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Dervishes for Africa!

The campaign was concluded at this point. Although the Mahdists still hold a few towns in the west and south, their spirit and manpower is broken. On the other hand, the serious casualties suffered by Graham will limit his offensive capabilities until Herbert Stewart and John McNeill are able to bring their forces to bear on Kassala and the Western Sudan. By then, a General Election and growing Russian pressure on Afghanistan will justify the withdrawal of British forces from the region.

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April 1884: A Damn Close Run Thing!

The capture of Abu Hamed by the Berber Field Force (commanded by Baker and Hicks) was something on an anti-climax. Most of the rebels fled the town as the expeditionary force approached. Less than 1000 desperate fanatics, lacking rifles or artillery support, sallied out to engage the Egyptians and were routed without delay. Imperial casualties were less than 30 men killed and wounded. The Northern District can now be considered at peace, and the threat of an attack on Egypt lifted.

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February 1884: “Graham Saves the Day”

The combined Anglo-Egyptian relief expedition, numbering approximately 7700 regulars and supported by another 800 native levies, and now under the command of General Wolseley advanced south from Wad Hamed following the banks of the Nile upstream towards Khartoum. On the 21st February, with their objective in sight on the far horizon, the army decamped from its defensive zeriba at dawn, intending to be at the city in time for tiffin.

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January 1884: “There will be an awful fuss about this at home”

Baker’s relief column advanced up-river in an open square to break the siege of Khartoum, with its open flank guarded by Egyptian cavalry. For several hours Gordon, anxiously watching for the relief column from the roof of the Residency, was unconvinced that the troops advancing towards him through the dust clouds were friendly – the presence of local scouts alongside the European police persuading him that this might be an enemy ruse. As a result, Hicks was ordered not to advance beyond the fortifications, which they held with some success throughout the battle, despite repeated assaults by fierce Hadendowa tribesmen.

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December 1883: “Chinese Gordon” Pulls it Off!

General Baker advanced upriver from Atbara, encountering little resistance from the local tribes until a determined effort was made by about 1500 insurgents to contest his traversing of the 6th cataract north of Wad Hamed. The enemy position was carried with only minor casualties and the town occupied shortly thereafter. Baker’s Abyssinian scouts pushed forward to reconnoitre the situation at Khartoum, returning to report a fierce battle, taking place around the northeast gate of the city.

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September 1883: Baker Advances

As predicted, General Baker has advanced from Trinkitat to subdue the rebellious Hadendowa tribes of the Eastern Sudan. His expedition, some 4000 strong and well provided with artillery, met with no opposition as it advanced across the salt marshes that surround the town, the enemy melting away into the hills as they came on. Scouts sent out to reconnoitre the ‘road’ to Sinkat by Lieutenant Commander Moncrief, British Consul at Suakin, report that the enemy also appears to have withdrawn from here as well.

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June 1883: Unrest in the Sudan

Our correspondent reports that the tribes of the Southern Sudan have risen in response to the call by the so-called Mahdi and Prophet, Mohammed Ahmed, a carpenter originally from Dongola, for a jihad against the Egyptian occupation of the Sudan. The towns of El Dueim, Jebelein and Fashoda in the far south of the country are believed to have fallen to rebel forces, their garrisons massacred or gone over to swell the ranks of the enemy.

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Colonel (Brevet General) William Hicks Pasha

Aged 53, you retired from the Indian army in 1880 after a largely uneventful career, despite being mentioned in despatches for good conduct at the action of Sitka Ghaut during the mutiny and acting as brigade major in the Abyssinian expedition. Life in Brighton was rather more expensive than you anticipated (Mrs Hicks having expensive tastes) and the damp weather made your arthritis worse, so you took the opportunity to enter the Khedive’s service after the Egyptian war of 1882.

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The following is the account of a Fire & Sword Campaign played by The Essex Warriors, near Chelmsford, in the UK. The campaign was organised and umpired by Simon Walker who also acted as the Mahdist C-in-C for table-top battles, while the key personalities were played by club members Richard (Gen. Graham), Tim (Gen. Wolseley), Mike (Valentine Baker), & John (Col. Hicks). Each player was given a briefing and an outline of their personal objectives for the campaign.

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