The war in Egypt and the Soudan; an episode in the history of the British Empire, being a descriptive account of the scenes and events of that great drama, and sketches of the principal actors in it

SERIOUS NIGHT ASSAULTS. 1

in the hospital the man holding the lantern incautiously turned it

towards the hill occupied by the riflemen; a volley of bullets was

the immediate answer, succeeded by a steady fire, which luckily

did little harm.^

The nights were exceedingly cold, and from this the men

suffered considerably while they waited for the dawn expecting an

attack. As the planet Venus rose in the sky they stood to their

arms, for it had been said that this was the usual signal for the

assault of the enemy; but there seemed to be some delay or indecision,

since though the fire from the hill became hotter and some of the

guards and mounted infantry were sent out to suppress it, and

though several of the enemy ran down the hill and crept up

towards the seriba, and those in the valley had approached nearer,

no large masses of them appeared, and it seemed that they did not

intend to attack at once, but to keep up a harassing fire. Those

of them who occupied the hill were protected by low stone walls. The seriba may be described as an abattis of earth and brushwood,

or thorny acacia and sunt trees {Acacia arabica) round the

baggage, and about 150 yards of protecting stone breastwork some

hundred yards further to the front. Major Dickson was shot

through the leg, and a few other officers and men were also hit. The fire of the Arabs was becoming serious, and some of their

horsemen crept round to the right of the position, but were

dispersed by a few rounds of shell. Sir Herbert Stewart deter-

mined to march out and give battle, leaving a force to hold the

seriba; and after having breakfast under a brisk fire from the enemy the men were delighted to receive orders to form square

and prepare to advance.

The square was formed by the guards and mounted infantry

in front; the rear face by four companies of the heavy camel

regiment, with its fifth company round the angle and on the left

face of the square; the detachment of the Sussex Regiment on the

right face towards the rear; the naval brigade and the Gardner-

gun were between the third and fourth companies of the heavies,

whose adjutant. Lord St. Vincent, was badly wounded before the

' From Korti to Khart&m.