The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-22
STEWARDS GALLANT FIGHT.
A Hand to-Hand Struggle in Which the Rel
els are Defeated.

n t1anu-CO- SCruSSA0 IN w nICH tnO AseU"
els are Defeated.
LONDON, Jan. 2l-A dispatch has been re-
ceived at the War Office from Gen. Wolseley,
dated Kort, January 2l, P. NJ, which reads
substantially as follows:
"Gen. Stewart has had heavy engagement
with a portion of the Mahdi's forces near Abu-
klea wells, about twenty three miles this side of
Metemneh The rebels had collected from Ber-
Der, Metemneh and Abduruman. This last
place, regret to say, prisoners report, was re-
Gently captured by the Mahdi, and thus men
were released from there to fight. Gen. Stewart
On the afternoon of January l6 Gen. Stewards
cavalry reported that the enemy were in position
some few miles this side of the wells. AS it
successful encounter General Stewart bivou-
acked where he was for the night The enemy
kept up harmless fire all night, and erected
works on General Stewards right flank. On
Saturday General Stewart endeavored to draw
the enemy on to make an attack, but the rebels
hesitated In consequence General Stewart left
all his implements, also his camels, with guard
of the Sussex regiment and some mounted in
fantry, and moved forward keeping his forces
in the form of square. All the men were
on foot The British army passed around
the enemy's left flank, forcing them
to make an attack or be subject to an enflading
fire. The enemy wheeled to the left, and made
a well organized charge under whitening fire
from our men. The square was, fortunately,
penetrated about its left rear, where the heavy
cavalry and the camel regiment were in posi-
tion, by sheer weight of numbers. The admi-
rable steadiness of our men enabled them to
maintain hand to hand fight with the opposing
ficted upon the enemy by all other parts of the
square The enemy was finally driven back
under a heavy Are from all sides. The Nine
teenth Hussars then pushed forward to the
wells, which were in our possession by o'clock
in the evening.
''rhe enemy left not less than 800 slain around
the square Prisoners taken while the enemy
were retiring report that the number Of the
enemy wounded was quite exceptional One
immediate effect of the battle is that many of
the rebels are submitting It was necessary for
the army to remain at the wells some hours, to
obtain water. AS soon as practicable the inten
tion was to push on with all expedition to Me-
temneh The English wounded are doing we'll"
General Wolseley says General Stewart con-
cludes his report as follows:
ut has been my duty to command force
from which exceptional work, exceptional hard
ship and exceptional fighting has been called
for. 1t would be impossible to adequately de-
scribe the admirable support given to me by
every officer and man of the force. l regret to
say that our loss was severe, but our success has
been so complete that it may dishearten the
enemy to such an extent that all their future
fighting may be of a less obstinate character"
General Lord Wolseley says:
General Stewards operations have been most
creditable to him as commander, and the Nation
has every reason to be proud of the galantrv
and splendid spirit of Her Majestys soldiers on
this occasion. Our losses were commissioned
officers killed and wounded. and 65 non-com
missioned officers and men killed, and 85
wounded. General Stewards force consists of
about 1900 men all told"
Besides Colonel Burnaby, the following were
killed: Major Carmichael, of the Fifth lancers;
Major Atherton of the Fifth dragons; Major
Cough, of the Royal dragoons Captain Darley
and Lieutenant Law, of the Fourth dragons;
Lieutenant Wolfe, of the Scots greys, and
Lieutenants Pigott and DeLisle of the Naval
brigade.
Lord st. Vincent and Lord Airlie were
wounded
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.