As close member of Kitchener’s inner circle, he saw and wrote of the famous campaign in Sudan, variously known as the Madhist Revolt, or the Second Anglo-Sudan War of 1896-1899.As Steevens recounts in inimitable detail, Kitchener, having become Sirdar or commander of the Egyptian Army set out to recapture the Sudan and avenge his hero Gordon, who had been murdered by the Mahdi some years earlier. As Kitchener and his force descended the Nile, with Steevens in tow, they took great care to ensure their line of supply building a railway line as they went and supplied by river flotilla. The first main clash of forces was at the Battle of Atbara in April 1898 where the British and Egyptian forces furiously attacked and routed a Sudanese camp. Kitchener’s greatest hour came at the battle of Khartoum, four months later, when confronted with a vastly larger force, he relied on the firepower of disciplined volleys and machine guns to break the rebel army beyond repair. Although the revolt lasted a little while longer into 1899, Kitchener could rightly claim to be the victor of the campaign and was ennobled Lord Kitchener of Khartoum.An excellent account of a pivotal Imperial campaign.

    Formatted for the Kindle. Linked Contetnts and footnotes.CHAPTER IVoyage to India — Life in Calcutta — A destructive cyclone — Home-sicknessCHAPTER IIBengal Horse Artillery — Incidents of the journey — New FriendsCHAPTER IIIWith my father at Peshawar — Peshawar in 1852 — Excitements of a frontier station — A flogging parade — Mackeson's assassination — The Jowaki expedition — A strange dream — A typical frontier fightCHAPTER IVA trip to Khagan — The Vale of Kashmir — With the Horse Artillery — My first visit to Simla — Life at Peshawar — A staff appointment — The bump of localityCHAPTER VLord Dalhousie's Afghan policy — Treaty with Dost Mahomed — War with Persia — The advantage of the Amir's friendship — John Nicholson — 'A pillar of strength on the frontier' ...CHAPTER LXVThe Burma expedition — The Camp of Exercise at Delhi — Defence of the North-West Frontier — Quetta and Peshawar — Communications versus fortifications — Sir George ChesneyCHAPTER LXVINursing for the soldier — Pacification of Burma considered — Measures recommended — The Buddhist priesthood — The Regimental Institute — The Army Temperance AssociationCHAPTER LXVIIDefence and Mobilization Committees — The Transport Department — Utilization of Native States' armies — Marquis of Lansdowne becomes Viceroy — Rajputana and Kashmir — Musketry instruction — Artillery and Cavalry trainingCHAPTER LXVIIIExtension of command — Efficiency of the Native Army — Concessions to the Native Army — Officering of the Native Army — The Hunza-Naga campaign — Visit to Nepal — A Nepalese entertainment — Proposed mission to the Amir — A last tour — Farewell entertainments — Last days in India