The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-06-11
Abyssinin.

| dEN. NAPIER 8 GENERAL ORDER
DESTRUCTION OF MAGDALA.- fol-
lowing general order of Gen. Napier
was read to the English army before
continuing the march from Talanta
plateau, seaward:
SOLDIERS OF THE ARMY OF ABYs-
sIN1A: The Queen and the people of
England entrusted to you q very
arduous and difficult expedition, to
release our countrymen from long
and painful captivity, and to vindi-
cate the honor Of our country, which
had been outraged by Theodorus,
King of Abyssinia. / congratulate
you with all my heart on tho noble
way in which you have fulfilled the
command of our sovereign. You
| have traversed, often under O tropi-
cal sun or amid storms of rain and
sleet, four hundred miles of noun
famous and difficult country. You
have crossed many steep and pre-
cipitous ranges of mountains more
than ten thousand feet in altitude,
where your supplies could not keep
pace with you. When you arrived
within reach of your enemy, though
with scanty food, and somo of YOU
Tor many hours without either food
or water, in four days you passed the
formidable chasm of the Bashilo,
and defeated the army of Theodorus,
which poured down upon you from
their lofty fortress iii full confidence
OF victory. A host of many thou
sands have laid down their arms at
your feet You have captured and
destroyed upwards of thirty pieces of
artillery, many of great weight aud
efficiency, with ample stores of anl-
munition. You have stormed the
almost inaccessible Fortress of Mag
dala, defended by Theodorus with
the desperate remnant of his chiefs
and followers. After you forced the
entrance, Theodorus, who never
showed mercy, distrnstcd the offer
of mercy held out to him, aud died
by his own hand. You have released
not only the British captives, but
those of other friendly nations. You
have unlooscd the chains of more
than ninety of the principal chiefs
of Abyssinia. NIagtlala, on which
so many victims have been slaughter
ed, has been committed to the flames,
and remains only Il scorched rock.
Our complete and rapid success is
due, first. to the mercy God, whose
hand. feel assured, has been over
us Ill Just cause. Secondly, to the
high: spirit with which You have been
inspired. Indian soldiers have for
gotten the prcjudiccs of race and
creed to keep pace with their Euro
pcan comrades. Never has an army
entered on war with moro honora-
bio feelings than yours; this has
carried you through many fatigues
and difficulties; you bave been only
eager for the moment when yon
could close with your enemy. The
remembrance Of your privations will
pass away quickly, but Your gallnnt
exploit will live in history. The
Queen and the people of England
Will appreciate your services. On
my part, as your commander, I thank
you for your devotion to your duty
and the good discipline you have
maintained. Not a single complamt
has been made against II soldier of
lclds injured or villagers wlfully
~ Ai' pSAooh vi l'IopcIlS. Ne
must not forget what is due to our
comrades who have been laboring
for us in the sultry climate Of Zooll
and the pass of koomnylec, or in the
monofony of the posts which lave
maintained our communication.
Each and all would have given all
they possessed to be with us. But
they deserve orr gratitude. I shall
watch over your safety to the mo-
ment OF your re embarkation, aud to
the end OF my life remember with
PRIDE thnt have commanded YOU.
r. NAPIER,
Lleut. Cen, COMMANDMENTS Chief.
CAMP DELsULo, April 90, 1868.
The following is description of
the destruction Of Mngdala:
Two days after, orders were given
that the fortress should be DESTROYED
and burned, and to tile ROYAL En-
gineers, under the direction of Can't.
Goodfcllow, the task WAS assigned.
Before they commenced on tic work
Of destruction Your correspondent
rode up to take IL final look ut the
chamber Of horrors, the palaces. the
harems, the treasure houses. the
church, and other scenes of interest
within. At 3 o'clock p. NJ, on the