General Stephenson was on the spot: he had the advantage of conferring with Commander Hamill and other officers, who had for some weeks been examining the Cataracts on the Nile, and going into the question of facilities for passing them by boats and steamers. Naval opinion was strongly adverse to the Nile route, the highest naval authorities declaring the impossibility of boats such as had been proposed from London ascending the Cataract; it was not unnatural, therefore, that with this expert opinion against the River route he should have been in favour of the Desert march by Suakin and Berber. Lord Wolseley, however, with the experience of the Red River Expedition, formed an opposite opinion, and his views were adopted by the Government. Lord Hartington's dispatch of the 26th August stated it would be unjust to ask General Stephenson to be responsible for directing an operation which, after full knowledge of the plan, he considered impracticable: Lord Wolseley would command the expedition, but he hoped General Stephenson would remain in Egypt and give Lord Wolseley advice and assistance.
Without going into the question as to which of these routes was the right one, it is evident that naval opinion was wrong, since no great difficulties were found in passing through the Cataracts the whaler boats, and even the stern-wheel steamers; but at the same time, assuming that the route by Suakin was possible, the force must have arrived at Berber in much less time than Lord Wolseley 's River route would have taken.
On the return of the Nile Expedition, Lord Wolseley having pointed out the necessity of dealing with Osman Digna, a force of 9000 men was collected and dispatched to Suakin. The Government by its dilatory measures had allowed the fall of Khartoum, and Gordon to be sacrificed. The unnecessary expedition to Suakin was no doubt caused by the necessity for doing something to satisfy the popular clamour.
After a short and unsatisfactory campaign, and the disaster of M'Neill's zariba, the Suakin-Berber project — to run a railway from Suakin to Berber — was given up, and again the policy of scuttle was carried out. The evacuation of the Eastern Soudan was now complete, though Suakin was still held.
During the whole period of the Nile Expedition Sir Frederick Stephenson remained in Cairo, giving all the support and assistance he possibly could to Lord Wolseley in carrying out the splendid attempt to relieve General Gordon.
After the return to England of Lord Wolseley, General Stephenson resumed his normal position as Commander in Egypt, but very soon the policy of retirement induced the Dervishes to organise an expedition for the invasion of the frontier.
In December 1887, a force under the well-known Dervish leader, Abd el Majid, appeared in front of our fortified position at Koshey; the small body of troops on the frontier (consisting of the Cameron Highlanders and two Egyptian battalions) was unable to repel the large force of the Dervishes, and a Soudanese battalion, and the Highlanders, were practically shut up in the fort at Koshey. Reinforcements were called for by Sir William Butler, and a small expedition was organised from Cairo and proceeded to Wady Haifa, and preparations were made to attack the Dervishes and to relieve the small garrison, which was almost surrounded.
When sufficient troops had been placed on the ground, General Stephenson arrived and took command of the force. It was a great joy to all of us to serve under him. On arrival he concurred in our arrangements made for the attack.
In order to get into the fort at Koshey, it was necessary in the early dawn to cross some open ground, under fire from the Dervishes, from a place known as the Black Rock, behind which a large number were always concealed. A boy had been killed at this place a few days before. I requested the General to pass as rapidly as possible, but he walked very slowly and quietly, and I was glad when we got him past in safety. The engagement was short, sharp, and decisive. The Dervishes were defeated with great loss, and driven back to the Province of Dongola, after which Sir Frederick returned to Cairo, much gratified by the success of his expedition.
In December 1887, the General's departure from Cairo, on the conclusion of his command, caused great regret to all, and was marked by numerous entertainments in his honour, which are described by him in his letters, all of which I feel sure will be read with interest by his many friends.
He had won the respect and affection not only of those under his command, both British and Egj'ptian, but also of the civil element, in the very mixed society in Egypt.