Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-29
STEWART SAFE.
GENERAL GoRDOSALL RIGHT.
The Msreh 20 Mesemnsh Holly Cssses'ea hv
the Arabs -Cenernl ssewsr BADLY wsu"a'
ed-A Series OF SHARP Fights

The Msreh 20 Metemneh Holly Cesses'e" Nv
the Arabs -Genernl stewart BADLY Wsu"a-
ed-A Series Of SHARP Fights
lBy cable to the Dispatch.l
LONDON, January %. Intelligence
has just been received at the War once
that General Stewards force IS en-
trenched south Of Metemnch. The dis
patch also gives the gratifying informa-
ton that General Stewart is in commu-
nication with General Gordon. General
Stewards force had several fights with
the Arab rebels before il reached Me-
temneh, and General Stewart himself
Is badly wounded. Five Of the Mahdi's
emirs were killed in the fights.
Gene -al Lord Wolseley in his dispatch
reports ,he capture Of Metemneh by the
British. He also says that Sir Charles
Wilson has gone to khartoum on board
the steamer TO confer with General
Gordon. 1t is expected that he will re-
turn as soon as possible to report per-
sonally to General Wolseley. An OFF,
cial dispatch received this afternoon from
General Gordon shows that his position
at Khartoum is by no means as des-
perate as has been supposed. lie says
he could hold out there for years.
General Stewards wounds are reported
to be doing well.
A dispatch from Cairo declares that
Lord Charles Beresford, with small
force. is pushing on from Mctemneh to
KhartOum.
The official dispatches indicate that
the march of General Stewart and his
little army from the Abu Klea Wells to
their present position has been no easy
task. Almost every foot of the way
appears to have been sharply contested
by the resolute Arab foe. There was
constant succession of encounters from
the action Of the 18th till the Nile was
reached. The British troops are steadily
gaining fresh victories over the impetu-
Gus but easily -demoralized rebels. On
the morning Of Monday, January 18th,
two days after the fight at Abu
Klea. the enemy appeared IN force IN
front of the advancing British army.
and a short and fierce battle was
fought. This occurred at point about
three miles from the Nile. The British
were compelled to sustain heavy fire
for some time. Early in this engage
ment General Stewart received his
wound. and Sir Charles Wilson there
upon assumed command. Works were
hastily constructed under leaden rain,
which continued to pour upon them
from the enemy's rifles. The wounded
men and baggage-train were left under
guard behind theirquickly-bullt earth
works, while the rest Of the force adj
yanced in the face Of the hostile fire to
gravel ridge, some distance in front.
Here large force of rebels had estab-
lished themselves in strong posi-
ton. As soon as the British line came
near a fierce charge, led by several
emirs. was made against it by the rebel
foemen. The British troops were ar
ranged, as usual, in the form ola square,
and steadily advanced to meet the wild
onset of the loudly-checring 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 murderous English fire, but
were repulsed with heavy loss. Five
emirs and $50 men were left dead upon
the field. and large number of wounded.
About the English losses few details
have been received. 1t is known, how
ever, that Mr.. Cameron, special CORE
spondent of the London Daily Stand
ard. and Mr.. Herbert, special CORE
spondent of the Morning Post, were
killed.
The place where this battle occurred
is a slight distance beyond Shebacat
Wells.
General Stewards wound, while not
fatal. is so serious that he will be dis
abled for the remainder of the present
campaign. General Lord Wolseley con-
siders the deprivation Of his services a
national loss. He characterizes Stewart
as 1.-The ablest soldier and most dash
ING commander he ever knew" and re-
commends him to the Queens most IA
yorable consideration.
Lord st. Vincent, of the artillery.
was among the British slain.
The date of the latest intelligence re-
ceived from Khartoum is December 20,
1884.
THE CAPTURE OF METEMNEH UN-
CERTAIN.
LONDON. January 2S-3 y. NJ
Official dispatches leave it uncertain
whether Metemneh has been captured
by the British forces or not. Lord
Wolselcy mentions that hospital has
been established at Mctemneh, where
the wounded are receiving every care
and attention possible under the circum-
stances. Other parts of the dispatch
however, indicate that Metemneh is
| still in the hands of the rebels. 1t is
probable. therefore, that WolSeley
meant that the hospital is near Metem'
neh.
| MOTHER GPR1T BdTTLE.