The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-19 00:00:00

CAVALRY.

Her Majesty's 3d Dragoons.
let Cavalry.
10th Cavalry.

INTAN

COMMISSARIAT.
From Ferozepore, cur extreme north-west frontier station,
I to the city of Caubula through Peshawur, the distance is 340
Peshawur is 247 miles from Ferozepore, and 193 miles
from Caubul. aalialabad is 100 miles flout Peshawur, and 93
front Caubul. For ahoto. 360 miles from F,rozepore the route
lies thi ough 'the Sikh country ; and for this distance there can
be no difficulty as to supplies, the Sikh Government being at
present on friendly terms with ours. The point from which I
conceive it possible and probable that the army must live on its
stores is Kuddum, 16 miles on the Caubul side of Peshawur,
and two miles before the entrance of the Khyber Pass.
Having regard to what has already happened. and to the
„feeliuga and character of the pi ople, I think a General must
have the spirit of a gamester who could trust to the Affghans
f;r supplies. . They may, indeed, be willing to supply us if
they find us independent of them ; but will they if we stand in
need of them ?
Having regard, moreover; to the passes to be left in the rear
of the for cc as it advances, very great reliance cannot be placed
on a succession of supplies front Kudglum.
the conclusion which I drew from these considerations is,
that the force must at all times have sufficient supplies to
carry it back to Kuddum from any point to which it may
have advanced, so that, if Caboor is its ultimate destination,
the supplies should be sufficient for reaching that place and
returning from it to Kuddum, allowance being made for in-
tei mediate stoppages.
TUE ROUTE TO JELLALABAD.
As the Sikhs are friendly I pass over the distance from
Ferozea.ore to Kuddum, merely observing that thirty-seven
days or thereabouts are consumed in the march. T. mists
from Kuddum the Khyber Pass commences. " The Khyber
Pars, from the entrance on the Jellalabad side to the de-
Louche (two miles short of and from Kuddum), is twenty-
eight miles in length,' and, excepting the valley of Lalbega
gurhee, six miles long and one and a quarter broad, there ate
twenty-two miles of rags, which can be commanded, and in
which there are few places where an army advancing could
find cover."—Hough, p. 313.
Front the details in Hough's book it appears that the pass is
in part " from 100 to 200 ards wide," that " parties, by
crowning the hills on both 4sides would inflict great havoc
among troops advancing, for there is no cover ;". that the pass
"in one place is not above 40 or 50 feet wide, within pistol
shot," that " it is for three miles from 200 to 150 yards wide,
sometimes only as many feet," &c.
Having got through the Khyber Pass, the next march is to
Dakka (nine miles). In this march the little Khyber occurs.
It is thus described in Hough, p. 306 t---" The defile is very
narrow in some places, not admitting of two horsemen going
abreast. It is more like a deep narrow ravine, with high banks
in some parts. We found the road through it good, and the
descent in it not difficult. lin', if the height. were occupied
by troops, it would stop the advance of any force till the enemy .
were dislodged."
The remaining part of the route to Jellalabad (32 miles)
does not present any difficulty deserving notice. It may, how-
ever, be observed, that for nine miles the route lies through a
valley, where, "in the months of April and May, the deadly
simoon prevails."—Hough.
RESISTANCE IN THE KHYBER PASSES.
" There are of the Khyberees 26,000 armed men."—Hough,
page 350. " The native rifle, fired with a rest, will kill at 800
yards; "*
—Hough, page 309. To these it may be added that,
according to the last accounts, we had lost Ali Alusjid, a fort
about seven miles within the Khyber Pass, on the Kuddum
side. Obstructions had been created in the passes, and the
Affghan chiefs were co-operating with the Khyberees.
REFLECTIONS AND CONJECTURES.
Can the difficulties here set forth be contemplated without
some feeling of anxiety for the fate of the army w hich is facing
theta, fighting at such disadvantage of ground, and encumbered
with the defence of a long line of horses, bullocks, and camels ?
At the same time, there can be no question that every effort
must be made to relieve our brave fellows at Jellalabad, and
the ladies arid other prisoner=, even at the expense of the less
of more lives than the number of those to be rescued. I sup-
pose there are political difficulties in the way of bulling the Khy-
ber Pass. If not, surely money could hardly be better be-
stowed than for such a purpose. According to Hough, " Nadir
Shah, in 1739, paid 100,01?0/. for the passage or his army
through this pass." Is it clear that it may not cost as mush to
force it? Of course, if the Affghans have the control of the
Pass, buying is out of the question.
It was thought, according to some accounts; that Ger:era!
Pollock would not attempt the business until he was joined by
a second European Infantry regiment. Her Majelty's 9th'
Foot,i was with him, and her Majesty's 31st Foot could not,
according to the date of their leaving Meerut, reach Peshawur
before the 10th of this month, or thereabouts. Neither
could the 3d Dragoons or Horse Artillery be with the force
before the beginning of this month (the guns the General had
with him were drawn by bullocks). Some of the native regi-
ments would also join about the beginning of this month.
These are strong arguments for delay; and if they have pre-
vailed it may be assumed that the General is making his way
through the passe.., about this time. Some accounts, however,
state that the General would move at once, without waiting
for the additional force. If such has been the case I know not
how to escape from the conclusion that the relief'of Jellalabad
admitted of no delay. The accounts from Jellalabad, by the
last mail, are to the 27th of January, and are written in good
spirits, and mention that they have three months' provisions.
.1 find that these accounts are credited, and I, therefore,
gladly incline to the opinion that the General has waited for
the arrival of the whole force. I say incline to the opinion,
&c., because I still feel a difficulty in accounting for Colonel
Wild's attempt to force the pass with four regiments of Native
Infantry and some useless Sikh guns, except on the supposition
that Jellalabad was in jeopardy.
1 abstain at present from considering the consequences el an
attempt to force the frightful passes between Jellalabad and
Caubul, more frightful now by the remembrance of the tragedy
recently enacted in them.
'I he relief of Jellalabad, and the rescue of our countrywomen,
is now pat amount to all other considerations. If the Khyber
Pass is bought, or if, from any other cause, resistance' has
been withdrawn, or if Gen. Pollock has forced it without wait-
ing for her Majesty's 31st Foot, then we may expect to hear
of the relief of Jellalabad by the mail which lett Bombay on the
Ist instant. If, on the other hand, the General has waited the
arrival of her Majesty's 31st Foot,t we cannot well expect to
hear of the relief of Jellalabad before July next.
London, April 16, 1842. X.

* The native rifle with a fixed rest, it is said, will kill at SOO
yards. The common rifle is only four feet ten inches in the barrel ;
the larger juzziels are six or seven feet in the barrel.
• t. Four native regiments arrived at Pcshaw•ur in December,
without a gun !! ! Her Majesty's Bth Foot and two Native Itegi.
merits and some Artillery would arrive with General Pollock early
In February. The rest of the force enumerated would arrive dur-
ing the first ten days of the present month, or hereabouts.
This regiment was in Kurnaul on the 14th of February. Kur.
nail!, by the shortest route, is a sixteen days' march from Feroze.
pore, and Ferozepore, as I have already said, is a thirty-sever. days'
march from Kuddum, close to the entrance of the Khyber Pass.
Supposing the regiment left Kurnaul on the 15th of February,
and marched without a day's halt, they would reach Kuddum in
fifty.three days, that is, on the oth instant, Halts may, perhaps,
be set off against forced marches, and probably they would arrive
about the 10th instant,,as I have Above suggested.
—Morning Paper.

THE LATE MASSACRE IN
AFFGHANISTAN.
COPY OF A LETTER FRG %t AN OFFICER OF DER MAJESTY'S
3D LIGIIT DRAGOONS, ON HIS MARCH FROM KURNAUL
TO ATIOHANISTAN.

" Camp, Feb. 7,1842.
" We marched from Kurnaul, on two days' notice, on the
28th ultimo, in fire health and siirits—our strength, 601 men
and officers, and 703 troop horses. We are now two marches
from Loodianah, where 1 shall post this letter to go by the
overland mail. An army is foi ming at Ferozepore, but. no de-
cided movement ta ill take place till the arrival of our new Go-
vernor-General, who is expected at Calcutta this month. He
will have a most difficult game to play. What will the people
in England think of all that has happened? Such a disgrace
has never occurred in the world before. General Elphinstone,
with near 6,000 soldiers -and more camp followers, was
obliged to evacuate Caubul, having safe conduct promised
him to Jellalabad. He was forced -to leave his'stores,
guns, and ammunition .behind him, as well as the sick
and wounded, who have ' not • since been .hcard of. On
the secund say's march they ,were attacked. 6ont, flank,'
and rear at the same time; our men with not one round of
ammunition. The ladies (unfortunately there were fifteen of
them) were taken back to Cauhul by tle savages,' and, we
hear, that they were ransomed by an agent of a Delhi mer-
chant for 10,0001. 1 hope that this may be true, and that
they, at least, may be safe.' General' Elp!sinstote, Cklonel
Shelton of the 44th, and four' other officers were taken back
as hostages. The enemy then commenced tit ing'on the troops,
and by ail accounts the whole force is cut up. It appeees that
two companies of the 44th and two of Native. Infantry stuck
together till the vtry last, and- made a kind of tunning
fight with their bayonets till they came to a stream which
was very• deep, and as they -came out on the ether side they
were cut off to a man. The whole of the 44th is anni-
hilated. Two squadrons of the ash Cavalry cut their way
for some distance, a march or two; for on Captain Oldfield,
with the remaining squadron of that corps, going out to
their assistarce from Jellalabad, he found five of his brother
officers dead on the road. Ore- peer fellow (Hamilton) had
just got his troop. He was a friend of mine, and kreltrn to
all of us. A Di.. Brydon and ti trooper of the sth alone es-
caped during the night to Jellalabad.' Major Griffith, of the
37th Native Infantry, and Lieutenant Souter, of the 44th,
bribed a native chief, who passed them over the mountains,
and it is said they paid a ransom of 1,000 rupees Et Jellalabad.
These are the only four that we have heard of as yet who have
escaped.
" Feb. B.—We have marched 12 miles this morning. Let-
ters from the Commander-in-Chiet 's camp at Loodianah state
there are 17 officers prisoners at Cabul,' with the ladies. Of
Elphinstone's force nothing hai been heard. It is supposed that
every
,soul has been massacred.
" Loodianah, Feb. 9.—Our General; Thackwell, met its this
morning as we were marching in, Nothing but warlike news;
more tr.:rim marching up: among others, her Majesty's 31st,
We shed, eel tainiy -.push on-to Geciorel saltt's
::::-:stance at Jellalabad 'l i!e li.ther Pass; bet I',.11;ox"r
and Jellalabad, is in possession of theenemy. Colonel Wylde's
brigade, that I mentioned in my former letter, has been beaten.

One squadron 3d Irregular
Cavalry.

'TRY. .
He Majesty's 9th Foot. 30th Native Infantry.
Ditto 31st Foot. 33d ditto.
Ditto Detachment of recruits 53d ditto.
(200). 60th ditto. •
6th Regiment Native Infantry. 64th ditto.
The above are of the Bengal army, and make together, say
10,000 fighting men, of whom I calculate that 250 officers anti
2,500 non .eommissi; red officers and privates are Europeans,
and the rest Sep4s. I consider that there with these-
-10000 13ullocks
Followers
Horses .........
In conjecturing this estimate of followers, &c., 1 am in some
degree guided by a " Return of Month's Supply for ae Army
of the Indus," in p. 77 of the Apiieridix to Major Hough's
" Campaign in Affghanistan." Ttie ' Return is dated ." Can-
dahar, June 1, 1839." From this Ilincl.that, fur 10,406 fight-
ing men, there were—
Mustered
followers.. 14,620 Bullocks
Miscellaneous ditto 14,032 Gun camels
Ilorses
I calculate on a ret.uced number of followers with General
Follock's fOrce, On account of the known'cLfficalties'to be eon-
tended with. Ido not, how ever, make a corresponding reduc-
tion in the number of camels, as. many must be taken for Sir
Robert Sale's brigade; and I apprehend that supplies must be
carried for a much longer time then one month, the time 'in
the " Return" rekrred to.