The Afghan Wars 1839-42 and 1878-80Forbes, Archibald
History
The Afghan Wars 1839-42 and 1878-80
Forbes, Archibald
Afghan Wars
Another ceremonial progress the General had to perform. On the 13th he
marched through the streets of Cabul at the head of his little army, the
bazaars and dead walls echoing to the music of the bands and the wild
scream of the bagpipes. In the Afghan quarter no salaams greeted the
conquering Feringhees, and scowling faces frowned on the spectacle from
windows and side-streets. Three days later occurred an event which might
have been a great catastrophe. Captain Shafto of the ordnance was
conducting an examination into the contents of the arsenal in the upper
Balla Hissar, and had already discovered millions of cartridges, and
about 150,000 lbs. of gunpowder. Daoud Shah, however, expressed his
belief that at least a million pounds were in store. Captain Shafto, a
very cautious man, was pursuing his researches; the Goorkhas were
quartered in the upper Balla Hissar near the magazine shed, and the 67th
occupied the Ameer's garden lower down. On the 16th a dull report was
heard in the Siah Sung camp, followed immediately by the rising above
the Balla Hissar of a huge column of grey smoke, which as it drifted
away disclosed flashes of flame and sudden jets of smoke telling of
repeated gunpowder explosions. The 67th, powdered with dust, escaped all
but scathless; but the Goorkha regiment had been heavily smitten. Twelve
poor fellows were killed, and seven wounded; among the former were five
principal Goorkha officers.
The Balla Hissar was promptly evacuated. Occasional explosions occurred
for several days, the heaviest of those on the afternoon of the 16th,
which threw on the city a great shower of stones, beams, and bullets. By
a jet of stones blown out through the Balla Hissar gate four Afghans
were killed, and two sowars and an Afghan badly hurt. Captain Shafto's
body and the remains of the Goorkhas were found later, and buried; and
the determination was formed to have no more to do with the Balla
Hissar, but to occupy the Sherpur cantonment. Meanwhile General Hugh
Gough was despatched with a small force of all arms to escort to Cabul
Money's gallant garrison of the Shutargurdan, and to close for the
winter the line of communication _via_ the Kuram valley. Colonel Money
had undergone with fine soldierly spirit and action not a few turbulent
experiences since Roberts had left him and his Sikhs on the lofty crest
of the Shutargurdan. The truculent Ghilzais gave him no peace; his
method of dealing with them was for the most part with the bayonet
point. The last attempt on him was made by a horde of Ghilzais some
17,000 strong, who completely invested his camp, and after the civility
of requesting him to surrender, a compliment which he answered by
bullets, made a close and determined attack on his position. This was on
the 18th October; on the following day Gough heliographed his arrival at
Kushi, whereupon Money took the offensive with vigour and scattered to
the winds his Ghilzai assailants. On 30th October the Shutargurdan
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account