The British Campaign in the Soudan. 183 forward two squadrons, together with the Abyssinians, to skirmish. ‘These were quickly engaged, and a hot fire was soon raging. The enemy coming on, the skirmishers fell back, and the Second brigade advanced seven hundred yards, firing as. they went. The troops had opened out nearly into line, their rear to a great extent’ being covered by the First brigade, which was half a mile away on our right. As we gained the edge of the nulla the fire became very hot from our side, the enemy mostly contenting themselves by attempting to rush at us with their spears and swords. Our men could not easily be got, despite trumpet calls and officers’ shouts, to reserve their fire and aim carefully. In a few minutes our line was obscured by dense smoke from our own rifles, and under cover of this the enemy crept up the sides of the nulla, and a succession of rushes by our brave and resolute foes was made at the troops. The Sixty-fifth, who were on our right, marines.

on their left, and Forty-second on extreme left, were nearest to the brink of the nulla, which, on their front, made a bend inward toward them. The enemy appear to have gathered there one thousand strong. Creeping up under cover of the smoke and sloping ground, they dashed at the marines and Sixty-fifth. A hundred swarthy Arabs came bounding over the rocks up the plain, spear and sword in hand. Half were instantly shot down, but thirty or forty were able to throw themselves upon our bayonets, giving and receiving fearful wounds. ‘Quick as lightning the rush increased, and in less time than it takes to tell the Sixty-fifth gave way, falling back upon the marines. The bulk of the regiment crowded in upon the marines, throwing them in disorder, and back everybody was. borne in a confused mass, men and regiments being inextricably mixed up. General Graham and his staff tried their best to hold and rally the men, and General Davis and all the officers labored to get the troops to stand their ground in an orderly way. <A large force of rebels charged down upon the Second brigade like men inflamed with desperate ferocity, shouting and yelling and utterly heedless of death, and succeeded in capturing all the Gatlings and Gardners belonging to the brigade, which was driven back eight hundred yards.

“By this time the fire from the First brigade on our right as well as front, and the cavalry on our left, held the Arabs, and the officers succeeded in checking the retreat ; the Black Watch, who were fairly in hand, and a portion of the marines largely assisting in stopping what might have been a much more serious disaster. The brigade was reformed, and the men who had got out of their regiments were sent into their own lines again. I must revert to the way.in which several hundreds of marines and Highlanders fought back to back, firing and retiring in excellent order. They were over two hundred yards to the brigade front when it was halted and reformed, and to their great coolness and steadiness is. largely due the final success of the day.

“« The troops being rallied, Gen. Graham immediately ordered a bayonet-charge, the gallant troops went for the enemy, and a fearful hand-to-hand fight ensued for the possession of the guns, which the British finally succeeded in recapturing. Following up their advantage, they continued to press the rebels, who would not run, but continued to retire slowly, striking blow for blow, until they were driven beyond their camp, when Gen. Graham ordered a halt, quickly followed by a for-