With the Somersets in Afghanistan

The road back to the Afghan capital after disaster

The writer of this vital first hand account of the First Afghan War was an officer serving with the 40th Foot. His regiment formed part of Nott's 'Candahar Division' and its role was as part of the so called 'army of retribution' which marched to Cabul to 'conclude' the conflict after the appalling disaster which culminated in the annihilation of a British army under Elphinstone as it retreated from the Afghan capital. The 40th's route took them once again to Ghuznee, the scene of fighting for the 'Army of the Indus' early in the war, but this time the city was left as a smoking ruin. This book graphically describes a time of almost perpetual hard fought running battle as the column ground forward towards its objective; descriptions of attacks on the column, night attacks upon the camp and open set piece engagement fill its pages. Arriving in Cabul shortly after Pollock's forces, the author met the liberated prisoners of the Afghan disaster including the redoubtable Lady Sale. Withdrawal—nothing less than a fighting retreat with the rearguard hard pressed—from Cabul meant the column of which the 40th formed part had to follow the line of the catastrophic march of the destroyed British army and the author's description of the horrors they witnessed as gun carriages literally ground over the bones of former comrades makes harrowing reading. Nevertheless, this is a different account of the war told from a company officer's perspective and is recommended. Available in softback or hardback with dustjacket.

H.M. 40th, 2nd, and 16th regiments formed the right column, under Colonel MacLaren, and were directed to advance to the Urghundaub Valley, through the Baboowalla Pass (a narrow gorge between two hills of no great extent). The remainder of the force moved round the hills to the left, a distance of three or four miles. The pass, notwithstanding its being only about two miles from Candahar, and on the direct road to a luxuriantly cultivated and thickly inhabited valley, was quite impracticable for guns or cavalry, although a very few hours’ labour would have rendered it completely otherwise.<br>
Our light companies were thrown out as we approached the pass, but no opposition was here offered to us, although from the number of small parties of the enemy in sight, we fully expected its occupation to be disputed: they, however, as we advanced, retired on their main body, which on clearing the pass we could see drawn up about four miles on the opposite side of the river, presenting from its number and their many gay and floating banners a very imposing appearance. On either side of the Urghundaub River extend for miles numerous picturesquely-situated villages, connected with each other by rich luxuriant orchards, the latter generally surrounded by high mud walls; none of these villages on the left bank were, however, occupied by the enemy.<br>
General Nott, who had accompanied our brigade, determined on moving down the river, effecting a junction with the rest of his force, and crossing at a ford about two miles below the pass to proceed at once to the attack, divining our object, the enemy marched in the same direction, and took up a very strong position at Killa Shuk, a fortified village built on a considerable eminence, and situated immediately opposite the ford. This village formed the centre of their position, and their right and left rested on extensive orchards, the mud walls surrounding which had been loopholed. In front of their position, between the river and fort, was a complete swamp, and in their rear an extensive plain.<br>
About a quarter past ten, we commenced fording the river, and in a short time had all crossed, no further opposition being offered than a few shots fired by some of the enemy’s skirmishers at a very long range. The two brigades of infantry were formed in columns en masse at quarter distance,—a troop of horse-artillery being on the right, the remainder of the guns and cavalry on the left.<br>
Before commencing operations, it was communicated that a reward of five thousand rupees would be given for the head of Actar Mahommed Khan. Previous to our crossing the river, the skirmishers of the enemy had taken possession of the numerous water-courses which intersected the marsh between the rival armies. From them an incessant but ill-directed fire was maintained on our columns. Our guns were now opened on the main body, and our light companies proceeded to dispute the possession of the water-courses with the enemy; owing, however, to some misconception, they were recalled,—a step which was greeted with a yell of triumph from our opponents, who began to think that we had already had enough. A slight, spiritless, and ineffectual attempt was at this time made on our right flank, but was speedily repulsed.<br>
Our skirmishers being again thrown out, the infantry columns were directed to advance, (one regiment being left with the guns,) and proceeding slowly and steadily through the swamp up to our knees in mud, we neared the enemy’s position, who welcomed us with a heavy, but fortunately for us exceedingly ineffectual fire. Their line began to waver as we approached, and when at length the bayonets were brought to the charge, and the British cheer struck upon their astonished ears, they fell back, broke, and retreated in complete disorder across the plain. Our cavalry had now to make a wide détour to, avoid the swamp, and we did not derive the advantage which we should have enjoyed, had they been well placed. The enemy continued their retrograde movement, but at length rallied and re-formed in the plain. Long, however, before the infantry could get within musket-shot of them, they resumed their retreat in good order; our cavalry and one of the troops of horse-artillery which had now come up, were sent in pursuit, and overtaking them, cut up numbers of the infantry, who were abandoned to their fate by the suwars.<br>
Our force engaged this day was three thousand five hundred, that of the enemy was estimated at eighteen or twenty thousand. Our loss was slight, six or eight officers wounded, and a few men killed and wounded; that of the enemy was said to have been very great, which I can easily imagine our artillery, which was beautifully served, having had such dense masses on which to play.
<br><br>********<br><br>Meanwhile Shumshoodeen’s artillery was directed on the regiments of infantry which, during the attempts to breach, had been ordered to pile arms and stand at ease, a military manoeuvre which generally can be effected with facility, but which is difficult of continuance when under the fire of an enemy.<br>
We were all young soldiers, and few had ever been exposed to the influence of round shot; it was most amusing therefore to see the graceful but involuntary obeisance made along the whole of our line, as each succeeding shot from the enemy’s guns seemed almost to graze our heads.<br>
Anderson’s troop was now brought up on our right, our guns were opened on the hill, whence the fire of the opposing army proceeded, and for a time the artillery on both sides had all the fun to themselves.<br>
At length Shumshoodeen advanced into the plains, his troops, as they approached our line, beating their tom-toms, and uttering the most discordant yells. An attempt was made by them to pass our right flank and gain our camp; this was however frustrated, and our infantry, covered by the light companies and guns, advanced in open columns of divisions towards the right, where the enemy were now in position. The practice from the guns under Lieutenant Turner’s direction, was at this time most beautiful, both from its precision and the celerity with which the movements of his troop were executed. As we neared the enemy, we formed a widely-extended line, and continued to move steadily on; we were received with shouts and many volleys from the matchlock-men, but, as usual, their fire was ill-directed. Having gained the bottom of the hill, on the crest of which the opposing army had made their stand, a loud hurrah burst from our line; this was succeeded by an irresistible British charge, and the enemy, succumbing to the superiority of the bayonet over the sword and shield, broke and fled.<br>
Here we much felt the want—from which we had so long suffered—of cavalry in sufficient numbers to reap the advantage of our victories. If the British had had a few more squadrons, not many of their enemies would have escaped this day.<br>
One of the guns which was abandoned fell into the hands of the light company; another, through the gallantry of Captain Christie, and Lieutenant Chamberlain with the Bengal cavalry, formerly in the Shah’s service, was captured late in the evening. The enemy attempted to take it off the field, but Lieutenant Chamberlain dashing forward, succeeded in cutting the traces of one of the horses, and the cavalry, who were close behind, cut up the artillerymen—most of whom (Mussulmen) were deserters from our service—and secured the gun. The practice of the enemy’s guns was exceedingly fine, but that they did not do much execution, was on account of the great elevation they required from being fired at such a long range, and the front of our position being ploughed fields, the softness of which prevented the balls ricocheting.<br>
The whole of the enemy’s camp, all their ammunition, which was principally British and had been taken at Ghuznee from our garrison, and two of their guns, fell into our hands.<br>
We returned home late at night, the light companies, under Captain White of the 40th, having been left to bring in the guns, &c., which had been captured. Ammunition we did not require, so the remains were destroyed after the men had filled their pouches.