The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-03-06
NEAR TRINKITAT-THE MOsLEMS
DRIVEN FROM THEIR POSI-
TION AFTER A DES-
PERATE DEFENSE.
They Fight and Fall Back, Like
Jackson, to Fight Again
Baker PasIa Wounded.
MOVEMENTS OF THE MEN-DES
GAZING DEAD OF A FOR
MER FIGHT.
LongfeIlOws' Bust Misunderstanding
Internal Machine Strikes Ter
rOr to the English Art.
THE FIGHT.


night General Graham's expedition
encamped near Fort Baker. The
troops were all assembled before Suni
set except the Goth regiment, SS,S
arrived at eight Friday a. m.
fast over, the forces, abouts1a,
strong, formed in an oblong square,
the front and rear being longer than
the sides, owing to the different
strength of the regiments. Gordon'S
highlanders formed in advance, with
two gatling guns and one gardiner in
the right corner, ); and two gardeners
and gatlings in left corner. The 89th
regiment formed on the right hand
side of the square; the black watch
regiment in the rear. The length OF
the front was $50 yards.
| Hussars acted as scouts, advancing
| in a s. mi-circle thousand yards
ahead, covering the front and flank of
| the main force. The troops advanced
over sand knobs and scrub for mile
from Fort Baker along the Teb road,
when the rebels opened fire with rem
lngton rifles; but the range WIS so
| long that the shots proved lnetfectual-
| Rebels in swarms occupied the high
ground in front and on the TANKS OF
British army. They retired slowly, as
the English advanced, keeping about
| twelve hundred yards from the main
| body of the English force. The Brit
ish cavalry followed, covering the
rear. Upon the left they formed in
three lines, distant nine hundred yards
rom the main army. AT $3.50 O'Clock
The gun boat fired from Trinkital. but
the shells bursted mile short OF tho
enemies position. The cavalry and
mounted infantry advanced on the
left, to touch the rebels, who moved OBJ
itinately though not indisposed to fight
The infantry continued to advance
steadily. Two or three times halt
was made to allow the sailors and ar
tillerymeD, dragging the guns. to rest
The road toward Teb is studded with
hundreds of corps s of Baker PaSha'S
fugitives, filling the air with pollu-
ton. and around which SwarmS OF
carrion flies lowered After advanc-
ing three miles the earthworks of the
rebels came in sight. Guns were
mounted and standards were flying.
The rebels fire had now almost
ceased, except on the extreme right
and left. The British stepped
forth as if on holiday parade, bag
pipes playing cheerily. They adj
vanced till within 800 yards of the
rebels position, where an old sugar
mill, surrounded by number of huts,
and fort with two guns were situated
Here halt was ordered and scouts re-
Joined the cavalry. Neither force
seemed disposed to open fire. At last,
attention" was called, whereupon
rebels, seeing the British move, be-
gan the battle with shell from
Ia krupp gun which passed
wide over the square. The next
shots were aimed with greater accu-
r2cy, an6. shells burst close to the Brit
, ish. wodnding several. The rebels
| maintained rafting fIlsilade with
small arms. AS the shots increased
| ambulance surgeons were fully occu-
pied. The English advanced steadily
| in a square, without answering the
rebels fire, till they passed the north
face of the rebel works. At this
| point pieces of shell wounded Baker
Pasha, and twenty other men were
nit. After an advance Of a thousand
Yards a halt was ordered and the
men directed to lie down. 1t was
now noon. The day was clear and
the wind dispersed the smoke OF the
rebel fire, disclosing the rebels move
ments.
The British opened fire with guns
and maritime rifles, causing the rebel
fire to rapidly slacken and almost
cease. At this the bugles again
sounded the advance. TroopS rQae-
wheeled on the centre OF tfe square,
and approached thereh1 works. The
rebels were in no military order, but
! were scattersd light and left, so as to
1 &c Tho aI.t -
which the ground afforded. They
Jung to their position with desperate
tenacity. There were 2000 reb-
ais barely. in front. while
many hundreds hung around two
sides of the square. As the British
moved forward they advanced. The
rebels, armed with spears and huge
cross-hilted swords, rose within 200
yards of the advancing lines and
rushed against the British at break
neck sp ed, 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 ID Bed. They
only fell back sullenly when they
, were forced. Having cleared the
IT )nnd in front with their marine
, rifles the British attacked the fort
= Colonel Burnaby was the first to
mount the paIapet, firing u double
I barrelled shotgun into the enemy
= Around the works, the rebels fought
T with furious energy and melee OF
Dayonets and spears took place. Al
9 last the British gained possession OF
v the fort. They captured two Krupl
= guns and at once turned them against
the enemy, but the rebels still con
. tested every inch They would mo-
y submit to be driven off, they couls
o only be killed. The British next di
IL rected their attention to the old suga
: mill brick building, containing al
% iron boiler. This they st0rmed AM
v succeeded in destroying 200 rebels VIII
. leaped forth and charged from ever
- opening. At 10 o'clock, after an hou
# of intense fighting, the rebels CAV
a way and bolted outright. Cat
- ting guns and maratfme rifle
q had caused great havoc
IA The British pursued the rebels as the
:, ~ fell back, and advanced as far as tn
~ fresh water wells at Tebe, where tn
q | rebels made their last stand. Tn
~ sheiks, who advanced empty handel
~ to show they bore charmed lives, wer
az stricken down with bayonet thrust
az 9. The Highlanders carried the nez
"' earthworks, capturing three gun
At the end of four hours arduou
~ fighting the British gained possessio
y. aS of the rebel camps of huts and well
~ The cavalry on the right lian
az charged the retreating rebels, who dl
PC not bolt, but met the troopers, WI
90 rode among them, giving blow Il
;s blow. There was splendid displa
ho of heroism by three mounts
"0 rebels, they resolutely Inaintainin
do their ground against the shock of tN
o1 cavalry charges. In the third chafi
~ the were cut down, but not befo
az they had killed several men an
On wounded Colonel Barrow with the
IN spears. The enemy retired sullenl
n ~ and in consequence, the British ke
VI VI up firing for long time after II
" fortune of the day. 1t has been
"a "a cided to remain at the wells at Tel
s for daylight. The intention was
no continue the advance tOTokar till Su
~ day morning. More fighting is anti
OF ipated. The spoils taken from BaIk
II Pasha were in large measure rseo
" cred.
To LATER ADyICEs.
lie LONDON, March Later advi(
no from Trinkitat give the following
ian formation: The rebels were found
adj force, with two guns mounted, at
de old fort three miles from Fort Bak
emit The firing opened on both sides, q
the lasted a long time The rebels ",