ONWARDS TO OMDURMAN: The Anglo-Egyptian Campaign to Reconquer the Sudan, 1896-1898

1-235520

To fully understand how and why an Anglo-Egyptian army arrived to fight at Omdurman, the book takes a fresh look at the Sudan campaign as a whole, discussing how modern technology was used to overcome the vagaries of the desert and the river Nile. Thus, railway lines were built to bring troops and supplies across the desert. Communications were enhanced by miles of telegraph wire. Control of the Nile was ensured by British-built gunboats, armed with machine guns and artillery and the Anglo-Egyptian army carried modern rifles, machine guns, and artillery.

General Kitchener had witnessed Britain's failed Sudan campaign in 1884-85 to rescue General Gordon at Khartoum because of too much haste and not enough forethought. Kitchener did not make the same mistakes. Moreover, he and his officers never underestimated the fighting prowess of their enemy. Includes 30 b/w illustrations, 8 b/w photos, 9 color illustrations, and 13 maps.

Discusses how and why Britain was involved in Egypt and why the decision was made to invade Mahdist Sudan. It then considers the political, social and military organization of the Khalifa's domain. The book also examines the Egyptian army and provides details later on the British contingent. The various stages of Kitchener's advance are then discussed. Examines the 2 September 1898 battle with emphasis that the Mahdists battle plan was poorly executed, hence their defeat. Although it took another year before the Khalifa was defeated and killed, the battle at Omdurman ended a two-year campaign that had utilized the power of modern Victorian technology.