object of General Gordon's mission was to relieve these garrisons, and
withdraw them safely from the troubled territory.

General Gordon was known as "Chinese" Gordon, on account of a brilliant
campaign he made in China, for which he was decorated with the yellow
jacket and peacock feather by the Emperor of China. He was chosen to go
to the aid of the Khedive because he had had long experience in Egypt,
having been in the service of the Khedive as Governor-General of the
Provinces of the Equator from 1874 to 1876, and of the Soudan from 1877
to 1879.

The story of the stand he made against the forces of the Mahdi at
Khartoum, and of the long-delayed expedition which was sent to his
relief, are among the saddest annals of modern history.

Khartoum was the capital of the Soudan, and an important commercial
center.

General Gordon was forced to make a stand here against the Mahdi, and
was besieged in Khartoum from March, 1884, to January, 1885. The city
which had held out so bravely was at last taken by storm and General
Gordon killed. The relief expedition which he had been expecting and
hoping for arrived just two days after the city had fallen.

With the fall of Khartoum the Egyptian power in the Soudan was
overthrown.

Lord Wolseley made a campaign against the Mahdi's forces, but it was too
late.