The Sun.
London, England, 1842-11-23 00:00:00

THE FIGHT AT TEZEEN.

FROM MAJOR-GENERAL G. POLLOCK, C. 8., COMMANDINS
IN AFFGHANISTAN, TO MAJOR-GENERAL J. R. LUMLEY,
ADJUTANT-GENERAL OF THE ARMY.
Camp, Bootkhak, Sept. 14.
Sir—l have the honour to report, for tie information
of his Excellency the Commander in Cblel, that I
marched from Seh Baba on the 11th instant, and arrived
at Tezeen the same day, where I was joined by Major-
General M•Caskill, with the 2d divisiOn. On the 12th
I halted, in consequence of the cattle of the 2d division
having suffered from the effects of fatigue, caused by
their forced march ; this halt the (imy imagined to ltie
the result of hesitation, and in the afternoon attacked the
pickets on the left flank, and became so daring that I
considered it necessary to send Lieutenant-Colonel
Taylor, with 250 men of her Majesty's 9th Foot, to
drive them back ; some sharp fighting took place, and
the enemy were driven up the neighbouring hills,
from the crests of which they kept up a heavy tiro.
Lieut.-Colonel Taylor, however, with a small-party
crept up one end of the hill unperceived by the enemy,
who were hotly engaged in their front, and lay concealed
until joined by a few more of his men, when, rushing up
on the flank of the astounded Affghans, he inflicteKl a
severe lesson, pouring in a destructive fire upon thein_aa
they fled down the hill. A chieftain was found umoni;
the slain, who it is supposed was the brother of KhoO.
dabux Khan.. The enemy rune:Red inoffensitk; on our
left flank, in consequence of this very well hsuned and
gallant affair of 'Lieut.-Colonel Taylor's, anr. withdrew
to the right, where they commenced a furious attack
upon a picket consisting of 80 men of the 60th Regiment
of Native Infantry, commanded by Lieut. Montgomery,
who sustained the assault with great resolution until re-
inforcements reached him, when the enemy were beaten
off ; in this attack the picket had 4 killed, Lieutenant
Montgomery and 17 men wounded ; the enemy came so
close that frequent recourse was had to tho bayonet..
Their attempts on the pickets continued thoughout the
night, but were invariably unsuccessful.
The valley of Tezeen, where we were encamped, is,
completely encircled by lofty hills, and on the morning
of the 13th it was perceived that the Affghans had
occupied in great force every height not already crowned
by our troops. I commenced my march towards the
mouth of the Tezeen pass, where I left two guns, two
squadrons of her Majesty's 3d Dragoons, a party of the
Ist Light Cavalry and 3d Irregular Cavalry. The
enemy's horse appeared in the valley, with the intention

of falling upon the baggage, but it gives rne very great-
pleasure to state, that the Dragoons and native cavalry
(regular and irregular) made a most brilliant charge,
and with such effect, that the whole body of the enemy's
force was completely routed, and a number of them.

cut up.
The pass of Tezeen affords great advantages to an
enemy occupying the heights, and on the present occa-
sion Mahomed Akbar neglected nothing to render its
natural difficulties as formidable as numbers could make
it. Our troops mounted the heights, and the Affghans
contrary to their general custom, advanced to meet them,°
and a desperate struggle ensued ; indeed, their defence
was so obstinate, that the British bayonet in many •
ington,.
stances alone decided the contest. The light companyll-
-
elteiddedbyin
the
head,
uasscending
Captain I W
No‘flohelrrie
the hills on the left of the pass under ahe cross-fire,
charged and overthrew their opponents, leaving
d several
horses and their riders, supposed to be chiefs, dead on the
hill; the slaughter was considerable, and the
tinned during the greater part of the d
the
con-,
ay, enemy
appearing resolved that we should
not
ascend the Hutt
Kotul ; one spirit seemed to
pervade all, and a
determi-
nation to conquer overcame the obstinate of the enemy, who were at length
forced
ttahnecier
namerous and strong positions, and our troops mounted
the Hurt Kotul, giving three cheers when they reached
the summit. Here Lieut. Cunningham, with a party of
Sappers, pressed the enemy so bard that they lett in
their Precipitation a 24-pounder howitzer and limber,
carrying off the draught bullocks. Having heard that
another gun had been seen, and concluding that it could
not have gone very far, I detached a squadron of Dra-
goons under Captain Tritton, and two Ilorse Artillery
guns under Major Delefosse, in pursuit. The gun (a
12-pounder howitzer) with bullocks sufficient fur the
two guns was soon captured. The Dragoons again got
among the enemy, and succeeded in cutting up mar)), of
them. Captain Broadfoot with the Sappers advanced,
and pith the Dragoons happened to fall in with another
party of die enemy, of whom upwards of twenty were
killed. I have ascertained there were about 16,(1150 men
in the field opposed to me, a considerable yortion of
whom was cavalry, Mahamed Akbar Khan, Mahomed ~.
shah Khan, Ameen Oollah, and many other ellietS ,_
with their followers were present, all of whom I have
reason to believe have taken to flight. We have gained .•
a complete victory, and our enemies have suffered Se- '
vcrely, having several hundreds killed, losing their guns
and three standards, one of which was taken from the
enemy's horse by the Ist Light Cavalry.' Aithou.ll-
many attempts were made at the baggagei none pe; •
a
successful, chiefly owing to the judicious andd i 'w --
°
i arable
arrangements of Lieutenant-Colonel Richmond, cote, '•
mending the rear-guard. and for which he deserves :he
greatest credit.
The Lahore contingent, under the
able direction
,of Captain Lawrence, has invariably •
fail assistance, dragging the guns,
given the most cheer- '
and covering the rear -guard. -,_oecupying the heights, '
Kotul and at Tezeen their long While ascendiag iluft
jezails told ff T-- •
keeping the ground.c ee ively
Major Skinner, her
(ached with a strong
Majesty's 31st Foot, bad been do- fr
the purpose of dislodging party
on the night of the 12th, for
the
heights in front of a body of the enemy on the •
camp ; this duty was performed
with great gallantry the
next morning, and his operations 4.
contributed much to frustrate the attempts of the enemy
on our right flunk.
separate
As the Major's movements were for
some time
sep
rom those of the main column, I
deem it expedient e from
to annex his report.
The enemy
being completely dispersed, wepursued
.
our march and encamped
at •,hoord Caubul without fur-
ther o .: -
ppasaton. The troops cu this, us on all former
occasions where they hare been engaged pith the enetn;
showed the most determined valour, and I fekl tha.:l
cannot too highly praise their conduct ; each regime
seemed to vie with the others in their endeavours ta- l'e*"
Wee the enemy, which theyynost effectuall) aea
plished. I have received from Major-General N.l,t,- -Vika
IK.H., who on this occasion commanded the main 1%;-.1.-.'
assistance, and from Major-General Sz-, R. .ale
0.0.13., coaxaanding the advance guard, the" i:Le.
most zoaaaas
co-operation. The following officers have also given. me
every reason to be satisfied with their exertions :____D,i-
gadier Monteith, C. 8., commanding the
Brigadier Tulloch, commanding the 4th brigade i,
gadier White, commanding Cavalry,
2d brigade, and Bd.
Colonel Bolton, commanding .alry bitgaile ; Lieut.-
Lieut.-Colonel Richmond, her Majesty's 31st Foot i
c
In-
fantry ; Lieutenant-Colonel 'Taylor,
33d Native
ing her Majesty's 9th Foot ; aylor,
K.
command-
ing
Skinuer, her Major Ma- -
jesty's 31st rout ; llnish, commanding 26th Na-
tive Infantry ; Major Delafosse, commandieg the
Artillery ; lqa the -Ist
'or Crom . '
Light Cavalry i . mehn, commanding
jor J.4ocewooo,. commending her
; m„. T i. ~,
Majesty's 3d -Light Dragoons ; Cataain Naple-
,

TINT-GENERAL.

32
130

I have, &c.
A. B. TAYLOR, Lieutenant-Colonel, 9th Foot.
(True copy.)
G. PONSONBY, Capt., Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

C 01,7 OP A LE 'TER FRoM LIEUT.-COLONEL RICHMOND,
Ob3imAmoiNo THE 33D NATIVE INFANTRY, TO CAPT.
lioNSONE-;, ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL.
Camp, Bootkhak, Sept. 14.
Sir,---Major-Gene*l Pollock, C.B. commanding the
tro,p,i, having intrusted me especially with the coill7-
mall(' of the rear-011.ird of the army from Tezeen
t,i,lifori7,-11 the Iluft leotul Pass, on the 13th instant, ar.d
II:1141'1g placed at my disposal the troops detailed as
liajcity's 4th Light Dragoons
b Ist lierriment of Light Cavalry."
Deth'elie4 3d Irregular Cavalry .....
S:kh Cavalry

60
900

- Tctal sabres 750
Two 9-pounder., No. G, light field battery.
Pact cif her Mtjesty's 9th and 31st Foot
4th" Company of Oho 26th Regt. of Nativ lantry 310
Rig•ht wing of the 33d Native 1nfantry......,.,..., J 29
f' L'
.);)th Native Light _lnfantry
Pietets of the 60th Regiment of Native Infantry 124
Sikh Infantry
300

- •
Total bayonets
I hive now the honour to report the operations of the
day" for the Major-General's information. Having made
the necessary disposition of my force to protect the
ba::•'gage in the valley of Tezeen, and to secure the gorge
of the pass, the different pickets were gradually with-
draa,n to strengthen the latter. Soon after I observed
lA-ge body of the enemy collecting near the Fort of
Tee:en, south-east of my position, and directed Lieu-
tenant Douglas, whose guns had been previously posted
on i' commanding point, to open on them. but the dis-
tanee proving too great for shells the fire was discon-
tinza. The enemy, I suppose encouraged by this, formed
his Eavalry in the valley to the number of about 600
men, with the evident intention of moving towards my
post; I instantly decided on anticipating him, and as
CnOtain Alexander's (Horse Artillery) three guns were
. viii•oaotesmund, I availed myself' of hi:, services, by
. seems yard his guns within range of the enemy,
.../...:.„._"46,,nAke :milt squadron of her Majesty's 3d
Rl'''.:l'-!'-F lii.,VG,untler Captain Unett, one squadron of
• Li •V . en-7- ..:.
r4.4t.,l4ite:_ttvil,l4,vt,4llr.y. under Brevet:Major Scott, and
~7.,,,:1th0,••• .tireiviog 3d Irregular Gavalry under Captain 1
?...''''-'-i.--., •'' "'*'''afti to charge the enemy if the ground I
`7'.---:::., ' ....'
" 11 and. an opportunity offered. This
~, 4±,. , . I 7
~.........,, IN, . ill',

ton, commanding the 60th Native Infantry ; Captain t
Seaton, commanding the 35th Regiment of Light Infan-
Ary; Captain: Ferris, commanding the iTezailchees;. Cap-
tain Wilkinson, commanding her Majesty's 13th Light
Infantry ; Captain Broadfoot, commanding the Sappers ;
Captain Tait, commanding the 3d Irregular Cavalry, and
Captain Lawrence, commanding the Sikh contingent ;
Captain Abbott, Chief Engineer ; Captain Abbott, com-
manding the Light Field Battery ; Captain Alexander,
commanding the 3d troop of the 2d Brigade of Horse
Aortillary ; Captain Backhouse. commanding the Moun-
tain Tram ; and Lieutenant Becher, commanding the
Sappers and Miners. The services of Mr. Mackeson,
commanding the Bildars, have always been conspicuous.
-Superintending Surgeon Stiven's care in providing for
_the conveyance and comfort of the wounded has niet my
hpprobatinn. From Major Thompson, at the head of the
Commissariat Department, I have received every assist
ance ; likewise from Captain Lane, Commissary of Ord-
nance, whose exertions have been unremitting through-
out. From the following officers of my personal and the
general staff I have on this, as on every other occasion,
ree,ived the most effectual aid :—Captain Macgregor
an.l Lieutenant Pollock, Aide. de-Catnp ; Lieutenant Sir
It.t';!ialieveitr, Military Secretary ; Captain Ponsonby,
As-,i,tant Adjutant-General ; Captain. Cedrington, As-
sists:;;; gitarterrnwer-General ; Captain Riddle, Par
mister ; Captain Macadam, Deputy . Judge-Advocate-
Ge.wral ; Lieutenant Mayne, officiating Deputy Assist-
ant Quart.erma ster General. Thu followin:, officers of
division and brigade staff have also effectively performed
respective duties :—Captain I tavelock, Deputy As-
siitant Adjutant-General ; Brigade Majors -Havelock,
Smith, Wade, Lugard ; and Brevet Captain Fitzgerald,
ariliery division staff. I must not omit the expression
of my regret for the fate of nyder Ali, the native com-
mandant of the Jeanileheea a most gallant and enterpris-
ing soldier,;p.lio was killed while attempting to seize one
of the °not-4's standards.
I have the honour to forward reports from Lieutenant-
CoLonels Richmond and Taylor, and Major Skinner,
wkh returns of killed and wounded, and of ordnance,
lannuiition, and stores captured.—l have, &c.
G. POLLOCK, Major-General
(True Copy.
G. PONSONBY, Assistant Adjutant-General,

}Num of Killed and Wounded of the Troops under
t:le command of Major-General Pollock, C. 8., in the
. Tezeen Valley, and on the Iluft Kotul, on the 12th and
Iz3th of September.
Total of killed.
Ditto wounded.

. G. PONSONBY, Capt., Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
NAiIES OF OFFICERS KILLED AND WOUNDED.
, . Killed.
iTyder Ali, Commandant, Jezailehee regiment.
Wounded.
Captain Lashington,.ber Majesty's 9th Foo:, severely.
Cap:ain Geils, of the 60th Native Infantry, slightly.
-Lieutenant Norton, 35th Native Infantry, severely.
Leutonant Montgomery, 60th Native Infantry, slightl
(True Copy.) G. PONSONBY, Captain,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

CGPY OF A LETTER FROM LIEUTENANT-COLONEL TAY
LOR, COMMANDING lIER MAJESTY'S 9TII REGIMENT
OF FOOT, TO CAPTAIN PONSONBY, ASSISTANT ADJU-

• Camp, Khoord Caubul, Sept. 13.
have to report, for the information of Major-
cimeral Pollock, C. 13., commanding the troops in Aff-
glianikan, that, agreeably to his orders, I proceeded at
half-Past five o'-elock yesterday evening with 250 men of
her Majesty's 9th, to the support of the guards in charge
of..the ptiblic cattle feeding on the left of the camp in the
Tezeen valley, which were much pressed by the enemy.
elearing the left picket I was joined by -Major finish
With‘a small • pasty of . the -26th Native Infantry. I
threw forward a strong body of skirmishers, who quickly
dr,,ve back those of Lilo enemy :on the plain, pursuing
them to a range of where they made a stand
tilt clislode,ed by -our advance ; further on I found the
eeeiny, in force from.soo to 600, ; had taken post along
tlie crest and„on-the top of a range of steep hills, running
hear
.A mile from: the northward into the Tezeen valley ;
towards the north were assailed by. Captain Lush-
ington, her Majesty's 9th Foot, with the left support and
skirmishers, whilst I directed the attack against their
front and left flank, whicl being turned, I ascended the
heights between two ridges which concealed my ap-
proach till close to the summit and within 20 yards of
ther main body, consisting of over 300 men. Collecting
3) to 40 men, with Lieutenants Elmherj, Lister, and
-Vigors, I ordered bayonets to be fixed, and the enemy
to, be charged, which was done with such resolution and
effect, that the whole mass taken by surprise, was
pa ;lied headlong down the hills, nor (lid they rally till
out of musket shot. Their loss must have been very
severe, as I observed numbers lagging behind to carry
nri their killed and wounded.- As it was getting dark,
I deemed it imprudent to pursue the enemy further,
Ordered the halt to be sound, and after remaining in
peilesSion of their position for half an hour, retired
without molestation. It affords me great gratification to
bear testimony to the spirit and gallantry displayed
'T officers and men on this occasion, especially Major
llnish, 26th Regiment Native Infantry ; Captain Lush-
ington, and those concerned in the charge on the enemy.
1 beg to transmit a return of the killed and wounded.

COP: OF A LETTER FROM MAJOR SKINNER, TIER MA-
J::STY'S 31ST FOOT, TO CAPTAIN PONSONRY, ASSIST-
ANT-ADJUTANT-GENERAL.

Bootkhak, Sept. 14.
• have 'the honour to report, for the information
Of the Major-General commanding the army in Aff-
gh:ioistan, that I ascended the heights above the Tezcen
vniley, in front of our camp, with the following de-
thelenent :—One company of her Majesty's 9th Foot,
cue company of her Majesty's 13th Light Infantry, one
company of her Majesty's 31st Foot; one company of
her Majesty's 26th Native Infantry, one company of her
Majesty's 35th Native Light Infantry, one conarany of
h or Majesty's 33d Native Infantry,so Broad foot's Sapper*
and 50 Jezailehees,—on the afternoon of the 12th inst.,
and occupied the ridge till daylight next morning. From
a eommunicati(in with Major-General Sir IL Sale;
G.C.B , I learned that I was to take the high peaks to
the right of my position, and, having driven the enemy
from them, continue to operate among the lower hills to
the head of thi Huft Kotul, on the right flank of the
a'hiinced guard of the army. These peaks were occu-
pied in some force by the enemy, who was, however,
ea'sily driven froM 'them and cleared away to the higher
hill; on my right. I ascended the first peak, which,
although the way was steep, was not very difficult, in
tTa small columns ; the first, the companies of her Ma-
jety's 9th and 26th Native Infantry under Captain Bor-
ton; of the 9th Foot ; too second under Lieutenant
Sayers, of the 31st, composed of the two companies of
her Meiesty's 31st Foot and 33d Native Infantry, covered
by the Sappers and Jezailehees under Lieutenant
tirr. I detached Lieutenant Sinclair, of the 13th
Light Infantry, with the company of his regiment and
one of the 35th Native Infantry, to the higher peak on
the right hand, and supported him by Lieutenant Orr
and th7.l.Sappers (after I had possession of the first
he. ht), who ascended by a steep ridge that connected
theom. Lieutenant Sinclair attained the summit of the
101 l without loss, driving the enemy away, and held it
until the main column of advance came in sight, when
be lel his column on my right over the hills at the base
oi. the higher mountains. The height I gained descends
to. the high road by a succession of smal], peaks, each
connected by a narrow ridge ; the enemy occupied with
small parties each of these peaks, and was driven in sue-
- eossion from them. Captain Burton, at the head of a
payee of the 9th Foot, made a gallant charge upon a
eee oeYly posted party of the enemy, and drove them
tvv:1:1; he showed a great deal of boldness, however,
inaf!P repeated attempts to recover his ground, tak-
hevz dyantage of the necessarily slaw advance of the
sio4porting parties from the steep arr:l difficult nature of
tle!. hills. After I gained all the peaks, and the enemy
ii fallen back, I continued parallel to the main column
ov4 the hills to some distance beyond the top of the
.Notul. Considering the great number that at inc
tine opposed me until the appearance of the main column
,IrW them off, my loss was not great, while the enemy
censiderably. I beg leaVe to bring to the no-
tiei of the Major- General the very good conduct of the
oin.'!ersend men who were under my command.
I have, 8:c
THOMAS SKINNER,
Major, her MAjesty's 31st Regiment.
(True copy.)
G. PONSONBY,
. , Captain, Assistant Adjutant-General.