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Updated: June 14, 2025
Nothing could exceed the courage of the dervishes. Following their old tactics, they meant to rush the zareba, piercing, as they hoped, the line of fire by sheer force of numbers. "Stormed at by shot and shell, Bravely they fought and fell." A large body of horse tried to break through the centre, and were annihilated.
"He is down with the wounded at the river, sir. He had his left arm broken by a bullet just as we left the zareba.
The infantry now moved out from the zareba, formed in two squares. The second brigade, composed of the Royal Highlanders, the 65th, and the Marines, led the way. It was commanded by General Davis, and in its centre rode General Graham with his staff.
Now and again he exchanged a few remarks with "Swabs" or Joe Crouch; and when at length he was told off to join a party of skirmishers, he sprang up and seized his rifle with a sigh of relief. Moving out in extended order to the right front of the zareba, they marched forward a short distance, then halted, and lay down to fire a volley. "Ready, at eleven hundred yards.
Once more the bullets of the sharpshooters whistled overhead; and the Arabs appearing in considerable force on the left flank, the column was halted on the summit of a low knoll, and orders were issued for the construction of a zareba.
They will have to make a zareba by the river, attend to the wounded, and perhaps send back a force to bring in the camels and baggage, who were no doubt left behind at the spot where they were firing this morning. There is grub enough in the haversacks to last us until to-morrow, and plenty of water for the fetching." "Just as you think best, sergeant.
Soon after one o'clock in the morning the stillness round the zareba was suddenly broken. A roar of musketry burst from the bushes all round, and it was evident that the enemy were assembled there in great force. The troops were ordered to lie down; and fortunately here, as at El-Teb, the Arab fire was far too high, and the storm of bullets swept for the most part overhead.
But although large numbers of them gathered on a hill near the town they abstained from any attack, and the column reached the zareba, where they were received with hearty cheers by its little garrison. These had not been attacked during their absence, although a scattered musketry fire had been kept up upon them until dark.
If he were fired at, he was, if the enemy were still in front of him, to run back to the zareba; if they were behind him, to press forward at full speed. For an hour after he had left the garrison listened anxiously. They were all under arms now, lest the enemy should try and attack during the darkness.
On their right was the banner of Yacoub, his brother, and beyond, two divisions led by well-known emirs; while on his left was the division led by his son, Osman, known as Sheik Ed Din, the nominal commander-in-chief of the whole force. The 21st Lancers, out in skirmishing order, were speedily driven back by the Dervishes, and retired into the zareba.
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