Major General Gatacre was appointed to the command of the brigade.
At the end of the third week in January, the three regiments from Lower Egypt had arrived at Wady Halfa, and the Seaforths at Assouan.

At the beginning of February the British brigade was carried, by railway, to Abu Dis.

Here they remained until the 26th, when they marched to Berber, and then to a camp ten miles north of the Atbara, where they arrived on the 4th of March, having covered a hundred and forty-four miles in six days and a half, a great feat in such a climate.
Mahmud had made no movement until the 10th of February, when he began to cross the Nile to Shendy.

This movement had not been expected by the Sirdar, and was hailed by him with satisfaction.

Had Mahmud remained at Metemmeh he could, aided by the forts, his artillery, and the walled town, have offered a very formidable resistance.