on the advantages which would attend a successful accomplishment of such a move, and the moral influence it would have throughout Asia; I have come to a determination to retire a portion of the army under my command, via Ghuznee and Cabul. I shall take with me, not a large, but a compact and well-tried force, on which I can rely. Your Lordship may rest assured that all prudence, and every military precaution, shall be observed; there shall be no unne cessary risk; and, if expedient, I will mask Ghuznee, and even Cabul. But, if an opportunity should offer, I will endeavour to strike a decisive blow for the honour of our arms. The greatest difficulty I am likely to experience will be the want of forage in the neighbourhood of Cabul, and thence to Jellallabad, in consequence of the large bodies of horse, which have so long consumed, and still continue to consume it. I therefore, hope that measures will be taken to have supplies of forage, and a few comforts for the European troops stored at Jellalabad, which place I shall endeavour to regulate my march so as to reach the first week of October. I have commenced arrangements for the remainder of the force retiring upon Sukkur, under the command of Major-General England, who will receive the necessary instructions for his gui dance in withdrawing the troops from Candahar, and the different posts between this and Shikarpore. I am most anxious, notwithstanding the conduct of the Affghan chiefs, that our army should leave a deep impression on the people of this country, of our character for forbearance and humanity. All our guns, also six brass pieces, belonging to the late Shah Shooja-ool-Molk, shall be taken to Sukkur. All unserviceable articles, not worth the carriage, will be destroyed. Having now acquainted your Lordship of my determination, I shall not fail to keep your Lordship constantly informed of my proceedings. I have, &c. W. NOTT. MAJOR-GENERAL ENGLAND TO MR. MADDOCK. Camp, near Killa Abdoolla, Sir, I have the honor to report, for the information of the right hon. the Governor-General in Council, that the British force at Candahar having evacuated that city on the 7th and 8th, I moved from my encampment, near its walls, on the 10th, pursuant to instructions, with the detachment mentioned in the margin*, en route to Quetta, and that I arrived on this ground yesterday. 2. It was communicated to me on the 9th, and subsequently, that One troop late Shah's Horse Artillery, seven guns drawn by bullocks, two rissalahs Irregular Horse, one rissalah Poonah ditto, 25th Bombay Native Infantry, late Light Battalion ditto, 1st, 2nd, and 5th regiments late Shah's Infantry. the insurgents were preparing to attack the column and convoy under my charge in its passage, and especially that they would make efforts to intercept it in the strong country of the Kojuck range, at the northern extremity of which I arrived, with little molestation, on the morning of the 16th. 3. Whatever might have been the intention of the enemy, it was ascertained by reconnoitering, that the highest points of the mountain were not yet occupied by them, and I thought it right, therefore, notwithstanding that the troops had just completed a night march of twenty-four miles, to push forward a light column to seize the summit at once. 4. This operation was performed by three battalions, and the most important ridge, and all the peaks commanding the principal passes were gained by the troops before dark. 5. On the following morning, the insurgents began to appear in small bodies on different hills, but the route being flanked, they did little mischief, and the baggage, artillery, and immense retinue under the protection of this camp, including 9,000 or 10,000 beasts of burden, began the ascent, covered by a rear-guard of two battalions and the cavalry; and I was soon made aware of our good fortune in having seized the heights on the previous evening, for the number of the enemy gradually increased, but all their efforts to capture the baggage, or indeed to interrupt us to any serious extent, were frustrated, and the passage across the Kojuck mountains may be said to have been perfected by noon on the 18th. 6. I have had the highest reason to be gratified with the exertions of all the officers and troops on this occasion, and it is entirely owing to their incessant efforts in duties of great fatigue, under a privation of water, both in climbing up the extreme points of the range to drive off the enemy whenever they appeared, and in dragging thirteen pieces of artillery over the ridge, that this service has been accomplished with so little loss on our side of life or of convoy. I have, &c., MAJOR-GENERAL NOTT TO MR. MADDOCK. Camp, Gonine, 38 miles S.W. of Ghuznee, October 31, 1842. Sir, I have the honor to acquaint you, for the information of the right hon. the Governor-General of India, that Shumsoodeen, the Affghan governor of the fortress of Ghuznee, brought nearly the whole of his army, about 12,000 men, into the vicinity of of my camp yesterday, at three o'clock, P.M. I moved out with one-half of my force; the enemy advanced in the most bold and gallant manner, each division cheering as they came into position, their left being upon a hill of some elevation, their centre and right along a low ridge until their flank rested on a fort filled with men: they opened a fire of small arms, supported by two six-pounder horse artillery guns, which were admirably served -our columns advanced upon the different points with great regularity and steadiness, and, after a short and spirited contest, completely defeated the enemy, capturing their guns, tents, ammunition, &c., and dispersing them in every direction. One hour's more daylight would have enabled me to destroy the whole of their infantry. Shumsoodeen fled in the direction of Ghuznee, accompanied by about thirty horsemen. I inclose a list of killed and wounded on the 28th and 30th instant ; also a return of ordnance, ammunition, &c. &c., taken from the enemy. The behaviour of the troops, both European and Native, was such as I anticipated, and afforded me complete satisfaction. I beg leave to bring to the fa vourable notice of the right hon. the Governor-General of India, the undermentioned officers : many of them have served under my command for the last three years, and have been conspicuous for their zeal and gallantry in the various affairs which have occurred with the enemy during that period, and especially in the action of the 12th of January last, and have invariably upheld the reputation of our arms, and the honour of our country. Brigadier Wymer, commanding the 1st Infantry brigade; Lieutenant-Col. McLaren, commanding 16th Regiment Native Infantry; Major Hibbert, commanding Her Majesty's 40th Regiment; Captain Burney, commanding 38th Regiment Native Infantry; Captains Christie and Haldane, command ing corps of Bengal Irregular Cavalry; Major Sotheby, commanding the Artillery; Captain Blood, commanding Bombay Foot Artillery; Major Sanders, Bengal engineers; Lieutenants North and Studdert, Bombay Engineers, Majors Leech and Rawlinson, of the political department, attended me in the field, and rendered me great assistance in conveying my orders. My best thanks are due to my staff, Captain Polwhele, Deputy Assistant-Adjutant-General, Captain Waterfield, Aid-de-Camp, Lieutenant Tytler, Deputy Assistant-Quarter-Master-General. Annexed is a letter from Brigadier Wymer, speaking in the highest terms of his Brigade-Major, Captain T. H. Scott, of the 38th Regiment Native Infantry. I fully appreciate this excellent officer's merits; he has been with me in four actions. I trust I shall not be thought presumptuous in expressing a hope that he will receive some mark of the favour of Government, by Brevet or otherwise. I cannot close this despatch without expressing my admiration of the dashing and gallant conduct, rapid movement, and correct practice of Captain Anderson's troop of Bengal Horse Artillery; nothing could exceed it; and I beg leave to bring this officer and Lieutenant Turner, attached to the same troop, to the particular notice of his Lordship, as officers who have on many occasions rendered me most essential service. I have, &c. W. NOTT. MAJOR-GENERAL NOTT TO MR. MADDOCK. Camp, Ghuznce, Sept. 8, 1842. Sir, My dispatch of the 31st ultimo will have informed you of my having defeated the Affghan army commanded by Shumsoodeen. On the morning of the 5th instant, I moved on Ghuznee. I found the city full of men, and a range of mountains running northcast of the fortress covered by heavy bodies of cavalry and infantry; the gardens and ravines near the town were also occupied. The enemy had received a considerable reinforcement from Cabul, under Sultan Jan. I directed Major Sanders, of the Bengal Engineers, to reconnoitre the works, under escort of the 16th Regiment Native Infantry, and a party of irregular cavalry. This brought on some smart skirmishing, in which our sepoys behaved to admiration. Captain White, of Her Majesty's 40th Regiment, commanding the light companies of the army, was pushed forward, accompanied by Anderson's troop of Horse Artillery, to support the reconnoitring party, and I at once determined on carrying the enemy's mountain positions before encamping my force. The troops ascended the heights in gallant style, driving the enemy before them until every point was gained. The village of Bullal is situated about 600 yards from the walls of Ghuznee,upon the spur of the mountain to the north-east, and observ ing it to be a desirable spot for preparing a heavy battery to be placed 300 paces in advance, I ordered it to be occupied by two regiments of infantry and some light guns, and retired the columns into camp. The engineer officers, sappers and miners, and infantry working parties were employed under the directions of Major Sanders, during the night of the 5th, in erecting a battery for four 18-pounders ; these guns were moved from camp before daylight on the morning of the 6th; but, before they had reached the position assigned them, it was ascertained that the enemy had evacuated the fortress. I directed the city of Ghuznec, with its citadel, and the whole of its works, to be destroyed. I forward the engineer's report. In these operations our loss has been much less than might have been expected from the numbers and positions of the enemy, and the fact of the troops having been necessitated to move under the range of the guns of the fortress. I inclose a list of the killed and wounded. The exertions of Major Sanders of the Engineers, were as usual most zealous, and my thanks are due to him and the department under his charge. I beg to notice the following officers: Brigadier Wymer; Major Hibbert, commanding Her Majesty's 40th Regiment; Captain Evans, in temporary charge of the 16th Regiment Native Infantry; Captain White, Her Majesty's 40th Regiment, commanding the light companies of the force; Major Sotheby, and officers of the Artillery. I have every reason to be satisfied with my staff, Captain Polwhele, Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-General; Captain Waterfield, Aide-decamp; Captain Ripley; and Lieutenant Kay, Deputy Judge-Advocate-General. I continue to receive the great- P.S. I have recovered about 327 of the sepoys of the 27th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry, who had been sold into slavery and dispersed in villages forty mile round Ghuznee. MAJOR SANDERS TO MAJOR-General Nott. Camp, Rozeh, near Ghuznee, Sir, On the occupation of the fortress of Ghuznee by the troops under your command, I received orders from you to take measures for the destruction of the citadel, to as great an extent as the means at command, and the time afforded by a halt of two days, would permit. 2. 1 have now the honour to report, that the engineer department attached to your force has been employed during the 7th and 8th instant on the work of demolition, and to state the progress effected. 3. Fourteen mines have been sprung in the walls of the citadel, all with good effect. The upper fort has been completely destroyed; the second line of works extensively breached in two places; and the outer and lower walls have their revêtements blown down, and greatly injured in three places. 4. In several spots remote from the mines, the walls, though they have not fallen, are so seriously shaken by the explosions that, unless immediate and energetic means are adopted, on the departure of your force, for their repair and security, they must crumble down during the ensuing winter. 5. The gateways of the town and citadel, and the roofs of the principal buildings, have been fired and are still burning. I have, &c. E. SANDERS. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL PALMER TO THE OFFICER COMMANDING AT JELLALABAD. Ghuznee, March 1, 1842. Sir, It is with much concern I acquaint you that, from want of water, and by an overpowering force under cover, and within fifty yards of us in the city, I have been compelled to enter into terms to evacuate the citadel and fort, within six days. The garrison is to occupy the north-east corner of the town. The garrison is exhausted by fatigue and constant duty, and the men have suffered greatly from cold, the thermometer having been fourteen degrees be low zero. The terms are honourable treatment and safety whilst here, and on the march to Cabool, solemnly sworn to by the chiefs. In capitulating, I have only acted up to the orders of Major Pottinger and General Elphinstone, who directed me, in an official letter, to evacuate the citadel and city on the arrival of Rohilla Khan, son of Ameenoolah Khan, Sirdar of Logur. This chief arrived, and promised to escort us in safety to to Cabool. Ameer Shumsoodeen Khan, nephew of Dost Mahomed |