Year: 1878




From the London Standard


PEiwAR KoruL, Dec. 8. 1875.


A very complete and brilliant victory was gained
yesterday by the column OF Major General Roberts
over the Amcers troops. Three days had been spent
in accommodating the ground but the enenys posi-
tion found to be imprcgnabe to a front attack
especially with small force as that at Generai
Roberts disposal. and the only chance OF success
was to turn it by long, hazardous ana very
difficult night march of nine miles up pass
leading to the extreme left of their position. On
Sunday preparations made for our advance
by this line and after nightfall the regiments
told off for the servicc-viz., the Seventy-secono
Highanders. the Fifth Ghoorkas and the Twenty
ninth native infantry started from the camp. The
movement was a complete success, and the enemy's
pickets on this flank were surprised and attacked
just as the dawn was breaking by the Fifth
Ghoorkas, who tonight splendidly. gallantly led BY
Major Fitzhughe and Captain Cooke. supported by
company of the Seventy second Highanders, led by
Colonel Brownlow and followed by the re-
mainder Of the wing Of the Seventy-second
and by the Twenty ninth native infantry. Az
soon as tho attack was developed Captain
Kelso brought up his mountain guns in splendid
style. They did excellent service but he himself was
shot dead while fighting them. Lieutenant Munro.
of the Seventy ty-second, slightly wounded. The
attack was led in person by General Roberts. After
hard fighting lasting for three hours, the enemy's
left wing was rolled up, and broke in confusion
The regiments in reserve viz the Second Puniab in
fantry the Twentythird Pioneers, and four Royal
Artillery guns elephants, arrived the scene.
General Roberts at directed the attack toward the
centre Of the position; the Twanty-nnth native in
fantry leading found the enemy very strongly
posted and most obstinate tight ensucd i'll the thick
pine woods which cross the heights and to which the
Afglans chung most obstinately Here Major Ander-
son. OF the Twentythird pioneers, killed 1t was
hours before the enemy was dslodSed from
this point bringing up fresh troops continually, anu
at times assuming the offensive, and for while tho
advanced Of our troops hard pressed until
relieved by the Fifth Ghoorkas and the
Highlanders.


RETREAT OF THE ENEMY


Meanwhile the Fifth Punjab infantry advanced
under fire up the heights rather to the left OF the
emy $ centre. and the Second Punjab infantry and
the Twenty third pioneers, with the Royal Artillery
suns, had joined the General. Two mountain
guns admirably placed, now threw their shell
straight into the encmy's camp on the top of the
pass from acommandng knoll and rendered it unten-
able But still unable to advance upon Peiwar
itself General Roberts then led second turning move
ment in the direction OF the enemy line OF retreat,
behind their centre. This movement. combined
with the admirably directed fire OF Major Parry's
three field guns from below the heights, together
with the hot fire kept up by the regiments who had
now captured the woods in the heart of the enemys
position caused the enemy at last to retreat haste
from their extremely strong position leaving behind
them all their guns, quantity OF ammunition and
all their stores


THE RoUT.


The retreat soon became perfect rout. The Eighth
Kings regiment second battalion which had hitherto
watched the struggle from below now advanced up
to the top Of the pass Kotul. The enemy at this
point for while, but the Eighth not to be
denied, although General Cobbe fell wounded. and
pressed upward until the defenders broke
and Joined III the, general flight. pressed
for some distance BY the Eighth In the
eneny's camp we're found all sorts of stores
and ammunition The other troops were too much
fatigued to pursue. All those who had accompanied
General Roberts in the long turning movement had
marched from camp at ten r. NJ. the previous night;
had had most wearisome struggle tor miles in the
dark along the dry bed of the mountain torrent.
covered with boulders: fighting less all
day. from daybreak till two r. NJ, when they again
had to march round behind the enemys centre. Here
they biv0uacked for the night at height of 1900
feet, under bitterly cold sky.


LOSSES.


The loss side two officers killed and
eight men; two officers and about ninety rank and
file Europeans and natives wounded The enemys
loss is ut present uncertain His complete demorali
zation is shown by the fact that although no less
than four fresh regiments from Cabul, with guns,
joined them the day before. not single body or men
remained -:nbroken at the end OF the day. The dcn-
eral had to put every man into the first line to storm
a position which IL naturally SO strong that 20UU
men would rather appear to be an appropriate
number wherewith to undertake such a formid.
able assault than the very small force OF
had at his disposal He showed intimate
knowledge native character when he determined at
any risk to turn flank and get behind the centre
the enemy's position. This once accomplished, 1t Is
invariably found that the natives lose heart aid
sacken in their resistance Had the flank march not
been accurately timed placed and carried out, thsrs
can be doubt that very serious disaster to oui
side might have occurred. The Twelfth Bengal cav.
airy, under Colonel Cough, advanced up the Genital
road Of the pass to try and pursue the enemy but e
road for cavalry is execrable and they arrived so lac
that they were able do little damage to the enemy
in the pursuit except that they caused them to abaL
don mountain battery in their flight.