Meanwhile, a message arrived from Gordon to Al-Zubayr Pasha, appointing him our agent for the Sudan, and instructing him to inform him of his arrival in Berber. He was to send him two steamers in addition to the two he already had, and Al-Zubayr was to equip them with iron parapets for the observation of the soldiers on board. He was also to bring as many men as possible from the Ghallayin tribe and engage the enemy in numerous skirmishes without exposing himself to danger. However, Gordon's request was not accepted, either because Al-Zubayr himself refused it, or because he was not authorized to do so, as Sir Evelyn Baring opposed it. Gordon sent the message to Al-Zubayr Pasha and another to the Sirdar, Baker, dated April 8th, stating that he had enough provisions and ammunition for five months, and that the reinforcements from the Arabs numbered two thousand five hundred.

Gordon was then informed by Sir Evelyn Baring that the British government did not intend to send its troops to open the road to Berber, but was addressing the Arab tribes to inform them of its strength. Gordon realized that this endeavor would be fruitless, so he sent a message to the aforementioned Samuel Baker, saying: "If the wealthy English and Americans do not lend us two hundred thousand English pounds, we can hire two or three thousand soldiers from the Sublime Porte and send them to Berber." Eight days later, he sent a telegram to the Sirdar saying: "I have learned from you that your intention is not to send us reinforcements here or to Berber. Al-Zubayr has held back from me, so I find myself free to act as circumstances dictate. I will hold out here as long as possible, and I will take the revolt if I can, otherwise I will return to the Equator, and the shame will be upon those who abandoned the garrisons of Sennar, Kawa, Berber, and Dongola. I must inform you that you must..."