Connecticut western news., 1885-01-28
FtGHrrNe tN rHE soupAN.
General Stewards Troops Encounter e
 Part of the nInhdPs Army.


 A dispatch from Lord wolseley says: "Gen. Stewart has had heavy engagement with portion of the Mahdis forces near the Abu- klea wells, about twenIy-three miles this side of Metemneh. The rebels had collected from Berber, Metemneh, and Omduraman. This was recently captured by the Mahdi, and thus the men were released from there to fight Gen. Stewart. On the afternoon of Jan. 16 Gen. Stewards cavalry reported that the enemy were in position some few miles this side of the wells. As it was too late in the day to allow an advance and Q successful encoun- ter, Gen. Stewart biyoucked where he was for the night. The enemy kept up harmless fire all night, and erected works on Gen. Stewarts right flank. On Saturday Gen. Stewart en- deavored to draw the enemy on to make an attack, but the rebels hesttated. In consequence of this, Gen. Stewart lett all his impediments and camels under guard of the Sussex regiment and some mounted infantry and moved forward, keeping hls forces in the form of square. All the mel were on foot The British army passed round the enemy's left flank, forcing them to make an attack or be subject to an enhlade fire. The enemy wheeled to the left and delivered we'll organized charge under wither1ng fire from our men. The square was, unfortunately, pen etrated about its left rear, where heavy cav airy and camel regiment were in position, by sheer weight Of numbers. The sdmIrabIe
  tain a hand to hand fight with the opposing fo: ce, while severe punishment was being in hicted upon the enemy by alother parts of tho square. The enemy were finally dI1qen hacS under heavy fire from all sides. The Nine teenth Hussars then pushed forward to the wells, which were in our possession by ln the evening. The enemy left not less than s10 slain around the square. Prisoners who were taken while the enemy were retiring, report that the number of the enemy who were wounded was quite exceptional. One immedi- ate effect of the battle is that many Of the rebels are submitting. It was necessary for the army to remain at the wells some hours 10 obtain water. As soon as practicable the in tention was to push on to Metemneh.
 Gen. Lord Wolseley says: "Gen. Btewsrts operations have been most creditable to him as commander, and the nation has every req son to be proud of the gallantry and splendid spirit of her Majesty soldiers on this occasion. Our losses were nine commissioned officers killed and nine wounded, and sixty-fye non commissioned officers and men killed and eighty-fve wounded. Gen. Stewards force consists of about 500 men all told"
 Among the number of the British who fell was Lieut.-CJL Burnaby, who made the famous tRide to Khiva."
 The battle was fought at point in the Has saniyeh desert, twenty-three miles northwest from Metemneh and near the caravan station of Shebacas. The Arabs were estimated to number between 5000 and 10000. They made their attack in a tumultuous rush, directed principally upon the side of the hollow square held by the Hussars, which was broken at one time during the fight. The officers attribute this disaster to the unruly conduct of camels, which got powder burned and became uncon- trollable. A steady and deadly fire was kept up by the Hussars and the mounted infantry, while the artillery maintained an entiladIn.s fire, which piled dead Arabs up in heaps. Inc space in front of the British right flank was yeritabie slaughter pen, aud when the Arabs were finally repulsed they left 6s0 Of their number dead upon the field. The num- Der of their wounded who were able to march or be carried from the field is estimated at 2,000. Most of the casualties on the British side oc- cured during the break in the line of the Hussars. The British took their own and the Arabs wounded to the wells at Shebacas. Gen. Stewart, with the remainder of his troops, is progressing toward Metemneh.
 The battle was fearful hand-to-hand fight. Most of the Arabs were armed with spears aud protected by spiked shields of OK hide. They rushed to close quarters, and sHarmed over the bodies of their dead and wounded com rades. The English troops, after the first few rounds had been fired, fought with shortened sabres and with sword bayonets, yielded at half-arm length.
 Col Burnaby was killed by thrust of an Arabs spear, which entered his neck and sey- cred the juguler yeln. When Gen. Stewart { horse was shot the rider fell to the ground and was badly shaken, but he soon recovered and obtained another mount.
 The English soldiers had had neither food nor water since the night before the battle.