Gordon, Charles George (General)

Two autograph letters, signed. To Colonel Charles Nugent, Royal Engineers, Horse Guards, Whitehall London. Darfur: 14 June 1879 and "On Nile About 5 days journey from Cairo: 20 August 1879



8vo & 4to, 2 pages each; one corner slightly torn, one small tear in fold. Framed and glazed with portraits.

Two autograph letters, signed. To Colonel Charles Nugent, Royal Engineers, Horse Guards, Whitehall London. Darfur: 14 June 1879 and "On Nile About 5 days journey from Cairo: 20 August 1879 8vo & 4to, 2 pages each; one corner slightly torn, one small tear in fold. Framed and glazed with portraits.
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Written towards the end of his first service in Sudan as Governor General, when he succeeded in destroying the slave trade.

The 14 June letter reports that his captain, Romulus Gessi, had ended the "affair" against "the son of Zebehr" [Suleiman, the slave trader], using 2,000 men against some 1,500 slave dealers and 10,000 slaves, but that Suleiman was raising fresh troops at Shakka and planning to make his way to Darfur, compelling Gordon to "retrace his steps" and go to Gessi's aid to prevent Suleiman joining forces with men at Haroun.

The 20 August letter announces the death of Suleiman and other chief slave dealers, mentioning his own "suffering from poverty of blood," tiredness and wish to return home. He expresses regret at the loss of Osman Pasha (his second in command) and goes on to express admiration for the Khedive Ismail, and his misgivings with regard to the new Khedive, Tewfik, foreseeing an inconsistent and confused rule, making Europe's dealings with Egypt much more difficult.