Exasperated By Their Disappointment, The Soldiers Of Osman Sheikh-Ed-Din
Turned Again Upon The Cavalry, And, Forgetting In Their Anger The Mobile
Nature Of Their Foe, Pursued The Elusive Squadrons Three Long Miles To The
North.
The cavalry, intensely relieved by the escape of the Camel Corps,
played with their powerful antagonist, as the banderillo
Teases the bull.
Colonel Broadwood thus succeeded in luring this division of the Dervish
army far away from the field of battle, where they were sorely needed.
The rough ground, however, delayed the Horse battery. They lagged, as the
Camel Corps had done, and caused constant anxiety. At length two of their
guns stuck fast in a marshy spot, and as several men and horses were shot
in the attempt to extricate them Broadwood wisely ordered them to be
abandoned, and they were soon engulfed in the Dervish masses. Encouraged
by this capture, the horsemen of Osman's command daringly attacked the
retreating cavalry. But they were effectually checked by the charge
of a squadron under Major Mahon.
Both gunboats, having watched the Camel Corps safely into the zeriba,
now returned with the current and renewed their attack upon the Arabs.
Opening a heavy and accurate fire upon the river flank, they drove them
westward and away from the Nile. Through the gap thus opened Broadwood and
his squadrons trotted to rejoin the main body, picking up on the way
the two guns which had been abandoned.
While these things were passing on the northern flank, the frontal attack
was in progress.
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