Majesty's Government, by the movement of troops, intends to
exact retribution for the massacre of the Embassy and to aid His
Highness the Amir in restoring order.

Let all those not concerned in the massacre rest assured, provided
no opposition is shown, His Highness the Amir, in communications
received by me, expresses his friendship, and wishes to continue
amicable relations. As the British troops under my command will
shortly enter the Logar valley I write to reassure you, and expect
that you will inform all the residents of the valley not concerned
in the late hateful massacre the purport of the Proclamation, and
give every assistance in providing carriage and supplies required
for the troops for which adequate hire and payment will be made. I
hope that after the above assurance all the headmen will come to
meet me in my camp where I shall be glad to see them.]

[Footnote 15: This letter is given in full in the Appendix.]

* * * * *

CHAPTER L.
1879

Hector Macdonald and Sher Mahomed--Yakub Khan
--A Proclamation and an Order--The _maliks_ of Logar
--Attack on the Shutargardan--Reconnoitring roads leading to Kabul

On the 27th September I made over the Kuram command to
Brigadier-General T. Gordon, and set out for Kushi, where Baker was
now encamped.

Just before I started I had the pleasure of welcoming my old friend
and brother officer, Major-General J. Hills, V.C., C.B., who had
been with Sir Donald Stewart as Assistant Adjutant-General from the
beginning of the campaign, and who had, the moment he heard there was
to be an advance on Kabul, come with all speed to place his services
at my disposal. Although I had no employment for Hills at the time,
there would be plenty for all to do at Kabul, and I was delighted to
have so good a soldier with me.

My escort consisted of the Head-Quarters of the Cavalry brigade, one
squadron 9th Lancers, 5th Punjab Cavalry, and detachments of the 5th
and 28th Punjab Infantry. We had only gone about halfway through the
pass when I pushed on with the Cavalry, in the hope of reaching the
camp on the top before dark, and was very soon met by twenty-five men
of the 92nd Highlanders, who brought me a note from Colonel Perkins,
R.E., in command on the Shutargardan, warning me that we were sure to
be attacked. We had not proceeded far, when at the narrowest part of
the defile w