An account from memory of the March of the Troops It was given out to the Troops, on the 5th Instant, that, the arrangements had been completed for our retreat to Hindustan. Such of the sick and wounded as were unable to march were left under the medical charge of Doctors Berwick 10 and Campbell, and Lieut.. Evans of HM.: 44th in Command. Capt. Drummond; Capt. Walsh; Lieut.. J. Conolly; Lt. Webb, Warburton & Airey, were placed, as Hostages, in the hands of Mohamed Zaman Khan The sick were lodged in Taimur Shah's fort; the Hostages with the new King. 15 We marched from Cantonments about 9 A.M. on the 6th of January; The 5th NI. formed the Advanced Guard with a hundred Sappers and the Guns of the Mountain Train, under Brigadier Anquetil next came the main body, under Brigadier Shelton, followed by the Baggage, to rear of which 20 came the 6th. Regiment SSF. Lastly, the Rear Guard, composed of the 5th Light Cavalry and the 54th NI. with two H: A: Guns and the remainder of the Sappers all the Guns, excepting those of the HA: and MT: were left in the Cantonments, together with a large quantity of 25 Magazine Stores. The Rear Guard had no sooner marched out of the Cantonments (which they did not effect until dusk) than they were fired upon from the Ramparts; Lieut.. Hardyman 5th L.C. was Killed at this time, and the place set on fire. A great quantity of property, 30 Public and private, was carried off between the Cantonments and Seea Sung hill, at which place the two Guns-ef. with the Rear Guard were abandoned The Rear Guard arrived at its ground across the Loghar river about midnight Though this March was not more than 35 5. miles, a great number of women and children perished in the snow, which was about 6. Inches deep. ----------- We marched, on the Morning of the 7th (Advance Guard the 54th NI. Rear Guard the 44th Foot and Mountain-Train) to Boot-Khak, a distance of about 5. Miles the whole 40 Road from Cabool, at this time, being one dense mass of people In this march, as in the former, the loss of property was immense and towards the end of it there was some sharp fighting, in which Lieut.. Shaw, of the 54th NI. had his thigh fractured by a shot The 45 Guns of the Mountain-Train were carried off by the Enemy, and either two or three of those of the Horse Artillery were spiked and abandoned. ---------------- On the following Morning, the 8th, we moved through the Khoord Cabool Pass (our troops did not attempt to crown the 50 heights) with considerable loss of life and property the heights were in possession of the Enemy who poured down an incessant fire upon our Column Lieut.. Sturt, of the Engineers, was Killed by a shot in the groin, and Captain Anderson's eldest child was missing when we arrived, at our ground, at Khoord 55 Cabool Captain Troup was also wounded. ------------ The next day, the 9th all the Baggage which remained to us was loaded and off the ground by about 9. o'clock, when it was recalled and orders given for a halt which, owing to the intense cold at this elevated spot, proved exceedingly destructive of the 60 Sepoy's and Camp followers at this place the married officers, with their wives and families, and also the wounded officers, were delivered over to Mohamed Akbar for safe convoy to Jalalabad, much difficulty being expected on the road for the Troops. ---------------- 65 On the Morning of the 10th we resumed our March over the Huft Kotal towards Tezeen So terrible had been the effects of the cold and exposure upon the Native Troops that they were unable to resist the attacks of the Enemy, who pressed on our flanks 70 and Rear and upon arriving at the Valley of Tezeen, towards Evening, a mere handful remained of the Native Regiments which had left Cabool. ------------- We halted a few hours at Tezeen and found that five officers of the 5th NI.; one of the 37th NI.; one of the 54th, and 75 four Doctors, were Killed or missing and three European women, and one or two Soldiers of the 44th were carried off by the Enemy; after a rest of a few hours, and when it was quite dark, our diminished party again moved on leaving the last of the Horse Artillery Guns 80 on the ground: the Cavalry being the advanced Guard. We marched all night and arrived in the Morning at Kutta Sung [eight words deleted (see below)] having sustained some loss from the Enemy, who fired upon us from the heights during the whole time We remained 85 about an hour at Kutta Sung, where, from the nature of the ground, it was not deemed advisable to halt; ---- We again pushed on towards Jigdalak, where we arrived about noon; still hard pressed by the enemy from the hills; Lieut.. Fortye of HM.: 44th 90 was killed close to our ground; shortly after arriving at which, General Elphinstone; Brigadier Shelton; and Captain Johnson, went over to Akbar Khan as Hostages for the March of the Troops from Jalalabad; Here we halted the next day, but were greatly annoyed 95 by the constant fire of the Enemy who had possession of all the surrounding hills many officers and men were wounded, and Captain Skinner, of the Commissariat, Killed by this fire; About an hour after dark an order was given to march, owing (I believe) to a note being received 100 from General Elphinstone telling us to push on at all hazards, as treachery was suspected: ----owing to this unexpected move on our part, we found the abattis, and other impediments which had been thrown across the Jigdalak Pass, undefended by the Enemy, who, 105 nevertheless, pressed upon our Rear, and cut up great numbers The confusion now was terrible all discipline was at an end, and the shouts of "Halt," and, "Keep back the Cavalry" were incessant The only Cavalry were the officers who were 110 the officers who were mounted and a few Sowars (the Cavalry were at Jigdalak, but, I do not remember them afterwards) Just after getting clear of the Pass, I, with great difficulty, made my way to the front, where I found a large body of men and officers, who, 115 finding it was perfectly hopeless to remain with men in such a state, had gone ahead to form a kind of advanced Guard But, as we moved steadily on, whilst the main body was halting every second, by the time that day dawned we had lost all traces of those in our Rear. --- 120 Our Party became broken up as we proceeded, till, on arriving at Fatehabad, it consisted of Captains Bellew, and Hopkins, and Collyer; Lt. Bird, Steer, & Gray; Doctor Harper; Sergeant Freil, and about five other Europeans Captain Bellew & Lieut.. Bird were cut 125 down near Fatehabad, and also Lieut.. Gray and the Europeans --- Captains Hopkins & Collyer and Dr. Harper, being well mounted, soon left Lieut.. Steer and myself far behind About three miles from Jalalabad, Lieut.. Steer told me he would hide till night, and left the road to do so I pushed on alone, and, with great difficulty reached this place about 1 P.M. on the 13th ----