Today, we present a short article from March of 1964. I picked this piece, as it fits in with some of my recent reading and war game planning. The article remains as originally published, outdated terms, names and all. I did however, correct a few minor spelling errors. We hope you enjoy this short Colonial themed piece.

THE SOUDANESE ARMY 1881-1898

by Douglas Johnson
Table Top Talk, March 1964

During the period of the two Soudanese Wars (from 1881 to 1898), The Soudanese army was a conglomeration of many different types of people, all of whom were Moslems. Usually the Mahdi’s (the spiritual leader, who revolted against the Egyptians and British) generals – or Emirs – were Arabs, and each one had his own force and flag, usually solid colors such as red, black, green, etc.

Most of these native troops were armed with two short spears and one broad sword. There were some rlflemen in each regiment, but all were very poor shots. However, a British Tommy would be ln trouble if he was ever engaged in hand-to-hand fighting with these dervishes.

They had no real uniform, and wore a brightly colored jibba, a white tunic covered with colored patches. Sometimes the Arabs wore solid colored robes.

The most noted cavalry were the Baggara Horsemen, fierce men on swift horses. And not all the fighting men of the Sudan were organized in armies. By far the most famous of these lrregulars were the Fuzzy Wuzzy, who seldom had rifles. Despite this, they were experts with the sword (often these were swords left over from the Crusades!) and could only be stopped if knocked off their feet or killed outright by bullets. The Mahdi did not lack for manpower, but did lack equipment. He had only a few Gatling guns, field pieces and artillery crews to man them.