The two men were both
reserved in demeanor, but in a different sort of way. Kitchener was
taciturn and often inclined to growl. Haig was a man of few words and
no intimates, but greeted all with a pleasant smile. To this young
Scotsman Kitchener unbent more than was his wont, and was actually seen
shaking hands with him, at parting, on a later occasion; which all goes
to show that even commanding officers can be human.
On the march into the Soudan, Kitchener was in command of the Egyptian
Cavalry also. The Khedive was exceedingly anxious that the rebellion
be crushed speedily, and had made Kitchener the "sirdar." One of the
first actions in this campaign was the Battle of Gemaizeh. Three
brigades were sent to storm the forts held by the dervishes, and a
heavy and sustained fire from three sides soon drove the enemy out in
disorder. Some 500 dervishes were slain, and the remainder numbering
several thousand fled across the desert toward Handub--closely pursued
by the British Hussars and the Egyptian cavalry.
This was only the first of many such actions. Further and further
south the rebels were driven. Kitchener pushed a light railroad across
the desert as he advanced, so that he would not suffer from the same
mistake which had ended Gordon--getting cut off from his base of
supplies.
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