New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-06-06
ABYSSINIA.
GEN. NAPIER's GENERAL oRDER-DEsTRUCTI0N
OF MAGDALA.

GEN. NAPIER's GENERAL oRDER-DEsTRUCTION
OF MAGDALA.
The following General Order Of Gen. Napier
was read to the English army before continuing the
march from Talanta plateau seward SOLDIERS OF TnB
ARMY OF ABYssINIA: The Queen and the people OF Ed
gland inrusted to you very arduous and difficult expe
dition release counrymen from long and painful
captivity and TO vindcate the honor OF country,
which had outraged by Theodorus King of Abyssi
MIA congratulate you with all my heart on the noble
way in which you have fulfilled the commands OF our
sovereign You have trayersed often under tropical
sun or amid storms OF rain and sleet 400 miles OF noun
steep and preclptous ranges Of mountains more
than 10000 feet in altitude, where your sup
p arrived within i'm reach P Of YOUR enemy though
with scanty food and of you for many hours with
mdable chasm of the Basho and defeated the army of
I9eodoras which poured down upon you IRON saet
many thousands have laid down their at feet
You have captured and destroyed upwards Of 80 pieces
OF artillery many OF great weight and efeieney with
ample stores OF ammunition. You have stormed the
almost Inaccessible Fortress OF Magdaa, defended by
Theodors with the desperate remnant OF MS eheIs ana
followers. After you forced the entrance, Theodorns
held out to him. and died by his own hand. You nave
released not only the British captyes but those OF other
than 90 Of the principal chiefs Of Abyssina Magdaa,
on which so many victims nave been slaughtered mas
scorched rock our complete and rapid is due,
first the mercy Of God, whose hand, feel assured,
tbe ReR S spirit with which You have been in.
spred Indian soldiers have forgotten the preudees OF
rades. Never has an army entered on war with more
honorable feelings than yours this has carried you
only eager the moment when you could close with
your enemy. The remembrance OF your privatons Will
history The queen and tho people OF England will APP
precate your services On my part as your commander
discipline you have maintained. Not a single complaint
has been made against soldier OF fields injured OF VIZ
layers wilfuy mOlested IN person or property we must
forget what is due TO comrades who have been
aborng for the sultry climate Zooa and the pass
L .aN fn
have maintained our communications; Each ana az
would have given all they possessed to be with us BUY
they deserve gratitude. shall watch over your
safety TO the moment of your standardization and to the
end Of my life remember with pride that have com
Northumberland, COmmanderin-Chief.
Camp DetstiO April 30 1868.
The following is q description Of the destruction OF
Magdala
Two days after orders given that tho fortress
should be destroyed and burned aud TO the Royal En
task was assigned Before they commenced on the work
of destruction correspondent rode mp to take nnaI
look at the chamber OF horrors the palaces the harems
the houses the church, aud other scenes OF IN
erest within At o'clock p on the nth inst, the Tho
blown up and the engineers rereated northward each
house was set on fire A strong easeriy wind set IN
daa in flames. Three thousand houses we're burning
Ssta eSpoded ami proeees dew In every direc
ton 1t perfect sea Of fire set In the heavens the
flames rolled in crimson waves far over the GINS, burn
ing rafters like fiery swords swept the heights
the awful abyss below, setting fire 10 the brushwood
on tne slopes T every S'et u t a boSepnS
toward Suuign, each straw tent adding fuel aud eX
tending the awful world OF fire on to suase, Fale and
the Aroge valley The sheep that browsed on the hills
the dogs that still fingered the threshold OF their
tiers dwellings, the chickens about going TO rOost,
all consumed by the fiery waves that swept over the
nights The stencil from the holocaust was frghtfn.
500 human bodies must have been consumed by the
surging OF fire. which destroyed Magdala and the
neig hboring villages. Even the church wherein Theo
dos was buried which Gen. Napier had hoped TO save,
was also destroyed 10y the deyourng element The Calais
and people Of ShOa FASTENED TO the edge OF the Opp
site plateau witness the swift destruction which had
oyertaken the Amba aud its garrison, that had 50 l"
dehed aud held them at bay.