614:
advanced within two hundred meters of the
Mahdists and begun a more effective barrage of his own, replied to the threat by ordering the sudden advance of his reserve companies. The move checked the advancing Mahdists, avoiding the unfavorable position and causing the rebels to falter. Sensing that victory was near, Chaltin ordered the Azande to charge the Mahdists to separate the advanced right wing from the rest of the line. The charge was successful, and the now considerably damaged Mahdist flanking force was completely cut off and surrounded by Free State soldiers. Chaltin's main companies then attacked, pressing the Mahdist defenses as they forced their way into the hills. Three of the companies attacked the well-defended path through the hills, while two others charged the hilltops. After a fierce contest for the heights, the demoralized and weakened Mahdist line broke and its remaining defenders fled to the north towards Rejaf, leaving ammunition and weapons. The action was finished by 8:30 that morning.
572:
477:
151:
119:
606:
464:, reached the position after a month-long advance north-east towards the Mahdist stronghold. The rebels, numbering two thousand, had established a two-mile line across a range of hills, giving their numerically superior forces a tactical advantage over Chaltin's eight hundred men. After a failed flanking maneuver by the Mahdists, Chaltin's forces stormed the heights and dislodged the defenders. The Congolese companies pursued the retreating Mahdists back towards the town of Rejaf, where a final defense was made and similarly defeated.
139:
106:
656:
at least initially, which welcomed any aid in their ongoing war with the
Mahdist State. But frequent raids outside of Lado territory by Belgian forces based in Rejaf caused alarm and suspicion among British and French officials wary of Leopold's imperial ambitions. In 1910, following the death of the Belgian king in December 1909, British authorities reclaimed the Lado Enclave as per the Anglo-Congolese treaty signed in 1894, and added the territory to
560:
568:
spread to the main army, where the massively outnumbered
Belgian officers were detained by their men and killed. Dhanis himself escaped the massacre by hiding in the forest, although his brother was among those killed. The now-disbanded army went on to rampage throughout the immediate area, terrorizing the northern Congo and causing great consternation among the Belgian officials whose jobs it was to keep the peace.
622:
without much loss. Chaltin's companies then turned to begin the attack on the town. For several hours
Chaltin's companies pushed through the streets and houses of Rejaf, forcing the Mahdists back until by 7:00 when they had been nearly entirely expelled. Only the citadel remained occupied, but by dawn the next morning the remaining Mahdist forces retreated, leaving behind their weapons and munitions.
41:
522:, especially considering both nations were looking to annex Sudan themselves. King Leopold II therefore decided to disguise his campaign into the Sudan as an expeditionary force sent to reclaim the Lado Enclave from the Mahdists, although he intended to give his commanders covert orders to continue their advance far past the boundaries of Belgian territory, first to
453:, the Belgian king and ruler of the Congo Free State, acquired the Lado Enclave in South Sudan from Britain in 1894 as part of a territory exchange which gave the British a strip of land along the eastern Congo for Belgian access to the navigable Nile. However, the territory was overrun with Mahdists who had established their stronghold at the town of
655:
As for King
Leopold II's original designs for turning the expedition into a campaign into Sudan, the mutiny of Baron Dhanis' column had severely reduced the expedition's fighting power and made such a campaign impossible. Instead, Leopold's conquest of the Lado Enclave pleased the British government,
639:
was brought up the Nile to defend its ports. After securing Rejaf, Chaltin and his column marched to the northernmost point of the Lado
Enclave in order to establish a Belgian presence in the area and prevent Mahdist reentry. A serious assault on the post at Rejaf occurred in June 1898, when Mahdists
579:
This left
Chaltin's expedition as the spearhead for Leopold's northern campaign, and the commandant continued his mission despite the grave loss of Dhanis' forces. Chaltin had in his column eight companies, each containing one hundred Congolese soldiers led by a Belgian lieutenant. He was accompanied
517:
had provided the context for
European powers to commence the invasion and colonization of Sudan, in which King Leopold desperately wanted to take part in order to expand his Congolese empire. However, a direct military campaign into the area was not an option; Leopold would not have been able to get
621:
of artillery pieces fired on the
Belgians as they came within range, but the effect was negligible. As the Belgians approached, a hidden force of Mahdists emerged from a ravine near the bank of the Nile and attacked Chaltin's flank. The commandant realized the threat in time and repulsed the attack
584:
under chiefs Renzi and Bafuka. The expedition reached the Nile on 14 February 1897, where a small party of
Mahdists from Rejaf exchanged fire with Chaltin's scouts. After two days of waiting for the supply train and rear guard to arrive, a Mahdist force approached the Belgian camp in the evening of
567:
After being underfed and forced into long, grueling marches through rough terrain for nearly two months, the Batetela in Dhanis' column mutinied against their officers in February 1897. The mutiny broke out in the advance guard, which had been pushed the hardest of those in the expedition, but soon
597:
The Mahdists immediately opened fire upon the Free State force, who remained in cover behind a rocky outcropping some ways from the Mahdist line. For half an hour the Mahdists continued to fire at Chaltin's companies to little effect, their shots passing harmlessly above the rocks. Meanwhile, Free
593:
Chaltin's column advanced north with the Nile river protecting his right flank and the Azande cavalry contingent on his left. At seven o'clock, Belgian scouts sighted the two-thousand-strong Mahdist force assembled along a two-mile line that spanned a range of hills between the Nile and a parallel
613:
After wasting their ammunition in this preliminary action, the Mahdist force began a flanking maneuver against the Belgians. The Mahdists' right flank, situated along the river parallel to the Nile, advanced rapidly trying to pin Chaltin with his back to the river. Chaltin, who by this time had
467:
The victory, achieved at relatively little cost, cleared the Lado Enclave of Mahdists and secured Rejaf as a Belgian base for future operations in the surrounding territories and along the Nile. Rejaf became the seat of government within the Lado Enclave, and remained as such when the British
457:, which occupied a valuable position for trade along the Nile river. After a wave of new funding from the Belgian government in 1895, King Leopold ordered an expedition to be led into the Lado Enclave to expel the Mahdists and fortify Rejaf as a strategic military and trading outpost.
488:
and Great Britain signed the 1894 AngloâCongolese treaty, which resulted in the exchange of a long strip of land on the eastern side of the Congo for the Lado Enclave, leased to Leopold II for the duration of his reign. This aided the British in pursuing the
585:
16 February, and prepared to attack. Chaltin ordered his artillery to fire at the Mahdists, causing the assembled rebels to flee under the barrage. The next day, at six o'clock in the morning, Chaltin took to the offensive and began to advance on Rejaf.
643:
The Emir who had commanded the Mahdist army at Rejaf, Arabi Dafalla, withdrew with what remained of his army northwest into Mahdist Sudan. He was ridiculed by his superiors for the defeat at Rejaf, and he later surrendered his army to Sultan
634:
Commandant Chaltin recovered three cannons, over seven hundred rifles, and a considerable supply of provisions from the Mahdist post at Rejaf. Three thousand Congolese regulars were garrisoned at the town, and a
497:
from achieving an east-west line by putting the Belgians in their path. With the Lado Enclave, King Leopold gained direct access to Rejaf, the last outpost on the navigable Nile. Although the outbreak of the
630:
Although concrete casualty numbers are unavailable for either side, sources agree that Belgian-Congolese losses were relatively light, while several hundred Mahdist soldiers were killed in the two actions.
594:
river. There was one clear path through the hills, which was especially well defended. Commandant Chaltin brought forward five companies for the attack, leaving his remaining three in reserve.
617:
The Mahdists withdrew to the fortified town of Rejaf, while Chaltin's column marched in pursuit for seventeen miles until the occupied town was sighted at about 1:30 in the afternoon. A
210:
513:
Arabi Dafalla. Rejaf was their strongest fortified position in the area, and it was there Arabi Dafalla stationed his equipment and soldiers. The establishment of the
502:(1881â1899) had disrupted trade up and down the Nile river, Leopold hoped to gain Rejaf in preparation for its reopening once the Mahdist threat had been addressed.
1151:
530:. After receiving a new loan of 6.5 million francs from the Belgian government in 1895, Leopold ordered preparations to be made for the execution of his plan.
203:
545:
ethnic group, and was to take a treacherous path through the jungle to the north. Both expeditions left for the Lado Enclave in December 1896.
196:
1141:
1156:
1171:
533:
The expedition was split into two parts. The first group, composed of around eight hundred colonial troops and led by Commandant
1108:
1089:
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1047:
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1000:
981:
944:
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537:, was to take the main road towards Rejaf and engage the rebels openly. The second, under Belgian war hero
292:
476:
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534:
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143:
438:). The battle resulted in a Congolese victory and the permanent expulsion of the Mahdists from the
396:
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permission from either the French or the British according to the rules laid out in the 1884
490:
485:
450:
1010:
Holland Rose, John; Percival Newton, Arthur; Alfred Benians, Ernest; Dodwell, Henry (1929).
657:
640:
forced their way through Free State defenses before being finally defeated near the town.
602:
into position which, under Sergeant Cajot, fired several shells into the Mahdists' ranks.
8:
381:
915:
1078:
956:
The Reign of Leopold II, King of the Belgians and Founder of the Congo State, 1865â1909
554:
391:
346:
329:
270:
260:
1104:
1085:
1062:
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996:
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371:
302:
297:
280:
275:
138:
111:
46:
319:
307:
250:
1009:
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541:, was a much larger force of over three thousand men, mostly natives from the
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542:
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427:
235:
150:
124:
78:
50:
581:
538:
439:
499:
435:
220:
32:
509:, the Lado Enclave had been occupied by rebels under the leadership of
506:
505:
Since 1888, when Mahdist rebels forced the evacuation of then governor
645:
599:
527:
559:
917:
The Congo State: Or, The Growth of Civilisation in Central Africa
636:
523:
419:
965:
Shifting Cultivation in Africa; the Zande System of Agriculture
937:
Civilisation in Congoland: A Story of International Wrong-doing
649:
494:
442:, as well as the establishment of a Belgian outpost along the
188:
40:
454:
431:
74:
953:
913:
510:
443:
1059:
The Nile: Historical, Legal and Developmental Perspectives
480:
Map of the Lado Enclave with Rejaf visible along the Nile
993:
The King Incorporated: Leopold the Second and the Congo
1098:
652:after a failed attack on a French outpost in 1902.
1099:H. Rolandsen, Ăystein; W. Daly, M. (4 July 2016).
1077:
934:
1123:
1014:. Commonwealth of Nations: The University Press.
1152:Wars involving the states and peoples of Africa
971:
954:Charles de Kavanagh Boulger, Demetrius (1925).
914:Charles de Kavanagh Boulger, Demetrius (1898).
899:. EncyclopĂŠdia Britannica, inc. 19 July 2011.
418:, was fought on 17 February 1897 between the
204:
468:eventually reclaimed the territory in 1910.
1037:
1018:
1012:The Cambridge History of the British Empire
962:
460:The Belgian expedition, led by Commandant
211:
197:
990:
1075:
855:Charles de Kavanagh Boulger 1898 p. 221.
834:Charles de Kavanagh Boulger 1898 p. 220.
822:Charles de Kavanagh Boulger 1898 p. 219.
808:Charles de Kavanagh Boulger 1898 p. 216.
764:Charles de Kavanagh Boulger 1898 p. 214.
604:
570:
558:
475:
287:British-Egyptian expeditions (1885â1889)
864:Charles de Kavanagh Boulger 1925 p. 29.
1124:
1056:
851:
849:
830:
828:
818:
816:
814:
804:
802:
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192:
991:Ascherson, Neal (9 September 2001).
751:
749:
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710:
700:
698:
696:
694:
692:
690:
920:. Congo: W. Thacker & Company.
13:
1040:A Biographical Dictionary of Sudan
939:. Congo: Leopold Classic Library.
935:Richard Fox Bourne, Henry (1903).
846:
825:
811:
797:
776:
548:
14:
1198:
1142:African resistance to colonialism
974:The Story of the Congo Free State
746:
707:
687:
678:
16:1897 battle in Rejaf, South Sudan
580:by a contingent of five hundred
149:
137:
117:
104:
39:
1157:Military history of South Sudan
972:Wellington Wack, Henry (1905).
885:
882:Richard Fox Bourne 1903 p. 232.
876:
867:
858:
837:
788:
785:Richard Fox Bourne 1903 p. 231.
773:Richard Fox Bourne 1903 p. 230.
767:
743:Richard Fox Bourne 1903 p. 238.
314:Ethiopian campaigns (1885â1889)
218:
1172:Belgian colonisation in Africa
1103:. Cambridge University Press.
958:. Belgium: Ardenne Publishers.
758:
737:
728:
719:
669:
1:
1038:Leslie Hill, Richard (1967).
1019:Roger Louis, William (2006).
663:
336:Italian campaigns (1890â1894)
963:de Schlippe, Pierre (1956).
843:Wellington Wack 1905 p. 201.
625:
493:, as well as preventing the
231:Mahdist uprising (1881â1885)
7:
1057:Degefu, Gebre (June 2003).
1021:Ends of British Imperialism
967:. London: Humanities Press.
364:British-Egyptian reconquest
10:
1203:
1132:Battles of the Mahdist War
906:
552:
471:
1182:Former colonies in Africa
1167:History of Central Africa
1076:Pakenham, Thomas (1992).
588:
228:
174:
159:
130:
97:
57:
38:
30:
25:
1101:A History of South Sudan
873:H. Rolandsen 2016 p. 28.
89:Congo Free State victory
53:at Rejaf along the Nile.
1177:Former Belgian colonies
1080:The Scramble for Africa
897:EncyclopĂŠdia Britannica
794:de Schlippe 1956 p. 10.
716:Leslie Hill 1967 p. 58.
704:Pakenham 1992 p. 525â6.
684:Roger Louis 2006 p. 68.
598:State soldiers moved a
1137:19th century in Africa
976:. London: Nabu Press.
755:Ascherson 2001 p. 223.
734:Ascherson 2001 p. 222.
610:
576:
564:
535:Louis-Napoléon Chaltin
481:
462:Louis-Napoléon Chaltin
183:Several hundred killed
165:800 Congolese regulars
144:Louis-Napoléon Chaltin
131:Commanders and leaders
608:
574:
562:
491:Cape to Cairo railway
479:
293:Emin Pasha Expedition
175:Casualties and losses
1147:Wars involving Sudan
1042:. Psychology Press.
675:Dodwell 1929 p. 283.
658:Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
609:Krupp 75mm field gun
434:(now in present-day
414:, also known as the
170:2,000 Mahdist rebels
575:Azande Chief Bafuka
422:-led forces of the
725:Degefu 2003 p. 39.
611:
577:
565:
555:Batetela Rebellion
482:
167:500 Azande lancers
1110:978-0-521-11631-2
1091:978-0-380-71999-0
1068:978-1-4120-0056-7
1049:978-0-7146-1037-5
1030:978-1-84511-347-6
1002:978-1-86207-290-9
983:978-1-174-00674-6
946:978-1-110-71494-0
520:Berlin Conference
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93:
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1162:Congo Free State
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995:. Granta Books.
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416:Battle of Bedden
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180:Relatively light
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65:17 February 1897
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98:Belligerents
31:Part of the
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500:Mahdist War
436:South Sudan
366:(1896â1899)
352:2nd Agordat
342:1st Agordat
221:Mahdist War
33:Mahdist War
1126:Categories
664:References
507:Emin Pasha
486:Leopold II
451:Leopold II
430:rebels in
646:Ali Dinar
626:Aftermath
600:Krupp gun
382:Abu Hamed
325:Guté Dili
528:Khartoum
392:Omdurman
347:Serobeti
330:Gallabat
271:Kirbekan
261:Abu Klea
256:Khartoum
160:Strength
70:Location
51:Mahdists
907:Sources
637:gunboat
619:battery
524:Fashoda
472:Origins
428:Mahdist
420:Belgian
357:Kassala
266:Abu Kru
241:Shaykan
1107:
1088:
1065:
1046:
1027:
999:
980:
943:
924:
650:Darfur
589:Battle
582:Azande
543:Tetela
495:French
387:Atbara
372:Ferkeh
303:Suakin
298:Dufile
281:Ginnis
276:Tofrek
246:El Teb
122:
109:
86:Result
455:Rejaf
449:King
432:Rejaf
377:Rejaf
320:Kufit
308:Toski
251:Tamai
75:Rejaf
1105:ISBN
1086:ISBN
1063:ISBN
1044:ISBN
1025:ISBN
997:ISBN
978:ISBN
941:ISBN
922:ISBN
511:Emir
444:Nile
426:and
410:The
62:Date
648:of
236:Aba
1128::
895:.
848:^
827:^
813:^
799:^
778:^
748:^
709:^
689:^
660:.
446:.
77:,
1113:.
1094:.
1071:.
1052:.
1033:.
1005:.
986:.
949:.
930:.
212:e
205:t
198:v
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