Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-03-20
OSMAN DIGNA ROUTED.
Another Victory for The British
Troops in Egypt
Hordes Of Arabs Charging tho Brit
fsh With Fierce Bravery.

Another victory has beer won BY General
Graham's advancing army in the Soudan,
the rebels under Osman Digna being routed
only after a determined resistance The
rebels opened fire at l o'clock in the morning
The British forces were formed TO rcpel
charge, but no attack came. The men wers
thereupon- ordered to lie down again. Tho
rebels kept up persistent fusillade until just
before daybreak. The bright moonlight rem
dered objects distinctly visible at a long dis
tance, but prevented the enemy from at
tempting a sudden onset. The rebels directed
their fire especially toward the hospital
wagons, which were conspicuous IN the
moonlight The surgeons and General Ora.
hams staff officers had many narrow es-
capes An officer and two men were wounded
and one man was killed
The fighting began at daybreak. At 9
O'Clock a Gardiner gun aud a nine-pounder
were turned against the rebels. who were
afforded a most excellent target. The Arabs
were soon compelled to retire to their main
position, near the Tamai Wells. Colonel
Stewards cavalry arrived at 65S O'Clock
and took position on the British left,
so as TO turn the enemy's right
The British forces advanced in tvo brigades,
which were thrown into the form Of squares.
A series Of encounters followed Soon after
leaving Sariba the great body of the rebels
charged the leading square, spearing many
Of the British. The sailors, who were inside
the square, Immediately closed up and the
rebels were repulsed with great slaughter.
The advance was again resumed, when i'm
mense hordes rushed upon the British from
both sides. A terrible struggle ensued- The
Arabs fought with the greatest pluck and
bravado, but nearly all were killed The Sec
Ond brigade met with obstinate resistance,
nr1n I1ea
and Gardiner guns fell into the hands of
the rebels and were only recovered after
severe fight, when the British likewise
gained p ossession Of the rebel camp
The infantry and artillery completely routed
the enemy from their pits and trenches. The
battle had not lasted more than half hour
when the victory of the British was made
certain. The enemy fought most stu ubb0rnly.
and the battle was much heavier than the
engagement at Tab. The sailors, the Black
Watch regiment. and the FORK and Laneas-
ter regiment suffered the heaviest losses.
The rebels under cover of the smoke, crept
close up to the British lines, and dashed
against the marines and the Sixty-hfth and
Black w atch regiments, throwing themselves
upon the bayonets Of the British, and giving
and receiving fearful wounds. Great con
fusion ensued. The Sixtv-ffrh began to re-
treat, crowding upon the marines. when all
became inextricably mixed General Gra-
ham and his staff did their utmost to rally
the men, retreating 800 yards to enable them
to reform
A dispatch from Suakim says that the
enemy was enabled to penetrate the second
square and capture the guns by the move
ments of the Black Watch regiment, which
advanced impetuously and broke the ranks
Numbers Of rebels still hover around the
camp, and fire when cattle are bsing
watered. The native guides bolted when the
square was broken. The battle ragged two
and half hours. The rebel loss is estimated
at 4, 900 killed and 5000 wounded.
General Graham sent dispatch dated o.
man Dignas camp, in which he said: THE
camp Of the enemy has been taken after hard
fighting since s O'Clock this morning. Over
20 of the British were killed and 100
wounded" Z"