Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-05-30
ONE OF MAJOR wIssMANN'S FIGHTS
His Own Description of a Battle with
Chief Bwana Herr.

ONE OF MAJOR WISSMANN'S FlVhls
His Own Description of a Battle Win
Chief Bwana Herr.
A recently published report of Major
Wissmann. German Commissioner Tor
East Africa, contains this account OF
his hottest encounter with Bwana Herr,
the fierce insurgent chief who has Just
made peace with the Germans:
AT 4 o'clock in the morning of a IL
uary 3, I had got far enough with my
preliminary work to break camp and
proceed against Bwana Herr. had
only 500 men at my disposal. The
enemy had at least three times
that number. 1 was therefore
obliged to be exceedingly cautious IN
nv movements. l increased the guide
corps to forty men and gave them five
guns. < At 6 O'clock my van
guard announced the appearance OF
several companies of the enemy ahead.
Ipressed forward and o came to a
great fortified camp which was aban-
doned by the enemy with shouts of
scorn and loud battle cries, as my first
company attacked it in silence and with
fixed bayoncts. We now stood in a lit
tie valley. Opposite us on the further
side of the valley rose a single wooded
mountain. Through a narrow break in
the forest We could see on the summit
palisades and behind them roofs of
huts. The Notifications OF the aban-
doned camp on the side nearest the
mountain had been torn down that we
might not derive protection from them.
I began at once to lombard the visible
part of the fort with grenades at a dis
lance of 1900 feet. The first shot was
greeted with joyful howls by the
enemy, and from then till the end of
the battle, with only short interruption,
the savages sang a battle hymn.
"Idecidcd to weaken the enemy as
much rs possible with my fire, in the
mean time looking for the most poorly
defended spot in the fort, and then to
60 over to and attack by storm.
After a little L began using shrapnel.
The scornful yells from the fort showed
that my fire was not effective. The ir-
regular volleys OF the enemy, Judged
from the sound must have come from
breechioaders. Whenever my men,
especially Europeans. showed them
selves. the fairly we'll directed fire
from the fort became hotter, and caused
us considerable loss. TO increase the
effectiveness Of our fire, and to spare
our cartridges, l had the Europeans
shoot for an hour at the point where the
smoke showed the guns of the enemy
We're posted. Then ] sent out a
company on the enemy's right flank,
where the summit of the mountain
seemed to be more easily approachable.
The savages in the mean time moved OF
my right flank, left flank, and rear, but
[ drove them back by sending out
troops against them. and turning the
guns. on them.
After two hours the fire of the enemy
seemed to grow weaker. it was appar-
emit that the Waniam-wesi, whom
Bwana Herr had forced to fight with
him, had retired. j received informa-
ton that the company I had detached
to the left had discovered there foot
prints which evidently led up to an
approach to the summit. 1 Immediately
sent two companies of Soudanese and Il
company of Askaris after the detached
company, with instructions to make, if
possible, an attack with fixed bayonets,
after giving me a preliminary signal.
During the advance Of the three COM
panies Iopened a forced fight on the
fort. The answering fire increased
rapidly in volume and effectiveness.
= The enemy felt that the de-
cisive momen was at hand. 1t made a
curious impression on us all during the
pauses in our firing to hear the savages
in the fort at the end of the loud song
of a leader call loudly on Allah. 1t was
the first time in all our battles that we
had noticed a sign of religious fanati-
cism among our antagonists. The
storming party had in the meantime
pressed forward, and found a way up to
the fort. At the stipulated signal I
stopped fire, and the Soudanese troops,
amid cheers and yells, pressed, ahead
with fixed bayonets. The fire in our
front ceased, an indication that the
enemy had thrown all their forces on
the threatened flank. The savages in
the fort answered the cries of the Sou
nanese and Askaris, hurrah for hurrah.
A hot fight ragged in the woods, and |
began to push up to the front OF the
fort. Before [ could reach the summit
the hot firing ceased, and the black,
white, and red flag appeared on the pal.
lsade above us. Trumpet signals also
told us of the success of the stormino
party.
In the captured fort all was ioy and
triumph. The Soudanese Rugged each
other, and rushed about among the
Europeans, pressing and kissing their
hands. We all realized that with such
allies we would be able to accomplish
much more difficult tasks than had vet
been given us. y + This battle is
the bitterest one I have experienced
during my activity here.
Nothing to Kick About.
He called the grocer aside in a conf
dental way, opened a small paper par