, 1885-01-22
STACKS OF DEAD ARABS
Egypt's Searching Sands Flow
With Human Gore.
Fifteen Hundred British Troops
Fiercely Attacked.
They Repulse With Slaughter
Ten Thousand Rebels.
The Famous Colonel Barnaby
Among the Slain.
A Bloody Battle.

received at the war Office from Gen. VOL
seley dated Karti, Jan. 81, 3p. m, which
reads substantially as follows: 'Gen
Stewart has had a heavy engagement will
a portion of Mahdi's forces near Abe,
Klea wells, about % miles this side o
Metemneh, The rebels had collected
from Berber, Metemneh and Omdura
man. This last place, l regret to say,
prisoners report was recently captured by
Mahdi, and thus men were released from
there to fight Gen. Stewart. On the af
terpoon Of Jan. l6, Gen. Stewards cav
airy reported that the enemy we're in po-
sition some few miles this side of the
wells. 1t was too late in the day to allow
an advance for a successful encounter.
Gen. Stewart bivoucked where he was fol
the night. The enemy kept up a harm
less fire all night and erected works on
Gen. Stewards right flank. Saturday
Gen. Stewart ~endeavored to draw the
enemy on to make an attack, but the
rebels hesitated. In consequence Gen.
Stewart left all his impediments, also
camels, and with a guard of the Sussex
regiment and some mounted infantry
moved forward, keeping his forces in the
form of a square. All the men were on
foot The British army passed
around the enemy's flank, forcing
them to make an attack or he subject to
an enflading fire. The enemy wheeled
to the left and made a well organized
charge under a whitening fire from our
men. The square was unfortunately pens-
trated ABOUT its left rear. where the heavy
cavalry and camel regiment were in pos
session. by sheer weight Of numbers.
The admirable steadiness of our men en-
abled them TO maintain a hand to hand
fight with the opposing force, while Sc
we're punishment was being inflicted upon
the enemy by all other parts OF the square.
The enemy was finally driven back under
the heavy fire from all sides. The 10Th
hussars then pushed forward to the
wells, which were in our possession by 5
in the evening. The enemy left not less
than 800 slain around the works. Prison
ers taken while the enemy was retiring
report the number of the enemy wounded
quite exceptional. One immediate effect
Of the battle is that many rebels are sub
hitting. 1t was necessary for the army
to remain at the wells some hours to OBJ
tain water. A soon as practicable the in
tention was to push on with all expedition
to Metemneh. The English wounded are
doing we'll.
Gen. Wolseley says Gen. Steward CON
cludes his report as follows: 1T has been
my duty to command a force from which
exceptional work, exceptional hardship,
and exceptional fighting have been called
for. 1t would be impossible to adequately
describe the admirable support given me
by every officer and man of the forces. l
regret to say hat our loss was severe, but
our success has been so complete hat it
may dishearten the enemy to such an ex-
tent that all their future fighting may be
Of a less obstinate character"
Gen. Wolseley says: "Gen. Stewards
operations have been most creditable to
him as a commander, and the nation has
every reason to be proud of the gallantry
and splendid spirit of her majesty's sol
diers on this occasion. Our losses were
nine commissioned officers killed and
nine wounded, and sixty-fve non-com-
missioned officers and men killed and
eighty. five wounded. Gen. Stewart
force consists of about $500 men al
told"
Besides Col. Barnaby, the following
were killed; Maj. Carmichael, 5th lancers
Mai. Anterior. 5th dragons; Maj. Cough
Royal dragons; Capt barley and Lieut.
Law, 4th dragons; Lieut.. Wolfe, Scott
greys, and Lieuts. Pigott and DeLisle, o
the naval brigade. Lord St. Vincent ant
Lord Airlie were wounded.
LONDON, Jan. 2l.-A Reuters Tele
gram company dispatch dated near ABB
Klea wells. Saturday noon. gives the fol
lowing account of the engagement: Wher
the hussar scouts returned yesterday an
nouncing that the rebels held the well
the British forces promptly formed in
mass column and advanced to the wells
The guards marched at the left of tn
column, the heavy corps in the center an
the mounted infantry at the right TIL
column halted within three miles Of tn
wells, but the rebels showed no signs o
moving. The British troops set to fell
ing trees and clearing away the grass il
front of the column. An abattis wa
formed around the baggage and a ston
breastwork, with a frontage Of 100 yard
erected as an additional protection. L
the afteroon the enemy's camp wa
sighted from our zareeba- It comprise
, numerous tents and appeared to be fairl
well fortified. Meanwhile two groups {
rebels were watching us from the hig
hills on the left front. Ate o'clock |
the evening the enemy fred a few stra
shots and the British replied with sever
shells. The enemy continued firm
, throughout Friday night, eausin
only one slight casualty. Satu
day forenoon, the enemy con