CHAPTER XIII

January - February 1879

THE AFGHAN WAR (continued)

'Ali Musjid,
Jan., '79.

'It surprises me you had not full details in the papers of the regiments that attacked this place and the casualties by telegraph. However, I suppose it was all the better you thought I was quietly at Hasson Abdal. You need not alarm yourself now; I fully believe the war is all over. Yes, W. Thompson commands I7th, as Cobbe commands a brigade in the Kurrum Force (General Roberts'). He was wounded. I thought at first that it was quite a mistake of Government forcing on Sir N. Chamberlain's mission. However, I begin to think it was right and wise that we should bring it to an issue and insist on having explanations when the Russian embassy was at Kabul. I do not think it an unjust war; but I think our Government for the past twenty years has made an awful hash of it. The best proof of our wisdom in having the thing settled is that Russia does not like it.'

I was interrupted here by shots about 9.45 p.m. I went out to see what it was, asked a sentry about it, and was going back to my tent, when I met Graeme and Lloyd, and they said they would go to the picket toward the firing and see, and tell me if there was anything exciting. I am sorry to say Lloyd soon came back, and reported a sentry wounded. I went down there ; found two sentries wounded — one in the hand and wrist, the other through the thigh.

'Dhoolies were sent for. One man walked to the hospital. Dr. Jones came down and saw the other man, had his clothes cut off, and then carried in a dhooli to hospital. Fortunately, no vital point seems to be touched, and the bleeding was soon stopped, and the two men, Gall and Downey, of B Company, seem to be going on well. There were 6 men and a corporal on the picket — those two on sentry, the rest in a tent. The ground is nearly all rocks at a steepish slope where picket is ; to the right it is very steep indeed. Up this pass, about 20 yards to right, the sentry saw the enemy creeping. He challenged, and then I believe the enemy fired. Our men fired three shots and the other only two, so it is most unfortunate both shots hitting. They threw stones also, and hit Corporal Beswick. It was very daring of them coming inside the pickets, and they probably were bent on robbery. We think they had only two guns; knives, we doubt not, they all had.

'There is some idea now of offering to buy any firearms any of these Khyberis may wish to sell, and giving notice that any man found abroad with arms will be shot. Certainly strong measures must be taken to punish somebody. Went to bed at 1 a.m.

'20th. — About 2 a.m., I had hardly got to sleep when a shot pretty close by got me out of bed, and I tumbled on my clothes in a minute or two. Two other shots followed. As I dressed in the dark I could see quite well when I got out, which is an advantage. Someone met me here and said, "Poor Webster!" It appeared (he is Paymaster-Sergeant) he was wakened by something under his bed. He put his hand on a man's head. He sprang on the intruder and seized him by the throat. The native struck him in the arm, and after a scuffle got away, leaving a scull-cap and cloth behind him, and the sentry close by fired three times at him as he fled, but without apparent result.

'The thief cut the small ropes round the peg, and so got under the tent. No doubt his friend was outside, and took away Webster's bag, in which were xos. and a good medal. This, we fear, will encourage them to try greater robbery, so it was a very bad night. Three men wounded.

'I then went and reported it all to Brigadier-General Appleyard, and suggested that a party might be sent in open order along the river to await daylight and possibly meet those thieves retiring. However, we thought they must have got away (the dog Vicky, to get away from her pups, has just jumped on this paper and torn it), and so did not send a party; but I went down to the camp by the river and told Major Boileau of the attack on us, and suggested, as he was nearer, to send out a party of men extended along the river, in case of our being attacked again.

'We all went to bed, and about 4 a.m. were wakened by a shot, then another, and the bullet ping-pinged over the camp or near it. I turned out again, and found it was caused by one of our men falling down ; his rifle went off, and another man said he saw a man and fired. The Mhairwaras under Boileau would be turning out, so I went down again to tell him it was a false alarm. I returned, and we all sat talking over it in the mess-tent, and then went to bed, and were no more disturbed.

'Ali Musjid,
'Peshawur Field Force,
22nd Jan., '79.

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27th. — Yesterday, before lunch, came Archdeacon Matthews. Had a parade-service at 3 o'clock; good sermon—" My grace is sufficient for thee." Then with Colonels Madden and Lumond we walked up to the fort and neighbouring defences. Then I took the Archdeacon to our cave, where we had four men. He began with very good extempore prayer, then sat down and spoke about our situation and position among our comrades. After that they sang a hymn of Sankey's.

'I had a great many talks — spoke to him of the Peshawur Prayer-Room; how I asked Rebsch to go there, and so not let Dissent have it all. He said he had recommended R. to go there. Says R., "They use Moody and Sankey's hymns there!"

'So the Archdeacon went one night, and he chose one of those "poisonous" hymns, and had a very satisfactory meeting, I believe. I told him many chaplains had no Sunday-schools, or as bad as none, and that returns of Protestant children should be called for, showing attendance, and that no excuse should be taken for no Sunday-school where soldiers' children were. I suggested also that notices should be put up in all hotels, dak bungalows, and railway waiting-rooms of hours of Divine service, and that there should be a service every Sunday in all hospitals (army); that everyone should use what influence they could to have " moderate " men for chaplains. He said he did not like "moderate" men, as by that he understood people so timid of giving offence that they would do nothing. The term he appeared to like was "centre" men (like the French Assembly). I pointed out how extreme men drove people away from church, from the Lord's Supper, and into Dissent. I instanced, without names, Goodstom, and how a centre man would have a much larger number in agreement with him than any extreme man. I fancy he attaches too much importance to the Church (i.e., Church of England) to agree much with my views. However, he said if crosses and so on on the table kept away communicants, he would remove them.'

Peshawur,
Sunday, 9th Feb., '79.

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Your anxiety about me is quite unnecessary. I have had no privations, and have never been better. I have not had a cold for a long time.

Nothing whatever is known of our probable future, only I hear orders have been given to collect six months' supplies for 10,000 men at Jellalabad, which looks like Cabul. I believe home politics will hurry the war to a conclusion, but they cannot make peace till the Amir, or someone for him, makes some sign, which till now they have not. I suppose the poor deluded man still hopes and believes in that broken reed Russia.

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I will write for a filter. If I feel myself "getting very weak," of which I see no signs yet, and which I trust may not be the case for some time, I will see what is to be done ; better not promise to do anything, as it may hamper one. Freedom to do whatever is best is better. I drink only aerated waters — indeed, I never drink water except as tea.'