After making two out of these three, (and precious long ones they were,) we found out that we were still upwards of twenty miles from Ghuzni, with the men so fatigued that it was nearly impossible for them to do it, and that we should therefore be obliged to make two of it.  The event, however, proved the contrary; for, about seven o’clock in the evening, a dispatch came from General Willshire, and about eight, just as we were preparing to turn in, the orders were out to strike our tents, and march in an hour’s time, and catch up Sir John Keane and the Shah, who were halted about nine miles in advance of us.  Sir John was anxious to have the whole force concentrated before marching on Ghuzni.  Nothing, however, was certain; and we were all in a high state of excitement, not knowing what to expect:  this was the evening of the 20th.  We made quick work of this march, and reached Sir John Keane about half-past twelve.  Here we heard that Sir John Keane was in expectation of a night attack.  He had fallen in that morning with the advance of the enemy, who had, however, upon the appearance of the British force, retired upon Ghuzni.  We bivouacked on our ground, after throwing out strong pickets, and marched again at 5 A.M., Sir John Keane, the Bengalees, and cavalry in advance, then the Shah, and then our small party.  We, however, sent our artillery to join Sir John.  About eight o’clock, when within about three miles of Ghuzni, we heard the first symptoms that the game of war was beginning:  our batteries were firing on the place, and the garrison were returning it with good effect; it served as a sort of overture to the opera in which we knew we must soon be actors.

In consequence of the great quantity of baggage, now the whole army was joined, we were halted for a couple of hours to protect it, and the whole of the cavalry was sent back for that purpose; and well it was that they were, as a part of the enemy’s cavalry made a demonstration for attacking it, but withdrew on seeing ours.  We were at length marched on, and took up our ground a little to the S.W. of the fort, but out of harm’s way, when we heard a more definite account of what had been done.  The advance of the Bengal column, H.M. 13th Light Infantry and the 16th Native Infantry, had some little work in driving the enemy out of the gardens and old buildings that surround the town.  This, however, they accomplished with a trifling loss; our guns then opened on the place, but as they were light ones (the heaviest being still in the rear), with little effect.  This desultory fire on both sides was, however, kept up for about three hours:  little execution being done, and a few casualties having occurred among the artillery, Sir John Keane ordered the guns to be withdrawn.  We had not been on our ground more than three hours when we were ordered once more on the march, and to march by a circuitous route across the mountains, in order to avoid the fire of the town, and take up our ground on the other side of it.  We reached our new ground about nine, after a fatiguing march of seven miles, crossing the river, and, by an infernal path, through the hills.  Here we bivouacked again for the night, as little of our baggage had arrived.