He therefore telegraphed home for another British brigade, and additional artillery, with at least one regiment of cavalry--an arm in which the Egyptian Army was weak.
Preparations were at once made for complying with the request.

The 21st Lancers, 1st battalion of Grenadier Guards, 2nd battalion of the Rifle Brigade, 2nd battalion of the 5th Lancashire Fusiliers, a field battery, a howitzer battery, and two forty-pounders, to batter the defences of Omdurman, should the Khalifa take his stand, were sent.

A strong detachment of the Army Service Corps and the Royal Army Medical Corps was to accompany them, but they had yet some months to wait, for the advance would not be made until the Nile was full, and the gunboats could ascend the cataract.
However, there was much to be done, and the troops did not pass the time in idleness.

Atbara Fort was to be the base, and here the Egyptian battalions built huts and storehouses.

The Soudanese brigades returned to Berber, and the transport of provisions and stores for them was thus saved.