Travel
BUTLER, Col. Sir W[illiam] F[rancis].
The Campaign of the Cataracts being a personal narrative of the Great Nile Expedition of 1884-5.
Sampson Low, London 1887. Second edition. 8vo., viii, 389pp., 32 pages ads at end, frontispiece, 6 full-page plates, large folding coloured map, original light blue cloth gilt, pictorial vignettes to upper cover and spine, an excellent copy.
In 1884, when the relief of Gordon became a practical question, Butler was consulted by Lord Wolseley, and threw himself heartily into the plan of ascending the Nile in boats, such as had been used in the Red River expedition. He had met Gordon some years before, and had been deeply impressed by him. He regarded the relief expedition as 'the very first war during the Victorian era in which the object was entirely noble and worthy.' On 12 August he was charged with the provision of 400 boats, and in a month they were ready and some of them on their way. Butler went to Egypt in September, and during the next three months he worked superhumanly to get boats and troops up the cataracts. This having been accomplished, he joined headquarters at Korti, and was sent on with the river column under General Earle. The victory at Kirbekan on 10 Feb. 1885 was largely due to him; for he had examined the ground on which the Mahdists were posted, and persuaded Earle to turn their position instead of attacking it in front. -DNB.
Price: £ 750
US Dollar Price: $ 1130
Stock Number: 81330