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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
In the new and revised Edition of " The Egyptian Campaigns ," the history of the military operations in Egypt has been brought down to the present time, so as to include all the recent fighting in the Soudan. This has been accompanied by a slight alteration in the title of the Book, as well as by the elimination of such details contained in the original work as are no longer of general interest. The space thus gained has been utilized for the purpose of bringing before the reader the chief event
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CHAPTER I. EGYPTIAN FINANCE.
CHAPTER I. EGYPTIAN FINANCE.
Towards the close of the year 1875, Ismail Pasha, then Khedive of Egypt, had about got to the end of his resources. His liabilities on loans, contracted either in his own name or in that of his Government, amounted to £55,332,609; in addition to this there was a "Floating Debt" of £21,334,960—and £1,000,000—due for the expenses of the war with Abyssinia. The Treasury Bills were being daily protested, the salaries of the Government officials were in arrear, and everything pointed to impending ban
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CHAPTER II. ISMAIL PASHA.
CHAPTER II. ISMAIL PASHA.
Any history of Egyptian affairs at the time of the events referred to in the present chapter would be incomplete without a sketch of Ismail Pasha himself. He was then forty-six years of age, short in stature, and heavily and squarely built. He was corpulent in figure, of dark complexion, and wore a reddish brown beard closely clipped. With one eye startlingly bright and the other habitually almost closed, he gave one the idea of a man of more than ordinary intelligence. Speaking French fluently,
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CHAPTER III. THE MILITARY MOVEMENT.
CHAPTER III. THE MILITARY MOVEMENT.
No sooner was Egypt rid of Ismail Pasha, than the Firman of investiture of Tewfik was solemnly read at the Citadel in Cairo with great state and ceremony. The Powers having insisted on the restoration of the Control, Major Baring (afterwards Lord Cromer) and M. de Blignières were appointed Controllers-General by the English and French Governments respectively, on the 4th September. Riaz Pasha, on the 23rd, became Prime Minister. Riaz is a statesman who has played an important part in Egypt for m
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CHAPTER IV. TRIUMPH OF THE ARMY.
CHAPTER IV. TRIUMPH OF THE ARMY.
Matters progressed for some time pretty quietly after the events referred to in the previous chapter, but in July, 1881, two incidents occurred which were followed by important results. A native artilleryman was run over and killed in the streets of Alexandria. His comrades bore the dead body to the Palace and forced an entrance in defiance of the orders of their officers. They were tried, and the ringleaders were condemned to severe sentences. Next, nineteen Circassian officers brought charges
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CHAPTER V. FOREIGN INTERVENTION.
CHAPTER V. FOREIGN INTERVENTION.
Difficulty was at first experienced in getting Cherif Pasha to undertake the formation of a Ministry. His idea was that it was inconsistent with a due regard for his own reputation for him to pose before the world as the accomplice of the mutinous soldiery, and at one time, after an interview with Arabi, Cherif positively declined. Meanwhile, meetings of the officers were held in which the most violent appeared to have the upper hand, and the belief that they had nothing to fear from Turkish int
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CHAPTER VI. CRITICAL POSITION.
CHAPTER VI. CRITICAL POSITION.
Although the Ministry of Mahmoud Sami was forced upon the Khedive, the position of the latter was at the time so hopeless that one must not be surprised at his endeavouring to make the best of it and put a good face upon the matter. Accordingly, on the 4th of February, 1882, Tewfik, in true Oriental style, wrote to his new Premier that, in accepting the task of forming a Cabinet, he had given a fresh proof of his devotion and patriotism, and the letter ended by approving of the programme which t
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CHAPTER VII. THE RIOTS AT ALEXANDRIA.
CHAPTER VII. THE RIOTS AT ALEXANDRIA.
For some days previous to Sunday, the 11th June, 1882, the demeanour of the natives towards the European population of Alexandria had been growing more and more unfriendly; and there were many indications that some disturbance, the precise nature of which no one was able to discover, was impending. The forenoon of the 11th passed off quietly enough and without any unaccustomed incident, and the European population attended the churches and places of worship as usual. Between two and three in the
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CHAPTER VIII. THE ALEXANDRIA BOMBARDMENT.
CHAPTER VIII. THE ALEXANDRIA BOMBARDMENT.
On the 1st of July, 1882, matters had become so threatening that the Consular archives and such of the staff as remained were removed on board a Peninsular and Oriental steamer, chartered as a place of refuge for the British subjects whose duties compelled them to remain in Egypt. The same day Admiral Seymour telegraphed that there were upwards of 10,000 men in the forts and barracks of Alexandria, and that Arabi hoped to get the allied fleets into a trap by sinking stone barges at the harbour m
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CHAPTER IX. OBSERVATIONS ON THE BOMBARDMENT.
CHAPTER IX. OBSERVATIONS ON THE BOMBARDMENT.
The bombardment of the forts of Alexandria was an occurrence of such importance, and so rare are bombardments in recent naval annals, that a few general observations will probably not be without interest. The most obvious mode of attack on fortifications would be for the ships to form in line ahead and steam past the batteries, each ship delivering her fire in succession as her guns would bear. Having thus passed the line of defence, the ships would turn and repeat the process with the other bro
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CHAPTER X. THE DAY AFTER THE BOMBARDMENT.
CHAPTER X. THE DAY AFTER THE BOMBARDMENT.
The following day, the 12th July, when it was proposed to renew the bombardment, there was dull gloomy weather off Alexandria, with a haze hanging over the city. There had been a strong breeze from the sea during the previous night, and it was still blowing fresh from the N.N.W., causing the ironclads forming the outside squadron to roll somewhat. The gunboat Beacon at daylight collected the bodies of the men belonging to the fleet, killed the previous day, and buried them at sea. The Humber sto
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CHAPTER XI. ALEXANDRIA DURING THE BOMBARDMENT.
CHAPTER XI. ALEXANDRIA DURING THE BOMBARDMENT.
After the preceding narrative of events from a naval point of view, it may be convenient to relate what was taking place at the time in Alexandria itself. During the whole of the night preceding the 11th July, the native population had been leaving the town in crowds, some in carts and others on foot, the women crying and uttering loud lamentations. Towards daylight the movement slackened. From three a.m. troops were marching through on their way to Ras-el-Tin; at five the last detachment passed
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CHAPTER XII. EVENTS ON SHORE.
CHAPTER XII. EVENTS ON SHORE.
On the day of the bombardment the Khedive was at his Palace at Ramleh, abandoned by all but a few faithful followers. His Highness was kept badly posted up as to the progress of the bombardment, and amongst those who came and went with despatches were a number of spies, who, from time to time, went off to Arabi to inform him of what was passing at the Palace. At 8.30 a.m. an aide-de-camp arrived with the news that a considerable number of the Egyptian gunners were killed, and that several guns h
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CHAPTER XIII. THE SITUATION.
CHAPTER XIII. THE SITUATION.
On the 19th July, Dervish Pasha, the Sultan's Envoy, whose pacifying mission to Egypt had so signally failed, left Alexandria for Constantinople. On the 20th a proclamation was issued by Admiral Seymour, with the permission of the Khedive. It announced that "Orders had been given to officers commanding patrols to shoot any person taken in the act of incendiarism; that any person taken in the act of pillage would be sent to the Zaptieh to be tried and punished; that any person taken a second time
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CHAPTER XIV. MILITARY OPERATIONS.
CHAPTER XIV. MILITARY OPERATIONS.
On the 21st July Sir Archibald Alison moved two regiments of infantry and a squadron of mounted men out to Ramleh in the direction of Arabi's intrenchments. They went as far as Water-Works Hill, a commanding position from which a good view of the Egyptian lines at Kafr Dowar could be obtained. On the morning of the 22nd a force of 250 men of the Rifles was pushed forward beyond Millaha Junction, on the Cairo Railway, to blow up the line. They met Arabi's cavalry and exchanged shots with them. Th
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CHAPTER XV. THE CONFERENCE.
CHAPTER XV. THE CONFERENCE.
It is now necessary to go back a little, to consider the diplomatic steps taken by the Powers in view of the crisis in Egypt. On receiving the news of the bombardment, the Sublime Porte was so impressed with the gravity of the situation that a Council sat continuously for twenty-four hours at the Palace, and separated without arriving at any conclusion. On the 15th July, however, the Sultan's advisers had so far recovered themselves that the Turkish Ambassador was instructed to protest, and to d
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CHAPTER XVI. THE PORTE AND THE POWERS.
CHAPTER XVI. THE PORTE AND THE POWERS.
On the 26th July Said Pasha formally announced that the Sublime Porte, resolved to give effect to its incontestable Sovereign rights over Egypt, had decided to send immediately a sufficient number of troops. This was communicated to the Conference at its sitting the same day. Said Pasha admitted, on being pressed, that the despatch of the troops could only be the result of an understanding arrived at between the Powers. The British and French Ambassadors then made the following declaration:— "Fr
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CHAPTER XVII. WOLSELEY'S MOVE TO THE CANAL.
CHAPTER XVII. WOLSELEY'S MOVE TO THE CANAL.
On the 7th August the Khedive issued a Proclamation against Arabi and the rebels generally. The same day the Khedive addressed a letter to the President of the Council of Ministers, announcing his intention to indemnify the sufferers by the recent events. At this period the European population was flocking back to Alexandria in such numbers that Mr. Cartwright, the British Consul-General, deemed it necessary to make strong representations on the subject to the representatives in Egypt of the sev
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CHAPTER XVIII. DE LESSEPS AND THE CANAL.
CHAPTER XVIII. DE LESSEPS AND THE CANAL.
The history having now been brought to the period when the Suez Canal was occupied by the British forces, it may be interesting to refer to the attitude assumed by M. Ferdinand de Lesseps, the President of the Canal Company, and to show how his communications with the rebel leaders led the latter to postpone until too late the steps resolved on for the destruction of the Canal. De Lesseps from the first opposed any interference with the Canal by the British forces. The earliest indication of his
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CHAPTER XIX. SEIZURE OF THE SUEZ CANAL.
CHAPTER XIX. SEIZURE OF THE SUEZ CANAL.
The seizure and temporary occupation of the Suez Canal by the British forces became an absolute necessity from the moment that Sir Garnet Wolseley determined to make Ismailia the base of his operations. Once decided on, the evolution was performed on the night of the 19th-20th of August in a quiet, practical, and business-like manner, reflecting the highest credit on the British Navy. The work at Port Saïd was carried out by the Monarch and the Iris , the first-named vessel being so moored off t
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CHAPTER XX. TEL-EL-MAHUTA TO MAHSAMEH.
CHAPTER XX. TEL-EL-MAHUTA TO MAHSAMEH.
The country between Ismailia and the Delta is so monotonous that a few words only are necessary to give a notion of its character. It is a desert of sand, across which run the Fresh Water Canal and the railway side by side. To the northward of these the ground is, as a rule, somewhat higher, sloping in a southerly direction across the Canal. From these elevations occasional peeps can be obtained of the blue waters of Lake Timsah, and of the violet-tinted hills of Geb-el-Attakeh in the distance.
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CHAPTER XXI. KASSASSIN.
CHAPTER XXI. KASSASSIN.
The British force had now outrun its Commissariat, and for two days the men had lived from hand to mouth. To secure the water supply it had become necessary to push forward a force into the Desert nearly twenty miles from the base of operations at Ismailia. The question arose how the troops were to be supplied with food, and the want of a proper organization for the transport of provisions began to be severely felt. The men, weakened by prolonged exertion under a terrible sun, were forced to liv
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CHAPTER XXII. TEL-EL-KEBIR.
CHAPTER XXII. TEL-EL-KEBIR.
On the 9th September, Sir Garnet Wolseley, who had been to the front during the engagement of that day and had made a reconnaissance towards the enemy's lines at Tel-el-Kebir, established his head-quarters at Kassassin. The same day the Highland Brigade, under Sir Archibald Alison, commenced its march from Ismailia to the front. The Guards were also brought up. The 10th, 11th, and 12th were occupied in bringing forward troops and stores, and in making preparations for a general advance. At 2 p.m
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CHAPTER XXIII. CAPTURE OF CAIRO AND COLLAPSE OF THE REBELLION.
CHAPTER XXIII. CAPTURE OF CAIRO AND COLLAPSE OF THE REBELLION.
When the Egyptian regiments, mingled together in one wild and disorderly mass, once commenced their retreat, no chance of rallying was for a moment given them. The cannon in the redoubts were turned against their former occupants, and the guns of the Royal Horse Artillery rained shrapnel shell on the fugitives. The cavalry, sweeping round from the north and charging in amongst them, completed the rout. The Egyptians threw down their arms and scattered themselves across the country. Arabi himself
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CHAPTER XXIV. ENGLAND AND THE PORTE.
CHAPTER XXIV. ENGLAND AND THE PORTE.
As already stated, on the 18th August Sir Garnet Wolseley started from Alexandria with the British force, and two days later Port Saïd, Ismailia, and Kantara were occupied. Notwithstanding this, the negotiations with the Porte for the despatch of the Turkish troops were being, outwardly at least, pressed on by Lord Dufferin. The Turkish Ministers continued to make objections to the terms of the proposed Military Convention referred to in Chapter XV. Meanwhile the export of mules, purchased in As
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CHAPTER XXV. RESTORATION OF TEWFIK AND EXILE OF ARABI.
CHAPTER XXV. RESTORATION OF TEWFIK AND EXILE OF ARABI.
On the 25th September the Khedive was able to return to Cairo, where a great portion of Sir Garnet Wolseley's forces had assembled. He entered the Capital at 3.30 in the afternoon, and was received with great apparent enthusiasm. His Highness drove from the railway station in an open carriage with the Duke of Connaught, Sir Garnet Wolseley, and Sir Edward Malet. The streets through which he passed were lined the whole way by soldiers of the British army. Next followed a series of complimentary b
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CHAPTER XXVI. THE SOUDAN AND THE MAHDI.
CHAPTER XXVI. THE SOUDAN AND THE MAHDI.
Scarcely had the Arabi revolt been suppressed, than troubles which had arisen in another quarter called for attention. Towards the end of October, 1882, Abdel Kader Pasha, Governor-General of the Soudan, telegraphed from Khartoum that the troops which he had sent against the Mahdi had been cut off, and that a force of 10,000 men should be sent as a reinforcement, otherwise he would be unable to defend the town. He stated that, without a large force at his disposal, the insurrection would spread
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CHAPTER XXVII. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE.
CHAPTER XXVII. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE.
The attitude of the European Powers towards the English occupation of Egypt was, at the opening of the year 1883, one of acquiescence tempered by expediency. On the 3rd of January, 1883, Lord Granville issued a Circular Note to the Powers on the Egyptian question. In it he recalled the fact that events had compelled Her Majesty's Government to undertake the task of repressing the Egyptian rebellion, a task which England would have willingly shared with other Powers. His Lordship added that, alth
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CHAPTER XXVIII. OPERATIONS AGAINST THE MAHDI.
CHAPTER XXVIII. OPERATIONS AGAINST THE MAHDI.
The situation in the Soudan at the period referred to at the close of Chapter XXVI. was, it must be confessed, critical enough, and it is not surprising that, on the 7th November, 1882, Lord Granville caused the Khedive to be informed that the British Government were unwilling to take any responsibility in regard to it. Left to their own resources, the Egyptian Government had no alternative but to re-enlist about 10,000 of Arabi's old officers and men for service in the South. Early in November
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CHAPTER XXIX. THE DESTRUCTION OF HICKS' ARMY.
CHAPTER XXIX. THE DESTRUCTION OF HICKS' ARMY.
Then came a long period of silence, and great anxiety began to be felt. From its outset Hicks' army had been beset with spies, who informed the Mahdi of every movement. Hicks, on the other hand, had to trust to treacherous guides, and possibly false reports. It was, moreover, no secret that there was dissension in the Egyptian force, for Al-ed Din Pasha was jealous at not having been intrusted with the chief command, and some of the Egyptian officers were suspected of treachery. 90 Here, then, w
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CHAPTER XXX. ABANDONMENT OF THE SOUDAN—OSMAN DIGNA.
CHAPTER XXX. ABANDONMENT OF THE SOUDAN—OSMAN DIGNA.
On the 31st of October, 1883, at the suggestion of Cherif Pasha, it was resolved that the British Army of Occupation, which now numbered 6,700 men, should be reduced to a total force of 3,000 men and six guns, to be concentrated in Alexandria. Speaking of the change proposed, Ministers declared, at the Guildhall banquet on Lord Mayor's day, that by the 1st of January, 1884, the last British soldier would have left Cairo. How far this prediction was verified will be seen later on. On the arising
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CHAPTER XXXI. BAKER'S DEFEAT AT EL-TEB.
CHAPTER XXXI. BAKER'S DEFEAT AT EL-TEB.
The morning of the 4th February, 1884, was dull with heavy showers. The troops were paraded before daybreak. At 6.30 the force marched in the direction of Tokar. The formation was as follows:— Three infantry battalions in echelon, and marching in columns of companies; artillery and cavalry on the front and flanks, and cavalry vedettes extending all round at points a mile distant from the main body. The baggage, transported by 300 camels, was in the rear, guarded by 200 blacks. The country was op
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CHAPTER XXXII. GORDON'S MISSION.
CHAPTER XXXII. GORDON'S MISSION.
We now arrive at the period when the abandonment of the Soudan having been decided upon, the British Government confided to General Gordon the task of extricating the Egyptian garrisons scattered throughout the country. In dealing with this part of the subject the space available in the present work will not admit of more than a concise summary of events. The subject has, however, been so exhaustively dealt with by other writers, that the abbreviated account given in the following pages will pro
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CHAPTER XXXIII. SOUAKIM EXPEDITION, 1884.
CHAPTER XXXIII. SOUAKIM EXPEDITION, 1884.
The defeat of Baker's force, following, as it did, the annihilation of Hicks' army, created a most painful impression in England. The situation was this—two armies led by English commanders and officered in great measure by Englishmen had been successively destroyed. Of the garrisons of Sinkat and of Tokar, one was known to have been sacrificed, and the other might share its fate any day. Besides this, Souakim itself was seriously threatened. With regard both to Hicks' and Baker's expeditions th
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CHAPTER XXXIV. GRAHAM'S VICTORY AT EL-TEB.
CHAPTER XXXIV. GRAHAM'S VICTORY AT EL-TEB.
On the morning of the 28th February the bugles sounded the reveillé about five, and instantly all were on the alert. The camp fires were relighted, breakfast was got ready, and although the men had been drenched by the rain which fell during the night, every one was in excellent spirits. At 8 o'clock the order was given to advance, the men having fallen in some time previously. The force, though nominally in square, was formed in a long rectangle, having an interior space of about 500 yards by 1
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CHAPTER XXXV. GRAHAM'S VICTORY AT TAMAAI.
CHAPTER XXXV. GRAHAM'S VICTORY AT TAMAAI.
By the 9th of March the change of base from Trinkitat to Souakim had been completed. On the same day the Black Watch marched out and occupied a zeriba constructed by Baker some weeks before, and distant about eight miles on the road from Souakim to Sinkat. According to the account given by a correspondent, before they moved off the ground Graham addressed them on parade. To the amazement of every one who heard him, he said that, although he claimed to have the reputation of the Black Watch as mu
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CHAPTER XXXVI. THE GORDON RELIEF EXPEDITION.
CHAPTER XXXVI. THE GORDON RELIEF EXPEDITION.
Gordon's situation at Khartoum in the meantime may be learned from what follows. On the 27th February, 1884, he issued a Proclamation to the inhabitants of the Soudan, stating that he would be compelled to use severe measures against those who did not desist from rebellion, and also that "British troops are now on their way, and in a few days will reach Khartoum." In a despatch, on the same day, to Sir E. Baring, Gordon said:— "You must remember that when evacuation is carried out the Mahdi will
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CHAPTER XXXVII. PROGRESS TO DONGOLA.
CHAPTER XXXVII. PROGRESS TO DONGOLA.
The Nile route having been decided on, preparations on a large scale were begun. The first thing was to obtain boats for the transport up the Nile; and for these, contracts were at once entered into with various firms in England. Eight hundred in all were ordered. From their shape they were called whalers, and they were to be each thirty feet in length, with six feet six inches beam, and a draught of two feet six inches. Each was to weigh nine hundredweight, and was to be fitted with twelve oars
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CHAPTER XXXVIII. ADVANCE TO KORTI.
CHAPTER XXXVIII. ADVANCE TO KORTI.
Meanwhile disquieting rumours with regard to Gordon had reached Cairo, and Sir Evelyn Baring telegraphed to Lord Wolseley on November 3rd, asking him whether he had any reason to believe that there was any foundation for the reports which had been current in Cairo for the last few days, that Khartoum had been taken, and that Gordon was a prisoner. Lord Wolseley telegraphed from Dongola the same day to the following effect:— "Major Kitchener telegraphs to Sir C. Wilson that he has seen a man name
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CHAPTER XXXIX. STEWART'S DESERT MARCH.
CHAPTER XXXIX. STEWART'S DESERT MARCH.
The march across the desert being determined upon, the first step was to seize and hold the wells of Gakdul, some ninety-five miles distant, and there establish a depôt for ammunition, provisions, and stores. This being accomplished, and a garrison being left to guard the post, the remainder of the force, with the baggage animals, were to return to Korti and make a fresh start with further supplies. This somewhat cumbrous arrangement was necessitated by the insufficient transport at the General'
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CHAPTER XL. THE BATTLE OF ABU KLEA.
CHAPTER XL. THE BATTLE OF ABU KLEA.
Upon the 17th inst. it was plain that the enemy were in force. During the night they had constructed works on the right flank of the column, from which a distant but well-aimed fire was maintained. Both on the right and in front the manœuvring of their troops in line, with drums beating and banners waving, was apparent, and everything pointed to the probability of an attack being made. Under these circumstances Sir Herbert Stewart was in no particular hurry to advance, in the hope that his appar
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CHAPTER XLI. THE ADVANCE ON METAMMEH.
CHAPTER XLI. THE ADVANCE ON METAMMEH.
Although active preparations were commenced at once for the march to Metammeh, the column was not ready to proceed till 3.30 p.m. on the 18th. The interval was occupied in loading up the camels, filling the water-bottles and constructing a fort to protect the wounded, who were to be left behind with a detachment of the Sussex Regiment. It had been hoped that the advance would be postponed until the following morning, in order that the men might have a rest, but General Stewart was resolved to pu
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CHAPTER XLII. GORDON'S JOURNALS.
CHAPTER XLII. GORDON'S JOURNALS.
Gordon's journals began on 10th September, 1884, and continued to 14th December, 1884. Want of space renders it necessary to give but a few extracts. Gordon seems to have felt the announcement that the object of Lord Wolseley's expedition was to relieve him not less acutely than the neglect with which he had been treated by the Government. More than once he recurs to the subject, and the receipt of some newspapers mentioning the departure of the Gordon Relief Expedition drew from him the followi
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CHAPTER XLIII. WILSON'S VOYAGE TO KHARTOUM.
CHAPTER XLIII. WILSON'S VOYAGE TO KHARTOUM.
"Khartoum all right, can hold on for years.—C. G. Gordon, 29: 12: '84," was the cheering message, written on a tiny slip of paper, which reached Sir Charles Wilson by Gordon's steamers. With this writing came Gordon's journals, containing a narrative of events from the 10th September to the 14th December, some private letters and also some despatches addressed by him to "the Officer Commanding H.M.'s troops," to Sir Evelyn Baring, and others. In one of the despatches, dated 20th October, 1884, G
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CHAPTER XLIV. THE FALL OF KHARTOUM.
CHAPTER XLIV. THE FALL OF KHARTOUM.
Gordon's Diaries bring the history of the siege of Khartoum down to the 14th December, 1884. The relative positions of the besiegers and besieged at that date may be seen from the accompanying plan. It will be observed that Khartoum was protected on the north and west sides by the Blue and White Niles respectively, and on the south and east by a line of intrenched fortifications, with intervening redoubts, running from Fort Buri, on the Blue Nile, almost to the White Nile. Unfortunately, at this
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CHAPTER XLV. THE RETREAT FROM GUBAT.
CHAPTER XLV. THE RETREAT FROM GUBAT.
The result of the taking of Khartoum was naturally to increase the renown of the Mahdi to a greater extent than ever in the Moslem world. His fame as a conqueror spread not only throughout the Soudan, but also in the towns and villages of Upper and Lower Egypt. Many of those who before had disbelieved in him, now became fully assured of his holy mission. Had he at once followed up his success by an advance down the Nile, the consequences to the British forces at Gubat and elsewhere might have be
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CHAPTER XLVI. THE NILE COLUMN.
CHAPTER XLVI. THE NILE COLUMN.
The advance guard of the Nile column, consisting of 545 of the 38th South Staffordshire Regiment, left Korti for Abu Hamid in the whalers on the 28th December, 1884. Brigadier-General Brackenbury, second in command, with a troop of the 19th Hussars, followed the next day. On the 3rd January, 1885, the force encamped at Hamdab, where General Earle and his staff arrived on the 4th. The remainder of the column was sent forward from time to time, as the regiments reached Korti. On the 24th the force
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CHAPTER XLVII. WOLSELEY AND THE PROSECUTION OF THE CAMPAIGN.
CHAPTER XLVII. WOLSELEY AND THE PROSECUTION OF THE CAMPAIGN.
To return to Lord Wolseley's head-quarters at Korti. There is no doubt that the news of the fall of Khartoum was a severe blow to Wolseley. It seemed as if, for once, his star had deserted him. All hope of adding the rescue of Gordon and the relief of Khartoum to his list of triumphs, was gone from the General who had so often been described as "the luckiest man in the British army." On the 4th February Wolseley had telegraphed the disaster to the War Office. On the 5th he sent another message,
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CHAPTER XLVIII. THE SOUAKIM EXPEDITION OF 1885.
CHAPTER XLVIII. THE SOUAKIM EXPEDITION OF 1885.
The real object and intention of the Gladstone Administration in directing the despatch of the Souakim expedition of 1885 will probably remain for ever a mystery. Wolseley had, it is true, pointed out the necessity of losing no time in dealing a crushing blow to Osman Digna, and had suggested the sending of a brigade of Indian Infantry and a regiment of Punjaub Cavalry to Souakim to hold that place during the summer and to co-operate with him in keeping open the road to Souakim. He also approved
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CHAPTER XLIX. THE ATTACK ON McNEILL'S ZERIBA.
CHAPTER XLIX. THE ATTACK ON McNEILL'S ZERIBA.
After the operations on the 19th and 20th March, 1885, preparations were made for the advance on Tamaai, Osman Digna's reputed head-quarters and stronghold. Situated, as it was, some fourteen miles to the south-west of Souakim, the distance was deemed too great to be traversed in a single day's march. It became necessary then, as on previous occasions, to establish an intermediate position in which, as an advanced camp, the usual stores of water, provisions, and ammunition might be accumulated.
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CHAPTER L. GRAHAM'S ADVANCE AND WITHDRAWAL FROM THE EASTERN SOUDAN.
CHAPTER L. GRAHAM'S ADVANCE AND WITHDRAWAL FROM THE EASTERN SOUDAN.
On the 26th March, another convoy was attacked, this time about two miles only from Souakim. The enemy on this occasion charged the head of the square, and were repulsed with considerable loss, none of them getting within five yards of the square. The British casualties were three wounded. It was said that 100 of the enemy were killed in this affair. The heat of the weather was now beginning to make itself felt, and several cases of sunstroke occurred amongst the troops engaged. The first part o
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CHAPTER LI. EVACUATION.
CHAPTER LI. EVACUATION.
Towards the end of March, 1885, the force at Korti was gradually withdrawn to the town of Dongola, where Wolseley again fixed his head-quarters. A small garrison of black troops only was left at Korti. The detachment at Merawi, under Colonel Butler, still remained there as a rear guard. Although it had been decided to postpone further operations until the autumn, there is no reason to suppose that Wolseley entertained any idea that the enterprise against Berber and Khartoum was ever going to be
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CHAPTER LII. CONTINUATION.
CHAPTER LII. CONTINUATION.
The preceding chapter brings the narrative down to the summer of 1885, at which period the First Edition of the present work was brought to a close. In the final chapter the errors of British policy in Egypt were dealt with. It was pointed out how the dilatory fashion in which England intervened to suppress the Arabi revolt led to its indefinite prolongation; how when Alexandria had been destroyed, and massacres had taken place all over the country, a British army was sent too late to avert thes
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CHAPTER LIII. THE MAHDIST INVASION.
CHAPTER LIII. THE MAHDIST INVASION.
It was not unnatural that the retirement of the Gordon Relief Expedition, in 1885, should have inspired the Mahdi with the idea that the moment had now arrived for the fulfilment of what he regarded as part of his Divine mission, viz., the invasion of Egypt. Two British armies had been sent, in two successive years, to the Eastern Soudan, and both, after a certain amount of fighting, had been withdrawn, whilst a third, despatched for the relief of Khartoum, had, when almost at the gates of Khart
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CHAPTER LIV. FINANCE, THE SUEZ CANAL, AND THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION.
CHAPTER LIV. FINANCE, THE SUEZ CANAL, AND THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION.
In the year 1885, each of the subjects mentioned in the heading of the present chapter came prominently to the front. In the following pages it is proposed to deal with the different matters in succession. Finance. In July, 1885, Egypt, thanks to the good offices of Great Britain, was enabled to arrange a very thorny question which had arisen with regard to her finance. To explain what occurred, it is necessary to refer to the events which had previously taken place. Under the financial decrees
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CHAPTER LV. THE EASTERN SOUDAN.
CHAPTER LV. THE EASTERN SOUDAN.
Any history of the military operations in Egypt, during the period comprised in the accompanying chapters, would be incomplete without a notice of the events which were in the meantime taking place in the Eastern Soudan. In May, 1885, when Graham's force withdrew from Souakim, General Hudson took over the command. The troops left to protect the town consisted of 930 Europeans, 2,405 Indians, and the Egyptians forming the regular garrison. Osman Digna, with the greater part of his followers, was
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CHAPTER LVI. THE NILE FRONTIER.
CHAPTER LVI. THE NILE FRONTIER.
At the end of March, 1886, Mohammed-el-Kheir was still at Kermeh, with a considerable force distributed between that place and Dongola. Although there was nothing to show that the contemplated invasion of Egypt had been abandoned, there is reason to believe that the Khalifa's attention was at this time diverted by events which occurred in Kordofan, where many of the tribes broke out into open revolt against his authority. Probably from this cause, and from troubles which arose on the Abyssinian
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CHAPTER LVII. WAD-EN-NEJUMI AND COLLAPSE OF THE INVASION.
CHAPTER LVII. WAD-EN-NEJUMI AND COLLAPSE OF THE INVASION.
After the repulse of the Dervish attack on Khor Mussa (in August, 1888), the southern frontier of Egypt was left for some time comparatively undisturbed, but, early in 1889, persistent rumours reached Cairo that the long-threatened invasion was at last to come off. This time it was to take place down the left bank of the river, the idea being to avoid Wady Halfa and the other fortified posts, and, by starting from a post opposite Sarras, to strike across the desert to Bimban, a place on the Nile
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CHAPTER LVIII. THE EASTERN SOUDAN AGAIN.
CHAPTER LVIII. THE EASTERN SOUDAN AGAIN.
In January, 1889, things at Souakim had drifted back pretty much into the same old groove, and the petty attacks of Osman Digna's followers were constantly renewed. The enemy's mounted men used, time after time, to approach the outlying forts, fire a few shots, and then retire. The military authorities, not feeling themselves equal to the task of clearing the neighbourhood of the hostile Arabs, hit upon the expedient of inviting the tribes suspected of being unfriendly to the Mahdist cause to do
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CHAPTER LIX. IN LOWER EGYPT.
CHAPTER LIX. IN LOWER EGYPT.
Whilst wars and rumours of wars prevailed on her frontiers, Egypt, internally, was enjoying peace and prosperity. So completely tranquil was the condition of the country in January, 1887, that a considerable reduction in the strength of the Army of Occupation was decided on. This was effected gradually until the whole force numbered only 3,500 men. This had a double advantage. It not only set free the troops for service elsewhere, but it relieved Egypt from the burden of contributing to their su
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CHAPTER LX. THE DONGOLA EXPEDITION.
CHAPTER LX. THE DONGOLA EXPEDITION.
In a previous chapter, the history of events on the Nile frontier was brought down to the month of August, 1889, when Wad-en-Nejumi's forces, after the crushing defeat they encountered in the engagement at Toski, were retreating southwards, and the projected invasion of Egypt was suspended. The incidents which marked the next few years may be related in a few words. The years 1890 and 1891 passed almost undisturbed on the frontier. The chief military command in the province of Dongola was vested
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CHAPTER LXI. THE RECONQUEST OF DONGOLA.
CHAPTER LXI. THE RECONQUEST OF DONGOLA.
After the destruction of the Dervish force at Ferket and the occupation of Suarda, no further advance was undertaken for a period of three months. There was, however, plenty of hard work to do, and rarely has an army toiled through a long, hot summer in the way that the Sirdar's troops worked in those trying months of June, July, and August. In the year 1896, the railway had to be pushed on, stores had to be concentrated at the front, and steamers to be dragged up the cataracts. In addition to t
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CHAPTER LXII. THE ADVANCE TO BERBER.
CHAPTER LXII. THE ADVANCE TO BERBER.
Preceded by the gunboats, the main body of the expedition after the capture of Dongola proceeded southwards, leaving detachments behind to guard the line of communication. Debbeh, Korti, and Merawi were successively seized and occupied. The Sirdar also went south to inspect the different positions and receive the submissions of the most important sheikhs, after which he returned to Cairo, leaving his forces stationed at the three strategic posts above mentioned. On Kitchener's departure the prov
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CHAPTER LXIII. ON THE RIVER—KASSALA.
CHAPTER LXIII. ON THE RIVER—KASSALA.
Whilst Hunter was making his advance upon Abu Hamid and Berber, the irrepressible Osman Digna, of Souakim notoriety, had collected a force of 5,000 men, besides a large following of women and children, at a spot called Adarama, on the bank of the Atbara river, about ninety miles above Ed Damer. Here Hunter proposed to attack him, but, owing to delays in bringing forward transport and supplies from Abu Hamid, he was not ready to advance till the 23rd of October. On this date, taking with him 400
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CHAPTER LXIV. FROM THE NILE TO THE ATBARA.
CHAPTER LXIV. FROM THE NILE TO THE ATBARA.
At the beginning of the year 1898, the position of the opposing forces was somewhat as follows:— The Khalifa's principal army, numbering upwards of 40,000 men, remained concentrated at Omdurman. Mahmoud, who had by this time been joined by Osman Digna, was still holding Metammeh with a force which had been increased to 20,000 men. The Egyptian army was occupying Berber, with its most advanced post at Ed Damer. Abu Hamid, Merawi, Dongola, and all the other various positions along the line of comm
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CHAPTER LXV. THE BATTLE OF THE ATBARA.
CHAPTER LXV. THE BATTLE OF THE ATBARA.
The Sirdar's troops were left unmolested during the short rest which they took at Mutrus. At 1 a.m. on the 8th April, the order was quietly given to fall in, and the men promptly obeyed without noise or bustle. Half an hour later the final march began, and the full moon being now well overhead, it was possible to see a considerable distance. There was no smoking or talking in the ranks, and the orders were given in a low voice or by a wave of the hand. The rumble of the gun-carriages and the dul
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CHAPTER LXVI. THE ADVANCE ON OMDURMAN.
CHAPTER LXVI. THE ADVANCE ON OMDURMAN.
In May, 1898, preparations began for the advance on Omdurman. The Egyptian head-quarters were moved forward to Fort Atbara, where three months' provisions for 25,000 men were directed to be accumulated. Though every article had to be sent up from Lower Egypt, this was rendered less difficult by the recent completion of the railway (hitherto carried as far only as Luxor) connecting Cairo with Shellal, as well as by the prolongation of the military line to Abadieh, twelve miles north of Berber. At
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CHAPTER LXVII. THE BATTLE OF OMDURMAN.
CHAPTER LXVII. THE BATTLE OF OMDURMAN.
The force under the Sirdar's command on the 2nd September, was thus composed:— British Troops : 21st Lancers; 32nd Field Battery Royal Artillery; 37th Howitzer Battery Royal Artillery; two forty-pounders Royal Artillery. Infantry Division, 1st Brigade ( Wauchope's ): 1st Battalion Warwickshire Regiment; 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment; 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders; 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders; six Maxims; detachment Royal Engineers. 2nd Brigade ( Lyttelton's ): 1st Battalion Gren
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CHAPTER LXVIII. THE CAPTURE OF OMDURMAN.
CHAPTER LXVIII. THE CAPTURE OF OMDURMAN.
At 2 p.m. on the day of the fight, the Sirdar, having ascertained that little or no resistance was to be expected in the town, advanced, with Maxwell's brigade and the 32nd Field Battery of Royal Artillery, through the suburbs of Omdurman to the great wall forming the Khalifa's inclosure. On their way the force was met by a number of sheikhs, bearing a flag of truce, who informed the Sirdar that the inhabitants desired to surrender. This was accepted on condition that all the fighting men at onc
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CHAPTER LXIX. FASHODA.
CHAPTER LXIX. FASHODA.
On the 7th September a surprising and unlooked-for incident occurred. One of Gordon's old steamers, the Tewfikeyeh , which had been sent by the Khalifa up the White Nile, unexpectedly returned to Omdurman, only to find that the place had changed hands. On being boarded she at once surrendered to the Sirdar. Her captain reported that on reaching Fashoda he had been fired on by a party of white men, and in support of his statement produced some nickel-plated bullets, of small calibre, and evidentl
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CHAPTER LXX. DESTRUCTION OF THE KHALIFA.
CHAPTER LXX. DESTRUCTION OF THE KHALIFA.
With regard to the further movements of the Khalifa. As already stated, after leaving Omdurman Abdullah fled in the direction of Kordofan. Following the course of the White Nile, he proceeded, with only a few followers, to Duem, whence, quitting the river, he struck off in a south-westerly direction to Lake Sherkeleh, about 120 miles further. There he was joined by some of his shattered forces. Subsequently an Egyptian fort was established at Duem and occupied by the 2nd Egyptian Battalion. Towa
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CONCLUSION.
CONCLUSION.
It may reasonably be expected that the present work, a considerable portion of which is devoted to the intervention of England in Egypt, should not be brought to a close without some reference to the results attending it. The military incidents, including the suppression of two formidable rebellions, the abandonment and reconquest of extensive territories, and the creation of a new national army, have already been mentioned. Such of the political occurrences as were of sufficient general interes
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