The Iola register., 1885-01-30
The FALSE PROPHET.


perste Engagement arc Successful.
LONDON, January GA dispatch has
been received at tile War Office from Geu-
eral Wolseley, dated Korti, January 81,
three D. IN. which reads substantially as fol-
lows: General Stewart has had heavy
engagement with portion of the Mahdi's
forces near the Abu Klea wells, about
.wenty-three miles this side of Metemneh.
The rebels had collected from Berber,
Mettemneh and Omduraman. This last
place, / regret tn say, prisoners report was
recently captured by the Mahdi, and thus
the men were released from there to fight
General Stewart. On the afternoon Of jan
uary 16. General Stewards cavalry reported
the enemy were In position some
few miles this side of the wells, and as
it was too late in the day to allow
an advance and successful encounter. Cen
eral Stewart bivouaced where he was for
the night. The enemy kept up harmless
fire all night and erected works on General
Stewards right flank. On Sunday General
Stewart endeavored to draw the enemy on
to make an attack, but the rebels hesitated.
In consequence General Stewart left sll his
impediments, also camels, with guard OF
the Sussex regiment and some mounted IN
fantry and moved forward, keeping his
forces in the ,Srm or square. All the
men were on foot. The British army
passed around the enemy's left flank, fore
ing them 10 an attack or be subject to an
enfiade fire. The enemy made well or
ganized charge under
A wITIIERING FIRE
from our men. The square was unfortu-
nately penetrated about its left rear, where
a heavy cavalry and camel regiment were
IN position, by sheer weight of numbers.
General Wolseley says: General Stewards
operations have been most creditable to him
rs a commander, and the nat: IN has every
reason to be proud Of the yallantry and
splendid spirit of H9r Majesty's soldiers
upon this occasion. Our losses were nine
commissioned officers killed and nine
wounded, and sixty-five non-commissioned
officers and men killed and eignty-five
wounded. General Stewards f,fce consists
of about 800 men all told. Besides Colo
mel Burnaby the following were killed:
Major Carmichael, Fifth Lahcers; Major
Atherton, Fifth Dragons; Major
Cough, Royal Dragons; Captain Dar-
ley and Lieutenant Low. Fourth Dra-
gOons; Lieutenant Wolfe. SCOT Greys and
Lieutenants Pigctt and DeLis!e. Naval
Brigade. Lord ST. Vincent and Lord Airlie
were wounded. The following account
of the engagement is given by another
source: "When the Hussar scouts returned
yesterday announcing that the rebels held
the wells the British force promptly formed
in mass column and advanced to the wells.
The guards marched to the left of the
column, q heavy corps in the center and
mounted infantry at the right The
column halted within three miles
of the wells, but the rebels showed
no signs of moving. The British
80 T,lI o,.I oil rifntr
away grass i'm front of the column. An
abattis was formed around the baggage and
s.onewOrks with frontage of $50 yards
erected as additional protection. In the
afternoon the enemy's camp was sighted
four miles from Zareeba. 1t comprised
numerous tents and appeared to be
FAIRLY WELL. FORTIFIED.
At six i'm tire evening the enemy fired
few stray shots and the British
replied with several shells. The
enemy continued firing throughout Friday
night causing only one slight casualty. On
Saturday forenoon the enemy commenced
| advancing in two divisions, each numbering
| some 5000 men beating drums and waving
flags. Many of them were armed with
rifles. The enemy occasionally halted as if
trying to discover the British formation.
Meanwhile the British were steadily pre-
pairing for the reception of the rebels. They
formed square, the artillery being placed
in the center and advanced to meet the
overwhelming force OF tine enemy. who
occupied favorable ground showing great
knowledge of the art of war. They
drew us to a difficult position for
operations, when, by a cIeveriy exc
cuted movement, they almost disappeared
from view, leaving only their standards
visible Suddenly large body OF rebels
appeared and furiously charged upon the
front of the British square. The British re-
piled with deadly fire, which the rebels
were unable to Withstand. and they turned
and attacked the left rear of the square.
The heavy troops were borne down by the
onslaught and broke the formation for a
moment, but quickly rallied. A hand To
hand fight ensued. The rebels penetrated
the ranks. but were subjected to heavy
flank fire and finally driven back.
General Stewart had a narrow escape,
his horse being
KILLED UNDER HIM.
1t is reported that the rebels are in force at
Metemneh. The battle between General
Stewards troops and the Arabs was fought
| at point in the Hassauiyeh desert, twenty
two miles northwest from Metcmneh, and
near the caravan station of Stebacis. Gen
er1i SItNdTbS IOCc COiiSlSlcu III dDOut l,oCO
| effective men. On the approach of the
| Arabs, who were estimated to number 5000
or 10, 900, General Stewart formed his troops
into hollow square, with field pieces at the
corners, and iHvalids and provisions in the
center. The Arabs made their attack in tn.
| muItuous rush, directed principally upon the
side of tile square held by the Hussls. This
| side of the square was broken az one time
| during the fight. Officers attribute this
disaster To the unruly conduct of the camels,
| which got powder burned and became un-
| cOntrO.labie. The line was speedily re-
| formed and the discipline of the men was
| splendid throughout the action. A steady
and deadly fire was kept up by the Hussars
and mounted infantry, while the artillery
| maintained an unerring fire which piled
dead Arabs up in heaps. The space in
| front of the British right flank was verita-
bic slaughter pen, and when the Arabs
were finally repuls,d they left 500 of their
| number dead upon the field. The number
Ot their wounded able to march or be
carried from the field is estimated at 200.
| Most of the casualties on the British
side occurred during the break in the line
! of Hussars. The British took their own and
| Arab wounded to the wells at Stebacls.
| Most of the wounded are reported as doing
well. General Stewart with tie remainder
| of his troops are progressing toward
| Metemneh. During the night preceding
the action. the Arabs threw up small ea:th-
works intended to intercept General
| Stewards march, but they We're captured
and destroyed by detachment Of the In
SliSh trUp2s-
The Superintendent of the New
York Women's Protective Union gives