Sitana: a Mountain Campaign on the Borders of Afghanistan in 1863 |
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101st Royal Bengal 1st Punjab 1st Punjab Regiment 26 Lieutenant 71st Highland Light advance Afghanistan Akhoond of Swat ammunition armed arrived assault attack Bajour Bonair border breastworks brigade British force British Government Cabool camp campaign Captain CAPTURE THE CRAG cavalry Chamberlain CHAPTER Chumla valley Colonel Hope command confederate tribes corps Crag Picket crest danger defences Eagle's Nest enemy English soldiers expedition Fanatics Ferozepore fighting flank follows foot front Garvock Gooroo mountain gorge ground Highland Light Infantry hills Hindostanees hitherto Indus Lahore Lahore Government Laloo Lieutenant-Governor Lord Elgin loss Mahabun mountain Mahomedans Major James ment miles military Moolvie moun MOUNTAIN WARFARE Mulka Native Infantry North-west Frontier November numbers Pathan Peshawur plains of Eusofzye position Punjab Infantry Punjab Regiment reinforcements RICHARD BENTLEY ridges rocks Royal Artillery Royal Bengal Fusiliers serious Sir Hugh Rose Sir William Denison Sitana steep Syud territories troops Umbeylah Pass Viceroy village whilst
Popular passages
Page 15 - Swat, arc., and annex these countries to their dominions, and then our religion and worldly possessions would entirely be subverted. Consequently, keeping in consideration a regard for " Islam," the dictates of faith and worldly affairs, you ought by no means to neglect the opportunity. The infidels are extremely deceitful and treacherous, and will, by whatever means they can, come into these hills and declare to the people of the country that they have no concerns with them ; that their quarrel...
Page 41 - There is, in fact, a general combination of almost all the tribes, from the Indus to the boundary of Cabool, against us. Old animosities are, for the time, in abeyance ; and under the influence of fanaticism, tribes usually hostile to each other are hastening to join the Akhoond's standard, and to fight for the sake of their common faith. The Akhoond has hitherto been opposed to the Sitana...
Page 43 - In fact my judgment tells me that, with our present numbers the only way to uphold the honour of our arms, and the interests of the Government, is to act on the defensive, in the position the Force now holds, and trust to the effect of time, and of the discouragement which repeated unsuccessful attacks are likely to produce upon the enemy, to weaken their numbers, and to break up their combination.
Page 56 - The troops have now been hard worked both day and night for a month, and having to meet fresh enemies with loss is telling. We much need reinforcements. I find it difficult to meet the enemy's attacks and provide convoys for supplies and wounded sent to the rear. If you can give some fresh corps to relieve those most reduced in numbers and dash, the relieved corps can be sent to the plains and used in support. This is urgent.
Page v - ... regarded the plain as their preserve, and its inhabitants their game. When inclined for cruel sport, they sally forth to rob and murder, and occasionally to take prisoners into captivity for ransom. They have fired upon our own troops, and even killed our officers in our own territories. They have given an asylum to every malcontent or proclaimed criminal who can escape from British justice. They traverse at will our territories, enter our villages, trade in our markets ; but few British subjects,...
Page 49 - These attacks continued till 4 am, each becoming weaker than the last, and many of them being mere feints to enable them to carry off their dead and wounded. The post was at one time in great danger of being forced at its left front angle, which from its position was badly protected by our fire.
Page 16 - Hindustanis, and that they will not interfere with their country. They will also tempt the people with wealth. It is, therefore, proper for you not to give in to their deceit, or else, when they should get an opportunity, they will entirely ruin, torment, and put you to many, many indignities, appropriate to themselves your entire wealth and possessions, and injure your faith. You will then obtain nothing but regret. We impress this matter on your attention.
Page iii - Patan mother often prays that her son may be a successful robber. They are utterly faithless to public engagements; it would never occur to their minds that an oath on the Koran was binding if against their interests. It must be added that they are fierce and blood-thirsty. They are never without weapons : when grazing their cattle, when driving beasts of burden, when tilling the soil, they are still armed. They are perpetually at war with each other. Each...
Page 41 - Pass ; and that, instead of having to deal with the Mahabun tribes, with a view to the expulsion of the Hindustanees from that mountain, we are engaged in a contest in which not only are the Hindustanees and the Mahabun tribes, but also the Swatees, the Bajourees, and the Indus tribes north...