On the 3rd of January they reached Gakdul Wells.  A hundred miles of their march was accomplished.  But they were now delayed by the necessity of escorting a second column of supplies to Gakdul, and after that until the arrival of reinforcements which raised their strength to 1,800 of all ranks.  The interval was employed in building two small forts and establishing an advanced depot; nor was it until the 13th that the march was resumed.  The number of camels was not sufficient for the necessities of the transport.  The food of the camels was too poor for the work they had to perform.  By the 16th, however, they had made fifty miles, and approached the wells of Abu Klea.  Here their further advance was disputed by the enemy.

The news of the advance of the Desert Column had been duly reported to the Mahdi and his Arab generals.  A small party of English, it was said, with camels and some cavalry, were coming swiftly to the rescue of the accursed city.  Their numbers were few, scarce 2,000 men.  How should they hope to prevail against ‘the expected Mahdi’ and the conquering Ansar who had destroyed Hicks?  They were mad; yet they should die; not one should escape.  The delay in the advance offered ample opportunity.  A great force of Arabs was concentrated.  Slatin relates how several thousand men under important Emirs were detached from the army before Khartoum and marched northward eager for the slaughter of ‘the enemies of God.’  At Metemma the main strength of the Jaalin tribe was collected.  With the reinforcements from Omdurman the total force of the Arabs actually at hand was not less than 10,000, and behind were many thousands more.  They permitted the little column to advance until their retreat, if defeated, was impossible, and then, confident of victory, offered battle near the wells of Abu Klea.

The Camel Corps remained halted during the morning of the 16th, and built a small fort, in which they placed their reserve of stores, and made some arrangement for the reception of wounded.  At one o’clock they moved leisurely forward, passed through the rocky defile which led into the valley of Abu Klea and bivouacked.  Early the next morning the force moved out in square formation and advanced upon the enemy.  The most savage and bloody action ever fought in the Soudan by British troops followed.  Notwithstanding the numbers and the valour of the Arabs, that they penetrated the square, and that they inflicted on the troops a loss of nine officers and sixty-five men killed and nine officers and eighty-five men wounded—­10 percent of the entire force—­they were driven from the field with great slaughter, and the Desert Column camped at the wells.