[Cabinet card portrait of "The Late Major-General Earle".]

£250 · Offered by Maggs Bros Ltd

Despite being commander of the Alexandria garrison, William Earle (1833- 1885) was underestimated by his friend, Wolseley, and the commander of the Egyptian army, Evelyn Wood. Earle soon proved his worth with Wolseley com- menting that he was “the most businesslike reliable man I have on the Line of Commns.—I wish he had been at its head instead of dear puzzle-headed Evelyn Wood” (Preston). He was rewarded with command of the Nile column and, despite being tasked with a punitive detour to avenge the killings of Colonel J.D.H. Stewart and Frank Power, reached Khartoum earlier than expected. At Kirbekan on 10 February, 1885, Earle led a successful attack against a large group of Mahdists. At the very last of the action, he was shot and killed. Preston, A., ed., In relief of Gordon: Lord Wolseley’s campaign journal of the Khartoum relief expedition, 1884-1885 (London, 1967), p.85.

• Year: 1885

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.