Battle
By this time, the Khalifa's Sudanese forces had retained at least 10,000 people. The Khalifa decided to make a stand against the British rather than to retreat further. During the night Wingate approached the camp from the east and the north sides. At about 5am, the Mahdists began to attack the approaching British, but were driven back by withering fire from Maxim guns. The Khalifa's attempts to rally his men failed, and he soon accepted that all was lost. He called his main leaders to sit with him on a farwa – a yearling skin; to wait for death. His guards protected him, but all were mown down by British fire.
The Mahdist losses were around 1,000 killed and wounded. The Sudanese/Egyptian forces captured most of the rest, including a son of Emir Yuni.
Read more about this topic: Battle Of Umm Diwaykarat
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