Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1885-04-01
Ell MEHDIS LIEUTENANT.
Gen. Graham's Report Of an
Engagement with Os-
man Digna-
The Tide Of Battle Turned by a
Desperate Charge Of the
irish Lane ers.

The British forces ut Suakin started out
on a reconnaissance March 20. On reach
ing the hills near Hasheen, the Arabs
rushed from ambush and got within ten
yards of the British line before the latter
commenced regular firing. Lieut.. OCon-
nor and four men were killed. and Capt.
Birch was appeared through the shoulder.
The cavalry took some prisoners, and the
British retired.
Gen. Graham telegraphs as follows:
I'VE moved out Of camp at 6:15 this
morning. leaving the Shropshire Regiment
to guard it. On reaching the first hill, at
$40 o'clock, we found that the enemy had
retired and occupied another hill mile
and quarter distant After a short halt
the Berkshire regiment and marines we're
ordered to clear the hill, the Indian con-
tingent and Guards acting as support. This
was done very effectually, the enemy being
driven of the ridge, and, streaming south
toward Tam,i, were charged by squadrons
Of Indian lancers in the bush. The cavalry
then retired toward the Guards. Many OF
the enemy passed the Guards Mt the foot
of the hill and made for hill west of
Hasheen. These were shelled by the Royal
Horse Artillery, while other parties moving
by fifty lancers.
Meanwhile Zareba, with four in
trenched posts on hill commanding it, is
being formed. The advanced troops have
ell returned to this position and will return
to our camp, leaving the East Surrey regi-
ment, with two krupp guns and four Gard
ners and water tanks and signal appliances
ut the intrenched position.
"Our killed are two officers and two men
of the British, and five Sepoys. The wounded
are two officers and twenty six men OF the
British and one officer aud ten men of the
Indian contingent. The infantry behaved
with great steadiness. The number of the
enemy is estimated at 1000. Their loss is
not known, but is heavy.
The engagement lasted five hours. The
Arabs carried off all Of their dead and
wounded
A correspondent gives the following ac
count of the battle: The Arabs displayed
desperate bravery. The marines drove the
Arabs from the hills and forced them TO re-
tire to the plain. Then the Indian troops
charged upon the Arab position. but were
outflanked, and an unsupported body OF
Arabs succeeded in getting behind their
line. The Indians found themselves be-
tween two fires and fed. During this re-
treat they were closely pressed by the
Arabs, who hamstrung the horses
and speared the riders. The Ben
galese fell back in confusion upon
the English infantry and the Guards.
who had been formed in hollow
square, and the square leisurely retired,
while the Arabs were yelling that they had
regained their lost position. At this junct-
tre artillery came to the rescue, aud brisk
fire of small shot from the machine guns
aud shells from the Krupp field mortars
drove the Arabs from their position. The
marines maintained steady firing through
out the engagement, but the honors Of the
day are probably due to the Irish Lancers,
who changed the tide of battle by desper-
ate charge and retrieved the fortunes Of
Gen. Graham's command when they
seemed almost hopeless.
The British troops have returned to their
former camp near Suakin.