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
my front. On their return over this mile the enemy, emboldened by our
preparations for departure, suddenly rushed down in great numbers to
cut them off, but Captain Anderson was equal to the occasion, and
setting at nought the difference of numbers, charged them, and cut
his way through, leaving, however, his very best soldier dead on the
ground. Although I would have liked to have punished the enemy for this
affair, prudence said no, and so I commenced my return for Kandahar,
keeping half a mile in rear of General Burrows' column, and picking up
many poor fellows (putting them on my guns), who, even in this short
distance, had begun to fall out again. For the first three miles after
leaving Kokeran, all was absolute quiet, the result of the lessons
of the morning, and the wearied column from Girishk passed along in
unaccustomed peace. At this time, however, I received information from
the front, that the enemy had collected in great force on the hills
around and in the Village of Abasabad, and that help to turn them out
was wanted. I immediately hurried my guns and Cavalry to the front, and
followed on with the Infantry, desiring Captain Law to pass General
Burrows' force, and getting to his front open fire on the enemy. This
he did in good style, and was making an advance to a second position,
when I and the Infantry, who had also passed through General Burrows'
Force, which were halted, came up. We completed the dispersion of the
enemy with Artillery fire, and then throwing out skirmishers swept, for
a second time that day, the gardens round Abasabad. This accomplished,
and the road again clear for General Burrows' Force, I formed up on
one flank and allowed them again to pass me, following them into the
Cantonments, which I reached about ½ past one or two o'clock, very
thankful indeed that I had gone out, and but little less delighted that
I had managed to effect my object at such a very small loss. To ensure
a safe conduct to any unfortunate straggler that might, by accident,
have escaped notice, I sent a fresh company of the 7th Regiment to hold
the entrance to the Village of Abasabad, and kept them there till all
hopes of anyone coming in had gone, when I withdrew them. My column
had constantly been on the move from half-past 5 a.m. till half-past
one p.m., the most of the time under a burning sun, which made us all,
even those who were riding, suffer from an intolerable thirst, and
as there was no water between Kokeran and Kandahar, this was a great
addition to our labors. On arrival in Cantonments General Burrows'
[Sidenote: Property in cantonments taken into fort.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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