Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-08-17
MODERN CRUEL WARFARE.

VuVDO1sAN S1sOAA w AASA <2AsS'
The Horrors of the Egyptian Abyssinia
Campaisn--From 100000 to 100000
Men Either Killed or Woundedi
From private letter from an officer
of the khedive's army in Egypt We take
the following: The result of the fight
ing in Abyssinia between the Egyptian
troops and King Johns army, the gov
ernment at first, it appears, feared to
certainly feared to publish the
truth, and not without good reason.
Perhaps it was continuation of her
traditional Oriental policy which has
worn rut out of which she can't lift
herself, but must sooner or later be
iolted. A part of the Egyptian forces
met King Johns army and gave battle,
the fighting continuing three days. At
the end of this time King John had lost
nearly half his army in killed, wounded
and missing; the killed, wounded and
missing of Egyptians totaling about the
same as the killed and wounded of the
opposing forces, which was variously es-
timated of from $4,000 to 1000 fight
ing men. More than this, the day after
the last days fight, King Johns army
fell back one march and sent In q flag
of truce asking for an armistice. He
said he had lost a great many of his
people in battle, as he supposed we had
also; that he did not wish to see any
more blood shed; that he was friend
of the khedive, and wished to live in
peace with him. He thought terms OF
peace could be agreed on if the armis
tice shonld be granted. It was granted
and fighting ceased. The greater part
of the troops have returned, and peace
practically has been restored, though.
some of the details in winding up may
not yet have been concluded.
As it was publicly known and pro-
claimed to the Abyssinians that their
territory was not coveted by Egypt; that
the war was made only against King
John and his followers, by the powers
of whom it had been inaugurated, it is
incomprehensible why the general facts
the results of the campaign-could
not have been published, and confidence
and respect, if not credit, sustained. To
an American it is only necessary to say
that the American staff officers connect
ed with the expedition did their duty
Enthusiastically. Three were wounded,
one Of whom was captured, though after
ward released, after some suffering from
Ill treatment.
You may form some idea of his suf-
fering, the horrors of his dreams night
and day, when tell you that he was Sc
verely wounded in the leg, then cap
tured, stripped to the skin, arms tied
behind his back until the pains FRONT the
swelling became excruciating; made to
walk thus for days without meat or
drink, in the unobscured sun of Abys-
sinia, with the full conviction that If he
did not keep up with the horsemen he
would be murdered. He was made to
sleep without cover (naked) in the
mountains, where the nights are so cold
that two wooden blankets in addition to
the ordinary night clothing are but COM
Portable. Then, several days after cap
ture, to see in all directions prisoners
and friends forced by the pricks of
spears to fee for their lives, and then
barbarously shot down, with the fear
every moment that his turn would come
next; yes, in the midst of the frightful
massacre, to be seized by three or four
Abyssinians and hurled to neighboring
hill where the foul deed could be more
privately accomplished In har-
mony with the usages of the people; and
in ascending to be halted at large rock
behind which he thought to say adieu to
the earth, and on which two of his
guardsmen and executioners sharpened
their semi circular shaped sabers, whose
grating suggested thoughts of such hor-
rible mangling by their scimeters, dull
and awkwaardly welded, as to find
pleasurable emotions at the sight OF an
Abyssinian with gun near by, whom
he begged to shoot him. Every large
rock they came to was the same thing
repeated, until they got near the sum-
NIT, when a horseman, it is supposed
from King John, ordered their return,
and our friends escape from a barbarous
death.
For two weeks he was guarded by
boys, whom he was obliged to follow,
and who delighted in torturing him by
threatening motions of mutilation and
death.
OF the headquarters staff three were
killed and eight wounded. Among the
wounded are Col. Dye, Major johnson,
NJ. D., and Major Wilson, NJ. D. DIR.
johnson has recovered; the other two
will in time. Let me assure you that II
the expedition did not meet the expec-
tations of those persons who thought
the subjugation of Abyssinia was in
tended, it was not the fault of Ameri-
cans.