Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 February 1884 — AN ARMY OF SHEEP. [ARTICLE]

AN ARMY OF SHEEP.

Baker Paaha’a Invading Column Almost Completely Annihilated at Tokar, Cowardly Conduct of the Egyptians on Meeting the Enemy—Yells for Mercy. The news of the defeat of Baker Pasha in the Soudan, while attempting to relieve the garrison of Tokar, created intense excitement in London. Little else was talked of among the members of Parliament "and the various attaches of the Government. Much criticism of the policy of the Government in the management of affairs in Egypt has again been renewed. Lord Salisbury severely condemns the course which has been pursued throughout, and tauntingly accuses the administration of having again displayed its usual optimistical policy, although in the face of almost certain disaster. From the mass of cable dispatches relating to Baker Pasha’s defeat, we compile the following succinct account of the disastrous affair: Baker was led into ambush by a sheik, who, pretending to be friendly, asserted that the rebels in the vicißity of Tokar numbered less than four thousand men, many of whom were unarmed, while there were in fact 80,000 wellarmed men under Sheik Khadir and Osman Diqua, awaiting his approach. The success of the rebel stratagem was complete, Baker Pasha’s forces being taken by surprise. After a short encounter, durlng A whloh the Egyptian troops under Baker Pasha’s command displayed the utmost cowardice, his force was routed* and fled in all directions, only a small remnant escaping along the road back to Trinkitat. Baker Pasha lost his entire equipment of guns, cannons, stores, and camp utensils. Baker Pasha himself was among the small number of fugitives that escaped from the field, and reached the coast in safety. The fight began by a few Arab horsemen attacking Baker Pasha’s oavajry, which fled. Baker formed a square, which the enemy surrounded. The rest of the Egyptians then fled in confusion and ths gunners deserted their guns. Baker Pasha was several times surrounded by the enemy, but, with his staff managed to cut his way through. The enemy’s force .was inferior in numbers to Baker Pasha’s. Only three sides of a square were formed, owing to the fact that two companies of Egyptian troops stood still, overcome with fright. The enemy poured into this gap, when the Egyptians threw away their rifles and flung themselves upon the ground, screaming for mercy. The troops on one side of the square killed many of their own men by wild firing. The enemy betrayed profound contempt for their opponents. The Egyptian cavalry threw away their saddles and turned their horses loose, effecting a retreat on foot, in order that they might not be sent back to fight again. The slaughter of Baker’s forces continued all the way back to Trinkitat. The Egyptians were panio stricken and fell upon their knees, but their appeals for mercy were fruitless. The Arabs seized them by their necks, thrust spears into their backs, and savagely cut their throats. The Englishmen missing are Maurice Bey, Surgeon Leslie, Capts. Foster and Walker, Lieuts. Carroll, Smith, and Watkins. Ten other foreign officers are missing. The fugitives, huddled together on the shore at Trinkitat. might easily have been slaughtered, but the enemy gave over the pursuit. The men embarked as quickly as possible upon six transports lying there, and, with Baker and Col. Sartoris, arrived at midnight at Suaklm. The rebels captured five guns, 36,000 pounds of cannon ammunition, 3,000 rifles, and an enormous quantity of cartridges. TEWFIK BEY'S FORCE ANNIHILATED. A Suakim dispatch says that the enemy surrounded and destroyed Tewfik Bey and 400 followers between Sinkat and the coast, while attempting to cut their way through the enemy. A Cairo dispatch reports that tribes beyond Korosko are in full revolt. Gen. Gordon, who has arrived at Korosko, is unable to proceed on his journey to Khartoum.