fered from the effects of fatigue The valley of Tezeen, where we caused by their forced march: this were encamped, is completely enhalt the enemy imagined to be the circled by lofty hills; and on the result of hesitation, and, in the morning of the 13th, it was perafternoon, attacked the picquets on ceived that the Affghans had occuthe left flank, and became so daring, pied in great force every height that I considered it necessary to not already crowned by our troops. send Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, I commenced my march towards with 240 men of Her Majesty's the mouth of the Tezeen Pass, 9th Foot, to drive them back; where I left two guns, two some sharp fighting took place, squadrons of Her Majesty's 3rd and the enemy was driven up the Dragoons, a party of the 1st neighbouring hills, from the crests Light Cavalry, and 3rd Irreof which they kept up a heavy fire. gular Cavalry. The enemy's Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, how- horse appeared in the valley, with ever, with a small party, crept up the intention of falling upon the one end of a hill unperceived by baggage; but it gives me very the enemy, who were hotly en- great pleasure to state, that the gaged in their front, and lay con- Dragoons and Native Cavalry (recealed until joined by a few more gular and irregular) made a most of his men, when, rushing on the brilliant charge, and with such flank of the astounded Affghans, effect, that the whole body of the he inflicted a severe lesson, pour- enemy's force was completely routing in a destructive fire upon them, ed, and a number of them cut up. as they fled down the hill. Α chieftain was found among the slain, who, it is supposed, was the brother of Khodabux Khan. The enemy remained inoffensive on our left flank, in consequence of this very well planned and gallant affair of Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor's, and withdrew to the right, where they commenced a furious attack upon a picquet, consisting of eighty men of the 60th Regiment Native Infantry, commanded by Lieutenant Montgomery, who sustained the assault with great resolution until reinforcements reached him, when the enemy were beaten off: in this attack the picquet had four killed; Lieutenant Montgomery and seventeen men were wounded. The enemy came so close that frequent recourse was had to the bayonet. Their attempts on the picquets continued through the night, but were invariably unsuccessful. The Pass of Tezeen affords great advantages to an enemy occcupying the heights; and, on the present occasion Mahomed Akbar neglected nothing to render its natural difficulties as formidable as numbers could make it. Our troops mounted the heights, and the Affghans, contrary to their general custom, advanced to meet them, and a desperate struggle ensued; indeed, their defence was so obstinate, that the British bayonet, in many instances, alone decided the contest. The light company of Her Majesty's 9th Foot, led by Captain Lushington, who, I regret to say, was wounded in the head, ascending the hills on the left of the pass under a heavy cross fire, charged and overthrew their opponents, leaving several horses and their riders, supposed to be chiefs, dead on the hill; the slaughter was considerable, and the flight continued during the greater part of the day, the enemy appearing resolved that we should not ascend the Huft Kotul: one spirit seemed to pervade all, and a determination to conquer overcame the obstinate resistance of the enemy, who were at length forced from their numerous and strong positions, and our troops mounted the Huft Kotul, giving three cheers when they reached the summit. Here, Lieutenant Cunningham, with a party of sappers, pressed the enemy so hard, that they left in their precipitation a 24-pounder howitzer and limber, carrying off the draft bullocks. Having heard that another gun had been seen, and concluding that it could not have gone very far, I detached a squadron of dragoons under Captain Tritton, and two horse artillery guns under Major Delafosse, in pursuit: the gun (a 12-pounder howitzer) with bullocks sufficient for the two guns, was soon captured. The dragoons again got among the enemy, and succeeded in cutting up many of them. Captain Broadfoot, with the sappers, advanced, and, with the dragoons, happened to fall in with another party of the enemy, of whom upwards of twenty were killed. I have ascertained there were about 16,000 men in the field opposed to me, a considerable por tion of whom was cavalry; Mahomed Akbar Khan, Mahomed Shah Khan, Ameenoollah, and many other chiefs with their followers were present, all of whom I have reason to believe have taken to flight. We have gained a complete victory, and our enemies have suffered severely, having several hundreds killed, losing their guns and three standards, one of which was taken from the enemy's horse by the 1st Light Cavalry. Al though many attempts were made at the baggage, none were successful, chiefly owing to the judicious and admirable arrangements of Lieutenant-Colonel Richmond, commanding the rear-guard, and for which he deserves the greatest credit. The Lahore contingent, under the able direction of Captain Lawrence, has invariably given the most cheerful assistance, dragging the guns, occupying the heights, any covering the rear-guard. While ascending the Huft Kotul and at Tezeen, their long jezails told effectively in keeping the ground. Major Skinner, Her Majesty's 31st Foot, had been detached with a strong party on the night of the 12th, for the purpose of dislodging a body of the enemy on the heights in front of the camp: this duty was performed with great gallantry the next morning, and his operations contributed much to frustrate the attempts of the enemy on our right flank. As the Major's movements were for some time separate from those of the main column, I deem it expedient to annex his report. The enemy being completely dispersed, we pursued our march, and encamped at Khoord Cabul without further opposition. The troops on this, as on all former occasions where they have been engaged with the enemy, showed the most determined valour, and I feel that I cannot too highly praise their conduct; each regiment seemed to vie with the others in their endeavours to dislodge the enemy, which they most effectually accomplished. I have received from Major-General McCaskill, C.B., who on this occasion commanded the main column, every assistance, and from Major-General Sir R. Sale, G.C.B., commanding the advanced guard, the most zealous co-operation. The following officers have also given me every reason to be satisfied with their exertions: Brigadier Monteath, C.B., commanding the Fourth Brigade; Brigadier Tulloch, commanding Second Brigade; and Brigadier White, commanding Cavalry Brigade; Lieutenant-Colonel Bolton, commanding Her Majesty's 31st Foot; Lieutenant-Colonel Richmond,commanding 33rd Native Infantry; and Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, K.H., commanding Her Majesty's 9th Foot; Major Skinner, Her Majesty's 31st Foot; Major Huish, commanding 26th Native Infantry; Major Delafosse, commanding Artillery; Major Crommelin, commanding 1st Light Cavalry; Major Lockwood, commanding her Majesty's 3rd Light Dragoons; Captain Napleton, commanding 35th 60th Native Infantry; Captain Seaton, commanding 35th Regiment Light Infantry; Captain Ferris, commanding Jezailchees; Captain Wilkinson, commanding Her Majesty's 13th Light Infantry; Captain Broadfoot, commanding Sappers; Captain Tait, commanding 3rd Irregular Cavalry; and Captain Lawrence, commanding the Sikh Contingent; Captain Abbott, Chief Engineer; Captain Abbott, commanding Light Field Battery; Captain Alexander, commanding 3rd Troop 2nd Brigade Horse Artillery; Captain Backhouse, commanding Mountain Train; and Lieutenant Becher, commanding the Sappers and Miners. The services of Mr. Mackeson, commanding the Bildars, have always been conspicuous. Superintending-Surgeon Stiven's care in providing for the convey ance and comfort of the wounded, has met with my approbation. From Major Thompson, at the head of the Commissariat Department, I have received every assistance; likewise from Captain Lane, Commissary of Ordnance, whose exertions have been unremitting throughout. From the following officers of my personal and the general Staff I have on this, as on every other occasion, received the most effectual aid: Captain Macgregor and Lieutenant Pollock, Aides de-Camp; Lieutenant Sir R. Shakespear, Military Secretary; Captain Ponsonby, Assistant Adjutant-General; Captain Codrington, Assistant QuarterMaster General; Captain Riddle, Paymaster; Captain Macadam, Deputy Judge-Advocate General; Lieutenant Mayne, officiating Deputy Assistant Quarter-Master General. The following officers of Division and Brigade Staff have also effectively performed their respective duties:-Captain Havelock, Deputy Assistant-Adjutant General; Brigade-Majors Havelock, Smith, Wade, Lugard, and Brevet Captain Fitzgerald, Artillery Division Staff. I must not omit the expression of my regret for the fate of Hyder Ali, the Native Commandant of the Jezailchees, a most gallant and enterprising soldier, who was killed while attempting to seize one of the enemy's standards. I have the honour to forward reports from Lieutenant-Colonels Richmond and Taylor, and Major Skinner, with returns of killed and wounded, and of ordnance, ammunition, and stores captured. I have, &c. G. POLLOCK. MAJOR-GENERAL POLLOCK TO MAJOR-GENERAL LUMLEY. Camp, Cabul, Sept. 16, 1842. Sir, I have the honour to report, for the information of his Excellency the Commander-inChief, that on the 14th instant, we marched from Khoord Cabul to Bootkhak. I took the precaution of sending parties to crown the heights of the Khoord Cabul Pass, but we met with no opposition. On the 15th I moved on to Cabul and encamped on the race course. This morning I proceeded to the Bala Hissar, with the following troops: a troop of horse artillery under Major Delafosse; a company of each regiment of infantry, un. der Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor; the 3rd Dragoons, under Major Lockwood; a troop of 1st regiment Light Cavalry; a rissallah of the 3rd Irregular Cavalry, with the whole of the General and Division Staff. The object was to plant the British colours in the Bala Hissar, on the spot most conspicuous from the city. The Prince Futteh Jung, who joined my camp at Gundamuck, expressed a wish to go with the party, to which I assented. On our arrival at the spot selected, the colours were hoisted, the band of her Majesty's 9th Foot immediately struck up the national anthem, "God save the Queen,' and a royal salute was fired from the guns of the horse artillery, the whole of the troops present giving three cheers. I left the colours in the Bala Hissar, to be hoisted daily as long as we remain. The infantry also remain under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, but they will be relieved on the arrival of Major-General Nott by a native regiment from his force. I expect Major-General Nott will reach Cabul to-morrow or the next day. Since our arrival here we have not been able to obtain any certain information of Mahomed Akbar. It appears, however, that Ameenoollah has separated from him. Neither of them has ventured to return in the direction of Cabul. The following prisoners have come into camp: Mrs. Trevor with eight children; Captain and Mrs. Anderson, with three children; Captain Troup, and Dr. Campbell. Unless some very unforseen circumstances occur, I expect to obtain possession of the remainder of the prisoners in the course of eight or ten days, with the exception of Captain Bygrave, who, I regret to find, has been taken by Mahomed Akbar, and was with him during the action of the 13th instant. I have, &c. GEORGE POLLOCK. MAJOR-GENERAL MCCASKILL TO CAPTAIN PONSONBY. Camp, Istalif, Sept. 30, 1842. Sir, I have the satisfaction to acquaint you, for the information of Major-General Pollock, C.B., that the troops under my command yesterday made themselves masters VOL. LXXXIV. of the strong and populous town of Istalif, totally defeating the numerous levies collected for its defence, under the infamous Ameer Oollah Khan Loghuree, Kaojie Ameer Kotwal, Hazin Khan (an 2 I assassin of Sir Alexander Burnes), Hazir Alee Khan, Khuleefa Ibrahim, and many other chiefs of Cabul and Kohistan. The Major-General is aware that the force detailed in the margin was placed at my disposal for operations in these valleys, on the 25th. The two brigades formed a junction near Khowja Rawash on the 26th; moved to an encampment near Zimuree on the 27th, and pitched their tents within four miles of this place on the 28th. The same evening I reconnoitred the enemy's position. It is impossible to conceive ground naturally stronger. The town of Istalif, consisting of masses of houses and forts, is built on the slope of a mountain, in the rear of which are yet loftier eminences, shutting in a defile which leads to Toorkistan, and in no way can this place of abode of 15,000 people be approached but by surmounting ranges of hills separated by deep ravines, or traversing, by narrow roads, its gardens, vineyards, and orchards, fenced in with strong enclosure walls; the whole of them, with the mountain side and tops of the houses, were occupied by Jezailchees; and the strongest proof is afforded that the enemy, after this disposition, considered the place as unassailable, by their having retained within the town, the wives and children not only of the inha bitants, but of thousands of refugees from Cabul. The observations which I was enabled to make under a sharp jezail fire, and the report of Major Pottinger, induced me to determine to assault, the next morning, the right of the enemy's extensive position, as it was there that I could hope to bring the artillery most effectively into battery. Arrangements were made with this view. The troops were formed into two columns of attack and reserve; Brigadier Tulloch's brigade and the mountain train composed the right; Brigadier Stacy's and Captain Blood's battery, and the 18-pounders the left; these were supported by the third column, under Major Simmons, her Majesty's 41st, consisting of a wing of his regiment and the cavalry under Major Lockwood: Captain Christie's corps protected the baggage. The troops moved soon after daylight, and traversing the plain in perfect order, passed nearly from the left to the right of the enemy's position. Our light troops and guns repressed the occasional attacks of their jezailchees from the gardens, who were numerous and most audacious; but when the column arrived in front of the village Ismillah, I resolved to make a combined attack on this point; Brigadier Tulloch's brigade assailed its left, and Brigadier Stacy, making a long detour, attacked the right. I cannot express in adequate terms my admiration of the style in which the former column, covered by skirmishers, rushed upon the gardens, filled with bold and skilful marksmen. Her Majesty's 9th Foot, the 26th Native Infantry, |
