War Office, May 5, 1899.
THE following Despatch, with its enclosure, has been received from Major-General Lord Kitchener of Khartoum, G.C.B., K.C.M.G., Sirdar of the Egyptian Army :-

	Omdurman, February 8, 1899.
My LORD,

    I HAVE the honour to forward the report of Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis, C.B., on the decisive defeat inflicted by the force under his command on Ahmed Fedil's army in the Cataract south of Roseires.
   It has since turned out that a much larger portion of Ahmed Fedil's force escaped from the left bank than Colonel Lewis' information led him to believe. On. their arrival at the White Nile, however, they found that gunboats were on the look out to prevent their crossing, and, despairing of escape, they decided to surrender to Government.
   On learning this Fedil fled with some 20 or 30 of his Taaisha followers, and by the offer of large bribes induced some of the neighbouring Arabs to enable him to cross the White Nile. There is reason to believe that he has since joined Abdullahi in Kordofan.
   The remainder of his force to the number of over 2,000 men surrendered on the 8th January to Lieutenant Strickland, who had been sent with the. A.S.W. Metamma to prevent them from crossing. The bulk of the prisoners from both' parts of this once formidable force have now' reached Khartoum.
    I consider that Colonel Lewis deserves the greatest credit for his promptness in seizing the first and only opportunity that has occurred of attacking Ahmed Fedil's force with a chance of success, and that the conduct of the Officers and men under his command is worthy of all praise.

I have, &c.,
	KITCHENER OF KHARTOUM. The Viscount Cromer, G.C.B., &c., &c., &c.

 

 

	Rosaires, December 29, 1898.
SIR

      I HAVE the honour to report for the information of the Sirdar that, on the morning of Monday, 26th December, I attacked and completely defeated the forces of Ahmed Fedil, in the Rosaires Cataract, about 15 miles south of here. (18 or 19 miles march), in the vicinity of Dakhila, on east bank.
    On the 20th instant I received reliable information that Fedil was on the Nile, near Dakhila, and, on the 21st instant, that part of two Rubhs had crossed, and that more were crossing to the west bank. On the 22nd instant Sheikh Bakr Mustafa proceeded with my leave south, with a view to cutting off flocks, &c., from the crossing Dervishes But on the same day I heard that no considerable force of Dervishes-had crossed, but that 60 rifles had been sent (under Nur-Selah) to scout and collect food, and this was confirmed by a prisoner (a Rizigat horseman) sent in to me by Bakr in the evening. Bakr returned on the 23rd instant. On the 24th news was received that Fedil's women were being taken across, covered by the 60 rifles above named, and that the crossing, which began on the 22nd instant, would still take some days. Bakr sent up 300 men on west bank to cut off women. I also heard, on fairly good authority, that Fedil had ordered the crops on the west bank opposite here to be raided, and talked of marching north towards the Kenana country in case of food being unobtainable by other routes.
    On the 24th instant the "Melik" and " Dal" arrived with Major Fergusson, D.S.O., and Captain Sir Henry Hill, and 1 Officer, 20 men, 9th Battalion, and 200 men, 10th Battalion. After considering the above intelligence I decided on attacking Fedil on the 26th instant.
    On the afternoon of the 25th instant the force shown on the attached state marched out at 5 P.M. Just before marching, news came from Bakr's men on west bank that Ahmed Fedil had crossed the Nile with a part of two Rubhs, that they had had a skirmish, that Ahmed Fedil had been wounded, and had returned to the east bank, and that they were returning with some loot.
   We halted for the night at a village named Abu Zogholi, said to be half-way to Dakhila, but really not more than one-third of the way. Marched at 3 A.M., on 26th instant, and arrived opposite Dervish position at a little before 9 A.M.
    I found position as follows. Just north of Dakhila the Nile bifurcates, one rapid but shallow stream flowing under east bank fairly straight, another very deep stream running in wide curve under the west bank, cutting it precipitously, the two enclosing an island a mile and a quarter long by 1,400 hundred yards wide, on which was the Dervish Dem. On the east side of the island is a bare slope of heavy shingle 1,000 yards wide, on the west side there is a line of low sand hills, covered with scrub and grass in irregular curves, and steep towards the river bank. On the reverse side of these sand hills, what eventually turned out to be three-quarters of Fedil's force were drawn up. Behind these sand hills the west bank of the Nile rose precipitously, in some places 50 feet high, and along it were lined about 300 riflemen, with such spearmen as had crossed in the hollows behind them, and also Ahmed Fedil and four of his Emirs. The force on the island was under command of Saadalla Mohamed, the fifth Emir, but a vast proportion of the men of the other four Emirs were also on the island.
    At about 9 A.M. Captain Sir Henry Hill brought his two Maxims into action on an excellent position just where we hit the river. The 10th Sudanese lined the bank 100 yards further south, and their line was prolonged by Bakr's men and some of Abu Shotal's and Sheikh El Agab, and fire was opened at long range. Gradually the Dervish position defined itself, but it soon became apparent that no long-range fire could dislodge the enemy. It took some time to find a safe ford, and it was past 10 A.M. when Bakr's men crossed to the island by the southern ford supported by a company of the Tenth. They advanced towards the enemy's right and took up a position about 800 yards off.
    The Tenth crossed by companies at the northern ford, a slow operation -as the current was very strong, water in some places 3 feet deep width 100 yards.
    I determined to attack the enemy's left (north), marching first to the north on river's edge, under curve of bank. The Tenth, under Lieutenant Colonel Nason and Major Fergusson, advanced by alternate companies across the shingle, changed front half-left, and marched obliquely against the sand hills, while Fergusson with a company was detached to a knoll admirably commanding the river bank on which the enemy had taken cover. When the attacking infantry were about 400 yards from the sand hills, and 800 yards from the west bank, casualties became very frequent, so advance was hastened to the utmost extent, and Nason halted them on the east side of sand hills to recover wind. This incident was of good service to subsequent attack , for it induced several hundreds of the enemy to leave their cover and advance to a counter-attack. Nason took good advantage of the situation ; crowning the ridge of sand hills, a rapid fire was opened, repelling the Dervish advance, and then the Tenth, gallantly led by Colonel Nason, swept from north to south of the sand-hills every fold of which held a party of the enemy. Towards the southern bed of their position the retreating enemy came on those-holding that end and great execution was done there by our fire and by fire of Bakr's men (who had advanced) and while fugitives crossed to island. Beyond that retreat was barred by a rapid and deep channel. I am told that most of those who attempted to cross were drowned, among them the Emir in command, Saadalla Mohammed. A further stand was made on this island by 300 Jehadia and Arabs, and they kept two companies employed for an hour and a half before the survivors surrendered. The main position was carried by 11.30 A.M. Hill preceded the advance of infantry on the sand hills by a well-directed Maxim fire, and then did what he could to keep down the fire from West Bank while attack was being launched. In spite of that the fire from West Bank was very accurate, and to withdraw our wounded it was necessary to bring the Maxims (which Hill had crossed as attack was concluded) to 450 yards range, and then fire was not silenced till 3 P.M.
   I much regret to report that our casualties amount to 24 Non-commissioned Officers and men killed and one missing, and one British officer (Major Fergusson, D.S.O.), six native officers and 117 Non-commissioned Officers and men wounded (one since dead), while Bakr lost fourteen killed and seventeen wounded ; Abu Shotal two killed and three wounded ; Agab two wounded.
    Owing to the press of work in caring for our wounded, the enemy's killed were not counted, but from my own and other Officers' observation and from native accounts I estimate they amount to 500 men on island and in river, while deserters from west bank described heavy losses there from Maxim and rifle fire.
    I do not know the number of prisoners, women, and children, but Bakr's list of grown men amounts to 1,524, while 156 have come in on the west bank. Arms surrendered in all amount to 576 rifles and a huge pile of swords and spears. Fedil cannot have lost much short of 900 rifles. He is reported marching south-west towards Jebel Tabi. He probably has with him between 200 and 300 of the very best of his riflemen under, Koko Ahmed, a black Emir of Mulazemin, and Isa Kashoshe, Emir of the Rubh, with which he has been with most of the Baggaras. I cannot express my admiration of the gallant conduct of the 10th Sudanese and the other details engaged. The accurate and quick advance of the 10th over a bare plain under a searching fire, their change of front, and final dashing charge over the sand hills (losing heavily from front and flank fire) was beyond all praise. They were admirably led by Lieutenant - Colonel Nason and Major C. Fergusson, D.S.O., and their Egyptian and Sudanese Officers without one exception.
    Captain Sir Henry Hill used his two Maxims to the best advantage, and was well helped by Sergeants Lambert and Troubridge, Royal Marine Artillery, each in charge of a gun. These two on-commissioned Officers, too, after the action did good service in their attention to the wounded. The detachment, 9th Sudanese, under Yiiabashi Mohd. Eff. Aby Shaila, found the Maxim escort.
    Captain Jennings, R.A.M.C., S.M.O., showed great gallantry and devotion, dressing the wounded as they fell under a fire, the quality of which is vouched for by the casualty return. He was admirably seconded by Mulazin Awal Abdel Latif  Eff. Ahmed. This Officer has already done very valuable service at Karkoj when the whole of the Cavalry and Camel Corps were down with malarial fever, and which he was also suffering from ; since the action Captain Jennings and his Staff have been unceasingly at work.
   Sheikh Bakr Mustafa and his men have shown bravery and determination. Bakr is a man of a very good ability, and is now in charge of all the prisoners. I recommend him to the Sirdar's favourable consideration.
    Sheikh El Agab Abu Jinn, head of the Rufaa Arabs, was present at the action with 15 men.
   His people have suffered more than anyone between Karkoj and here from Fedil. He has been of great assistance to me in getting supplies and transports. He is a brave and creditable Arab Sheikh. I would also recommend him to the Sirdar.

I attach list of enclosures.
I have, &c.,
	D. F. LEWIS, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Wad Medina and South.

 

State of Troops that took part in the engagement on the 26th December, 1898:

10th Sudanese—British Officers and Non-commissioned Officers, 2 ; Egyptian Officers, 11 ; Non-commissioned Officers and Men, 498 ; total, 511.

9th Sudanese—British Officers and Non-commissioned Officers, 0 ; Egyptian Officers, 1 ; Non- commissioned Officers and Men, 29 ; total, 30.

Artillery—British Officers and Non-commissioned Officers, 3 ; Egyptian Officers, 0 ; Non- commissioned Officers and Men, 6 ; total, 9:

Medical Corps—British Officers and Non-commissioned Officers, 1 ; Egyptian Officers, 1 ; Non- commissioned Officers and Men, 1 ; total, 3.

Total—British Officers and Non-commissioned Officers, 6 ; Egyptian Officers, 13 ; Non-commissioned Officers and Men, 634 ; total, 553.

State of Irregulars that took part:

Sheikh El Bakr-380 Men.

Sheikh Abu Shotal (Sheikh of Rosaires)-100 Men.

Sheikh El Agab (Bafar)-15 Men.

Total-495 Men.

D. F. LEWIS, Miralai.