A History of the Coldstream Guards, Robert Ross-of-Bladensburg.

426. Colonel Arthur Farquhar (late Coldstream Guards) accompanied this ill-fated expedition, and perished in it. Some account of the good services rendered by this Officer is given in Slatin Pasha’s recent publication (Fire and Sword in the Sudan, 1879-95 , by Rudolf C. Slatin Pasha, C.B.; translated by Major F. R. Wingate, C.B., D.S.O., R.A.; London, 1896; chap. viii.).

427. History of the Sudan Campaign (compiled at the Intelligence Department of the War Office, by Colonel Colvile, C.B., Grenadier Guards), part i. p. 16 (London, 1889).

428. A proposition had been made at this time to send 200 or 300 cavalry to Berber, which probably they could have reached. But the General Commanding in Egypt (Lieut.-General Sir F. Stephenson, K.C.B.) opposed it, on the grounds that it was undesirable to fritter away our troops in small detachments, that so weak a force in the Mahdi’s country and unsupported there, could achieve no success, and must only add to the numbers who had to be rescued from the Sudan.

429. The reader will presently see that a strong force was landed at Suakin in the spring of 1885, to construct a railway to Berber, when it was too late.

430. Except some battalions pushed to the frontier of Egypt to guard it against invasion, that appeared to be threatening; also the first preparations for laying a line of railway from Suakin to Berber, but which was stopped at the end of August. Major-General A. Lyon Fremantle (late Coldstream Guards) assumed command at Suakin at the end of July.

431. Given in full in Colvile’s History of the Sudan Campaign , part i. p. 45. Hereafter referred to as “Colvile, Official Account .”

432. Colvile, Official Account , part i. p. 53.

433. The detachments furnished by the Coldstream amounted to: from the 1st Battalion, three sergeants, two corporals, one drummer, and 38 privates; from the 2nd Battalion, two sergeants, three corporals, one drummer, and 38 privates. Total, 92 of all ranks.

434. Except one Battalion, which came from India, and some 390 Canadians (called “Voyageurs”), under Lieut.-Colonel Denison, brought to Egypt to help our men to pilot the boats up the Nile.

435. The numerical strength, together with the Camel corps, appears to have been about 10,000 men and 6 guns, and eventually 6 additional guns, belonging to the Egyptian army. Subsequently Dongolese troops fought with us against the enemy.

436. Colvile, Official Account , part i. p. 58. Shendi is about one hundred miles north of Khartum.

437. Colvile, Official Account , part i. p. 117.

438. The last left Gemai on December 19th.

439. Article in the Nineteenth Century , Nov., 1885, by Lieutenant Douglas Dawson, Coldstream Guards.

440. The letter is given in Colvile’s Official Account , part i. p. 121.

441. Ibid. , i. 138.

442. Colvile, Official Account , part ii. p. 6, etc., where the full text of all these orders are given.

443. Colonel Sir Charles Wilson, K.C.B., R.E., From Korti to Khartum , p. 3, where this paper is given in full. (London, 1885.)

444. Nevertheless, some did lag behind, and would have been cut off, but for the courage of Lieut.-Colonel Rowley, Grenadier Guards, who drove them into the square, just as the Arabs began the attack which is about to be described.

445. Nineteenth Century , loc. cit.

446. Colvile, Official Account , part ii. p. 18.

447. “I was much struck by the demeanour of the Guards Officers. There was no noise or fuss; all the orders were given as if on parade, and they spoke to their men as if nothing unusual was going on” (From Korti to Khartum , p. 36).

448. Two subsequently died of their wounds.

449. Colvile, Official Account , ii. 27.

450. The horses had all been fifty-eight hours, and some even as many as seventy-five hours, without water (Nineteenth Century , loc. cit.). The camels had not received anything to drink for six or seven days, having been previously accustomed to be watered every second or third day (From Korti to Khartum , p. 95).

451. Three British Officers were, moreover, to accompany Wilson to Khartum, and to be left there with Gordon.

452. An account of this journey is to be found in Colvile’s Official Account , part ii. p. 33, etc.—how the steamers ascended the river with difficulty and advanced to Khartum in the teeth of hostile batteries and under fire from the city; how the fall of the place became undoubted; how the native crews of the steamers showed signs of disaffection; how both steamers were wrecked on the return journey, and how the small British party were exposed to imminent danger; how Lieutenant Stuart-Wortley was sent down the river in an open row-boat, and succeeded in reaching Gubat; and how a rescue party was immediately organized under Lord Charles Beresford, who went to the relief of Sir Charles Wilson, and those with him, in another steamer, amid many difficulties, and in spite of the opposition of the dervishes.

453. Major C. M. Watson, C.M.G., R.E., Royal Engineers' Journal, June 1, 1892. See Fire and Sword in the Sudan , p. 342.

454. Colvile, Official Account , part ii. p. 57.

455. This man, Lance-Sergeant Leaning, who died of his wounds, was noted for his gallantry upon this occasion.

456. Owing to the amount of hard work done, the Guards were now without boots; and this seems to have been the reason why they were selected to go back.