The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-03-14
BLOW FOR BLOW.
0aman Digma Goes Down Again
Before the Anglo
Bat His Arabs Contest the Ground
Inch by Inch. and GIVE Blow
for Blow Particulars
of the Fight.

SUAKIM, March 14-About l o'clock in the
oruing the rebels under Osman Digna
opened heavy fire on Gen. Grahan's. camp.
The British soldiers we're Immediately on the
alert and the men formed into squares prepa
/ tory 70 receiving the attack which was mo
Inentarily expected. No attack came, bat
| the rebels kept up firing until daybrea& with
cut drawing q reply from the British troops.
The British causahties during the night were
one officer and two men wounded, and one
man killed.
At daybreaE the British troops fired few
shells in the direction OF the rebels, causing
the enemy to retire within their trenches and
| leaving number Of dead on the field The
rebel scouts also retired
The British troops are in excellent spirits
and eager for fight.
/ SCAXIM, March i4.--Af ) O'Clock the rovile
sounded in the British camp eleven miles
| from here, AMI after breakfast the order to
| march was given and the men formed into a
square, General Graham and staff in the
centre with all the stores and camels Be-
/ fore half mile was covered the relels, who
/ we're hi in pits and trenches opened fire on
/ the British troops, bnt the latter kept push
I ing closer and closer to the rebel quarters,
never watering and keeping the formation
as steadily and accurately as on parade.
| About a N. the British troops were ordered
to open fire on the enemy, and fighting in
earnest commenced There were probably
not more than 5000 men before the British
troops on the front, but hundreds were seen
on each side of the square. As the British
advanced the men sprang up, some times
Nithin 300 yards, armed with spears and
braniisrng hugo shields These charged
down upon the British ranks without
hesitation at breakucck speed until
bullets laid them low. The British
stormel the works wtere the rebels
were in force. The gallant blacks, with nc
thought of surrender, held out with shield.
and spears against bullets and bayonets until
the trenches around were filed with their
dead After three hours continuous fighting
the rebel position was taken and Osmar
Digma defeated The fighting was more
severe than at Teb. The British loss wa:
loss is more than 1000.
LATER Tho battle was series Of desper
ate close fights At one time during the bat
tie large force of rebels charged upon th,
second brigade like men infamei with des
perate ferocity, shooting aud yelling, utterl!
needless OF death, and succeeding in csptur
ing all the Cuttings aud Gardeners belonging
to the brigade. Graham Immediate,
ordered a bayonet charge. The troop
went for the enemy and fearful ham
to hand fight eaSnei for the possession Of Ia
guns. The British finally succeeded in recap
turing the guns and, following up their ad
vantage, continued TO press the rebels, VIZ
wouldn't run, but continued to retire slowly
striking blow for blow, until driven beyont
their camp, when Graham ordered halt
0Smsn's camp was found full Of loot" Th
British loss was 100 men killed, many G
whom are officers, and $50 woun ded. TIL
rebel loss was 8, 400 killed