The Expedition Into Affghanistan; Notes and Shetches Descriptive of the Country, Contained in a Personal Narrative During the Campaign of 1839 And 1840

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1842 edition. Excerpt: ... APPENDIX. CAPTURE OF GHUZNEE. The following are the official documents referred to in p. 211: -- Report from his Excellency Lieutenant-General Sir John Keane to the Governor- General of India. Head Quarters, Camp, Ghuznee, 24th /uly, 1839. To the Right Honourable Lord Auckland, G.C.B., &c., &c. My Lord: I have the satisfaction to acquaint your Lordship, that the army under my command has succeeded in performing one of the most brilliant acts it has ever been my lot to witness, during my service of forty-five years, in the four quarters of the globe, in the capture by storm of the strong and important fortress and citadel of Ghuznee, yesterday. It is not only that the Affghan nation, and I understand Asia generally, have looked upon it as impregnable, but it is in reality a place of great strength, both by nature and art, far more so than I had reason to suppose from any description that I had received of it; although some are from officers from our own service, who had seen it in their travels. I was surprised to find a high rampart, in good repair, built on a scarped mound, about thirty-five feet high, flanked by numerous towers, and surrounded by a fausse braye and a wet ditch, whilst the height of the T 410 APPENDIX. citadel covered the interior from the commanding fire of the hills from the north, rendering it nugatory. In addition to this, screen walls had been built before the gates; the ditch was filled with water, and unfordable, and an out-work built on the right bank of the river, so as to command the bed of it. It is therefore the more honourable to the troops, and must appear to the enemy out of all calculation extraordinary, that a fortress and citadel, to the strength of which, for the last thirty years, they had been adding..