ion. He successively and successfully
discharged the duties of drill-instructor, pay-sergeant, and other
non-commissioned offices, and held the rank of colour-sergeant at
the commencement of the Afghan campaign, wherein he repeatedly so
greatly distinguished himself.

"Macdonald's first engagement with an enemy was at Jagi Thanni. On
that occasion General Roberts, escorted by the 9th Lancers and 5th
Punjaub Cavalry, advanced from Ali Kheyl to Kushi, and, while
passing by Jagi Thanni, he was attacked by about 2000 Mangals and
Machalgah Ghilzais, who there lay in ambush. Fortunately, early
intimation of the Mangals' hostile intentions reached Fort
Karatiga, a mile or two off, and a party of 45 men of the 3rd
Sikhs, under Jemander Shere Mahomed Khan, was at once sent out to
reconnoitre, and, as firing was soon afterwards heard in the
direction the party had gone, Colour-Sergeant Macdonald promptly
turned out with 18 men of his own regiment, and overtaking the
Sikhs, he took over command of the whole, and, gallantly leading
his little force across a difficult river and up a steep hill, he
boldly attacked and dislodged the enemy from a strong position on
the crest, but not before four of the Sikhs were killed, and
Deputy-Surgeon-General Townsend, who rode near General Roberts,
severely wounded. The enemy's loss here was about 30 killed.
Macdonald's brilliant services on this occasion averted something
like a disaster. In a Divisional Order, Roberts wrote:--'The above
non-commissioned officer and a native officer, with a handful of
soldiers, drove before them a large body of Mangals, who had
assembled to stop the road, ... the great coolness, judgment, and
gallantry with which they behaved.' In his despatch, dated Cabul,
15th October, and published in the _Gazette_, General Roberts
further said:--'Meanwhile, a warm engagement had for some time
been carried on in the direction of Karatiga, and presently large
numbers of the enemy were seen retreating before a small
detachment of the 92nd Highlanders and 3rd Sikhs, which had been
sent out from Karatiga, and which was, with excellent judgment and
boldness, led up a steep spur commanding the defile. The energy
and skill with which this party was handled reflected the highest
credit on Colour-Sergeant Hector Macdonald, 92nd Highlanders, an