The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-02-03
Stewart Reaches Gubat.
ANOTHER FIERCE FIGHT in THE
DESERT NEAR METEMNEH.

/ DESERT NEAR METEAiNEH.
Stewart severely Wounded-Specia
] Correspondents Cameron an q
| Herbert Killed--TWO Thousand
! Arabs Slain--Tne March Acros.
the Desert Successfully Accom-
plished and the Little Army In,
trenched on the Nile--Commr1ni,
cation with Gordon at Khartoun
Established. ~
| LONDON, Jan. % Intelligence ha.
just been received at the War Office ths
Gen S'ewart's force is intrencbed south
of Metemneh. The despatch also gives
Information that Gen Stewart is in com
munication with Gen. Gordon. Gen,
Stewards force bad several fights with
The Arab rebels before it reached Ne.
temneh and Con. Stewart himself is bad
ly wounded by shot in the thigh and
lis disabled. Gen Sir Charles Wilson
was Obliged to assume command. Lord
ST. Vincent, who was wounded at Abu
klea Wells, is dead. In the fighting
since then Mr.. Cameron. special CORES.
pondent of the London Standard, aud
Mr.. Herberts special correspondent oi
the London Post. sete killed.. Among
the wounded are Col. Burleigh, special
correspondent OF the London Telegraph
and Lords Airle and Somerset The
English losses since the battle of Abu
Kea we're twenty killed and aix.y woun
dpd.
Gen, Stewart employed what was left
Of SATURDAY., the 17h, and large par,
OF Sunday in establishing a strong post
at Abu-Kiea. There those who had been
seriously wounded in the battle were lell
with a sufficient garrison. On the after.
noon Of the 18th Gen Stewart hogan bis
forward movement towards Metemneh
After passing the Shebaca Wells the
British forces moved to the right. This
was 10 accordance with instructions CIV
en- by Lord WolseIey, who had ordered
that in case Melemneh we're found TO be
occupied by the eremy, Gen. Stewart
should make the effort TO establish him.
self at some point on the Nile, between
Metemneh and Khartoum Att O'Clock
on The morning of the 18th, when the
British line was only barely a league
from the river, the enemy appeared in
force some distance 10 front. A halt
was thereupon made for breakfast in q
strong zereba established here. The
enemy presently opened fire upon them.
and while they were strengthening the
works for protection for the wounded
and baggage. The fire was the beavies,
that the British bad yet been subjected
to II was while they were still at this
point that Gen Stewart was wounded
The British were compelled to sustain 8
heavy fire for some tine. Early in the
engagement Gen. Stewart received his
wound, and Sir Charles Wilson there
upon assumed command. Works were
hastily CONSTRUCTED under the lenden rain
which continued to pour upon them from
the enemy's rifles. The wounded men
and the baggage train were left under
guard behind their quickly built earth
works, while the rest of the force ad-
vanced in the face Of the hostile fire to
gravel ridge some distance in 'front.'
Here large force OF the rebels had es,
tsblished themselves IN a strong posi-
ton.
AS soon as the British line came near
a fierce charge, led by sever 81 emirs, was
made against it BY the reoel foemen.-
The British troops were arranged as
usual in the form OF square and stead
lily advanced to meet tue wild onset OF
the loudly cheering enemy. who were
rushing down upon them. At the same
time the rifles of the British were doing
bloody execution. The charge was
checked. and not an Arab came within
thirty yards of the British square The
rebels did not long stand before the nur
derous English fire, but were repulsed
with heavy loss Five emirs and 25o
men we're left dead upon the field and
large numbers were wounded. Gen.
Sir Charles Wilson reports that nothing
could exceed the GOODNESS manifested by
the British troops when exposed to the
fire of the rebel sharpshooters on the
morning Of the 18th. These same quail.
tiles again marked them on the afternoon
OF the same day when they met the wild
charge of the Arab spearmen. Sir
Charles speaks in especially high praise
Of COL Boscawen. who was in command
OF the square on tdat day.
METEMyEH's DEFENDERS.
On Jan. 81. two days after the battle
in the desert, reconnaissance OF Ne
temnsh was made. This revealed the
fac. that Metemneh was in state Of de-
tense. The works, which we're in fairly
good condition, were furnished with
loopholes. Sir Charles Wilson reports
that be could have carried Metemneh,
but he thought it not worth risking the
loss Of the men which its capture might
have involved Oa the folio wing day q
reconnaissance was made down the river
to Shendy with three steamers which re
turned on the same day to Gubat. Sir
Charles deplcres the losses which the
English troops had suffered in crossing
from K,rti to Gubat, but in other re-
spects be regards the result OF the ope
rations as in the highest degree success
ful. Lord Wolseley telegraphs that two
officers we're killed and nine wounie'i
during the passage from Abu-Kea to
the river
Four steamers that left Khartoum
Dec. 20, under Nlsri Pasha, arrived a,
Gubat last Wednesday. An official DIES.
patch from Gen Gordon shows that bis
position at Khartoum is by no means as
desper'te as has been supposed. HI
says that he could hold out there fol
years
Daring the reconnoisance OF Metem
neh Nasri, landed and assisted Gen
Stewards force in the opera:ions. Me
temneh, it appears, is occupied at th,
present moment by 1000 men. One
half OF these are regulars. under the
command Of Nnranqar. The town i,
provided with three Krupp guns. but i
has very little ammunition. Shells free
from these guns will not explode
Al Shendy, which is on the other aid,
of the river and short distance nortt
OF Metemneb, there is one small Krups
gun and the town is garrisoned by {
small force.
Sir Charles Wilson started for Khar
toum last Saturday. The force be tool