The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1885-07-09
Gen. (.OrdOn'> Last W Ord>.

My idea is to induce her Majesty 5 Cos
ernment to undertake the eXtrication of
all the people of the garrisons now hem
med III or captive, and If this Is not their
programme then to resign my commission
and do what can to retain 1.-THE object.
AS long as "a man remains in her Majesty 5
service he is bound to obey the orders of
his superiors; but if he resigns he cannot
be held as insubordnate if he disobeys.
| say this because | should be sorry for
Lord Woolsey TO advance from Dongola
without fully knowing my views. II her
Majesty's Government are going to aban-
don the garrison, then do not advance.
MISERABLE COUNTRY.
1t is ii miserable country. but 1t is ion-
ed to Egypt, and to my idea it would be
difficult to divorce the two. When one
thinks of the enormous loss of life which
has taken place in the Soudan since 1880
and the general upset of all government
one cannot help feeling vicious against
Sir Auckland Calvin, Sir Edward Malet
and Sir Charles Dixie, for it is on account
of those three men, whose advice was ia
ken by her Majesty's government that all
these sorrows are due. We are an honest
nation, but our diplomatists are crOnies
and not officially honest. | declare sol
emily that if it were not for the honors
sake of our nation | would let these peo-
pie slide. They are of the very feeble ma
ture and the Arabs are ten times better;
but because they are weak there is so much
more the reason to try and helpthem, for
| think it was because we were such
worthless creatures that our Lord came to
deliver us. | think 1t is a great shame
not giving me Zubar Pasha, for he would
know how to deal with these people. They
are the WEAKNESS of my life. From Feb
tinued worry to me, and | expect they
worried the Arabs as much AS for those
wretched SepoyS, they are useless. hate
these Snake-like creatures. Any man ac-
custOmed to Judge by faces sees they hate
u.s. | would back the MuSSulmans of In
dia against the lot OF those snakes. India,
to me. is not an advantage. 1t is the cen
tire of all party intrigue, while II our en-
ergy were devoted elsewhere 1t would
produce tenfold. India wags AL Of oul
policy to our detrment. | think Colonel
Steward is hard on our men as TO their
cowardice. They are not heroes, ! grant,
but they are not, to my mind, entire cow
ards.
No FEAR OF DEATH.
For my part | am always frightened,
and very much 50. ! fear the future of all
engayemcntS 1t Is not the fear of death;
that is past thank God. But ! fear defeat
and its consequences to us. The near APP
proach Of the Mahdi has not troubled me
| have ALWAYS felt we should meet face to
face ere the matter ended. 1t will be re
membered that GordOn'S head was taken
before the Mahdi, according to the latest
accounts. | am tossing up in my mind
whether if this place is taken, to blow up
palace ana all in it, or be taken and with
Gods help maintain the faith, and, if nee
essary, suffer for it, think | shall elect
for the last. From professional military
point of view. speaking materially, wish
| was the Mahdi. ! would laugh at all
Europe.
own to having been very in<ubordi
/ nate to her Majestys Government; but it
is my natule. | cannot help it. / know
| if was chief would never employ my
self, for | am an incorrigible. ! am not
going down to history as the cause of this
expedition. | decline the imputatio.
came to deliver the garrison.
The waste of money and expense Of life
by the present expedition is utterly due TO
the indeciSion of our government.
Put yourself in my position If YOU say,
Make a rapid retreat and leave Seuaar -
its fate | will say. NO; | would sooner
die first If you say, Then you are no
longer Governor General then | am all
right. All responsibility is on You. This
is repeated again and again and Is the Key
of Gordon's whole view. If any emissary
letters come ordering me to 10 leave |
| WILL NOT OBEY IT. But WILL STAY HERE
/ FALL WITH THE TOWN AND Run ALL RISKS
The last entry is on December IA and
saws: Now mark tins: If the expedition
ary force (anG ask for no more than 200
men do not come in ten days The town
NAV fall ! have done my best for th,;
honor of our country. Good by