rh||OUR ANGLO-INDIAN ARMY.|547
she deserves much credit for having preserved her child through these dreadful scenes. She not only had to walk a considerable distance with her child in her arms through the deep snow, but had also to pick her way over the bodies of the dead, dying, and wounded, both men and cattle, and constantly to cross the streams of water, wet up to the knees, pushed and shoved about by men and animals; the enemy keeping up a sharp fire, and several persons being killed close to her. She, however, got safe to camp with her child."[1]
The rear was protected by H.M. 44th and the 37th Native Infantry; but as they neared the pass, the enemy, concealed behind rocks, &c., increased their fire considerably upon them. Owing to a halt having taken place in front, the pass was completely choked up; and for a considerable time the 44th were stationary under a heavy fire. The 37th continued slowly moving on without firing a shot; being paralysed with cold to such a degree that no persuasion of their officers could induce them to make any effort to dislodge the enemy, who took from some of them not only their firelocks, but even their clothing. At this time our men were dropping fast from a flanking fire from the heights; and the attempt to maintain a position in the rear being fruitless, under such circumstances, with only sixty men, or thereabouts, they were withdrawn, and with difficulty forced their way through the crowd to a more commanding position. Here the rear-guard of the 44th was joined by General Elphinstone; Colonel Chambers, of the 5th Light Cavalry, with some troopers; Captain Hay, with a few of the irregular horse; and the only remaining gun, one having been abandoned in the pass. After halting full an hour to let the stragglers, &c., get well to the front, they resumed their march; but owing to the depth of the snow, the troops were compelled to assist the gun by manual labour, the horses being unable to get it on. In this way they reached the encamping ground at Khoord Cabul, five hundred of our regular
- ↑ Lady Sale's Memoirs.
