The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-29
The FALSE PROPHET.
The British Forces in the SOudan Engage
the Forces of FL Mahdi and Aftera Des-
perate Engagement are Successful.

been received at tile War Office from Gen-
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
sWenty-three miles this side of Metemneh.
The rebels had collected from Berber,
Mettemneh and 0mduraman. This last
place, l regret to 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
uaTy 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 10 allow
an advance and successful encounter. Gen
eral Stewart biyOuaced 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 10 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 OF a 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
| enfilade fire. The enemy made a we'll or
| ganiZed charge under
| WITHERING FIRE
| from our men. The square was unfortu-
nately penetrated about its left rear. where
a heavy cavalry and camel regiment were
| N position, by sheer weight of numbers.
! General WOlSeley says: General Stewards
! operations have been most creditable TO him
as a commander, and the nat. IN has every
reason 10 be proud of the Sallantry and
| splendid spirit of Her Majeyty'S soldiers
| upon this occasion. Our losses were nine
| commissioned officers killed and nine
wounded, and sixty-fve nOn-cOmmiSsiOned
officers and Een killed and eignty-tive
wounded. General Stewards force 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 Dga-
goOns; Lieutenant Wolfe, SCOT GreyS and
LieutenantS PigOtt and DeLisie, 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, heavy corps in the center and
mounted infantry at the right. The
column halted within three miles
of the wells, but the rebels showed
10 signs of moving. Tie British
troops set to Telling trees and clearing
away grass in front of the column. An
abattiS was formed around the baggage and
SOnewOrkS with frontage of $50 yards
erected as additional protection. III the
afternoon the enemv'S camp was sighted
four miles from Zareeba. 1t comprised
numerous tents and appeared to be
FAIRLY WELL. FORTIFIED.
At six III tire evening the enemy fred
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 beatiIg drums and waving
flags. Many of them We're armed with
rifles. The enemy occasionally halted as if
trying TO discover the British formation.
Meanwhile the British Were Ste1dily 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 tie enemy, who
| occupied favorable ground showing great
knowledge of the art of war They
drew us to 4 diff ;ult position for
operations, when, by Il cleverly 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 a deadly fire, which the rebels
were unable to withstand. and they turned
and attacked the left rear of the square.
1 he heavy trnOpS We're borne down by lie
onslaught and broke the formation for
moment but quickly rallied. A hand 90
hand fight ensuet. 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
Metelnneh. The battle between General
Stewards troops and the Arabs was fought
at a point in the lIassauiyeh desert. twenty
two miles northwest from Metenneh, and
near the caravan station of StebaclS. Gen
eral Stewards force consisted of about 1,50O
effective men. On the approach of the
Arabs who were estimated to number 5000
or 10000 General Stewart formed his troops
into hollow square, with field pieces at the
corners, ami iuvaiidS and provisions in the
center. The Arabs made their attack in tu-
multuOIS rush, directed principally upon the
side of the square held by the HusSa :. This
side of the square was broken az one time
during the fight. Officers attribute this
disaster 10 the unruly conduct of the camels,
which got powder burned and became I'M
contrOllabe. The line was specify re-
formed and the discipline of the men was
splendid throughout the action. 4 steady
and deadly fire was kept III by the IIuSsars
and mounted infantry. while the artillery
maintained an unerring fire which piled
dead Arabs up in heaps. The space III
front of the British right flank was a verita-
bic slaughter pen, and when the Arabs
were finally rcpulS d they left 500 of their
number dead upon the field. The number
OF their wounded able to march or be
carried from the field is estimated at 200.
Most of the casualties Oh the British
side occurred during the break in tine line
nf HuSSals. The British took their own and
Arab wounded Ia the wells ut StebacaS.
Most of the wounded are TepUr;ed aS doing
well. General Stewart with tie remainder
Uf his troops are progressing toward
Metemneh. During the night preceding
the action. the Arabs threw up sIiiall ea:tl
WORKS intended to intercep, General
Stewards march, but tl:ey were captured
and destroyed by detachment Of the En-
gaish trCD2S
The Superintendent of the New