CHAP. whole camp-announced that the stormers had entered Ghuznee. XL. 1839. 71. the fortress. But the fortress, though entered, was not yet taken. Capture of Sale was eagerly advancing with the main column in support, when he met an engineer officer who had been blown down by the explosion, who reported that the entrance was blocked up by the ruins, and that Dennie could not force his way in. Uncertain what to do, Sale halted his column, and a short interval of doubt and anxiety took place. But soon the bugle was again heard sounding the advance, where a desperate strife awaited the assailants. The Affghans, now thoroughly alarmed, and aware of the scene of danger, came crowding in from all quarters, and a scene of matchless horror and confusion ensued. Dennie, with his small but dauntless band, was holding his ground with invincible tenacity, and pouring in volley after volley on the infuriated crowd. Into the midst of the throng Sale rushed at the head of his men; he was cut down by the sabre of an Affghan, but after a desperate struggle he regained his feet, and clove his opponent's head, by one blow, to the teeth. The support under Captain Croker rapidly came up, followed by the reserve under Colonel Orchard; the pass was won, and ere long the colours of the 13th and 17th were seen waving above the smoke in the strong morning breeze.* A loud cheer burst from the camp of the besiegers at the joyful sight, which was re-echoed by fearful cries from the fortress, for the Affghans rushed, sword in hand, from their covers, and plied their sabres with frantic resolution against the bayonets of the assailants. A terrible strife, a fearful carnage, took place be447-449; fore the fortress was completely won: but in the hour of vi. 191-194; triumph mercy was not forgotten; the unresisting were ii. 99-104. spared, the women were respected, and not an inmate of Hyder Khan's zenana suffered outrage.1 1 Kaye, i. Thornton, Havelock, The fall of Ghuznee, which was immediately followed *The colours of the 13th were first planted on the ramparts by Ensign Frew, nephew of the Hon. John Hookham Frew. XL. by the capture of the governor, Hyder Khan, and such CHAP. of the garrison as had not been slain in the assault, 1600 1839. 72. the victory. in number, was a mortal stroke to Dost Mahommed. The booty taken was immense; vast stores of ammunition, Results of guns, and provisions fell into the hands of the victors, who had only to lament the loss of seventeen killed and a hundred and sixty-five wounded; of these, eighteen were officers—an unusually large proportion, affording decisive proof how gallantly they had conducted themselves in the desperate struggle. Five hundred bodies of the Affghans were buried in the town, besides a great number who fell under the sabres of the cavalry in the pursuit. But the moral effects of the victory were even greater than its material results. Having been universally considered as impregnable, and the principal bulwark of Affghanistan, its rapid and apparently easy capture diffused universal consternation. It struck terror into the intrepid soul of Dost Mahommed, who thenceforward became impressed with the idea that the British were invincible, and that it was in vain to contend with the evident decree of destiny in their favour. Afzul Khan, one of his sons, who was hovering in the neighbourhood, prepared to fall on the beaten army, was struck with such terror, when he saw the British colours waving on the ramparts of the far- 1 Thornton, famed citadel, that, abandoning his baggage, elephants, vi. 195-197; and camp-equipage, which fell into the hands of the 449-451; victors, he fled back to Cabul. Nothing remained capable ii. 104-107. of arresting the British in their advance to the capital.' Kaye, i. Havelock, of Dost Ma stand, and Thither accordingly they advanced, after a halt of a 73. few days at Ghuznee. Dost Mahommed, with a resolu- Vain efforts tion worthy of the highest admiration, desired all who hommed to wavered in their allegiance to leave his camp, and him- make a self moved forward, with such as he thought he could rely his flight. on, to Urghundeh, where he parked his artillery and prepared to give battle. But it was evidently in vain; the seeds of dissolution were sown in his army. The venal Kuzilbashes, the treacherous Affghans, were fast desert 1839. CHAP. ing his camp. All sought to pay their court to the vicXL. tors it was the counterpart of Napoleon at Fontainebleau. He besought them to make a stand, and rally like true believers around the standard of the Prophet, but it was in vain. "You have eaten my salt," he said, “for thirteen years. It is too plain you are resolved to seek a new master; grant me but one favour in requital for that long period of maintenance and kindness; enable me to die with honour; stand by the brother of Futteh Khan while he executes one last charge against the cavalry of these Feringhee dogs; in that onset he will fall; then go and make your own terms with Shah Soojah." But the heart-stirring appeal was made in vain: none responded to it; terror or treachery had frozen every heart. With tears in his eyes, the gallant chief turned his horse's head, and, abandoning his recreant followers, fled to Cabul, ii. 124-130; whence he made for the wilds of the Hindoo Coosh, to Kaye, i. 452-454; seek in its icy solitudes, and amidst the savage Oosbegs, vi. 190-197. beyond the Bamian Pass, that fidelity which he could no longer hope to find among his own countrymen.1 1 Havelock, Thornton, 74. Entry of the British Aug. 7. A detachment of cavalry, under Captain Outram, who volunteered for the service, dashed off in pursuit of Dost into Cabul. Mahommed, and for several days had him almost in sight. He would certainly have been taken, had not an Affghan chief, Hadjee Khan, who had betrayed Dost Mahommed and undertaken to be their guide, proved a second time a traitor, and purposely delayed the march to give his former master time to escape. The British army broke up from Ghuznee on the 29th July, and after an unresisted march of eight days, arrived before Cabul, which they entered in triumph on the 7th August. Gorgeous in gay apparel, glittering with jewels, and surrounded by a brilliant staff, in which the scarlet and gold of the English uniforms shone forth conspicuous, Shah Soojah traversed the city of his fathers, and proudly ascended the BalaHissar, the venerated palace of his race. But though a vast crowd was assembled to witness his entry, there was CHAP. 1839. 459-461; no popular enthusiasm, no indication of a gratified national wish. Slowly, and in majestic pomp, and with the air rather of conquerors than allies, the procession wound up the ascent. But when they reached the summit, and 1 Kaye, i. entered the gates of the palace, the dethroned monarch's Havelock, joy could no longer be concealed. With almost infan- ii. 118; tine delight, he went through all the long-left but unfor- 83; Major gotten rooms and gardens, and received with undisguised 251; Thorntransports the congratulations of the British officers upon 198. his restoration to his dominions.1 Kennedy,i Houghton, ton, 197, 75. bestowed tion. The unexpected and rapid success of the British army in Affghanistan, and the restoration of Shah Soojah to Honours what was fondly hoped to be an undisputed throne, on those gave the greatest satisfaction to the British Government engaged in the expediand people. Honours and rewards were showered with a liberal but not undeserved hand on the officers engaged in the expedition. Lord Auckland was advanced to the dignity of earl; Sir John Keane was made a peer, with a pension of £2000 a-year; Mr Macnaghten and Col. Henry Pottinger were made baronets; Col. Wade, a knight; while Sir Willoughby Cotton, Col. Sale, and several others, were created Knights Commanders of the Bath. The splendour of the success, and the comparatively small loss with which it had been achieved, stifled for a season the voice of discontent; and though the Duke of Wellington, Marquess Wellesley, and a few other sagacious observers, still maintained that our difficulties were only about to commence, and that we had better take warning from the fate of the Moscow expedition, yet the great majority gave way to no such apprehensions, and fondly hoped that, after reposing a while on its laurels, the force engaged, leaving Shah Soojah, a faithful and devoted ally, firmly seated on the throne, with the keys of India in his hand, would return in safety to the plains of vi. 207. Hindostan.2 Meanwhile Colonel Wade, with the force which had passed the Khyber, after making itself master, on the 2 Thornton, XL. 1839. CHAP. way, of Jellalabad, had arrived at Cabul on the 3d of September, so that an imposing force of 15,000 men, British and auxiliaries, was assembled in the AffghanisFlattering tan capital. This large force enabled Sir John Keane appearance to extend his detachments in different directions 76. of the country. up the valleys of Affghanistan, one of which, advancing to the foot of the Hindoo Coosh, chased Dost Mahommed over its snowy summit, to seek an asylum amidst the huts of the distant Oosbegs. To appearance, the country was not only entirely subdued, but in a great measure tranquillised; and though a few small expeditionary parties were cut off, yet this was no more than might have been expected in a mountainous country, amidst a warlike people, upon whom a new government had been violently imposed by foreign bayonets. Supplies came in on all sides in 463, 464; great abundance. The never-failing magnet of gold drew forth all the resources of the country, and the refractory chiefs were every day sending in their adhesion.1 1 Kaye, i. Thornton, vi. 208. 77. In the midst of these flattering appearances there was Real causes no solid ground for confidence; and not the least part of rassment to the embarrassment of the Indian Government arose from the Indian the very magnitude and decisive nature of its success. of embar Govern ment. Shah Soojah, it was true, was seated on the throne, and from his palace on the Bala-Hissar might view without immediate alarm the figure of Dost Mahommed flitting behind the clouds and snows of the Bamian Pass, amidst the uncouth and shivering Oosbegs. But it had already become evident that he had no confidence in his own position, that he was unpopular with the great majority of his countrymen, and that the withdrawal of the British troops would be the immediate signal for his fall. If so, the restored government of Dost Mahommed would immediately, alike from policy and the desire of revenge, ally itself in the closest manner with Russia, and the whole objects of the expedition would not only be lost, but the very danger enhanced which it was its chief object to avert. Yet how was the army to be kept in its present |