History of the War in Afghanistan, Vol. 3 (of 3): Third EditionKaye, John William, Sir
History
History of the War in Afghanistan, Vol. 3 (of 3): Third Edition
Kaye, John William, Sir
Afghan Wars
“And then the Cavalry, headed by the young Prince Sufdur Jung, who had
something more than the common energy of the Piczal race, charged with
terrific effect, and utterly broke the discomfited mass of Dooranies.”
It is true that the Prince did _accompany_ the charge, but a squadron
of the Shah’s 1st Cavalry, under Lieutenant Crawford of the Bombay
Army, who was wounded, did nearly all the execution, and followed in
pursuit long after the Dooranie Horse under his Royal Highness had
given up the chase.
Page 400, vol ii., states:
“A party of the Shah’s Horse, under Captain Leeson, and a detachment
of Captain Wilson’s Jan Baz, who had remained true to us in the
face of strong temptation, were sent out against the mutineers. The
detachment came up with the rebels about twelve miles from Candahar.
There was a brief but sturdy conflict. The mutineers charged in a
body, but were gallantly met by Leeson’s men, and, after a hard
struggle, were broken and dispersed.”
I send you a copy of Captain Leeson’s report of the affair. General
Nott expressed to Captain Leeson his admiration of the gallantry of
the regiment, and his determination to recommend it to the marked
notice of Government.
Whatever his expressed intentions were, I have very good reason for
believing that he never fulfilled them!
* * * * *
No. 235. Candahar, 28th December, 1841.
SIR,
I have the honour to report for the information of the Major-General
that, agreeably to his orders, I proceeded in search of the mutineers
of the 1st Jan Baz Regiment with the details as per margin,[360] and,
having received information on the road of a body of horse being in
the direction of Chupreal, I ordered the Afghan Horse, who were in
front, to proceed at a trot. After proceeding three or four miles they
halted, and appeared in confusion, and on my riding to the front to
learn the reason, I found they would not obey their officers’ orders
to form, in consequence of the mutineers of whom we were in pursuit
being drawn up to receive them, amounting from 250 to 300 men, joined
by about 80 footmen, who, however, took no active part in the fight.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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