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532 Mahommed Akbar, second son of Dost Mahommed, arrived at Cabul, and was invested with the command of the hostile army, to whose movements he gave an augmented energy. He had already distinguished himself by his military talents, having been employed by his father in defending the frontier against the Sikhs.

The village of Beymaroo, lying to the north of the cantonment, on the road leading to Kohistan, was now the only quarter through which, at high prices, supplies of provisions were procured; and the enemy, by marching out in great force every morning, and occupying it during the day, much narrowed this resource. It being necessary, therefore, to get possession of it, Brigadier Shelton marched out a large force at two o'clock in the morning of the 23rd for that purpose. Having occupied the brow of the height, and thrown the enemy into great confusion, he might then have carried the village, but unfortunately delayed the attack till daylight. By this time the natives poured out from the city large bodies, estimated at 10,000 men, and covered all the surrounding heights. The British troops were led against them, and maintained a long contest with various fortune, suffering most severely from the juzails, whose range the musket could by no means equal. The Affghans having sustained several checks, and being discouraged by the fall of Abdoolah Khan, one of their greatest chiefs, began a retreat towards the city, abandoning a gun which they had captured. The cavalry were then ordered to pursue them; but having been for a long time kept in an injudicious position, exposed to the enemy's fire, they shrunk back, and would not obey the summons. This the Affghans no sooner perceived than they renewed the assault with augmented courage and energy. The square of British infantry was broken; panic spread through, the troops; all attempts to rally them were vain; and, finally, the whole rushed in confused and tumultuary flight to the cantonment. A fire opened on the pursuers by part of the Shah's force, and a charge made by Lieutenant Hardyman with a fresh troop