The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-08-07 00:00:00


THE DISASTER IN AFGHANISTAN.

The following was sent to the papers on Tuesday
from the India Office :

"From Viceroy, August 3, 1880.

"Agee, Quetta, telegraphs, under date the Ind, that
tribesmen reported collecting between Chaman and Candahar,
and that Ayoob is said to have marched to Mir Karez, and
to have detailed force for attack on Charnan. Some cavalry
supposed to be moving in direction of Kakran for intercep-
tion of supplies to Candahar.
"General Stewart has returned to Cahn' from Camp Deh
Raji. Chief Political Officer has had several interviews with
Ameer, with whom are principal Ghilzai chiefs and repre-
sentatives of liaidan, Logar, Kohistan, and other districts."

"From Viceroy, August 3, 1830.

"St. John reports following list of killed, missing, and
wounded :-66th Foot.—Killed and missing, Lieutenant-
Colonel Galbrath, Captains Garrett, M'Math, Cullen, Roberts,
Lieutenants Rayner, Chute, Honywood, Barr; wounded,
Surgeon-Major Preston, Lieutenant Lynch. Artillery.—
Killed and missing, Major Blackwood, Lieutenants Osborne
and Maclaine ; wounded, Lieutenant Fo well, 3rd Light Cavalry.
—Killed, Lieutenant Owen. Ist Native Infantry.—Killed,
and missing, Lieutenants Hinds and Whitby; wounded,
Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson, Captain Grant, 20th Native
Infantry. —Killed and missing, Captain Smith, Lieutenants
Justice and Cole; wcunded, Major Iredell. Staff. —Killed
and missing, Brigade-Majors, Captain P. Heath, Lieutenant
Henn, Royal Engineers. Estimated casualties other ranks.-
66th Foot, 400; Artillery, 40; Cavalry, 60 ; Sappers, 40; Ist
Native Infantry, 350 ; 30th Native Infantry, 350. There is
very little hope that those missing will have escaped.
Aslett, Ist Native Infantry, reported killed in mine
29th July, is not named in this list. The reinforcements
proceeding from Bombay and Bengal by the Bolan line for
Candahar and the communications are—from Bengal, II
Royal Artillery, and another battery not named, 15th
Hussars, Bth Bengal Cavalry, 63rd Foot, 3rd and 4th Native
Infantry; from Bombay, 5-8 Royal Artillery, Mountain
Battery (just started from Poenah), 78th Foot, 18th and 15th
'Native Infantry."

"Following from Colonel St. John, dated Candahar, July
2D:—

"'Arrived here yesterday afternoon, with General
Burrows and Nuttall, and remnant of force.
"'Burrows marched from Kushk•i-Nakhud on the morn-
ing of the 27th, having heard from me that Ayoob's
advanced guard had occupied Mainwand. About three
miles from latter place, enemy's cavalry appeared ad-
vancing from direction of Hyderabad, their camp on Hel-
mand, ten miles above Girishk. Artillery and cavalry
engaged them about nine a.m. Shortly afterwards the
whole force of the enemy appeared and formed line of battle
—seven regiments regulars in centre ; three others in re-
serve; about 2,000 cavalry on right; 400 mounted men and
2,000 Ghazis and irregular infantry on left; other cavalry
and irregulars in reserve; five or six batteries of guns, in-
cluding one of breech-loaders, distributed at intervals.
Estimated total force 12,000. Ground slightly undulating,
enemy being best posted.
"'Till 1 p.m. action confined to artillery fire, which was
so well sustained and directed by enemy that our superior
quality of armament failed to compensate for inferior num-
ber of guns. After development of rifle tire our breech-
loaders told, but vigorous advance of cavalry against our left
and Ghazis along the front caused Native Infantry to fall
back in confusion on 66th, abandoning two guns. formation
being lost. Infantry retreated slowly, and, in spite of the
gallant efforts of General Burrows to rally them, were cut
off from cavalry and artillery.

"'This was at 3 p.m., and followers and baggage were
streaming away towards Candahar. After severe fighting in
enclosed ground General Burrows succeeded in extricating
infantry, and brought them into line of retreat. Un-
fortunately no efforts would turn fugitives from main road,
waterless at this season. Thus majority of casualties appear
to have occurred from men falling from thirst and ex.-
haustion.

" Enemy's pursuit continued to ten miles from Candahar,
but was not vigorous. Cavalry, artillery, and a few in-
fantry reached banks of Argandab, 40 miles from scene of
action, at 7 a.m., many not having tasted water since pre-
vious morning. Nearly all ammunition lost, with 400 Mar-
tinis, 700 Sniders, and two nine-pounder guns.
- -

" ' Estimated loss killed and missing :-66th, 400; Grena-
diers, 350; Jacob's Rifles, 350; Artillery, 40; Sappers, 21;
Cavalry, 60.
' - -

" Officcrs killed or missing.—Major Blackwood, Osborne,
Macleod, Artillery; Henn, Engineers; Galbraith, Maorutth,
Garratt, Cullen, Roberts, Rayner, Honywood, Barr. Chute,
116th; Owen, 3rd Cavalry; Hinde, Whitby, Grenadiers;
Smith, Justice, Cole, Jacob's Rifles. - _

" Wounded.—Powell, Artillery ; Lynch, Preston, 66th;
Anderson, Grant, Grenadiers; Ittett, Jacob's Rifles.
" Preparations being now made for siege. Duran' in-
habitants expelled. Provisions and ammunition plentiful.
Wali was present during action, and is now with us assisting
actively."

The Times, in commenting upon the above, re-
marks :

The important telegrams which we publish to-day cast
considerable light on the disaster which befell General
Burrows. We now know exactly the main circumstances of
the fight and the cause of our defeat. It appears that, learn-
ing on the morning of the 27th July that Ayoob Khan's ad-
vanced guard had occupied Mainwand, to the north of
Khushk-i-Na-khud, General Burrows marched out to give
battle. The action was opened by our cavalry and horse
artillery engaging the Afghan cavalry, about nine a.m.
Soon after the whole of Ayoob Khan's army, some 12,000
strong, arrived, and formed order of battle. The centre
consisted of seven regiments of regular infantry in the first
line, with three in the second line. On the right were 2,000
cavalry, on the left 400 •cavalry and 2,000 Ghazis and irre-
gular infantry; in reserve were more cavalry and irregular
infantry. Five or six batteries—one of them breech-loaders
—were distributed along the front. The ground was slightly
undulating, Ayoob's force being better posted than that of
General Burrows. An artillery duel now commenced, the
enemy's fire being so well sustained and directed that our six
pieces, though superior in quality, could not make head against
the numbers to which they were opposed. About one p.m. the
enemy seem to have advanced, and our breech-leading rifles
produced great havoc. Two hours later a vigorous advance
ef cavalry against our left and a charge of Ghazis on the
front caused the Native Infantry to fall back in confusion on
the 60th. Two guns were in consequence lost, the Sepoys
abandoned all formation, and seemingly rendered the 66th
helpless. There does not seem to have been any actual flight
at that time on the part of either the Native or European
infantry. They retreated slowly, but, in spite of General
Burrows's gallant effort to rally them, they could not be in-
duced to make an effort to retrieve the fortune of the day,
and were cut off from the cavalry and artillery. After a
severe light in some enclosed ground, General Burrows
succeeded in extricating his infantry. Then at length
a rout, we gather, did take place, the Afghans pursuing
up to ten miles from Candahar, but not vigorously.
Apparently General Burrows endeavoured to take the
remains of his force through a country where water was
obtainable. Nothing, however, would induce the fugitives
to quit the waterless main road. The majority of the
casualties are believed to have occurred through men's fall.
ing from thirst and exhaustion. No wonder, for their flight
was not relaxed for 40 miles, and when the artillery and a
few of the infantry reached the banks of the Argan-
dab at seven a.m. on the 28th many had not touched
water for twenty-four hours. General Burrows appears
to
have remained with his men throughout the pursuit,
and it was only the enforced conciseness of the
telegrams which suggested the idea that the rank and file
had been abandoned by the senior officers. Once across the
Argandab, General Burrows naturally rode on to announce
his defeat, but ha did not arrive till the afternoon of the
28th. There is no use attempting to disguise the fact that
this was a very lamentable affair. In the first place, General
Burrows was guilty of an error of judgment—considering the
weakness of his force—in abandoning the position winch he
had deliberately selected for its defensive advantages. In
the second place, General Burrows, with his inferior
force, appears' to have accepted battle in parallel order,
and not to have attempted any manceuvring. In the thirst
place, it is evident that that the Bombay Sepoys were—as we
have said already—of such inferior physique that they could
not stand up to the stalwart Ghazis who bore down on them
sword in hand. Giving way in a sudden panic, they mobbed
the veteran 66th, and caused the almost total annihilation
of that fine corps. The cavalry do not seem to have co-
operated with much effect. The sufferings of the troops in
that uninterrupted flight of 40 miles must have been
terrible, for the season is the hottest time of the year, and
they had been fighting and marching without food or water
for 24 hours.

The losses in the 66th Regiment are :—Killed—Major and
lirevet Lieutenant-Colonel Galbraith, in command of the
regiment, four captains, four lieutenants; wounded—the
surgeon-major and one lieutenant. The killed and wounded
among the men are estimated at 400. As there could not
have been at the outside more than 650 of all ranks
present with the regiment, of whom about 15 were afters,
it is evident that the six companies have practically
ceased to exist. Of the battery of Horse Artillery, the major
and two subalterns were killed and one subaltern wounded,
the total establishment being five officers. Of the men 40
have fallen. This is a satisfactory proof that, though
mounted and able to escape, this battery nobly sustained
the reputation of its arm. In the 3rd Light Cavalry one
officer was killed, and the total killed and missing in the
two regiments of cavalry was 60 men. In the let Native
Infantry two lieutenants were killed or missing, and
the colonel and one captain wounded out of a total of pro-
liebly seven or eight Akers. Of the men 360 are estimated
to have fallen. In the Nth Native Infantry three officers
were killed and one wounded. Of the Native Sappeis 40
twil, and et tam lOW two alders gre repbtlet deed or min,


0/4

It is a satisfaction to learn that the provisions and
ammunition are plentiful at Candahar.

The Bombay Correspondent of the Standard, tele-
graphing on Monday, says :
Telegraphic communication with Cabul is interrupted, the
wire having been cut between Pezwan and Lataband. Pre-
vious to the wire being cut a message passed over it to the
effect that the durbar which was to have been held this
morning at Kell& liaji has, at the eleventh hour, been post-
poned, and that it is quite uncertain whether it will take
place at all. It is supposed that the hitch has arisen from
the evident mistrust existing on the part of the Ameer, and
his reluctance to venture into the British camp.

On Sunday evening the Daily News Correspondent
at Cabul telegraphed as follows :
Mr. Lepel Griffin believes he has disposed satisfactorily of
all matters of importance with the Ameer. The latter's
people are so excited that a display was necessary of our
infantry near the place of meeting. To-day the Ameer was
i
unable to attend a durbar n the British camp on account of
the attitude of his followers.