The weather was cold and wet, and the roads soft.
"It had been given out that the 1st Brigade were to go by the Shakot Pass.

This was only a ruse to deceive the enemy, and keep them from concentrating on the Malakand.

Subsequently an officer rode up the Shakot Pass, and found it to be much more difficult than the Malakand, and more strongly fortified.

Orders were sent, in the middle of the night, for the 1st Brigade to proceed at once to Dargai.

Early in the morning a reconnaissance was made by General Blood, and a large body of the enemy were seen.