Perceiving
This, The IXth Soudanese, Who Were The Regiment In Column On The Right Of
The Original Front, Wheeled To The Right From Column Into Line Without
Waiting For Orders, So That Two Battalions Faced Towards The Khalifa And
Two Towards The Fresh Attack.
By this time it was clear that the Khalifa
was practically repulsed, and MacDonald ordered the Xth Soudanese and
Another battery to change front and prolong the line of the IXth and XIth.
He then moved the 2nd Egyptians diagonally to their right front, so as to
close the gap at the angle between their line and that of the three other
battalions. These difficult manoeuvres were carried out under a heavy fire,
which in twenty minutes caused over 120 casualties in the four battalions -
exclusive of the losses in the artillery batteries - and in the face of the
determined attacks of an enemy who outnumbered the troops by seven to one
and had only to close with them to be victorious. Amid the roar of the
firing and the dust, smoke, and confusion of the change of front,
the general found time to summon the officers of the IXth Soudanese
around him, rebuked them for having wheeled into line in anticipation
of his order, and requested them to drill more steadily in brigade.
The three Soudanese battalions were now confronted with the whole fury
of the Dervish attack from Kerreri. The bravery of the blacks was no less
conspicuous than the wildness of their musketry.
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