rting from
Jumrood, at the north of the Khyber Pass, the second to advance through
Tull by the Kuram Valley, and the third to move _via_ the Bolan Pass
upon Candahar. The first of these was to be commanded by General Sir S.
Browne, the second by General Roberts, the third by General Biddulph.
The preparations for the concentration of these columns occupied
considerable time, as India had been for some time in a state of
profound peace, and the commissariat and transport service had to be
entirely organised. The greatest efforts were, however, made, and the
troops were rapidly got into place.

On the 26th of October a defiant reply to the Viceroy's letter was
received from the Ameer, and an ultimatum was in consequence sent to
him, to the effect that unless the British demands were complied with,
the troops would advance across the frontier. No reply having been
received from him up to the night of the 20th November, orders were
given to the troops to advance, and upon the following morning Generals
Roberts and Browne advanced across the frontier with their respective
columns.

The division of General Browne was divided into four brigades. The
first, under General Macpherson, consisted of the fourth battalion of
the Rifle Brigade, the 20th Bengal Infantry, and the 4th Ghurkas, with a
mountain battery. These were to go round by a mountain road, to make a
long circuit, and to come down into the pass at a village lying a mile
or two beyond Ali-Musjid. The second brigade, under Colonel Tytler,
consisting of the first battalion of the 17th Foot, the Infantry of the
Guides, the 1st Sikhs, and a mountain battery, were to take a hill
opposite to Ali-Musjid, and capture some batteries which the Afghans had
erected there; while the third and fourth brigades were to advance
direct up the valley. The former of these brigades consisted of the
81st, the 14th Sikhs, and the 24th Native Infantry. The fourth brigade
was composed of the 51st Foot, the 6th Native Infantry, and the 45th
Sikhs. With them was a mountain battery, and a battery of Horse
Artillery.

The fort of Ali-Musjid is situated on a rock standing out in the valley,
at a distance of some six miles from the frontier. It is a most
commanding position, and, flanked as it was by batteries on the
hillsides, was a most formidable place to capture. The advancing column
marched forward until from a rise in the valley they could see
Ali-Musjid at a distance of a mile