AHMED KHEL. April 19th., 1880.

In the spring of 1880, rumours began to be circulated of preparation made for another attack on Cabul by the Afghans, and as Ghuznee was the stronghold of Mohammed Jan, and the centre of a gathering of hostile tribes; in April, General Donald Stewart marched from Candahar, with a force of about seven thousand men, with orders to occupy Ghuznee, and open communications with Sir F. Roberts at Cabul. As the troops approached Ghuznee, bodies of the enemy were observed hovering about, and the villages were deserted, the Moollahs having stirred up a holy war.

273On April 19th. the Afghans were found in strength at Ahmed Khel, twenty-three miles south of Ghuznee, occupying a ridge directly in front, with a force estimated at about fifteen thousand horse and foot, chiefly tribesmen. The British column covered nearly six miles in marching order, the baggage being far in the rear. The advance was ordered at eight o’clock, and when about one and a half miles from the enemy’s position, the artillery, under Waters and Campbell, moved to the front and opened fire. Scarcely had the attack commenced, and before the infantry were in proper formation, a dense body of men with standards appeared on the crest of the ridge, with a body of horsemen outflanking the British left, with the intention of getting into the rear and attacking the baggage. At a signal, the mass of Afghans in the front, poured headlong down from their position, stretching out to the right and left, and charged and almost enveloped Stewart’s army. This charge was made by about four thousand fanatical Ghazis, men who cared nothing for their own lives, if they could only exterminate the hated infidels. So rapid and unexpected was their attack, that the range of the guns had to be altered to case-shot distance, and when all the case was expended, the guns were loaded with shrapnel, the heads towards the charge, to explode on leaving the muzzle, which covered the ground with heaps of fearfully mutilated dead and wounded. A squadron of the Bengal Lancers was swept away and lost to sight in clouds of dust and smoke, and the situation was critical, as the cavalry could not be rallied till they had passed to the right of the infantry, then so hotly pressed that many of the men had not even time to fix their bayonets. So furious was the onslaught, that some of the enemy swept round to the rear of the infantry, and a desperate conflict hand to hand ensued. The whole of the reserve, including the General’s escort, was ordered up to support the guns and reinforce the fighting line; and according to the correspondent of the Standard—“At this crisis our line was penetrated, and both flanks turned, the artillery having fired away all their case-shot.” But the infantry stood firm, and Colonel Gyster, forming the 3rd Ghoorkas in rallying squares, left spaces through which friends and foes passed together. As the Ghazi horsemen with fierce yells rushed onward, the Ghoorkas, the 59th., the 2nd. Sikhs, and 19th. Punjaub Infantry poured a terrific fire point blank into their ranks, which checked their advance and mowed them down in heaps. Their attack had spent itself, and as the cavalry now rallied and fell upon the shattered ranks with lance and sword, their retreat soon became a disorderly flight. The battle was won, and though a body of the enemy made a last stand on an eminence in their rear, the 1st. Punjaub Cavalry, under Colonel Maclean, coming up, with one charge dispersed them, and the rout was complete.

More reckless bravery than that of the Ghazis was never seen, about one thousand of them lay dead on the ground, with double that number of wounded, though the conflict lasted but little more than an hour. The loss of the victors was seventeen killed and one hundred and twenty-six wounded, including nine officers.

After a halt of two hours the army continued its march to Nani, about fourteen miles from Ghuznee, and encamped for the night. Next day Ghuznee was entered without opposition, Mohammed Jan having fled. On May 2nd. General Stewart arrived at Cabul, and as senior officer to Sir F. Roberts, took the chief command.

The troops engaged at Ahmed Khel were the 19th. Bengal Lancers, 1st. Punjaub Cavalry, three Batteries of Artillery, the 59th. Foot, 60th. Rifles, 2nd. Sikh Infantry, and the 15th., 19th., and 25th. Bengal Infantry.

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