The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-12
A Five Hours Struggle on the Bank of the
River, in Which the British Troops Are
Finally Triumphant.
The Rebels DislOdged from a Strong
Position and Driven Into the River.
A Victory Purchased at Terrible Cost to the
English-No Positive Proof that GEN.
eral Gordon is Dead.
KILLING OF GENERAL EARLE.

Charging Column.
LONDON Feb 1.-THE Standards CORE
spondent with General Earles column, sends
the following dispatch, dated Dulka island.
Tuesday:
''The British troops advanced to attack the
enemy, who held strong position on the hills
After some fighting the enemy was com plete
ly surrounded. Finling it impossible
to dislodge the rebels from their
fortified positions, General Earle ordered the
troops to charge. General Earle was killed
while leading the attack. The Black Watch
regiment captured the position at the point of
the bayonet, the cavalry taking possession of the
enemys camp. Gen. Brickenbury, upon the fall
of Gen. Earle, assumed command and ordered
the remaining positions to be stormed. The
troops acted promptly, made a gallant attack,
and captured all the enemy's positions.
The fighting lasted five hours. There was great
slaughter among the enemy. Those who sur
vived escaped by swimming the river.
1.-THE British force consisted of the Blackwatch
and South Stafford regiments, squadron of
Hussars two guns of the Egyptian artillery, the
Egyptian camel corps, and a section of
the hospital corps The troops at
once set to work to form
zareba. Meantime the enemy fired several shots
from the high hills. Our pickets advanced and
drove back the Arabs who had descended the
hills to make an attack Night came on,
and guards were posted. Everything passed
quietly during the night On Tuesday morning
the troops formed and advanced to tha enemys
position. marching in two parallel col
umns. Two companies of the South Stat
ford and two guns occupied the ground
directly in front of the enemy. to attract their
attention. AT o'clock our guns opened
the attack and for sometime desultory fire was
kept up. Meantime the main body of our troops
was advancing steadily over the almost i'm
practicable ground, pushing the enemy before
LleIn ana SelZinS eacn successive rl0go by q
Short determined rush. This movement
continued until the advance of the troops
reached the ridge in the rear of the
enemy, where they rested on the riv-
er This completed the movement where
by the rebels were surrounded The enemy's
position was very strong one, on rocky
broken ground, and was strengthened by loop
holed walls, from which they maintained
heavy, well directed fire.
''rhen General Earle ordered the Black Watch
regiment to carry the emeny's position
at the point of the bayonet. To this
order the regiment responded gallantly.
The pipes struck up enlivening airs, and
the brave soldiers, cheering in re-
sponse, moved forward with steadiness
and vaior to the work before them. The enemy
was unable to stand the shock of the
English advance, and the gallant charge
called out the triumphant admiration of
the commanding general. From loop
holes in the rebel ramparts shots were
fired continuously. but the gallant Black
watch advanced without dread, scaling
the works in their almost impregnable 'front.'
and driving with their bayonets away
from their shelters the wavering foe. Unhap-
PLY, at the very point of victory. General Earle
fell while galantly leading his commando
Another account of the death of Gen. Earle,
dated Korti, says
General Earle was killed in action on Tpes.
day The fight occurred near the Nile. a
few miles above Dulka island The Arabs
had fortified the pass and had built
small fort on the left bank of the river. When
General Earles forces reached the pass thew
were subjected to heavy fire from field
guns which the Arabs had placed in commanding
positions General Earle had no artillery, and
commanded the troops to charge 1t was more
scramble than charge. but the Arabs were
driven from their heights at the point of tho
bayonet and fell back slowly toward the river.
AS the British column advanced. it was
met by steady and well directed fire
from behind the sand and watlings which com.
posed the Arab fort, and many men OF the at.
tackng party were killed General Earle again
ordered the men to charge, and put himself at
the head of the column. He was killed during
this charge. The fort was finally captured, but