MOUNTAIN GUNS FOR INDIAN FRONTIER SERVICE. 
37 
The Jawaki power was now completely broken; still they showed no 
signs of submission, but, on the contrary, annoyed us considerably by 
firing into our picquets at night. 
Nothing of importance took place till the 25th December, when a 
reconnaissance in force was made as far as the “ Pactaoni-Kotal.” Two 
guns R.H.A. were in action at cl, and were of great use in protecting 
the advance and retirement of our troops. 
On the 31st December an advance was made by a considerable force, 
including Captain de LautouFs mountain battery ; and again two guns 
R.H.A. co-operated from the point d, as also on the 2nd January, when 
the troops holding the Kotal returned to Shergadra. 
On the 15th January communication was opened between the 
Peshawar and Kohat columns, and on the following day a simultaneous 
advance was made on Walai. The combined forces marched through 
the whole extent of Jawakiland without encountering any opposition, 
and, in the meantime, an accurate survey was made of a large tract of 
country hitherto absolutely unknown. 
The 1st and 2nd Brigades, composing the Peshawar Column, returned 
to Shergadra via Kohat on the 22nd and 24th January respectively, 
and the campaign being practically at an end, it only remained to with¬ 
draw the troops to Peshawar. 
The 9-pr. guns were carried on elephants as far as Fort Mackeson* 
where we bade farewell to those useful but lumbering animals on the 
28th January, and hooking in the magnificent teams of “I” Batt., 
“C” Bde., B.H.A., marched gaily back to Peshawar. 
This was a bloodless campaign, as far as the battery was concerned, 
but the importance of the results achieved by the 9-pr. guns received 
a very practical acknowledgment in the fact that before the outbreak 
of the Afghan war in 1878, another battery—namely, “ F ” Batt., “ C ” 
Bde., B.H.A.—was equipped in a similar manner. Moreover, although 
we managed to bring our guns into action without elephants in the 
attack on Ali Musjid, 21st November, 1878, there is not the slightest 
doubt that had the Afghans held out for another day we should have 
found the assistance of these animals invaluable; and I may mention 
that a certain number were on the spot, ready equipped, to provide for 
such a contingency. 
These things being so, it only remains for us to consider whether a 
sufficient number of these guns to meet the ordinary requirements of 
our frontier service could not be brought into the field without break¬ 
ing up a battery of horse artillery, or at least diverting it from its 
proper role. 
What I would suggest is the substitution of three 9-pr. M.L.R. guns 
of 6 cwt. for the present obsolete armament of the left half of our heavy 
batteries, which consists now of 2‘8-in. mortars and 2 , 5J-in. mortars. 
It is difficult to imagine what object is supposed to be gained by 
dragging these venerable pieces about with a battery; whereas about 
half the number of bullocks kept up by Government for this apparently 
useless purpose would suffice with a 9-pr. armament. 
For everything except mountain warfare the bullock teams would 
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