The
Battle of Abu Klea, or the
Battle of Abu Tulayh, took place between the dates of 16 and 18 January 1885, at Abu Klea,
Sudan, between the British Desert Column and
Mahdist forces encamped near Abu Klea. The Desert Column, a force of approximately 1,400 soldiers, started from
Korti, Sudan on 30 December 1884; the Desert Column's mission, in a joint effort titled "The Gordon Relief Expedition", was to march across the desert to the aid of General
Charles George Gordon at
Khartoum, Sudan, who was besieged there by Mahdist forces.