The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-02-25
GENERAL EARLE DEAD.
Killed by Arabs While Leading a
Charge.
Another British Victory, but at
a Serious Loss.

Major General Earle, whose column Of
British troops, numbering $500 men and
comprising cavalry and camel corps, has
been killed in action. The London Standards
correspondent with General Earle;s column
sends the following despatch, dated Du!ka,
The British troops advanced to attack the
enemy, who held q strong position OH the
hills. After some fighting the enemy was
completely surrounded. Finding it impossi-
BILE to disloige the rebels from their fortified
position General Earle ordered the troops to
charge. General Earle was killed while leaa-
ing the attack.
The Black Watch regiment captured the
position at the pointof the bayonet, the cavalry
taking possession of the eneny's camp. Gem
eral Brackenbury, upon tho fall OF General
Earle, assumed command and ordered the
remaining positions Of the enemy to be
gtormed. The troops acted promptly, mace
a gallant attack, and soon captured all the
hours. There was great slaughter among
the enemy. Those who survived escaped by
swimming the river.
The British force consisted Of the Black
watch and South Stafford regiments, n
squadron of HusSars. two guns of Egyptian
artillery, the Egyptian camel corps and a
section of the field hospital corps. The troops
at once set to work to form a zareba. In the
meantime the enemy fired several shots from
the high hills. Our pickets advanced and
drove back the Arabs who had de-
scended the hills to make on attack.
Night ensued and guards were posted.
Everything passed quietly during the night.
Tuesday morning the troops formed and ad-
vanced to the enemy's position, marching in
two parallel columns. Two companies OF the
South Stafford regiment and two guns occu-
pied the ground directly in front Of the enemy
to attract their attention. At S o'clock our
guns opened the attack, and for some time a
desultory fire was maintained. In the mean
time the main body of our troops. was
advancing steadily over almost impractlcable
ground, pushing the enemy before them and
scizinS each successive ridge by n short de-
termined rush. The forward movement was
continued until the advanced troops reached
the right rear of the enemy, which rested on
the river. This completed the movement
whereby the rebels were surrounded. The
enemy's position was a very strong one: 1T
was on rocky ground, and was strengthened
by loopholed walls from which they main.
tanned a heavy, well-directed fire.
General Earle had no artillery, and conf
manded his troops to charge. 1t was more OF
q scramble than a charge, but the Arabs were
driven from the heights at the point of the
bayonet, and fell back slowly toward the
river. All that then remained to be captured
was the little fort on the river bank. AS the
British column advanced it was met by a
steady and we'll directed fire from behind
sand and watl!ngs which composed the Arab
fort. and many men of the attacking party
were killed. General Earle again ordered his
men to charge, and put himself at the head of
the column. He was killed during the charge.
The fort was ultimately captured, but at Il
terrible cost. In addition to General Earle
three officers and eight men were killed aud
thirty-fve men are wounded.
General carlo was second in command to
Lord Wolseley over the British troops i'll tile
Ec,,lor