Part I: Introduction

Wilson’s force to Khartoum

Two steamships, “Talahawiyeh” and “Bordein”.
Bordein carried 110 black troops plus crew, Talahawiyeh had 80 black soldiers plus the towed nuggar with 40 –50 further troops.
One Officer and twenty men of the Sussex regiment, divided between the two steam vessels.
Plus at least 2 small rowing boats, towed behind.
The native troops consisted of Sudanese regulars, ex-slaves and Shaigyeh Bashi-Bazouks. Wilson noted that the Sudanese were armed with Remington rifles and spears, and considered bayonets useless in action against spear-armed opponents.
Officers were Egyptian, Circassian and Turkish Bashi Bazouks.

Wilson listed the following detachments in his defensive position on Mernat Island:

Captain Trafford and the Royal Sussex detachment
Shagiyeh Bashi Bazouks commanded by Kashm el Mus
Gunners from the Talahawiyeh
Mahdi Agha and Bashi Bazouks
Sailors of the Bordein
Ali Agha and Bashi Bazouks
Shagiyeh Bashi Bazouks and slaves commanded by Abd ul Hamid (deserted Feb 2nd)
Sailors of the Talahawiyeh
Captain Gascoigne, Bakhit Agha and Sudanese regulars
Gunners from the Bordein

Each steam vessel had a fixed, open topped turret in the bow, with a port for one gun firing forwards, plus another turret amidships between the paddle boxes, with ports for firing each side. Both turrets were made of baulks of wood held together with iron pins. The turrets were bullet proof but not shot or shell proof.

Towards the rear, above the deck hose, iron boiler plates were fixed to upright wooden stanchions, with another wooden beam running horizontally above the plates, leaving a long loophole. These were bullet proof beyond 150 yards, but again provided no protection from shot and shell. They were also broken and incomplete in several places.

The helmsman’s position was protected as much as possible and logs of wood covered the boiler.

The steamboats also carried large quantities of dura grain to resupply Khartoum, loot, ammunition, wood for the boiler, bedding, women, a few babies and a herd of goats for milk.

Beresford’s relief force from Gubat

One steamer, “Es Safia”, armed with at least one small artillery piece and a Gardiner gun. It was crewed by Naval Brigade under the command of Keppel, and Mounted Infantry commanded by Bower. Native troops also likely, numbers of these detachments unknown.

Mahadist forces

Full numbers are unknown, but gun batteries along the river contained one or two guns. The main army with large numbers of guns, riflemen and sword and spearmen were in the Khartoum, Omdurman, Tuti Island area. Wilson noted the following enemy guns during the final attempt to reach Khartoum;
Halfiyeh, four guns and many rifles
Beyond Shamba, two guns on the right bank of the river, heavy rifle fire from both sides
Omdurman, at least two guns
Khartoum and Tuti Island, 3 or 4 guns, a machine gun and continuous musketry.

Smaller detachments and mounted scouts were encountered at several points along the river, and scattered sniping was common throughout Wilson’s voyage.

Another army was believed to be in the area and was expected to attack the British position at Gubat.

Gun batteries consisted of earthwork parapets with embrasures for the guns pointing across, up, and down the river. The batteries were often supported by rifle trenches.

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