Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-22

THE xAHDrs TROOPS BEATEN
ssswsrss Csiuma Of l,soo AssseksA b
10000 Reseis- Despsrats Fishtiug - Bssh
sssss-E las s-ss- Hasd Wevk.

s,wsr's Cssuma Of 1890 AssseksA b
10000 Reseis- Desperate rishsius - Bssh
ssdss-s ass-ss- Taasd Wsvk.
(By cable to the Dispatch.l
LONDON, January 81 lit is otiicially
reported that serious fighting has oc-
CURED in Egypt, and that the result was
satisfactory to Lord Wolseley. Fur
Their than this no details have reached
London.
Later.-The battle occurred near Me-
temneh. An army Of 10000 rebels at
tackled the square in which the British
forces were advancing several times, but
was compelled eventually to retire.
The rebels lost 500 killed and 800
wounded. The English lost 65. Among
the British who fell was Lieutenant
Colonel Burnaby, who made the famous
"ride to Khiva."
LONDON, January 2l.-Besides Col
onel Burnaby the following were kill
ed Major Carmichael, Of the Fifth
Lancers Major Atherton, Of the Fifth
Dragons Major Cough, of the Royal
Dragons Captain barley and Lieu
tenant Law, Of the Fourth Dragons I;
Lieutenant Wolfe. of the Scott Greys !;
and Lieutenants Pigott and Delisle, Of
the Naval Brigade. Lord st. Vincent and
Lord Airlie were wounded.
THE MAHDI's ATTACK-DETATLs OF
THE FIGHT.
LONDON, January 2l.-A dispatch
has been received at the War Office from
General Wolseley, dated Korti, January
2lst, 8 o'clock p. NJ, which reads sub
stantially as follows: ." General Stewart
has had q heavy engagement with
portion of the. Mahdi's forces near the
Abu Klea wells, about twenty-three
miles this side Of Metemneh. The rebels
had collected from Berber, Metemneh,
and Omdurmon. This last place, re-
greet to say, prisoners report, was re-
Gently captured by the Mahdi, and thus
the men were released from there to
fight General Stewart. On the after
noon of January 10th General Stew
arts cavalry reported that the enc
my were in position some few miles
this side Of the wells. AS it
was too late in the day to allow an adj
vance and successful encounter, Gene
raj Stewart bivouacked where he was
for the night. The enemy kept up
harmless fire all night, and erected
works on Stewards right flank. On
Saturday Stewart endeavored to draw
the enemy to make an attack, but the
rebels hesitated. In consequence Of
this Stewart left all impediments and
camels under guard Of the Sussex regi-
ment and some mounted infantry, and
moved forward. keeping his forces in
the form of square. All of the men
were on foot. The British army passed
round the enemy's left flank, forcing
them to make an attack or be subject
to an enfilade fire. The enemy wheeled
to the left and delivered well-organized
charge under whitening fire from our
men. The square was unfortunately
penetrated about its left rear, where
heavy cavalry and camel regiment were
in position, by the sheer weight of num-
beers. The admirable steadiness of our
men enabled them to maintain hand
to-hand fight with the opposing force,
while severe punishment was being in
flicted upon the enemy by all other
parts of the square. The enemy were
finally driven back under a heavy fire
from all sides. The Nineteenth llussarS
then pushed forward to the wells, which
were in our possession by in the eve
ming. The enemy left no less than 500
slain around the square. Prisoners
who were taken while the enemy were
retiring report that the number of the
enemy who were wounded was quite ex-
ceptional. One immediate effect of the
battle is that many of the rebels are
submitting. 1t was necessary for or
army to remain at the wells some hours
toobtain water. As soon as practicable
the intention was to push OF with all
expedition to Metemneh. The English
wounded are doing well.
General Wolseley says: Stewart
concludes his report as follows - 1t
has been my duty to command force
from which exceptional work, excep-
tional hardship, and exceptional fight
ing have been called for. 1t would be
impossible to adequately 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 it
may dishearten the enemy to such an
extent that all the future fighting may
be of a less obstinate character
General Wolseley further says that
Stewards operations have been most
crcditablc to him as commander, and
the nation has every reason to be proud
of the gallantry and splendid spirit of
her Majesty's soldiers on this occasion.
Our losses were 9 commissioned officers
killed and wounded, and 65 nOn-com-
missioned officers and men killed and
IS wounded. Stewards force consists
of about 800 men, all told.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
The battle between Stewards troops
and the Arabs, says another account,
was fought at a point in Hassaniyet
desert, twenty-three miles northwest of
Metemneh, and near the caravan station
of Shebacaso. Stewards force consisted
of about 1900 effective men. On the
approach of the Arabs. who were
estimated at between 5000 and 10000.
General Stewart formed his troops
into a hollow square, with his field
pieces at the corners and with the inya-
lids and provisions in the centre. The
Arabs made their attack in tumultuous
rush. directed principally upon the side
of the square held by the IIussars.
This side Of the square was broken
at one time during the fight. and
the officers attributed this disaster to
the unruly conduct of the camels, which
got powder-burned and became I'M
manageable. The line was speedily
reformed, and the discipline of the men
was splendid throughout the action.
A steady and deadly fire was kept up
by the UugSars and mounted in