On March 27th the famous march to Chitral began, and to join up with the force marching from India Colonel J. G. Kelly set out with his little force of 400 of the 32nd Pioneers and 40 Kashmir Sappers, with two mountain guns, from Gupis. Laboriously climbing the hill tracks, a foot deep in snow, until almost snowblind, his men reached Ghizr, 10,000 feet above sea-level, where a body of Hunza-Nagar levies were encamped. These he added to his force; then Kelly endeavoured to push through the great carpet of snow 3 feet thick. It was of no avail, for the pitiless snow blinded his men, and he had to return to Ghizr until it stopped, which it did on April 3rd. Of the heroic march of these men, of the difficulties they faced and undauntedly overcame, one is tempted to write at great length, but Sir George Robertson does fitting justice to this party of his rescuers in "Chitral, the Story of a Minor Siege."
The main force from India under Major-General Sir Robert Low advanced across the Malakund Pass after a smart fight on April 3rd, in which the Gordons and Scottish Borderers, "racing for the honour of their regiments ... swarmed over the Dechoities at a wonderful speed, and breathless but triumphant had crowned the pass by 2 o'clock, the 60th Rifles being close up." Here the British force lost 11 killed, and 47 wounded. The Jandol Valley was attacked on April 17th, and occupied next day. On the 19th General Gatacre started with a couple of battalions and some guns for Dir and Chitral; pushing across the rugged Janbatai ridge, he learned that the garrison of Chitral was almost at its last gasp--and five days' march lay between him and his goal! He therefore asked permission from Sir Robert Low to make a dash for Chitral with 500 of the Buffs, a few native sappers, and a couple of mountain guns; but when sanction was obtained it was learned that Kelly had reached Chitral, and that there was no need to hurry.
=The Defence of Chitral.=--Meanwhile Surgeon-Major Robertson had "directed" by a gesture Amir-ul-Mulk to leave the Mehtarship, and had raised in his stead his little brother Shuja-ul-Mulk. Then on March 3rd an unfortunate and desperate fight took place, in which Surgeon Whitchurch earned the V.C. by one of the most unselfish actions on record, and some devoted Goorkas gained the Order of Merit for the rescue of a mortally wounded officer. On March 4th the siege began in earnest, and preparations were made for the defence. Within the walls were 550 persons to be fed; to defend the place about "340 riflemen, but, excluding those in hospital, only 83 Sikhs--good shots, and trustworthy soldiers," and 52 Chitralis. How well they held the fort until the enemy melted away on April 18th, 1895, is one of the glorious records of British pluck and Indian devotion and gallantry. During the siege, and the reconnaissance of March 3rd, 41 were killed, and 62 wounded, the latter including the commander.