Our Soldiers | Page 3

fortress.
Three hearty, animating cheers, so loud and clear that they were heard
throughout the general camp, announced to their excited comrades
below that Dennie and his stormers had entered Ghuznee.
Colonel Sale was pressing on to support Dennie, when, deceived by a
false report that the latter had failed to enter the breach, he halted his
column. There was a pause of painful doubt; but the true state of affairs
was soon ascertained. Again the cheering notes of the bugle sounded
the advance, and the British troops pushed on. But the enemy had
profited by the pause, and numbers crowded to the breach. One of their
number, rushing over the ruins, brought down the gallant Sale by a cut
on the face with his sharp sabre. The Afghan repeated his blow as his
opponent was falling; but the pommel, not the edge of his sword, this
time took effect, though with stunning violence. He lost his footing,
however, in the effort, and both rolled down together amid the fractured
timbers of the gate. Sale now made an effort to master the weapon of
his opponent. He snatched at it, but one of his fingers met the edge of
the sharp blade. He quickly withdrew his wounded hand, and placed it
over that of his adversary, so as to keep fast hold of the hilt; but the
Afghan was active and powerful, and he was himself faint from loss of
blood. Happily, at that moment Captain Kershaw, of the 13th,
approached the scene of conflict. The wounded leader called to him by
name for aid. He gave it effectually by passing his sabre through the
body of the Afghan; who, however, continued to struggle gallantly. At
length the Brigadier for a moment got the uppermost. Still retaining in
his left hand the weapon of his enemy, he dealt him with his right a cut
from his own sabre, which cleft his skull from his crown to the
eyebrows. The Mohammedan once shouted "Ne Ullah!" (O God!) and
never moved or spoke again.
At length the enemy gave way. The British pushed on. The support,
under Colonel Croker, advanced, and the reserve speedily followed;
and soon the colours of the 13th Regiment, planted by the brave young

Ensign Frere, as well as those of the 17th, were flying out in the
morning breeze from the ramparts of Ghuznee.
The struggle within the fort, for a considerable time, was most
desperate. In addition to a heavy fire kept up on them, the British
troops were assailed by the enemy sword in hand, as well as with
daggers, pistols, and other arms; but British courage, perseverance, and
fortitude overcame all opposition, and the enemy were soon to be seen
abandoning their guns, running in all directions, throwing themselves
down from immense heights, and endeavouring to make their escape
over the walls. By five o'clock the capture of the Afghans' last
stronghold was complete. But there was much hard fighting within the
walls. In the frenzy of despair the Afghans rushed out from their
hiding-places, plying their sabres with terrible effect, though only to
meet with an awful retribution from the musketry or bayonets of the
British infantry. Some, in their frantic efforts to escape by the gateway,
stumbled over the burning timbers, wounded and exhausted, and were
slowly burnt to death. Some were bayoneted on the ground, and others
hunted into corners and shot down like dogs; but though many an
Afghan sold his life dearly, and cut to the last at his hated enemy, the
appeals of the helpless for mercy were never made in vain. And when
resistance ceased, not a conquered enemy was injured.
So Ghuznee fell to the British army, and was made over to Shah Soojah.
It cost the victors only 17 killed, and 165 wounded; of these last, 18
were officers.
Upwards of 500 of the garrison were buried by the victors; many more
fell beyond the walls under the sabres of the British horsemen. Sixteen
hundred prisoners were taken, and large stores of grain and flour fell
into the hands of the conquerors.
The fall of Ghuznee--a fortress hitherto deemed by the Afghans
impregnable--astonished Dost Mahomed, and was the cause of the ruin
which soon afterwards overtook him.
CAPTURE OF KHELAT--13TH NOVEMBER.

In the northern part of Beloochistan stands the strong mountain fortress
of Khelat. The chief, Mehrab Khan, had offended the British, and it
was resolved to annex his territories to the kingdom of Shah Soojah.
Khelat is a place of commanding strength. The citadel rises high above
the buildings of the town, and frowns down menacingly on its
assailants. On the north-west of the fort are three heights. On these the
Khan had posted his infantry, supported by five guns in position.
General Willshire was sent