Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-22

When Gen. Stewards horse was shot the rider
iell TO the ground and was badly shaken,
Dut ne soon recovered and obtained another
mount.
The English soldiers had had neither food
nor water since the night before the battle.
THE BRITISH ADVANCE.
Until Jan. l6 the British advanced
FbaPidly baP evdSnda with sttFEaggIng column;
many Arab scouts near the camp of
the previous night then led to long halts,
more compact formation, and q regular ad-
vance. The British had no idea that the enc
my was so near. The native reports had led
them TO suppose that only few rebels held
Abu hlea. On receipt of the news of the ap-
pearance OF the enemy at noon, Gen. stew
art masseu the brigade into columns, placing
tne guards on the right, the heavy cavalry in
the centre, and the artillery and engineers in
the rear, the guards thus forming the right
race OF the square. Lord BeresfOrd's naval
brigade was posted behind, and the mounted
infantry and sussex regiment closed the rear.
Inc baggage vas placed in the centre. Gen.
stewart then went over to a ridge to recon
nOltre. SkIrmlshers were sent forward to
force an attack.
A MOMENT OF SURPRISE.
At the first shock from the enemy the fate
OF the whole British force trembled in the
balance, but the steadlness of the guards,
marine corps and mounted infantry pre-
vailed, and the rebels retired, leaving the
ground strewed with dead and wounded war
rlOrs and arms and banners. The Sussex reg
lment was attacked In the rear. The Egyp-
tian allies fought de- perately. The greatest
losses fell on the heavy camel corps, 8 of whose
officers We're killed, and wounded. The
rebels brought all their best troops to the at
tack. The assault on the ght of the British
square was led by Abusaleh, Emir of Metem-
neh, and the attack on the left was under
MOhammed khair, Emir of Berber. The lat
ter was wounded and retired during the early
part of the engagement. Abusaeh advanced
hercely with a hundred fanatics until shot
down IN the square. Line after line of the
rebels fell under the fire of the Martin rifles.
The naval brigade suffered great iOSs. Col.
BurnaDy fell while gallanty lighting with
his comrades.
The enemy firing at night prevented sleep.
Inc rebels came IN good order from right and
leIJ front at O'Clock in the morning. The
English screw gun battery checked thOir adj
vance FOR some time. Though our position
was well protected, the Remington rifles of
the rebels made accurate fire. At 10 O'Clock
Gen. Stewart determined to make a counter
attack. The square moved out under a storm
or bullets. Men dropped right and left. but no
wounded were left on the field. The medical
stah, under Surgeon Ferguson, worked splen-
dIdly under the heaviest fire. StOppages to
attend to the wounded delayed abe advance
an hour. Before the main body of the enemy
was sighted the British realized that at least
1000 or 5000 rebels were opposed to them.
Gen. stewart took a good position on a slope,
where the rebels must advance up hill ana
across open ground.
THE ARTILLERY'S IRON HAIL.
NortOn's battery did great service when the
enemy was forming for the charge, their
shrapneI causing utter decentralization. Gen.
stewards orderly was killed by his side. The
interior OF the square presented to view
mass OF Ialllpg camels and struggling Arabs
and English soldiers. Three hearty cheers
were gwen when the square was re
formed on fresh ground. Numerous
Arabs having pretended to be dead
now arose from the field and rushed
past the square o join The retreating enemy.
Inc rebels consisted OF forces from Khartoum,
hOrdofan and Ber6er. During the night Gen.
stewart sent pOrtlOn Of the guards back to
bl1"g everything from the entrenched post in
lhe rear. They returned safely on the morn
ing OF Jan. Is, when the troops partook of
their first FOOD for twenty four hours. The
hussars buried sixty men where the square
was attacked. The rebels had 900 special ne
gro rlhemen, all good shots. The country is
rugged and rocky, with scant vegetation.
CABINET COUNCIL.
The Cabinet met again to-day at noon,
and entered into further consideration of
the French proposals regarding Egyptian
finances. Joseph Chamberlain was again
absent, owing to continued illness. He
mas just been obliged to undergo pain
Iul surgical operation in the mouth.
Previous to the meeting of the Cabinet
Sir Charles Dixie, President of the Local
Government Board, called upon Mr..
Chamberlain and had a long conference
with him. The meeting lasted three hours.
Alter 1t was over there was a long con-
terence between Premier Gladstone, Earl
Granville and the Marquis of Harrington.
1t was reported late this afternoon that
the Council had decided that if the French
counter proposals in regard to the
Egyptian financial question were modified
they would afford basis for parleying.
Count Munster, the German Ambassa-
QCr, nad long conference to-day with
Earl Granville, the Foreign Secretary.
TRUE BRITISH HERO.
LONDON, Jan. %, 4 A. M.-All the MORN
ing papers contain columns of descrip-
tiOns and comments regarding Gen. Stew
arts battle. The papers unanimously ex-
tol in glowing terms the herOism of the
British troops, and unite in eulOgizing
Col. Burnaby, who is described as dying
ike true British bulldog, with his right
hand clinched in death about the throat
of an Arab, whose spear was thrust
through the COIOnePs neck.