The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-14
The Cavalry's Gallant Dash for Water, and
the Splendid Charge of the Arabs-SOme-
thing About the People of the Soudan.
THE BATTLE NEAR GUBAr.


others made but poor breakfast. The desultory
fire of the enemy increased in volume; the enemy
began to form in military array; they evidently
meant to storm our position, superbly needless
of the terrible lesson taught them at Abu-Klea.
Our men had long since finished breakfast, and
were in position, and were answering the fire OF
the enemy's sharpshooters. The medical staff
corps were already at work, for several of our
fellows had felt the Arab bullets. The fire be-
came fierce and general and continued for
hours, over all being dense cloud of smoke and
fine sand dust, irritating to the nostrils and eyes
and parching the throat
''The General is shot" Turning round at the
hurried exclamation saw that it was too true.
Gen. Stewart was in the hands OF the surgeons,
badly hit Other casualties were plenty. Poor
Cameron, of the Standard, was stretched lfeless;
Herbert, of the Morning Post, had also been sent
to his account by the enemy's sharpshooters.
Col. Sir Charles Wilson was now in command
cool, collected in meeting each move of the en-
envy, noting weak points. The afternoon sun
beat down upon u.s. but the battle still ragged.
Bravely, recklessly, the enemy faced fire,
striving madly to reach u.s. prepared to brave
everything to keep our devoted little force from
reaching the coveted river whose cool waters we
knew were flowing within three miles of us.
Two o'clock, and it became evident that this sort
OF thing could not 60 on all day, as | heard
grlmy officer near me remark. Col. Wilson evil
IDENTIFY thought so too. Orders were given to
construct strong works in which to place our
wounded and heavy baggage, who were to be
pertorce left under the protection of such in
fantry force as alone could be spared for danger
Gus duty. Under heavy fire, and despite the
frantic assaults of the enemy, the work was
completed.
Col Wilson had determined to send a column
composed of the Guards, the heavy cavalry and
the mounted infantry, straight to the river for
water Right IN the path stood the enemy, I'M
beaten and thirsting for battle, reckless with the
mad courage begotten Of fanaticism. COM
mander made of weaker fiber might we'll have
hesitated. Not Col. Wilson, who did not fear to
realize that the risk must be taken. The troop
ers seemed yearning to come to closer quarters
with those who had been worrying them so long.
The flying column started shortly after o'clock,
marching practically in the same order as at
Abu klea They were not allowed to proceed
far before receiving forcible evidence that des-
perate work was before them The enemy's
Remingtons kept up running fusillade, and
many fell before reaching the rising ground be-
hind which ran the Nile.
AS the crest of the sandy ridge was being
slowly but surely approached by our flame edged
square the enemy, many OF them hitherto hid
den, made supreme effort to check our resist
less advance. Their charge was superb one.
We waited the shock No gap to-day of which
advantage could be taken by the fierce spearmen
in advance. On flank of the advancing mass we
could see some half dozen splenddy mounted
Arabs. evidently sheiks of Importance, encour
aging their men with voice and gesture, pranc-
ing defantly, one might have been tempted to
say enthusiastically, did we not know by expert
ence what trivial price these brave fellows set
upon their lives. Steadily, mercessly, rang out
the sharp roll of our fire. Surely no force
breathes that can stand up against the hail of
bullets which poured into the enemyS extended
ranks. Scores dropped in their tracks at every
fifty yards; the swift tide of yelling, gesticulat-
ing, spear brandishing warriors rolled on, and it
seemed as though it must reach our ranks. Our
men set their teeth but the expected death Crap
pie did not come Several of the sheiks had
fallen. AS the enemy came nearer they suffered
more terribly. At a hundred yards there
seemed to be slight check; at fifty yards there
perceptible wavering, which eliminated in
an evident check when tho first ranks of the
enemy were within thirty yards. Some of our
men cheered. The steady roll of musketry con-
tinued remorselessly. Arab nay any flesh and
blood could do no more. The enemy turned and
fed.
THE VICTORY WON.
Our way to the river was clear after two hours
fighting which it comes not to the lot of many
men to witness. Let it be recorded that the
enemy fought splendidly, not only with brute
courage, but with, on the whole, marvellous
amount of military intelligence. But they could
have no chance against our steady fire. Their
loss must have been very great, but it cannot
yet be ascertained with anything like accuracy,
for along the whole line of our advance from the
zareba their dead and wounded are lying on the
sand and under the mimosa scrub There can,
however, be no doubt that not less than 300 were
killed, and their wounded must have been pretty
well in the ratio Of five to one. The column
returned to the zareba to-day. We neared the
little desert stronghold. The small garrison
greeted their returning comrades as befitted the
occasion. Cheer after cneer rang out from the
throats of the infantrymen, the echoes of which
may have reached the enemy entrenched at
Metemneh. Late in the afternoon the reunited
force, with the wounded and other impedimenta
left the zareba and marched to the banks Of the
Nile, which was safely reached at night We
are very strongly entrenched here, and our posi-
ton is reasonably safe near Metemneh.
Throughout the night there has been desul-
tory firing from the rebels but without doing
much damage Little rest could be obtained by
our men and to lie ready for instant action was
the programme of the night. After daybreak q
reconnaissance in force was made from our posi-
ton toward Metemneh Sir Charles Wilson di-
rected operations and it was speedily ascertained
that Metemneh WAS strongly held and strongly
fortified. The rebels kept up a fire from their
Krupps as we advanced and opened with their
rifles when we came within range, but fortu-
natey without doing much damage. 1t would have
been practicable to have assaulted and carried
the place. though not without great loss of
life; but Sir Charles Wilson contented himself
for the present with making observations only.
The firing on both sides was maintained in
desultory style, without any result, for about
five hours, when we withdrew from before the
place.
In the midst of this skirmish. and while the
firing was still going on. three of Gen. Gordon's
steamers came down the Nile and steamed along
side the bank. Such ringing cheers our men gave
when they saw their Khartoum allies landing
and the Khartoum men returned the greet
ing with interest Half battalion of Gordons
garrison landed from the three steamers
and two bl...S guns which they had brought
from Khartoum were also taken ashore. The
touch between the advancing British force and
General Gordon has thus taken place precisely
as expected, the gallant Gordon sending down
his steamers and lending helping hand at the