265 CHAPTER VI.

FROM MAY, 1898, TO THE FINAL DESTRUCTION OF THE DERVISH POWER (END OF 1899).

After the battle of the Atbara (8th April, 1898), the Khalifa concentrated his forces at Omdurman, and began making every preparation for resistance. The chief outlying force of Dervishes was one of between 5,000 and 6,000 men at and round Gedaref, under Ahmed Fedil, and these, after moving towards Mahmud, had retmixed to Gredaref. In addition to these, there were small Dervish garrisons at places up the river ; at Bor (Upper White Nile, 1,200) ; and in Kordofan.

Meanwhile the Anglo-Egyptian preparations went on steadily, and by the 24th Augu&t the following troops were moving along the western bank of the 6th Cataract : — British Troops (under Major-General Gatacre) : — 21st Lancers. 32nd Field and 37th Howitzer Batteries, R.A.

1st Brigade (1st Warwicks, Lincolns, Camerons and Seaforths, with 6 Maxims, and a detachment R.E.)— Wauchope. 2nd Brigade (1st Grenadier Guards and Northumberland Fusihers, 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers and Rifle Brigade, with 4 Maxims, and a detachment R.E.) — Lyttelton.

Egyptian Troops (Major-General Hunter) :— 9 Squadrons Cavalry. 1 Horse and 4 Field Batteries.

8 Companies Camel Corps. 10 Maxims.

1st Brigade (2nd, IX, X and XI)— Macdonald. 2nd Brigade (8th, XII, XIII and XIV)— Maxwell. 3rd Brigade (3rd, 4th, 7th and 15th)— Lewis. 4th Brigade (1st, 5th, 17th, and 18th)— Colhnson, Besides Camel Transport, Medical Corps, O.S.C, &c.

Grand Total, about 23,000 men.

The river force consisted of a flotilla of 10 armoured gunboats, including two 40-pounder guns, besides other steamers, boats and barges.

No resistance was encountered up to Kereri. On the 2nd September the army, in zeriba at Egeiga, 8 miles from Omdurman, was attacked by the Khahfa in Battle of force, but repulsed him with heavy slaughter. The Anglo -Egyptian Army then proceeded towards Omdurman, Omdurman.

but was fiercely attacked again, twice on the right rear (Macdonald's brigade). By our troops wheeling to the right, this final attack was completely repulsed, chiefly through the steadiness of the 1st Egyptian Brigade, and the army continued its march, capturing Omdurman with little or no resistance. The Khalifa fled a few minutes before the Sirdar entered his house. The Anglo-Egyptian loss was as follows : — British Troops : — 3 ofiicers and 24 men killed.

8 „ „ 125 ,, wounded. Egyptian Troops : — 2 „ „ 27 „ killed.

15 „ „ 286 „ wounded. The dead bodies of 10,560 Dervishes were counted on the battlefield.

The result of the battle was the practical annihilation of the Khalifa's army — estimated at over 40,000 men— the consequent extinction of Mahdism in the Sudan, and the submission of neary the whole country formerly under Egyptian authority.