In the meantime, there had been sharp fighting in the citadel.  Our men, after forcing their way through numerous dark passages, in sonic places so narrow and low that they were forced to crawl singly on their hands and knees, at length arrived there; but as there were a great number of approaches to this their last place of refuge, our men got broken up into small detached parties, and entered it at different places.  One party reached the place where Mehrab Khan, at the head of the chiefs who had joined his standard, was sitting with his sword drawn, &c.  The others seemed inclined to surrender themselves, and raised the cry of “Aman!” but the Khan, springing on his feel, cried, “Aman, nag!” equivalent to “Mercy be d—­d,” and blew his match; but all in vain, as he immediately received about three shots, which completely did his business; the one that gave him the “coup de grace,” and which went through his breast, being fired by a man of our regiment, named Maxwell.  So fell Mehrab Khan, having fulfilled his promise to General Willshire, and died game, with his sword in his hand, in his own citadel.

Other parties, however, were not so fortunate, as each being too weak, the enemy generally offered a determined resistance, and several, after giving themselves up, finding the numbers to whom they had surrendered smaller than they had at first appeared, turned upon them suddenly; for which, however, they suffered in the long-run, as the soldiers, at last, maddened by this conduct, refused quarter, and fired at once into whatever party they met, without asking any questions.

At length the few survivors, being driven to their last stronghold at the very top of the citadel, surrendered on condition of their lives being granted to them; when one loud and general “hurrah!” proclaimed around that Kelat was ours.  The greatest part of the garrison had, however, before this managed to make their escape over the hills.  Dickenson, while he was lying wounded by my side, saw quantities of them letting themselves down the walls of the citadel by means of ropes, shawls, &c.

Dooly, the most faithful of his chiefs and followers, remained by Mehrab Khan to the last.  These were all either taken prisoners or killed.  Besides the Khan himself, the Dadur chief, who had been the cause of great annoyance to us in our way up, and the Governor of the Shawl district, were among the slain.  The only two men of his council of any note among the survivors are at present prisoners in our camp, on their way to Bengal.

Thus ended this short, but decisive affair, which I consider to be a much more gallant one than that of Ghuzni, both in regard to the numbers engaged on each side and the manner in which it was taken.  We merely halted for an hour, and then went slap at it, as if it was merely a continuation of our morning’s march.  General Willshire was exceedingly pleased with the result, as well he might be, and issued a very complimentary address to the force engaged, the next day.  I hope and conclude his fortune will be made by it.