The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-10-23 00:00:00

THE BATTLE OF IYIAIWAND.

A correspondent of The Times, writing from Candahar,
under date Sept. 8, gives an interesting account of the battle
of MAIwAND, from which we make the following extracts.
After briefly recounting the events which preceded the
action, the writer says :

"I will now try to describe the scene of action.
The valley of which Maiwand forms the lowest por-
tion, and Khushk-i-Nakhud the outlet, is from five
to ten miles wide, and runs N.N.E. and S.S.W., its
upper portion being known as Khakrez. It is
bounded by barren and precipitous limestone hills,
rising three to four thousand feet above the plain,
which, were we stood, is about the same altitude
above the sea level. The watercourses draining the
valley are dry, except during rain, and the villages
dotted numerously along it are irrigated from
"karezes' " the curious semi-subterranean channels
common throughout Persia and Afghanistan. Our
little force was now halted on the bank of the lower
part of one of those where it formed between two
village, three-quarters of a mile apart, a considerable
depression in the general surface, such as would be
called in India a small nullah. On each side the
ground rose gently with a smooth surface of hard
gravel, unbroken by irregularities on our side and
apparently so on the other. About the nallah, close
to the further of the two villages, our numerous
baggage, carried by,2,000 animals at least, took up its
position, principally, I believe, on the far side, where,
though nearer the enemy, it was better protected
from front fire. Three companies of infantry, one
from each of the three regiments, were left in charge
of the baggage, whilst the rest of the brigade advanced
some little distance into the plain, where it had been
preceded by the rest of the cavalry and Horse Artil-
lery, which later came into action at about 2,000 yards
from the enemy's line, now plainly visible. . . .
By this time the enemy's guns, which had probably
been some little distance in rear, began to open fire
from several points in his line, and his plan ot action
developed itself. His centre was formed of a long
line of infantry; consisting, as reckoned by their
standards, of seven rather weak battalions. In reserve
on their right were three or more regiments. Beyond
these, and stretching round in a semicircle to the pro-
longation of our left flank, was a crowd of irregular
horsemen, whose scattered formation and continuous
movements made them appear more numerous than
they probably really were. On the left of Ayoob's
regulars a broken line of men on foot in white
clothes, with a few horsemen interspersed among
them, showed that this part of the field had been in-
trusted to the Ghazis, to whom reinforcements could
be seen streaming out of the village of Maiwand far
away on our right, from which other bodies were work-
ing round towards the village on our right flank,
which was hidden in thick orchards and walled
gardens. The idea evidently was to engage us in front
with the regulars and guns while the cavalry and
Ghazis threatened our flanks and attacked our
baggage. The total number of the enemy appeared
to be from 10,000 to 12,000 men, without, of
course, counting any baggage guards or reserves
out of our sight. For half an hour or more after
Ayoob's guns opened on our cavalry and artillery,
little or no damage was done, at all events, on our
side, the major part of their shot—six-pounders,
apparently—falling short, while the projectiles from
their breechloaders imitation Armstrongs made
at Cubul—flew screaming overhead. Major Black-
wood, commanding the artillery, now asked the
General to let him take his guns 500 yards closer,
and the movement was ordered; but I think they
halted before they had gone so far. The infantry
moved up in support, and not long afterwards, the
enemy also advanced his line till the distance
between us was not more than 1,000 yards, the six.
pounder guns and the infantry came up, and took
nearly the place they occupied till the close of the
engagement. For a time the cavalry escort also re-
mained with the Horse Artillery, but, suffering
severely from the fire, now getting very hot, was re-
maved and joined the rest of the cavalry drawn up on
our left flank. The disposition of the force was now as
follows :—On the right were the 66th, lying down in a
slight hollow, and inclined backward at an angle of
45 to the general front. Next to them came Jacob's
Rifles, then four guns of the Horse Artillery (two were
still with the cavalry), and, lastly the Grenadiers. The
six-pounders were at first on the left, but eventually
came into line next the Horse Artillery, two comPa-
nies of Jacob's Rifles being removed to make room
for them and posted on the extreme left, facing
slightly outwards. Thus, the whole form of our
line was an irregular semicircle, without supports or
reserves. A little later the two guns with the
cavalry were recalled, and took their places with the
rest of the battery. The artillery fire on both sides
was now fast and furious. From five distinct points
in the enemy's line flashes through the dense haze
(there was not much smoke) showed the position of
batteries, and round shot and Armstrong shells,
few of which, however, burst, were falling thick
among us. But though the din was tremendous,
the casualties, except among the horses, were com-
paratively few. About this time, I think not far
from half-past one, two mounted men rode out from
the enemy's line within four hundred yards of ours,
apparently to reconnoitre our position. A few
shots were fired at them by• marksmen, but without
avail, and they rode away unhurt. Shortly after-
wards, the result of this reconnoisance became
apparent in the increased severity of the fire, with
which for the first time a large proportion of rifle
and musket bullets were mixed, and in the sudden
appearance of two guns not more than 400 yards
off on our right flank, whence they partially en-
filaded our line. How they got there I cannot say,
but it may safely be conjectured that a fold in the
ground similar to that in which the 66th were lying
enabled the commander to bring his battery, with its
infantry escort, which was entikely invisible, so close
to our line without being perceived. The right of the
enemy's line had also advanced, though the haze made
the actual movement imperceptible, to 600 yards, and
the Grenadiers opened fire on them, the first serious
rifle fire of the day; for, with the exception of the
66th, who had had a little desultory firing at Ghazis,
and the baggage guard, who had beaten off two
attacks the artillery had hitherto had all the shoot-
ing to themselves. Not an attempt was made to re-
turn the Grenadiers' fire. The line in front of them
• broke into groups of twos and threes under the volleys,
and after a brief interval disappeared entirely,
whether in flight or to lie down I cannot say, andron
that side nothing more was seen of the regular in-
fantry during the day. But the irregular cavalry on
the left were getting nearer and nearer, the artillery
fire, now crossing in every direction, was getting
hotter and hotter, and bullets from the!right and right
front were flying thicker and faster. Still the
infantry, lying down and partly protected, had suf-
fered very little, though the losses among the cavalry,
artillery, and the few mounted officers and escort were
considerable. Captain Harris, the D.A.Q.M.G., had
left the field wounded, Major Blackwood was also hit,
and General Burrows had a horse killed under him by
a bullet which passed through his boot. His trumpeter
was killed with his horse, as were those of three of
Colonel St. John's escort of five troopers. That
officer's charger was hit, and so was that of
Major Leach V.C., who had volunteered to act as
orderly to Leach,
Burrows. In fact, hardly a
mounted man escaped. Here for the first time since
the beginning of the action at half-past eleven, I
looked at my watch and found it was half-past two.
I think it was about this time that the six-pounder
guns, having exhausted all their ammunition, were
withdrawn, and their commander, Captain Slade, suc-
ceeded Major Blackwood in conTiTiand of the Horse
Artillery, that officer being obliged to leave the guns
he had been fighting so gallantly to get his wound
dressed.
"Up to this time I had had a pretty general view of
the action, having been able to pass from flank to
flank during the whole time. After this my view was
limited to one part of the field. Crossing over to the
66th, I found them still lying down, and keeping up
a pretty hot fire on the Ghazis in their front, mostly
hidden, except when they showed their heads, to fire,
by a depression in the ground like that in which we
were. One company of the 66th was keeping down as
much as possible the fire from the two guns :on the
right, but without much success, in spite of the short
distance. The Afghans certainly fought their guns
most gallantly, but I do not think they could have
stuck to them as they did without reliefs, and I am
inclined to believe that they had a whole battery in
the dip behind, from which fresh men came up to
man the two guns in action. The ammunition of the
66th had just been made up to 70 rounds a man, when
a heavy fire from the two native regiments announced
that Ayoob's General was making his final effort.
This, I thought, could have but one resulp. What
Afghans could stand the fire of the breechloader under
such circumstances? The Ghazis in our front got
thicker, and their standard-bearers came out boldly;
but they never tried anything like a charge, and were
going down before the 66th by scores. Just at this
moment I looked round and saw the enemy's cavalry,
easily recognizable by their open formation, getting
uncomfortably close to our rear, and infantry soldiers,
like beads from a string, running back from the left of
our line. Then the Grenadiers got into a square, the
guns passed at a gallop, and before the 66th could
recover their.surprise, 150 or 200 men of Jacob's Rifles
came running into their rear, pressing forward the
centre of the line by mere weight of numbers. In an
instant all was confusion, the men got mixed, and
Englishmen and natives moved forward in a mass,
every minute getting more confused and entangled.
The officers did their best to stop the men and get
them into some sort of formation, but in vain, and
they moved forward slowly to their proper front,
firing at the Ghazis before them, who made no
attempt. to come to closer quarters, and followed by
the Afghan cavalry, who also kept at a respectful dis-
tanc4, General Burrows now rode up, and with
Colonel St. .1 ohn, made strenuous efforts to stop the
retreat, and turn the men towards the rest of the
force, from whom they were rapidly increasing their
distance ; but it was of no avail. The confusion in-
creased with the tremendoas fire now being poured into
the mass from both guns and rifles, and men and officers
were falling fast. Still the crowd, now swelled by
more Jacob's Rifles and a few Grenadiers, moved
slowly on, trampling scores of dead and dying Ghazis
under foot, and gradually working round to its right
towards the nullal, which it reached three-quarters of
a mile from the field, just opposite the further end of
the walled village, at the othei side of which the
baggage had been collected. This was now filled with
Ghazis keeping up a tremendous fire, and many others
wera streaming across the nullah, which here had pre-
cipitous sides eight or ten feet high.
" Being still on horseback, I determined to try and
make my way back to the cavalry, which I could just
see in formation on the same side of the nullah,
and 400 or 500 yards off. There was no time
to be lost, for the Afghan horse was rapidly
closing on to the bank, so, catching my little Arab
by the head, I sent him along its rugged side at a
pace I should be sorry to repeat, and through a fire
even worse than that I had -left from the Ghazis in
the village and the horsemen on the banks got
safely through to the rest of the force. Here,
though matters were not so bad, everything was in
terrible confusion, only the artillery and cavalry
preserving much signs of order. The greater part
of the Grenadiers were still together, falling back
towards the watercourse, at that place shallow and
eaaily passable, and I particularly noticed the
'halidfl-Or's'Appers, reduced- to half their 'original
number of 40, and their only officer killed, keepirk
steadily together, and occasionally showing a bold

front. About 300 yards off the enemy's long line of
redcoats was visible through the smoke, and round
shot and bullets flying pretty thickly, but generally
high, showed that they were still following up their
victory, though with little energy. Six hundred
bayonets, with stout hearts behind them, and un-
shaken by that long three hours' artillery fire, might
still have changed the fortune of the day. But, alas!
there were none nearer than Candahar, and the con-
viction gradually stole over us that we had seen one
of the most disastrous battles ever fought by English-
men. With sore hearts we crossed the nullah to
where Captain Slade with his gallant gunners was
doing all that man could do to cover the retreat of the
beaten infantry and baggage, the long line of camels
carrying which already stretched as far as we could
see along the Canda,har road. I now heard for the
first time how the centre of our line was pierced,
and the Rifles driven back on the 66th. It appears
that a swarm of Ghazis, preceding the advance of the
regular;, got up close to the guns of the native in-
fantry along a hollow, and made a desperate charge
on them. The guns, which were in 6chelon of divisions
a little in advance of the infantry; were surrounded,
and, the infantry falling back, had no choice but to
limber up and retreat, leaving two, of which the
limbers had just gone to the wagons for amunition, on
the ground. Even for the other four it was a close
thing. Lieutenant Osborne was killed before he could
mount his horse, after helping his men to limber ap
with his own hands, and Captain Slade had to make
his detachment draw swords to clear away the Ghazis
from the teams. The Grenadiers, as we had seen
from the right flank, had formed square for a moment,
but only to fall back, while Jacob's Rifles turned and
ran into the rear of the 66th. An attempt was made
to give the infantry time to rally by a charge of
cavalry, but though gallantly led by Brigadier-General
Nuttall, men and horses had suffered too heavily from
the long cannonade to which they had been exposed
to make the movement of much 'avail, though it seems
to have had the effect of keeping the enemy's horse-
men at a safe distance.

" It must have been half-past three when the last
troops crossed the nullah, and were joined by the
remnant of the 66th, with whom came General
Burrows, carrying one wounded and one dead officer
on his horse, the third lie had mounted that day.
Whatever criticism may have to say to General
Burrow's generalship, no one can dispute his un-
selfish courage and devotion shown in this and
other acts ; and I have heard it remarked more
than once that if he had had the good luck to be a
subaltern instead of a general he would haw well
deserved the Victoria Cress. After I left them on
the edge of the nullah, it appears that the 66th and
those of the native infantry with them broke into
detached groups in crossing it, and, after some hand-
to-hand fighting with the Ghazis, who had hitherto
not ventured too close, made their way into a
walled garden, where they formed round the
colours, under a tremendous fire from the surround-
ing enclosures, which struck down numbers of officers
and men in a few minutes. To remain there would
have been certain destruction for every man, and at
last the word was given for all to make the
best of their way through the solitary opening to the
rear, by which only man at a time could get out.
Colonel Galbraith, Captains Garrett, Cullen, and
M'Math, Lieutenants Rayner, Olivey, Honywood,
Barr, and Chute were left in the garden or on the way
to it; Captain Roberts's body was carried away by
General Burrows, as was Lieutenant Lynch, who was
shot through both thighs, but is safe in Candahar
and doing well. Of 14 officers with the colours that
day, only Major Oliver and two subalterns came out
untouched.