The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1842-04-27

town by order of the son of Dost Mohamed.'
Thus fell, in the discharge of a great public
duty, an amable man, gentleman, and schol-
ar, whose loss as public servant is sincerely
deplored, and for whose death, by the hands OF
an assassin and traitor, the whole British em-
pire must demand as India has already done, the
most decided vengeance
Dost Mohammed himself, it appears, is at
present at Saharunpoor. He is strictly watched
and guarded, but otherwise under no particu-
lar restraint. So far from being detected in cor
respondcnce with his former subjects, suspected
of exciting them against us, he seems to be Sc
vercly and deeply annoyed at the conduct of his
son.
at Jellalabad Sir R. Sale had succeeded in
establishing himself in strong position. and
strong rcn(orcements were on the way for India.
Our allies, the Sikhs have granted us a way
through their country. Col. Wids brigade
was, on the 7th December, at Khybur pass,
waiting the arrival of General Pollock, who was
TO take command of the reinforcements, consis-
ting of Her Maiesty's 9th regiment Goth native
regiment, company of the Goth native infantry,
the recruits of Her Majcsty's 13 and 44th, the
10Th light company, squadron of irregular
cavalry, and detail of art l,ery, with three nine
Founders anda "a pound howitzer, to reach Jella-
labad before the advance of Gen. R. Sale upon
Cabool, and thus form component part of the
army destined to avenge the murder of the en-
voy.
Rumor further asserts that the whole force
(ncaTly COCO mcn) in the cntrenchment camp
at Cabcol had been DESTROYED in the cndeavor to
force passage through tie defiles to Jellalabad.
We trust however, that this will not be con-
frmed. The force comprised her Maiesty's
44th regiment, three regiments of the Bengal
Native Infantry, 1,l00 cavalry besides artillery.
1t seems incredible that force like this should
be destroyed by the insurgent Ghilzies.
1t appears by the accounts from the English
papers, that the force at Cabool which has been
destroyed, consisted of 6000 men, which, in con-
sequence Of supplies having been cut of, were i'll
offfor clothing and pinched for food. In this
condition their cantonments were surrounded by
from 10000 to l5,C00 of the Ghilzies On the
22d of December battle was fought in which
much slaughter took place. Terms were pro-
posed to the British that they should surrender
their arms and agree to evacuate the country al
) together. The married officers and their wives
were to be retained as hostages, and returned 10
the British only when they had got beyond Pc
shawur, and Dost Mahomed been restored to
them. The ENJOYS answer to this was, that
"death was preferable to dishonor, that they
trusted to the God of battles, and that in his
name they defed them to come on"
On Christmas day the envoy, attended by Cap
tains, Conolly, Lawrence, Trevor, and McKen-
zie having gone out, apparently at the request of
the insurSc:itt chiefs, 10 discuss the terms of ca
pitulation, an angry interview ensucd; it appears
probable that the same insolent terms previously
rejected by the envoy had been pressed upon
T him in manner more ntoerably offensive than
those formerly employed. He appears to have
treated them with scorn, high words ensued,
when Sir William M'Naghten was shot dead on
The spot it is believed by the hand of Ukhbar
Khan.
The charge ofthe mission now devoIyed up-
on Major Eidred Pottngcr; the much coveted
envoy ship, with salary superior TO the income
of the Governors of Madras or Bombay, with an
amount of power scarcely exceeded by the Gov
ernor General Of India, fell to the lot of lieu
tenant of the Bombay artillery-major only by
brevet-a circumstance telling fearfuly of the
slaughter of our poticals. Nor did it lapse into
unworthy hands. Herat had before been defend
cd successfully by Pottinger single handed, so
far as British officers were concerned. He now
had most responsible and much more difficult
duty to perform. The first act of his authority
was to forward the dispatch announcing that 'the
comedy or rather the tragedy of errors was at
! an cnd.''
The terms partially acceded by Sir VIM. Nc
Naghten were yet to be accepted, if conceded
by an army pershing of hunger. They were to
move for Jellalahad through the fearless passes
of Khood Cabooll, with the determination of des-
perate men standing by the consequences.
fresh attack on the cantonments was announced
to have commenced before the dispatch was clos
ed; an evil augHry Of what was to follow. A
private letter the 2Sti announces that the gar
rson had Eot at that time LEFT, but were about to
move Immediately. This is the latest authentic
date we possess. The native rumors, which
usually b. several days anticipate the arrival of
regular intelligence, state that the force has
quilted, ard been in a great measure destroyed.
Other accounts mention that they have OBJ
tanned fresh supplies and can stand out month
longer. The latter, unfortunately, is improbable.
In month from the 25:h of December, it would
be possible for the Bengal brigade to reach them
were the passes clear of snow.-Their only
chance lies in this. How fearful then has been
the havoc during these miserable wars amongst
the very flower of the intellectual mon of our
service. Eight political agents have pcrished
violently amongst those whose affairs they had
been appointed TO arrange. Young Edward Co.
molly, brother of the traveller, was shot through
the head by the side of Sir Robert Sale, Sept.
90, 1910 DR.. Lord fell at purwan Durrah, Nov.
2; Rattray, his successor, and Dr. Grant, his as
Dal Al