The force at Sir Frederick Roberts's disposal only amounted to 4,000 men and eighteen guns. The enemy occupied a series of hills some three miles in extent, and dominating the plain to a height of over 3,000 feet. The brunt of the fighting fell on the two Highland regiments. Again the British General, who showed himself an adept in mountain warfare, essayed a turning movement with Baker's brigade, and, with a loss of but 88 killed and wounded, made his way into Kabul.

Casualties at the Action of Charasiah, October 6, 1879.

Regiments.Officers.Men.
K.W.K.W.
9th Lancers---1
Royal Artillery----
67th Hampshire----
72nd Seaforth Highlanders-1333
92nd Gordon Highlanders--36
12th Cavalry----
14th Murray's Lancers----
25th Cavalry--12
23rd Pioneers-112
28th Punjabis----
58th Vaughan's Rifles-144
5th Gurkhas--47

On the issue of the medal for Afghanistan, a clasp inscribed "Charasiah" was issued to all the troops engaged.

Kabul, 1879.

This battle honour was granted to the regiments which took part in the operations in the neighbourhood of Kabul under Sir Frederick Roberts in the month of December, 1879. It is borne on the colours and appointments of the

9th Lancers.
Norfolk.
Hampshires.
Seaforth Highlanders.
Gordon Highlanders.
12th Cavalry.
14th Murray's Lancers.
25th Cavalry P.F.F.
Q.O. Corps of Guides.
1st P.W.O. Sappers and Miners.
23rd Pioneers.
28th Punjabis.
53rd Sikhs.
58th Vaughan's Rifles.
2nd Gurkhas.
4th Gurkhas.
5th Gurkhas P.F.F.

With his entry into Kabul, which was effected without further opposition after the Battle of Charasiah, the difficulties of Sir Frederick Roberts's army were only at their commencement. The Amir was in our camp, but it was clear that he was heart and soul with his people, and that they were bitterly opposed to us was self-evident. They appeared forgetful of the ease with which they had been defeated at Ali Masjid, at the Peiwar Kotal, and again at Charasiah; but they remembered the campaign of 1842, when they had annihilated a British army. Early in December the clouds broke, and after a few engagements, in which we were not uniformly successful, Sir Frederick Roberts withdrew his whole force into an entrenched position at Sherpur, just outside the city, and there awaited the attack. His dispositions were thoroughly sound. Reinforcements were ordered up from the line of communications, but these were delayed, owing to determined attacks by the tribes on our posts at different points between Kabul and Peshawar.

From December 14 to 24 Sir Frederick was practically besieged in Sherpur. On the 23rd the much-vaunted attack was delivered, but the troops vied with their commander in steadiness. None had lost confidence in him owing to the unfortunate failure of his combinations against the enemy at the commencement of the month—a failure for which the General-in-Chief was by no means responsible. If the Afghans thought that they were likely to catch a British army asleep at midnight, the attack on Sherpur must have woefully disappointed them. In spite of the fact that 100,000 men had assembled to sweep the British out of the land, the assault was repelled before the arrival of a single man of the reinforcing troops, and with a loss of but 57 officers and men killed and wounded during the siege of ten days.