The amazing thing about this battle, RE "Carnage and Culture," is that the Muslims had relatively modern weapons---at least rifles and some cannons. But not one Madhist got within 30 yards of the British squares. Only when the 17th lancers charged out of the square, thinking that the battle was over, did they run into a gully where the dervishes laid a trap. (This was Curchill's unit).
Naturally, the best painting of this battle was the near massacre of the 17th Lancers---something about the Brits, they always save their best art for the defeats (Balaclava, Isandlwana).
Naturally, the best painting of this battle was the near massacre of the 17th Lancers---something about the Brits, they always save their best art for the defeats (Balaclava, Isandlwana). Well, not Just the Brits. There must be at least a dozen artistic impressions of Lt. Danjou and the French Foreign legion battle at Camerone in Mexico, and there are many U.S. versions of the Last Stand at the Alamo and of Custer's last fight. But several of the renditions of the 17th Lancers interesting bad day at Omdurman are quite good.
