Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-02-27

udDcl pdull. All Iiio 1ihi' hO was
gaining recruits by force and
fanaticism. In June 1882 the main
body of the Egyptian army of the
Soudan, which Abdul Kadir, who
had succeeded Raoul Pasha, had gath
cred together to crush him, was sent
against the rebels under command of
Yussuf Pasha. This army was almost
entirely destroyed by the Mahdi's
forces. Very few of the soldiers es-
capped and all their commanders were
slain. These successes strengthened his
arms and his followers began TO be-
lieve he was gifted with divine pow
cr that made him invincible. These
victories induced him TO assume the
offensive and he began to overrun
the country at his own will, but
failed to achieve any success against
the fortified towns. 1t was about
this time that Englaud's attention
was attracted to him, after the rebel
lion of Arab had been suppressed.
Late in 1882 the Mahdi assAiled El
Obeid, the capital of Kordofan, one
of the strongest provinces, but was
repulsed with the loss Of 600 war
riors. Reinforced, he again besieged
the town and early in 1888 the gO'Ii-
son surrendered, after being youuOed
to desperate straits. The cJnque cd
forces were given the pleasant alter
native Of being put to dsath or join
ing the Prophets s.ny. They chose
the latter Sid the commander Iskan-
der ley and all his followers became
instrumental in gaining over officers
and men from the Egyptian army.
After the capture of El OLcid, the
Mahdi remained in Kordofan, but
his followers were actively engaged
III other parts of the SOudan. Up to
this time England had not interlered.
In the early summer of 1888 another
strong force was sent out by the
Egyptian government, under com
mand of Col. Hicks, an officer who
had done good service in the Indian
army. Col. Hicks defeated detach-
ment of the Mahdrs troops in the
district of Scnnar, on Apr. ~, killing
over 800 of the rebels, The rainy
season however compelled him to
suspend operations until fall and on
Sept. 9th. he began to move toward
FL Obcid, distance Of $50 miles into
the interior. A part of his force
were Englishmen, but they were
fighting under the Egyptian govern
ment. This army was annihilated
in the desert and not man escaped
to tell the tale. IL was late III No
vember when their fate became
known from rebel sources. England
still retrained from taking part IN
the fighting, but after this massacre
she decided TO send Gen. Gordon to
Kharloum to "insist" upon the evac-
uation of the Soudan by the rebel
forces.
GORDON GOES TO KHARToUM.
Gen. Gordon left England Jan. Is
1884, TO report on the military situa'
ton and provide in the best manner
for the safety of the European pop
ulalion of Khartoum and the Egyp
tian garrisons throughout the coun
Try. as well as for the evacuation o
the Soudan by both the Egyptian anC
rebel forces aud to restore order
There were about 29,000 Egyptian
soldiers and several times as many
rebels. Gen. Gordon was sent alonC
: US an ambassador and not as a mill
tary commander. GordOn's origina
intention was to go to Port Said, pass
through the Suez Canal and 60 by
way ofthe Red Sea to Suakm and thel
cross the desert 800 miles to Berbel
on the Nile, but he changed his plan
and went up the Nile to Cairo I,
consult with the Khedivc. That rule
. appointed him Governor General o
Soudan and so he set out up the Nil
, in his dual capacity. lie went as ia
, as Korosko aud then crossed the grea
f bend to Berber with single escort
on camels. They traversed the u
miles in 8 days. Passing up the Nil
100 miles. further Gordon reaches
/ Khartoum Feb. 18th. lie had bee
+ instructed to assume command of TIL
garrison at Khartoum and retain tn
D soldiers until his work was at
/ complished. One of his first acts wa
, to proclaim the Mahdi Sultan of Kol
Q doian, to pacify him. He then re
: mitted one-half the taxes, liberate
f the prisoners confined for non-pay
S ment of taxes and permitted the Aral
: to continue the prosecution of III
: slaye-trade. lie made bonfire out {
e the whips and bastinado rods use
to oppress the natives, together wit
the record books of unpaid take
The Egyptians were quite willing
submit to Gordon's orders and leal
l. the Soudan, but the Arabs refuse
:. to be pacified. In March El MahC
!, took command of his forces in persO
u and with an army of 100000 me
u boldly announced his purpose
T. driving out both Egyptians and il
l. fdels. On Mar. 10 Gen. GordC
u with 5000 native troops fought ba
i tie at lIalfaia, ten miles down Il
10 river from Khartoum, and throug
~ the treachcry of two Pashas, who
u he afterwards shot, was defeate
ip In the meantime Gen. Graham hi
u, captured Tokar, 500 miles away, {
IL the Red Sea, and defeated Osml
" Digna. Gordon then telegraphed {
u help and retreated to the fortiil,
= town of .Khartoum and anxious
III awaited for England to send hel
u u lie had $500 native soldiers und
III his command. The town is at I
III iuncture Of the White Nile and Bl
: Nile, 1900 miles from the sea port
II, Alexandria at the mouth of the ma
gu river and about 400 miles fro
IS Cairo, the seat of government
IT, Egypt. Notwithstanding the urge
OF cy Of Gordon's appeal England dill
's, dallied for months and it was not II
"a til September that Gen. Wolsel
10 was sent to the rescue. lie was Civ
u command of 10000 picked men, wi
ne Gen. Stewart, Gen. Earl, Gen. Bel,
9l ford and other gallant officers as
u subordinatcs,
q wosELEY's EXPEDITION.
M
Nh The distance from Southampt
of England, to Port Said, Egypt, is q
ar miles by water, through the Med
-, arraueou Spn. Port Said is at