Private Journal of Henry Francis Brooke: Late Brigadier-General Commanding 2nd Infantry Brigade, Kandahar Field Force, Southern Afghanistan, from April 22nd to August 16th, 1880Brooke, Henry Francis
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Private Journal of Henry Francis Brooke: Late Brigadier-General Commanding 2nd Infantry Brigade, Kandahar Field Force, Southern Afghanistan, from April 22nd to August 16th, 1880
Brooke, Henry Francis
Afghan Wars; Brooke, Henry Francis, 1836-1880
JULY 15.--News from General Burrows received this morning states, that
the whole of the Wāli's army was mutinous, and that the situation
was so critical that he had decided it was necessary he should
disregard the positive orders he had received not to cross the Helmund,
and that he proposed to do so, and disarm the mutineers. I should
explain that our force is, under orders from the Viceroy, halted on the
Kandahar side of the Helmund, while the Wāli and his army are in the
fort of Girishk, which is on the Herat side of the Helmund. Later in
the day news arrived from the Wāli (which was apparently authentic),
that early the previous morning (14th) the whole of his army left
him, taking with them the Battery of guns our Government had been so
idiotic as to give the Wāli. The letter, which was from the Wāli
to his son, who is here, went on to say, that immediately General
Burrows heard this, he had crossed the river with his cavalry and Horse
artillery, and pursued the mutineers, and coming up with them had
killed 200 and recovered the guns. This report seems authentic, though
probably exaggerated, but as yet no confirmation has been received from
General Burrows. True or not, the report has had a good effect in the
city, and will help to show that the people are not likely to improve
matters by trying conclusions with us. I had a deputation from the
Parsee shopkeepers, who have followed the army from India, and have
shops in our camp, where they sell us wine and provisions, &c., at most
exorbitant rates, to beg me to give them a place in the fort for their
stores, as they were in a dreadful fright for their lives and their
property. Even if I had considered they were in danger, I would not
have acceded to their request, as I would much prefer their running
certain risks, to giving public confidence the shock of supposing I
thought it necessary for our camp followers to take refuge in the fort,
so I laughed at their fears, refused their petition, and comforted
them by saying, that even if they now lost the whole contents of their
shops, they would still be great gainers, as they have made their
fortunes already by swindling us. They did not seem to see this in the
light I did, but had to accept the inevitable, and take their share of
the risks. As there is a large number of evilly-disposed men in the
city, it was decided that it was desirable to show
[Sidenote: 40-pounder guns moved into fort.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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