EGYPT. 



295 



the sea to hold. The side toward the sea is 

 protected by rolling ground and hills, while 

 near the springs the bush is thicker. The 

 Egyptians who went over to Osman Digma at 

 Tokar improved its defensibility by throwing 

 up two earthworks and a crescent-shaped fort, 

 mounted with four Krupp and three other can- 

 non, captured at Tokar. In the bushes were 

 deep trenches. The British marched in an ob- 

 long square, with the Gordon Highlanders in 

 front, and the general and staff, camels, and 

 stores in the middle. There were 3,000 infant- 

 ry, 750 cavalry, 7 machine-guns, and 8 small 

 field-pieces, a little over 4,000 men altogether. 

 Osman Digma's force was about 6,000. The 

 Soudanese opened the battle at 800 yards with 

 three shells, two of which did some damage, 

 followed by a rattling discharge of musketry. 

 The English battle-square advanced without 

 answering, passing around the north side of 

 the fortifications. Then they opened fire with 

 all their infantry and artillery, and when the 

 Arab fire was quelled, rose from the ground 

 and advanced upon the fortifications from be- 

 hind. The Soudanese contested the ground 

 valiantly, but their swords and shields, and 

 broad-headed spears, were useless against the 

 hail of bullets. The earthwork was carried 

 by storm. The rebels resisted the impetuous 

 bayonet attack with desperation, yet could not 

 stand out against superior arms, strength, and 

 skill. The Krupp guns were turned against 

 them, and the British troops marched to the 

 assault of the half-moon fort, close by the 

 wells. It was rudely constructed of sand-bags 

 and barrels. Here the Arabs collected for a 

 final resistance. As the British advanced from 

 the north, the breastworks were of no use, but 

 the guns were directed against the foe. The 

 Highlanders stormed the fort and drove the 

 Arabs to retreat, abandoning their tents. The 

 battle lasted three hours. The British losses 

 were 28 killed, 2 missing, and 142 wounded. 

 Of the Soudanese, 900 dead were found within 

 the intrenchments. 



The Battle of Tainanieb On the 10th of March 

 the British advanced to a place chosen for a 

 fortified camp, eight miles from Suakin. Os- 

 man Digma was intrenched in a position six 

 miles from there. On the 13th the British 

 army moved upon the enemy in two broad 

 squares arranged like steps. The front line 

 was formed by half a battalion each from the 

 York and Lancaster regiments, and the Black 

 Watch Highlanders. On the left wing was a 

 Gatling battery, served by marines, and in the 

 center a nine-pound gun. The second square, 

 formed of the first brigade, had a camel bat- 

 tery. Detachments of the enemy soon ap- 

 peared, and then drew back before the fire of 

 the advancing column. In spite of all warn- 

 .ings, the soldiers shot away their ammunition 

 so freely that they were enveloped in a blind- 

 ing cloud of smoke, which the Arabs utilized 

 for an attack. Creeping on all-fours under the 

 mouths of the belching cannon and through 



the rain of bullets, they sprang into the midst 

 of the front ranks, and with their keen-edged 

 swords wrought such carnage that the English- 

 men, who were no match for them in hand-to- 

 hand combat, broke and fell back in disorder. 

 The marines were cut off, and after a brave 

 resistance fled, leaving the Gatlings in the 

 hands of the Arabs and breaking up the bri- 

 gade completely. The Soudanese with a wild 

 yell pursued their advantage, but their rush 

 was stopped for a few minutes by a flank at- 

 tack of the cavalry. This gave the British just 

 time enough to form in ranks again. In an in- 

 stant the Arabs were upon them, but could not 

 now break through the line of steel. The 

 square pressed on, fighting step by step, and 

 after two hours of fierce combat, recaptured 

 the machine guns. The second square, about 

 a quarter of a mile removed, had likewise to 

 withstand a furious assault. The Arabs threw 

 themselves with fearless impetuosity against 

 the right flank, yet without forcing back the 

 troops personally commanded by Gen. Gra- 

 ham. The marines shot with admirable cool- 

 ness, dealing death to all that came within sixty 

 yards. The brigade advanced steadily, mark- 

 ing their road with hundreds of dark-hued 

 corpses. At length they fell in with the Arabs 

 engaged with the second brigade, and by a 

 murderous flanking fire put them to flight. 

 Wherever a band appeared on an eminence, 

 before they had time to attack they were dis- 

 lodged by sharp-shooters. The rebels began to 

 gather in force on a hill across a deep valley, 

 but were driven away by a steady fire. Be- 

 fore the village of Tamani and the camp of Os- 

 man Digma, the Arabs made a final stand. 

 Their resistance was soon broken, and the 

 camp and the three neighboring villages were 

 in the hands of the English. They found bags 

 of money, Korans and talismans, booty of every 

 kind, large stores of grain, and the banner of 

 Osman Digma, as well as that of the unfortu- 

 nate Tewfik Pasha. The troops burned the vil- 

 lages, rested by the springs of Tamanieb, and 

 then returned to their camp, which they left 

 immediately afterward to return to Suakin. 



The Situation at Suakin. Gen. Graham's Sua- 

 kin campaign ended with the slaughter of 4,000 

 or 5,000 Arabs, and the loss of a fifth of his 

 own army, leading to no practical result ex- 

 cept the complication of Gen. Gordon's task of 

 pacifying the Soudan. The English ministry 

 would not authorize an advance to Berber, 

 which, in fact, could not have been prepared 

 for before autumn, on account of the heat and 

 lack of water. The English attempted to buy 

 the adherence of the Arab tribes, and thus ac- 

 complish their plan of opening communications 

 with Berber. The Hadendowas, however, re- 

 fused their offers of money. The British 

 forces sailed away, leaving the situation as 

 they had found it. Osman Digma was soon 

 able to take the field again. In April he ap- 

 proached Suakin with a fresh army. English 

 corvettes were sent to keep off an attack, and 



