“R. England.”
[143] “April 1.—The Douranees having received positive accounts from Mahomed Sadig of the advance of Brigadier England with treasure, have resolved to make an effort to intercept it. Saloo Khan accordingly, with Mahomed Azim (Noorzye), Fyz Tullub, Hubeeboollah, Sooltan Mahomed (Barukzye), &c., have gone off by the desert to the Kojuck Pass. The body of horse with the chiefs is about 1000; but they expect to raise some 4000 or 5000 of the Noorzye, Atchekzye, Barukzye, and Populzye Ooloos to assist in holding the pass.”—[Major Rawlinson’s MS. Journal.]
[144] “You will understand the insinuation,” wrote one of the most chivalrous of the many chivalrous officers who served beyond the Indus (James Outram). “If he is ever heard to libel our Sepoys in that manner, surely it will be noticed by our officers.”—[MS. Correspondence.]
[145] After adverting to the reported intention of England to leave Quettah with a small supply of money and ammunition, but not to push through the Kojuck, Nott goes on to say: “This I deeply regret; firstly, because I cannot send a force to the southern side of the pass; secondly, I require a large supply of ammunition, which I have for two years been endeavouring to get, but without success; thirdly, four lakhs of rupees will be of little use here—the troops and establishments are going on for four months in arrears; fourthly, your moving into Pisheen with a convoy, known by the whole country to be intended for Candahar, and then halting or retiring to Quettah, will have the very worst effects throughout Afghanistan, and will be more injurious to my present position than 20,000 of the enemy in the field. I sincerely hope that you have not moved, or that you have determined to push across the Kojuck with all the force you can muster.”—[General Nott to General England: April 2, 1842. MS. Records.]
[146] “I strongly advised Brigadier England, through Lieutenant Hammersley, in letters I addressed to them both so long ago as the 10th ultimo (March), to await at Quettah the junction of the remainder of his brigade, unless very urgent circumstances should require his more immediate advance to meet an advance from Candahar. The latter, so far from being the case, General Nott requested might not be attempted.”—[Major Outram to Captain Durand: April 3, 1842. MS. Correspondence.]
[147] General Nott to General England: April 2, 1842. MS. Records.
[148] General England to General Nott: April 10, 1842. MS. Records.
[149] There is so fine a soldierly flavour about this letter, that I give it entire in the Appendix.
[150] Colonel Stacy’s Narrative.
[151] Colonel Stacy’s Narrative.