The War in the Soudan.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4770, 23 April 1884, Page 2

The War in the Soudan.

The following account of the battle of El Teb will give some idea of the sort of " mettle " our soldiers had to face, and illustrating the desperate valor of the Arab forces tinder Osman Digna :—

Dispatches from Trinkitat of March 1, say that on Thursday night General Graham's expedition encamped near Fort Baker. The troops were all assembled before sunset, except the 65th Regiment which arrived at 8 on Friday morning. The forces, about 4000 strong, formed an oblong square, the front and rear being longer than the sides. The 78th Regiment (GordoQ Highlanders) formed an advance, with two Gatling guns and one Gardiner in the right corner and four Gardiners and one Gatling in the left corner. The 87th Regiment (Irish Fusiliers) formed on the right hand side of the square, and the Slack Watch Hegiment in the rear. The length of the front was 350 yards. The Hussars acted as scouts, advancing in a semicircle, ICOO yards ahead, covering the front and flanks. The main force of the troops advanced over the sand knolls and scrub for a mile from Fort Baker along the Teb road, when the rebels opened fire with Remington rifles. The range was so long that the shots proved ineffective. The rebels in swarms reached the high ground in front and on the flanks of the British army. They retired slowly as the British j-dvanced, keeping about 32C0 yards from the main body of the British force. The British cavalry followed, covering the rear upon the left and formed in three lines, distance 900 yards from the main body of the army. The roads towards Teb was studded with hundreds of corpses of Baker Pasha'sfugitives, filling the air with pollution, and around which swarms of carrion flies hovered. After advancing throe miles the earthworks of the rebels came insight. Their guns were mounted and standards flying, and the British stepped forward as if. holding parade, th« bagpipes playing, and the Highlanders siuging cheerily. They advanced until within 800 yards of the rebels position, where there was an old sugar mill surrounded by a number of huts, and where two guns were situated. The rebels began the battle with a shell from a Krupp gun. It passed wide of the square. The next shots were aimed with greater accuracy, and shells broke close to the British, wounding several. The rebels maintained a fettling fueillade with small arms. The English advanced steadily in a square without answering the fire till they passed north of the rebel works, At this place a piece of shell wounded Baker Pasha, and 20 men were hit. After an echelon of IGOO yards a halt was ordered, and the men were directed to lie down. It wai now noonday and clear, and the wind dis» perie4 th# smoke of the rebel fire, dis<

closing their movements. The British opened fire with their guns and Martini rifles, causing the enemy to rapidly slacken fire and almost cease. At this the bugles again sounded and the troops rose and wheeled on the centre of the square, and again charged the rebels, who were in no military order, but wei\ scattered herß and there so as to take advantage of the abundant cove:' which the ground afforded. They clung to their position with desperate tenacity. _ There were fally 2000 rebels directly in front, while many hundreds hung around the two sides of the square as the British moved forward, firing as they advanced. The rebels, armed with spears and huge cross swords, rose within 200 yards of the advancing lines, and rushed against the British at break*neck speed, heedless and fearless of death. The rebels fell right and left, and though some of the brave fellows reached within five paces of the square, none of them bolted— they only fell back sullenly when theyj were forced. Having cleared the ground in front with their Martini Henri rifles, the British attacked the fort. Colonel Burnaby was first to mount the parapet firing a double-barrelled shot-gun into the enemy around the works. The rebels fought with furious energy, and a frightful melee of bayonets and spears took place. At last the British gained possession of the fort. They captured two Erupp guns, and at once turned them against the enemy, but the Arabs still contested every inch of ground. They would not submit to be driven off, and could only be killed. The British next directed their attention to the old sugar mill, a brick building containing an iron boiler. This they stormed, and succeeded in dislodging 200 rebels, who leaped forth and charged from every opening. At 10 o'clock, after an hour of fighting, the rebels gave way and bolted outright. Gatling guns and Martini rifles had caused great havoc. The British pursued the rebels as they fell back, and advanced as far as the fresh water wells o-i' Teb, where the enemy made their last stand. The sheikhs, who advance! empty-handed to show that they bore charmed lives, were stricken down with bayonet thrusts. The Highlanders next carried the earthwork,, capturing three guns. At the end of four hours' arduous* fighting, the British gained possession of the rebel camps, huts, &c. The cavalry on the right flank charged the retreating rebels, who did not bolt at all, but met the troops who rode among them, giving them blow for blow. A splendid display of heroiw was made by three mounted rebe's. They resolutely maintained their ground against the shock of two cavalry charges. In the third charge they were cut down but not before they had killed several and wounded Colonel Barrow with their spears, the enemy retired sullenly, and in consequence the British kept up their firing for a long time after their fortunes of the day had been decided. The British lasses were 100 killed and 46 wounded. The British captured four Krupp guns, two howitzers, one machine gun. Fifteen hundred rebels were killed. Four officers of the English force fell, and 19 received wounds, including Baker Pasha and Colonel Buraaby, both severely. The British troops entered Tokar at noon on Saturday, March 1. There was do fighting. The march to that place was accomplished in four hours from Teb. The garrison numbered 70 men, who were half-starved. The people of Tokar kissed General Graham's hands as he entered the town, and there was great rejoicings. The rebels who escaped went over lo Osman Digna, and General Graham and the British forces returned to Souakim to organise an expedition against the rebel chief.

A battle occurred on March 13, and the Arabs fought with more persistent bravery than at Teb. Their force numbered 12,000. The British forces advanced in two brigades, which were thrown into the form of squares. A series of encounters followed soon after leaving Sariba. A great body of rebels charged the leading square, piercing many British'sailors inside the square, but it was immediately closed up, and the rebels were repulsed with great slaughter. The advance was ngain resumed, when immense hordes rushed upon the British from both sides, and a terrible struggle ensued. The Arabs fought with the greatest pluck and bravado, but nearly all were killed. The Second Brigade met with an obstinate resistance, and was at one time repulsed. Gatling and Garduer guns fell into the hands of the rebels and were only recovered aftev a severe fight, when the British likewise gained possession of the rebel camp. Another account says that as the British squares advanced and fired, the rebels, under cover of the smoke, crept up to t .c British lines and dashed against t c marines, the 65th, and Black Wat.v Regiments, throwing themselves on the bayonets of our men, giving and receiving wounds. Great confusion ensued, and the 65th began retreating, crowding the marines, when all became inextricably mixed. General Graham did his utmost to rally by retreating 809 yards to enable them to re-form. Assistance from other brigades prevented a serious disaster. There were many narrow escapes among officers. The horse of General Buller was shot from under him. The pluck shown by the rebels was unexampled. The Arabs penetrated the second square upon their hands and knees beneath the muzzles of the Gatling guns. They then commenced slashing with weapons, doing terrible execution. The British were no match for the rebels at close quarters. The rebel loss is estimated at 6000.