248 Mahdi, A.D. 18841885.

Fall of Berber, 20th May, 1884.

Aotiou at Debba.

Battle at Korti, 1 Ith September, 1884.

fJordon rrlief expedition.

Fighting rouml Kliartoiini.

Munler of Colonel Stewart, &c.

River column.

IJesert column.

1885.

Battle of Abu Klea, 17tli .laiiuaiy, 18ai.

Fall of Khartoum, and death of (Jordon.

Pasha Khalifa, Governor of Berber, this town was attacked, and, after a certain amount of resistance, taken by the enemy on the 20th May. Captain Kitchener's efEorts, however, in negotiating with the Bisharin and Ababda in the Korosko-Abu Hamed desert with a view to stopping an advance through this desert were successful, and a reconnaissance on the left bank of the Nile along the Arbain route from Assiut to Sagiyet el Abd by Lieut. -Colonel Colvile and Lieut. Stuart- Wortley proved that the water supply along that route was absolutely insufficient for the advance of an enemy in this direction. It was therefore certain that if an advance northwards took place, it could only come by the Nile, and subsequent events have proved the correctness of this supposition.

Haifa and Korosko were fortified about this time, and English troops sent up to Aswan.

In June Heddai, victor of Berber, advanced down-stream in the direction of the Dongola province, but was beaten at Debba (5th July, 1884) by a force of Bashi Bazuks, and again at Tani. Mustafa Pasha Yawer, Mudir of Dongola, gave rise to some anxiety by his doubtful and temporising action with regard to the enemy, but these s accesses appear to have decided his line of action.

On 1st September he advanced with 400 men against Heddai, who had been reinforced by Mohammed Mahmud to the total number of 3,000, and in a smart action close to Korti totally defeated the Emirs, killing them both. Captain Kitchener, who had been sent to report on the Mudir, now pushed on, and entered into negotiations with the great Kababish tribe and their Sheikh Saleh for assistance in the forthcoming Nile expedition, which had just been decided on for theTelief of Gordon.

This expedition was put in hand in the beginning of August, and the command of it given to Lord Wolseley. It was composed of nine battalions,* a camel corps of four " regiments," ")• and the 19th Hussars, besides light Artillery and other details. The major portion was despatched up the Nile in whaleboats, and it concentrated eventually in December at Korti.

During the advance of the expedition, Gordon employed every means to keep the enemy at a distance. On the 29th and 31st August his " fighting Pasha," Mohammed Ali Pasha, defeated Em'r Abd el Gader at Gereif and Sheikh el Obeid at Halfaya respectively, but five days afterwards was heavily defeated and killed by the latter at Um Dibban, whither he had followed him after a third victory at El Eilafun.

This defeat was a heavy blow to Khartoum, and on the 10th September Gordon sent Stewart, Power, Herbin, and some Greeks downstream on the " Abbas " steamer to give an account of the state of affairs to the authorities. These officers were decoyed ashore and murdered on the 18th near Hebba, at the head of the 4th Cataract.

On the 29th September Gordon sent three steamers down to Shendi to meet the British expedition, and these J remained on the river under the command of Nushi Pasha, fighting and reconnoitring, until the 21st January, when the British desert column met them near Metemma.

After the defeat near El Eilafun, the Mahdi summoned all the tribes to the attack of Khartoum, and this city was closely invested. Omdurman, held by Faragalla Pasha, was repeatedly attacked, and was obliged by famine, on the fifth day of the new year, to surrender.

The garrison of Khartoum was now getting weaker and weaker through famine, and though Gordon despatched cheery messages to say he " could hold out for years," he knew it would be all over with Khartoum if the expedition did not arrive in time.

On the 28th December a river column of four battalions,§ one squadron, and details was sent upstream from Korti, under Major-General Earle, with the object of reaching Abu Hamed, communicating thence (for supplies) with Korosko (Major Rundle), and pushing on to seize Berber.

On the 30th December a desert column, chiefly composed of Camel Corps, total about 1,100 fighting men, left Korti to occupy Jakdul Wells, over halfway to Metemma. This done. Sir Herbert Stewart (in command) sent back for more troops and supplies, and the column, increased to about 1,800 fighting men, left Jakdul on the 14th January, 188.5. On the 17th a force of about 11,0(KJ of the enemy, under Abu Safia (or Abd el Mejid ?) was encountered and heavily defeated near Abu Klea (Tleh) Wells, and the column pushed on to the Nile, which it reached, after another stiff fight near Abu Kru (Khrug), on the evening of the 19th. On this day Sir H. Stewart was mortally wounded.

On the 21st a reconnaissance in force of Metemma was carried out. Gordon's four steamers arrived during the action, and Colonel Sir C. Wilson being now in command, after proceeding next day on a reconnaissance towards Shendi, left Gubat on the morning of the 24th with two steamers for Khartoum.

On arriving there at noon on the 28th, Khartoum was found to have fallen two and a quarter days previously, the town having been taken by assault, ad Gordon having been killed, just before dawn on the 26th. The two * 1st battaliouH R.I., Sussex, S. Stafford, Black Watch, West Kent, Gordon Highlanders, Cameron Highlanders ; 2nd battalions D.C.L.I. and Essex, t Dr-awn from Heavy Cavalry, Light Cavalry, Brigade of Guards, and Mounted infantry, X Tlie "Tel Howeiya,'' " Kordein," " Mansura,'' and, subsequently, the "Safieh," , S. Stafford, Black Watch, D.V.L.l. Gordons,