The Afghan Wars 1839-42 and 1878-80Forbes, Archibald
History
The Afghan Wars 1839-42 and 1878-80
Forbes, Archibald
Afghan Wars
responsible and arduous command at his disposal, and this not in
ignorance of General Elphinstone's disqualifications for active service,
but in the fullest knowledge of them!
Monteath's camp at Bootkhak, the first halting-place on the Jellalabad
road, was sharply attacked on the night of the 9th, and the assailants,
many of whom were the armed retainers of chiefs living in Cabul sent out
specially to take part in the attack, although unsuccessful, inflicted
on Monteath considerable loss. Next day Sale, with H.M.'s 13th, joined
Monteath, and on the 13th he forced the long and dangerous ravine of the
Khoord Cabul with sharp fighting, but no very serious loss, although
Sale himself was wounded, and had to relinquish the active command to
Colonel Dennie. Monteath encamped in the valley beyond the pass, and
Sale, with the 13th, returned without opposition to Bootkhak, there to
await reinforcements and transports. In his isolated position Monteath
remained unmolested until the night of the 17th, when he repulsed a
Ghilzai attack made in considerable strength, and aided by the treachery
of 'friendly' Afghans who had been admitted into his camp; but he had
many casualties, and lost a number of camels. On the 20th Sale,
reinforced by troops returned from the Zurmut expedition, moved forward
on Monteath, and on the 22d pushed on to the Tezeen valley, meeting with
no opposition either on the steep summit of the Huft Kotul or in the
deep narrow ravine opening into the valley. The Ghilzais were in force
around the mouth of the defile, but a few cannon-shots broke them up.
The advance guard pursued with over-rashness; the Ghilzais rallied, in
the skirmish which ensued an officer and several men were killed, and
the retirement of our people unfortunately degenerated into precipitate
flight, with the Ghilzais in hot pursuit. The 13th, to which the
fugitive detachment mainly belonged, now consisted mainly of young
soldiers, whose constancy was impaired by this untoward occurrence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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