again Havelock's column advanced, and once more
the Afghan horse charged it. Thrown into one square, it awaited the
attack, which was more easily repulsed than the first. Sir Robert then
sent Backhouse's guns to Havelock's assistance. The column, cheering
them as they came on, advanced against the enemy's encampment and
penetrated it, driving the Afghans headlong into the river. The other
columns now came up, the camp was attacked on three points, and in a
short time the enemy were dislodged from every part of their position,
their cannon taken, and their camp burnt. Four guns, lost by the Cabul
and Gundamuck forces, were recaptured, and a great quantity of ordnance
stores and _materiel_ was taken or destroyed. The field was strewed
with the bodies of the Afghans, while the loss on the side of the
victors amounted to only 10 killed and 50 wounded.
Thus the garrison of Jellalabad, after having been isolated in a hostile
country for five months, surrounded by enemies, and constantly
threatened with destruction, achieved its own relief. The peasantry now
brought in ample supplies of provisions, and on the 16th of April the
relieving force under General Pollock, having gallantly fought its way
through the Khyber Pass, routing the Afridis who guarded it, approached
the long beleaguered city, an exploit second to none in the annals of
warfare; and thus was accomplished the successful defence of Jellalabad.