of life, the stern fanatics came on to be shot down from the defences which they had themselves thrown up. In a series of desultory attacks the day declined, and the British having obtained possession of every height commanding the Pass, the remains of the Afghan army made a détour among the hills, and attacked the British rear-guard, commanded by Colonel Richmond, but they were warmly received, and entirely discomfited.

So complete was the defeat of the Afghan army on the 13th of September, that Akbar Khan escaped from the field accompanied only by a solitary horseman. The enemy acknowledged to have lost fifty-three chiefs and persons of consequence and seven hundred men. The casualties on the part of the British amounted to one hundred and eighty-five.

No impediments now existed to the advance of the British on Cabool, at which city the army arrived on the 15th. of September, and encamped on the race-course. On the following morning the British colours were hoisted on the highest pinnacles of the battlements of the Bala Hissar, (upper fort,) on the spot most conspicuous from the city; the National Anthem was played, and a royal salute fired from the guns of the horse artillery, the whole of the troops present giving three cheers. The colours were left in the Bala Hissar to be hoisted daily as long as the troops should continue at Cabool.

All the objects of the campaign were thus gained, and the rescue of the prisoners effected, amongst whom were several officers and ladies, (Lady Sale being of the number,) together with thirty-six non-commissioned officers and men of the 44th. regiment-one hundred and five in all.

One of these officers, Lieutenant Mein, was thus alluded to in reference to his conduct, while serving with the army on its retreat from Cabool, by Sir Robert Peel, on moving the vote of thanks to the army employed in Afghanistan:-"I have said that, in the course of this campaign, instances of the most generous devotion, of friendly sympathy, and of desperate fidelity, were displayed, which deserve at least a passing notice. Lieutenant Eyre says: Lieutenant Sturt (sonin-law to Sir Robert and Lady Sale) had nearly cleared the defile, when he received his wound, and would have been left on the ground to be hacked to pieces by the Ghazees, who followed in the rear to complete the work of slaughter, but for the generous intrepidity of Lieutenant Mein, of Her Majesty's 13th. Light Infantry, who, on learning what had befallen him, went back to his succour, and stood by him for

CANDAHAR.

1842.

As the 13th. Light Infantry are so intimately connected with the defence of Jellalabad, in like manner the 40th. regiment is associated with Candahar. Major-General Sir William Nott, like Sir Robert Sale, refused to obey the order from MajorGeneral Elphinstone to surrender. After the insurrection at Cabool, a general rising took place throughout Afghanistan, and the insurgents in the neighbourhood of Candahar being headed by Prince Sufter Jung, the son of Shah Soojah, and brother of Prince Timour, (Governor of Candahar,) who had left on the 29th. of November, 1841, to place himself at the head of those whom Mahomed Atta Khan was assembling on the eastern frontier. The insurgents under these two chiefs having approached within eight miles, Major-General Sir William Nott, G.C.B., moved out to attack them on the morning of the 12th. of January, 1842, the 40th. forming the advance. This regiment, during the previous year, had suffered severely from sickness, the number of deaths amounting to one hundred and fifty-nine. A strong position, with a morass in their front, had been taken up by the enemy, which rendered the approach of the troops difficult. The Afghans were, however, quickly routed. At this period, and until the 7th. of May, the soldiers remained accoutred every night.

several minutes, at the imminent risk of his own life, vainly entreating aid from the passers by. He was, at length, joined by Sergeant Deane, of the Sappers, with whose assistance he dragged his friend, on a quilt, through the remainder of the Pass, when he succeeded in mounting him on a miserable pony, and conducted him in safety to the camp, where the unfortunate officer lingered till the following morning, and was the only man of the whole force who received Christian burial. Lieutenant Mein was himself at this very time suffering from a dangerous wound in the head, received in the previous October; and his heroic disregard of self, and fidelity to his friend in the hour of danger, are well deserving of a record in the annals of British valour and virtue; I think, Sir, it is but just that the name of Lieutenant Mein should be mentioned with honour in the House of Commons, and I do not regret having noticed this circumstance, as it has called forth so generous, and general an expression of sympathy and approval.'"

The name and sufferings of Lady Sale will be ever connected with the disasters in Afghanistan. Her Journal is one of exciting and absorbing interest.

During the month of February considerable numbers of Afghans, under the command of Prince Sufter Jung and other chiefs assembled in the vicinity of Candahar, plundering the villages, and by every possible means urging the inhabitants to join in an attack upon the British troops, especially those occupying the cantonments; but owing to the severity of the weather the Major-General was unable to move, and such a measure became impracticable till the 7th. of March, when, the enemy having approached closer, Sir William Nott marched with the remainder of his army against them; they were followed, and dispersed in every direction. While the force were thus absent, a strong detachment of the enemy made an attack on the city, and succeeded in burning the Herat gate, but were repulsed with great loss by the troops in garrison. On the 25th. of March, Sir William moved out with a force (of which the 40th. formed a part,) to the support of a brigade detached under the command of Colonel Wymer, C.B., of the Bengal army, to forage and to afford protection to the numerous villages, when the Afghans were driven across the Urghundaub in the greatest confusion.

Major-General (now Lieutenant-General Sir Richard) England, who had at first been unsuccessful in conveying stores to Candahar from Scinde, having been reinforced at Quetta, again advanced, and accomplished his object. On the 28th. of April he attacked the enemy's strong position in front of the village of Hykulzie. The 41st., which formed part of his force, was the only Queen's regiment that shared in this action; two out of the three columns of attack were led by Majors Simmons and Cochran, the reserve being under Major Browne, all of the 41st. Foot.

KELAT-I-GHILZIE.

On the 19th. of May, a force, composed of the 40th. and other corps, under Colonel Wymer, marched for the purpose of drawing off the garrison of Kelat-i-Ghilzie, a hill fort eightyfour miles from Candahar, on the road to Ghuznee, which had been held with difficulty throughout the winter, and had for some

months been closely blockaded. It arrived there on the 26th., but on the 21st. the fort had been attacked by four thousand Ghilzees, at four in the morning, whom the defenders had gallantly defeated. The troops consequently were only occupied in destroying the defences, etc., till the 1st. of June, when they returned to Candahar.*

Major-General Nott moved with his army on the 10th. of August, upon Cabool. The 40th. and 41st. regiments formed a portion of his force, the wounded, sick, and weakly men being sent to India via the Kojuck Pass, with the troops under Major-General England. Captain White, of the light company of the 40th., was appointed to command the advance, composed of the light companies of the 40th. and 41st., and the 2nd., 16th., 38th., 42nd., and 43rd. regiments of Bengal Native Infantry, and the regiment of Kelat-i-Ghilzie.

BATTLE OF GONINE.

30th. August, 1842.

SHUMSHOODEEN, the Afghan governor of Ghuznee, about three o'clock in the afternoon, on the 30th. of August, brought nearly the whole of his army, amounting to about twelve thousand men, into the vicinity of the camp at Gonine, distant thirtyeight miles south-west of Ghuznee, where Major-General Nott moved out with one-half of his force, and after a short but spirited contest, defeated the Afghans, capturing their guns, tents, ammunition, etc., and dispersing them in every direction. One hour more of daylight, and the whole of their infantry would have been destroyed. Shumshoodeen fled towards Ghuznee, accompanied by about thirty horsemen. Major Hibbert, of the 40th., was especially noticed in the despatches. Two officers were killed and four wounded; thirty-six non-commissioned officers and men were killed and sixty-two wounded.

* A General Order of October, 1842, announced: "To every officer, non-commissioned officer, and private present within Kelat-i-Ghilzie, and forming part of the garrison during the late investment, will be presented a silver medal," &c. The garrison consisted of 600 of the Shah's army and three companies of the 12th. Bengal Native Infantry. No Queen's regiment took part in the defence, but there were present forty European artillery and sixty Sappers and Miners, the whole being under the command of Captain John Craigie.

RE-CAPTURE OF GHUZNEE.

6TH. SEPTEMBER, 1842.

MAJOR-GENERAL SIR WILLIAM NOTT, on the morning of the 5th. of September, moved upon Ghuznee. Lieutenant-Colonel Palmer, Political Agent, commanding at Ghuznee, upon promise of honourable treatment and safety on the march to Cabool, and by the orders of Major Pottinger and Major-General Elphinstone, had, in March, 1842, capitulated. The garrison, which only occupied the citadel, was exhausted by fatigue and want of water, and the men had suffered greatly from cold, the thermometer having been fourteen degrees below zero. Upon Shumshoodeen, Nephew of Dost Mahomed Khan, swearing on the Koran that he would give the Sepoys a safe escort to Hindoostan, they consented to deliver up their arms; but had scarcely marched out of the citadel, when they were attacked by the fanatical Ghazees. An English officer, his wife, and their servants, were massacred on the spot, and native women, children, and Sepoys were butchered in heaps. Colonel Palmer was put to the torture, after which, he and nine only surviving officers were thrown into a dungeon. The city was found to be full of men, and a range of mountains running northeast of the fortress was covered by heavy bodies of cavalry and infantry; the gardens and ravines in the vicinity being likewise occupied. Major Sanders, of the Bengal Engineers, was directed to reconnoitre the works; this brought on some smart skirmishing, and Captain White, of the 40th., commanding the light companies, was pushed forward, when the Major-General determined to carry the enemy's mountain positions before encamping his force. This was effectively performed by the troops, and the Afghans were driven before them until every point was gained. Two regiments and some guns were sent from the camp, (which had been pitched,) to occupy the village of Bullool, about six hundred yards from the walls of Ghuznee, upon the spur of the mountain to the north-east, as this appeared to be a desirable spot for preparing a heavy battery.

During the night of the 5th. of September, the engineers, sappers, and miners, and infantry working parties were employed