ACHIEVEMENTS OF FIELD ARTILLERY 
113 
retirement of the guns, and drove away the swarms who were endeavour¬ 
ing to envelop the right of our position. 
Meanwhile on the left of the guns, where the 59th Regt., 2nd Sikhs, 
and 3rd G-hoorkas were moving up into position, the same determined 
onset had been made—two squadrons of 19th Bengal Lancers were 
moving into the place that had been assigned to them at a trot when 
the storm burst, and taken somewhat by surprise as they were, and the 
ground being uphill, the charge they delivered was indecisive. 1 2 In the 
melee which ensued the Ghazis got in amongst the cavalrymen, and the 
lance at close quarters was no match for the tulwar. 
To make matters worse, one troop in the confusion lost its direction 
and rode wildly into the heart of our position behind our infantry. All 
was in the greatest confusion for a moment in consequence, the 
ammunition mules stampeded, while riderless horses rushing onwards 
came smashing into our reserve in rear of the Head-quarter Staff. 
The Ghazis on our left took advantage of the confusion and got com¬ 
pletely behind our line at this end of it. Moreover an order had been 
sent to the 59th Regt. to throw back their right to check the rush of 
foemen that was pouring into the weakly held gap that lay between 
them and the guns. The words were misconstrued to mean the retire¬ 
ment of the whole regiment, and the exulting foemen, flushed with 
their success, were soon engaged also at this point in a hand-to-hand 
conflict with our men. 
But the 3rd Ghoorkas on the left were thrown into company squares 
with cool promptitude by Colonel Lyster, Y.C. The 2nd Sikhs, next 
to them, also behaved with splendid steadiness, and the 59th Regt., 
rallying once more, the persistent fire of these three regiments was too 
much in the end for their brave opponents. 
The artillery, too, in their new position had not been idle, and the 
Afghans were literally mown down with the case and reversed shrapnel 
of the guns. 3 An officer present on that day wrote home at the time, 
“ up to this, although we had made good practice, we had been obliged 
to retire, but, after taking up their new position, the two batteries 
soon cleared their front, and there was a ghastly pile of dead heaped 
on the ground we had just left.” 
While the action was thus being fought in front, the long baggage 
column, with its enormous collection of artillery bullocks and all the 
accompaniments of such a force as was engaged stretched far to the 
rear, was also menaced by another swarm of the ubiquitous enemy, who 
was gathering on a hillock to our left rear. The opportunity thus 
afforded our heavy battery, under Major F. A. Tillard, 3 was not allowed 
to slip, and a well directed shower of their powerful shells, aided by the 
fire of the baggage escort, soon dispersed and drove away these 
threatening hordes, and their contemplated raid was thus choked at its 
very outset. 
1 These two squadrons lost in this charge 3 officers and 17 men wounded, and 5 men killed. 
2 The official report of Colonel A. C. Johnson states :—“ I cannot speak too highly of the steadi¬ 
ness and coolness of officers, non-commissioned officers and men of A/B, R.H.A and Gr/4 R.A., 
they worked their guns as if on parade, till they had turned the enemy with case shot within 25 
yards of them.” 
8 Now Major-General Tillard. 
