Warning: include(acton/acton_index.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/parsonsf/public_html/acton/afghan1.php on line 4
Warning: include(acton/acton_index.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/parsonsf/public_html/acton/afghan1.php on line 4
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'acton/acton_index.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/parsonsf/public_html/acton/afghan1.php on line 4
CHAPTER XI
November 1878
THE AFGHAN WAR
See a set of 24 photographs taken in 1878 of the Second Afghan War.
In camp
IN a letter dated November 4th, Major Ball-Acton gives some particulars of the camp of his regiment:
Camp Hassan Abdal,
4 Nov., '78.
Marching along last week, I am sorry to say I missed the mail-day, which left the day before we got to Rawul Pindi. I had two half sheets written. 1 hope you were not alarmed by not hearing; indeed, you must not mind my missing a mail, as often I may not be able to write. Here we are at our first destination, and will probably remain some time. We are in the 2nd Infantry Brigade. Colonel Madden will be our Brigadier, the 6th N.I. and Mahratta Battalion being with us.
Headquarters at Lawrencepore, some nine miles further on. You may remember some barracks there that were so shaken by an earthquake that they were given up. Cavalry are nearer attack and Royal Artillery at Campbellpore. Here we wait till we are wanted. You hear all the news as soon as I do, therefore there is no use telling you. We shall have the answer to the determination in about a fortnight, I suppose, and Shere Ali of course, won't kow-tow, and if the commissariat have enough provisions I expect we'll go to Jellalabad before Christmas.
Like Abraham
Since writing above we have moved our, camp from the regular camping-ground to where Kinloch, the A.Q.M.G., marked out for our Standing Brigade camp. My tent (a staff sergeant's) is just pitched, and some coolies are now engaged putting down the floor on which the bhisti has put some massacks of water. They say this brings white ants, but the dust is so horrid I must risk that. I am sitting outside in shade of the door, like Abraham used to, and a pleasant breeze is blowing from the Northwest. We expect to be here at least ten days before the whole of our force assembles here. The papers say before 15th inst. we are likely to advance. No one has yet rejoined from leave, but we expect Graeme, Drury, and the Colonel daily. They are probably detained at Jhelam and Rawul Pindi for daks. Kinloch told us last night it was intended to raise 20 more second Battalions, which would take us in 56th, and then I would perhaps get our 2nd, and serve at home for some years. Would you like that? I must, however, have my fight out here first. But, indeed, things in Turkey look like a Russian war again.'
Another letter may find a place here :
Jumrood,
20th Nov., '78.
Here we are, four Brigades of three regiments each and two or three cavalry regiments, ready to go in at Shere Ali as soon as this day is passed or his reply to the determination is received. It is tiresome that what I write now will be all known to you in a day or two, one month before you get this, or probably you will know the result of this year's campaign before you get this. The first and second Brigades go a short way this evening: the first, including seventeen regiments, to the right over the hills to get beyond Ali Musjid, which, they say, is 7 ½ miles (some say 13) from this; the third and fourth Brigades march up the pass to-morrow morning At 7 o'clock, and Ali Musjid is to be taken either to-morrow afternoon or the following morning. We have our tents here — small ones, 7 feet by 8 feet — but to-morrow we take no baggage, one day's cooked and two days' uncooked rations, and been told not to expect to see our baggage for six days. The men have blankets carried for them. With my horse I shall be better off than others, and on the saddle will have great-coat and blanket, and With two or three flannel shirts I may keep warm at night. By day it is very hot.
Nugent is P.M.C., and will, I hope, feed us, as we keep the mess going still. We consider ourselves very fortunate to be here so well in front, and everyone says I am just in time.
The Khyber Pass
The idea is that we get well through the mountains and there winter. I met Colonel Thompson again; he was marching off with his regiment at 5 p.m. Into Khyber Pass, where first Brigade go some four miles. The second Brigade left same time to go over that hill to right of Jumrood, and to-morrow come down beyond Ali Musjid on the Jellalabad road so as to intercept retreat. The first Brigade tomorrow to go up hills to right of Ali Musjid, third and fourth to march at 7 a.m. to-morrow up the pass, and when all are ready to take the place. We are so strong I expect they won't resist much. Reports say the garrison are very bad with fever.'
Under date November 21st, he records in his diary :
We march at 7 a.m. with bedding only. Two camels for officers. . . . Enter celebrated Khyber Pass about 9.30 a.m. Hills to left, soon fall away and are low. On spur of high hill to left at entrance is a signalling party. Some parts of road very good and retaining walls perfect.
The expedition was soon attacked, and a letter gives a graphic account of the action which took place:
Ali Musjid,
Sunday, 24th Nov., '78.
In hopes of obtaining passage for this to Jumrood in time for the mails leaving Peshawur on Monday, I write a line, though I wrote from Jumrood, not thinking there would be another opportunity.
Battle in the Khyber Pass
We marched on 21st as arranged. About 12 o'clock we heard big guns, and at 2 o'clock were getting enemy's round shot and shell here and there among us; 2.30 p.m. our companies began to go out. I was sent with A and G (Burnett and Sparke) to support Graeme; however, I did not see him on a ridge. I met Colonel Madden again, and he ordered me more to the front. I went on with G Companies. Almost immediately the enemy's bullets came among us, and I ordered the men to double, and we ran forward as fast as we could for shelter under some rocks. Here we began firing, not knowing the range, and kept it up at 800 yards. Here one poor man of G Company got shot in the head. He still breathed, and Sparke and I lifted him to more easy position; but I think he was insensible from the first. Another man was shot in the wrist. Wilson got a scratch from a stone splinter. While Sparke and I were carrying this man, a round shell or shot struck not far off. It is a very great mercy that we had no more of us killed. Though the range was long, the enemy had it and we had not, and he was shooting us with the Enfield guns given Shere Ali by Lord Mayo!
After that I saw a place by which the enemy opposite us (we were on right) could be turned, and I went to extreme right, and took E and F Companies (Smyth's and Nugent's and Johnson's) up a steep ridge, and from that we could fire down on the enemy and disturb him continually. Daylight did not suffice to get round.
I say the whole thing was a mistake, as we should have waited for the other Brigades (one and two) to make their turning movement, and if this had been done we could not possibly have lost a man. We were much too weak to attack so strong a position. Major Birch and Fitzgerald, of 27th P.L, were killed ; Machan, 14th Sikhs, wounded. The last got an order to attack our place. I believe mistook, and went to another with but 60 men! Birch would not see him without support, and so was shot, and 40 or 50 men killed and wounded. We ought to have waited a day or two to let the other columns get in their places.
Someone had blundered
Well, next day we were to attack on our left, and 150 or so of ours, under my command, were to support the third Brigade (Appleyard's). I did not like it at all, as I thought it quite a mistake and throwing away life for nothing, and I prayed that we might be saved by the turning movement; and so it was, for the whole place was evacuated by morning. On 21st we kept on firing till dark, when we lay down, pretty tired, where we were, without water or blankets, all over the place. The men had their great-coats; some officers had nothing, I wandered about for some hours in the dark. At last found Colonel Madden and one company by the river, and got a good drink, and an officer of 81st gave me a sandwich, and I borrowed one of "Bismarck's" [Charger] blankets, so kept fairly warm, but could not sleep on the cold, hard ground. I, Drury, Jones, and the Colonel made for a bush.
Since that we have been stationary under Ali Musjid, and the enemy's camps have been looted. Many of the enemy's sick are still lying about, and I managed to give food and water to some. About 20 guns and 300 rifles are taken. Some 4,000 or 5,000 men must have been in the position; 300 prisoners taken, and they, poor wretches! half starved since we got them.
I do not expect any more fighting till spring. I think Afghans will probably have come to their senses by that time. Love to children, etc. Poor Mrs. Birch ! I saw her twice at Nowshera, etc.'
Cool under fire
Major Acton was noticed by those who saw him in action for his admirable coolness under fire. He and his old horse 'Bismarck' were alike in this, both being apparently unmoved by the crashing tempest around them of bullets and shells.
Warning: include(footer.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/parsonsf/public_html/acton/afghan1.php on line 75
Warning: include(footer.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/parsonsf/public_html/acton/afghan1.php on line 75
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'footer.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/parsonsf/public_html/acton/afghan1.php on line 75