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
I immediately took the lead with my regiment, formed into line, and
advanced at a trot. After proceeding a little distance, my progress
was arrested by a wide ditch, through which I had to pass my regiment
by files, and which was performed most steadily. The mutineers, seeing
us advance so slowly, fancied us to be wavering and advanced to the
charge. I waited for the last files to cross the ditch, when I charged
them. The collision was severe, and the conflict, for the time it
lasted, bloody, as will be seen by the accompanying return of killed
and wounded. The struggle lasted for about five minutes, when the
mutineers broke and fled in two bodies. I pursued that which appeared
to me the largest one, upwards of fourteen miles, cutting down the
only three stragglers we came up with, and having seen the body enter
the enclosed country on the Urghandab below Hinz-i-Muddud Khan, and
having only sixteen men with me, I gave up the chase.
It is impossible that men could have behaved better than those of the
1st Cavalry. Their formations were as steadily performed as ever I saw
them done on parade, and they advanced on the foe in as beautiful a
line as possible.
The whole of our work was done by the sabre, not a shot being fired on
our side from either matchlock or pistol, thus proving the confidence
these men have acquired in their proper weapon.
I regret to say that the conduct of the 2nd Jan Baz was shameful and
cowardly. In the first instance, they refused to form when ordered
by their officer, until sheltered by my line, and afterwards, when
ordered by him to cross the water-course and join in the attack, they
refused, notwithstanding the gallant example set them by Lieutenant
Wilson, who charged, followed by his standard-bearer, alone. He was
immediately joined by several of my men, who, seeing the precarious
situation of their old adjutant, rallied round him, and I must not
omit to mention that the lives of myself and Lieutenants Chamberlain
and Wilson, who were with me, were saved by the devotion of these
gallant men, who, whenever we were in danger, rushed to the rescue.
It seemed to be the main object of the mutineers to destroy the
officers, which must inevitably have been the case, had it not been
for the devotion of the men of the 1st Cavalry.
I have not mentioned the number of the enemy slain. I should say they
must have amounted to between fifty and sixty, for I saw from twenty
to twenty-five fall near me, and Lieutenant Wilson reports having seen
thirty to forty bodies in the direction he took. The pursuit being
immediate, there was no time to look about us, and on my return to
the field of action, there were only three bodies remaining, which I
believe to have been those of Sheeahs.
I have the honour to be, &c.,
(Signed)
JOSEPH LEESON,
Captain Commanding Shah’s 1st Cavalry.
To Captain Ripley,
Fort Adjutant, Candahar.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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