Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-01-03
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brought in in considerable quantities /;
the former selling at from two to four
secrs per rupee, and the latter from
seven 10 ten; but neither ourselves nor
our servants benefited by this arrange
ment-it came to the commissariat tor
Inc troops. The poorer camp-iollow-
crs had latterly subsisted on such ami.
mails (camels, ponies, &c., as had died
from starvation. The men had suffered
much from over work and bad feeding,
also from want Of firing; for, when all
the wood in store was expended, the
chiefs objected to our cutting down any
more Of the fruit trees, and their wishes
were complied with. Wood, both pub
lie and private, was stolen. When
ours was gone, we broke up boxes,
chests Of drawers, &c.; and our last
dinner and breakfast at Cabul were
cooked with the wood OF mahogany
dining table. When the advance had
proceeded about mile, an order was
brought for return to environments, as
Mahommcd Zeman Shah Khan had
written to say the chiefs were not
ready; but shortly afterwards a coun-
ter-ordcr arrived to proceed without
loss Of time. When the rear guard
left environments, they were fred upon
from the cantonment, then filled with
Affghans. The servants, who were not
concerned in the plumber, all threw
away their loads, and ran off. Private
baggage, commissariat, and ammuni-
ton were nearly annihilated at one
fell swoop. The whole road was COW
cred with men, women, and children,
living down in the snow to die. The
only baggage we saved was Mrs. Sturts
bedding, on which the ayah rode; and
keeping her close to us, it was saved.
The Mission Compound was first va
Gated; and, when the force from thence
came into environments, in order to
pass through them, il was Immediately
filled with Afghans; who, in like man
ner, occupied the environments as our
troops went out.
1t was the Generals original inten-
ton to halt at Begramee, close TO the
Loghur river, and about five miles from
Cabul reiterated was the advice of our
Afghan fricnds-alas, how little heed
ed Ito push on at all risks through
the Khoord Cabul the first day but
the whole country being a swamp in
crusted with ice, we went OH about n
mile further, and halted at about P, NJ.
There were no tents, save two or three
small pals that arrived. All scraped
away the snow as best they might, to
make place to lie down on. The
evening and night were intensely cold:
no food for man or beast procurable,
except a few handfuls of bhoosa, for
which we paid from FIVE to ten rupees.
Captain Johnson, in our great distress,
kindly pitched small pail over us
but il was dark, and we had few pegs;
the wind blew in under the sides. and
l felt myself gradually stiflening, I
loft the bedding, which was occupied
by Mrs. Sturt and her husband, and
doubled up my legs in a straw chair of
Johhson's, covering myself with my
poshteen. Mr.. Mcin and the ayah
fully occupied the remainder Of the
space. We only went in all six miles,
and had to abandon two III. A. guns on
the road: we were also much delayed
by the bullocks that dragged the planks,
in case the Loghur bridge should have
been destroyed. We had, however,
positive information that 1t was all
right; and so il proved.
Previous to leaving environments, rs
we must abandon most of our property,
Sturt was anxious to save few of his
most valuable books, and to try the
experiment Of sending them to friend
in the city. Whilst he selected these,
found, amongst The ones thrown aside,
Campbel's Poems, which opened at
Hohenlinden; and, strange 10 say, one
verse actually haunted me day and
night
Few. few shall part where many meet,
The snow shalt be their winding sheet;
Aud every turf beneath their feet
Shall be soldiers sepulehre."
am FAR from being believer In pre-
sentiments; but this verse is never alb
sent from my thoughts. Heaven forbid
that our fears should be realized but
we have commenced our retreat so
badly, that we may reasonably have
our doubts regarding the finale. Near
ly all Hopkins's corps. the Shah's 9th,
deserted from this place; as also the
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