One hundred years ago
Lord Wolseley has succeeded. He has forced his way to the Nile, and opened direct communication with Khartoum. On the 18th inst., the day after the battle of Abou Klea, Sir Herbert Ste- wart resolved to make a single con- tinuous march of twenty-three miles to the Nile, and so prevent the re- formation of the enemy. Starting at two o'clock, he marched through the after- noon and night; but the exhausted condition of his camels delayed him, and at daybreak on the 19th he found the enemy, probably 5,000 strong, ready to attack him at a point five miles this side of Mete mmeh. He threw-up an entrenchment, and ordered a halt for breakfast; but the Arabs, among whom were many of the Mahdi's own troops or 'dervishes,' threw in a continuous fire, under which men began to fall fast. The General himself received a bullet in the groin, and fell, the correspondents of the Standard and Morning Post were killed, and some seventy more were wounded.
Spectator, 31 January 1885
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