THE SOUDAN CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7271, 9 March 1885, Page 6

THE SOUDAN CAMPAIGN.

THE BATTLE OF METAMMEH. Telegraphing from Metammeh on January 23, Mr. Burleigh, the special correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, says —History records no military events of a more stirring character, or situations more thrilling and dramatic, than those through which Sir Herbert Stewart's flying column have passed during the past week. Had the British soldier not once more proved a splendid fighter, the story of Stewart's march would have had to have been gathered from other sources than the pens or lips of those who accompanied it. On the 16th instant, when the column crossed the ridge of foothills that sloped into a wady, wherein Abuklea Wells lay six miles to the eastward, few among the troops expected any fighting. The prevailing fear was that the Arabs would bolt, and that there would be neither rewards nor honours to be won. On Friday I saw the first shot fired by an Arab scout, and was glad that I persuaded the outpost of the 19th Hussars to let the enemy open battle. The skirmish that ensued was more disastrous to the rebels than to ourselves, and revealed to us the strength of their force in horse and foot, as well as the position they had taken up. By nightfall our column was drawn up inside a rather weak, irregular, and incomplete zereba. The front face, instead of being formed of cut brushwood, was : -protected by low walls of rough stones. ... An undulatfoniin the ground left an opening in -the...wall twenty-five yards wide. The wall itself was twenty inches high, and the zereba was nearly 200 yards square. Each man had his pint of water.-served out, half his day's supply, and oh' that quantity he had to work, march, andiight in a thirst-provok-ing country., Lighte%ere all ordered out at dusk, ; and the troops • lay down in square formation, with their", arms beside them ready for instant use.> : The battle of Abuklea took place next day (17th.) After we had undergone a night of alarms, and had had several men injured by the enemy's fire, the column moved out of the zereba in square lightly equipped for (fighting. A small garrison was left behind to guard the stores and animals. Nearly one hundred camels were taken with the column to carry water, amunition, and Cacolets. These were all inside the square. Just before the force set out Major Gough received a contusion on the skull from a bullet, and the command of the Mounted Infantry devolved on Major Barrow. A fierce battle and hard-won victory secured to us Klea Wells, giving the troops an abundant supply of water, with something for the horses and camels. - A bath or even wash in the desert was too great a luxury, only to be indulged in alongside the well or at a reservoir like Gakdul. By dint of hard work and going without sleep the column was ready to resume its forward march on Sunday at four p.m. The old zereba was emptied, all the supplies having been transported to the wells by working overnight, and a new small zereba and fore were built at Abuklea, which a detachment of the Sussex Regiment and a few men of the Royal Engineers were left to hold. It was given out by General Stewart that the force should only go five miles out and encamp till morning. The column got off punctually, tired as the men and animals were. It was with pleasure that we set our faces for another forced mar '■> to get to the river. Instead of malting a protracted halt at sunset, tie column rested but for a few minut in order to allow the darkness to settle dc wn, and then, altering oar co-'se so as r avoid Shebacat Wells and the Arabs posted there to intercept or " inner us, we strick due south into the ilesert, in an attempt t- reach the Nile before daylight, and before the Arab* could Stop us., y*s General

sought to avoid another battle until the force should have entrenched itself, or, at any rate, packed its baggage by the water's edge. Night marches are always difficult if not dangerous, and with our overworked animals the energies of men and officers were taxed to the utmost to keep the column: together. In' spite of everything the column often extended for two or three miles, that distance separating the van from the rear. This necessitated frequent halts. Completely done up, the men dropped asleep in their saddles, and came tumbling to the ground. Those who undertook to rest on the desert while the column closed op had to be roughly aroused to get them to remount. Part of the way the force moved in columns of regiments, the Mounted'lnfantry leading, with the Hussars in advance and on the flanks. Although this increased the width of our front, it did not diminish the length of the column. Apparently Ali Gobah, the outlaw robber chief, directed our course, which was at times rather circuitousnow south, then south by west, and again south by east. Sir Charles Wilson and Captain Verner of the Rifles looked after Ali, in whose experience as a pathfinder they both trusted. I regard Gobah as a failure; he lengthened our way and wasted hours. Silence was enjoined upon all «n the march. The camels, as usual, disregarded this order, and made night awful with their groans and cries. Smoking likewise was forbidden. Daylight broke, finding the column six miles from the river, and about the same distance south of Motammeb. The objective point was to occupy a position on the Nile tour miles south of Metammeh. An hour before sunrise we had altered our coarse, turning more to the east. Before the sun was up we saw that the enemy were on the alert all along our itront. Streams of men on horse-back and on foot came from Metammeh, interposing themselves between the column and the water we so longed to gain. For a short interval of time Sir Herbert Stewart deliberated whether to push on two miles nearer the Nile. As the Arabs mustered in force sufficient to seriously threaten our advance, he decided to halt upon a ridge of desert covered with sparkling pebbles, four miles from the river. To our right and rear lay a few low black hills, a mile or two miles distant; on our front the desert rolled downward towards the green flats bordering the Nile; for here, as at Dongola, the belt of cultivation is rich and wide. Turning with a light smile to his staff, General Stewart said, "Tell the officers and men we will have breakfast first and then go out and fight." The column was closed up with the baggage animals to the centre as usual; the boxes and pack saddles being taken off to make an enclosure to protect the square from rifle fire. In less than tea minutes the Arabs were not only all over our front and flank, but had drawn a line around our rear. Groups bearing the fantastic Koran-inscribed banners of the False Prophet, similar to those of which we had taken two or three score at Klea, could be seen occupying vantage points all around. The enemy's fire grew hotter and more deadly every minute. Evidently their Remingtons were in the hands of Kordofan hunters. Mimosa bushes were ordered to be cut at once, and breakfast preparations were peremptorily suspended for an hour, whilst most of the troops lay flat. Fatigue parties strengthened our position. In going towards a low mound, a hundred yards on our right front, where we had a few skirmishers, General Stewart wan shot in the stomach. The command thereupon devolved upon Lord Charles Beresford by seniority, but he, being a naval officer, declined it, and Sir Charles Wilson took it over. The mound on our front was quickly turned into a detached work, forty volunteers, carrying boxes and pack saddles, rushing out, and, in a short space of time, converting it into a strongly defensible post. The situation appeared to me so threatening that I took part in this enterprise. Gradually the enemy's riflemen crept nearer, and our skirmishers were sent out to engage them. They were too numerous to drive away, and the nature of the ground and the high trajectory of their Remingtons enabled the Arabs to drop their bullets into the square at all points. Soldiers lying behind camels and saddle packs were shot in the head by dropping ballets. Mr. Cameron, the Standard correspondent, was hit in the back and killed whilst sitting behind a camel, just as he was going to have lunch. Later on I received a graze on the neck and a blow on the foot from ballets. The enemy were tiring at ranges of from 700 to 2000 yards, and their practice was excellent. The zip, ping, and thud of the leaden hail was continuous, and whilst the ' camels were being killed by fifties our soldiers did not escape, over forty having to -be carried to the hospital, sheltered as well as possible in the centre of the square behind a wall of saddles, bags, and boxes. As a precaution against stampede the poof camels were tied down, both their knees and necks being securely bound by ropes in order to prevent tdeir getting upon their legs. The 10,000 dervishes whom the Mahdi has sent from Omdurman to annihilate us were blocking our road to the Nile ; and over a hundred Boggara, the horsemen of the Soudan, and crowds of villagers who had joined Mahomed Ahmed's crusade, hung like famished wolves on our rear and flanks, awaiting an opportunity to slay. Apparently they were emboldened by our defensive preparations, for their numbers swelled and their tire increased in intensity ; and as stretcher after stretcher with its gory load was taken to the hospittl, the space was found too little, and the wounded had to be laid outside. Surgeon-Major Ferguson, Dr. Briggs, and their colleagues had their skill and time taxed to the utmost. Want of water hampered their operations ; doctors and patients were alike exposed to the enemy's fire. More harrowing battle scenes in a long experience I never saw. At Klea toe camels' pack saddles caught fire from tin; guns. One of the most touching incidents in the zereba on she 9 th was the wounded general being tended by his friends, two or three of whom wept like men, silently. Poor St. Leger Herbert, the Morning Post correspondent, one of these latter, was himself shot dead shortly afterwards. Our situation was unbearable. We were being fired at without a chance of returning blows with interest. There were three courses open to us—to sally forth and fight our way to the Nile; to fight for the rider, advancing stage fcy stage, with the help of zerebas and temporary works ; or to strengthen our position and try to withstand the Arabs aid lack of water till Wolseley should send a force to our assistance, we, meantime, tending a messenger pr two back to Korti with the news. It was bravely decided to go 'oat and engage the enemy at close quarters At 2 p.m. the force was to march out in square, carrying nothing except ammunition aud stretchers, rJach man was to take a hundred rounds, and to have his water-bottle full. Everything was put in most thorough readiness for the enterprise. Lord Charles Beresford, who had been seedy since we left Abuklea, with Colonel Barrow, remained in command of the enclosure, or zereba, containing the animals and stores. They had under them the Naval Contingent, the 19th Hussars, a party of Royal Engineers, and Captain Norton's detachment of Royal Artillery, with three screw guns, and details from regiments and men of the Commissariat < and Transport Corps. All day long Lord Charles and Captain Norton had been pounding the enemy whenever the Arabs gave them a chance, the former at the Gardner gun, and the latter with two of his light guns. It was nearly three before the square started, Sir Charles Wilson in command, but Colonel Boßcawen acting as Executive Officer. Lord Airlie, who had been slightly wounded at Abuklea, and again on toe 19th, together with Major Wardrop, served upon Sir Charles's staff, as they had done upon General Stewart's The square was joined to the east of our enolosed defence, the troops lying down as ■ they were assigned their stations. The Guards formed the front, with the Marines on -the right front corner, the Heavies on the right and right rear, the Sussex in the rear, and the Mounted Infantry on the left rear and left 'flank. Colonel Talbot leal -the Heavies, Major Barrow, the Hussars; Colonel Rowley, the Guards ; Major PoS, -the Marines ; and Major Sunderland, the Sussex. i Captain Verner, of the Rifle Brigade, was told off to direct, squares to march I towards the river. When the order Was given for the square to rise and advance it moved off to the west to clear tho outlying work. The instant the Arabs detected the arward movement of our party they opened a terrific rifle fi-e upon the squaro from scrub on all sides. For the first few minutes many of our men were hit and fell. The wounded were with difficu" .y picked up and carried. As th» square slow'y marched » if upon parade down into the £«-ass ana scrub-covered hollow intervening between the works wo had constructed and the line of bare rL-ing desert that bounded our view towards th ft couth and east, shutting out of sight tb A

river and the fertile border slopes, all felt the critical moment had come. Steadily tne square descended into the valley, Craps were made in oar force by the enemy a As man after man staggered and fell, these gape were doggedly closed ; and without quickening the pace by one beat, onwards our soldiers went. All were resolved to sell their lives dearly. Every now and again the square would halt, and the men would lie down, firing at their foes hidden in the valley. Those sheltered behind the desert crest were too safely screened to waste ammunition upon us at that stage. Wheeling to the right and swinging to the left our men fought like gladiators, without unnecessarily wasting strength or dealing a blow too many. A more glorious spectacle was never seen than this little band in broad daylight, on an open plain, seeking hand-to-hand conrict with the courageous, savage, and fanatical foe, who outnumbered -m ny twelve to one. As the square moved oyer the rolling ground, keeping its best fighting aide, or rather 1 should say, its firing side, towards the great onrushes of the Arabs, the soldiers swung around, as though the square pivoted on its centre. Once it entered ground too thickly covered by grass and scrub, halted, and coolly swung round and marched out upon the more open ground, with the Arabs to the right front, their "tomtoms " beating and their sacred battle flags of red, white, and green flying. Lord Wclseley in his official despatch says — " On 21st inst. reconnaissance in force made of Metammeh, which had been placed in a state of defence, walls loopholed. Although Sir C. Wilson reports he could have carried the village, which is long and straggling, he did not think it worth the loss it would have entailed. On 22nd inst. reconnaissance made down river towards Shendy with three steamers, which returned same day. I most deeply deplore the losses we have experienced, but in every other respect the result of these operations, so ably and successfully conducted by Sir Herbert Stewart, is most satisfactory, and cannot fail to have great effect upon the future of this campaign. I have had no letters of any importance -from General Gordon. The most recent* rf: dated 29th December, contains merely one, line, saying ' Khartoum all —could hold out for years.' Sir R. Buller starts> to-morrow to assume command along desert -route- to Gubat. We have plenty of troops, of ammunition, and of food. Royal Irish begin their movement across the desert to-day. West Kent will follow. Sir Herbert Stewart writes in good spirits from on board ope of steamers, and last report of him says he is doing well, but his wound is very severe, and I cannot expect him to ba fit for any more work this campaign. The temporary deprivation of his services at this moment 1 regard as a national loss. He is one of the ablest soldiers and mo3t dashing commanders 1 have ever known. I recommend him most strongly to the Queen for Her Majesty's mo&t favourable consideration. I append a list of killed and wounded. I regret to say Lord St. Vincent and Lieutenant Guthrie, Horse Artillery, died of wounds. The only officers killed since 17th are Quartermaster Lima, 19th Hussars, and Conductor Jewell. Enemy did not fight with the same determination or courage as on 17th inst." KILLED AXD WOUXDED. The following is the list of killed and wounded since the 17th instant:— Officers killed : 19 ;h Hussars, Quartermaster A. G. Lima ; Commissariat and Transport Corps, Conductor of Supplies A. C. Jewell ; also Messrs. St. Leger Herbert and Cameron. Wounded : Staff, Brigadier-General Sir H. Stewart, Captain Lord Airlie (10th Hussars) slightly; Heavy Camel Regiment, Major Lord A. Somerset (Royal Horse Guards) ; Guards, Lieutenant C. Crutchley (Scots Guards); Mounted Infantry, Lieutenant T. D. 0. Snow (Somersetshire Light Infantry), Lieutenant C. P. Livingstone (Royal Highlanders) slightly ; East Lancashire Regiment, Captain A. G. Leonard ; Royal Navy, Lieutenant Munro ; Royal Marines, Major W. H. Poe; also, Mr. Burleigh (correspondent) 8 lightly.