The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-03-06
Ell Mahdi's First Defeat

The great battle in the East, on the last day of
February, is thus described in a special dated
Trinkitat, March LIST:
Gen. Graham, with his forces, encamped,
Thursday night, near Fort Baker The infantry
blvouacked in front, the calvary in the rear. The
troops were all assembled before sunset except
the Sixty fifth Regiment, which arrived at 8
O'Clock. Friday morning fires were quickly
kindled and coffee was made. Breakfast over,
The forces were formed in an oblong square, the
front and rear of which were longer than the
sides, owing to the different strength of the reg
;iments. The Gordon Highlanders in line
formed the advance, with two Gatling guns and
one Gardiner in the right corner, and two Gar
diners and one Calling in the left corner. The
Eighty-ninth Regiment in line formed the right
hand side of the square, the Black Watch Regi-
ment the rear The Whole strength of the Brit
fne 81 U f5tt Vas $50 ysras. The Has
sars acted as scouts, and advanced in semicir-
Gle q thousand yards ahead. covering the front
andflanks of the main force.
The troops advanced sand knobs and
scrub for mile from Fort Baker. along the Teb
road, when the rebels opened fire with their
bennington rifles but the range was too long
and their shots proved ineffective. The rebels
in swarms occupied the high ground in trout
and on the tanks OF the British army. They re-
tired slowly as the English advanced, keeping
within about 200 yards of the main body of the
English forces The British cavalry followed
covering the rear, upon the left formed in three
lines and distant about 900 yards from the main
army. At $3.50 a. M. the gun-boat Sphinx fired
range was too great. The shells burst mile
short OF the enemy's position. The firing was
stopped, as the Snet1S were dangerous to the En-
gllsh. The cavalry and mounted infantry adj
yanced on the left to touch the rebels, who
moved obstinately, though they were not indis-
posed to fight. The infantry continued to ad-
vancessteadily Two or three times halt was
made in order to allow the sailors and artillery
who were dragging the guns, to rest. The square
was well maintained, but where the ground was
difficult the men marched by tours right in col
umns OF companies The road toward Teb was
studded with hundreds of corpses of Baker
Pasha's ill-starred fugt1ves. which filled the air
with pollution, and around which swarms of
oar inC nrri1 md
After an advance of three miles had been &C
complished the earth-worzs of the rebels came
in sight. Guns were mounted and standards were
flying in the sultry air. The rebel fire had now
almost ceased except on the extreme right and
left, where it still continued to be directed at
the.scouts. The British stepped forth as if on
holiday parade, the bag-pipes playing, and the
Highlanders footing cheerily. They advanced
until they were within 800 yards Of the rebels
position, where an old sugar-mill was standing,
surrounded by 8 number of native huts and
where also stood fort with two guns. Here a
halt was ordered, and the scouts rejoined the
Cavalry. Neither force seemed disposed to open
fire.
At last tattentionn was called, whereupon
the rebels seeing the British move, began the
from the Egyptians The shell passed wide
oyer the square. The next two shots were
aimed with greater accuracy and the shells
The rebels maintained a. rattlng fusilade with
small arms, sending hundreds of bullets which
whizzed around the ears of the British. man
of the Gordon Highlanders was ~irst to fall
badly wounded. AS the shots increased, the
ambulance surgeons were fully occupied ~,The
English advanced steadily in square, without
Answering the rebel fire until they passed the
north face of the rebel works. AT this point
and 20 men were hit. After an echelon of
thousand yards halt was ordered and the
noon, tie day was clear, and the wind dispersed
tnesmole OF the rebel fire, disclosing the reb-
els INDUCEMENTS.
Then tlse>Egitish opened fire with guns and
Martini rifiesse2using the rebel fire rapidly to
slacken and almost to cease. AT this the bugles
sounded fresh aaSSnce The 4 troops rose
approached the rebel WORKS. The rebels were
in no military order, but were scattered here
and there, SO as to take adyantagesQf the album
dant cover which the ground ~~afforded.
They chung to their position with desperate te-
while MANY hundred hung around the two sides
of the square. AS the British moved forward,
firing as they advanced, the- rebels, driaed with
in 200 yards of the advancing lines, and rushed
against the British at breakneck speed, needless
and fearless OF death. The rebels fell right and
left, Though some Of the brave fellows reached
within five PAGES of the square None of them
bolted; they only fell back sullenly when they
front with their Martini rifles. the British at
tached the fort. Col. BurIAaby was the first to
paTapet firing E doub f barreed
the rebels fought with furious energy, and a
frightful melee of bayonets Rnd spears took
place. AT lasttlle British gained possession of
the fort. They Captured two Krupp guns, and
at once turned thenragainst theNenemy but the
Arabs still contested every incls They would
killed. The British next directed their atten-
ton to the old sugar mill, bgick building con-
tanning an iron boiler. This they stprmed, ana
succeeded in dislodging 900 rsbels, who eaped
forth and charged from every opening.
At 1o'clock, after an hour of obstinate fight
ing the rebels gave way and bolted outright.
The Calling guns and Martini rifles had caused
great havoc there. The British pursued them
as they fell back. and advanced as far as the
fresh water wells of Teb, where the rebels made
their last stand SheilIs. who advanced empty
were stricken down with bayOnets The High |
landers4 carried the next earthworlS, capturing
three guns. At the end of four hours of ardu-
Gus nghting the British gained possession of the
rebel camps, of the huts and the wells. The |
cavalry on the right flank charged the retreat |
ing rebels, who did not bolt, but struck the |
troopers who rode among them, giving blow for |
blow. A splendid display Of heroism was |
made by three mounted rebels. They resolute- |
ly maintained their ground against the shock |
of two cavalry regiments before being cut
down. They continued to fight after the third |
charge, killing several soldiers and wounding |
Col. Barrow with their spears. The enemy re- /
British kept up their firing for long time after
the fortunes of the day had been decided.
Gen. Graham decided to remain at the wells
of the Teb, Friday night. The intention was to |
continue the advance to Tokar Saturday morn
ing. -More fight is anticipated. The spoils |
taken from Baker Pasha We're, in a large meas
"a killed and 142 wounded Four officers were
killed. Nineteen officers received wounds, in
ending 3akef Fasha and Col kRrnAby, both Of
forces captured four Krupp guns, two howizers,
rebels were Killed; 900 Of the enemy's dead /
were counted iii the captured positions,
Philadelphia had u million dollar fire on
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