The Portland daily press., 1868-04-28
THE ASYsglNlAN WAR.
Details Of General Napier's Victory.
Capture of Magdala and Death of
King TheOd0rus.
The Kings Camp q Scene of Bar
barrie Spge7sdor.


NEW YORK, April 27.-The following rela-
tive to the Abyssinian victory are specials to
the Heral1:
LONDON, April 26-Our special correspon-
dent (of the Herald) marching with the ad-
vance of Napier's army towards Magdala, re-
ports by telegram-delayed in transit-dated
the 9TH inst, that news was received at head
quarters from army spies to the effect that
Iheodorus intended moving directly on the
British. General Napier Immediately crossed
the Judah river to the plain of Tanta, which
he commenced to traverse. Many animals
were lost in crossing terrible ravine 1t is
eight mules wide, having descent of three
thousand five hundred feet and au ascent ex-
tending four thousand five hundred feet on
the other side. The Queens army having ac-
compllshed both, marched over the "King's
Road" thirty feet wide, onward. Gen. Napier
then halted and reconnoitered the position at
Magdala in person. He saw the kings camp
with intrenched defences, which appeared i'm
pregnabe. Gen. Napier would reach Bespilo
river next day. The 9Th of April Mr.. Rassam,
one OF the captiyes, forwarded letter to Gen.
Napier, dated Magdala, 6tA, in which he said
Beware, the king is moving!'
Telegraphic dispatches have been received
here from the correspondent of the Herald in
Abyssinia. The first is dated on the banks of
the Bespllo river, In the advance toward The
odorus camp, the 9Th inst. and the second
when marching with party in reconnois-
sance, in front of Magdala. The correspondent
says that to-day, the 9Th, Theodorus has twen-
ty-elght guns mounted outside the works. and
mostly in front of his camp, bearing on the
English advance. Gen. Napier forwarded
letter to the King, officially demanding the re-
lease of the captives. The English army ar
my is concentrated on Bespio river The
troops are furnished with scaling ladders, tor
pedoes and other engines OF assault, and were
held In readiness for an attack on the fortress
of Magdala.
A telegram from the Heralds correspondent
dated before the fortress on Good Friday, the
10th, reports that the British army have arriv-
ed here in front of the Kings stronghold. The
troops are six miles distant from the fortress,
The Kings camp is situated on great height
in full view. The English will assault it yery
soon.
A third telegram of the 18th of April saws a
truce which had been agreed on between Gen.
Napier and Theodorus, terminated early this
morning. Immediately after the termination
the King not having surrendered the captives,
Gen. Napier placed himself at the head of the
first and second brigades of his army and
moved up the hill toward the fortress as far as
Shillassi This portion of the strong work was
surrendered to Gen. Napier by the chiefs in
command after brisk attack in which the At
rican troops were defeated. Theodorus OBJ
serving the English advance and it's first fruits
retreated into the centre of the Magdala works
on the plateau, having first planted five guns
at the base. When Gen. Napier came in sight
with his brigades, the Kings artillery opened
on the advance with these guns in the pres
medately with twelve FOUNDER Armstrong
guns and seven inch mountain mortar rocket
guns, throwing rockets into the place.
The Kings works were carried after vigor-
GUS resistance. Theodorus lost during the en-
gagement go men killed and 200 wounded The
English had fifteen, rank and file, wounded.
After the works were completely taken, Theo-
dorus was found dead by the English soldiers
IN the centre of his stronghold. He had been
shot through the head Some say he was killed
6nr1nU n ~ of arc oil 10 ,a
opinion that he committed suicide when the for
tu1e OF the day turned against him. The Kings
body was recognized by the British captlves
when released. Theodorus two sons were TAX
en- prisoners, and all European prisoners were
set free. The interior of Fortress Magdaa pre-
scented an extraordinary and splendid sight
The place was glowing almost with barbarc
splendor. The British troops plundered it at
once. The men found four royal crowns made
of solid gold, $4,000 in silver, thousands of
silver plates, several lots of very rich jewels,
and number of other articles of great value
Gen. Napier takes by his victory the twenty
eight large guns used against him, five thousand
stand of small arms, ten thousand shields, ten
thousand spears, and smany other articles of
war. The liberated British captives will start
for home the 18th of April. Gen. Napier's
army will reorganize, fall in and return to In
dia and England.
LONDON, April 26 Foren oon.-Two dis
patches from Gen. Napier to Sir Stafford North
cote have been received. One is not dated,
and says there had been an engagement be-
tween the English troops and the army of
Theodorus before Magdala on Good Friday,
April 10th, when the King was defeated with
heavy loss On the English side, Capt Rob-
erts, of the 4th Infantry, was wounded in the
| arm, with fifteen men. None of the British
were killed. During the next two days Theo-
dorus surrendered all the European captives
and artisans held by him, but had not surren-
dered himself as vanquisbed in war,
He was allowed "a hours from the 18th of
| April, in the morning, to decide as to his
course. The Kings troops were completely
demoralized. Gen. Napier's second dispatch
is dated the 14th of April. He says Theodo-
rus army at that time was greatly dishearten-
ed In consequence of severe losses during the
| operation and action of the 10th, and that the
| chiefs had surrendered the most formidable
| position on the approach to Maedala, called
| Shuloose, and many thousand native soldiers
had laid down their arms. Theodorus then re-
| tired into the fortress of Magdala with the
troops which remained faithful. Gen. Napier
| ordered an assault on the 18th of April, under
| cover of an excellent fire from the Armstrong
| steel guns and rocket battery, The troops found
| the ascent to the gates of Magdala of the most
formidable character, The King was killed
inside, defending himself and the position to
the last. The General reports the loss of the
| British small, and the Queens army will set
out on their return tom orrow, April 14th.
LONDON, April 26-P. M.-Still later advices
from Abyssinia, dated Zoula April 18Th have
been received. The very latest reports at that
point, from the scene of action in Magdala
represent that 1900 native troops laid down
their arms to Gen. Napier. Theodorus had SOC
| soldiers killed and 1900 wounded in the late
engagement.
Advices from Gen. Napier's headquarters in
Magdala, state that the Europeans lately held
captVes there, numbering sixty souls, includ-
my heh, women and children, were already en-
rouGe TO Aoula for home, and the entire force
| VI IHtOuOTuS armV either killad d