General Wauchope was fortunate on this occasion in coming out of the engagement without a scratch. In some respects the battle of Omdurman has been described as 'a less brilliant affair than the Atbara. On the other hand it was more complex, more like a modern battle. The Atbara took more fighting, Omdurman more generalship. Success in each was complete and crushing.' Mahdism was no more. It died well. 'It had earned its death by its iniquities, it had condoned its iniquities by its death.' Gordon was avenged. And not only so, it was the dawn of a new era for the long down-trodden Soudan, so that it might in future be a country fit to live in. We have already referred to General Wauchope's attachment to Scottish Presbyterianism, and told how loyally and consistently he adhered to the Church of his fathers. From the days when he was an ensign, it was known among his brother officers as a _casus belli_ to speak slightingly to him of his Church. He would stand up for Presbyterianism, and would suffer for it if necessary, when its claims were in danger of being thrust into the background. A difficulty {156} of this kind arose after the taking of Omdurman, and it is interesting to note how he acted. Orders had been given to all the chaplains, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, and Anglican, for a combined Gordon Memorial Service at Khartoum. The Anglican chaplain in Wauchope's division intimated, however, that he would take no part in it if the Presbyterian chaplain were to share in the function. The General used what persuasion he could to move the chaplain to a broader view of things, declaring that he would not displace the Presbyterian, whom he considered one of the best of men. He was, he said, a Presbyterian himself, along with most of his regiment. At last, when persuasion failed, and the Anglican still held his point, the General said, 'then there is nothing for me but to report you to my General of Division.' When General Gatacre heard the story he reported the affair to the Sirdar, who called the three chaplains--Presbyterian, Anglican, and Roman Catholic--and said laconically, something like this: 'You are each under orders, and the man who disobeys must fall to the rear.' This settled the question; all of them took a part. The Memorial Service and the formal entry into Omdurman and Khartoum, taken part in by all the troops, were most impressive spectacles. These over, arrangements were at once made for the withdrawal of the greater part of the army. [Sidenote: Welcome home] The troops returned immediately down the Nile, the British regiments being shipped for England, where they arrived in the early part of October. A hearty welcome greeted their arrival, all classes of society vying with one another in heaping honours upon them.