E-text prepared by David Clarke and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustration. See 28773-h.htm or 28773-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/28773/pg28773-images.html) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/28773/28773-h.zip) GENERAL GORDON [Illustration: C. G. Gordon P.S. I am quite happy, thank God, & like Lawrence, I have "tried to do my duty." _Copied from the Original Engraving by permission of_ F. C. MCQUEEN & SONS, _sole Proprietors of the Copyright._] GENERAL GORDON A Christian Hero by LIEUT.-COLONEL SETON CHURCHILL Author of "Stepping-Stones to Higher Things," Etc. 13th Edition (_Completing 41,000 Copies_) London James Nisbet & Co., Limited 21 Berners Street 1907 Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co. At the Ballantyne Press, Edinburgh _DEDICATED_ TO THE YOUNG MEN OF ENGLAND WITH THE EARNEST DESIRE THAT SOME OF THE NOBLE GODLIKE CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS CHRISTIAN SOLDIER AND HERO MAY BE REPRODUCED IN FUTURE GENERATIONS CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. INTRODUCTION 1 II. EARLY LIFE AND CRIMEAN WAR 12 III. CHINESE WAR AND TAIPING REBELLION 25 IV. GORDON'S FIRST COMMAND 36 V. PROGRESS OF THE REBELLION 50 VI. END OF THE REBELLION 65 VII. AT GRAVESEND 80 VIII. GORDON'S SIMPLE FAITH 92 IX. HIS CATHOLICITY 114 X. GOVERNOR OF THE EQUATORIAL PROVINCE 135 XI. GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF THE SOUDAN 157 XII. ABYSSINIA, INDIA, AND CHINA 178 XIII. MAURITIUS, CAPE, AND PALESTINE 190 XIV. KHARTOUM 209 XV. THE SIEGE 230 XVI. THE FALL OF KHARTOUM 246 XVII. CONCLUSION 263 LIFE OF GORDON CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Lord Wolseley, on hearing an officer say that General Gordon was mad, remarked, in language similar to that used by George II. to the Duke of Newcastle about General Wolfe, that it was a great pity Gordon had not bitten more Generals, so that they might have been infected with some of his madness. Nor is there any reason why the motive power which could make a man do such noble deeds and lead such a splendid life should be confined to Generals. There are thousands of young men in this country who may be helped to live better lives by the study of such a Christian hero as Charles George Gordon undoubtedly was, and it is with that end in view that I have endeavoured to write a popular sketch of his life and character.