Savannah morning news., 1885-06-22
Row HlcKs PASTA DIED.
The story of the Destruction OF His
Army Told by an Eye Witness.

The story Of the Destruction of His
Army Told by an Eye Witness.
Col. CoIborne. who was at one time at
tached to the staff of Gen. Hicks Pasha,
sends to the London Daily Neos an ac-
count Of the destruction Of tnat unfortu-
nate officer and his entire army of about
1880 men. This account was narrated
by one of the very few survivors Of the
massacre, a boy OF II, who was a slave of
Mohamet Bey, an officer in Gen. Hicks
army. The narrative, as taken down
from the boys words, is IN part as fol-
lows:
Ii was early dawn when we marched
from Shat. We plunged into the desert,
having turned our backs on the Nile that
the greater part OF our soldiers were to
see no more. They had commenced their
last march-the march from which there
was to be no returning. No more would
they greet the rising sun. With backs
turned 10 the east, every step they traced
on the sand led to the sunset-the sunset
OF their lives. We now occasionally saw
the enemy in the distance-in scattered
groups in front, on our hanks-and
we perceived, too, that they were gather
ing in our rear; but when tue cavalry
were sent out against them they vanished
like mists in the morning sun; but
they were dOgging our footsteps Ike
wild beasts do their prey-slOWiy, but
surely. We used to shell them and fire
the Krupps at them. From Shat we went
10 the wells Of Ragshah, from El Rep
shah 10 Helet Bonnee. We always kept
two squares days march apart. When
Hicks PGsh2's square, consisting of 5000
men, left that place Aladeen Pasha's
force, consisting Of $500, occupied the
position. We now marched to FL Juama;
from this to AL Agana.
At length we reached Lake Rahad.
This is a large swamp, with pools of
water; there is always water here 1t is
on elevated ground, and rocks and
hills around. We had hoped the Tagala
tribes would join us here-that is
the reason we had come this way
but they were afraid of the Arabs.
j don't think Lake Rahad is more than
two and a halt days journey from Ell
Obeid. Hicks Pasha built fort here and
placed ia it 4 Krupp guns and l9 smaller
ones. We got here plenty Of beans and
melons, and as much water as we wanted.
We rested here three days. This was our
last rest. The enemy were gradually
hemming us in even here, and Hicks
Pasha determined to push on at once to
El Obeld. The order was given to ad-
vance, and all tents were struck at day
break. We had not marched an hour
when the enemy tor the first time COM
menced TO fire at us, but from long dis
taDce. No one was hit, or scarcely any
one, but some camels We're wounded. We
halted for the night and entrenched our
selves with eGrtbWorks, putting a zareba
outside again. The fires of the enemy at
nightfall played all around. Weremained
here two days. We found some water,
but bad to search for it.
We left at sunrise and marched to She
kan, where we again halted for two DAYS.
The reason we did this was because we
We're nOVR encircied by our enemies, and
camels began to fall from the fire and sol
diers 10 be wounded and killed. We
! marched from Shekan till the sun was in
the middle Of the sky. We matted as
Arabs were all around firing from the
bush. On the third day, on our way to
Blrkee, the cavalry went OutOf the square
and encountered 1.-The eneIny's hOrsemen,
putting them TO flight. Our cavalry then
returned, bringing with them seVeTaheHp-
tured horses. This was when the sun
was young. Our square continued to
sfnoVe on. Shortly atteFward, the sun be-
ing yet young, we heard a sound,
s'w-o-o-o-h," here the boy tried to give
the idea OF the gallOping of horses. This
was the sound be said they heard, and
then presently all around we saw Arabs
innumerable-the whole world surround
ed US, and bayarey (ilags) We're waving
and spears cleaning in the sunshine
above the bush. Our square was halted,
and we opened FIRE, killing great many
but we too lost many. There We're too
many bushes for the kFupps 60 do eXecu-
ton. but the machine guns were at work
day and night. Next morning when we
marched l saw Arabs lying in six heaps,
slain by these guns. Before we got to
Shaheen we had niue Englishmen with
as besides Kicks Pasha- At first the
Egyptians lay down TO hide, but Gen.
Hicks ordered his English officers to 90
round and make them stand up. Some
OF the English were killed when doing
this, and Hicks took out his pOcketbOok
and wrote down their names aud the time
OF day that they were killed and the man
ner. At noon Hicks Pasha called an as
senbly OF them 10 see who We're alive.
= We waited for Aladen, who now joined US
The next morning we all marched of
together. We came TO many large trees.
An immense number of the enemy could
De seen by field glasses. The men de-
ciared they would rather march on their
way hghting and reach the water than
stand still 10 square. SO Hicks, yielding
10 these refnonstrances. continued 10
march on IN square. IL was not vet
dhnAza (nOon, aud we were not far from
kiquis. We could STE ii. We should
nave Deen Lnere DY noon, ana there was
abundanceOf water. IL believe this " the
same a. Is written m our maps "mel-
beis-'l The rear face OF our square was
formed by the two black battaliOns, one
raised in SEMINAR and the other from the
MOdireer Of Sankett. IL was near noon,
just about this time-zyessa- "a rush, ter
rlhie and sudden, sweeping down like
the torrent from the mountain.
was made. The Arabs burst upon our
1ront face in overwhelming numbers. 1t
, was swept away fike chat before the
wind. Seeing this the other sides OF the
square turned inward and commenced a
death-dealing fusilade both on the Arabs
pressing into the square and on each other
I crossways. A terrible slaughter com
menced. Hicks PaSha and the very few
English officers ieft with him seeing all
hope Of restoring order gone, spurred
their horses and sprang out Of the con
fused mass of the wounded, dead and
dying. These officers fred away their re-
volPers, clearing space for themselves,
tail all their ammunition was expended.
They killed many. They had got clear
outside. They then took 10 their swords
and fought till they fell.
Hicks Pasha now alone remained. lie
was terror ~ the Arabs. They said he
never struck man with his sword with
out killing him. They named him Atsmi
h. L.. a