a small cavalry
escort--galloped out on the extreme left, and opened fire on the
Afghan cavalry. His infantry at once appeared in force, swarming
down towards the guns; and these were withdrawn, to a position
nearer to our line.

The British infantry were formed in the following order: the 66th
were on the right, the Bombay Grenadiers in the center, and Jacob's
Rifles on the left. Two guns were placed in position to support the
66th, on the right. The remaining four British guns, and the six
smooth-bore guns--captured from the Wali's mutineers--were placed
between the Grenadiers and Jacob's Rifles. The 3rd Scinde Horse and
3rd Bombay Light Cavalry were formed in the rear of the line.

As the enemy advanced, our guns opened a heavy fire upon them; but
it was fully an hour before their artillery replied. Then thirty
guns were unmasked, and opened fire upon the British line. Under
cover of this heavy fire, swarms of the enemy's irregulars advanced
towards our position. When within 600 or 700 yards of the 66th, the
British opened with their Martini rifles; and the shower of lead,
at such an unexpected distance, checked the advance of the enemy.

For some time the artillery duel continued; but the enemy's guns
were then moved on to the hills, on either side of the British
position, and a terrible crossfire was opened from both flanks. At
about two o'clock, the smooth-bore guns began to get short of
ammunition. Only sixty rounds had been captured with them and,
there being no reserve of ammunition fitting them, they ceased
fire.

The position now became most serious. From the ravines on either
side the Ghazis swarmed up, in vast numbers. The artillery
thundered from the heights upon our troops. Some of their batteries
were brought up to within very short distances; and great numbers
of the enemy, keeping along the ravines sheltered from our fire,
came up in the rear and seized the villages there.

The companies of Jacob's Rifles on the left; after resisting, for
some time, the furious attacks of the Ghazis, began to waver. The
enemy's cavalry swept down in heavy masses; while our cavalry--for
some reason which has never been explained--remained inactive. The
general has stated that he ordered them to charge, but that they
would not do so; the cavalry affirm that they never received
orders. Anyhow, at this critical moment the 3rd Scinde Horse and
the 3rd Bombay Cavalry remained inactive.

The confusion amid Jacob's R