"As to one's blanket, it is like a sponge five minutes after the rain begins," the officer said.
"I am better off in that respect," Gregory remarked, "for when I left my little tent behind, I kept a waterproof sheet instead of my second blanket. I had intended to use it tent fashion, but it was blown down in a minute after the first storm burst. Now I stand up, wrap my blanket tightly round me, while my boy does the same with the waterproof sheet, and I keep moderately dry, except that the water will trickle in at the end near my neck; but, on the other hand, the wrapping keeps me so hot that I might almost as well lie uncovered in the rain."
The staff had intended taking a few tents with them, but these were practically of no use at all, as all canvas had to be lowered by the time that "lights out" sounded, and after that hour no loud talking was permitted in the camp. This might have been a privation had the weather been fine, but even the most joyous spirit had little desire for conversation when the rain was falling in bucketfuls over him. The officers of the white division lay down by their men in the position they would occupy if an attack by the enemy took place. The officers of the Egyptian regiments lay together just in rear of their men. As soon as the " last post" sounded absolute silence reigned. The sentries placed a very short distance out kept their senses of sight and hearing on the alert, and with eye and ear strove to detect the approach of a lurking foe. Jaalin scouts were stationed outside the zareba, so as to give an early warning of the approach of the enemy; but no reliance could be placed upon them, for, altogether without discipline, they would probably creep under bushes, and endeavour to find some shelter from the pitiless downpour.
Had the Khalifa known his business he would have taken advantage of the tempestuous nights and launched his warriors at the camp. Confident as the officers of the expedition were in the ability of their men to repulse any assault that might be made in the daylight, it was felt that such an attack would cause terrible loss, and possibly grave disaster, if delivered at night. The enemy might not be discovered until within a few yards of the camp, the swish of the rain and the almost incessant crash of thunder would deaden the sound of their approach, and long before the troops could leap to their feet and prepare to receive them calmly, the Dervishes would be upon them. As the latter were enormously stronger in numbers, the advantage of superior weapons would be lost in a hand-to-hand fight, and in the inevitable confusion, as the troops in reserve would be unable to open fire while ignorant of the precise position of friends and foes. The Khalifa, however, was relying upon prophecy. It was at Kerreri that the infidel army was to be utterly destroyed, and he may have thought that it would be tempting fate were he to precipitate an action before the invaders reached the spot where their doom had been pronounced.
Even more miserable than night was the hour before dawn. Lying still, drenched to the skin as they were, Nature prevailed, and the men obtained some sleep; but when they rose to their feet and threw off the sodden blankets, they felt the full misery of eight hours' drenching; they were cold now as well as wet, and as they endeavoured to squeeze the water from their clothes, and to restore circulation by swinging their arms, but few words were spoken, and the rising of the sun, which was regarded as a terrible infliction during the day, was eagerly looked for. No sooner did it appear above the horizon than the spirits of the men rose rapidly, and they laughed, joked, and made light of the inconveniences of the situation. An hour later their clothes were nearly dry. By
SECOND
BATTLE OF OMDURMAN
Showing the 1st. Attack
at 6,45 a.m.
& the KHALIFA'S ATTACK
at 9,40 a,m.
that time they were all well on their way, the brigades as before marching in echelon—Wauchope's brigade on the left, Lyttleton's farther to the right but more to the rear, the three Egyptian brigades farther out on the plain, the 21st Lancers scouting the ground in front of the British division, and the native cavalry and camel corps out beyond the right of the Egyptians. All expected that at least they should have a skirmish before they reached Kerreri, where they were to encamp, but as they advanced it was found that the Dervishes had fallen back from that line and had joined the Khalifa's main force near Omdurman.
By ten in the morning the army had arrived at its camping - place, which was in the southern part of the ground occupied by the straggling village. As usual, both extremities of the line rested on the Nile, forming a semicircle, in which the baggage animals and stores were placed, in charge of Collinson's brigade. The gun-boats took up their position to cover the ground over which an enemy must approach to the attack. While the infantry were settling down, the cavalry and camel corps went out scouting. Signallers soon mounted a rugged hill named Surgham, and from here a fine view was obtained of Omdurman and the Khalifa's army. Omdurman was six miles away, covering a wide tract of ground, with but few buildings rising above the general level, the one conspicuous object being the great tomb of the Mahdi with its white dome. In the outskirts of the town were the white tents of the Dervish army. For the present these were unoccupied, the whole force being drawn up in regular line out on the plain, about half-way between the town and Surgham Hill.
It was formed in five divisions, each of which was bright with banners of all colours, sizes, and shapes. The Khalifa's own division was in the centre, where his great black banner, waving from a lofty flagstaff, could be plainly made out.
The Lancers, Egyptian cavalry, and camel corps continued to advance, capturing several parties of footmen, principally Jaalins, who probably lagged purposely behind the retiring Dervishes in order to be taken. At times the cavalry attempted to charge the Dervish horsemen when these approached, but in no case did the latter await the attack. Presently, above the occasional musketry fire came the boom of a heavy gun. There was a thrill of excitement in the camp. The gun-boats had arrived opposite Omdurman and had opened fire upon the Dervish river-side forts. These Avere strongly constructed, but, as in the forts at Metemmeh and Shabluka, the embrasures were so faultily constructed that the guns could only be brought to bear upon the portion of the river directly facing them, and the four gun-boats passed them without receiving any material damage, and were so able to maintain the bombardment without receiving any fire in return. At the same time they landed the forty-pounder guns on an island but a short distance from the town, and thence opened fire with lyddite shells upon it. The howitzers were trained upon the Mahdi's tomb and soon great holes were knocked in the dome.
It could be seen from the top of the hill that this caused great excitement in the Dervish lines, and a number of their horsemen rode out against the Lancers and drove in their advance scouts; but on the main body of the regiment moving forward they fell back to their line, and almost immediately a heavy body of infantry moved out, their intention evidently being to surround and cut off the regiment, while at the same time a general advance took place. The Colonel of the Lancers dismounted a portion of his men, and these checked the advance of the enemy until the rest fell back.
The news of the advance was signalled to General Kitchener, and the whole force at once took their position in fighting order. Believing that a general attack on the camp would now be made, the cavalry fell back on either flank, so as to clear the Avay for the fire of the artillery and infantry. The Dervishes had a good view of our camp from the top of Surgham, but the Khalifa apparently considered that it was