Page 30 - GAHS Journal Volume 9

THE DEATH OF COLONEL FRED BURNABY

thud of the enemy’s lead hung over the square, even the tired
camels grunting far less than customary. During the earlier part
of the night I had a long chat with Colonel Fred Burnaby, who
expressed his delight at having arrived in time for the coming
battle. He had been appointed, he said, by General Stewart to
the command of the left face and rear of the square, and on the
morrow would be virtually discharging the duties of a brigadier-
general. He had got to that stage of life, he continued, when the
two things that interested him most were war and politics; and,
whether it was “slating” an unworthy politician or fighting against
his country’s foes, he expressed himself equally exhilarated and
happy. Much more he confided to me, but neither time nor the
occasion now avail for the repetition of that chat, destined to be
the “last words” of a noble and fearless gentleman.

Advance of the Arabs
At 9.50 a.m. just as the front of the square had crossed a
narrow depression and gained the top of the little crest on the
opposite side, we saw a force of 4,000 or 5,000 of the enemy
echeloned in two lines on our left, or opposite the side of the
square maintained by part of the mounted infantry and the heavy
cavalry regiments. They were 400 or 500 yards distant, and
looked like coming on. Dervishes on horseback and on foot
marshalled them, standing a few paces in front of the fanatic
host. With fluttering of banners, clamour of “tom-toms”, and
shoutings, they began to move towards our square. Our
skirmishers’ fire appeared to have little or no effect upon them,
and the whole left face of the square, which now halted upon the
high ground, turned their rifles upon the Arabs, with, however,
not much better results. Very few of the Mahdi’s force fell, their
lines were scarcely marred. They were soon within three
hundred and fifty yards of the square, and now they commenced
to run toward us, coming over the rolling ground like a vast wave
of black surf. In wild excitement, their white teeth glistening, and
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