.5726 THE LONDON GAZETTE, SEPTEMBER 30, 1898.

From Major-General Sir Herbert Kitchener, 35,000 men, though, from subsequent investiga- Sirdar, to Lieutenant-General Sir Francis tion, this figure was probably under-estimated, their Grenfell, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., Commanding actual strength being between forty and fifty in Egypt. thousand. From information received I gather Omrlurman, that it was the Khalifa's intention to have met us SiB, September 5, 1898. with this force at Kerreri, but our rapid advance IT having been decided that an Expeditionary surprised him. Force of British and Egyptian troops should be The troops were at once disposed around the sent against the Khalifa's Army in Omdurman, I village of Egeiga, which formed an excellent have the honour to inform you that the following position with a clear Geld of fire in every direc- troops were concentrated at the north end of the tion, and shelter-trenches and zaribas were pre- Sixth Cataract, in close proximity to which an pared. advanced supply dep6thad been previously formed At 2 r.M. our vedettes reported that the enemy at Nasri Island. had halted, and later on it was observed that BRITISH TROOP,?. they were preparing bivouacs and lighting fires. 21 st Lancers. Information was received that the Khalifa con- 32nd Field Battery, Royal Artillery. templated a night attack on our position, and 37th Howitzer Battery, Royal Artillery. preparations to repel this were made, at the same 2 -10-prs., Royal Artillery. time the Egeiga villagers were sent out to obtain Infantry Division. information in the direction of the enemy's camp 1st Brigade. witii the idea that we intended a night attack, 1st Battalion Warwickshire Regiment. and, this coming to the Khalifa's knowledge, he 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. decided to remain in his position ; consequently 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. we passed an undisturbed night in the zariba. 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders. Meanwhile the gunboats, under Commander 6 Maxims. Keppel, which had shelled the Dervish advanced Detachment, Royal Engineers. camp near Kerreri on 31st August, proceeded at 2nd Brigade. daylight on 1st September, towing the Howitzer 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. Battery to the right bank, whence, in conjunction 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. with the Irregulars under Major Stuart Wortley, 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. their advance south was continued. After two 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade. forts had been destroyed and tho villages gallantly 4 Maxims. cleared by the Irregulars, the howitzers were [ Detachment, Royal Engineers. landed in a good position on the right bank, from whence an effective fire was opened on Omdurman, EGYPTIAN TROOPS. and after a few rounds the conspicuous dome over 9 Squadrons, Cavalry. the Mahdi's tomb was partially demolished, whilst 1 Battery, Horse Artillery. the gunboats, steaming past the town, also 4 Field batteries. effectually bombarded the forts, which replied with 10 Maxims. a heavy but ill-directed fire. 8 Companies, Camel Corps. At dawn on th« following morning (2nd Septem- 1st Brigade. ber) our mounted patrols reported the enemy 2nd Egyptian Battalion. advancing to attack, and by 6.30 A.M. the 9th, 10th, and llth Sudanese Battalions. Egyptian Cavalry, which had been driven in, took 2nd Brigade. up a position with the Horse Artillery, Camel 8th Egyptian Battalion. Corps, and four Maxims on the Kerreri ridge on 12th, 13th, and 14th Sudanese Battalions. our right Sank. 3rd Brigade. At 6.40 A.M. the shouts of the advancing 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 15th Egyptian Battalions. Dervish army became audible, and a few minutes 4th Brigade. later their flags appeared over the rising ground, 1st, 5th, 17th, and 18th Egyptian Battalions. forming a semicircle round our left and front Camel Transport. faces. The guns of the 32nd Field Battery On 24th August the troops began moving by opened fire at 6.45 A.M. at a range of 2,800 yards, successive divisions to Jebel Royan where a dep6t and the Dervishes, continuing to advance rapidly, of supplies and a British communication hospital delivered their attack with all their accustomed of 200 beds were established. dash and intrepidity. In a short time the troops On 28th August the Army inarched to Wadi and Maxims on the left and front were hotly el Abid, and on the following day proceeded to engaged, whilst the enemy's riflemen, taking up Sayal, from whence I despatched a letter to the positions on the slopes of Jebel Surgham, brought Khalifa warning him to remove his women and a long-range fire to bear on the zariba, causing children, as I intended to bombard Omdurman some casualties, and their spearmen, continually unless he surrendered. reinforced from the rear, made attempt after Next day the Army marched to Sururab, and, attempt to reach our lines. on 1st September, reached the village of Egeiga, Shortly after 8 A.M. the enemy's main attack 2 miles south of the Kerreri hills and within 6 was repulsed. At this period a large and com- miles of Omdurman. Patrols of the enemy's pact body of Dervishes was observed attempting horsemen were frequently seen during the march to inarch round our right, and advancing with falling back before our Cavalry, and their out- great rapidity they soon became engaged with our posts being driven in beyond Egeiga, our advanced mounted troops on the Kerreri ridge. One of the scouts came in full view of Omdurman, from gunboats which had been disposed to protect the which large bodies of the : enemy were seen river flanks at once proceeded down stream to streaming out and marching north. afford assistance to the somewhat hardly pressed At noon, from the -slopes of ^Jebel Surgham, I mounted troops, and corning within close range of saw the entire Dervish army some 3 miles off the Dervishes inflicted heavy loss on them, upwards advancing towards us, the Khalifa's black flag of 450 men being killed in a comparatively circum- surrounded by his Mulazemin (bodyguard) being scribed area, ahe Artillery and Maxims on the plainly discernible. I estimated their numbers at left face of the zariba also co-operated, and the