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The Peshawar Field Force spent the winter of 1878 at [[Jalalabad]]. Receiving intelligence of gathering groups of tribesmen, General [[Sam Browne]] sent out three forces at the end of March 1879. Two squadrons of cavalry under Brig-Gen Herbert Macpherson suffered a disaster crossing the Kabul river when 122 men were swept away. The second force failed to surprise the Afghans and returned without having met the enemy. The third force under [[Charles Gough|Brig-Gen Sir Charles Gough ]] engaged 5,000 Kugiani tribesmen defending a stone breastwork. The cavalry charged then retreated drawing the Afghans forward past waiting infantry who opened a destructive fire routing the enemy. Major Wigram Battye was killed in the action and Lieut Walter Hamilton won the VC.