 In June 1896, at the start of the Sudan campaign, Kitchener's Anglo-Egyptian force was advancing on Dongola, in Northern Sudan.Ferkeh was a small fortified village on the banks of the Nile.It was the first important Mahdist position that was encountered and was occupied by 3,000 Mahdist warriors, led by the Emirs Hammuda and Osman Azrak.