Part I: Introduction

Part one last issue ended with Wilson’s boats turning back from their failed attempt to reach and resupply Gordon in Khartoum.

“… Wilson’s force was now deep in enemy territory, and a rapidly falling Nile studded with rocks and treacherous cataracts offered the only possible escape route.”

Wilson tuned back with Bordein, and called to Talahawiyeh (which had run aground off Tuti Island) to follow. Below Omdurman, a Dervish showed a white flag and beckoned, but he was ignored since the firing never let up.

There were some close shaves. A Sudanese soldier on the Bordein left cover to throw burning debris overboard. Wilson said he would have had the Victoria Cross if he had been an Englishmen. He was shot shortly after. The small boat towed behind Bordein was sunk by a shell, and Talahawiyeh was struck by a solid shot and a bursting shell, but no one was hit.

The Sudanese crews and soldiers were despondent. They had lost their wives, families and all they possessed in Khartoum. The Sussex men remained very steady. By the time the boats got clear they had been under fire for four hours, fortunately for them the enemy were poor shots. That night they halted at an island, and Wilson sent out spies disguised as Mahadists. He learned that Khartoum had fallen during the night of January 25th- 26th, through the treachery of the commander of the regular garrison, Faraj Pasha, and the mudir of the town, Ahmad Bey Jalabi. The spies also reported that Gordon was dead, and the Mahdi had given Khartoum up to three days’ pillage.

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

Part I

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

Introduction
January 24
January 25
January 26
January 27