Section 177. The Battle of Kassassin. V

The Infantry there⁠ had indeed had a hot time of it⁠. Hundreds of shells had (S. 29, N. 3) burst in the confined⁠ space, and the shelter trenches⁠ afforded but an insufficient protection. On the left of the position⁠, next to the Canal, were⁠ the Marine Artillery, then came the 46th, and next⁠ to them the 84th⁠, the⁠ slight earthworks sweeping round again in a semi-circle almost to the Canal. The Mounted⁠ Infantry were in front under Captain Pigott, who⁠ has received a wound, having been shot through the thigh.

The Egyptians came on with great bravery, and in spite of the⁠ heavy like of our men⁠, were rapidly gaining ground, and would soon have rushed⁠ into the entrenchments, when the roar of our guns on⁠ their left rear, followed⁠ by the rush of our Cavalry, proved⁠ too much for them, and from (S. 102, N. 4) that moment they thought only of flight.

Our casualties are surprisingly⁠ small considering⁠ the fire to which our men were exposed. Lieutenant Edwards, of the Mounted Infantry, was⁠ shot in the arm, Surgeon-Major⁠ Shaw, of the 46th, was⁠ killed, and some ten or a dozen men, but, fortunately, the Remington bullet wounds rather than kills; the hospital was crowded⁠ with wounded men.

About 10 o’clock the Cavalry came in⁠ in high spirits over their brilliant achievement. Many, of course, are missing in the darkness, but will, no doubt, turn up⁠ in the morning. Upon their⁠ return from the pursuit they⁠ were unable to find the guns over which they had charged, but these⁠ will doubtless be discovered at sunrise. After learning from them⁠ the events⁠ of the charge, I⁠ started to ride here to get off⁠ my despatches,—a⁠ distance of twenty-four miles. This solitary ride over the dismal desert by moonlight was not⁠ the least exciting part of an exciting day.

Late⁠ as it was, I found at (auf) the different posts the men⁠ busy at work entrenching, and met troops also on⁠ their march to reinforce those at the front.

The enemy’s force⁠ engaged was estimated at 13,000. The Egyptians fought well until our Cavalry and guns took⁠ them in the rear, and, had⁠ it not been for the gallantry of the defenders of Kassassin, would⁠ have carried the position before our reinforcements came upon the scene.

At⁠ the time I left, the losses were unknown, but were⁠ supposed to be about twenty killed and a hundred wounded.

As⁠ I am writing, Sir Garnet Wolseley and⁠ the entire army are marching to the front.—The Correspondent of the London “Standard.”

there, dortig, which is an attributive adj., to be placed before the noun ‘Infantry’.

to have a hot time of it, einen schweren Stand haben.

= narrow.

die Schanzgräben.

= camp.

= stood.

next to them = finally.

Supply ‘regiment’.

= whilst the insignificant entrenchments (Verschanzungen) swept round in a semi-circle almost to (bis zu) the canal. ‘To sweep round,’ here sich hin´schlängeln, of which the pron. sich must be placed immediately after the subject, and the verb?

beritten, adj.

= who was wounded (S. 2, N. 1) and had received a shot through the thigh.

Nom. das lebhafte Schießen.

= troops; were rapidly gaining ground = advanced rapidly (schnell vor´wärtsrücken), sep. comp. w. v. intr. Where must you place the verb? and where the separable particle?

to rush into the entrenchments, in die Schanzwerke dringen (str. v.).

on — rear, an ihrer linken Flanke.

und der darauf folgende un´erwartete Angriff unserer Kavallerie.

= had not terrified them (einen in Schrecken jagen).

= extraordinarily.

= if one considers (bedenken), that our troops were exposed to a really murderous fire.

= is wounded; in, an, contracted with the Dat. of the def. art.

Stabsarzt.

was — kills = and ten or a dozen (zehn bis zwölf) men (= privates, Gemeine) are killed, but fortunately the Remington bullet (Kugel, f.) is but (nur) rarely fatal (ist ... von tödlicher Wirkung).

= quite full of. The wounded man, der Verwundete.

= returned; in high spirits, höchst erfreut.

to turn up, sich wieder ein´stellen; ‘in the morning’, here morgen früh.

= the; from their pursuit, von ihrer Verfolgung.

Literally = could the Cavalry the cannons, which they had conquered, not find again (wiederfinden).

= the same.

= the horsemen (Kavalleristen).

= details, Einzelheiten.

ritt ich nach hier ab.

= send off.

Commence a new period here, and say: ‘The distance from Kassassin to here [Ismailia] is (beträgt) 24 miles’.

= by no means, keineswegs, adv.

= Notwithstanding the late hour.

Mannschaften.

on their march, welche auf dem Marsch begriffen waren.

Streitkräfte, pl.; was = were; at 13,000, an 13,000 Mann.

= attacked.

hätten die Verteidiger von Kassassin nicht eine solche Tapferkeit bewiesen, so, etc.

= the enemy would.

= When I rode away.

= were estimated at (auf) about, etc.

= Whilst.

= with.