Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-01-19
THE BRITISH In AFFCHaNISTiN.

tar furnishes the following account of IN
march Of the invaders towards Gucznee an,
Cabul. The details of such a warfare as TIT
writer describes show how terrible is the re
tribniion which British vengeance nflic,s up
on discounted enemy that has dared ono,
10 triumph:
~ ne enemy, Of whom about one hundred
were horsemen, were posted on the outskri.
OF small village, situated on the bank Of 4
deep ravlne, the bed ola mountain torrent, a
bout hall mile in their rear, and towards
their right small fort, surrounded by walled
gardens and vineyards, end close upon the
bank OF another ravine, running parallel TO the
former. The land between the two is mar
row spur, sloping gently down from rocky
promontory of the range of mountains called
the Sueid Koh. Ouriorce am ounted to abou,
1000 infantry, 6guns, and 500 cavalry. Not
withstanding our superior numbers, the Aff-
ghans waited till we approached within n
thousand yards, when the guns opened upon
them, and they almost Immediately took to
| flight.
"The enemy, however, were not to be over
taken.-On reaching the fort they divided in
| to two parties, one crossing the ravine on the
left, the other taking refuge i'm village higher
up the spur. We followed the latter. The
cavalry had reached the village before us, and
we found it deserted. Here we waited for
nearly an hour till the remainder of our slow
ly moving force came in sight. and then push
ed on to another village situated close under
some low rocky peaks jutting out from the
hills. This also was abandoned on our ap-
proach, the enemy leaving in their hurry, a
number of tents and ammunition, which they
had supposed 10 be in secure place. We
found them, however, posted OH the tops of
the rocks, whence they poured down a pretty
sharp fire. AS soon therefore. as the column
| came up, they were attacked and driven TO
the higher part of the range in gallant style,
and here the pursuit ceased.-Al this was
done with scarcely any loss on our side, and
for my own part, joined several others under
some oil the most magnificent trees that ever
were seen, and made feast upon grapes such
as you can form no conception of. We had
them of every size and color--some above
two inches in length, others no bigger than
white currant. We were, in fact, among the
finest vineyards in the country
'But while we were thus meritorously cm-
psoyed, the larger body of the enemy (Which,
as mentioned, crossed the ravine on our lelt)
appeared about mile OF, moving slowly to-
wards the hills. Col. Taylor of the 9th regi-
ment of foot, with about so Europeans and
about 10 Sepoys, instantly pressed towards
them, hoping TO intercept them, but they we're
too strong for him, and attacked him so brisk
I ly, that lie was obliged to retreat, with three
officers. end perhaps so men killed and
wounded. The main body of our force had
III the meantime halted at the fort, about
TWO miles In our rear, and we were now order
cd TO reJoin 1t. AS we retired, the Affghans
advanced, gladly regalning possession of their
store OF ammunition, which we left where we
found II, not having the means to carry II a.
way. II consisted principally of two large
bags of powder, and the Afghans, eager 10 re-
plenlsh their TASKS, crowded round, cut open
the bags, and while each was scram5lng 10
help himself, The powder exploded. aud blew
up the whole party! How many lives were
lost, we cannot exactly ascertain, but our &C
counts say not less than So
''i'his any thing but untoward event ena-
bled us to make good our retreat in compar-
alive safety, and we have been here ever since
engaged iii the benevolent task of cutting down
every tree and burning every house we can
lay our hands on, while orr cattle find excel
lent forage among the standing crops. With
very Christian spirit, we arc doing all the evil
that we possibly can, and it will afford us the
| most unleigned satisfaction if we should sue
| coed in our Jealous attempts TO con ert this
beautiful and richly cultivated spot into bar
rem wilderness. That we cannot, bv anv
wicked device, permanently destroy the vines
is sad source Of regret {; but of the gardens
full OF mulberry, pomegranate, peach, apple,
and pear trees, we hope not to leave one stand
ing. is not all this diabolical /? Is there rot
more the spirit of hell than heaven in it, and
yet what is to be done--how can il be avoid
ell our eyisienoo depends oar reducing
these savages 10 submission. and they leave
us no other means of inJuring them 1t is
better. perhaps, after all, TO take their trees
than their lives, and all the mischief we can
90 them is but poor revenge for their barbar-
Gus massacre Of the thousands of our fellow
soldiers, who begged Of them nothing but their
lives. Old newspapers, letters, books. music.
scraps of clothes, and all sorts of fragments
found in the villages, prove, if proof were
wanting, how active part these assassns
took in the murdcrous destruction of the
teringee army. Even now thew hover around
us in caves and rocks, watching like beasts Of
prey, ready 10 pounce upon any unfortunate
straggier from our camp that may happen to
come within their reach, and at night they
! Prowi about firing into our camp in The hope
OF hitting somebody in the crowd. Such a
set OF unmitigated villains never heard of
but our tree-cu,ting, together with the result
of the fight, has had the intended elect
They are now anxious 10 conciliate, and are
bringing IN lots Of supplies"
lpyoter R,,,;,o o., mn m S,o;u :; -