His own letters tell the story of his life in Egypt very clearly, though there are certain gaps and omissions which I am able to fill up through the great kindness of Colonel Romilly, who was A.D.C. to Sir Frederick,
and who has given me notes of his own, and letters from Sir Frederick, and advice and suggestions of the utmost value. It is not desirable here to go very deeply into the question of the route to Khartoum in connection with the relief of Gordon, a matter on which Sir Frederick differed from the home authorities, and which finally resulted in the appointment of Lord Wolseley in command of the expedition. It cannot, however, be passed over, and one fact must be emphasised — he never reported the Nile route impracticable, though he preferred the Berber route, and was strongly of opinion that in any case as much use as possible should be made of local craft and material. That he knew pretty well what he was talking about maj'^ be inferred from Lord Kitchener's words, who one day said in conversation that to his thinking " the man who knew more about the Soudan, its chiefs and tribes, and who had the closest and best views as to the way of dealing with them, was General Stephenson."
What really annoyed and distressed Sir Frederick in this business, as will be seen in one letter written to his brother, was that it should be thought possible that he would not carry out any plans finally decided on as faithfully as if they had been his own.
On April 25, 1884, Lord Hartington had written to him desiring him to report " on the measures which may be necessary for the relief (or removal) of General Gordon at Khartoum." Lord Hartington goes at some length into the question of the alternative measures that it may be necessary to take, and adds: " I must congratulate you on the very efficient arrangement made for the Suakin Expedition and on the complete military success which it accomplished." In the same letter he says: " I fancy that in the opinion of many here Lord Wolseley has underrated the difficulties of the Nile route, relying very much as he does on the experience, under different conditions, of the Red River Expedition. All former experience seems to point out the Suakin route."
The Duke of Cambridge also wrote previously to this on August 5: " The instructions sent are in very general terms. The general management will be left chiefly to your judgment whenever you are able to suggest how to carry on this delicate and difficult operation "; and on August 14: " You will receive the official dispatch from Secretary of State giving you all the necessary directions. I am glad to think that the whole conduct of this difficult operation is intended to be carried out under your directions."
After this it must have been something of a shock to receive a letter from Lord Hartington dated the 29th of August, only four days later than the one quoted above, explaining that the command of the expedition was to be taken out of Sir Frederick's hands. What Sir Frederick felt most was what he considered the want of confidence in him expressed in the words: " I also felt that it was unfair on you and on your staff to ask you to take the responsibility of the execution of a plan the details of which had perhaps not been sufficiently explained to you, but in which evidently you felt no confidence."
Sir Frederick's reply was short: —
" I beg to acknowledge your letter of the 29th last which has reached me by this mail, and I will ask your permission to reply to it at a later date. My object in writing to you to-day is to thank you for the kind and considerate manner in which you have been good enough to convey to me the decision of H.M.'s Government with regard to my supersession, a decision which, however painful it may be to my feelings, has at all events been softened by the very kind tone of your Lordship's letter."
A week later he writes again: —
" Since the date of my last letter Lord Wolseley has both spoken and written to me upon the subject of my present position in Egypt. The result of our communication has been my informing him that he might depend upon me for giving him all the support and assistance in my powder, and that if my remaining on here for the present would be of any service, I would do so as long as I could be of use during his stay in Egypt or the Soudan."
After this it is no matter of surprise that Sir Frederick wished to give up his command in Egypt, and much correspondence passed between him and the War Office and the Duke of Cambridge.