3-052-445 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Afghan War: defence of the British position at Sherpore, Cabul - north end of Sherpore defences, 1880. 'Our view of the north end of the Sherpore defences, including the Gatling gun bastion, occupied by the 5th Punjaub Infantry, does not require much explanation. It should, however, be observed that part of the wall of the cantonments here was blown down by the enemy on the day before the entry of the British army. This is seen to the left of the loopholed tower. An extemporised defence was made by placing a number of artillery limbers close together, so that their wheels interlocked, in front of which a trench was dug, and an abattis of boughs laid on its outer side. A few yards outside of this were stretched, upon tent-pegs, several lengths of telegraph wire, beyond which was another abattis, all which is shown in the Illustration. The space between the loopholed tower and the bastion is blocked up with long arm-chests, which were filled with earth. To the right is the unfinished bastion, with a rough breastwork, overlooking the plain'. From a sketch by Surgeon W. A. Simmons (or Simmonds). From "Illustrated London News", 1880.