The Afghan Wars 1839-42 and 1878-80Forbes, Archibald
History
The Afghan Wars 1839-42 and 1878-80
Forbes, Archibald
Afghan Wars
On the night of April 18th the division was encamped at Mushaki, about
thirty miles south of Ghuznee. The spies that evening brought in the
information that the enemy had resolved on fighting on the following
morning, and that the position they intended to take up was the summit
of a low spur of the Gul Koh mountain ridge, bounding on the west the
valley followed by the road. This spur was said to project in a
north-easterly direction toward the Ghuznee river, gradually sinking
into the plain. During a great part of its length it flanked and
overhung the road, but near where it merged into the plain the road
passed over it by a low saddle at a point about six miles beyond
Mushaki. At dawn of the 19th the column moved off, Palliser leading the
advance, which Sir Donald Stewart accompanied, Hughes commanding the
centre, Barter bringing up the rear and protecting the baggage. An hour
later the enemy were visible in great strength about three miles in
advance, presenting the aspect of a vast body formed up on the spur and
on the saddle crossed by the road, and thus threatening Stewart at once
in front and on both flanks. The British general at once made his
dispositions. His guns were on the road in column of route. The three
infantry regiments of Hughes' brigade came up to the left of and in line
with the leading battery, the cavalry took ground on the plain on its
right, and a reserve was formed consisting of an infantry regiment, two
companies sappers and miners, and the General's escort of a troop and
two companies. Orders were sent back to Barter to send forward without
delay half the infantry of his brigade. In the formation described the
force resumed its advance until within striking distance. Then the two
batteries came into action on either side of the road; the horse-battery
on the right, the flat ground to its right being covered by the 2d
Punjaub Cavalry; the field-battery on the left. Sir Donald Stewart's
proper front thus consisted of the field and horse-batteries with their
supports, but since it was apparent that the greatest strength of the
enemy was on the higher ground flanking his left, it behoved him to show
a front in that direction also, and for this purpose he utilised Hughes'
three infantry regiments, of which the 59th was on the right, the 2d
Sikhs in the centre, and the 3d Goorkhas on the left. Part of the
reserve infantry was sent to make good the interval between the left of
the artillery and the right of the infantry.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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