50 THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN CHAPTER XIII.

EL TEB.

The last day of February, 1884, witnessed a long expected battle—that of El Teb, in which General Graham inflicted a severe lesson upon the rebels.

An eye witness gives the following account: — “ At 10 o’clock in the morning the scouts felt the enemy and fire was opened on the mounted infantry, who covered the right flank. Shortly after¬ wards we neared the old battlefield and saw the enemy in considerable numbers on a small hill, which they had fortified and where they had two Krupps. The hill was dotted with numerous flags and seemed to be the rebel headquarters. As we approached the rebels hid, but occasionally we could mark heads popped up out of holes watching us. We marched to within a quarter of a mile of the hill to its right and then halted. Directly we had done so the enemy opened a tremendous shell and rifle fire. The bullets for¬ tunately went high ; but it was evident that, if the enemy had had more time and practice, they would have made good shots. The shell practice was very good, the shells bursting in the square, but fortunately doing no damage, only causing a stampede among the mules and horses. At this moment General Baker was wounded under the eye by a shrapnel bullet, and lost a great deal of blood. He refused to dismount, but was finally persuaded, re-mounting, however, as soon as the wound had been bandaged.

“ Most of the men shot were hit about this time ; but soon the artillery drove the rebels from the two guns in the first fort.

“About 11.40 we advanced again, inclining to the left, which brought us to the rear of the enemy’s position. As we advanced, Lieutenant Boyds, of Her Majesty’s ship Carysfort, received a ball in the stomach ; the wound is very dangerous. When about a thousand yards in rear of the enemy, towards Tokar, we halted, changed front, bringing the 42nd in the front and the Gor¬ don Highlanders in the rear, and advanced on their position. Then they tried to pass us, and while the men in the forts poured a heavy fire from rifles and guns, a vast number more encircled us, coming down on all sides at once. Our men lay down and waited till the enemy were within 150 yards, when the fire from the hill ceased. Then the Gatlings and Gardners got to work, and a deadly fire poured forth from all sides of the square. In spite of our fire however, which every second knocked over hundreds like rabbits, the rebels came on, rushing up to meet their death in our very ranks. Their courage