Khartoum Campaign, 1898; or the Re-Conquest of the Soudan

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KHARTOUM CAMPAIGN

1898

OR THE

RE-CONQUEST OF THE SOUDAN

BY

BENNET BURLEIGH.

AUTHOR OF "SIRDAR AND KHALIFA."


WITH MAPS, PLANS OF BATTLE, AND NUMEROUS
ILLUSTRATIONS


SECOND IMPRESSION.


LONDON: CHAPMAN & HALL, LIMITED
1899




PREFACE.


By the overthrow of Mahdism, the great region of Central Africa has
been opened to civilisation. From the date of the splendid victory of
Omdurman, 2nd September 1898, may be reckoned the creation of a vast
Soudan empire. At so early a stage, it is idle to speculate whether
the country will be held as a British possession, or as a province of
Egypt. "The land of the blacks," and their truculent Arab despoilers,
has the intrinsic qualities that secure distinction. Given peace, it
may be expected that the mixed negroid races of the Upper Nile will
prove themselves as orderly and industrious as they are conspicuously
brave. Whoever rules them wisely, will have the control of the best
native tribes of the Dark Continent, the raw material of a mighty
state. This, too, is foreshadowed; the dominant power in Central
Northern Africa, if no farther afield, will have its capital in
Khartoum, "Ethiopia will soon stretch out her hands unto God."

The recent events which have so altered the condition of affairs upon
the Upper Nile, deserve more than ephemeral record. A campaign so full
of inspiriting incident, a victory which has brought presage of a
great and prosperous Soudan, merits re-telling. Through half a score
of battles or more, from the beginning to the death of Mahdism, I have
followed British and Egyptian troops into action against the
dervishes. I knew General Hicks, and had the luck to miss accompanying
his ill-fated expedition. In the present volume, "Khartoum Campaign,"
the narrative of the reconquest is completed, the history being
carried to the occupation of Fashoda and Sobat, including the
withdrawal of Major Marchand's French mission. I have made use of my
telegrams and letters to the _Daily Telegraph_, London, and the full
notes I made from day to day during the campaign. Besides, I have
quoted in certain cases from official sources, and given extracts from
verbal and written communications made to me by distinguished officers
engaged in the operations.

For use of maps, sketches, and photographs, I am indebted to the
proprietors of the _Daily Telegraph_, to Mr Ross of _Black and White_,
Surgeon-General William Taylor, Colonel Frank Rhodes, Lieutenant E. D.
Loch, Grenadier Guards, Mr Francis Gregson, Mr Munro of Dingwall,
N.B., and others.

                                                      BENNET BURLEIGH.

LONDON, _December 1898_.




CONTENTS.


                                                                  PAGE

    CHAPTER I.

      INTRODUCTORY--REVIEW OF THE FIELD,                             1

    CHAPTER II.

      DAYS OF WAITING AND PREPARATION,                              14

    CHAPTER III.

      MUSTERING FOR THE OVERTHROW OF MAHDISM,                       35

    CHAPTER IV.

      BY THE WAY--FROM CAIRO TO DAKHALA,                            45

    CHAPTER V.

      DAKHALA CAMP: GOSSIP AND DUTY,                                63

    CHAPTER VI.

      MARCHING IN THE SOUDAN--FROM DAKHALA TO WAD HABESHI,          75

    CHAPTER VII.

      WITH THE ARMY IN THE FIELD--WAD HAMID TO EL HEJIR,            92

    CHAPTER VIII.

      EL HEJIR TO UM TERIF--INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS,               105

    CHAPTER IX.

      ADVANCE TO KERRERI--SKIRMISHING WITH THE ENEMY,              119

    CHAPTER X.

      THE BATTLE OF OMDURMAN--FIRST PHASE OF THE FIGHT,            135

    CHAPTER XI.

      BATTLE OF OMDURMAN--_continued._--THE CAVALRY
      FIGHTS--MACDONALD'S SAVING ACTION,                           167

    CHAPTER XII.

      STORIES OF THE BATTLE--OMDURMAN,                             199

    CHAPTER XIII.

      CLOSE OF CAMPAIGN--GORDON MEMORIAL SERVICE, KHARTOUM,        228

    CHAPTER XIV.

      KHARTOUM MEMORIAL COLLEGE--THE OFFICIAL DESPATCHES,          263

    CHAPTER XV.

      THE FASHODA AFFAIR--A RED BRITISH LINE THROUGH AFRICA,       295

    POSTSCRIPT,                                                    334




ILLUSTRATIONS.


                                                                  PAGE

    Brigadier-General H. A. Macdonald, C.B., D.S.O.,    _Frontispiece_

    Bennet Burleigh,                               _To face page_    1

    Headquarters, Wady Halfa,                                        9

    Darmali (British Brigade Summer Quarters),                      23

    Group of Staff Officers--Colonel Wingate in Centre,             34

    Street in Dakhala,                                              53

    T