Regiment were a fine body of men, and when it is remembered the extensive marching they had undergone, for, I believe, they marched, whilst in India, more than any other corps; they kept up their discipline and appearance remarkably well. After this the vicinity of Candahar became tolerably quiet, and early in June, Suftur Jung, doubtless tired of the life he had been leading, surrendered to the General, as a prisoner, and was accepted, to the great disappointment of the Force at large, who fully expected he would have been hanged as a traitor, after such crimes as he had committed. Soon after this, orders were received from Lord Ellenborough, to evacuate Candahar, and retire to Hindostan; this was indeed glad tidings, such as had not been heard for years; and my readers may imagine the effect of such on the minds of those who had been so long subjected to the hardships of the field-the joy we felt at the prospect of a return to a tranquil spot; active preparations were at once commenced for our departure; all heavy stores, for which carriage could not be procured, were destroyed; and the General, with a view to prevent the possibility of the inhabitants of Candahar from acting upon us as they did at Cabool, ordered every gun and implement of war in Candahar, likely to be of the least use in such a case, to be destroyed, leaving them armless and harmless; there were about thirty pieces of Persian manufactured Ordnance, consisting of nine and twelve pounders,

with an immense quantity of small arms. Many of our own pieces, such as belonged to men deceased, or surplus armoury, were all destroyed. The Commissariat was collecting all the cattle possible, purchasing at any price, camels, mules, bullocks, asses, or any beast calculated to carry at all, in order to prevent the destruction of Government property as much as possible. Carriage was very limited, and the quantity allowed to individuals was very small; one camel only to be allowed for ten men, and each camel's load not to exceed three hundred pounds; therefore, the extent of the soldier's comfort was wrapped up in a pigmy packet of thirty pounds weight, including his bed; but this had been the constant practice, and therefore was no deeper felt now than before. One very gross act existed, that the soldier, who was undergoing all the hardships for his country, had to pay out of his small pittance, for the carriage of this twenty-eight or thirty lbs., at the rate of two or three shillings a month. The Commissariat were directed to carry with them forty days' supply. It was arranged that General England should proceed down the Passes towards Sukkur, and on his way, collect all the Troops stationed in any part of

*The soldiers lost during four years in the field, owing to wear and tear-having to pay extortionate prices for necessaries, carriage, &c.,-not less than 200 or 300 rupes each-and the Government compensation was about 80 or 100, setting aside the hardships and privations.

Scinde and Beeloochistan, whilst General Nott proceeded towards Ghuznee, in favor of our comrades, who were in "durance vile." Prince Timor Shah, not willing to remain in the city without the protection of British Troops, was placed under the charge of General England, to proceed to Sukkur ; all having been satisfactorily arranged, Candahar was evacuated by the British on the 5th of August, 1842, and formed in camp close to its walls, with positive directions from the General, that neither soldier nor follower was, under any pretence whatever, to re-enter the city.

At Candahar, the Troops passed one of the severest winters known in Affghanistan; the thermometer for some time being much below freezing point. The Monsoon does not visit Affghanistan, although we had some very rainy weather; on more than one occasion, it prevented a movement against the enemy. The weather in June, was the hottest I had ever felt it, the thermometer standing as high as 148°. During this sojourn in camp, we were awaiting a small force, who had been despatched to Ghrisk, a stronghold affording great security for the enemy, and Nott determined on its destruction, ere he left it. In short, his work was intended to be one of destruction generally, and he was evidently determined to lose no chance of revenging the foul treachery of the massacre at Cabool. The Troops ever since, had been kept in continual excitement, and exposed to every kind

of danger and hardship. The sick of all the Regiments, unable to proceed with Nott's Army of Reserve, were attached to General England's division downwards. The party from Ghrisk returned; the General issued most rigid orders on the subject of plundering. He stated, that as we were about to march through an enemy's country, he trusted every man would feel he was a Briton, and that none would attempt to violate the law by plundering; and he declared most positively, that any one, either soldier or follower, whom he discovered so offending, he would surely hang, and that nothing should prevent his order being carried into execution.

CHAPTER XV.

March towards Ghuznee; Strong force; Extensive supplies required; Difficult to procure; Major Leech, an excellent caterer; So far pretty quiet; Skirmish on the 28th August; Bravery of Lieutenant Chamberlain; Severe affray with 3rd Light Cavalry; Loss of Captain Reeves, and Quarter Master Berry; Indignation of the General; Injudicious conduct; Advice to young Officers; Awful example; Preparations for Battle; Destruction of a fortress; Three prisoners taken; March to Gowine; The enemy our constant companion; Shooms-ood-Seen; Khan, the Commander; Arrival at Gowine; The battle; Bad ground; Captain White's Light Battalion; Anderson's and Blood's Artillery; Narrow escape; Unpleasant discovery; The heat of battle; The charge; The return; The enemy proceed to Ghuznee; March across the Plain of a Thousand Forts; The Hazaras, a friendly tribe; Provisions no longer procurable; Discovery of grain and forage; Doings at Cabool; Treachery at Ghuznee; Situation of Colonel Palmer's Brigade; Misery experienced; Treaty signed and broken; Palmer tortured; Officers taken prisoners; Their treatment; Awful situation; Nott advances; 5th of September; Attack on Ghuznee; Noble conduct of the 16th Native Infantry; Storming of Balloon Hill; Success; Unwelcome visitor in Camp; Necessary retreat; Preparations for storming the Fortress; Night before the battle; Doings in the dark; Morning of the 6th September; Glorious sight; Ghuznee

ours.

On the 7th of August, we re-commenced our march General Nott proceeded to Abdool Azeez, only six miles; merely to put all things in order of march.