At some point during the closing action Captain Souter wrapped the colors around his waist to prevent them from being captured. The Afghans upon seeing this thought that he might be a high ranking official and rather than kill him dragged him away to  be use as a ransom hostage. Souter was later exchanged as were many of the other Officers, their wives and family member. Lady Sale one of the hostages given up early in the Retreat wrote a first hand account of her experiences of the march. Her book, A Journal of the First Afghan War  is a compelling story of the Retreat and Confinement and the suffering endured.