BATTLE OF ABUKLEA.

Patea Mail, Volume X, Issue 1318, 9 March 1885, Page 2

BATTLE OF ABUKLEA.

Details of the Battle.

r LONDON, February 22. (The Daily News Account. The Daily Nqv/S 1 sptcial coresponneni thus desciibes the battle: “We moved out to the attack under a hail of bullets, and the men dropped from the ranks right and left, but none of the wounded were loft on the field. The medical staff under Surgeon-Major Ferguson worked splendidly, and under the heaviest of the fire there were frequent stoppages for these purposes. The progress made was slow, and it was nearly an hour before we sighted the enemy s main body and realised that 7000 or 8000 men were against us. General Stewart look up a good position on a slope, where the rebels must advance uphill and across open ground. Skirmishers of the mounted infantry were sent forward to force on the attack, while Captain Norton’s battery of screw guns planted several shells among the dense mass. Then came the shock of the rebels in an, impulsive charge against the square, and for a while the fate of the whole force trembled in the balance; but the steadiness of the Guards, marines, and mounted infantry prevailed, and the fierce foes retired beaten, leaving the ground strewn with their dead and wounded and their arms and banners. Lieutenant-Colonel Barrow’s Hussars came up soon after, but they were 100 late to strike at the retreating foes. The Sussex Regiment, though iMd taken in the rear, rallied and fought desperately. The greatest loss fell on the heavy camel corpsAof whose officers six wore killed and two wounded. After the fight, in which the enemy brought all (heir best troops against General Stewart’s Brigade, we gained the wells of Abuklea, and bivouacked there. The rebels fought with reckless courage, and displayed great tactical skill. They harrassed us at Zeriba all the previous night, and endeavoured io 'eadusimoa skilfully-laid trap. We advanced two miles, exposed to a heavy fire on all sides and we halted and closed the square while the skirmishers went forward to force the concealed enemy into attack. They sprang up, 20 banners on an d came on in splendid line. The troops on the right were led by Abu Saleh, the Emir of Metommeh, and on the left they were under Mahomed Khan, Emir of Berber. The latter was wounded, and he retired early ; hut Abu Saleh came desperately on at the head of 100 fanatics, escaping the withering fire of Martinis marvellously, until he was shot down in the square. The rear face, which was composed of the heavy cavalry, broke forward in their endeavours to fire on the rebels, who swept round the flank and broke into ns. For a moment there was much confusion, then the men fell hack, reformed in good order and poured volleys into the rebels, everv one of whom in the leading division falling dead in onr midst. When wo had time to look around we saw that lino after line of the enemy had fallen under the fire of the Martinis as they advanced, and there could have been no less than 800 or 1000 dead and wonnded of the rebels. The others, in scattered bands, made off in various directions, leaving us masters of the field. In the temporary confusion the Gardiner gun could not he got into action at the most effective moment, and when it opened fire the rebels were close on it. The Naval Brigade, therefore, lost very heavily. Lieutenants Piggot and Delisle were both killed, and among the first of our officers who were mortally wounded was Colonel Burnaby, who fell gallantly in the fight close to his old comrades of the Blues. Norton’s little battery did immense service, especially when the rebel cavalry formed for the charge, three shrapnels going in the midst, and 'again when a renewed attack was threatened from the enemy’s line the shells caused utter demoralisation. Altogether the battery fired 88 shrapnels, 19 common shells, and 6 case shells—the latter when the rebels rushed to close quarters. The Naval Brigade Gardiner gun also produced great mortal effect on the retreating bands. Of the ground selected by General Stewart for the final stand, and the way in which he handles his men at the most critical moment, too much cannot be said in praise, and he headed his staff where there was immediate danger repeatedly.”