4,000 men which was expected. This tremendous defile was defended by about ten thousand brave mountaineers, thoroughly skilled in this species of warfare. They had raised a strong breastwork to defend the narrow entrance, and their bands covered all the rocky and precipitous heights on the right and left, whence they could take sure aim against the column, which could only march on the road beneath.
To have penetrated through this passage exposed to so terrible a fire, would have been scarcely possible, and certainly not without dreadful carnage. The General saw that the only means of securing success was to send troops to scale the heights, and dislodge the enemy posted upon them. This was a most formidable operation; but British soldiers, when properly commanded, had shown themselves able to vanquish the enemy under almost any circumstances. Two flanking columns were therefore formed, of twelve companies each, the right under Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, her Majesty's 9th Foot, and Major Anderson, 64th Native Infantry; and the left under Lieutenant-Colonel Mosely, 64th Native Infantry, and Major Huish, 26th Native Infantry; while 400 of the native troops, or Juzailchees, were led by Captain Ferris.
On the 5th of April, General Pollock found himself in a condition to move forward to force the pass; and the task was accomplished, not indeed without difficulty, but with complete success. Both columns, in the face of a determined opposition, which they overcame in the most gallant style, effectually expelled the enemy from the crest of the hill; and in this achievement they were much aided by Captain Alexander, of the Artillery, who threw in shrapnell shells wherever opportunity offered. The assailants thus continued to drive the opposing force from height to height, till they had cleared the whole range as far as the fort of Ali Musjid. At the view of this success, the barrier at the mouth of the pass was abandoned; and the body of the army, with treasure, ammunition, and baggage, marched through without
