General Gordon, Saint and Soldier

Nothing but the greatest possible pressure from my many kind friends who have heard my lecture on "General Gordon: Saint and Soldier," who knew of my intimacy with him, and had seen some of the letters referred to, would have induced me to narrate this little story of a noble life. I am greatly indebted to many friends, authors, and newspapers, for extracts and incidents, etc., etc.; and to them I beg to offer my best thanks and humble apology. This book is issued in the hope, that, with all its imperfections, it may inspire the young men of our times to imitate the Christ-like spirit and example of our illustrious and noble hero, C. G. Gordon.

J. WARDLE.

THIS BRIEF STORY OF A NOBLE, SAINTLY AND HEROIC LIFE, I DEDICATE WITH MUCH AFFECTION TO MY SON, JOSEPH GORDON WARDLE

"If I am asked, who is the greatest man? I answer, "the best." And if I am requested to say, who is the best, I reply: "he that deserveth most of his fellow creatures."

--Sir William Jones.

INDEX.

Chapter I.--Introduction--Gordon's birth, parentage and school--His first experience of warfare in the Crimea--His display of exceptional soldierly qualities--The storming of Sebastopol and its fall.

Chapter II.--Gordon assisting to lay down frontiers in Russia, Turkey and Armenia--Gordon in China--Burning of the Summer Palace--Chinese rebellion and its suppression.

Chapter III.--Gordon at Manchester--My experiences with him--Ragged School work--Amongst the poor, the old, the sick--Some of his letters to me, showing his deep solicitude for the lads.

Chapter IV.--Gordon's letters--Leaflet, &c.--His work at Gravesend--Amongst his "Kings"--His call to foreign service, and leave taking--The public regret.

Chapter V.--His first appointment as Governor General of the Soudan--His journey to, and his arrival at Khartoum--His many difficulties--His visit to King John of Abyssinia, and resignation.

Chapter VI.--Gordon's return to Egypt and welcome by the Khedive--Home again--A second visit to China--Soudan very unsettled--The Madhi winning battles--Hicks Pasha's army annihilated--Gordon sent for; agrees again to go to Khartoum.

Chapter VII.--Gordon's starting for Khartoum (2nd appointment)--His arrival and reception--Khartoum surrounded--Letter from the Madhi to Gordon--Gordon's reply--His many and severe trials in Khartoum.

Chapter VIII.--Expedition of Lord Wolseley's to relieve Gordon--Terrible marches in the desert--Battle of Abu-Klea--Colonel Burnaby killed--Awful scenes--The Arabs break the British Square--Victory and march to Mettemmeh.

Chapter IX.--Gordon's Boats, manned by Sir Charles Wilson, fighting up to Khartoum--Khartoum fallen--Gordon a martyr--Mourning in all lands--Our Queen's letter of complaint to Gladstone--Gladstone's reply and vindication--Queen's letters to Gordon's sister--Account of the fall of Khartoum--Acceptance by the Queen of Gordon's Bible.

CHAPTER I.

"There is nothing purer than honesty; nothing sweeter than charity; nothing warmer than love; nothing richer than wisdom; nothing brighter than virtue; nothing more steadfast than faith."--Bacon.

It has been said that the most interesting study for mankind is man; and surely one of the grandest objects for human contemplation, is a noble character; a lofty type of a truly great and good man is humanity's richest heritage.

The following lines by one of our greatest poets are true--

"Lives of great men all remind us, We can make our lives sublime, And departing leave behind us, Footprints on the sands of time."