Part I: Introduction

February 4th

The steamer Es Safia got under way after dawn and engaged the enemy fort yet again. It then assisted the nuggar to get free, and Wilson sent men to fire from the bank in support. The nuggar had been aground within 400 yards of the fort, and was hist repeatedly by rifle fire, but all artillery fire missed her.

Es Safia had almost made it past the battery the day before when her boiler was struck and she lost power 200 yards beyond the enemy fort. Her Gardiner gun and a small artillery piece kept up such a hot fire on the enemy parapet that they could not use their guns to effect.

Wilson’s force was picked up by El Safia, which headed downstream to friendly territory. They took fire several times from the left bank, and ran aground again briefly. They stopped once more to collect wood for fuel and reached their base at Gubat at about 5.30pm.

So ended Wilson’s attempt to reach Khartoum. It had failed, but the efforts and risks had been epic. Despite the loss of two steamships to the treacherous Nile, the force remained largely intact, and had fought its way to Khartoum and back against terrific odds.

Bibliography

Sir Charles Wilson’s “From Korti to Khartoum” (William Blacklwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London, Seventh Edition, 1886.) was the basis for this article.

Useful readings for the overall expedition include:

“The Journals of Major General Gordon at Khartoum” Darf Publishers Limited, London, reprinted 1984

“England’s Pride”, Julian Symons, White Lion Publishers, London, 1974

“In Relief of Gordon, Lord Wolseley’s Campaign Journal of the Khartoum Relief Expedition 1884-1885”, Hutchinson of London, 1967

Thanks to John Baxter for access to his original copy of Wilson’s book, and to Don Featherstone for his collection of maps and prints. All errors in fact, spelling and grammar are mine alone.

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