Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/590

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566
OUR ANGLO-INDIAN ARMY.

troops, while others drove the enemy from the hills. Upon the more elevated and precipitous of these a stand was sometimes made, and a sharp fire of juzails maintained; but the vigour with which the various attacks were pressed rendered these attempts unavailing, and the whole of the enemy's camp-equipage, with their carriage-cattle, fell into the hands of the English. The troops employed on this occasion were her Majesty's 9th Foot, the 26th and 60th Bengal Native Infantry, two squadrons of Light Cavalry, some Sappers and Miners, and a light field-battery.

General Pollock spent about a fortnight in this place, collecting, his troops, and making arrangements for their further advance. On the 6th of September, he began his final movement upon Cabul, with the first division of his army, commanded by Sir Robert Sale; the second division, under General McCaskill, being left to follow on the 8th, on the morning of which day the British troops approached the terrible Pass of Jugduluk. Here the enemy, nearly 5,000 strong, under the standards of different chiefs, had crowned the amphitheatre of hills on the left of the road, whence they were separated by a deep ravine. They opened a formidable fire on the advancing column, which caused several casualties in the British ranks. Our guns were well served, and shells burst among them with powerful effect; but, as their fire did not slacken, it was found necessary to scale the heights. This was done effectually by a party led by Captains Wilkinson and Broadfoot, consisting of her Majesty's 13th Foot, one company each of the 6th and 35th Bengal Native Infantry, and some Sappers. This force, in rushing up the steep, raised an animated and enthusiastic cheer, on hearing which the enemy fled panic-stricken down the opposite declivities. "Seldom," says General Pollock, "have soldiers had a more arduous task to perform, and never was an undertaking of the kind surpassed in execution."

General Pollock now proceeded with the utmost diligence, skirmishing in a similar manner, and driving the