The New York herald., 1878-12-04
THE KHuEUN CoLUMy--oEDERryG OF THE AD-
VANCE.
From the London Standard
Turrr Friday Nipht. Nov. 1879

-
VANCE.
From the London Standarll
TuuLr, Friday Night. Nov %. 1873.
Thull on Wednesday presented a singular spccta-
clc Tho town lies in basin. surrounded BY hills.
and the whole OF the available space contained
was crowded with tents. troops and animals.
Cavalry and riding horses. elephants and mules.
ponies and camcs were all mixed in seemingly mex
tricablc confusion; and British and native troops,
Sikh drivers and wild figures of Hillmen crowded
the little valley. The greatest excitement prevailed
during the afternoon respecting the Amcers reply.
The anxiety that the promised advance should
take place general, but knew whether or
no the Anccr had sent in his submission. Toward
evening Inc spread that the General had re-
ceiyed telegram in cipher from the Niceroy. ana all
sorts of reports and gescs rs to the nature OF is
contents current through the camp. But 1T
last it somehow became known that reply
from the sf,cer had been received aud that
Tie details of the pan We're, however. kept a
profound secret, and as / corld learn nothing.
mounted my horse at foir O'Clock a2d rode 10 the
khurunl River. three mites from fbull. The night
bright and int and the stars remarkably brilliant
but tho air bitterly Keen and cold. The entrance
10 the bridge was bp,ckcd with bushes, and sentry
of of tic Patlish regiments was1n guard
boulder ralnpsrfs, which had been thrown up at
the head OF the bridge. On d hill about one
hundred and hity feet high-comlnanding tn. bridge
and kapigon Fort oppositc-wss picket station, and
the sentry there shouted down 10 inc that ii pro-
strict orders 10 allow person. English native 70
approach the bridge There nothing to do for 1T
but to- wait for daylight. accordingly rode up to the
picket station and took up MY post there. Everything
was perfectly quiet The khurun beneath cleaned like
a silver thread winding through the the dimly outlined
hills. No lights visible, either In tho valley be-
yond in the fort OF kapigong. which diinly
visible about mile distant from me. Presently
there slight and confused sound, faint, dis
tant tranlpling, with the occasional jingle of
steel. 50 slight was II, however, that 1t was
not until / dark mass approaching by
tho road along which l had ridden / was not
certain that Il caused By the advance of column
of infantry and cavalry. They halted at The foot OF
the picket hill. the bridge and remained there
in profound silence Just before daybrcsk General
Roberts. with his stan, rode up, and found that
the force below me constituted only portion OF
that intended 60 advance 10 Afghan ground Al
three in the morning squadron OF the Tenth Hus-
sars under Major Berkeley, had quietly forted the
Khurnni q mile below the bridge, and had wound Its
way among the hills. coming down into the valley ut
distance behind The fort to cut of the re-
treat ~ its garrison.
TIE DH~ENrrD HoUsts
The infantry proceeded rapidly toward hapigong in
diminishing order. The fort silent and not ~
fash of rifle showed from its walls. The Ratts were
troops rushed into it, only to find empty. The gar
rsoD must have fed but q short time previously
Probably, in spite of the sle' preserved the move
ments of the distant columns had been heard by a
scout, and hasty fight had at once taken place Tho
nrus still aght, and hafcookcd food WIS lying
the ground near them. In one little room a
Scuoy found three children covered over with
rags. One Of thcni, upon finding that They
were dirr0ycfcd, bod up small string tnge
containing two partridge, 20 tncir captvr inl
offered lit to him 10 spare their lives " is iiniccs
sary 10 say that the children carefully tended
General Roberts then returned TO kspilonzn,
where vast oncampmont was formed. There was
m0rv space hers for such gathering than there