The New York herald., 1868-06-29

Deiach Aema. ] relied also on my threat, which v
impressed on DeJach Aema OF unrelenting pursuit
and punishment OF all who might in any way be con-
cerned in the III treatment OF the European eaptiyes
already reached Magdafa that no corner OF Abyssi-
MA, however remote, could screen any one whom we
Lieutenant Prdeaux was met on his return TO
Magdala by Mr. Rassam and the remainder OF the Brit
ish prisoners and several Of those Of other nations,
all OF whom arrived In my camp before evening.
My further conditions were not complied with. At
the request Of Delach Alema had promised TO alb
the lapse OF fortyeght hours Theodore HAD not sur
rendered himself Reliable information reached me
that his army recovering from their defeats that
many soldiers who had been unable to return 10
Magdaa on the night OF the 10th had since rejoned
being made and that Theodore and his chiefs even
contemplated night attack on the Second brigade
encamped on the lower ground. ], therefore, pre-
l had originally intended first TO assault Fahla
from the side which fronted our camp, and was
under the altered condition OF the enemy, Theodore
having by death, wounds and desertion lost half Of
his army and his bravest chiefs, determined to at
tack Islamgie by the King 8 road.
All arrangements for this had been considered and
the positions for the artillery reconnoltred and fixed
upon, when information was brought to me that
Theodore had left Magdala and that many OF the
chiefs, with their followers wished to surrender.
agreed to accept their submission, and ordered
Sir Charles Stavely to advance lsamge, relaxing
no precautions that had considered necessary Tor
The scarcity OF water rendered it impossible to re-
tam any considerable body OF cavalry before Mag
daa; my personal escort under native oificer only
remained, and, with q few details OF other corps,
was sent under the command OF Lieutenant Scott,
Aid-de-C Camp TO watch the west side OF Magdaa,
where they took up good position until the arrival
OF the cavalry, under Colonel Graves,* who com
pleted the investment up to the Karilr Burr Gate,
which was watched by the Gallas.
The Bashilo was held by the headquarters detach-
ment OF the Scinde Horse, under MAJOR Briggs, ana
and twelfth cavalry under Major Miller to secure
that point and provide against the escape OF the
enemy in that direction by the Minjerra ravine.
A detachment of the Beloochees, under Lieu
tenant Bevie, assembled by the spurs of Fahla, and
occupied that important position, where they were
reinforced from the Second brigade by the headquar-
ters wing OF the Tenth native infantry, under Colonel
Field.
troops advanced, preceded by Captain Speedy, Of
the intelligence department, with small escort Of
the Third Light cavalry, under Lieutenant Colonel
L0ch to communicate with the chiefs who wished
to surrender, and TO prevent any misunderstanding.
No resistance was offered.
Sir Charles Staveey effected entrance
Islamgie and Seassie through dilicut crevice in
the rocky eScarpS.
innate either OF the numbers OF the armed who
laid down their weapons of the mass OF people,
men, women and children, whom We found on Is
lamgie.
1t was necessary to collect and guard the arms
that were surrendered.
1t was also necessary to send down all the disarmed
soldiers and the miscellaneous multitude that fol-
lowed them to the plain below before could proceed
actively against Magdala.
Theodore himself, having abandoned his attempt
to escape, was making preparations for defence and
Offering us defiance in front OF Magdala.
BY three O'Clock the Abyssinians having nearly all
cleared away from lslamgie ordered the attack OF
Magdala to be at once carried out
The entrance OF Magdala IS three hundred feet
above the terreplan Of Islamgie' and the ascent s
by an extremely steep and rugged path.
Viewing the very difficult nature OF the appro ach,
made the attack as strong as possible and massed
the whole OF my artillery fire TO cover 1t, in order
to Overpower the enemys resistance and prevent
the heavy casualties which should otherwise have
incurred.
gade led by the Thirty.third tDuke OF Wellingtonsl
regiment, accompanied by detachments Of the Royal
Engineers and Madras and Bombay sappers and
Miners with means Of clearing away obstacles.
The First brigade to be in close support.
concentrated the fire OF the artillery on the gate
way and the north end of the tort, which were
crowded with the houses OF the soldiers avoiding
much possible the higher part of the interior,
cuped by the Abysslnian prisoners and con-combat-
ants
The enemy carefully concealed themselves from
view, that the place seemed almos; deserted, al
be thronged with soldiers who had thrown away
their arms, released prisoners, and the numerous
voluntary and involuntary followers Of Theodores
fortunes
The artificial defences consisted Of stone walls,
loop-holed and surmounted by strong and thick bar
ways; the lower one built up in the interior, the
higher one being seventy feet above the lower, and
approached by very steep narrow path winding
The attack was ably conducted by Sir Charles
Staveey whose report is annexed, and CALAMITY
carried out by the troops Fortunately, the defences
very unscienti6cally constructed and, though
the attack was met by sharp fire from the enemy,
yet they could not direct 1t the head OF the Storm
ing party without exposing themselves to the rapid
and fatal fire OF the Snder rifle, and our loss was, in
the ROYAL Engineers and sappers and leading Sec
tons Of the Thirtythrd regiment were long before
they could force an entraDce and during that time
nine oflcers and men Of the Royal Engineers and
Sappers received wounds or contusions
At length an entrance was found by means of the
ladders, the gate and by the leading men OF the
thirty third who scaled rock and turned the de-
fences Of the gateway The enemy was driven to-
the second barricade and when that was carried all
Among the dead near the outer gateway were
found several Of Theodore's most devoted chiefs
One OF them, Dcjach Enjeda, had urged Theodore to-
massacre all the prisoners, course from which he
was dissuaded by others. Close to the second gate
way lay the body Of Theodore.
At the moment when the barricade was forced by
the Thirty-third Theodore IicIl, as have since
learned, by his own hand. His troops lmmedlately
ned some by the Kaifr Burr Gate, which was found
choked with arms that had been cast away in their
Or these fugitives. the greater part fell into the
hands OF the Gallas and the remainder, seeing the
fate OF their comrades and hearing the haunting
invitations OF the Gallas, returned TO Magdala and
surrendered.
The command of Magdaa was entrusted TO Briga
dier General Wiby, who held IL with the Thiryth
and wing OF the Forty-ilth regiments.
so thicky was the fortress inhabited and so great
the crowd OF people that it was no easy matter
Guards were placed at the gates and such places as
required protection.
care OF Mr.. Rassam, who was requested to do al
that in his power for their comfort and proec-
tion.
The Abysslnan prisoners were released from their
chains, and the very numerous body OF Abyssinans
whose histories and condition il was impossible at
the time to investigate were collected IN an open
space in the oi the fortress where they could
be protected, and where they quickly threw up
small huts tor themselves and renamed until their
final departure.
on the 18th the Fourth tKino's OWN regiment re-
leved the Thirty-hrd in Magdala, and the Forty
nfth were moved TO lslamgic to reinforce the de-
achment Of the tenth native infantry, under Colo.
mel Field, for the protection OF the captured arms
aud ordnance and to furnish working parties for
their destruction.
The inhabitants OF Magdala were collected at
Arogie, where great vigilance was necessary to pro-
tcct them from the Gaas, who were lying in wait both
day and night for opportunities OF plunderlng ana
destroying them.