Our Soldiers | Page 9

and driving the skirmishers
before him, pushed on towards the enemy's camp, the other columns
following. Sir Robert Sale was with the centre column. At about
three-quarters of a mile from Jellalabad, a flanking fire was opened
from one of the forts on that column, and Sir Robert ordered Colonel
Dennie to storm it. Accordingly, rushing on with his men of the gallant
13th, he passed the outer wall through an opening, but found himself
exposed to a murderous fire from the inner keep. Here fell the brave
Colonel Dennie, mortally wounded by an Afghan marksman. He was
acknowledged by all to be one of the most gallant soldiers in the British
army. This false move nearly produced disastrous consequences. Akbar
Khan, seeing Havelock, who was much in advance, unsupported,
brought down a body of 15,000 cavalry on his feeble column. Havelock
posted the company of the 13th in a walled enclosure on his right, to
pour a flanking fire on the enemy, and formed the rest into square. That

he might be able to command both parties, he himself remained outside
the square till the horsemen were close upon them. His horse rearing,
he was thrown, and the animal galloped back riderless to the town. He
would have been killed by the Afghans had not a sapper and two men
of the 13th rushed forward and rescued him. The enemy's horse,
charging with much resolution, approached within 30 yards; but their
leader was shot, and, exposed to a heavy fire in front and flank, they
retired in confusion. Again Havelock's column advanced, and once
more the Afghan horse charged it. Thrown into one square, it awaited
the attack, which was more easily repulsed than the first. Sir Robert
then sent Backhouse's guns to Havelock's assistance. The column,
cheering them as they came on, advanced against the enemy's
encampment and penetrated it, driving the Afghans headlong into the
river. The other columns now came up, the camp was attacked on three
points, and in a short time the enemy were dislodged from every part of
their position, their cannon taken, and their camp burnt. Four guns, lost
by the Cabul and Gundamuck forces, were recaptured, and a great
quantity of ordnance stores and materiel was taken or destroyed. The
field was strewed with the bodies of the Afghans, while the loss on the
side of the victors amounted to only 10 killed and 50 wounded.
Thus the garrison of Jellalabad, after having been isolated in a hostile
country for five months, surrounded by enemies, and constantly
threatened with destruction, achieved its own relief. The peasantry now
brought in ample supplies of provisions, and on the 16th of April the
relieving force under General Pollock, having gallantly fought its way
through the Khyber Pass, routing the Afridis who guarded it,
approached the long beleaguered city, an exploit second to none in the
annals of warfare; and thus was accomplished the successful defence of
Jellalabad.
FORCING THE KHYBER PASS--5TH APRIL 1842.
Meanwhile, when the news reached India that a British army had been
destroyed in Afghanistan, and that General Sale, with another, was
closely besieged in Jellalabad, a strong force was despatched under
General Pollock to his relief. General Pollock had to encounter many

difficulties in his march, but the greatest was forcing the Khyber Pass,
which was known to be guarded by a numerous, active, and daring
enemy. The troops had arrived at Jumrood, on the east end of the
pass--on the west end was Ali-Musjid. The hills on either side of the
pass were rocky and precipitous, presenting great obstacles to troops,
guarded as they were by numerous bodies of Afridis, long accustomed
to warfare. The difficulties were great, but they were known, and
General Pollock prepared to surmount them. Brigadier Wild was in
command of the advance guard, and General McCaskill of the rear.
Before dawn on the 5th of April Pollock's force set out from Jumrood
to the entrance of the Khyber Pass. It was formed of eight regiments of
infantry, among whom were the 9th Queen's Regiment, three cavalry
corps, including two squadrons of the 3rd Dragoons, artillery, and
sappers, in all some 8000 men. Brigadier Wild was in command of the
advance guard and General McCaskill of the rear. The arrangement of
the march was that the heights on either side should be occupied by
infantry, the right being under the command of Colonel Taylor, and the
left of Colonel Morley; and while these advanced along the heights the
main column was to advance through the pass.
At three o'clock in the morning the army commenced its march. It
moved off in the dim twilight without beat of drum or sound of bugle.
The crowning columns moved off to the right and left, and commenced
in silence to