4 - The Expedition to Abyssinia, 1867–1868

Summary

The Abyssinian Campaign was unique for its time in that it was not fought over territory. The Ethiopian king, Theodore, believed that British power could not reach him high in his mountain fortress. He was wrong. Under the organization and leadership of Lieutenant-General Robert Napier, a first-rate engineer who was able to address the operation as a series of technical engineering challenges, the British successfully overcame the many obstacles in their way. Through negotiation with the Egyptians and Ottomans, a stretch of coast line on the Red Sea littoral was obtained for a landing. Storage sheds, logistical offices, pumping stations, roads, and even a small railway were constructed. At the same time, the latest technology, such as desalinization engines that turned sea water into drinking water, were used. There was only one major battle of the campaign, and then an assault on the fortress at Magdala. Once the British got to within fighting distance of the Abyssinians, in good shape and sufficiently supplied, the result was inevitable. What makes the campaign worth examining is the fact they were able to surmount the problems of communication, transportation, climate, and topography.