The Evening critic., 1882-08-30
THE KAssAsSIN FIGHT.
Interesting Accounts From Official



wolsclcy telcgraphs from Kassassin Lock "a
follows. "MaIor-General Graham, command
ing this post, was attacked yesterday evening
by about twelve guns and eight bnttallons.
our men behaved extremely well and inflicted
severe loss upon tho enemy. AZ nrst General
Graham had but ave guns, two and ahalf
battallons and small detachment OF cavalry
and mounted infantry. Being reinforced by
another battalion, he attacked tho enemy In
front, while the first cavalry brigade, under
Colonel Sir Baker Russell, charged them In
flank, saberlng considerable number. The
cavalry wcre we'll handled by MaJorGeneral
Drury Lowe. General Graham's dispositions
were all that they should have been. His OPP
eratlons were carried on with the GOODNESS
with which he has always been we'll known.
Arab pasha was on the neld during tho action
The cavalry charged by moonlight, but were
unable to secure the rebel guns, which the
enemy withdrew during the night. They left,
however, all thelr ammunition. Our Killed
are Surgeon-Maior Shaw, six marine artillery
and one infantry sergeant. The wounded arc
one MAJOR two captains, two lieutenants and
Tho Ddiiy 1siegydph's correspondent says:
"Whon morning came great excitement pre-.
vailed In our camp at Kassassin In consc-
qucncc OF Egyptians showing themselves In
considerable forco In various directions. Gen
cral Graham presently sent Major Hart, with
an escort Of mounted infantry under command
and eXact position Of the enemy. Major Hart
proceeded In tho direction OF Tel.el- Kobir, and
opened nro with two guns. Lieutenant Pigott
dlsmounted his men ana returned the ire
briskly, his men holding their ground we'll
for some time, though eventually they wero
obliged 10 retire upon our camp.
"At / o'clock 1000 Bedouins appeared on
our right and front, extending two miles, but
on the guns opening lire ON them they retired.
About !, o'clock their Infantry advanced I'm
open order upon our left, bringing up several
guns, which they placed at short distances
from each other, and presently showed several
pieces OF artillery on our right. Our guns
opened nre and our men turned out to face tho
attack. The fight now waxed warm, and dur
Ing the whole afternoon the gallant little gar
rlson made good defense.
"Meanwbile the cavalry, which was Ave
miles IN our rear, had been twice signaled by
General Graham TO support him, and had ad-
vanced almost TO our position without encoun-
tering the enemy. By $50 p. m. the whole
force, consisting OF the First and Second Life
Guards, The Horse Guards, the Seventh ORA
goons, part of the Fourth Dragons, and the
Nineteenth Hussars, with four guns, set
out to succor the troops at Kassassin.
The march had to be made very cautiously.
rho moon was rising and showed the little
army OF horsemcn to strange advantage as
they passed over the shingly ground, the clank-
Ing OF their swords swelling unsteady through
the air. Colonel Stewart, who directed the
course OF the brigade, disposed the mon so ex-
cellently that he was able to pilot them safely
to the point OF contact without coming under
the fire OF the guns, which were then pounding
the Kassassin camp. He led tho way along the
ridge with the idea OF outflanklng the enemy
and turning his position. Colonel Russell
brought his men over four miles OF heavy
ground, so that by o o'clock, when they silently
halted on the stay line, they found them-
selves go close 10 the Egyptians that the shells
went over their heads In quick succession,
landing nearly half q mile In their rear.
"From the position tho cavalry had now
gained they could see the enemy close on the
horizon in very large numbers, whereupon
Colonel Russell dismounted tho cavalry and
ordered them TO open sharp musketry fire.
they had anticipated just then MaIor-General
Lowe dashed up and gavc the words OF com
mand TO "Mountl" Storm in line" and
"Charge!" Scarcely had the words been ut.
dragons rapidly obeyed the order, and with
suppressed but ominous murmurs swept on to
meet the foe.
SIN very few moments the horsemen had
charged the enemy with great bravery, ard
our guns having by this time ceased firing,
mingled with the Egyptians and cut them up
seriously. general rout hereupon enSued,
Arabis artillerymen getting their guns away,
upon the banks OF the canal, few dashing
Into the water TO save themselves.
1T would be diiIlcult 10 imagine n more COM
plete success than was seen. The bravery OF
the cavalry In thus grandly charging blind
position, the strength OF which 1t was impossi-
BILE TO tell, rendered the enemy almost panic
stricken. Russells horse fell dead, but he
seized another, and before the enemy's POSI-
ton was gained was well In front once more.
The enemy fell back rapidly, nor Is this to be
wondered ut when tho race between the
various regiments of English cavalry is con.
sidered, In which the Seventh Dragon Guards
eXerted themselves beyond description to DO
first. plying their sabrcs With considerable
alacrity. In this way our position at Kassassln
was relieved. We now command the country
leading 10 Telei.Kebir."