The Nile Expedition (or Gordon Relief Expedition) was a key event in the British-Mahdist wars in Sudan. Join my Membership Channel to get exclusive videos (& more) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyTGpFsD0AJkQ6KSCW8d_Ug/join In 1884-1885, General Sir Garnet Wolseley led a British Army up the Nile to rescue Charles Gordon who was besieged in Khartoum. This is the story of that expedition, which despite several victories over the Mahdi’s Sudanese army, eventually ended in failure. Other videos in this British-Mahdist war in Sudan: The Battle of El Teb 1884(plus background as to why British were in Sudan) https://youtu.be/2Co9WWC9pvI The Battle of Tamai 1884 (the British square broken) https://youtu.be/aOHWRoo5rPo The Battle of Abu Klea (“The Gatling’s jammed and the Colonel’s dead”) https://youtu.be/lAi4NZsLvOU Gordon of Khartoum (A very Victorian hero) https://youtu.be/z4DggwS1Wr0 The Battle of Omdurman (Gordon is avenged and the British conquer Sudan) https://youtu.be/P8vE-f869WE General Gordon had been sent to Khartoum to assist the Egyptians evacuate their nationals from the city in the face of a growing Islamic / nationalist revolt led by the Mahdi. Having got most of the Egyptian civilians out of the city , Gordon took it upon himself to defend Khartoum and seek to establish an alternative Sudanese regime to counter the Mahdi. But instead by the end of March 1884, he found himself besieged in the city and desperately appealed to the British government for assistance. Eventually, Prime Minister, William Gladstone, sent a british army to Egypt under the command of General Sir Garnet Wolseley. His mission: to rescue the darling of the British public, “Chinese” Gordon, from Khartoum. Making slow progress up the river and with messages from Gordon becoming more desperate, Wolseley decided to send a force of 1,500 men across the desert. This Desert Column, was predominantly formed by 4 regiments of the Camel Corps, plus some mounted cavalry and a battalion of Infantry (the Royal Sussex Regiment). The Desert column ended up fighting two pitched battles with the Mahdists. In the first, at Abu Klea, the Sudanese managed to get inside the British square before being driven out in fierce hand-to-hand fighting. A few days later, they again fought the Mahdist (Dervish) army at the battle of Abu Kru. Despite achieving another victory, the column’s commander, Major-General Sir Herbert Stewart, was killed. Finally, reaching the Nile, Colonel Charles Wilson headed up river by steamer to Khartoum. In the meantime the Mahdi launched a successful assault on the city, which was overwhelmed and Gordon killed. By the time Wilson arrived, it was too late. Britain was shocked both by the death of their hero, General Gordon, and by the failure to relieve Khartoum. Whilst Wolseley blamed Wilson, the general himself refused to shoulder any blame. Somehow, the British public didn’t hold either soldier to account and instead rounded on Prime Minister Gladstone for not authorising the relief of Khartoum earlier. In the end the Nile Expedition quietly withdrew from Sudan. It would be over a decade before the British returned to avenge Gordon at the battle of Omdurman. #thenileexpedition1885 #gordonreliefexpedition #generalsirgarnetwolseley #generalgordon Chapters 0:00 Introduction 1:00 The Gordon Relief Expedition 3:40 Desperate message from Khartoum 4:17 The Desert Column 6:18 Battle of Abu Klea 7:08 Battle of Abu Kru 11:30 Wilson heads up up-river 14:30 Mahdist’s storm Khartoum 15:34 Death of General Gordon 16:50 2 days late 18:35 Beresford to the rescue 19:55 “Too Late!” 23:10 The Blame Game 24:04 Aftermath 26:01 The History Chap Follow me at: www.thehistorychap.com Instagram:https://bit.ly/3iySrAj Facebook:https://bit.ly/37IUfkH https://www.youtube.com/c/TheHistoryChap My name is Chris Green ("The History Chap") and I am on a mission to share the amazing history of Britain so that we can appreciate where we have come from and why we are here. History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens. So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life. My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!" Just for the record, I do have a history degree and continue to have a passion for the subject I studied. Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.

• published: 09 Dec 2022
• views: 405421