Abyssinian Campaign
| Abyssinian Campaign | |
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| 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 | |
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See our interactive map of Abyssinian Campaign locations and routes on Google Maps | |
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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 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 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)]
Charles Goodfellow (1836-915)]
William Merewether (1825-1880)
Robert Napier (1810-1890)]
Robert Phayre (1820-1897)]
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 Surg 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
Campaign Forces
British Army
- 3rd (Prince of Wales') Dragoon Guards
- 4th (The King's Own Royal) Regiment of Foot
- 26th (The Cameronian) Regiment of Foot
- 33rd (Duke of Wellington's) Regiment of Foot
- 45th (Sherwood Foresters) Regt of Foot
Indian Army
- 10th Bengal Light Cavalry
- 12th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry
- 3rd Regt of Bombay Light Cavalry
- 21st Punjab Regt Bengal Native Infantry
- 23rd Punjab Regt Bengal Native Infantry (Pioneers)
- 2nd Bombay Native Infantry (Grenadier)
- 3rd Bombay Native Infantry
- 10th Bombay Native Infantry
- 21st Bombay Native Infantry (Marine)
- 25th Bombay Native Light Infantry
- 27th Bombay Native Infantry (1st Baluch)
- No 1 Company of Bombay Native Artillery
- Corps of Madras Sappers and Miners
- Corps of Bombay Sappers and Miners
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
Campaign Actions
Battle of Arroghee 10 April
Battle of Magdala 15 April
External Links
Abyssinian Campaign The British Empire
Abyssinian Campaign Wikipedia
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 "The Abyssinian Expedition" by Lieutenant E F Chapman (Google Books)