The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-22
Desperate Battle I'm the Hassawiyeh
Desert Between British Troops
and SOudan Arabs.
The Latter Defeated After a Stub
btrn Fight-Tne Husssrs
Line Broken Once.
BATTLE IN HASSAwIYEH DESERT.
The British Troops in the Soudan Have a
Desperate Battle With the Mahdfs
Troops and Gait Complete
Victory.


LONDON, Jan. 2l.-A dispatch has been re-
ceived a. the War Office from General
Wolse!ey, dated Korti, January 81, p. M,
which reads substsntiailyas follows:
General Stewart has had heavy engage
ment with portion OF the MshdIs forces
near Abu Kies Wells. about twenty-three
miles this side of Metemneh. The rebels
had collected from Berber, Mesemneh, and
Abdurman. This last place, l regret to say,
the prisoners report, was recently captured
by the Mahdi, and thus the men were re-
leased from there to fight General Stewart.
On the afternoon of January 16, Stewards
cavalry reported that the enemy were in
position some few miles this side OF the
wells. AS it was too late in the day to al
low an advance and successful encounter,
General Stewart bivouacked where he was
for the night, aud the enemy kept
up a harmless fire an night, and
erected works on General Stewart's right
flank. On Saturday General Stewart en-
deavored TO draw the enemy on to make an
attack, but the rebels hesitated. In conse-
ments, also his csmels, with a guard of the
Sussex regiment and some mounted irtan-
try. and moved forward, keeping his forces
in the form OF a square. All the men were
on foot. The British Army passed around
the enemy's left flank, forcing them to make
an attack or be subjected 10 an en6lading
fire. The enemy wheeled to the left, and
made well-organizeo charge under with
ering fire from our men. The square
Il
its lett rear where heavy
cavalry and camel regiment were in posi-
ton. by the sheer weight of numbers. The
admirable steadiness of our men enabled
them TO maintain hand TO hand fight with
the opposing force, while severe punish
ment was being inflicted upon the enemy
by all the other parts Of the square. The
enemy wss finally driven back by heavy
FIRE flom all sides. The Nineteenth Hassars
then pushed forward TO the wells, which
were IN oU- possession by in the evening.
The enemy left not less than 500 slain
around the square. The prisoners taken
while the enemy we're retiring report the
number of the wounded ss quite exception
al. One Of the immediate effects of the bat
lie is that many OF the rebels are So bmitting.
1t was necess airy for the army to remain
at the we'll some hours to obtain water. As
soon as practicable the intention was to
push on with all expedition to Metemneh.
IL.
Gen erel Wolseley says General Stewart con-
cludes his report as follows:
ut has been my duty to command force
from which exceptional work, exception al
harGshIps and exceptional fighting has been
called for. 1t would be impossible to ade-
quately describe the admirable support
given TO me by every officer and man OF ths
force. ] regret TO say that our loss was Sc
we're, but our success has been so complete
that It may dishearten the enemy to sach
an extent that ell their future fighting may
be of a less obstinate character
General Lord Wolseley says:g General
Stewards operations have been most credit
able TO him as 8 commander, and the nation
has every reason TO be proud of his gallantry
and splendid spirit of her Majesty's soldiers
on this occasion. Our losses were niue COM
mission ed officers killed and nIne wounded,
and sixty five non. commissioned officers and
men killed and eighty-fve wounded. Gen
eral Stewards force consists OF about 500
men all told. Beside Colonel Burnaby, the
following were killed: Major Carmichael.
Fifth Lsncers; Major Atherton, Fifth
DTegoOns; Major Cough, Royal Dragons;
Captain DATley and Liel tenant Law, Fourth
DIagoons; Lieutenant Wolfe, Scots Grsys,
ard Lieutenants Pigott and De Lisle, Naval
BTis ade. Lord ST. Vincent ane Lord Airlie
were wounded
Another AccO1bu of the Battle.
LONDON, Jan. 21.-A dispatch to Reuters
Telegram Company, dated near Abn Klea
Wells, Saturday noon, gives the following
account of toe engagement: when the
Hussar scouts returned yesterday, snnounc-
ing that the rebels held the Wells, the Brit
ish forces promptly formed IN mass column
and advanced to the Wells. The guards
marched at the left of the column, the heavy
corps in the center and the mounted in
fantry at the right. The column halted
within three miles of the Wells, but the
rebels showed no signs OF moving. The
I British troops were set to telling trees and
! clearing away the grass in front OF the
! column. An abattis was formed around the
baggage ana stone breastworks, with 'front.'
age of 100 yards, was erected as an
additional protection. IN the afternoon
! the eDemy's camp was sighted four
miles from our Zareeba. 1t comprised
numerous tents and appeared TO. be fairly
| we'll fortified Meanwhile two graups of
rebels were watching Us from the high
hil!s on the left front. At in the 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. Sat
uTda7 forenoon the enemy commenced ad.
vanciDp in two divisions in echelon, each
Numbering some 1000 men, beating drums
and waving f ags. Many of them were armed
with rifles fhe enemy occasionally halted
as IL tryIug to discover the British formation.
Meanwhile the British we're steadily pre-
pairing for the reception OF the rebels. They
formed a square, the ertillary being placed
in the center and advanced to meet the
oyer1 helmiDg force of the enemy, who oc
cuuied favorable grounds, showing greal
know ledge OF the art OF war. They