Campaign of the Indus Part 7

Total wounded--1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 5 rank and file, and 6 horses.

Total missing--1 rank and file, and 1 horse.

_Names of Officers wounded._

Captain Graves, 16th Bengal Native Infantry, severely.

Lieutenant Vanhomrigh, 48th Bengal Native Infantry, slightly.

(Signed) R. MACDONALD, Lieut.-Colonel, Military Secretary, and Deputy Adjutant-Gen. to her Majesty's Forces, Bombay.

No. 2.

_List of killed, wounded, and missing, in the army under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir John Keane, K.C.B. and G.C.H., in the a.s.sault and capture of the fortress and citadel of Ghuzni, on the 23rd of July, 1839_:--

General Staff--1 colonel, 1 major, wounded.

3rd Troop Bombay Horse Artillery--1 rank and file wounded.

4th Troop Bombay Horse Artillery--1 rank and file and 1 horse wounded.

Bengal Engineers--3 rank and file killed, 2 rank and file wounded, 1 rank and file missing.

Bombay Engineers--1 lieutenant, 1 rank and file, wounded.

2nd Bengal Light Cavalry--1 rank and file wounded.

1st Bombay Light Cavalry--1 havildar killed, 5 rank and file and 7 horses wounded.

Her Majesty's 2nd Foot (or Queen's Royals)--4 rank and file killed; 2 captains, 4 lieutenants, 1 sergeant, and 26 rank and file wounded.

Her Majesty's 13th Light Infantry--1 rank and file killed; 3 sergeants and 27 rank and file wounded.

Her Majesty's 17th Foot--6 rank and file wounded.

Bengal European Regiment--1 rank and file killed; 1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 major, 2 captains, 4 lieutenants, 1 ensign, 1 sergeant, 51 rank and file wounded.

16th Bengal N.I.--1 havildar, 6 rank and file, wounded.

35th Bengal N.I.--5 rank and file killed; I havildar and 8 rank and file wounded.

48th Bengal N.I.--2 havildars killed, 5 rank and file wounded.

Total killed--3 sergeants or havildars, 14 rank and file.

Total wounded--1 colonel, 1 lieutenant-colonel, 2 majors, 4 captains, 8 lieutenants, 2 ensigns, 7 sergeants or havildars, 140 rank and file, 8 horses.

Total missing--1 rank and file.

Grand total on the 21st and 23rd of July, killed, wounded, and missing--191 officers and men, and 16 horses.

_Names of Officers killed wounded, and missing._

General Staff--Brigadier Sale, her Majesty's 13th Light Infantry, slightly; Major Parsons, Deputy Commissary-General, slightly.

Bombay Engineers--Second Lieutenant Marriott, slightly.

Her Majesty's 2nd (or Queen's Royals)--Captain Raitt, slightly; Captain Robinson, severely; Lieutenant Yonge, severely; Lieut. Stisted, slightly; Adjutant Simmons, slightly; Quartermaster Hadley, slightly.

Bengal European Regiment--Lieutenant-Colonel Orchard, slightly; Major Warren, severely; Captains Hay and Taylor, slightly; Lieutenant Broadfoot, slightly; Lieutenant Haslewood, severely; Lieutenants f.a.gan and Magnay, slightly; Ensign Jacob, slightly.

(Signed) R. MACDONALD, Lieut.-Colonel, Military Secretary, and Deputy Adjutant-Gen. to her Majesty's Forces, Bombay.

GENERAL ORDER,

_By his Excellency Lieutenant-Gen. Sir John Keane, Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Indus._

Head-Quarters, Camp, Ghuzni, July 23rd, 1839

Lieutenant-General Sir John Keane most heartily congratulates the army he has the honour to command, on the signal triumph they have this day obtained in the capture by storm of the strong and important fortress of Ghuzni. His Excellency feels that he can hardly do justice to the gallantry of the troops.

The scientific and successful manner in which the Cabool gate (of great strength) was blown up by Captain Thomson, of the Bengal Engineers, the chief of that department with this army, in which he reports having been most ably a.s.sisted by Captain Peat, of the Bombay Engineers, and Lieutenants Durand and MacLeod, of the Bengal Engineers, in the daring and dangerous enterprise of laying down powder in the face of the enemy, and the strong fire kept up on them, reflects the highest credit on their skill and cool courage, and his Excellency begs Captain Thomson and officers named will accept his cordial thanks. His acknowledgments are also due to the other officers of the Engineers of both Presidencies, and to the valuable corps of Sappers and Miners under them. This opening having been made, although it was a difficult one to enter by, from the rubbish in the way, the leading column, in a spirit of true gallantry, directed and led by Brigadier Sale, gained a footing inside the fortress, although opposed by the Afghan soldiers in very great strength, and in the most desperate manner, with every kind of weapon.

The advance, under Lieutenant-Colonel Dennie, of her Majesty's 13th, consisting of the light companies of her Majesty's 2nd and 17th, and of the Bengal European Regiment, with one company of her Majesty's 13th; and the leading column, consisting of her Majesty's 2nd Queen's, under Major Carruthers, and the Bengal European Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Orchard, followed by her Majesty's 13th Light Infantry, as they collected from the duty of skirmishing, which they were directed to begin with, and by her Majesty's 17th, under Lieutenant-Colonel Croker. To all these officers, and to the other officers and gallant soldiers under their orders, his Excellency's best thanks are tendered; but, in particular, he feels deeptly indebted to Brigadier Sale, for the manner in which he conducted the arduous duty entrusted to him in the command of the storming party. His Excellency will not fail to bring it to the notice of his Lordship the Governor-General, and he trusts the wound which Brigadier Sale has received is not of that severe nature long to deprive this army of his services. Brigadier Sale reports that Captain Kershaw, of her Majesty's 13th Light Infantry, rendered important a.s.sistance to him and to the service in the storming.

Sir John Keane was happy, on this proud occasion, to have the a.s.sistance of his old comrade, Major-General Sir Willoughby Cotton, who, in command of the reserve, ably executed the instructions he had received, and was at the gate ready to enter after the storming party had established themselves inside, when he moved through it to sweep the ramparts, and to complete the subjugation of the place with the 16th Bengal Native Infantry, under Major M'Laren; Brigadier Roberts, with the 35th Native Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Monteath; and the 48th Native Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Wheeler. His arrangements afterwards, in continuation of those Brigadier Sale had made for the security of the magazine and other public stores, were such as meet his Excellency's high approval.

The Commander-in-Chief acknowledges the services rendered by Captain Hay, of the 35th Native Infantry, in command of three companies of that regiment sent to the south side of the fortress to begin with a false attack, and which was executed at the proper time, and in a manner highly satisfactory to his Excellency.

Nothing could be more judicious than the manner in which Brigadier Stevenson placed the artillery in position. Captain Grant's troop of Bengal Artillery, and the camel battery, under Captain Abbott, both superintended by Major Pew; the two troops of Bombay Horse Artillery, commanded by Captains Martin and Cotgrave; and Captain Lloyd's battery of Bombay Foot Artillery, all opened upon the citadel and fortress in a manner which shook the enemy, and did such execution as completely to paralyse and to strike terror into them; and his Excellency begs Brigadier Stevenson, the officers, and men of that arm, will accept his thanks for their good service.

The 19th Regiment Bombay Native Infantry, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Stalker, having been placed in position to watch any enemy that might appear on the Cabool road, or approach to attack the camp, had an important post a.s.signed to them, although, as it happened, no enemy made an attack upon them.

In sieges and stormings it does not fall to the lot of cavalry to bear the same conspicuous part as to the other two arms of the profession. On this occasion, Sir John Keane is happy to have an opportunity of thanking Major-General Thackwell, and the officers and men of the cavalry divisions under his orders, for having successfully executed the directions given, to sweep the plain, and to intercept fugitives of the enemy attempting to escape from the fort in any direction around it; and had an enemy appeared for the relief of the place during the storming, his Excellency is fully satisfied that the different regiments of this fine arm would have distinguished themselves, and that the opportunity alone was wanting.

Major-General Willshire's division having been broken up for the day, to be distributed as it was, the Major-General was desired to be in attendance upon the Commander-in-Chief. To him and to the officers of the a.s.sistant Quartermaster-General's department of the Bengal and Bombay army, his Excellency returns his warmest thanks for the a.s.sistance they have afforded him.

The Commander-in-Chief feels--and in which feeling he is sure he will be joined by the troops composing the Army of the Indus--that, after the long and hara.s.sing marches they have had, and the privations they have endured, this glorious achievement, and the brilliant manner in which the troops have met and conquered the enemy, reward them for it all. His Excellency will only add, that no army that has ever been engaged in a campaign deserves more credit than this which he has the honour to command, for patient, orderly, and correct conduct, under all circ.u.mstances, and Sir John Keane is proud to have the opportunity of thus publicly acknowledging it.

By order of his Excellency Lieutenant-General Sir John Keane, Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Indus.