Chapter One Hundred and Fifty Nine The Long Road Home
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty Nine
The Long Road Home
The Long Road Home
From “An Account of the Recent Campaign in Abyssinia” by Captain J.F. Goodfellow
Macmillan & Co 1870
"Chaos reigned in the Abyssinian camp when the full extent of the defeat became clear. No chief seemed left alive to take command. The body of the Emperor, broken by allied artillery, but identified by Mr Saalmuller, one of the European prisoners, was treated reverently by the American forces who first came upon it. The message from the advancing allies was clear – “His Majesty, Emperor Theodore has fought nobly and bravely fallen in his cause. It is my desire there be no more blood spilled. If therefore the people of this country bring all the Europeans [sic] now in their hands and deliver them safely this day to the British camp I guarantee honourable treatment to the Abyssinian people and most particularly to the Emperor’s family” (General Napier’s declaration).
British newspapers wrongly credited the discovery of Theodore's body to their own troops
Aside from the artisans liberated by the Americans from Theodore’s armed camp, where they had been forced to assist with his artillery, the remaining Europeans were delivered into the British camp alongside Theodore’s queen, Tirrowark and his son, Alumayou. The Queen and the Prince were taken into our care with the intention of travelling to England. No doubt the Queen feared for her young son’s life as her dead husband’s rivals would now vie for the throne…
The fortress of Magdala was in the territory of the Muslim Oromo tribes. Two rival Oromo queens, Mostiat and Werkiat, who had both allied themselves with the allies claimed dominion over the captured fortress as their reward. The strong opinion of the allies was that Magdala should be handed over the Christian Wagshum Gobazee. This would allow Gobazee to stem the Oromos’ advance and perhaps save some 30,000 refugees from Theodore’s camp. Gobazee, keen to seize Theodore’s cannons, responded positively and, having given undertakings for the safety of the refugees, took possession much to the anger of the Oromo queens…"
From “America in Abyssinia – a reassessment” by Dr. Luther K. Price
Buffalo 1991
"The column began to retrace its steps to the coast. While, to the eyes of the British and Americans themselves, the force was an imposing spectacle, with its flags and bands playing, the troops were soon to learn they had earned little gratitude in Abyssinia. They were simply seen as another warlike tribe on the march…
Indeed to many of the native Abyssinians it looked as if the Anglo-American troops were marching away as though defeated at Magdala. As such attacks on the column, though rare on the march inland, increased. This was exacerbated in the early stages of the march as the Oromo queens, in the full fury of their wroth, gave licence to their subjects to revenge themselves on their ungrateful former allies…"
From “An Account of the Recent Campaign in Abyssinia” by Captain J.F. Goodfellow
Macmillan & Co 1870
"At the time of the battle before Magdala every station along the supply route was being pressed by the natives. Frankly the whole border population, whether Mahommedan or Christian, could not resist the sight and temptation of property. Several bodies of armed men hung upon the line between Senafe and Adigerat, and more than one convoy was molested. The detachment at Goona-goona had to turn out to repel an attack by an armed party. The increase of such molestations was of increasing concern to the Commander in Chief…"
From "Son of the Morning Star" by George A. Custer
Harper and Bros. 1885
"The column was shielded by the combined cavalry brigade which performed this arduous and tiring duty gallantly. No straggler from the column was safe and occasionally larger parties would be the subject of determined attack...
On the first stage of the journey it was the savage Oromo serving their twin Witch-Queens; further on it was then the brutal Gallas once again. Although we had occasion to engage in larger actions, such as the repulse of an Oromo attack in force on the Water Party, where I had the privilege to lead troopers of the 1st and 13th in a mounted action which repelled the attack without significant loss, such actions were rare. We were instead often subject to harassing fire from musketoons, bows, spears and simple rocks hurled from concealed positions. Driving off such attacks proved a tiring and unsatisfying exercise for the troops…"
From “America in Abyssinia – a reassessment” by Dr. Luther K. Price
Buffalo 1991
"It is difficult to underestimate the strain placed on the officers and men of the cavalry of both nations and the success they achieved in protecting the main body of the column from harassment. The tragedy at Senafe can be put down to a failure of communication between the staff of both the British and American commands, as well as a break down in the cavalry’s chain of command…"
From "Son of the Morning Star" by George A. Custer
Harper and Bros. 1885
"Near Senafe, where both our nations had formed significant camps of supply, Major Merritt, commanding the troops protecting our own supplies, reported to me that a large body of armed Abyssinians was moving on the camp. I immediately gave orders that Colonel Towers and General Hancock be informed and further that my intention to form the cavalry under my command and move upon the tribesmen forthwith be communicated….
Major Merritt commanded two companies on my left and Captain Gambell two on my right. My force was entirely made up of American troops. The Abyssinians numbered perhaps 5,000 men while my own command on that morning mustered no more than 220 mounted troopers…
The vedettes firing over their heads did not dissuade the advancing horde and, in the absence of further orders, I resolved to protect our supplies by immediately charging the enemy force…"
From “America in Abyssinia – a reassessment” by Dr. Luther K. Price
Buffalo 1991
"Custer’s Charge or the Battle of Senafe created a legend that it has taken a century to unravel. The successful charge of white, black and red Americans against seemingly huge odds was celebrated in America as a pivotal unifying event. Though it took weeks for the news to reach American shores reports, overall wildly inaccurate, dominated the papers for weeks. As a solely American victory it seemed to dwarf the victory at Magdala in the American public’s imagination. Sword and revolver in the melee would be the staple of seven major theatrical film releases. It served Custer’s fame for a generation…
Napier had sought to reward Ras Kassai for his services with a formidable quantity of supplies, muskets, rifles, cannons and ammunition. These were exclusively British supplies and ordinance and so the Americans were not informed in any great detail about the transaction. Neither were the tribesmen sent by Kassai informed of the difference between British and American supplies. Was Custer then right to defend the US supply encampment? Hancock thought so, referring to the tribesmen as “an undisciplined horde bent on looting the property of the United States Government”. Privately he wrote “the British government may tolerate General Napier’s largesse. They can certainly afford it. Our government expects me to account for every biscuit and every horse blanket. I have no regrets about the chastisement those savages received at Custer’s hands”…
The British, keen to avoid their own embarrassment, were quick to blame Ras Kassai. “Having whetted their appetite with legitimately obtained goods, greed drove them to attempt to wholesale looting and thievery from the next camp which they came upon”…
The full background of the engagement at Senafe would remain largely hidden until the early 20th century…
Oblivious to the shambles behind the misunderstanding the press was universal in its praise. The Abyssinian campaign finally had an American hero: a golden-haired cavalier from Michigan. It helped that this hero was beloved by his commanding general, Phil Kearny, and already the implement of American vengeance: the slayer of John Wilkes Booth…
The smashing of his unprepared men and the resulting loss of prestige and support were the first nails in Ras Kassai’s coffin. Within two years he would be dead, and his troops scattered at the hands of Wagshum Gobazee – Emperor Giyorgis – George of Abyssinia…"
On the return to Zula the captives released from Theodore’s power, who belonged to other nationalities, were finally released over to the foreign officers who awaited them there. The plunder taken at Magdala was sold at auction, and the proceeds of sale distributed among the troops as prized money (an undertaking shared with the Americans much to the concern of some elements of Congress). Indeed General Hancock’s staff secured one of Theodore’s two crowns for presentation to the United States Government in some form of compensation for the expenses of the expedition. Though it was a highly ornate and, according to Hancock, “rather barbaric” headgear it was only silver-gilt with coloured glass decorations. The British had secured the primary golden Emperor’s crown…
From “An Account of the Recent Campaign in Abyssinia” by Captain J.F. Goodfellow
Macmillan & Co 1870
"Perhaps General Napier should have the last word:
“Soldiers and Sailors of the Army of Abyssinia! The Queen of England, the President of America and our two great peoples entrusted you a very arduous and difficult expedition – to release our countrymen from a long and painful captivity, and to vindicate the honour of our countries, which had been outraged by Theodore, Emperor of Abyssinia.
I congratulate you, with all my heart, on the noble way in which you have fulfilled the commands laid upon us…
Our complete and rapid success is due – firstly, to the mercy of God, whose Hand, I feel assured, has been over us in a just cause; secondly, to the high spirit with which you have been inspired!
Soldiers have forgotten the prejudices of race and creed to keep pace with one another in this endeavour…
Though the remembrance of your privations will pass away quickly; your gallant exploits will live in history on three continents. I shall remain to watch over your safety to the moment of your re-embarkation, and shall, to the end of my life, remember with pride that I have commanded you.” (Extract from General Sir Robert Napier's Final General Order of the Campaign).