The Siege at Khartoum

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that British Major-General Charles Gordon arrived in Khartoum in 1884 with instructions to evacuate the garrison and to attempt to organize an independent government to take over. The author points out that, before he could proceed to implement his plans, the city was besieged by Mohammed Ahmed, the Mahdi; a relief column was fatally delayed by the British government and Gordon was killed. The paper concludes that, when Gordon's journals were published, he became a hero, eventually bringing down the Gladstone government.

From the Paper:

"Gordon continued to underestimate the Mahdi's strength, and when an old friend of Gordon's, now a captive, sent word that the Mahdi had some 40,000 riflemen ready to attack, Gordon wouldn't believe it. One of Gordon's steamers had foundered on the river and the British officers on board killed. The Mahdi delighted in sending to Gordon one of his captured letters. He taunted Gordon for expecting a relief column. He now knew that there was no relief column. And, later, when a steamer did arrive in Khartoum, there were neither troops nor supplies on board. As the siege wore on, and horses had to be slaughtered for food, Gordon tried to keep up a brave front, telling the townspeople that a relief column was on the way, and would soon arrive. Out of ammunition and food, Omdurman fell to the Mahdi's troops. The Mahdi sent one last offer to Gordon, telling him that the Brisih offered to ransom him alone for 20,000 pounds Sterling. He told Gordon he would return him to the British without asking for a single farthing."

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