Brigadier Anquetil, composed of her Majesty's 44th, the mountain-train guns, and a squadron of irregular horse. The guns were captured, but gallantly retaken by Lieutenant White and a few artillerymen. The 44th, however, could not be brought up, and the guns were in consequence abandoned, though not until they had been spiked, "amid the gleaming sabres of the enemy."[1] Ten more guns were afterwards spiked and abandoned, the horses attached to them being unable to drag them through the snow, which now lay more than a foot deep upon the ground.
As the troops advanced on their road, the enemy increased considerably on both flanks, and greatly annoyed the centre and rear. Between Begramee and Boothauk a body of the enemy's horse charged down into the column, and succeeded in carrying off an immense quantity of baggage and a number of camels, without experiencing the least resistance. Captain Skinner, learning that Akbar was at hand, appealed to his sense of honour and humanity. That trustworthy personage declared that he had been sent to escort the British force to Jellalabad, and that the annoyance which they had suffered was the result of their having marched contrary to the wishes of the Affghan chiefs. He insisted, accordingly, on the force being halted at Boothauk till the following morning, and moreover demanded six hostages to insure its not marching beyond Tazeen till news should be received of the evacuation of Jellalabad by Sir Robert Sale, for which an order had been despatched in compliance with a stipulation in the treaty. These disgraceful propositions were readily assented to; and the hostages, amongst whom were Major Pottinger and Captains Laurence and Mackenzie, went off to the Sirdar.
At Boothauk, accordingly, to the dismay of all, for they had only marched five miles, orders were issued to halt till next morning, and another night of suffering was passed by the already half-famished and frozen troops. "Scarcely any baggage," says Lady Sale, "of either officers
- ↑ Lady Sale.
