The next day (9th September) the Affghans were so much dispirited by their defeat, that the division marched to Jugdulluck without further opposition than a little skirmishing with the rear-guard, and Lieutenant Brooke, of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, was wounded.
On the 10th of September, it having been ascertained that Akbar Khan with 20,000 men had established himself in the Khoord Cabool pass, in order to cover the capital and fight a pitched battle with the British, the second division was ordered to join the first by a forced march to Tezeen, where Major-General Pollock was encamped. This junction was effected on the 11th of September, with little loss, although a running fight was kept up the greater part of the way. In fact, the advance to Cabool was a succession of skirmishes, oftentimes by night as well as by day.
The camp was attacked on the night of the 12th of September, but the enemy made no impression, and little loss occurred, although all the piquets of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment were engaged until daybreak.
Shortly after daybreak on the 13th of September the army moved off its ground towards the Tezeen Pass, the advanced guard, commanded by Sir Robert Sale, being composed of three companies of the ninth regiment, three companies of the thirteenth or Prince Albert’s Light Infantry, together with two companies of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, under Captain Baldwin and Lieutenant Greenwood.
After moving carefully along the pass for about two miles, the Affghans were discovered, in great force, occupying strong positions on the heights on either side, while their artillery and cavalry were formed some distance farther on in the pass itself. The action commenced by a heavy fire from the enemy on the advanced guard of the British; and the distance being too great for musketry, from the effect of which also the Affghans were covered by extensive sunghas, or intrenchments formed of large blocks of stone, for the whole length of their position, it was judged necessary for the troops to ascend the heights, and drive them from their posts at the point of the bayonet.
This service was most brilliantly performed on the left heights by the ninth and THIRTY-FIRST regiments, and on the right by the thirteenth light infantry.
The companies ascended the face of the mountain under a most galling fire, from the effects of which many casualties occurred, and not returning a shot until the ledge was gained: a combined volley within ten yards of the enemy, followed by an immediate charge of bayonets, drove him from his defences with great slaughter, and the heights were gained. For this service Captain Baldwin received the brevet rank of Major.
The Affghans’ advanced posts being driven in and pursued as far as the broken and difficult nature of the country would admit, they retired upon their supports, which were, with great judgment, defended by endless sunghas, erected in every position from which a fire could be brought on advancing troops.
The British, having gained the heights, and being reinforced by fresh troops, pushed on, and, storming one intrenchment after another, threw the Affghans into great confusion. The artillery, having been brought up, played upon them with terrific effect, while the British cavalry, having charged and overthrown their horse, posted in the pass, and taken their guns, together with the state tent of Akbar Khan, the fortune of the day at this early period evidently smiled on the British arms; but the warlike mountaineers, who composed the Affghan army, fought with desperate valour to retrieve the day. Attack after attack was made upon the troops occupying the posts from which the enemy had first been driven. Reckless of life, the stern fanatics came on to be shot down from the defences which they had themselves thrown up. In a series of desultory attacks the day declined, and the British, having obtained possession of every height commanding the pass, the remains of the Affghan army made a détour among the hills, falling with great fury upon the British rear-guard, commanded by Colonel Richmond, of the thirty-third regiment of Native Infantry. Here they were so warmly received that their discomfiture was completed, and the day was won. The victorious British encamped for the night in the valley of Khoord (Little) Cabool, a village distant about sixteen miles from Cabool.
In this action Lieutenant Pollard received a severe contusion from a large block of stone while attempting to take a standard. Major Skinner, of the THIRTY-FIRST regiment, highly distinguished himself with the force which was detached under his command, and which proceeded, in the afternoon of the 12th of September, across the hills towards the valley of Khoord Cabool by a route different from that of the main army. On the march, Major Skinner came suddenly in presence of a greatly superior number of Affghans. Notwithstanding that the country was difficult and imperfectly known, by a series of skilful manœuvres he extricated his troops from the perilous situation in which they were placed, and defeated the Affghans, who exceeded five times his force, with great slaughter, on the 13th of September.