Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-21

..s,s D~.e.,psssa 81 che Ftghs1nG
W." sou - ~ Abu.KIsa.

p.'ospd. Ntea evening fell the march
Con- out ohj tive point being now Abu-
ne wells, 0hrro we knew that the
NJ ~, vss siroagiv posted. We arrived
=, 'front.' Of these VETS on the evening o!
~ tc,b. and. aaiiing, Immediately pro-
te "a 20 con rHai a zareba Of mimos,.
-, b,lshcs. IS 1icb we were not long In
i I,n4as being 80 provided with the neces-
~ iiDbook i8tchets. Nothing could
,,ier for pHrpose than the mtmosa-
-about feet In height, With q
ss.,s,iv of g., sc thick as to render Il
u'u','.cryiou wsil. while II is thickly
.,,,d6ed WI he most yillainous
tborns, s long as ten
,,rnp, nail Hl ~ sharp A. 6sh.
ionIs Thss, e planted In square,
:. 0Lrl's. clo.,' frgetheT. butts inward,
,snrn, onward. IS hilc outside OF all, for a
80, Of about twenty yards front, we
.trdded the s,pd Nith "crows' feet" n
sonfrivaucefor the benefit Of the bareiooied
si,,iblul" We brought with us. These
ocroWs' feet" we're iron spikes about
loot ionv, which were suukon,
wbllc The tops were armed with sharp
,lsfl hooks and knife blades, so that =
,,rciooted race through them, especially in
az dark. wonld &c anything but comfort
.hlc. thew would likewise disagree with
s.fe hoofs Of the Arab horses. those animals
bot being as generally iron-shOd 81 ours.
Thc>e little instruments were connected by
sections Of chain so ga 10 prevent dlSplace-
mcni In the centre OF the main Zarebs
another % lesser size was constructed for
ihe camels which we compelled 20 kneel
and Kept them in that position by strap
Mig the knee OF each animal. Stores,
boycs. and such impodimeata ne we had we
piled M so s. 10 make little surgery,
where The doctors quickly laid out their
etools.'
~ UNCOMFORTABLE NIGHT.
While thus engaged in ".ctiing our
house in order" the enemy, who had
watched our proceedings with much int
rest for some time. opened fire on us from
some rocks about 1900 yards of, doing but
little damage. As the night advanced,
however. they CFept up closer, when their
shots began 90 tell on the camels. many Of
which were killed, and depriving
us Of anv Icst whatever. The night
wa, drosdfdlly cold for so warm n
climale. In the morning the men were
So vet with lev dew as 20 appear As II
fhey had lust been fsbed out Of river.
After passing suCh an uncomfortable night
we were all glad when morning came, and
ri once lighted fires and esssycd the pre-
parsiion OF n soldiers luxuriant breakfast
coffee and bareback; but even this we were
nat allowed 10 enjoy, for the enemy mo-
lncntarily growing bolder, commenced
rapid aud destructive rifle fire, the first
msn Killed beng Private James Donald
son. Of the Scsts Guards.
We did not waste much time over our
Irc.lfi fast. aud we're soon in square, living
down. The front face Of the square was
~. l.. LIT To-, It
fbe marines; the right face (left sub-diyi-
sion. u Guards; night subdivision, OF dis
mounted cavalry; rear face, dismounted
lsyaiIy.
Er,ikis,t being over, and the enemy's
fire growing unpleasantly hot, General
Stewart, whose cool behavior greatly IN
suir,d the men, took occasion to instruct us
\, 10 cur imminent duty. He warned us as
fotnc Arab mode OF intimidation and loud
moses.
.You are but l,jo0 men against about
1i.OOO Of the enemy. But keep cool; keep
Close together. Above all things fire low,
and ~ will be WELL
TIE BATTLE OF ABT.KLEA.
Ju.t as he concluded the men arose and
prepared 10 lcsyC the zareba by marching
straight on the wells; the right side OF the
fhe right. while the rear faced right-about;
ihu, the Guards were in front. OF course,
Vou know that the British square is always
four deep, officers and all other, in the CEN
Ere.
Imay - wei state that on the previous
evening. ~ we were constructing our
zarcba, Colonel Fred. Burnaby, OF the Life
Guards. that restless knight erTsnt, rode
into orr lines alone, SAVING that he had come
70 IolafbTce us.
All being ready. the bugle sounded the
"adyancc." snd we stepped out OF our en-
closure and marched straight TO our front;
but when we had arrived within about
1000 Yards OF The first rock OF the wells
ihc bait " was sounded, and we laT down
L. avoid a fire that was growing serious.
Falling IN again, we advanced, re.
tired, wheeled, aud executed va
fi0u, mauUuyrcs I'm order 20 draw
1he enemy on; from their conceal
mcnt. firing an occasional round
from our machine-guns, but could not sue
coed. They were well posted behind sud
beyond TIE rocks that surround the wells,
and refused to expose themselves; but we
knew that THIS silence on their part pOr-
tended some deyiitry, and that very soon.
We did not anticipate any boys play. We
Ancw our ease was a desperate one. conse-
qucntly oar commander acted very eau
liou,Y.
AT last. seeing the fu'ility Of our manpu-
wiring, me General decided TO "icel " them
by sklrmisbcrs. and consequently ten Gles
were thrown ont with orders 10 pick of
any ,helkLs or emir~ they might see. many
az whom were present rs we could observe
~ the numbers If banners waving above
fhr rocks, and the constant shifting Of
which Tea us 10 believe that they con-
itmplattd & use sudden mischief Tho
Flirmi>hcrs, as soon rs they made
choice Of positions, opened a lively
tuaade on the banner bearers, and
w knew every shot told by seeing the ban.
ner, l1l Al last the Arabs commenced TO
swarm over The rocks, and bodies oi mount.
al meR appeared at tue openings Of detiles.
Instantly the "rtcgl' was sounded. and
none Too soon. for - the .kirmlsherS broke
cover and raced for the square three heavy
column, Of Arab cavalry burst out alter
them, also making for oar square.
MEETING THE CAVALRY ATTACH.
" Prepare 10 receive cavalry" now rang
out, and Instantly The square brisllcd with
steel. ON came th, lcCing SkirmishCrs,
straight for the front % the square. when
they had been told that IN retreat they
Should make for tie rear Of the square,
A. they closed on the front, with the
",luding ranks oi the Guards at the
"ready." Colonel B0>cawcn, who had the
Noic" OF o bull, roaled out: Round to the
right, round To- the right and rear. you
49, fools DO you want your head blown
OIL: They sWcrSed around and cleared
our front when we poured IN Yolley,
bringing She ast0nshod enemy in our front
'up, SANDING"
Not SO in The rear, however, where the
dsmounied cavalry held RE ground. These
brave fellows were nj q disadvantage.
Mounted, ANY one OF them would De good
tor ,iy Arabs, but dismdunted they
woe cut OF their element. The square
g. ihc iriantrymaE's most cOuUdcnt
position, but ), the reverse with the
ca'alIyman. He has not that lirm
bid in cOhe,yCrcsS necessary for
lighting IN square. In resisting cavalry
he is only performing an operation
which 10 bl- been The study Of his best
day, % destroy and contemn. l repeat
That Drawer men never drew breath, but, in
common with others. I uyenture TO say
ihJl our camel corp. mould have been co1l-
posed entirely OF infantry. II any cavalry
LaG been taken, they should have been
mtrclt small body Tor accommodating
purposes.