The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-12-13
A HARD STRUGGLE.

a
We of the Twenty-third British Pion-
GERS, supported by half Of the Fifth Regi-
ment OF Goorkes, had the advance rs
we moved out of Peshawur for Cabul
SlCirmlshing began as soon as we were
out Of the fortincations, and for four
hours we were pestered and annoyed and
put to considerable loss Of life. Then
we reached the mountain pass known as
the Kashwa, and here road came in
from the north called the Dark Way.
While the column rested, 200 Of us Pion-
GERS pushed up this Way for a mile on a
recopnoisanoe, and found small, but
strong, stone fort, which had just been
deserted by the natives. Word was sont
back, and the result was that " COM
pany, which numbered forty-seven men,
was detailed TO occupy tho fort, which
we at once christened Fort Baker"
The officer in command was Lieut..
Freyne, seconded by the orderly sergeant
and first corporal. We had been badly
broken up in the campaign and our COM
missioned and non-commissioned officers
were badly scattered, some dead some
in the hospital, others on detached SER
vice may be pardoned for adding that
was the corporal alluded to above. The
fort was built at a spot where the way or
road left the hills and crossed valley
about half mile wide. We were at the
southern edge Of this valley on de-
taohed hill, which was higher than any
other ground within gunshot. There was
a fipe spring on this HILL and the natives
had enclosed It in a square fort covering
100 square feet OF ground.
The garrison Of this fort had boen
called out to assist in holding the main
pass against our army, and it had de.
parted in such hurry that we found 400
pounds Of powder, 600 pounds Of lead,
forty muskets, sixty blankets, and large
stock Of provisions left behind. There
was also both shell and grapeshot foi
the field piece. Not doubling that we
should be besieged as soon as the army
was out OF sight, we set TO work to make
everything snug. The gateway was
blocked, tho extra muskets loaded. and
the men assigned to positions in squads
We took poss ession about noon, and uI
to o'clock tie sounds OF fighting in tht
main pass cGme plainly to our ears
They had scarcely died away when We
caught sight Of sixty Afghans approach
ing us by a narrow pathway from tht
west They had been down in tn,
Kashwa fighting our column, but ha6
been driven OFF. They were a portion
only OF the garrison; the balanos haC
been killed by British bullets Thes,
fellows approached us without the slighb
est suspicion, and their first warning
was volley which knocked over a ful
dozen.
On that famous march TO Cabul tn,
watchword was Pass on. In NOR,
than score of instances the British
army left native garrisons 20 the right
left, or rear Of them. There was abou
as much danger in the rear as 10 tn
front. II was constant warfare on q llni
a hundred miles long. We knew pret,,
well what TO look for, and were IN n,
wise disappointed when the sun wen
down to find ourselves besleged by
force of at least 800 natives. Our ooul
had dum;ounded them, however, and no
q gun was fired during the afternoon o
night. They must plan how best TO over
come us. And the problem no doub
worried them. We had four stout wall
ten feet high, oceans Of the purest water
and provisions for sixty days 1t wa
hard to figure against that, and we turner
in that night with feeling that we woul
be left undi5turbed. Nothing whateve
occurred to alarm us, and during all mex
forenoon we did not catch sight OF
native. Exactly at noon native heai
{ ing flag Of truce came across the valley
AS we did not want him to know ou
, strength, was sent out to meet him te
: PAGES from the gate. He was a ma
about thirty years old, firm in look, an
digniiled in bearing, and he did not vast
any time getting down TO business.
81 demand the surrender OF the fort,
he said in broken English.
And II we surrender?n l asked.
"You will all be put to death"
But II we refuse ?"
1t viii be death just the same.n
"Then we refuse" replied, havln
been told by the Lieutenant to tako N
own way TO get rid Of him.
The native stalked oil without anothc
d word or look, and soon disappears
% across tho valley. Ten minutes late
three field pieces opened FIRE on us viii
. solid shot from the cover OF macs
4 rocks and bushes about 600 yards awal
Every ball struck the north wall bl
= they might as wen have been bullets iC
all the harm they did. We let them Gi
p away for half an hour, and then four
the men who carried elephant rifles whiC
had been picked up at Peshawur went I
the loopholes and dropped two gunner
apiece inside Of two minutes. Tn
caused the battery TO Withdraw in
hurry, and we we're bothered no mol
that afternoon. Piled against the eas
ern wall of the fort on the inside was
large quantity Of heavy poles and ru,
planks. We had at first supposed tn
material to have been brought Ia Z,
flrewood, and had used some of Il T,
our fires. Il now occurred to the Lie
tanant that there were not enough loo
holes in the wall to accommodate ev,
our small force, and that the natives hi
brought in that stun TO erect platform
He at onoe set the whole force al wol
and we did not knock of until mldni b
Then we had a solid platform agoinet t
north and east walla, being about sew,
teet high. This would enable us to "a
tho top OF the walls rs breastwor
ET;c,ia-t ,f III IA ea.r.,,;rcr po,.,.