Abyssinian Campaign: Difference between revisions

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== Summary ==
== Summary ==
The '''Abyssinian Campaign''' of 1868 was a punitive expedition following the imprisonment of missionaries and British representatives by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tewodros_II_of_Ethiopia Emperor Tewodros II] of Ethiopia (Theodore). [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Napier,_1st_Baron_Napier_of_Magdala Lt-Gen Sir Robert Napier] commanded a force of 13,000 British and Indian troops which took 3 months to reach the Emperor's capital at Magdala a 380 mile march through mountainous country. The Ethiopians were defeated at the Battles of [[Battle of Arroghee|Arroghee]] and [[Battle of Magdala|Magdala]]. Theodore was killed and the British took away large amounts of treasure when they returned to the coast.
The '''Abyssinian Campaign''' of 1868 was a punitive expedition following the imprisonment of missionaries and British representatives by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tewodros_II_of_Ethiopia Emperor Tewodros II] of Ethiopia (Theodore). [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Napier,_1st_Baron_Napier_of_Magdala Lt-Gen Sir Robert Napier], Commander -in-Chief of the Bombay Army, led a force of 13,000 British and Indian troops which took 3 months to reach the Emperor's capital at Magdala a 380 mile march through mountainous country. The Ethiopians were defeated at the Battles of [[Battle of Arroghee|Arroghee]] and [[Battle of Magdala|Magdala]]. Theodore was killed and the British took away large amounts of treasure when they returned to the coast.


== Biographies ==
== Biographies ==
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[http://www.archive.org/stream/dictionaryofindi00buckuoft#page/312/mode/2up Robert Napier] (1810-1890)<br>
[http://www.archive.org/stream/dictionaryofindi00buckuoft#page/312/mode/2up Robert Napier] (1810-1890)<br>
[http://www.archive.org/stream/dictionaryofindi00buckuoft#page/336/mode/1up Robert Phayre] (1820-1897)<br>
[http://www.archive.org/stream/dictionaryofindi00buckuoft#page/336/mode/1up Robert Phayre] (1820-1897)<br>
[http://www.archive.org/stream/dictionaryofindi00buckuoft#page/376/mode/2up John Schneider] (1822-1903)<br>
[http://www.archive.org/stream/dictionaryofindi00buckuoft#page/400/mode/1up Charles Staveley] (1817-1896)<br>
[http://www.archive.org/stream/dictionaryofindi00buckuoft#page/400/mode/1up Charles Staveley] (1817-1896)<br>
[http://www.archive.org/stream/dictionaryofindi00buckuoft#page/452/mode/2up Henry Wilkins] (1828-1896)<br>
[http://www.archive.org/stream/dictionaryofindi00buckuoft#page/452/mode/2up Henry Wilkins] (1828-1896)<br>
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== Campaign Forces ==
== Campaign Forces ==


'''British Army'''<br>
'''Cavalry'''<br>
<div style="column-count:2;-moz-column-count:2;-webkit-column-count:2">
<div style="column-count:2;-moz-column-count:2;-webkit-column-count:2">
*[[3rd (Prince of Wales') Dragoon Guards]]
*[[3rd (Prince of Wales') Dragoon Guards]]
*[[10th Bengal Light Cavalry]]
*[[12th Bengal Cavalry|12th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry]]
*[[33rd Queen Victoria's Own Light Cavalry|3rd Regt of Bombay Light Cavalry]]
*[[3rd Scinde Irregular Horse]]
</div>
'''Infantry'''<br>
<div style="column-count:2;-moz-column-count:2;-webkit-column-count:2">
*[[4th Regiment of Foot|4th (The King's Own Royal) Regiment of Foot]]
*[[4th Regiment of Foot|4th (The King's Own Royal) Regiment of Foot]]
*[[26th Regiment of Foot|26th (The Cameronian) Regiment of Foot]]
*[[26th Regiment of Foot|26th (The Cameronian) Regiment of Foot]]
*[[33rd Regiment of Foot|33rd (Duke of Wellington's) Regiment of Foot]]
*[[33rd Regiment of Foot|33rd (Duke of Wellington's) Regiment of Foot]]
*[[45th Regiment of Foot|45th (Sherwood Foresters) Regt of Foot]]<br>
*[[45th Regiment of Foot|45th (Sherwood Foresters) Regt of Foot]]<br>
</div>
'''Indian Army'''<br>
<div style="column-count:2;-moz-column-count:2;-webkit-column-count:2">
*[[10th Bengal Light Cavalry]]
*[[12th Bengal Cavalry|12th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry]]
*[[33rd Queen Victoria's Own Light Cavalry|3rd Regt of Bombay Light Cavalry]]
*[[21st Regiment of Punjab Infantry|21st Punjab Regt Bengal Native Infantry]]
*[[21st Regiment of Punjab Infantry|21st Punjab Regt Bengal Native Infantry]]
*[[23rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|23rd Punjab Regt Bengal Native Infantry (Pioneers)]]
*[[2nd (Prince of Wales's Own) Regiment of Bombay Infantry (Grenadiers)|2nd Bombay Native Infantry (Grenadier)]]
*[[2nd (Prince of Wales's Own) Regiment of Bombay Infantry (Grenadiers)|2nd Bombay Native Infantry (Grenadier)]]
*[[3rd Regiment of Bombay Light Infantry|3rd Bombay Native Infantry]]
*[[3rd Regiment of Bombay Light Infantry|3rd Bombay Native Infantry]]
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*[[125th Napier's Rifles|25th Bombay Native Light Infantry]]
*[[125th Napier's Rifles|25th Bombay Native Light Infantry]]
*[[27th (1st Baluch Battalion) Bombay Light Infantry|27th Bombay Native Infantry (1st Baluch)]]
*[[27th (1st Baluch Battalion) Bombay Light Infantry|27th Bombay Native Infantry (1st Baluch)]]
*No 1 Company of [[Bombay Native Foot Artillery|Bombay Native Artillery]]
</div>
 
'''Pioneers'''<br>
<div style="column-count:2;-moz-column-count:2;-webkit-column-count:2">
*Corps of [[Madras Sappers and Miners]]
*Corps of [[Madras Sappers and Miners]]
*Corps of [[Bombay Sappers and Miners]]
*3rd & 4th coys [[Bombay Sappers and Miners]]
*Two coys [[23rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry|23rd Punjab Regt Bengal Native Infantry (Pioneers)]]
</div>
</div>
'''Artillery'''<br>
<div style="column-count:2;-moz-column-count:2;-webkit-column-count:2">
*No 1 Company of [[Bombay Native Foot Artillery|Bombay Native Artillery]]
*G Batt 14th Brigade [[Royal Artillery]]
'''Transport train'''<br>
'''Transport train'''<br>
<div style="column-count:2;-moz-column-count:2;-webkit-column-count:2">
<div style="column-count:2;-moz-column-count:2;-webkit-column-count:2">
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*345 bullock carts
*345 bullock carts
</div>
</div>
== Deployment ==
When the expedition reached Antalo Napier redistributed the army in divisions:
==== 1st Division ====
composed of all troops to prosecute the campaign beyond Antalo<br />
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_William_Dunbar_Staveley Maj-Gen Sir Charles Staveley] commanding
*Pioneer Force under Brig-Gen Sir John Field, 10th Bombay NI
*1st Brigade under Brig-Gen John Schneider


== Campaign Actions ==
== Campaign Actions ==
[[Battle of Arroghee]] 10 April<br>[[Battle of Magdala]] 15 April
[[Battle of Arroghee]] 10 April<br>
[[Battle of Magdala]] 15 April


== External Links ==
== External Links ==

Revision as of 17:59, 29 January 2011

Abyssinian Campaign
Oct 1867-Jun 1868
Chronological list of Wars and Campaigns
[[Image:|250px| ]]
Location: Abyssinia
Combatants:
British and Indian forces Abyssinian regular forces
Result: British victory. Magdala looted and burned.
Medals: Abyssinia
Links:
Category: Abyssinian Campaign
See our interactive map of
Abyssinian Campaign
locations and routes on Google Maps


Summary

The Abyssinian Campaign of 1868 was a punitive expedition following the imprisonment of missionaries and British representatives by Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia (Theodore). Lt-Gen Sir Robert Napier, Commander -in-Chief of the Bombay Army, led a force of 13,000 British and Indian troops which took 3 months to reach the Emperor's capital at Magdala a 380 mile march through mountainous country. The Ethiopians were defeated at the Battles of Arroghee and Magdala. Theodore was killed and the British took away large amounts of treasure when they returned to the coast.

Biographies

Entries in the Dictionary of Indian Biography 1906

Robert Baigrie (18??-1877)]
John Field (1821-1899)
Charles Goodfellow (1836-915)]
George Malcolm (1818-1897)
William Merewether (1825-1880)
Robert Napier (1810-1890)
Robert Phayre (1820-1897)
John Schneider (1822-1903)
Charles Staveley (1817-1896)
Henry Wilkins (1828-1896)

Reconnoitring party

  • Lt-Col Sir William Merewether CB
  • Lt-Col Sir Robert Phayre CB, Quartermaster-General
  • Lt-Col Henry Wilkins, RE
  • Maj Mignon, Asst Commissary-General
  • Maj Robert Baigrie, Asst Quartermaster-General
  • Capt Charles Goodfellow VC, RE
  • Capt Pottinger, RA
  • Lieut Jopp, RE
  • Lieut Mortemer, RA
  • Lieut Henriel
  • Surgeon Lumsdaine
  • Asst Surgeon Martin
  • 1 Coy Marine Battalion
  • 8 Sappers and Miners
  • 3 Draughtsmen
  • 5 Guides
  • 35 tent lascars
  • 136 public followers
  • 93 private followers
  • 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry (40 men)
  • 149 mules

Naval Squadron

Advance Brigade

Brig-Gen Sir John Field, 10th Bombay NI commanding

Campaign Forces

Cavalry

Infantry

Pioneers

Artillery


Transport train

  • 7,365 camels
  • 11,155 mules
  • 1,708 ponies
  • 6,922 pack bullocks
  • 901 draught bullocks
  • 784 donkeys
  • 305 mule carts
  • 345 bullock carts

Deployment

When the expedition reached Antalo Napier redistributed the army in divisions:

1st Division

composed of all troops to prosecute the campaign beyond Antalo
Maj-Gen Sir Charles Staveley commanding

  • Pioneer Force under Brig-Gen Sir John Field, 10th Bombay NI
  • 1st Brigade under Brig-Gen John Schneider



Campaign Actions

Battle of Arroghee 10 April
Battle of Magdala 15 April

External Links

Abyssinian Campaign The British Empire
Abyssinian Campaign Wikipedia
The hostages The British Empire
British Military Personnel Wikipedia

Historical Books on-line

The British Expedition to Abyssinia by Capt Henry Montague Hozier 1869 (Google Books)
Frontier and Overseas Expeditions from India Vol VI - Abyssinian Campaign 1868 archive.org
Forty-one Years in India from Subaltern to Commander-in-Chief by Field Marshal Lord Roberts of Kandahar 1900 Abyssinian Campaign archive.org
Minutes of proceedings of the Royal Artillery Institution, Volume 6 1870, pages 167-202 by Lieutenant E F Chapman (Google Books)

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