The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-02-11
A HOT BATTLE.
THE COMMANDER BADLY WOUNDED,
BUT NOT FATALLY.

LONDON, Jan. 2S.-The battle of
Abu-kIea wells, the story of which
has already been published, was
fought on Saturday, the 18th. Gen.
Stewart employed what was left of
the day after the fight and large
part of Sunday in establishing a
strong post at Abu-Klea. There
those who had been seriously
wounded in the battle were left
with small garrison. On the after
noon of the 18th General Stewart
began bis forward movement toward
Metemneh. After passing the She
baca wells the British forces moved
to the right. This was in accord
ance with instructions given by
Lord Wolseley, who had ordered
that in case Metemneh was found
to be occupied by the enemy Gener-
al Stewart should make an effort to
establish himself at some point on
the Nile between Metemneh and
Khartoum. His forces consisted Of
ninety men of the Nineteenth Hus-
sars, the three divisions of the
Camel Corps, in all about l, ,0S0 men.
At seven o'clock on the morning of
the 18th, when the British line was
barely a league from the river, the
enemy appeared in force some dis
lance in front. A halt was there
upon made for breakfast in a strong
zereba established there.
The enemy presently opened fire
upon them, and while they were
Strengthening their works for pro-
lection to the wounded and baggage,
the fire was the heaviest that the
British had yet been subjected to.
1t was while they were still at tais
point that General Stewart was
wounded. Sir Charles Wilson there
upon assumed command. The en-
envy numbered 1000 men, 4 large
number of whom were cavalrymen
armed with rifles, and the fight
which followed was severe one.
THE BATTLE DESCRIBED.
The latest dispatches received at
the War Office show that the point
where the battle occurred is in the
desert about five miles south from
Metemneh. When Gen. Stewart
reached that point he found the en-
emy were lowering about his little
army on all sides and skirting it
often within uncomfortably short
range. The rebels had evidently
stationed themselves in the vicinity
to await his arrival and give him
battle. When they began to sur
round him and press in upon him
he determined to abide the event.
He ordered his men to dismount
and form a zareba. This was made
mainly with saddles and baggage
and during its construction the reb-
el riflemen drew nearer and main
tanned hot fire from behind am
bushes and such hiding-places as
they could find among bushes and
high grass. This fire was very well
directed and was most disasterous
in its effect upon the British troops.
Twelve men were soon shot dead
and forty others were stricken down
with ugly wounds. Among the
first killed were Mr.. Cameron. the
special correspondent ofthe London
and Mr.. Herbert, the
special correspondent of the London |
Post. But two commissioned Off
GERS were killed. Gen Stewart was
one of the first to be wounded. He
was shot in the thigh. When he !
was struck the work of making the !
sareba was about completed and the |
army had been put in motion to !
form its battle array.
This was hollow square. The !
square was formed in the following
,rder: In front the naval brigade
md the Grenadier Guards: on the
light flank the Coldstream Guards
md the Scots Guards; on the left
1ank the mounted infantry, and
IN the rear the Sussex regiment and
he heavy camel corps. As soon as
the square advanced un-
Ter heavy ambush fire distance
# two miles. At this point the en-
my began to advance on the square
n two large echelous. These were
lirected against the British right
ront, which stood unmoved Dur
ng the rebel charge the English
roops forming the assailed front
delivered a terrific fire right at the
nemy's middle, moving down men
n such heaps that they formed ac-
ual obstacles and interfered so Sc
iously with the evenness necessary
o the success of the onslaught that
Is centre line was brought to
tand-still about sixty yards from
be British front line. The force of
be general movement threw the
Inimpeded parts of the line like
be ends of a broken timber around
be corners Of the square, and the
ebels so displaced were simply cut
0 pieces. From this on, the war
are was as disasterous to the rebels
8 it was irregular on their side.
When the enemy's line was brok-
n the Arabs seemed to break up
nto bands, each of which waged
rar on its own account. A large