Year: 1878

coLuMSs-cApTURE OF ALI MusuD FIRST


BATTLE OF THE WAR


From the London Standard.l


JUMRooD, Nov 90. 1878.


The First and Second brigades. under General Mac
pherson. had started early yesterday morning to
Lashera. where they divide, the one to make
a de.our behind the Koh.as Koh and so to Kala
Knshtia, village in tho of Ali Musid, the
other to storm the Afghan position the Kohtas
Koh, whence the fort is dominated The
troops with General Browne belonged to the
Third and Fourth brgades The former consisted
of the Eighty first the Fourteenth skhs and the
Twenty-fourth native infantry. The Fourth brigade
consisted Of the Fiftyfrs foot, the Sixth native in
fantry and the Forty fifth Sikhs. With them was
mountain battery and battery of horse
artillery. The brigade was commanded by Colonel
Appleyard. For some distance enemy to lie
observed in sight. After three miles march
airy party seen heights i'll front. A halt
was called for half hour. and then the brigade
advanced. with skrmishcrs thrown ont in front. No
resistance whatever was met with until we had
gained ridge fronting ali Musjid, and about mile
and half distant from the fort. There now q
halt for some time as had nothing to do untl
according 10 the calculated time. Macpherson and
Tytler, with the First and Second brgalcs. should
be getting to the positions assigned to tuc.n.


AFGHASs OPEN FIRE.


Presently the guns of Ali Mnsjd opened fire upon
us. As they have been practising for the last three
weeks they had got the range with considerable accu
1aey and their shell fell very close to The
Skhs were sent forward to the right to distract the
attention of the enemy and the rest of the infantry
Withdrawn out OF the direct line OF fire. while
horse artillery guns replied to the fire of Ali
Musjil. 1t now midday and the infantry ate
the food they had brought with thcm There
general engerness for orders to advance, and when
shell fell unusually near there wsre cxcamatous of
That's Russian" 1t was not until nearly one
right, and supposed that Macpherson Ind
come into action with his brigade on the Kohtas
Koh. Soon afterward the forty-pounder battery.
which we had been expecting for some tinle
up and opened fire upon Ali Musjid its fire be-
ing evidently far effective than that Of the little
pieces of the Horse artillery. The Sikh infantry's
fire from the slopes on our right front was now
heavy and must have annoyed the Afghan gt.nners
severely The long hoped for order for general adj
at last came, and the Eighty first and Twenty
fourth native infantry advanced on the right hand
slopes Of the valley. climbing the heights. while the
Fitytirst, the Sixth native infantry and the Forty
fifth S.khs worked along to the left


THE FORT EVACUATED


The scene was now strikingly picturesque and
pretty. From Ali Musiid, standing on it's almost
perpendicular rock III the centre OF the valley, the
flashes of the great guns came fast and steadily.
while the edges of the forts and rocks frngcd
with the tiny putfs Of musIeiry. Behind US the
heavy forty typounders roared steadily, while the bat;
opening fire from time to time they made their
way forward. On both sides the hill slopes were





the rifles breaking out from every rock and bush.
The din was prodigious. for the hills re-cchocd
every sound until the of and the
crack OF lnusketry seemed mixed in confused
Gradually the skrnishers crept up till they
were nearly abreast of the fort ITSELF but the
afternoon already far advanced and had yet
evidence whatever in tho cessation of fire in
any signs Of confusion among the Afghans visible
the rock that Macpherson's brigade had accomplished
its task and carried the Kohtas Koh that Tytlcr
had worked round to the village in the Until
these points cleared up it would
have been involving a useless loss of life
for the Third and Fourth brigadcs to
attempt attack in front. and the order there
fore given to cease firing. All Musjid followed
example, and half hour later when darkness fell
entering the valley would have supposed that
1t had lately been the Of battle that
ten thousand combatants were only wait
ing for morning to renew the fight. Every
slept where he stood last night, vigant
lookout being maintained among the troops nearest
the forts. as the Afghans have proved them
selves capable Of plucky and determined night At
tacks. Before daybrcak this morning the advance
again cautiously began No Are, however opened
from Ali Musjid and advancing cautiously. lest
trap should be laid our troops approached the fort
and found that the garrison had stolen away in the
night leaving their guns tents and stores OF all
behind them. 1t was found that Macpherson had
gained the Kohtas Koh. and that Tytlcr had come
down to the village in the Pass behind Ali Musjid
These facts accounted for the flight OF the Afghans
which must have been conducted in wonderful
silence to escape the Of advanced sentres.