THE PLAN FOR RESCUING GORDON. 9

Guards' Camel Regiment was relieved by a strong detachment of

the Royal Sussex and went on with the column to Abu-Klea.

The entire force amounted to about 120 officers and 1900 men, and this, of course, included the provisions for transport, the movable field hospital, and the bearer company.

Sir Herbert Stewart's instructions were to proceed to Metam- meh after such rest at Gakdul as the animals would require. On

reaching Abu-Klea he was to establish a post there garrisoned by

50 to 100 of the Sussex men as might be required, and then to advance on Metammeh, which he was to attack and occupy, pro-

bably laagering his convoy at the wells of Shebacat. Leaving the

Guards' Camel Regiment, the detachment of the Sussex Regiment,

the naval brigade, the detachment of royal engineers, and three guns of the royal artillery at Metammeh, he was to return with the convoy to Gakdul, whence he was to continue to forward stores to Metammeh, when Colonel Sir Charles Wilson, who accompanied

the expedition, was to take the command. In fact. Sir Charles

Wilson was to continue the immediate operations for the rescue of

Gordon, and the instructions given to him by General Wolseley on

the 7th of January said:

" You will accompany the column under the command of

Brigadier-general Sir Herbert Stewart, K.C. B., which will leave

Korti to-morrow for Metammeh. Your intimate knowledge of Soudan affairs will enable you to be of great use to him during his

operations away from these headquarters. You will endeavour to

enter into friendly relations with the Hassaniyeh tribe, and to

induce them, if possible, to carry supplies for us across the desert,

and to sell us sheep, cattle, &c. As soon as Metammeh is in our

occupation Sir H. Stewart will despatch a messenger to Korti

with an account of his march, &c.; and you will be good enough

to send me by same opportunity all political information you may

have obtained, all news of General Gordon, the so-called Mahdi,

&c. I am sending Captain Lord Charles Beresford, R.N., with

a small party of seamen to accompany Sir H. Stewart to Metam-

meh, where, if there are any steamers, Lord Charles Beresford

will take possession of" one or two of them as he may think besL