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XL.

.1841.

CHAP. before Nott had an opportunity of giving proof of his talents in the field. Early in January a body of fifteen hundred insurgent horse showed itself in the neighbourhood of Candahar. They were attacked by a detachment of sepoys under Captain Farrington, broken and dispersed. But, notwithstanding this check, the insurrection continued and spread, insomuch that one of our best-informed political agents began to entertain suspicions that Shah Soojah himself, weary of the perilous protection of the British troops, was no stranger to the movement. Certain it is that the spirit of disaffection was even stronger among the Douranee chiefs than the Ghilzyes, and that delegates from them were traversing the whole country, instigating the people to revolt. In addition to this, intelligence was received from Herat to the effect that Yar Mahommed, the faithless vizier of that place, in addition to his innumerable other treacheries, had now, when enriched by British subsidies, openly joined the Persians; insomuch that Colonel Todd had broken up the British mission there, and was on his way back to Affghanistan. Such was the animosity of the old vizier that Shah Kamran, the sovereign, told one of the English officers, in a ten to Raw private audience, that but for his protection "not a Feringhee would have been left alive." As it was, the seizure of all their property was openly discussed in the vizier's council; and it was only by their precipitate revi. 232, 233. treat that the members of the mission were saved from indignities of the worst kind.1

1 Macnagh

linson, Feb.

25 and Mar. 2, 1841; Kaye, i. 579-589;

Thornton,

96.

mer near

Khelat-i

Ghilzye.

May 19.

It appeared ere long that this open defection of the govVictory of ernment of Herat was part of the general combination Col. Wy for the expulsion of the British and Shah Soojah from Affghanistan, of which the irruption of Dost Mahommed over the Hindoo Coosh was the commencement. Early in May the Ghilzyes in western Affghanistan appeared in great force in the neighbourhood of Khelat-i-Ghilzye, in order to disturb the operations in progress for the rebuilding of the walls of that fortress, so important as

XL. 1841.

commanding the road from Candahar to Cabul. Nott sent CHAP. Colonel Wymer, an able officer, with 1200 infantry, some horse, and four guns, to dislodge them. The enemy's force, before the action began, had increased to 5000 men, and they advanced in three columns, with great steadiness, to the attack. They were received with the utmost gallantry by Wymer's infantry and Hawkins' guns, the steady well-directed fire of which, after a desperate battle of five hours' duration, obliged them to retire with very heavy loss. This was a glorious victory, reflecting the utmost credit on the officers and men en- 1 Nott, i. gaged in it; but the courage with which the fought foreshadowed a serious and exhausting and it was discovered after the action that the had had too good cause for exasperation in the sive conduct of some of the British subordinate especially in the collection of the revenue, and the open 588-593. extortions of Prince Timour's followers.1

194, 207;

Lynch,

enemy Burnes to contest; June 30, natives 1841; oppres- tento, M agents, 5, 1841;

Macnagh

Raw

linson, May

Kaye, i.

the insur

ees in east

ghanistan.

While these operations were going on in western 97. Affghanistan, the proceedings of the Douranees in the Progress of eastern province were not less alarming. In the begin-rection of ning of July, Akhtar Khan, an indomitable chief, was in the Douranarms before Ghirek with 3000 men. Captain Wood- en Aff burn, a dashing officer, who commanded one of the Shah's regiments, was sent against him with 900 infantry, two guns, and a small body of Affghan horse. The enemy made a spirited resistance; but the discharges of Cooper's guns, and the steady fire of Woodburn's infantry, repulsed every attack, though the treachery of the Affghan horse rendered it impossible to follow up the success in the way that might otherwise have been effected. The moral Kaye, i. effect of these victories, however, was very considerable, Thornton, insomuch that the month of August passed over with vi. 237-239; greater appearances of peace than any which had occurred ten to Rosince the British troops occupied the country.2 So flatter- Aug. 20, 1841; Kaye, ing were these appearances, so firmly did the British i. 603. power appear to be established by repeated victories,

2

Nott, i.

256;

599-603;

Macnagh

bertson,

XL.

1841.

CHAP. and so much were the Affghans disheartened by the numerous defeats they had experienced, that had not infatuation subsequently got possession of the military chiefs at Cabul, and cruel acts of oppression alienated the natives, there seems no doubt that the expedition, notwithstanding the obvious dangers with which it was environed, might have been attended with entire success.

98.

rection.

Appearances in the course of the autumn, however, Last insur- gradually became more serious. Several of the Douranee chiefs withdrew from the court of Shah Soojah, the ostensible grounds of complaint being the withdrawal of some pecuniary allowances which they had been accustomed to receive as a consideration for keeping the country under their orders quiet. Having taken their leave, the first thing they did was to begin plundering caravans, a proceeding too much in accordance with the usual habits of Affghanistan to excite much attention. But it was soon evident that it was done systematically, and with the design of raising the country. Akhtar Khan was

soon at the head of the insurrection in western Affghanistan, which spread so rapidly and assumed such proportions, that Rawlinson wrote in the most anxious terms concerning it to Macnaghten, who could only recommend him to seize the rebel chief, and hang him as high as Haman. Early in August, Captain Griffin was sent out against him with 350 sepoys, 800 horse, and four guns. On the 17th he came up with him, strongly posted, with 3500 men, in a succession of walled gardens and mud forts, from which a heavy fire was kept up on the assailants. The attack, however, was completely successful. The enclosures were carried by the foot-soldiers with the 1 Macnagh. bayonet, the horse charged with terrific effect, and the ten to Ro- Douranees were defeated and dispersed with great slaughter. Shortly before, Colonel Chambers, with a detachi. 598-606; ment of 1500 men, came up with and dispersed a body vi. 241-243. of Ghilzyes, who were for the most part cut down or

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Aug. 5.

bertson,

Aug. 20, 1841; Kaye,

Thornton,

made prisoners.1

*

XL.

1841.

99.

Cabul.

These repeated victories were followed by a lull for the CHAP. time, and gave hopes of an entire and final pacification of the country. But in reality they had the very opposite effect, and became instrumental, from the false con- State of fidence they inspired in the political and military autho- afisat rities at Cabul, in inducing the terrible calamities which so soon followed. Macnaghten looked around him, and, as he himself said, saw "that everything was quiet from Dan to Beersheba ;" and so persuaded was he that the whole Affghanistan difficulties were over, that he was about to retire in honour and affluence from a life of incessant anxiety and activity. The military command at Cabul was in the hands of General Elphinstone, Sir Willoughby Cotton having retired in the preceding spring. Elphinstone was a veteran of the Wellington school, who bore a Waterloo medal, where he had commanded a regiment; and a man of high connections, aristocratic influence, and most agreeable manners. But he was entirely unacquainted with Eastern warfare, advanced in years, a martyr to the gout, which rendered him utterly unfit for personal activity, or even sometimes to sit on horseback, and, as the event proved, though personally brave, possessed of none of the mental energy or foresight which might supply its place. How he should have been selected by Lord Auckland for this arduous situation, in the full knowledge of these disqualifications, when such men as Pollock, Nott, and Sale were on the spot, ready and qualified to have discharged its duties, is one of the mysteries of official conduct which will never probably be cleared up, for every one now shuns its responsibility. High aristocratic influence at home, coupled with an illiberal and unfounded jealousy of the Company's service on the part of our military authorities, were 1 Kaye, i. probably the secret springs of the movement. The na- 610-612; tion would do well to ponder on them, for they all but 256-348. lost us our Indian empire.1

* He was a relation of Lord Elphinstone, at that time Governor of Bombay..

Nott, ii.

CHAP.

XL.

1841. 100.

and near

Cabul in

Oct. 1840.

It was not long before the fatal effects of this appointment appeared; but in justice to the memory of a gallant but ill-fated officer, it must be added, that grave faults Forces at had been committed at Cabul before he took the command. The force now at or near Cabul was very considerable, and had it been judiciously posted and skilfully directed, was perfectly adequate to have maintained that important post against any forces the Affghans could have brought against it. It consisted of the 13th and 44th Queen's foot, the 5th, 35th, 37th, and 54th Bengal native infantry, the 5th Bengal native cavalry, a troop of foot, and another of horse artillery, two regiments of the Shah's infantry, a train of mountain guns, and some Hindostanee and Affghan horse. Of these, however, the Queen's 13th, the 35th, and 37th native infantry,and some of the cavalry and artillery, were under Sir Robert Sale at Jellalabad, or keeping up the communication with the capital by Gundamuck and the Coord Cabul Pass. Thus the force actually at Cabul, or in its immediate vicinity, consisted of one European regiment (the 44th), two sepoy, and two Affghan regiments, and a native regiment of cavalry, with the artillery; in all 5000 fighting men, who were encumbered with 15,000 camp - followers. But they enjoyed two advantages, which gave them a decided superiority over the enemy. The first of these was the possession of a train of artillery, with ample ammunition, far superior in weight and efficiency to any which the Affghans could bring against them. The second, the possession of the Bala-Hissar, a citadel of great strength, situated on a 1 Thornton, steep height commanding every part of the city, and vi. 251,252; utterly impregnable, when garrisoned by British troops 611, 612. and defended by British guns, against the whole collected forces of Affghanistan.1

Kaye, i.

With an infatuation so extraordinary, that it almost seems to afford an instance of the old saying, "Quos Deus vult perdere prius dementat," all those advantages had been voluntarily thrown away, and the troops placed

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