THE ATTACK. l6l this was completed Alleyne's two companies and guns marched off to occupy the ground left by the cavalry outposts, and at half-past seven the column started, the Staffords leading, the Black Watch following, with field hospital and camels between the two, and with orders to move with the left column. The formation was designed to enable each column to take advantage of the easiest ground for marching, and to be ready to close so as to form square or oblong, with stretcher bearers and camels inside.

Through a broad wady of loose sand the farthest edge of the jagged ridge was reached. The part of the column had been covered by the cavalry. Colonel Butler leading; the left flank by the Egyptian camel corps, lining the edge of the broken ground opposite to the high ridge. The column marched round the eastern end of the ridge, and, turning sharp to the left, passed through a rocky valley in the direction of the river with the ridge to the left with a low rocky range running at right angles to it. From the high ridge a sharp fire was opened on the column, and some of the Staffords were left to engage the enemy there while the column advanced by a valley amidst rocky eminences, also occupied by the rifles of the enemy. Two companies of Colonel Eyre's regiment were sent to take the high ridge by its western shoulder, and under a heavy fire they climbed about a third of the way up the shoulder to a clump of rocks which gave them some shelter. While two companies of the Black Watch moved to the river bank to prevent escape in that direction, and to clear the rocky mounds near the river, the remaining Black Watch and Staffords advanced and swung round to the left to face the stony hills from which the fire was directed, and by a succession of rushes and with well-directed volleys they advanced from point to point till they reached some rocks not more than 400 yards distant from the series of knolls where the enemy was in position. Between them and our men there was now only open ground swept by the fire of the Arabs, and while the two companies of the Black Watch first mentioned, and a company of Staffords who had accompanied them had advanced along the bank and taken the rocky height nearest to the river, VoL. IV. 64