KIRBEKAN. February 10th, 1885.

While the fate of Khartoum was trembling in the balance, and the battles of Abu Klea and Gubat were being fought, another column was dispatched up the Nile, under Major-General Earle, C.B., to punish the Monassir tribe for the treacherous murder of Colonel Stewart and his companions in the preceding September. As already stated, Stewart was sent by General Gordon from Khartoum to Dongola, but his steamer was wrecked near Berber, and most of the party massacred. General Earle was also ordered afterwards to push on to Berber, and after 624capturing it, to take part in any further operations at, or beyond Khartoum. Leaving Korti, Earle concentrated his troops—consisting of the 38th. and 42nd. Foot, a squadron of 19th. Hussars, and the Egyptian Camel Corps, with two guns—at Handab. On January 24th. he began his advance, but the difficulties of the river were many, and his progress slow, so that he did not reach the vicinity of Kirbekan, near Dulka Island, seventy miles from Merawi, till February 9th. The enemy had fallen back as he advanced, but now, reinforced by a body of Dervishes from Berber, were encamped on a rocky range of hills near the Nile, and prepared for an obstinate resistance. The front of their position was very strong, and fortified in places with loopholed walls. At sunrise on the morning of February 10th. the assault commenced. Leaving two companies of the 38th., with his two guns in front, to make a feigned attack, the General with the bulk of his troops made a detour, and turning the left of the enemy’s position attacked them in the rear. The Arabs, being taken by surprise, but having the advantage of the ground, fought most desperately, and contested the possession of every rock and boulder, till the British by rushes gained fastness after fastness, and dislodged the defenders at the point of the bayonet. A determined band of the enemy made a frantic charge on the 42nd., but were all killed or driven into the Nile, save some who took possession of a stone built hut. General Earle, though warned that the building was full of Arabs, attempted to enter it, and was immediately shot dead by one of them. The door of the hut being strongly barricaded, it was set on fire, and all the enemy within were shot down or burned alive. Another steep hill, on which the Soudanese made their last stand, was stormed by the 38th., and in the meanwhile the Hussars had captured their camp, three miles in the rear. This ended the battle of Kirbekan, after a contest of five hours.

The loss of the British, besides their General, was Colonel Eyre, of the 38th.; Colonel Coveny, V.C., of the 42nd.; and seven men killed; and about fifty of all ranks were wounded, some severely. The loss of the enemy was heavy. Many were drowned in the Nile, and, as Lord Wolseley wrote, “Scarcely any can have escaped.” Their force was estimated at above two thousand men.

General H. Brackenbury assumed the command on the fall of General Eyre, and pushed on towards Abu Hamed, in the direction of Berber, but was recalled to Korti by Lord Wolseley, acting on orders from England. Soon after, the force returned to Cairo, with the exception of a detachment left on the frontier of Egypt proper.

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