of Cabul, taking refuge in Istaliff, the grand rallying point to which most of the chiefs had conveyed their wives and property. General Pollock, however, determined to dislodge them, and a force was despatched for this purpose, under General McCaskill, consisting of two 18-pounders and a detail of Bombay artillery, Captain Blood's light field-battery, Captain Backhouse's mountain-train, head quarters and two squadrons of her Majesty's 3rd Dragoons, one squadron of the 1st Light Cavalry, Christie's Irregular Horse, her Majesty's 9th and 41st Foot, the 26th, 42nd, and 43rd Native Infantry, and Captain Broadfoot's Sappers and Miners.
This town, with 15,000 inhabitants, consists of clusters of houses and forts, built on the slope of a mountain, having in its rear still loftier eminences, that shut in a defile leading to Turkistan. It could only be approached across ranges of hills, separated by dark ravines, and covered with gardens, vineyards, and orchards, inclosed by strong walls; all the heights being occupied by those formidable sharpshooters the Juzailchees. The troops, however, in two columns, under Brigadiers Tullock and Stacey, stormed this formidable position with distinguished gallantry. Pressing on and leaving the enemy not a moment to rally, they carried successively all the inclosures, forts, heights, suburbs, and, finally, the town; when the singular spectacle was presented of the women and children hastening up the mountain-side to effect their escape, which no attempt was made to intercept. The place was found filled with property, conveyed thither for security, and mostly taken from our army in 1841. After removing everything that could be useful, arrangements were made for the entire demolition of the fortress.
We have now the gratifying task of noticing the release of the unhappy captives who had been so long in the hands of Akbar Khan. On the 25th of August this ruthless ruffian kept his threat by hurrying off his prisoners towards Turkistan. On the 3rd of September they had reached Bameean, every indignity having been heaped
