The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-12

view, and the mistake perhaps was made of
holding the foe little too cheap. The general
supposition was that the Abu-Klea wells
were held by few rebels who must be driven
out at whatever cost We had bivouacked
and breakfasted at the southeast side of the
great plain, with distant hills to the right and
left, and black and rugged ridge in front over
the saddle of which the caravan route leads to
Abu-Klea The Nineteenth hussars had gone on
to reconnotre, and we heard the sound of dis
tant rifle shots. About noon came news from
Barrow that the enemy were holding the wells
General Stewart Immediately made his disposi
tlons for attack, massing the brigade in line OF
column, the guards on the right. the heavy
camel corps in the center, the artillery and en-
gineers in the rear of the guards fornang the
right fa ce of the square Lord Charles Beres-
ford's naval brigade was similarly posted behind
the mounted infantry. The Sussex regiment, or
foot, closed up the rear, and all the baggage was
in the center.
In this compact square Of column the brigade
moved forward as steadily as if on parade, and
halted 400 yards from the foot of the ridge,
while General Stewart and his staff went for
ward across 1t to reconnoiter. AS followed
them and looked back at the serred mass of our
men it seemed but mere speck on the vast
plain From the hill where General Stewart
stood one could see forward over the extensive
stretch of level country, comparatively fertile,
bounded miles away by the silver strip that was
either mirage or the Nile At the neck of this
valley, where it narrows into the hills on which
we stood, and among the mass of mimosas one
could discern the enemys force with at least
Thinking it too late then to advance
and attack without knowing the actual
strength of our foes, General Stewart
wisely resolved to form zareba for the
night, with fianking squares strongly occupied,
and pckets holding posts on the lofty hills on
our left. All night long we were harassed by
shots from the heights thousand yards distant
on the opposite flank. There was a continuous
Kissing of bullets overhead Now and then one
fell in the square, but only two men and camel
were hit
Our sleep was not very sound. Thrice the
men were called to arms before dawn, when a
general attack on our position was expected. All
was quiet until after breakfast. Then the fire
recommended from the stone breastworks con-
structed during the night on the heights, on our
right and rear. This was only faint fire; it
was soon suppressed by the mounted infantry.
By o'clock the enemy developed considerable
strength on the right front, coming over the
black stony hills in good order in two long lines,
with banners flying bravelY. At the same time
some force of the rebels began creeping stealth
lily up the grassy wady our left front, the di
rect road to the wells The screw gun battery
made good practice. Two or three shots checked
the advance for some time. Our position in the
hollow, with lines extended along the ridge, was
strong and we'll covered. Nevertheless, several
men were hit One of the Heavy Camel Corps
was killed early in the action Another of the
within a few yards of where / write. A camel
close by was hit by the next shot. The rebels
evidently made skillful use of their Remingtons.
Our Martinis ire, hitherto restrained. was now
beginning to tell effectively At half-past the
enemy's scouts were reported trying to creep
round the hills on the left flank. Barrow's
hussars were sent forward to check this. Mean
while the fire in the center of the line was hotter
every minute
At 10 O'Clock General Stewart, determining
upon a counter attack, formed hollow square,
the Guards in front, the Mounted Infantry on
the left flank, the Sussex Regiment on the right,
the heavy cavalry and Naval Brigade with
Gardner in the rear, and camels, with the am
munition and hospital stretchers, in the center.
We moved out to the attack under hail of bull
lets. Men dropped from the ranks right and
left, but now the wounded were left ON the
field. The medical staff, under Surgeon Major
Ferguson, worked splendidly under the heaviest
fire, There were frequent stoppages for these
NSp9ses. The rebels must advance up hill
across open ground Skirmishers of the
Mounted Infantry were sent forward
to force on the attack while Captain
Nortons battery of screw guns planted several
shells among the densest mass. Then came the
shock of the rebels impulsive charge against our
square. For while the fate of the whole force
trembled in the balance. Then the steadness of
the guards, marines and mounted infantry pre-
vailed, and the fierce foes retired beaten leaving
the ground strewn with dead and wounded with
arms and banners. Barrow's hussars came ND
soon afterwards but were too late to strike at
the retreating foes, manv of whom however
were shot down. The Sussex Regiment though
taken in the rear rallied and fought desperately
The greatest losses fell on the Heavy Camel
Corps, of whose officers six were killed and two
wounded. | escaped unhurt amidst the hand to-
hand melee with the loss OF my horse.
After the fight in which the enemy brought
all their best troops against Stewards brigade
we gained the wells of Abu Kea, and bivou.
acked there last night. The rebels fought with
the most reckless and admirable courage, and
displayed great tactical skill They harassed
the zareba all the previous night, and endeav-
CURED lead US into skillfuy laid trap. We
advanced two miles exposed to a heavy fire on
all sides. We halted and closed square, while
skirmishers went forward to force the concealed
enemy into attack. They sprang up with
banners waving, and came on in splendid line.
The troops on the ri ght were led by Abu Saleh,
Emir of Metammeh. On the left they were
under Mahommed Khair Emr of Berber. The
latter was wounded and retired early but Saleh
came desperately on at the head of hundred
fanatics escaping the whitening fire of the Mar
tinis marvellously until shot down in the square,
The rear face composed of the heavy cavalry,
broke forward in the endeavor to fire on the
rebels who swept round the flank and broke
into us. For moment there was much confus-
ion, and the men fell back reformed IN good or
der and poured volleys into the rebels, everyone
in the leading division falling dead in our midst.
When we had time to look we saw that line after
line of the enemy had fallen under the Martini
fire as they advanced. There could scarce
ly have been less than 800 or 1000 Of
dead and wounded rebels. Others in
scattered bands made off in various directions,
leaving US masters of the field, but at some cost
In the temporary confusion the Gardner gun
could not be got into action at the most effective
moment. When it opened fire the rebels were
close on it. The naval brigade therefore lost
very heavily. Piggot and Delisle were both
killed. Among the first of our officers mortally
wounded was Colonel Barnaby, who fell gal
lantly in fight close to his old comrades, the
Blues.
Nortons little battery did immense service,
especially when the rebel cavalry formed for the
charge three shrapnels going in their midst, and
again, when renewed attack was threatened
from the enemys left. The shells caused utter
decentralization. Altogether the battery fired
thirty eight shrapnels nineteen common shells,
and six case, the latter when the rebels rushed