3-021-706 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The War in Abyssinia: the 33rd Foot advancing upon Magdala, from below Islamgee, 1868. Engraving of a sketch by Major H. A. Leveson [of the British Army], '...of the flat-topped hill and fortress of Magdala, taken by himself from the bottom of the ascent to Islamgee. The distance, in a straight line through the air, from this point of view to the rocky summit upon which was the assemblage of huts, inclosed with a palisade, called by the name of Magdala, is about one mile; but the distance to be actually climbed is much greater, A column of the 33rd Foot is shown in the foreground, advancing to the assault on Easter Monday. The road, or path, turning to the left hand, goes steeply up to the plateau of Islamgee, where the huts which were occupied by Theodore's army...are quite visible...The guns..., near the bend of the road, half-way up the ascent to the left hand, are King Theodore's own guns, which he abandoned when he retired into Magdala. It was with these pieces of artillery that a few of the volunteers, special correspondents, and unattached officers, accompanying Sir Robert Napier's army, spontaneously opened fire against the fortress with very good effect, a little while before the troops came up to the assault.' From "Illustrated London News", 1868.