The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-04-10 00:00:00

STORMING OF PESHOOT.

(From a Second Supplement to the Calcutta Gazette o

February 15.)
Camp, Peshoot, January 19, 1840.
TO CAPTAIN DOUGLAS, ASSISTANT-ADJUTANT-GENERAL,

ARMY OF THE IItHES.

Sir,—l have the honour to report, for the information of
the Major-General commanding in Affghanistan, that on the
afternoon of the 17th, the rain having ceased, and with every
expectation of favourable weather for commencing operations,
I issued the necessary orders to the detachment for attacking,
on the following morning, the fort of Peshoot ; and as it was
advisable that Captain Abbot should have his guns into bat-
tery, and the infantry be in the best position they could oc-
cupy before daybreak, we left camp at 4 a.m. As soon as
Captain Abbot could distinguish the gate, he opened the bat-
tery against it, and after firing for nearly two hours, succeed-
ed in making a practicable breach on each side of the gate,
when Lieutenant Pigou, with a party of 15 men of the Euro-.
pean detachment, and 25 sepoys of the 37th, advanced, push-
ed down the gate, and proceeded to examine the inner one.
The bugler with the party, observing them going forward,
sounded the advance (without order), which caused the
storming party and column to immediately move down to-
wards the breach ; but Lieutenant Pigou having ascertained
that the inner gateway was closed, ran back and directed
them to get under cover from the enemy's tire, which was
easily accomplished among the numerous ravines close to the
fort.

Lieutenant Pigou then returned, and applied the powder
to blow open the gate ; but as it had rained without intermis-
sion from about half an hour after commencing the attack,
from the damp state it was in, and the very inferior quality
of it, being powder of this country, it unfortunately failed.
As from the situation of the gate, and from the nature of
the ground surrounding the fort, it was found impracticable
to bring a gun to bear on it, Lieutenant Pigou suggested that
another trial should be made to blow it open, and a sufficient
quantity of powder (nearly I001b) having been procured from
Capt. Abbot, the attempt was made, but I regret to say it
also failed.

As it still continued to rain heavily, the troops had been
exposed to a severe tire for several hours, Capt. Abbot having
expended nearly the whole of his ammunition, and every
possible means adopted towards gaining an entrance into the
fort having failed of success, I determined at half-past 11
a.m. on withdrawing the troops from before the fort until the
weather cleared up, and certain measures could be taken to
insure success.

Our failure, however, I am happy to say, has proved as
good as having gained possession of the fort, for a short time
after we retired the enemy evacuated the fort of Peshoot, as
well as that of Khatke, on the opposite bank of the river, both
of which are now in our possession; but I am sorry to say
there is nothing in either fort but a small quantity of grain
and about 10001 b. of powder.
I lament to say our loss has been rather severe (a return
of which is enclosed), which was mainly caused by want of
means to reduce a place of so much strength.
To Lieut. Pigou the highest praise is due for the gallant
and meritorious manner in which he three times advanced
to the inner gate, under a heavy fire from the enemy, and
laid the powder to blow it open, the failure of which can only
be attributed to the causes already explained. To the party
who accompanied him, under the command of Ensign Pattule,
the greatest credit is also due for the manner in which they
kept in check the enemy's side.
To Captain Abbot the highest praise is also due for the
manner in which he has conducted the arduous duties de-
volving upon him, as well as the great service rendered by
him yesterday. I also beg to bring to the notice of the, Ma-
jor-General the conspicuous gallantry of Lieutenant Tytler,
who accompanied Lieutenant Pigou on both occasions of
bringing the powder, and throughout the day rendered me
every assistance ; I am also highly indebted to him for the
manner in which he has conducted every duty required of
him as Assistant-Quartermaster-General since leaving Jul-
lalabad.

I have much pleasure in bringing to the notice of the
Major-General the gre.•t assistance I have on all occasions
received from Lieutenant Pond, whom I appointed as de-
tachment staff.

The highest praise is also due to every officer and man
composing the detachment, who have cheerfully borne up
against every privation and hardship ; and the coolness, gal-
lantry, and ambition of each individual displayed yesterday
morning elicits my warmest thanks and approbation.
In noticing the names of the officers to whom I am in-
debted for assistance during this expedition, I have omitted
to mention that of Lieutenant Dallas, of the commissariat
department, who has on all occasions proved himself a most
zealous officer in procuring supplies whenever there was any
possibility of obtaining them, and also of rendering me every
assistance during the attack yesterday.
J. R. POND, Lieutenant, Detachment Staff.
J. ORCHARD, Lieutenant-Colonel
Commanding Detachment.
J. DOUGLAS, Captain,
Assistant Adjutant General.
By order of the Right Hon. the Governor-General of India
in Council, T. H. MADDOCK,
Secretary to the Government of India.

(True copy)