British general (1833-1885) who, in 1860, crushed the Taiping Rebellion in China, earning the nickname 'Chinese.' ALS signed “C. G. Gordon,” three pages both sides, 8 x 9.75, May 18, 1877. Letter to Colonel Nugent, written from Khartoum. In part: "I leave this on Monday for Darfur. I have had a worrying time here for I have been inundated with petitions, having placed a box with a slit in the lid, at my gate, to receive them. Claims of creditors ag[ain]st debtors, of this or that injustice, of soldiers, of people seeking appts & from the sum of them. I have an immense block as a Palace and a horde of useless servants, among whom is an eunuch. Cannot move, without a host…and am oppressed with the grandeur. A cat the sister of my predecessor Ismail Pasha broke all the windows of the Palace when she heard that her brother was deposed. My 2nd in com[man]d came three days ago, was cheeky, and got put down smartly, & is now quiet & obedient apparently. The Post here is one of great importance, but of no comfort or pleasure to me. I feel my life is gone, and that I can never look for any more what we may call quiet happiness, not but what I am happy in my way, for the…butch has vanished, and people now breathe without fear. The post would suit Drake capitally. I have a fair band of music, and I have spent a pretty penny, 1500£ in 3 months, how much pleasure out of it, I will not calculate. I mean to take my pay & spend it, in the country. I have several of the late Mufette's servants with me, a great fall for them, who rode before the 2nd…in Egypt. However they are well treated & to me, it is a comfort that that cruel…butch has ceased to reign. The people like me, I think, I have made friends with the priests.
As for Darfur, I go there with a conviction I shall be blessed with success. The great sheikhs, not knowing English, are much pleased with being called 'old birds,' I let them sit down, why my 2nd in command will make them stand before him for a couple of hours. I must be a thorn in their sides, these Pashas, they cannot love me. At my installation as Houkmudar, there was a great ceremony and afterwards an address was read, in which they rejoiced at European justice being about to reign. It must have hurt my followers & I replied in that graceful way, you know, so well, that with 'God's help, I would hold the balance straight.' I never have feared concourses of people, and was not put out at this one, indeed I do not care for their horns or the reverse, and I trust with the same feelings I would hear my dismissal. I have before me now 97 days of camel riding & do not expect to be back for 3 1/2 months. My Major Domo has taken to drinking & disgusted me.
600£, 300£, 100£, 10 oz gold, and 80£ are the sums that have been sent to my chief clerk in order to get me to do this or that…I put them into treasury, but did not punish the senders. What is the use of it? They have been brought up in this way. Before me in Darfur, I have a lot to do. 16000 soldiers are there and I mean to hold only the strategical points, and evacuate the rest. I have 30 camels or so, of my own, and hope to move swiftly. I go from Darfur to Wadi Halfa (only 4 days from Cairo). I mean to work, with the people of the county. The result may then be permanent, it can only be ephemeral, by the introduction of strangers. The telegraph is of great use, for I can call my Mudirs, to the office & talk with them. Tell Watson that Engler is coming home, also Prout, who is my successor in the lakes. He will return I hope in a few months. He has done very well, but was very ill, when he came down here. He had been right round the Province, in two & a half months & only took 7 1/2 days to come here from Lardo. The four elephants are on their way up here from Cairo. I have taken Rosset the Acting Consul for England & Germany into my draft as my help. I had to sit on Hansall the Austrian Consul. I have a good deal of bother with the mission, and have threatened to write to the Pope about their conduct." In fine condition. Gordon had been appointed governor-general of Sudan just two weeks earlier; installed at Khartoum, he established his ascendancy over a vast area, crushing rebellions and suppressing the slave trade. In this remarkable letter, he lends insight into his first days on the job. A lengthy, spectacular piece.
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