For a graphic description of the battle we have the written account by James Grant, the author of Cassell's History of the War In The Soudan. An extremely rare publication, written around 1920. Although not an eyewitness, it fully draws on such accounts.

After a very frugal breakfast, at 8am, they stood to their arms by sound of bugle. The ranks were formed, and a move forward made for 500 yards, to be free from the fires and debris of the bivouac The companies and battalions were formed with accuracy, and leaving 300 men to hold Fort Baker, and 150 with Colonel Ogilvie in Trinkitat (all sickly and weakly), the advance on the position of El Teb began with steadiness and alacrity, the troops being formed in a rectangle, having an interior space of about 200 yards by 150.

The march was over barren and sandy soil, and the whole way was encumbered by hundreds of black, decaying corpses, the relics of Baker's men, from which clouds of gorged carrion birds flew away with angry croaks as the great hollow square swept onward. By half-past ten, a three miles' march brought our troops in sight of the enemy, who had evidently formed some earthworks on which they had planted their common and banners.

"It was a fine sight," says the writer before quoted, " to see our fellows step out as if upon parade. It gave a grand idea of the power and pride of physical strength. The bagpipes played gaily, and the Highlanders, instinctively cocking their caps and swinging their shoulders, footed the way cheerily."

"In front", says Sir Gerald, in his despatch, dated from his camp at Tokar three days after the battle, "were the 1st Gordon Highlanders; in rear the 1st Royal Highlanders; on the right the 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers (supported by four companies of the 3rd King's Royal Rifles); on the left the 1st York and Lancaster, supported by 380 of the Royal Marine Artillery and Light Infantry. On the march the front and rear faces moved in company columns of fours, at company intervals, and the flank battalions in open column of companies. Intervals were left at the angles for the guns and Gatlings, the Naval Brigade occupying the front, and the Royal Artillery the rear angles. The men marched with their water bottles filled, and one day's rations. The only transport animals were those carrying ammunition and the surgical appliances, all being kept together in the centre of the square .

The front and left of the square were covered by a squadron of the 10th Hussars; the right.by a troop of the 19th Hussars, the Cavalry being in our rear under Brigadier Stewart."

The scouts of the enemy were now seen to be falling back as the square advanced, precisely as they had done before Baker's force on the same ground fifteen days previously. As the great rectangle, with more than four thousand bayonets flashing in the sun, continued to advance, the masses of the enemy seemed to me away from the position where their banners were floating and their guns posted.

General Graham was now in doubt whether they awaited him in rear of the brow on which they had been first seen, or were making hidden movements to take him in the flank. He therefore ordered the square to change its direction, and swerve off to the right, by the same route that Baker had taken to the Wells.

Halt

Whenever the orderly bugle sounded a halt, which was not infrequent, the faces of the square fell into their fighting position, the files turning outwards to practise it and be ready for the reception of an attack quickly and without confusion.

Still not a man was visible in the enemy's position. The banners were seen floating out on the wind, but the place seemed silent and empty. Away to the right was a cemetery decorated with flags, and in rear of what was supposed to be the position was a village composed of red huts and some roofless edifices of sun baked brick.

Closing

It was now past ten o'clock, and our troops were fast nearing the enemy's line. "The pipes of the Black Watch", says the correspondent of the Standard, "struck up cheerful air, enlivening the march of the column, and brightening faces of the 42nd, who had been rather glum at finding themselves in rear of the square, instead of their favourite position in front. The joke, that as the Royal Highlanders could not be in front rank they had determined to frighten the enemy with their unearthly music, ran round the square, and the column moved forward in lighter spirit.

Ten minutes later the Cavalry scouts in front are seen to halt. We halt too. The enemy can be seen now, although partially concealed by the bushes. They are in force some fourteen or fifteen hundred yards away. If we had but a battery of a Horse Artillery we could soon make them clear out from their position - which is evidently entrenched - and either fall back or charge us in the open." The Sphinx, in the harbour, had opened fire with her long 6-inch guns, but was signalled to desist, as her shot fell short of the position.

The forward march was again resumed, and a few minutes before eleven o'clock the Cavalry scouts trotted round the flanks of the square, leaving its front uncovered, and face to face with the Arabs, whose dark faces and heads of long black hair could be seen popping up incessantly from behind the green scrub and their sandy entrenchments, but no forward movement was made by them.

The line of march pursued by the square was past their left front, rather than towards them, at 400 yards' distance; and now suddenly from the sable hordes there came a biting rifle fire, while with two Krupp guns, doubtless worked by artillery men from Tokar, they opened upon the square with case and shell, at about twenty minutes past eleven.

These gun's, however were so badly handled that few casualties occurred from them, and meanwhile the rectangle succeeded in working round till it got into the left rear of the enemy's position. General Graham now halted the square, and ordered the men to lie down, while he brought his four Royal Artillery guns and the machine guns into action at 900 yards, and soon silenced the enemy's Krupps, which were now taken in reverse.

The onward movement of the square was resumed, but under the enemy's rifle fire. The first serious casualty was in the ranks of the Gordon Highlanders, and the falling of men right and left showed that the aim of the Arabs was beginning to tell. The pipes again struck up; the square pressed steadily on, while the shrapnel shell of the enemy, thrown now with dangerous precision, burst ever and anon overhead.

By a fragment of one of these General Baker was severely wounded in the left cheek; but his face was bound up by Surgeon-Major Macdowall.

Enemy Movements

The enemy's movements could be distinctly seen; the wind carried away the smoke of the musketry, and the forenoon was clear and bright. The Arabs were all scattered about, without military order, but taking advantage of any cover the position afforded they clung to it gallantly.

"If they won't charge us, why don't we charge them?" our soldiers began to cry with impatience, as the stretches filled fast with wounded. Thousands were massed darkly in front, and hundreds were menacing the flanks of the rectangle. which still swept on towards the position of the foe unswervingly.

"It is not a charge", wrote one who was there, "but a steady solid movement of formation which has all been observed. It looks, however, all the more formidable, for enthusiasm and discipline are equally marked as the troop are cheering while their square sweeps down towards the enemy."

When the two bodies were 200 yards apart, the fire of the Arabs ceased, they flung aside their fire arms prior to charging, like the Scottish Highlanders in the last century, and grasping their swords and spears made a frantic rush on the square, with a force and fury inconceivable. In many instances, torn and streaming with blood from bullet wounds unheeded or unfelt, they flung themselves, a living torrent, full on the levelled bayonets of the square, and man came within five paces of it before they were shot down.

On the men of the Black Watch, standing shoulder to shoulder with the York and Lancaster, the first brunt of their headlong onset fell heavily. Though hurled back by a close and deadly breechloader fire, on they came, again and again, in groups of twenty or thirty, yelling like fiends and leaping at breakneck pace over heaps of their dead and wounded; "sometimes by twos and threes, and sometimes alone", wrote the correspondent of the Standard.

"They dash forward against our ranks with poised spear, but not a man reaches the line of bayonets, for all are swept away by the terrible musketry fire. For a moment on the other side of the square the matter seems to be in doubt; so hotly do the Arabs press onward, that the troops pause in their steady advance. It becomes a hand to hand fight,the soldiers meeting the Arab, spear with cold steel, their favourite weapon, and beating them at it. There is not much shouting and only a short exclamation, a brief shout or an oath, as the soldiers engage their foes. At this critical moment for the enemy, the Gardner guns open fire, and their leaden hail soon decides matters".

Under Brigadier Stewart, the main body of our Cavalry now swept at a gallop round the right flank of the square, and in three lines charged to their right front, falling with the united and dread force of some mighty engine on the masses of the enemy's, who had tumultuously to change front to meet this most unexpected attack, in which Colonel Barrow, C.M.G., of the 19th Hussars, was severely wounded, with twenty others, who all received spear thrusts, including Major Slade of the 10th Hussars, Lieutenants F.A. Freeman of the 19th Hussars, and Probyn of the 9th Bengal Light Cavalry, while the Arabs opened out as the Cavalry came charging on, and, crouching among the shrub, hamstrung the horses with their crosshilted swords, and despatched the falling riders.

Here Colonel Burnaby had his horse shot under him, and a ball passed through one of his arms, but he could still handle a double-barrelled gun, and shot down Arab after Arab in quick secession. Eventually he was 'borned' down, but was saved by a few of the Gordon Highlanders.

Sir William Hewett, who was present as a spectator, now led the Naval Brigade over the piles of fallen Arabs and made a furious rush on their works which proved to be only a bank of sand.

Captain Wilson of the Hecla, a volunteer (fighting for fighting's sake), crossed the bank, and in protecting a fallen soldier from an Arab, broke his sword over the head of the latter, who, though nearly blinded by his own blood, fought like a tiger, and wounded Captain Wilson in turn, but was struck down and bayoneted.

To re-form the square the 'halt' was now sounded, for that face which was composed of the Rifles and Irish Fusiliers had become loose and open. As yet the Arabs had no idea that they were being beaten, and resisted obstinately, opening fire with their rifles and two Krupp guns, while we replied with a captured Krupp and the machine guns.

Advance

The 'advance' again sounded, and that part of the position now reached by the square consisted of a few trenches, with many holes or rifle pits. Out of these the Arabs started, as the column pressed on, and flung themselves on the keen bayonets, only to perish under their points. Every inch of ground was contested by them with the most reckless and brilliant valour; but at last the miserable village, with its red huts, wells, and ruined walls, was carried "and the close of the fight", says the Standard, "was announced by a loud cheer from the Gordon Highlanders, as they passed out at the front of the enemy's position, and by a triumphant peal from the bagpipes."

This was at two in the afternoon, when the enemy were seen streaming away in the wildest disorder towards Tokar and Suakim.

The last work, taken by the Highlanders, was in the form of a semicircle, and formed of bags and barrels filled with sand.

Casualties

British

35 killed and 155 wounded, of which 20 killed and 48 wounded were suffered by the cavalry indicating the seriousness of their engagement.

Mahdist

losses estimated from 1,500-2,000 killed.

Jumbo Plan of March to El Teb (97K)

More El Teb

El Teb: Introduction
El Teb: The Battle
El Teb: Battle Profile (Analysis) and Wargaming

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