Connecticut western news., 1876-08-04
MODERN CRUEL WARFARE.
The Horrors of the Egyptian Abyssinia Campaign--FrOm 100000 to 100000 Men Either Killed or Wounded!


 Men Either Killed or Wounded,
 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 know-certainly feared to publish the truth, and not without good reason. Perhaps it was a 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 at from 50, ,000 to 100, 900 fight ing men. More than this, the day after the last days fight, King Johns army fell back one march and sent in 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 should 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 WET 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-co 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 characteristically. 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 se- verely wounded in the leg, then cap- tured, stripped to the skin, arms tied behind his back until the pains from 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 woolen blankets in addition to the ordinary night clothing are but com fortable. Then, several days after cap- ture, to see in all directions prisoners and friends forced by the bricks of spears to flee for their lives, and then barbarously shot down, with tho 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 a neighboring hill where the foul deed could be more privately omplished-more 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 mi-circular shaped sabers, whose grating suggested thoughts of such hor- rible mangling by their scimeters, dull and awkwaardly yielded, 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- init, when horseman, it is supposed from King John, ordered their return, and our friends escape from 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, M. D., and Major Wilson, M. D. Dr. Johnson has recovered; the other two will in time. Let me assure you that if 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.