On the 3rd October, the regiment was again engaged with the enemy at Julgar, about sixteen miles from Charekar, and although the attack of the storming party on the fort was not successful, yet Lieut.-Colonel Tronson, commanding the storming party, and Brevet Major Kershaw, Lieutenant and Adjutant Wood, Lieutenants Edward King, and George Wade (the four latter officers having at one time attained the crest of the breach) highly distinguished themselves, and were particularly mentioned by Major-General Sir Robert Sale in his despatch, who also acknowledged the assistance he received from his major of brigade, Captain Hamlet Wade. The scaling-ladders, hastily constructed from the poles used in carrying the litters for the sick, were of little use; no sooner did the soldiers attempt to ascend them, than they sank into the soft débris on which they were planted: under these circumstances the storming party retired, leaving the Serjeant-Major of the Regiment (Airey) and fourteen men lying dead under the walls. Serjeant Hurst, of the Thirteenth, unable to move from his wounds, was carried off by Lieutenant King; and a Sepoy was, in like manner, conveyed to the rear by private Thomas Robinson of the regiment, under a most terrific fire. Lieutenant and Adjutant Wood, three serjeants, two corporals, and twelve privates were wounded.
It was subsequently determined to renew the attack, when it might be made by a combined movement against the breach, gateway, and wicket, with better chances of success, but the enemy, however, notwithstanding the precautions taken to intercept them, succeeded in escaping from the fort before seven o’clock P.M., at which hour the British took possession of it, and measures were taken for its destruction.
The Thirteenth came again in contact with the enemy on the 19th October at Babookooshghur, when they were attacked in camp at night, but experienced little loss. On the 2nd November, the regiment was engaged with the Affghans at Purwan, where they had taken up a strong position under Dost Mahomed, who however retired from the field, and delivered himself up to the authorities at Cabool, when the purposes for which the force commenced operations being effected, it was directed to return to Cabool, and the Thirteenth took possession of the new cantonments there on the 8th November.
1841
After having been nearly three years on active service, the regiment was in expectation of commencing its march back to India, in October 1841; but at this period the government of Shah Shoojah became so unpopular, that the Affghans appeared determined to effect, by violence or circumvention, the expulsion of the British, by whose aid he had been reinstated in the sovereignty of Cabool.
A body of insurgents having possessed themselves of the Khoord Cabool pass, about ten miles from the capital, impeded the communication with India, when the first Lieut.-Colonel of the regiment, Major-General Sir Robert Sale, K.C.B., was detached with a small force, of which the Thirteenth Light Infantry formed part, to expel the rebels and re-open the communication. The regiment left Cabool on the 11th of October; the pass was forced on the following morning, and the troops penetrated to Khoord Cabool.[20] The regiment had three men killed and twenty-four wounded on this occasion:—Major-General Sir Robert Sale, Captain H. C. Wade (Major of Brigade), Lieutenant George Mein, and Ensign Oakes were wounded. Lieutenant Mein being dangerously wounded, was obliged to be sent back in a litter to Cabool. Upon Sir Robert Sale being obliged to quit the field from the severity of his wound, the command of the troops devolved on Lieut.-Colonel Dennie, C.B. of the Thirteenth. The regiment then faced about, to return through the pass according to the plan for executing the operation, leaving the other corps at Khoord Cabool. Possession was then taken of Bootkhak, where the regiment was stationed from the 12th to the 18th of October. During this delay, the corps was much harassed by incessant night-attacks from the enemy, called by them Shub Khoon (Night Slaughter), which caused it some loss, but by Sir Robert Sale’s precaution in ordering the men to lie down on their alarm posts, as soon as the enemy’s fire was opened on the camp, much loss was prevented. The orders prohibiting any return-fire from the troops saved much, and all the attempts of the enemy to force an entrance into camp were successfully resisted by the bayonet alone. Meanwhile the rebellion continued of a formidable character, and the Thirteenth Light Infantry were ordered to march to Tezeen, where they arrived on the 22nd of October and were engaged with a body of insurgents, whom they drove from some heights and strong positions. The regiment on this duty had the misfortune to lose Lieutenant Edward King, who fell at the head of his company, while gallantly charging the enemy. Lieutenant R. E. Frere was wounded: the other casualties were three privates killed, and nine rank and file wounded.
In consequence of orders from Cabool, the force under Major-General Sir Robert Sale marched for Gundamuck, and were continually pressed day and night, by insurgent bands hovering on their flanks and rear, which occasioned the fatigues and duties of the troops to be particularly harassing; the way led along defiles and over mountains, and when the soldiers halted, breast-works had to be thrown up to defend the bivouac ground from sudden attacks of the Affghan cavalry.