strong. There was a range of gradually rising ground, running parallel with this line occupied by the enemy, which we had selected for our position, and which placed him between us and the Nile, which thus flowed directly in his rear. The strip of ground immediately in front of Kosheh would have cost the force advancing from there heavy loss in taking house by house, unless attacked as well in flank. The Kosheh force was therefore ordered not to attack until after our main body had got into position, and brought for half an hour an artillery fire to bear upon this strip; this was supported by a direct fire from the fort. At the end of the halfhour the Camerons, supported by a small battalion of black troops, sallied out and attacked in gallant style, clearing house by house as they advanced; so did our artillery, firing in front of them, and so helping their advance. In the meantime the ist Brigade, some distance off and nearly opposite the main part of their village, with the cavalry well beyond, was attacked by the enemy, who sallied out of their camp, opened a very heavy fire upon us, which lasted about forty minutes, and attempted to turn our left. This attempt was met by good manoeuvring on the part of General Butler, commanding the Brigade. The enemy were driven back and retreated in disorder to the westward, abandoning Giniss and their camp, which we then occupied, our whole force advancing from their position on the high ground. All was over by a quarter past nine, and the enemy completely routed in full retreat. I estimate their loss in killed at 600, and in wounded at twice, possibly three times, that amount. The enemy expected our main attack to be from Kosheh, and while this was going on they would probably have come out from their camp, occupied the high ground where our main position was, and come down upon our flank. Our plan just reversed this order of things and enabled us to play off their own game upon themselves. We are now following up the enemy with our cavalry, which we are pushing well to the front, and supporting it with our infantry, which
is echeloned along the Nile. You shall hear of my further proceedings. One of my chief sources of gratification has been picturing you and your surroundings to myself on receiving the first news of this success, which will, I am sure, have given you all pleasure. I never was in better health, and am surrounded by as cheery and fine a set of officers and men as the world can produce. I must confess, however, that I have for some time past had a time of much anxiety. If this aff^air of last Wednesday had gone otherwise than it has there is no knowing what amount of mischief might have ensued. The Soudan, already much excited, would have been encouraged to advance upon Egypt (it may do so still), Egypt itself and the bordering tribes would have been in a semi-state of revolt, and Cairo and its European communities would have been in a very unpleasant position, and much opprobrium would have fallen upon England. This is no exaggeration, and I can assure you that the sense of responsibility which these considerations imposed upon me has been rather a severe trial. When I left Cairo much uneasiness prevailed there, especially amongst the foreign communities, who were more or less in a state of alarm. I hope now that this is allayed. I think, too, that H.M.'s Government were not quite easy in their minds, in fact, I know that Lord Salisbury was not. — Ever yours aff"ectionately,
Fredk. Stephenson.
To Lady Elizabeth Romilly
Cairo, May 10, 1886.
... The much-talked-of Anglo-Turkish Convention, with its two High Commissioners, is doing no good at all, possibly some harm instead,... the Khedive is trying to gain favour with the Sultan by raising subscriptions— with very little of the voluntary about it — to assist him in his present financial need, and in order to protect the fellaheen from being squeezed the Consul- General may have to interfere for their protection — a
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measure which would not be Ukely to ingratiate us with the Porte. Our news from the Soudan is at present satisfactory; affairs there, with regard to ourselves, seem quiet enough, but their appearance may change when the crops are gathered in, and the rise of the Nile will facilitate any fresh aggressive movements which the Dervishes may feel disposed to make.
You would enjoy the charming weather we are having.... Your mind must be occupied, however, with far more important matters just now than the weather, for it is hardly too much to say that the fate of the Empire is trembling in the balance. The infatuation about Gladstone is wonderful, and we shall all rue, I am afraid, the effects of this feeling.... — Yours very sincerely, Fredk. Stephenson.
To his Niece, Mrs. Frank Pownall
Cairo, July 4, 1886.