National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-07
THE WAR soUDAN.
Account OF the Battle In Which Baker
Pashn's Army Was Destroyed.

London Standard.
While our attention was distracted from the
front by this incident, sudden commotion
arose in the midst of our cavalry skirmishors
on our left flank, The enemy must for some
time have been lying concealed close to them,
and they now sprung to their feet, and with
wild cries charged the Egyptian horsemen.
These at once turned rein, and came gallop-
ing in In wild and very disorderly fashion.
just before this had ridden along by the
infantry column, and saw that it was advance
ing in the most disorderly manner. There
was no sign of discipline or of steadiness; it
was more armed mob tramping along. ] at
once determined that If the enemy attacked
l would not trust myself among them, for
was convinced that they would break at the
first charge. TO this resolve / probably owe
my life. As the cavalry rode wildly in, the
order was given for tho infantry to form
squsre--a vancouver in which they had been
daily drilled for weeks. At this crisis, how
ever, the but half.dlsciplined mass failed to
accomplish it. Three sides were formed after
fashion, but on the fourth side two COM
pnnies Of the Alexandria regiment seeing the
enemy coming on leaping and brandishing
their spears, stood like q panic-stricken flock
OF sheep, and nothing could get them to move
into their place.
Into the gap thus left in the square the
enemy holly poured, and at once all became
panic and confusion The troops fired, in
deed, but for tho most part straight into the
air. The miserable Egyptian soldiers refused
even to defend themselves, but, throwing
away their rifles, flung themselves on the
ground aud groyeled there, screaming for
mercy. No mercy was given, the Arab spear
men pouncng upon them and driving their
| spears through their necks or bodies. Nothing
could we'll surpass the wild confusion which
the mass presented-camels and guns mixed
up together, soldiers firing in the air, with
| wild Arabs, their long hair streaming behind
| them, darting among them, hacking and
thrusting with their spears.
| The right side of the square was not at first
! assailed, but kept up continuous fire toward
| their front, which killed many of our cavalry.
| The Turks lost several men by their fro, two
being killed close beside me. When the
charge had been made by tho enemy on the
loft flank Gen. Baker with his staff were out
with the cavalry in front. Upon riding back
| they found that tho enemy had already got
between them and tho column. They at onco
charged them and cut their way through, but
not without several being killed, among
Thorn Abdul Rusac, the chief Egyptian stall
officer. His horse was hamstrung, and rs he
fell ne was instantly speared by the Arabs.
On nearing the square, the general had to
run the gauntlet of the fire OF the Egyptians
in front, who, regardless of what was going
on around them, were blazing away in their
| front. Whom tho general reached the square
tho enemy had already broken it up and it
was clear that all was lost. Gen. Sartorius,
with his staff, had been inside of the square
when the enemy burst into it. They in vain
tried to call the panic stricken Egyptians,
and were SO closely cooped in by the huddled
mass ofsoldiers that for time they were I'M
able to extricate themselves. When at last
the Arab spearmen had thinned the throng OF
Egyptians, they succeeded in breaking out
and cutting their way through the enemy.
1t now became total rout, the shattered
colu mn streaming across the plain toward
Trinkitat, preceded by the flying cavalry, the
enemy pressing holly on the rear Of the in
fantry, and slaughtoring at will. All mounted
men unable to ride we'll are dismounted by
the rush of the flying horsemen and killed
When last seen, d. Leslie, Morris Boy, and
Capt. Wake, with drawn swords and pistols
were standing in a group surrounded by thu
enemy, close to tho guns, in the front face o
tho square. There also the Turkish battalion
and thirty-six Italian policemen were ami
Inflated, scarce one escaping.
The enemy betrayed tho most profound
contempt for our troops, and clearly regarded
themselves rs invinciDle. Ono man woult
fall upon score of Egyptian infantry, and
mounted Arab single handed at troop OF gu
cavalry. He slashed on tho back and severed
wounded the Egyptian commander, who wa
too frightened even to attempt to defen
HIMSELF but was at last shot by an Englis
officer,