The march was uneventful as far as Shahjui, the limit of the
Candahar province. At this point the Taraki country begins. The
Mollahs here had been actively preaching a holy war, and several
thousand men were reported as having collected. The villages were
found to be deserted, and everything betokened an active opposition
to the advance.

When the head of the column arrived at Ahmed-Khel, a body of the
enemy--estimated at from 12,000 to 15,000--were seen clustered on a
semicircle of hills, beyond the village. The baggage of the column
stretched far along the road, and it was all important to prevent
the enemy from falling upon this long line. General Stewart
therefore determined to attack them.

The two batteries of artillery opened fire upon the enemy; who at
once, in reply, rushed down to the assault. The charge was led by
some 3000 or 4000 Ghazis--as they were called--fanatics, who had
sworn to give their lives in carrying out their object, of
exterminating the hated infidel. Some of these men were armed with
rifles and matchlocks; some with heavy swords, knives, and pistols;
others, again, with pikes made of bayonets, or pieces of sharpened
iron fastened upon long sticks. Some were on foot, and some on
horseback.

With wild yells, the mass rushed down upon our troops; and so
sudden and unexpected was the attack, so swiftly did they cross the
400 or 500 yards of intervening ground, that they came upon the
British before preparation could be made for their reception. At
the moment when they charged, some of the cavalry were moving
across in front of the infantry; and these, before they could be
got into a line for a charge, were surrounded by the enemy.

In an instant they were lost to sight, in the cloud of dust and
smoke. It was a hand-to-hand struggle and, in the confusion, a
troop charged to the right, in rear of the main line of the
infantry, and burst into the midst of the 19th Punjaub Infantry;
who were in reserve, in rear of the position occupied by the
general and his staff.

In a moment, all was confusion. The ammunition mules were
stampeded, riderless horses dashed hither and thither and, close
behind the cavalry, the Ghazis--with a furious rush--dashed in
among the broken infantry. Upon the left flank, too, the Ghazis
swept round in the rear of our infantry line and, for a time, it
seemed as if the whole British formation was broken up--in which
case the numbers of their foes must have prevailed