St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-22
STEWART AND THE MAHDI
Have a Hard Battle for the Pos
session of the Wells Near
Abu-Klea.
A Well Contested Battle. in Which 300
Rebels and "a British are
Killed.
Gen. Briere de Lisle Finds It Tedious Work
Transporting His Troops
From Tonquin.
More of the Avalanche Horrors in the
Mountainous Districts
of Italy.
Genera, Stewart Routes the Rebels.


reads substantially as follows:
"Gen. Stewart has had heavy engage
N .nt with portion Of the mahdi's forces
near the Abu Klea wells, about twenty-three
miles this side of Matemneh. The rebels
| had collected from Berlin, Matemneh and
Omduraman. This last place, / regret to say,
the prisoners report, was recently captured
by the mahdi and thus the men were released
from there to fight Gen. Stewart. On the
afternoon of January l6, Gen. Stewards cav
airy reported the enemy were In position
some few miles this side of the wells. AS il
was too late in the day to allow the advan ce
TO successful encounter, Gen. Stewart bivou-
seked where he was for the night.
The enemy kept up a fire all
night, and erected works on
Gen. Stewards right flank. Saturday Gen.
Stewart epdeayored to draw the enemy on to
make an attack, but the rebels hesitated. In
consequence, Gen. Stewart left all his i'm
pediments, also camels, with guard of the
Sussex regiment and some mounted infantry
aud moved forward, keeping his forces. in
the form of square. All the men were on
foot. The British army passed around the
euemy's lett flank. forcing them to make an
attack or be subject TO an enfilade fire. The
enemy wheeled to the left and made we'll
organized charge under a witherng
fire from our men. The square
was unfortunately penetrated about its left
rear, where a heavy cavalry and
camel regiment were in position, BY the
sheer weight Of numbers. The admirable
steadiness Of our men enabled them to main
tain hand to hand fight with the opposing
| force, while severe punishment was being in
| hcted upon the enemy By all other parts Of
| the square. The enemy was finally driven
back under heavy fire from all sides. The
| Ninteenth hussars then pushed forward to
| the wells, which were In our possession by 5
in the evening. The enemy left not less
than 500 slain around the square. Prisoners
| taken while the enemy were returning report
| the number of the enemy wounded quite ex-
| ceptonal. One immediate effect of tue battle
Is that many of the rebels are submitting. It
| was necessary for the army to remain at the
wells some hours TO obtain water. AS soon
Us practicable the intention was to push on
with all expedition to Metemneh. The Eng
Iish wounded are doing we'll"
| Gen. Woiseley says Gen. Stewart concludes
his report as follows:
at has been my duty to command force
from which exceptional work, exceptional
hardship aud exceptional fighting have been
called for. It would be impossible 70 ade-
| qudtely describe the admirable support given
to me by every officer and man of the force.
/ regret to say that our loss was severe, but
our success has been so complete that 1t may
dishearten the enemy to such an extent that
all their future lighting may be of a less OBJ
stinate character"
| Gen. Lord Wolseley saws: ''Gen. Stewart
| operations have been creditable TO him as a
commander, and the nation has every reason
10 be proud of the galiantry and splendid
| spirit of her majesty's soldiers on this coca
| sion. Our losses were nine commissioned
officers killed and nine wounded, and sixty
| five commissioned officers and men
we're killed aud eighty-6ve wounded. Gen.
| Stewards force consists Of about 800 men,
| all told.
Besides Col. Barnaby, the following were
killed: Major Carmichael, Filth laDcers
Major Atherton, Fifth dragons; Major
Cough, Royal Dragons; Capt. Dorley and
| Lieut.. Low, Fourth dragons; Lieut. Wolfe,
Scots greys; and Lieuts. Sigott and Dehisle,
Naval brigade. Lord st. Vincent and Lord
! Airlie were wounded.
A dispatch to the Renters Telegram COM
pany dated near Abu-Klea wells, Saturday
noon, gives the following account Of the
! engagement:
| When the hussar scouts returned yester-
day, announcing the rebels held the wells,
the British forces promptly formed In ass
| column and advanced to the wells. The
| guards marched at the left of the column the
heavy corps In the center, and the mounted
| infantry at the right. Tho column halted
within three miles OF the wells. but the rebels
showed no signs d moving. The British
troops set 10 telling trees and clearing away
the grass In front OF the column. An abat-
It's was formed around the baggage, and 4
brpastwork Of stone, With a frontage Of 150
| yards erected as an addtiona al
protection. In the afternoon the enc
my's camp w.s sighted four miles
from our Zareeba. II com prised several tents
and appeared 70 be fairly well fortified.
Meanwhile two groups Of rebels were watch
ing US from the high bills on the left front.
AT 6 In the evening the enemy fred few
strong shots and the British replied with sew
eral shells. The enemy continued firing
throughout "Wednesday night causing only
one slight casualty. Saturday forenoon the
enemy commenced advancing In two diyi-
sions In ecnelon, each umbering some
| 5000 men beating drums and waving fsgs.
MANY OF them were armed with rifles. The
enemy occasionally hated as II trying 10 dis
ever the British formation. Mean while
| the Brit sh were stradily preparing for
a reception from the rebels. They formed
a square. the artillery being placed in the
center, and advanced to meet the over
whelming force Of the enemy, who occupied
favorable gruund, showing great knowledge
Oh the art OF war. They drew US 70 difficult
positions for operations, when by cleverly
xecuted moyemedt they almost disappeared
from view, leaving only their standards Wis
ible. Suddenly large body OF rebels sp-
/ pesred and furiously charged upon the front
Of the British square. The British replied
with deadly FIRE, which the rebels we're unable
TO withstand, and then turned and attacked
the left rear Of the square. Heavy troops
! were borne down by the onslaught, broke
I formation for few moments, bat qnickly
rallied. A hand 10 hand eght ensued- The
rebels penetrated the ranks, out we're sub
jected 10 a heavy flank fire, and finally we're
driven back. Gen. Stewart had a narrow es-
cape. bis horse being killed under him. II
Is reported the rebels are In force at Metem-
neh.
Tedious Work for Gen. Briere de Isle
PAEIs, jan 21--Gen. Briere de Lisle,
French commander at Tonquiu. telegraph.
transportation Of trops difficult and tedious
Rear Admiral Reinier has been appointed
com mander Of the naval division under Ad-
mIral Courbet, commander Of the French
squadron IN Chinese waters.
Thirty Bodies Recovered.
ROME, Jan. 81 The snow falls at Pied.
mont. Savoy and other departments In the
vicinity Of the Alps mountains. are very Sc
rIOus. The avalanche which buried Frss-