INCIDENTS AT THE BATTLE OF TEB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7002, 26 April 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

INCIDENTS AT THE BATTLE OF TEB.

General Bulltsr has recommended Captain Wilson, R.N., of the Hecla, for an action which be describes as one of the most courageous he has ever witnessed. There was a gap in the square, and five or six o£ the enemy seeing it rushed forward, attempting to pierce the ranks. There Captain Wilson advanced to meet them alone, and breaking his sword in his effort to cut one of tnem down, would not retire a step, but held his ground, knocking them down with hiß fists. Either by a miracle or the surprising nature of his attack, he escaped with a few wounds, and the square closing up rescued him. Two sergeants and a trooper of the 19fch Hussars saved Colonel Barrow with great courage, whioh might be inferred from this fact alone, that no other officer or man severely wounded escaped to live. One trumpeter, terribly cut about by spears, was carried out only to die. When Colonel Barrow was wounded, Sergeant Marshall caught him as he fell from his horse, and, seizing a loose horse, tried to place his Colonel on it. Then came up Trooper Boseley, to whom belonged the loose horse, which had fallen. Boseley, on foot, under a heavy fire, through masses of the enemy, supported the wounded officer into our infantry lines, aided by Sergeant Fenton, Sergeant Marshall, knowing that his troop would be feeling the loss of officers, rejoining it. A corporal of the 19th Hnssars had four horses killed under him, three by rifle bullets, and one by spears. In the last case, at the moment his horse was killed, a trooper near him was killed also, and he leapt into the empty saddle. The daring of the suouting up to Tokar may be illustrated by the fact that Sergeant James Fatt, of the 19th Hussars, being ordered to push forward on scouting duty, and finding himself close to Tokar and alone, entered the town, not knowing whether it were friendly or hostile. He was the first man in Tokar, and brought out the inhabitant who ran up to General Stewart. The 10 bh Hussars record equally bold actions, which have not yet been reported in detail. All mourn the loss of so many fine cavalry officers and men, but there is, no doubt, every ground for the hope expressed by General Stewart in brigade orders that the courageous sacrifice of these valued lives has had its reward in a new lustre being added to the fame of the British cavalry. It iB said that no such cavalry brigade as this— nearly 800 sabres—has charged the enemy under a brigadier since Waterloo. The effective working of the force, therefore, its admirable coolness and discipline, the rapid and steady rallying of Colonel Barrow's line after the momentary confusion following his fall, are matters of peculiar interest. A man of the Gordon Highlanders (75th) was the first to fall, dropping on my right badly wounded. Baker Pasha was hit by a piece of shell in the face, which mado an ugly wound. It was marvellous to see how the rebels came on, heedless and fearless of death, shouting and brandishing their weapons. To the right and left they fell, but those who survived, even"when wounded, rushed on. A few got within five or ten paces of the square, proving how many bullets it takes to Kill a man. Colonel Burnaby was the first to mount the parapet, firing with a doublebarrelled shot gun into the rebels, many of whom still hung about the works. The ferocity and rapidity with which the Soudanese' thrust their weapons were wonderful. Several Soudanese were hid in holes they dug about Teb, and, in fact the ground was honeycombed with them. They jumped out when the corners of the square passed and charged us savagely. One fellow actually got up' and thrust his long broad-bladed bright razor-keen lance into a Highlander's back. The desperate bravery of these hidden foes was surprising. It was easy to see how a few bold men can stimulate mad devotion. The Sheikhs and fanatics keep theirfollowers' spirits well up, themselves fighting among them.' Most of.these swarthy savages wore a waistcloth only. As an illustration, among many that I observed, of their desperate ana universal valour, I may mention that a little lad of twelve tumbled dead into the shelter trench where he was fighting, his teeth set and his hand grasping his baby spear. Major Wilfrid Lloyd has left for England. He is the bearer to the Queen of a flag taken at the town of Tokar; it bears an Arabic inscription to the effect that it was sent to the Commandment by' the Mahdi, as a token of his affection.