midday
But round the flag were the Khalifa 's brother , Yacoub , and ten or twelve of the leading emirs . On our side , the loss had been comparatively light . Our total number of casualties , including the wounded , was five hundred and twenty-four ; towards which Macdonald 's brigade contributed one hundred and twenty-eight . Marching steadily on , the force halted in the outlying suburb of Omdurman , at midday , to obtain much needed food and water . As soon as the cavalry had watered their horses , they were sent round to the south of the town to cut off fugitives , and some of the gunboats moved up to their support . Deputations of the townsfolk , Greeks and natives , came out and offered to surrender . They said that the Khalifa was in his house , and that he had about a thousand of his bodyguard with him , but that they could not offer any successful resistance .