The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-09-21

into the enemy s lines. Inc attack began
on the left Nothing could be imagined
finer than the advance of the Highland
brigade The Seventy fourth were next
the canal, next the Camerons and the Cor
don Highlanders continued the line, with
the Black Watch upon their flank. The
Forty-sixth and Sixtieth regiments formed
second line.
Swiftly and silently the Highlanders
moved forw ard to the attack. No word
was spoken, no shot fired until within 800
yards of the elenys earthworks. Nor up
TO that time did any sound from the Egyp-
tians betoken that they were aware of the
presence of their assailants. Then suddenly
a terrific fire flashed along the line of sand
heaps, al storm of bullets whizzed over the
advancing troops, wild cheer broke from
the Highlanders, and in response the pipes
struck shrilly up. Bayonets were fixed,
and at double quick time they dashed for
ward. The first line of entertainments was
carried, the enemy scarcely offering any
resistance. But from another of the in
Ftrenchments, behind which in the still dim
light one could scarcely see, burst of
musketry broke out. For few minutes
the Highlanders poured heavy fire, but it
was probably as innocuous as that of that
the unseen enemy, whose bullets whistled
harmlessly overhead The delay in the
advance was but short. Then the order
was given. and the brigade went rapidly
forward. Soon portion of the forces had
passed between the enemey's redoubts and
opened a fianking fire.
This was teo much for the Egyptians,
who took to their heels and fairly ran, suf-
| fering, as the crowded masses rushed
| across the open, very heavily from our fire,
| being literally moved down by the hun
| dreds.
| Meanwhile the fighting began upon the
other flank. The horse artillery shelled
the enemy's extreme left. Here the Egyp
| tians were more prepared than on their
right. For time they kept
up steady fire. The Royal Irish were
sent to the enemy's left. At the word they
dashed at the trenches and carried them at
the bayonet's point, so turning the flank
of the defenders of the position. Next
came the Eighty eighth regiment, then the
| Eighty fourth, the guards being close up
behind in support. These regiments adj
yanced by regular rushes. For time
the enemy chung to their line of intrench-
ments, but their fire was singularly inef-
fective. and the British troops got fairly
into the trenches. Then the enemy fought
stoutly for few moments. The combat
was a hand to hand one Major Hart shot
one man who was trying to wrest a revol-
/ yer from his hand. This was even before
/ the trench had been turned by our adj
| vance on their flank Then, as the British
4 poured In, the Egyptians fled as rapidly as
those on the other side of the canal had
done before the Highlanders. The fight
| was now practically over, the only further
danger arising from the bullets of the
British troops who were firing in all direc-
| tons upon the flying enemy, as with loud
cheers the whole line advanced in pursuit.
The Egyptians did not preserve the slight
est semblance of order but fled a confused
| rabble at3the tsp of their speed. A ride
over the field after the battle shows that
| the eEemy's loss was extremely heavy; in
deed it is difficult to understand how so
great number of men were killed in the
| battle, which lasted but a brief hour. The
enemys position consisted of lines of solid
fntrenchments bound together by wat
| ties. 1t was four miles long from flank to
flank.
At intervals bastions mounted by guns
protected the front. There were success
| sive series of deep trenches at right angle
to the extreme left of their portion. A
deep trench extends two miles to the rear.
behind which is another intrenchment
forming defense of the front line from at
tack on the flank. Towards the canal on the
right were very strong works The natural
irregularities of the ground constitute
very formidable position, which would
have cost great expenditure of life had it
been attacked in front. This part of the
line, however, was avoided. Our attacks
We're directed towards the TANKS. All
who accompanied the Highland Brigade
| were enthusiastic at the brilliant character
of their advance. Their orders were to
1 march up to the first trench and carry 1t
by bayonet without firing a shot. The
order was literally executed After their
conduct on preceding occasions, it was ex-
lpected that the Egyptians would not stop
to oppose q determined rush. but hundreds
remained firm at their post, and were
/ bayoneted where they stood. As soon as
| the trench was won, the Highlanders were
assailed from the strong inner lines COM
manding the trench which had been
carried. But, cheering loudly, they pressed
| forward. carrying one redoubt after
| another shooting and bayoneting the foe as
| they ran.
| At one point only was the advance
checked for moment, but the first line
was reinforced from behind. and with
another cheer they swept on again and
Ecleared the enemy from before them. At
| some of the bastions the resistance, al
though unavalling, was desperate, the
Egyptians being caught as in trap by the
rapidity of the advance, defending them
selves to the last. At these points the
Egyptians lie dead in hundreds, while only