From Korti to Khartum (Abridged, Annotated)

It was one of the great, true adventures of the 19th century. A British Army corps made a daring dash up the Nile in 1884-85 to rescue General Gordon of Khartoum in that besieged city. Hastily assembled but determined on their goal, the force fought time, the legendary Nile cataracts (rapids), punishing heat, sandstorms, and Arab tribesmen.

This memoir by one of the participants in command, Colonel Charles W. Wilson, is one of the most thrilling, detailed, and concise accounts of the campaign against the Muslim religious leader and self-proclaimed Mahdi, Muhammad Ahmad.

Wilson commanded troops at the Battle of Abu Klea and other sites. He tells of repeatedly being attacked and outnumbered at in the desert and while steaming up the river to Khartoum. Wilson led the troopers and steamboats all the way to the city where Gordon was captive, only to find out under severe fire that it was all too late.

Wilson was a friend of Gordon's and a great admirer of the popular General Stewart, who died of wounds received in battle.

The modest Wilson, always ready to give credit to others, left us a throat-grabbing account of an important campaign...and almost didn't live to tell the tale.