Our Soldiers | Page 7

for our small force, embracing a
circumference of upwards of 2300 yards. There was no parapet, except
for a few hundred yards. In many places the walls were not more than
two feet high, while rubbish had accumulated to such an extent that
there were roads over them into the country.
The population within was disaffected, and without were ruined forts,
walls, mosques, tombs, and gardens, from which a fire could be opened
at 20 or 30 yards. Captains Broadfoot and Havelock and Colonel
Dennie assured the General that the works might be restored by
adequate exertions, and it was therefore resolved to occupy the town.
The brigade was scarcely within the walls, when the plain was
darkened by masses of the enemy. They had expected that the British
troops would continue their progress towards India, and looked for a
rich harvest of plunder of their baggage between Jellalabad and
Peshawur. It was determined to read them a salutary lesson, and
Colonel Monteith was ordered to drive them away. He issued from the

gate on the morning of the 14th of November, with horse, foot, and
artillery, 1100 in number, of whom 300 were Europeans, and fell on the
enemy with such vigour and skill, that the masses broke up and fled,
leaving 200 dead on the field. At noon not an Afghan remained, and all
molestation ceased for fourteen days. On the 15th, the work of clearing
away the ruins and restoring the fortifications was commenced, under
the direction of Captain Broadfoot. The day was spent by him in
superintending the work, the evening was devoted to his plans and
calculations. Working parties were told off, who laboured from dawn to
dusk--officers and men worked with emulation; and in a few weeks the
ramparts were ready to receive the guns, and everything around the
town that could afford cover to the enemy was, as far as possible,
cleared away. The chief cause of anxiety to Sir Robert Sale was the
deficiency of ammunition, which a single prolonged engagement would
go nigh to exhaust. The men were therefore ordered not to expend a
single shot uselessly.
On the 29th of November, large bodies of Afghans poured down upon
the plains from the surrounding valleys, and opened a desultory fire on
the town. As they interrupted the workmen on the fortifications,
Colonel Dennie sallied out of the gates soon after midday on the 1st of
December, with 300 men from each regiment, to disperse them. The
Afghans fired a volley and fled--the troops followed. The guns dealt
destruction among the fugitives; the cavalry, galloping in pursuit, drove
some into the river, and cut down others, till 150 bodies strewed the
plain. The garrison enjoyed a long period of repose in consequence of
this spirited repulse of the enemy. At length news reached the gallant
band of the disasters at Cabul; and Dr Brydon arriving in the city,
confirmed the sad news. Councils of war were held, and there was
some talk of evacuating Jellalabad; but there were brave spirits among
the garrison, who saw, and loudly spoke, not only of the disgrace, but
of the suicidal folly of such a measure. Their bolder counsels prevailed,
and it was determined to hold out to the last extremity. There was
Havelock, whose name was afterwards to be in the mouth of every
British soldier, as one to be loved and imitated; there were Broadfoot
and Dennie, true heroes of the noblest stamp.

On the 19th of February a letter was received from General Pollock,
who had arrived in Peshawur, approving of their resolution to hold out,
and promising to advance as soon as possible to their aid. Sir Robert
replied that the whole of the horses of his cavalry and artillery must
perish in another month if he was not succoured before that time, and
that then a retreat even on a force advancing to his relief would be
impossible.
Major Havelock and Captain Wade were seated by Sir Robert's side,
the former writing the reply to General Pollock, when the house began
to shake violently. A fearful earthquake was taking place. The shocks
continued, without intermission, with frightful violence--a confused,
rumbling sound wildly mingled with the crash of falling houses and the
outcries of the inhabitants. The earth was so uplifted that it was
scarcely possible for the people to keep their feet. But the destruction of
the defences was most appalling. All the parapets were shaken down,
several of the bastions were injured, all the guard-houses were cast to
the ground, a third of the town was demolished, and a considerable
break made in the ramparts of a curtain in the Peshawur face, while the
Cabul gate was reduced to a shapeless mass of ruins.
The garrison did not lose heart even under