After these successes, the army moved on without opposition, and arrived at Cabool on the 15th September, where they encamped on the race course. The Third Light Dragoons, under Major Lockwood, proceeded with other corps to plant the British colours in the Bala Hissar, on the spot most conspicuous from the city. On the colours being hoisted, the band of Her Majesty's Ninth Regiment of Foot struck up 'God save the Queen,' and a royal salute was fired from the guns of the horse artillery, the whole of the troops present giving three cheers. The colours in the Bala Hissar were hoisted daily as long as the army remained at Cabool.
The head-quarters and two squadrons of the regiment, under Major Lockwood, formed part of the force which was detached under Major-General McCaskill (Lieutenant-Colonel of the Ninth Foot), for the purpose of dispersing the enemy collected in the vicinity of Charekar, and took part in the operations against the strong and populous town of Istalif, which was considered by the Affghans as totally inaccessible, but which was captured on the 29th September 1842; the numerous levies collected for its defence were totally defeated, and property of every description (much of it plundered from the army in 1841) was recovered; two brass field-pieces were captured, one of which was seized with such promptitude, that its captor, Lieutenant Elmhirst, of Her Majesty's Ninth Foot, turned its fire upon the fugitives with some effect[48].
Among the gratifying results of these successes was the release of several ladies and officers who had been detained prisoners by Akbar-Khan.
The regiment, having been present during the whole of the operations west of the Indus, leading to the occupation of Cabool, has received the Royal permission to bear on its appointments the word 'Cabool 1842.'
1843
1844
The regiment left Cabool on the 12th October, 1842, and arrived at Ferozepore on the 18th December, from whence it marched to Kurnaul, where it arrived on the 27th January 1843; it remained at Kurnaul until November, when it marched for Umballa, and continued at that station during the year 1844, and until the end of the following year.
1845
On the 11th December, 1845, the regiment, consisting of 518 men, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Michael White, marched from cantonments at Umballa, and formed a part of the leading division of the Army of the Sutlej, hastily assembled, under the personal command of General Sir Hugh Gough, G.C.B., Commander-in-Chief in India, for the purpose of repelling an invasion by the Sikhs.[49]