Afghanistan and despatched to Jellalabad. At that time Afghanistan was
occupied by British troops, and to all intents and purposes was well
disposed towards us, but appearances were deceitful. Though hardly
anyone knew it, trouble was brewing in the Amir's capital. Below the
surface of calm, feeling ran high against Shah Soojah, the unpopular
Afghan ruler, and his supporters, the British; and the followers of
Dost Mahomed, the rival claimant to the throne, had no difficulty in
fomenting a general revolt. The blow fell on the 2nd of November 1841.
On that day Sir Alexander Burnes, the British envoy at Cabul, was
assassinated, and the streets of the city ran red with blood.

When the insurrection thus blazed forth, John Nicholson was at Fort
Ghuzni, nearly a hundred miles to the south of Cabul. His regiment had
been ordered there some months previously to relieve the 16th. In
three weeks' time the hill fortress was surrounded by Afghan warriors,
and Colonel Palmer, the commandant, found himself in a state of siege.
Unfortunately for the little garrison, the winter was now upon them.
Situated very high up, Ghuzni was exposed to the full severity of the
pitiless snowstorms which swept over the neighbourhood. These not only
added to the discomfort of the troops, but had the effect of checking
the advance of a relief column under General Maclaren that had started
from Candahar.

For a time the enemy was kept at bay without the city, their
old-fashioned _jezails_, or matchlocks, failing to produce much effect.
Then treachery made itself felt. Actuated by humane motives, Colonel
Palmer had refrained from expelling the Afghan townspeople, and the
latter now repaid this act of kindness by undermining the city walls to
admit their countrymen. One dark December night the Afghans poured in
through the breach, driving the Sepoys and their British officers into
the shelter of the citadel.

For a month the little garrison held out bravely, suffering some loss
from the enemy's bullets and suffering even more from the scarcity of
water. While the snow fell it was possible to melt it and replenish
their store, but when the storms ceased they were in a desperate case.
Instructions now came from General Elphinstone at Cabul that the
fortress should be surrendered. Colonel Palmer, who was loth to
believe the message, prolonged negotiations as long as he could, but
reflection showed him that he had no choice but to submit. The