The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-08-12

The first battle between the British and the
Egyptians since the bombardment of Alexan.
dria took place last Saturday, under command,
on the British side, OF Gen. Allison, who
sends to the government the following report
persistent native reports existing during
the last few days that Arab Pasha was retir.
ing frSm katr-el-Dwar upon Damanhour,
determined upon reconnaissance to ascertain
clearly whether Arab still held his original
position strongly. The left column com.
menced TO advance at Az Z. NJ. from the adj.
vance pickets of the Ramleh lines, moving by
both banks Of the Nahmoudieh canal and
soon came into action with the enemy, who
was strongly posted IN group of palm trees
on the eastern side, and in strong defensible
houses and gardens on the other side. These
positions were carried At this time Lieut..
Vyse Of the Sixtieth and one soldier were
killed. The enemy then took second posi-
ton, half mile IN the rear, upon the east
bank of the canal, among high crops and
houses and behind the irregular banks OF the
canal. From this position also the enemy
were driven with great loss l ACCOMPANY
the right column myself. AS soon as the enc
my observed US they opened fire with artillery.
pushed on as rapidly rs possible until |
reached point where the railway approached
nearest to the Mahmoudieh canal, and then
opened muske,ry fire upon the enemy lining
the banks of the canal Two nine-pounders
were dragged up on the embankment and
came into action against the enemys guns,
the fOrty.pounder firing over our heads against
point where the enemy's forces were begin.
ming to appear. | now threw forward two
companies to carry a house near the canal,
and followed up by throwing four companies
still tn m Iptt tho haDka and
across the canal, thus attaining the position
wished, and forming a diagonal line across
both the canal and the railway.
The enemy retired slowly before us. The
fire of their seven. Founders and nine-centlme-
ter guns was speedily got under by our ar
tillery. The object of my reconnaissance was
attained, and determined to withdraw. This
movement was carried out with the most per
feet regularity and precision. The troops fell
back by alternate companies with the regu.
larity of field day. Every attempt by the
enemy to advance was crushed by the bcautl.
full precision of the torty-p0under and the
steady firing of the nlne.pounders The losses
OF the enemy appear to have been very great
They were so displrlted that contrary to the
usual practice of Asiatcs, they made no at.
tempt to follow up our withdrawal. As re
connoissance the success of our move was all
| could wish. | regret To state that our loss
was somewhat heavy. Lieut.. Nyse was one
OF the most promising officers ever met, Our
total loss was four killed and twenty.nne
wounded"
The following is Admiral Seymours Off
clal account. of the same encounter:
sour force consisted OF 200 men of the Ma.
val Brigade, with one forty FOUNDER and two
nine. FOUNDER guns, under Capt. Fisher n
thousand marines under Col TuSOn, half a
battalion of the Thirty -eigth and Forty sixth
Regiments, and all of the SiXtieth Regiment
We had skirmish with the enemy, which
was 1000 strong, with six guns and SIX rock
cts, from halfpas until half past ! O'Clock
in the evening. The total casualties to the
Naval Brigade and marines are two killed
and twenty-five wounded"
And the following is the London Observers
comment on the engagement:
In the opinion OF military men OF high
professional experience nOthIng apparently
has been gained 10 compensate tor the heavy
loss IN killed and wounded"