THE ROUT OF GENERAL BURROWS' BRIGADE ON JULY 27.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2404, 30 November 1880, Page 4

THE ROUT OF GENERAL BURROWS' BRIGADE ON JULY 27.

A correspondent of the “Pioneer,” who went out from Kandahar to meet the remnants of the force beaten by Ayub Khan, thus describes what he saw :

“ All this time by ones, and twos, and fives, the struggling line of fugitives was passing by—a fearful sight to see. A ten-mile march,a five-hour fight, a forty mile retreat, all in a breath as it were. Scarcely a drop of water, not a mouthful of food, fired at from every wall and village as they passed. Parched, starving, and all but deadbeat—some on foot, some on camels, some on ponies, with a bunted look that will haunt me for ever, they struggled on, hardly realising that we were friends only intent to get home. Arrived at a hill near the Surtcep’s house, we halted, and here our men lirst got water. We could soon make out, amongst the mist, under the trees near the river in front, that a body of men halted, but whether friend or foe we could not tell. General Brooke sent on Lieutenant Anderson and fifteen troopers to ascertain, and soon we had the satisfaction of seeing General Burrows and what remained to him of his little army. An awful sight 1 The guns covered with men so wounded that it seemed impossible for men in their condition to be alive ; and yet —jolted on gun limbers, on ponies and in camel kajawohs—they had managed to do some forty miles, mostly desert, since the previous evening. The wounded were placed in dhoolies and dandies, and after brief rest they started again. Wo remained as rear guard ; Lieutenant Itodick and twenty men of the 7th Fusiliers being sent to explore the large house of the Surteep, in case of any being detained as prisoners, After waiting some little time for Lieutenant Anderson, who was very nearly cut oft’ and had to fight his way back, we retired leisurcl} r , stopping now and then to administer a little punishment. When about two miles from Abasabad, Colonel St.John sent back a note to the General to say that the enemy were in force there, that General Burrows’ men were too exhausted to clear the way, and for us to come up and do so. They accordingly halted, and General brooke sent on the guns and I cavalry at a trot, the infantry following as fast as possible. The way was soon cleared. Captain Law' made two splendid shots at a gnngah (stone defence) on the side of the bill above Chilzina, sending two shells completely through ; but after the Just, a man jumped up on to the parapet, waved bis turban and tired a shot, the bullet falling close to the guns. Arrived in cantonments about 2.110 p.m. We found Captain Adderley and one company of the Bth Fusilliers, holding the Engineers’ garden. He was sent back to cover the retreat, and had the satisfaction of killing several armed men in the village of Abasabad before I he returned. Captain Conolly, with another Company of the 7th was holding the 4th Kifie Lines, which, however, hud been looked to earlier in the day. Sending all the wounded and tired to the citadel, we helped the remainder of our brigade to pack aud be off, and at G. 30 p. m. all started Kandahar. General Brooke loth to leave, but he said. upthipg, more could be done iqpr (ours-); had been at ipqe.rsantly sinqq & a. m. •, q, drop pit mtiQU j ijiers)’ parried ; the, p{ty was a seething mas,i of rebellion and danger, the gates 1 had to be defended and walls mauued that night.