rson's troops, which had been sent for by General Roberts,
were now showing down the Chardeh Valley. At their sight the enemy
turned off from the Sherpur road and made direct for the city. General
Roberts sent a message to Brigadier Gough, commanding at Sherpur,
ordering 200 men of the 72nd Highlanders to go out to the gorge at a
double. The cavalry retired steadily, keeping up a fire with their
carbines, and checking the advance of the enemy. But they could not
have stemmed the rush had not Colonel Brownlow, with 200 rifles of the
72nd, arrived at the nick of time. These opened fire instantly upon the
enemy, who charged down upon the village. The steady fire of the
Highlanders checked the rush, and after half an hour's persistent fire
the enemy were forced back, their entrance to Cabul having been
frustrated. They occupied, however, a position on the heights to the
south of the Balar Hissar region.

General Macpherson had broken up a large body of Afghans higher up the
valley, and pursued them towards Argandeh. As he came back, he came
upon the scene of the charge, and recovered the bodies of Lieutenants
Hersee and Ricardo, and the troopers who had been killed. The guns had
already been carried off by Colonel Macgregor, who, with a small scratch
lot of Lancers and artillerymen whom he had collected, worked round into
the village, which had been left by the main body of the enemy, and,
putting down the opposition of the villagers, carried off the guns.

The next day a body of 560 men, composed of portions of the 67th Foot,
the 72nd Highlanders, the 3rd Sikhs, and 5th Ghurkas, made an attack
upon the enemy, who had established themselves on a lofty peak south of
Cabul. The enemy occupied the crest in strength, and away on the south,
hidden from our view, had 5000 or 6000 men waiting for our attack to
develop. After several hours of fighting, the little British force
drove the Afghans from the low hill, but were unable to carry the
position above. No more troops could be spared, and ammunition ran
short. It was determined, therefore, to put off the attack until
morning. At eight o'clock General Baker left Sherpur with a strong
force, and attacked the enemy's position. After desperate fighting, he
stormed the ridge. Great masses of the enemy in the meantime were
moving round, so as to threaten the road to Sherpur. The 9th Lancers
charged with great gallantry among them, and defeated them. Captain
Butson,