The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-04-30
ImporS ant from Abyssinia--stormin
and Capture of the Encny's Strong-
hold 4IkilliuRo or the King.

Our special cable dispatches from
London dated yesterday, give in-
observation-disclosures from Abyssinia.
The British forces having come up
with tho enemy, two severe engage
ments WI ere fought, one on the 10th
inst, GOOD Friday,) resulting in
the defeat of King Theodorus' army,
with heavy loss, the casualties on
the side of the British amounting to
one officer and fifteen men wounded.
Evidently hopeless of maintaining
his position. the King surrendered
up the European captives who were
the cause of the war, but refused to
yield up himself and his army. Gen.
Napier then gave him twenty-four
hours to decide, but it would seem
that the African monarch remained
determined upon resistance. The
British army was by this time in
front of Shilasse, and was preparing
to storm it, when, on the 18th, the
chiefs in command surrendered this
formia liable position. apparently with
out lstempting to defend it, and
many thousands Of their soldiers
threw down their arms, and gave
themIelves up to the victors. Gen.
NapiG's despatch intimates that the
revere of the 10th had so disheart-
eninaa an effect'upon the Abyssinians
that hey became quite demoralized.
The surrender of Shilasse and the
defedion of the great body of his
army compelled the King to retire
insies the fortress Of Magdala, nc
comlhnied by the remnant of his
forcd that had continued faithful to
him. He was vigorously followed
by tip British, who, on the same
day, the 13th,) assaulted and carried
the Drtress by storm, with loss to,
the 4byssiniaus, according to the first
repdts, of sixty-eight killed and 200
woul lded. The loss of the British
wassmall.
Among the Abyssinians killed was
King Theodorus, who was found
dead having received a shot through
the bead. Our special correspond
enth Abyssinia states that some as
serad he was killed in battle, while
othrs affirmed that he committed
sudden the latter event, we pre-
sunP, to prevent his capture by the
British. Gen. Napier, in his report
to SIR Stafford Northcote, states that
thel King was killed defending his
position to the last. The fortress of
Ma5dala is described as having been
of +barbaric splendor. Itwas plum
delsd by the troops, who obtained,
am,ng other booty, four gold crowns,
S29 thousands of silver plates
and large quantity of jewels. The
obpct of the expedition having been
accomplished, the British army was
to return Immediately, the released
captives having already started for
Europe.
It must be admitted that the Bri-
tish have triumphed in o much
briefer space of time than even them
selves expected. The detection of
the Kings soldiers, added to the
surrender of Shilasse, were no doubt
the principal causes of this easy and
almost bloodless success. Hitherto
the expedition has not been very
popular one in England, where
A~Ac 4't VA O-APShoiNO Mul Nuo uppiC-
hended Indeed, but for the circum-
stances which attended the downfall
of Thcodorus, it is probable that the
rainy season, now near at hand,
would have arrived and found the
Abyssinians still defiant; and in such
an event q cessation of hostilities, if
not retreat, would have been the
result. The war being over and the
British triumphant, however, the
question arises as to what the future
plans and purposes of the victors
are. The death of King Theodorus,
who was the only modern negro
monarch that succeeded in maintain
ing any semblaice of government in
Africa, will thlaw Abyssinia into n
state OF anarchy--if the Africans were
ever in any other state. Will the
british retire rom the country
altogether, or viii they wait until the
rainy seasons are over, and then again
advance and takepermanent posses