This defile, one of the most formidable and impenetrable in Asia, as a line of military defence, extends from Jumrood upwards in the direction of Jellalabad, without interval, for the space of twenty-eight miles, throughout twenty-two of which it has hitherto been reckoned impassable for an army, when the inhabitants had determined to oppose them. From Jumrood, where the pass opens on the Peshawar side, to Ali Musjid, the dell is deep and uninterrupted; and the celebrated fort, just named, which stands on an isolated hill, in the narrow, near the middle of the defile, completely commands it. Here it is so sickly that the troops we have endeavoured to keep in the fort have from time to time been nearly all swept away. For about seven miles beyond All Musjid, the ascent is somewhat uniform till it arrives near Lundee Khana, where for a couple of miles it stretches out to the face of a frightful precipice, like the galleries by which the Simplon is traversed.
General Pollock had mustered a force of nearly 8000 men at Peshawar by the end of March, but was anxious, before moving, that the two brigades under Colonels White and Bolton, then on their way to join him with an additional force of about 4000 men, consisting of her Majesty’s 3rd Dragoons, the 1st Light Cavalry, her Majesty’s 61st Foot, the 63rd Native Infantry with artillery and irregular horse, should arrive. This, however, was impossible, as Jellalabad required immediate succour. The 9rd Dragoons reached Peshawar on the 30th March; the 1st Cavalry, and 6th and 33rd Native Infantry were left behind; while Colonel Bolton’s brigade, consisting of her Majesty’s 31st and 6th Native Infantry, with the artillery and irregular horse, cannot arrive before the 20th of April.
A pecuniary arrangement had been made, by which the Khyberrees agreed to secure a quiet passage for us on the payment of 5000£—2000£ beforehand, and the balance after we had reached Ali Musjid. The lesser of the two sums was actually paid to them; but they either broke faith, or found themselves unable to control the other tribes, and are said to have returned it. Nadir Shah a century before had paid them 100,000£ for the use of the pass; and the Kings of Cabul had allowed them 8000£ a year for safe passage through their country: the continuance of this latter payment we had sanctioned two years since.
On the 5th April the army moved into the defile, which was obstructed at its entrance by heavy barricades of stone. The principal portions of our troops took possession of the heights covered by a tremendous fire of grape and shrapnell from ten pieces of artillery. So soon as the hills were occupied, and the defile cleared by the guns, the principal column with the baggage moved along the dell, and reached Ali Musjid the following evening, with very trifling loss. The enemy were supposed to have mustered not fewer than 10,000 men; but finding their position completely turned, they seemed speedily to have lost all confidence, and fled. The remaining thirteen miles, leading on to Lundee Khana, at the head of the pass, was traversed almost without opposition by the evening of the 9th.
On the 10th our rear guard reached Dakka, eight miles further on. It is probable that by this time the Khyberrees had heard of General Sale’s victory on the 7th, and become completely disheartened. The casualties incurred in the course of this most perilous advance, are singularly insignificant in amount; and the dangers of the ascent are now viewed as almost entirely over. It is probable that Jellalabad will be attained by the 15th of April, the distance to be now travelled over being no more than 47 miles. Thus by the admirable skill of the arrangements, and the patience, valour, and good conduct of the troops, has the Khyber Pass, hitherto believed to be impregnable in the face of opposition, been forced. The effect of this will at once be felt throughout Central Asia. Candahar, Ghuznee, and Cabul, had, within the period of modern history, often yielded to the arms of victorious enemies: the Khyber Pass was never forced till now.
The Illustrated London News, London England, Week Ending June 11, 1842
