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The fort was then under siege with only seven days supply of food and their water supply cut off. Codrington was in chief command and Pottinger, a former artillery officer, commanded the guns. Salisbury was dying and Hanrahan Incapacitated. This left Haughton, Rose and Byrne as the only Europeans to keep the Gurkhas fighting. On 5 November Codrington was mortally wounded in the chest and Pottinger received a severe wound in the thigh. On 6 November Sgt-Maj Byrne was mortally wounded and Codrington died. The Gurkha numbers were badly reduced and all suffered from thirst and fatigue.
The enemy had a complete cordon round the fort and the siege continued until on 11 November all water was exhausted and sorties for fresh supplies were unsuccessful. By the 13th the original garrison of 740 had been reduced to less that 400. 100 had been killed (including 12 of the 56 Punjabi gunners), 50 taken prisoner while 200 were wounded and unable to fight. That afternoon the guns ceased firing and Haughton and Ensign Rose went to find out the reason. They were met by an artillery deserter who seemed to be offering terms of surrender. Haughton grabbed the man and was attacked by the Punjabi subadar who inflicted several severe sword cuts severing the muscles of the back of his neck and almost amputating his right hand.The remainder of the Punjabi artillerymen then fed fled the fort. With Ensign Rose Haughton, his artery spouting blood, managed to find refuge in the roof of the barracks.
The Sepoys were also now out of control and they robbed the treasury and Capt Codrington's quarters. It was then decided to quit the fort. Dr Grant spiked the guns before amputating Haughton's hand. Haughton was set on a horse and with Maj Pottinger led out the the advance group. Dr Grant accompanied the main body and Ensign Rose and the QM-Sgt commanded the rear. Discipline was at an end and the party gradually diminished. Dr Grant disappeared presumed killed and Ensign Rose was also killed. Finally the only survivors to reach Kabul were Maj Pottinger and his munshi Mohan Bir, Lt Haughton and his orderly Man Singh and a native sutler.
