The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-09-21
BRITISH SUCCESS.

Capture by the British Forces or the
Boosted Citadel of TeI-el-Kebir After an
Engagement Lasting Only Twenty Min
utes-The English Army Handled with
Precision I'm the Darkness-Arabi and
His Army Flying Towards the Libyan
Desert-The City of Zagazfg Occupied
by the British and Egyptian Forces.
TEL-EL-KEBIR, September I3.
At 4:45 a. m. the artillery opened fire before
the enemy were aware of their presence. The
infantry Immediately after pressed forward,
depIoying and opening fire from a sheltered
position. The main attack was directed against
the enemy's extreme left flank, four miles
north of the railway. The British troops
advanced rapidly and turned the enemy's
flank. The British armored train with
the forty-pounder KTupp gun, which
was captured at Kassassin, aud the Cat
lings, came into action. The fire of
the enemy opposite the extreme
right of the British was soon silenced. The
British paused for moment on the line of the
sand-hills, ard then,swith a gallant rush, they
were among the rebels. Acting General
Wolseley's orders, they reserved their fire and
went in with the bayonet. The slaughter for
time was very great. The rebels could not
stand it, and broke and fed, pursued hOtly.
The final rush was made over a distance Of 200
yards, the men skirmishing and seeking cover
until they reached this point Several thou
sand Egyptians were taken prisoners. The
many officers. The rebels were terror stricken.
Many hid in the corners of the works. while
others fed at their utmo speed, throwing ev-
erything from them.
The work, however, was not yet ended. A
large inner redoubt on Arabi's left well
manned and armed, still remained intact, but
the British troops not to be denied.
With another brilliant rush they were among
the enemy, bayoneting the gunners and capt
uring the heavy artillery. In fifteen minutes
from the first rush the British were its
masters. The rattle of the rebels musk etry
died away, while the British foTsook the
bayonet and picked off any who still showed
fight in their retreat On the south
the enemy stood few moments
longer, perhaps a quarter of an hour,
but the appearance of the British cavalry on
their right flank soon fastened their move
ments. In a few minutes one rushing stream
of fugitives was making for ZagaZig, flying
out of all their intrenchments- A little later
General McPherson's Indian brigade burst
upon the flying foe from the south, and the
rout was complete. The artillery, coming up
! at gallop, unlimbered and sent their shot
and she'll after the rebels, sd ling to their con-
fusion. Immense stores of ammunition and
| 1,200 tents were captured.
The enemy's earthworks were quite INSULT
| fient to check the advance of the troops The
| works were certainly immense in extent, and
surrounded by a ditch four feet deep and four
| feet wide. The parapet was about six feet
and eight inches. But the works put ont so
| abruptly into the plateau surrounding that ale
most at any point it was possible to enfilade
/ them. AS soon as the English troops reached
| the enemy's intrenchmcnts Arabf Pasha got
| on board the train and ordered it to steam of
| After the capture of Tei-e1-Kebir Major
| General Mcpherson made forced march and
| occupied Zagazig at 4 IA p. m. He seized five
| trains with their engines. He subsequently,
| telegraphed that the Governor had come in
| and surrendered to the British, and that the
| people were submissive.
THE OFFICIAL REPORT.
The British War Office received the follow
| ing official report from General wolseley:
TEL-EL-KEBIR, September 13.
| We struck camp at Kassassin locks last
| evening and bivouacked on the high ridge
| above camp until 80 this morning. We theT
| strongly fort fed position held bv Arab Peshf
! with 20, 900 regulars. of whom $500 were caval
| ry, with 10 guns and 5000 Befouins and irregu
| lars. My force was about II GOO bayOnets, 2.O0l
| sabers and go guns. TO have attacked sC
| strong position by daylight with the troops
could place in the field would have entailed /
| great loss. resolved. therefore, to attack be
| fore daybreak, marching the six miles that in
| terVened between my camp and the enemy't
| position in the darkness. The cavalry and two
| batteries of horse-artillery on the righ
! had orders to sweep round the enemys line a
| day-break. The first division of the SceonC
| brigade, under General Graham, was support
| ed by the Foot Guards under the Duke of Con
| naught, and seven batteries of artillery, mum
| bering forty-two guns with a supporting brig
| ade. Then came the second division of tht
| Highland brigade, leading the Indian contin
gent These on the south side of the canal
| with the naval brigade the railway and il
the interval, advanced. Great emulation wa
| eVInced by the regiments to be first in tbs
enemy's works All went at them straig t
the Royal Irish part cuarly distinguish
| ing itself by its dash and the manner in
| which it closed with the enemy. All the
| enemy's works and camps are now in our pos
| session. do not yet know exactly the mum
| Der of guns captured, but it is considerable
| Several trains, with immense quantities ol
| supplies, were captured. The enemy ran away
| in thousands. throwing away their arms wheI
| Overtaken by the cavalry. Their loss is very
| great. General viii was slightly and COlOne
| Richards severely wounded Major COlville
| Lieutenants Wildwood and SOmervell, of the
| Highland Light Infantry, were killed. OF the
| Black Watch Lieutenant Mcneil was killed, ,ano
| Captains Cumberland and Fox wounded. Gen
| eral Allison's aid-de-camp, Captain Hutton
| was wounded. Colonel Stirling and the Surgeon
| of the COldstream Guards were wounded
| Colonel BalfOur, of the GrepadiGr Guards, wa:
| wounded in the leg and the Color Sergeant
| killed. The cavalry is now on its march tC
| BaIbecs, and the Indian contingent is On Its
| way to Zagazig, to be followed this evening by
| the Highland brigade. Three Lieutenants OF
the Cameron Hghlanders were wounded. The
| canal is cut in some places, but the railway II
| intact. 1t has been discovered that Rachel
| Pasha and Ali Fehmi Pasha were wounded il
| the engagement last Saturday.