The Battle of Abuklea.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 79, 6 March 1885, Page 2

The Battle of Abuklea.

(UNITED PHE3S ASSOCIATION, FROM AUCKLAND.) London, January 23. The special correspondent of the Morning Pout tolegraphs that General Stewart, on the 17th January, fought an abstinate battle with the enemy, lasting from 9 o'clock m the morning till 1 p.m. >Tlio correspondent states that the struggle culminated m a desperate charge by the Arabs, numbering over 3000, on the British square, from which they were repulsed with great loss. General Stewait left Gakdnl on 18th, and arrived near Abuklea Wells on the afternoon of the 19th, and observing that the enemy was not far ahead, he determined to halt j four miles from the Wells, and theie j threw up entrenchments, under cover of which the force bivouacked for the night. During the whole night the enemy maintained a fire from the hills. In the morning General Stewart seeing they did not attack, determined to advance againt them. He therefore left the camels and stores, with the baggage and hospital commissariat, m the entreuohments under guard of 150 men, and at once inarched with the remainder of his force. The advance was made m a square, with the mounted infantry as skirmishers on the front, the Huzzars being m skirmishing order on the left. The enemy saluted us with a hot fire from the hills, by which several of our men were woundod, ainoug them being the following officers : — Major Gough, mounted ' infantry ; Major Dickson. Lieutenant Lord St. Vincent, and LieuI tenant Beach, Life Guards ; aud Surgeon Magill. The march was continued and by the bold skirmishing of the rifles and mounted infantry, the enemy was admirably driven, away, the artillery at the same time keeping up a brilliant fire on their position across tho valley, where ! hostile flames floated m a long line of i our advance. Square was formed m the followiug order : — The left front consisted of two corps of mounted infantry aud. the right ot two companies of Guards. The left face was composed of two companies mounted infantry aud one company of heavy dragoons. The right face was composed of two companies of Guards aud two companies of the Sussex Regiment, aud the rear face of four companies of heavy cavalry and the camel corps. Tho artillery was m the centre of the front face, and the naval Brigade occupied the centre of the rear face. The whole force was on foot, the camels being left behind m an entrenched position, except those allotted for hospital purposes and to convey water and ammunition, which were stationed inside the square. THE AEAB ASSAULT. At 11 o'clock the square was moving on the right incline, m order to enfilade the enemy, who were distant a quarter of a mile, and had brought their lett face towards the Arab force, when suddenly the Arabs leaped up m masses and rushed fiercely at great speed against the square. The onset was such that the skirmishers hod scarcely time to reach the square before the enemy were tollowing close on their track. A call was made upon $ie heavy dragoons, who formed the rear half of the left face and the whole of the rear face of the formation ; but so fierce and rapid was the rush at this moment that the heavy i cavalry were borne back by the masses of Arabs, and m a moment the square was forced, the Gardiner gun was jammed, and for ten minutes a desperate struggle raged from the left rear to the centre. There Colonel Burnaby fell dead, a spear having severed his jugular vein. General Stewart's horse was shot under him, and as the general fell to the ground, at the same moment his orderly was killed beside him. Many of the camels were speared by the Arabs, and also soldiers. The whole air was filled with dense smoke and dust, while shots and sword strokes were the replies to the Arab spear thrusts. It was not long before every Arab m the square was j killed, and the rest were beaten off. Three hearty cheers were given as the square reformed on fresh ground. The j enemy then retreated, when numbers of them .rose from among the dead, and rushed past the square, but not without many being shot. STRENGTH OP THE ENEMY. The number of the enemy* according to the information given by the prisoners was 14,000, and they are said to have consisted of the followers of the Mahdi from Khartoum, Kordofau, and Berber, j the latter having especially sent great I chiefs. Among those killed were the Emir of Metemnsh and chief the Hamira Arabs. One of these penetrated into the square on horseback. AFTER THE BATTLE. After the fight had terminated the Hussars were sent forward to the W«Us of Akuklea, which was three miles m advance, and took possession of them, after a few shots had been exchanged. The heat had been extreme, but the men who were without water or food, bore it admirably. Their behaviour was splendid during the march, and is worthy of the highest praise, and also when m face of the enemy. The Wells of Abukleu, were reached by tho troops at 5 o'clock p.m., where water was plentiful and excellent for drinking. At 8 o'clock that night General Stewart sent back a portion of the Guards with some of the heavy cavalry, Camel Corps and mounted infantry, to fetch everything from the entrenched post m the rear. They all arrived safely there at 8 a.m., and on the 18th, on their arrival, the troops had the first food they had partaken of for 24 i hours. OUR LOSSES. The British losses were heavy, and the following nine officers were killed : — Colonel Burnaby, Majors Atiherton (sth Dragoon Guards), Carmichael (sth Royal Lancers), and Gough (10th HusI sars) ; Captain Darley and Lieutenant Law, sth Dragoon Guards ; Lieutenant Wolfe, Scots Greys; and Lieutenant Pegott and De Lisle, Naval Brigade. Amongst the wounded were the Earl of girlie, Viscount St. Vincent, and Major Gough, Mounted Infantry ; Major Dickson and Lieutenant Costell, sth Lancers; Lieutenant Beach, Life Guards ; Lieutenants Lile and Guthrie, Artillery ; and Surgeon Magill. There were 66 men killed, including 46 of the hoavy cavalry and Camel Corps, and 85 wounded. THE ENEMY'S LOSS. j The number of the enemy killed is supposed to be 2000. They had 900 special negro riflemen, who proved them- j selves to be good shots, and as these men kept on the hills they suffered less than the others. The prisoners, m giving an account of the number of their forces, reckoned that ten tribes, having an average of 800 men each, were m the field,which would make a total of 8000.