The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-05


There was one battle in the course of the
days bloody wosk-a fight in which the
barbarian host did serious damage to the
enemy. and wherein there was danger that
the British victory might not be gained.
1t was when third of the Khalifa's army
suddenly flung itself upon Macdonalds
brigade of Egyptian troops, which had
somehow become isolated from the rest of
the sirdar's forces The Daily Telegraph
correspondent gives an excellent account of
the savage struggle:
Macdonald had made wide swing to
the west, The Dervishes, like wolves upon
unexpected lairs. With swifter feet and
fiercer courage they dashed for the isolated
brigade OF Colonel Macdonald Although
we were far away at the moment with the
First or Lyttleton's Brigade the shouts,
the noise of the descending tornado reach
ed US From behind the southern slope of
I'm Mutragan hills the khaifa was charg-
ing with an, as yet, intact column of 1900
men. their banners and mounted Emirs
running from the south and the east of
Dervishes who had lain hidden sprang UP
corner of Macdonald's brigade Worse STILL
Sheil1hs Ed Din and Yunis. returned from
chasing the Egyptian cavalry. We're hasten
ing with their division at full speed to at
tack them in rear Scarcely soul in the
Sirdars army, from the leader down. but
saw the unexpected singular peril OF the
Macdonald is in for terrible time. VIII
he get out of it,? Then rode at a gallop.
disregardiDg the venomouS Dervishes hang
ing about, up the slores of Surgham, where,
spread like picture, the scene lay before
me. Prompt in execution, the Sirdar had
already issued orders for the artillery and
Maxims to open fire upon the khalifas big
column AT the same moment the remain
ing brigades were wheeled to face west,
ard Major General Wauchope's was sent at
the double to help the stanch battalionS OF
Colonel Macdonald, now beset on all sides.
Fortunately he knew his men, and his men
knew him. for he had had the training of
all of them the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh Su-
danese and the Second Egyptians, under
Major Pink. No force could have been in
time to save them had they not fought and
saved themselves. Lewis's brigade was
nearest, but it was almost mile away,
and the Dervishes are wont to move that
ordinary troops seem to stand still.
"Indecision or furry would have soon
ly their brigadier knew his business. Mes
sages which could not reach him were be
ing sent to him to try and hold on. that
Dervish columns were converging upon the
brigade upon three sides. Surely it would
be engufed and swept away was the fear
would follow? All, that could wait for
answer; 1t was crucial moment, when
single Khedivia1 brigade going to be
tested in way from which only British
squares have emerged victorious. Most for
ppnatey C9one f d9ng * oa had Mse
and De RougemontS The guns were the
handy but deadly Maxim ordenfeldt 12l3-
Founders. Macdonald had marched out with
the Eleventh SudaneSe on his left, the Sec
ond Egyptian in the center and the Tsnth
Sudanese on the right all being in line. Be
hind the Tenth, also in line, were the
Ninth Sudanese. Major Walter command
Major Jackson the Eleventh Sudanese bat
talions. Fastening forward to meet the
Khalifa's attack. Colonel Macdonald threw
his whole brigade into line, disregarding for
the moment the assaulting columns of
Sheilxh Ed Din, who providentially were
little behind in the attack. The batteries
went to the front in openings between the
brigades and smote the faces of the Der
wish columns. Steadily the infantry fired,
pendenty, the Second Egyptians in careful,
well aimed volleys.
BEATEN BACK.
'Afar we could see and rejoice that the
brigade was giving a magnificent account
of itself. The Khalifa's Dervishes were be-
ing hurled broadcast to the ground Major
Williams at last and our other batteries, as
well as Maxims, were finding the range
and ripping into shreds the solid lines of
Dervshes. Still the enemy pressed in, their
leading footmen reaching to within two
hundred yards of Macdonald's line. Scores
of the Emirs and lesser leaders, as we'll as
footmen, only fell a few feet from the guns
and mistaken Khedivial infantry 1t is said
one or two threw spears across the in
domitable soldiery, and a few turned the
TANKS, but were instantly dispatched. \
lacking columns of Dervishes The Khali-
fa's division had at length received such
surfeit Of withering, fire that the rear lines
began to hold back, and the desperate
rushes of the chiefs and their personal re-
tainers grew fewer and feebler. But Sheikh
Ed Din was within one thousand yards,r run
ming with his confident legions to encom-
pass and destroy the First Khedivial Bri-
gade. Macdonald, when he saw that he
could hold his against thP whole
of the Khalifa's personally commanded d.
visions. threw back his right, the Ninth. and
fairly beSet on all sides, but fighting spen-
didly. doggedly. The Deryishes, taking
DESTROY him It was bv fsr tbe nest tho be
most heroic struggle Of the day. A second
battalion. the famous fighting Eleventh
Sudanese. who lost so heavily at Atbara,
swung round and interposed themselves to
KhaliIs and Sheikh Ed Din's fierce follow
ers Furious as was the blast of lead and
irons the Dervishes had all but forged in be-
tween the Ninth and Eleventh, when the
Second Egyptian, wheeling at the double,
without hesitation the felaheen let 1t
be said, stood their ground, and. full of con-
hdence, called to each other, and gave shot
ana 6ayonet point to the few more trucu-
lent Dervishes who. Drawing shot and shell,
dashed against their line. 1t tough,
protracted struggle, but Colonel Macdonald
was slowly freeing himself and winning all
along the line. The Camel Corps came out
to his assistance and formed on the right
ers of bullets from the Maxims on the gum
boats drove back the rear lines of Shekh-
ed-Din'S men. Three battalions of Wau-
chopes got UP to assist in completing the
rout of the Khalifa. The Lincolns, sent to
the right, got in line with the Camel Corps
and assisted in finishing off the retreating
bands of the khalifa's son. / saw the
Dervishes for the first time in all these
years turn tail, stoop and fairly run for
their lives to the shelter CT the hills. 1t
was a devil-take-t he-hindmost race, and the
only one / have ever seen them engage in
through half a score of battles. Beyond
all else the double honors of the day had
been won by Colonel Macdonald and his
Khedivial Brigade and that without any
| help that need he weighed in the glory of
his single-handed triumph
IN OMDURMAN.
At last came the entry of the sirdars
victorious troops into Omdurman. which is
| thus described:
About 4 O'Clock Colonel MaxweITs bri-
| gade, accompanied by the Thirty-second
| down one of the great main thoroughfares
| that intersect the Dervsh capital the sir
| dar and staff following shortly after them
| Just as the British artillery reached the
neighborhood of the Great Mosque a trunk
| less head no doubt the last act of revenge
| of some savage fanatic, was thrown across
| the walls among the troops There was
| too, a good deal of Independent shooting
| which cost several soldiers lives and neces-
| STATED the firing of some rifle volleys as
| we'll as the of the Maxiuns from time to
| time. Omdruman presented q CHASTITY spec-
in every direction (the result of the lyddite
| bombardmenD, and the smell from thou
| sands of decomposing donkeys beggars all
description. 1T seems that on the lombard