=Cabul.=--Once inside the city the army was practically shut in, for the whole country was hostile to the British. Colonel Sir Hugh Gough, V.C., relieved the Shaturgardan garrison, and the lines of communication were directed to Gandamak and the Khyber. Throughout December General Roberts was kept busy with continual fighting; during this time, in an engagement with the Kohistanee on December 11th, the 9th Lancers suffered severely, and for rescuing some of the unfortunate troopers who had fallen into a deep ditch the Rev. J. W. Adams was awarded the V.C. Standing up to his waist in water, and under a heavy fire, he stuck to his task until the Afghans were within a stone's throw of him. On this unfortunate day three guns had to be spiked and abandoned. After this affair the Afghans made direct for Cabul, but were checked on their advance on Sherpur by the steady conduct of the 72nd Highlanders. On the 14th the Asmai heights were occupied by the enemy, but after a determined fight they were driven off; almost immediately, however, a force of over 15,000 Afghans, led by Moollahs shouting "Allah Ya Allah!" dashed with reckless impetuosity upon the place, and, despite the utmost gallantry on the part of the British troops, a portion of the position and a couple of guns had to be abandoned. Then the increasing number of the enemy compelled the concentration of the army within the cantonments of Sherpur, which were fortified to resist siege, and by the intuition of Sir Frederick Roberts had been well provisioned to sustain the defenders. At 6 o'clock on the morning of December 23rd, 1879, just before the day broke, 30,000 Afghans flung themselves at the British defences, and maintained the assault until 1 o'clock, then realising that further efforts were fruitless, and suffering from heavy losses, they began to retire, when the cavalry sallied forth and put them to rout. In this defence 2 officers and 8 men were killed, and 5 officers--including Colonel Gough--and 41 men wounded. It is estimated that the Afghans had 3,000 men placed _hors de combat_. During the night the enemy melted away, and when General Gough arrived with reinforcements not an Afghan was to be seen. Cabul was then reoccupied. The regiments engaged were the 9th, 67th; 72nd Seaforth Highlanders; 92nd Gordon Highlanders; 9th Lancers. Native regiments: 2nd, 4th, and 5th Goorkas; 5th Punjab Infantry; 23rd and 28th Bengal Infantry; 12th Bengal Cavalry, and 14th Bengal Lancers; 5th Punjab Cavalry; two batteries Punjab Artillery, and Bengal Sappers and Miners.