diff options
Diffstat (limited to '20619.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 20619.txt | 3303 |
1 files changed, 3303 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/20619.txt b/20619.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b4ab4d2 --- /dev/null +++ b/20619.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3303 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, General Gordon, by J. Wardle + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: General Gordon + Saint and Soldier + + +Author: J. Wardle + + + +Release Date: February 19, 2007 [eBook #20619] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GENERAL GORDON*** + + + + + +This ebook was transcribed by Les Bowler. + + + + + +GENERAL GORDON: +SAINT AND SOLDIER. + + +BY +J. WARDLE, C.C., +A PERSONAL FRIEND. + +NOTTINGHAM: +HENRY B. SAXTON, KING STREET. +1904. + +{The Author: p6.jpg} + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Nothing but the greatest possible pressure from my many kind friends who +have heard my lecture on "General Gordon: Saint and Soldier," who knew of +my intimacy with him, and had seen some of the letters referred to, would +have induced me to narrate this little story of a noble life. I am +greatly indebted to many friends, authors, and newspapers, for extracts +and incidents, etc., etc.; and to them I beg to offer my best thanks and +humble apology. This book is issued in the hope, that, with all its +imperfections, it may inspire the young men of our times to imitate the +Christ-like spirit and example of our illustrious and noble hero, C. G. +Gordon. + +J. WARDLE. + +THIS BRIEF STORY +OF A +NOBLE, SAINTLY AND HEROIC LIFE, +I DEDICATE WITH MUCH AFFECTION +TO MY SON, +JOSEPH GORDON WARDLE + + "If I am asked, who is the greatest man? I answer, "the best." And if + I am requested to say, who is the best, I reply: "he that deserveth + most of his fellow creatures." + +--_Sir William Jones_. + + + + +INDEX. + + +_Chapter_ I.--Introduction--Gordon's birth, parentage and school--His +first experience of warfare in the Crimea--His display of exceptional +soldierly qualities--The storming of Sebastopol and its fall. + +_Chapter_ II.--Gordon assisting to lay down frontiers in Russia, Turkey +and Armenia--Gordon in China--Burning of the Summer Palace--Chinese +rebellion and its suppression. + +_Chapter_ III.--Gordon at Manchester--My experiences with him--Ragged +School work--Amongst the poor, the old, the sick--Some of his letters to +me, showing his deep solicitude for the lads. + +_Chapter_ IV.--Gordon's letters--Leaflet, &c.--His work at +Gravesend--Amongst his "Kings"--His call to foreign service, and leave +taking--The public regret. + +_Chapter_ V.--His first appointment as Governor General of the Soudan--His +journey to, and his arrival at Khartoum--His many difficulties--His visit +to King John of Abyssinia, and resignation. + +_Chapter_ VI.--Gordon's return to Egypt and welcome by the Khedive--Home +again--A second visit to China--Soudan very unsettled--The Madhi winning +battles--Hicks Pasha's army annihilated--Gordon sent for; agrees again to +go to Khartoum. + +_Chapter_ VII.--Gordon's starting for Khartoum (2nd appointment)--His +arrival and reception--Khartoum surrounded--Letter from the Madhi to +Gordon--Gordon's reply--His many and severe trials in Khartoum. + +_Chapter_ VIII.--Expedition of Lord Wolseley's to relieve Gordon--Terrible +marches in the desert--Battle of Abu-Klea--Colonel Burnaby killed--Awful +scenes--The Arabs break the British Square--Victory and march to +Mettemmeh. + +_Chapter_ IX.--Gordon's Boats, manned by Sir Charles Wilson, fighting up +to Khartoum--Khartoum fallen--Gordon a martyr--Mourning in all lands--Our +Queen's letter of complaint to Gladstone--Gladstone's reply and +vindication--Queen's letters to Gordon's sister--Account of the fall of +Khartoum--Acceptance by the Queen of Gordon's Bible. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + + "There is nothing purer than honesty; nothing sweeter than charity; + nothing warmer than love; nothing richer than wisdom; nothing brighter + than virtue; nothing more steadfast than faith."--_Bacon_. + +It has been said that the most interesting study for mankind is man; and +surely one of the grandest objects for human contemplation, is a noble +character; a lofty type of a truly great and good man is humanity's +richest heritage. + +The following lines by one of our greatest poets are true-- + + "Lives of great men all remind us, + We can make our lives sublime, + And departing leave behind us, + Footprints on the sands of time." + +While places and things may have a special or peculiar charm, and indeed +may become very interesting, nothing stirs our hearts, or rouses our +enthusiasm so much as the study of a noble heroic life, such as that of +the uncrowned king, who is the subject of our story, and whose career of +unsullied splendour closed in the year 1885 in the beleaguered capital of +that dark sad land, where the White and Blue Nile blend their waters. + + "Noble he was contemning all things mean, + His truth unquestioned and his soul severe, + At no man's question was he e'er dismayed, + Of no man's presence was he e'er afraid." + +General Gordon was the son of a soldier who proved his gallantry on many +occasions, and who took a pride in his profession. It was said of him +that he was greatly beloved by all who served under him. He was +generous, genial and kind hearted, and strictly just in all his practices +and aims. He gave to his Queen and country a long life of devoted +service. His wife, we are told, was a woman of marked liberality; +cheerful and loving, always thoughtful of the wants of others; completely +devoid of selfishness. + +The fourth son, and third soldier of this happy pair, Charles George, was +born at Woolwich in 1833. He was trained at Taunton. When about 15 +years of age he was sent to the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, to +prepare for the army; a profession his father thought most worthy of the +Gordons. While here at school an incident occurred which served to show +that our young hero was no ordinary student. His tutor, with an air of +contempt, rebuked him severely for some error or failure in his lessons, +and told him sneeringly he would never make a general. This roused the +Scotch blood of the budding soldier, and in a rage he tore the epaulettes +from his shoulders, and threw them at his tutor's feet--another proof of +the correctness of the old adage, "Never prophesy unless you know." By +the time he reached the age of twenty-one, he had become every inch a +soldier, and when tested he proved to have all a soldier's +qualities--bravery, courage, heroism, patriotism, and fidelity, +characteristics of the best soldiers in our army. + +Archibald Forbes, writing of him, says "The character of General Gordon +was unique. As it unfolded in its curiously varied but never +contradictory aspects, you are reminded of Cromwell, of Havelock, of +Livingstone, and of Captain Hedley Viccars. But Gordon's individuality +stood out in its incomparable blending of masterfulness and tenderness, +of strength and sweetness. His high and noble nature was made more +chivalrous by his fervent, deep and real piety. His absolute trust in +God guided him serenely through the greatest difficulties. Because of +that he was not alone in the deepest solitude. He was not depressed in +the direst extremity. He had learned the happy art of leaning upon the +Omnipotent arm." + +{Gordon, the hero: p17.jpg} + +Early in 1884 a leading newspaper said of him, "General Gordon is without +doubt the finest captain of irregular forces living." About the same +time Mr. Gladstone said of him, "General Gordon is no common man. It is +no exaggeration to say he is a hero. It is no exaggeration to say he is +a Christian hero." Mr. W. E. Forster also remarked of him, "I know no +other man living for whom I have a greater admiration than General +Gordon. He is utterly unselfish. He is regardless of money. He cares +nothing for fame or glory. He cares little for life or death. He is a +deeply religious man. The world to come, and God's government over this, +are to him the greatest of life's realities. True heroism has been said +to be a sacrifice of self for the benefit of others. If this is true, +Gordon has well won the appellation, "The Hero of the Soudan." His +soldierly qualities were first tested in the Crimea, where we find him in +1854 and 1855. Here for the first time in his military career he was +brought face to face with all the horrors of actual war, and here for the +first time he saw friend and foe lie locked like brothers in each other's +arms. Here he got his first baptism of fire; and here he showed the +splendid qualities which in after years made him so famous and so +beloved. An old soldier who served under him during this terrible +campaign says "I shall never forget that remarkable figure and form, +which was an inspiration to all who knew him, and saw him on the field of +carnage and blood." + +He was utterly unconcerned in the midst of dangers and death. He would +twirl his cane and good humouredly say "Now boys, don't fear, I see no +danger." On one occasion when engaged in the very thick of a most awful +struggle he said, "Now my boys, I'm your officer, I lead, you follow," +and he walked literally through a shower of lead and iron with as little +concern apparently, as if he were walking across his own drawing-room; +and he came out of the conflict without a scar. + +Sir E. Stanton in his dispatches home, making special reference to our +hero, says--"Young Gordon has attracted the notice of his superiors out +here, not only by his activity, but by his special aptitude for war, +developing itself amid the trenches before Sebastopol, in a personal +knowledge of the enemy's movements, such as no officer has displayed. We +have sent him frequently right up to the Russian entrenchments to find +out what new moves they are making." Amid all the excitement of war and +its dangers he never omitted writing to his mother; an example I hope my +readers, if boys, or girls, will studiously copy. He loved his mother +with the passion of his great loving heart. Soldier lads often forget +their mother's influence, their mother's prayers, and their mother's God. +Writing home to his mother he says "We are giving the Redan shells day +and night, in order to prevent the Russians from repairing it and they +repay us by sending amongst us awful missiles of death and destruction, +and it requires one to be very nimble to keep out of their way. I have +now been thirty-four times, twenty-four hours in the trenches; that is +more than a month without any relief whatever, and I assure you it gets +very tedious. Still one does not mind if any advance is being made." + +An eye witness of this bloody work in the trenches and the storming of +the Malakof and the Redan, writes:-- + + "On that terrible 8th of September, every gun and mortar that our + people and our noble allies, the French, could bring to bear upon the + enemy's work, was raining death and destruction upon them. The + stormers had all got into their places. They consisted of about 1,000 + men of the Old Light and 2nd Division; the supports were formed up as + closely as possible to them, and all appeared in readiness. History + may well say, 'the storming of a fortress is an awful task.' There we + stood not a word being spoken; every one seemed to be full of thought; + many a courageous heart, that was destined to be still in death in one + short hour, was now beating high." + + "It was about 11.15 a.m., and our heavy guns were firing in such a way + as I have never heard before. The batteries fired in volleys or + salvoes as fast as they could load and fire, the balls passing a few + feet above our heads, while the air seemed full of shell. The enemy + were not idle; for round shot, shell, grape and musket balls were + bounding and whizzing all about us, and earth and stones were rattling + about our heads like hail. Our poor fellows fell fast, but still our + sailors and artillery men stuck to it manfully. We knew well that + this could not last long, but many a brave soldier's career was cut + short long before we advanced to the attack--strange some of our older + hands were smoking and taking not the slightest notice of this 'dance + of death.' Some men were being carried past dead, and others limping + to the rear with mangled limbs, while their life's blood was streaming + fast away. We looked at each other with amazement for we were now + under a most terrible fire. We knew well it meant death to many of + us. Several who had gone through the whole campaign shook hands + saying, 'This is hot,' 'Good bye, old boy,' 'Write to the old folks + for me if I do not return.' This request was made by many of us. I + was close to one of our Generals, who stood watch in hand, when + suddenly at 12 o'clock mid-day the French drums and bugles sounded the + charge, and with a shout, 'Vive l'Empereur' repeated over and over + again by some 50,000 men, a shout that was enough to strike terror + into the enemy. The French, headed by the Zouaves, sprang forward at + the Malakof like a lot of cats. On they went like a lot of bees, or + rather like the dashing of the waves of the sea against a rock. We + had a splendid view of their operations, it was grand but terrible; + the deafening shouts of the advancing hosts told us they were carrying + all before them." + + "They were now completely enveloped in smoke and fire, but column + after column kept advancing, pouring volley after volley into the + breasts of the defenders. They (the French) meant to have it, let the + cost be what it might. At 12.15 up went the proud flag of France, + with a shout that drowned for a time the roar of both cannon and + musketry. And now came our turn. As soon as the French were seen + upon the Malakof our stormers sprang forward, led by Colonel + Windham--the old Light Division consisting of 300 men of the 90th, + about the same number of the 97th, and about 400 of the 2nd Battalion + Rifle Brigade, and with various detachments of the 2nd and Light + Divisions, and a number of blue jackets, carrying scaling ladders. Our + men advanced splendidly, with a ringing British cheer, although the + enemy poured a terrible fire of grape, canister and musketry into + them, which swept down whole companies at a time. We, the supports, + moved forward to back up our comrades. We advanced as quickly as we + could until we came to the foremost trench, when we leaped the + parapet, then made a rush at the blood stained walls of the Redan. We + had had a clear run of over 200 yards under that murderous fire of + grape, canister and musketry. How any ever lived to pass that 200 + yards seemed a miracle; for our poor fellows fell one on the top of + another; but nothing could stop us but death. On we went shouting + until we reached the redoubt. The fighting inside these works was of + the most desperate character, butt and bayonet, foot and fist; the + enemy's guns were quickly spiked: this struggle lasted about an hour + and a half. It was an awful time, about 3,000 of our brave soldiers + were slain in this short period." Our hero Gordon, tells us that on + the evening of this 8th of September-- + + "I heard most terrific explosions, the earth seemed to be shaken to + its very centre;--It was afterwards discovered the enemy's position + was no longer tenable, so they had fired some 300 tons of gunpowder, + which had blown up all their vast forts and magazines. O! what a + night: many of our poor fellows had been nearly buried in the + _debris_, and burning mass: the whole of Sebastopol was in flames. The + Russians were leaving it helter-skelter--a complete rout, and a heavy + but gloriously-won victory." + +For his acknowledged ability, his fine heroism, and his true loyalty to +his superiors during this most trying campaign, he received the +well-earned decoration of the Legion of Honour from the French +Government, a mark of distinction very rarely conferred upon so young an +officer. + + "God gives us men, a time like that demands. + Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands; + Men whom the lusts of office cannot kill, + Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy, + Men who possess opinions and a will, + Men who have honour, men who never lie." + +We must not leave this part of our story without a brief notice of one +whose name will live in song and story, when this generation shall have +passed away. Many noble English ladies bravely went out to nurse the +suffering soldiers; but in this noble band was one whose name remains a +synonym for kindly sympathy, tenderness and peace--Miss Florence +Nightingale. + +The following lines were written in her praise-- + + "Britain has welcomed home with open hand + Her gallant soldiers to their native land; + But one alone the Nation's thanks did shun, + Though Europe rings with all that she hath done; + For when will shadow on the wall e'er fail, + To picture forth fair Florence Nightingale: + Her deeds are blazoned on the scroll of fame, + And England well may prize her deathless name." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + + "The greatness of a nation depends upon the men it can breed and + rear.--_Froude_. + +The war over and peace duly established, Lieutenant Gordon (for so he was +then) accompanied General Sir Lintorn Simmons to Galatz, where, as +assistant commissioner, he was engaged in fixing the new frontiers of +Russia, Turkey and Roumania. In 1857, when his duties here were +finished, he went with the same officer to Armenia; there, in the same +capacity, he was engaged in laying down the Asiatic frontiers of Russia +and Turkey. When this work was completed he returned home and was +quartered at Chatham, and employed for a time as Field Work Instructor +and Adjutant. In 1860, now holding the rank of Captain, he joined the +Army in China, and was present at the surrender of Pekin; and for his +services he was promoted to the rank of Major. + + + +THE BURNING OF THE SUMMER PALACE. + + +"On the eleventh of October," Gordon relates, "we were sent down in a +hurry to throw up earth works against the City; as the Chinese refused to +give up the gate we demanded their surrender before we could treat with +them. They were also required to give up the prisoners. You will be +sorry to hear the treatment they have suffered has been very bad. Poor +De Norman, who was with me in Asia, is one of the victims. It appears +they were tied so tight by the wrists that the flesh mortified, and they +died in the greatest torture. Up to the time that elapsed before they +arrived at the Summer Palace, they were well treated, but then the ill- +treatment began. The Emperor is supposed to have been there at the time. + +But to go back to the work, the Chinese were given until twelve on the +13th, to give up the gate. We made a lot of batteries, and everything +was ready for assault of the wall, which is a battlement, forty feet +high, but of inferior masonry; at 11.30 p.m., however, the gate was +opened, and we took possession; so our work was of no avail. The Chinese +had then, until the 23rd, to think over our terms of treaty, and to pay +up ten thousand pounds (10,000 pounds) for each Englishman, and five +hundred pounds (500 pounds) for each native soldier who had died during +their captivity. This they did, and the money was paid, and the treaty +signed yesterday. I could not witness it, as all officers commanding +companies were obliged to remain in camp, owing to the ill-treatment the +prisoners experienced at the Summer Palace. The General ordered this to +be destroyed, and stuck up proclamations to say why it was ordered. We +accordingly went out, and after pillaging it, burned the whole +magnificent palace, and destroyed most valuable property, which could not +be replaced for millions of pounds. + +"This Palace" (wrote the author of _Our Own Times_), "covered an area of +many miles. The Palace of Adrian, at Tivoli, might have been hidden in +one of its courts. Gardens, temples, small lodges and pagodas, groves, +grottoes, lakes, bridges, terraces, artificial hills, diversified the +vast space. All the artistic treasures, all the curiosities, +archaeological and other, that Chinese wealth and taste, such as it was, +could bring together." Gordon notes, "This palace, with its surrounding +buildings, over two hundred in number, covered an area eight by ten miles +in extent." He says, "it makes one's heart burn to see such beauty +destroyed; it was as if Windsor Palace, South Kensington Museum, and +British Museum, all in one, were in flames: you can scarcely imagine the +beauty and magnificence of the things we were bound to destroy." + +"These palaces were so large, and we were so pressed for time, that we +could not plunder them carefully. Quantities of gold ornaments were +burned, considered as brass. It was wretchedly demoralizing for an army: +everybody was wild for plunder . . . The throne and room were lined with +ebony, carved in a wonderful manner. There were huge mirrors of all +shapes and sizes, clocks, watches, musical boxes with puppets on them, +magnificent china of every description, heaps and heaps of silks of all +colours, coral screens, large amounts of treasures, etc. The French have +smashed up everything in a most shameful way. It was a scene of utter +destruction which passes my description." This was not much in Gordon's +line. + +In the following year he made a tour on horseback to the outer wall of +China at Kalgan, accompanied by Lieutenant Cardew. A Chinese lad of the +age of fourteen, who knew a little English, acted as their servant and +interpreter, while their personal luggage was conveyed in the Chinese +carts. In the course of this tour we are told they passed through +districts which had never before been visited by any European. At Kalgan +the great wall was seen, with its parapet about twenty-two feet high, and +sixteen feet broad. Both sides were solid brick, each being three times +the size of our English bricks. Gordon writes: "It is wonderful to see +the long line of wall stretching over the hills as far as the eye can +reach." From Kalgan they travelled westwards to Taitong; here they saw +huge caravans of camels laden with tea going towards Russia. Here they +were forced to have the axle trees of their carts widened, for they had +come into a great part of the country where the wheels were set wider +than in the provinces whence they came. Their carts, therefore, no +longer fitted into the deep ruts which had been worn into the terribly +bad roads. The main object of their journey was to find out if there was +in the Inner Wall any pass besides the Tchatiaou which on that side of +the country led from the Russian territory to Pekin. It was not until +they reached Taiyuen that they struck the road that led to Pekin or +Tientsin. + +Their first bit of trouble on this somewhat venturesome tour occurred at +Taiyneu; when the bill was brought for their night's entertainment, they +found it was most exorbitant. They saw they were likely to have trouble, +so they sent on the carts with luggage and waited at this strange +hostelry till they believed they had got well out of the way. Then they +offered what they believed was a reasonable amount in payment of their +bill. It was refused. They then tried to mount their horses but the +people at the Inn stopped them. Major Gordon hereupon drew his revolver +more for show than for use, for he allowed them to take it from him. He +then said, "Let us go to the Mandarin's house." To this consent was +given, and the two wide-awake English officers walked alongside their +horses. On the way Gordon said to his companion "are you ready to +mount?" "Yes" he replied. So they mounted quietly, and went on with the +people. When they reached the Mandarin's, they turned their horses and +galloped off after their carts as fast as they could, having paid what +they believed a reasonable amount for expenses. The people yelled and +rushed after them, but it was too late. Some distance from the place +where they had spent the night they came upon the pass over the mountains +which led down into the country, drained by the great Peiho river. "The +descent" says Gordon, "was terrible, and the cold so intense that raw +eggs were frozen as hard as if they had been boiled half an hour." To +add to their troubles, the carts they had sent on in front had been +attacked by robbers. They, however, with many difficulties managed to +reach Tientsin in safety; their leave of absence had been exceeded by +about fourteen days. In 1862 Major Gordon left for Shanghai under the +orders of Sir Charles Staveley who had been appointed to the command of +the English forces in China. At the very time that England and France +were at war with China, a terrible and far reaching rebellion was laying +waste whole provinces. An article in our London _Daily News_ about this +date said, "But for Gordon the whole Continent of China might have been a +scene of utter and hopeless ruin and devastation." At the date he took +charge of the "ever victorious army," China was in a state of widespread +anarchy and confusion. + +This rebellion which Gordon was here authorized to suppress was called +"The Tai-ping rebellion." Its rise was brought about by a strange +mixture of incredulity and fanaticism, caused by some European Christian +giving away his literature. A village demagogue named Hung-tsne-Shuen +caught the idea, after reading the papers referred to, that he was +inspired; that he was God, King, Emperor, and that he ought to rule; so, +puffed up with pride and insatiable ambition, he began raising an army; +and aimed at nothing less than the usurpation of the "Dragon Throne." +Some thought him mad; but he gathered about him some 20,000 men whom he +had influenced to believe in him as the "Second Celestial Brother," and +gave out he was a seer of visions, a prophet of vengeance and freedom; a +champion of the poor and oppressed; and many were mad enough to believe +him, and thus he raised an army which grew in strength until it reached +some hundreds of thousands strong; he then proclaimed himself the +Heavenly King, The Emperor of the great place; and then with five wangs +or warrior kings, chosen from amongst his kinsmen, he marched through +China, devastating the country, and increasing his army in his progress. + +The most populous, and until now wealthy provinces were soon in his +hands. The silk factories were silent; the Cities were falling into +utter and hopeless desolation: rebellion, war and famine, raged and +reigned supreme. Gordon made them pause! His marvellous power of +organizing and leading men, a power derived from an inflexible, +determined, fearless, and deeply religious temperament, influenced the +Chinese character quickly and powerfully. His very name soon became a +terror to the banded brigands and to all evil doers. An Englishman in +China at the time wrote home and said "The destiny of China is in the +hands of Major Gordon, and if he remains at his post the question will +soon be settled, and peace and quiet will be restored to this +unfortunate, but sorely tried country." + +In all the strange and trying experiences of this Chinese Campaign Gordon +bore himself with a bravery and courage seldom equalled, we think never +surpassed. + +Dr. Guthrie once said, "It is very remarkable, and highly creditable to +the loyalty and bravery of our British soldiers, that, notwithstanding +all the wars in which they have been engaged, no foreign nation to-day +flaunts a British flag as a trophy of its victory and of our defeat. Nor +in the proud pillar raised by the great Napoleon in commemoration of his +many victories--a pillar made of the cannons taken by him in battles, is +there an ounce of metal that belongs to a British gun." The +characteristics of the bravest of our British soldiers were pre-eminently +displayed in Gordon. For-- + + "He holds no party with unmanly fears, + Where duty points he confidently steers: + Faces a thousand dangers at her call, + And trusting in his God surmounts them all." + +His soldierly qualities were very often put to the test in this strange +land. Hung, the leader of this rebellion, had become so popular and made +such marvellous progress that when Gordon had organized his ever +victorious army, Hung had captured Nanking, one of the principal cities, +and made this his capital; and here, under the very shadow of the Chinese +metropolis, he established himself in royal state. His followers were +held together by the force of his religious tenets; they believed in him +as the Lord from Heaven, who would save the suffering minds and give them +a celestial reward. A missionary who was in Nanking, Rev. J. L. Holmes, +gives his impressions of this warlike devotee. "At night (he says) we +witnessed their worship. It occurred at the beginning of their sabbath, +midnight on Friday. The place of worship was the Chung-Wang's private +audience room. He was himself seated in the midst of his attendants, no +females were present. They first sang, or rather chanted; after which a +written prayer was read, then burned by an officer; then they rose and +sang again, then separated. The Chung-wang sent for me before he left +his seat, and asked me if I understood their mode of worship. I replied +I had just seen it for the first time. He explained that the Tien-wang +had been to the celestial world and had seen the Great God and obtained a +revelation! &c. . . . As the day dawned we started for the Palace of the +Tien-wang. The procession was headed by a number of brilliantly coloured +banners, after which followed a troop of armed soldiers; then came the +Chung-wang in a large sedan, covered with yellow satin and embroidery, +and borne by eight coolies. Music of a peculiar kind added to the scene, +as the curious sightseers lined the streets on either side, who probably +never saw such a sight before. Reaching the "Morning Palace," we were +presented to the Tsau-wang and his son with several others including the +Tien-wang's two brothers, who were seated in a deep recess over the +entrance of which was written "Illustrious Heavenly Door." In another +place was "Holy Heavenly Gate," from which a boy of about fourteen made +his appearance and took his place with the royal group; then they +proceeded with their religious ceremonies again: this time kneeling with +their faces to the Tien-wang's seat. Then they sang in a standing +position. A roast pig and the body of a goat were lying with other +articles on tables in the outer court, and a fire was kept burning on a +stone altar in the front of the Tien-wang's seat. Afterwards, says the +missionary, I was led through a number of rooms and courts to see Chung- +wang privately. I was brought into one of his private sitting-rooms, +where he sat clothed loosely in white silk, with a red kerchief round his +head, and a jewel in front. He was seated in an easy chair, and fanned +by a pretty slipshod girl. He asked me to a seat beside him and +questioned me about a map he had seen with parallel lines running each +way, said to have been made by foreigners, asked me to explain what it +was. He also showed me a musical-box and a spy-glass, asking many +questions. From all I could learn by my visit to this pretender there +was nothing in their religion to elevate, but everything to degrade. With +them to rob and murder were virtuous deeds. "Slay the imps" was their +watchword. Gordon found in this fanatic a foe of no mean order. But he +soon found too that courage and faith in God had done and would still +lead to victory. In a letter home he says--"I am afraid you will be much +vexed at my having taken the command of the Sung-kiang force, and that I +am now a mandarin. I have taken the step on consideration. I think that +any one who contributes to putting down this rebellion fulfils a human +task, and also tends a great deal to open China to civilization. I will +not act rashly, and I trust to be able soon to return to England; at the +same time I will remember your and my father's wishes, and endeavour to +remain as short a time as possible. I can say that if I had not accepted +the command I believe the force would have been broken up and the +rebellion gone on in its misery for years. I trust this will not now be +the case, and that I may soon be able to comfort you on this subject. You +must not fret about me, I think I am doing a good service . . . I keep +your likeness before me, and can assure you and my father that I will not +be rash, and that as soon as I can conveniently, and with due regard to +the object I have in view, I will come home." + +Gordon had hardly yet realized the difficulties and dangers which beset +him. His troops were undisciplined and largely composed of all +nationalities. Men bent on plunder, and exceedingly numerous; about +120,000 men. Gordon's appointment as Chief in Command of the "Ever +Victorious Army" proved to be a wise and good one for China. + +Colonel Chesney thus writes:--"If General Staveley had made a mistake in +the operations he personally conducted the year before, he more than +redeemed it by the excellence of his choice of Gordon. This strange army +was made up of French, Germans, Americans, Spaniards, some of good and +some of bad character, but in their chief they had one whose courage they +were bound to admire, and whose justice they could not help but admit. +The private plundering of vanquished towns and cities allowed under their +former chief, disappeared under the eye of a leader whose eye was as +keen, as his soul was free from the love of filthy lucre. They, however, +learned to respect and love a general in whose kindness, valour, skill, +and justice they found cause unhesitatingly to confide; who never spared +himself personal exposure when danger was near. In every engagement, and +these numbered more than seventy, he was to the front and led in person. +His somewhat undisciplined army, had in it many brave men; but even such +men were very reluctant at times to face these desperate odds. Whenever +they showed signs of vacillation he would take one of the men by the arm, +and lead him into the very thick of the fight. He always went unarmed +even when foremost in the breach. He never saw danger. A shower of +bullets was no more to him than a shower of hailstones; he carried one +weapon only, and that was a little cane, which won for itself the name of +"Gordon's magic wand." On one occasion when leading a storming party his +men wavered under a most withering fire. Gordon coolly turned round and +waving his cane, bade his men follow him. The soldiers inspired by his +courage, followed with a tremendous rush and shout, and at once grandly +carried the position. After the capture of one of the Cities, Gordon was +firm in not allowing them to pillage, sack and burn such places; and for +this some of his men showed a spirit of insubordination. His artillery +men refused to fall in when ordered; nay more, they threatened to turn +upon him their guns and blow him and his officers to pieces. This news +was conveyed to him by a written declaration. His keen eye saw through +their scheme at a glance, and with that quiet determination which was his +peculiar strength, he summoned them into his presence and with a firmness +born of courage and faith in God, he declared that unless the ringleader +of this movement was given up, one out of every five would be shot! At +the same time he stepped to the front and with his own hand seized one of +the most suspicious looking of the men, dragged him out, and ordered him +to be shot on the spot at once, the order was instantly carried out by an +officer. After this he gave them half an hour to reconsider their +position at the end of which he found them ready to carry out any order +he might give. It transpired afterwards that the man who was shot was +the ringleader in this insubordination." + +When Gordon had broken the neck of this far-reaching and disastrous +rebellion, and had restored to the Emperor of China the principal cities +and towns in peace, the London _Times_ wrote of him:--"Never did a +soldier of fortune deport himself with a nicer sense of military honour, +with more gallantry against the resisting, with more mercy towards the +vanquished, with more disinterested neglect of opportunities of personal +advantage, or with more entire devotion to the objects and desires of the +Government he served, than this officer, who, after all his splendid +victories, has just laid down his sword." + +Before leaving China he was offered a very large reward in cash, as it +was acknowledged on all hands he had saved the Empire more than 5,000,000 +pounds sterling. All money he refused; he, however, asked that some of +it might be given to the troops, who had served him on the whole with +great loyalty, and this was granted. A gold medal was struck in honour +of his marvellous achievements, and this he accepted and brought home; +but it was soon missing. He thought more of the starving poor than of +any medal; so he sold it, and sent the cash it realized to the Lancashire +Cotton Operatives, who were then literally starving. The Imperial Decree +of China conferred upon him the rank of "Ti-tu," the very highest honour +ever conferred upon a Chinese subject. Also the "Peacock's feather," +"The Order of the Star," and the "Yellow Jacket." By these he was +constituted one of the "Emperor's Body Guard." In a letter home he says, +"I shall leave China as poor as I entered it, but with the knowledge that +through my weak instrumentality from eighty to one hundred thousand lives +have been saved. Than this I covet no greater satisfaction." + +Before he left China, as a proof of the estimation in which he was held, +a grand illuminated address was presented to him, signed by more than +sixty of the leading firms of the Empire, and by most of the bankers and +merchants of the cities of Pekin, Shanghai, and of the principal towns +throughout China. + +It read thus:--"Honoured Sir,--On the eve of your departure to your +native country, we, the undersigned, mostly fellow-countrymen of your +own, but also representing other nationalities, desire to express to you +our earnest wish for a successful voyage and happy return to your friends +and the land of your birth. + +"Your career during your stay amongst us has been, so far as we know, +without a parallel in the history of foreign nations with China; and we +feel that we should be alike wanting towards you and towards ourselves, +were we to pass by this opportunity without expressing our appreciation +and admiration of the line of conduct which you personally have pursued. +In a position of unequalled difficulty, and surrounded by complications +of every conceivable nature, you have succeeded in offering to the eyes +of the Chinese Empire, no less by your loyal and thoroughly disinterested +line of action than by your conspicuous gallantry and talent for +organization and command, the example of a foreign officer, serving the +government of this country, with honourable fidelity and undeviating self- +respect. + +{Chinese Gordon: p45.jpg} + +"Once more wishing you a prosperous voyage, and a long career of +usefulness and success." + +Signed, &c. + +There is truth in this as applied to Gordon:-- + + "He strove not for the wealth of fame, + From heaven the power that moved him came. + And welcome as the mountain air, + The voice that bid him do and dare. + Onward he bore and battled still + With a most firm enduring will, + His only hope to win the prize + Laid up for him beyond the skies." + +The Emperor wished the British Minister to bring before the notice of Her +Majesty the Queen of England his appreciation of the splendid services +which Gordon had rendered. He hoped that he would be rewarded in England +as well as in China for his heroic achievements. + +A subsequent letter in the _Times_ said that Prince Kung, who was then +the Regent of China, had waited upon Sir Frederick Bruce, and said to +him, "You will be astonished to see me again, but I felt I could not +allow you to leave without coming to see you about Gordon. We do not +know what to do. He will not receive money from us, and we have already +given him every honour which it is in the power of the Emperor to bestow; +but as these are of little value in his eyes, I have brought you this +letter, and I ask you to give it to the Queen of England that she may +bestow on him some reward which would be more valuable in his eyes." + +Sir Frederick Bruce sent this to London with a letter of his own:--"I +enclose translation of a despatch from Prince Kung, containing the decree +published by the Emperor, acknowledging the services of Gordon and +requesting that Her Majesty's Government be pleased to recognise him. +Gordon well deserves the favours of your Majesty for the skill and +courage he has shown, his disinterestedness has elevated our national +character in the eyes of the Chinese. Not only has he refused any +pecuniary reward, but he has spent more than his pay in contributing to +the comforts of the officers who served under him, and in assuaging the +distress of the starving population whom he relieved from the yoke of +their oppressors." + +It does not appear that this letter was ever sent to the Queen, or +noticed by the Government, and so the heroic deeds of a man of whom any +nation might justly be proud, were forgotten. + + + +CHAPTER III. + + + "We are to relieve the distressed, to put the wanderer into his way, + and to share our bread with the hungry, which is but the doing good to + others."--SENECA. + +Our hero having returned to his native land, and to settle for a little +while at the quiet town of Gravesend, refused to be lionized, and he +begged that no publication of his deeds of daring and devotion in China, +should be recorded. His quiet life here as an engineer was not less +remarkable, though of a different kind, than life in China had been. +Here, however, he spent the energies of his spare time, to the services +of the poor. At this juncture I was privileged to come in contact with +this remarkable man, in the great city of Manchester, where for a few +months, he was employed on some Governmental Commission. Like his Master +Christ--he went about doing good. My position at this time was an agent, +or scripture reader for "The Manchester City Mission." Gordon found his +way to the office and saw the chairman of the mission, and from him got +permission to accompany one of the missioners round his district. He +expressed his desire to go round one of the poorest districts of the +city; as it might afford him an opportunity of seeing for himself some of +the social blots and scars in our national life; also of giving some +practical help to the deserving poor. My district was such an one as +would furnish him with the opportunities to satisfy him in that +particular, and I was therefore asked to allow Col. Gordon to accompany +me to its squalid scenes, to my Ragged School, cottage and open-air +services, and to the sick and suffering, of which I had many on my list. +This request was gladly complied with; for the first sight of the +stranger made me love and trust him. + +And now the hero of so many battles fought for freedom and liberty, was +to witness scenes of warfare of a very different kind. War, it is true, +but not where there are garments rolled in blood and victims slain; but +war with the powers of darkness, war between good and evil, truth and +error, light and darkness. We went together into the lowest slums of the +district; walked arm in arm over the ground where misery tells its sad +and awful tale, where poverty shelters its shivering frame, and where +blasphemy howls its curse. We found out haunts of vice and sin, terrible +in their character, and distressing in their consequences. I found he +had not hitherto been accustomed to this kind of mission. Once on my +entering a den of dangerous characters and lecturing them on their sinful +course and warning them in unmistakable words of the consequences, he +afterwards said: "I could not have found courage of the kind you show in +this work; yet I never was considered lacking in courage on the field of +battle. When in the Crimea, I was sent frequently and went on hands and +knees through the fall of shells and the whizz of bullets right up to the +Russian walls to watch their movements, and I never felt afraid; I +confess I need courage to warn men of sin and its dangerous +consequences." He met me, for a time almost daily, well supplied with +tracts, which I noticed he used as a text for a few words of advice, or +comfort, or warning as the case required, but he invariably left a silver +coin between the leaves; this I think was a proof he was sincere in his +efforts to do good. Along Old Millgate, and around the Cathedral, at +that time, were numerous courts and alleys, obscure, often filthy, dark +and dangerous; down or up these he accompanied me; up old rickety +staircases, into old crumbling ruins of garrets he followed without +hesitation. + +{C. G. Gordon: p51.jpg} + +At the bedside of the dying prodigal or prostitute he would sit with +intense interest, pointing them to Him who casts out none. In our house +to house visitation he would sit down and read of the Saviour's love, +making special reference to those that are poor in this world, assuring +them it was for the outcast and the forsaken, and the lost, that Jesus +came to die. He would kneel down for prayer by a broken chair or the +corner of a slop-stone, or by the wash-tub, and with the simplicity of a +child, address in tender and touching petition, the Great Father of all +in Heaven, while tears chased each other down his sun-tanned face; his +great soul going out with his prayer for Heaven's blessing on the +helpless poor. + +His sympathy was tender as a child's, and his beneficence as liberal as +the best of Christian's can be. He often came and took tea with me in my +quiet home, where we had many very interesting interviews, and where we +conversed on subjects varied but mostly religious; he rarely referred to +his military achievements; when he did so it was with the greatest self +abnegation and humility. He would say, "No honour belongs to me, I am +only the instrument God uses to accomplish his purpose." I introduced +him to my ragged school; this to him was a most interesting scene of +work, and he volunteered to give us some of his time and service; and to +see him with 20 or 30 of these ragged lads about him was to say the +least, full of interest. He, however, had the happy art of getting at +their heart at once; by incidents, stories and experiences, which +compelled attention and confidence. In a very short time he won the +esteem and the love of every lad in the school. To some of these lads he +became specially attached, and for some time after he left Manchester he +kept up with me, and with several of the lads, also with some of my +colleagues on the mission--a very interesting correspondence. Happily, I +have preserved a good number of these letters, and they show the spirit +and motive of that noble soul, more than any poor words of mine can do. + + Letter. + + GRAVESEND, + _June 19th_, _1869_. + + "My Dear Mr. Wardle.--My long silence has not been because I had + forgot you and your kind reception of me; but because secular work has + so completely taken up my time of late. I was glad to hear of you . . + . . and of the Dark Lane (ragged school) lads. I often wish I could + go down with you and see them; I often think of them. I wish I could + help them, but it is only by prayer that I can now benefit them. I + loved them very much, and look forward to the time when our weary + march, dogged by our great foe will be ended; and we meet for ever in + our Heavenly home. I remember them all, Jones, Carr, &c., &c., and I + often think of their poor young faces which must soon get deepened + into wrinkles with sorrow and care. Thank God we go like Israel of + old, after a new home; we cannot find our rest here! Day by day we + are, little as we may think it, a day's march nearer, till someday we + shall perhaps unexpectedly reach it." + + Good bye, my dear Mr. Wardle, + Yours sincerely, + C. H. GORDON. + + "Kind regards to _my_ lads." + +Gordon was deeply moved by the sights of poverty and distress around him; +this was shown by the dress and appearance of the factory hands. He was +especially struck by the clatter of the clogs--the Lancashire cotton +operative's foot gear. + +To his Sister he wrote:-- + + MANCHESTER, + _September 21st_, _1867_. + + "Your heart would bleed to see the poor people, though they say there + is no distress such as there was some time ago; they are indeed like + sheep having no shepherd, but, thank God, though they look forlorn, + they have a watchful and pitying eye upon them. It does so painfully + affect me, and I do trust will make me think less of self, and more of + these poor people. Little idea have the rich of other countries of + the scenes in these parts. It does so make me long for that great day + when He will come and put all things straight. + + How long, O Lord, how long! + + I have but little time to write by this post, so will say no more + about that. I have less confidence in the flesh than ever, thank God, + though it is a painful struggle and makes one long for the time when, + this our earthly tabernacle, shall be dissolved; but may His will be + done. If there is sin and misery, there is One who over-rules all + things for good; we must be patient. The poor scuttlers here, male + and female, fill me with sorrow. They wear wooden clogs, a sort of + sabot, and make such a noise. Good-bye, and may God manifest Himself + in all His power to all of you, and make you to rejoice with joy + unspeakable. If we think of it, the only thing which makes the + religion of our Lord Jesus Christ differ from that of every other + religion, or profession, is this very indwelling of God the Holy Ghost + in our bodies; we can do nothing good; Christ says, "Without me, ye + can do nothing." You are dead in trespasses and sins, you are + corpses, and must have life put in you, and that life is God Himself, + who dwells in us, and shows us the things of Christ." + + C. G. GORDON. + +Letter. No. 2. + + "My Dear Mr. Wardle,--I had a nice letter the other day from one of my + lads, Carr, whom I hope you will look after, as well as all the rest. + I have often thought of you all. Keep the "Tongue of Fire," {57} + before you, and you will have great joy. I have thought much lately + on the subject of God dwelling in us, and speaking through us. We are + only witnesses, not judges; the Gospel is:--God loves you: not--Do you + love God. The one is a witness, the other an inquiry which is not to + be made by man of his fellow man, for it is impossible for man to love + God unless he first feels and knows that God loves him. Our fault is, + want of Charity one towards another. We do not go down to the poor + lost sinner, but ask him to do what of himself he cannot do, viz., + come up to us. What ought to be always floating in our proud hearts + is:--'Who made thee to differ.' + + Kind regards to all my friends. + Never forgotten, or to be forgotten. + Yours truly, + C. G. GORDON." + +Letter. No. 3. + + "My Dear Mr. Wardle, I send you 'Jukes on Genesis' and on the 'Four + Gospels.' I have to send you his work on 'The Offerings in + Leviticus,' and also Macintosh's 'Genesis and Exodus.' I am sure you + will enjoy them. I cut Genesis up so as to lend it about; I hope you + won't mind my having used them, and marked some papers. I hope D.V. + to see you Monday evening, and with kind regards. + + Believe me yours sincerely in Christ, + C. G. GORDON." + +Gordon was intensely and deeply religious; it was in him certainly "as a +well of water springing up into everlasting life." He could talk of +nothing else, in whatever company, it was the same theme--"Christ in you +the hope of glory." A favourite text of his was 1. John, chap. 4, ver. +15--"Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth +in him, and he in God." This he took as a text for a little homily which +he printed and circulated by thousands. After the above head-line, in +special type, it ran thus:--"Reader! Do you confess that Jesus is the +Son of God? Do you believe in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God? +If you do then God dwells in you to-day. Whatever you are, whatever you +have been, or have done,--and if you ask Him, 'O Lord, I believe that +Jesus is the Son of God; show me, for His sake, that Thou livest in me.' +He will make you feel His presence in your hearts, and will make you feel +perfectly happy, which you cannot be in any other way. Many believe +sincerely that Jesus is the Son of God, but are not happy, because they +do not believe THAT which God tells them--that He lives in them both in +body and soul, transforming the whole man into the likeness of Jesus +Christ, if they confess Jesus to be His son. Do you believe this +statement? If you do, yet do not feel God's presence, ask Him to show +Himself to you, and He will surely do so." + +After this homily, on the same tract, were the following passages of +Scripture:-- + + Luke, chap. 2, v. 13. "If ye then being evil, know how to give good + gifts to your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give + the Holy Spirit to them that ask." + + Rom., chap. 10, v. 9. "If thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord + Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from + the dead, thou shalt be saved." + + I. Cor., chap. 3, v. 16. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, + and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you." + + I. Cor., chap. 6, v. 19. "Know ye not that your body is the temple of + the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not + your own." + + II. Cor., chap. 6, v. 16. "Ye are the temple of the living God; as + God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be + their God, and they shall be my people." + +The tone and spirit of this tract, is the kernel, if I may say so, of his +deepest religious convictions. + +He gave me a number of New Testaments for distribution, as he did also to +one or two others of our missioners. The following letter accompanies +the parcel:-- + + "My dear Mr. Wardle,--I have sent thirty Testaments for you and thirty + for Mr. Fielden. Will you kindly oblige by marking in each the + following passages, viz.:-- + + Matt. chap. 2, V. 28, 29. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are + heavy laden, and I will give you rest." + + "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in + heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls." + + Gal. ch. 5, v., 19., 25. "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, + which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanliness, lasciviousness, + idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, + seditions, heresies, 21. Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, + and such like; of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you + in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the + Kingdom of God." 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, + peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23. Meekness, + temperance; against such there is no law. 42. And they that are + Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If + we live in the spirit, let us walk in the spirit." + + Also I John ch. 4, v. 15. "Whosoever shall confess, etc." + +He also published a little work entitled "Christ and His members; or the +in-dwelling of God, the root of faith in Christ." One or two quotations +may be sufficient to show the nature or scope of the work, a copy now +lies before me. + +"Belief or faith in Jesus being the Son of God, is the distinguishing +spiritual mark of the members of Christ's body; it is a fruit which +springs from a root, or source, from which it is sustained, and +increased. This root is the indwelling of God the Holy Ghost in the +soul. This indwelling gives faith or belief in the fact that even as the +sun gives light, or the fire gives warmth, and as there can be no warmth +without fire, and no light without the sun, neither can there be any +belief in Jesus, without the indwelling of God in the soul." + +He wrote me from Liverpool as follows: + + "My dear Mr. Wardle, do not forget to take the Testaments on Tuesday + night. I always carry some with me, and always regret if I am taken + by surprise, and have not any. + + Read and delight in "The tongue of fire," especially the first four or + five chapters. If a man would be the instrument of winning souls to + his Lord, it is utterly impossible for him to do so except through and + by the Holy Ghost. He must be loving the praise of God, more than + that of man. He must be humble, mean spirited it is called by many; + even sometimes by his friends: and he can only be mean spirited by + living near God. Let a man live distant from God, who is light, and + he will not think he is so bad, but will think himself a little better + than others, but let him live near God, and as he lives near Him he + will feel himself worse than the worst; such is the power of the + glorious light . . . . Goodbye; kind regards to all. + + Yours sincerely, C. G. GORDON." + +Another letter from Gravesend. + + Nov. 24, 1868. + + "My dear Mr. Wardle, I thank you for your kind note. I send you 500 + leaflets, kindly give them to the boys and girls of Buxton. The + servant forgot to pay the carriage, so I send a small sum which I hope + will cover it. I hear now and then of the Dark Lane Ragged School, + from Mr. James Johnson, who kindly writes now and then. I will write + (D.V.) again shortly. Kind regards. + + Yours sincerely + C. G. GORDON." + +Again he writes from Gravesend. + + "My Dear Mr. Wardle, I hope you have not forgotten me, for I have not + done so to you, but I am sure you are very busy, and hard worked . . . + . Will you thank Fielden for his kind note and remember me to his + wife and brother. Tell him I was very glad to hear of two of my boys, + English and Hogg. + + I often would like to look in and see you and the lads at _Dark Lane_, + {63} and all my poor old sick folk I used to visit. Remember me to + them all. + + I do not see my way to come down yet awhile, for we have all our leave + stopped. Excuse me for I have my hands full of work. Believe me, my + dear Mr. Wardle. + + Yours sincerely + C. G. GORDON." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + + "In the love of a brave and faithful man, there is always a strain of + maternal tenderness; he gives out again those beams of protecting + fondness, which were shed on him as he lay upon his mother's + knee."--GEO. ELLIOTT. + +A son of one of our missionaries (J. Johnson) says of Gordon "he was one +of the most unassuming and gentle men I ever met; and I well remember his +saintly conversation, as he sat at tea with us. I also remember, (though +only a youth) being struck with his humility, especially for one of his +rank and profession. He generally had on a well worn greyish overcoat, +the side pockets of which gaped somewhat with constant usage for into +them he would cram a large number of tracts and sally forth in company +with me or another of the missionaries, or as sometimes happened he went +alone, drop a tract here or there and speak a seasonable word. He spoke +to me as a youth, as some of our saintly old pastors used to do to the +children of the penniless where they stayed. He wrote me occasionally. A +specimen I herewith append." + +Letter to Mr. Johnson, junr.: + + "My dear J. . . . since we had a few words together you have not been + out of my mind for any length of time together, and I was very glad to + hear of you to-day from your father. God acts in mysterious ways and + He gave me comfort concerning you on that evening. Trust Him with all + thine heart. He says (He who cannot lie) He lives in you if you + believe that Jesus is the Son of God. His word is truth whatever may + be our feelings, which change as the clouds. You are my dear friend, + saved not on account of your feelings, but because our blessed Lord + loved you unto death, and has washed you in His own blood . . . . I + will not write more than express my hope that He who has begun a good + work may perfect it. Yea he surely will, for He says He will perfect + that which concerneth us--make you useful in His service. May He + strengthen you to fight the good fight of faith, and give you that + crown of glory which fadeth not away; I am very sure He will. May His + will be done on this poor sorrowing world, for the longer we live the + more fleeting are its glories. Good-bye, my dear young friend. + Believe me + + Yours sincerely + C. G. GORDON." + +Also a further letter to Mr. Johnson. This was written during my illness +and leave of absence from duty-- + + "My dear Mr. Johnson, I have received your letter with many thanks. I + am so much obliged for your letting me know of MY LADS, and have + written to them a few lines. I wish sometimes I was with you. I like + your quiet earnestness; there is little of that here, and I like the + work; I have also said a few words to your son; the Holy Ghost is the + teacher for Him, and will not leave His work till he is happy. + + I hope Mr. Wardle is improving in health. "And he shall sit as a + refiner and purifier of silver." Silver is spoilt if heated too much, + therefore the refiner sits watching; until it is purified when the + refiner sees his image reflected in its surface; so with us, our Lord + will see that we are not too much heated, only just enough to reflect + His image. Will you thank Mr. Fielden for his kind letter, I quite + feel for his trials in that district, but he has a fellow helper and + worker in his kind Lord who feels for him and will support him through + all. Give my kind regard to Spence, your wife and son, and to all my + friends. + + And believe me my dear Mr. Johnson, + + Yours sincerely, + C. G. GORDON." + +Mr. Johnson writes:-- + + "One evening after I had been observing his patient endurance and + perseverance with one of the reckless, insolent lads as we left the + school, I, in a quiet pleasant way remarked "I fear Colonel, your + Christian work in Dark Lane Ragged School will never get the fame and + applause from this world that your military achievements in China have + lately secured for you." + + "My dear Sir," he replied "If I can but be the means in the hands of + God of leading any of these precious sons to Jesus, I must place that + amongst the most glorious trophies of my life, and to hear the Master + at last say 'Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these, + ye have done it unto Me,' will be to me a resplendent undying glory + when so many of earth's fleeting honours have tarnished." + + "It is impossible (says Lord Blatchford about General Gordon) to + imagine a man more completely in the presence of God, or more + absolutely careless of his own distinction, comfort, wealth or life. A + man unreservedly devoted to the cause of the oppressed. One bows + before him as before a man of a superior order of things." Mr. + Boulger says, "There will never be another Gordon." Sir William + Butler said of him, "He was unselfish as Sydney; of courage, dauntless + as Wolfe; of honour, stainless as Outram; of sympathy, wide-reaching + as Drummond; of honesty, straightforward as Napier; of faith, as + steadfast as Moore." + +We believe Gordon answered to all these encomiums and well deserved them. + +Edgmont Hake, writing of him says:--"He lived wholly for others; his home +at Gravesend was school, hospital, church, and almshouse all in one. His +work more like that of a Home missionary than of a military officer. The +troubles of all interested him alike, but he had a warm corner in his +heart for lads." This will be seen from letters produced. Many of the +lads he rescued from the slums and gutters; he cleaned them, clothed +them, fed them, and gave them shelter and home, sometimes for weeks and +even longer. He taught in the evenings lessons suitable to their +conditions; not forgetting the moral and spiritual side of his work. And +he did this work without fee or reward, and he did it with all his heart. +He was as enthusiastic about this duty as he was about his military +duties. He called these lads "_His kings_." + +Leigh Hunt's ideal of a king describes very closely Gordon's ideal:-- + + "'Tis not the wealth that makes a king + Nor the purple colouring, + Nor a brow that's bound with gold, + Nor gate on mighty hinges rolled; + That king is he who void of fear, + Can look abroad with bosom clear, + Who can tread ambition down, + Nor be swayed by smile nor frown, + Nor for all the treasure cares, + That mine conceals or harvest wears, + Or that golden sands deliver, + Bosomed on a glassy river, + Safe with wisdom for his crown, + He looks on all things calmly down, + He has no fear of earthly thing, + This is it that makes a king, + And all of us who e'er we be + May carve us out such royalty." + +On one occasion a lad in the employ of a Gravesend tradesman was +discovered to have been pilfering on a somewhat serious scale. When the +fact was proved beyond question, the master declared he would have the +boy punished by imprisonment. The mother of the boy, hearing of this sad +affair, was almost broken-hearted, and at her wit's end. Someone who had +heard of Gordon's love for lads, also his intense desire to help all in +trouble, suggested that she should see him and explain her case. So, +with all a mother's earnestness, she went at once to Gordon and told him +the whole story, and begged with tears for his sympathy and help. After +hearing the story his heart was touched, he could not refuse a mother's +appeal. When a mother pleads, there is power and pathos difficult for +any to withstand, much less Gordon. So he went to the lad's late +employer, and after considerable argument, the master undertook not to +prosecute, but only on condition that Gordon would personally undertake +to look after the lad himself, for one year at least. This Gordon +promised, and he took the boy to his own home, sent him to a good school +at his own expense for the year; then he got him a good situation on +board one of Her Majesty's vessels. That lad became a man of honour and +respectability, secured good situations, won for himself a good +character, and the mother and the sailor boy in their heart often blessed +Gordon, who saved the boy from prison, ruin and disgrace, and the mother +from a broken heart. His rescue work amongst boys was work he loved +supremely, in it he found his highest joys. His pleasures were not +secured where many seek them, viz., at the theatre, at the +gambling-house, at the racecourse, at the public-house, or in +accumulating wealth, or in winning renown and glory--these were nothing +to Gordon. To save a fallen lad, was to him the highest gratification; +in this work he was very successful. + +Many a rescued lad was he able to restore to his home and to society, and +to the world. For many of these lads he was able to secure situations on +board ship. To show his interest in them when away he had a large map on +his study wall, in this map were pins in very many places. These, he +told a visitor, showed the position of the ships on which his lads were +located; and he moved the pins as the ships moved and prayed for each boy +from day to day. The workhouse and the infirmary were places he used to +visit, and his visits were remembered by the inmates, as all the fruits +and flowers he could grow were given to these places and to the sick and +poor whom he visited. Very often the dying sent for him in preference to +a clergyman, and he was, if at home, always ready; no matter what the +weather or what the distance. His works were essentially works of +charity, and these were not done to be seen of men. He was one of the +humblest men I ever met. He would not occupy the chair at a meeting or +even go on to the platform. Once I remember he addressed a gathering +after tea of those who had been rescued and who were likely to be useful +to others, but he would not be lionised or praised. He would say, "No; I +am but the instrument: the praise belongs to God." His spirit was the +fruitful cause of all the work he did. + + "Give me that lowest place, + Not that I dare ask for that lowest place. + But Thou hast died that I might share + Thy glory by Thy side. + Give me that lowest place, or if for me + That lowest place too high + Make one more low, where I may sit + And see my God; and love Thee so." + +He recognised "that pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is +this, to visit the fatherless, and the widows in their affliction, and to +keep unspotted from the world." This kindled his enthusiasm, influenced +his chivalrous character, and we think had largely to do with his +success. To know him was to know a Christian, a Christlike man--God's +man. + +With Job (ch. 29, verses 11, 12, etc.) he could say truly-- + + "When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; when the eye saw me, it + gave witness to me. Because I delivered the poor that cried and the + fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him + that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart + to sing for joy. I was eyes to the blind and feet was I to the lame. + I was a father to the poor, and the cause which I knew not I searched + out." + +He could truly say + + "I live for those that love me: + For those that know me true; + For the heaven that smiles above me + And waits my coming too. + For the cause that needs assistance, + For the wrong that needs resistance. + For the future in the distance, + And for the good that I can do." + +Upon his removal from Gravesend in 1873 a local newspaper writing of his +removal, and deploring his loss, said--"Our readers will hear with regret +of the departure of Colonel Gordon from the town, in which he has resided +for six years; gaining a name for the most exquisite charity that will +long be remembered. Nor will he be less missed than remembered, for in +the lowest walks of life he has been so unwearied in well-doing that his +departure will be felt as a terrible calamity. His charity was essential +charity, having its root in deep philanthropic feeling and goodness, and +always shunning the light of publicity." Many were the friends who +grieved over his departure from Gravesend, for they ne'er would look upon +his like again. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + + "If a man do not erect in this age his own tomb e'er he dies, he shall + live no longer in monuments than the bell rings and his widow + weeps."--SHAKESPEARE. + +A new chapter now opens in our story of Gordon. Sir Samuel Baker had +resigned the honoured position of Governor General of the Soudan. Gordon +was selected as the man who, of all others, was most suitable for such an +appointment. Our Government acquiesced in the Khedive's offer of this +post to Gordon, so he accepted the responsible position. + +The Khedive offered him, it is stated, a salary 10,000 pounds per annum; +this, however, he refused to accept. He said "Your Majesty I cannot +accept it, as I should look upon it as the life's blood wrung out of +those poor people over whom you wish me to rule." "Name your own terms +then," said the Khedive. "Well," replied Gordon, "2,000 pounds per annum +I think will keep body and soul together, what should I require more than +this for." About the close of the year 1873 he left his country and +loved ones behind him, for that lone sad land, with its ancient history. +We think Gordon played such a part that his name will be honourably +associated with Egypt, and remembered from generation to generation. + +I am indebted to the author of _Gordon in Central Africa_ for the +following abstract of the Khedive's final instructions to Col. Gordon, +dated Feb. 16th, 1874. + + "The province which Colonel Gordon has undertaken to organise and to + govern is but little known. Up to the last few years, it had been in + the hands of adventurers who had thought of nothing but their own + lawless gains, and who had traded in ivory and slaves. They + established factories and governed them with armed men. The + neighbouring tribes were forced to traffic with them whether they + liked it or not. The Egyptian Government, in the hope of putting an + end to this inhuman trade had taken the factories into their own + hands, paying the owners an indemnification. + + Some of these men, nevertheless, had been still allowed to carry on + trade in the district, under a promise that they would not deal in + slaves. They had been placed under the control of the Governor of the + Soudan. His authority, however, had scarcely been able to make itself + felt in these remote countries. The Khedive had resolved therefore to + form them into a separate government, and to claim as a monopoly of + the State, the whole of the trade with the outside world. There was + no other way of putting an end to the slave trade which at present was + carried on by force of arms in defiance of law. When once brigandage + had become a thing of the past, and when once a breach had been made + in the lawless customs of long ages, then trade might be made free to + all. If the men who had been in the pay of adventurers were willing + to enter the service of the Government, Col. Gordon was to make all + the use of them he could. If on the other hand they attempted to + follow their old course of life, whether openly or secretly, he was to + put in force against them to the utmost severity of martial law. Such + men as these must find in the Governor neither indulgence, nor mercy. + The lesson must be made clear even in those remote parts that a mere + difference of colour does not turn men into wares, and that life and + liberty are sacred things." + +Another object of the new Governor should be to establish a line of posts +through all his provinces, so that from one end to the other they might +be brought into direct communication with Khartoum. Those posts should +follow, as far as was possible, the line of the Nile; but for a distance +of seventy miles the navigation of that river was hindered by rapids. He +was to search out the best way of overcoming this hindrance, and to make +a report thereon to the Khedive. + +In dealing with the _Chieftains_ of the tribes which dwelt on the shores +of the lakes, the Governor was above all to try to win their confidence. +He must respect their territory, and conciliate them by presents, and +whatever influence he gains over them, he must use in the endeavour to +persuade them to put an end to the wars, which they so often make on each +other in the hope of carrying off slaves. Much tact would be needed, for +should he succeed in stopping the slave trade, while wars were still +waged among the chiefs, it might well come to pass that, for want of a +market, the prisoners would, in such a case, be slaughtered. Should he +find it needful to exercise a real control over any of these tribes, it +will be better to leave to the chieftains the direct government. Their +obedience must be secured by making them dread his power. + +He made the journey to Khartoum without any mishap or serious difficulty, +reaching there in May, 1874, and was installed in office on the fifth. A +royal salute from the government house guns was fired in honour of this +event; the new Governor-General was, of course, expected to make a +speech, after the order of his predecessors. But all he said was, "With +the help of God I will hold the balance level." This was received with +the greatest enthusiasm, for it evidently pleased the people more than if +he had addressed them for an hour. His attention was soon directed +towards the poverty-stricken and helpless people all around him. He +caused special enquiries to be made; then he began to distribute his +gifts of charity to all who he believed were really in need; and in three +days he had given away one thousand pounds of his first year's salary. He +had not been long in the Soudan before he realized the tremendous +responsibilities he had assumed; and with all his strength of character, +and his trust in his Almighty, ever-present Friend, it is not to be +wondered at that when alone in the trackless desert, with the results of +ages of wrong-doing before him, this man of heroic action and indomitable +spirit sometimes gave way to depression and murmuring; although this was +exceedingly rare. If we remember what he had already done and suffered +for down-trodden humanity. And that now he was doing heroic work for the +true hero's wages--the love of Christ, and the good of his fellow-men. He +was labouring not for himself, but as the hand of God in providence, in +the faith that his work was of God's own appointing. The wonder is that +in the face of perils so dangerous, work so difficult, and sufferings so +intense, that his spirit was not completely crushed and broken. We must +bear in mind, his work there was to secure peace to a country that +appeared to be bent on war; to suppress slavery amongst a people to whom +it was a second nature, and to whom the trade in human flesh was life, +and honour, and fortune. To make and discipline an army out of the +rawest recruits ever put in the field, to develop and grow a flourishing +trade, and to obtain a fair revenue, amid the wildest anarchy in the +world; the immensity of the undertaking, the infinity of detail involved +in a single step toward this end, the countless odds to be faced; the +many pests, the deadly climate, the nightly and daily alternations of +overpowering heat, and of bitter cold, to be endured and overcome; the +environment of bestial savagery, and ruthless fanaticism;--all these +contributed to make the achievement unique in human history. He was face +to face with evil in its worst form, and saw it in all its appalling +effects upon the nation and its people. He seemed to have everything +against him, and to be utterly alone. There stood in front of him the +grim ruined land. He faced it, however, as a saint and soldier should +do; he stood for right, truth, and for God. + +{Gordon on his favourite camel: p81.jpg} + + "He would dare to do right. Dare to be true + He had a work that no other could do; + He would do it so wisely, so bravely, so well, + That angels might hasten the story to tell." + +After some time he writes:-- + + "How the Khedive is towards me I don't know, but thank God he prevents + me caring for any one's favour or disfavour. I honestly say I do not + know anyone who would endure the exile and worries of my position out + here. Some might fear if they were dismissed, that the world would + talk. Thank God! I am screened from that fear. I know that I have + done my best, as far as my intellect would allow me, for the Khedive, + and have tried to be just to all." + +On contemplating retirement, he writes:-- + + "Now imagine what I lose by coming back, if God so wills it; a life in + a tent, with a cold humid air at night, to which if, from the heat of + the tent you expose yourself, you will suffer for it, either in liver + or elsewhere. The most ordinary fare. _Most_ ordinary I can assure + you; no vegetables, dry biscuits, a few bits of broiled meat, and some + dry macaroni, boiled in water and sugar. I forgot some soup; up at + dawn and to bed between eight and nine p.m. No books but one, and + that not often read for long, for I cannot sit down for a study of + those mysteries. All day long, worrying about writing orders, to be + obeyed by others in the degree as they are near or distant from me: + obliged to think of the veriest trifle, even to the knocking off the + white ants from the stores, etc.--that is one's life; and, speaking + materially, for what gain? At the end of two years, say 2,000 pounds. + At the end of three say 3,500 pounds at the outside. The gain to be + called 'His Excellency,' and this money. Yet his poor 'Excellency' + has to slave more than any individual; to pull ropes, to mend this; + make a cover to that (just finished a capital cover to the duck Gun). + I often say, 'drop the excellency, and do this instead.'" + +Again he writes:-- + + "This country would soon cure a man of his ambition, I think, and make + him content with his lot. The intense heat, and other stagnation + except you have some disagreeable incident, would tame the most + enthusiastic; a thin, miserable tent under which you sit, with the + perspiration pouring off you. A month of this life, and you would be + dissatisfied with your lot." + +Gordon had kept up some very interesting correspondence with an old +friend in China; an old officer in Gordon's "Ever victorious Army," Li +Hung Chang. While Gordon is feeling unwell, and disposed to send his +resignation to the Khedive--he writes in his journal:-- + + July 21st, 1879. + + "I shall (D.V.) leave for Cairo in ten days, and I hope to see you + soon; but I may have to go to Johannis before I go to Cairo. I am a + wreck, like the portion of the 'Victory' towed into Gibraltar after + Trafalgar; but God has enabled me, or rather has used me, to do what I + wished to do--that is, break down the slave trade. "Those that honour + me I will honour." May I be ground to dust, if He will glorify + Himself in me; but give me a humble heart, for then he dwells there in + comfort. I wrote you a letter about my illness and tore it up. Thank + God, I am pretty well now, but I have passed the grave once lately, + and never thought to see Khartoum. The new Khedive is more civil, but + I no longer distress myself with such things. God is the sole ruler, + and I try to walk sincerely before Him." + +The letter from Li Hung Chang was to him a source of great satisfaction +and pleasure, as it showed his example had affected for good this eastern +ambassador, who visited this country only a very few years ago. + +The letter ran thus:-- + + TIENTSIN, + _March 22nd_, _1879_. + + "To His Excellency Colonel C. G. Gordon, + Khartoum, Egypt. + + "Dear Sir.--I am instructed by his Excellency the Grand Secretary, Li, + to answer your esteemed favour, dated the 27th October, 1878, from + Khartoum, which was duly received. I am right glad to hear from you. + It is now fourteen years since we parted from each other. Although I + have not written to you, I often speak of you, and remember you with + very great interest. The benefit you have conferred on China does not + appear with your person, but is felt throughout the regions in which + you played so important and active a part. All those people bless you + for the blessings of peace and prosperity which they now enjoy. + + Your achievements in Egypt are well known throughout the civilized + world. I see often in the papers of your noble works on the Upper + Nile. You are a man of ample resources, with which you suit yourself + to any emergency. My hope is that you may long be spared to improve + the conditions of the people amongst whom your lot is cast. I am + striving hard to advance my people to a higher state of development, + and to unite both this and all other nations within the 'Four seas' + under one common brotherhood. + + I wish you all manner of happiness and prosperity. With my highest + regards, + + I remain, + Yours truly, + LI HUNG CHANG." + +In all, and through all these various trying vicissitudes he remained +true to his innate religious convictions, and looked upon it all as the +filling in of a plan, which was divine. His hours for prayer were +maintained with as great a regularity as were those of another eastern +official servant, Daniel, who "three times a day kneeled on his knees and +prayed and gave thanks to God." Gordon, when at prayer, placed outside +his tent a white handkerchief, this was the sign the Governor was at his +devotions, and no servant or messenger must disturb him. He kept closely +in touch with God, so to speak. His outer life might be ruffled by +storms and tempests, but within he had the perfect peace. + +While Gordon was hoping to get away from the trying climate and yet more +trying circumstances around him, a message (not unexpected) reached him, +giving him instructions to proceed to Abyssinia, and see if he could +settle the dispute or misunderstanding that had arisen between Johannis +the King and the Khedive. He proceeded on that very risky mission as he +states in his letters; the journey was "indescribable in its solitary +grandeur. These interminable deserts, and arid mountain passes fill the +heart with far different thoughts than civilized lands do." With few +attendants, he writes:--"We are still slowly crawling over the world's +crust. Reaching the dominions of the King of Abyssinia, we camped near +Ras Alonla, and the priests used to gather at 3 a.m. in knots of two and +three and chant for an hour in a wild melodious manner the Psalms of +David. Awakened at this unearthly hour no one could help being +impressed. Some of them had children who chanted." Again he writes:--"We +have just passed a famous convent. The great high priest, who only comes +out to meet the King, and who is supposed to be the King's right hand in +religious questions, came out to meet us. I had some splendid silk +brocade, which I gave him. He held a gold cross in his hand, and spoke +of the love of Christ. He seemed to be a deeply religious man." + +Father Soho says of Abyssinia:-- + + "No country in the world is so full of churches, monasteries, and + ecclesiastics, as Abyssinia. It is hardly possible to sing in one + church, or monastery, without being heard in another, and perhaps by + several. They sing the Psalms of David, of which they have a very + exact translation in their own language. They begin their concert by + stamping their feet on the ground, and playing gently on their + instruments; but when have become warm by degrees, they leave off + drumming, and fall to leaping, dancing, shouting and clapping hands, + till their is neither tune nor pause, but rather a religious riot. For + this manner of religious worship, they quote the Psalm--"O clap your + hands, all ye nations." Gordon says, "I could not but like this poor + simple-minded peasantry." + +Again he writes:-- + + "We are about a days march from the river Taczzi, which joins the Nile + at Berber. Nearing the Palace, if so I may call it, I was met by the + King's body guard. I was of course wearing the Crest and Field + Marshal's uniform; the soldiers were sitting on their heels and never + got up. Passing through them I found my mule so tired that I got down + and walked. On arrival at the Palace, I was admitted to the King, who + sat upon a raised dais, with the Itage, or Chief Priest on the ground + at his left hand. Then guns were fired, and the King said, "That is + in your honour, and you can retire," which I did, to see him again + shortly. Again Gordon visited the Royal personage, and was granted + permission to present his case, but Gordon considered himself unduly + humbled as he was ordered to stand afar off; a stool at length was + placed for him to sit upon. This humble position Gordon would at + other times have accepted and tolerated, but not here and now; he must + show his dignity as the representative of a Foreign, powerful monarch; + he seized the stool and carried it up to near where the King sat, and + placed it by his side, saying, "Though in your hands I may be a + prisoner, I am a man as much as you are, and can only meet you as an + equal." His sable Majesty was greatly annoyed at Gordon's audacious + conduct, and remarking said, "Gordon Pasha don't you know I am the + King, and could kill you if I wished." "I am perfectly aware of + that," said Gordon, "Do so at once if it is your Royal pleasure, I am + ready." "What," said the King, "Ready to be killed?" "Certainly," + said Gordon, "I am always ready to die, and so far from fearing you + putting me to death, you would confer a favour on me by so doing, for + you would be doing for me that which I am precluded by my religious + convictions from doing for myself. You would relieve me from all the + troubles the future may have in store for me." "Then my power has no + terror for you, Gordon!" "None whatever," he replied. So Gordon + proved more than a match for this half-civilized Abyssinian King. His + visit, however, could not be considered successful as his Majesty was + unreasonable in all his demands, and so put out of the power of Gordon + to reach any settlement. So he left the King without effecting what + he came to do. How to get away now was to him a source of anxiety. As + he surmised, they were not likely to allow him to carry back the + valuables he had in his possession. It required all his tact and wit + and discretion in this perilous position. He, however, at the cost of + about 1,400 pounds in bribes and gifts, managed to get away. Then he + had to find his way back alone. This was a severe ordeal. Over + mountains covered with snow, and through defiles of rocky places, now + meeting with wild hordes of the dog-faced baboons, then with the + uncivilized tribes of the human species none the less dangerous. He, + however, by the care of an ever watchful Providence, had escaped + serious harm and reached Khartoum in safety." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + + "There is no death, what seems so is transition. + This life of mortal breath is but the suburb of the life Elysian, + Whose portals we call Death."--LONGFELLOW. + +Gordon had felt for some time uneasy in his position, as the under +officials looked upon him as a religious fanatic, and too strict to +govern; they tried to annoy him, and they succeeded: so he sent in his +resignation to the Khedive, and as soon as he could conveniently, he +turned his face homeward. + +First of course he visited the Khedive, and he received from him a +princely welcome, being addressed by him in these words: "I am glad to +see you Gordon Pasha again amongst us, and have great pleasure in once +more personally acknowledging the loyalty with which you always served my +country, and my government. I should very much like you to remain in my +service, but if you must retire from us, as you say you must, then I am +reluctantly compelled to accept your resignation. I regret, my dear +Gordon, to lose so valued a counsellor and friend, and the hearty +co-operation of so useful a servant: and in parting from you, I desire to +express my sincere thanks to you; assuring you that my remembrance of you +and of your services to this country will never be forgotten." + +Gordon was greatly in need of the rest he now seemed to have secured by +his resignation. His over sensitive nature could not have borne up much +longer; a frame of iron must have gone under in such circumstances; for +on his own individual shoulders he carried each man's burden, causing him +days of anxiety and nights of unrest. At Alexandria he was examined by +Dr. MacKie the surgeon to the British Consulate, who certified that he +was "suffering from symptoms of nervous exhaustion. I have recommended +him (the Dr. adds) to retire for several months for complete rest, and +quiet--and that he may be able to enjoy fresh and wholesome food, as I +consider much of this illness is the result of continued bodily fatigue, +anxiety and indigestible food. I have strongly insisted on his +abstaining from all exciting work--especially such as implies business or +political excitement." Splendid advice, but would Gordon follow it? +Could his active life be suppressed even for so short a time? None find +it harder to rest than those who need it most. Gordon had often thought +of what pleasure in rest he would find when his retirement was an +accomplished fact. He would lie in bed until dinner. He would take +short walks after dinner. He would undertake no long journeys, either +driving or by railway. He would not be tempted to go to dinner parties. +He would really have a quiet time; it was, however, only for a short +period. + +The private secretaryship to Lord Ripon was vacant, and it was offered to +Gordon; he accepted it, but on landing at Bombay he found the position +would not be to his liking. He says of Lord Ripon, "we parted perfect +friends." After Gordon left Egypt someone there wrote to our press +saying, "The name of Gordon whenever and wherever mentioned sends a +thrill of admiration and love throughout the vast Soudan territory. For +a hand so strong, yet withal so beneficent, has never before ruled the +peoples of this unhappy country." Gordon left the Soudan peaceful, +prosperous and happy, comparatively. After his resignation of the +position of private secretary to Lord Ripon, he was invited to visit +China again by Mr. Hart, Chinese Commissioner of Customs at Pekin, who +said to Gordon, "I am directed to invite you here (that is to say China). +Please come and see for yourself. This opportunity for doing really +useful work on a large scale ought not to be lost: work, position, +conditions can all be arranged with yourself here to your satisfaction. +Do take six months leave and come." It was characteristic of Gordon that +he replied as follows:--"Inform Hart, Gordon will leave for Shanghai +first opportunity; as for the conditions, Gordon is indifferent." + +He applied to our Government for leave of absence on the grounds that he +was invited to go to China. They asked him to state more particularly +what for, and what position he was intending to fill. "I am ignorant" +was his reply. This was not considered satisfactory and leave was +refused. He, however, sent his resignation to the War Office, and +proceeded to China. Reaching the flowery land, once more he proceeded +from Shanghai to Tientsin and there he had an interview with his old +friend and companion in arms, Li Hung Chang. From him he learned the +condition in which national and political matters stood. His stay in +China was not very prolonged, but his influence was felt in the Councils +of the Empire; and when he left he knew that peace prevailed, and that +the war between Russia and China had been averted. In the meantime +things in the Soudan began to give trouble, the cloud on the horizon +gathered in blackness. Almost immediately Gordon left the Soudan the +Turkish Pashas began their plundering, robbing and ill-treating the poor +Soudanese so much that we cannot wonder at the rising of the natives in +favour of the Madhi, for the latter was promising them deliverance from +this cruel oppression. The rule of the Pashas and Bashi-Ba-Zoucks, the +Duke of Argyle declared to be "cruel, intolerant, and unbearable." + +Colonel Stewart, in his report, stated that "he believed not one half of +the taxes wrung from these poor people ever found their money go into the +treasury of the Khedive." They were taxed and levied so unjustly and +unmercifully that whole districts were reduced to absolute destitution. +The general rising of the natives against this dire oppression, threw +them into the arms of the Madhi. He very soon had a most powerful +following, and he quickly mobilized an army that in 1882 was believed to +number not less than 200,000 fighting men. In July of that year this +boastful usurper pushed his forces into conflict with the Egyptians, when +the latter were worsted with terrible loss. About 6,000 of their bravest +men were either killed in battle or left wounded on the field and the +remainder were routed. Shortly after another great battle followed. This +also went in favour of the usurper, and a loss of 10,000 men inflicted. +One engagement followed another and all went to show that the Madhi had +won the sympathy and support of the masses of the people, and it appeared +likely he would soon have undisputed sway over the entire Soudan. Still +another effort was to be made to hurl back this powerful and persistent +foe. Hicks Pasha, "a brave leader," "a noble general," with an army of +10,000 men, with 6,000 camels, a large number of pack horses and mules, +was sent to arrest the advance of this desperate foe. For some time no +news reached us, as he was shut out from all means of communication with +the outer world. At length the appalling news came, not only of his +defeat, but of his utter destruction. One man only was known to have +escaped to tell the tale. He states, "We were led by a treacherous guide +into a mountain pass or defile, and there shut in by rocks; we were +confronted and surrounded by probably 100,000 of the enemy. For three +days and nights the battle raged; the few British officers fought like +lions against these overwhelming odds, until, so completely cut up by +sword, bullet and spear, that he feared he was the only man who managed +to escape." This large army was literally annihilated--1,200 officers +perished in this one battle. The Madhi took 17,000 Remington rifles, 7 +Krupp guns, 6 Nordenfelts, 29 brass mounted cannon, and a very large +amount of ammunition. So that he appeared to be master of the situation. +"What next for the Soudan?" was being everywhere asked in Egypt and in +the Soudan. "Oh that Gordon was here," was the cry of many of the poor +down-trodden Soudanese. They believed him to be the only man who could +bring peace to their desolate and unhappy country. + +Gordon was at that time taking a quiet rest near Jaffa, in the Holy Land, +and making investigations into places specially spoken of in the +Scriptures. He thought he could locate the place where Samuel took Agag +and hewed him to pieces. Also the well, called "Jacob's Well," and other +places of interest. It is said at this juncture, things in the Soudan +had become hopeless. A gentleman sent to one of the papers at Cairo the +following message: "Would to God that an angel would stand at the elbow +of Lord Granville in London, and say, And now send men to Joppa, and call +for one Gordon, and he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do." Strange +to say, about this time, Gordon was sent for to London, where he had +interviews with Lord Hartington, Secretary of State for War, Lord +Granville, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lord Northbrook, First Lord of +the Admiralty, and Sir Charles Dilke, President of the Local Government +Board, at the War Office, and in a very short space of time, the +question, which was destined to have far reaching results, was settled, +and Gordon declared his willingness to go to Khartoum at the earliest +possible date. Indeed he said, "At once," and to go alone. + +Something like the following conversation is said to have taken place +between Gordon and one of his very intimate friends: "Well, General, have +you got your kit ready?" His reply was, "I have got what I always have: +this hat is good enough, so are these clothes, my boots I think are +strong enough." "And how are you off for cash?" "Ah! I was nearly +forgetting that. I had to borrow 25 pounds from the King of the Belgians +to bring me home from Palestine; this I must repay, and I shall of course +need a little more for common daily use." "How much do you think, two or +three thousand pounds?" "Oh dear no! One hundred pounds apiece for +myself and Stewart, will be enough; what on earth should we want so much +money for." And so the gallant general, with his faithful companion--the +late lamented Colonel Stewart, started. + +We are told they were accompanied to Charing Cross railway station by H. +R. H. the Duke of Cambridge, who took their tickets for them; also by +Lord Wolseley (who would insist on carrying Gordon's portmanteau), +Colonel Brackenbury, and Lord Hartington's private secretary, who bade +them good-bye, and God speed on their mission, from which they were never +to return. We think history will never record a more heroic example of +patriotism, than that of this God-fearing officer, riding forth upon his +swift footed camel, with only one English friend and companion, the +Colonel Stewart, and a few Arab attendants, to confront and settle the +wild and barbarous hordes of the Madhi. + +One of our papers published the following appropriate lines:-- + + "Not with an army at command, + Not fenced about with guns and swords, + But trusting to their single hands, + Amid a host of savage hordes, + The hero Gordon wends in haste, + Across the desert's arid waste, + Beset with perils lies his way, + Yet fear he knows not: Nelson like, + His life would be an easy prey, + If but the Arab dare to strike. + But over him there hangs a spell, + The Soudan people know full well: + Oft he had taught the Eastern mind + The grace of noble-hearted deeds; + Oft cast abuses to the wind, + And succoured men in direst needs; + Nor shall the charm that all allow + Is grandly his, forsake him now: + Oh! should the power of his name + Bend the false prophet to its thrall + And make him deem the hero came, + To pay him just a friendly call, + The ruthless carnage soon might cease, + And Egypt be again at peace." + +The subject of Gordon's mission came up several times in the British +House of Commons as might be expected. Sir Stafford Northcote on one +occasion said--"There is one point upon which all our minds are fixed--I +mean the mission of General Gordon. On that point I was anxious to say +little or nothing. General Gordon is now engaged in an attempt of the +most gallant and dangerous kind. No one can speak with too much +admiration of his courage and self-devotion: no one can fail, in this +country to sympathise with him, and earnestly desire his safety and +success." + +Reaching Cairo, Gordon received his plans and instructions from the +Khedive, and here we think arose some of the complications and +misunderstandings as to his actual position. Was he in the employ of the +Khedive, or was he still responsible to the Home Government? The Khedive +expressed himself to Gordon in a letter dated Jan. 26, 1884. + +"Excellency,--You are aware that the object of your arrival here, and of +your mission to the Soudan is to carry into execution the evacuation of +those territories, and to withdraw our troops, civil officials, and such +of the inhabitants, together with their belongings, as may wish to leave +for Egypt. We trust that your Excellency will adopt the most effective +measures for the accomplishment of your mission in this respect, and +that, after completing the evacuation, you will take the necessary steps +for establishing an organized Government in the different provinces of +the Soudan, for the maintenance of order, and the cessation of disasters, +and incitement to revolt. We have full confidence in your tried +abilities and tact, and are convinced that you will accomplish your +mission according to your desire." + +This was hardly in harmony with a telegram from Lord Granville who said +that "_undertaking military expeditions was beyond the scope of the +Commission he held_, _and at variance with the pacific policy which was +the purpose of his mission to the Soudan_." Between the Khedive's +instructions and commission to Gordon, and his holding commission as an +officer of the Crown, Gordon was in a very difficult position, and those +who have blamed Mr. Gladstone, for what they may have been pleased to +call "desertion of Gordon," should acquaint themselves with all the +circumstances of the case before doing so, and when all is known, such +blame will be withheld. + +Gordon, without lingering in Cairo, hastened to cross the desert and get +to Khartoum as quickly as possible. Thus our hero went forth with a +gallantry never surpassed, if ever equalled. He rode his camel across +that land of storm and drought, trusting only in Him, who had so often +"covered his defenceless head, beneath the shadow of His wing." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + + "Not all who seem to fail have failed indeed, + Not all who fail have therefore worked in vain; + There is no failure for the good and wise; + What though the seed should fall by the way-side, + And the birds snatch it; yet the birds are fed, + Or they may bear it far across the tide + To give rich harvests after thou art dead." + + KINGSLEY. + +Sir E. Baring wired to Lord Granville, "The interview between Gordon and +the Khedive was very satisfactory." Again--"Gordon leaves Cairo in good +spirits." + +His arrival at Khartoum, it is stated, was marked by wonderful +demonstrations of welcome by the people; thousands of them pressing +towards him to kiss his feet: calling him the "Sultan of the Soudan." His +first speech was received with the wildest enthusiasm. He said, "I come +not with soldiers but with God on my side, to redress the wrongs of the +Soudan." The day after he held a levee at the palace, when vast +multitudes thronged around him, kissing the ground on which he walked, +calling him "Father," "Sultan," "Saviour." He appreciated highly their +apparent loyalty and devotion, and he had offices opened at once where +everyone who had a grievance might bring it, have it heard and judged. + +The Government books recording the outstanding debts of the over-taxed +people, _were publicly burned in the presence of thousands of onlookers; +the kourbasher_, _whips_, _and implements of torture were thrown down +upon the blazing pile_: thus the evidence of debts, and the emblems of +oppression perished together in the presence of an almost frenzied +people! Next Gordon visited the prisons; there he found dreadful dens of +misery; over two hundred poor starving emaciated beings were confined +therein; some bound with chains: some mere boys, some old men and women. +Many of them were there simply on suspicion, and had never had a hearing. +The cases were quickly and carefully enquired into, and before sunset +that day, most of the unhappy wretches had their chains struck off and +their freedom given them. + +For many days, the markets and shops, and bazaars were finely +illuminated; and the rejoicing for Gordon's presence and deeds was +general and universal. Alas, however, the cloud which had so long hung +over the Soudan began to thicken. The Madhi was not to be cheated of +what he thought his rightful authority and dominion. The following +letter recorded in Gordon's journal was received by him from the Madhi:-- + + "In the name of God the merciful and compassionate; + Praise be to God, the bountiful ruler, and blessing + on our Lord Mahomet and peace. From the servant who + trusts in God--Mahomet, the son of Abdallah. + + To Gordon Pasha of Khartoum,--May God guide him into the path of + virtue, Amen! Know that your small steamer, named 'Abbas' which you + sent with the intention of forwarding your news to Cairo, by the way + of Dongola, the persons sent being your representative, Stewart Pasha, + and the two Consuls, French and English, with other persons, has been + captured by the will of God. Those who believed in us as the Madhi + and surrendered, have been delivered; and those who did not have been + destroyed. As your representative afore-named, with the Consuls and + the rest--whose souls God has condemned to the fire and to eternal + misery: That steamer and all that was in it have fallen a prey to the + Moslems, and we have taken knowledge of all the letters and telegrams + which were in it, in Arabic and in Frankish (languages) and of the + maps, which were opened to us (translated) by those on whom God has + bestowed his gifts, and has enlightened their hearts with faith, and + the benefits of willing submission. Also we have found therein the + letters sent from you to the Mudir of Dongola, with the letters, &c., + accompanying to be forwarded to Egypt and to European countries. All + have been seized, and the contents are known. It should all have been + returned to you, not being wanted here; but as it was originally sent + from you, and is known to you, we prefer to send you part of the + contents, and mention the property therein, so that you may be + certified: and in order that the truth may make a lasting impression + on my mind--in the hope that God may guide thee to the faith of Islam, + and to surrender to him and to us, that so you and they may obtain + everlasting good and happiness. Now, first among the documents seized + is the cipher dated September 22, 1884, 'to the Mudir of Dongola.' . . + . On the back of which is your telegram to the Khedive of Egypt . . . + We have also taken knowledge of your journal (daily record) of the + provision in the granary . . . Also your letters written in European + all about the size of Khartoum; and all about the arranging of the + steamers, with the number of troops in them and their arms, and the + cannon, and about the movements of the troops, and the defeat of your + people, and your request for reinforcements, even if only a single + regiment, and all about how your agent Cuzzi turned Moslem. Also many + letters which had come to you from your lieutenants and what they + contained of advice, also stating the number of Europeans at Khartoum + . . . . Also the diary (registry) of the arms, ammunition, guns and + soldiers . . . . We have also noted the telegrams of the officials + and of the presidents of Courts, and of the Kadi and the Muftis, and + Ulema, numbering 34, sent to the Mohurdar of the Khedive in Egypt, + dated Aug. 28th, 1884, in which they ask for succour from the Egyptian + Government . . . Also your cipher telegrams to the Mohurdar of the + Khedive in which you explain that on your arrival at Khartoum the + impossibility had become clear to you of withdrawing the troops and + the employes, and sending them to Egypt, on account of the rebellions + in the country, and on the closing of the roads; for which reason you + ask for reinforcements which did not come . . . Also about your + coming to Khartoum with seven men after the annihilation of Hicks' + army; and your requesting a telegram to be sent to you in Arabic, in + plain language, about the Soudan to show to the people of Khartoum--as + the telegrams in European cipher do not explain enough . . . Also + your letter to the Khedive of Egypt, without date, in which you ask to + have English soldiers sent . . . And your letter to the President of + the Council and the English Minister at Cairo, in which you speak of + your appointing three steamers to go and inquire as to the state of + Sennaar, and that you will send soldiers to Berber by the steamers to + recapture it, sending with them Stewart and the Consuls, whom the Most + High God has destroyed. Also we have seen the two seals engraved with + our name to imitate our seals . . . . Tricks in making ciphers, and + using so many languages, are of no avail. From the Most High God, to + whom be praise, no secrets can be hidden. As to your expecting + reinforcements, reliance for succour on others than God, that will + bring you nothing but destruction, and cause you to fall into utmost + danger in this world and the next. For God Most High has dispersed + sedition through our manifestation, and has vanquished the wicked and + obstinate people, and has guided those who have understanding in the + way of righteousness. And there is no refuge but in God, and in + obedience to His command, and that of His prophet and of His Madhi. No + doubt you have heard what has happened to your brethren from whom you + expected help, at Suakin and elsewhere, whom God has destroyed, and + dispersed and abandoned. Notwithstanding all this, as we have arrived + at a days journey from Omdurman and are coming please God, to your + place, if you return to the most High God and become a Moslem and + surrender to His Order and that of His prophet, and believe in us as + the Madhi, send us a message from thee, and from those with thee, + after laying down your arms and giving up the thought of fighting, so + that I may send you one with safe conduct, by which you will obtain + assurance of benefits of the blessings of this world and the next. + Otherwise, and if you do not act thus, you will have to encounter war + from God and His prophet. And know that the Most High God is mighty + for thy destruction, as He has destroyed others before thee, who were + much stronger than thee, and more numerous. And you, and your + children and your property, will be for a prey to the monsters, and + you will repent when repentance will not avail . . . And there is no + succourer or strength but in God, and peace be upon those who have + followed the Madhi. (_Guidance_.) + + POSTSCRIPT.--"In one of your cipher-telegrams sent to Bahkri and + seized, you mention that the troops present in Bahr Gazelle and the + Equator and elsewhere number 30,000 soldiers whom you cannot leave + behind, even though you should die. And know that Bahr Gazelle and + the Equator are both of them under our power and both have followed us + as Madhi, and that they and their chiefs and all their officers are + now among the auxiliaries of the Madhi. And they have joined our + lieutenants in that part, and letters from them are constantly coming + and going without hinderence or diminution of numbers. . . . By this + thou wilt see and understand that it is not under thy command as thou + thinkest. And for thy better information and our compassion for thee + we have added this postscript. + + (_Seal_.) + + There is no God but Allah. + Mahomet is the prophet Allah. + Mahomet the Madhi, son of Abd Allah." + + Year 1292. + +Gordon's reply was just what we should expect from an officer of his +temperament and experience. It is true things looked anything but +cheering and our hero needed all his force of character and confidence in +the God of Israel. This he had and kept brightly burning. To the Madhi +he replied-- + + "Sheikh Mahomed Achmed has sent us a letter to inform us that Lupton + Bey, Mudir of 'Bahr Gazelle' has surrendered to him, and that the + small steamer in which was Stewart Pasha, has been captured by him, + together with what was therein. But to me it is all one whether + Lupton Bey has surrendered or has not surrendered. And whether he has + captured twenty thousand steamers like the 'Abbas' or twenty thousand + officers like Stuart Pasha or not; it is all one to me. I am here + like iron, and hope to see the newly arrived English; and if Mahomed + Achmed says that the English die, it is all the same to me. And you + must take a copy of this and give it to the messenger from Slatin, and + send him out early in the morning, that he may go to him. It is + impossible for me to have any more words with Mahomed Achmed, only + lead; and if Mahomed Achmed is willing to fight he had better, instead + of going to Omdurman, go to the white hill by the moat." + + (Signed) C. G. GORDON. + +Gordon, though borne up by a sense of the Divine presence, yet he +occasionally at least, felt as if he was leading a forlorn hope. We know +not, nor can we ever know all the deeds of heroism he did for that down +trodden people. + + "A life long year unsuccoured and alone + He stemmed the fury of fanatic strife, + Till all lands claimed the hero as their own, + And wondering would he there lay down his life." + +It is a mystery, and one that will never be solved, how he supported his +vast family in Khartoum; for food had to be distributed to each +individual member for months. It is also a sad but remarkable fact, that +through the last ten months he had to depend upon the most unreliable and +worthless of troops. And for four of those weary months, he had been +without the cheering presence of his companion in arms, Colonel Stewart. +Yet he held out bravely, courageously, and in hope of English help. At +this juncture a poetess wrote-- + + "A message from one who went in haste + Came flashing across the sea, + It told not of weakness, but trust in God, + When it asked us--pray for me. + And since from Churches, and English homes, + In the day or the twilight dim, + A chorus of prayers went up to God-- + Bless and take care of him: + A lonely man to those strange far lands, + He has gone with a word of peace; + And a million hearts are questioning + With a pain that cannot cease: + Is Gordon safe? Is there news of him? + What will the tidings be? + There is little to do but trust and wait; + Yet utterly safe is he. + Was he not safe when the Chinese shots, + Were flying about his head, + When trouble thickened with every day, + And he was sore bestead; + Was he not safe in his dreary rides, + Over the desert sands; + Safe with the Abyssinian King; + Safe with the robber bands; + We know not the dangers around him now, + But this we surely know-- + He has with him in his hour of need, + His Protector of long ago; + He is not alone, but a Friend is by + Who answers to every need; + God is his refuge and strength at hand, + Gordon is safe indeed: + Safe in living, in dying safe, where is the need of pain; + We may pray--God give the hero long life, + But death would be infinite gain. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + + "There is a better thing on earth than wealth, a better thing than + life itself, and that is to have done something before you die, for + which good men may honour you, and God your Father smile upon your + work." + + --GEO. MACDONALD. + +The last Arab messenger that came from Khartoum before it fell, said, +"Gordon goes every morning at sunrise to the top of his Palace wall, and +with his large field glass, sweeps the horizon as far as possible, and +notes as clearly as may be the position of the Madhi's forces, which now +surrounded the City. As night falls, he visits the men at their various +stations, to give them advice, or encouragement, as the case might be +deemed necessary. In the daytime he studies his maps and reads his +Bible, and a work on "Holy living," by Thomas a Kempis, and preserves +such a faith in God as inspired all around him with a courage akin to his +own. + + "He held the city, he so long + Faithful mid falterers, mid much weakness strong, + Upon those ramparts now he fought, he planned, + That Citadel was by one true man well manned." + +A letter from Kitchener reached Gordon, which raised his hopes and +considerably brightened his prospects for the time being. It ran thus:-- + + "Dear General Gordon.--Mr. Edgerton has asked me to send you the + following:--'August 30th. Tell Gordon steamers are being passed over + the Second Cataracts, and that we wish to be informed through Dongola + exactly when he expects to be in difficulties as to provision and + ammunition.' Message ends--"Lord Wolseley is coming out to command; + the 35th regiment is now being sent from Halfa to Dongola. Sir E. + Wood is at Halfa, General Earle, Dormer, Buller, and Freemantle are + coming up the Nile with troops. I think an expedition will be sent + across from here to Khartoum, while another goes with steamers to + Berber. A few words about what you wish to be done would be + acceptable." + +{Gordon's last slumber: p118.jpg} + +In Gordon's journal he says:--"My view is this as to the operations of +British forces. I will put three steamers each with two guns on them, +and an armed force of infantry at the disposal of any British authority; +will send these steamers to either Methemma opposite Shendy, or to the +cataract below Berber to meet there any British force which may come +across country to the Nile. . . . I cannot too much impress upon you +that this expedition will not encounter any enemy worth the name in a +European sense of the word; the struggle is with the climate and +destitution of the country. It is one of time and patience, and of small +parties of determined men backed by native allies, which are to be got by +policy and money. . . . It is the country of the irregular, not of the +regular. If you move in mass you will find no end of difficulties; +whereas if you let detached parties dash out here and there, you will +spread dismay in the Arab camps. The time to attack is the dawn, or +rather before it, but sixty men would put the Arabs to flight just before +dawn, while one thousand would not accomplish in daylight. The reason is +that the strength of the Arabs is in their horsemen, who do not dare to +act in the dark. I do hope that you will not drag on the artillery, it +will only cause delay and do no good." + +To his sister he writes:-- + + _November 5th_, _1884_. + + "Your kind letter, August 7th, came yesterday. We have the Madhi + close to us, but the Arabs are very quiet. . . . . Terrible news--I + hear the steamer I sent down with Stewart, Power, and Herbin (French + Consul) has been captured and all are killed. I cannot understand + it--whether an act of treachery by someone, or struck on a rock, it is + to me unaccountable, for she was well armed and had a gun with her; if + she is lost, so is the journal of events from Jan. 3rd, 1884, to Sept. + 10th, 1884. A huge volume illustrated and full of interest. I have + put my steamers at Metemma to wait for the troops. I am very well but + very gray, with the continual strain upon my nerves. I have been + putting the Sheikh-el-Islam and Cadi in prison; they were suspected of + writing to the Madhi. I let them out yesterday. I am very grieved + for the relatives of Stewart, Power, and Herbin." + +Again he writes:-- + + _Dec. 14th_, _1884_. + + "This may be the last letter you will receive from me, for we are on + our last legs, owing to the delay of the expedition. However, God + rules all, and I know He will rule to His glory and our welfare. I + fear that, owing to circumstances, my affairs pecuniarily are not over + bright. + + Your affectionate brother, + C. G. GORDON." + + P.S.--"I am very happy, thank God, and, like Lawrence, 'I have tried + to do my duty.'" + +Meanwhile, Gordon is thus hemmed in. General Wolseley and his noble band +are on their way to his relief. Many and peculiar are the difficulties +of both climate, country, and foes; yet they face them like brave, true +Englishmen. The journey from Cairo to Ambukol, a distance of more than +one thousand miles, had been traversed without serious opposition. From +here, however, as they near Khartoum, now about two hundred and fifty +miles, taking the nearest desert route. Lord Wolseley seems here to halt +and hesitate, whether it is best to go by the Nile, which, as shown on a +map, takes a bend, forming the shape of a letter 'S' nearly; or whether +to take the shortest cut and risk the opposition that may be expected. He +eventually decides that the Camel Corps and a portion of the Infantry +shall take the short cut; the desert route to Metemmeh: the rest to go by +the Nile. It is evidently Wolseley's wish to punish the tribes who +murdered Stewart, and his companions; so he orders the South +Staffordshire, 38th, and the Royal Sussex, 35th, and the Black Watch, +42nd, to advance to Abu Hamed, which lies at the northern bend of the +'S,' which the Nile makes between Dongola and Metemmeh. + +The Camel Corps are ordered to make a dash across the desert to the same +place. Little did our force dream of the difficulties, dangers and +deaths that lay before them as they entered upon that desert march. We +only indicate some of them. On their march we are told that having +nearly reached Abu Klea "we were turning into our zareba, when it was +noticed that a group of some two hundred Arabs were on the hills, not far +from us. Two shells were sent amongst them, which caused them to retire, +but we soon found their sharpshooters had crept to within 1,200 yards of +our right flank. Also they began to drop bullets into our midst, which +were annoying and destructive. Half a company of Mounted Infantry were +told off to drive them away. All officers were to see that the men were +at their posts, with bayonets fixed, ready to jump to their feet at the +very first alarm. With their overcoats on and their blankets wrapped +around them, men lay down on that memorable night. All lights put out, +all talking and smoking strictly prohibited. A deadly stillness, +disturbed only by the whizzing or thud of the shot from the enemy's guns. +Colonel Burnaby, who had managed somehow to find a place in the +Expedition, expressed his great delight in having arrived in time to +engage in what he now saw to be the prospect of a terrible struggle. + +He stated, "that he had arrived at that time of life when the two things +that interested him most were war and politics; and was just as happy in +the desert fighting the Arabs, as he was at home slating an unworthy +politician. Here, however, he was, and must face the conflict." January, +16th, 1885. About 10 p.m. The sentries came rushing into the lines. The +officers called out, "stand to your arms men." The alarm, however, was +false--only a feint on the part of the enemy. Still (says the writer), +they kept harassing us by a continual dropping of shot from their long +rangers. About 7.30 a.m., General Stewart prepared to send out an +attacking column, with the object of driving them from the wells, which +were now only four or five miles distant. The troops marched out--Mounted +Infantry, Royal Artillery with three guns, Guards (this was the Front +Face); Right Face--Guards, Royal Sussex; Left Face--Mounted Infantry, +Heavy Cavalry Regiment. The 19th Hussars, under Colonel Barrow, +numbering 90 sabres, were sent to left flank to advance along the spur of +land on the north of the wady. Their duty was to move forward on a line +paralleled with the Square, and prevent the enemy on our left from +gaining the high ground across the little wady. A squadron of the 19th, +thirty sabres strong, followed the Square, marching by the front right to +assist the skirmishers. The Heavies were in charge of Colonel Talbot; +the Guards by Colonel Boscowen; the Mounted Infantry by Major Barrow; the +Naval Brigade by Lord Charles Beresford; the Royal Sussex by Major +Sunderland; the Royal Artillery by Captain Norton; and the Royal +Engineers by Major Dorwood. So they marched slowly forward. The +progress was like that of some ponderous machine, slow, regular, compact, +despite the hail of bullets that came from front, left and right, and +ultimately from the rear. Some ten or twelve thousand Arabs it was seen +had surrounded the Zareba. There was no retreat; it was "do or die!" +About 9.50 a.m., about 5000 of the enemy were seen on the opposite side +of the square, 400 or 500 yards distant, and seemed as if they would make +a dash for our square. Dervishes on horseback, and some on foot, +marshalled them, standing a few paces in front of the frantic host. With +banners fluttering, tom-toms clamouring, and shouts of Allah, they began +to move towards our square. The skirmisher's fire seemed to have no +effect; though a few of them fell, they ultimately made a run towards us +like the roll of a black surf. Lord Charles Beresford's superintendence +was moved to the left face, rear corner, to be brought into action; for +here they seemed to press the attack. Unhappily, before many rounds had +been fired, the cartridges stuck and the weapon was useless. Still down +came the Arab wave. One terrible rush of swordsmen and spearmen--scarcely +any carrying guns--their rifle fire had practically ceased. In wild +excitement, their white teeth glistening and the sheen of their +brandished weapons flashing like thousands of mirrors; onward they came +against us." + +The writer says:--"A volley of shot was sent into them at 150 yards; at +least one hundred Arabs fell, and their force wavered, as a man stops to +get his breath; but the forces behind them came leaping over their +falling brethren, and came charging straight into our ranks. I was at +that instant inside the square, when I noticed our men shuffling +backwards. Some say Colonel Burnaby issued an order for the men to fall +back, but I did not hear it. Burnaby rode out apparently to assist our +skirmishers, who were running in, hard pressed: all but one succeeding in +getting inside the square: Burnaby went, sword in hand, on his borrowed +nag, for his own had been shot under him that morning--he put himself in +the way of a Sheik who was charging down on horseback. Ere the Arab +closed with him a bullet from some in our ranks brought the Sheik +headlong to the ground. The enemy's spearmen were close behind, and one +of them clashed at Colonel Burnaby, pointing the long blade of his spear +at his throat. Burnaby leant forward in his saddle and parried the +Moslem's thrusts; but the length of the weapon (8 feet or more) made it +difficult to deal a blow as desired. Once or twice the Colonel managed +to touch him. This only made him the more alert. Burnaby fenced +smartly, just as if he was playing in an assault-at-arms, and there was a +smile on his features as he drove off the man's awkward points. With +that lightning instinct which I have seen the desert warrior display in +battle, whilst coming to another's aid, an Arab who had been pursuing a +soldier, passed five paces to Burnaby's right and rear, and, turning with +a sudden spring, this second Arab ran his spear point into the Colonel's +right shoulder! It was but a slight wound, enough though to cause +Burnaby to twist round in his saddle to defend himself from this +unexpected attack. One of our soldiers saw the situation, and ran and +drove his sword bayonet through this second assailant. As the soldier +withdrew his steel the ferocious Arab wriggled round and tried to reach +him. This he could not do, for he reeled and fell over. Brief as was +Burnaby's glance at this second assailant, it was long enough for the +first Arab to deliver his spear-point thrust full in the brave officer's +throat. The blow brought Burnaby out of his saddle; but it required some +seconds before he let go of the bridle-reins, and tumbled upon the +ground. Half-a-dozen Arabs were now about him. With the blood gushing +in streams from his gashed throat the dauntless Burnaby leaped to his +feet, sword in hand, and slashed at the ferocious group. They were the +wild shrieks of a proud man dying hard, and he was quickly overborne, and +left helpless and dying! The heroic soldier who sprang to his rescue, +was, I fear, also slain in the melee, for though I watched for him, I +never saw him get back to his place in the ranks. But the +square had been broken. The Arabs were driving their spears at our men's +breasts. Happily, however, the enemy's ranks had been badly decimated by +our bullets; yet they fought desperately, until bullet or bayonet stopped +their career. Then from another quarter came a great onrush with spears +poised and swords uplifted straight into our rear corner, the Arab horse +struck like a tempest. The Heavies were thrown into confusion, for the +enemy were right among them, killing and wounding with demoniacal fury. +General Stewart himself rode into their midst to assist, but his horse +was killed under him, and he was saved from the Arab spearmen with great +difficulty: Lord Airlie received two slight spear wounds, and so did Lord +C. Beresford. The Dervishes made terrible havoc for a few minutes. It +was an awful scene, for many of the wounded and dying perished by the +hands of the merciless Arabs, infuriated by their Sheiks, whose wild +hoarse cries rent the air, whilst the black spearmen ran hither and +thither thirsting for blood. Lord St. Vincent had a most providential +escape. So great was the peril that the officers in the Guards and +Mounted Infantry placed their men back to back to make one last effort to +save the situation. "To me," says the writer, who was outside on the +right face: "they appeared to spin round a large mound like a whirlpool +of human beings." + +Soon the enemy showed signs of wavering, for the fire of our English lads +was fierce and withering. A young officer rallied a number of men on the +rear; and these delivered a most telling fire into the enemy's ranks; the +strained tension of the situation had been most severe, when at last the +Arabs, two or three at first, then twenties and fifties, trotted off the +field and in a very few minutes there was not an enemy to be seen. With +cheer upon cheer, shouting until we were hoarse, we celebrated this +dearly won victory. "Thus ended one of several terrible conflicts the +men of the Expedition had to go through on their way to the beleaguered +city." These lines of poetry, were written shortly after the news of +this fierce engagement reached England:-- + + "They were gathered on the desert, + Like pebbles on the shore, + And they rushed upon the Christian + With a shout like cannon's roar; + Like the dashing of the torrent, + Like the sweeping of the storm, + Like the raging of the tempest, + Came down the dusky swarm. + From the scant and struggling brush-wood, + From the waste of burning sand, + Sped the warriors of the desert, + Like the locusts of the land: + They would crush the bold invader, + Who had dared to cross their path; + They were fighting for their prophet, + In the might of Islam's wrath, + They were savage in their fury, + They were lordly in their pride; + There was glory for the victor, + And heaven for him who died. + They were mustered close together, + That small devoted band; + They knew the strife that day would rage + In combat hand to hand. + And wild and weird the battle-cry + Was sounding through the air, + As the foe sprang from his ambush, + Like the tiger from his lair. + They knew the distant flashing + Of the bright Arabian spear, + As, spurring madly onward, + They saw the host appear + In numbers overwhelming, + In numbers ten to one; + They knew the conflict must be waged + Beneath the scorching sun; + They knew the British soldiers grave + Might lie beneath their feet; + But they never knew dishonour, + And they would not know defeat. + And swifter, ever swifter + Swept on the savage horde, + And from the serried British ranks + A murderous fire was poured; + And like the leaves in autumn + Fell Arab warriors slain, + And like the leaves in spring-time + They seemed to live again. + Midst the rattle of the bullets, + Midst the flashing of the steel, + They pressed to the encounter + With fierce fanatic zeal. + One moment swayed the phalanx, + One moment and no more; + Then British valour stemmed the tide, + As oft in days of yore. + At length the foe was vanquished, + And at length the field was won, + For the longest day had ended, + And the fiercest course was run. + Ye smiling plains of Albion! + Ye mountains of the north! + Now up and greet your heroes with + The honours they are worth. + Then pause and let a nation's tears + Fall gently on the sod + Where thy gallant sons are sleeping, + Whose souls are with their God." + +Mr. Burleigh tells us that "History records no military events of a more +stirring character, or situation more thrilling and dramatic than those +through which Sir Herbert Stewart's flying column passed on this dreadful +march. Through those terrible struggles with the followers of the Madhi, +many a brave soldier fell and his body lies in the grave of the African +desert. It did, however, seem as if through all the difficulties of the +relieving forces, that Lord Wolseley would soon give the gallant defender +of Khartoum succour and relief. The splendid victories won at Abu Klea +Wells, and other places, and their march to join the Nile forces, clearly +showed that they were terribly in earnest, and that they had the true +British sympathetic heart. + +Finding some of Gordon's steamers on the Nile, it was their first impulse +to man them and force their way up to Khartoum at once. This was on +January 21st, 1885. The General in Command learned that the steamers +needed some repairs, and he (Sir Charles Wilson) deemed it necessary for +the safety of his troops to make a reconnaissance down the river towards +Berber before starting up to Khartoum. He took the steamers, which, +though small as the Thames pleasure boats, had been made bullet-proof by +the ingenuity and industry of the hero in distress; and with a small +British force and two hundred and forty Soudanese (they also had in tow a +nugger laden with dhura), they proceeded towards Berber some distance, +and then, returning for their important work of relief, they pressed on +to Khartoum in the face of the greatest dangers from the numerous +fanatical Arabs, until they could see the city, and found to their horror +and disappointment that Gordon's flag was torn down. The city had +surrendered to the forces of the Madhi, and it could be seen to swarm +with his followers! Treachery had been at work, as Gordon feared; and +the brave defender of Khartoum sealed his fidelity with his own blood. We +never doubted but he would "die at his post." + +The Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone was on a visit to Holker Hall to see the +Duke of Devonshire, when the sad tale was told of Gordon's betrayal and +death. To add to the grief, the Queen, whose inmost soul had been +stirred by the terrible news, sent to Mr. Gladstone and Lord Hartington a +telegram couched in terms of anger and of blame, and this, not in cypher +as was her wont, but plain and open. + +Mr. Gladstone addressed to Her Majesty by return, in the most courteous +manner possible, what may be considered a vindication of his actions in +the matter and also that of his Cabinet:-- + + "To the Queen,-- + + "Mr. Gladstone has had the honour this day to receive your Majesty's + telegram, _en clair_, relating to the deplorable intelligence received + this day from Lord Wolseley, and stating that it is too fearful to + consider that the fall of Khartoum might have been prevented and many + precious lives saved by earlier action. Mr. Gladstone does not + presume to estimate the means of judgment possessed by your Majesty, + but so far as his information and recollection at the moment go, he is + not altogether able to follow the conclusion which your Majesty has + been pleased thus to announce. Mr. Gladstone is under the impression + that Lord Wolseley's force might have been sufficiently advanced to + save Khartoum, had not a large portion of it been detached by a + circuitous route along the river, upon the express application of + General Gordon, to occupy Berber on the way to the final destination. + He speaks, however, with submission on a point of this kind. There + is, indeed, in some quarters, a belief that the river route ought to + have been chosen at an earlier period, and had the navigation of the + Nile, in its upper region, been as well known as that of the Thames, + this might have been a just ground of reproach. But when, on the + first symptoms that the position of General Gordon in Khartoum was not + secure, your Majesty's advisers at once sought from the most competent + persons the best information they could obtain respecting the Nile + route, the balance of testimony and authority was decidedly against + it, and the idea of the Suakin and Berber route, with all its + formidable difficulties, was entertained in preference; nor was it + till a much later period that the weight of opinion and information + warranted the definite choice of the Nile route. Your Majesty's + Ministers were well aware that climate and distance were far more + formidable than the sword of the enemy, and they deemed it right, + while providing adequate military means, never to lose from view what + might have proved to be the destruction of the gallant army in the + Soudan. It is probable that abundant wrath and indignation will on + this occasion be poured out upon them. Nor will they complain if so + it should be; but a partial consolation may be found on reflecting + that neither aggressive policy, nor military disaster, nor any gross + error in the application of means to ends, has marked this series of + difficult proceedings, which, indeed, have greatly redounded to the + honour of your Majesty's forces of all ranks and arms. In these + remarks, which Mr. Gladstone submits with his humble devotion, he has + taken it for granted that Khartoum has fallen through the exhaustion + of its means of defence. But your Majesty may observe from the + telegram that this is uncertain. Both the correspondent's account and + that of Major Wortley refer to the delivery of the town by treachery, + a contingency which on some previous occasions General Gordon has + treated as far from improbable; and which, if the notice existed, was + likely to operate quite independently of the particular time at which + a relieving force might arrive. The presence of the enemy in force + would naturally suggest the occasion or perhaps even the apprehension + of the approach of the British army. In pointing to these + considerations, Mr. Gladstone is far from assuming that they are + conclusive upon the whole case; in dealing with which the government + has hardly ever at any of its stages been furnished sufficiently with + those means of judgment which rational men usually require. It may be + that, on a retrospect, many errors will appear to have been committed. + There are many reproaches, from the most opposite quarters, to which + it might be difficult to supply a conclusive answer. Among them, and + perhaps amongst the most difficult, as far as Mr. Gladstone can judge, + would be the reproach of those who might argue that our proper + business was the protection of Egypt, that it never was in military + danger from the Madhi, and that the most prudent course would have + been to provide it with adequate frontier defences, and to assume no + responsibility for the lands beyond the desert." + + "Heroes have fought, and warriors bled, + For home, and love, and glory; + Your life and mine will soon be sped, + Then what will be the story?" + + --J. RUSHTON. + +The agonizing suspense in which our nation had been kept for weeks, was +now at an end, and we learned the worst. The news fell like a +thunderbolt upon our country! Within forty-eight hours of the time when +Gordon would have heard the triumph ranting of English cheers, and once +more clasped the faithful hands of British brother soldiers; treachery +had done its worst. Thus ended this unique life's drama of one of the +noblest hearts that ever beat in soldier's bosom, and one of the truest +to his Queen, to his country, and to his God. The heart that had caused +him to share his home with the homeless, and his bread with the hungry, +that had led him to kneel in prayer by the dying; the heart that had so +often throbbed for the misery of slavery, and the slave trade, as to risk +his life as of no value to stop that cursed practice and traffic; that +heart was pierced by the treacherous hands (in all probability) of the +very man Gordon had made the greatest sacrifice to save. Such terrible +news threw our land into universal mourning, and thousands wept for the +hero that would never return. + +The military correspondent of the "Daily News" at Dongola, writes: "Two +men arrived here yesterday, April 11th, 1885, whose story throws some +light on the capture of Khartoum. They were soldiers in Gordon's army, +taken at the time and sold as slaves, but who ultimately escaped. Their +names are Said Abdullah and Jacoob Mahomet. I will let them tell their +own history." "After stating they were first taken at Omdurman, +subsequently to the capture of Khartoum; were then stolen by arabs and +sold to two Kabbabish merchants, and afterwards escaped from Aboudom to +Debbah, from which place they had reached Dongola; they went on to relate +the doings of Farig Pasha previously to the taking of Khartoum. I have +given you some account of the story by telegraph, and it has been partly +made familiar substantially through other channels. They continued: +"That night Khartoum was delivered into the hands of the rebels. It fell +through the treachery of the accursed Farig Pasha, the Circassian, who +opened the gate. May he never reach Paradise! May Shaytan take +possession of his soul! But it was Kismet. The gate was called Bouri'; +it was on the Blue Nile. We were on guard near, but did not see what was +going on. We were attacked and fought desperately at the gate. Twelve +of our staff were killed, and twenty-two of us retreated to a high room, +where we were taken prisoners, and now came the ending. The red Flag +with the crescent was destined no more to wave over the Palace; nor would +the strains of the hymns of His Excellency be heard any more at eventide +in Khartoum. Blood was to flow in her streets, in her dwellings, in her +very mosque, and on the Kenniseh of the Narsira. A cry arose, "To the +Palace! to the Palace!" A wild and furious band rushed towards it, but +they were resisted by the black troops, who fought desperately. They +knew there was no mercy for them, and that even were their lives spared, +they would be enslaved, and the state of the slave, the perpetual bondage +with hard taskmasters, is worse than death. Slaves are not treated well, +as you think; heavy chains are round their ankles and middle, and they +are lashed for the least offence until blood flows. We had fought for +the Christian Pasha and for the Turks, and we knew that we should receive +no mercy. The house was set on fire: the fight raged and the slaughter +continued till the streets were slippery with blood. The rebels rushed +onward to the Palace. We saw a mass rolling to and fro, but did not see +Gordon Pasha killed. He met his fate, we believe, as he was leaving the +Palace, near the large tree which stands on the esplanade. The Palace is +not a stone's throw, or at any rate a gun shot distance from the Austrian +Consul's house. He was going in that direction, to the magazine on the +Kenniseh, a long way off. We did not hear what became of his body, nor +did we hear that his head was cut off; but we saw the head of the traitor +Farig Pasha, who met with his deserts. We have heard it was the blacks +that ran away; and that the Egyptian soldiers fought well; that is not +true, they were craven. Had it not been for them, in spite of the +treachery of many within the town, the Arabs would not have got in, for +we watched the traitors. And now fearful scenes took place in every +house and building, in the large Market Place, in the small bazaars; men +were slain crying for mercy, but mercy was not in the hearts of those +savage enemies. Women and children were robbed of their jewels of +silver, of their bracelets, necklaces of precious stones, and carried off +to be sold to the Bishareen merchants as slaves. Yes, and white women +too, mother and daughter alike were carried off from their homes of +comfort. Wives and children of Egyptian merchants, formerly rich, owning +ships and mills; these were sold afterwards, some for 340 thaleries or +more, some for 25, according to age and good looks. And the poor black +women already slaves, and their children, 70 or 80 thaleries. Their +husbands and masters were slain before their eyes . . . . this fighting +and spilling of blood continued till noon, till the sun rode high in the +sky. There was riot, wrangling, hubbub and cursing, till the hour of +evening prayer. But the Muezzin was not called, neither were any prayers +offered up at the Moslem Mosque on that dark day in the annals of +Khartoum. Meanwhile the screeching devils bespattered with gore, +swarming about in droves and bands, found very little plunder, so were +disappointed, and sought out Farig Pasha, and found him with the +Dervishes. 'Where is the hidden treasure?' they at once demanded of him. +'We know that you are acquainted with the hiding place. Where is the +money and riches of the city and its merchants? We know that those who +left Khartoum did not take away their valuables, and you know where it is +hid.' The Dervishes seeing the tumult questioned him sharply, and +addressed him thus: "The long expected one our Lord, desires to know +where the English Pasha hid his wealth. We know he was very rich, and +every day paid large sums of money; that has not been concealed from our +Lord. Now therefore let us know that we may bear him word where all the +money is hidden. Let him be bound in the inner chamber and examined; and +the gates closed against the Arabs." Farig was then questioned, but he +"swore by Allah and by the souls of his fathers back to three +generations, that Gordon had no money, and that he knew of no hidden +treasure." "You lie (cried the Dervishes); you wish after a while to +come and dig it out yourself. Listen to what we are going to say to you. +We are sure you know where the money is hidden. We are not careful of +your life, for you have betrayed the man whose salt you had eaten; you +have been the servant of the infidel, and you have betrayed even him. +Unless you unfold this secret of the buried treasure, you will surely +die." Farig with proud bearing said, "I care not for your threats. I +have told you the truth, Allah knows. There is no money, neither is +there treasure. You are fools to suppose there is. I have done a great +deed, I have delivered to your lord and master (the Madhi), the city +which you never could have taken without my help. I tell you again there +is no treasure, and you will rue the day if you kill me." + +One of the Dervishes then stepped forward and struck him, bound as he +was, in the mouth; then another rushed at him with his two-edged sword, +struck him behind the neck so that with this one blow his head fell from +his shoulders; (so perished the arch traitor); may his soul be afflicted! +But as for Gordon Pasha the magnanimous, may his soul have peace!" The +story of these men may, or may not be true, but it seems on the face of +it trustworthy. + +It is, however, out of harmony with the description given of Gordon's +death by Slatin Pasha, who was taken a prisoner at the time of the fall +of Khartoum, and had been kept for eleven years in captivity, but +eventually made his escape. He was in attendance at the International +Geographical Congress held at the Imperial Institute, and devoted to +African affairs, when he told the story of his escape from Khartoum. He +says "The City of Khartoum fell on the 16th Jan., 1885, and Gordon was +killed on the highest step of the staircase of his Palace. His head was +cut off and exhibited to Slatin whilst the latter was in chains, with +expressions of derision and contempt." + +We have no doubt now as to the fact that Gordon Pasha, the illustrious, +the saintly, the brave defender, died doing his duty. In all civilized +lands there are still men who tell of Gordon Pasha's unbounded +benevolence; of his mighty faith, of his heroism and self-sacrifice, and +they mourn with us the loss of one of the most saintly souls our world +has ever known. + + "Warrior of God, man's friend, not laid below, + But somewhere dead far in the waste Soudan, + Thou livest in all hearts, for all men know + This earth hath borne no simpler, nobler man." + + TENNYSON. + +A most interesting and exquisitely touching letter was forwarded to the +bereaved and stricken sister of our hero from the Khedive of Egypt, +written from + + "ABDUI PALACE, + "CAIRO, + "FEB. 24, 1885. + + "MADAM,-- + + "Altho' I do not wish to intrude upon the great sorrow which has + fallen upon you in the death of your distinguished brother, the late + General Gordon Pasha, yet as Egypt and myself have so much reason to + deplore his loss, I desire to convey to you my heart-felt sympathy in + the terrible bereavement it has been God's will you should suffer. I + cannot find words to express to you the respect and admiration with + which your brother's simple faith and heroic courage have inspired me: + the whole world resounds with the name of the Englishman whose + chivalrous nature afforded it for many years its brightest and most + powerful example,--an example which I believe will influence thousands + of persons for good through all time. To a man of Gordon's character + the disappointment of hopes he deemed so near fruition, and the sudden + manner of his death were of little importance. In his own words, he + left weariness for perfect rest. Our mourning for him is true and + real; as is also our loss, but we have a sure hope that a life and + death such as his are not extinguished by what we call death. I beg + to renew to you, Madam, the assurance of my sincere sympathy and + respectful condolence. + +"MEHEMIT TEWFIK." + +Also from the Queen, a letter full of womanly and queenly sympathy is +here recorded from _The Daily News_: + + "DEAR MISS GORDON,--How shall I write to you, or how shall I attempt + to express what I feel? To think of your dear, noble, heroic brother, + who served his country and his Queen so truly, so heroically, with a + self-sacrifice so edifying to the world, not having been rescued: that + the promises of support were not fulfilled--which I so frequently and + constantly pressed on those who asked him to go--is to me grief + inexpressible: indeed it has made me ill. My heart bleeds for you, + his sister, who have gone through so many anxieties on his account, + and who loved the dear brother as he deserved to be. You are all so + good and trustful, and have such strong faith, that you will be + sustained even now, when real absolute evidence of your brother's + death does not exist--but I fear there cannot be much doubt of it. + Some day I hope to see you again to tell you all I cannot express. My + daughter Beatrice, who has felt quite as I do, wishes me to express + her deepest sympathy with you. I hear so many expressions of sorrow + from abroad; from my eldest daughter The Crown Princess, and from my + cousin the King of the Belgians--the very warmest. Would you express + to your other sister, and your elder brother my true sympathy, and + what I do so keenly feel, the stain left upon England for your dear + brother's cruel, though heroic fate! Ever, dear Miss Gordon, yours + sincerely and sympathizingly, + + V.R.I." + +A second letter from Her Majesty the Queen to acknowledge Miss Gordon's +gift of her brother's Bible. The very Bible he used when with me in +Manchester. His companion at Gravesend, and during his sojourn in the +Soudan (first time). "It was so worn out (says Miss Gordon) that he gave +it to me. Hearing that the Queen would like to see it, I forwarded it to +Windsor Castle." And this Bible is now placed in an enamel and crystal +case called "The St. George's Casket," where it now lies open on a white +satin cushion, with a marble bust of General Gordon on a pedestal beside +it. + +Her Majesty writes:-- + + "WINDSOR CASTLE, + "MARCH 16TH, 1885. + + "DEAR MISS GORDON,--It is most kind and good of you to give me this + precious Bible, and I only hope that you are not depriving yourself + and family of such a treasure, if you have no other. May I ask you, + during how many years your dear, heroic brother had it with him? I + shall have a case made for it with an inscription, and place it in the + library here, with your letter and the touching extract from his last + to you. I have ordered, as you know, a Marble Bust of your Dear + Brother to be placed in the corridor here, where so many busts and + pictures of our greatest Generals, and Statesmen are, and hope that + you will see it before it is finished, to give your opinion as to the + likeness.--Believe me always yours very sincerely, + + "VICTORIA R.I." + +A most touching and I think true epitaph has been written in Greek and +translated by Professor Jebb, of the University of Glasgow touching the +death of General Gordon:-- + + "Leaving a perpetual remembrance, thou art gone; in thy death thou + wert even such as in thy life; wealth to the poor, hope to the + desponding, support to the weak. Thou couldst meet desperate troubles + with a spirit that knew not despair, and breathe might into the + trembling. The Lord of China owes thee thanks for thy benefits; the + throne of his ancient kingdom hath not been cast down. And where the + Nile unites the divided strength of his streams, a city saw thee long- + suffering. A multitude dwelt therein, but thine alone was the valour + that guarded it through all that year, when by day and by night thou + didst keep watch against the host of the Arabians, who went around it + to devour it, with spears thirsting for blood. Thy death was not + wrought by the God of war, but by the frailties of thy friends. For + thy country and for all men God blessed the work of thy hand. Hail, + stainless warrior! hail, thrice victorious hero! Thou livest and + shalt teach aftertimes to reverence the council of the Everlasting + Father." + +Should he have been spared to return to our land-- + + "We had the laurels ready + That patient brow to crown, + But the traitors steel was swift and sharp + To strike our honours down. + God His own victor crowneth, + He counts not gain nor loss, + For the dauntless heart that battles + 'Neath the shadow of the Cross. + Rest for the gallant soldier, + Where'er he lieth low, + His rest is still and deep to-day, + 'Mid clash of friend and foe. + He stands amid the light he loved, + Whence all the clouds depart, + But there's a gap within our ranks, + And a void within our hearts." + +Great men are usually measured by their character, not by their +successes; but measured by either standard Gordon must be considered a +_great_ man. In him were incarnated all the highest characteristics of +the heroes of our land, and other lands, and of the illustrious servants +of God in all ages. His life was swayed by a noble purpose, and by this +he was borne onward and upward in a career of noble doing and daring. He +had courage of the very highest quality, and by this he carved his way +into the very front rank of our heroes, and won remarkable distinctions +in life's fiercest battles. His crowning characteristics were, I think, +his genuineness, and unfailing trust in God. These, especially the +latter, were the inspiration of his life; and these alone offer the +truest explanation of his heroic deeds. Even in Spain his name had a +fragrance that was attractive and beautiful. One of the papers _The El +Dia_, of Madrid, wrote: "Where even the greatest events which occur +abroad hardly attract the attention of the general public, the daring +enterprises of General Gordon had excited the greatest interest. This +was partly because of the immense importance of the drama which was being +played in the Soudan, and because of the extraordinary development of the +drama; but it was chiefly due to the sympathy of the people with the +heroic champion of light and civilization; for his spotless honesty; for +his valour, tried times without number; for his British tenacity; for his +faith in his religion and country; for his keen insight; for his heroic +unselfishness, and for all his other fine qualities. Gordon has become +recognised in Spain as an original character, grand and complete, whom +future generations will idealize, and whom history will call by the name +of genius." + +But Gordon, the great soldier and loveable Saint is dead; and he himself +could wish no nobler ending of an unselfish life, after such a life of +adventure, of heroism, and of humble trust in God. + +A combination of strange, rare qualities helped to make him one of the +most remarkable men our country has ever seen. As a Christian of rarest +purity and consecration, and as a hero whose fame has filled two +hemispheres, "His name shall be had in everlasting remembrance." He has +added new chapters to the glorious stories of British pluck and heroism, +and has left a name to which our young men will look back upon with +pride; and the best of us will reverence, so long as truth, faith, self- +devotion, and lofty sense of duty stir the admiration of men who are +worthy to be called his fellow-countrymen. Our British nation thrills +with a proud joy as it reflects upon the splendid achievements of that +stainless life, now crowned with the laurels of martyrdom, and of an +Empire's love. + +The memorial in St. Paul's Cathedral most beautifully sets forth the +leading traits in his character:-- + + "Major General Charles George Gordon, C.B., who at all times and + everywhere, gave his strength to the weak, his substance to the poor, + his sympathy to the suffering, his heart to God. + + "Born at Woolwich, 28th Jan., 1838. + + "Slain at Khartoum, 26th Jan., 1885. + + "He saved an Empire by his warlike genius, he ruled vast provinces + with justice, wisdom, power. And lastly, obedient to his Sovereign's + command, he died in the heroic attempt to save men, women and children + from imminent and deadly peril. 'Greater love hath no man than this, + that a man lay down his life for his friends.'--St. John, xv. ch., v. + 13. + +{The Memorial in St. Paul's Cathedral: p155.jpg} + + "This monument is erected by his only surviving brother, whose eldest + son also perished in the service of his country, as Midshipman in + H.M.S. 'Captain,' and is commemorated with others in the adjoining + recess." + + "Gordon! thou lost ideal of our time, + While men believe not, and belief grows pale, + Before the daring doubters that assail; + We need thy child-like faith, thy gaze sublime, + That pierced the nearer gloom, + And still onward strode + Through death and darkness, seeing only God." + + "Servant of Christ, well done, + Praise be thy new employ; + And while eternal ages run, + Rest in thy Saviour's joy." + +FINIS. + + + + +Footnotes. + + +{57} A work by the Rev. Wm. Arthur, which Gordon presented to me. + +{63} The name of our Ragged School. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GENERAL GORDON*** + + +******* This file should be named 20619.txt or 20619.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/6/1/20619 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + |