Of the men composing the gun detachments, one was killed and six wounded, and Surgeon-Major Joshua Duke was specially mentioned for his attention to the wounded under heavy fire.]

[Footnote 7:  The same officer who so gallantly met his death during the recent Chitral campaign, while commanding the regiment of which he was so justly proud, and in which two brave brothers had been killed before him—­Quinton at Delhi, and Wigram during the first phase of the Afghan war.]

* * * * *

CHAPTER LVII. 1879

Sherpur—­Defence of Sherpur—­Arrest of Daud Shah —­Rumours of an assault—­Attack and counter-attack —­Communication with India re-opened—­Sherpur made safe

The moment the gates were closed I telegraphed the result of the day’s operations to the Viceroy and Commander-in-Chief, for I knew that the enemy’s first thought would be to stop communication with India by cutting the telegraph-wires.  I reported that I had ordered Brigadier-General Charles Gough’s brigade to push on from Gandamak as fast as possible; and I recommended that General Bright should have more troops sent up to him, to allow of his keeping open the route to Kabul, and of his reinforcing me should I find it impossible to clear the country with the force at my disposal.  It was a satisfaction to be able to assure the authorities in these, to me, otherwise painful telegrams, that there was no cause for anxiety as to the safety of the troops; that sufficient supplies for men were stored in Sherpur for nearly four months, and for animals for six weeks; that there was abundance of firewood, medicines, and hospital comforts, and sufficient ammunition both for guns and rifles to admit of an active resistance being carried on for between three and four months.

It was fortunate there was no lack of provisions, for our numbers were considerably increased by the presence of Wali Mahomed Khan and many other Sirdars, who begged for shelter in Sherpur, on the plea that their lives would not be safe were they to return to the city.  They were far from being welcome guests, for I could not trust them; ostensibly, however, they were our friends, and I could not refuse their petition.  I therefore admitted them, on condition that each Sirdar should only be accompanied by a specified number of followers.

The stormy occurrences of the 14th were succeeded by a period of comparative calm, during which the entrenchments were strengthened, and the heavy guns found in the Kabul arsenal were prepared for service.

The great drawback to Sherpur, as I have already mentioned, was its extent and the impossibility of reducing the line of defences owing to the length of the Bimaru ridge.  The cantonment was in the form of a parallelogram, with the Bimaru heights running along, and protecting, the northern side.  Between this range and the hills, which form the southern boundary of Kohistan, lay a lake, or rather jhil, a barrier between which and the commanding Bimaru ridge no enemy would dare to advance.