Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-02-20
7uE WAR IN THE souoA,-.

THE WAR IN THE SOUOAi>'
After MANY Desperate Encounters Genera.
stewards Forces Succeed In licach'ns '"o
Nilc-The Brave Comhanoer .
Serious Wound While at the Heaa "i
His Communicative Ihousan" "
Killed and wounded.
LONDON, Jan. 29.-Intelligence was re-
ceiyed at the War Office at eleven oclocN
Yesterday that General stewards lorce 10 III,
f,anchrd south of Metemneh. The dispatch
also gives the gratifying information that
General Stewart is in communication WIFI
General Gordon. Stewards force had sev.
cral fights with the Arab rebels before IL
reached Metemneh, Stewart himself pelils
hadly wounded. Five of the Mehdls ehllrs
were killed in the fights.
Stewards wound, while not fatal, is so
serious that he will be disabled for the re-
mainder of the present campaign. zen,
eral Wolseley considers the deprivation OF
his services a National loss. He character
Ives General Stewart as the ablest soldier
and most dashing commander he ever
knew. and recommends him to the Queens
most favorable consideration. lie has been
promoted to the rank of Major General.
The details of General Stewards advance
from .Abu-klea wells are now made puplc.
On the 18th inst. lie established a strong
post at that place, and on the 18th INST. ne
began a forward movement. A1ler passing
Shebacat wells the British forces moved to
the RIGHT, in accordance with the instruc-
tions of General Wolseley, that, III casa
Metclumeh was found to be occupied by
the enemy, Stewart should make al effort
to establish himself at some point on
the Nile between Metemmeh and khar-
touin. At seven o'clock OH the morning OF
the 10th, when the British line was only a
league from the river, the enemy appeared
in force some distance in front, and Stew
art prepared for the fight. The point where
the battle of the 10Th occurred is in the des-
ert, about five miles south from Metemnch.
When General Stewart reached that point
he found the enemy lowering about his lit
tie army on all sides, and skirting it often
within uncolnfortably short range. The reb-
els had evidently stationed themselves in the
vicinity to await his arrival and to give him
battle. When they began to surround him
and press in upon him he determined to
abide the event. He ordered his mel to
dismount and form a zarecba. This was
made mainly with saddles and baggage,
and during its construction the rebel rifle
men drew nearer and maintained a hot
fire from behind ambushes and such
hiding-places as they could find
among the bushes and the high grass.
This fire was very well directed and was
most disastrous i'll it's effect upon the British
troops. Twelve mel were soon Shot dead,
and forty others stricken down with ugly
wounds. Among the first killed were MIR.
Cameron, special correspondent Of tho
London Standard, and Mr.. Herbert,
| special correspondent of the London
Morning Post. General Stewart was
one of the very first to be wounds
| ed. lie was shot in the thigh. When
he was shot the work of making the zaree-
ba was about completed, and the army had
been put i'll motion to form its battle array.
This was Il hollow square, which was
! the naval brigade and the Grenadier
Guards; OH the right flank, the Coldstream
Guards and the Scots Guards; on the left
flank, the mounted infantry, and in the
rear the Sussex regiment and the heavy
camel corps. AS soon as completed, the
| square advanced under a steady ambush
fire u distance OF two miles. At this point
the enemy began to move upon the square
in two large cclielonS. These We're directed
against the British right front, which stood
unmoved. During the rebel charge the Eli
glish troops forming the assailed front de-
livered a terrific fire. aimed right at the
eavmy's middle, moving down mten in such
heaps that they formed actual obstacles, and
intcrtered SO seriously with the evenness
necessary to the success OF the onslaught
that its center line was brought to Il stand
still about sixty yards from the British
front line. The force of the general move
ment threw the unimpeded parts of the line
like broken timber round the corners Of
the square, and the rebels so displaced were
simply cut to pieces. From this on
the warfare was disastrous to the
rebels, us it was irregular on their
side. When the enelny'S line was
broken, the Arabs seemed to break up into
bands, each Of Which waged war on its own
account. y large detachment, mostly on
horseback. went back to attack the Zareeba.
This was garrisonedb by a body of English
soldiers, made up Of little detachments left
behind by each Of the corps which had gone
forward i'll a square. Lord Charles Beres-
ford was in command. lie sustained the
attack for two hours, when the enemy was
compelled to retreat.
Stewards force, on leaving Gakdul wells,
consisted of 1000 picked men.
The total British loss, including the loss
at Abu-k!ea, was 104 killed and 1l6
killed and wounded. The rebel forces
'A oAI SiiSNSSiiiSlIlo HWY bCSil
well handled. it is stated that two Euro
peans are among them, which may explain
the fact. A female prisoner states that the
British fire decimated tile enemy. who seem
determined to remain inside Metemneh.
Five OF General Gordon's steamers convex
ing 800 soldiers and five guns arrived at
Gubat OF the 22d. All the troops and guns
We're landed, when the guns were turned
upon Metemneh without, however, produce
ing any apparent effect upon the rebels. 1t
is reported that Ell Melldi is sending more
troops and ,g,nS to Metemneh.
1t is stated that Ell Melhli has a force of
5000 around Klartoum. The population
Ut khartoum is now estimated at IA. 900. A
convoy has gone to Gadkul to fetch stores
and ammunition. The inhabitants of Me-
temnell are apparently hiding, as the scouts
are able to see only a few persons in town.
The wounded prisoners brought into the
English lines say. that Metemneh is under
the command OF Olivier Pain, the French
Lord st. Vincent. of the artillery, was
among the British slain.
General Wolselev, in the dispatch. ra-
ports the capture OF Metemneh by the Brit
ISL. lie also says Sir Charles Wilson has
gone to khartoum on board a steamer ia
confer with General Gordon. 1t is expect
| a1 that liza N-ill rof,,r, n