“I lay awake for a long time last night thinking over the situation, and how Gordon will receive the news, and what effect it will have on affairs at Khartoum. Buller’s calculation was that Earle would be at Shendy on 5th March, and Lord Wolseley at Matammah on the 2nd March: more than a month to wait, and Gordon had given up hope in December. .The outlook is not bright: my only hope was that, with the steamers and the few Englishmen, we might make a sortie before I left which would shake the enemy and bring in provisions.”

--Wilson

In the morning there was another stop for wood and more enforced discipline with the kurbash. Fueling was difficult and time consuming. Houses had to be pulled down, and the tools for cutting up logs were poor.

Another strong, and fortunately deserted, position was passed at Jebel Tanjur. About 5 miles further along, another strong position at Wad Habashi was also abandoned. “The enemy had made a small work in the sand with three embrasures, and a long rifle-trench on each side: a nasty-looking place, which we were glad to find unoccupied.” Rocks on the river and a narrow channel would have made an opposed passage very difficult.

Next was the Shabloka cataract, consisting of open stretches with dangerous rocks and rapids. Just before sunset the “Bordein” struck a rock at the last rapid. Though the crews worked by moonlight they could not get her off. “Talawiyeh” got through safely and lay at an island for the night.

Throughout the day stray shots from the West showed the local tribes were hostile.

Stewart's Dash to Khartoum The Final Attempt to Relieve General Gordon

Introduction
January 24
January 25
January 26
January 27

Part II

Stewart's Dash to Khartoum The Final Attempt to Relieve General Gordon Part II

January 28
January 29
January 30-31
February 1-3
February 4 and Bibliography
Orders of Battle
Gaming the Action
Models, Terrain, and Tactics