, 1885-01-29
STEWARDS SQUAD SAFE
After Desperate Struggles they
Reach the Nile.
Parched With Thirst They
Fight Fierce Battles
And Force Their Way Through
Overwhelming Odds.
Gen. Gordon Safe and Sound
in Khartoum.
Stewart Heard From.

LONDON, Jan. 2s.-A dispatch from
Cairo declares that Lord Charles Beres.
ford, with a small contingent, is pushing
on from Metemneh to Khartonm. At l:30
p. m the Official dispatches indicate hat
the march Of Stewart and his little army
from Abu Klea wells to their present po-
sition has been no easy task. Almost
every foot of the way appears to have
been sharply contested by r~esolute Arab
foes. There was a constant succession Of
encounters from the action Of the 18th till
the Nile was reached, the British troops
steady gaining fresh victories over the
impetuous but easily demofalized rebels.
On the morning of Monday, Jan. 10,
two days after the fight at Abu Klea, the
enemy appeared in force in front Of the
advancing British army. A short, fierce
battle was fought. This occurred at the
point about three miles from the Nile.
The British was compelled to sustain a
heavy fire for some time. Early in the
engagement Stewart received his wound
and Sir Charles Wilson thereupon assum-
ed command. Works were hastily con-
structed under a leaden rain, which CON
tinued to pour upon them from the
enemies rife. The wounded men and
baggage train were left under guard be-
hind and quickly built earthworks, while
the rest Of the force advanced in the face
Of the hostile fire to a gravel ridge some
distance in front. Here a large force Of
rebels established themselves in a sitting
position. As soon as the British line
came near a fierce charge by several emirs
was made against it by the rebel foemen.
The British troops were arranged as
usual IN the form offs square and steadily
advanced to meet the wild onslaught Of
the loudly cheering enemy, who were
rushing down upon them. At the same
time the rifles Of the British we're doing
bloody execution. The charge was checked
and not an Arab came within thirty yards
of the British square. The rebels did not
long stand before the murderous fire,
but were repulsed with heavy loss. Five
emirs and $50 men were left dead upon
the field and large numbers were wounded.
About the English losses few details have
yet been received. It is known, however,
that Cameron. special correspondent of
the London daily Standard, and Herbert,
special correspondent ofthe Morning Post,
were killed. The place where the battle
occurred is a slight distance beyond She
bacat wells. Stewards wound, while not
fatal, is SO serious that he will be disabled
for the remainder Of the present cam
paign. Gen. Wolseley considers the de-
privation Of his services a national loss.
He characterizcs Stewart as ''the ablest
soldier and most dashing commander he
ever knew, and recommends him to the
queens most favorable consideration.
Lord st. Vincent, of the artillery, was
among the slain.
Stewart now holds a strongly fortified
post at Gubat, not far from Metemneh, a
place on the Nile, half way between Ber-
Der and Khartoum. Opposite Gubat is a
large island, on which plenty of forage for
the horses and camels is easily obtained.
So strong is the position at Gubat that it
is confidently asserted that it cali be held
by a small garrison against any force
which the rebels may send to attack it.
The route across the desert from Gubat
to Korti is securely held by the English.
Col Sir Redvers Butler will be in com
mand of this route. He left Korti to-day
to assume a position. The news of Stew
arts movements since the battle of Aba
Klea wells was brought to Korti by Capt
Pigott. He left Gubat with dispatches
Saturday last and reached Korti this
morning, having encountered no serious
difficulty BY the way.