After that meeting, an "arrest-party" of 200 Egyptian soldiers (and one mountain-gun) were sent to Aba Island on the ship Isma'iliyya. It was unclear who was the head of the expedition, Abu Sa'ud or his senior military officer, 'Ali Effendi, and the two quarreled. The ship arrived at Aba on 12 August 1881 and moored about a quarter of a mile from the Mahdi's village. Once there, Abu Sa'ud and 'Ali Effendi found themselves in disagreement over when to attack. The former wanted to wait until the following day to attack, while the latter (who won the argument) wanted to move out right away.[2]
Using some merchants as guides, the Egyptian forces reached Muhammad Ahmad's hut and 'Ali Effendi burst into the shelter, shooting the man inside,[2] who turned out to be a guest of the Mahdi.[7] Muhammad Ahmad and his followers were waiting "in the dense bush outside the village."[3] The zealous Mahdists, "armed with sticks, stones, hoes, and palm-knives, and a very few with spears and swords" attacked the Egyptians and completely overwhelmed them.[3] The ground was muddy (it had rained during the Egyptians' march to the village[2]) and this favored the bare-foot Mahdist rebels over the boot-clad government soldiers. The routed Egyptians made a dash for the Isma'iliyya. The Egyptians had suffered 120 casualties with nine of them taken prisoner.[3] Of the Mahdi's forces, only twelve had been killed[3] and Muhammad Ahmad, himself, was wounded after being shot in the right shoulder.[4]
After learning of the disaster, Abu Sa'ud ordered the Isma'iliyya to shell the village. The Mahdists arrived on the banks of the river to taunt the Egyptians. The first shell missed the rebels by twenty yards, and, after that, the Mahdists walked out of range of the Isma'iliyya, ending the confrontation.[3]
The Mahdi compared his victory to the Battle of Badr, Mohammad's first victory in battle.[4]
Mahdist followers of Muhammad Ahmad (the Mahdi)
Egypt