The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-16
Gordon Defeated by Treachery.

Cores spondenee Lo ndon Times.
The attack was delivered on the 10th ult.,
with most unfortunate results. The Egyptian
troops, including considerable body of bashi-
bazouks, as well as drilled Soudanese numbered
1000 men of ali arms, supplied with the best
modern weapons-Remingtons and bayonets.
As our men drew near the rebels, the latter be-
gan to file away to the right of our line, disap
pearing behind the sand-hills This supposed re
treat commenced at twenty minutes to TO. At
half-past 10 all had disappeared behind the sand
hills. The enemy's rear was covered by about
sixty Arabs, mounted ON horses and cames.
Our line still advanced and the artillery fred
two shells at the retiring rebels. Our horse
men having entered the woods at the foot of the
sand hills, we saw to our astonishment the five
principal officers of force, who had been riding
a little ahead, dash back, breaking through
their own ranks. At that moment the rebel cav
airy shot out at full gallop from behind the sand
hills our right Their appearance was the
signal for a disgraceful qui peut on the
part of our men, who broke up and rushed back
without firing shot. The sixty horsemen, who
were only armed with ances and swords, dashed
about, cutting down thesf1ying men. l saw one
Arab lancer kill seven Egyptians in as many
minutes He then jumped off his horse to secure
a rifle and ammunition, when mounted bashi-
bazouk officer cut him down. The rebel in
fantry now appeared, and rushed about in all
directions, hacking at the men disabled by the
cavalry charge. This slaughter continued for
nearly two miles, our men not stopping to fire
shot. Then the Arabs halted and an officer
rallied some of our troops, and they commenced
a dropping but harmless fire at the enemy, who
seemed content not to advance, but treated us
with the greatest contempt, some riding quietly
on camels in front of our muzzles. This contin-
ued until midday, some of our men dropping
from stray bullets fred by the Arabs. The reb-
els then drew off to their old position, carrying
a lot of rifles aud cartridges and one mountain
piece
The loss of Gordons force was about two hun
dred killed. the enemys loss did not exceed four.
From this will be clearly seen the worthlessness
OF the soldiers now left in Khartoum with which
the government seem to think General Gordon
can work wonders. Officers and men alike are
useless as soldiers. To-day they had every ad-
vantage on their side, yet sixty horsemen with
out firearms signally defeated 2, 900 armed with
the best European weapons-Remingtons, bayo-
nets and revolvers. So terrified were the sol
diers during the retreat that until the Arabs
ceased Staying not shot fired nor saw |
bayonet fixed during the day The Arabs cap
tured field piece fifty-eight rounds of shell and
fifteen thousand rounds of ball cartridges be-
sides the rifles of the killed and wounded that
were thrown away.
The two black Pashas--Hassan and Said-who
are charged with preconceived treachery, have
been arrested There is no lack of evidence that
when they galloped back Said Pasha rode to-
ward gun and slashed through the brain the
sergeant in charge, who was in the act of laying
the gun. At the same time Hassan Pasha cut
down two artillerymen.
III later dispatch the correspondent says:
Surviving Soudanese say that the two PashaS
charged into the square, the soldiers, recogniz-
ing them, opened their ranks, and through this
gap the rebel horsemen, following closely behind,
entered This tallies with what saw and with