It
was clear that an immediate advance was necessary; the river
route was out of the question; a swift dash across the desert was
the only possible expedient after all. But no preparations for
land transport had been made; weeks elapsed before a sufficient
number of camels could be collected; and more weeks before those
collected were trained for military march. It was not until
December 30th--more than a fortnight after the last entry in
Gordon's Journal--that Sir Herbert Stewart, at the head of 1,100
British troops, was able to leave Korti on his march towards
Metemmah, 170 miles across the desert. His advance was slow, and
it was tenaciously disputed by, the Mahdi's forces. There was a
desperate engagement on January 17th at the wells of Abu Klea;
the British square was broken; for a moment victory hung in the
balance; but the Arabs were repulsed. On the 19th there was
another furiously contested fight, in which Sir Herbert Stewart
was killed. On the 21st, the force, now diminished by over 250
casualties, reached Metemmah. Three days elapsed in
reconnoitering the country, and strengthening the position of the
camp. 0n the 24th, Sir Charles Wilson, who had succeeded to the
command, embarked on the Bordeen, and started up the river for
Khartoum. On the following evening, the vessel struck on a rock,
causing a further delay of twenty-four hours.
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