Our Soldiers | Page 8

these appalling
circumstances. The camp of the enemy they knew was only seven miles
off, and he might be upon them in a few hours. It was also necessary to
guard against a rush which any parties of the enemy concealed in the
neighbourhood might make against the ruined walls. At the sound of
the bugle the troops assembled on the ramparts. When it was
ascertained that no enemy was near, they piled their arms, and set to
work with brave determination to restore the defences. Temporary
parapets of loose clods were thrown up, the earth was cleared out of the
ditch, gabions were filled to block up the main breaches, and palisades
fixed to impede the progress of assailants through others. In a few
hours the walls wore a more encouraging aspect. The Afghans, when a
few days afterwards they approached the fortress and saw the
wonderful state of repair in which it had been placed, believed that it
had escaped through the power of English witchcraft. The difficulties
of the garrison, however, increased great anxiety was felt for the

subsistence of the cavalry and artillery horses. Foraging parties were
sent out daily under an escort, and were constantly attacked by the
enemy; and the close investment of the place by Akbar Khan made it
impossible for them to get in the needed supplies.
At length, on the 11th of March, the Afghans approached so near the
walls, that it was suspected that they purposed undermining them. To
prevent this Colonel Dennie made a vigorous sally with 800 men, and
ascertained that they had commenced no operation of the sort. Akbar
Khan then advanced on the city with his whole force. It was a critical
moment, but the hearts of none of the garrison failed them. He was
received with so hot a fire from the ramparts, while horse and foot
attacked him with such heroic courage, that he was compelled to fly,
leaving more than 100 dead on the field.
Starvation now threatened the garrison. For many days the European
regiments had been on half rations of salt beef, without vegetables,
while the native troops subsisted mainly on flour; and it was doubtful
whether this allowance would be continued beyond the second week in
April. When, however, they were almost reduced to despair that help
would come in time to preserve their lives, some large flocks of sheep
were seen grazing on the plains before them. At first it was believed
that they were placed there to lure them out to destruction, but the
desire to capture them at all hazards became too strong to be resisted.
About 200 men of the 13th, and the same number of the 35th, with
some sappers and miners, were allowed to sally out to bring in the prey.
They succeeded beyond their most sanguine expectations, and 500
sheep and goats were captured and brought in amid shouts of laughter
by the men. This success raised the spirits of the whole garrison, and
made them more than ever determined to hold the fort until rescue
should come.
On the 6th of April the situation again changed and the fortunes of the
garrison once more seemed desperate. Spies had brought in rumours of
a serious check inflicted upon General Pollock by the enemy at
Ali-Musjid, and Akbar Khan had salutes fired in honour of this
supposed victory.

Few of the officers believed these reports, but they were only the more
eager to attack Akbar in force, and so, it victorious, effect their own
relief, and support General Pollock if the report should turn out to be
true. This plan of action was especially urged by Havelock upon the
General, and though at first Sir Robert Sale, brave as he was, shrank
from the responsibility of ordering so daring an effort, he in the end
agreed. On the 7th of April the infantry marched out in three columns.
The centre, under Colonel Dennie, consisted of the 13th, 500 strong;
the left, of the 35th, under Colonel Monteith, mustering the same
number of bayonets; and the right, under Captain Havelock, composed
of one company of the 13th, another of the 35th, and the detachment of
sappers under Lieutenant Orr, the whole amounting to 360. Captain
Broadfoot lay on his couch, suffering from a dangerous wound received
in a sortie on the 24th of March.
It was at this time reported in the town that Akbar Khan was preparing
to retreat.
Without sound of bugle or drum, at early dawn the troops fell into their
ranks and marched out of Jellalabad. Notwithstanding the report of his
flight, Akbar Khan's troops, 6000 in number, were found drawn up in
front of his camp, his left resting on the Cabul river. Havelock moved
on rapidly in advance with his column,