Cavalry   .   .   .   .   .   8 squadrons
Camel Corps   .   .   .   .   6 companies
Horse Artillery   .   .   .   1 battery

 Artillery:  Major Parsons

Field Artillery   .   .   .   2 batteries
Maxims       .    .   .   .   1 battery (British)

 Divisional Troops:  Major Currie

  North Staffordshire Regiment . . . . 1st Battalion

 The Flotilla:  Commander Colville

  Gunboats . . .  Zafir, Tamai, Abu Klea, Metemma, El Teb
  Armed Steamers . . .  Kaibar, Dal, Akasha

    Total:  15,000 men, 8 war-vessels, and 36 guns

Thus thirteen of the sixteen battalions of the Egyptian Army were employed at the front.  Two others, the 6th and XIVth, were disposed along the line of communication, holding the various fortified posts.  The 16th Battalion of reservists remained at Suakin.  The whole native army was engaged in the war, and the preservation of domestic order in the capital and throughout the Khedive’s dominions was left entirely to the police and to the British Army of Occupation.  By the 9th all four brigades had reached the rendezvous at Dulgo; on the 10th the British regiment, which it was determined to send up in the steamers, was moved to Kosheh by rail from Sarras and Gemai.  The Sirdar prepared to start with the flotilla on the 12th.

But a culminating disappointment remained.  By tremendous exertions the Zafir had been finished in time to take part in the operations.  Throughout the army it was expected that the Zafir would be the feature of the campaign.  At length the work was finished, and the Zafir floated, powerful and majestic, on the waters of the Nile.  On the afternoon of the 11th of September many officers and men came to witness her trial trip.  The bank was lined with spectators.  Colville took command.  The Sirdar and his Staff embarked.  Flags were hoisted and amid general cheering the moorings were cast off.  But the stern paddle had hardly revolved twice when there was a loud report, like that of a heavy gun, clouds of steam rushed up from the boilers, and the engines stopped.  Sir H. Kitchener and Commander Colville were on the upper deck.  The latter rushed below to learn what had happened, and found that she had burst her low-pressure cylinder, a misfortune impossible to repair until a new one could be obtained from Halfa and fitted.

In spite of this, however, the advance was not delayed.  On the 13th the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Brigades occupied Kaderma.  Here the flotilla overtook them, and henceforward the boats on the river kept pace with the army on the bank.  Fareig was reached on the 14th, and as the numerous palms by the water afforded a pleasant shade a halt of two days was ordered.  On the 16th the 4th Brigade arrived, and the concentration of the force was then complete.