Battle of Abu Hamed
Abu Hamed, on the Nile, River Nile State, Sudan
What happened
An Anglo-Egyptian column under Major-General Sir Archibald Hunter fought the Mahdist garrison of Abu Hamed under Mohammed Zain. During the Anglo-Egyptian campaign to reconquer Sudan, Hunter's column marched mostly at night along the Nile and reached Abu Hamed at dawn on 7 August 1897. After artillery fire, the infantry fought through the town. By 7:30 in the morning it was in Anglo-Egyptian hands, and its commander was captured.
Why it matters
Why it matters: Abu Hamed was the planned end point of a new military railway across the desert. The railway let Kitchener's army avoid a long stretch of the Nile that boats could not use.
What came next
Work on the railway resumed, and the Mahdist commander at Berber soon left that city. By 1899 the railway reached Khartoum North and became the backbone of Sudan's railways.
Did you know?
The railway cut the journey from about 18 days by river to about 24 hours.
Timeline
- 1896Work begins on the Sudan Military Railway from Wadi Halfa.
- 7 August 1897Hunter's column captures Abu Hamed.
- 31 October 1897The railway reaches Abu Hamed.
- 1899The railway reaches Khartoum North.