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diff --git a/42956-0.txt b/42956-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4792b44 --- /dev/null +++ b/42956-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10731 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42956 *** + +Transcriber's Note: + + Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without + note. Variant spellings, mostly proper nouns, have been retained: + _Inyezane_, _Inyesani_, _Inyezani_, _Ingesani_, etc. The oe ligature + is represented by [oe]. + + + + + THE STORY + OF + THE ZULU CAMPAIGN. + + + BY + + MAJOR ASHE (LATE KING'S DRAGOON GUARDS), + AUTHOR OF "THE MILITARY INSTITUTIONS OF FRANCE," ETC. + + AND + + CAPTAIN THE HON. E. V. WYATT-EDGELL + (17TH LANCERS, KILLED AT ULUNDI). + + + _DEDICATED BY SPECIAL PERMISSION TO HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY_ + THE EMPRESS EUGÉNIE. + + + WITH MAP. + + + London: + SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, SEARLE, & RIVINGTON, + CROWN BUILDINGS, 188, FLEET STREET. + 1880. + + [_All rights reserved._] + + + + + LONDON: + Gilbert and Rivington, Printers, + St. John's Square. + + + + +TO HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY + +THE EMPRESS EUGÉNIE + +_THIS RECORD OF THE ZULU WAR IS, BY GRACIOUS PERMISSION, HUMBLY +DEDICATED, AS A POOR TRIBUTE AND OFFERING_. + + +In Memoriam. + +Worthy of the Race of Guzman, and of the soldier of Lodi and Arcola, +while recalling memories of him who gave to the gods of the Tiber the +gift most precious to Rome--Human Valour--PRINCE LOUIS NAPOLEON'S name +will live in the hearts of all his English comrades, as a type of pure +chivalry, of knightly generosity, and as a rainbow of Hope over two +great western powers, for centuries at war, but now allied in +friendship. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Some apology or explanation may be deemed requisite, for delaying the +publication of this "Story of the Zulu War" for more than a year after +its conclusion. The little book itself was written very shortly after +the capture of the king, Cetywayo, and the tardiness of its appearance +has been, to a certain extent, intentional on my part. + +Although it may seem ungracious and, perhaps, ungrateful to cavil at the +war criticisms and descriptions which, by every post and telegram, adorn +the pages of contemporaneous journalism, I would submit that the +practice of writing _ex cathedrâ_ on war topics the day after an +engagement, is too early to allow us to examine motives as well as +facts, so that we may form conclusions to which we can only justly +arrive, when "Time, the corrector, where our judgments err," has +softened prejudice and exposed partisan feeling. The worst and most +valueless criticisms on Waterloo were given to the world immediately +after the fight of Mont St. Jean. The most unreliable, and indeed +erroneous, opinions in regard to the splendid errors of Inkerman and +Balaklava, appeared before the Crimean war was ended, and many a hero, +elevated by the verdict of contemporaneous eulogy to a temporary +pedestal in the Temple of Fame, has since been dethroned by the calmer +and more honest judgment of a later generation. When the Emperor +Napoleon called us a "nation of shopkeepers," he, perhaps, +intentionally, paid us a compliment; for peace, commerce, and +prosperity, have, as a rule, I venture to hold, been more regarded in +our islands than projects of violence, warfare, or conquest; and this +with us has ever been an honourable characteristic of the Spirit of our +present Age. + +But as Sir Bartle Frere, one of England's greatest, wisest, and most +humane administrators, was well aware, the great and time-honoured law +of self-defence sometimes compels a State, like an individual, to resort +to arms, and the Appeal of Battle, when all peaceful modes of +arrangement have been vainly tried, becomes occasionally unavoidable. +Then, and perhaps only then, we may be allowed, even by the Peace +Society and the Acolytes who trim the lamps for Mr. John Bright, to take +an interest in and feel proud of the disciplined courage, the love of +honour, and the sense of duty of which we read in the campaigns, where +those who are near and dear to us have fought and fallen under the +British flag. Then the commanders we may have known as subalterns, but +whose names are now in all circles as veritable "Household Words;" whose +careers we have watched with proud, yet kindly sympathy, and whose +triumphs we have seemed as countrymen to share; whose powers of +intellect and prescience array, regulate, and wield at will the grim and +stern materials at command; whose daring, and yet coolness in the midst +of death, acts like a talisman upon the rank and file--whose +providence, when one path fails, is ever ready for fresh resources and +designs--are not these the men of whom we may say with Tacitus,-- + + _"Ratio et consilium propriæ Ducis artes"?_ + +and of this class, I venture to think, were Lord Chelmsford and his +lieutenants. And when we are ourselves in the "sere and yellow leaf," or +have joined, mayhap, that "larger majority" which Gladstonian tactics +and energy cannot hope to rival, our children and children's children, +when they read of such names as Bartle Frere, Chelmsford, Wood, Pearson, +Buller, and Piet Uys, may look back to English History and see that our +"island mastiffs" have not become degenerate, either in courage or +generosity, since the days of Harold, the Black Prince, or that knightly +Sydney who fell at Zutphen! + +Some experience of the Kaffir tribes and their characteristics, of the +physical and geographical difficulties which attend upon a campaign in +South Africa,--dating, indeed, as far back as a score of years ago, and +the interest which I have since taken in colonies where, as an Adjutant, +I passed some very happy years among Boers, Bôk, and Kaffirs, had at the +commencement of the late war prompted me to follow its various phases, +with a view to write the story of the campaign. In this purpose I was +encouraged by the offers of many old comrades who were about to start +with their regiments for the seat of war, and who promised me by each +available opportunity the assistances of their several journals, notes, +and sketches. + + "But one I would select from that proud throng, + · · · · · + And partly that bright names will hallow song, + And his was of the bravest." + +And to those who have known that most accomplished gentleman and gallant +soldier, young, brave, cheery, and _débonnaire_, Edmund Wyatt-Edgell, I +need not say how delighted I was at his undertaking to correspond with +me, and, as far as time and opportunity permitted, to keep me _au +courant_ with the march of events. From the time of his arrival at Natal +to the fatal day on which he fell, he fulfilled that promise, and if any +merit be due to the narrative I now present to public notice, it will, I +believe, come through those descriptions which I received from my dead +comrade and friend--_Sit tibi terra levis!_ + +Another motive, or perhaps more than one, "pricked the sides of my +intent," and invited me to wield the pen upon a soil where erst I had +drawn a "regulation" sword. In the "unvexed silence of a student's +cell," i.e., London chambers, I could only watch the progress of the +campaign, without hoping to share in its toils or its dangers. I might +envy, but I could not participate-- + + "For who can view the ripen'd rose, nor seek + To wear it?" + +In default of this, I could, however, follow in spirit the adventures, +by flood and field, of more than a score of old comrades and companions +in arms, who were winning honour and renown in a land not unfamiliar to +me. In the hasty and, with all deference I say it, somewhat ignorant +criticism of those amateur mentors who tell us how battles ought or +ought not to be won, and who, from the calm solitudes of Fleet Street, +would make or mar a military reputation, I venture to believe, was much +injustice done to the Commander-in-chief of our forces in South Africa. + + "A man must serve his time to every trade + Save censure. Critics all are ready made." + +And I was the more convinced of this partisan and hostile feeling from +the knowledge that, west of Temple Bar, and especially in the regions +where veterans do most congregate, in the clubs and haunts alike of +_vieilles moustaches_ and military neophytes, from the "Senior" to the +"Naval and Military," criticism was far less pronounced, and experience, +as it invariably is, was more moderate in stricture and charitable in +argument than elsewhere. + +Lastly, the tragic fate of England's young chivalrous and knightly +guest, which formed such a terrible episode of the war and draped our +colours with mourning, even in the hour of victory, made a deep +impression upon my mind, and caused me insensibly to marvel at the +unworthy sentiments to which a large portion of the English public and +the English press at that time gave utterance. Political feeling seemed +then, as it now seems in poor Ireland, to override all sense of manly +honour, generosity, hospitality, or common decency. The slaughter, for +it was nothing less, of the princely and noble lad, who came to the +shores of his country's hereditary foe, as a messenger of hope, alliance +and future friendship, who had been taught by his father to love and +study our English laws and customs, and who, in his abandonment in that +fatal donga, must have felt shame for the comrades to whom his safety +was entrusted; the sacrifice, I say, of this pure and devoted spirit, +seemed to me to call for some record, less evanescent than a passing +note or a newspaper article. If I have spoken strongly of the living in +my sorrow for the dead, as a soldier I can but plead in vindication, +that, in all my remembrance of the records of our English army I can +recall no instance, save the one I have quoted, where an officer wearing +our royal uniform and holding a royal commission, galloped away in front +of his escort, and allowed a comrade to be done to death in unknightly +fashion! + +In conclusion I may say that this little work, although written _con +amore_ and from details furnished to me by my friend, Captain the Hon. +E. V. Wyatt-Edgell, and others, lays no claim to historical value, but +assumes to be merely the _impressions de voyage_ of those who were +actors in the scenes described. + + WALLER ASHE. + + Hare Court, Temple, + _Nov. 1880._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. + PAGE + + Origin of Zulus--Their tribes--Senzagacone--Chaka--His + wars--Innovations--Administration--Standing + army--Death--Position of Zulus amongst kindred tribes--First + contact with whites--The Boers--The English--Panda--His reign + and death--Accession of Cetywayo--His promises to the + English--Breaches of faith--The boundary question--Its origin + and nature--The case of Sirayo--Its history--The Middle Drift + affair--Other causes of war--The Ultimatum sent--Official + declaration of war--State of the British forces--Cetywayo's + army and its organization--Their tactics. 1 + + + CHAPTER II. + + Plan of campaign--Native levies--Special service officers--The + advance--Pearson's column--Glyn's column--Wood's + column--Utrecht--First brush with the enemy--Difficulties of + transport--Action on Inyezani--Pearson at Ekowe--Glyn's + advance--Durnford's failure--Isandhlwana--Description of + camp--The battle--Details--Reconnaissance and return of Lord + Chelmsford--Rorke's Drift--Causes of Isandhlwana--Remarks. 24 + + + CHAPTER III. + + Ekowe described--The fort--Guard for the frontier--Raid on + Dabulamanzi's Kraal--Another raid--Life in Ekowe--Wood at + Potter's Kraal--Capture of Baglusini--Skirmish and capture + of cattle--Destruction of Manyanyoba Kraal--Colonel + Rowlands--Capture of Makatees Kop--Junction with Wood--Camp + at Kambula--Coming in of Oham--Disaster at Intombi + Drift--Death of Moriarty--Rescue of Oham's wives and + people--Events that led to the attack on Umbelini--The + Zlobani--The attack--Details--Death of Campbell--Narrow + escape of Wood--Death of Weatherly--St. Helena and H.M.S. + "Shah." 67 + + + CHAPTER IV. + + Effects of Zlobani--Description of Kambula Camp--Desperate Zulu + attack thereon--Description of the battle--Deaths of + Lieutenants Bright and Nicholson--Gallant rescue by Captain + Woodgate--Force and commanders of the Zulu attack--Their + losses--The English losses--Fortifications at Kambula + Kop--Block House--Arrival of despatches--Exciting scene. 132 + + + CHAPTER V. + + Organization of column for relief of Ekowe--The + march--Heliographic signals--Camp at Ginghilovo--Disposition + of the troops--Zulu advance--The battle--English + victory--Death of Colonel Northey--English losses--Zulu force + and loss--Relief of Ekowe--Meeting of Pearson and + Chelmsford--State of Ekowe garrison--Barrow's cavalry raid on + Dabulamanzi's kraal--British sentry firing on British troops. 156 + + + CHAPTER VI. + + End of first period of the Zulu war--Organization of fresh + advance--Reinforcements from England--Scene in + Durban--Disembarkation of troops--Cavalry camp at Berea--Lord + Chelmsford's arrival at Durban--His reception--Review of + Lancers and King's Dragoon Guards at Cato Manor--Plan of new + campaign--Composition of No. 1 column--Composition of No. 2 + column--Cask bridge over Amatikula--Forts Crealock and + Chelmsford--Wood's reconnaissance to Blood River--Description + of Blood River and its scenery--Appearance of Buller's Light + Horse--Removal of Wood's Kambula camp--Grandier's capture and + escape--His tale--Description of Dabulamanzi and + Cetywayo--Death of Dabulamanzi. 184 + + + CHAPTER VII. + + Lord Chelmsford with Wood at Kambula--Patrol by Buller--Capture + of cattle--Scene from Kambula Kop--Zulu attack on + patrol--Removal of Wood's camp to Mayegwhana--Wood's + force--Scarcity of drivers and voorlopers--Newdigate at + Conference Hill--Fort and depôt at Conference Hill--Work of + No. 1 column--Exciting incident with a convoy--Distribution + of troops--Forts on the Tugela, Inyezani, and at + Ginghilovo--System of guards and precautions against + surprises--All ready for the advance--Recapitulation of + military situation--Newdigate's forts at Landsman's + Drift--Arrangements for garrisons in rear of advance--The + Lower Tugela command--Patrol by Wood and Buller in direction + of Isandhlwana--Second patrol by Buller--Zulu attack--The + Prince Imperial on patrol--Reconnaissance in force to + Isandhlwana and burial of the dead. 221 + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + Advance of the 2nd column--Landsman's Drift to Kopje + Allein--Description of camp--Plan of campaign--Discovery of + Port Durnford--It becomes the base of 1st division--Troops + composing 1st column--Crealock's journey to Durnford. 256 + + + CHAPTER IX. + + Death of the Prince Imperial--Lieutenant Carey's + account--Discrepancies in and comments thereon--Feeling in + the camp--Expedition under General Marshall to search for the + body--Description of the spot--Recovery of the + body--Court-martial on Carey. 268 + + + CHAPTER X. + + March of the 2nd column--Kopje Allein--Climate of the + locality--Sickness among the troops--Evil effects of + Cardwell's system--Embassy from Zulu chiefs--Cavalry + skirmish--Death of Adjutant Frith--Difficulties of + transport--Reinforcement of Wood--Appointment of Sir Garnet + Wolseley--Opinion of the troops thereon--Alleged + inhumanities--The helioscope. 295 + + + CHAPTER XI. + + Advance of 1st column--Description of route--Forts Crealock and + Chelmsford--Causes of delay--Sickness of troops and its + origin--Capture of cattle--Proposals for peace by + Umsintwanga--His interview with Crealock--Surrender of + Umguelumgwizi--Advance of 2nd division--Details of troops + composing it--A fortified kraal--Fort built by Wood on the + Umlatoosi--Patrol by Buller--Burning of five kraals in the + Usipexi district--Amhlabatini--Depôt there described--Envoys + from Cetywayo--Advance to White Umvolosi--Wood's camp--Lord + Chelmsford's ultimatum to Cetywayo. 311 + + + CHAPTER XII. + + Raid across the Umvolosi by Buller--Gallant rescue of a + sergeant by Lord William Beresford--Buller's losses--Umvolosi + crossed by the main body--Formation of troops into + square--Total numbers--Firing of kraals--Advance of Zulus + from Ulundi--The Zulu attack--Repulse of Zulus--Pursuit by + Cavalry--Death of Wyatt-Edgell--Losses of both + sides--Withdrawal of English army--Effects of the battle of + Ulundi--Surrender of 700 Zulus to Crealock--Cause of retreat + after Ulundi--Resignation of Lord Chelmsford--His farewell + parade--Epitome of work done by 1st column, and why it was + not present at Ulundi--Ondini burnt by Barrow. 337 + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + Arrival of Sir Garnet Wolseley--Reception at Durban--Changes + made by Wolseley--His plans for the future--Attempt to land + at Port Durnford and its failure--Sir Garnet at St. + Paul's--Grand council of Zulu chiefs--Resignation of General + Crealock--His farewell to his troops at Camp Umlalasi--Fêtes + in honour of Lord Chelmsford--Wolseley at + Pietermaritzburg--Disturbances in Pondoland and + Transvaal--Wolseley at Rorke's Drift--McLeod and the + Swazis--Their appearance and habits--Wolseley at + Intanjaneni--Surrender of guns by Mbelebele--Adhesion of + various chiefs. 359 + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + Plans for the capture of Cetywayo--The Jantjis--Vijn's + appearance at Victoria--His narrative--Its + consequences--Despatch of Major Barrow and Lord Gifford in + pursuit of the king--Their march--Description of country + traversed--Gifford and Maurice sent on by Barrow--Marches and + countermarches--Physical characteristics of country; its + flora and fauna--Visit to kraal of friendly Zulus--Capture of + two of the king's attendants--Women of the king's household + captured--Captain and twenty Basutos join Lord + Gifford--Gifford's stratagem to obtain information of the + king's hiding-place--Cetywayo's refuge discovered--Forced + night-march--Message to Major Marter--His arrival on the + scene--Capture of the king. 379 + + * * * * * + + NOTES 406 + + + + +THE STORY OF THE ZULU CAMPAIGN + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + Origin of Zulus--Their tribes--Senzagacone--Chaka--His + wars--Innovations--Administration--Standing army--Death--Position of + Zulus amongst kindred tribes--First contact with whites--The + Boers--The English--Panda--His reign and death--Accession of + Cetywayo--His promises to the English--Breaches of faith--The + boundary question--Its origin and nature--The case of Sirayo--Its + history--The Middle Drift affair--Other causes of war--The Ultimatum + sent--Official declaration of war--State of the British + forces--Cetywayo's army and its organization--Their tactics. + + +The Emashlabatini country was originally occupied by a small tribe +called the Abanguni; of its more ancient kings little is known beyond +that they seem to have been of peaceful habits, making no wars, but +breeding cattle; also that the name of one was Zulu. In their own +country the appellation of Abanguni in course of time died out, though +still used by their neighbours, and for it was substituted Abakwa-Zulu +(sons of Zulu), Zulu and Undabezita. The tribe was composed of several +families or clans, each having its own chieftain. In the time of +Cetywayo's reign the names of these clans and their respective chiefs +were as follows:--The Uhutilezi, a family having two branches; Umnyama, +Cetywayo's prime minister, was chief of one, and Umtyubane of the other; +the Ubixela and Umgazi, who were divisions of one family, the former +owning Umvumhlana as chief, the latter Sigodi--subsequently slain at +Isandhlwana--whose predecessor was Panda's prime minister Masipula, and +his successor Mapoko; the Umtombelo and Umblalosi, also two branches of +one family, whose respective chiefs were Mabanda and Segetwayo; the +Uquabe, whose chief was named Rouhlo; the Uzimgu, whose chieftain +rejoiced in the appellation of Unfanawenklela; the Fakazi, whose chief +was Umkasana; the Umtanzi, with a chieftain Umbono by name; and the +Igazi, whose head was Umkanyile; the Amagungebe, their chief was the +notorious Sirayo; the Ukanyile, whose chief was Upagatwayo; the Ulanga, +their chief Umhlaka; the Umpingose, whose chief was Ganse; and the +Umhloben, a scattered family having no head. + +The word Zulu, or Undabezita, was invariably employed in addressing any +member of these families, whatever his rank or station might happen to +be. + +The first king of whom any particulars are known was Senzagacone, son of +Ufaina. When this king began to reign he had no legitimate offspring: he +had, however, a natural son by Unamdi, daughter of Umkeki, chief of the +Langmene tribe, named Chaka (the bastard). He afterwards married this +Unamdi, by whom he had a daughter Nuncoba, but no sons. She being his +favourite wife, the king, according to the custom of the country, "gave +her for a son," his natural son Chaka, thus legitimating him. When Chaka +was fifteen, his father, thinking he might become troublesome, sent to +kill him; but Chaka, being warned, fled to Dingiswayo, chief of the +Umtwetwa, where he remained until the king's death, though on the +occasion of his legitimation an invitation was given him to return to +the paternal kraal. + +Meanwhile Chaka had become an Induna of great influence and popularity +in the land of his refuge; so when on the death of Senzagacone the Zulu +tribe sent to him requesting him to be their king, and he consented, all +the tribes through which he passed on his way to the Zulus accompanied +him; and the whole of the Zulu clans assembled to meet him, and he was +made king with great rejoicings. In the interim between Senzagacone's +death and Chaka's accession, Umkaibye (paternal aunt of Chaka) ruled the +Zulus and arranged for Chaka's return. It was now that the jealousy long +smouldering between the Umdwandwe and the Umtwetwa, the two most +powerful tribes in that part of Africa, broke into an open quarrel. +Uzwidi, chief of the former, attacked and utterly routed the latter, +killing their chief, Dingiswayo, Chaka's friend and protector. The +worsted tribe naturally applied to Chaka for help. Thereupon Uzwidi +immediately marched to attack the Zulus, and a great battle ensued on +the south of the White Umvolosi. The result was that the left wing of +either army was victorious; but both lost so heavily that they retired +to their respective countries. + +On his retreat, Chaka was attacked by the Langmeni, but failing in their +assault, this tribe then deserted their own country and joined the +Umdwandwe. Having defeated another coast tribe which assailed him, Chaka +occupied both these countries, leaving the Emashlabatini district waste +and uninhabited. + +Uzwidi had now gathered a fresh army, which Chaka, by a night march, +surprised and defeated between Kwagmagwasa and the Umhlatuzi river. He +then retreated, but was rapidly followed up by Uzwidi, who had soon +regathered his forces, and who succeeded in capturing much Zulu cattle +and slaying a number of men, women, and children, surprised in their +kraals by the swiftness of his advance. He then again retreated. Uzwidi +now made a great and final effort to crush his adversary. All the tribes +around were pressed into his service, and the result was that he soon +had an army--collected from ten tribes--far superior in point of numbers +to the Zulu force, which represented only two tribes. Chaka therefore +retreated before Uzwidi's advance, and eventually occupied a strong +position on the Inkankla range. Here he awaited his opponent's onset. In +place of the old missile weapon, Chaka had armed his men with a shorter +and stronger assegai, intended for use at close quarters; he therefore +gave them strict orders not to throw their assegais but to charge the +foe and fight them hand to hand. He also skilfully placed his force +amidst broken ground, so that it was impossible for the enemy to attack +in a compact and organized body. The battle, as usual, began in the +early morn and continued till after midday. The Zulus, carrying out +their leader's instructions, waited till the assault was delivered, and +then charged so vigorously on the foe that they swept everything before +them. Chaka following up this defeat utterly dissipated the Umdwandwe +army. Uzwidi fled beyond his own country, which Chaka annexed, and thus +became the chief potentate in that part of Africa, levying tribute from +all the tribes around him. Chaka now waged several wars. First he +attacked and despoiled the Mangwani, a tribe on the Drakenberg; then he +fell upon and extirpated the clan of Zulukanafu, a chief residing to the +north of that range. Soon after he sent an army against the Pondos, +which captured a considerable amount of cattle and then retreated. +Again, in the following year, there was a similar expedition, and the +Pondos sued for peace, which was granted. By this time Chaka claimed to +rule over the entire country, from the sea to the Pondola, to the +Drakenberg, and to the land of the Pondos. His next object was to +consolidate his power. Accordingly, the petty kings under his rule were +no longer recognized as such, but became tributary chieftains; if any +one of these was remiss in payment of his tribute, an "impi" was sent +"to eat him" up. From time to time Chaka would also call up these chiefs +to his royal kraal, where he would receive them with marks of +distinction, and ask their advice on state matters. Another important +step to weaken the power of the chiefs, and at the same time to augment +his own, was the establishment of a standing army. Military service was +made compulsory on all males, each being told off to a certain regiment +according to his age. Thus a man ceased to serve under the chief of his +own clan, but belonged to a king's regiment, which was composed of men +of all tribes. Similar divisions were also made amongst the females, +who had to marry into regiments at the king's commands, though on a +marriage cattle was still handed over to the bride's father or brother. +Furthermore, regiments were not allowed wives till they were entitled to +wear "head-rings," and this did not occur till men had reached forty +years of age. Chaka's next war was against the Swazis, whom he defeated +and made to pay tribute. + +In the following year an immense expedition was despatched against the +Sotshangana, a people dwelling across the Somba Mountains, beyond +Delagoa Bay. + +So large was this army that Zululand was almost denuded of warriors, an +event which was taken advantage of by Dingaan and five more of the +king's brothers, to treacherously fall upon Chaka, whom they slew, +together with his chief councillor, Umxamana. + +The benefits conferred on his people by Chaka can hardly be +over-estimated; he had raised them from a small tribe to a nation, and +that nation a dominant one. As the Quirites were amongst the component +tribes of the earlier Roman kingdom, so were the Zulus or Undabezita +amongst the various tribes subject to the central Zulu authority, and +curiously enough this resemblance extends still further; the Quirites +were subdivided into gentes, or families, each with a distinctive name, +and in a precisely similar manner, as has been before stated, the +Undabezita were divided into sub-tribes or clans, each with its own +gentile or family name. Nor were his people ungrateful to the memory of +their first great king, for after the time of Chaka, the bastard, that +name was never employed in its original signification, but to the +present day a substitute, "Umlandhwana," is always used by a Zulu to +express that idea. + +That Chaka was not averse to civilization and white men was evinced by +his treatment of Fynn and five others who were rescued from a shipwreck +in St. Lucia Bay. He even went so far as to accompany Fynn the whole way +to Durban, to see him embark on a ship sent round from Cape Town for +him, and to send at considerable expenditure in the shape of cattle two +envoys to England, which he contemplated visiting himself, if their +report should prove favourable. But this latter project failed in +consequence of the king's murder, and the messengers got no further than +Cape Town. + +A year or two after his departure Fynn returned, and with Chaka's +sanction established a trading-station at Durban (1824). Once Fynn and +some white men, being called upon for aid, assisted Chaka to punish a +refractory tribe. When Chaka's army for the second time invaded the +Pondos, it was through Fynn's representations that they would come into +collision with the white men that the army proceeded no further. + +On the army returning from the Sotshangana expedition, Panda, a brother +of Chaka, was requested to assume the chief authority, but he declined, +so Dingaan became king. Dingaan commenced his reign by killing all his +brothers, except Panda, and all the late king's most trusted ministers. +This caused great uneasiness amongst the chiefs, one of whom named +Umquetu wishing therefore to withdraw from Dingaan's rule, departed with +all his clan and cattle to the south. Coming into collision with the +Pondos they were extirpated; hereupon Dingaan despatched an army to +recover the cattle, which he regarded as his, from the Pondos. About the +same time another chief, Umzilikazi, also revolted, and withdrew himself +to the spot where Pretoria now stands. An expedition was in a similar +manner despatched against him, and after capturing nearly all his +cattle, returned therewith to the king. + +Meanwhile the Boers had appeared on the scene at Natal, and they now +claimed from Dingaan a considerable quantity of the cattle captured from +Umzilikazi, alleging it had been originally stolen from them. To this +Dingaan replied by bidding them recover some cattle that a petty chief +had taken from him. Having done this and imprisoned the captured chief +at Maritzburg, the Boers again applied for their own cattle, and a party +under the command of one Peter Retief was sent to Dingaan. There now +ensued a game of "diamond cut diamond," the Boers trying to outwit the +king and capture him in his kraal, and Dingaan acting in much the same +way to the Boers. The exact course of events is unknown, but for certain +in the result Retief and his party were surprised and slain (Feb. 5th, +1838). Dingaan then invaded Natal, slaughtered many of the Boers, and +captured much cattle. His forces penetrated as far as Ladismith, whence, +after a heavy repulse in an attack on the Dutch laager, they retired +home. Encounters from time to time continued to occur between the Zulus +and the Boers with varying success to either side, till at length a +peace was patched up. Panda showed himself so active in this war as to +excite Dingaan's jealousy, in consequence of which he, with all his +people went over and joined the Boers. Soon after this (Jan. 1840) the +Boers, in conjunction with Panda, invaded Zululand. The great fight +occurred at Magongo, on the Umkusi river. Dingaan was utterly defeated, +and retiring with a few attendants beyond the Bomba range, was killed by +the Swazis. Panda now became king, and peace was made between the Zulus +and Boers, the former ceding to the latter the Natal territory as far as +the Tugela. + +It was about this time that there occurred a struggle at Natal between +the English and Dutch, in which the latter, being worsted, retired to +the Utrecht district, where they received permission from Panda to +dwell; Utrecht, it is said, being assigned as their outside limit. + +Panda waged no more external wars, but lived peaceably in his kraal, +breeding cattle. Most conspicuous amongst the sons of Panda were +Cetywayo and Umbulazi; these two, having quarrelled, waged a sort of +civil war one against the other, and in the result Umbulazi was defeated +and killed. Amongst the army of Umbulazi were John Dunn and about thirty +other white men armed with rifles. Cetywayo then quarrelled with another +brother, and the same state of disorder continued till Panda's death, +which occurred in October, 1872. + +Cetywayo being thereupon accepted as king by the Zulu nation, applied to +the English Government to recognize him. Accordingly, Sir +Theophilus--then Mr.--Shepstone was sent as envoy, and publicly crowned +Cetywayo at the Umlambongmenya kraal, on which occasion he spoke thus to +the assembled Zulus: "Here is your king. You have recognized him as +such, and I now do also, in the name of the Queen of England. Your kings +have often met violent deaths at the hands of their people, but if you +kill this one, we shall surely require his blood of you." He then went +on to say, "that as the English had recognized him as king, they would +expect him to give all men a fair trial before condemnation. Even a +witch should be let off, and merely sent away to another district." To +this the Zulus returned that they would kill any man who went with the +king's women, any man who ran away with another's wife, any thief of +cattle, royal or otherwise; that a witch should not be put to death on a +first accusation, but should any persist in witchcraft, he should be +killed. And to this Shepstone signified his assent. The chiefs then rose +in a body and said, "We will so govern the country under our King +Cetywayo, and we look to England to support him as the king of the Zulu +nation." Shepstone replied that he hoped the Zulus would live peaceably +under the new king, whom England would expect to adhere to the terms to +which he had just assented. + +But these promises were broken on more than one occasion. Cetywayo +having called up his army, and finding them tardy in response, and many +absentees on the plea of illness, forthwith sent a regiment to slay all +those thus absent, saying, "Sick men are no good; I will save the +doctors the trouble of attending them." Again, one of the divisions of +females being ordered to marry a certain regiment, objected that they +were too few. Another regiment was named, and further objections raised. +Then an impi was sent to punish these women, and a great number were +killed. Great abuses in the practice of "smelling out" by witch-doctors +also prevailed, though in this respect Cetywayo appears slightly better +than his predecessors. + +It is now time to turn attention to what is called the Boundary +Question. + +It has been previously stated that in Panda's time the Boers had settled +in the Utrecht district. From time to time cattle undoubtedly was passed +between the Boers and the Zulu king. The former assert that it was the +price for the absolute ownership of the land they occupied, whilst on +behalf of Cetywayo it is urged that it was merely a tribute from the +Boers, whose outside limit had been fixed at Utrecht. Be this as it may, +there kept occurring at frequent intervals outrages, robberies, and +reprisals on either side, Sirayo, whose kraal was nearest the border, +being the most prominent actor in these scenes. + +Umbelini also now appeared, to further complicate matters. Originally a +Swazi, he had fled from his native land, and settled in Zululand, +together with his uncle Umbeliani and his people. This uncle joined the +Boers, taking his cattle with him. Land was assigned to Umbeliani by the +Boers close to where Umbelini was dwelling. No sooner, therefore, had +the former built himself a kraal than the latter attacked and destroyed +it. Thus ensued a contest between the Boers and Umbelini. The Boers +drove Umbelini from his stronghold, but failed to capture him. He, +retreating, erected a new kraal on the Dumbe range, north of the +Zlobani, whence he continued to make raids into Swaziland and the +Transvaal, which had now become British soil. + +At Cetywayo's coronation this vexed question of the boundary had been +referred to Mr. Shepstone, and he, in accordance with a promise then +given, subsequently met the Zulu envoys at Conference Hill to hear their +claims in this matter. They then claimed the Buffalo river as their +original and proper boundary. In reply, Mr. Shepstone said that he +considered this was asking too much; but that a fair line would be the +Blood river and the old hunting road running close by the Kambula Kop to +the Pongola or Zulu side of Luneberg. He would, however, examine the +question more closely before coming to a final decision, which, when +arrived at, would be communicated to them. + +During all this time the Zulu army had been growing more and more +restless, and the younger men especially were clamorous for an +opportunity of "washing" their spears. For this sole purpose they +contemplated a raid on the Swazis, then in alliance with England. But on +Cetywayo's applying to the British Government for its sanction to this +project, it naturally declined to allow its allies to be thus wantonly +attacked. + +There also existed amongst the Zulu an intense antipathy to the Boers; +and Cetywayo, after his capture, himself admitted that had the Transvaal +not been annexed, it was a mere question of time how soon a war broke +out between his people and the Dutch settlers; nor can this afford much +ground for wonder, when the characteristics of a Boer are had well in +mind. The typical Boer is doubtless a pattern of hospitality, simplicity +of heart, fondness for his home and family, and of those general +domestic attributes which are so dear to an Englishman. But in his +relations and contact with the native races and real owners of the soil, +the Dutch Boer seems to lose all sense of reason and justice, and to +remember only those early and blood-stained annals of pioneering, when +the white man and the black neither gave nor asked for quarter in their +struggle for supremacy in the land. Indeed his intolerance of a native +is so intense that he cannot be induced to look upon him as a human +being, but he regards the unfortunate aboriginal as a wild beast to be +hunted and shot down. But the Boer has his fairer side, although his +type has as yet been unchangeable. As he existed when he ruled in Cape +Colony in 1808, so he now exists in the present day in his settlements +in the interior. He is uneducated, uncultivated, unprogressive, and +obstinate; but he developes qualities under adverse circumstances which +must command English respect. He is certainly domestic as far as his own +family circle is concerned, but, at the same time, the reverse of +gregarious in regard to the world in general. When he first commences to +farm and settle he likes to possess not less than 6000 and not more than +20,000 acres of good undulating "veldt." When he has obtained this, he +starts in his waggon with his wife, his children, his scanty supply of +goods and chattels, his cattle and sheep, and his only literature, the +family Bible. He selects a good spring of water, being careful that no +neighbour is located within at least ten miles. He builds his house with +one large central hall, with the kitchen in rear, and four or five +bedrooms opening out of the hall, all on the ground floor, and sometimes +with a wide verandah outside. Kraals for his cattle, fences to his +garden, and enclosures of 50 or 100 acres, are quickly run up; and so +fertile is the soil and so favourable the climate, that in four or five +years his garden will be full of oranges, lemons, citrons, peaches, +apricots, figs, apples, pears, and vines. His herds and flocks multiply, +his wheat and Indian corn thrive, and thus he lives in a rude but +grateful abundance. His sons arrive at manhood and marry; his daughters +are sought as wives, and if the land is good and plenty they remain and +farm near, and for each generation and new family a new house is built a +few hundred yards from the original. More acres with each generation are +brought under the plough, and the man who is a good farmer, good father, +and good husband cannot be brought to see that he must not covet his +neighbour's land when that neighbour happens to be a black man! Without +sentiment, without tenderness, and without a particle of enthusiasm, and +with the most circumscribed intellectual horizon, he has a stubborn +practicability which is admirably suited for the work of a pioneer, but +which never developes into a power of civilization amongst savage +tribes. + +As has been shown in the preceding narrative the relations between the +Zulu king and the English Government had been growing more and more +tense. Two conspicuous outrages in the early part of 1878 at length +brought matters to a climax. These two events were the Sirayo affair, +and the Middle Drift difficulty. To understand the Sirayo business it is +necessary to enter somewhat into detail. Sirayo and his tribe had a +quarrel with one of the royal tribes--the Ischeni. This, like many +another tribal dispute common enough in Zululand, never grew to an +"assegai" matter, but encounters frequently occurred, in which sticks +only were used, and the object of the rival factions was to drive off +the opponent's cattle. The result of this, and a "law-suit" between the +parties, settled by the king, was that Sirayo lost all his cattle. +Shortly after this, one of Sirayo's wives, who had already been put +aside on account of having a son whose legitimacy was suspected, being +again in the family-way, fled with her paramour into Natal. Another +wife, in a similar condition, also accompanied her. Nothing was done at +the time, but Sirayo's sons subsequently learning that these women were +in kraals close to the border, having collected an armed band, crossed +the river Buffalo in broad daylight, seized one of the women, recrossed +the stream, and then killed her. The Natal Kaffirs armed and threatened +a rescue, but made no attack on Sirayo's party, who, on the same night, +made another incursion, and the second woman suffered the same fate as +the first. + +Thereupon the English demanded the surrender of Sirayo's sons. Cetywayo +sent to Sirayo advising him to hand over cattle instead of his sons. +Sirayo replied that in consequence of the Ischeni dispute he had no +cattle; that he was aware that his sons had transgressed; and that he +was sorry. Again the English insisted on the surrender of the two young +men. To this Cetywayo replied that they were very young, and therefore +their conduct should be excused, and mercy shown to them. He added, that +beyond all doubt they had done wrong; that the English had good cause +for anger, and that he himself was displeased with Sirayo for not +sending either his sons or cattle. + +The Middle Drift affair occurred thus:--At the very beginning of 1878 +the English were constructing a road from Kranz Kop to the middle drift +of the Tugela. The men at work on this were interrupted, and driven away +from their task by the Zulus living in the district, and Smith, the road +engineer, who had landed on the island at this drift, was seized, +stripped of all his clothing, and much maltreated by the same people. +Reparation was demanded by the Government for this outrage. Furthermore, +from June, 1877, it was evident that Cetywayo was instigating Secocoeni +to hostilities; and even allowing that part of this chief's claim for +compensation was just, it was necessary that the former chief should be +made to understand that while arbitration was going on the law could not +be broken by either side. With great tact, Sir T. Shepstone kept the +peace until the Galeka and Gaika war was over, when Lord Chelmsford and +his forces were freed, and it became possible to support words by +action. Such were the events which led to the sending of an ultimatum by +Sir Bartle Frere. + +In the beginning of December, 1878, therefore, Messrs. John Shepstone, +Brownlie, Walker, Fynn, and Fyney were selected to be the messengers to +Cetywayo, to whom they were to communicate a message, of which the +following was the purport:--The boundary-line was to be drawn from the +junction of the Buffalo and Blood rivers to the Magedala Mountains, and +thence on to the district of Roundhill and the source of the Pongolo. +All the farmers on the frontier and disputed territory who could produce +any tangible evidence of damage or loss due to Zulu menace or warlike +demonstration were to receive a moderate but fixed compensation. A fine +of 500 head of cattle and the surrender of the guilty members of the +tribe was imposed upon Usirayo's (Sirayo) people, and twenty days only +allowed for the payment of the penalty; 100 head of cattle to be paid +for the outrage upon Lieut. Smith; Umbelini, who had given so much +trouble, to be handed over to and dealt with by the Transvaal +Government; the whole of King Cetywayo's large army at once to be +disbanded; freedom of marriage to be allowed when the parties thereto +were of age; justice to be impartially administered; missionaries to be +allowed to return to the Zulu country; British Residents to be +appointed; all disputes between Europeans to be referred to the king and +the resident; and, finally, no expulsion from Zulu territory to be +carried into effect without the distinct approval of the resident. + +It was further intimated to the king that unless he showed his +compliance with these terms, on or before December 31st, then on January +1st, 1879, the British army would commence the invasion of his land, and +would enforce them at the point of the bayonet. The advance, it has been +said, originally was to have been made on the 1st; but his Excellency +the High Commissioner, allowing for the possibility of letters being +delayed by the swollen state of the river, the Tugela being then in +flood, extended his term of grace to the 11th. A _Gazette_ extraordinary +was published on January 6th, containing a declaration from Sir Bartle +Frere, demanding from Cetywayo unqualified submission, stating that the +general would after the 11th instant demand redress, and that the Zulu +people were to be protected. The following was its form:-- + + + "NOTIFICATION BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE HIGH COMMISSIONER + + "In July last two armed bodies of Zulus, retainers of the Chief + Usirago, led by his sons and brothers, entered Natal and took away + by force refugee women, who were claiming protection from the + resident magistrate of Umsinga. These women were dragged across the + border, and, it is believed, murdered. These acts of outrage were + promptly brought to Cetywayo's notice by his Excellency the + Lieutenant-Governor of Natal, but no explanation or redress could be + obtained from Cetywayo. Twenty-one days were allowed to the Zulu + king to surrender the three sons and brother of the Chief Usirago + for trial, and as this term expired on 31st December, 1878, the High + Commissioner entertains no hope that it is the intention of the Zulu + king to afford the redress which her Majesty's Government has a + right to demand. + + "Therefore I hereby make known, for the information of Cetywayo and + all the Zulu people, that I have placed the further prosecution of + this and all other demands for redress and reparation in the hands + of his Excellency the Lieutenant-General Lord Chelmsford, commanding + her Majesty's Forces in South Africa, with the request that he will + take such steps as he may find necessary to protect the British + territory from further aggression, and to compel the Zulu king to + comply with all the demands made on him for satisfaction due to the + British Government, or for the greater security of the British + territory, or for the better and more peaceable government of the + Zulu people. Lieutenant-General Lord Chelmsford will carefully + notify to all Zulu chiefs and people who may come within his reach + that the commands of the British Government are made on Cetywayo, as + much in the interests of the Zulu people as of the English nation, + and that till the 11th January the Lieut.-General will be willing to + receive and to transmit to me any intimation of the unqualified + acceptance by Cetywayo of all the terms offered to him. If such + intimation of unqualified and complete acceptance be received by the + Lieut.-General before the 11th January no further hostile movement + will be made, unless rendered necessary by the action of the Zulu + forces, and up to the above date Lord Chelmsford will be ready to + consider any steps which the Zulu king may propose for the purpose + of giving real and permanent effect to the demands of the British + Government. But unless all these terms be fully complied with by the + above date, the Lieut.-General will no longer be bound by the terms + of the 11th December, but will take such measures as the forces + under his command will permit for compelling the submission of the + Zulu king; always bearing in mind that the British Government has no + quarrel with the Zulu nation, and that the future good government + and well-being of the Zulus is as much an object of the steps now + taken as the safety and protection of the British territories of + Natal and the Transvaal. And I do hereby warn all residents and + inhabitants of her Majesty's possessions and colonies in South + Africa, of whatever race, to be guided by this, my notification, + and I do strongly charge and command all her Majesty's officers, + ministers, and subjects, and all others whom it may concern, to + govern themselves and to act accordingly, and to take due notice of + and to pay due regard to the tenor thereof. + + "H. B. E. FRERE, + High Commissioner. + + "Pietermaritzburg, Natal, Jan. 4, 1879." + +During the whole of December Lord Chelmsford had been indefatigable in +collecting and organizing the military forces at his command. The result +was that at this date (Jan. 11th) the return in the order-book was as +follows:-- + + + GENERAL STATE OF THE FIELD FORCES. + + + NO. 1 COLUMN (Headquarters, Thring's Post, Lower Tugela). + + Commandant--Colonel C. K. Pearson, the Buffs. + + Naval Brigade--170 bluejackets and marines of H.M.S. "Active" (with + one Gatling and two 7-pounder guns), under Captain Campbell, R.N. + + Royal Artillery--Two 7-pounder guns and rocket battery, under Lieut. + W. N. Lloyd, R.A. + + Infantry--2nd battalion 3rd Buffs, under Lieut.-Col. H. Parnell. + + Mounted Infantry--100 men under Captain Barrow, 19th Hussars. + + Volunteers--Durban Rifles, Natal Hussars, Stanger Rifles, Victoria + Rifles, Alexandra Rifles. Average, forty men per corps, all + mounted. + + Native Contingent--1000 men, under Major Graves, the Buffs. + + + NO. 2 COLUMN (Headquarters, Helpmakaar, near Rorke's Drift). + + Commandant--Colonel Glyn, 1st battalion 24th Regiment. + + Royal Artillery--N battery 5th brigade Royal Artillery (with + 7-pounder guns), under Major A. Harness, R.A. + + Infantry--Seven companies 1st battalion 24th Regiment and 2nd + battalion 24th Regiment, under Lieut.-Col. Degacher. + + Natal Mounted Police--Commanded by Major Dartnell. + + Volunteers--Natal Carabineers, Buffalo Border Guard, Newcastle + Mounted Rifles. All mounted; average forty men. + + Native Contingent--1000 men, under Commandant Lonsdale, late 74th + Highlanders. + + + NO. 3 COLUMN (Headquarters, Utrecht). + + Commandant--Colonel Evelyn Wood, V.C., C.B., 90th Regiment. + + Royal Artillery--11th battery 7th brigade R.A. (with four 7-pounder + guns) under Major E. Tremlett, R.A. + + Infantry--1st battalion 13th Regiment and 90th Regiment. + + Mounted Infantry--100 men, under Major J. C. Russell, 12th Lancers. + + Frontier Light Horse--200 strong, under Major Redvers Buller, C.B., + 60th Rifles. + + Volunteers--The Kaffrarian Vanguard, Commandant Schermbrucker, 100 + strong. + + Native Contingent--The Swazis, our native allies, some 5000 strong. + +An idea of the numbers and nature of Cetywayo's force may be gathered +from the report of the Government Intelligence Department made at this +time. + +"The Zulu army, as at present constituted, is drawn from the entire male +population, as every male between the ages of fifteen and sixty-five is +called upon to serve, without any exemption. The military force consists +of fourteen corps or regiments, divided into wings right and left, and +the latter into companies. The companies, however, are not of equal +strength, but vary immensely, even from ten to 200, according to the +numerical strength of the corps to which they belong. In fact, the +companies and regiments would more correctly be termed families or +clans, and each corps possesses its own military headquarters, or +kraal, with the following hierarchy, namely, one commanding officer, +chief, or Iduna-Yesibaya; one second in command, major, or +Iduna-Yohlangoti, who has charge of the left wing; two wing officers, +and company officers according to the need of the battalion. As a rule, +all these officers are in command of men of the same ages as themselves, +and the method of recruiting is as follows:--At stated and periodical +intervals, generally from two to five years, a general levy takes place, +when all the youths who happen at that time to have attained the age of +fifteen are formed into a regiment and undergo a year's probation, +during which time they are supposed to pass from boyhood to manhood. As +the regiment becomes disciplined and seasoned it receives large drafts +from other corps, so that as the elders die out young men come in to +fill up the ranks. The entire Zulu army consists of thirty-three +regiments, married and unmarried. No one in Zululand, male or female, is +allowed to marry without the king's permission, and this permission is +never granted until the men are about forty years of age. They then have +to shave the crown of the head, and to put a ring round it, and carry a +white shield, in contradistinction to the unmarried regiments, who do +not shave their heads and carry coloured shields. Many of these +regiments are too young for active service, others are too old, +consequently it is estimated that only about twenty-five regiments would +be able to take the field, and these would muster perhaps 40,000. Of +these 4500 are between fifty and sixty years of age; 3400 are between +forty and fifty; 10,000 between thirty and forty; and 22,000 between +twenty and thirty. We have heard a great deal about the drill of these, +but their movements, as far as we can learn, are few and very simple, +but very quickly performed in their own way. They form circles of +regiments in order to outflank the enemy. From this formation they break +into columns of regiments or companies, and from these into skirmishing +order, with supports and reserves. The sole commissariat of the Zulu +army consists of three or four days' grain, carried by the lads who +follow each corps, and, if necessary, a herd of cattle driven with each +column." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + Plan of campaign--Native levies--Special service officers--The + advance--Pearson's column--Glyn's column--Wood's + column--Utrecht--First brush with the enemy--Difficulties of + transport--Action on Inyezani--Pearson at Ekowe--Glyn's + advance--Durnford's failure--Isandhlwana--Description of camp--The + battle--Details--Reconnaissance and return of Lord + Chelmsford--Rorke's Drift--Causes of Isandhlwana--Remarks. + + +The plan of the campaign now commenced was to advance into Zululand in +four columns, each column complete in itself, having its own artillery, +cavalry, and independent leader. Each column was also to keep up +communications with the columns on flank, thus creating, as it were, the +effect of an advance in one extended line. + +By this means it was intended to thoroughly sweep the entire Zulu +territory, and at the same time to prevent any large body of the enemy +from slipping between the columns, and so getting to the rear and +delivering a counter-attack on the colonies. + +In addition to the regular European forces, large native levies had been +raised, amounting in all to 7400. It is a great error to suppose that +these were without arms, dress, or discipline. On the contrary, a great +many of them came to us well armed with serviceable-looking rifles, +evidently of Birmingham or Sheffield make, while some of the +older-fashioned fire-arms had the Tower mark. + +Nor were they clothed only with the conventional blanket. On the +contrary, their uniform was neat, and, at the same time, workmanlike, +and consisted of a corduroy tunic, or rather patrol jacket, and +breeches, with long boots of untanned leather, and a broad-leafed +_sombrero_ as a head-dress. + +Several native corps were rapidly formed, in the following manner:--The +commandant and his staff officers were British officers, the captains +mostly retired British officers, colonists, or settlers; the +non-commissioned officers, white settlers of different nationalities, +and the privates usually Kaffirs. + +Among the English officers who received commands in this native +contingent were Captain Nolan (Pioneers), Major Bengough, Captain +Russell (Rocket Battery), Captain Ulich de Burgh (5th West York +Militia), Captain Cherry (32nd Foot), and Lieutenant Hon. H. Gough. +Colonel Durnford had command of the whole column, which was to be +entirely native so far as the rank and file were concerned, and to be +composed of all the three arms--artillery, cavalry, and infantry. + +There was also a considerable contingent of European Volunteers--more +especially of mounted men, whose total reached close on 1000. +Conspicuous amongst these were the Volunteer Hussars and Alexandra +Mounted Rifles, the Durban Mounted Rifles, Captain Raaf's Diamond Field +and Free State Horse, and a contingent of mounted Boers under Piet Uys, +who gallantly responded to Colonel Wood's spirited and soldierlike +appeal. These Boers were a splendid body of men, most of them crack +shots with the rifle, and although somewhat fierce and uncompromising +towards their ancient enemies, the Zulus, proved of invaluable service +through their knowledge of localities. + +The following "special service" officers, sent out from England, had +also arrived and entered on their respective duties:--Captain Cherry +(32nd Light Infantry), was placed in command of the 3rd battalion Natal +Contingent; Captain Gardner (14th Hussars), was sub-director of +transports at headquarters, as well as Captain Huntley (10th Regiment), +who was posted to the River Mooi; Captains Essex (76th), and Hon. H. +Campbell (Coldstream Guards), were also directors of transports. Major +Hopton had this duty at Pietermaritzburg. Captain Brunker, of the +Cameronians (26th), had the command of a squadron of Light Horse. +Captain Barton (7th Regiment), was staff officer to Colonel Durnford; +Captains Pelly Clark (103rd Regiment), Spratt (29th), and Lieutenant +Lawrence (18th), were all employed on transport duty at Durban, where, +as most of the ammunition and stores were landed, their office was no +sinecure. Captain Macgregor (29th Regiment), was staff officer to +Colonel Pearson, and Captain Hart (31st Regiment) was on the staff of +Lord Chelmsford. + +Meanwhile Cetywayo's term of grace had expired; the 11th of January had +come and gone without any sign from the Zulu monarch. On the following +day the war had begun, and the Tugela was successfully crossed. By four +o'clock on the 12th the Buffs, four companies of the 99th, the Victoria +Mounted Rifles, the native Sappers, the 1st Natal Native Contingent, and +the Naval Brigade were well over the Lower Tugela, near Fort +Buckingham. The pontoon worked remarkably well, making three trips an +hour. Four small boats were also employed. A herd of cattle was brought +into the camp by the vedettes, who also reported that a large Zulu force +was in position about twenty miles off, and also at Ondini. It has been +mentioned that four columns would be formed from out of the three (whose +details have been given above), and these four were now advancing into +Zululand in a line which partly described a crescent, of which the left +extremity rested on Luneberg and the Pongolo, the right upon the Lower +Drift of the Tugela, close to the sea, while the inner half of the +circle was represented by the boundaries of Natal and the Transvaal. + +The centre may be considered as being at Fort Pearson, where there was a +strongly entrenched camp on the summit of a rising or bluff overlooking +the river Tugela. The column moving from Fort Pearson consisted of 1500 +regular infantry, that is to say, eight companies of the Buffs, under +Colonel Parnell; six companies of the 99th, under Colonel Welman; one +company Royal Artillery and two 7-pounder guns, drawn by mules under +Lieutenant Lloyd; one Naval Brigade of 276 bluejackets and Marines, +under Captain Campbell, from her Majesty's ships "Active" and "Tenedos," +with three Gatlings; 200 Mounted Infantry, under Captain Barrow, and 200 +Mounted Volunteers (Durban Mounted Rifles), under Captain W. Shepstone; +the Alexandra Mounted Rifles, Captain Arbuthnot; Victoria Mounted +Rifles, Captain Saner; Stanger Mounted Rifles, Captain Addison; the +Natal Hussars, Captain Norton. Colonel Pearson, of the Buffs, was in +command of the column, and had to co-operate with him a native +contingent of 2000 men, under Major Graves, as well as two companies of +the 99th posted at Stanger and Durban. The total strength of Colonel +Pearson's column may, therefore, be set down at 2200 Europeans and 2000 +natives. + +The second or right centre column moved from Kranz Kop, a most +formidable position, supported by Fort Buckingham. This was the scene of +operations in 1861. The heights are commanding and look over a wide +field of country. The position is unassailable except from the Natal +side, and this was strongly fortified. Colonel Durnford, R.E., commanded +this district and attack, and had with him now the 1st Regiment Native +Contingent, which then consisted of three fine battalions, with three +rocket tubes, under Lieutenant Russell, and 250 mounted natives, making +altogether 3300 natives, officered by 200 European officers. + +Following the line of advance to the left, and occupying about fifty or +sixty miles of frontier, we come to column three, the left centre +attack, commanded by Colonel Glyn. Take any good map and you will remark +how the boundary winds serpentine fashion in its length from Fort +Buckingham to Rorke's Drift and Helpmakaar. Helpmakaar made an excellent +base to Rorke's Drift. Being situated on a lofty plateau, it formed an +admirable place for a permanent encampment. It also had depôts at +Greytown on the one side and Ladismith on the other. Colonel Glyn had +with him seven companies of the 1st battalion 24th and eight companies +of the 2nd battalion 24th, six 7-pounder guns with Kaffrarian carriages +under Colonel Harness, a squadron of mounted infantry under Captain +Browne, the Natal Mounted Police (150 men), the Natal Carabineers under +Captain Shepstone, the Buffalo Border Guard (Captain Robson), the +Newcastle Mounted Rifles (Captain Bradstreet), also the native +contingent (2nd Regiment), 2000 strong, under Commandant Lonsdale, +officered by 200 whites. From Rorke's Drift, about five miles over the +river is Ungusdana, and thence on the traveller comes to the Intalalala +river, which is about fifteen miles inland. The country all about the +district is rugged and broken, and calculated to afford positions of +great defensive strength. Colonel Glyn was, if possible, to bear a +little to his left flank after crossing the boundary with a view to +communication being opened with Wood's right flank. To effect this +connexion, however, there was a sad need of cavalry. + +We now come to the extreme left of the advance, whose headquarters were +Utrecht, and which was thus composed:--Colonel Evelyn Wood, V.C., C.B., +90th Light Infantry, commanding No. 4 Column; Staff Orderly Officer, +Lieutenant Lysons, 90th Infantry; Principal Staff Officer, Captain Hon. +R. G. E. Campbell, Coldstream Guards; general Staff duties, Captain +Woodgate, 4th Regiment; transport duties, Captain Vaughan, R.A.; senior +commissary officer, Commissary Hughes; commissary of ordnance, Assistant +Commissary Philimore; subdistrict paymaster, Paymaster M'Donald; senior +medical officer, Surgeon-Major Cuffe. Corps--Royal Artillery, six +7-pounders, Major Tremlett, R.A.; 1st-13th Light Infantry, +Lieutenant-Colonel Gilbert, 13th; 90th Light Infantry, Brevet +Lieutenant-Colonel Cherry, 90th; Frontier Light Horse, Brevet +Lieut.-Colonel Buller, C.B., 60th; Wood's Irregulars, 700 men, +Commandant Henderson. In addition, a few Boers were coming in, and more +were expected. + +Utrecht is the most southerly part of the Transvaal, and lies upon the +border of both Natal and Zululand. It is separated from the former by +the Buffalo river, and, after crossing the Blood river, a few marches +bring one to the territories of King Cetywayo. From the lowest, or most +southerly portions of Utrecht, just where the Buffalo and Blood rivers +form a junction, to the port of Durban, on the coast of Natal, is but +100 miles, and the capital city is about thirty miles from Newcastle, +the most northern of Natal towns. The two districts are connected by a +tolerably fair road and a drift over the Buffalo river. Utrecht, in a +strategical point of view, wedged in as it were between Natal and +Zululand, cannot be equalled by any position of a similar nature. The +interior of this district extends away to the summit of the Drakenberg +range, one of which reaches an altitude of 4000 feet. Most of the +Utrecht land lies in what is called the "terrace country," and has the +advantage of the most splendid bracing air, added to which are mountain +ridge and peak, precipice, wooded gorge, and grass-land, and scenery +whose characteristics are of a grander and nobler nature than that of +the Cape Colony. The portion of the Drakenberg which runs through +Utrecht has its eastern front and glacis looking towards the sea, which +is about eighty miles distant, and as each terrace or range slopes down +the character of the country changes, presenting many of the features +of the upper portions of the Cape Colony, that is to say, broad +undulating downs in one part and immense flats covered with bush on the +other. All the principal rivers and streams of Utrecht and their +tributaries flow eastward to the Indian Ocean. On one boundary there is +the Pongola, and on the other the Buffalo, while the Blood river passes +through it with a south-eastern flow, and the Pifan does the same, but +with an inclination to the north-east. From the wild highlands between +these two streams issue the head waters of the Umoolosi, which traverses +Zululand and empties itself into St. Lucia Bay. + +Wood's column marched from Utrecht on the 7th, so as to be on the +borderland in order to operate with the right-hand column on the +appointed day. General Lord Chelmsford had given orders that Colonel +Wood was to be at a certain point on the 10th, and consequently +arrangements were made to carry out these instructions. It was known +that Sirayo would probably oppose the crossing of Colonel Glyn at +Rorke's Drift, and Colonel Wood had been told, if possible, to get +sufficiently near to operate on the enemy's right and rear should such +an attempt be made. Leaving a small guard at his camps at Sandspruit, +the rest of Wood's force paraded in the lightest possible order at 1.30 +p.m. on the 10th, and marched from two that afternoon until six p.m. A +halt was then made until 1.30 a.m., when by the light of a glorious moon +the advance was pursued. A mounted advanced guard was thrown out, +flanking patrols were organized and told off, and the troops moved in +the greatest silence, not a word in the ranks being allowed to be +spoken. At 3 a.m., a short halt took place, and the chief ordered +forward a reconnaissance, consisting of Buller's Light Horse, two +7-pounder guns under Major Tremlett, and twenty-four picked shots from +the 13th and 90th Regiments respectively. These men were to be carried +in some of the mule waggons, and were accompanied by the 700 irregulars, +horse and foot. Colonel Wood accompanied this advanced force, leaving +the remaining (main) body in charge of Colonel Gilbert, who was ordered +to follow at a fixed time. The advanced body arrived within ten miles of +Rorke's Drift at 7.30 a.m., and by eight the camp fires were lit and the +men comfortably having their breakfasts on the banks of a small stream; +the mounted men having at once off-saddled, the infantry piled arms, and +the horses and mules turned out to graze under a strong guard. + +About nine o'clock the general, Lord Chelmsford, cantered up to the +camp, accompanied by his staff and an escort of 100 mounted infantry and +some Natal mounted police. The general seemed delighted at the celerity +with which his orders had been carried out, as in eighteen hours Wood's +party had covered twenty-seven miles, and the men and horses were as +fresh as paint. A long consultation took place with the general, and +then the order was issued for the return to the main body; but this was +not found necessary, as Colonel Gilbert met them after about ten miles. + +In this day, or rather twenty-four hours, the men had marched thirty-one +miles, and were not fated, on camp being pitched, to enjoy the fruits of +their labour and toil, for soon after they were settled for the evening +a heavy thunderstorm came suddenly over the tents, and in a quarter of +an hour they were up to their ankles in a perfect river of water. The +tents went down in all directions, and in many cases poles were snapped. +The next day, however, a patrol of Buller's horse was paraded soon after +daybreak, as scouts had brought in information that a large number of +cattle were to be seen in the neighbouring kloof. Soon after leaving +camp Buller's men were fired upon, but the Zulus did not stand their +ground, and by the afternoon they had brought in nearly 1000 cattle. +Captain Barton, who had gone out later in the day with another party, +marched twenty miles in the direction of Umkanga's kraal, where in the +skirmish which resulted 550 cattle were taken, and seven of the Zulus +were killed and wounded. On the following morning a strong +reconnaissance was made in the direction of the Bushee Valley. The Zulus +were in considerable force, and their general tried to induce the +English skirmishers to follow him to ground of his own choosing. Colonel +Wood, however, kept his men well in hand, and contented himself by +sending forward two companies of the 13th Light Infantry, Colonel +Gilbert's fine corps, and menacing the Zulu flank with some score or +more horsemen, who, galloping to a favouring eminence, made capital +practice at the Zulu main body with their rifles at 700 and 800 yards. +The Zulus still continued to creep up in rear, getting what cover they +could from the bushes, and a sharp fire was kept up on both sides. As +the men in skirmishing order pushed the enemy gradually before them, the +mounted force harassed them on either flank, sometimes galloping round +to the right and left to obtain vantage-ground and cover, and then +dismounting in sections, and acting as infantry, while the main body was +kept carefully out of sight in the dense mimosa which was found in the +rear. The bush, as they advanced, gradually became more dense, and the +path scarcely allowed them to move in fours by a steep descent into a +wooded valley. Instinctively it was guessed that here would be the main +body of the foe, and this turned out to be the case, for away to the +left front, on a tall "copjie" or circular hill, about twenty mounted +Zulus were to be seen, evidently the commander and his staff giving +orders and directing the operations of the columns in the plain. The +firing had now become general, but the soldiers were not allowed to +waste their ammunition, and nearly every shot told with fatal effect. +Colonel Wood had taken the precaution to strengthen his flanks as he +advanced, and as the enemy could not tell how strong he was, the main +body being still invisible, they were completely puzzled by the daring +of the mounted men, who seemed ubiquitous. The guns were found rather a +nuisance; one of the carriages broke down, and the limber had to be left +behind, while the gun itself was secured. The head of the first line of +skirmishers had now made good their way through the kloof with slight +loss, and the Zulus attempted in vain to get round to its rear, but +found all hopes of such a man[oe]uvre utterly futile--as the flanking +parties were on the _qui-vive_. It was now Wood's turn to push them, and +he used the opportunity. Two more companies were advanced at the double +to force the centre of the Zulu line, and in a few moments we had cut +it in two. In the meanwhile one of the light field-pieces had obtained a +favourable position, and had got the enemy's range exactly, but the +execution done was not what could have been obtained with a good honest +nine or twelve-pounder. The pursuit was carried on for about a mile, and +the Zulus were scattered in all directions, but the commander was too +wary to allow his men to go too far, and the recall was sounded, and in +a short time brought back the excited fellows, puffing and blowing, to +rejoin the main body. + +For some days this column continued to advance steadily without meeting +any serious opposition. Having moved on from the Blood River, Wood's +force encamped at Bemba's Kop till the 20th January. The country over +which they had passed since they left Utrecht may be described as a +succession of large rolling plains, interspersed in all directions by +watercourses (_dongas_), which radiate from the bases of the +table-topped mountains rising at intervals throughout this part of the +country. These watercourses are as a rule about twelve to fourteen feet +deep, and serve to irrigate the country, which seems prosperous and +well-populated. What would be called a road in England does not exist in +Zululand. The tracks made by the traders with their waggons answer the +purpose. These tracks are, however, tolerably good, and experience +proved that artillery could be moved almost anywhere, except in wet +weather. Waggons could pass each other at almost any part of the main +road from Utrecht to Ulundi, except at that portion leading across the +Inhlazatye Mountain, which runs along a narrow ledge, and where it +ascends the Intendeka table-land. Wherever the troops moved they came +across numerous kraals, each kraal containing from eight to fifteen +huts, and each hut ten to fifteen men. From Bemba's Kop they moved on +the 20th to Wolpoint, as nearly as possible seven miles west of the +White Umbolosi, and thence went on to Tunguin's Neck, where a laager was +planned and completed. After a reconnaissance made by Colonel Wood on +the 22nd, in which his troops had a slight skirmish with a small body of +Zulus, suffering no casualties, and inflicting a slight loss upon them, +he halted on the 23rd, and sent out strong patrols in the direction of +the Ingwazini River. These men rode over an open plain admirably suited +for cavalry operations, but found nothing but some deserted kraals and +the dead bodies of some Zulus, who, it was subsequently discovered, were +wounded at Isandula the previous day. On their return the party were +fortunate enough to discover the whereabouts of a strong body, some 4000 +to 5000 Zulu warriors, who, it was imagined, were merely the nucleus of +a force intended to surprise Wood's column. They were posted in a +well-chosen position at a place called Tintas Hill, and when they moved +down in his direction the following day, Wood had concealed a portion of +his force so well, that he got them between two fires, and in about half +an hour had killed about sixty or seventy of them, his own casualties +being only two men wounded. It was during this action that information +was brought by Captain Alan Gardner, who gallantly rode without any +escort from Helpmakaar to Utrecht, notifying the terrible disaster of +the 22nd, and the destruction of No. 3 Column. This news caused Colonel +Wood to change his plans, and after a halt of a couple of hours, he +turned back towards the Umbolosi, where his little force arrived at +seven a.m. on the 25th. On Sunday (26th) he moved on to Ugaba Ka Hawana, +where good camping-ground and a defensive position were chosen, and +where the minor essentials of wood and water were in plenty. + +Colonel Pearson, who commanded No. 1 Column on the extreme right, had +also been prosecuting his advance with the greatest vigour, and the +results were in every way satisfactory, though already the tremendous +difficulties of commissariat and transport had made themselves +unpleasantly evident. This force assembled near Fort Stanger, and +crossed the Lower Tugela on the 12th, having as nearly as possible 1500 +regular troops, consisting of eight companies of the old Buffs, under +Colonel Parnell; six companies of the 99th, under Colonel Welman; one +company Royal Engineers, and two 7-pounder guns. A naval brigade, +however, which might be considered as a little army in itself, went with +them, and were under Colonel Pearson's command. This force consisted of +270 bluejackets and marines, under Captain Campbell, of her Majesty's +ships "Active" and "Tenedos," with three of the new-pattern Gatling. Two +hundred mounted infantry and 200 colonial mounted riflemen also formed +part of the column, while the whole force was supplemented by Major +Griffiths and about 2000 men of the Native Contingent. The crossing of +the river was at first impeded by the rains, and another delay occurred +at the lower drift, where the river was at least 400 yards wide, but all +these difficulties were overcome, and after a week's delay a flying +column was sent forward on the 18th in the direction of Ekowe, which is +a mission-station not quite forty miles inland, and distant nearly +seventy from the king's kraal at Ulundi. It was the intention of Colonel +Pearson to establish here an entrenched post as a _point d'appui_ to the +invading army. On the following day the colonel was followed by the rear +division, escorting the heavy baggage, necessary though inconvenient +_impedimenta_, as it contained stores and ammunition. The column of +waggons extended for five miles, and it took the officers in charge all +their time and the services of three horses each during the day to +supervise its progress from inspan till outspan. Again, two days later, +came the commissariat, and here imagination fails to describe the +difficulties encountered. The subject of transport is one that must be +considered in any future operations in Africa. The waggons must be +stronger than those employed; the animals should be proof against +sickness caused by climate, the tulip plant, and the tsetse fly, and +this can be avoided by choosing one's own season for marching. The +employment of mules would be much preferable to that of oxen, although +in many books the converse is stated, the Dutch being infatuated in +regard to the superior qualities of the latter. Mules, for instance, +have this advantage over oxen. They can travel twenty-five miles a day +with ease, while twelve or fifteen a day with oxen is considered good +work; but, on the other hand, it must be remembered that a mule costs +twice as much as an ox, apart from the cost of feeding. The mule must, +of course, be fed on forage carried for him or bought on the road, +while the ox will feed on the veldt, except during the three winter +months, when his services are not often required. Two kinds of mules can +be procured about Pretoria--the Montevidean and the home-bred animal. +The latter is generally preferred, although no doubt the former is most +tractable. There is an immense trouble in selecting oxen for +campaigning, as none but those bred in the sour veldt of Natal or +Zululand are of any use for such rough food and hard work; and, as a +rule, these will live where others would die. The usual load is 7000 +lbs., placed on a waggon weighing 3000 lbs., and drawn by sixteen or +eighteen oxen. The cost for oxen averages about 9_l._ each, but during +this war they went up to 18_l._, and even 25_l._ Each waggon, with +dissel-boom and yokes complete, costs at least 180_l._ The cost of mules +will average 20_l._ each, and mule waggons 100_l._, with harness at +5_l._ for each animal. + +The road, after crossing the river Tugela, crosses no less than four +streams, and before reaching Ekowe passes through a broken bushy +country. On the 22nd, the day on which Isandula was attacked, Colonel +Pearson had a sharp engagement with the enemy at a place called by the +natives Inyezane, about four or five miles beyond his camping-ground of +the 21st. Major Barrow had been sent forward along a fertile valley +which led to the Inyezane, when Colonel Pearson received a despatch from +him, saying that he had selected a tolerably good place for camping, +which he had carefully guarded by vedettes. On receiving this +information the colonel at once rode on to the spot, and although he did +not quite approve of the ground, as being too full of bush for an +outspan, he decided to allow the waggons to be outspanned for two hours +on account of there being no water near at hand. This was done to rest +and feed the oxen, and to allow the men to have their morning meal. +About eight o'clock, just as the waggons had begun to park, and while +the officers were busy in directing the posting of pickets, scouts, and +sentries, the advanced company of the Native Contingent, which had been +scouting in front under Captain Hart, discovered the Zulus in force +rapidly advancing over the slopes and attempting to gain the bushes on +both flanks. They came on in skirmishing and extended order in the +finest style, rushing from bush to bush in a steady but stealthy manner +until within 100 or 150 yards of the outposts. Captain Hart's men, being +in the open, had to bear the brunt of a heavy fire, and not without +casualties, as they lost one officer, four non-commissioned officers, +and four privates almost at once. These poor fellows, it is feared, were +sacrificed, inasmuch as they did not understand the order to retire and +seek cover, and concluded that it was their duty to remain in the open. +The Naval Brigade was now ordered into action, and most ably they +acquitted themselves. Two 7-pounders and two 24-pounder Naval Brigade +rockets were smartly brought into action on a knoll at the base of the +pass, but commanding the valley from which the flank attack was made. +Meanwhile two companies of the Buffs and A and B companies of the Naval +Brigade opened a heavy and well-directed fire upon the enemy, and +effectually held him in check. This coign of vantage was occupied by +Colonel Pearson, whence he directed the movements of his troops during +the fight. All this time the waggons continued to park, and while the +fire was kept up by Commander Campbell, Lieutenant Lloyd, with his guns, +and Lieutenant Martin with the Buffs, two other companies of the same +regiment which had been employed in guarding waggons were moved down, +ready to clear the bush as soon as it was well shelled and swept with +rockets and musketry. Colonel Pearson selected Captain Macgregor to +undertake this duty, with the assistance of Captains Harrison and Wyld, +who, getting their men into skirmishing order, and bringing their +shoulders gradually forward as steadily as if man[oe]uvring at a +field-day, sent the Zulu braves flying discomfited before them, and +exposed them once more in the open to the hail of shot and shell which +swept the plain. Colonel Welman, 99th Regiment, now took advantage of +this favourable moment, when the enemy was demoralized, to send forward +Captain Wynne and Major Barrow with the infantry. These, with +skirmishers and flankers on the left, and supported by two +half-companies of the Buffs and 99th, now moved forward at a steady +pace. + +The Zulus, however, were not beaten, though evidently puzzled, and +Campbell, who was in charge of the Naval Brigade, saw that they were +making a flank movement on the left. This officer at once obtained +permission from Colonel Pearson to take a portion of his men and drive +out a body of Zulus who had obtained possession of a kraal about 400 +yards from the knoll. Captain Hart, with part of his Native Contingent, +gallantly supported this movement. They managed to obtain possession of +the high ground to the left of the Ekowe road, and effectually checked +the enemy in their movement on the British left. + +But the gallant sailor Campbell was not satisfied with this partial +success, and sent for further permission to follow up his _coup_ by +driving on the foe to a more respectable distance. Colonel Parnell, of +the Buffs, who up to this time had been acting as a sort of reserve with +Captain Foster's company at the foot knoll, where Colonel Pearson +remained throughout the action, had now an opportunity of mingling in +the fray. Smartly deploying his men, he advanced at the double, and +forming up on the right of the bluejackets, swept the heights beyond the +kraal which a few moments before were crowned with savage warriors. This +decided the action, as the Zulus, thoroughly distracted, fled in all +directions, the guns making capital practice wherever a group collected. +The last round from the rocket-tubes seemed to carry destruction and +confusion amongst them, and was fired a little before ten a.m. + +Colonel Pearson and Colonel Parnell both had their horses shot under +them, and several officers remarked that the fire of the Zulus was +principally directed at the English leaders. The regiments opposed to +Pearson were composed of the Umxapu, Umdhlanefu, and Ingulubi, and as +near as could be judged, and from the information subsequently received, +numbered about 5000 men. Of these at the very least 300 were slain, +while the number of wounded, as a rule carried away into the bush, could +not have been less than double that. Pearson's loss was eight killed and +sixteen wounded, and of these were six officers and non-commissioned +officers of the Native Contingent. The following day two companies of +the Buffs, two companies Native Contingent, and a few mounted men were +sent off to the help of Colonel Ely, 99th Regiment, who with three +companies of his regiment was bringing up a convoy, much wanted, of +seventy waggons of stores and ammunition, while on Saturday, the 18th, +Major Coates started with fifty extra waggons to bring up more supplies. +On the day after the Inyezane engagement Pearson arrived at Ekowe. The +position was a strong one, and he immediately set to work to make it +still more formidable. Water was close to the fort, and well under its +fire. + +At this juncture news of the Isandhlwana disaster reached Colonel +Pearson. After consultation with his officers, he decided to remain +where he was, feeling confident that even without further supplies or +reinforcements he could hold his position for at least a couple of +months. All his waggons came in safety to the fort except five, which +broke down and had to be abandoned. The mounted men and Native +Contingent were sent back to save food, and there thus remained 1200 +British troops, having 320 rounds per man. + +The first failure in the carrying out of Lord Chelmsford's plans +occurred to No. 4 Column, and proved the initial step to the crowning +disaster of Isandhlwana. The right centre column, which should have +operated simultaneously with Colonel Wood's force, was unfortunately +composed almost entirely of natives, and these fellows did not succeed +in getting over at the point directed in orders. As this column could +not be brought over the river, a portion of it was left behind to keep +open communications and guard the frontier, while the remainder, under +Colonel Durnford, was moved up to Rorke's Drift to reinforce Colonel +Glyn's command. The following day (12th) Colonel Glyn had his first +brush with the enemy. Lord Chelmsford had joined this column, and after +crossing the Tugela ordered out a reconnaissance by the Bashee Valley +and along the road leading to Izpizi. Glyn took with him three companies +of the 1st battalion 24th and one battalion 3rd Regiment Natal Native +Contingent, while the mounted men, crossing the valley, went rapidly +along the road leading over the Ngudu mountains, where high cliffs close +in the gorge for more than three miles. Cattle and armed Zulus were seen +on the heights, and some of the 24th and the natives were ordered to +bear round to the right flank and cut them off. The skirmish which +followed lasted about twenty minutes, and was a very smart affair. It +resulted in the taking of the fastnesses and the precipitate flight of +the Zulus, who suffered a loss of ten killed, three wounded, and nine +prisoners taken, together with a quantity of cattle, horses, and sheep. +Colonel Glyn's loss was two privates Natal Contingent killed, one +officer of the same, Lieutenant Purvis, severely wounded; Corporal +Mayer, Natal Native Contingent, severe wound in thigh. Four companies of +the 2nd battalion 24th, and four companies of the 2nd battalion 3rd +Regiment Natal Native Contingent, under Colonel Degacher, were now +ordered by the General to advance up the Bashee and attack Usirayo's +kraal, a place called Loxie, about two or three miles farther on. This +place, situated in a wild and mountainous gorge or krantz, interspersed +with caves, guarded by huge boulders, was completely explored by these +men. In the meantime Russell and his mounted men had ascended to the +summit of the Ngudu mountain, where they were fired upon at a distance +of 90 or 100 yards. Sixteen of the Zulus were killed, and a very heavy +thunderstorm came on during the fight. No signs could be observed of any +Zulu force in reserve, and this was explained by the subsequent news +that Usirayo had made a precipitate flight in the direction of the +king's kraal. On the following day communications were opened between +Wood's column and that of Colonel Glyn. The General's movements from the +first appear to have been hampered by baggage and transport +arrangements, and a similar reason delayed Colonel Pearson. Lord +Chelmsford was present with this column when it moved from Rorke's +Drift, and saw the site which was chosen by Colonel Glyn at Insalwana, +ten miles on the road to the Indeni forest. He then left Colonel Glyn in +charge of the camp, and on the same day moved, with a portion of the +force, ten miles further on, to reconnoitre the country in front. +Returning to camp that evening, without having had time to fully +explore, the General, the following morning, sent out two separate +reconnoitring columns, under the command respectively of Major Dartnell, +who took with him the Mounted Police and Natal Volunteers, of which he +is commandant, and Commandant Lonsdale with two battalions of his Native +Contingent. Dartnell went along the same road as that explored by the +General the previous day, while Lonsdale moved along the southern slope +of the Inhlazatye range, towards a hill called Malaka's Kop. If +possible a junction between these two bodies was to be effected; and, as +soon as information could be obtained as to the situation of the enemy +and the strategical features of the locality, both were to return to the +headquarter camp. By some extraordinary oversight, neither of these +reconnoitring columns seems to have been supplied with rations, while it +was usual on such expeditions for the men to take preserved meat and +three days' biscuit in their haversacks, supposing that mule transport +cannot be had. On the afternoon of the Tuesday Major Dartnell sent an +officer to the headquarter camp, to inform the General that he could not +advance beyond the Insangu river, a small stream near Inkankla Mountain, +as the Zulus were posted there in force. Dartnell, therefore, sent an +orderly to call up Lonsdale with his Native Contingent, and sent to Lord +Chelmsford to request a reinforcement of regulars to enable him to +attack the enemy. His lordship did not consider it advisable to comply +with this demand, as the daylight was almost gone, and the distance was +long. A supply of biscuit was, however, sent out to the exploring party, +who bivouacked at the foot of the Inhlazatye. During the night, however, +Major Dartnell appears to have become aware of his critical position, +and at half-past two on the morning of the 22nd (Wednesday), Colonel +Glyn received a letter from him, saying that the Zulus had been strongly +reinforced, and were now in his front in great strength. Instead of +recalling the column, or at once pushing forward troops to its +assistance, a delay took place, and a staff officer was despatched to +ask Dartnell what he wished done. After some further lapse of time the +General ordered Colonel Glyn to march to Major Dartnell's assistance +with the 2nd battalion 24th Regiment, consisting of six companies, the +mounted infantry, and four of Harness's guns. As this detachment would +considerably weaken the camp, the General at the same time sent off two +expresses to Colonel Durnford, who had been left at Rorke's Drift, +telling him to move up at once to Isandula with his 500 native troops, +250 of whom were mounted. The General then decided to accompany Colonel +Glyn's force, and Lieutenant-Colonel Pulleine, 1-24th, was left in +charge of the camp, with orders to defend it, pending the arrival of +Durnford's natives. The actual fighting strength of Pulleine's force +consisted of 2 officers, 78 men, and 2 guns R.A.; 1-24th Regiment, 15 +officers, 334 men; 2-24th Regiment, 5 officers, 90 men; mounted +Europeans, 5 officers, 204 men; Native Contingent, 19 officers, 391 men; +Natal Pioneers, 1 officer, 10 men; while Durnford, when he arrived very +soon after, brought with him 18 officers and 450 men, thus making an +aggregate of 772 Europeans and 850 natives, or in all 1622 combatants. +On his arrival at the camp, Colonel Durnford, being the senior officer, +of course immediately assumed the command. + +To the right understanding of what follows it is necessary to give a +somewhat detailed account of the situation. The leading feature of the +plain on the southern slopes of which the English camp was placed is the +Isandhlwana, or Lion Hill. To the west it rises abruptly, forming the +head of the crouching animal it resembles in shape; after forming the +back it descends sharply to the east. At both ends are necks or ridges +connecting the hill with the smaller undulations of which the more level +part of the country consists. The road from Rorke's Drift passes over +the western ridge, while on the north facing the camp was a deep ravine +and watercourse. To the immediate right was a small copse; beyond this +the ground was much broken, irregular krantzes and hills all covered +with huge boulders continuing as far as the Buffalo river. To the left +of the camp, at the distance of rather more than a mile, ran a long +ridge towards the south, connecting it with the great Isandhlwana hill, +having on its summit a plateau which, towards the east, opened on to an +open and extensive valley. On the extreme left of the camp, looking +towards the ridge, were pitched the tents of the Natal Native +Contingent; between these and the next two battalions intervened a space +of rather less than 300 yards; occupying the centre were the British +regular Infantry, just above whom came the headquarters camp of Lord +Chelmsford, and in close proximity the headquarters of the column. On +the right were the guns and mounted corps lining the edge of the road. +Soon after it came over the neck at the back of the camp the ground rose +considerably, until the bottom of the precipitous Isandhlwana was +reached: the camp therefore literally had its back to a wall. + +At six a.m. on the 22nd, a company of the Natal Natives was ordered to +scout towards the left, the enemy having appeared in that direction. +Whilst these were away Durnford arrived, about nine o'clock, with a +rocket battery under Colonel Russell, R.A., 250 mounted natives, and 250 +native foot. News was now brought in that the Zulus in very large +numbers were driving the pickets before them. A later messenger--a +native without uniform, supposed by some to be a Zulu purposely sent +with false intelligence--brought the news that the Zulus had divided +into three columns, one of which it was supposed was about to attack +Colonel Durnford's baggage, still on the road from Rorke's Drift, the +other to harass Lord Chelmsford and Colonel Glyn's party in their rear, +whilst the third was to hover round and watch the camp. Finally came the +news "Zulus retiring in all directions." Colonel Durnford thereupon +asked Colonel Pulleine to lend him a couple of the 24th companies, but +he declined, saying his orders were to guard the camp, and he could not, +under the circumstances, let them go without a positive command. +Durnford then determined to go on with his own force, which he divided +into three, one part being sent up the hill to the left (east), one to +the left front, and the third to the rear, in the direction of Rorke's +Drift, to act as an escort for the baggage not yet arrived. The rocket +battery was of the party that proceeded to the front under Colonel +Durnford in person, to a distance of four or five miles from the camp, +but being unable to keep pace with the mounted force was soon left +behind. + +The body of troops despatched to the left became engaged with the enemy +almost immediately, and firing was soon heard all along the crest of the +hill. In about an hour Durnford's mounted men re-appeared over the +hills, hotly pursued by swarms of Zulus; at the same time the horsemen +to the front were also driven back. These, after retiring steadily in +skirmishing order for about two miles, came upon the remains of the +rocket battery, which had been cut off and broken up, whilst a hand to +hand engagement was going on with those who remained. It appears that +Russell, whilst advancing with his battery, perceived a body of the +enemy on his left, he fired three rockets with some effect; then the +Zulus fired a volley, upon which the Native Contingent of infantry +retreated, the mules were frightened, and disorder ensued. Taking +advantage of this, the enemy charged down the hill, a _mêlée_ ensued, +and Russell was killed. As the mounted men retired towards them, the +Zulus retreated to their cover, and they, after making a final stand in +a spruit about a mile and a half in front of the camp, were eventually +driven in. + +As the cavalry on the left was being pushed rapidly back, Captain Mostyn +was ordered to advance with two companies of 1-24th on the eastern neck +of the Isandhlwana, where at a distance of about a mile and a half the +Zulus were advancing in large numbers along the north of the +Isandhlwana, to outflank the camp on the right, and with this wing of +the foe they at once became engaged. + +Meanwhile the Zulu left rapidly, and the centre steadily, though more +slowly, pushed forward, despite the artillery fire poured into them. +Orders were now given for three companies of the 1-24th to occupy ground +near the Native Contingent camp, facing the hill over which the Zulu +force was streaming. These three companies were supported to their right +front by the Natal Native Contingent. + +Immediately to the right of the Native Contingent tents came the guns, +at a distance of about four hundred yards from the left, and rather more +from the right, which was composed of two companies, 24th Regiment and +the Mounted Corps, and which occupied the extreme right of the camp and +rested on the road. The infantry, in extended order, were by this time +engaged along the whole line, and were firing rapidly and steadily. +Though the enemy fell in hundreds they kept advancing in apparently +undiminished numbers. As rank after rank of the foremost were swept down +others pressed on, till at length the companies of the 1-24th above +mentioned had been driven back to within 300 yards of that portion of +the camp occupied by the Native Contingent. A number of the native +infantry now began a hasty retreat to the camp; their officers +endeavoured to restrain them, but without effect. Captain Essex pointed +this out to Colonel Durnford, who ordered him to take men to that +portion of the field, and endeavour to hold the enemy in check. But +before this could be executed the natives rushed back in the utmost +disorder, thus laying open the right and rear of the companies of the +first battalion of the 24th on the left and rear, and the enemy dashing +forward at once poured in through this part of the line. In a moment all +was disorder, and but few had time to fix bayonets before the Zulus were +amongst them, using their assegais with terrible effect. Then followed a +scene of utter confusion; horse and foot, black and white, English and +Zulu, friend and foe, in a struggling, fighting crowd, pushed gradually +through the camp towards the road, where the Zulu right already barred +the way. Every man endeavoured to escape towards the Buffalo river, but +this was almost an impossibility even for mounted men. The ground was +rugged, broken with water-washes, boulder-strewn: ground over which an +active native Zulu could progress even faster than a horse. In front ran +the river, swift, deep, and fordless, sharp rocks, and deep water +alternating. Not half of those who escaped from the camp succeeded in +crossing this obstacle: many were drowned, many assegaied, some few +shot, and so the pursuit continued right into Natal. The guns moved from +right to left across the camp, and endeavoured to get on the Rorke's +Drift road. This being occupied by the enemy, they turned off to the +left, and coming to grief in a donga had to be abandoned. Major Smith, +though wounded, managed to reach the Buffalo, but was there shot. + +Lieuts. Melvill and Coghill, seeing all was lost, made an attempt to +escape on horseback with the colours of the 24th. Coghill succeeded in +getting safely across the Buffalo, but Melvill was struck by a shot just +as he was reaching the far bank of the river. Coghill, with heroic +devotion, turned back to assist his less fortunate comrade--alas! only +to share his fate. Their bodies were subsequently discovered in close +proximity, and around them a group of dead Zulus. The colours which they +had so desperately defended were also found in the bed of the river, +saved from the degradation of capture and contamination by the hands of +savages. + +In this sad affair there perished twenty-six Imperial officers and 600 +non-commissioned officers and men. The loss of the Colonial forces was +not less terrible, twenty-four officers being included in the list. + +The following is a detailed list of the victims of that sad +day:--1-24th, Col. Pulleine, Major White; Captains Degacher, Wardell, +Mostyn, Younghusband; Lieuts. Hodson, Cavaye, Atkinson, Daly, Anstey, +Porteous, Melvill, Quarter-Master Pullen, and five entire companies: +2-24th, Lieuts. Pope, Austin, Dyer, Griffiths, Quarter-Master +Bloomfield, and ninety men. Royal Engineers, Colonel Durnford, Lieut. +McDowell, Captain G. Shepstone (political assistant to Col. Durnford), +Lieut. Coghill, A.D.C. (to Sir Bartle Frere), Surgeon-Major Shepherd. +The Mounted Police Carabineers and Volunteers lost forty-three out of +seventy-one, including Captain Bradstreet, Lieut. F. J. D. Scott, and +Quarter-Master Hitchcock. The Mounted Infantry lost thirty out of +thirty-four. The N Battery 5th Brigade, Royal Artillery, under Major +Stuart Smith, was destroyed (Lieut. Curling escaped), as also the Rocket +Battery under Major Russell, R.A. 1st Battalion 3rd Regiment, N.N.C., +lost in officers, Captains Robert Krohn and James Lonsdale, Lieuts. +Avery, Holcraft, and Jameson; Surgeon F. Bull, Quarter-Master John +McCormick. 2nd Battalion 3rd Regiment, N.N.C., lost Captains Erskine, +Barry, and Murray; Lieuts. Pritchard, Young, Gibson, Standish Vereker, +and Rivers, Quarter-Master A. Chambers. The loss of material is put down +at 102 waggons, 1400 oxen, 2 guns, 400 shot and shell, 1200 rifles, +250,000 rounds of rifle ammunition, 60,000_l._ worth of commissariat +supplies, a rocket trough, and a number of tents. + +Four special-service officers, viz. Captain Alan Gardner, 14th Hussars +and Essex 75th Regiment, and Lieuts. Smith, Dorien, 95th, and Cochrane, +32nd, together with Lieut. Curling, R.A., succeeded in escaping, and +rode away to Helpmakaar, where a laager was immediately formed. The same +night, as no other messenger could be found, and it was feared Wood's +column might be cut off in rear, Captain Gardner started to give him +timely warning. Riding all night, he reached Utrecht about four o'clock +next day, thence despatching a messenger to Colonel Wood, he himself +returned to Helpmakaar. + +The following account is of great interest as having been given by a +Zulu deserter:-- + +"The Zulu army, consisting of the Ulundi corps about 3000 strong, the +Nokenke 2000, the Nkobamakosi, including the Uve, 5000 strong, the +Umcityu 4000 strong, the Nodwengu 2000 strong, the Umbonambi 3000, and +the Udkloko 1000--a total of 20,000 men in all--after an address from +the king left the Nodwengu military kraal on January 17th, and proceeded +on their march towards Rorke's Drift. On the 20th they halted for the +night close by the Isipezi hill, and on the 21st, keeping to the +eastward, they occupied a valley running north and south under the spurs +of the Ngutu hill, which concealed that of Isandhlwana, distant about +four miles nearly due west. The order of encampment was--on the right, +the Nodwengu, Nokenke and Umcityu; in the centre, the Nkobamakosi and +Umbonambi; on the left, the Ulundi and Udkloko corps. On the morning of +the 22nd there was no intention of making an attack on account of some +superstition as to the state of the moon, and they were sitting down +resting when firing was heard by the Zulus on the right. This was at +first supposed by them to be an attack on the centre, but a move being +made in that direction this proved not to be the case; and it was soon +found out that this was the whites engaged with Matyana's people some +ten miles off to the left front. Just after the Zulus had resumed their +position, and again sat down, a herd of cattle came past their line +driven down by some of their scouts from the right. Just when these were +opposite the Umcityu regiment a body of mounted men on the hill to the +west were seen galloping and evidently trying to cut them off. When +several hundred yards off, seeing the Umcityu, they dismounted, fired a +volley, and retired. The Umcityu at once jumped up and charged. This +example was followed by the Nokenke and Nodwengu on the right, as well +as by the Nkobamakosi and Umbonambi in the centre, whilst the Undi and +Udkloko formed a circle--as is customary with the Zulus when a force is +about to engage--and remained in their position. With these were the two +chief officers Mavamingwana and Tyugwayo, who after a short pause led +away these centre troops in a north-westerly direction, and keeping to +the north of the Isandhlwana performed a turning movement, unseen by the +English through the nature of the ground. Thus the original Zulu left +became the extreme right, the right the centre, and the centre the left. +The two regiments forming the latter--the Nkobamakosi and +Umbonambi--made a turning movement along the front of the camp to the +English right, but became engaged before they could complete it. The Uve +battalion of the Nkobamakosi had to retire till reinforced; and the +Umbonambi suffered heavily from the artillery fire. Meanwhile the Zulu +centre, consisting of the Umcityu (left centre) and Nokenke and +Nodwengu (higher up on the right) under the hill, were making a direct +attack on the left of the camp. The Umcityu suffered very severely from +both artillery and musketry fire; the Nokenke from musketry fire alone; +while the Nodwengu suffered least. When the camp was carried the +regiments became all mixed up together; some pursued the fugitives to +the Buffalo; the remainder plundered the camp: but the Undi and Udkloko +made the best of their way to Rorke's Drift, in order to plunder the +post there." + +It is now time to turn attention to the remainder of the troops that had +left the camp before this sad event occurred. + +The force under Colonel Glyn, accompanied by Lord Chelmsford, moved off +at early dawn, and had reached Major Dartnell by 6.15 a.m. The General +at once took command, and ordered out scouting parties of mounted men to +gain intelligence of the positions and strength of the enemy, who soon +after showed in some force on the opposing heights parallel to the +Inhlazatye Mountains. A general advance of the troops was made, and the +enemy retired slowly, but without firing. The guns and 24th Regiment +meanwhile moved up the valley, their left being protected by the Mounted +Infantry, while the Mounted Police and Volunteers guarded the right +flank. The main body of the enemy drew back in regular order and took up +a position with great skill on the spurs of the Isipisi Mountain, +distant about six miles, but Captain Shepstone, with his Natal +Carabineers, managed to cut off about 300 of the stragglers and +destroyed fifty of them. At nine a.m. a messenger, whose horse was +panting and covered with foam, arrived before Colonel Glyn with a brief +despatch from Colonel Pulleine, notifying that musketry firing was heard +on the left front of the camp. Lord Chelmsford at once sent a staff +officer, Lieutenant Milne, to an eminence from whence the camp and +valley of Insalwana could be seen, and it seems that a delay of an hour +took place while this officer was vainly scanning the horizon. The +actual scene of conflict where Colonel Durnford was engaged with the +Zulu army was five miles away, and hidden by some hills intervening +between Lord Chelmsford's position and the British camp. The General, +therefore, seems to have felt no apprehensions in regard to the safety +of the camp, and continued his operations against the supposed main body +of the Zulus. + +About two o'clock Lord Chelmsford was on the banks of the Amange stream, +selecting a fit spot for a camp, he having already in the morning sent +Captain Gardner back to Colonel Pulleine with an order to that officer +to forward the camping materials of the party out on reconnaissance. +While thus engaged a native on horseback galloped down from the opposite +ridge saying that an attack was being made on the camp, and that he had +seen heavy firing and heard the big guns. Lord Chelmsford immediately +hastened to the crest of the hill, whence through a glass the camp could +be plainly seen. All, however, seemed quiet: the sun was shining on the +white tents; no signs of firing were seen, and the bodies of men moving +about in the camp were put down to be English soldiers and friendly +natives. Knowing how careful were his dispositions and how positive his +orders for the defence of the camp, one and all of Lord Chelmsford's +escort came to the conclusion that an attack had been made and repulsed. +It was then decided that the headquarters camp should move to the spot +selected on the Amange stream, whilst the General himself, who was +anxious to know the details of the attack, should proceed back to camp. +The Carabineers and the Mounted Infantry accompanied him: the 1st +battalion 24th Regiment, the four guns, the Mounted Police and 2nd +battalion of 3rd Regiment Native Contingent were left to form the new +camp. During the first seven miles of the journey nothing occurred to +excite the General's suspicion. Certainly some of the tents had +disappeared, but then this was in accordance with the orders given in +the morning. When about four miles from the camp he fell in with the +Natal Native Contingent, which had been ordered to return many hours +previously, but which seeing the camp attacked by forces superior to its +own had wisely halted. In about half-an-hour they were met by a solitary +horseman coming at a foot pace from the direction of the camp. +Commandant Lonsdale, for it was he, rode up to the General and uttered +the astounding words "The camp is in possession of the enemy." It +appears that Lonsdale, who had been ill, being very tired was quietly +returning from Glyn's column to the camp. He had crossed the small +water-wash to the south of the camp and was jogging slowly along in a +sort of lethargy, from which he was roused by the discharge of a rifle +close to him. Looking up, he saw a native, who had evidently just fired, +and him he imagined to be one of his own contingent indulging in +reckless firing; so he pursued his way. Sitting in and around the tents +were groups of red-coats, so he still kept on till within a bare ten +yards of the tents. He then saw a great black Zulu come out of one with +a blood-besmeared assegai in his hand. Gazing more carefully, he saw +that black men, and black men only, were the wearers of the red-coats. +The truth flashed on him: turning his pony sharp round he galloped off +before the enemy knew what he was about. Not less than 150 shots were +fired at him as he did so, but, providentially, he escaped to warn the +General, who, without such warning, his staff and troops with him, would +have walked unsuspiciously into the trap, and the whole force would +probably have perished to a man. + +The General at once sent back to hurry up Colonel Glyn and his force, +while Colonel Russell was sent on to reconnoitre the camp, which was +found to be as Commandant Lonsdale had reported. On Colonel Glyn's +arrival the whole force was disposed in fighting order, and moved +rapidly across the plain, but could not arrive in the vicinity of the +camp until after dark. All was found a wreck--corpses, broken tents, +dead horses, oxen, and other _débris_ were strewed around; and the men, +most of whom were without ammunition, and had not tasted food for +forty-eight hours, were ordered to bivouac amidst the crowd of +blood-stained relics which marked the day's slaughter. Our soldiers had +covered more than thirty miles on the previous day without food or +ammunition, and if resolutely attacked by the entire force of Zulus +might have shared the fate of their comrades. The next morning, +therefore, before daylight a sad retreat was effected to Rorke's Drift, +where the first glad tidings were heard of the glorious defence which +had been made by Chard and Bromhead, with their handful of men. + +It came about thus. Lieutenant Chard, with one sergeant and six men, had +been left in charge of the ponts over the Tugela at this point. Close by +was a commissariat depôt in charge of Lieutenant Bromhead and a company +of the 24th Regiment. About three o'clock on January 22nd news of the +disaster at Isandhlwana reached this officer, together with a note, +saying that the enemy were advancing in force against his post, which +was to be held at all costs. Chard immediately withdrew his small party, +and in concert with Bromhead arranged for the loopholing and barricading +the store-building and hospital, and for connecting the defences of the +two by building walls of mealie-bags. At 3.30 an officer of Durnford's +Horse with about 100 men came in, and was asked to send them out as +vedettes; these, when pressed, to fall back and assist in the defence of +the buildings. At 4.30 this officer returned with the news that the +enemy was close at hand, that his men would not obey orders, but had +galloped off to Helpmakaar. About the same time Captain Stephenson and +his detachment of natives also withdrew. It was at once perceived that +the line of defence was now too extended for the small force left, and +an inner entrenchment of biscuit-boxes was made, and this had been +completed to a wall two boxes high, when suddenly 600 of the enemy +turned the hill to the south. They advanced at a run against the +southern wall, and notwithstanding a tremendous fire reached to within +fifty yards of it. Being here encountered by a cross-fire from the store +they were stopped. Taking advantage, however, of some shelter afforded +by the cookhouse and ovens, they kept up heavy musketry volleys thence, +whilst the main body moved on to the left round the hospital, whence +they made a rush upon the north-west wall and breastwork of mealie-bags. +Meanwhile the mass of the advancing foe lined a ledge of rocks and +filled the caves overlooking the English position at a distance of 100 +yards to the south, whence they too kept up a constant fire. Another +party to the left occupied a garden in a hollow in the road, and also +the bush beyond, which time had not permitted to be cut down. The enemy +could thus advance close to the English works, and were soon in +possession of one whole side of the wall, whilst on the other in a line +extending from the hospital all along the wall to the bush they made a +series of determined onsets. But each attack was met and splendidly +repulsed with the bayonet, Corporal Schiess (N.N.C.) especially +distinguishing himself. The fire from the ledge of rock and caves at +length became so galling, that it was necessary to retire behind the +inner line of biscuit-boxes. + +All this time the enemy had been trying to force the hospital, and at +length they did set fire to the roof. The garrison defended the place +room by room, bringing out all the sick who could be moved before they +retired. Privates Williams, Hook, R. Jones, and W. Jones, 24th Regiment, +were the last to leave, holding the doorway against the Zulus with their +bayonets, their ammunition being quite expended. Five sick men, owing to +the smoke and want of interior communication, had unfortunately to be +left to their fates. Two heaps of mealie-bags were now converted into a +sort of redoubt, and a second line of fire was thus obtained all round. +Darkness now came on, and after several more furious attacks had been +repulsed the defenders had ultimately to retire to the middle, and then +to the inner wall of the kraal, east of the position they had at first +held. The attacks continued all night, the soldiers firing with the +utmost coolness, and never wasting a shot. At four a.m., January 23rd, +firing ceased, and by daybreak the enemy were disappearing over the hill +to the south-west. The ground was then patrolled, the arms of the dead +Zulus collected, and the position strengthened as far as possible. About +seven a.m. a large body of the enemy was again seen on the hill to the +south-west, and a friendly Kaffir, who had come in shortly before, was +sent to Helpmakaar to ask for assistance. However, about eight a.m. the +British 3rd column began to appear, whereupon the enemy, who had been +again advancing, fell back as the troops advanced, and Rorke's Drift +Post had been saved. + +The number of English engaged in this action was eight officers and 131 +non-commissioned officers and men; of these fifteen were killed and +twelve wounded, two subsequently dying of their hurts. The attacking +Zulu force consisted of two regiments--the Undi and Udkloko--in all a +total of something less than 4000. Of these 370 lay dead around the post +on the morning that Lord Chelmsford so opportunely arrived. + +Surgeon Reynolds, Acting Commissary Officer Dalton, and Assistant +Commissary Dunne were throughout conspicuous for their gallantry and +coolness. Lieutenants Chard, R.E., and Bromhead, 24th Regiment, +subsequently received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament for their +heroic conduct, and were advanced to the rank of majors. + +So much has been said and written as to the cause of, and so many people +have been held responsible for the Isandhlwana disaster that the subject +cannot here be passed over in silence. + +The living no less than the dead have a claim to a full share of justice +and truth; but remembering that the mouths of one party--"les morts qui +ne reviennent pas"--are closed, we should be extremely careful in +drawing any conclusion from acts which, could the testimony of the +fallen be obtained, it would not only explain and excuse, but amply +justify. + +The court of inquiry held at Helpmakaar found itself unable to form from +the available evidence any positive judgment; but the facts disclosed +point irresistibly to a negative conclusion. Had the troops acted on the +defensive, the camp would not have been lost. + +Still there may have been cogent--nay irresistible reasons which caused +Colonel Durnford to push forward his forces. Were Colonel Pulleine +alive, he might give equally good reasons for acceding to Durnford's +urgent request and sending out the reinforcements. + +The British regular infantry advanced successfully, retired slowly and +in unbroken order; they were still firing rapidly, coolly, and with +great effect. Things though desperate were by no means hopeless. +Suddenly the native levies, "though their officers tried to restrain +them, rushed back in the utmost disorder," thus exposing the flank and +rear of the regulars. "Few of the men had time to fix bayonets before +the enemy were amongst them, using their assegais with terrible effect." +Here is the answer to "How did it happen?" The natives on one side--the +Zulu--were regarded too lightly; on the other, fighting for the English +with too great confidence. "Why," it will be asked, "were not the +waggons laagered? Whose duty was it to see this done?" Lord Chelmsford +had issued a standing order at the very commencement of the campaign, +that this was to be the first consideration in all camps. Lord +Chelmsford, accompanied Colonel Glyn from Rorke's Drift, saw the site +chosen at Isandhlwana, and then immediately started on a reconnaissance +which lasted till after nightfall. Doubtless Lord Chelmsford supposed +Colonel Glyn had done what was necessary. On the following morning with +the first streak of dawn Colonel Glyn was ordered to proceed to Major +Dartnell's assistance, and Lord Chelmsford determined to accompany him, +after despatching an express to Colonel Durnford ordering him up "to +strengthen the camp." Doubtless Colonel Glyn supposed that Colonel +Pulleine would see to laagering the waggons. Colonel Pulleine was in +command of the camp a bare three hours, and doubtless, knowing how brief +his tenure of office was to be, preferred to let things remain as they +were till his successor's arrival. Colonel Durnford had not been a +single half-hour in camp before the action was commenced. + +It is asked why did not the troops form squares? Hastings, we are told, +had Harold's men only remained in their position, would have been a +Saxon victory--Torres Vedras a disgrace instead of a glory had the +British troops been rashly taunted into leaving their trenches: and +Waterloo a more glowing theme for Beranger's lyre had Napoleon been able +to entice the patient English squares to forsake their adamantine +formation. But why was Colonel Durnford to form squares? How was he to +imagine that such an immense force was arrayed against him when the +Commander-in-chief had with him a superior force to that left in the +camp avowedly to operate against the enemy's main body? For such his +information and personal observation led him to believe was the force +against whom he and Major Dartnell were acting. + +Colonel Durnford was no novice in South African war; like Cæsar, he had +the gift of the pen no less than the sword; he had both written and +fought well. Colonel Pulleine was an experienced officer of no mean +reputation, and by whatever device they were deceived, we may be sure +that it was no ordinary one, and that few would have stood where they +fell. + +Again, who could have anticipated the attack? We have it from the lips +of a Zulu that the onset was unpremeditated, and the result of accident. +With all humbleness, let it be confessed that-- + + "Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well + When our deep plots do fail; and that should teach us + There's a divinity that shapes our ends + Rough hew them as we will." + +Another question, often asked, is, "Why did not Lord Chelmsford, +immediately on his return, make a counter-attack on the enemy." First of +all he had to wait for Colonel Glyn and the main body to come up to +him. Meanwhile darkness had come on. When Glyn arrived he did advance +with his troops formed up for action, and with the intention of +re-taking the camp, which he had every reason to suppose was occupied by +the enemy. The event proved they had abandoned it. Was not this a good +reason for striking a blow? Let the facts of the case be well borne in +mind. Lord Chelmsford knew that there was a large force in his rear; the +force that had sacked the camp was supposed, and reasonably enough, to +be on the right flank. In front were the bright watchfires of another +force, and the blazing hospital at Rorke's Drift, which, together with +Helpmakaar, there was every ground to believe had been captured and +looted by the foe; in a word, his force was surrounded. The men had only +fifty rounds of ammunition apiece; they had been twenty-four hours +without food; they were physically exhausted by eighteen hours' +continuous marching, and no less morally by the loss of their camp; +their probabilities of escape were distant. How could a general lead +troops in such a condition against a foe flushed and elated with spoil +and recent victory? + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + Ekowe described--The fort--Guard for the frontier--Raid on + Dabulamanzi's Kraal--Another raid--Life in Ekowe--Wood at Potter's + Kraal--Capture of Baglusini--Skirmish and capture of + cattle--Destruction of Manyanyoba Kraal--Colonel Rowlands--Capture + of Makatees Kop--Junction with Wood--Camp at Kambula--Coming in of + Oham--Disaster at Intombi Drift--Death of Moriarty--Rescue of Oham's + wives and people--Events that led to the attack on Umbelini--The + Zlobani--The attack--Details--Death of Campbell--Narrow escape of + Wood--Death of Weatherly--St. Helena and H.M.S. "Shah." + + +We must now return to Pearson, whom we left entrenching himself at +Ekowe. + +The position is a most commanding one, being almost on the summit of the +Tyoe range, and more than 2000 feet above the sea level; and for beauty +of site could scarcely be surpassed. To the north, about a mile and a +half, is the Umlalazi river, at that time rather full from the late +rains, and beyond this stream are long undulating grassy plains, almost +devoid of bush, with the exception here and there of a few wild and +dwarf date-palms, and lichens in the hollows. Behind, to the south, is +the Umkukusi range, and a hilly but open country, while on the west is a +very broken and difficult country, bounded by the Hintza forest. Away to +the east, right to the coast at Port Durnford, is about forty miles of +undulating and here and there hilly country. About 1200 yards to the +south-east there is a rocky eminence at least 600 feet higher than the +fort, and from this place a magnificent view of Port Durnford and the +mouth of the Umlalazi can be seen. The sea is not more than twenty-two +miles off, in a line as the crow flies. The original building was +formerly a Norwegian mission station, and when the present war began it +was abandoned by the missionaries and plundered by the Zulus. The +buildings, when Pearson arrived, consisted of three moderately-sized +brick erections, thatched originally with straw, but subsequently +covered with a less inflammable material. In addition to these +buildings, which were utilized as stores, there was a small church, +built of the native-made sun-dried bricks, and covered, as most of these +edifices are in that country, with corrugated galvanized iron. The +church was turned into an hospital, while the tower made a capital +look-out, from whence could be seen the next post, and which afterwards +proved of such service in the way of signalling. Pearson now began to +suffer the inconveniences of a regular siege; his communications were +cut, and it was found that of the twelve messengers belonging to the +Natal Native Contingent sent from Ekowe with letters during the first +week in February, only one arrived, the others having been intercepted +and killed on their way. The fort soon completely changed its character +under the incessant labour bestowed upon it by Pearson's men, under the +vigilant supervision of their chief. It now became a six-angled +enclosure, about sixty yards wide, having a ditch eighteen feet in +depth, while its breadth was twelve feet. At the bottom it was studded +profusely with assegai heads securely planted, and the parapets, +carefully rivetted, were proof not only against any musketry fire, but +field artillery. From its southern angles ran out two well-built curtain +walls, enclosing a fine kraal for cattle and horses. These curtains were +well protected by the fire of the angles from which they sprung, while +the kraal itself had its own massive gateway and drawbridge. At the end +of the kraal, or cattle enclosure, furthest from the angular fort, was +constructed from the remains of a dilapidated magazine, a kind of +irregular redoubt, which also had a deep ditch and thick mud walls, +defended by a quantity of powerful thorns laid along the parapet. It was +most fortunate that this force brought with them a large supply of +well-selected entrenching tools, consisting of shovels, picks, spades, +billhooks, axes, and crowbars. Day by day, whenever their time could be +spared from patrol and outpost duty, the men were employed in making +entanglements of rows of felled trees, as well as constructing fascines, +filling sandbags, turning out gabions, loopholes, and _abattis_. All +these obstacles possessed the usual requisites. They were under the +close fire of the fort, were covered from the enemy's fire, and gave him +no cover; while they were all made so substantially that they could not +be cut down or removed without immense difficulty. The piquet duties +were rather severe, and each piquet had to furnish two or three double +sentries in reliefs, patrols, and links. They were posted under the best +circumstances obtainable, being sheltered from the enemy, having a good +range in front, with every advantage in retreating if attacked in force. +Each face or front of the fort was cleared up to 800 yards; shelter +trenches were made for the first line of defence; cover was left for the +supports and reserves; ranges were marked and measures taken for the +artillery and rifle fire, and all precautionary arrangements made in +regard to the supply and storage of provisions, forage, water, and +ammunition. + +The water was good, and not brackish at that time of the year. It was +taken from a bright stream well under the fire of the fort, and fed by a +capital spring, also under fire of one of the seven-pounders. The church +and the storehouses were also carefully loopholed, and sandbags +furnished to make the defences more secure. These three strong loopholed +buildings, forming part of the _enceinte_, were rendered more formidable +by double planking, backed crossways by iron barrel hoops, while fine, +damp, heavy sand from the neighbouring hill was employed in filling +bags, made from old provision sacks. + +Every man in the fort had his proper place assigned to him, and at +exercise it was found that with three minutes' notice each detachment +was in its place. The Buffs were told off to the two northern faces, on +which side there was a well-made _caponnière_ thrown up in the +re-entering angle. At the west angle of this fort one gun and a +detachment of the Royal Artillery were posted, while on the east salient +were two guns and a somewhat stronger number of men. Here there was a +small outlet for water-parties, guarded on the flank by a little +loopholed building, and commanded in the rear by a strong building with +a thatched roof. The rocket tubes were placed under charge of the Royal +Marines, on the south-west front, and could, if necessary, sweep the +trek oxen laager, and slaughter oxen laager outside the fort on that +side. The principal gateway was on the west face, and was guarded by a +company of the Buffs, who loopholed the church tower in their rear to +fall back upon, and to act as a commanding flanking fire. The front, +facing due south, was served by the 99th, with one gun at the salient +angle, a _caponnière_ in the centre, guarded by a Gatling, and with a +thirteen feet stockade at the opposing angle. Another strong building, +also thatch roof, commanded this front. Not a day passed but some +improvement was made in strengthening these works, and this as much for +prudence against possible attack, as to keep the men occupied and free +from the lassitude attendant upon long confinement. It should also be +mentioned that torpedoes had been laid down by the bluejackets for three +miles along the bed of the Tugela, so that if the Zulus attempted to +cross near any of the posts of observation they might be somewhat +astonished. + +The ration daily used to be two pounds of beef--fresh killed and tough +as leather--a couple of commissariat biscuits--hard as flint--a very +small complement of coffee or tea, sugar, and one spoonful of lime +juice, which every man had to take whether he liked it or not; preserved +potatoes, compressed vegetables, and an occasional ration of beans, made +a little variety now and then. During the last days of the siege the +meat and biscuit ration was reduced. A day's routine was as +follows:--The men rose with the _réveille_ at four a.m. for a parade of +all hands and fatigue duties for a couple of hours, weather permitting: +the breakfast bugle sounded at eight, and fatigues were again performed +from 9.30 till noon; dinner bugle at 1.30, and rest and recreation till +4.30, and finally "retreat" at 6.30, when no one was to be outside the +walls. The men amused themselves with quoits, cricket, and athletics, +some of the Buffs being good "all round;" while all the officers, +especially the colonel, encouraged these pastimes by example as well as +precept. After all, the life was not more monotonous than that on board +ship. There was no lack of ammunition, as Colonel Ely on march to Ekowe +had to abandon only ten waggons, and these were looted. The rest, +however, arrived safely. The garrison also from time to time received +valuable and most reassuring information regarding the disposition and +whereabouts of their friends along the line of the Tugela, and in their +rear. At Fort Pearson, which might be said to be the principal base of +operations, and which commanded the river and lower drift from the Natal +side, there were sufficient men of the Naval Brigade to work the two +guns there. They had also the European officers and the non-commissioned +officers of the disbanded native corps. Then, to keep up communications, +the Mounted Volunteers of Coast District were posted at intervals along +the river, between Fort Pearson and Kranz Kop. Another fort on the Zulu +bank of the Tugela was called "Fort Tenedos," in compliment to the +detachment which formed its garrison. Major Barrow, with a squadron of +mounted infantry, and Lieutenant Kingscote, with a smart body of +marines and bluejackets, formed the defensive force. At Rorke's Drift +there were now five companies of the 2nd battalion of the 24th Regiment. +A strongly entrenched position had also been formed on a commanding site +called Macdonald's Farm, on a rocky eminence overlooking the Tugela. +Ditches ten feet deep were cut, parapets seven feet high thrown up, the +farmhouse itself strengthened, and all the garden walls loopholed. The +garrison consisted of the Stanger Mounted Rifles, and some native +auxiliaries, who proved most trustworthy as scouts and messengers. +Captain Lucas, whose admirable powers of organization were quite +proverbial amongst the colonists, and whose frontier experiences were of +long standing, was strongly posted at a bend of the river between the +farm and Thring's Post, and had with him a useful body of natives. +Thring's Post came next on the list, and here there were a couple of +hundred of well-mounted and well-armed volunteers divided into +squadrons, or corps of fifty men. Thring's Post is on the Imyamazana +Mountain, and is about twenty-seven miles from Fort Pearson. The +volunteers, knowing the country well, were employed in keeping up by +constant patrols communications with Fort Pearson and Fort Cherry. + +News also reached them that Wood had been reinforced, and was more than +holding his own. There was, therefore, little anxiety felt for the +security of the frontier, and everything strengthened Colonel Pearson in +his determination to remain in his position instead of attempting to cut +his way out. + +The health of the Ekowe garrison continued very good. The hospital, it +has been said, was the old church of the mission-station. At the end of +the second week in March there were only twenty-five men on the +sick-list, and many of these almost convalescent. They had, however, +lost two of their number lately, namely, poor Williams of the Buffs, and +another great favourite, young Coker, the mid-shipman, who fought his +Gatling so well at Inyanezi. Both these fine fellows were ill but a +short time, and succumbed to fever. They were buried with the usual +honours just outside the fort. + +Lieutenant Rowden, 98th Regiment, who was nominated by Colonel Pearson +commander of the mounted scouts, performed his difficult and dangerous +task to perfection. He had by the end of February successfully explored +the country in the direction of the Isangweni military kraal, which was +not far from Ondini, and about three miles from Ekowe. He reported that +there were 1500 men there, and more collecting. The 1500 were composed +of the married regiment Isangu, whose average age is fifty-four, and +whose services in former wars had been most distinguished. The country +between the fort and Isangweni was an undulating table-land, running +parallel to the forests on either side, and admirably suited for +cavalry. Another brother of Cetywayo, named Dabulamanzi, had a fortified +kraal not far from that of Isangweni, and Pearson determined to attack +both those places as soon as he was in a position to move upon them. + +The second week of March had now come to an end, and it was deemed +advisable to vary the monotony of life in the fort by one or two +offensive expeditions. The most important of these, both as to the +numbers engaged and its effects, was the foray on Dabulamanzi's kraal. +The forces detailed for this expedition consisted of fifty men of the +Buffs, the same number of the 99th, and twenty-five of the Naval +Brigade, with their Gatling, and a small body of mounted scouts, under +the active Lieutenant Rowden (98th). Starting about five a.m., the party +descended the slopes that led to the river, and continued its march +along a valley running north-east, and gradually narrowing. The track in +some places was crossed by difficult spruits, and was scarcely defined; +but their guides were well acquainted with the landmarks, although the +pathways were often obliterated by thorns and bush. The track was also +frequently commanded by spurs and bluffs projecting overhead, but these +were carefully explored by the mounted men, and no enemy could be seen. +A considerable watershed was reached about eight miles from Ekowe, and +here, in a favourable and secluded position, was made the first +off-saddle for half an hour. The country about here was entirely denuded +of fodder, but the horsemen had been fortunately directed to bring a few +mealies for their mounts. On resuming the march they crossed the bottom +of a deep sandy nullah with very precipitous sides, which they were +forced to follow, as it was the only practicable track. About a mile and +a half further on the advanced patrols sent back to inform the officer +of the main body that there was a camping-ground or temporary kraal +about three miles and a half north, where there was sufficient water and +grass. The orders were therefore given to push on for this point, and in +about forty-five minutes it was reached. It was now sundown, and their +chief, having decided that it was inexpedient to march during the +night, orders were issued for the usual precautions to be taken, and to +bivouac till daybreak. + +During the night, however, no one slept, as they had several alarms, and +it became evident from certain indications known to the experienced in +Zulu camping-out, that they were being reconnoitred by the enemy, though +in all probability not in sufficient force to deliver an attack. As, +however, it was quite possible that messengers would be despatched to +the neighbouring kraals, it was deemed advisable to strengthen the +position, in case of their being surrounded before the morning. Taking +one of the guides, who said he knew the neighbourhood, from having +frequently hunted here, one of the officers and a couple of men were +sent to make a reconnaissance round the bivouac. This party at once +started without making any noise, and entering on the old watercourse +worked their way up towards the summit of the kloof. Large, indeed +enormous, blocks of stone were lying about in various directions, and +the water during the heavy rains had so far worked its way among these +rocks that several hollows were scooped out so as to form caves large +enough to hold one or two human beings. These places had evidently been +recently occupied, remains of mealies and the charred wood of a recent +fire indicating the use to which the shelter had been applied. Ascending +the kloof still farther, and keeping well under cover of the bush, these +scouts walked along what at first seemed an old war-path, and this being +examined it was evident that it had been worn by human beings, and not +long since. On following this path, it led to a small piece of +table-land not much larger than an ordinary mess-tent or marquee, and +this platform was formed by a solid piece of rock rising, not unlike the +Pieter Bot at Mauritius, to a couple of hundred feet above where the +explorers were standing. To the eye of a soldier the place was +impregnable, and as the scouts scanned the country round by the fitful +gleams of occasional moonlight they saw that twenty well-armed and +steady men could hold the rock against an army. The face of the rock had +been scooped out, and, either by time or human labour, a sort of cave or +shelter afforded additional protection. Upon leaving the rock and +descending the ravine to carry the intelligence to the column in +bivouac, these patrols were startled to see the outlines of several dark +figures moving in the neighbouring bush. Making all possible speed, +therefore, the messengers hurried back, and at the news received every +man stood to his arms. They had not long to wait, for the enemy soon +appeared, drawn out in clear relief against the grey of the early dawn, +which was now coming on. Bodies of Zulus on the opposite ridges, which +could not have been seen lower down, were now observed, while a few +cattle were being rapidly hurried away in the distance. The Zulu scouts +were evidently puzzled at the white men's proceedings, the more so as +before leaving the kop one of the guides had tied his handkerchief to an +overhanging branch, thus giving the enemy the idea that a detachment had +been left to occupy the post. This error on the part of their +antagonists served the troops materially, as, by hurrying forward at a +quick pace, they were enabled to gain the kop, and with some +considerable difficulty get their Gatling to the summit. Their horses, +of course, could not ascend, but halfway up there was an excellent +position, where grass and water were found, and here the animals were +tethered in the usual manner--by the head and knee. When daylight +enabled them to examine the surrounding country with field-glasses, they +could see the neighbouring kraals of the chief Dabulamanzi and his +neighbour, Ungakamatue, and it was evident that the alarm had been +given. Several extraordinary movements attracted their attention. Armed +bodies of natives were seen to be leaving the villages in various +directions, as if going upon messages of importance. Aware of the +celerity of movement of the Zulus, and the enormous distances their +soldiers can cover in a few hours, this activity was not reassuring, as +it was concluded that reinforcements were being sent for, for the +purpose of intercepting the retreat to the fort of Ekowe. The English +commander, however, was not long in choosing his plan of operations. It +would never do to sustain a siege on the rock or kop, which, however +defensible if provisioned, was sure to be taken by starvation in the +long-run. The Dabulamanzi kraal had evidently been weakened by the +absence of men harvesting, and it did not seem more than a mile from +where the troops were. One of the guides remembered a cattle-track +which, by a circuitous route, led back on the eastern side to Ekowe, and +as the road they had arrived by was certain to be now ambushed, it was +deemed advisable to make a dash at the kraal, and return with what spoil +they could obtain in the new direction. Having cut some long canes, some +of the soldiers fixed them securely between the ledges of the rocks, +and attached to them some coloured clothes, which they hoped would lead +to the belief that they still occupied the kop. These precautions having +been taken, the troops moved silently down through the dense bushes on +the reverse side of the cliff, and succeeded in getting away without +being observed by the Zulus, who evidently seemed principally anxious +about their cattle. Part of the mounted force went in front to explore +the bush, while the rest remained in rear to follow and reconnoitre. On +coming again to the valley, they moved still more rapidly until they +came to a little rise, which, on surmounting, they found led to a deep +kloof, the mouth of which was almost closed by the proximity of the +hills, on either side rising to about 600 feet in height. These +curious-looking hills appeared to be a series of ledges of rocks, with +lines of dykes--probably of volcanic origin--cropping up, and forming +the most natural-looking breastworks, behind which a determined party of +men might destroy any attacking party. Having waited to collect the tail +of the column, they descended the rise, and sending out a few men to +scout on the ridge skirting the hill on their right, the commander led +the main body under cover of this range towards the mouth of the kloof, +which the guides said was the main entrance to the kraal. When about 200 +yards from the mouth of the gorge, the enemy commenced firing upon the +advanced files from behind a formidable-looking dyke, and seeing that +one of the horses had been badly wounded in the quarter, an officer sent +up a dozen men to the top of the range to extend as a covering party. +These had barely been posted in a good position, when a perfect shower +of bullets fell amongst the main body, the only casualty being, however, +one man struck by an almost spent bullet. It being thus seen that they +were out of range as far as any material injury could be effected, the +men were directed to keep moving along the flank, while the Buffs +advanced along the valley in a parallel line, closing to their centres +as they neared the mouth of the kloof. At the same time, the men of the +Naval Brigade (twenty-five) were detached with their Gatling towards the +foot of the left-hand hill, to see if there was a path by which the +kraal could be taken in reverse. This left-hand hill seemed to be the +key of the position, as it looked down upon the kraal itself. The 99th +were all this time held in reserve to prevent the troops being taken in +reverse should the enemy's reinforcements come up. While the English +were effecting these movements the Zulus, whose forces did not seem to +be augmenting, kept up what would have been a hot cross-fire had they +been armed with Martinis, but which was perfectly innocuous at 700 +yards. + +A bugle-call now gave notice to the skirmishers to close in, and when +this was effected the mounted men dashed through the kloof, followed by +the Buffs and the 99th at the double. The Naval Brigade meanwhile was +seen working its way in the most energetic manner round the left flank +and ready to effect a junction with the others at the foot of the mound +on which stood the outer defences of the kraal. A general stampede of +men, women, and cattle now took place, the soldiers being specially +warned not to fire at the two latter, and only at the former in return. +In ten minutes the outer and inner circles of the kraal were fired, +care having been taken to see that no living creature was hidden within. +As the Zulus generally store their mealies (Indian corn) underground in +the cattle enclosures, there was not time to look for any supplies, but +they managed to carry off a few large packages which were found in two +huts, as well as some millet (Kaffir corn). They also collected all the +cattle they could find, not many having been left, and getting them +together in the centre of the column, moved away by the path mentioned +by their guides. These movements were conducted so quickly, that they +were on the homeward march within half an hour of the time they had +entered the kraal. About half a mile from the kraal the kloof separated +into two narrow gullies, the ledges of rock between them being +inaccessible, and as it was known that these paths made a junction some +two miles on, it was decided to use them both, to enable the troops to +march more quickly. The Buffs accordingly took one trek, and the 99th +detachment the other, both uniting again without any casualty later on. +The English attack was undoubtedly a complete surprise, inasmuch as the +bulk of the people belonging to the kraal were away, and could not be +recalled in time to defend their village. Had the British column +possessed a larger force of mounted men, they could have intercepted and +carried back the cattle which they saw the attendants driving off. As it +was, however, it was not safe or prudent to risk the chances of +communications with the fort being cut off by delaying to pursue these +animals. + +The column had made good about ten miles of the return march when they +discovered that their retreat had been found out; straight in front of +them also were wooded krantzes and dark ravines, where an army of Zulus +might have been concealed, but pioneers having been sent out reported +that all was safe in that direction. Upon this they used the utmost +speed to gain the friendly covert, as they saw that if pursued there was +the best chance of eluding the vigilance of their enemies; or if unable +to do this, they would have the opportunity of fighting them to the best +advantage. As the troops moved quickly on, they entered the forest and +lost sight of the Zulus, who seemed in force, and were apparently +retracing their steps for some mysterious object. They were not, +however, kept long in doubt as to their proceedings, for upon sending on +scouts to an eminence where they could see without being seen, it was +found that the whole Zulu force, apparently some 2000 strong, was upon +the crest of the hill over which they had passed. An advanced party of +skirmishers were running very rapidly, their shields held aloft, and +their assegais waving over their heads. They had discovered the trick +played upon them, and the ruse of the coloured cloths planted upon the +kop. When, however, they could not discover the spoor upon the direct +trek by which the English party had come, they lost a considerable +amount of time in casting about to make out their real direction. At +last, however, when crossing a bit of open veldt, the keen-sighted Zulus +observed their cattle being carried away, at least five miles from them. +The rage of the pursuers, and their contempt for the marching qualities +of British soldiers--compared to their own speed and powers of +endurance--no doubt made them confident of overtaking them; but the +latter had little apprehension of the result, even if this were +effected. They knew that as soon as their foes came within range, they +could pick them off at 1000 or 1200 yards, and the little column had +been specially furnished with several crack marksmen to whom this +distance was no difficulty. They continued their march therefore +steadily, and did not abandon the cattle, which, strange to say, gave +little trouble, and were kept at a good pace by some of the mounted men, +whose anticipation of a full beef ration on their return, from the +spoil, made them doubly zealous in their duties. In about an hour the +Zulus had gained considerably upon them; they were imprudent enough to +move in close order. The evening was, however, now drawing on, and in +another hour the troops should be under the guns of the fort. A mist, +which had been for some time hanging about the streams and the kloof, +prevented the exact progress of the pursuers being seen, but the pursued +were not long without intimation of their whereabouts. The rear-guard +were attracted, when about three miles from the fort, by what seemed to +be dark objects moving between some rocks about half a mile on their +left rear. So fitful was the view obtained, however, that the men were +uncertain whether they were Zulus or some of the larger species of +baboon, which often come out of their holes and caves to look at any +human creature passing by. A steady watch was, however, maintained, and +before many minutes they could plainly see that a large body of the +enemy had, by the most tremendous pedestrian feat, succeeded in getting +almost on a level with them, in a position to assail them in flank. The +column had not long to wait, for as they came to a portion of the trek +they could not avoid, on account of the proximity of a deep morass on +the right, the pursuers, deeming them within range, treated them to a +volley which rattled up to about fifty paces short of their flank. Ten +of the mounted men, all excellent shots, were now sent out to cover the +attacked flank, and, as far as they could, to harass the enemy. The +ground was difficult and broken, but this was no impediment to these +gallant fellows, who, gaining a commanding position 500 yards from the +Zulus, and where there was admirable cover, dismounted, and kept up such +a galling fire that the Zulus retreated, as if waiting for their main +body to come up. As the mist rolled away, they could distinctly be seen +carrying off their dead and wounded with improvised stretchers of +branches of mimosa. A running fire was now kept up, the English shot +taking deadly effect, while no casualty occurred to their men. For more +than half an hour this went on, until the fort was sighted, and as the +Zulu main body had not come up, the flanking party drew quietly off. + +The sun was sinking in the horizon as the returning soldiers received +their well-earned welcome from their beleaguered comrades, who were +beginning to be somewhat anxious as to their safe return. + +Pearson's next raid was a most brilliant affair. It was found out from +reliable sources that a body of Zulus had charge of a convoy of cattle, +intended for the king's kraal at Ulundi. Deeming the Ekowe garrison as +of no account for more than defensive purposes, the Zulu general had +merely detailed 400 or 450 men to form the escort, which was known to +be on its march not more than seven miles to the north-west of Ekowe, +not far from the Inyezani river. Now here Pearson had an opportunity of +achieving two objects at one stroke. He wished to explore the land and +salient features of the country towards Inyezani, in order to see +whether a road could be made by which the dense bush of Hintza could be +avoided, while, at the same time, he could inflict a lesson upon the +Zulus, and possibly obtain some cattle. The foray was not to be on such +a grand scale as that made on Dabulamanzi's kraal, but it was intended +to be equally important for military purposes. Twenty men of the Naval +Brigade, all the small force of acting engineers, forty of the Buffs, +twenty of the 99th, and the mounted scouts were placed under orders to +parade before daylight on Friday, 21st March. No Gatling was to +accompany, as the utmost celerity of movement was required, and if the +expedition did not succeed in its first dash an immediate retreat upon +the guns was to be made. On leaving the fort at 3.30 a.m., the road by +which the band advanced was found to be good, although here and there +commanded from the neighbouring mountains. About two miles from Ekowe a +bluff runs out from the spur of the range of hills which had often +served as a reconnoitring point, and this was immediately occupied by +the mounted men, who had orders to keep up signalling both with the fort +and the rest of the expedition. Continuing on its march, the column came +to the Inyezani river, which for several miles runs between two +remarkable mountains, the bases of which are clothed with luxuriant +forest growths, while above spring sheer precipices 1000 and 1100 feet +high. The formation seemed to be sandstone and limestone, affording +excellent material for building purposes. Before reaching these dark +solitudes the river passes through a country undulating and fertile, and +the horizon is closed by higher hills, covered in the most part by +forest. These forest-trees are of fine growth and of the most valuable +description. The banks of the river are fringed by a quantity of +bamboo-looking reeds, which serve as wattles in the district, and which +are about the thickness of a finger, and some ten or twelve feet high. +Tracks of hippopotami are occasionally seen, and it is known that such +are in the neighbourhood. The river here is about 200 yards broad, while +the depth averages twenty-five feet. The expedition now noticed a few +deserted kraals on the right bank, while those on the left were found to +be in ruins, as if lately destroyed. At eight a.m. a herd of cattle was +seen some two miles off, and rapidly skirting the base of a friendly +hill the troops managed to cut in between these animals and a body of +Zulus, who appeared to be bivouacking in front of some neighbouring +caves, where fires were lit and cooking was going on. The mounted men, +who were observing these movements, now descended from the bluff where +they had been watching, and coming up rapidly at a canter, made a dash +at the Zulus, to cover the infantry retreat, which they effected with +the capture of some thirty-five fine cattle. A desultory fire was kept +up upon them from the hills during their return, and the enemy, who +seemed to be gradually augmented, at one narrow gorge managed to get +within range, slightly wounding two or three of the rear-guard. By noon +on the same day the men with the captured cattle were safely discussing +their frugal dinner, consisting of an extra half-ration in honour of the +event, within the old fort, which they were already beginning to look +upon as a friend from whom they were soon to part. + +In spite of the rapidity of the raid, the necessary observations were +made by the officers deputed for this duty, and a rough sketch of the +ground passed over gave all the information requisite for the +construction of the projected road. This work, which was forthwith taken +in hand, had a most satisfactory effect upon the spirits of the garrison +generally. The working parties were occasionally driven in, but not +without inflicting loss upon the enemy, whose attention was much taken +up in guarding and patrolling the main road by which Pearson came. + +Wood, it has been mentioned, fell back upon receiving the news of +Isandhlwana; but this retrograde movement was of short duration, and +from that time till all was ready for the relief of Ekowe, his was the +only column acting on the offensive. + +From the 25th January to the 1st February his marches and countermarches +afford little matter of interest. On the 28th he moved on to a new +camping-ground, called Potter's Store, and there obtained full +particulars of the Maglisini or Baglusini Kraal. This place Colonel Wood +had for some time known as one of the principal rallying-points and +depôts of supplies for the Zulu armies. Large quantities of "mealies" +(Indian corn) and grain of other sorts were known to have been +accumulated at this magazine, while cattle in large droves had been +seen on their way to the depôt. Under these circumstances it was +necessary to proceed with caution, as, had any ostentatious preparations +been made for an advance in the direction of the magazine, it is more +than probable Wood's object would only have been gained at a severe +cost. In this view it was determined that a cavalry raid should be made +by the mounted troops under Piet Uys, with his Burghers, and Colonel +Buller, with his dashing corps of Frontier Light Horse. From the camp +near Potter's Store to the Baglusini stronghold was at least thirty +miles. A plain suitable to the passage of cavalry intervened before the +Manzana river was reached, and Colonel Buller saw no reason why the +distance should not be covered in one day. The kraals of Umbelini and of +Inyatini were also in the same neighbourhood, therefore the utmost +caution and secrecy were necessary in making preparations for the +attack. The weather had been most unfavourable for some days, but +fortunately cleared up, and became settled on the 1st of February. On +that morning Colonel Buller, having selected on the previous day 106 of +his best mounted men and thirty-three of the Dutch Contingent under Piet +Uys, their commandant, paraded his men under the supervision of Colonel +Wood, and explained to them clearly the feat they were about to attempt, +not concealing the danger which they would have to incur in the +performance of a most difficult and dangerous duty. The scene was a most +dramatic one, as the camp lanterns lit up the faces of the bronzed and +stalwart volunteers who formed the devoted band. Each man was +exceedingly well horsed, and no precaution had been neglected in the +careful overhauling of arms, accoutrements, and saddlery. Biscuit and, +for those who cared, a little ration of rum were served out, and with a +hearty "God-speed" from their comrades, who half envied their chances of +adventure, the little troop of 141 gallant fellows started long before +the earliest streak of dawn. The utmost silence was ordered and +maintained, while the ground for some miles was so favourable that the +horses' hoofs were scarcely heard as they cantered over the light and +springy veldt. Distances on horseback are so differently estimated out +in South Africa and at home in England, that when the ground is +favourable, very long, and to European experience almost impossible, +marches are constantly made without distress to horse or rider. In the +present instance two short off-saddles only were indulged in; the first +not far from the centre of the flat, and the next after the Manzana +river had been safely crossed. The country now became more broken and +the pace was reduced to a walk, but before the sun was well up the goal +was in sight, and the herds of cattle were seen calmly feeding on the +slopes. No suspicion would seem to have been excited, and it is more +than probable that the very smallness of the attacking force, and its +being all composed of the mounted branch, contributed to the success of +the affair. The kraal was exceedingly well built, and seen from a +distance of 1200 or 1000 yards it was doubtful whether it held a large +guard or not. Cautiously yet swiftly advancing, Colonel Buller felt his +way, with a few of his best shots thrown out as vedettes. These men soon +encountered some scattered Zulus, who did not seem at all prepared for +any hostile demonstration, but on retiring towards the hills they were +reinforced by several other larger bodies, who had evidently been sent +out to reconnoitre. After a few shots had been fired, a sudden and +simultaneous advance was made on two sides of the kraal, and almost +without resistance on the part of its defenders the kraal was captured. +Two hundred and fifty well-built huts were counted by Buller's men, who, +losing not a moment, collected no less than four hundred head of cattle, +and a large quantity of grain, and then set fire to the magazine. Six +Zulus were killed in the capture of the place, and although more than +one body of them were seen hovering about in the vicinity, numbering +severally 100 to 200 and 300 men, no opposition was offered to the +rear-guard or patrols. + +Wood then again moved his camp to the White Umvolosi. His position here +was a remarkably strong one, and from it he commanded the passage of the +White Umvolosi, the Pewana, while his day and night patrols held the +disputed territory south of the Pongolo. A raid was next made in the +direction of the Insulwa Kraal. The men got upon the road about seven +a.m., and steady marching for about three miles brought them opposite +the spot where, a few days before, a large force of Zulus had been seen +engaged at drill. A scout who had been sent out on the right front came +galloping back with the news that the Zulu cattle were in considerable +numbers at the lower end of the valley, while he also added that the +guard over these animals was not much larger than the English party. +Piet Uys at once concerted with a couple of his smart non-commissioned +officers, and decided, as they were exceedingly well mounted, to ride +for the kloof which formed the exit to the valley. To execute this +man[oe]uvre was the work of ten minutes, during which they were hidden +from sight of the Zulus by a tall ledge of scarped rocks which almost +divided the valley. In the meanwhile the remainder moved steadily on at +a walk, so as not to alarm their prey. In rather more than half an hour +they had so far gained upon the cattle that they could make a tolerable +guess as to their probable number, which was estimated at a couple of +hundreds. The main body had now arrived at a place which Piet Uys and +his Dutchmen seemed intimately acquainted with, and the Zulu cattle and +guard could be seen on a ridge running parallel to the one they +themselves were upon. Below was a deep kloof leading to the river. Some +of Buller's Horse were now sent round to the opposite side, to drive the +enemy down the kloof to the main party, while they continued to march +down the ridge to meet these men as they came on. But they had not +advanced very far when, as was expected, a much larger force appeared on +the neighbouring heights, but the cliff was so precipitous they could +not join their comrades. The seven-pounder was now brought into action, +and sent a couple of shells right in amongst them, one of the rounds +being a capital shot. Advancing still, the English leader saw that the +enemy lately on the heights had managed, by making a détour, to get to +the cover of a dense mimosa bush on his left. This move was answered by +several rounds of canister, which it was afterwards found were not +without effect. The foes were thus driven out into the open, and at one +moment it seemed as though they were going to fight; the Boers, however, +who had been detached to the neck of the valley now served their +comrades by an excellent ruse. They had taken with them one of the bugle +boys of the 13th, mounted on a wiry Kaffir pony, and the main party now +heard coming across the valley the echoes of his bugle sounding the +advance. The Zulus could not make out the meaning of this sound, and +evidently imagined that the English commander had posted at least the +wing of a regiment to intercept them. The consequence was, that the +moment the main body cantered forward with a bold front, the cattle were +abandoned; and they were left masters of the field, taking 170 head and +some few wounded prisoners. Two villages were left in flames behind the +retiring troops, who, as the crackling and flashing approached the bush +where the hills met the plain, could see individual forms of black +warriors shouting and gesticulating from out of the dust and smoke, wild +with impotent rage at the loss of their kraal and cattle. The ridges +beyond the gullies still afforded considerable shelter, and the English +party were continually fired upon as they returned with their spoil; but +it was evident that the Zulus had not any long-range weapons, as it +could be seen from the splashes of dust how far short their bullets were +falling. Ten of Buller's men were now sent on to cover the passage of +the guns through the drift, and in about twenty minutes, and under the +protection of the rear-guard, it was passed over in safety. + +On the 15th, Wood was fortunate enough to destroy the great military +kraal of Manyanyoba. Several reconnaissances had been made by Colonel +Wood's directions, and from the local knowledge of one of Piet Uys's +men, Colonel Buller was enabled to carry out the instructions of his +chief with a success fully equal to the most sanguine expectations. The +stronghold in question was situated on the Intomba river, and had always +been considered by Cetywayo and his Indunas as a place of more than +ordinary strength. At ten p.m. on the 14th the men were got under arms, +and the column was composed of a strong detachment of Buller's Horse and +fifty of the Burgher Volunteers under Piet Uys, whose services had on +more than one occasion been most handsomely mentioned by Colonel Wood. +The men paraded without lights, bugles, or the slightest sound, and +moved off silently into the bush, without even the jingle of a sabre or +the clank of a chain. Their march was accompanied by one gun, the wheels +of which were, however, carefully wrapped with cloth and bound with raw +hide. This was not only a protection against sound, but a preventive to +injury to spokes and axles from the sharp boulders and rocks in the bed +of the drift. The column left the camp by moonlight, crossing the usual +ford, and were fortunate enough to gain the shelter of the bush without +being seen or heard in the neighbouring villages. After a couple of +hours' marching they reached a wide plain, where there was a broad +watercourse, but sufficiently shallow to be easily forded. Here the gun, +as the early grey of the morning came on in the sky, was brought into +position, and here the final instructions were given to the men. As the +daylight grew more marked there could be seen in front a long unbroken +range of mountains, varying in height from 900 to 1000 feet. This range +ran along the valley leading to the smaller kraals in the distance. Half +the cavalry were now sent away by Colonel Buller to the left, with +instructions to gain the bush, and wait dismounted until the shells were +heard. They were then to dash forward at a swinging canter and cut off +the cattle to be seen feeding on the slopes, which man[oe]uvre would, if +carried out, drive them into the hands of Piet Uys and his men posted on +the right. Just as the sun began to appear above the horizon the gunners +managed to hit off the range to a nicety, and the second shell crashed +and burst right into the centre of the interior circle where the cattle +were placed at night, and which is usually surrounded by the +beehive-shaped huts where the Zulus live. It was at once perceived that +this shot had caused the wildest commotion, as it was immediately +followed by smoke and flame, figures rushing about through the village, +the bellowing of oxen, and the shouts of men. As the horsemen advanced +at a gallop towards the kraal, the enemy, firing a random and hasty +volley, fled up the sides of the mountain, where cavalry could not +follow. All the huts and stores along the base of the mountain were now +destroyed without much resistance, although as soon as the Zulus got a +little vantage-ground on the cliffs, they turned, and replied to the +English fire. Four hundred head of cattle and a quantity of sheep and +goats were brought off by Buller's men, who behaved with the most +admirable coolness and steadiness. The fight had lasted about half an +hour, when indications of reinforcements to the Zulus were observed. +Seeing that nothing more was to be gained, and that he might lose the +cattle, Colonel Buller gave the order to make good the retreat, covered +by skirmishers and a rear-guard. This movement was skilfully effected +without loss, and the column reached the camp early in the afternoon, +having been about eight or nine hours in the saddle. + +Meanwhile, to strengthen Wood's hands, the Commander-in-chief had +ordered Colonel Rowlands to join that general. Rowlands at this time had +with him, at his entrenched camp at New Derby, only a wing of the 80th, +a couple of guns, and 200 Swazis. Raaf's Horse and Weatherly's Borderers +were, however, expected daily to reinforce him. In the meantime, +Rowlands was not allowing the grass to grow under the feet of his men, +for, on the same day that Wood destroyed the Manyanyoba Kraal he left +his camp at Derby and marched on to the Talako range, where he knew the +enemy were in the numerous caves hidden by dense bush. The operations +were entirely successful. Five large kraals, some of them of great +natural strength, were burnt to the ground, 197 cattle, seventy goats, +and forty-five sheep were captured. Magalini, the chief, was killed, +with ten of his men, while defending one of the caves. One Zulu prisoner +was taken, and forty women and a number of children came in and claimed +protection. Six of the Swazi allies, under Fairlie, were wounded, and +one horse killed. + +On a still more recent occasion Colonel Rowlands had shown even greater +activity. On the 20th February intelligence was brought to his camp that +a small force of Zulus had been left in charge of supplies at Makatees +Kop, a natural fortress close to Elozo, and intended as a depôt for +future operations. The place was by no means easy of access, and +apparently innumerable difficulties were mentioned to dissuade the +colonel from any hostile attempt. On the date just named (20th) the +detachment sent forward as a sort of advanced guard by Colonel Rowlands +reached one of the mission-stations still left on the border. There was +a laager consisting of a simple stone enclosure, bastioned, however, and +loopholed, and situated on the bank of a running stream of bright and +clearly sparkling water. In the dead of night the sentries were heard to +challenge, and the sergeant on guard at once called his men to arms. +This alarm, however, proved to be merely the return of some mounted +Boers who had been sent on to reconnoitre on the previous day, and the +information they brought in was important. The kraal which they had been +seeking was about twenty miles off and supposed to be only held by about +fifty Zulus, belonging to the regiment of Nkobamakosi, and part of the +Undi or Royal corps. A large number of cattle were not supposed to be +yet there, but some were coming in daily, and it was considered +advisable to break this link in the enemy's communications. In the early +morning, preceded by a few horsemen (many were coming in as volunteers +to both Rowlands' and Wood's column), and marching with only their +haversacks full of rations for two days, the little expedition started +for a duty uncertain and believed to be full of risk. Eight European +officers, 275 natives, partly Swazi allies, and some volunteer horse, +the whole under command of Captain Harvey, staff officer, formed the +reconnaissance; but, as it turns out, a smaller force would have +sufficed. From the post or laager at the mission-station the road lay up +a narrow valley, from which, after an ascent of about 200 feet, it +stretched out on to a wide grassy plain ten miles in length. On the left +of this could be plainly seen a number of Zulus tending sheep and cattle +on the hills. Crossing part of the Iwangovini district, and fording a +drift on the Inpongo river, the Iembe mountain could be seen always to +the right; while the Eloso, a rocky height, loomed in front. At the +bottom of a steep, rocky, and heavily bush-grown gorge, fourteen miles +from the laager, a halt and short off-saddle were made, and every +precaution taken against surprise. From this point to the stronghold the +pathway was most difficult, and the men had to proceed with the greatest +caution, in case of an ambush, which was half suspected. Two columns of +smoke, one from a steep krantz on the left and another lower down on the +right, were noticed, but these were afterwards found to be abandoned +camping-grounds of the enemy, who fancied the British force was much +stronger than it really was. On nearing the kraal, and on turning an +angle of the gully, the column came in sight of the first village, which +was as usual fortified in the Zulu fashion. As the foremost files dashed +on, a couple of shots rang out and some assegais were thrown, causing a +couple of casualties amongst the Swazis, who, however, showed a bold +front, and, gallantly led by the European officers, carried the kraal by +a rush. The results of this skirmish may not appear of great importance, +but, taken in conjunction with Wood's recent successes, they had a most +useful effect upon both the minds of the regular soldiers and those of +the colonial volunteers. + +The junction of Rowlands' column with Wood's was the next eventful +incident in the history of the latter force. It was found, of course, +impossible for Wood with so small a column and with so few cavalry to +keep an efficient and reliable watch over the lengthy border he had to +defend, and the result was that a Zulu force managed to effect a raid in +the German settlements over the Pongolo. Commandant Schermbrucker had +hitherto done remarkably well in keeping his line of defence intact, but +his want of mounted men seriously hampered him, and enabled the Zulus to +elude his vigilance. A serious raid happened on the 11th February; but +Schermbrucker came up with the marauders as they were retiring with +their booty, recaptured some of the cattle taken, and killed about a +dozen of the enemy. On the 13th a large Zulu force managed to cross the +Pongolo, and steal past the fort and laager of Luneberg. This was in the +dead of night, and by daybreak they had burnt a number of huts belonging +to natives friendly to or in the employment of the Dutch. The savages +rushed in thousands upon the kraals and single huts, setting the roofs +on fire and massacring old people, women, and children who could not +escape. They deliberately tortured to death about a score of old men, +killed in the most brutal manner at least fifty women and an equal +number of children, while they left several young women fearfully +stabbed with assegais. All this took place within five miles of the +fort; and as fire-arms were not employed, the attention of the sentries +was not aroused. Early in the morning one of the wounded managed to +effect his escape, and brought this terrible news to the laager, and +measures were immediately taken to follow and punish the band. Patrols +were ordered out, and the utmost diligence exerted to overtake the +enemy, who, it was known, was overladen with spoil. Before the Tombe +river was reached, the leading patrol came up with a portion of the +enemy's rear-guard, and a very pretty fight took place. The Zulus +numbered about 450, but they were embarrassed by the cattle they had +charge of, and this did not allow them to make a good stand. The +consequence was that the Boer patrol killed twenty of their foes, put +the remainder to flight, and won back a number of the stolen cattle. The +rest, however, managed to escape over the Tombe, and the patrol were +wisely ordered not to pursue. These raids were principally due to the +activity of both Umbelini and Manyanyoba, and were the immediate cause +of the expedition to attack and burn the kraals of the chiefs on the +Intombe river. It should be mentioned that Umbelini was a Swazi refugee, +and not even a legitimate chieftain of that tribe, but was regarded by +the real headmen as a mere adventurer and pretender. Manyanyoba's +people, again, were not Zulus, but the _débris_ or remnants of various +tribes conquered by Chaka and Dingaan. They wandered about in a starving +condition, landless, and without flocks or wealth of any kind, until +Cetywayo, from compassion, allowed them to settle north of the Pongolo, +and on the banks of the Tombe river. This very land was mentioned in the +ultimatum sent by Sir Bartle Frere to the king, who had no right +whatever to cede any portion of it. + +Wood next moved his camp to the Kambula Kop, and there entrenched +himself in a position of great natural strength. There now occurred an +event of considerable importance. Oham, brother of Cetywayo, had always +declared himself opposed to war, had openly stated his opinion in Zulu's +councils, and had ever since the outbreak of hostilities been making +overtures of friendship to the British. These, however, had been but +lightly treated, as suspicions of their honesty were entertained by the +powers that were. How groundless were these suspicions the event proved. +On the 2nd inst. Oham came into the camp of Captain M'Leod, the +political agent on the border of Swaziland, arrived at Derby on the 4th, +and came on thence to Wood at Kambula a couple of days back, and +declared his complete submission to her Majesty's Government. +Immediately before leaving his kraal in Zululand the chief took the +precaution to try and save some of his best cattle, and he subsequently +sent a thousand head of his finest herds into the Swazi county; but they +fell into Dutch hands, and some of the Boers, obtaining possession of +them, had the audacity to brand them as their property before M'Leod +could arrive to claim them. Oham had with him between 300 and 400 of his +people, and was accompanied by his eldest son, an intelligent lad of +fifteen, who soon made himself an object of great interest in Wood's +camp, and a favourite with the soldiers. Immediately on his arrival he +had an interview with, and was received with great respect by Colonel +Wood, who was informed by him that he would have surrendered some time +back but for two reasons. In the first place, he was under a system of +espionage by the orders of the king, with whom he had never been on good +terms since he openly, before the Indunas, spoke against the warlike +attitude and aggressive tone of his brother; and, secondly, when he did +make his first overtures for submission, he was told that he was not +believed by the English, and would be cast into prison, and sent to +Robbin Island as a convict. + +Oham was a black ikehla (head-ringed man), resembling both his father, +the late Mpanda, or Panda, and his brother Cetywayo, and although a +large man, his body and muscles were firm, not flabby like those of so +many other big Zulus. After the usual salutations he thus opened his +interview with Wood:-- + +"Sir, chief, and great warrior, whom I respect, because you fight +against men, and do not kill women or children, I came here to your camp +from a desire to see you, and to ask you to intercede for me and my +people, who have never wished to make war upon you, but to live in peace +and goodwill, and hunt the wild deer together. I have left more than two +thousand of my people ready and most anxious to come in and submit to +you, surrendering their arms and cattle, and giving their sons as +hostages, if you will guarantee their safety." + +The chief, who had a dignified manner and an honest expression of +countenance, was then informed that he and his people should receive +every consideration, and as much protection as was consistent with the +safe advance of the English troops into Zululand. He then assured Wood +that the Zulu army was considerably demoralized, and that, the people +having gone back to their kraals, Cetywayo found it no easy task to +collect a really effective fighting force. With some difficulty, +indeed, the king had managed to get together a strong impi, composed of +the Udhlambedhlu, or "Ill-tempered" Regiment, whose kraal was at +Udhlambedhlweni, about six miles east of the Usixepe, to exercise a +surveillance over Oham and his people. This corps, however, was formed +originally from a clan, or tribe, which were Dingaan's chief and +favourite regiment, and although in a measure loyal to their then ruler, +they were somewhat indignant at the duty imposed upon them, when they +would infinitely prefer the chances of raiding and plunder, which the +present unsettled state of the border presented. Now, when Wood was at +Utrecht the previous autumn, a letter was sent by the Landdrost Rudolph +to the Secretary for Native Affairs, in which he mentioned the arrival +of Gwegwana, the favourite messenger of Uhamo or Oham, with letters from +that chief to the following effect, which Oham now repeated to Colonel +Wood:--"I am sent back by Uhamo to hear what answer his father, Somtseu +(Sir Theophilus Shepstone), has sent to his message brought by me on the +10th October last. Uhamo is very anxious to know what is going to take +place in the land now that Cetywayo has called the whole of Zululand +together, and Uhamo has refused liberty to his people to assemble at +'Ondi,' and will openly tell Cetywayo that if he (Cetywayo) makes war +upon the English, he (Uhamo) will not join him, because Cetywayo's +people, Sirayo and Umbelini, have, by their overt acts, brought the +country into its present state of trouble and disgrace. Moreover, the +building by Cetywayo's orders of a military kraal on the Pongolo, and +the claims made by him of a portion of the Transvaal beyond the Blood +River, which had been, as Uhamo repeatedly told Cetywayo, ceded many +years ago to the Transvaal people, and other acts, had never received +any countenance from Uhamo, who now asks, Why does Cetywayo want to +quarrel with the English, who have ever been his friends, and who, +indeed, placed him on his present throne?" + +In his second interview with Colonel Wood, Oham was still more explicit +and demonstrative. He expressed himself with much indignation at his +brother's countenancing such a despicable character as Umbelini, who, +neither a pure Zulu nor a Swazi, had all the vices and none of the good +qualities of either; and he added that the degradation which his brother +had brought upon the race of Chaka by such an unworthy alliance has +caused him to lose much of his former popularity. Oham also added that, +in case of the continuance of the war, rather than be compelled to fight +against his old friends the English he would at all hazards bring his +people bodily over to that Government, and under these circumstances +claim their protection. "Uhamo loves peace as his father Panda did," +said the chief in conclusion, and his open and honest-looking eyes +seemed to corroborate this expression. + +We now come to another sad event, which though less in magnitude, is in +many points similar to the Isandhlwana disaster. Major Tucker, the chief +officer at Luneberg, gives this account of the affair:--Captain +Moriarty, with a company of the 80th, was ordered to march from Luneberg +on the 7th March, for the purpose of bringing in twenty waggons from +Derby, variously loaded, which had arrived at the Intombi Drift. +Earlier in the month Major Tucker sent down to the Drift, which was not +more than four miles off, a small escort to await the arrival of these +waggons. Believing, however, the position a perilous one, owing to the +proximity to Umbelini's kraal, on the 5th he ordered it to return. On +the 7th, however, the waggons, which had all but been captured on the +way down, did arrive at the Drift, and Moriarty was again sent with +seventy men of his company to act as escort and assist in getting the +convoy across the stream, which was considerably swollen by the +continued rains. The Drift was only four miles from the stronghold of +the renegade Swazi freebooter, Umbelini, who had of late given so much +trouble, and Moriarty had orders to neglect no precaution, and above all +to laager his waggons and keep an incessant and vigilant look-out. It +was ascertained from survivors that the waggons were actually parked, +but in a somewhat loose and careless fashion, and that no earthworks +were thrown up around the camp. For several days the river continued in +strong flood, and consequently no crossing could be effected. On the +11th it was reported by the native waggon-drivers that Umbelini's people +were gathering in the neighbourhood. The camp was pitched in a most +dangerous position, with its face towards some high ground, covered here +and there with dense bush, while its rear was resting upon the swollen +river, across which Lieutenant Harward and thirty-four men were posted. +No particular precautions appear to have been taken, with the exception +of a sentry being posted about fifteen paces from the front of the camp, +on the Derby side. When first warned by the drivers, Moriarty ordered +the men to stand to their arms, but only for a short time. On the +morning of the 12th, at four o'clock, a shot was heard from the +unfortunate sentry, who had barely time to call "Guard, turn out!" when +dense masses of the savages were seen not more than two hundred yards +from the camp. Their front extended for several miles, and they could +not, by the lowest estimate, have been less than 4000 or 5000 strong. +Lieutenant Harward, who had been on the _qui-vive_, and who had +carefully placed his thirty-five men under cover of his solitary waggon, +at once called his detachment to arms, and made what dispositions he +could to open fire upon the enemy's flank. In less than ten minutes, +however, the whole valley was swarming with the savages, who at once +proceeded in their usual manner to surround and overlap the camp and +waggons. In less time than it takes to tell, the camp was in their +hands, and the majority of the soldiers were assegaied, many of them +before they could leave their tents. The fight, or rather butchery, +which ensued was soon over, and, in spite of a well-directed and +well-sustained fire from the Luneberg bank of the river, the enemy +followed up the men, and assegaied them as they endeavoured to swim the +river. Harward, seeing the enemy crossing the river in large numbers, +gave the order to his men to retire slowly. Then, jumping on the back of +his horse, he galloped away at full speed to Luneberg, where he reported +what had happened. The savages continued to cross the stream, and coming +on in dense masses, for a short time a hand-to-hand fight took place, +ending however in the little band being broken up. + +Eight men, and the sergeant of Harward's detachment, by taking advantage +of shelter afforded by an old and dismantled kraal wall at some little +distance from the stream, and by their cool and determined shooting, +succeeded in saving their lives and getting to Luneberg. Ten men only +were saved from Moriarty's party, while he, with a civilian, Surgeon +Cobbin, was slain. + +The camp was evidently wrongly placed, and was clearly taken by +surprise. Major Tucker went out from Luneberg in person, with a small +party of horsemen, followed by 150 of the 80th, to see what could be +recovered, and the bodies of the dead were brought over the river and +buried, while twenty-five of the enemy's dead were discovered, and a +couple of wounded taken prisoners. From these men it was ascertained +that Umbelini himself was in command, having with him some men belonging +to our old antagonist Manyanyoba. Mcame, a powerful induna, had been +asked to join in the foray, but refused. When Tucker and his handful of +horsemen arrived on the banks of the river, the enemy were seen to be +retreating, but they could not be followed until the infantry came up. +Curious to remark, the waggons were not taken, and many of them were +only half plundered by the savages, who seemed most anxious to decamp +with what spoil they had secured. + +For his conduct in this affair Lieutenant Harward was subsequently tried +by court-martial. The ground of complaint was his having galloped off on +his horse--the only one present on the scene--leaving his men engaged in +a desperate engagement. The loss of the camp, or anything of a similar +nature, was in no way charged against him. His defence was that he had +ridden off to obtain assistance from the nearest point--that this was +his duty--and that he could not send a soldier in his place, as none of +them could ride. In the event the Court acquitted him. But in May of the +ensuing year (1880), the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief issued the +following special general order relative to a court-martial recently +held on an officer in South Africa:-- + +"At a general court-martial recently held, an officer was arraigned upon +the following charges,--First. Having misbehaved before the enemy, in +shamefully abandoning a party of the regiment under his command when +attacked by the enemy, and in riding off at speed from his men. Second. +Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in having +at the time and place mentioned in the first charge, neglected to take +proper precautions for the safety of a party of the regiment under his +command when attacked. The Court recorded a verdict of 'Not Guilty' on +both charges. The main facts of the case were not in dispute. The +officer rode away from his men to a station distant four and a half +miles, at a moment of extreme danger, when to all appearance the small +party under his command were being surrounded and overwhelmed by the +enemy. The charge alleged misbehaviour--that is, cowardice in so doing; +the defence averred that it was to procure reinforcements, and either by +their actual arrival, or by the imminence of their arrival, to ward off +destruction. In acquitting the prisoner, they have found that he was not +guilty of cowardice. The proceedings of the Court were submitted to the +General commanding, who recorded the following minute:--'Disapproved and +not confirmed. Lieutenant ... to be released from arrest, and to return +to his duty.' The confirming officer has further recorded his reasons +for withholding his approval and confirmation in the following +terms:--'Had I released this officer without making any remarks upon the +verdict in question, it would have been a tacit acknowledgment that I +concurred in what appears to me a monstrous theory, viz., that a +regimental officer who is the only officer present with a party of +soldiers actually and seriously engaged with the enemy can, under any +pretext whatever, be justified in deserting them, and by so doing +abandoning them to their fate. The more helpless the position in which +an officer finds his men, the more it is his bounden duty to stay and +share their fortune, whether for good or ill. It is because the British +officer has always done so that he occupies the position in which he is +held in the estimation of the world, that he possesses the influence he +does in the ranks of our army. The soldier has learnt to feel that, come +what may, he can, in the direst moment of danger, look with implicit +faith to his officer, knowing that he will never desert him under any +possible circumstances. It is to this faith of the British soldier in +his officers that we owe most of the gallant deeds recorded in our +military annals; and it is because the verdict of this court-martial +strikes at the root of this faith that I feel it necessary to mark +officially my emphatic dissent from the theory upon which the verdict +has been founded.' In communicating to the army the result of this +court-martial, the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief desires to signify +his entire approval of the views expressed by the confirming officer in +respect of the principles of duty which have always actuated British +officers in the field, and by which his Royal Highness feels assured +they will continue to be guided. This general order will, by his +Highness's command, be read at the head of every regiment in her +Majesty's service.--By Command, H. ELLICE, A.-G." + +It was about this time that Oham, whose actions had now clearly proved +his sincerity, and the value of his friendship to the British, having +made an earnest request to Colonel Wood that his wives and family might +be rescued from the power of Cetywayo, the colonel sent off about twenty +of the chief's men to collect them. To carry out the remainder of the +project, some days after, (on the 14th), a strong detachment of Buller's +men and the Burghers under Piet Uys, with 200 of Oham's people, left the +camp at daybreak, and guided by James Rorke and Calverly, marched to the +caves of Nhlangwine, which were situated rather more than twelve miles +east of the source of the Unkassi, and not less than forty-five miles +from Kambula. The caves were reached at 9.30 p.m., the last of the march +of seven miles being very difficult travelling, and taking three hours +to surmount. A few Zulus in charge of cattle were shot, and the animals +which had belonged to Oham were taken possession of. As has been said, +it was scarcely daybreak when the little column started. They rode along +for a considerable time in complete silence, the men being allowed to +smoke their pipes, but not to speak above a whisper. At first they +followed the spoor of some cattle, which indicated the road by which +Oham and his people had come to the camp, and then turning more in a +northerly direction, followed the course of some small streams which +flowed from the hills upon the left. The moon shone brightly, and +enabled them to see clearly for some distance before them. Many strange +sounds were heard, the growl of some beast of prey or the scream of the +night-birds disturbed by the clank of the horses' hoofs, or the +occasional rattle of a chain. The rapidity with which the column +cantered over the soft and springy veldt, the dead and ominous silence +maintained by all hands, and the steady and business-like mode in which +they pursued their course, neither turning to the right nor the left, +gave the journey a singularly weird character. As soon as the first +morning's light began to appear the guides, who rode in front, turned +into a ravine covered with dense brushwood and trees, and, having +ascended this for about three miles, they found it was possible to ride +out of it in three different directions, besides the one by which they +had entered, and thus a retreat could be effected if any attack were +made. Here it was decided to make the first off-saddle and partake of +breakfast. At a signal from their leader, and without any word of +command, the horsemen dismounted, slackened girths, and took off +saddles, while the bits were removed from the horses' mouths and the +animals allowed, Cape fashion, to take the customary roll in the grass. +This luxury to a Cape horse seems indispensable, and without it he will +rarely enjoy his grass or corn. No sooner, however, had the steeds +rolled than each was again saddled, and, with the exception of the still +slackened girths, was ready to be mounted in half a moment. Rifles and +revolvers were carefully examined, to see whether the night dew had done +any mischief, and then, having made a careful sweep round the horizon +with his field-glasses, the commander gave the order for the morning +meal, which consisted of a little cold tea, some bread, and "beltong" +(sun-dried game). + +After half an hour's rest they again started as silently as before. The +day had broken with all the splendour of an African morning. The day +before had been rainy, and the showers had refreshed the ground and +filled the various pools with water, and all kinds of wild animals were +busy and cheerful in the plains. A number of parrots and monkeys were +screaming and chattering with content, and the sportsmen of the party +were much exercised at hearing the pleasant double whistle of the quail +sounding from various patches of long grass. Figures which it was first +thought were Zulus were seen on the summits of the rocks, but Piet Uys +declared that they were merely baboons, whose early morning custom was +to come from the heights to search for and dig up roots, which seemed to +grow here in abundance. Vultures, sweeping aloft, were circling in the +air above where there had evidently been a skirmish, for the carcasses +of some horses still remained uneaten and poisoning the pure air. Here +and there a black-breasted and magnificent eagle sat on some withered +branch, and, seeming quite indifferent to the soldier's presence, +scanned the ground below him as if to select the daintiest morsel for +his morning meal. Mounting to the head of the kloof the party came to a +splendid prospect and panorama stretching out below. The plains seemed +to roll away to the north-east as far as the eye could see, while the +bright, glowing tints of the rugged foreground were mellowed away into +the middle distance, until, quite far away, the bold outlines of the +mountains assumed, not a purple, as in Europe they would have done, but +a rich blue tint, yet standing out in fine clear relief against the +distant sky, the dry atmosphere failing to give the subdued effect of +distance usually observed in other climates. These mountains were the +Tobomba range, which run northward, and almost parallel to the +coast-line. Amidst small groves of what seemed in the distance to be +acacia, and near the banks of many tiny streams that wound along the +plain, were groups of game. Herds of various kinds of bok were there, +and here and there some solitary and not gregarious animal was to be +seen, now bounding away from some imaginary danger, and now calmly +browsing on the sweet veldt. What a place for an encampment!--wood, +water, cover, commanding heights, which, properly occupied and +entrenched, could be held against an army; and a climate where fever +could scarcely penetrate, so pure and bracing was the air. Away up a +smaller valley on the right lay the path that had to be followed, and, +leaving the bright and smiling landscape in front, the column once more +plunged into the gloom of the bush. Two more outspans brought them to +sunset, and now precautions had to be redoubled, as they were nearing +most dangerous ground. The chances were more than probable that +Cetywayo, on hearing of his brother's defection and flight, had sent a +party of his warriors to take possession of his wives and cattle, both +vendible commodities in the land. If this were the case, it would +inevitably result that a vigilant watch would be kept to prevent their +escape to Oham. Strange to say, these anticipations were only partly +verified, for as the troops neared the caves they could see that they +were watched, but only by scattered and weak bodies of Zulus. These +fellows had evidently discovered that the white man's intention was +hostile, and they probably thought his object was cattle, and not to +recover or rescue Oham's wives and children, for they ran rapidly along +the heights above, taking no precaution for concealment, and seeming +only anxious to drive away their herds. As the horsemen approached the +caves at a canter, flankers were extended on either side to prevent +surprise. The excitement of Buller's men could hardly be restrained, +while the calm and stolid Dutchmen, who glided silently and grimly on, +offered a wide contrast to their more hot-blooded comrades. As they came +nearer and nearer the place seemed inhabited, and it was evident that +the natives sent on a few days previously had apprised the people of +Buller's advent and friendly intentions. Then Oham's people came +crowding out of their caves, jostling each other in their anxiety to +greet the English soldiers, grasping their assegais, and giving vent to +a succession of guttural clicks, which it would baffle any known +combination of vowels to reproduce. They did not cheer; such was not +their custom, but they waved their spears aloft, as if they felt them +entering the enemy's body. + +Rorke, having now been sent on with a small escort to explore the +caves, was not long in reporting that all the women and children had +been collected, and a bivouac having been formed, with outlying pickets +in every direction, and sentries posted, that night was passed without +molestation. At nine a.m. the following morning a compact column was +formed, consisting of the rescued allies or prisoners, the few cattle +collected in the centre, and the whole party started for the homeward +march. It could scarcely have been hoped that the retreat would have +been unmolested, yet only at the Inklepgwene, a difficult defile, were +they fired upon by a body of Zulus, evidently hastily collected, and +numbering some thousand men. The detachment reached the camp, with the +rescued families, at one p.m. on the 16th. + +Wood had for some time purposed taking the initiative against Umbelini, +and from information obtained from Oham's people came to the conclusion +that Umbelini's place on the Mhlobana Mountain, which was not more than +five and twenty miles from Kambula, was capable of being successfully +surprised. He had heard from headquarters that Lord Chelmsford would +probably start for Pearson's relief on the 28th, so he determined to +take that opportunity of making a diversion towards Mhlobana. + +On Wednesday, 26th March, Colonel Buller and Piet Uys were summoned to +Colonel Wood's tent, and told that information had come in to the effect +that a large quantity of fine cattle had been seen on the Zlobani range +of mountains, some ten or twelve miles from Kambula. This Zlobani range +could be seen from the camp, and in most places was steep and +precipitous, well wooded, and full of large caves, places of +concealment, and natural fastnesses. + +Several reconnaissances had been previously made by Colonels Wood and +Buller, who had both made themselves well acquainted with its natural +features and its various difficulties of attack. It was well known that +scattered bands of predatory Zulus, guarding large quantities of cattle, +had been for some time concealed in these rocky recesses, and that, in +compliance with the king's orders, these bands had been consolidated and +reinforced by regiments sent by Cetywayo from Ulundi. Colonel Wood had, +however, other information, from some of Oham's people, that all the +regiments indicated had not yet come in, and that want of ammunition was +detaining them in their own kraals. This, as it turned out, could not +have been quite correct. After some conversation, Colonel Weatherly and +Commandants Raaf and Schermbrucker were also summoned to the colonel's +tent, and it was unanimously decided that it would be advisable to take +the initiative and strike a blow before the Zulus concentrated to attack +the camp, as Wood was on all hands assured they would do. Before any +operations on the Zlobani are described, it should be mentioned that +Wood had been enabled from the additions to his column to establish a +chain of communications between Kambula, Utrecht, and Dundee. He had +also organized a strong outpost between his camp and the Transvaal +border, and another at Doornkop, or Thorn-hill. To this place Captain +Schermbrucker and a party of his men were sent, but had been temporarily +recalled to assist us at Kambula. + +After the council of war held by the colonel on the 26th, arrangements +were at once made for the reconnaissance to the Zlobani. The force +selected for this expedition consisted of the Imperial Mounted +Infantry, 150; the Frontier Light Horse, 125; Raaf's Contingent, 50; +Piet Uys's Boer Contingent, 50; Weatherly's Horse, 80; and +Schermbrucker's Horse, 40, making a total of 495; and each man was +supplied with three days' rations and 100 rounds of ammunition. + +All the horses intended for the expedition were carefully inspected on +the 26th, and the colonel rejected several that did not seem in good +form. They did not, as a rule, average more than fourteen hands two +inches in height, but all were stout, short-backed, well ribbed up +animals, and up to far more weight than their appearance would lead a +novice to suppose. All these animals were trained to remain perfectly +quiet when the men dismounted to fire, and many of them would actually +come to their rider at a whistle. Piet Uys's men were especially well +mounted, and it was necessary that they should be, as your Dutch Boer +is, as a rule, by no means a feather-weight, being usually over thirteen +stone. They are also very powerful men, and until forty or forty-five +not unwieldy. After that age, they generally get heavier. Most of the +old-fashioned Boers still retained the long "roer" or smoothbore, but +all the younger generation had taken to the latest pattern rifles. A +revolver and stout cutlass also formed part of their equipment, and a +single blanket strapped in front of the saddle carried all their kit. + +At three a.m. on the 27th, the first little band of gallant horsemen +under Colonel Russell were quietly paraded in the moonlight, and after +being carefully inspected were addressed in a few well-chosen words by +Colonel Wood, who had finally decided to accompany the party. The whole +party made up altogether 495 sabres, every one of whom was a good +swordsman and a picked marksman. The horses, although somewhat rough in +the coat, were in good wind and excellent condition, and every one of +these animals was well trained to stand fire. They moved off quietly +from the camp, and passing along the track, which descended towards a +sandy and deep nullah with most precipitous sides, debouched into an +open space, from which the Zlobani range could be seen in the intervals +of moonlight, now and then obscured by the passing clouds, which seemed +to foretell a stormy day. The track in many places crossed difficult +spruits, and in parts was obliterated by thorn-trees and bush. It was +frequently commanded by projecting spurs and bluffs, from which an enemy +could have seriously annoyed the advance. At five o'clock the column +halted, and after a careful reconnaissance, off-saddled for half an +hour, while the men partook of a ration of cold tea and beltong. This +halt was made near a large dried-up, sandy watercourse, in parts of +which the sand was moist, and by digging holes water was found in +sufficient quantities for the horses to wash their mouths. The +surrounding country was totally denuded of fodder, and as far as the eye +could reach the most wild and barren prospect was to be seen. Another +advance of about five miles changed the aspect of the scene, and brought +them to a slightly wooded ravine, amidst the rocks of which ran a clear +stream, over a grassy or pebbly bed, behind which loomed a range of +rocky hills, the summit of which seemed crowned by immense boulders, +looking in the distance like huge slabs placed by giant hands in their +present position. Away to the left was an undulating plain, upon which +were detached clumps of bushes and trees. Over this plain small mountain +streams flowed in various directions, winding amongst trees, shrubs, and +ferns of different variety. Here and there antelopes were grazing, +ostriches were stalking, and now and then vultures were seen grimly +circling round in seeming anticipation of a morning feast. A couple of +miles further on they came to a large cultivated flat terminating to the +right in a long, dark, and winding gorge, black with bush and skirted by +huge precipices of sandstone and granite. They turned into this, and +proceeded silently but quickly along the banks of a small rivulet, until +they came to the foot of the mountain, and, after some little time, +discovered a steep path, which seemed cut out of the solid cliff, and +wide enough only for one horseman to pass. They were more than +three-quarters of an hour scaling this path, which was most dangerous to +horsemen unaccustomed to such tracks, and suited more to the bush bok +seen here and there as the horsemen ascended higher and higher. + +On nearing the top of the krantz the view was magnificent. Away to the +extreme right was the purple range of the Ingive Mountains, behind which +the sun was fast rising. The Ingonyama came next, and joined the +Ntabatulu and Ingoma ranges, the latter of which overhangs the left bank +of the Black Umfolosi, all along which are the most extensive forests +and inaccessible kloofs and krantzes. The head of the column had no +sooner gained the summit of the last ledge than the leading files +noticed a large number of cattle grazing on the plateau. These were +guarded by about 150 or 200 armed Zulus, who, however, did not see the +advancing troops. The range upon which the English party now found +themselves extended about seven or eight miles, and was accessible only +by a few most difficult footpaths leading from the plains below. Huge +masses of scrub and boulders, krantzes, terraces, and ledges of rock, +caves and immense fissures in the sides of the mountain, formed a +retreat for the cattle, which, upon an alarm being sounded, were quickly +driven from the grazing-ground above. The northern face of the mountain +was a sheer precipice, perfectly bare of all bush or shrub. They were +now halted, and ordered to bivouac. At about seven in the evening +Colonel Wood rejoined them, having with him his usual small staff and +personal escort, consisting of Captain the Hon. Ronald Campbell, his +staff officer; Lieut. Lysons, 90th Light Infantry, his orderly officer; +Mr. Lloyd, political agent (son of General Lloyd, of the Natal +Legislative Assembly); eight mounted men of the 90th Light Infantry, and +six stalwart natives under Umtongo, one of Pondo's sons. Umtongo had by +some means or other obtained information that the regiments named +Naxeane, Umdomandi, Ucaridanburg, Macalsiene, Udmine, Ekotsamaclooser, +and Macalvoore, under the Indunas Umgongo, Umsimoyao, and other noted +chiefs, had left Ulundi three days before, on the 24th, and Umtongo was +consequently most anxious that the column should at once return to the +Kambula. This advice, however, could not have been followed without +exposing Colonels Buller and Weatherly and Piet Uys, who were in front, +to be cut off and surrounded, so that it was decided that a junction +must be made with them at whatever risks. + +At half-past three a.m. the commanding officer ordered the word to be +quietly passed round for the men to stand to their horses and prepare to +march. An occasional and straggling ray of moonlight helped them to +follow the faint tracks of those who had gone before them, and before +going very far they came upon unmistakable evidences of the advance +having been opposed. A distant shot was now and then heard, away towards +the bluff of the mountain on the north-east side; and soon after these +indications of fighting was heard the sound of horses, and Colonel +Weatherly, with his son, and about eighty of his troopers, met Colonel +Wood, bringing him the news that on the previous night he had been +unfortunate enough to miss his road. As the morning was now breaking, +and the warm sun commenced to light up the scene, Colonel Wood noticed, +here and there on the path, a broken assegai, a damaged shield, rent +with a Martini-Henry rifle-bullet, and further on the bodies of some +Zulus and the carcass of a dead horse. These signs marked where Buller +had passed and had been attacked. Campbell and Lysons therefore ascended +the rocks above a huge cave, and, taking every precaution to screen +themselves from observation, scanned the surrounding horizon with the +field-glasses. Far away, almost upon the summit of an apparently +inaccessible and gigantic cliff, the van of Buller's column could be +seen slowly advancing, and driving some dark masses of cattle and Zulus +before them. These officers came down at once to report, and Colonel +Weatherly requested permission to lead his men on to Buller's +assistance, while Colonel Wood followed with the remainder of his +horsemen. This permission being granted, Weatherly moved on by a +terribly difficult path to the right, while the remainder kept to what +seemed to be the main track. About half a mile farther on this party +saw, a few hundred yards to the left, about 200 Zulus, who appeared to +be armed with rifles. They were moving rapidly across the English front, +stopping occasionally to take a shot at the leading files, who had, on +account of the difficulties of the road, been compelled to dismount and +lead their horses. The object of this detachment was now evident, it +being their intention to get between the main column and Weatherly's +little band. It was noticed that half a dozen gigantic warriors, each +armed with rifle, shield, and bundle of assegais, led the main body of +these Zulus. These men took it in turns to run in front, and were +evidently acting as guides, often enabling the rest to make short cuts, +and thus to get over the ground more quickly. They paused, however, now +and then, as if to examine the spoor of the horses, on which the +previous night's rain had fallen, and from this Colonel Wood concluded +that some of his people were in the same direction. By means of some +wild vine and creepers Lysons and one of the escort now descended from +the opposite side of the plateau on which was the cave, and running +rapidly along the top of the next ridge, made their way unseen to the +edge of the bush. They thus commanded the plain below, and the +serpentine pathway by which Buller had found his way to the summit of +the cliff. From this point Buller and his men could be seen scouring +the mountains beyond the intervening kloof, and about halfway up the +opposite ascent were observed a strong party of Zulus working forward as +if to cut off the horsemen above. As Weatherly and Colonel Wood were now +separated by a deep and impassable ravine, they could only hope that +they should be able to effect a junction with Buller by different +routes, and, if possible, in time to give effective help. Crouching down +so as not to be seen by the main column were a few of the enemy on a +narrow ledge of rock, about a hundred yards above their heads. Where +these fellows had come from it was not easy to imagine, but they +immediately opened a hot, but ill-directed fire, which the English +troopers did not at first return, as they were too much occupied in +guiding their horses over the dangerous places, where a single false +step would have sent them to the valley below. Meanwhile Umtongo and two +of his men had climbed round by a higher portion of the cliff, and, +guiding some of the English marksmen, they opened a fire upon the Zulu +scouts, which soon cleared them from the path. Another half-hour's +toilsome march brought Wood upon Weatherly's track, and they then could +see the rear of Buller's column high above them to the right. + +It would be difficult to describe the marvellously rugged and weird +nature of the rocks around, and the ghastly features of the sheer +precipices gaping on either side. Killed and wounded horses now were +seen at every turn of the road, showing how stoutly the enemy must have +held their ground, and how difficult an operation Buller had performed. +Sending fifty men round to work on our right flank and to endeavour to +take the Zulus in the rear, Colonel Wood kept his men for a few moments +under cover of a friendly ledge of rocks to look to their rifles, +girths, and ammunition, and then ascended rapidly to the front, passing +the Border Horse, who had by this time got off the track. The scene was +at this moment intensely exciting. The firing was almost continuous, and +the yells of the savages were re-echoed back by the loud and +heart-stirring cheers of their gallant comrades, who had seen Wood's +column coming and gave them this encouragement. It was not long before +they came under more direct fire, and at this juncture Colonel Wood, who +had been keeping his men cool and steady by his own presence of mind and +good-humoured encouragement, left Colonel Russell in charge, and jumping +upon his horse, as the ground was now practicable for riding, trotted +through the skirmishers, and, closely followed by his staff and escort, +pushed rapidly to the front. This party, with a dozen of the Border +Horse, galloped to within a hundred paces of the summit of the cliff, +where they saw that they were in the thick of the fire, raining upon +them both from front and flank, and proceeding from a mass of Zulus +skirmishing in the most artistic and workmanlike manner from their +caves, crevices, and enormous boulders which formed the natural +fortifications of the mountain plateau. At this moment Weatherly, with +his gallant and noble-hearted boy, aged only fifteen, and who insisted +on fighting by his father's side, were cheering on their men, dashing +boldly into the caves, and closing in mortal strife with the Zulus. +"Take a dozen men over to the cave to the right front, and rattle out +the fellows who are firing so well, Colonel Weatherly," said Colonel +Wood, as his horse staggered under him from a deep assegai wound in the +chest, and a savage from behind a boulder fired at that officer at ten +paces' distance. The bullet missed him, and Llewellen Lloyd, seeing the +man loading quickly again, at once rode to cut him down, and was shot +through the head. Wood, seeing this officer fall, dashed spurs into his +wounded horse and galloped up to catch him, closely followed by Ronald +Campbell. Two other Zulus from the cave now fired simultaneously at the +colonel, whose horse at this moment was again struck, and fell upon him. +The colonel was upon his feet in a moment, and assisted Captain Campbell +and his orderly to carry Lloyd's body to a ledge more out of the way. +The shot which killed poor Llewellen Lloyd tore Colonel Wood's sleeve +underneath his arm before reaching its mark. As Colonel Weatherly's men +were engaged with several Zulus at close quarters, some little delay +occurred in their advance upon the cave, whence the fire was most +galling; and Ronald Campbell, calling on Lysons and some of the escort +to follow him, dashed at the opening, having first cleared a sort of +breastwork at the entrance. Poor Campbell fell, shot through the head; +and Lysons and a brave fellow, Corporal Fowler, following closely upon +the footsteps of the brave young guardsman, killed the two remaining +Zulus within the cave, while another, severely wounded, managed to crawl +away through a narrow crevice in the rock. Having ascertained that the +enemy were retreating before Buller on the summit, Colonel Weatherly was +sent to make a small circuit lower down the cliff, to endeavour to hit +off the path by which the former had so successfully ascended, and +which the others were unfortunate enough to miss. Buller, in the +meanwhile, was not only driving the Zulus' cattle before him, but was +able to assist his comrades by his fire from his vantage-ground above. +The enemy in front and flank retired, disputing every available spot, +while Weatherly was most skilfully working round to their left rear. His +disposition of his men was most judicious, and he rendered very material +help to Wood's portion of the force, intercepting and driving back a +strong party which were coming up to assist the body they were engaging. +These, however, eventually took up a formidable position in some caves +in a deep kloof, from which they kept up a constant and dropping fire. +Amongst Wood's party they had up to this time but few casualties, though +the loss of such splendid and noble-hearted soldiers as Campbell and +Lloyd was a terrible blow to their chief, whose right hand men they +were. Colonel Wood, in spite of the galling fire still maintained by the +entrenched Zulus, assisted the party told off to carry the bodies of the +dead to a place about half way down the first hill, where, in disregard +of the bullets which kept rattling round, these noble young heroes were +buried in a soldier's glorious grave, the funeral honours being +discharged over them by the rifles of friend and foe. + +Colonel Wood now made a flank movement with a portion of the column in a +north-westerly direction, to see if a junction could be effected with +that portion of the men which had been left in the charge of Colonel +Russell. In effecting this change of position Wood had to pass under the +steepest cliffs of the Zlobani Mountain. Umtongo, true to his Rob Roy +and predatory instincts, had utilised his opportunity by a little +cattle-lifting, and, in spite of the rather hot time he had been +experiencing, was engaged in driving, with the aid of his people, a herd +of sheep and goats abandoned by the foe. As Wood's party were carrying +their wounded men, and now and then halted to give them stimulants, +their progress was necessarily slow, and this delay led to serious +consequences, for the large reinforcements they knew might arrive from +Ulundi later in the day had, without their knowledge, actually arrived, +and were marching parallel to their right front, and concealed from +sight. Umtongo was the first to discover the proximity of this hostile +array, and, although without an interpreter, Colonel Wood understood +enough of his language, aided by signs, to comprehend the gravity of the +situation. The colonel, having obtained a fresh horse, cantered across +some very broken ground to a high bluff just under the Zunguin's Neck, +and, guided by some of Oham's people, managed, not without considerable +difficulty, to reach a point upon a ledge of rock whence he could, +without a glass, see the movements and exact formation of the enemy's +force. The column was evidently the reinforcements expected from Ulundi, +and had a portion of the English column not missed its way on the night +of the 27th, it is tolerably certain they would have effected the object +of their raid and retreated to the shelter of the camp without much +loss. Wood knew of the despatch of this army on the 24th, but did not +calculate that it could have compassed the distance it marched in three +days. As matters stood, however, the colonel and his staff could see +from their coign of vantage that the Zulu army from Ulundi were +marching in a line of five contiguous columns, with a line of +skirmishers thrown out in front and on flank, forming the usual horns +and chest. From subsequent description given by Buller, it appears that +the first part of his task was successfully carried out; that the track +up the Zlobani was correctly hit off, the Zulu entrenched caves +triumphantly carried by storm, and a large quantity of cattle taken and +driven off. Had Wood's portion of the attack and that commanded by +Weatherly appeared on the scene of action in time to support Buller's +splendid onslaught, all would have gone well, but the delay caused by +their missing the track enabled the Zlobani followers of Umbelini and +Manyanyoba to hold their own ground until the arrival of the Ulundi +army. Buller did all that a skilled general could effect to bring off +his men with small loss, but from the nature of the ground it was in +this instance almost impossible for cavalry to work with any degree of +celerity. The mountain having been carried soon after daybreak, a long +off-saddle to feed the horses and an unavoidable delay of four hours +were made, to enable the main division to come up. Suddenly the immense +force of Zulus, seen by Wood from the Zunguin's Neck, was observed by +Colonel Buller and Oham's scouts. An immediate but orderly retreat was +commenced, but could not be effected without the most desperate fighting +and severe loss. The enemy had massed themselves on three sides of the +mountain, and only one terribly steep path was left to descend. This was +thoroughly blocked by the Zulus, who, under cover, rained bullets and +assegais upon these devoted men, and then, when the moment came for +close fighting, dashed in dense masses upon their thinned and weakened +files. Halfway down this fearful gorge the road was so narrow and so +steep that it was nearly closed up by the proximity of the tall cliffs +on either side. These hills seemed to be formed of smooth and slippery +ledges, over which many wounded men and horses fell, coming down upon +the points of the assegais waiting below to receive them! Caves, with +natural breastworks, like casemated batteries, were on either side of +the path, wet and slippery with blood. Colonel Wood was of opinion that +the Ulundi army did not follow up Buller's retreat for two reasons: +first, because its wonderful three days' march had in a great measure +exhausted the men, who came in such haste as to dispense with provisions +and spare ammunition; and secondly, on account of the powerful +demonstration the main or second division made on their flank even at +the eleventh hour. To the cool valour and devoted courage of Colonel +Buller the safety of those who came back to camp was due. He fought at +the rear of the retiring column, assisting the wounded, charged +desperately at the dense masses of fiery Zulus who were pressing on with +the thirst of blood, and not until he saw the last of his band through +this terrible kloof did he turn his horse to follow his men, or to think +of his own safety. + +Seeing that nothing more could be done to help Buller in his retreat, +Colonel Wood despatched a messenger to Colonel Russell, who by this time +had commenced the ascent of the extreme westerly point of the range, to +retrace his steps eastward, and to cover the retreat of the native +allies upon the camp. Russell lost no time in carrying out these +instructions, but before he could arrive several natives had been +overtaken and speared. The Kambula camp was reached by the column about +7.30. Buller, on learning that our gallant young friend Barton had not +returned, and was away on foot with the survivors of the Border Horse, +some ten miles off, at once obtained permission from Colonel Wood to go +in search of the party. The evening had set in stormy, and torrents of +rain were now coming down. Buller had been in the saddle for forty-eight +hours, was severely contused, and had escaped death by almost a miracle; +but setting a noble example, he obtained a party of volunteers, and +taking led horses, started on his expedition. Seven men, who would +probably have never reached the camp, were brought in by this gallant +act, and these were the sole survivors of Barton's Horse. It would seem +that in attempting to follow Wood's track in retiring they were +overtaken and cut off. They then attempted to retreat by the north and +the Hyntecha Kloof, where the majority died fighting gallantly to the +last. Splendid, manly, honest, simple, and taciturn Piet Uys, whose +father, uncles, and cousins fought and fell in the old wars with +Dingaan! On the evening of the 17th, after the conference in Wood's +tent, he spoke in the most feeling terms of his children, of whom, like +all Cape Dutchmen, he was passionately fond, and Colonel Wood, with that +thoughtful kindness for which he is so well known, at once said that, +should anything happen to the father, he would interest himself with the +Government to provide for the orphans. Piet Uys could have easily +escaped, but, like Buller, he would see the last of his men clear before +turning rein. He was last seen with his back to the cliff, standing +across the body of his favourite "mooi paard" (grey horse), with six +large Zulus lying dead in a circle round him, his empty revolver in his +left hand and his body pierced by two assegais! Colonel Weatherly's +Horse went into action about eighty strong, and of these brave fellows +forty-five were dead, including the gallant colonel and his brave, +intelligent, and handsome son, a lad of fifteen, who, at an age when +many an English youth is celebrated only in the cricket-field or on the +river, had seen more of real fighting than many a veteran in the +regulars. Nothing could be more sad than Weatherly's death. At the fatal +hour when all save honour seemed lost, he placed his beloved boy upon +his best horse, and kissing him on the forehead, commended him to +another Father's care above, and implored him to overtake the nearest +column of the English horse, which seemed at that time to be cutting its +way out. The boy clung to his father, and begged to be allowed to stay +by his side, and share his life or death. The contrast was +characteristic. The man, a bearded, bronzed, and hardy _sabreur_, with a +father's tears upon his cheek, while the blue-eyed and fair-haired lad, +with much of the beauty of a girl in his appearance, was calmly and with +a smile of fond delight loading his father's favourite carbine. When the +two noble hearts were last seen, the father, wounded to death with cruel +assegais, was clasping his boy's hand with his left, while the right cut +down the brawny savages who came to despoil him of his charge. + + * * * * * + +Though in all these operations of which mention has been lately made +Lord Chelmsford never once appears, it must not therefore be supposed +that he had rested from his labours. On the contrary they were more +incessant and arduous than ever. When the news of Isandhlwana first +reached the colonies, it caused the utmost excitement and wildest +apprehensions. Nothing less, it was averred, was about to happen than an +immediate and overwhelming invasion of Natal by the Zulus. The black men +were on the point of sweeping the whites into the sea. Lord Chelmsford's +first duty, after an urgent application to the home authorities for +reinforcements, was to render these alarms groundless. To organize of a +sudden the defence of so extended a frontier was no easy task. How +thoroughly and conscientiously it was performed the result testifies. + +Another duty scarcely less urgent was the rescue of Colonel Pearson. And +in this project he received aid, as valuable as unexpected, from the +Governor of St. Helena. No sooner did that official hear of Lord +Chelmsford's urgent need, than he at once assumed the responsibility of +sending on the garrison of his island--in all 160 soldiers--to the +rescue. Captain Bradshaw, of H.M.S. "Shah," chanced to be lying in the +harbour, homeward bound, after a period of foreign service, but he +hesitated not one whit more than the Governor. He embarked the garrison, +and on February 19th had anchored at Durban. There a naval brigade of +400 men was furnished from his ship; and thus it came about that long +before reinforcements from England could arrive, and on the day that +Zlobani was fought, Lord Chelmsford was already well on the way to +deliver Pearson from his captivity. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + Effects of Zlobani--Description of Kambula Camp--Desperate Zulu attack + thereon--Description of the battle--Deaths of Lieutenants Bright and + Nicholson--Gallant rescue by Captain Woodgate--Force and commanders + of the Zulu attack--Their losses--The English losses--Fortifications + at Kambula Kop--Block House--Arrival of despatches--Exciting scene. + + +Before Lord Chelmsford set out on his march, Colonel Pearson had sent +messengers to warn him that not less than 35,000 Zulus were lying in +ambush between the Tugela and Ekowe, in order to assail him as he +advanced to the relief of that post. Orders were therefore sent to +Colonel Wood to make an attack on the Zulu flank, and so to create a +diversion in favour of the relieving column. + +Accordingly, Wood advanced from his entrenched position at Kambula Kop +to the Zlobani mountain, where Umbelini's chief stronghold and kraal was +situated. This Wood assailed, and though after a sharp engagement, which +has been previously described, his forces received a decided check, yet +he may be said to have achieved a success, inasmuch as he undoubtedly +drew away a large part of the force that was intended to operate against +Lord Chelmsford. Another result of this battle was that it gave the +enemy sufficient encouragement to induce them to attack the English +troops on the following day in their position at Kambula, thus enabling +Wood to obtain a solid and decisive victory. + +From various incidents that came under his observation Colonel Wood +formed an opinion, subsequently verified by the event, that an attack +upon Kambula would not be long in following the check at Zlobani; a +vigilant look-out was therefore maintained during the whole of the night +of the 28th. The rain came down heavily during the early part of the +night, and shortly before dawn Captain Raaf was sent out with +twenty-five men to reconnoitre, and, if possible, pick up any wounded or +straggling. Zulus, who would give any information as to the movements of +the strong impi known to be in the immediate neighbourhood. About ten +a.m. Raaf sent in one of Oham's people--a most intelligent and witty +fellow--who gave a graphic account how he was captured when left behind +with the recovered cattle taken from Umbelini. Having taken off his +distinctive head-badge, although he was recognized by a friend, the +Zulus were not aware that he was one of Oham's people, or that he had +joined the English cause. On this account, therefore, he was allowed to +accompany the Zulu impi as far as Umsedosi. While with the enemy he +obtained a tolerably correct notion of their strength, and was +intelligent enough to remember the names and titles of the various corps +sent from Ulundi, and, indeed, of those which were retained by the king. +Cetywayo, he said, had divided his entire military available force into +three formidable columns of four regiments each. One of these, +consisting of the Naxeane, the Umdomandi, the Ucaridanburg, and the +Macalsiene, was sent without commissariat, and by forced marches from +Ulundi on the 24th March, and part of this column, but not all, was +engaged with Umbelini against Wood at Zlobani on the 28th. This column +numbered at the least 20,000 men, and was well supplied with arms of +precision. Four regiments were retained at Ulundi as a bodyguard and +garrison to the king, and the remaining four were told off to attack +Lord Chelmsford at or near Ekowe. Very early on the morning of the 29th, +Oham's friendly Zulu, feeling anxious about his own safety, persuaded +some of the Zulu braves to accompany him some distance from their camp, +under the pretence of obtaining them some drink. Taking a favourable +opportunity, however, he managed to elude their vigilance and give them +the slip, when he made the best of his way to Raaf's party, who at once +sent him on to the Kambula camp, with the information given above. This +fellow gave an admirable account of the state of feeling in the Zulu +armies, and his opinion was that great numbers of the men were now +serving entirely against their will, as they found that, instead of +getting plenty of booty in the shape of cattle, stores, arms, and +ammunition, they were the losers, as during their absence with the army +the English attacked their kraals, and carried off their oxen, sheep, +and goats. This man, although quite a chief at Oham's kraal, would seem +to be a sort of headman, and to be in the habit of conversing familiarly +with those in authority; for, he added, that it was rumoured that +Dabulamanzi would, if another reverse fell upon the Zulu arms, in all +probability follow Oham's example, and proffer submission. + +On receiving the intelligence of the Zulu advance, Colonel Wood had few +preparations to make, for in the camp at Kambula each corps, each +company, each subdivision, each section, and each man had a place +allotted, and had been taught to be in that place at one sound of the +bugle. The little fort was in an exceptionally strong position, being +laid out upon an elevated and narrow ridge of table-land. A complete +precipice, perfectly inaccessible to a white man, even though a born +cragsman, guarded the right flank. On the left a succession of steep +terraces had been utilised, and carefully entrenched with lines _en +crémaillère_, or outworks, each successive line defilading its +neighbour. In front there was a narrow slip of land, hemmed in by ledges +of rock, and swept by two 7-pounders, while immediately in rear, upon an +eminence about 120 feet above the fort was a small _lunette_, with open +gorge, and armed with two guns. The camp at first consisted of one +laager, but an outer defence with a hundred waggons, and an inner one +with fifty, had been subsequently added. Deep and wide ditches flanked +by _caponnières_ protected the outer boundary, and were traced in the +form of an irregular hexagon. As soon as Oham's Zulu had made his +report, the garrison were called to arms without the slightest fuss, +excitement, or confusion, and messengers were at once despatched to +order the return of a fatigue party which had been sent out in the early +morning wood-cutting. These men reported on their return that they had +seen Zulus scouting about five miles to the west, and had they not been +recalled they would have stayed to get further intelligence. As soon as +the men of the various corps were at their posts, Colonel Wood rode +round to give them a few final words of encouragement, saying in +conclusion, that he knew they would hold the fort while a man was left +to fire a shot. The tents were then struck, and the men lined the +shelter-trenches. The horses stood to their bridles, and the ammunition +was served out by fatigue parties told off for this duty. Most of the +waggon-drivers had been taught to use the Martini, and a few were served +out to each face of the laager. + +It was now nearly eleven a.m., and shortly after that time the Zulu +battalions were seen on the base of the hill. Here they halted for a +considerable time, and apparently a council of war was held. Their +movements were evidently not so decided as on former occasions, and it +was more than an hour before any forward measure was taken. The cattle +had been brought into camp, with the exception of about 220 which had +strayed away towards the enemy, and it could be seen that the Zulu chief +had detached a portion of his men to secure these animals. On this +movement being noticed, Colonel Buller was ordered out to reconnoitre, +and to see if any opening offered for a charge upon the detached body of +the enemy, but no chance presenting itself, the cavalry retired, and +took up an excellent position on the north front of the camp. A flanking +movement was now made by a body of Zulus, numbering about 7000 men. +These regiments broke from line into column, and ran at a tremendous +pace along a ledge situated at the commencement of the cultivated land. +As the object of this man[oe]uvre was evidently to entice the cavalry to +attack upon broken and difficult ground, Buller and Russell very wisely +restrained their men from attempting any sortie. The Zulus were in range +by this time, but it was thought desirable to reserve all fire until +they were massed in closer order. It was nearly half-past one when the +action actually commenced, and it was opened by a cloud of skirmishers, +who, fed by supports and reserves, began to scale the north front of the +English post. Here, behind the outermost line of entrenchments, Buller +and Russell dismounted a portion of their men, and each trooper being +cautioned to select his object and fire steadily, some excellent +rifle-practice was made. No sooner did a head or a shield appear above a +rock, a boulder, or a tuft of grass, than the "ping" of the deadly +Martini-Henry rang out, and in nine cases out of ten there was an enemy +the less to encounter. Some portion of the band of the gallant but lost +Piet Uys, had been sent to reinforce Buller's attenuated squadron, and +these men particularly distinguished themselves as highly-skilled +marksmen. Many of these Boers still retained their old national weapon, +the long single-barrelled _roer_, carrying an enormous bullet, suited +for the destruction of big game. There is no doubt that, in the hands of +a South African Dutchman, this is a terrible weapon. The conical bullet, +perhaps, has a greater power of penetration, but the larger ball of the +old-fashioned fire-arm, which in appearance is not unlike a huge +duck-gun, inflicts a wound which rarely fails to kill. These splendid +Dutchmen shot with all the skill that hatred of the savages and a desire +for vengeance for their late leader could teach, and there could be +noticed on the countenance of each a sterner expression and a more +deadly resolve than usual. From the little fort a gun was now brought +to bear upon the advancing line, but without much effect, as an +intervening spur gave shelter to the foe. The attack was now renewed on +the north side with redoubled vigour; the lines of skirmishers fell +back, and were replaced by a more solid line, supported by the usual +dense column in its rear. Buller saw that it became necessary to remount +his men, and this movement of course weakened the effect of his fire. He +retired, however, slowly, halting now and then, and sending a volley +into the masses which kept pouring up the slopes. Major Russell, at this +juncture, executed a brilliant dash at a body of Zulus who were running +in an easterly direction to gain possession of a ledge of rock, and, +catching them on a favourable piece of ground, with about a score of his +men managed to sabre a great many without the loss of one trooper. This, +however, did not suffice to check the steady advance, and orders were +sent for Buller and Russell to retire slowly within the laager, their +retreat being splendidly covered by Colonel Gilbert and four companies +of his fine regiment, the 13th, who were posted on the right rear of the +laager. One company of the 13th, under Captain Cox, an officer of former +Cape experience, held the cattle laager, which gave a splendid flanking +fire along the front, and these men waited until the Zulus were within +300 yards, and then commenced an independent file firing at the same +time that Gilbert's men delivered a withering volley. As Cox and his men +could not see the right rear, to which point the principal Zulu attack +had now changed, a skilful counter-attack was ordered by Colonel Wood, +who directed Major Hackett to take a couple of companies of the 90th +Light Infantry to advance over the slope, and open a cross-fire upon the +enemy. This movement was magnificently carried out by Hackett, whose men +moved out into the open as if on parade, and with a steady advance, such +as British troops are proud of, marched on to the rear of the cattle +laager, taking the Zulus completely by surprise. Nothing could be better +than the calm and deliberate firing of these men. Every shot told with +deadly effect, and dark bodies and shields soon began to dot the ground. +Still, however, the living stream rolled on, and as one warrior went +down in the death-struggle, another, with a shout of vengeance, sprang +into his place. + +It was now a little after two o'clock, and while this attack upon the +left rear had been progressing, another strong body of the enemy had +succeeded in gaining an eminence from which, although at a long range, +they were enabled to keep up an effective fire and inflict considerable +loss upon the British troops. Captain Woodgate, of Ashanti fame, who had +been sent to support Major Hackett, together with his lieutenant +(Strong), here behaved with conspicuous coolness and valour. These three +officers advancing well in front of their men and waving their swords +above their heads, showed such an example to their men that the Zulus +were driven back on that side, the ground intervening being strewed with +bodies of Zulus. A difficult and brilliantly led flanking attack was now +effected by the Zulu general, who, having retired a body of his best +marksmen from his right along his rear, suddenly opened a galling fire +upon the left flank of the 90th companies, who, having accomplished +their task, were now ordered to retire. In executing this difficult +movement Major Hackett was badly hit, and had to be carried out of fire. +Lieutenant Bright, also of the 90th Light Infantry, was here mortally +wounded, and shortly afterwards died. Bright was a clever, cheery +fellow, a capital artist, a good musician, and a most accomplished +officer. It was in running forward to pick up Hackett that poor Bright +received his death-wound. Meanwhile, from the lunette on the height, +Nicholson's two 7-pounders did capital execution. The Zulu main body had +now come within range, and grape and canister were poured into their +masses until the slopes over which they were advancing became slippery +with blood. Standing on the parapet, Nicholson was, field-glass in hand, +directing the pointing of his guns, when a chance bullet struck him in +the temple, and he fell upon the weapon he was directing. The loss was +observed from the laager, and Major Vaughan was at once sent to replace +this gallant young fellow. Colonel Wood, not to expose unduly the horses +of the artillery, had retained under the shelter of the laager four guns +in reserve. These were under charge of Major Tremlett, R.A., who, with +his subalterns, Lieuts. Bigge and Hughes, waited until the Zulus were +within a thousand yards, and then making a dash to a small open space of +rising ground outside the laager, worked his battery with immense +effect. The guns did not return to the laager, but were shifted from +time to time as the movements of the enemy warranted, and to their +splendid service much of the victory was due. The enemy had now varied +his attack a second time, and nothing could exceed the bravery and +skilful man[oe]uvring of his regiments. While the 13th and 90th vied +with each other in noble rivalry, and beat back the hordes of the Zulus +upon the two most exposed flanks, the mounted men under Buller and +Russell were occasionally led forward at a gallop by Colonel Wood, who, +whenever he saw an opening for a charge, swept down and drove the +skirmishers on to the main body. These brilliant charges became more +frequent as the day advanced, and their effect upon the savages, +unaccustomed to cavalry, was beyond all expectation. At three o'clock a +hot cross-fire was opened upon a company commanded by Captain Woodgate, +who had been holding a point which was in a measure the key of the +position, as it commanded the only practicable road to the upper +lunette, which, as has been explained, was open at the gorge. The enemy +still held the range which they had occupied during the earlier portion +of the day, and Woodgate was ordered to retire under cover of the fire +from two of Tremlett's guns, which had now taken a favourable position +for shelling the height. After one or two shots had been fired, a shell +was dropped into the midst of the party holding this position, and this +had a most useful effect, for the other gun coming into action at the +same range, drove the enemy's skirmishers to ground much farther off. +For another hour and a half the troops continued to be hotly engaged +with the enemy, who, when dislodged from one flank, swept round in the +most perfect order, and swarmed in masses upon another side. A message +now arrived from Colonel Gilbert, to the effect that he could spare +Captain Cox and a company from his flank, as the enemy's fire was +slackening, and they were gradually extending their line to the right +rear. Cox had been hit early in the action, but refused to leave his +men, and led them on gallantly till the day was won. + +At half-past four the Zulu general seemed to concentrate his principal +attention upon the northern side held by the 13th, and some desperate +rushes were made almost up to the muzzles of the English rifles. Colonel +Wood rode up, and complimented Colonel Gilbert upon the splendid firing +of his men, and he was at once greeted with a ringing cheer, which was +heard by the enemy. All sides of the laager had been in turn attacked, +and soon after half-past four a simultaneous advance was made on the +north and north-east face. An enfilade fire, however, was made by a +couple of Tremlett's guns, and the 7-pounder directed by Bigge did great +execution at 800 yards. Some of the bodies afterwards examined on the +north-east face were found to be literally blown to pieces. The Zulus at +this time were working round from the right-hand hill, and here, +unfortunately, a few large boulders gave them cover. The soldiers were +here almost on a line with the enemy, who in other places were below and +above them. They had therefore to keep a sharp look-out that the enemy +did not break through the line and penetrate the laager. They therefore +kept pouring in a heavy cross-fire upon them at 200 and 300 yards, while +the guns were defilading them on the right. The enemy could not stand +this treble fire, and, though disputing the ground step by step, began +reluctantly to retire. Colonel Wood at once sent messengers to the +lunette, to open upon them as they passed underneath. At this period +Lieutenants Smith and Lysons, seeing some Zulus advancing to assegai a +wounded soldier of the 13th, who was lying under fire in the open, +rushed out, and, led by Captain Woodgate, carried the man under shelter. +In performing this gallant action Smith was badly wounded, and +Woodgate's helmet was smashed by a bullet. Surgeons O'Reilly, Brown, and +their staff, one and all exposed themselves freely in attending to the +wounded who could not be moved out of fire. Soon after five o'clock it +became evident that the Zulu fire was beginning to fail, and the English +commander at once led a company of the 13th to the right rear of the +cattle laager, where the cattle had been for some time exposed to the +fire from the hill. A little later on Captains Cox and Persse were taken +by Colonel Wood to the edge of the krantzes on the right front of the +cattle laager, where the discomfited and disheartened Zulus were +retiring from the direct fire. Cox extended his men along the slopes, +while Persse occupied a higher ridge, and thus a double-banked and +deadly fire was opened upon the retiring enemy. Having driven the Zulus +over the edge of the hill, the two companies followed them up in a +splendid manner; Cox, although suffering greatly from his wound and loss +of blood, leading on his men in the most gallant style to the best +points for continuing the fire. Word was now sent to Buller and Russell +to mount their men and pursue; and the mule battery opened "action +deft," and played upon the devoted Zulus, the regiment of Macalooroo, +under Umlinoya, suffering most. Buller's gallant fellows nobly avenged +their slaughtered comrades of the previous day, and for more than seven +miles the broken Zulu army was chased like a flock of sheep. + +It was subsequently ascertained that the attacking Zulu force consisted +of nine regiments sent from Ulundi--making a force of 23,000--and of +Umbelini's mercenaries; together forming a total of not less than +25,000. Tyangwayo was in chief command, whilst Umbelini held the next +rank. The latter having retreated in the direction of the Upper Pongolo +Drift, was subsequently pursued and killed by a patrol under the command +of Captain Prior, of the 80th Regiment. A wounded prisoner of some +importance, by name Waishlahla, who was brought into camp on the 2nd, +pointed out to Colonel Wood the bodies of Mubalawa and Maheitjesa, sons +of Mnyame, killed on the 29th; and this man said that he knew that +Mabuna, son of Umbangasita, Makweli, son of Umlandela, Ummensododo, son +of Umfoonsa, and Tyangwayo, his brother, were also killed on that day, +together with, according to the Zulu estimate, above 3000 of the king's +bravest and best men! There is little reason to suppose that these +figures are exaggerated; for 1500 bodies lay about the vicinity of the +camp on the night of the 29th, though in the morning many were gone. + +The sad duty of burying their own dead and the bodies of the enemies +occupied the troops nearly the whole of the week following upon the +attack upon the Kambula camp. During the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of April +above 800 Zulus were buried, while others were subsequently found in the +caves and krantzes near. There were also 326 fire-arms picked up, +amongst which were recognized one Snider belonging to the Artillery, +and 16 Martini-Henrys belonging to the 24th and 80th Regiments. Lieut. +Bright, 90th Light Infantry, Lieut. Nicholson, R.A., Mr. Ferreira, +interpreter, seven privates 13th Light Infantry, ten privates 90th Light +Infantry, and one colour-sergeant, two Frontier Light Horse, and one of +Buller's Horse were interred on the day following the attack, the +service being read in the most impressive manner by General Wood. +Wounded Zulus were for some days continually brought into the camp; and +these men, as soon as they found that their wounds were attended to, and +that the soldiers were kind to them, became most communicative. They +said that Cetywayo had sent all his available men, with the exception of +two of his favourite regiments, retained as a bodyguard. These prisoners +also all agreed in setting down the Zulu losses on the 28th and 29th at +3000 men. + +When such individual and numerous acts of bravery were exhibited, it +seems superfluous to pick out any special cases; but it would be wrong +not to particularly mention the name of Captain Woodgate, whose +gallantry and _sang-froid_ were the theme of the whole garrison. During +the whole of the action, and while carrying orders from the camp to the +fort, he was more exposed than any other officer, and on more than one +occasion he deliberately risked his life to save wounded men from being +assegaied. To Colonel Buller also the same praise must be accorded for +his self-devotion at Zlobani and the heroic manner in which he exposed +himself in carrying off wounded men from the very midst of the enemy. + +The situation being in every way so admirably adapted to military +requirements, it was now resolved to make a permanent station at the +Kambula Kop; and new works were day by day added to those already +completed. Four well-constructed magazines were built in hollow and +sheltered spots, yet close to the guns. Each magazine was lined with +wooden frames, with splinter-proof timbers to cover the top, while +sheeting planks were placed round the sides and passages. These frames +were all perpendicular to the length of the passage--that is to say, +across its breadth and about two feet apart. Eight feet thickness of +earth was placed over the roof of each magazine, while a stout tarpaulin +was stretched over the splinter-proofs to guard against the wet. Gabions +were sunk to act in the place of cesspools, and receive the drainage, +while a small parapet guarded the entrance to the passage, with a small +hole through which ammunition was handed out. Twenty men, in relays, +were detailed for this work--that is to say, for each magazine--and +although they were to a certain extent unskilled labourers, the officers +taught them in such an excellent manner that the four magazines were +completed in twenty-four hours. The ditches round the fort were so deep +that bridges had to be made, part of which was permanent and part +movable. Four entrances into the fort were left, seven feet wide, so as +to admit the guns and waggons when supplies arrived. These entrances +were closed by rifle-proof doors and gates made of strong planks, +strengthened by cross-beams, and lined inside with thin sheet iron and +raw bullock hides. These hides formed an admirable substitute for sheet +iron, as they were quite bullet-proof and not liable to be set on fire. +Two more ditch _caponnières_ were also added, to give increased flanking +fire. The _terreplein_ of each of these works was sunk, so that the +loopholes were within one foot and a half of the level of the ditch. +This method had many advantages, and provided for the trick adopted by +the Zulus of lying down in the ditches and counterfeiting death, until +an opportunity is afforded for rushing at the parapet. A large supply of +brushwood was usefully employed to improve the drains under the +parapets, which suffered severely from the continued wet weather. During +spare hours the men were never idle, and from the brigadier downwards +every officer was encouraged to employ his leisure in instructing the +men in every species of field-defence. Gabions for revêtements, +fascines, hurdles, sandbags, sods, pickets, _chevaux-de-frise_ +palisades, and small shell _fougasses_ occupied the surplus hours not +devoted to drill, recreation, and rest, and the few engineers belonging +to the garrison declared that as pupils the volunteers at this work were +beyond compare. + +As in the last action it was found that the enemy were enabled to +considerably annoy the troops by occupying some neighbouring eminences, +the interior works were strengthened with considerable skill. The +parapets were raised, extra traverses erected, and the _terreplein_ +sunk. The faces of the work were also made more nearly perpendicular to +the enemy's possible fire. Shelter-pits for skirmishers were dug in all +directions. These trenches being only required upon sudden emergencies +were not made large, being only two feet wide by a foot and a half deep, +and with a parapet built so as to reach a height of a foot and a half. +These gave room and partial shelter to a couple of men, and to each spot +the best marksmen were told off. Horse trenches were also constructed, +so that these animals could be sheltered from musketry fire. These were +twenty-four yards in rear of the line of the infantry trench, and were +five feet long, three feet wide at top, and two feet wide at bottom, +with ramps, with a slope of one-half at each end. The parapets of these +trenches were three feet high, with a thickness of two feet at the top. +Half a dozen men could make such a trench in half an hour. These +shelter-trenches were not so neatly dressed as the models to be seen at +Chatham or Portsmouth, but they were pre-eminently workmanlike. They +followed the contour of the rather broken ground, and were so made that +cavalry could easily advance over them. At the intervals for this +advance each trench overlapped its neighbour. + +In contemplation of the removal of the waggons as soon as the advance +should be made, roughly-built block-houses, made of contiguous logs +placed vertically and quite bullet-proof, were constructed to substitute +the shelter afforded by the former. The logs were twelve feet long, and +three feet of this were buried in the ground, the buried ends being +spiked into transverse beams; roughly-hewn beams formed the roofs, and +over these was placed brushwood covered with four feet of earth. Green +timber, of which there was an undiminished supply, was used, and, when +necessary, this was covered with raw hides to prevent danger from fire. +Now, as the enemy had no artillery, and was not likely to understand its +employment, even if provided with the guns captured at Isandhlwana, no +defence could be more suitable. An ordinary work could, it was found, be +often defiladed from a neighbouring height, while a well-made +blockhouse, with carefully prepared roof, was, in every case, +impregnable to rifle-fire. The plan for the roofs was as follows:--The +young trees or branches were placed with the roots and thick ends +inwards, while the smaller ends, sharpened and shaved down thin, were +allowed to project over the walls of the building till they reached to +within three feet of the ground. These boughs, if thin and with smaller +branches between them, would not allow the means for climbing on the +roof, should the Zulus attempt it, as they would not bear the weight of +a crowd of men. In positions where the blockhouse could not be commanded +by any neighbouring height, the roof was made flat and surrounded with a +parapet of earth, so as to afford a second tier of fire. + +Whilst these works were in progression, and some few days after the +battles of Zlobani and Kambula, some officers sitting upon a coign of +vantage at an elevated part of the fort, suddenly descried three dark +figures with shields and assegais coming at a rapid trot towards their +southern front, along the hunting-road which leads from the Blood river +and the Buffalo. At first they seemed steadily progressing, as if +wishing to make a quick journey, but under no apprehension of pursuit. +As they moved quickly on they were lost sight of in the bush, and as the +surrounding country was made up of wooded krantzes and dark ravines, in +which an army might lie concealed, it was not likely that they would be +seen again for some time. Away, however, a little to the right of where +these men had passed, was quickly seen a larger party, consisting of +about a score of savages, evidently in pursuit of the first-named +runners. Their shields were flourished aloft, and their assegais waved +in triumph as they followed the spoor of the first party, who had +evidently taken to the bush as the most effectual way of escaping the +keen eyes of their pursuers. Finding no traceable spoor which they could +with certainty follow, they became suspicious, and commenced retracing +their steps; and while this was being accomplished the three runners +were seen to emerge cautiously towards the crest of the left krantz, now +holding a good start of the pursuing party. While they came steadily on +in the direction of the camp, however, a keen-sighted scout, who had +taken the precaution to climb a huge rock which jutted out above the +gorge, saw the quarry, and announced his success by discharging his +rifle, and waving the assegai in the direction of the fugitives, whom it +was now believed were messengers bringing despatches. + +The Zulu, it should be borne in mind, is a born athlete; usually until +forty or fifty, and rich, he is a spare man, with scarcely an ounce of +superfluous flesh about him, and kept in continual training by constant +exertion and no excess of food. He can, as a rule, at a moment's notice +take a letter or small packet and run his eight or ten miles, or even +walk his seventy or eighty, without breaking down. The ground over which +the pursued were running was grassy veldt, while that upon which were +the pursuers was sprinkled with low thorn-bushes, mixed with rocks and +gravel. The pursuing party, however, were evidently the fresher of the +two, while the messengers looked like men who were at the tail of a long +journey. The foremost party came struggling on until they reached some +clumps of thorn-trees, which, affording cover, were taken advantage of +to recover breath and observe the enemy's proceedings. The chase was now +getting most exciting. Both the chased and the chasers were plainly +visible to those in the camp, while the former only could observe their +enemies. Noting here and there a footprint, which served to show them +that they were on the right track, the Zulus in pursuit dashed down the +ravine and some distance beyond where the three had doubled. The whole +party went nearly 300 yards before the leaders halted in consequence of +finding no spoor, and they then spread out like hounds in a fox cover to +find some signs of their quarry. + +It was really wonderful, the rapid and dashing manner in which these +human bloodhounds strove to hit off the trail, while, having regained +their wind, the pursued trio moved on, not in great haste, but quietly +and with a considerable amount of care, that they might not be seen by +their enemies. For this purpose they now moved with the utmost caution +over a ridge, and entered the wooded valley which lay at the foot of the +kop, whereon stood the fort, being there completely out of sight of the +pursuers, who were still puzzling over the spoor. The messengers--aware +that they were encountering a double risk, as they knew that the wood +into which they had gone would probably contain Zulu scouts sent to +watch the fort, and who might have seen and laid in ambuscade for +them--therefore trotted quickly across till they came to a somewhat open +plain, with a line of willow-like trees, evidently denoting the banks of +a stream. Knowing that the pursuers in rear would be only temporarily +puzzled by the loss of spoor, they therefore decided that the least risk +would be incurred by making a final rush across the open road. Waiting +for a moment to decide for what part of the stream they should make, +they took a rapid glance around, and then made a sudden bolt for the +plain. Scarcely 200 yards had been crossed when a terrific yell broke +out from the pursuers, denoting that the pursued had been discovered by +the Zulus in rear, who immediately sent a couple of scouts to the +heights, the better to watch which side of the plain the messengers +would make for. These scouts at once shouted to the party below, and, +joining them, the whole body was quickly in pursuit. The messengers had, +however, almost 500 yards' start, and had obtained their "second wind." +They knew, therefore, that, if not lamed by a chance shot, they would +probably get over the river and under the guns of the fort before they +could be overtaken. How or where to cross the river they seemed not to +know, as in some places it is deep and wide, and in others shallow, with +marshy banks and long weed-like grasses. Here and there, also, the +stream bubbles and boils through deep gorges where only a baboon could +ascend or descend. Seeing the willow-looking trees, the stout runners +fortunately concluded that the water would be deep where they grew, and +they wisely chose another part where low bushes prevailed, and where +there were indications of a rapid slope in the ground, which would give +them shelter in crossing. The pursuers were about 350 yards behind when +the runners reached the bank, which they found steep and rocky, the +stream itself running rapidly over a stony bed. Although, like most +Zulus, these messengers could swim well, they could not swim safely +encumbered with a heavy gun, a bunch of assegais, a shield, and a heavy +leathern mailbag, nor could they calculate on reaching the opposite bank +without being shot at while so encumbered. On examining the bed of the +river, they decided that it could be waded, and that if not, drowning +was a more preferable death than torture in the king's kraal, which, if +found with letters upon them, was sure to be their fate. They instantly +decided, therefore, to cross. + +Meanwhile those in the camp had not been idle, for half a dozen of +Buller's men, known marksmen, were despatched to a point where they +could command the drift and catch the pursuing party _en flagrant délit_ +if they attempted to follow too closely. A few minutes' interval and a +smart canter brought eight rifles in all to a favourable spot, where, +unseen by the enemy, they could watch the proceedings of both friend and +foe, and materially assist the crossing and escape of the former. +Quietly dismounting, and placing two men, both as vedettes and in charge +of the horses, the remainder took up position and waited for the +_dénouement_ of this somewhat exciting little episode. Not long indeed +had they to wait. As the quick-scented harrier changes from scent to +view, and gives melodious tongue as the quarry is in sight, so dashed on +the pursuing white shields right up to the banks of the stream, and +looking for a moment at the troubled waters, seemed to hesitate what +course to pursue, imagining perhaps that some ambush was intended. +Meanwhile the messengers had effected the crossing in safety, though not +without difficulty. Taking up more tightly the straps that bound the +mailbags to their naked bodies, and with their rifles in one hand and +shields and assegais in the other, they scrambled like cats down the +bank, selecting those points where most ripples appeared upon the water, +and managed thus to wade to the opposite bank. The depth was in no part +greater than to cover them above the waist, although the rush of the +stream was so rapid as to render a foothold difficult. As soon as they +found themselves all in the water, they linked arms in some peculiar +manner and thus opposed a successful barrier to the current, which +otherwise, and if taken singly, would have been too much for them. Half +a dozen Zulus who had outstripped their comrades were the first to enter +the stream in pursuit, which at the point where they took it was not so +favourable, and about fifty yards in width. + +Though magnificent specimens of their race, burly and brawny, of immense +chest depth and breadth of shoulder, the men in the stream could only +advance at a slow pace in consequence of the slippery nature of the +rocks and stones on which they had to tread, and on account of the rapid +nature of the stream. So entirely were they absorbed in the excitement +of the chase that they seemed to have no idea of encountering any risks +as they ventured into the river. + +The main body of the pursuers meantime lined the banks, lustily cheering +on their more adventurous comrades. Suddenly there rang out the +simultaneous reports of half a dozen rifles, and as the smoke cleared +away two or three arms raised above the blood-dyed waters of the +torrent, which whirled the bodies of the baffled Zulus down and away +from view, testified to the skill of the marksmen. As the surviving +savages regained the opposite bank they gave a yell of defiance, which +was answered by a volley which rendered several others _hors de combat_. +The horsemen then mounted, and rode down to meet the rescued runners, +who turned out to be messengers from headquarters, and the bearers of +most welcome despatches from the Commander-in-Chief to General Wood, in +which his lordship, in the most cordial, kind, and flattering manner, +sent his congratulations and thanks to the latter, and those under his +command, for the manner in which his camp had been defended in the last +attack. A general parade was at once ordered, and the commander having +formed up the entire force--horse, foot, artillery, and native +contingent--read out in firm and ringing tones the welcome and +honourable terms in which his lordship had expressed himself. By +permission of the commandant three ringing cheers for the Queen were +then given, followed by three as hearty for the Commander-in-Chief. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + Organization of column for relief of Ekowe--The march--Heliographic + signals--Camp at Ginghilovo--Disposition of the troops--Zulu + advance--The battle--English victory--Death of Colonel + Northey--English losses--Zulu force and loss--Relief of + Ekowe--Meeting of Pearson and Chelmsford--State of Ekowe + garrison--Barrow's cavalry raid on Dabulamanzi's kraal--British + sentry firing on British troops. + + +We must now turn attention to Lord Chelmsford and his plan for the +relief of Ekowe. Tenedos was the base from which he purposed starting; +the distance between this and Ekowe, even by the short route discovered +and improved by Pearson, is a good thirty-three miles. To accomplish +this distance in wet weather and with almost insuperable difficulties in +the way of transport was no light task. However, by the 27th of March +all was ready for a start, and the relieving column set out in the +following order. The vanguard was composed of the Naval Brigade, formed +of the seamen and marines of her Majesty's ships "Shah" and +"Tenedos"--640 men and two Gatlings; the 91st Regiment (ten companies), +900 men; 99th Regiment (five companies), 400 men; 3rd Buffs (two +companies), 180 men; Mounted Infantry, 150 men; Mounted Native +Contingent, 200 men; Native Infantry Contingent, 1600 men--making a +total of 3720 infantry and 350 cavalry. This leading division was +commanded by Colonel Law, R.A. The second or rearward division, under +the command of Colonel Pemberton, was composed of the bluejackets and +sailors of the "Boadicea," 200 men and one Gatling; 37th Regiment, 900 +men; 3rd battalion 60th Rifles, 900 men; and two troops of mounted +natives--thus giving a total of 2060 infantry and 190 cavalry--the two +divisions making a grand aggregate of 6320 men, with 9-pounders and +rocket-tubes. The convoy was made as small and compact as was compatible +with the necessary carriage of supplies for the Ekowe garrison, and no +tents were taken, each man being allowed only a blanket and a waterproof +sheet. Still the waggons numbered 113, and there were also fifty Scotch +carts on two wheels, and fifty-six pack-mules. Each waggon was strongly +spanned, having twenty oxen instead of the usual eighteen. Two hundred +rounds of ball cartridge per man were issued, each soldier carrying +seventy rounds in his pouches, and the remaining 130 being carried in +reserve by the pack-mules. These waggons and pack-animals marched in the +closest possible order, and were capitally flanked and guarded by +Nettleton's Native Contingent on the right, and that commanded by Barton +on the left. In spite of the comparative smallness of the convoy, Lord +Chelmsford managed to bring with him not only full supplies for the +fort, but twelve days' complete rations for his own column. Most of the +baggage was brought across the Tugela on the 28th, and, in spite of the +flooded state of the river; no casualty occurred. The rain did not cease +till daybreak on the 29th, when the passage was completed. It must be +borne in mind that the Tugela at Fort Pearson, where the column +crossed, is more than 600 yards wide, and it is then possible to +estimate the difficulties encountered at the outset and before the +journey could be fairly said to commence. But there were willing hands +and zealous hearts to carry out Lord Chelmsford's minute and ever +thoughtful instructions. No detail, even of the smallest, was omitted or +forgotten by him, and with such men as Commissary-General Strickland, +Surgeon-Major Tarrant, and his dozen assistant-surgeons, as well as +Commissary Walton and Transport Officers Lawrence and Findlay, things +were bound to go well. + +The first plan was to force a passage through to Ekowe with all possible +despatch consistent with the safety of the column and its convoy, and +then, having exchanged the garrison and having provisioned the brave +little fortress for a month, to form another and corresponding post on +the Inyezani hills, leaving the latter munitioned for a similar period. + +But this plan was afterwards considerably modified. On the first day's +march no difficulties as to enemy or transport were experienced, the +weather had cleared, and the road from the Tugela to Amatikula was far +better than expected. Giving up all idea of the road by which Pearson +had originally advanced when he first marched inland, Lord Chelmsford, +following Colonel Pearson's advice, determined to move by the coast +road, which crossed much more open country, was far more adapted for +wheeled transport, and, indeed, for the march of all three arms, while +it afforded fewer opportunities for the Zulus to attempt surprise. So +satisfactory was the road on the first day's march that the only wonder +was that it had not been previously destroyed by the Zulus. In fact, the +column had made good more than half the distance before any serious +difficulties began. It will be seen in the map that at the villages of +Inyoni and Amatikula their respective rivers cross the old road. Now, +these rivers cross the coast road as well as the main road, flowing from +west to east, and several halts at these two places are mentioned; it is +not intended to refer to these villages, but simply to the encampments +on the banks of the rivers of the same name. + +On the arrival of the column at the Inyoni and Amatikula rivers the +waggons were carefully packed in laager, and a well-made ditch and +parapet formed around the camp. Sentries were posted at the various +angles, and outlying piquets thrown well forward. No noise, or even loud +talking was allowed, and the bivouac, for it could scarcely be called a +camp, was each night as silent as a grave-yard. Two miles beyond the +Zulu bank of the Tugela good camping-ground was passed, but the troops +pushed on without any difficulty to the Inyoni river, finding the road +very good, although a little heavy for the waggons, from the rains. They +were so lightly laden, however, that the drivers managed to get the oxen +along at a fair pace, the waggons marching four, and sometimes six +abreast. Scarcely any water was met with, but numerous Zulu kraals were +passed, so streams or wells must have been in the neighbourhood. The +country through which the column passed was very open, affording no +cover, except between three miles south of Inyoni and the banks of the +river, where there is a gully with thick bush, which scouts carefully +explored before the main body came up. The water of the Inyoni was found +so brackish that the horses would scarcely drink of it. The Umsundusi +and Amatikula rivers are very sweet, the latter particularly so. + +Leaving the Inyoni, the next river passed is the Umsundusi, which runs +into the Amatikula, north-west of which lies the thorn country. The road +thence to Ingesani is good, but there is a mud gully to the south of +that place almost impassable after heavy rain. The column now marched +more to their right, where the country was still open, although there +was considerable cover in places, and kraals were seen around. Near the +Umkukusi is a hill, which was occupied for a time, but from which +nothing could be seen in the shape of an enemy. Keeping in a +north-easterly direction they now reached a lower portion of the +Inyesani, and then bore westerly for Ginghilovo, where on the afternoon +of the 1st they encamped. Here a parley was held with the besieged, from +Pearson's lofty signal-tower at Ekowe, and signals were made warning +Lord Chelmsford of the impending Zulu attack. + +A few words of digression may here be allowed to the system of signals +which proved of such use to both Pearson and Chelmsford at this +juncture. When Lord Chelmsford came first to Tenedos and Fort Pearson, +it became evident to him that Pearson was so completely blockaded that +runners could rarely get through. It was at the same time most essential +to his plans that the General should know exactly how the colonel's +resources were lasting, and the exact time to which his garrison could +hold out. In this emergency Haynes, of the Engineers, was sent for, and +asked if he could not do something with the heliograph, and bring the +rays of the sun into requisition for the transmission of messages. The +General was at once seen, and although by no means sanguine, he gave +every facility for the attempt. The difficulties were by no means light. +In the first place there were no proper mirrors, and a most diminutive +chamber looking-glass had to be employed. Then again there were no +skilled or mechanically-trained workers for the improvised apparatus, +and all appliances were of the most primitive nature. Another and, as +was feared, the most fatal difficulty was that there was no way of +attracting the notice of the Ekowe garrison, which from the nearest +vantage-point, was fully thirty miles as the crow flies. Nothing +daunted, however, by these obstacles Haynes persevered, and knowing that +the lives of many gallant soldiers were dependent on success or failure, +redoubled his exertions, which after long anxiety and delay were crowned +with success. The most sanguine hopes lay in the fact that the Naval +Brigade were with Pearson, and that some of them would undoubtedly be +trained to mirror signalling. After much delay in getting everything +ready, Haynes chose a bright sunshiny morning and went to the top of a +hill about five miles from the fort and commenced his flashing, but +without the smallest success. The church tower at Ekowe could be plainly +seen, but there was no response, and it was evident that the attempts at +communication were not noticed, or, if noticed, not understood. Nothing +discouraged, although a little chaffed by his comrades, the young +Engineer continued day by day, whenever there was a gleam of sunshine, +to attend the hill and work his mirror. At length, after a whole week +had passed before any indication from the garrison at Ekowe had been +made, another thought struck Haynes, and this was to flash occasional +whiffs of gunpowder to attract notice. To his intense delight, after a +few attempts, this plan succeeded, and when a gleam was once flashed +from the beleaguered fort in return the rest was all plain sailing. +Another week, however, elapsed before a perfectly intelligible answer +was received, and then it was found that Haynes's messages had been read +from the beginning, but that they could not get the Ekowe answers at +first to work. It is hardly necessary to mention how pleased Lord +Chelmsford was, and that Haynes was sent for and thanked in the most +flattering manner for his ingenuity and perseverance. + +As has been said, Pearson informed Lord Chelmsford of the imminent Zulu +attack; he also added that his last raid had been successful and that +some cattle had been captured; and that the road he had cut under fire +through the bush southwards would shorten the advance or his sortie by +at least five miles, and that his people were under no apprehensions of +famine or assault for some days. He had improved his defences, his +parapet having a command of six feet, flanked by a couple of well-made +_caponnières_ on the northern and southern faces, with a loopholed +building on the north-west and a sunken stockade in the south-west +angle. His four guns--two Gatlings and two rocket-tubes, in addition to +his Martini-Henrys--he considered sufficient to render his fort +impregnable to everything except hunger, and should the latter come on +through Lord Chelmsford's inability or delay in coming, he purposed +making a final and desperate sortie for life and liberty. This message +was committed to writing, and read out to the men, who answered it with +cheers of delight and enthusiasm. + +At four a.m. on the 31st ult., in the early dawn the troops paraded +outside the laager on the Inyoni. For the first day the march had been +without impediment or opposition; progress here and there, it is true, +was slightly impeded by portions of swampy ground; but so eager were the +men to get forward that the waggons were pushed vigorously through the +mud by willing hands. The 57th Regiment, which had only lately arrived +from Ceylon, were a little out of condition, and the fatigue and wet had +told upon them in a greater degree than the regiments arrived from +England. After a pleasant march, the Amatikula river was reached, where +the camp was formed with the waggons as usual in laager, and +shelter-trenches formed at fifteen paces beyond. The night passed +without any alarm, and at six the column marched for Ginghilovo. + +The drift on the Amatikula was so swollen that a long time was occupied +in getting the waggons across it, and the result was that on Monday very +few miles were made. Soon after the troops had crossed, outlying bands +of Zulus were seen by the scouts hovering on the flanks, but no attack +was attempted. The largest body of these Zulus kept moving in a line +parallel with the English march. Towards the afternoon of this day +Barrow's Horse was directed by Lord Chelmsford to make a reconnaissance +in the direction of the kraal of Makuendo, another of Cetywayo's +innumerable brothers, and they returned with the news that they had +surprised and fired it. On the previous day Barrow had made a +reconnaissance away to the north-east, at least seven or eight miles +off, without falling in with any Zulus, whose power of concealment is +certainly marvellous. At three o'clock on the 1st of April it became +dark overhead, and a severe thunderstorm broke over the laager, wetting +nearly every one to the skin. The night of the 1st of April will long be +remembered by those who were with Lord Chelmsford on that occasion. Not +a sound was heard in the camp, but outside the howls of the wandering +jackal and the pariah dog were occasionally echoed by the hoarse scream +of the foul birds which hover near a probable battle. At intervals were +to be heard the patrols going their rounds in the fitful gleams of the +moonlight, which were succeeded by black and rolling masses of cloud +chasing each other in the sky, still thunder-laden and lurid. The +whispered "Who goes there?" and the almost inaudible countersign, told, +however, that the utmost vigilance was awake, and that all felt that +England's honour was at stake. At two a.m. Lord Chelmsford, with two of +his personal staff, went quietly round. This tour of inspection lasted +till three o'clock, as here and there trifling details had to be changed +and plans to be explained to the various officers who held the most +important points of defence and danger. In front of the camp, but +sheltered behind trenches and abattis, were that glorious and +time-honoured corps, the 60th, who have no colours on which to record +their proud deeds, but whose escutcheon is emblazoned with some of +England's hardest-won fields. The General warmly eulogized the neat and +workmanlike trenches made by his favourite greenjackets, and passed on +next to Brackenbury, of the "Shah," who, with his "little bulldogs," as +the bluejackets term the Gatlings, held the right angle of the +entrenchment. + +Next to Brackenbury and his stout fellows came Clarke with his +detachment of the 57th, and at the second corner were two 9-pounders +excellently placed and guarded by their watchful gunners, eager as +greyhounds held back in the leash. Round to the rear, but by no means a +post of less honour, came the gallant old 91st, whose former Cape +services have long been their pride and distinction. Four companies of +this fine corps were here, and although the ranks were made up by drafts +from many other corps, the men had wonderfully soon assumed the +peculiarly smart bearing of their new corps. At the next angle were two +more Gatlings, and prolonging the faces were posted two companies of the +91st, then three companies of the Buffs, and the 99th. As nearly as +possible in the left rear face Lieutenant Cane, of the "Shah," had +charge of the ship's rocket-battery. + +Lord Chelmsford expressed himself extremely satisfied at the manner in +which all his arrangements had been worked out, and the low murmur of +gratification, which even discipline could not repress, showed how much +his men were devoted to their chief. + +It was as nearly as possible a quarter past four when the welcome news +was passed from man to man that the Zulus were seen in skirmishing +order, supported by dense masses, away some miles off on the right +front. It was nearly six o'clock, however, when the enemy's plan of +attack appeared to be decided, and this delay, it has since been +ascertained, arose from the fact that they had heard that the troops +were about to inspan and march in the early morning, and the Zulu +general anticipated catching them in all the confusion of starting. At +six a.m., then, somewhat favoured by the long grass and weeds which want +of time had not permitted the soldiers to cut down, the Zulu array was +hurled upon the laager. The regiments which came on in front were the +Unembomanaba and Unemsilya. These were in extended order, but much +closer than skirmishing order; in fact, somewhat akin to the Prussian +infantry first attack. These corps were flanked by the usual horns or +wings, composed of the Nokene and Nodwen regiments, formed in respective +columns right and left. In the rear, as the body or heart of the +formation, were the Monamonosi and a favourite corps of the king's +called Zwawani. Somapo was in chief command, while his lieutenant was +Dabulamanzi. + +The British front enticed the Zulu force, as easy of attack, as the +green-coated rifles were lying down in their shallow trenches, and their +strength could not well be seen by the enemy. Nothing could have fallen +out more fortunately, as the fire from those deadly tubes was doubly +fatal in consequence of each man being enabled to have a firm rest for +his weapon. There could not be a grander sight to a soldier's eye than +to watch these magnificent specimens of savage pride coming on in their +mighty strength to sweep the sturdy little riflemen from off the earth. +Their white and coloured shields, the crests of leopard skin and +feathers, and the wild oxtails dangling from their necks, gave them a +terribly unearthly appearance. Every ten or fifteen yards their first +line would halt, and a shot would be fired, and then, with an unearthly +yell, they would again rush on with a sort of measured dance, while a +humming and buzzing sound in time to their movement was kept up. When +the first line of skirmishers came to within 300 yards, a terrible and +deadly sheet of flame flashed from the shelter-pits, and a great number +of the Zulu warriors reeled howling to the earth. This only seemed to +incite the main body to renewed exertion, for they came up hurling +themselves through the skirmishers, and not even allowing them to get +out of their path, but dashing them to the ground in their rage to close +with the main array. A perfect _feu d'enfer_ was now rained upon the +denser masses of the Zulu main body, and this was maintained for at +least twenty minutes, the savages coming on, still fed by columns from +their rear, which deployed in excellent order as they reinforced the +first line, and alternately halted, fired, and advanced, beaten back +some scores of times, and returning as desperately as ever to the front. +About half-past six this front attack and onward rush was checked by the +gallant 60th. Lord Chelmsford on several occasions rode along their +line, giving an occasional kind and complimentary word when a +particularly good shot was made or an especial coolness was observed. A +sudden and wonderfully well-executed change of front was now made, +without the smallest confusion or delay, and the masses of Zulus in +front faced to their right and ran round in column to the face held by +the 57th and 91st. Here their courage was, if possible, more pronounced, +and their welcome was as hot. The 91st had not so many good marksmen in +their regiment as the colonel could have wished, as many of his best +shots were taken to supply Indian reliefs; but even the youngest +soldiers seemed to gain skill and inspiration from what they had seen +performed by the 60th. The 57th ably fulfilled their share of the duty, +and the torrent of lead poured upon the enemy from the murderous tubes +of these seemed to literally plough through the hostile ranks. +Notwithstanding this deadly hail, the Zulus came on with what was now +the mute valour of despair. They had ceased to shout and only seemed +anxious to dash upon the British bayonets. Twice, three times, a fourth, +they literally swarmed up to the entrenchments, and if one break in the +ranks had taken place the English loss must have been terrible. At one +moment, about a quarter before seven, it seemed as though they would +have forced their way in, and upon several occasions wounded Zulus were +noticed taking aim from behind the cover of the bodies of their dead +comrades as they lay in pools of blood in the open. Now that they were +within easy range from the tops of the waggons, an effective and galling +fire was opened upon the Zulus by the native contingents, who were not +allowed in the first line. This double tier of fire was of great help, +and so far thinned the assailant ranks that the second attack was after +a time renounced as hopeless. Once more, however, a shorter, more +desperate, but, as it proved, final rush was made by Cetywayo's doomed +and devoted troops. This time it was upon the left of the laager that +they delivered their last and supreme effort. They came up on this +occasion to within ten or fifteen feet of the muzzles of the men's +rifles, and, indeed, one or two of their chiefs seized the hot barrels +with one hand, while they stabbed at the men with their shortened or +broken assegais. It was curious to remark the three separate lines of +Zulu corpses which marked the respective ranges at which the +death-dealing Martini-Henrys had swept their ranks. At 300 yards a thin +boundary of black bodies and white shields might be traced; at 200 and +100 yards from our lines their walls of dead were more thick, and even +up to the trenches wounded men had staggered to receive their _coup de +grâce_. In spite of all their efforts, the Zulus, however, never +succeeded in bringing matters to a hand-to-hand struggle, though, if +they had done so, Lord Chelmsford's admirable formation would have +doubtless saved the camp, although no doubt with more than treble loss. +The last attack, and perhaps the boldest--for it was evidently the most +desperate--was led most heroically by Dabulamanzi in person, who, with +voice and gesture, came on a dozen yards in front of the leading files, +as Ney led on his Guard at Waterloo. As on that occasion the French +horsemen, so now these stalwart warriors could not stand against the +calm, steady, and unflurried _mitraille_ of English infantry fire, and +at seven o'clock the flower of Cetywayo's warriors were scattered and +broken on the plain they had so magnificently fought and drenched with +their blood. Lord Chelmsford saw the moment had come; Barrow, who had +already mounted his men in anticipation, scarcely waited for the orderly +to repeat the permission to dash forth. Away charged the little band of +sabres, and the mounted infantry came at the flying groups like a +whirlwind, their sabres flashing bright in the morning sun, but soon +dyed crimson with the best of the Zulu blood. + +During the attack 1200 rounds were fired from the splendidly served +Gatlings, and about 40 rounds of case and shrapnel from the 9-pounders, +which subsequently shelled the bush as the Zulus fled for cover. Colonel +Crealock, military secretary, and Captain Molyneux, of Lord Chelmsford's +staff, had their chargers shot under them. Poor young Johnstone, of the +99th, was killed at nearly the commencement of the fight; and Colonel +Northey was badly hit early in the action. He at first could not be +induced to leave his men, but at last was reluctantly compelled to do +so, as he fainted from loss of blood. At the close of the action, +however, and when he was aroused from his state of insensibility by the +ringing echoes of the British cheers which proclaimed the flight of the +enemy, he suddenly raised himself on one hand from under the waggon +where he was lying, and joined in the shouts of the men, thus bursting +the bandaged wound and causing violent hemorrhage to recommence. This +gallant and valued officer subsequently died, on the afternoon of the +6th, having lingered in considerable pain for four days. The entire +English loss was wonderfully small, being but 2 officers and 4 privates +killed, and 3 officers and 34 privates wounded! The Zulu loss, on the +contrary, cannot altogether be set down at less than 1000; for the +English troops buried between 700 and 800 Zulu corpses; and about 300 +rifles, which they discarded in their flight, were subsequently picked +up. Zulu prisoners stated that there were 180 companies present with +Somapo and Dabulamanzi on the 2nd, and allowing each company to be +composed of 60 warriors, the actual fighting array must have been about +11,000. Information was also shortly afterwards received that another +impi of about the same strength was despatched the day after Dabulamanzi +marched from the king's kraal at Ulundi, and this latter force, misled +by erroneous information, was unable to effect the intended junction +with the force defeated. These prisoners also maintain that neither +Somapo nor Dabulamanzi was aware of Lord Chelmsford's march for Ekowe +till the day before he was assailed. Barrow's admirably planned and +executed reconnaissances and raids on the 30th, 31st, and 1st +undoubtedly had much to do with hoodwinking the Zulus, and it is +tolerably certain that the military promenade made by him on the 31st +towards the Ingoya led them to believe that the whole force was likely +to operate in that direction. + +On the following day, the 57th, 60th, and 91st were formed into a flying +column, taking with them nothing but some light Scotch carts and three +days' rations, together with the mounted men and some of the Naval +Brigade, and started _en route_ by way of the coast road for Ekowe. The +portions of the Buffs, 99th, and a detachment of the "Shah's" men were +left behind to garrison Ginghilovo, under the command of Major Walker. +The heliograph was set to work, and Pearson replied that he should +certainly come out to meet Lord Chelmsford and his party. At daybreak, +therefore, Barrow went on with his horsemen to reconnoitre, and to see +if any remnant or fresh portion of the Zulu army lay between Ekowe and +its relievers. The line of country to be traversed was known to be more +difficult than that passed, and it was thought that the Zulus might have +had sufficient tenacity of purpose to make one more effort to stay the +general's purpose. The first part of the journey was anything but +pleasant; swamps, morasses, bogs, watercourses, nullahs, spruits, +boulders, and all the disagreeable features of South Africa were in +abundance; progress, consequently, was very much impeded, and at one +time it was thought the troops would have to encamp on the way, and make +a two days' march of the journey. Several small but awkward streams had +to be crossed, and the General very wisely served out an extra ration of +grog after the passage of these places. + +After travelling about five miles, a halt for breakfast was called, and +here Barrow rode back to report that all was clear in front, and that +not a single Zulu could be seen, although the plains and bush had been +most diligently scoured. Barrow reported that in the direction he had +been, assegais, shields, feathers, ear and head ornaments, skins, furs, +blankets, and even guns were lying about in profusion, evidently cast +away in the hurried and headlong flight of the Zulus to their kraals, +but that no bodies, however, had as yet been seen by the scouts. + +The shrill notes of the bugles sounded the halt, and soon after the +"Prepare to dismount," and "Off-saddle." Although no precaution was +neglected to guard against surprise, a certain amount of latitude was +now allowed, which on the previous three days' marches had not been +sanctioned. Piquets, as usual, were thrown out on the neighbouring +heights, and a chain of vedettes posted, which commanded ten miles of +country in every direction. This being effected, the infantry formed up +and piled arms, the cavalry off-saddled, and the horses, having first +been allowed their usual roll in the dusty veldt, were turned out, under +the protection of a guard, to enjoy a short graze, having, of course, +been previously knee-haltered. This knee-haltering process is universal +throughout all the Cape Colonies, and is effected in the following +manner: by simply taking a couple of half-hitches round the horse's +fore-leg with a strong rein or reim attached to the neck-strap, which +brings the animal's head towards the ground, and effectually prevents +his running away. This is the simple precaution adopted by all +travellers in South Africa. The men now were told off in sections to +draw water and collect wood to make fires for their morning or midday +coffee. The officers collected in groups, and compared notes and +exchanged anecdote and repartee. + +After an hour's rest, which men and horses required after their severe +four days' work, the bugles again summoned all to the ranks, and they +started anew to complete the journey. + +From this halting-place the road had a rather dangerous appearance, and +every precaution was taken, lest Dabulamanzi should have received any +reinforcements, which would enable him to attack the somewhat weak +column at a disadvantage. The road over which they were passing was in +itself open and fairly easy of transit, but not far to the left, and +running parallel to the waggon-track, there were patches of bush so +dense that horsemen could not enter, and they had to be examined with +the aid of an infantry contingent, a few of whom had fortunately been +brought in case of an emergency of this sort. Not far from the foot of +one of the ascents to Ekowe on the left of the column lay the spot where +Pearson was attacked on the 22nd January, and which, although called the +battle of Inyazani, is some distance from the banks of that river. Some +cavalry were taken over by Barrow to explore, but nothing marked the +locality of the action except a large mound and a roughly carved cross +where the dead were laid. On this cross were roughly cut the names of +those who lay at rest below. Leaving at length the bushy country, the +column now came to some steep and broken ground, and here were seen the +remains of some of the waggons which had to be abandoned from Ely's +convoy. Strange to say, some of the contents, tins of provisions and +other stores, were still intact; but no arms nor ammunition had been +left behind. Seven miles from Ekowe the troops came to a plain from +which they were divided by a broad and well-worn watercourse. Here they +faced the steep and scarped sides of a mountain, and in the distance +could see a long unbroken range over which the sun was beginning to set. +At this spot the Zulus had evidently attempted to impede the advance, as +part of the road had been cut away. Engineers, however, soon remedied +the damage, and they were enabled to push on; although it was fortunate +that they had no waggons, as it was not without considerable effort they +managed to get the two-wheeled carts across. As soon as this spot had +been passed, the whole character of the landscape changed as if by +magic; and as the wind freshened and carried away some misty clouds, the +remnants of the late rains, a splendid prospect was seen, as the column +wound its slow trail along a steep and rugged kloof leading into a fair +and fertile valley beyond. Here, however, was a position that might have +been held for some considerable time had the enemy chosen this spot to +oppose the march. A sheer precipitous rock frowned on the right, and the +only possible track lay exactly under its base, where with a few +resolute savages above, huge boulders and masses of rock could have been +hurled upon the column as it passed. On the left was a spongy swamp +perfectly impassable to wheels, and not particularly easy to troops or +human feet. Here a short way up the mountain farther on were seen the +remains of a ruined kraal, and of some huts apparently not long vacated. +These dwellings were formed, as usual, of rudely twined canes wattled +and filled in with clay, and they had somewhat the appearance of a +cluster of huge beehives. + +As the leading files quitted the low ground, signals were made by the +advanced patrols that cavalry were in sight, and the General and several +of his staff at once galloped past the column to the front. All +anxieties were briefly at an end, for, mounted upon an exceedingly +handsome charger, and attended by a numerous cavalcade, coming towards +the column at a smart canter was the gallant soldier who had held his +inhospitable guard at Ekowe for more than seventy days. + +Lord Chelmsford at once spurred forward, and warmly grasped Colonel +Pearson by the hand, whilst discipline for once gave way, and the +respectful silence of the General's escort was broken by a cheer such as +only English throats can give, waking up every echo of the Zulu caves +and valleys. + +Colonel Pearson brought with him, according to his promise, about 500 +men, and his staff, consisting of Colonel Walker and Captains M'Gregor +and Knight. A long conversation at once took place, and the General +informed Colonel Pearson that, anticipating the evacuation of the fort, +he had left part of his force to entrench Ginghilovo, and make it a +permanent station. The reasons for this were manifold. In the first +place the approaches to Ekowe were easy to the Zulus, unencumbered with +baggage or other _impedimenta_, but most difficult and trying to a +European force. Ginghilovo or its neighbourhood answered every purpose +as a link in the line of communications, while a site could be chosen +equally as formidable in a defensive point of view. The column did not +reach Ekowe fort till nearly eleven p.m. Here the welcome of comrades, +fellow-messmates, and men of the same ships and corps, was a happy and +fitting sequel to the _rencontre_ of the reliever and the relieved. + +It was a pleasant surprise to the General on arriving at Ekowe to find +that matters had been made much worse by report than they were in +reality. No gaunt and famine-stricken faces greeted him, but, on the +contrary, there was a look of plumpness about most of the privates that +savoured more of want of exercise than want of beef. In fact, the +medical officer stated that the meat ration had never been diminished, +as it was considered just as advisable to kill and consume the trek oxen +as to see them die for want of forage. Now a trek ox in the best +condition is not particularly tender, or even when fed upon the best of +food, but when kept short of fodder, and without proper shelter from the +sun and rain, he cuts up anything but well for beef. Tobacco was the +article most wanted by both soldiers and sailors, and the most agreeable +gift that could be made by the relievers to their lately besieged +comrades was this luxury in any form or shape. The health of the +garrison at first was good, but gradually the want of vegetables and +useful medicines filled the hospitals, and made the cemetery more full. +Anxiety, doubtless, had much to do with the sick-roll, and until +communications with St. Andrew's Mission had been established a certain +amount of uneasiness was felt as to how the war was going. Thirty deaths +occurred during the seventy days the garrison were shut up, but several +of these, it must be remembered, were cases of wounded men from the +fighting at the Inyezani. At Fort Ekowe the hero of the scouting parties +was undoubtedly young Rowden, of the 99th, who was detailed by Colonel +Pearson to form a mounted infantry corps similar to Barrow's, from +volunteers from the Buffs and his own corps. It is no secret that one of +the great advantages we possess in our service is that we are never at a +loss, when we can get horses, to find riders. Most of our youngsters in +the service would rather have a stigma on their morals than on their +knowledge of horseflesh and of horsemanship, and herein lies the secret +of our bearing up against our first reverses in Zululand. Every officer, +serving in South Africa, whether cavalry, infantry, artillery, +engineers, medical staff, or commissariat, gets rations or allowances +for horse or horses, according to his rank. This is one of the secrets, +combined with the sport and shooting, why South African service is so +popular. Now both the 99th and the Buffs vied with the 13th and 90th in +their equestrian proclivities, and, in default of regular cavalry, a +large body of mounted infantry was raised, and in a great measure +mounted from the horses belonging to the officers of their respective +regiments, lent or sold to Government for the purpose. Rowden's patrols +were literally the "eyes and ears" of the garrison, and ably fulfilled +all the onerous duties of light cavalry. In short the great value of +their services may be gathered from the frequently and openly stated +opinions of Colonel Wood and of Colonel Pearson, that all infantry +regiments serving at the Cape should have at least one Gatling and one +mounted company. + +The great event of the camp life in Ekowe was the discovery of certain +queer flashes of light on the white walls of the church tower. These, +after puzzling many of the officers and soldiers, were at length brought +under the notice of an officer of the naval brigade, whose education in +the use of the heliograph enabled him at once to explain the apparent +mystery. Three days of unpleasant suspense, however, elapsed before the +first message could be clearly made out, and then three more before an +apparatus could be rendered workable to reply. Fortunately an old mirror +was found, and this, with an empty wooden cartridge case, sufficed. +Within the week, therefore, conversation was opened, and its effect on +the imprisoned garrison was seen by all to be more beneficial than all +the tonics the hospital could afford. The next great event was, +perhaps, the construction of the road from the fort to the lower coast +trek, and the consequent excitement of having to work with the chance of +feeling an assegai or Zulu bullet whizzing into the party. But the long +days and longer nights were not at all devoid of recreation. Lawn +tennis, bowls, ninepins, and quoits were devised. Concerts were +organized, and dramatic recitals on a modest scale were improvised. + +A cavalry raid had been, it will be remembered, made some time back upon +Dabulamanzi's kraal, which was shelled and burned by Pearson. Some +cattle and sheep were captured, and a desultory and running fight was +kept up between the discomfited chief and the English patrols, which +resulted in no casualty to the troops, while several Zulus were killed. +This attack did not, however, extend to Dabulamanzi's private +habitation, as its approaches were considered too far off and too +difficult of access. No sooner, however, had Lord Chelmsford arrived at +Ekowe than he determined to complete the blow already commenced. It was +decided to effect this raid with Barrow's horsemen. The whole affair was +promptly and admirably organized, and at eight o'clock on the morning +after Lord Chelmsford's arrival a group of officers might have been seen +on foot conversing, while their horses were led up and down by the +attendant orderlies. First of all there was the Commander-in-chief, and +with him his military secretary, Colonel Crealock, whose recent wound +did not even place him for one day upon the sick report. Major Barrow +was there in his workmanlike dress, a Norfolk shirt patched with +leather, high untanned boots, and a stout sabre at his side. With him +were John Dunn, Lieutenants Sugden, Rawlins, and Courtenay, Captains +Addison, M'Lean, and Ganz. + +The entire force consisted of 50 mounted infantry under Barrow, 55 +volunteers under Addison, and 120 volunteers under Ganz and M'Lean. At a +quarter to nine the cavalcade had been inspected by their respective +commanders, and in sections of fours moved off, amid the smiles and +congratulations of the garrison. The road was as usual over that +sweet-smelling and springy turf which makes walking an impossibility, +and any pace but a canter impossible to man and beast. A little more +than half an hour, or about a four-mile spurt over the elastic veldt, +brought them in sight of Dabulamanzi's "great place." A rolling grassy +plain, leading to some easy and gentle slopes, was presented to view, +and evidently to the astonishment of most of the party, who had been +accustomed to the rude and rocky fastnesses in which these kraals are +usually built. Beyond these smiling and inviting hills the kraal itself +could scarcely be seen, but its locality was indicated by half a dozen +Zulus running away with some cattle at full speed. Their measures were +quickly taken, as their information forbade them to imagine that any +trap could be laid, and they knew that the chances were ten to one +against the chief having any force near enough to make a stand against +them. Lord Chelmsford paid Major Barrow the high compliment of allowing +him to take an independent command of the whole party, and remained more +as a spectator than as an active official on the scene. Barrow at once +detached mounted portions of his men right and left, while he led the +way direct at a smart canter at the kraal. The combined movement +answered admirably, and the place was surrounded as if by magic, without +any resistance or a shot being fired. Rawlins, and a few of Barrow's +men, were now ordered to dash into the kraal, and as soon as they had +assured themselves that there were no women or children or sick people +there, to fire it in various places. They had scarcely galloped off to +carry out this order when the silence was broken by the well-known +"ping" of a rifle, sounding from the near vicinity of the kraal; and on +looking in the direction from which the sound came the General and his +staff could see a small group of Zulus taking deliberate aim at them. +The distance was about 1200 yards. But the General still moved on, +although the bullet had been well aimed, for it whizzed just over the +head of one of his aides-de-camp; and John Dunn, putting up his glass, +declared that he recognized Dabulamanzi by his head-dress and peculiar +method of walking. With the utmost nonchalance John began to load his +weapon, and remarked to the General, "See what will happen!" One of the +Zulus at this moment was coolly making a rest for his rifle upon a ledge +of rock behind which his chief had retired, and Dunn, taking a long and +careful aim, fired, and evidently wounded his man, who slipped back into +the arms of a comrade. As the party sent to fire the kraal emerged from +its outer enclosure, a heavy cloud of smoke betokened that their mission +was accomplished. This white column hid the horsemen from the natives, +who finding themselves in danger of being surrounded and captured by +Sugden and his detached party, made a hasty and somewhat undignified +retreat. The General now moved round to the right, and found that the +detached party under Nettleton were coming back with a fine young Zulu, +whom they had overtaken and captured on the left of the kraal. They had +secured him with some buffalo-hide girths, and he readily--too readily +for belief--answered John Dunn's questions, informing him that the +cattle, women, and children had time to escape from the kraal, as the +horsemen were discovered cantering across the open. He added that had +they advanced a little faster they would have captured them. But this +was not their object, and they were rather glad not to have the +encumbrance of prisoners, remembering the trouble Oham's wives and +relations gave at Kambula. + +The return to Ekowe was accomplished without further incident. On the +following day, having destroyed as much of the fortifications at Ekowe +as time would permit, they started upon the return journey to the camp +at Ginghilovo. They overtook Pearson in laager after having marched +about six miles; and while he and his column moved on later in the day +to his destination on the Lower Tugela, Lord Chelmsford and his division +halted and laagered camp at about two miles north of Inyezani, and about +five from Ginghilovo. Here an unfortunate disaster occurred. A young +sentry of the 91st fancied he saw Zulus in the bush. He at once, without +challenging, as he should have done, fired. The picket to which he +belonged at once retired, and as Dunn's scouts were out reconnoitring, +they ran in upon the next picket to the camp, composed also of young +soldiers of the 60th, who, mistaking them for Zulus charging upon the +laager, recklessly opened fire, by which four of their own men were +wounded and one killed, while nine of the unfortunate scouts were badly +wounded. The officer commanding the picket did all he could to steady +his men, and did not even retire with them, so he was quite blameless. +On the 24th April they reached the entrenchments at Ginghilovo, which +were about two miles from the former laager, and Lord Chelmsford, having +given the fullest instructions in regard to strengthening and guarding +the camp, started on the following day for Fort Tenedos, _en route_ for +Durban, to reorganize an immediate advance. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + End of first period of the Zulu war--Organization of fresh + advance--Reinforcements from England--Scene in + Durban--Disembarkation of troops--Cavalry camp at Berea--Lord + Chelmsford's arrival at Durban--His reception--Review of Lancers and + King's Dragoons at Cato Manor--Plan of new campaign--Composition of + No. 1 column--Composition of No. 2 column--Cask bridge over + Amatikula--Forts Crealock and Chelmsford--Wood's reconnaissance to + Blood River--Description of Blood River and its scenery--Appearance + of Buller's Light Horse--Removal of Wood's Kambula camp--Grandier's + capture and escape--His tale--Description of Dabulamanzi and + Cetywayo--Death of Dabulamanzi. + + +The relief of Ekowe, and the Zulu defeats at Ginghilovo and Kambula, +mark in a most unmistakable manner the conclusion of the first period of +the Zulu war. All fear of an invasion of Natal was now completely +dissipated, and the only task that remained to be accomplished was to +organize a force to carry an offensive war into the heart of Cetywayo's +kingdom. Kambula and Ginghilovo had neutralized the disastrous results +of Isandhlwana--the winning blow was still to be struck. It will be +remembered that after the fatal field of Isandhlwana no time had been +lost in applying to England for large reinforcements, and the home +authorities were in no way slack in acceding to this urgent appeal. Lord +Chelmsford on his part was no less active in preparing and getting +these forces to the front, and though to the ordinary observer there +might seem to be a period of inaction and sloth, since there was indeed +a necessary lull in active operations, yet in reality no cessation of +labour really occurred in any of the military departments. Within one +month seventeen transports brought from England and landed on the shores +of South Africa more than 9000 troops and 2000 horses, and all the +munitions and stores, not only for the maintenance of such a force, but +also for other regiments at the front. As each ship arrived at the outer +anchorage, she was discharged without difficulty, and in no case were +the troops kept on board an unnecessary hour, while in no instance was +any damage, accident, or loss sustained during the process of +disembarkation. To the enterprise, energy, and forethought of the +contractors was due this satisfactory result; and the timely engagement +of all the available steam-tugs by these authorities enabled them to +carry out their undertaking in a manner beyond the most sanguine +anticipations. In addition to the employment of the tugs "Union," +"Somtsen," "Adonis," and others, the hulls of two fine schooners were +prepared and specially adapted for the accommodation of horses, and +these being lashed alongside the transports, with the aid of +steam-cranes and excellent wharves, the rest was not a matter of +difficulty. The weather, most fortunately, was generally favourable, +while the equinoctial gales were so slight that the dreaded bar was +never quite impassable. There were at this time no less than sixteen +magnificent steam-transports, some of them the largest afloat, lying at +the outer anchorage. Twenty-three vessels were in the inner harbour, +and there were, irrespective of local tenders and tugs, at least thirty +vessels in the roads. Such a sight had never been seen in the colony, +and Durban will never again exhibit such a martial aspect. While from +time to time returns were issued of the reinforcements as they arrived, +no complete field state was made out till April 16th. It will be well +here to give a brief _résumé_. In the "Egypt" and "Spain" were embarked +at Southampton the King's Dragoon Guards, whose muster-roll gave 31 +officers, 622 men, 91 officers' chargers, and 480 troop-horses. In the +"France" and "England" were the 17th Lancers, numbering 31 officers, 622 +men, 91 officer's chargers, and 480 troop-horses. These embarked at +Blackwall and Southampton. The "Manora" and "Olympus," from Southampton, +brought M and N Batteries, 6th Brigade Royal Artillery, with 10 +officers, 536 men, and 161 troop-horses. The "Palmyra," from Chatham, +came with the 30th company Royal Engineers, composed of 6 officers, 196 +men, 2 officers' chargers, and 44 troop-horses. The "City of Paris," +from Queenstown, brought the 21st Royal North British Fusiliers, with 30 +officers, 906 men, and 7 officers' chargers. The "Russia," from +Portsmouth, embarked the 58th Foot, consisting of 30 officers, 906 men, +and 7 officers' chargers; while the same vessel brought the 3rd +battalion 60th Rifles, with 30 officers, 906 men, and 7 officers' +chargers. From Ceylon came the 57th Foot, which, with drafts from +England, made up 30 officers, 906 men, and 7 chargers. The "China," from +Southampton, brought these drafts, calling at Ceylon for the 57th. The +same fine and roomy ship brought also from Southampton the 94th Foot, +with 30 officers, 906 men, and 7 chargers. The "City of Venice," from +Queenstown, brought the 3rd and 4th companies of the Army Service Corps +(transport branch); while the "Queen Margaret," from Woolwich, brought +No. 5 company of the same, the whole making up 19 officers, 550 men, and +480 horses. The "Palmyra," as well as the Engineers from Chatham, +brought 4 officers and 140 men of the Army Hospital Corps from +Portsmouth. The numerical strength of these reinforcements was +therefore, according to return, exactly as follows:--Cavalry, two +regiments, making 1250 sabres; artillery, two batteries, 12 guns, and +540 men; engineers, one company, 190 men; infantry, six regiments, 5320 +bayonets; Army Service Corps and drafts, 1200; total, 8500 men and 1871 +horses. The two batteries of artillery were not armed alike, the one +being equipped with the usual 9-pounder field-gun, and the other having +the six new 7-pounders similar to those employed in Abyssinia, but +mounted, owing to the advice of General Sir John Bissett, K.C.B., upon +the tall and special Kaffrarian carriages recently introduced into the +service. These carriages are totally different from the small 7-pounder +carriages with which the Abyssinian guns were fitted, as they are raised +upon wheels five feet in height, the carriage, although lighter, being +exactly the same as to size as that used for the 9-pounder of eight cwt. +These little guns, however, weigh only 200 lb., and have rather a queer +dwarfed appearance mounted on their long axles, between their tall +wheels; but the plan was found in many cases successful in this and +late Kaffir campaigns, owing to the obstacles presented to the dwarfed +carriage by the long grass so abundant in all parts of the colony. Mules +had also arrived for these guns from Malta and Gibraltar. Most of the +regiments brought out their own equipment complete and ready for the +field--tents, waterproof sheets, cooking utensils, barrack and camp +stores--which enabled them to be ready at once for the forward movement. +This arrangement was not fully carried out by the Royal Artillery and +Army Service Corps, as they had a long train of carriages to take to the +front; but the company of the Army Service Corps which came in the +"Queen Margaret" from Woolwich brought 100 splendid waggons, light yet +of great strength, and others came from Queenstown in the "City of +Venice." As the transports engaged for the infantry regiments had a +considerable quantity of spare room for cargo, all the available space +was utilized for stores, munitions, and supplies. Preserved meats, +preserved vegetables, and other victualling stores were landed in +quantities of an almost alarming nature, while about twenty tons of +7-pounder shells had arrived by the "Donald Currie," "Duart Castle," and +other hired transports. + +Undoubtedly the most interesting event to both civil as well as military +circles in Durban was the arrival of the two cavalry regiments destined +for the front. The absence of cavalry was indeed one of the great +defects in our army, and had there been previously a couple of regiments +of real light cavalry the progress of the campaign would doubtless have +taken a far more favourable turn, while some of our misfortunes or +disasters would never have happened. The value of cavalry was so +abundantly manifested by the services of Piet Uys, Colonels Russell and +Buller, Major Barrow, and Captain Rowden, that it would be idle to dwell +upon the subject. In the expedition, again, to Ekowe, how completely was +the value of this force shown by Major Barrow's horsemen! This officer +had not more than 200 sabres with him, while at least half of these were +natives; but the completeness of the success achieved by General +Chelmsford was attributed in a great measure by his lordship to the +services of this contingent, who were literally the eyes and ears of the +main column. They were, during the march, effectually scouting the +country around, ahead, and in rear, and so constantly did they perform +this work that the Zulu spies, who swarmed around, could not by any +possibility get close enough to learn the real strength of the column. +Again, until Zlobani, all or nearly all Wood's most brilliant successes +were gained by his mounted men, and he himself never ceased deploring +the absence of a stronger body of horsemen. The "Spain" and "Egypt," +which brought out the King's Dragoon Guards to their first South African +service, two as fine-looking vessels as ever floated in African seas, +both arrived and anchored in the outer roadstead on Sunday morning, the +13th. The "Spain" made a most successful voyage, having left Southampton +on the 27th of February, touched at St. Vincent on 16th March, and +arrived at Capetown on 5th April. She had on board 312 troops and 286 +horses. There was scarcely any sickness at all on board during the +voyage, and all the horses, both officers' chargers and troopers, were +landed in a very fair condition. The horses submitted to the slinging, +almost without an exception, with the greatest docility, and the whole +of them were landed in a wonderfully short space of time, considering +the distance and the state of the weather. The whole of the left wing of +the regiment was on shore by half-past five, and was at once marched to +the 17th Lancers' encampment at the foot of the Berea. The "Egypt" was a +trifle less in tonnage than the "Spain," but the difference would not be +noticed by an unprofessional eye. She had on board 20 officers, 300 +troops, and 300 horses. Her horses were also in excellent condition, and +were all landed on the 14th. By the 16th the men had quite settled down +in their new quarters at the cavalry camp at the Berea, and everything +was in the most admirable order. The ground was admirably chosen for the +1250 horsemen who were there under canvas, and the considerations of +water, wood, health, and position were all carefully thought of and +provided. Each regiment was formed in column of troops, occupying 172 +yards of front and 130 yards of depth. From the centre to centre of +tents was ten yards, and each horse picketed was allowed four feet by +twenty feet. In front of the camp was a fine open space of level parade, +which was employed as a parade-ground for duty, and an agreeable lounge +and sort of out-door club after stable-hours. The hours for _réveille_ +and tattoo, the time for the promulgation of orders, the arrangements +for rations and forage, the position of the brigade office, commanding +officer's tent, headquarters, commissariat depôt, hospital and guards, +the postal arrangements for letters and telegrams, the arrangements for +water for men and horses, the police arrangements, the detail for guards +and pickets, the detail of other duties, and the statement of returns +required, were all noted in daily orders, and printed for circulation +amongst men and officers. By this means a system of discipline was +established as strict and regular as if in presence of an enemy, and +every officer and non-commissioned officer was made acquainted with the +usual system of encampment in his branch of the service, and the +principles which govern such arrangements, in regard particularly to +quickness of change and means of transport, compactness, and safety from +an enemy's attack by day or surprise by night. On April 12th General +Lord Chelmsford and staff arrived back at Durban by special train from +the Lower Tugela, _viâ_ Jaccharine, at 6.45. With him were Colonel +Crealock, military secretary, Commodore Richards, and Lieutenant Milne. +A very large crowd was at the station to greet the General. + +Not the least notable figure among the brilliant group who waited to +receive the Commander-in-chief was that of the Prince Imperial of +France, whose bright, intelligent face, as he conversed with Sir John +Bissett, was lit up with the anticipation of a possible campaign. + +Besides General Sir John Bissett and the Prince Imperial, there were +present at the railway station Major-General Newdigate, Major-General +Marshall, Major-General Clifford, V.C., Colonel Bellairs, D.A.G., +Colonel Riley, Major Huskisson, Captain Somerset, Hon. W. Drummond, +Captain Granville, and many others. + +The 19th of April was a day that will long be remembered in Durban; for +then was seen a sight such as had never before been beheld in that town, +and probably will never be repeated. On that day Lord Chelmsford +inspected the two lately arrived regiments of cavalry, the 17th Lancers +and the King's Dragoon Guards. As each regiment passed before the +General, it was noticed that its rear squadron had attached to it half a +company, and its usual complement of store and supply waggons. These +consisted of four waggons, carrying three days' supplies of food, and +one day's oats for the horses, four waggons for squadron equipments, +such as tents, blankets, and cooking utensils, together with one +headquarter waggon and one quarter-master's stores waggon, making ten +vehicles in all. Each of these waggons was drawn by four horses, while +the armourers' forge waggon was drawn by six horses, and the ambulance +waggon by six fine mules. Both regiments were in full dress, but in the +lightest possible marching order, but even in this, the men's average +weight was not less than 18 stone. The regiments were both encamped at +Cato Manor, which is admirably suited to cavalry purposes, having good +grass and plenty of wood and water. The column extended a long distance, +and wound its way along West Street, Abnel Street, Smith Street, past +the Royal Hotel and the new club, and _viâ_ Field Street back to the +Manor, where the inspection and march past were held in the presence of +the General-in-chief. The top of West Street was reached at half-past +seven, and here the largest crowd was assembled. At the corner of +Gardner Street the column was joined by Lord Chelmsford, who was loudly +cheered, while handkerchiefs were waved from every carriage and window. +Outside the town gardens a number of private carriages were drawn up, +and each of these was fully occupied by ladies in full toilette, who +seemed delighted at the novelty of the spectacle. Such a sight as six +hundred British cavalry seemed to raise the enthusiasm of the +townspeople to a great pitch, and on all sides expressions of delight +and gratification at the fine and imposing appearance of the two corps +were freely vented. The entrance to the picturesque grounds of the manor +is situated within easy walking distance of the town, but in Natal few +people ever think of pedestrian exercise, so that the cavalcade was +supplemented by almost an equal number of mounted spectators of both +sexes. The cavalry brigade was, as soon as it entered the manor, wheeled +into line, and after receiving Lord Chelmsford with a general salute, +was minutely inspected by his lordship, who expressed himself in the +most flattering terms to both Colonels Lowe and Alexander, remarking +particularly the excellent condition of the 17th's horses. The Dragoons +and Lancers quitted Durban for Helpmakaar on April 24th, and every +precaution was taken by easy marching at first to avoid sore backs and +girth galls. Lord Chelmsford also left Durban, and proceeded to +Maritzburg: thence he travelled on to Dundee and Utrecht, and then on to +Wood's camp at Kambula, where he arrived on May 3rd. + +The main features of the plans for the fresh campaign were, roughly +speaking, as follows. + +Two principal forces, operating from separate bases, the one at Utrecht, +and the other at Durban, were to be held in communication by Wood, with +a flying column, and by Marshall's cavalry. The common objective of +these four columns was to be Ulundi, the king's chief kraal. To keep up +communications with these two flanks, to make occasional raids and +dashes forward into the enemy's country, and at any favourable moment to +convert a feigned into a real rush upon Ulundi, Wood was to retain his +separate and independent command. His force, however, was to be largely +reinforced, and more troops, if possible cavalry, sent to him. The first +column, as it was called, under Major-General Hope Crealock, C.B., was +to advance rapidly by the coast road, having as its respective bases of +operations Durban, Fort Pearson, and Ginghilovo. The other column, under +the personal command of Lord Chelmsford, with Utrecht as its principal +base on the extreme north, was to move also upon Ulundi. Meanwhile Wood, +who had been strongly reinforced, while nominally forming part of Lord +Chelmsford's headquarter division, practically retained his independent +command, and formed a sort of flying column connecting the two flanks +with each other. No. 1 division, then preparing for advance from the +Lower Tugela, consisted of three fine brigades. The First Brigade, +commanded by Colonel Pearson of Ekowe fame, consisted of the 3rd Buffs, +the 88th Connaught Rangers, and the 99th Foot, each of these corps +averaging 800 bayonets. The Second Brigade, under the command of Colonel +Pemberton, had in it the 57th, the 3rd battalion 60th Rifles, and the +91st Highlanders; while the Third Brigade, under Colonel Law, had a +battery of Royal Artillery, the Naval Brigade from the "Shah" and +"Boadicea," at least 800 strong, with four guns and two Gatlings, +Barrow's Horse, and a Native Contingent. Before the final advance was +made, it was determined that posts of communication should be +established at the Amatikula and the Inyezani rivers, over which pontoon +bridges were to be constructed. Meanwhile for temporary purposes there +was constructed over the Amatikula stream a cask bridge, by laying two +slings, with eye splices at one end, parallel to each other, at a +distance in proportion to the length of the casks. On these ropes were +placed as many casks as required, bungs uppermost, and side by side. +Across the upper surface of the barrels balks were laid parallel to each +other, and the ends of the slings at each end of the row of casks were +brought up and fastened to the ends of the balks. A small rope with an +eye at each end was fastened to each sling between each pair of casks. +These "braces," as they are technically called, were then carried once +round the nearest balk, and afterwards passed over to the other side, +carried round the opposite braces, returned to its own side, and finally +made fast to the standing part of the brace close below the balk by the +assistance of two half-hitches. Each pier of casks made in this fashion +can be completed in a marvellously short time by skilled engineers, and +in a reasonable period by infantry who have been exercised at such work +under the supervision of their scientific comrades. Transoms or beams +connect each pier with its neighbour, while chesses and outriggers can +be laid down as in a regular pontoon bridge. When crossing these cask +bridges great care, of course, has to be taken by officers in charge of +waggons and supplies to see that no undue weight is carried beyond what +must be theoretically allowed by the practical methods of calculating +the relative buoyancy of the casks. In addition to the redoubts thrown +up to protect the laagers at Amatikula and Inyezani, _têtes-de-pont_, or +bridge-heads, were also constructed to form a safeguard for pontoons. +The position on the Amatikula was admirable. It was not too steep, +having a hill which formed as it were, a sort of natural glacis, with a +slope of not more than 10 deg., which is about the most favourable for +infantry. The post could not be overlooked at any point by the enemy, +while the ground in front, being duly cleared, gave no cover. The flanks +rested upon natural obstacles easily strengthened. The post on the +Inyezani was situated upon an eminence which fell away to the rear, so +that its second line and reserves could be placed almost entirely under +cover. A lake on one side and a ravine on the other, both perpendicular +to the position, gave additional security to the fort, and these were +strengthened by every means at disposal. In the armament of these works +the guns were placed _en barbette_, as being more suitable to distant +fire, and as our antagonists had no artillery with which they could +reply, no anxiety was entertained as to their being dismounted. Guns, of +course, which are fired over a parapet instead of through an embrasure +have a far greater lateral range, and as the Zulu mode of attack +invariably includes rapid changes of front and frequent flank movements, +this mode of armament was calculated to prove the most effective, as +fire could be brought to bear in all directions. A further advantage is +not to be lost sight of, and this is, that guns fired over a parapet, or +_en barbette_, are higher, and could therefore plunge into such hollows +as the Zulus invariably made for when exposed to the rifle fire. +Gabions and screens of sandbags, to save the men from undue exposure, +were placed on each side of the guns. While No. 1 column was thus +employed in fort-building, Lord Chelmsford was moving from Utrecht to +Kambula and Durnberg, where the following corps were being concentrated, +to form his column:--General Newdigate's division, a formidable body, +consisting of the 2nd battalion 21st Fusiliers, the 2nd battalion 24th, +the 58th and 94th Regiments, with M and N batteries 6th Brigade Royal +Artillery: Brigadier-General Evelyn Wood, V.C., who had now with him the +13th and 90th Light Infantry Regiments, Tremlett's battery of Royal +Artillery, and Buller's Light Horse, strongly augmented. Major-General +Marshall's cavalry brigade was also attached to Lord Chelmsford's +command, and was composed of the King's Dragoon Guards, the 17th +Lancers, and Russell's Horse, lately augmented. Finally Major-General +the Hon. Hugh Clifford, V.C., C.B., whose former South African services +go back to 1846, remained in command of the base, depôt, and reserves at +Durban, with Major T. Butler, C.B., of Red River and Ashanti fame, as +chief of his staff. + +It has been stated that one of the points at which Crealock was to +concentrate his forces was Ginghilovo; but by the advice of high medical +authorities, Lord Chelmsford ordered the camp at Ginghilovo to be broken +up and shifted to a more favourable site near the Inyezani. The +Ginghilovo camp, as far as strategical position was concerned, was all +that the most fastidious engineer could desire, but upon sanitary +grounds it was decidedly defective. It was favourably sheltered in a +sort of hollow having defensive heights, which were to have been +entrenched on either side, but want of good water and other reasons +made it desirable to abandon the idea of converting it into a permanent +post. Two strong laagers were now, therefore, constructed, the first +about seven miles beyond Tenedos, and the other on the Inyezani river, a +few miles from where Pearson's first battle took place. The former of +these was called Fort Crealock, the latter Fort Chelmsford. As far as +position, and indeed construction, Fort Chelmsford had many advantages +not possessed by Fort Crealock. The nature of the soil upon which the +latter had been built had much to do with this; but there was but little +choice in the matter, as it was absolutely necessary that a strong post +should be built in this particular neighbourhood. The soil from which +most of the works had been thrown up was unfortunately of a light, sandy +nature, and of that particular unbinding description so disliked by +engineers. The high winds and rain which prevailed also quickly found +out the weak points in the armour of the fort, and working parties were +constantly employed in restoring what had been blown down or washed +away. Fort Chelmsford, on the contrary, had the advantage of a fine firm +soil, neither too heavy nor too light, while some quarries which had +been found within easy distance were of great assistance in supplying +the revêtements, galleries, and platforms. + +The fort itself was situated in a most picturesque part of the country. +The pass leading into the valley through which the river runs was most +romantic, winding through a delightful parklike country, crossed by +rapid streams of clear, ice-cold water, and, as it narrowed became quite +precipitous, the road dwindling to a mere footpath, so narrow that +mounted men could not ride more than two abreast. The kloof was flanked +on the precipice side by loose masses of rock, intermingled with trees +and bush, and tangled with monkey-ropes and creepers of all kinds. The +lower side sloped suddenly with a fall of about sixty feet to the bottom +of the valley, where a rapid mountain stream, gurgling as it rushes over +its rocky bed, fell soothingly upon the ear with a most dreamy yet +refreshing sound. The other road to the fort passed through a still more +beautiful valley, leading to the Inyezani kloof by a path cut in the +precipitous face of the hill, whose sides were clothed with "spekboem" +(elephant bush) and all kinds of flowering shrubs. The road looked down +a declivity of some 200 feet, and was worn in places into a perfect +staircase of boulders by successive torrents of tropical rain, and would +be quite impracticable for any other species of vehicle than a Cape +waggon. The edge facing the precipice had no kind of parapet, and the +dangerous nature of the pass was brought into still greater prominence +by the _débris_ of an ox waggon still lying broken up in minute +particles at the bottom of the valley, where it had evidently gone down +bodily with its span of oxen. The pass was, however, in spite of its +danger, very beautiful. Convolvuli ran over the bushes in rich clusters, +the star-shaped jessamine, with its pink undersides, and the magnificent +specimens of mesembryanthemums, or fig-marigolds, of which there are +hundreds of different species, having little transparent pellicles, +containing pure liquid, scattered over the leaves, giving them the +appearance of being sprinkled over with ice, and scarlet geraniums, +attaining a height of ten or twelve feet amidst the thick bush, glowed +on every side. + +Meanwhile General Wood had been no less busy in and around his camp at +Kambula. On April 17th he made a reconnaissance, at Lord Chelmsford's +suggestion, to the Blood river, where a site had been chosen for a +permanently entrenched camp, to serve as a large depôt for the main body +of the army. The ride was about fifteen miles, and the General and his +party passed through some beautiful valleys, and through a path cut in +the precipitous face of a pass whose sides were clothed with "spekboem" +(elephant bush) and various other flowering shrubs. After four miles' +cantering, they came to a part of the road which looked down a declivity +of some 200 feet. The scene was, however, most picturesque. Convolvuli, +the star-shaped jessamine, and the magnificent Strelitzia Reginae +flourished around, while scarlet geraniums attained to a height +unthought of in England. Two excellent sites for outposts were selected, +by which communication could be kept up with the large depôt and +Kambula. These had commanding positions, and subsequently stone +buildings were solidly constructed, square in form, but loopholed and +flanked by ditch _caponnières_, while each fort contained accommodation +for mounted men and a detachment of infantry. The Blood river, like most +South African streams, is subject to great fluctuations. At that period, +owing to recent rains, it was in flood, and in many places twenty and +thirty feet deep, running with a powerful current that rendered it most +dangerous to cross. The banks in most places are dangerously high, and +the sides are steeply scarped by the force of the stream. Fording-places +only occur at long intervals, so that when crossing in a flood, it is +not at all easy to hit them off, while if once carried down by the force +of the current the traveller has very little chance of escaping an +accident. The best way of crossing a flooded river, and that which was +adopted by regulation in Wood's column, is the Kaffir plan of taking off +some way up the stream, and so making a good allowance for driftage. Old +settlers and Boers often undress themselves completely before mounting +their horses, and carry their clothes and arms in a bundle on top of +their heads, in case of a capsize. The stirrups should, of course, be +crossed over the pommel of the saddle, and the horse allowed to have his +head, the rider guiding him by the snaffle, while in difficult cases it +is better for him to relieve his animal of weight altogether by floating +alongside and guiding his head in the proper direction. The Blood river +flows through some fine scenery, bordered, however, at times by +impenetrable bush and tangled vegetation of all descriptions, again +winding under lofty mountains of basaltic rock, beautifully variegated +with foliage, the thickets affording shelter to swarms of animal and +insect life, giving rise on a still evening to a perfect babel of sound, +amidst which the plaintive coo of the ringdove, the incessant chirp of +the cicala, the twittering of many-plumaged birds, and the hoarse +challenge of the bull-frogs are pre-eminent. Conspicuous among the birds +are to be noticed especially the little crested kingfisher, showing a +perfect gem of colour, several varieties of sugarbird--a species +somewhat allied to the hummingbirds, or "hoverers," which are +constantly to be seen flying restlessly over the aloe blossom--the +orange-throated lark, the blue jay, and the Zulu finch, whose black and +white plumage and red throat are set off by his long, streaming tail, +the feathers of which are so prolonged that when flying they nearly +overbalance him. The sandy plain on which the first fort was built was +covered with stunted karoo bush, and was full of Duyker gries-buck and +bush-buck, while two kinds of hares frequented the plain, the larger +kind grey-furred like the English rabbit, and a small red mountain +species, much better eating than the former, but which is scarcely +considered fit for the European table, on account of its scavenging +propensities. + +Colonel Buller's Frontier Light Horse was also largely reinforced, its +last augmentation being Captain Marshall's new troop of eighty +well-armed and well-mounted men. A corps of Natal Mounted Kaffirs, +principally recruited from the Edendal Mission-station, had also been +added to this command, and they were found most trustworthy and +intelligent. They were armed with the short Martini-Henry carbine, and +drilled with equal steadiness to the European troopers. + +Buller's Light Horse were destined to play so important a part in the +final advance on Ulundi, that a short description of their appearance +and equipment will not here be out of place. The first requisite was a +well-built, sober, and intelligent horseman, who in addition to being +able to shoot with the Martini-Henry, knew also how to groom, saddle, +and nurse his horse. This was required to be an animal neither leggy, +long-tailed, nor showy, but a clever, cobby sort of quadruped, who +could climb like a cat, and obey its master like a well-broken spaniel, +endued with a sound constitution, stout and wiry, and with a good turn +of speed. The saddlery was, as far as possible, of a uniform pattern, +and selected with considerable judgment and care. The great points were +that the tree should be wide enough in the fork not to pinch the +shoulders, but yet not so wide as to let the saddle right down on the +withers, with the seat long enough to sit in comfortably and to spread +the weight to some extent over the horse's back. As many of the Cape +horses are buck-jumpers, slightly-padded flaps were in vogue, although +not insisted upon. They are a great protection to the knees in riding +through bush. The saddle, of course, was provided with wallets in front, +which contained a couple of pairs of socks, one flannel shirt, a +tooth-brush, towel, and piece of yellow soap. Saddle-bags were worn only +when going on distant expeditions, but a tin mug, knife, fork, and +spoon, revolver, and flint and steel formed the invariable equipment of +these troopers, and with a cloak or blanket _à discrétion_ made up the +weight carried by the horse. Although the mounted infantry were +volunteers drawn from various line regiments, there was sufficient +leaven of the cavalry element to insure efficiency in the mounted +duties. When the corps was first raised any kind of dress was worn, but +fashion subsequently exerted its sway, and a rather picturesque "get-up" +became almost universally adopted. Broad-leaved felt hats, with coloured +puggarees, brown cord breeches, "baggy" to the last degree, and so +patched with untanned leather that the original material had almost +disappeared; a sort of patrol jacket, all over pockets, dyed mimosa +colour, and also patched with leather of any colour on the shoulders and +wherever the gun was accustomed to rest, brown laced gaiters, coming +high up the leg, and even thighs, and a rough coloured flannel shirt, +entirely open at the neck; such was the most usual costume. The rifles +were of various patterns--long Martinis, Martini-Henry carbines, some of +Sharpe's old-pattern Sniders, and Snider carbines. No bucket, however, +was ever used, as it was considered better that a man unencumbered with +a long sabre should have his weapon slung to his body, and not to his +horse. + +Another business that had also engaged Wood's time and attention was the +shifting of his camp. In point of fact, in spite of every precaution +taken, it was impossible to disguise the unpleasant fact that the very +air around the Kambula camp was tainted with blood and putridity, while +in the crevices and amidst the long, dank grasses which concealed the +bodies of those who after the battle crawled away to die unseen, lurked +the unmistakable odour of human decay and putrefaction. These were the +principal reasons which induced our chief to consult with the medical +authorities upon the advisability of moving away to fresh ground, and +this determination arrived at, its execution was not delayed for an +hour. In point of position, the site of our present laager was +preferable to the one quitted. The move was commenced and finished on +the same day, the 14th, and there was every reason to be satisfied with +the change. For beauty of site, as well as strategical considerations, +the position could scarcely be surpassed. It was as nearly as possible +a mile and a quarter west from the old camp, and towards the north-west +the view was indeed splendid. In front, and across the river, lay a +grassy plain, dotted pleasantly here and there with mimosa and +camel-thorn. This plain is hemmed in by the Zlobani mountains, on the +right by the spurs of the Inhlomiga, and away to the left by the +towering heights of the Makamba, rising to 4000 feet above the sea +level. The plain narrows backwards between the ranges into a "poort" or +valley, which, as it recedes away from the fort, presents a gloomy and +terrific aspect of solitude. Through it, and winding in and out amongst +tall boulders of rock, and under dangerous precipices, past wild and +gorgeous hollows, rank with the semi-tropical vegetation so peculiar to +this part of the country, runs a small footpath, by which, through heavy +clumps of thorny bush and over naked rock-bound ridges, the explorer +reaches the fertile valley, over which till lately frowned the +stronghold of Umbelini. To the north, and trending northwards ten or +twelve miles, spread the Elandsberg mountains, the lower portion of +whose sides are clothed with bush, presenting a sombre aspect, but the +upper portions of which, formed of huge crags and scarped walls of +granite and porphyry, glitter grandly in the sun, affording a glorious +and ever-changing panorama, stretching out for miles to where the range +terminates near the Pongolo river. + +The new fort was not so elaborate in its design as the last, though, +perhaps, as a defensive work more formidable. It was a six-angled +enclosure, about sixty yards wide, having a wide and deep ditch, +drawbridge, and platform. From its eastern angles projected two long +curtain walls, which enclosed a roomy and well-guarded "kraal" for +cattle and horses. These curtain walls were protected by the fire of the +angles from which they sprung, and the cattle enclosure did not in the +least interfere with the _enceinte_, as it had its own gateway and +drawbridge. At the end of the kraal furthest from the fort was a sort of +irregular redoubt, with a deep ditch and earthen walls revetted with +gabions, and defended by a formidable lot of cactus and thorns laid +along the parapet. This constituted the fort, which was situated on a +flat plateau overhanging a sharp bend of the river, which, being +commanded by the guns, afforded a fine supply of water and an excellent +bathing-place for the officers and men. This change caused a great +improvement in the health of the division generally, and especially +amongst the invalids in hospital. The deaths reported up to this period +were the following: the Hon. Rudolph Gough, from dysentery; Lieut. +Alderton, drowned; Captain Sandham, of the 90th, and Assistant +Commissary Phillimore, of fever; Privates Achmuty and Moone, 13th Light +Infantry, of wounds received at Kambula. + +On the 16th April there occurred an event that caused a great sensation +in the camp, the history of which throws into the shade so many tales of +romance and fictions of adventures in savage lands, and narrow escapes +by flood and field, that it deserves to be recorded at length. + +Among the fifty horsemen who rode under the command of poor Weatherly +there were no better soldiers nor more popular comrades in their corps +than two young Frenchmen, named respectively Ernest Grandier, a +well-made, athletic, and powerful trooper, and Cramazan Baudoin, a stout +and equally stalwart fellow. Both these men were natives of Bordeaux, +and had come out to the colony together about five years before with the +intention of trying their fortunes in the wine trade. They had both +served their time in the French army, and when the present war commenced +could not resist the temptation of seeing service under such a gallant +commander as Weatherly, whose knowledge of France and the Continent +generally obtained him many excellent French and German recruits. On the +day of the Zlobani attack, owing to a thick fog which suddenly came on, +Colonel Weatherly's troops missed their road and were unable to effect +the junction with Buller ordered by Colonel Wood. The Zlobani mountain +was successfully carried by Colonel Buller and his horsemen at daylight +on the 28th March, and Colonel Wood, who was with Russell's horsemen a +few miles to the west, pushed forward on the same morning with his usual +small escort of the 90th mounted men and overtook Weatherly, who had +been all night trying to find the path. After the summit of the mountain +had been gained, under a heavy fire, during which Captain Ronald +Campbell and Mr. Lloyd were killed, Colonel Weatherly was ordered to +move round to the other flank, and make good his retreat by the eastern +side of the mountain. In endeavouring to effect this movement they +became surrounded and cut off by Zulus in front and rear. Weatherly was +killed in the endeavour to save his son; a few of the troopers managed +to cut their way, under the most terrible difficulties, through the +bloodthirsty hordes hemming them in on the far east of the mountain; +and Grandier and his friend, who had promised to keep together, found +themselves, with a couple more of their comrades, in the midst of about +a hundred yelling Zulus, while the bodies of their slaughtered friends +were being hurled over the rocks on every side. Grandier, although +slightly wounded in the side and wrist, was still mounted, but Baudoin's +horse had been shot early in the day, and he was, bruised and blown, +about to fall into the hands of the pursuers, when his gallant comrade +sprang off his stout little horse and placed the fugitive upon the +saddle, intending to mount also as soon as more favourable ground could +be reached. He saw, besides, that two of his comrades were not far in +front, and twice called upon them to turn and make a stand. +Unfortunately, the shouts of the Zulus and the clang of the conflict +drowned his voice, and they rode on, while Baudoin in the meanwhile was +compelled by a fresh rush of Zulus to turn up another path. Grandier now +endeavoured to follow the two horsemen on foot, and being tolerably +fresh he managed for some little time to keep on his legs. Passing some +large rocks, however, which jutted out half across the pathway, a large +piece of stone was hurled at him from above, and felled him to the +ground, and while half-stunned and insensible, he was overtaken by +half-a-dozen savages, and after receiving several severe blows from +knobkerries, was seized and pinioned with thongs. Even as they lifted +him, he could see in the distance that Baudoin had managed to gain the +troopers in advance, and the three seemed to have some chance of escape. +Umbelini's "big place," or kraal, is on the south side of the Zlobani, +and rather more than half way up from the valley. To this place, with a +considerable amount of abuse, Grandier was led. Wounded as he was, +beaten, bruised, and footsore, the prisoner was dragged round the slopes +of the mountain, and forced by assegais to keep up with his escort, who, +like all their countrymen, went at a sort of double stride or trot until +the outskirts of the kraal were reached. The sun was still high over the +mountain when they reached Umbelini's stronghold, and he was at once +placed under an escort in one of the Zulu huts, which formed part of the +outer circle of the defences. It was constructed of strong wickerwork, +and thatched with reeds and long grass, the door being merely a small +matted hurdle, which did not so entirely block the doorway as to prevent +those outside from looking in--an advantage of which the crowd of men, +women, and children did not fail to avail themselves to the fullest +extent. The walls were so thin that voices and conversation, even though +carried on in a moderate tone, could be distinctly heard from hut to +hut. After having been kept without food or water for some hours, +Grandier was brought the same evening before the chief, Umbelini, whose +appearance he described as at the same time villainous and ferocious in +the extreme. The interview was certainly an interesting one. The name +and power of the ex-Swazi chief were known and renowned all over +Zululand. The recent favour shown to him by Cetywayo, and his position +being now considered as more that of an ally than a vassal, gave to his +authority and prestige an influence they had never before possessed. So +blindly did his people believe in him, that it is more than probable +had further success crowned his efforts, he would have been found a +dangerous rival for the Zulu throne. Umbelini sat in front of the +principal hut, surrounded by about fifty of his favourite warriors, +while large numbers of savages appeared to be leaving the kraal in +different directions. Masses of natives, evidently belonging to outlying +tribes, were continually arriving, and reports were brought from time to +time to the chief, who gave his orders rapidly and without hesitation. +Upwards of a hundred principal men appeared to be in conference with +Umbelini, and the number seemed rapidly increasing. Many of these men, +Grandier had reason to believe, were ambassadors from Cetywayo, and +officers belonging to the force he sent to assist in Wood's destruction. +A covering of skins was fastened round the waist of each, and broad +rings of copper were worn round the ankles and arms of those of the +highest rank. Plumes of feathers adorned the heads of others who were +more scantily clad, and who were evidently dressed for battle; while +others again wore, something after the fashion of a Hungarian pelisse, +skins of panthers or other striped animals. The array of dusky savages +was certainly imposing, and it was doubtless arranged with a view to +effect. Each left hand supported a shield of tanned buffalo hide, +surmounted with plumes of ostrich feathers. The same hand grasped a long +bunch of assegais, while the right held the short stabbing-spear. Round +the necks of those of high rank was usually a necklace, made of some +wild animal's or possibly human teeth, from which hung a long knife or +dagger. About half of these warriors carried fire-arms, which were, +however, of every conceivable make and pattern. The enclosure into which +the prisoner was conducted, or rather hurled, was formed of the branches +of the mimosa, strongly and tightly interlaced, and from the height at +which it stood a splendid view could be obtained. All round were +situated the huts of the tribe, looking like large-sized beehives, while +close to each was a little walled space, in which the family wealth, +consisting of oxen and other cattle, was kept. Umbelini, in spite of the +sinister and ferocious aspect he wore, was not without a certain savage +dignity which evidently impressed not only his own people, but also the +indunas from Cetywayo. Perhaps the consciousness of their presence, and +the knowledge that this scene would be reported to headquarters, gave an +increase of grave majesty to his manner, and rendered him less repulsive +in his action and speech. There was a certain air of thought, and even +command in his face, which was in striking contrast to those around him. +His hair was plastered with the usual circlet of red clay, but his +forehead was encircled with a fillet of young ostrich feathers, +terminating in a single plume hanging behind. Heavy rings of polished +metal spanned the thick part of his arms, and lighter ones of the same +material were round his waist. The neck, thick, massive, and bull-like, +was adorned with a necklace formed of human teeth, from which hung the +usual knife, while over the broad black and hairy breast swept a +splendid ostrich feather. In the right hand he held his only weapon, a +kind of short but deadly knobkerrie, while his left hand rested upon his +naked knee. But for the low forehead, the large mouth, and the enormous +under-hanging animal lip, Umbelini might be described as a fine, indeed +splendid specimen of the South African warrior. + +A chief named Nyamba, who had spoken a few words of English to Grandier, +now explained to Umbelini who the prisoner was, and under what +circumstances he had been taken, and at his suggestion a Zulu named +Nicohlomba, who was known to have once lived in Natal, was brought into +the enclosure as an interpreter. "What have your English dogs done with +the traitor Oham?" was the first question asked by the chief. "I hear +the English are going to make him king in our land." Grandier, with +composure, replied he knew nothing of Oham or the intentions of +Government. "What has become of Somtsen (Shepstone)?" was the next +query, and then, when the prisoner said he was equally ignorant on that +point, a whispered conversation took place between the two chiefs, who +ordered Grandier to be taken back out of earshot, while the indunas were +called up to confer. After five minutes' anxious deliberation, the +prisoner was again called up, and severely and minutely questioned as to +the numerical force at Kambula camp, and as to who was in command. +Through the Zulu interpreter, whose English was not much better than +that of the younger chief, Grandier explained that he was but a simple +trooper fighting for his daily pay, and knew little or nothing of the +questions demanded. Umbelini, who had been hitherto seated, rose up, +looked round the circle, and all at once poured forth a torrent of +words, which seemed to have a wonderful effect upon the crowd. He +seemed, as far as Grandier could glean, from the few Zulu sentences he +knew, to be a sort of welcome to some honoured arrivals (probably the +indunas from Ulundi), and when the Swazi chief had finished, a young +Zulu chief named Umlambongwenya (the Great Alligator) stepped forward +and warmly congratulated Umbelini on the battle of the previous day, +and, pointing to the prisoner, added some request. The circle of +warriors loudly applauded, striking their shields, and this brought a +large increase of numbers to the enclosure, where the applause became +almost deafening. Grandier now fancied that his hour was come, and +prepared to meet his death like a brave man; but to his astonishment, he +was taken out of the enclosure, and once more bound to a heavy log or +stump outside the hut, where he was allowed a little milk and a few +husks of maize. When the next day came, at daybreak, he was again +brought forth to be examined. A circle was now formed round the +unfortunate prisoner, who was firmly bound with thongs of raw hide to a +stout tree in the centre, while round and round the youngest of the +warriors danced, chanting a melancholy dirge, and keeping time upon his +naked body with the butt ends of their stabbing assegais. Suddenly these +proceedings were disturbed by the arrival of a new actor upon the scene. +A tall and elderly savage, almost a skeleton in attenuation, bounded +into the inner circle. This creature, who was a sort of witch doctor, +prophet, and sorcerer, commenced to execute a species of weird dance, +spinning round the circle like a teetotum, and uttering all the time +hideous and guttural sounds. All the warriors now remained silent, and +crouched down, still keeping the circle intact, and kept time to the old +savage's dance by monotonously beating the hard ground with their +knobkerries. Again did the wretched prisoner, now almost worn out by +cold, hunger, and thirst, believe that the torture was about to +commence, and once more was he agreeably disappointed, for, stopping +suddenly in the midst of his mad antics, the sorcerer flung himself +violently at the feet of Umbelini, and breaking as he did so a necklace +of human bones which he wore, pointed over his head towards the east, +where the sun was now lighting up the hills and valleys towards Ulundi, +in which direction, coming across one of the mountains some ten miles +off, could be seen, so clear was the pure atmosphere, a huge and dusky +column, marching with a cloud of skirmishers running along the terraces +of the rocks lower down. These were evidently the advanced guard of the +impi promised by Cetywayo to Umbelini for the destruction of Wood's +kraal; and as the troops came nearer and more into the sunlight, the +principal warriors round Umbelini executed a war-dance round the +sorcerer and Grandier, who had now given up all hope. The savages +yelled, leaped, threw themselves bodily into the air, and went through +all the motions of savage conflict, gesticulating, threatening, +pursuing, stabbing the fallen, and rehearsing, in fact, the performance +they soon expected to go through at the expense of the British soldiers. + +The advent of the coming reinforcements caused the wildest excitement in +the camp of Umbelini, and the horror of Grandier's impending death was +infinitely aggravated by the helplessness he felt in not being able to +give any warning to his gallant chief and comrades. Still he was in some +degree consoled by the subsequent reflection that his commander at +Kambula was a most unlikely man to be caught unawares, and he therefore +resigned himself calmly to his fate. He was not left long in doubt as to +his destination, for the chief, Umbelini, considered that it would be a +compliment to Cetywayo to send him a white prisoner. While waiting, +however, to be taken to Ulundi, he could not avoid seeing the +preparations for the forthcoming attack, and, before his departure he +witnessed the march of Cetywayo's impi towards Kambula. Before +commencing the journey, his guards carefully stripped him of all his +clothes, which they divided amongst themselves and wore, and likewise +compelled him to carry their food. For four days, quite naked, with the +exception of his hat and a pocket handkerchief, which he had tied round +his waist, he was compelled by his inhuman escort to keep up with their +rapid pace. Barefooted, black and blue with bruises, and still suffering +from exposure and want of nourishment, this brave and devoted soldier +bore up against his torture. Each night he received a small handful of +green mealies, and was bound tightly with sharp and cutting thongs to a +thorn bush; and while he reposed, taking it in turns, one of his guards +always kept watch over him. Now and then a kraal was passed on the road, +and here old women and children, the only creatures who seemed left, +came out and reviled and scratched him. On the fourth day, towards +sundown, Grandier could tell, from what he overheard, that they were +drawing near to the king's kraal. + +When close to the king's kraal, on the afternoon of the fourth day's +journey, one of Grandier's escort went forward to announce his arrival; +and after suffering the usual torment of being tied all night to a tree +(this time his clothes, now torn to rags, being given to him), on the +next day at noon he was brought before the king, whom he described as a +stout, medium-sized man, not so fat, however, or so tall as his brother +Oham. Almost the same questions were now put to the prisoner as he had +previously declined to answer at Zlobani, and this time the conversation +was carried on by means of a man who had the appearance of a mongrel +Dutchman, who was known to belong to Cetywayo's staff. In speaking of +his brother Oham the king seemed greatly enraged, and he vowed with many +emphases that he would mete out a terrible punishment to him and the +dogs who had dared to invade his country. Grandier, on being pressed, +saw no reason to deny the strength of General Wood's force or the name +of its commander, and he set it down at 4000 men, at which the king +seemed astonished. + +Grandier described the king as having frequent interviews with him, +during which time he would have colonial newspapers, of which there were +a quantity, translated to him. This fact will probably be taken as the +means by which he had been able to learn Lord Chelmsford's movements; +and if he read the contemptuous tone in which our soldiers were spoken +of by these journals, it would, in a great measure, account for the poor +opinion he seemed, till Ginghilovo and Kambula, to entertain of our +commanders. The king made frequent overtures to his prisoner, to induce +him to join his army, and offered him wives, cattle, and land if he +could assist his half-caste Portuguese armourer in unspiking the two +guns taken at Isandula. These interviews continued for several days, and +finally, when nothing could be obtained by the offered bribes, he was +relegated to a hut, where, bound each night with painfully tight thongs, +he was watched by relays of old women--hideous hags, whose amusement was +to tear out his hair and stick pins into him whenever he endeavoured to +sleep. In the daytime, during eight days, he was regularly tied to a +tree, and beaten by assegais by every warrior whose fancy it was to pass +that way, the offers, however, being daily repeated. At last came a +messenger with the news of the Kambula battle, the Zulu defeat, and the +deaths of Umbelini and his brother; and the king's grief first, and rage +afterwards, exceeded all bounds. Grandier was then ordered to be +reconducted to Umbelini's kraal, and there to be tortured and put to +death as a sacrifice to the spirit of Umbelini, and on the following +morning, at daybreak, he was sent off, fortunately with an escort of +only two men, each armed with assegais, and one with a muzzle-loading +rifle. After ten miles' journey, the chief Inyaneme was met returning to +Ulundi, and he was informed by Grandier's escort of the fate awarded to +him. About midday on the 13th Grandier, worn out with heat and thirst, +bleeding and swollen feet, and nearly starved, sank upon the veldt, and +said he could go no further. He was then severely beaten, so severely +that he fainted; and his guards, fearing he would die in their hands, +gave him some water, and took him to a ripe mealy field to eat. Being a +man of iron constitution, he was soon revived; while, having his wits +about him, he thought that now or never was his hope of liberty. When he +had eaten a few mealies he returned to his escort, and found them +reclining--the most dangerous antagonist, the man with the rifle, being +in a sort of half-doze, while his comrade, who had just finished his +midday meal, was employed in packing away the remnants. Pretending to +totter, Grandier sank upon the ground, as near as possible to the man +with the gun, and while affecting to sleep, saw that no suspicion was +aroused. The gun could not be reached, but the assegais were not far, +and better, he thought, would be a bold struggle for life, even if he +failed and was killed in the encounter, than the agony of slow torture +he would otherwise endure. Watching his opportunity, and while the least +drowsy Zulu was turning his head to take some snuff from the little horn +usually worn in the ear, Grandier leant silently over, and noiselessly +removing the stabbing assegai from under the arm of the man with the +gun, with both his hands, for they were still tied, he nerved himself +with the courage of despair, and throwing his whole weight into the +blow, pinned the sleeping Zulu to the ground, while at the same instant +he seized the gun. The shock was fortunately so great that the thongs +were burst, and he had time to face the other savage with the loaded +weapon, and both wrists free. This spectacle so astonished the Zulu, +that, giving one glance at his impaled comrade, he darted away without +attempting to fight. Grandier, of course, saw the imprudence of risking +a shot, so first despoiling the dead man of his ammunition, he crept +away, and took refuge in the nearest bush. After the excitement of the +last hour he was not sorry to obtain some rest; accordingly he lay down +for twenty minutes or half an hour, and then thought he might venture to +reconnoitre as far as the top of the hill. He saw nothing; so, making +his way back to the bush, he remained till dark, when he made up his +mind to travel all night, finding his way luckily by his knowledge of +the position of the constellations. The next day from a high cliff he +watched a large body of Zulus quite close to him underneath, driving +cattle in the direction from which he had come, and he consequently did +not venture to move out of a cave he had found till they were well out +of sight. For two nights, and while subsisting on the small store of +mealies he had taken from the dead Zulu, he travelled, fortunately in +the right direction, but with more than one narrow escape on nearing +Zulu kraals. On Wednesday, the 16th of April, just three days after his +escape from his guards, this brave and resolute man espied, away in the +distance, what to his practised eye was a European scout. Fortunately he +was seen. As the remainder of the patrol came up to him he fell, +bleeding and exhausted, but undaunted, at the feet of some of Ralf's +Horse, who were exploring, and was by them carried back to Wood's camp, +where after some days in hospital he was able to resume duty and share +in the final attack on Ulundi. + +A very few days after the battle of Kambula sufficed to clear the +neighbourhood of Zulus, though occasionally skirmishes kept occurring +farther off; and the latest news received was that Captain Prior, of the +80th Foot, proceeding with a mounted patrol from Luneberg in the +direction of the Upper Pongolo Drift, had fallen in with Umbelini's +force. Having trotted about ten miles from Luneberg he came up with +about twenty friendly natives, who informed him that a band of Zulus +were sweeping horses and cattle from the valley. Guided by these people, +he made such good use of his time that he soon came within 800 yards of +the marauders, who were driving away a large quantity of horses and +cattle. Captain Prior charged into and dispersed them, recapturing +eighteen horses and a number of cattle, and, leaving these in charge of +Lieutenant Ussher, he continued the pursuit, killing several of the +enemy, amongst whom was a younger son of Usirayo. It has since been +ascertained that Umbelini was of the party, and was so badly wounded in +the skirmish, that he subsequently died in a cave where he took refuge. +This Zulu party was subsequently ascertained to be a portion of the +force that fought at Zlobani, and one of the recaptured horses was +recognized as belonging to a mounted private of the 80th, attached to +Russell's Mounted Infantry. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + Lord Chelmsford with Wood at Kambula--Patrol by Buller--Capture of + cattle--Scene from Kambula Kop--Zulu attack on patrol--Removal of + Wood's camp to Mayegwhana--Wood's force--Scarcity of drivers and + voorlopers--Newdigate at Conference Hill--Fort and depôt at + Conference Hill--Work of No. 1 column--Exciting incident with a + convoy--Distribution of troops--Forts on the Tugela, Inyezani, and + at Ginghilovo--System of guards and precautions against + surprises--All ready for the advance--Recapitulation of military + situation--Newdigate's forts at Landsman's Drift--Arrangements for + garrisons in rear of advance--The Lower Tugela command--Patrol by + Wood and Buller in direction of Isandhlwana--Second patrol by + Buller--Zulu attack--The Prince Imperial on patrol--Reconnaissance + in force to Isandhlwana and burial of the dead. + + +On the morning of May 3rd, Lord Chelmsford, with Prince Louis Napoleon, +Colonel Crealock, and Captain Molyneux, arrived at Wood's camp at +Kambula. His lordship went round the camp soon after his arrival, and +expressed himself uncommonly pleased with all the arrangements for the +discipline and internal economy of the laager, being particularly struck +with the quiet and easy way in which all the duties were carried on, +without noise, excitement, or delay of any kind. The whole force was +paraded in the afternoon for the General's inspection, and his lordship +took the opportunity of saying a few well-chosen and appropriate words +to each corps. + +On the following morning (Sunday), after divine service was over, Lord +Chelmsford suggested to General Wood that it would be advisable to make +a reconnaissance in the direction of the White Umvolosi valley in view +of choosing a suitable position for an entrenched camp within easy +communication of Durnberg and Conference Hill. The day was fine and +pleasant, and Buller, who had proceeded in advance with a number of his +scouts, soon signalled back that the patrol were watched by a number of +Zulus, who now and then exchanged shots with his men from the +neighbouring hills. After riding about three miles towards the +south-east in the direction of the Zinguin Neck and Tonguin mountain, +the party entered a rugged part of the country near where the White +Umvolosi takes its rise, passing along by a winding road, flanked on +either side by the usual mimosa thorns, when suddenly was heard the +"whirr! whirr!" of a couple of leaden messengers, though as yet nothing +in the shape of an enemy could be seen. In a short time, however, Wood, +who had cantered on in front, saw with his practised eye sundry +copper-coloured bodies creeping along in the bushes below about half a +mile off. They were so intent upon watching Wood and his group of +horsemen that they did not at first see that about a score of Buller's +men had gained their flank, and almost cut them off. It was a most +exciting scene as the mounted scouts were observed looking about for +something in the shape of a path by which to descend the cliff which +formed at this part almost a sheer precipice of some 300 feet. They, +however, managed the descent by a rough cattle-path, sending down +showers of loose stones and _débris_ before them as their horses half +slid, half scrambled to the base. All this time the main body were +crossing a wide plateau dominating the White Umvolosi valley and the +river, which wound away at the base of the cliff. Looking over the +precipitous sides, they could perceive a small herd of cattle penned up +in a kraal in the centre of a little bush-covered flat adjoining the +stream. As it was thought just possible that they might capture some +prisoners, and obtain information of what Zulu forces were in the +neighbourhood, and as cattle-hunting is one of the great ends of Zulu +warfare, half a dozen of the General's escort were detached to see what +they could effect. Getting down the cliff as well as they could, and +then winding through the dense thorns in the valley, they soon found the +kraal, and, having collected the cattle, began to return. But this was +certainly a puzzle upon which they had not calculated. To ascend the +cliff by the way they had come was impossible, whilst on the other side +ran the river, wide, and apparently very deep. Undoubtedly the only way +out of the difficulty was to find a ford. They were, therefore, busily +occupied in searching for one, when they perceived a mounted scout, sent +by Buller, on the other side of the stream, who was gesticulating very +excitedly, and trying to warn them of some danger. As it was impossible +at the distance to hear what he said, one of the mounted men was sent +down to the bank, and he came back with the news that the bush behind +was full of Zulus. The warning did not come a moment too soon, for +within fifty yards of them came a crowd of naked savages, yelling and +flourishing their assegais and rifles, in evident triumph at the success +of their stratagem. Shouting, therefore, to the men who were staying +behind with the cattle, the rest put spurs to their horses and galloped +along the banks of the river, looking out all the time for any sign of a +ford by which they might cross. Fortunately this situation was seen by +that portion of the party who had gone round by the opposite bank, and +they had come down to meet their comrades, having hit upon a ford higher +up the stream. It was, however, a close shave, so close indeed that by +the time they had reached the other side of the river by the ford, which +was up to the horses' girths, and which they splashed through at a +gallop, the Zulus had actually reached the bank, and were only prevented +from capturing the two men left behind with the cattle by some +well-directed shots. The yells of baffled rage from the disappointed +Zulus were answered by a ringing cheer of triumph from the little party +as they rode up the steep which led to the column. The enemy, however, +still continued to appear at various points along the sides of the +hills, and in some places appeared to be dropping like monkeys from crag +to crag, and it was easy to see that had not these scouts been mounted +they would have been greatly at a disadvantage on such difficult ground. +In fact, part of the line of scouts was in a valley surrounded by +mountains, and from which egress, in case of a struggle setting in, +would be difficult. They, therefore, hurried to get upon ground more +favourable for cavalry movements. As they did so the rear sections had +twice to turn and drive off the enemy, who began to come closer to +their rear. Facing about, one of the sergeants charged right at them +with half a dozen men, and silenced their fire on the right. Several +more galloped to the left rear, where the fire was as close as fifty and +sixty yards, and on this occasion all had some narrow escapes. However, +in about a quarter of an hour they rejoined the main body, having driven +off the Zulus. Their horses' heads, however, had hardly cleared the +bushes when shriller yells than before arose along the mountains in +front, and they had only commenced riding into the plain when another +sharp rifle fire began crackling along the ridges of the Zinguin Neck. +As they steadily advanced this firing ceased, and the scene along the +hills, which seemed to terminate to the west in a stupendous cliff, +became more varied and interesting. Signal fire after signal fire of +grass was lighted, and broad columns of smoke rolled into the air, and +these being repeated from summit to summit, evidently showed that their +movements were carefully watched. A party of horsemen was now despatched +to scour the valley on the left front, and all along the woods, which +fringed the sides of the steep hills in front, jets of smoke marked +their downward progress. As the crackling and flashing approached the +bush where the hills met the plain, individual forms of Zulus could be +seen, and then coming swiftly towards the main body there broke out from +the dust and smoke a small mob of cattle, quickly followed by the +skirmishers galloping in. Three small kraals were found to be in flames, +fired by the Zulus as they retired with their cattle before the advance +of the English horsemen. Two mobs of oxen could be seen, numbering some +hundreds, which were being hurried away to inaccessible places. The +ground in front of the English force was of a loose and calcareous +nature, and, occupying as it did the space between mountain and river, +was torn and cut up in every direction by deep white gullies, by which +the Zulus were retiring sheltered from attack. The ridges between these +gullies afforded the enemy additional shelter, being grown over with +scrubby brush. Half the cavalry were now sent on to secure the +approaches to the river, and guard against any surprise in that +direction, and in a quarter of an hour, protected by the horsemen in +rear, the whole body had passed over in safety. + +The General, with his escort, had during the morning's march passed two +of his old camps on the Kambula, and about twelve miles further on came +to a piece of elevated rock or hillock, whence they had a capital view +of White Umvolosi valley, while to the south-west they looked down upon +the Blood river, Conference Hill, and the dark shadow of the Durnberg +range beyond. The Zinguin Neck, where the White Umvolosi has its source, +stretched away at their feet, and farther behind they looked upon the +southern slopes of Zlobani, rising in ledges or bastions in the +distance. Just underneath the shoulder of Conference Hill could be seen, +in the bright sunlight, the white tents of Newdigate's division, and in +the opposite direction was a magnificent view of the precipitous +terraced ledges of the Zlobani, down which our brave fellows had been +driven on the fatal 28th of March. As soon as they reached the top of +the Zinguin they were met by Buller, whose people were actively engaged +in harassing a number of Zulus who were keeping up a desultory and +harmless fire from the krantz in front. The breeze now cleared away the +mists which hung over the valley, and away to the west could be made out +what seemed to be a village perched upon a terrace half way up the berg. +The face of this terrace presented a wild and singular appearance. What +at a distance had appeared level and almost unbroken was in reality a +sort of amphitheatre not less than 1000 feet high, crescent shaped, and +with a terrace fortified by low stone walls springing from rock to rock, +and intersected by enormous fissures or caves connected with each other, +and from which cover a dropping fire was kept up. Leaving their horses +in charge of some few of the men, some twenty riflemen dashed into these +rocks, where the cover would equally shelter them with the enemy. From +this moment the ringing of shots was incessant, and it soon became +evident that the Zulus were in force in a favourable position to annoy +the column until they were expelled. The face of the crescent seemed as +if some powerful eruption had flung from the top of the hill on to its +sides tons of black and jagged rocks and stones, which, piled in wild +confusion and irregularity on top of each other up the face of the +position, presented innumerable caves and crannies, from which, as well +as from stone walls, jets of smoke and bullets were continually issuing. +The dismounted men, meanwhile, began to swarm up the right and left hand +ridges, potting away as they advanced, while a few moved up the centre, +firing when necessary and taking advantage of what cover was afforded. +Several exciting incidents now occurred. As these sharpshooters gained +a better and more commanding position for their concerted attack, the +Zulus, finding the situation rather too hot, one by one began to escape, +and the moment a dusky form was seen gliding through the thorns half a +dozen rifles rang out, sometimes succeeded by the crashing sound of the +body of a huge savage rolling from a high rock to the stones below. It +was simply wonderful to see in what small crevices these big Zulus had +squeezed themselves. Sometimes three or four would get together in one +spot, generally a small cave almost inaccessible from above or below, +and which could only be approached by working along the sides, under the +fire of dozens of other caves and loopholes, every one of which seemed +scooped out for the purpose of creating a cross-fire. As, therefore, to +force home an attack on such positions was not the present object of +Lord Chelmsford, whose purpose and that of General Wood had already been +achieved in the survey they had made, the further retreat of the savages +was not molested, and the order was given to remount and prepare to +return to camp. As the mounted men extended to cover the rear of the +column they were greeted by yells from the few Zulus they had not +dislodged, and a few parting shots were sent after them as they +descended the slope. + +On the following morning Wood's entire force paraded at daybreak, tents +were struck, waggons packed, and they bade farewell to Kambula range, +upon which they had been so long encamped in various positions, and set +out for Mayegwhana, where a fresh camp was pitched. Mayegwhana, or +Queen's Kraal, is as nearly as possible three miles north of Bemba's +Kop, on which some months ago, and before he went on to Kambula, General +Wood was encamped. In this new camp Wood had with him the following +troops:--The 13th Light Infantry, under Major England [their colonel, +Gilbert, having gone into Utrecht on a few days' well-earned sick-leave. +Of this fine corps Captains Cox and Persse, both rather badly wounded at +Kambula, were rapidly progressing towards convalescence. Poor Leet, the +other major, still suffered from his crushed foot, which was caused as +far back as February, but which accident did not prevent his saving a +comrade during Zlobani's fatal day, and for which General Wood +recommended him for the honour of a Victoria Cross]; the 90th Light +Infantry, under their own commanding officer, Colonel Cherry; the two +corps making up a compact and admirably homogeneous brigade of 1200. One +thousand men of Buller's and Russell's Horse, now in better condition +than ever, and excellently mounted, with a body of Royal Engineers and +Major Tremlett's battery of mounted guns; a total of 2000 Europeans, and +about 1200 Native Contingent, or in all about 3200 men. With this force, +and supported actively from its base, there could be no difficulty or +danger in pushing on, and it was no secret that the inactivity they were +forced to endure did not lie at General Wood's door, for he on more than +one occasion suggested substitutes for waggon transport--the cause of +the prevailing inaction. Drivers and foreloopers were what could not be +obtained. One of such is required for each span of oxen, the driver, who +stands on the front seat of the waggon and wields an enormously long +whip, and the _voorloper_, who leads in front. Ever since the day of +Isandhlwana, and on account of the panic which prevailed from that date, +due to the massacre of the natives then employed, it was found +impossible to obtain their services in adequate numbers; and even of +those still in employ numbers were continually deserting, for the +purpose of returning to their respective homes within the border. +Meanwhile Wood was not idle, but, day by day, was making the best use of +the scanty material at his disposal. The few drivers and foreloopers he +had been able to retain were sent for and paraded before the General, +who briefly explained to them that in future they should be armed, fully +organized, receive regular rates of daily and liberal pay, while their +personal safety should be looked after by the employment of strong +guards and convoys wherever they had to march. This, it must be allowed, +was much wanted, and gave some grounds for complaint, as in the earlier +stages of the campaign the waggons on too many occasions were not only +allowed to straggle, but were left to shift for themselves. Behind +General Wood's new camp, about ten miles off, and at right angles to +Bemba's Kop, was Conference Hill, at which place General Newdigate was +concentrating the bulk of his command. He had with him at this time the +King's Dragoon Guards, the left wing of the 17th Lancers, part of the +21st Fusiliers and 58th Regiments, with N Battery 6th Brigade Royal +Artillery. Seven miles away from Conference Hill was Doornkop, and here +were the 94th Regiment, three companies of the 21st, and four of the +80th. Conference Hill was within a very short time rendered practically +impregnable by works constructed by the 94th Regiment, who, under +Colonel Malthus, encamped at this spot; it also became one of the chief +depôts for the supplies of Newdigate's division. This depôt was formed +upon a kop, or rising ground, to the east of the larger hill, and was +protected by three exceedingly well-built forts, constructed _en +échelon_, so as to afford a mutual and most effectively-planned flanking +defence. The largest of these forts was a regularly traced bastion of +polygonal form, with the length of its lines of defence in due +proportion to the range of the weapons likely to be employed. The +exterior sides of this work were 150 yards in length, and the parapet +was sufficiently thick to resist anything but artillery fire. The flanks +were drawn at right angles to the faces, so as to give a fire which +could sweep the ditches and ground in front of the bastions. A couple of +ramps were cut in the prolongation of the ditch of the face, whose +surface passed through the crests of the flanks and lines drawn parallel +to the bottom of the counterscarp of the opposite flank, and about two +feet and a half above them. This fort was garrisoned by the headquarters +of the 94th, and the other two, of somewhat smaller dimensions, by a +company each of the Royal Engineers and the 94th. Considerable pains +were expended in the construction of these works, which did the +Engineers and the 94th the greatest credit for the workmanlike line and +scientific character of their tracing and position. The plan of these +works somewhat resembled that adopted by General Newdigate at Landsman's +Drift. The cattle laager was composed of waggons formed into square, +while at each salient angle were small forts--one of which had +artillery--and the whole were joined corner to corner, so that a +straight line drawn between their extreme points would pass through the +centre of each square. By this means a perfect flanking defence was +obtained, as each fort commanded two faces of the laager. Meanwhile the +First Division had been by no means idle, in spite of their difficulties +as to transport and the attacks of camp fever, which had been so much +more frequent with them than with No. 2 column. From their base at Fort +Tenedos a convoy was started every eight days to Fort Chelmsford, on the +Inyezani, and its regular departure did much to expedite the forward +movement of that force. On the 5th May, however, a somewhat more +exciting episode took place. A convoy of the usual description was +paraded on that day for the conveyance of stores and ammunition to the +Inyezani. Fifty waggons, not too heavily laden, with 3000 barrels on +each, were detailed under the protection of a convoy, composed of C +Troop of Lonsdale's Horse, commanded by Captain Hampden Whalley. From +the foot of the fort whence the convoy started stretches a sandy plain, +dotted with trees, and containing about 3000 acres. This, as it gets +narrowed into a gorge between the river and the mountains, becomes +broken, being intruded upon in every direction by foot-hills and +watercourses. The fort cattle were grazing upon this plain under the +charge of some of De Burgh's horsemen, when, as the convoy was passing +across the first drift over the river, about two miles from the fort, +but out of sight of the sentries, suddenly there sprang out from gully +and kloof hundreds of swarthy warriors, who set to work, some shouting +and firing, to try and drive the cattle away through the pass, whilst +others, by far the larger portion, made a combined onslaught upon the +leading and rear waggons of the train. The convoy had, therefore, a +double duty to perform--to assist De Burgh's men in recovering the +grazing cattle, and also to beat off the Zulus who were attacking the +waggons. Their object was to intercept the cattle now being run off at a +rapid pace, and to secure the waggons in front and rear, which had been +partly surrounded by the enemy. Whalley at once despatched a messenger +to the fort for assistance, and remaining himself, as in duty bound, to +repulse the waggon attack, detached about twenty of his best men, under +his subaltern, to overtake and bring back the absconding oxen. The +waggons were soon out of danger; for the men dashed at the Zulus in such +a determined manner that the attacking party, not very numerous, soon +bolted into the bush, but the other portion of the skirmishes deserves +description. After a gallop of a mile the leading troopers in pursuit +came up with the enemy and the cattle, which were now all in confusion +and involved in the broken waterworn hills at the foot of the pass, and, +on looking back, they were astonished and considerably mortified to find +that they did not appear to be followed by the rest of their party! +Undauntedly, however, the sergeant in command pushed on, firing steadily +and with fatal effect from the saddle, and, with his gaze fixed firmly +upon the leading cattle, worked his way through the frightened oxen to +the front. He was well and gallantly followed by half a dozen men, who +had managed to keep up with him in his rapid ride in pursuit, and these +fine fellows, nothing daunted by the numbers of the enemy, kept potting +away at every Zulu that showed his head from behind the rocks, to which +most of them had now retreated. Suddenly the low banks of the ravine, up +which they were now rushing, swarmed on both sides with the enemy, and +it was evident that the driving of cattle into this position was one of +the usual Zulu artifices by which they were so often successful. The +Zulus kept up a feeble and ill-directed fire from the crevices of rock +where they had taken cover, and all this time the troopers were employed +in heading and turning back the cattle, a task which would have been far +beyond their best energies had not an episode occurred which materially +changed the aspect of affairs. Alone, in the midst of a score of +enemies, the sergeant fought steadily on, loading, firing, advancing, +and driving back the cattle as if he bore a charmed life. The Zulus +seemed paralyzed, and shunned his vicinity, for when he trotted to where +a shield or assegai was seen, it immediately disappeared. He had, +however, great need of help, for he had come to his last cartridge; but +at that moment he felt a chance of life, as he heard the welcome shout +of an English cheer, and, looking in the direction whence the sound +seemed to come, he saw rapidly descending the steep krantz above the +remaining horsemen of his party, who had chosen another and easier path +up the ravine, which enabled them to take the Zulus in flank. The affair +was now over; and although no prisoners were taken, the blood-stains on +the rocks and boulders around proved that there must have been many +wounded. The cattle were all recovered, and Whalley's convoy reached its +destination without further molestation. + +Great changes for the better had also been made in the distribution of +the First Division. The 88th had been shifted from their former +position on the extreme left front of Fort Tenedos to the commanding +hill in its immediate front. In like manner they had been advanced _en +échelon_ to the extreme left front, and the Buffs had been moved in +laager to the right rear of the 88th; while Lonsdale's Horse held the +hill formerly occupied by the 99th. The Naval Brigade were in camp +behind the fort, with Cook's Horse posted in their immediate vicinity, +and the Mounted Infantry upon a hill immediately below Lonsdale's Horse, +and a portion of the Artillery were on the old ground of the Engineers, +with the Native Contingent in their front. The forts also belonging to +this division on the Tugela, Inyezani, and at Ginghilovo were by this +time completed, and admirably manned. To guard against any surprise +pickets were posted in advance and on the flanks of these works, to +watch every line of approach, and especially those where the country +afforded cover and concealment. Sentries were placed at the salients of +all entrenched works, and double sentries at the entrances, while +whenever a drawbridge had been made it was carefully drawn up at sunset. +Occasional patrols during the day, and frequent patrols during the night +and in thick weather were not relaxed, and the result was that the +Zulus, seeing such activity, scarcely ever molested the working parties. +In the ditches of the four coast-line forts were placed at intervals +quantities of dry straw and brushwood, with oil and tar poured on in +profusion, to fire in case of attack, and trustworthy soldiers were told +off to fire these on the approach of the enemy. Sandbag loopholes were +constructed on the tops of each parapet, while large beams, supported +at intervals by sods of earth, were used for the same purpose. +Fire-shells were placed in readiness to be rolled into the ditch. The +distances from each parapet of all conspicuous objects was carefully +measured and communicated to the garrison, and rods with whitewashed +tops, so as to be visible at night, were erected, to mark the various +ranges. + +Port Durnford also had been reported practicable, and a fort and depôt +was being established there. + +It was now the end of the third week in May, and all was ready for an +advance, with the exception of the dearth of transport beasts and +vehicles. It will be well, therefore, to briefly recapitulate the +military situation. Crealock, now at Fort Chelmsford, was to connect +himself with Port Durnford, and then to move along the coast with 10,000 +men, supported and supplied by the Naval Brigade from Port Durnford. +This was called No. 1, or the First Column. The second division in the +north under Lord Chelmsford, his immediate subordinates being Generals +Wood, Newdigate, and Marshall, was to move from Dundee, their advanced +posts being already Doornkop, Landsman's Drift, Ladismith, Conference +Hill, and Mayegwhana. General Newdigate was now at Dundee, and had with +him the King's Dragoon Guards, under Colonel Alexander; the left wing of +the 17th Lancers, under Major Boulderson; the headquarters 21st +Fusiliers, the 58th Regiment, with N battery, 6th Brigade, Royal +Artillery. At Doornkop, about seven miles from Dundee, were three +companies of the 21st, and four companies of the 80th. Wood occupied the +most advanced point at the front, at a place called Mayegwhana, or the +Wolf's Kraal, and had with him the 13th and 90th Light Infantry, 1000 of +Buller's and Russell's Horse, a strong native contingent, and a battery +of six 7-pounder mountain guns. Again at Conference Hill were a company +of Royal Engineers and the 94th Regiment, under their commanding officer +Colonel Malthus. In addition to Colonel Malthus's regulars there were at +Conference Hill about 150 Basutos, some volunteers, and a few Natal +natives, all under Captain Birkett. Dundee and Conference Hill were the +two most important bases of General Newdigate, and convoys of supplies +were daily arriving at each. At Landsman's Drift there were three strong +forts, with an intervening space for cattle. These had been designed by +General Newdigate himself, and were constructed _en échelon_. They were +occupied by the 21st, 58th, and five companies of the 2nd battalion +Natal Native Contingent. These three entrenched field-works were +admirably constructed, so as to afford each other mutual defence. In +tracing these works great care had been taken that the angles should be +directed upon inaccessible ground, such as a krantz, a marsh, or a pond. +None of the faces were exposed to enfilade, and the longest were so +traced that they looked towards the ground over which an enemy would +most likely advance, and which could be swept by the fire of the +garrisons. These works were all somewhat in the shape of demi-bastions, +and were constructed on a square or polygon, whose exterior sides were +about 150 yards. The parapets were only breast high, but unusually +thick, and, allowing for the penetration of rifle-fire at ten yards +being twenty-one inches, the parapets had been constructed six feet, +having a base 3·1, while the interior slopes are maintained by strong +revêtements. Works of this character have certain advantages, which are, +that they require less length of parapet than a bastioned fort; +although, on the other hand, there are these disadvantages, namely, that +there is on each side one dead re-entering angle, i.e., an angle +perfectly screened from fire, and that the ditches are not so perfectly +defended as they should be. Each of the battalions above named built one +of these demi-bastioned forts, and the tents of the respective corps +were pitched outside two of the faces, with advanced pickets thrown out +well to the front. In the interval between the right rear angle of the +most advanced fort and the left front of the second demi-bastion was the +cattle laager--a most important matter in Cape warfare. This arrangement +enabled the fire from the first fort to rake the ground in its front and +left faces, while the fire from the supporting work could do the same +duty for the rear and right faces. From this description it will be +understood that the works spoken of effectually covered the cattle +laager, as well as afforded perfect cover for their garrisons. These +three entrenched positions at Landsman's Drift were the delight and the +pride of the regiments who built them; for although the Royal Engineers +had been employed in general superintendence, it was well known that the +actual designs were made by General Newdigate, and the labour carried +out by the 21st and 58th. + +The arrangements for the garrisoning of the posts in the rear of the +advance were as follows:--Forts Pearson and Tenedos had each assigned to +them two companies, while a reserve upon which they could draw was +placed at Stanger. Upon the Lower Drift, down as far as Kranz Kop, the +river was to be guarded by 2000 of the border natives, under Captain +Lucas, supported by 130 Natal Volunteers stationed at Thring's Post. +Thirteen hundred men of the Native Contingent garrisoned Fort Cherry, in +rear of the abandoned post which formerly covered the ferry drift, while +the border for seven miles was watched by 2000 natives, under the +superintendence of Mr. Wheelwright, at Hermanberg. Greytown was held by +a garrison of two companies. Three thousand natives lined the Umzinga +border, and Helpmakaar was held by the Natal police and Carabineers. The +defence of the new entrenchment at Rorke's Drift, now called Fort +Melville, was entrusted to three companies of the 2-24th, which regiment +was anything but pleased at the preference which had been given to the +first battalion, newly arrived from England, by allowing it to +participate in the active operations, while the second battalion was +detained in the rear. There were to be four other companies of the +2-24th, and of these one was to hold Landsman's Drift, while two were to +be left at Conference Hill. At Balte Spruit two companies, and at +Burgher's Laager, Utrecht, and Luneberg each one company, formed the +respective garrisons. It will be observed, therefore, that the line of +the Tugela was but thinly defended, but, on the other hand, there was a +strong chain of posts on the advance along the coast. The force at this +period in the Lower Tugela command may be summarized as follows:--The +2-3rd Foot, the 57th, the 3-60th Rifles, the 88th, the 91st, the 99th, +or six battalions of infantry, mustering some 5400 bayonets, with M +battery 6th Brigade, O battery 6th Brigade, 8th battery 7th Brigade, and +the 30th company Royal Engineers. To these may be added the Naval +Contingent, and with the native force the total amounted to quite 10,000 +men. + +But before the general advance was commenced there remained one sad duty +to be performed--the burial of those who were still lying on the fatal +field of Isandhlwana. It will be asked why this had not been done long +since? The answer is simple: want of cavalry, want of transport, and +want of opportunity. Since the day upon which the fatal surprise took +place, there had rarely been an hour to spare from the trying ordeal of +official duty, while the task of providing for the living and feeding +the daily reinforcements had left no time to attend to the dead. The +moment, however, Marshall's troopers were upon the frontier, it was felt +that something could be done, and every measure and precaution were +taken to bring about a satisfactory result. To avoid any chance of a +mishap or failure, Lord Chelmsford personally consulted General Wood +when at Kambula, and subsequently at Utrecht, and it was decided that, +previous to any formidable cavalry patrol being undertaken in force, a +series of short reconnaissances should be carried out by the +indefatigable Buller and his ubiquitous horsemen. The purpose of this +plan was twofold. In the first place, these perpetual scoutings so +harassed the natives, that the majority, and certainly the wealthier +majority, heartily wished the war was over; secondly, it was of great +importance to learn the whereabouts of the two impis which it was well +known had been for months waiting for the return of English troops to +Isandhlwana, and this information was effectually obtained by Buller's +zeal and activity. The first and most important reconnaissance was made +by General Wood in person, who ordered a night-parade of a selected body +of horsemen on the 9th May. The force on this occasion consisted of +sixty Frontier Light Horse, under Captain D'Arcy; thirty Mounted +Infantry, under Captain Brown; and forty Natal Native Infantry, under +Captain Woodgate, 4th Regiment, General Wood's staff officer. Their road +at first was an easy descent into the fertile plain that was spread out +like a map at their feet; it then wound up in a somewhat zigzag manner +by the sides of a steep hill, flanked on the one side by a ravine, and +on the other by a dense bush. Presently a black body was seen by the +advanced scouts, whom Buller always sent out as "feelers," creeping +through the bushes on the left, and in our rear came a second. No shot, +however, was fired, but a Zulu perched high above, and sheltered in the +bush, hails the passing troops in a jeering manner, and asks them to +come and see his kraal. Orders had been given to the soldiers not to +fire unless fired upon, and this act of forbearance seemed to wondrously +puzzle the native followers, who were with difficulty prevented from +"potting" the interlocutor. They had made about ten miles, when the sun +began to shine over the edge of the horizon in all the splendour of an +African morning. The dew had fallen heavily during the night, and +consequently the first rays of the sun produced a mist, which hung like +steam over the valleys. This, however, soon cleared away and left the +atmosphere clear and transparent, so that the far-off ranges seemed +within a short distance of the column, whereas they were distant at +least thirty or forty miles. This clearness of course was now a great +advantage and aid to the English party, as it enabled the scouts to +observe far ahead, and rendered surprise less possible than if the mist +and fog had prevailed. Pushing on now at a canter, they soon came to a +trek, which led them between two tall hills called Nkandi and Mhundla. +Here in the kloof were two deep spruits or streams, which, however, were +avoided by hugging the sides of Mount Mhundla, and it was noticed that +waggons could be dragged without any considerable difficulty along this +path. The sun was now well above the horizon, and General Wood decided +to halt, off-saddle, and let the men have their breakfasts. The place +selected for the "off-saddle" was a slightly wooded ravine, amidst the +rocks of which ran a clear stream over a grassy and pebbly bed, while +behind was a range of rocky hills, the summit of which was crowned by +huge masses of rock, looking from the distance like vast Titanic slabs +placed by giant strength in their present position. Before was an +undulating plain, bounded on the right by a river, and on the far left +by a dense bush. + +After one hour's rest the order was given to mount, and away they went, +men and horses thoroughly refreshed and eager for the road. The bush was +gradually getting thicker, and the road wound by a deep descent into a +thickly-wooded valley. Every one of the party instinctively felt that +Zulus must be near, and bracing up the body and nerves each man prepared +for attack. The leader, too, thought the place suspicious, and made his +dispositions accordingly. Two bodies of horsemen, each a dozen strong, +were sent out to make a wide détour on either flank, while flankers were +also sent out on either side of the column. The mounted men who formed +the advanced guard closed to their centre, while those who had been +extended in skirmishing order in the rear had orders to close up to the +column when the defile was approached, ready to dismount, should it be +found impracticable for horses. It is pretty well known that the most +frequent point of attack in Zulu warfare is the rear of an enemy's +column, particularly when the attack can be made in a defile. The head +of the column is often allowed to pass unmolested by the Zulu general, +who waits patiently until the main body has gone by, and then commences +a furious onslaught upon the rear, which will perhaps be followed up for +miles. So these precautions were not superfluous. Where the column now +was could be seen the traces of burnt kraals and partly destroyed mealie +gardens, showing unmistakably that a skirmish had taken place not long +ago, and Colonel Buller at once recognized the locality as the spot +where, some ten days before, his scouts had had a skirmish with Zulus, +on the occasion when an impi was reported as being in the neighbourhood +of Balte Spruit. The anticipations of attack were soon verified, as a +couple of shots rang out from the right wall of the defile, and this was +at once followed by a tremendous shout coming from the rear. The leading +files of the little party had meanwhile reached the mouth of the gorge +without any casualty, and General Wood and his escort on hearing the +firing at once galloped back to the rear, from whence it came, and saw +in a moment that Zulus were swarming on the sides of the cliff as if to +attack in rear. The bugle at once sounded the halt, and the word was +suddenly given for twenty men to wheel about and charge back in full +force upon the unsuspecting foe, who imagined no doubt that he was going +to be allowed all the fun of peppering the rear without receiving any +punishment in return. With a hearty English shout these fellows, led by +Buller, went straight at the enemy, and bursting over rough ground and +through the high and tall grass drove the flying Zulus in panic before +them. Buller's appearance at this moment combined an element of the +heroic and the terrible with a strong infusion of the ludicrous and +burlesque. Leading his men on at a swinging canter, with his reins in +his teeth, a revolver in one hand and a knobkerrie he had snatched from +a Zulu in the other, his hat blown off in the _mêlée_, and a large +streak of blood across his face, caused by a splinter of rock from +above, this gallant horseman seemed a demon incarnate to the flying +savages, who slunk out of his path as if he had been--as indeed they +believed him--an evil spirit, whose very look was death. The tables were +now completely turned; the whole of the column is safely through the +poort; one or two Zulus are seen limping away, assisted into the bush by +their comrades, while the rest stand not upon the order of their going, +but rush pell-mell to gain the shelter of the neighbouring caves. One +large Zulu is seen to be badly hit, yet he manages to crawl away out of +sight, and doubtless is assisted to escape by his fellows. + +The fun is becoming fast and furious. Buller's men are in their glory. +They have dashed into the kloof, and are driving the Zulus out of it in +parties of six or eight at a time. Everybody who an hour ago was as +silent and sombre as the grave thinks it now necessary to yell with +excitement. The sun is now at the meridian, and the day fearfully hot. +The pursuit has been carried through valley and over ridge; by kloof and +through _bosch_, by _bron_ (spring) and _drift_ (ford), and the whole +column is scattered in every direction. It is, in fact, a regular +scramble, and all ranks and uniforms are mixed up together. But the +chase begins to slacken; the pace is too good to last. The recall +sounds, and the firing dies away to a few desultory shots, while the +troopers canter back, dishevelled and puffing like school-boys after a +hard-won goal at football. As soon as the skirmish was over, and the +column clear of the kloof, the journey was continued, and they soon +reached the southern termination of the high valley two or three miles +farther on, where the mountains and table-land descend to the more level +and open country beyond, and by a slope which was noted as too steep for +waggons. The General was the first to set the example of dismounting and +leading his horse straight down most of the way, while the main body of +the little column diverged to the crest of the hill to the west, where +the trek wound gradually away in a spiral manner to the plain. This path +offered no obstacle whatever to the transit of waggons, and, moreover, +avoided a deep donga which lies right across the straight course. Here +General Wood, having an engagement in camp, left Buller and his men with +his orderly officers and escort, while they continued their +investigations in a direction almost due south, over a series of rolling +plains upon the table-land. The mist now most unfortunately came on +again just as they had prepared their glasses for a good inspection of +Ibabanango and the Alarm hill, but they could distinctly see on the +right the high ground before the Khandi and Iheensi hills, and thence +onwards to the Ingutu mountain, where they were not surprised to see +that a signal-fire of considerable magnitude had been made by the Zulus +as soon as they had fairly been discerned in the open and on lower +ground. About five o'clock they reached the banks of the Unyunyebea +river, one of the tributaries of the Ityotyosi, which in its turn flows +eastward into the White Umvolosi. Here, as the locality seemed +favourable, they off-saddled, and the men cooked their dinners, or +rather evening meal. Captain Woodgate, with a Zulu who had returned +lately from Ulundi, and half-a-dozen mounted natives as escort, rode +away to a kop some three miles on, to reconnoitre. A few Zulus were seen +on the opposite ridge, evidently watching the party's movements; and as +they reached the top of the eminence, a messenger was despatched by them +across the valley at speed to the next mountain, where soon after smoke +was seen, showing evidently that their advent had been signalled to the +next post. The remaining Zulus incontinently disappeared up some rocky +ground to the left, and although one of them was chased by four Natal +natives, he as well as his comrades escaped without injury. Colonel +Buller and Captain Woodgate, not having been able to see anything of the +range of mountains for which they were looking, went back to explore the +river, but they had scarcely disappeared down the slope when the mist +cleared off, and there could be distinctly seen the clearly defined +outlines of a high isolated mountain towards the south-east, and this +Zulu scouts declared to be Ibabanango, the principal object of their +search. A number of deserted kraals belonging to Malafchey and his tribe +were close at hand, and it was found that there was plenty of mealies +and firewood, and a very comfortable meal was obtained for men and +horses. As soon as it was sufficiently dark to hide his movements, +Colonel Buller, who always adopted the plan of never bivouacking where +he had halted during the day, quietly shifted the column across the +stream to a spot where a deep donga, sheltered on all sides but one, +gave protection from any night-surprise. The Natal native cavalry did +not bivouac with the remainder of the patrol, but were allowed to post +themselves and lie down without off-saddling at a point indicated to +their commander, Captain Cochrane, by Colonel Buller. Sentries were +posted, patrols sent out, and the night passed without incident or +alarm. The next morning, soon after daybreak, they were again in motion, +and were far more successful in their observations. Colonel Buller, +assisted by Captain Woodgate, obtained excellent data referring to the +position of the two mountains. From the observations and sketches they +were enabled to make, they came to the conclusion that there would be no +difficulty in the transport of waggons on either side of the road as +far as Ibabanango, or in their getting on to the Rorke's Drift road to +Ulundi. Another, and not the least important, point was noted, namely, +that although the district they surveyed was not nearly so well watered +as the Kambula country, the grass improved and became of a better +quality the more one went into Zululand. It was so thick, and at the +same time so green, that it would be practically impossible to get it to +burn for at least another month, so that up to the end of June oxen +would be tolerably sure of grazing. After carefully reconnoitring for +some distance further, without being at all molested, although a few +Zulu scouts were seen here and there, the column returned to camp, which +they reached about 7.40 p.m., after a most exciting ride of some fifty +miles and two days' experience of Zulu skirmishing. + +Another reconnaissance was organized for the 12th instant. Colonel +Buller's patrol on this occasion was composed exclusively of picked and +seasoned men, and consisted of 60 of the Frontier Light Horse, under +Captain D'Arcy and Lieutenant Blaine; 40 Basutos, under Captain +Cockerell and Lieutenants Henderson and Rane; and 80 of Baker's Horse, +together with a few mounted scouts and orderlies, making altogether a +well-mounted, well-armed, and well-trained band of 200 horsemen. Colonel +Buller's guests, on this occasion, included the Prince Imperial, whom he +was to meet at Conference Hill, Mr. Drummond, several officers from +headquarters, and Lord William Beresford, who had earned the soubriquet +of "The Ubiquitous." Having received full instructions, and been +supplied with the usual three days' rations, with the best wishes for +luck from their comrades, and a cheer from the men and officers, they +filed out of the camp in the highest of spirits and eager for the road. +Their first halt was to be Conference Hill, where the Prince Imperial +was to join them. This post was at that time the most advanced point of +General Newdigate's division, and from Doornkop the distance is about +fifteen miles. From Wood's camp at Wolf's Kraal the distance would be +about seven miles, and this was soon accomplished. They found his +Imperial Highness waiting for them, with Colonel Malthus, commanding the +94th, and some other officers, showing the Prince round the defences. +After duly inspecting all the defences shown to them by Colonel Malthus, +they made the best of their way to a spot selected for their bivouac, +about six miles farther on, and where they remained the night, while +their horses grazed contented in some mealie fields. + +Half an hour before dawn on the following morning Colonel Buller was to +be seen scanning the horizon in all directions, and by sunrise his party +were all in the saddle, and _en route_. They soon reached the ford at +the Blood river, which had gone down considerably since Buller had last +seen it. The country over which they rode was fairly open. They crossed +the ford without difficulty, and gaining the opposite bank, reached a +plain, from which they were, however, divided by a broad and well-worn +watercourse. Here they faced the mountain, a long unbroken range, +varying in height from 1000 to 1500 feet, which ran down the left of the +valley. A portion of the mounted men were now sent away to the right, +with instructions to ride up the kloof, then dismount, scale the rocks, +and await the result of the advance of the main body. Should natives +oppose the latter in force, the flanking party were then to drive them +down the mountain, where it was expected they would fall into the hands +of the Basutos under Henderson and Rane, who were placed in ambush on +the left. After half an hour's careful scouting, not a sign of a Zulu +could be seen, and Colonel Buller then gave the not unwelcome order to +off-saddle at, or rather close to, a kraal which bore unmistakable +evidences of recent native occupation. The troopers had no sooner +off-saddled, however, than the wily savages emerged from the caves and +crevices where they had been hid, and could be distinctly seen making +the best of their way with considerable speed up Sirayo's krantz exactly +opposite to where Buller's men were. They evidently were in some force, +and two or three men on horseback were observed directing their +movements as their reinforcements came rapidly in. The force, however, +they were able to collect was extremely small, and certainly would not +have numbered more than half Colonel Buller's command. The Prince +Imperial was excellently mounted upon a handsome and powerful horse, who +seemed, however a little fidgety under fire. Lieut. Rane was now sent on +with a few Basutos, to see whether any stand would be made by the enemy; +and the Prince Imperial immediately galloped after him, to see what he +could of the fun. When these men arrived at the foot of the mountain, +they found a much easier ascent than they had expected. A footpath, +which, however, was quite practicable for horses, was seen winding in a +devious manner in and out of the tall mimosa-trees which fringed the +belt of the wood, and along this path dashed Rane and his Basutos, +closely followed by the Prince, whose impatience to get to the front was +noticed by all. On reaching the summit, however, not a Zulu or an enemy +of any kind was to be seen. This was soon accounted for by the fact that +half way up the krantz on the right were posted a number of +Zulus--perhaps about 100. While the main body were watching these +people, to see if they would attempt to cut off from the column the +Prince and the Basutos, who were surrounding the plateau above, about +100 savages now suddenly showed themselves, as if to invite combat, on +the opposite side of the ravine. The object of all these man[oe]uvres +was now obvious enough. The Zulus who were running away on the plateau +above were so doing to lure the English force on to follow, when the +party halfway up the krantz would probably be joined by a number of men +from the kraals, and endeavour to block them in from the rear. It was +now noticed that they were about to send messengers away for assistance, +and this they could not do without running the gauntlet of fire of +Buller's column. Crouching down, so as to be concealed as much as +possible from the fire of the English rifles, two of the men belonging +to the Zulu party ran rapidly away from the native column until they +were within fifty yards of Buller's position. As they passed, a man +raised his gun, and made an excellent shot at the leader, who never +moved after he touched the ground, upon which he fell headlong. The +remaining man, seeing the fate of his comrade, ran back to his people +with wonderful activity, sharpened no doubt by the ping and whiz of +half a dozen rifle-bullets sent after him at about 200 yards. Baker's +Horse were now sent on to the table-land above, to look after the Prince +Imperial, Rane, and the Basutos, whom they found in high glee, chasing +some flying Zulus, who seemed too scared to notice that their assailants +only numbered eight men. + +They now surveyed the surrounding country without further molestation. +In front lay a broad valley, in the midst of which ran the Blood river, +now shrunk to a thin silver thread; on the left at some distance off +could be seen the table-shaped mountain of Mhlatze; and on the right was +that spot of fatal memories, Isandhlwana, with its huge crag in the +rear, raising its lion-like crest over the veldt below. After descending +the mountain and burning the kraals on its south-east slopes, Buller and +his party returned to camp without any event happening on their homeward +route. + +It was now determined at headquarters that a reconnaissance in force +should be made under the command of General Marshall, for the double +purpose of still further pursuing the investigations begun and of +burying the dead at Isandhlwana. For this purpose a force of no less +than 2490 men was detailed, and consisted of the 17th Lancers, the +King's Dragoon Guards, four companies of the second battalion 24th, and +a number of native auxiliaries. Major Black's experience and knowledge +of the road were found of great use, and the two cavalry regiments were +capitally handled by Colonels Drury-Lowe and Alexander. Major Bengough +had charge of the native battalion. The Natal mounted police were under +Major Dartnell, and one hundred and fifty Army Service horses were led, +in order to bring back the waggons. The entire force was gathered +together at Rorke's Drift one hour before daylight, and carefully +inspected by the light of the camp lanterns. They marched down to the +river at daylight, and commenced to ford the stream, which was finally +crossed by six o'clock. Colonel Drury-Lowe commanded the First Brigade, +consisting of two squadrons of his own corps and two of the King's, and +made a détour round the head and crest of the Bashee valley behind +Sirayo's celebrated mountain, and, without any mishap or molestation, +effected a junction with the remainder of the column at Isandhlwana. +Colonel Alexander, with a brigade similarly constituted, marched by the +direct waggon road straight upon his objective, while he threw out +strong flanking parties right and left as he advanced. A squadron was +sent at Colonel Black's suggestion to hold the gorge of the Bashee on +the right, and a number of vedettes were occupied in patrolling the left +of the same valley. Bengough's natives, meanwhile, came on at a rapid +pace, and were thrown out into skirmishing order along the slopes of the +Ingutu range, where the English troops once had such a tussle with +Sirayo and his men. In fact, here, it may be said, the first blood in +the campaign was shed, when they destroyed this cruel chief's +stronghold. + +The manner in which Bengough's well-trained men scoured and scouted was +most gratifying to observe. Every nook and corner, every crevice and +cave, were carefully explored, and as the men advanced slowly along the +valley and slopes of the mountain, every kraal was fired that came in +their way. These men gradually worked their way round until they came +along the range to the eastern limit of the valley, where the +hunting-path trends towards the great kraal of Cetywayo. Meanwhile the +cavalry were not idle. Crowds of vedettes swarmed along the sides of the +valley ready to outflank any enemy or take him in reverse should he +appear. While this was undertaken, the main force moved steadily along +the front of the valley, and over the brow of the opposite ridge +Bengough's men swarmed, chanting their war-song in native fashion. Down +the hillside, to hold the head of the valley, came the four companies of +the 24th, marching steadily in column of fours. The sun streamed in +splendour upon the glittering files of cavalry as they wound like a +brilliant chain along the greensward. Nothing could exceed the +picturesque _ensemble_ that greeted the eye on all sides; nothing could +be sadder than the mission upon which they came. + +As soon as the entire force was concentrated on the neck, their solemn +but ghastly duty commenced. Rider and horse, officer and private, boy +and man, their grim and parchment-looking skins half eaten by the +carrion birds and half covering the bleaching bones, gave to the scene a +terrible and weird significance, which can never be forgotten. Many of +the bodies were easily recognized. Captain Shepstone at once pointed out +that of Colonel Durnford, which was interred with deep respect in a +donga near the spot where he fell. Forty-five waggons were brought away +by the horses and mules, and a quantity of stores still intact was +carried in them. The staff of the 24th's colours was also recovered; and +the troops, having fully carried out their sad _devoir_ in the most +effective manner, returned home with the same precaution with which they +had moved on to the field. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + Advance of the 2nd column--Landsman's Drift to Kopje + Allein--Description of camp--Plan of campaign--Discovery of Port + Durnford--It becomes the base of 1st division--Troops composing 1st + column--Crealock's journey to Durnford. + + +The force thus gathered at Landsman's Drift was now quite ready for an +immediate advance. It was therefore determined to push on this column +(2nd) at once. Accordingly, on the 27th May the troops were formed up in +line of contiguous quarter-columns by eight a.m., and after the General +and his staff had ridden down the ranks, making a minute and detailed +inspection, the various columns moved off by fours in succession from +the right precisely at nine a.m. Newdigate's Division, which led the +way, consisted of the 21st Fusiliers, the 94th Foot, the 58th Foot, and +the 2nd battalion 24th Regiment, together with a wing of the King's +Dragoon Guards, a wing of the 17th Lancers, a battalion of Native +Contingent, two batteries of Royal Artillery, and a company of +Engineers. The crossing of the Buffalo at Landsman's Drift was commenced +at half-past nine, and the rear had crossed by two o'clock. The exact +distance to Kopje Allein as the crow flies is said to be ten miles, but +the route taken was somewhat circuitous, so as, for the sake of the +waggons, to avoid many bad places, swamps, morasses, and mud-holes, +which abound in this part of the country. The country between the Blood +river and the Buffalo is tolerably well supplied with water, +comparatively open, but singularly treeless in its character, though +there were patches here and there along the road, and the district +seemed well adapted for cattle posts and grazing purposes. Indeed there +could be seen a number of large deserted kraals and homesteads, which +had once evidently been the depôts of pastoral wealth and prosperity. +These sites of industry had suffered a hard and rough usage in the +terrible necessities of war. These depredations were largely caused by +the foraging parties in search of fuel, the great want in all our camps. +Supplies, indeed, on more than one occasion, were brought even as far as +from the northern slopes of the Durnberg, a distance of twenty miles. +Most of the best information in regard to the topographical features of +this portion of the campaign was furnished by the very excellent reports +drawn up by Colonel Buller, Lord William Beresford, and, above all, the +Prince Imperial, whose pen and pencil gave a vivid and life-like idea of +the physical characteristics of this line of advance. + +On the 16th instant Colonel Buller's second patrol returned at noon to +General Wood's camp at the Wolf's kraal, and had been so successful in +its reconnoitring operations that its officers were able to report that +no large bodies of Zulus were within twenty miles of the Blood river, +or, indeed, anywhere between the White Umvolosi and the Buffalo river. +The same evening on which the patrol started it bivouacked at Kopje +Allein, and, indeed, it was owing to the excellent reports made by +Buller and his staff that the place was chosen as one of the links in +the line of advance. A few Zulus there were, it is true, hovering about +in the distance, and attempts were made by feigned attacks and feigned +retreats to lure the troops into ambush, but Buller was far too old a +soldier to be taken in by such wiles. When the men had got steadily on +the summit of the hill they were exploring, the Zulu skirmishers +disappeared into some of the caves surrounding Sirayo's old kraal, and +nothing but some huts full of mealies could be found. The patrol that +night slept on the slopes of the Ingutu mountains, and the following +morning scouted in a southerly direction in rear of the Ingwe range, as +far as the White Umvolosi, showing in a tolerably plain manner that the +country about there was quite denuded of its population, at least +between the Buffalo river and the White Umvolosi, while to the eastward +and the northward of the latter river there were plenty of Zulus and +cattle, but no large or important bodies were assembled north of the +Isandaka range. + +The Prince Imperial had won all hearts during these three days in the +saddle and night bivouac, and was seen to have considerably improved in +health since his last visit to the camp. + +From the notes and sketches made by the officers above named the +following data may be adduced:--The key of the road from the Utrecht to +the Ulundi country is undoubtedly the Inhlazatye mountain, and, although +this road runs along a narrow ledge with a precipice on the one side and +with huge boulders on the other, interspersed with thorns and bush, yet +still it is actually the most direct line of advance upon Ulundi. This +Inhlazatye mountain covers a vast extent of country, has an immense +quantity of thorn-bush over it, is very broken and steep, but +undoubtedly can be turned by an invading force from the north either to +the east or to the west, probably the latter, where little bush worth +mentioning would have to be passed through. The most commanding and open +positions are upon the highlands to the south of the White Umvolosi and +Umtatoosi rivers, girdling the new capital, Ulundi. These are the +Emtonjaneni hills (which are called Magnibonium on most maps), near the +White Umvolosi, and the Tyoe and Entumeni heights in rear of the +Umtatoosi, all healthy positions, well watered, and with abundant grass +and wood. From the Emtonjaneni hills, explored by Colonel Buller, who +estimates them at 200 feet high, the circle of royal kraals on the +farther side of the White Umvolosi can be seen; three roads lead to the +rear into the colony, the upper, central, and lower. The Ekowe, +Entumeni, and Ungoga ranges, from 1500 to 2000 feet above the sea level, +dominate the valley of the Umtatoosi. Healthy positions suitable for +cavalry encampments may be found on these heights, well wooded and +watered, with excellent grass and roads leading to the rear into the +colony; and here Marshall's cavalry kept open our communications and +effectually severed connexion between the Zulu's right and left impis. +These central and coast lines, which are joined by a cross-road, both +follow the course of the Umtatoosi. + +During the march, and whenever the country would admit of such +formation, the leading corps halted, and the extended line of march was +curtailed by the succeeding regiment forming upon its left; waggons came +up in a sort of deployment into line, and certain simple movements were +practised which would be carried out in case of sudden attack. Lord +Chelmsford invariably made a great point of concentrating his waggons +whenever the slightest opportunity offered. General Newdigate and +General Wood between them had 900 waggons, and it may easily be imagined +what a column 450 of these would make. Allowing 30 yards to each--and +that is not much, there being 16 or 18 oxen to each load--each column of +baggage alone is 15 miles long, but to this distance must be added 5 +yards interval, and this gives 18 miles to defend. Of course, the forage +for the large cavalry force made one of the greatest strains upon the +commissariat, and all had to be sacrificed to this necessity. This +column and Crealock's were in this respect not upon a par, as it had to +provide for not less than 2000 horses, each receiving 12 lb. of corn +daily; which gave a total of 24,000 lb. daily, or 3000 lb. per waggon +load, or 6 waggons daily to supply them. At this rate, therefore, it +required 120 waggons to carry the oats for the cavalry alone. All Lord +Chelmsford's and the staff horses were, however, placed upon half +rations. + +Ibabanango, which Lord Chelmsford had selected as an advanced depôt for +the united forces of his column and that of Wood, is again situated +about midway between this place (Kopje Allein) and the king's kraal at +Ulundi. The troops in this camp consisted of a company of Engineers, the +cavalry brigade, two batteries of Royal Artillery, four line battalions, +and 800 natives. The encampment was rather extensive, but this upon +sanitary grounds and the best medical advice. The battalions were +encamped as at open order, front as in line, with a depth of 116 yards, +which is unusual, for half the above frontage is the usual encampment, +and 30 yards were left between each of the four battalions. Each +regiment of cavalry usually occupies 172 yards of front and 130 yards of +depth, but its camp can be condensed to 120 yards of front by crossing +heel-ropes, and this, for defensive reasons, was the plan adopted by +General Marshall. This could not be done with Cape or Indian remounts, +as entire horses would fight if so close to each other; but English +horses are so accustomed to this proximity that it was found they throve +better when allowed companionship. To each battery of artillery was +allowed a frontage of 133 yards, with a depth of 114 yards, or 70 yards +front at close order, while from centre to centre of the tents 10 paces +were allotted. The kitchens were simple enough, being nothing more than +a trench to catch the wind and hold the usual pattern of Flanders or +Torrens kettle--the former, weighing 8-1/2 lbs., holding twelve quarts, +and cooking for eight men, while the latter weighs 3-1/2 lbs., holds six +quarts, and cooks for five men. Whenever the ground was too wet for a +trench, two parallel sod walls answered the same purpose, and two +trenches, 10 feet long, 9 inches broad, and 12 inches deep were allowed +for a company of 120 men. The medical arrangements were as elaborate as +could be made consistent with the limited means of transport, but what +was deficient in quantity was made up in excellence of detail. Medical +officers and stretcher-bearers usually moved in front of the camp, and +the temporary hospital was always placed in the least exposed position +near at hand, while the field-hospitals were always in rear. One +medical officer was allotted to each battalion of infantry, regiment of +cavalry, or battery of artillery--more could not be spared. One bearer +company and two field-hospitals were allotted to each division. This +bearer company included 206 men, part natives, 101 mules or horses, and +30 waggons. The field-hospitals had each 75 men, 52 mules, and 10 +waggons, while each field-hospital had equipment for 200 sick. +Fortunately the health of the troops was exceptionally good. + +Instead of an advance from Rorke's Drift, it was now determined to take +a line from Kopje Allein to Blood river, across the more northern spurs +of the Ingutu hills, and endeavour to ultimately strike the road laid +down in the maps, between the Alarm and the Isipizi hills. This route +was to be taken by General Wood's flying column in advance, and General +Newdigate's division, of which actually it was intended to form an +integral portion. The former consisted of the 13th and 90th Regiments of +Light Infantry and five companies of the 80th Regiment, all of them in +splendid and hard-working condition, and devoted to their brilliant +leader. Wood's cavalry consisted of 900 mounted men belonging to various +corps, and commanded by the Rupert of South Africa, Redvers Buller, +whose men were ready to follow him anywhere, and die for him to a man, +after his splendid self-devotion at Zlobani and elsewhere. Wood, who +made friends wherever he moved, had some valuable allies in Oham's +people, who, hating the tyranny of Cetywayo, were invaluable as scouts +and spies to the flying columns. The arrangements for the line of +advance were as follows:--Wood's flying column was to keep in advance +of Newdigate's division by about five miles, while in front of the +former a veil of cavalry was to keep in advance about ten miles, +connected by intervening files. Each morning orderlies were to report +whether the front and rear were perfectly clear, nor was an advance to +be made until such was known. In case of any enemy attacking Wood, the +latter was to be at once supported by Marshall, who could circle round +and take the Zulus in the rear, a principle of strategy they strongly +object to. Crealock, with the aid of the naval authorities, was at the +same time to push forward from Fort Chelmsford, and, if the landing at +Port Durnford was reported practicable, force the Umvolosi and operate +in conjunction with the 2nd column from his base at Port Durnford. + +Lord Chelmsford had long seen that the best method to obviate the almost +overwhelming difficulties of transport would be to form some seaport on +the Zulu coast. Delagoa Bay was at first selected; but considerable +difficulty was found in arranging with the Portuguese Government as to +our landing a force in the neighbourhood, and that scheme was +consequently abandoned. It then became evident that if a seaport, or +even ever so small a landing-place could be provided at the mouth of the +Umlalasi, it would be at once the nearest and best base of operations +for any force moving from the Tugela upon Ulundi or Cetywayo's other +stronghold. + +Furthermore, as far back as December, 1877, Sir Theophilus Shepstone +wrote to Sir Bartle Frere, informing his Excellency that two +gentlemen--Mr. E. Rathbone and Mr. H. W. Taylor--wished to call +attention to the fact that, from personal observations they had made, +they were satisfied that a practicable landing-place on the Zulu coast +could be found. These gentlemen, it is true, as Sir Theophilus pointed +out, differed as to the precise spot on the coast, but both agreed that +it was near the Tugela mouth, and but a very few miles intervene between +the one place described and the other. This discovery was made +twenty-seven years ago, in the year 1852, and, so far from being kept a +secret, was published for general information in the _Natal Mercury_. + +H.M. gunboat "Forester" was accordingly despatched to thoroughly explore +this part of the coast; no less than three minute and careful surveys +were made, and finally, on May 26th, she returned with the welcome +intelligence that a fine lagoon existed close to the mouth of the +Umlalasi, with a sheltered outlet, and that, from the soundings taken +for five miles on either side of the river, there was no actual obstacle +to a landing being practicable at all tides and all seasons. + +There was, however, at the mouth of the river, a bar on which the surf +broke heavily; and in bad weather experience proved on more than one +occasion that this formed an impassable barrier even to the most +determined attempts to make a landing. + +This spot was christened Port Durnford, and steps were immediately taken +to form there a fort and depôt of supplies for the 1st column, in +command of which was General Crealock. + +To Commodore Sullivan, Major Barrow, and the captain of H.M.S. +"Forester" principally belong the honours of the discovery; and while +the sailors worked heartily seaward and along the dangerous and +difficult coast, Barrow and his riders found out all the roads which led +to the point selected. It had been arranged that General Crealock, with +the advanced guard of the 1st division should move down the Umlalasi to +a point carefully surveyed by Barrow, and which was subsequently, in +compliment to the gallant young prince, called Fort Napoleon. Thence he +was to proceed to Port Durnford, to meet the "Forester." + +Hitherto the advance had been slow; but when it is remembered that forts +were constructed at every strategic point of defence--at the Amatikula, +the Inyezani (respectively Forts Chelmsford and Crealock), and the whole +of the road between this place and the Tugela had been put into working +order by fatigue parties and Engineers, it is clear there was no real +ground for complaint of the delay. Every stream had been bridged, either +with pontoons, casks, or trestles, and trees had been cut down, rocks +and boulders blown up, as well as gradients eased and facilities for +transport carried out. Forts Pearson, Tenedos, Chelmsford, Crealock, and +Napoleon were garrisoned by the less robust men of the column. Six +companies of the 88th, with the headquarters, held Fort Chelmsford, +while a wing of the 99th performed the same office at Fort Crealock. The +regular communications along this line of advanced forts were placed in +charge of one of the best men out there, namely, Colonel Hugh Rowlands, +41st Regiment, whose eye for country, tact, and temper with the natives +and incessant vigilance eminently qualified him for such a +responsibility. + +At this time the force of the 1st division stood as follows:--General +Crealock, Brigadiers Bray and Rowlands; two batteries of artillery and +one ammunition column; Royal Engineers, 30th company and C troop; +infantry, six battalions, viz.:--the Buffs, 57th, 60th, 88th, 91st, and +99th Regiments, two squadrons of mounted infantry, the Natal Horse, the +native scouts; as pretty and compact a little division as any moderately +ambitious general could wish to command, and it speaks well for the +chief's admirable temper under difficulties that, chafed as he now was, +and tied as it were by the leg, by want of transport, he kept working +incessantly without a murmur at the forts, bridges, fords, roads, and +other requisites. + +In accordance with the above-mentioned arrangement, General Crealock, +Commodore Richards, and Lord Gifford set forth on the 25th June for Port +Durnford, taking with them the advance-guard of the 1st division. + +At first the road was over a level and sandy plain, with numerous small +granite hills in different directions, and although there was not much +vegetation for the first two or three miles of the road, it opened on to +a more picturesque-looking champaign country, where the soil appeared +teeming with fertility, and the air was balmy and pure. The country +here, however, is arid and parched during the dry season, but in the +rains, which last from November till May, it is well watered, and large +crops of maize are grown, which by the end of June are usually ripened +and fit for cutting. Large crops of malama are also grown, and it is +upon the stalks of this that the cattle are mostly fed in the drought, +when they appear in good condition, notwithstanding its seeming want of +nutriment. + +Here a halt was made; vedettes were placed, and a meal was partaken of. +Then, after half an hour's rest, they again pushed on, and soon came to +an undulating and extremely romantic-looking valley, shut in on either +side by some huge granite hills. Ascending the highest of these, they +looked down upon the Indian Ocean, Port Durnford, and the "Forester," +standing off about a mile from the shore, and evidently on the look-out. +From this point to the outlet of the Umlalazi the country was fairly +open, and the landscape fertile and partly cultivated. The only obstacle +to progress was a rocky and rather narrow ridge, through which, however, +ran a fairly open kloof, with a small and tributary stream winding its +way to the Umlalazi. Here was the road, and another two hours saw them +through the kloof without question or attack, and they cantered along +the grassy slopes to the bright and shingly beach, upon which a couple +of boat's crews, despatched when they were first sighted, were occupied +in preparing a very excellent dinner of ship's rations for the tired and +hungry men. + +General Crealock highly approved of the position, and a fort and other +works were at once traced out, thus rendering complete the cordon of +posts that had been drawn all round the south of Zululand, right from +the sea to the left attack (or 2nd column), and through which it was +impossible for Cetywayo to force a way, and which rendered his capture +or submission a mere question of time. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + Death of the Prince Imperial--Lieutenant Carey's + account--Discrepancies in and comments thereon--Feeling in the + camp--Expedition under General Marshall to search for the + body--Description of the spot--Recovery of the body--Court-martial + on Carey. + + +We now come to an event which, though it in no way affected the course +or result of this war, was nevertheless so deplorably sad in itself, as +well as to the British army, and was, furthermore, of such world-wide +interest, altering, as it undoubtedly did, the history of one of the +mightiest nations of Europe, that no apology is required for a detailed +narrative. + +Ever since the arrival of the Prince Imperial in the colony he had +continued to win the friendship and esteem of all ranks, and his +unassuming quietude and modesty, genial humour, and readiness to learn +the most minute details of the profession he had adopted, made him a +universal favourite. It has been previously mentioned that the Prince +had been engaged in several reconnaissances, and only three days before +his death he had been with Lord Chelmsford upon a patrol extending more +than twenty miles into the Zulu country. On May the 28th General Wood +received orders to move parallel to, but slightly in advance, of +General Newdigate's column, from Kopje Allein, in a south-easterly +direction towards the Itelezi hill. After three days had been spent in +carefully exploring the country, General Newdigate moved forward on June +1st with his division, as nearly as possible 10,000 strong, and with a +baggage train of 480 waggons. The country had been carefully scouted by +Buller's Horse for twenty miles round, and no Zulus were reported near. +On the evening of the 1st the column laagered not far from the Itelezi, +and on the following day the General moved south-east along a level +country towards the Inguita range; and the flying column being one march +ahead, a communication was kept up by the vedettes of General Newdigate +and General Wood. On Sunday, the 1st, General Wood with a small escort +reconnoitred in advance of the column, which was about five miles in +advance of General Newdigate's force. Away on the right and left were +Buller's horsemen dotting the ridges of the hills on either side. In +front lay green slopes, which were traversed here and there by +watercourses, and bounded by the most singularly shaped mountains, flat +at the summit and crowned with a sort of rocky dome. A good deal of rain +had fallen in the night, and the morning was as clear and fresh as a May +day in England. The General and his escort had ridden about six miles, +when the path suddenly made a bend to the left, skirting a clump of +trees, which grew near the edge of the stream. Pushing a way through +thick thorny underwood mingled with date-palms and tall reeds, they at +length looked down upon the still deep waters of a narrow river, flowing +across a long red sandbank. A ledge of granite formed a rugged barrier +eight feet or ten feet high across the river, and down the hollows of +this the clear water rushed and gurgled in fantastic rills, cascades, +and rapids, bubbling and eddying among the great masses of rock above, +in many of which great holes were worn by stones which during the floods +had settled in small hollows. Traversing a sandstone hill, with a long +spur stretching away to the eastward, and rising in cliffs of 300 feet +to the south of the river, they came upon a grove of fan-palms and +mimosa, where the banks of the stream were covered with golden-blossomed +acacias. Crossing the river by an easy ford, they had ridden on about +another mile, when they observed some of the vedettes on the high ground +to the left signalling that horsemen were approaching. Soon they came +out upon an immense cultivated flat, terminating to the right in a long, +dark, and winding gorge, black with bush, and arched by huge precipices +of sandstone and granite. Into this they turned, and, following a Kaffir +path marked with tracks made by Buller's men, they came upon a bush of +about six or seven acres, in the centre of which were the remains of a +burnt kraal and marks of recent fighting. On the edge of a small stream +they discovered a path to the extreme right, in fact quite on the +hillside, and here the surface showed numerous boot-marks, where the +scouts had evidently been. They had now reached a plain, from which they +were divided by a broad and well-worn watercourse, and here they were +joined by three or four vedettes, who came to report that they had +noticed some horsemen coming at a rapid canter from the direction of the +Tombalaka and the Iyohgazi rivers, which were about equidistant between +Wood's late camp and that of General Newdigate. They had not long to +wait for the solution of the mystery, for, riding in the direction of +the horsemen, they were met by Colonel Buller and a dozen of his men, +who was equally anxious with General Wood to discover who the fugitives +could be. They all rode on together, and rounding the base of the cliff +came up with Lieutenant Carey and four troopers of Bettington's Horse. +In a few seconds more the terrible secret was revealed, and Lieutenant +Carey, whose horse was almost dead beat, and covered with foam, was +rapidly relating to General Wood the details. "Where is the Prince?" +exclaimed Wood, as he breasted his horse at some fallen trees which +intervened, and dashed forward to meet the fugitives. "Speak, sir; what +has happened?" "The Prince, I fear, is killed, sir," said one of the +men, Carey being at first unable to speak. "Is that the case? Tell me +instantly, sir," answered the General. "I fear 'tis so, General," was +the answer; upon which our chief exclaimed, "And what are you, sir, +doing here?" A veil must be drawn over the rest of the interview, which +was of the most painful character. A short despatch was at once written +while on horseback by the General, and in this a _résumé_ of the fearful +tragedy was told, how English soldiers had had the unutterable shame of +seeing an English officer and four English troopers unwounded and +escaped from a Zulu ambush, in which a gallant young Prince, the guest +of England and the hope of France, had been barbarously slain. This +letter was at once despatched by the General to headquarters, where he +ordered Lieutenant Carey and his party to proceed and make their +report. + +The story elicited from Carey and the four men, in spite of a few +discrepancies, was in the main as follows:-- + +On Sunday, the 1st of June, the Prince learnt that a patrol was to be +sent out in advance of the column, to choose the site for the camp on +the following day, and his Highness at once applied for and obtained +permission to accompany it. At six o'clock on Sunday morning the Prince +Imperial sent for his groom, and consulted him as to what horse he +should ride, and the man strongly advised him not to take the large grey +horse, which was eventually one of the causes of his death. This animal +was not one of those selected for the Prince by Sir John Bissett, who +had assisted him in the choice of others. He was a big, awkward-looking, +but very powerful animal, but an inveterate buck-jumper, and, moreover, +excessively timid under fire, a fault which in a charger is dangerous to +the last degree. Two of the Prince's horses had died, either on the +voyage out or soon after landing, and upon the fatal Sunday the grey +horse was the only steed not lame or upon the sick report, so he had to +be taken as a case of "Hobson's choice." At seven o'clock a note arrived +addressed to the Prince, in which he was informed that permission was +accorded him to go with the patrol about to be sent on to choose next +day's camping-ground. This note was from Colonel Harrison, the acting +quarter-master-general, and the Prince at once went over to his tent, +and received final instructions from him verbally; which it must be +assumed, were in accordance with the wishes of the Commander-in-chief, +who expressly stated that the Prince was to be well cared for, to have +no military responsibility, and yet, at the same time, was not to be +interfered with, or in any way prevented from seeing the country. +Lieutenant Carey's account of these matters is somewhat at variance with +this statement of Colonel Harrison, as he (Carey) says that he was told +that the Prince was to have the entire charge of the escort and the +entire duty of selecting the camp. Lieutenant Carey says in his written +statement, that it was by his express desire that he was named to +accompany the escort, and he made this request in consequence of his +knowledge of the country and, in some degree, of the language. Six men +of Captain Bettington's Horse and the same number of Shepstone's Basutos +were ordered to parade at half-past eight a.m. as escort, but for some +hitherto unexplained reason the latter never appeared, and when Carey +suggested they should wait for them the Prince, with that utter contempt +for danger for which he was always remarkable, exclaimed, "Oh, no; we +are quite strong enough!" At nine a.m. all was ready, a frugal breakfast +of black coffee and biscuit had been partaken of, saddles, carbines, +swords, revolvers, and accoutrements had been carefully inspected, and +the word was given to "mount" and "away!" Before leaving the camp, +however, a message was sent to Captain Shepstone to say that the escort +would halt and wait for the six Basutos on the ridge between the Incenzi +and Itelezi hills. A messenger was again sent to hurry on these natives, +but it seems they never came, and therefore the patrol consisted only of +the Prince, Lieutenant Carey, six mounted men of Bettington's Horse, +and one friendly Zulu. This was certainly not a fit escort for such a +charge, and it seems impossible not to attach a grave responsibility to +the staff officer who made the detail. All the six Europeans were well +armed and well mounted, their weapons consisting of the Martini-Henry +slung across the back, ammunition in bandoleer, and a stout serviceable +knife, which could be used for meals or on emergency as a weapon at +close quarters. The Prince and Lieutenant Carey had not rifles, but +swords and revolvers, and unfortunately the latter were not worn upon +the person as they invariably should be, but in the holsters. The Prince +had been on several visits to General Wood's camp, and was an +enthusiastic admirer of both Wood and Buller, with the latter of whom he +had become very intimate ever since the last two patrols he had made +with him. With Lieutenant Carey his Imperial Highness had also an +intimacy of some standing, and as Carey's skill as a draughtsman was +well known in the camp, he had been selected on several occasions to +assist his Highness in surveying operations. + +The day had broken on this fated Sunday with all the glory of a real +South African morning. It had been raining during the night, but this +only served to give a more delightful perfume to the odorous plants that +were crushed by the hoofs of the horses belonging to the escort. The +rain of the previous day and night had refreshed the ground, and filled +the various pools with water, and the plains were cheerful with the +animals and birds coming out of the bush to feed. The patrol met with no +adventure for some time, but continued its course along a valley running +north-east, and narrowing gradually. The track in some places crossed +bad spruits, and was undefined, and in parts obliterated by thorn-trees +and bush. It was also commanded here and there by projecting spurs and +bluffs, where an enemy could have easily hidden in force, and have +attacked them at an advantage, but on either side could be seen the +friendly Basutos scouting in the distance. The watershed of the mountain +was reached about an hour after the patrol started, and on arriving at +the ridge the Prince and Lieutenant Carey dismounted, as they wished to +fix the position of some important hills with their compasses. Here +Colonel Harrison overtook them, and remarked that the whole of the +escort was not with them, adding that the patrol had better wait for the +Basutos to come up. The Prince said, "Oh, we are quite strong enough. +Besides, we have all our friends around us, and with my glass I can see +General Marshall's cavalry coming up." Lieutenant Carey, as soon as he +had finished his sketch, proposed to off-saddle and breakfast; but he +states that the Prince overruled this suggestion and expressed a wish to +push on to the river. The patrol accordingly proceeded on for about four +miles, where for some distance the way was along the bottom of a deep +sandy nullah with very precipitous sides, which they were forced to take +as the only practicable place. This at length debouched into an open +space, from which there appeared to be an entrance to a disused kraal +some two miles up the ravine. Here the escort found that there was good +drinking-water in some pools under a large kopje in front, situated in a +complete amphitheatre of hills, and upon this kopje were some of our +Basuto skirmishers. After watering the horses, the party advanced for a +mile and a half along a commanding and rocky range of hills a short +distance beyond the Ilyotosi river. Here Carey again proposed to +off-saddle, but the Prince did not approve of the spot, and after some +more sketching and surveying the country with telescopes and compass, +the valley was descended as far as an isolated kraal, and the order was +given to off-saddle. The Prince, who did not appear very strong, now +complained of being tired, and while coffee was being prepared lay down +beside the door of a hut. + +The place where this halt was made would appear, from the statements of +Lieutenant Carey and the surviving men of the escort, to be about as +ill-chosen and suspicious a locality as could be found. The kraal where +they now were consisted of about half a dozen huts, and was situated +about three hundred yards from the river Moazani (so called by the Zulu +who accompanied the party). Between the kraal and the river stretched a +tall and luxuriant growth of that most dangerous cover, five, six, and +seven feet in height, Tambookie grass interspersed here and there, as is +customary, with equally tall mealies and Kaffir corn. The plains beneath +this spot afforded every temptation to the artistic eye of the Prince, +and here again another sketch of the panorama was quickly made. The +bright glowing tints of the foreground, whose colours were lit up by +green and fresh grass and wide-spreading acacia and flowering shrubs, +well mellowed away in the middle distance, while far away towards the +horizon were to be seen the shadowy outlines of the blue Itelezi hills. +The kraal was not completely surrounded, for in front there was an open +space where broken cooking utensils and burnt-out embers, bones, and +other _débris_, showed that the place had not long ago been occupied. +Some hungry-looking dogs came out and snarled at the intruders. Here the +fatal order was given to off-saddle, and, in defiance of the most common +and ordinary precautions, which the merest tyro should have taken, the +horses were knee-haltered and turned out to graze, while coffee was +prepared, and not the slightest search made in the cover around. + +The friendly Zulu was sent down to the river for water, and also to see +that the horses did not stray too far. All this time a party of Zulus, +supposed to have been about thirty or forty, were concealed and watching +the doomed party, who, utterly unsuspicious of an ambush, were seated +around, chatting and sipping their coffee. A deep donga lay right across +the path subsequently taken by the fugitives, and this served to screen +the enemy as he stealthily crawled to his prey. Stealing noiselessly +along, hidden by the rank vegetation, and unheard by the unwatchful +escort, the savages came nearer and nearer to their quarry, but while +creeping along were descried by the watchful eyes of the Kaffir, who, +not losing a second, darted back to the Prince, and gave the warning of +danger. A little delay now occurs, for his Highness fails to understand +the native, who has to appeal to Corporal Grubb, one of the escort, to +interpret. The corporal explains to the Prince, who looks at his watch, +and (we are told) seeing it was ten minutes to four, says, "You can give +your horses ten minutes more." But this must have been countermanded, +for the horses were at once collected, and in a few moments were +prepared to start. The Prince is carefully and calmly examining his bit +and bridle, and, it is surmised, had not sufficiently tightened his +girths. His grey horse is a fidgety, troublesome animal to mount, and +now appears to be nervous and anxious to break away. Meanwhile all the +escort stand to their horses and await the word, which the Prince now +gives, "Prepare to mount." But this was the death-signal, for hardly had +the order escaped the lips that gave it, and that spoke no other word on +earth, than the fearful traditional "Usulu! Usulu!" awoke the echoes of +the valley, and a tremendous volley was poured in from the favouring +cover of the grass and mealies. All the horses swerved instinctively +with terror, and some broke away. Private Rogers was shot before he +could mount, and the Prince's tall grey, half mad with fright, became +impossible to mount. Where is the English iron nerve that is proof +against the panic of a moment? Where are the guardians of England's +princely guest? All have lost their courage and their sense of manhood. +_Sauve qui peut!_ is the craven spirit of those who had they rallied +back to back could have probably saved a noble life and preserved a +nation's honour. Not a carbine was loaded, not a sentry placed. +Surprise, the most unsoldierlike crime, was allowed, and white with fear +each trooper galloped away to save himself, nor drew bridle-rein till +miles of country placed safety in his path. Meanwhile, the gallant and +unfortunate Prince is losing every chance of escape which the slightest +attempt at succour would have given. One friendly hand to steady the +scared and ill-broken steed; one carbine, even unloaded, presented at +the bush--for the savages had not dared to come forth--or one gallant +heart like Buller, Leet, or Wood to have shown the chivalry of France +that England's sons were worthy of their ancient fame, and the Prince +would have been alive to-day. There is, it is true, the testimony of one +man, borne away by his frightened and possibly wounded horse, who says +that not being more than half in the saddle, and having no control over +his mount, he could not stay to aid the Prince. "Dépêchez-vous, +monsieur!" he cried, as he swept by at a racing gallop, and that was all +the warning he could give. And then--oh, shame and humiliation!--this +young lad, schooled to arms with English soldiers' sons, wearing an +English uniform, and escorted by British soldiers to a bloody grave, was +left alone to be speared to death, without a sword being drawn or a shot +fired, even from a distance, in his defence. + +The Zulus, seeing only one man unable to mount, burst at length from +their treacherous cover, and with fiendish yells rush upon the Prince, +who, holding the stirrup-leather with one hand and the holster-flap with +the other, must have made one final and desperate attempt to spring into +the saddle. But all is in vain, the untrustworthy leather gives way in +his hand; his feet slip from under him; he falls beneath the horse, +which treads upon his body and gallops away! The last that was seen of +the Empress's beloved son was, that he was alone and on foot, with some +dozen Zulus poising their assegais within a few feet from him, and his +body was afterwards found pierced in front with some eighteen or twenty +thrusts, and stripped of all but his mother's amulet. + +It cannot have escaped the reader that there are some discrepancies and +anachronisms in the accounts given by Lieutenant Carey and the survivors +of that fatal and ill-omened day, the 1st of June. These contradictions +were not unnoticed by General Wood when he took down the report and +forwarded it to the headquarter camp. In the first place we are told +that the Prince was too rash and venturesome, and that he nearly lost +his life on the day when, accompanied by Major Bettington, some of his +men, and a party of Basutos, he visited a Zulu kraal in the +neighbourhood of the camp, and was fired upon by the enemy. Now, on this +as on former occasions, when the Prince went out with Colonel Buller, +Lord Chelmsford, and other officers in charge of patrols or +reconnaissances, he was perfectly well aware that he was merely +incurring the same risk as were other English officers, whose lives to +the British nation, if not to France, were as valuable as his, and whose +temerity--if such it can be called--was absolutely necessary to the +conduct of the campaign. But on the last fatal occasion his Highness was +allowed to go alone, or virtually alone, for Lieutenant Carey does not +seem to have taken his honest and proper share of responsibility, or +looked after the most ordinary precautions which a subaltern of a week's +standing would have carried out in a time of profound peace. We are told +that the Prince gave all orders and words of command during the day, +that he selected, approved of, and disapproved of each halting-place +that was arrived at, and that when Lieutenant Carey wished the escort to +muster and leave the deserted kraal at a certain hour the Prince +demurred, and gave the order to stay much longer. Now this, if +authentic, indicates a lack of military knowledge which it is difficult +to understand as appertaining to an officer of Lieutenant Carey's +standing. The rule of the service is imperative, and no civilian, no +volunteer, and no guest, whatever his rank, may, can, or should at least +be allowed to give a word of command when an official authority is +present. If Lieutenant Carey, out of compliment or out of courtesy, +allowed the Prince Imperial to choose the halting-places and to give the +words of command to the troopers, whom he and not his Highness +commanded, he betrayed an ignorance of the customs, duties, and +etiquette of his profession which renders him totally unfit for the +possession of her Majesty's commission. If he did not allow our deplored +and gallant guest to select these halts, to choose the places for +"off-saddle," and to give the necessary cautions and words of command in +regard to mounting, why, then, he is still more to blame, as knowing, as +he should have known, that he and not the Prince was in command, his +first and transparently obvious duty was to post vedettes and keep a +soldierlike look-out on all sides. Lieutenant Carey was specially +ordered to take half a dozen Basutos with him, in addition to the scanty +escort allotted by the Quarter-Master-General of six of Bettington's +Horse. He says that the escort of Basutos never came, and that the +Prince, when told of their absence, would not wait, but insisted on +pushing forward. The captain of a ship who, at the instance of an +impatient passenger, puts to sea with only half his water and provisions +on board, endangers the lives of those under his command, and for ever +forfeits his claim to future confidence in his conduct and prudence. We +are told that as the first division and the flying column of General +Wood were on converging lines, and were rapidly approaching, and that as +the ground over which this fatal reconnaissance was made had been +previously explored by the Prince, Lieutenant Carey was justified in +arriving at the illogical conclusion that it must be safe from an enemy. +A more preposterous assertion was never before made to hoodwink and +blind justice. Why, not a day passed during this unhappy war when the +troops, in all their camps, were not dogged and followed by parties more +or less numerous, whose duties were to lie in wait for and cut off any +imprudent scouts or stragglers from the camp. The officer in command of +the escort should have been aware of this, and should have known that +the fact of a particular neighbourhood or kraal having been searched a +week previously and found deserted afforded no presumption that the +locality would not be full of Kaffirs some days further on. + +After the word "Mount" was given by the Prince, a fact which is to most +minds somewhat doubtful, we are told that the volley of musketry was +fired, and that some of the horses broke away, while that of the Prince +became so frightened that he could not be mounted. "One by one the party +galloped past the Prince, who was in vain endeavouring to mount." Where +was the friend and associate of England's guest? Where was the officer +who had specially applied for this sacred and most honourable duty? +Where, we want to know, was the English officer in command of the +"escort"? His place was with his men, not leading them away with their +backs to the paltry handful of Zulus, which, it is now known, were in +the mealies, but holding the ground, and covering the body of his +charge. The captain of a sinking or waterlogged vessel is not the first +man in the boats, leaving passengers and crew to sink without him. His +place is upon his deck, trumpet in hand, and even if death-doomed, +sinking like an Englishman under the shadow of the British flag. Such, +comparatively, was the place and the _devoir_ of the officer in command +of the Prince's escort, and had he devoted one brief half-moment to see +and aid our guest to his saddle he would, even if killed or wounded in +the act, have earned a name in every English and French household more +cherished and lustrous than the star of valour which our Queen gives to +her bravest men. + +We now come to the statements of the survivors, and here we are at a +considerable loss to reconcile the accounts. It is distinctly mentioned +by one witness that the abandoned Prince was seen vainly endeavouring to +spring into the saddle by the aid of the holster and the cantle. The +story must be received with considerable reservation, if not utter +mistrust. The Prince, it is well-known, was a most accomplished +horseman, and especially distinguished by his proficiency in all the +arts and minutiæ of the _manége_, and he therefore would be most +unlikely to attempt to mount in the way described. Almost the first +lesson given in the riding-school to a recruit is the one which teaches +the method of mounting the horse. The merest novice in military +equitation must be aware that the first motion with the left hand is to +grasp a lock of the mane, before placing the right hand upon the cantle +of the saddle, or horse's back if not saddled. The Prince was too +well-drilled a cavalier to think of mounting by grasping either the +saddle-flap, holster, or stirrup-leather, either of which would tend to +turn a loosely-girthed saddle round under the horse. If the witnesses +had sufficient time to minutely describe the details of the Prince's +desperate struggle, they undoubtedly had equal time and opportunity to +have drawn rein and assisted him to mount. From all that can be gleaned +of a reliable nature, it would appear that the one exception of devotion +and courage displayed in this otherwise disgraceful affair was exhibited +by the friendly Zulu who was with the party. He it was who first +discovered the proximity of the enemy, and who, not being mounted, might +have had some excuse for trying to save his life by timely flight. But +he stayed loyally and gallantly with his white comrades, and came back +with quiet and deliberate consideration to give warning of the concealed +Zulus. Even then it would appear that he did not attempt to fly, but +fought with his breast to the foe until overcome by numbers. This poor +fellow's body was afterwards discovered not far from that of the Prince, +riddled with wounds, and in a pool of his own and the enemy's blood, +together with a number of his own assegais broken, but reeking with the +gore of his assailants. Doubtless, the first and real great error was +committed by the Prince and his party advancing without the Basutos +detailed to accompany them. Had these native scouts, whose powers of +observation and eyesight so far exceed those of any white man, that no +reconnaissance was considered complete without them, paraded as they had +been ordered to, it is beyond question that they would have detected +the vicinity of the concealed Zulus, and a fearful tragedy would have +been averted. + +The sad news thrilled the whole camp. In every tent, and amongst each +group of old and young soldiers around the bivouac fires, the tidings +were discussed during the whole of the evening, and late into the night. +General Newdigate was applied to by General Marshall for permission to +take out a cavalry patrol, during the night, to recover the body of the +ill-fated Prince, but the former thought it would be more prudent to +wait for the daylight. At four a.m., however, two squadrons were paraded +in front of the camp, and, under General Marshall's command, proceeded +in the direction of the plateau three miles above the junction of the +Tombolaka and Ityolyozi rivers--about equidistant between the cavalry +camp at the Incetu Neck and that of Wood at the Munhla hill, and some +twelve miles from either. About eight miles from Incetu the horsemen +came to a bend of the river, and after crossing the spruit, which in the +rainy season helps to fill the Ityolyozi, they came to the base of one +of those flat-topped hills which are so common in this country. With +some considerable difficulty they ascended to the summit of this kop, +from which was obtained a splendid view of the river below as it wound +along the valley, and at the further end fell over a ledge of rock by a +directly perpendicular descent of 150 feet high and fifty feet wide. +Here the water whirled down into the abyss beneath, and seemed to be +carried off in a serpentine form through a deep channel between great +red scarped rocks. In the ascent to the kop several small but +well-built Zulu kraals were passed, and it was noticed that the huts +were very neatly built. The wickerwork was made of wattles, light and +straight, and bent over at regular distances. The kraals were well +plastered and very neatly thatched, while the doors were made rather +small, with the flooring hard and smooth. At the upper end there was a +raised ledge running right across the hut, which served as a cupboard +where all utensils are placed. Firewood was neatly packed inside between +two grass copes which were fastened against the wall. The furniture was +scanty and all of native manufacture, and some large clay pots to hold +native beer were in several of the huts. Looking down over the ground +dividing the lower ground from the higher range, a fine view broke upon +the eye in the foreground. Mount Munhla stood well out of the range upon +the plain like some huge bastion, while behind it endless grassy slopes +filled up the foreground of the picture. The hill ascended was one of +the spots selected by the Prince for his sketches, and here it was that +the party had made their first halt. Here they could be in no danger of +surprise, and well would it have been if the party had chosen an equally +safe position to off-saddle on Sunday. There is no doubt that the +Prince's talent with the pencil and the pen, combined with his +remarkable proficiency in military surveying, while making his services +so valuable to the army, contributed in no inconsiderable manner to the +risks which on several occasions he ran. From this spot, the Prince, +when he had finished his sketches, pointed out to Lieutenant Carey the +kraal at which he had been fired at on a previous occasion. From here +might be seen the Umbazini, about two miles farther on, and the kraal, +consisting of five huts, where the Prince was killed. Vedettes were now +ordered to push along the ridges to right and left, and to signal as +they advanced, while the main body of horsemen, in sections of fours, +were led by the General down the north-eastern side of the krantz. It +was an interesting sight to see the long blue and white line of horsemen +winding like a huge serpent round the sides of the mountain; the +steel-topped bamboo lances and fluttering pennons glistening bravely in +the morning sunlight, while the horses' hoofs, noiseless upon the soft +and elastic veldt, were in harmony with the silence and sad expression +that were maintained in the ranks. From the General and all the officers +to the rear-rank files there was a subdued and solemn determination of +countenance which was far more eloquent in sympathy for their dead +comrade than any words could speak, while might be seen, at the same +time, in every eye and on every lip, a stern resolve of retribution +should opportunity occur. The cry of "English cowards!" so often hurled +at our men at Ekowe, at Zlobani, at Kambula, Ginghilovo, and, above all, +on the fatal Sunday, was rankling in the hearts of our men, as they +longed to find themselves in the presence of a Zulu force. As they rode +cautiously yet speedily down the slopes of the mountain and came nearer +and nearer to the place of blood, low whispers and murmurs in subdued +accents were heard in the ranks, bronzed and bearded faces seemed to +grow more ironlike and hard, weapons were grasped with a tighter clutch, +and every eye scanned and searched the horizon for a hidden enemy. No +trumpet was sounded, but lance signals were employed to tell the +vedettes to close in upon the column as it advanced nearer to the kraal. +Now could be seen the long and luxuriant patches of Tambookie grass and +mealies intermixed which gave shelter to the foe, and whose proximity +was so strangely and unaccountably ignored by the escort of the Prince. + +In front, with General Marshall and two other officers of the 17th +Lancers, rode Captain Wyatt-Edgell, their eyes fixed on the donga, where +the massacre--for it is difficult to give it another name--took place. +Would the lifeless remains of one whose bright spirit was part of a +widowed and stricken life, whose pure and Christian nature ennobled the +profession of strife to which his heart was devoted, be left intact by +the savages or mutilated by the instincts of their brutal superstition? +Would the young, calm, and somewhat sad eyes so well remembered by each +be torn or defaced by the vulture, or his still more repugnant rival the +common aasvogel (gyps fulvus), and would that lithe and graceful form +which used to lounge at evening into the homely bell-tent and +interchange camp gossip and pleasant badinage with glad and devoted +comrades--would all these be gone to human sight and ken? Were they to +have the mournful and defeated joy of bearing those poor shorn relics +back even one stage on the way to a broken-hearted mother's hearth; or +had the wild dog and the eagle feasted upon all that once was the pride +and the hope of Imperial Gaul? As they neared the horrible pit, for it +was nothing more, where the boy so well loved by all had given his +spirit to Him who gave it, they were startled and horror-stricken at the +sight of some bearded vultures, hawks, falcons, and secretary-birds, +which mounted on the wing from the long, dank grasses as the advance was +made; and they shuddered at the thought of the ghoul-like banquet of +which they might have partaken. But a deep and impassable kloof had to +be crossed, and although time was of the greatest importance at that +moment, General Marshall was too good a _sabreur_ to hazard the lives of +the living without precaution, in order to recover the relics of the +dead. Consequently, as it was quite possible that the foes might have +discovered how valued was the life which had been so carelessly +squandered, and that a large force might be hidden in other and +neighbouring ambush, the usual simple but most effectual precautions +were taken while the advance was continued. Vedettes were again thrown +out, lance in sling and carbine on thigh. Oh! what a moment of pride for +Drury-Lowe, for Boulderson, for Edgell, for Cooke, or for "Dick" Boyle +(had he been there to see). Every trooper's eye gleamed with excitement, +every thigh pressed the horse's flank, and every heart throbbed with +unspeakable rapture at the thought that a chance might be gained to dash +as an _enfant perdu_ at the Golgotha where the dead friends should be, +even though the living enemies were waiting to wrap and twine them in +their grim embrace. Twelve men were selected to ride to the right, left, +and front, and report. They had orders to dash at once into the bush +should a Zulu appear. To run away in the open before these people is not +only madness, but almost certain death to those whose misfortune it is +to be left behind; but the merest tyro in North American, South African, +or, indeed, any bush warfare, must know that once in the bush the +assailed well armed is more than a match for the antagonist ill armed. +But a ravine yet intervened between them and the scene of slaughter, and +they were compelled to make a somewhat wide détour, during the passage +of which, however, each eye and ear was on the _qui-vive_ to the +slightest rustle of branch or bough. + +A group of officers were riding in front; but one topic could be +discussed--a sad and yet a cherished and welcome theme. There is that +peculiar temperament and idiosyncrasy about the soldier, a mixture of +sentiment, poetry, and practical common sense, which makes up a +philosophy all its own, and a measure of life and death, which no man +who holds not his life in the hollow of his palm can pretend to +comprehend. "_Dépêchez-vous, s'il vous plait, monsieur_," rang in every +ear, and seemed to be echoed through the eldritch and ghostlike +solitudes of the greystones and caverns above. The ravens, disturbed at +their approach, screamed as they passed on, while the monkeys, nestling +among the luxuriant clusters of imporotla or peopisi,--fruit whose pods, +three feet long, full of large broad beans, hanging from the branches +like cucumbers or sausages, gave a singular, a cultivated, and almost +civilized aspect to the scene,--seemed as wishing to point out the spot +where the gallant young Prince was slain. + +Some Zulus, about one hundred in number, were now seen hiding in bushes +and caves; but they were quickly dislodged by a party of dismounted +Lancers under Adjutant Frith, a smart officer and worthy follower in the +old traditions of his corps. The line then brought its shoulders sharply +round to the left, and covered the five huts forming the kraal, while +the officers in front galloped through the tambookie grass and maize, +and posted vedettes at each angle of the plantation. Taking open order, +General Marshall now advanced and surrounded the donga, and, dismounting +himself, with three other officers, descended the slopes of the worn and +steep shelter that held what once was a bright and gallant spirit. + +A small bank of sand, over which the sparse and struggling wild flowers +were striving to blossom and flourish, gave a pillow to the young +Prince, whose body divested of all clothing, and stripped bare save for +a charm or locket round his neck, lay extended, not in writhed +contortion, but graceful as in slumber. The face was composed and almost +smiling, and looked up to the sky towards which the pure and unselfish +spirit had soared. No trace of a violent and bloody death could be seen +on the fair and unwrinkled brow, where the lines of thought, care, and +sorrow, were as yet unploughed. The eyes were open, and seemed to gaze +up with human sympathy, though one was injured by a cruel wound which +gashed the lid and eyebrow. The body was not mutilated, and save for the +eighteen assegai wounds in the chest and front, no desecration of the +clay had been committed. The left arm lay across the chest as if +striving to shield the heart from some cruel thrust, while the right +grasped in deathly rigour a tuft of human hair, which showed in +conclusive evidence that the boy must have had time to close in the last +death-struggle with one at least of his assailants. Beyond this fact, +the ground near where the body lay was trampled and tossed, while here +and there, in the direction towards which the Zulus fled, dark +congealed clots of blood were still to be seen. Hence the conclusion +that the generous and high-souled boy, whom all loved so well, had +preserved, if not his revolver (which probably was left in his holster), +at least his sword, and that, accomplished swordsman as he was, even in +his mortal agony he had been able to sell his life dearly, and strike as +he fell. Hard-hearted and hard-headed troopers, impervious to danger and +to hardships, bowed their heads in sorrow and shame to their horses' +manes, while the fierce light of battle which is to be seen when the +trumpet sounds the "charge" gleamed through the mist of tears, as these +honest fellows looked upon the remains of him whose gashed body seemed +to appeal to them. But the sad duty was but half achieved, and, under +the kind supervision of General Marshall, a soldier's bier was quickly +improvised of 17th lances, covered with cut rushes and mealies laid +above, while a horseman's cloak lay like a shroud to cover the whole. +Tenderly and reverently as soldiers only can lift was the body lifted to +its carriage, and it was carried in relays by loving and respectful +hands back over the long and difficult road to the camp, where, on the +same day, the whole of the division paraded to do honour to the dead. +When the camp was nearly reached a messenger was sent on, and General +Newdigate and his staff came out to meet the sad _cortège_, and when +inside the lines, a gun-carriage was brought, upon which, decently +wrapped in linen clothes and covered with the Union Jack, the remains +were tenderly laid, while the funeral service was impressively performed +by the Rev. Charles Ballard, the Roman Catholic chaplain, Lord +Chelmsford, who was deeply affected, being the chief mourner. The same +evening the corpse was enclosed in a rough deal coffin and conveyed by a +mule waggon to Maritzburg. It was met bare-headed by the +Lieutenant-Governor, the Colonial Secretary, General Sir John Bissett, +and General Clifford, while minute-guns were fired from the fort, and +all the flags were at half-mast. Here again there was an elaborate and +impressive funeral, the coffin being carried by the representatives of +every branch of the service, and followed out of the town by the whole +of the large garrison, the civic authorities, and the Roman Catholic, +Protestant, and Dissenting clergy. At Durban, where the remains arrived +on the 10th inst., the body was received by the Mayor and Corporation. +The streets leading to the Roman Catholic Church were lined by the +garrison, leaning on their arms, reversed, and a requiem mass was +celebrated the same day. The following morning the coffin was received +on board her Majesty's ship "Boadicea," being escorted to the point of +embarkation by the naval and military authorities, while the sad boom of +the minute-guns accompanied the procession. The "Boadicea" then sailed +for Simon's Bay. Arrived there, the relics were transferred to her +Majesty's ship "Orontes," and so conveyed to England. After +identification and lying in state at the Woolwich Arsenal, the body was +conveyed to the Empress's residence at Chiselhurst; there, with all the +pomp and pageantry of full military honours, it was laid in the tomb in +the same chapel, where rest the remains of his loved father, Napoleon +III., Emperor of France. The utmost sympathy was shown for his bereaved +mother by the whole English nation, from highest to lowest. The Queen in +person attended the funeral at Chiselhurst, and amongst the pall-bearers +were the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Connaught, +the Duke of Edinburgh, and Prince Leopold. + +A court-martial was held on Lieutenant Carey, on the charge of having +behaved in an unsoldierlike manner in face of the foe; but the sentence +was kept secret, awaiting its confirmation by the Commander-in-chief in +England. Meanwhile Lieutenant Carey was sent home under arrest. On his +arrival there the proceedings of the court-martial were declared null +and void on account of some technical irregularity, and he was ordered +to resume his duties.[1] + +[1] It is untrue that he has since received a high staff appointment. + +It was generally understood that the sentence was dismissal from the +service with ignominy, but that it was not confirmed by the special +desire of the Empress, who made a personal request to the Queen that +nothing should be done in the matter. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + March of the 2nd column--Kopje Allein--Climate of the + locality--Sickness among the troops--Evil effects of Cardwell's + system--Embassy from Zulu chiefs--Cavalry skirmish--Death of + Adjutant Frith--Difficulties of transport--Reinforcement of + Wood--Appointment of Sir Garnet Wolseley--Opinion of the troops + thereon--Alleged inhumanities--The helioscope. + + +Two special orders were issued by Lord Chelmsford's command in regard to +this most melancholy affair. The first, dated Pietermaritzburg, June 5, +was signed by General Clifford:--"The Inspector-General of Lines of +Communication and Base has received from his Excellency the +Lieut.-General Commanding official confirmation of the calamity which +has befallen the forces under his command, by the death, on duty in the +field, of the late gallant young soldier, the Prince Imperial Louis +Napoleon, who, having, in his military training, been lately associated +with the British Army, came out to this country to take part in the Zulu +campaign. The General feels that he is carrying out the wishes of his +Excellency the Lieut.-General Commanding now in Zululand, by thus +recording the feelings of deep sorrow and sympathy, experienced by every +officer and man whose duty keeps him at his post in the colony with the +loss thus sustained." + +The second order was issued by Major Butler to the troops at Durban, +and expressed the feeling and sympathy of all the columns:--"In +following the coffin which holds the body of the late Prince Imperial of +France, and paying to his ashes the final tribute of sorrow and honour, +the troops of the garrison will remember that he was the last inheritor +of a mighty name and great military renown; secondly, that he was the +son of England's firm allies in dangerous days; and, thirdly, that he +was the sole child of a widowed Empress, now left throneless and +childless in exile upon English shores, deepening the profound sorrow +and solemn reverence to those memories. The troops will also remember +that the Prince Imperial of France fell fighting as a British soldier." + +On the 28th of May the second column or division quitted the camp at +Landsman's Drift, and proceeded to Kopje Allein, which is near the Blood +river, being about a mile to the north-east of it, at a point as near as +possible to the junction of that stream with the Buffalo. The position +of the camp there was all that could be desired, and the character of +the country was much more favourable than most of the previously +selected camps, inasmuch as no enemy could approach without being seen +for several miles. At Kopje Allein there was a further concentration, +and several reinforcements were received, the consequence being that the +whole force amounted to 2500 British infantry, 1100 British cavalry, 300 +Artillery, 100 Engineers, 66 Colonial Horse, 1300 Native Infantry, and +in all, with Military Train and Hospital Staff, making 5700 men. It was +found impossible, for sanitary reasons, to form one undivided column, +and much as General Newdigate objected to straggling, the exigencies of +war compelled him to send his forces off in detachments. The King's +Dragoon Guards marched on Monday, the 26th, and these were followed by +Harness's Battery and a large convoy of stores on the following day, +Tuesday, the 27th. On the Wednesday the headquarter staff took the road, +accompanied by the 17th Lancers, Le Grice's Field Battery, the +field-hospital, and the 24th Regiment. They took with them fifteen days' +supplies, and to accomplish this General Newdigate wisely cut everything +down to the lowest possible limit, sixteen men being allotted to each +tent, and one tent only to six officers. Tents were really superfluous; +for the climate is simply magnificent, and no man out on a shooting +expedition would dream of carrying about with him such extra luxury as a +bell-tent. Of course the climate of this portion of Zululand being +semi-tropical, the usual precautions to be used in tropical lands must +be used here. The climate and diseases which prevail along the line, +from the Tugela, by which Crealock was advancing, are thus alluded to by +Dr. Jones, district surgeon, one of the most experienced authorities +upon the subject. He says that at a distance of fifteen miles from the +sea the fever is not more prevalent than in the interior; that the high +ground is comparatively safe in his district, and that the type of fever +is mild, the attack lasting usually from five to twenty days. It begins +about February, and is always at its worst in March, continuing more or +less till the end of May, and appearing to be more or less influenced by +the current of the north-east wind, which would, of course, carry the +miasma of the St. Lucia swamps in this direction. Dr. Dalzell, an +equally good authority as Dr. Jones, says that the high lands here are +remarkably healthy. The same holds good of the tract known as Oham's +country, situated in the valley of the Black Umvolosi river. It is +evident that the fever of this country has been greatly exaggerated, and +that it is merely intensified in localities which are within reach of +the poisonous malaria borne upon the wind. General Newdigate and General +Crealock both gave orders, that when the troops had to bivouac, they +were never on any account to pass the night either on a very low or on a +very wet situation, on account of fever, or on the hill-tops, on account +of thunderstorms. The position of the Zulu kraals should invariably be +noted, and a lesson taken from them in regard to choice of camp; while +the neighbourhood of a river that has been lately flooded should, if +possible, be always avoided. It is possible that a white man settling +here for good would sooner or later be attacked by fever, but white men +do not settle here, while a rapid march through the country appears to +injure no one. Dysentery and rheumatism troubled the troops but little, +and cases of sunstroke were rare. Sickness had prevailed certainly to a +considerable extent in some corps; but it was, as a rule, confined to +the young soldiers, unseasoned and of weak physique, who had been lately +sent out from England. The cause of our failures--and there were several +of a palpable nature--are not to be found in want of generalship, want +of organization, or want of transport. They were due undoubtedly to the +sending out of raw, sickly, unseasoned, and untutored boys, who, being +the sweepings of half the regiments in her Majesty's service, could not +possibly have any feeling of communion, or traditional sympathy, with +the corps into which, before a formidable enemy, they found themselves +pitchforked. Most of the battalions out there had to draw their +reinforcements not from its reserve battalion or depôt at home, as was +the case in former years, but from the army at large, and some +battalions arrived on the shores of Africa so drenched and diluted with +outsiders, that they had the appearance of a mongrel pack, unused to +discipline and useless in the field. That the destruction of the +regimental system by Lord Cardwell has been the original cause of +several of our reverses, surprises, and humiliations, there can be +little hesitation in saying. The men at Isandhlwana were not well +handled, it must be admitted; but it has since leaked out that many of +them would not rally round their officers, but attempted safety in +flight. Dozens of the men, sergeants and other non-commissioned +officers, have since declared they did not even know the names of their +company officers, or those of their right or left-hand man. + +Another instance of the evil effects of Lord Cardwell's system may be +given. The 91st recruits in past days were the envy of all +recruiting-sergeants, and so particular was the colonel, backed up by +the surgeon of the corps, that a young fellow must have had chest, +constitution, and stamina--qualities unfortunately not now insisted +upon--before he could pass the sacred portals of the 91st barrack. Few +regiments, however, have suffered from the present system more than, or +so much as, this corps. On receiving its orders for Zululand, it could +not muster 200 men, so denuded was the regiment of rank and file by the +drafts it had previously given. The consequence was that to make up the +900 men which was supposed to be its fighting strength, volunteers and +drafts had to be obtained from half the regiments at home, and the +facings of the 91st on parade, until the master tailor had put matters a +little straight, represented almost all the colours of the rainbow, +while the men, drawn from all parts, neither knew one another nor the +officers set over them. + +Rumours of negotiations for peace, and the granting of an armistice, +which were being circulated about this time, arose from the following +facts:--In the middle of May Zulu messengers, of some position, but not +of the highest rank, had presented themselves to General Crealock, with +a desire to know what terms would be granted to Cetywayo in case of his +wishing to come to terms of peace. The General, finding they had no +authority or commission from the king, sent them away, but believing +from their statements that they were sincere, and knowing at the same +time that Setewango, one of the king's most influential indunas, and +Samapo and Panato, the indunas who commanded against Pearson at Ekowe, +were in the neighbourhood of Ginghilovo, let Setewango know that he +would not object to see him. Setewango admitted that he had no +commission or authority direct from the king, but added, at the same +time, that many of the chiefs were sick of fighting, as they considered +the English too strong. General Crealock then said he had no power to +treat, but that Lord Chelmsford had, and if Cetywayo were first seen by +Setewango something might be arranged. After this Setewango went to +Ulundi, and after great difficulty he and the indunas persuaded the +king to allow them to visit Lord Chelmsford, at whose camp they arrived +early in June, having first presented themselves to General Wood. Lord +Chelmsford saw these men three times, when they were distinctly told +that before any negotiations could be entered into, as an evidence of +the King's sincerity the whole of the spoil taken at Isandhlwana, +especially the two captured 7-pounders, must be restored. With these +guns were to be sent accredited ambassadors and hostages of the highest +rank. These Zulu messengers seemed much awed and impressed with the +appearance of the camp, and particularly with Marshall's cavalry, and +they left on the 6th instant. They had not long departed when much of +their story was corroborated by Tongabena and Lampunda, two well-known +friendly Zulu spies, who had just arrived from Ulundi, where they +assured us there were few warriors, the men having declined to assemble. +Dabulamanzi, whose death has been so often reported, was still there, +and a large number of women, children, stores, and cattle. Umbelini was +really dead, having been three times severely wounded, and was hit +mortally in the back through the blade-bone as he was escaping on +horseback. + +On June 5th, Marshall had a very exciting little brush with the Zulus +not far from Wood's camp on the Nondonini river. In this affair poor +young Frith, a capital soldier, a good adjutant, and a general +favourite, was unfortunately killed. He was sitting on his horse +receiving an order from Colonel Drury-Lowe, when a Martini-Henry bullet +struck him, probably to the heart, as he never spoke. The patrol was +brought about by information brought into Wood's camp by the ubiquitous +and indefatigable Buller, who had been out on the previous day and +discovered the whereabouts of a large Zulu force. The gallant 17th and +the smart King's Dragoon Guards were delighted to see themselves in +orders on the afternoon of the 4th, that they were to parade at four +a.m. under General Marshall, who was also to take with him Shepstone's +Basutos and Bettington's cavalry. It was not yet sunrise when they +arrived at Wood's camp on the Nondonini, and then found that Buller, +anxious to draw first blood, had already started in the night to scour +the country and report what he could discover of the enemy. After +partaking of some excellent coffee, a little beltong, and some well-made +and well-baked bread done in Wood's field-ovens, they were again in the +saddle, taking a course towards the south-east, till the summit of a +wild ridge overlooking a deep kloof was reached. In the plain below was +a pretty little river, and near its bank a number of Kaffir huts all +blazing, having been fired early by Buller and his men, who could be +seen slowly retiring before a number of Zulus, who were keeping up a hot +fire upon them, as well as from both sides of the valley. The order was +given to advance, and Buller soon came on to meet them, making his +report that he had been attacked by these Zulus as soon as he attempted +to fire the kraal. Frith was the only casualty, and the order was then +given by General Marshall to retire firing by alternate squadrons. As +the Zulus were posted in clefts and caves of the ridges on either side, +it was impossible to get at them, and so the troops were brought +steadily off without further loss. + +Lord Chelmsford had intended having a large depôt formed on a portion of +the Ibabanango range; but owing to one of the principal staff officers +losing not only his own way, but his head, his lordship was compelled to +change the _venue_, and form the principal depôt upon the Upoko river, +not far from the spot where the Prince met his fate. This was called +Fort Newdigate, and was held by four companies of infantry, and a +detachment or two of cavalry to keep up communication with a still more +advanced depôt afterwards formed at Umsenguini, near the source of the +Upoko, where the main road from Utrecht and the Transvaal forms a +junction with that leading through Rorke's Drift and Isandhlwana. + +How arduous were the duties of the cavalry in convoying large trains of +supplies from the bases to the front through the enemy's country may be +surmised, when it is borne in mind that Lord Chelmsford had to feed 7000 +whites, 2000 natives, 350 English draught-horses, 850 saddle-horses, +2000 colonial horses and mules, and 10,634 oxen. From these figures also +may be formed an estimate of the work thrown upon the Commissariat. + +In previous wars out in South Africa blame has been, and not unjustly, +thrown upon the Commissariat for the manner in which stores have been +wasted and frittered away while the troops have been without rations. +But in this war it would be impossible to cite any such instance of want +of management, as the troops were invariably well fed and cared for. +Want of success, therefore, could in no case be attributed to want of +supply. Great praise is due to Commissary-General Strickland for the +excellent manner in which all his plans were laid and executed. Another +instance of good work may be given. On the 4th instant Lord Chelmsford +had occasion to send a sudden order to Commissary-General Brownrigg for +the immediate furnishing and delivery of rations equal to six weeks' +supply for 9000 Europeans, 2500 natives, 1200 English horses, and 3000 +cattle, and all these were sent in by the 10th. + +On June 10th Sir Evelyn Wood's column received a valuable addition to +its force; viz. 450 men of the 80th Regiment, all old and seasoned +campaigners in South Africa, together with four splendid Gatling guns. +On the same day a report was made that Zulus had been seen near the +Inyezani, and on the following morning a patrol was sent out, consisting +of twenty Mounted Infantry, thirty Mounted Basutos, and fifty Light +Horse, under the command of Captain Brown, who had with him Lord William +Beresford, and Captains Cochrane, D'Arcy, and Berry. A reconnaissance +for fully twenty miles from the camp was made, and the patrol returned +about six the same evening, having made several sketches and surveys of +the country, but without seeing any Zulus. + +Meanwhile grumblers and incompetent critics had kept so incessantly +bringing all sorts of reckless charges against Lord Chelmsford, of +incapacity as a soldier, that the home government thought it wise to +give way, and accordingly, to please the _vulgus profanum_, recalled Sir +Garnet Wolseley from Cyprus, and appointed him Governor of South Africa, +High Commissioner in Natal and the Transvaal, and Commander-in-chief of +her Majesty's forces in Africa, thus superseding Lord Chelmsford. This +news reached the troops actively employed against the Zulus about the +middle of June, and was received with considerable dissatisfaction by +both officers and men. It seemed to them unfair that their General +should be superseded just as a final advance was being made, and just as +he was about to reap the fruits of all his anxiety and labour. He had at +that time on the way to Ulundi a perfectly-equipped force of 9364 +Imperial Infantry, 3957 Colonial Infantry, 1190 Imperial Cavalry, 1877 +Colonial Cavalry, 775 Artillery, with a proportionate number of guns +(36), and 385 Royal Engineers. Generals Crealock and Newdigate had +received full instructions with regard to the concentration and movement +of this force, and all the organization had been planned and carried out +under the personal supervision of Lord Chelmsford, who had worked night +and day to get matters to a state of efficiency. It seemed, therefore, +rather hard and disheartening that the new General, who had had none of +the anxiety or the toil, should appear as the _Deus ex machina_ upon the +scene, and reap all the credit and glory of the campaign. + +A great deal of rubbish was talked about the inhumanity of burning down +kraals, and accusations of shooting down women and children were not +unfrequently brought against the troops. Now most people in England do +not know that there are three distinct species of kraals. The king's or +royal kraals, the military kraals--i.e., the respective barracks or +official homes of the different corps--and, finally, the tribal and +domestic kraal, a sort of village of cabins, built together for +convenience and safety. Now, Lord Chelmsford and all his lieutenants +were too good soldiers to allow England's honour to be disgraced by +wanton cruelty or barbarous conduct even in fighting a barbarous enemy. +Military kraals, being the fortified depôts of the king's troops, their +mustering rendezvous and rallying-points, were attacked and destroyed +without compunction, as they represented the arsenals and strongholds of +the enemy. The king's royal kraals, on the other hand, were the places +where Cetywayo got together cattle, mealies, and other commissariat +supplies, wherewith to tempt or reward his warriors. These were +destroyed as a matter of course, as one would capture a convoy or +destroy a hostile magazine. + +It has been stated on apparently good authority that the destruction of +a royal or military kraal was considered by the Zulus as scarcely any +loss, and that the rebuilding of such was a matter of the greatest ease. +This is a totally erroneous view, as all the kraals belonging to +Cetywayo and his great chiefs which had been destroyed were most +formidable as regards defence, and must have taken great time and +trouble to construct. All these kraals of the kings, princes, and +principal chiefs are protected with high wooden stockades, pierced here +and there with low entrances, large enough to admit only one person at a +time. The isigodhlo, or inner enclosure, where the chief huts are +situated, is guarded by zigzags of the same description of stockade work +very strongly put together. There are altogether about forty military +villages or kraals scattered through the country, of from 400 to 3000 +huts each, in which for a portion of the year the troops are quartered, +averaging 2000 men in each. There are, however, other military kraals +not fortified, and used only as barracks. These consist of a dry stake +and wattle fence, generally oval in form and about five feet high. +Inside this fence are the huts of the men in single, double, or treble +rows, according to the size of the kraal, while inside the huts is +another fence similar to the one outside, and the central space is +invariably the cattle-pen. The king's kraal at Ulundi (afterwards +destroyed) was 800 yards in diameter, and had a normal garrison of 5000 +men. The Umhlabatini plains, upon which it was situated, are fifteen by +twenty miles in extent, and completely shut in by hills studded with +thick bush. The White Umvolosi runs through this plain, in which were +also established the other kraals forming the headquarters of regiments. +These, too, were subsequently destroyed. Here in these kraals the +principal regiments were wont to assemble annually at the great national +military festival held in honour of the king, which is now a tradition +of the past. Some years ago, when Cetywayo was full of ambition in +regard to his military power, and anxious in every manner to consolidate +it, he had a new magazine or depôt of arms built at the junction of the +Black and White Umvolosi rivers. This magazine and kraal is called +Amanzekanze, and is surrounded by a dense bush. The Amanzekanze kraal +had, up to this time, held the reputation of being impregnable, and its +approaches, it was said, were so difficult that they could only be +forced at immense loss. The name of the kraal, Amanzekanze, translated +is "Let the enemy come now." + +Coming now to the farming and domestic kraals, it may without fear of +contradiction be asserted, after minute and careful inquiries, that no +single instance can be adduced in which her Majesty's troops ever +attacked or molested such unless first attacked and fired upon. + +A few words must here be said concerning the helioscope, which on more +than one occasion played a prominent part in this war. + +One of the great features of the occupation of Port Durnford was the +establishment of mirror-signals from the "kop" at Port Durnford, and at +the post on the Inyezani down to the mouth of the Umlalasi. The use of +mirrors as a means of communication had been so fully demonstrated in +Afghanistan, that it seemed astonishing that army officers at Natal were +supremely ignorant of, and, indeed, indifferent to, the system. When it +is remembered that by this simple process it was found possible to flash +intelligence and words of sympathy and kindness to the half-famished +garrison at Ekowe, and that by means of this admirable invention, many +important items of intelligence were from time to time instantaneously +and surely communicated from one part of the British force to another, +which through the position of the enemy it was only possible to send by +messengers, who were compelled to take the most circuitous routes, thus +causing great delay and sometimes even failing to reach their +destination at all, the value of this simple yet grand discovery cannot +be too highly considered. + +Its importance in some respects may indeed be declared to be in advance +of the electric telegraph, for that necessitates apparatus of delicate +mechanism and a friendly, or at least non-hostile territory, over which +the messages are sent. A predatory or hostile tribe may at any time +sever the line of telegraphic wire, and cut all communications between +neighbouring columns who are anxious to make their whereabouts and +intentions known; but this cannot be done to the mirror system, where +with no more apparatus than a small hand-glass telegraphy is established +which no mortal agency can interrupt. No invention, no discovery can +surpass in value this mode of silent yet eloquent communication, and +only the interruption of the sun's beams by clouds or fogs can interfere +with the transmission by signals, noiselessly, and in a manner almost +imperceptible to all save the two interlocutors, who may be distant ten, +twenty, thirty, or even forty miles. + +At Gibraltar messages are by this process constantly sent across the +Straits; and in Australia, Mauritius, Singapore, and even Canada, the +invention has obtained for its discoverer the greatest reputation and +_kudos_. + +Some four years ago Lieutenant Parrott, of the Volunteer Engineer Corps +of New South Wales, conducted a series of very successful operations in +mirror telegraphy, using discs, about six inches in diameter, of +polished metal covered with glass. At first the distance separating the +two mirrors was from six to ten miles, but eventually the system was +tested from the Kumagong mountain, about 2000 feet above the sea level, +to the lighthouse at the entrance to Port Jackson, 400 feet above sea +level, a direct distance of nearly forty miles. Now, when we consider +that the only apparatus required is a small hand-mirror, and that no +skill beyond the faculty of reflecting the sun's beam in the required +direction, and of flashing "dots" and "signals" by means of a simple +turn of the wrist, in the same way as the Morse telegraph is presented +by flag-signals, are necessary, we must allow the vast importance of +this discovery to the soldier and the sailor, more especially in savage +or uncivilized warfare. Of course the whole method is dependent on the +presence of sunshine, and, fortunately, Natal is seldom without this +great boon. In South Africa the sun's beams are more constant than in +almost any other clime, and they may be counted and depended upon during +the major portion of the dry season. It is not unworthy of notice that a +system of sun-signalling, not dissimilar to that established between +Port Durnford and General Crealock's column, has been known and +practised for some considerable time among the Nez Percés Indians of +North America. Mr. F. C. Browne, of Sydney, Australia, however, gives a +still more remarkable method of signalling, and states that successful +feats have also been accomplished by moonlight for distances of from +four to six miles. He considers, and doubtless he is correct, that it +would be quite possible to supplement this sun-and-moon telegraphy on +very dark nights by an analogous system of alternately obscuring and +displaying at longer or shorter intervals a powerfully reflected light. + +Lately at Portsmouth some highly successful experiments in +night-signalling have been made by casting the electric and other +powerful lights upon columns of steam; a method evidently suggested by +the helioscope and use of reflecting mirrors. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + Advance of 1st column--Description of route--Forts Crealock and + Chelmsford--Causes of delay--Sickness of troops and its + origin--Capture of cattle--Proposals for peace by Umsintwanga--His + interview with Crealock--Surrender of Umguelumgwizi--Advance of 2nd + division--Details of troops composing it--A fortified kraal--Fort + built by Wood on the Umlatoosi--Patrol by Buller--Burning of five + kraals in the Usipexi district--Amhlabatini--Depôt there + described--Envoys from Cetywayo--Advance to White Umvolosi--Wood's + camp--Lord Chelmsford's ultimatum to Cetywayo. + + +The actual advance of the 1st division may be said to have commenced on +the 17th of June, when the gallant bluejackets and Marines (the Naval +Brigade), one troop of Lonsdale's Horse, and one troop of Royal +Engineers effected an important though short movement from Fort Pearson, +the so-called base, to Fort Chelmsford; while the 57th Foot and Barton's +Contingent pushed on to Fort Crealock. General Crealock, with his +headquarters, arrived at Fort Crealock on the following day, and on the +19th reached Fort Chelmsford. + +The road at starting from Fort Pearson led up a steep ascent and across +a table-land, gradually sloping towards the west, with occasional slight +undulations, until it came to the steep and almost cliff-like descent +into the valley of the Amatikula. Here frequent outcrops of sandstone +and quartz were noticeable to the engineers, whose professional +enthusiasm was excited at seeing before them the materials for building +a permanent fort in the district. Crystalline pebbles were plentiful, +and the soil, which was in some places of a reddish hue, was at other +points a pure white silver sand, both, however, being covered by a +considerable layer of vegetable mould. + +Many beautiful flowers gladdened the eye on the march, amongst which +were tiger lilies, convolvuli, primulas of a rich deep yellow, and +another species having the appearance of a foxglove opened back. In the +valley of the Amatikula were some thorn-bushes of osier-like growth, +which the natives use for fencing their kraals, and these bore large +purple bell-shaped flowers. On the coast grow some of a similar nature, +and a full mile further on were white primulas, large yellow daisies, +and small red and blue flowers not unlike forget-me-nots. After this +came some rough marching, excessively trying to the waggons and oxen, +over very steep hills, through patches of tiger-grass, and across +ravines forty and fifty feet deep, with almost precipitous sides, at +each of which it became necessary to unload the more heavily-laden +waggons and carry the contents up by hand. All the hills were +exceedingly rocky, being composed mostly of granite, but in some +instances of nearly pure quartz, thickly clothed, however, with trees +whenever the inequalities of the ground and surface allowed the soil to +accumulate. The greater number of these trees were acacias in full +bloom, their red, white, and yellow blossoms, and those of other +flowering trees standing out in rich masses of gorgeous and Turneresque +colour. Late in the afternoon the column arrived at the camping-ground +near Fort Crealock, where the works were proceeding rapidly towards +completion, and every preparation was being made to reconnoitre on to +the Umlalasi. The laager was formed above a rocky pass, having at the +bottom pools of water in splendid granite basins. Out of these two small +streams issued, one running west and the other east, and falling +ultimately into the Umlalasi and the Umlatoosi. The next day a patrol +was sent out to explore a deserted kraal five miles distant. Barrow, +with about 100 horsemen, also went out scouting; but after riding a +couple of miles found the hills so closed in on either side and the path +so blocked with bamboo cane grass that his men were compelled to +dismount and lead their horses. The thick growth also shut out most of +the view of the hills, the prospect of which, however, when a peep was +obtainable, was delightful. By the side of the path was a torrent bed +more than twenty feet deep, with nearly perpendicular sides, and over +this slope went one of Barrow's men, horse and rider rolling over each +other until the stream below was reached, luckily without causing any +injury to the trooper--a Dutchman, whom Barrow congratulated by telling +him he suffered no injury as he fell upon his head. A little hair rubbed +off a remarkably sun-browned forehead was all the damage done, while the +horse had only a few scratches. The latter part of the pass, the same +afternoon, when the march was continued to Chelmsford, was very slippery +sandstone and quartz; and at one point, where the waggons had to wind +round in single file, the hills, clothed to their summits with trees, +rose to some 300 feet in height. These heights were scouted as the +troops advanced, but nothing but old women and children were seen. + +The valleys through which the column passed were very fertile, with +pleasing alternations of open wood, jungle, grass, and cultivation. The +torrents, however, from the hills in the rainy season must do great +injury to the crops of mealies, and several spruits and streams were +crossed, flowing knee-deep between thickets of bamboo and tall rushes, +which, when flooded, would have been impassable. + +The second brigade was behind encamped on the Inyezani, and included the +Buffs, Naval Brigade, 88th, and Sandham's battery, and came on to +Chelmsford as the first brigade marched into camp at Napoleon hill. + +The two main causes of the seemingly protracted delay in the advance of +General Crealock's division were want of transport beasts, among which a +severe epidemic had broken out, and the large amount of fort-building +and road-making requisite in and around Port Durnford. Still, the time +taken up in regard to this new base was by no means wasted, as it +sufficed to keep a large and well-armed portion of the Zulu army idle in +this vicinity, and thus gave Lord Chelmsford immense facilities for +pushing on his men to the left front, whilst General Crealock was able +to utilise his force towards the coast while waiting for transport to +move up into the interior. + +The sick-list still continued somewhat heavy, a very large proportion of +officers and men being _hors de combat_. Much of the malaria, the +medical authorities considered, arose from the effluvia caused by the +decomposition of the numerous carcases of oxen and horses which lay all +along the road, and literally tainted and poisoned the air. These +carcases lay where the convoys had to pass, and the consequence was that +whenever a detachment had to come or go to or from the fort, some +portion, often a large percentage, reported themselves ill with fever. +The remedy seemed easy, but was not so. The men were worked so hard at +digging and entrenching, that it was impossible to detail fatigue +parties to bury or remove the carcases, which, therefore, were left to +breed pestilence in the camp. + +On June 22nd General Crealock decided to make another strong +reconnaissance towards the sea on the following day, and orders were +given overnight that the entire cavalry force, consisting of two +squadrons of mounted infantry, the Natal Horse, and the native Basuto +scouts, should parade at daybreak with the whole of the 91st +Highlanders. The General's object was to utilise his stay at Fort +Napoleon by doing as much to open communications with Port Durnford as +possible, and particularly to effect what improvements could be made in +the road between the fort and that place. + +The only result of this expedition was that the troops accidentally came +upon a body of 250 Zulus, driving away a large number of oxen; of which, +after a sharp skirmish, though without the loss of a man, they captured +192 fine head, as well as numerous women and children, who came to the +General imploring protection. This was of course assured to them; and as +they appeared hungry and half starved, biscuits and mealies were served +out to them upon the ground. On the homeward march to Fort Napoleon they +were overtaken by two very good-looking young Zulus, fully armed and +equipped in war panoply. These men stated that they belonged to Cuzame, +a powerful Zulu chief, who was now on his way with his wives and head +men to Fort Napoleon to surrender. On arriving at the fort later on in +the evening, this was found to be the case. After a long interview with +General Crealock, in which Cuzame gave some valuable information in +regard to Cetywayo's army then collecting for the defence of the big +kraals, the chief was ordered by the General to leave his family and +some of his warriors, and return to his kraal for his arms and cattle. +This he expressed himself most willing and anxious to do. + +It was now discovered that it was an error to suppose that the Zulus +were a united nation, all regarding Cetywayo as their supreme autocrat +and head. On the contrary, there were other chieftains with objects and +ambitions of their own. Thus, a chief named Umsintwanga (or the "Old +Fox") came in on the morning of June 26th, with the usual ivory tusk and +proposals for peace. He and his party were seen at daybreak about two or +three miles from the camp trying to ford a small stream, tributary to +the Umlalazi. The vedettes could not quite make out their proceedings, +as, when halfway across the stream, they turned back, ascended a +neighbouring kop, and spent a considerable time in reconnoitring the +position of the fort. This naturally excited the suspicions of the +patrol, to whom the mounted vedettes reported, and a small mounted body +of men was sent to make a circuit and cut them off in case they +attempted to retire. Whether this movement was observed is uncertain, +but eventually, after considerable delay, and after approaching the +camp from several different points, the chief and his attendants, four +in number only, came boldly up to the patrol, and requested to be +brought into camp, to the presence of the great chief. At eight o'clock, +Umsintwanga, who is a rather finely built, elderly man, inclined to be +corpulent, was brought into the presence of General Crealock, who +treated him with the greatest courtesy and respect. The countenance of +the chief showed a curious mixture of dogged determination, savage +cunning, and treachery. His hair was frizzed, and plastered elaborately +with red clay and grease, while he wore a belt with some foxtails round +his waist, and a species of garters of smaller tails tied below the +knee. His mantle seemed to be an old and much-stained horse-blanket, and +above this was a small tippet of leopard-skin, worn something like a +herald's tabard. He carried no weapon save a stout knobkerrie, and his +attendants, who were four splendidly stalwart Zulus, carried the tusk +with the greatest ease and dignity. Care had been taken that the place +of conference should be out of sight of the fort, and for this purpose +the base of a small hollow near the camp had been chosen, where the +rising ground intervened and prevented any observation of what was going +on in the trenches and about the lines. The conference was not of long +duration, for after waiting a reasonable time to allow the chief time to +collect himself, the general at once and shortly asked what was the +meaning and purport of his mission, and why he had come into camp. To +this Umsintwanga, through an interpreter, replied that he was sent by +the king and his indunas to sue for peace, and in proof of their +overtures being sincere he desired to present the immemorial symbol of +peace and friendship, the ivory tusk. He said further, that he was +deputed to ask the stoppage of the 1st Division, the proceedings of +which had much grieved and astonished the king, and he, therefore, was +desired to ask that it should advance no further towards the king's +kraal, while he, the ambassador, might be allowed to go through our +division to Natal. Umsintwanga spoke tolerably well, and seemed not to +have learnt his speech off by heart, as he occasionally hesitated, +stopped, and now and then exchanged words and phrases for others which +he thought more suitable. General Crealock, who listened with the utmost +deference and patience to the somewhat long tirade, then rather abruptly +said, "Am I to understand you distinctly, and without any reservation, +that you, Umsintwanga, induna, come direct and with full authority from +the king?" This query seemed to astonish and somewhat confuse the +ambassador, who, after some little circumlocution, admitted that he had +come, if not quite with the king's authority, at least with his +knowledge and sanction. On being pressed a little more, the old chief +further admitted that it was principally by the desire of the indunas, +more than by that of the king, that he had come, and he still most +positively adhered to the statement that his proposals were official and +in good faith. Umsintwanga was then informed that he had not come to the +proper camp with his proposals, that it was to Lord Chelmsford, and no +other, that he must apply, and that even if he went to Lord Chelmsford +he would not be listened to unless the demands specified in his +lordship's ultimatum were complied with to the letter. The whole of the +interview did not occupy more than a quarter of an hour or twenty +minutes; and when it was over, it would have been quite impossible to +have told, from the imperturbable countenances of the induna and his +suite, whether they were disappointed or not. They seemed to take their +rebuff as if they expected it, and were then conducted by a circuitous +route away from our camp, and left, with the tusk, two miles upon their +road. + +It must here be remarked that Lord Chelmsford had throughout the +campaign shown the greatest suavity and patience to any attempt at +peaceful proposals, but he had by this time seen the necessity of a +certain degree of firmness, and General Crealock, although he doubtless +would have given a similar answer had he not been instructed, had a +complete understanding with the Commander-in-chief that no proposals +were to be listened to unless accompanied with the fulfilment of the +conditions laid down in the chief's message to the last messengers. +Brigadiers Bray and Rowlands, together with the whole of the General's +staff, were present at the interview, and the induna and his attendants, +although unwilling to manifest any surprise, were evidently impressed +with the quietude and promptitude with which every wish and order of the +General were carried out. Again on June 21st, General Crealock, then +engaged in completing the fortifications at Napoleon hill, rode out +across the Umlalazi river with a small staff and escort, to interview a +chief named Umguelumgwizi, who had just made friendly overtures and +expressed a wish to consult the General as to what his future line of +conduct should be. Umguelumgwizi's kraal was some miles off, but the +chief said he would come and meet the General; and not more than two +miles in his direction had been traversed when he was seen coming, +accompanied by several of his sons and head men. The Zulu chief was +known to be rich in cattle, and possessed of considerable local +influence. He was a man apparently about fifty-two or fifty-three years +of age, and, in spite of a somewhat sinister expression, had a tolerably +open and apparently honest manner of speaking. He was not by any means +long in coming to the point, declaring emphatically that he had no +quarrel with the English, or, for the matter of that, he added, with the +Dutch. He had heard of and understood the award given by the English +Commissioners in regard to the Dutch boundary, and he thought "Sompsen" +and "Bartle" had behaved most generously to Cetywayo. He had been +obliged to go out to fight on Cetywayo's side, but neither he nor his +young men wished to go out again. If he refused, he would be accused of +witchcraft, "smelt out" and "eaten out." What was he under these +circumstances to do? General Crealock, who had listened very patiently +to this somewhat long harangue, said he had spoken honestly and well, +that as a soldier he did not wish to advise any man to desert his king +or his chief, but that he could not be doing wrong in refusing to fight +in what he considered an unjust cause. If he chose to come in and +surrender, with his arms, his cattle, his wives, children, and his +tribe, all should be protected, and all should be held for him in trust +till peace was made. The chief, who seemed much pleased with General +Crealock's kind and manly advice, consulted a few moments with those of +his advisers who were with him, and then asked the General to give him +one day for consideration. "Willingly, my friends," said Crealock, "and +I will meet you on this side of the river to-morrow, when you can tell +me your decision." Upon the Monday (June 22nd), therefore, directly +after the General had made his usual tour of inspection among the road +fatigues, he crossed over, this time with a couple of troops of Barrow's +men, and met Umguelumgwizi with an immense following, consisting of his +wives and children. The General, however, explained to the chief that he +could only accept this surrender in part, and that it would not be +complete until all his cattle and all his fighting men came in. This the +chief promised to attend to. + +On the 25th the 1st Brigade, under General Rowlands, crossed and moved +down the river, encamping about six miles from here. The day following +this brigade moved on to Port Durnford, and reinforced the small force +there. On the 27th Clarke's Brigade started from this place, and moved +on to support Rowlands', encamping and laagering up two hills in sight +of the 1st Brigade. From this encampment a splendid view of Fort +Durnford can be obtained. + +The long ranges of mountains, which completely separate the coast-line +from the interior, here stand out in magnificent relief, and although +they are at a distance of fifty to seventy miles, they present a sharply +defined outline in the morning air, their ravines, watercourses, and +terraced heights appearing with almost supernatural distinctness. Here +is a country where the light is rich and brilliant, where the atmosphere +is surpassingly bright and clear, and the scenery bold, spacious, and +grand. The characteristic beauty of light in South Africa is not seen +in its blending with manifold forms of cloud so much as in the full and +even splendour with which it penetrates the air. Distant objects, that +in a less brilliant atmosphere fade away in hazy outline, stand out with +perfect distinctness. Let a spectator place himself at a distance of +twenty or thirty miles from the Drakenberg, or any of the big ranges of +this country, and contrast the effect he will obtain with that he would +experience with Snowdon, Mangerton, or any of our home mountains at a +similar distance. Small boulders, cavernous hollows in the rocks, +patches of bush at the head of the kloofs, at an elevation of 2000 or +3000 feet, are seen with the naked eye without difficulty. A northern +mountain at home, at either of these elevations, will appear in more or +less of hazy outline with all details of face and profile obscured, but +here in the clear atmosphere of Zululand, the very direction of the +watercourses, the curves of the kloofs, and, indeed, every bold wrinkle +on the face of the slopes of the mountains can be most clearly +discerned. + +We must now leave Crealock building his forts and making his roads, +while we turn our attention to the movements of Newdigate and Wood. + +Every facility had been given to Crealock's (1st) Division to make the +first forward movement on the king's kraal. Lord Chelmsford considering +that after the difficulties General Crealock had encountered it would be +only fair to him and to those under his command to give him every chance +of winning first blood in the final attack. However, the coast sickness +proved so fatal to Crealock's transport train that he was utterly unable +to take advantage of Lord Chelmsford's generosity, and it was to the +2nd column that the final honours of Ulundi fell. On Saturday, the 21st +inst., General Newdigate with this column reached the right bank of the +Umlatoosi, while Evelyn Wood, with his strong flying column, had +slightly preceded him, and had encamped a little lower down on the left +bank. Newdigate's brigadiers were Glynn and Collingwood, with Marshall +in command of the cavalry; and his corps were two batteries of artillery +and an ammunition column, the 2nd company of Engineers, the King's +Dragoon Guards and 17th Lancers, the 21st, the 1-24th, 58th, and 94th +Regiments, Shepstone's Horse, No. 3 Troop, and the Mounted Natives. This +force made up 1870 Europeans, 530 Natives, and eight guns. Wood's field +state of this date gave the Gatling Battery, the Engineers, the 13th, +90th, and a wing of the 80th Regiment, with Buller's Cavalry, consisting +of the Mounted Infantry, Frontier Light Horse, Transvaal Rangers, and +Wood's Irregulars, making a force of 2192 Europeans, and 573 Natives, +four guns and two Gatlings. These two columns, therefore, gave Lord +Chelmsford a compact and admirably-welded and homogeneous body of 4062 +Europeans, 1103 Natives, 12 guns, and two Gatlings, and with this force +he justly considered that he held Ulundi in the hollow of his hand. + +On the day following (the 22nd), while Newdigate, whose oxen much +required it, gave the division a holiday in camp, Wood pushed on about +four miles, taking care to note every bush, rock, stream, and salient +point _en route_. The march was through a mixture of jungle, long grass, +and occasional outcrops of granite, mixed with unpleasant-looking +boulders of grey sandstone, but which would have been well appreciated +by an engineer for the construction of a permanent work of defence. Ten +small streams were passed, besides tributaries of the Umvolosi, and many +tracks of buffalo and elephant were seen, while some of Wood's +enthusiastic sportsmen were positive they could at times hear the +well-known trumpet of the latter in the jungle. The road then led along +a narrow valley, flanked by rocky hills on either side. On the banks of +the stream which flowed in this spot some deserted kraals were seen, +with broken utensils, stone fireplaces, and small pits where mealies +were stored and still left. The huts which composed these kraals were +not built in the same way as others they had seen, but seemed +constructed with more skill and an eye to greater comfort. First of all +were stout posts planted in the ground, and the interstices filled up +with clay. The roof, instead of being of the general umbrella shape, was +flat, and with a slight slope to the front; and the rafters were covered +either with sheets of bark or with bushes and grass, over which was +spread a thick coating of earth. Sweet potatoes, cut in slices, pumpkins +and gourds, and other vegetables of a succulent nature, were laid on +some of the roofs to dry for the winter's provision. The interior of +these huts had, instead of one, as is usual in Zululand, two, and +sometimes three divisions. The first contained a small raised space for +a bed-place, covered with hides, and here was the almost universal +African fireplace, consisting of the three cones of clay, which in many +instances are hollow, and form a most ingenious oven. The only cooking +utensils were earthen pots, nearly everything in this part of South +Africa being prepared for eating by boiling. In the next division lambs +and goats were kept, and the innermost one was used as a granary, where +corn is stored in "lindo," band-boxes made of bark, with the lids +carefully luted on with clay. These lindo are sometimes of enormous +size, and are sufficiently large to contain a dozen or more sacks. Light +is admitted only through the one door, which also provides the sole +means for the escape of smoke, and as a consequence the rafters and +walls are black and shiny, and the cobwebs with which they are festooned +are loaded with soot. Among the rafters walking-staves, and knobkerries, +assegais, and other primitive weapons of war, are usually stored, so as +to get them good and due seasoning by the smoke. The largest of the +villages was clean and surprisingly well-built, said to be after a model +one made by the late King Panda. It was surrounded by a stockade, in +addition to the outer walls of houses, and the part where the chief had +evidently lived was divided off from the rest of the village, and was +also the gateway. The gates were heavy slabs of wood, hewn out of the +solid trunk, and those wanting to enter could only go up to the +principal gate one at a time, as a wing of palisading projected on +either side in the form of a long U, with holes to use assegais through, +so that it would be no pleasant attempt to try to force an entrance +against the will of the dwellers therein. There were some other smaller +doorways in the outer walls of the house, forming part of what might be +termed the _enceinte_, which closed in a sort of portcullis fashion. A +number of heavy logs had holes in their upper ends, and the wall plate +was rove through them. When the doorway is open, these logs are triced +up inwards and out of the way, and when closed the outer sides of the +lower ends butt, as it were, against a strong fixed log, and are secured +by a strong movable log inside. + +On the 23rd, Brigadier-General Wood halted, still on the left bank of +the Umlatoosi, for the purpose of building a fort, which was to be held +by two companies of the 58th, two of Harness's field-guns, and some +irregular cavalry. The outlines and profiles were soon traced by +experienced though not professional engineers, and on the evening of the +same day the place was securely defensible. + +The spot chosen by Wood to build the fort is on the Umlatoosi, and in a +position naturally of great strength, for the river there makes a rapid +bend and affords a ready means of both banks being swept and commanded +from the work. A rude and most insecure bridge, formed of a couple of +huge trees, already existed, but this was now under water, while the +strength of the current was so great when the survey was being made that +several of Wood's men were washed off, and only saved themselves by +catching at bushes on the bank. In the centre of the stream there is an +island, and upon this an outwork was constructed. This island is +situated amongst numerous rapids and cascades, breaking out from the +rocky hillside. The difficulties of getting across seemed at first sight +almost insuperable, but after a time it was discovered that there were +places where it was possible to jump from rock to rock, and then to wade +through the rapids themselves on narrow shelves, holding meanwhile "like +grim death" by ropes of creepers, stretched from side to side for that +purpose. It will be, of course, understood that a single false step, or +the snapping of the creeper-rope, at these points would be fatal, for +nothing could save the traveller in that case from being dashed to +pieces amongst the rocks beneath. The stream below this was about fifty +yards wide, very deep, and running like a sluice. Happily a passage was +effected without any casualty. Looking back from the other side a most +striking sight is presented by this mass of water bursting out of the +precipitous hillside, and broken by the rocks and little bushy islands +into foaming cascades. Many small streams are passed, which occasionally +flow for some considerable distance in subterranean channels. They work +in amongst loose stones, covered with soil and vegetation, the +underground portions of their course being sometimes not more than forty +yards of their length, while in other instances they seem to have +disappeared altogether, and no doubt help to supply those mysterious +fresh springs which are known to exist even on the beach at Port +Durnford. + +The eastern portion of the Umlatoosi district, and that leading to the +sea is moderately level, with rocky hills, on the summits of which are +situated the villages of the chiefs; but as the western portion is +reached, the country breaks into mountains of every shape and form, +amongst which the more numerous are needles and cones of granite. In the +foreground the hills are of red sandstone, crowned with groves of +magnificent trees, festooned with jasmine and other sweet-scented +creepers. Many of the rivers appear to have been crossed in former days +by bridges, constructed either by the Zulus or by the missionaries, or +possibly by both. Poles were planted in the bed of the stream, and upon +others lashed at the top smaller poles and branches were laid to form +the footway. When first constructed these were doubtless secured to the +cross-pieces by lashings, but by this time they had rotted away, and +consequently afforded but a very precarious foothold. + +Between the 24th and the 26th both columns--that is to say, the +headquarters and Wood's--advanced but six miles, but Buller was not more +idle than Wood, as, while the latter was building a fort to hold a +couple of hundred men in the heart almost of a formidable enemy's +country, the former had patrolled in almost every direction to the +front, rear, and both flanks. On the 25th Buller and his "merry men" +were in the saddle and away more than nine miles to the front, and by +noon there came an orderly, "bloody with sparring, fiery red with +haste," who brought news that "Redvers," with his usual good fortune, +had pounced upon about seventy or eighty Zulus busily engaged in +grass-burning, to bother the advance in regard to grass for the horses +and oxen. Buller made extremely short work of these fellows, whose +surprise was so complete that the whole lot might have been annihilated +if humanitarian principles had not interposed. As soon as the grass was +effectually saved, Buller proceeded on a few miles, and, although +watched here and there, suffered not the slightest molestation. The same +evening (25th) Buller came back from his own camp to the headquarter +camp with full information in regard to the five kraals that had been +observed on the 24th in the district of Usipexi, which he reported were +guarded by a tolerably formidable Zulu impi. A small and select council +of war was at once held in General Newdigate's tent, under the +presidency of the Commander-in-chief. After a very short conference, in +which Lord Chelmsford, Generals Newdigate and Marshall, and Colonels +Drury-Lowe and Buller were the principal speakers, it was finally +decided that an attack in force should be made upon the five kraals, and +any others that could be discovered at an early hour on the following +day. At daybreak accordingly the force was drawn up in line for Lord +Chelmsford's inspection, which, as was usual with him, was, though +rapid, most carefully minute. On the right were two guns and fifty men +of Le Grice's admirable battery, and next came two of Drury-Lowe's +splendid blue-and-white squadrons. These fellows would have won the +heart of any light cavalry colonel or adjutant, and it seemed almost a +pity that such glittering panoply of crest and spear and plume should +have to abide the thrust of a hidden assegai from behind a rock or bush. +Four hundred and fifty of Buller's best men, though not so smart nor so +well mounted as Drury-Lowe's gallant fellows, were not despised or +looked down upon by those who were present, and the more brilliantly +decked trooper, with his uniform and glittering _apanage_, felt proud to +ride with the men who had fought so well at Zlobani and conquered so +grandly at Kambula. Two companies of natives made up the force, which +perhaps was the largest patrol ever furnished in this war for such a +duty as the burning of kraals. The guns and part of the cavalry were +sent by a circuitous path which led to an eminence near the largest +kraal, and part of Buller's Horse bearing a little to the right, the +main body advanced along the road by which Buller had yesterday +returned. They first came to the large kraals of Udugwoosu and of +Udlumbedlu, which were found deserted, and shelled and burnt without +opposition; and when this was effected, the cavalry and natives +descended into the plains, to Uxixipi, which was also destroyed, after +shelling out about a thousand natives, who were at once pursued by the +Basutos and Frontier Light Horse. Not many Zulus were killed, as some +were old men and boys, and strict orders had been given to spare these. + +On the 27th the flying column, under Wood, advanced nine miles on the +road to Ulundi; while the main division, under Newdigate, with +Brigadiers Glynn and Collingwood, and Marshall in command of the +cavalry, moved on eleven miles, both columns encamping at a place called +Amhlabatini, within a mile of each other. They carried no tents, but +took with them 200 ammunition-waggons, and ten days' full rations, which +on emergency could have been spun out to double that number. Soon after +the halt all the brigadiers were assembled by Lord Chelmsford, who +briefly but succinctly expounded to them his intentions and future +action. His lordship said the time had now arrived for a final blow to +be dealt, and he purposed, having first established a base of operations +by constructing a small depôt laager at Amhlabatini, pushing on at once +to the attack of Ulundi. Buller would clear the front and mask the +columns as they advanced, and would do all he could to provoke and +entice the enemy to attack in the open. The question now was what +details were to be left at the laager as a garrison, and it was decided +that these should be furnished by three companies of the 1-24th +Regiment, and some other contingents, making up 500 men. Soldiers, as a +rule, must accept all commands without question; but although no open +word is spoken, there are times when the bitterness of disappointment +will show itself without speaking. Such was the case when the order-book +proclaimed the duty detailed for the 24th. + +The entrenched laager was most artistically made in an incredibly short +space of time. Within a radius of 500 yards all trees and bush were cut +down and cleared away. In the centre a rectangle of waggons was formed, +with earth thrown up above the axletrees, and at 15 yards' distance from +these a trench and an embankment three feet high were constructed. +Again, about 100 yards beyond this, strong and well made abattis were +placed. These consisted of whole trees and stout branches 12 and 15 feet +long, felled and placed side by side, with their butts inwards and +boughs interlaced, while the twigs and small leaves were stripped off +and the boughs sharply pointed. The butts were strongly picketed down, +and in some cases fastened by logs laid across several butts. These +abattis were fully five feet in height, and as green wood--not easy to +burn--was selected, they made a formidable obstacle. It took 200 men +only eight hours to construct 200 yards of abattis, and this, +considering that many of them had never done such work before, was most +creditable. All the officers were in the highest possible spirits, and +no inconsiderable amount of banter was carried on between the two +columns during the visits paid from one to the other. One of the most +fertile subjects for "chaff" was the increasing weight and sleekness of +Buller's men as compared with the visibly apparent attenuation of their +horses, and the joke was to affect to believe that these "African +Cossacks," as they were called, devoured all the oxen they captured, +while making their horse-rations into oatmeal cakes for themselves! This +story, if _ben trovato_, was singularly devoid of fact, for Buller's +horses presented a most favourable contrast to those of Marshall, as the +former would eat almost anything, and the latter were only just +commencing to put up with mealies. The constant work of the former +animals had naturally kept them devoid of superfluous flesh, but, for +all this, they were as hard as "nails" and good in their wind. + +On the afternoon of the 27th, vedettes signalled the approach of some +natives, accompanied by a large number of cattle. These proved to be +further messengers from Cetywayo, bringing 150 of our oxen captured at +Isandhlwana, together with a pair of elephants' tusks and a letter, +written in English by a captive dealer. The letter was fairly expressed, +and said that the king could not comply with all Lord Chelmsford's +demands, as the arms taken from us at Isandhlwana were not brought to +him, and that it was beyond his power as a king to order or compel any +of his regiments to lay down their arms. The letter also said that +Harness's guns should be sent, and on receipt of the cattle and these +weapons the English must retire from Zulu territory. Whoever had +written the letter must have been a bold and plucky fellow, as he had +added in a corner in pencil a few words of warning, and an intimation +that Cetywayo had with him at Ulundi and the neighbouring kraals a large +and picked impi, amounting to 20,000 men. Even without this message Lord +Chelmsford would have considered these overtures as suspicious; but, as +it was, increased precaution against surprise or treachery was taken. +Lord Chelmsford accordingly declined the tusks, and told the messengers +in the plainest language that, before he thought of retiring, all the +original conditions must be complied with, more especially as regards +the formal laying down of arms by the regiment. The messengers were then +escorted from our column, and later in the day several large bodies of +Zulus, amounting to some thousands, were noticed moving in a lateral +direction from the side of Ulundi, and passing along by the left flank. +The following day was a busy one for all. Lord Chelmsford was so anxious +to complete the main details of the depôt laager that he deferred his +march till sundown. Wood, however, moved on in the morning as far as the +left bank of the White Umvolosi, where he bivouacked and waited for the +main body. After waiting until all the more prominent and essential +matters were completed in regard to the garrison left in the depôt, Lord +Chelmsford ordered the parade for 5.30 in the evening, and they then +marched on to the next bivouac in a compact and well-organized column. +It was still daylight when the White Umvolosi was reached, and they saw +across the river, on the left bank, the flying column and the Lancers +already bivouacked. The scene as on the right bank of the river was +most picturesque. On the left bank of the Umvolosi Wood had admirably +chosen the ground for his bivouac. Here was a firm, wide plateau, +bounded on the east and north by a hilly country, broken up by knolls +and tall cone-like eminences, whose slopes here and there were covered +by patches of dense jungle or bordered by young forests, whose shades +seemed to invite shelter during the fierce heat of the day. Away in the +extreme distance the landscape differed materially in aspect from the +country near. Mountains of loftier altitude, rising peak upon peak, tier +upon tier, and range upon range, met the eye everywhere. Green trees +covered their slopes in apparently endless expanse of vegetation. +Immediately behind the Lancer camp, and sheltering it from the night +breezes that swept across the plain, was a massive buttress of rock +covered with richly and delicately-hued velvety mosses, while down the +hard, steep, rocky beds of granite and sandstone, with here and there +basalt and porphyry, flint and quartz, foamed sparkling little streams, +which always seem so refreshing and so tempting on a South African +march. A deep gaping fissure in a high jutting wall of rock, through +which bubbled the clear water in volumes; a great towering rock with +perpendicular walls, to which clung, in spite of apparent impossibility, +ferns and plants and moss, thick and velvety; and a huge conical hill +which ambitiously hid its head in the clouds; these were wild and rugged +forms of nature to be treasured up long after their marching days were +gone and past. The camp was situated on a wide terrace or shelf of +ground rising above a body of water, which more resembled a long narrow +lake than a river. This part of the White Umvolosi, indeed, like many +other African rivers, loses its current in the dry season, and becomes a +series of long narrow pools, which in some places may be compared to +lakes for their length, according to the nature of the ground in which +depressions are found. If the ground is rocky or of clayey mud the water +is retained, instead of being absorbed, and here swarm multitudes of +silurus, or bearded mud-fish. Wherever mud-fish are abundant, +crocodiles, the great fish-eating reptiles of the African waters, are +sure to be found, and, singularly enough, wherever crocodiles are found +one is almost sure to find the hippopotamus--not because crocodiles and +hippopotami have any affinity for each other, but because the soil which +retains the water during the hot days of the drought season is almost +sure to produce in the vicinity of the pools abundance of rich grass and +tall cane, the favourite food of the hippopotamus. Two miles further in +the plain Wood's bivouac fires were seen in glittering and regular +ranks, marking out the exact ground which each regiment or corps would +occupy in order of parade or march. Far away, but in a line with each +angle of the bivouac, were the outlying pickets; while, again, beyond +these were those vigilant and unsleeping patrols which made this column +so secure and impossible to surprise. + +At daybreak on the 29th the main body crossed the river and joined the +flying column on the left bank. They now were but fifteen miles from +Ulundi, and all the king's kraals were visible to the naked eye. On the +far slope of the hills that bound the plain were the two round kraals, +Likasi and Undabakawazi; next, and built in the shape of a crescent, +were Unodwengo, Panda's old palace, Ulundi, built by the present king, +while farthest of all was another, making five, called Umpanibougwena. + +On the 30th Lord Chelmsford was ten miles from the Umvolosi; and he sent +a despatch to Sir Garnet Wolseley, to say that the king's messengers had +just left with an ultimatum for Cetywayo, to the effect that his +lordship must advance to a position on the left bank of the river on the +1st July, but that if no opposition were offered the troops would wait +there without any hostile movement until twelve at noon on the 3rd, +when, if the original terms sent to Cetywayo, namely, the delivery of +the guns taken at Isandhlwana, and the cattle, were complied with, 1000 +captured rifles would be received instead of a regiment laying down its +arms, and peace negotiations would be entertained. On the following +morning, accordingly, the main body marched at an early hour, and, +preceded by the flying column and Buller's men scouring the country in +front and flank, arrived at the river and took up the position named +above. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + Raid across the Umvolosi by Buller--Gallant rescue of a sergeant by + Lord William Beresford--Buller's losses--Umvolosi crossed by the + main body--Formation of troops into square--Total numbers--Firing of + kraals--Advance of Zulus from Ulundi--The Zulu attack--Repulse of + Zulus--Pursuit by cavalry--Death of Wyatt-Edgell--Losses of both + sides--Withdrawal of English army--Effects of the battle of + Ulundi--Surrender of 700 Zulus to Crealock--Cause of retreat after + Ulundi--Resignation of Lord Chelmsford--His farewell parade--Epitome + of work done by 1st column, and why it was not present at + Ulundi--Ondini burnt by Barrow. + + +On the morning of the 3rd of July, the last day of grace, so far from +any compliance with Lord Chelmsford's demands being made, all sorts of +hostile demonstrations were shown by the Zulus, who were gathered in +large numbers about eight miles off. All day long, on the 1st and 2nd, +there had been a dropping fire at long ranges upon our men; and on the +3rd the enemy, growing bolder, pushed his skirmishers down to some rocks +on the opposite side of the river, and fired upon the men as they were +watering their horses in the stream. One horse was killed and several +men wounded, and then it was that Buller asked and obtained permission +to make a raid into the enemy's country. + +Early in the afternoon Buller was waiting impatiently to cross, +looking, as was said of Picton, "in a heavenly humour, because some one +was likely to be killed." A couple of guns were brought into position on +the banks of the river, to cover Buller's crossing, and, if necessary, +to assist his retreat if hard pressed on his return. A couple or three +rounds of shrapnel made short work of a crowd of Zulus who had +approached on the opposite height in a most impudent manner; and hardly +were the echoes of these heard along the shores before Buller and +Beresford, dashing into the stream with a cheer that made the rocks +resound, were followed over the river by Buller's horsemen, the Mounted +Infantry, and Baker's Horse. A good billiard or racquet player likes a +gallery, and if the very dashing rifleman and _beau sabreur_ were at all +anxious for an audience, they certainly had a large one on this +occasion. In fact the whole camp--if camp you can call a bivouac without +tents--turned out literally in its shirt-sleeves to see the fun. The +fatigue parties stopped their wood-cutting to take a look at the two +camp favourites as they raced like school-boys at a paper hunt after the +Zulus, who were scuttling away like prize pedestrians to gain the +shelter of a friendly kraal. Buller being in command, however, was not +forgetful of his men; and, though galloping at a steeplechase pace, kept +them well in hand, and raced with about a score of his fellows at the +military kraal Dalwayo, on our right front. Beresford, however, being a +sort of chartered libertine, and having no separate command, "went for" +the Zulus entirely, as he subsequently expressed it, "on his own hook." +Meanwhile, by Buller's order, Baker's men, guided by their leader, had +inclined to the left front, to carry and hold a favourable hillock which +commanded the best part of the ford. This piece of thoughtful strategy +proved invaluable at the close of the day, when the horsemen had hard +work to get back. On galloped Buller's men past Nodwengo, Lord William +well to the front, now sabring a Zulu, now stopping to aid a wounded +comrade; while Buller, having picked a hundred of his best-mounted men, +pushed on with the intention of exploring and, if possible, firing +Ulundi. + +There was nothing impossible in this project. Buller had good +information that the bulk of the king's army was away upon Lord +Chelmsford's right flank, and that the kraal would possibly have a +slender guard. It was well, perhaps, that this somewhat hairbrained +exploit should not be carried out, and it was stopped as follows:--The +contour of the ground between this point and the king's kraal was formed +by a succession of undulating (at rather a steep angle) plains, which in +the hollows gave admirable cover and concealment to the Zulus. These +large dongas in two places formed positions where bodies of men could be +massed at right angles, and so take an incautious enemy on the flank. +Here the Zulu general, whoever he was, had admirably disposed his +reserves, and here, but for the steady conduct of all hands, Buller +might have met his fate. As suddenly as the mountain warriors of +Roderick appeared above the heather to James Fitz-James, did the tall +Zulu warriors put in an appearance, and from front and flank a very well +sustained fire was poured in upon the daring Buller and his men. But +Buller, with all the dash of a Rupert or a Murat, had much of the +prescience and caution of a veteran, and invariably adopted the +principle which may be indifferently expressed as "having two strings to +your bow," or "not having all your eggs in one basket." He had, +previously to his daring advance in the enemy's country, ordered +Commandant Raaf to halt near Nodwengo, with his horsemen as reserve and +supports. At the imminent moment, therefore, when the Zulus appeared in +the hollows, these gallant fellows came up and saved the day, and it is +more than probable many valuable lives. As Buller and his splendid +marksmen retired by alternate ranks, and as each man fired, dropping his +man, Raaf and his well-trained fellows covered the slow retreat; Baker's +Horse also held the hillock of which mention has been before made, and +did excellent service by the manner in which the Zulus were held in +check. Tremlett's little battery on the right front of the camp kept +back the enemy on the left line of retreat, so that the raid into the +enemy's country, although not productive of any palpable advantage as +regards booty or prisoners, was eminently well carried out as a +reconnaissance in force. The Zulus were exceedingly well led, and it was +impossible not to admire their admirable skirmishing, and the +magnificent manner in which they charged right down to the river's edge, +amidst a storm of grape and shrapnel hurled against them to cover the +retreat. Buller, of course, was wherever hard knocks were most to be +obtained, while Beresford distinguished himself as much by his capital +horsemanship, daring valour, and perfect coolness, as by the noble +chivalry with which he galloped, under a heavy hostile fire, to bring +off, on his tired and overweighted horse, a wounded sergeant of the +Mounted Infantry. + +It happened thus:--Just after the volley had been poured in by the Zulus +on either flank, Lord William Beresford, who had literally cut his way +through about fifty Zulus who had tried to surround him, turned in the +saddle to see how his men were getting on, and saw upon the ground a +dismounted and wounded trooper about to be assegaied by half-a-dozen +Zulus. Wheeling his horse round like lightning, he swept like a +thunderbolt on the group, knocking three of the savages over with his +horse's shoulder, and placing the other three _hors de combat_ with a +front and back-hander of his long, heavy sabre. In another moment +Beresford had the wounded man safely _en croupe_, and carried off from +what would have been a cruel death. Commandant D'Arcy, with equal +gallantry, was not so fortunate, for seeing a wounded man on the ground +he sought to carry him off, but his horse, being restive, reared and +fell back, so that the unfortunate trooper was overtaken and assegaied, +while D'Arcy was so severely bruised by falling on his revolver, that, +although able to get back safely, he was unable to take part in the next +day's fight. Three men killed, four wounded, and thirteen horses killed, +was the total loss to our men. + +A little before daybreak on the 4th, Wood, with his flying column, +crossed the White Umvolosi, leaving the 1-24th Regiment in laager with +all the heavy baggage and supplies. Lord Chelmsford was so pleased with +Buller's magnificent reconnaissance, that he determined to advance at +once upon Ulundi, giving every temptation to the Zulu army to attack, +upon the plain which had been admirably surveyed two days previously by +Colonel Buller. Nothing could have been better considered, nothing could +have been better planned, and nothing could have been better worked out, +than the details of this splendid action. Every punctilio had been +observed by Lord Chelmsford as regards his answers and promises to +Cetywayo. The General had said he would not cross the river, thereby +placing himself at some considerable disadvantage in a strategic point, +and yet up to noon of the 3rd instant no act of submission was made. On +the 4th, therefore, the main body crossed after Wood's column, and +knowing that the Zulu army were somewhere between the river and Ulundi, +had good reason to hope that they would show fight. Lord Chelmsford +therefore advanced boldly, and without any undue show of caution, across +the plain. They had nothing in the shape of baggage with the exception +of ammunition and water-carts; but each man carried in his haversack +biscuit and preserved meat for four days. + +The crossing of the river was made without any opposition, although the +movements of our troops were carefully watched by a body of Zulus from a +neighbouring hillock on the left, and a more brilliant and picturesque +sight could not be imagined. The banks of the river were covered with +tamarinds and acacia, growing right down to the water's edge; while +creeping plants, such as the convolvulus, the jessamine, and the deadly +nightshade, were festooned from tree to tree. The wild guava, the +pomegranate, and many a sweetly-scented bush, pushed upward their +luxuriant undergrowth, and gave out faint odours as they were crushed by +the horses' hoofs. Bees were humming among the sweetly-scented +dholiocs, and the ripple of the stream as it rushed and bubbled over the +clear pebbles below made a music that seemed out of place with thoughts +of bloodshed and strife. With Buller scouting far in front, Wood's +division led the van, Newdigate next, and Drury-Lowe, with his gallant +Lancers, brought up the rear. The fortified camp on the right bank of +the Umvolosi had been left with a Gatling gun, 900 Europeans, and 250 +natives, under Colonel Bellairs. As soon as favourable ground had been +reached, Wood was signalled to halt and wait for the main body; and the +order was then given to form a large hollow square, with the ammunition, +two Gatlings, and the entrenching tool-carts and bearers in the centre. +Inside this square were also two companies of Engineers and some native +Pioneers attached, under Major Chard and Captain Ainsley, together with +the _impedimenta_, consisting of water-carts, ambulance-waggons, and +stretchers. The square, although large, was not unwieldy, and the steady +marching of the men prevented the slightest noise or confusion. The +flying column under Wood held the post of honour in the front half of +the square. Major Tucker, with the 80th Regiment, and Major Owen and two +Gatlings in the centre, held the front face. On his right flank were two +7-pounders of Major Tremlett's battery, under Lieutenant Davidson, with +seven companies of the 13th Light Infantry, under Major England, +supplemented in continuation of the right face by two more of Tremlett's +guns, in charge of Captain Brown and Lieutenant Slade; then came one +9-pounder of Major Le Grice's battery, under Lieutenant Crookenden; +four fine companies of the 58th making up the remainder of the right +face. The rear face was composed of one gun of Le Grice's battery, two +companies of the 21st Fusiliers, under Major Hazlerigg, and three +companies of the 94th, under Colonel Malthus. On the left or west flank +were the remaining three companies of the 94th, two 7-pounders of Major +Harness's battery, under Lieutenant Parsons; eight companies of the +90th, under Major Rogers; and two guns of Major Le Grice's battery, +attached _pro tem._ to Major Harness, under Lieutenant Elliott. Buller's +Cavalry were away scouring the front and flanks, while Colonel +Drury-Lowe, with two squadrons of the 17th Lancers, and Captain +Shepstone's Basutos, formed the rear guard. The numbers of all ranks +were as follows:--Flying Column, 2192 Europeans and 573 natives; +Newdigate (2nd Division), 1870 Europeans and 530 natives; making a total +of 5165 men. + +Lord Chelmsford and his staff rode in the centre, in rear of the front +face. He, of course, assumed the chief command; and his clear, sharp, +soldierlike voice rang out like a trumpet to the men: "The square will +wheel to the right." This order was taken up by the division as quickly +and calmly as though by a brigade of Foot Guards at Aldershot or the +Curragh. After moving on for a few miles they began to approach the +smaller kraals; and Buller, with his advanced and seemingly ubiquitous +riders, could be seen dashing here and there in every direction to tempt +the Zulu columns, which could now be discerned along the horizon towards +the left front. At the extreme end of the plain the sun glanced down +upon a long line of white shields marching in a sort of double column, +with skirmishers thrown out in European fashion in front and on the +flanks. The square was now halted, while the first kraal was fired. +This, some of Shepstone's Basutos said, was named Umlambo-Bogivimo, and +Buller's men having applied their flints and steel to the task, the +flames and smoke ascended to the sky. Next they came to the great kraal +of King Panda, called Unodwengo; but although this was at first fired, +it was found the smoke acted as such a screen to the Zulus that Lord +Chelmsford ordered its extinction. Strong columns could now be seen +moving out in quick though good order from Ulundi, and as they seemed +bearing down upon the right front, the square took ground to the right +and was halted in a capital position, pointed out to Lord Chelmsford by +Buller. Our troops were now assailed by a dropping but harmless fire +from the Ulundi column on the right front, and from a strong Zulu force +operating in some broken ground from Unodwengo, now on the left. It was +now half-past eight, and by nine o'clock the Zulu attack was fully +developed. Buller's men then made a strong demonstration on the left, +driving the Zulus from the hollow where they were sheltered, back to the +Unodwengo kraal. This movement was well supported by Shepstone and his +Basutos, who skirmished splendidly on the left and rear face of the +kraal. While this, however, was going on, a Zulu on a white horse was +seen leading strong reinforcements from his proper right to assist in +the attack upon the cavalry on the left. The scene was now most +exciting. Buller and his men fought in two ranks, the first mounted and +ready to dash at a moment upon any weak point in the enemy's line; the +second, dismounted, and making capital practice at long ranges, with +their saddles as a rest for the rifle. As soon as the front rank became +too hardly pressed, they cantered to the rear, dismounted, and relieved +the second rank. This is the old Dutch mode of fighting the Zulus, and +it has rarely been found unsuccessful. Colonel Lowe, at this juncture, +asked Lord Chelmsford's permission to send out a squadron of his +Lancers, or even a troop; but the general wisely declined, as the ground +was broken, and the Zulu line too powerful to be charged. Nothing could +be finer than the way in which Buller and Shepstone retired, bringing +the Zulu columns and their horns under the deadly hail of our Gatlings +and Martinis. Now, thought the Zulus, was the time for their grand +attack. Were not the mounted men, under the terrible Buller, flying +before the fierce onslaught of the Zulu braves? Still the line of white +shields came roaring on, like the big white billows that roll on to and +break into foam upon the South Afric shore. The ridges on the front and +left were now swarming with Zulus, fierce, stern, and terrible, as with +fiendish and maniacal shouts they swept over the soft and springy veldt +to be shattered, bloody and broken in their pride, by the leaden tempest +that now whistled from all sides of the square. "Steady, my lads; close +up, fire low, and not so fast!" cried Evelyn Wood, who had his men under +splendid control. "Are the mounted men all in?" said Lord Chelmsford to +General Newdigate. "They are, my lord," replied Buller, who was just +lighting a cigarette. "Then give the enemy a round or two of shrapnel," +said the chief. Shells from the right and left were now poured in; but +still on came the line of white shields. File-firing from the Martinis +was poured in, but the Zulu columns were deployed, and, regardless of +the _mitraille_, still came on in half-open order. But, under cover of +their strong lines of skirmishers, the Zulu attack was now changed and +further developed on the rear face, where Malthus and Hazlerigg held +post. Hazlerigg, whose tall and stalwart form was conspicuous above the +files of his men, made his front rank reserve its fire till the Zulus +had arrived within sixty yards, and then the word was given to fire low +and steady. The kraal of Unodwengo was, it has been said, upon the left, +and it proved rather a thorn in the side. Behind the rising ground from +which the Basutos had been driven now came a stream of thousands of +Zulus sweeping round the left flank from Ulundi. Their wild yells and +unearthly war-cries smote upon the air, and were heard through the ping +and rattle of the rifle-fire. Under cover of the Unodwengo kraal, and +sweeping over the ground beyond, this strong body, led by the chief on +the white horse, formed a hollow square, and after a few moments' pause +to collect themselves, dashed like a whirlwind upon the right rear angle +of the square. Now every one knows that the angle of a square, like the +salient angle of a bastion, is its weakest point, and for a moment it +seemed a question whether the attack would succeed. The angle was held +by two of Hazlerigg's companies, and although Le Grice's solitary gun, +admirably served, poured forth its most deadly shells, and Hazlerigg +kept his men firing in the most steady manner, at one moment it seemed +as though it would come to close quarters fighting. But one terrific +volley from the 21st, the 94th, the 58th, and Royal Engineers, shattered +their order, their square was broken, and after a moment's pause they +sought shelter from so terrific a fire. Meanwhile the front attack had +again developed, and here the gallant 80th were placed at a certain +disadvantage. That awkward dip in their front enabled the Zulus to make +their formation for attack out of sight and out of fire, so that Major +Tucker's men had to reserve their fire until the tops of the enemies' +heads were seen above the mound. But the 80th behaved so coolly and so +steadily that the front attack at length slackened, and the Zulu line +wavered, and finally ceased to fire. + +It was now a quarter to ten, and as signs of wavering were remarked in +every face of the attack, Colonel Drury-Lowe at this juncture had been +allowed to file his men out from an opening in the rear face, and was +just forming them in squadrons, when a spent ball knocked him off his +charger. He was stunned, however, only for a moment, and was again in +the saddle, smiling at his mishap. Now was the moment for which the +gallant Lancers had so long waited. Now every man gripped his weapon +with stiffened sinews and determined heart. "Go at them, colonel, but +don't pursue too far!" shouted Lord Chelmsford, as he raised his helmet +to the men. Moving first at a walk to steady his men, Lowe advanced in +column of troops from the right, and as soon as the ground was +favourable gave the words in succession, "Trot!" "Form squadrons!" "Form +line!" "Gallop!" "Charge!" Away across the broad grassy slopes, and +greeted by a burst of cheering from the square, went the splendid +blue-and-white line, their pennons fluttering in the morning air, and +their bright and deadly steel-topped bamboo lances in rest. On they +went, driving the flying Zulus headlong into a donga, where sweeping +round it the pursuing squadrons forced the enemy out into the open to +fly for safety towards the mountains northward. But flanking the donga, +and hidden by the long grass, half of a Zulu regiment was posted to +cover the retreat, and as the squadrons of Drury-Lowe's men came on a +volley was poured in, which emptied several saddles, and was fatal to +poor young Wyatt-Edgell, who was gallantly leading on his men. His men, +almost maddened as they saw him fall, spurred more furiously on to take +immediate and bloody vengeance. + +A moment more and the bristling line of steel meets the black and +shining wall of human flesh, rent, pierced, and gashed by a weapon as +death-dealing and unsparing as their own assegai. Still, though crushed +and stabbed by the lances, and though their firm array was scattered +like sea-foam, the Zulus fought on in stubborn knots, nor cried for +quarter, stabbing at the horses' bellies as they went down, and trying +to drag the men off their horses in the _mêlée_. The lance was now +relegated in most cases to its sling, and the heavy sabres of the +troopers became red with gore. Never was a cavalry attack better timed +or more effective, and never did that oft-abused arm, the lance, better +vindicate its reputation as a weapon of pursuit. But now a troop of the +King's Dragoon Guards, under Captain Brewster, and some irregular +cavalry, are let loose from different sides of the square, and, with +Lord William Beresford full six horse-lengths in advance, charge full +and fair upon the flying savages, who are cut down in scores until they +gain the crests of the hill; but even there no safety or rest is found, +for shrapnel, fired with time-fuzes, scatters them like chaff in the +wind. + +The attacking force consisted of twelve regiments, and could not have +been less than 23,000; 15,000 surrounding the British square, and 8000 +in reserve. Their loss has been estimated at 1500, but it should +probably be put down as double, for during the whole of the action they +could be seen carrying their dead and wounded away. The total loss to +our troops was not heavy--some dozen killed and about eighty wounded. +Amongst those killed was one officer, of whom might well be said, "We +could have better spared a better man." In the gallant white-and-blue +line of squadrons that swept like a torrent upon the scared and flying +Zulu hordes, there rode no braver, no more knightly spirit than young, +gallant Wyatt-Edgell. The scion of a noble house, and a soldier by +hereditary tradition and birth, he had all the accomplishments and +chivalrous attributes of his race. His loss was a great blow to all, and +his premature though glorious death cast a deep gloom not only over his +own regiment, but over the entire camp in which he had spent so many +cheerful days, esteemed and loved by officers and men alike, from +highest to lowest. + +After the battle of Ulundi and the destruction of the king's five great +kraals, Lord Chelmsford marched his division back to Entonyani, where +they remained some days, having had a storm of rain and thunder lasting +thirty-six hours. As they had no tents the first night, the state of +affairs may more easily be imagined than described. The rain came down +in perfect torrents, sweeping away the bivouac fires and pouring through +the camp like the overflow of a mighty river. The men behaved admirably, +taking all the discomforts of their situation with the good humour and +jocularity of disciplined troops. The horses naturally suffered most, +although every attempt was made to picket them in a sheltered spot. On +arriving at Entonyani they found tents waiting for them, and were thus +enabled to get dry and refit. The nights were exceptionally cold and +with heavy dews, causing some little sickness amongst the men. + +In fully estimating the importance of this battle, we must not forget +the surroundings, nor the associations of the place. The valley of the +Umvolosi is essentially the heart of Zululand. It is the richest and +most fertile portion of the country, and as such was chosen as the royal +abode. The two branches of the river, named after the district, converge +through it towards the main stream which flows on to St. Lucia Bay. The +one by which the king's great kraal but lately stood passes through a +comparatively open country; and its waters, gleaming clear in the +sunlight, are called "White," just as the waters of the other branch, +which run through a more bushy and broken district, are called "Black." +In the basin drained by this extensive water-system the Zulu nation was +originally cradled. Thither Dingaan retired after he had slain his +brother near the Nonoti. There the brave and bustling Dutchman Retief +and his companions were treacherously murdered in 1838; and there, +again, Bongore, led into a trap the unsuspecting Boers, who were again +duped by his representations, they believing that the king was alone at +Mahlabatini. The valley where this last battle was fought is with the +Zulus a sacred and historic spot. It is rife with what is most dear to +the Zulu pride--legends of bloody massacre, treacherous surprise, and +savage revenge. Dingaan fled from thence; Panda died there; Cetywayo was +first recognized and crowned there. Could the tall and wooded grey +cliffs that looked down upon the combat speak, they could tell, in a +direful tale of tyrannous cruelty and wrong, most of the annals of the +Zulu nation. Year by year they witnessed the periodical gathering +together of Cetywayo's legions, and watched the steady outgrowth of the +savage power whose overthrow, by British troops and British discipline, +they beheld but a few months since. But signal and satisfactory as this +victory was, it could not be accepted as final until Cetywayo had +completely submitted, though some of its effects were immediate and +important. + +The day after the battle of Ulundi, and before the victory was known to +the troops of the 1st Division, about 700 Zulus, with all their cattle, +women, and children, came into the camp at Richard's Cove, near Port +Durnford, to tender submission and to claim protection. There is not the +slightest doubt but that they had heard of the battle, although there +was not a whisper of the engagement heard amongst these people. General +Crealock, to give importance to the ceremony, ordered a general parade +of the division at midday, and it was impossible not to be struck with +the attenuated condition of his battalions, although every available man +was put on parade. Both brigades made up rather a weak division. The +1st Brigade was made up of the Buffs, two companies of the 88th, two +companies of the "Shah's" and "Active's" bluejackets, and one of the +marine artillery; while the 2nd Brigade was composed of the Royal +Artillery, 57th, 60th Rifles, and 91st--in all twenty companies. At half +past twelve the General, surrounded by his staff, rode on to the ground, +and the division was wheeled into line. Then a galloper was sent out to +the Zulus who were halted on the crest of the neighbouring hills, and +they were told to advance and lay down their arms. Three hundred +fine-looking fellows then advanced in good order, and arriving at the +prescribed distance, made the customary obeisance while they deposited +assegais and guns, in number about seventy, fire-arms mostly of the old +pattern. + +However, time proved that the results of Lord Chelmsford's engagement +and victory on the 4th (July) were of far greater importance than had +been at first imagined. Chiefs and tribes came pouring into the various +camps, not by dozens or by scores, but literally by hundreds, and the +only two questions they asked--and these kept invariably recurring--were +"Why was not the victory of Ulundi followed up vigorously? and why was +Cetywayo allowed to escape?" + +It was this great error of immediately retiring from Ulundi which made +us again ridiculous, not only in the eyes of Zululand, but also in those +of military Europe. It was due, not to Lord Chelmsford, nor those under +his command, but to extraneous influences beyond his control; and public +opinion never arrived at a more true or just conclusion than in saying +that the arrival of Lord Chelmsford's successor, no matter how valuable +or how necessary it might have been, came at a most inopportune time, +for it was well known that Lord Chelmsford's plans were so perfectly +matured, that had he been left free to carry out his own designs, +instead of being hampered and constrained by the orders of the new +Commander-in-chief, he would have followed up Ulundi with the utmost +possible activity, and would in all probability have secured the person +of the king. Terms for the final pacification of the whole of Zululand +could then have been dictated on the spot, and there would have been an +end to the entire business. + +Under these circumstances therefore Lord Chelmsford determined to resign +all command; and within three days of the brilliant victory of Ulundi it +was known to the soldiers throughout the camp that their General was +about to leave them, and that with him were going Sir Evelyn Wood, +General Crealock, and Colonel Redvers Buller. Accordingly a grand parade +of all arms was ordered on the morning of the 8th (July), that the +General might take a formal leave of his men. At nine a.m. the +bugle-call for coverers was sounded, the staff officers marked the +alignment, and the various corps moved like clockwork upon their +respective pivots. The division was then wheeled into line by General +Newdigate, and the flanks, bringing forward their right and left +shoulders, three sides of a large hollow square was formed, with the +front ranks facing inwards. Lord Chelmsford, his staff, and three +brigadiers formed the fourth side of the square, and in a few +warm-hearted, well chosen, and soldierlike sentences the +Commander-in-chief, under whom the troops had seen so much good hard +work, honest service, and from whom all ranks had received at various +times some recognition of their conduct in camp and on the field of +battle, bade them farewell, and thanked them for the manner in which +their duty to their Queen and country had been performed. "For the +courage, the coolness, and the devotion you have all displayed wherever +I have been with you, I give you my best and my warmest thanks. For the +unselfish devotion and untiring energy and good-humour with which you +have encountered hardship, fatigue, and privation I find it hard to +sufficiently express my gratitude. In all senses you have done your duty +as English soldiers." Such were the concluding words of a leader whom +all loved, respected, and all regretted. + +On the following day the camp bivouac was broken up, and the cavalry, +the 2nd Division, and the flying column, marched _en route_ to +Intanjaneni and Kwamagwasa, thus beyond doubt leading Cetywayo and his +indunas to suppose that their losses at Ulundi and want of military +skill caused them to forego the advantages they had won. + +Despatches from General Crealock fully demonstrate that his inability to +effect a junction with the 2nd Division before the action at Ulundi was +due to no want of energy or organization on his part, but solely to +those causes which will impede the movements of all bodies of civilized +troops in uncivilized lands. But although sickness amongst the oxen and +other impediments to transport caused General Crealock to lose his share +of the victory gained, his time had not been wasted, for much valuable +work was done in the nature of road-making and raiding over the enemy's +country, thus affording a diversion which considerably weakened +Cetywayo's chances of inflicting a defeat upon the other column. The +task of establishing the new base of supply at Port Durnford and the +building of Fort Napoleon was thrown entirely upon the 1st Division, and +naturally interfered with its rapid advance. The work, however, that +fell to the coast column was fully and admirably carried out, and a +pontoon and a trestle-bridge were built over the Tugela, without which +no important advance could have been made along the coast. The ford over +the Inyoni was rendered permanently practicable, and can, now that the +descent is made easy for waggons, be passed at all seasons. The same +work was effected at the Umsundusi and Amatikula rivers, whose +approaches were made safe for wheels. The Umkusi and Inyezani hills and +drifts were also made passable by improvement in the roads. Along the +Umlatoosi valley numerous small but difficult streams had drifts made +over them. From the Umlatoosi to St. Paul's Mission Station used to be a +bad and most difficult road, but all the dangerous places were now +levelled, and a strong and defensible position was given. Fords were +secured across the Uvulu, the Entonjaneni, the Umvolosi, and the +Umlalasi, and there no physical obstacle was allowed to remain to delay +the march of a European column with its baggage in any part of the coast +and the south of Zululand, while forts had been completed or erected at +Tenedos, Pearson, Crealock, Chelmsford, Napoleon, and Durnford. + +The result of this was that Sir Garnet Wolseley, in taking over Lord +Chelmsford's command, found a complete chain of military posts, the +like of which was never before seen in South Africa, extending along the +Zulu frontier from the Blood and Buffalo rivers to the Umvolosi mouth +and Port Durnford, and, in fact, encompassing three out of four sides of +Cetywayo's kingdom. + +In addition to the formation of the new base and the seaward +communications the later operations of Barrow's cavalry fully vindicated +the reputation they had obtained for activity. Barrow's Irregular +Mounted Corps, although not so numerous as those of Buller, were equally +worthy of praise, alike for their admirable discipline, courage in +action, and skill in patrolling. They consisted of about fifty enrolled +volunteers under Captain Addison, forming a body called the "Natal +Guides," three troops of Lonsdale's Mounted Rifles, three of the Mounted +Infantry, the Natal Horse, and a very useful contingent of mounted +natives. These, under such leaders as Colonel Barrow, Major Lord +Gifford, Captains Barton and Nettleton, were at once the eyes and ears +of the column. On July 6th Barrow's men made a forced march, during +which they were thirty hours in the saddle, and, reaching Ondini, the +king's old kraal, burnt it to the ground. The patrol paraded overnight, +and started some two hours before daylight, making its way through a +valley district over fifteen miles in length by three or four in +breadth, though here and there narrowing in parts to only one mile, over +lofty spurs and ridges running into it, forming a series of +densely-wooded and impracticable ravines. The weather was intensely hot, +and although the men and horses were both distressed at times, the +troops did their work in a manner which reflected great credit upon all +present. From this valley the road or trek ran for ten or twelve miles +through an open but rather broken country, the hills in the distance +being covered with dense bush. The patrol then turned eastwards over a +table-land which stretched away for about twenty miles, till the edge of +the plateau is reached, and the path descends abruptly into the great +thorn valley to the west of the White Umvolosi; at the edge of this +plateau the coast road joins. From this point the patrol marched a few +miles, and halted for off-saddle and breakfast on the right bank of the +river. The road is fairly good, but passes through thick thorn-bush, and +the country is very broken and contains a number of small streamlets +tributary to the Umvolosi. The drift here is good, and is commanded by a +high stony hill to the north and upon the right of the road, and within +rifle range of one of the smaller royal kraals. The Ondini kraal was +reached about noon. It was occupied by some Zulus, who made away as the +troops advanced at a canter; the place was fired, and in half an hour +was utterly destroyed. The return to camp was made by another road, +which was long and tedious; several of the horses were completely +knocked up, one dying from exhaustion and several having to be abandoned +on the road. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + Arrival of Sir Garnet Wolseley--Reception at Durban--Changes made by + Wolseley--His plans for the future--Attempt to land at Port Durnford + and its failure--Sir Garnet at St. Paul's--Grand council of Zulu + chiefs--Resignation of General Crealock--His farewell to his troops + at Camp Umlalasi--Fêtes in honour of Lord Chelmsford--Wolseley at + Pietermaritzburg--Disturbances in Pondoland and Transvaal--Wolseley + at Rorke's Drift--McLeod and the Swazis--Their appearance and + habits--Wolseley at Intanjaneni--Surrender of guns by + Mbelebele--Adhesion of various chiefs. + + +It is now time to turn attention to the movements of the new +Commander-in-chief and Governor. On the 28th of June his Excellency Sir +Garnet Wolseley and his staff landed at Durban from the C.R.M.S. +"Dunkeld." The whole town was that day _en fête_, as the Durbanites like +a sensation, no matter of what nature. At daylight the whole of the +military and naval authorities were astir, and various coloured bunting +began to appear all over the town. Crowds of well-to-do shopkeepers and +farmers went down to the point on horseback, while hundreds went by the +train. All the ships in the harbour and the bluff were gaily decorated, +and the men-of-war, transports, and merchant-vessels were gallantly +dressed in bunting from stem to stern. Sir Garnet brought with him +many of his old staff, and others joined later on. Colonel Pomeroy +Colley arrived by the next Zanzibar steamer, and took up the duties of +chief of the staff, and Captain Lord Gifford joined from his regiment, +the 57th. Sir Garnet Wolseley was not only to be Governor, +Commander-in-chief, and High Commissioner in Natal and the Transvaal, +but also to exercise the functions of the latter office in the countries +to the north and to the east. + +The changes ordered by the new Commander-in-chief were numerous and +important. In the first place all military operations against Secocoeni +were to be discontinued. This order gave great dissatisfaction, as +several highly successful patrols had already been made against this +chieftain; and Colonel Lanyon, after great delay and difficulty having +completed his arrangements for the attack, was actually on his way to +the front, when instructions reached him to stop and send his men to +Derby, to protect that part of the border from Zulu raids. + +The troops were to be immediately consolidated and reduced, and with +them the expenses of the war. + +The landing of the Marines was countermanded, and they were to be sent +back with all possible speed to Simon's Bay; the Natal Carabineers, the +Durban Mounted Rifles, Bettington's Horse, and the Frontier Light Horse +were to be forthwith disbanded: the 1st Division and the Cavalry brigade +were to be broken up; while the forts along the coast were to be +abandoned. The following troops were also named for immediate +embarkation:--1-24th, the 3rd (Buffs), the 99th, the 88th, the 1st +battalion 13th, and two batteries of artillery, to proceed to England; +the 17th Lancers to go on to India; Ellaby's and Tremlett's batteries +to proceed to St. Helena. Lord Chelmsford, Generals Marshall, Wood, and +Crealock, Colonels Crealock, Downe, Dawney, and Buller, Captains Buller, +Molyneux, Frere, Milne, Grenfell, Beresford, and Reilly were going home, +either by order or at their own request. Indeed almost the only officer +of high position who elected, or was selected, to remain was General +Clifford, who still retained his post of Inspector-General of the lines +of communication. + +Sir Garnet's plan of operations for the future was as follows: a +military post at Durnford with 400 men; another at St. Paul's, with a +brigade; and a third at Intanjaneni with 400 men; a regiment to remain +on the Umlatoosi, and a battalion of the Native Contingent to guard the +line of the Tugela. Colonel Baker Russell was to start at once with a +flying column from St. Paul's and co-operate with Oham in the west. +Colonel George Villiers was to proceed to join Oham and organize various +bodies of burghers, Natal natives, and Zulus, to hem in Cetywayo in that +direction, whilst McLeod (late 74th Regiment) was to raise, equip, and +command 5000 warriors of the Amaswazis, and, if necessary, lead them +right into Zululand. Colonel Clarke (57th) meanwhile was to march +straight on Ulundi, there to await Sir Garnet's arrival, with a force +consisting of the 57th, 60th, five companies of the 80th, two troops of +Lonsdale's Horse, one battalion of the Natal Native Contingent, and some +mounted natives under the chiefs Jemptse and Mafionge, together with a +battery of Gatlings and the Natal Pioneers. Meanwhile Sir Garnet had +convened a great council of Zulu chieftains to be held at St. Paul's, +July 19th, to arrive if possible at some definite arrangement for the +temporary government of the country. Such were the main features of the +new commander's programme, and though severe strictures were at first +passed thereupon by the majority of the colonists and old soldiers +experienced in Kaffir warfare, time proved that his calculations were +just and well-founded. + +Leaving Durban on the 2nd of July, Sir Garnet and staff embarked on +board her Majesty's ship "Shah," and proceeded to Durnford, where +several attempts to land were made, but without success. On the morning +of the 3rd, the steam-tug "Koodoo" came alongside, and Sir Garnet and +his staff, including the two Colonels Russell, Captains Buchanan, +Maurice, Braithwaite, and Baynes, Dr. Russell, and Mr. Herbert (private +secretary), were with great difficulty and no little risk embarked on +her and subsequently transferred to a surf-boat or lighter. While towing +the lighter towards the shore the hawser broke, but most fortunately a +sail was hoisted at once, and the boat, getting clear of the breakers, +was again taken in tow by the "Koodoo." After several ineffectual +attempts to get the lighter made fast to the warp, the recall was fired +from the "Shah," and Sir Garnet returned to the man-of-war. As the day +wore on the surf became worse, and towards evening Captain Bradshaw, +commanding the "Shah," deemed it no longer safe to remain at anchor off +the bar. Sir Garnet therefore returned to Durban, and hastening on +overland _viâ_ Forts Chelmsford, Pearson, and Crealock, reached the camp +of the 1st Division at Richard's Cove, Port Durnford, on July 6th. + +On the 14th an advance column, consisting of Buller's Light Horse about +100, two guns, the 57th Regiment, the whole under Colonel B. Russell, +C.B., left camp and marched in the direction of St. Paul's, as far as +the Umlatoosi, where they entrenched themselves on the right bank, the +cavalry and Dunn's scouts forming an advanced guard on the left. This +position commands a path about ten miles from the mouth of the river, +and the site is very picturesque, overlooking the valley to the +north-west. His Excellency and headquarter staff accompanied the column, +and the next morning pushed on to St. Paul's with an escort of cavalry, +where were the headquarters of the 2nd Division. A parade of the troops, +including the 17th Lancers and some 500 irregular cavalry--the +celebrated Buller's Horse--was held, and the General, after taking leave +of Lord Chelmsford, Brigadier General Wood, Colonel Buller, who with +their staffs were leaving for England, returned to the camp on the +Umlatoosi. It has been already said that the 19th was fixed by Sir +Garnet Wolseley for the meeting or durbar of the principal chiefs, all +of whom were expected to attend. By noon on that day the camp presented +a curious sight. Outside the General's tent a guard of honour, with the +Queen's colours, was drawn up, while a large space was railed off for +the reception of Zulu visitors, who came winding in bands over the +slopes of the neighbouring hills from an early hour in the morning. As +each deputation from its respective tribe came into camp, preceded by +its principal rulers, it was formed up in a sort of column, sixteen or +eighteen feet deep, in the space set apart for the visitors. The +gathering was a numerous one, upwards of 250 chiefs and their followers +having attended, and evidently considering the occasion as one of great +importance, as each man was attired in his most gorgeous manner. The +enclosure was at the same time council-chamber and reception-hall, and +although no seats were required, skins, mats, and canvas were put down +for the principal chiefs to sit upon. Some of the chiefs had a covering +of cow's tails and other skins round the waist, while broad rings of +copper were worn round the arms and ankles of others. Plumes of feathers +adorned the heads of the principal men, and hanging behind, somewhat +after the fashion of a Hungarian pelisse, each warrior wore a panther or +other similar skin. The array of dusky savages looked fairly imposing, +although none of them were armed save with the knobkerrie of place, +which as they squatted was laid methodically in front of each man. Upon +the hills in the distance were a number of boys and women who had +accompanied the chiefs, but who preferred to remain outside spectators +of the conference. The enclosure was marked out by branches of the +mimosa, cut in convenient lengths, and forming a sort of palisade, which +kept the crowd from intruding. When all were reported present, Sir +Garnet and his staff, accompanied by Mr. Fynny, border agent, came out +of his tent, and the guard having presented arms, the proceedings +commenced. The two principal chiefs were the king's brothers, +Dabulamanzi and Magwendi, who both replied to Sir Garnet's speech. +Dabulamanzi was a fine-looking man of large size, apparently in the full +vigour of his age, and of great muscular development, presenting in this +regard a striking contrast to his brother Oham, who was simply a large +fat man. There was an air of considerable thought and command in his +face, and, unlike the other chiefs, who wore their hair closely cropped, +except with a black band round the temples, his hair was thrown back and +his broad forehead was encircled with a fillet of ostrich feathers +terminating with a single plume behind. Heavy rings of highly polished +copper spanned the thick part of the arms of Magwendi, a much shorter +and more common-looking man, and whose neck was adorned with a necklace +formed of monkey's teeth and small shells. Both these chiefs held in +their right hands the same kind of short stick carried by their +warriors, while their left hands rested on their naked knees. Mr. Fynny, +the well-known border agent, who was considered to know almost as much +about Zululand and the Zulus as Mr. John Dunn, and that is saying much, +performed the duties of interpreter with remarkable skill and fluency, +translating Sir Garnet's speech, sentence by sentence, as it was +uttered, with due emphasis and point. Sir Garnet Wolseley spoke as +nearly as possible to the following effect: "I am very pleased to +welcome you to my camp, because your coming in answer to my invitation +shows you are as anxious for peace as I am myself, and as is the great +Queen in whose name I now speak. We came to make war with Cetywayo, not +with the Zulu people, and to put an end to his cruelties and his +military system, which with his marriage laws made life and property +unsafe in your land. We want peace with the Zulus, and that they shall +be at peace with our people in Natal. We have beaten the king in open +fight and burnt his kraal, so that he is now a fugitive and shall never +more reign in Zululand. We might now take all Zululand, but we do not +want any of it, and we wish that all of you should have your property +and land. I rode to St. Paul's the other day, and found all the people +on the way living quietly in their own kraals, and with their cattle in +them. All may do the same, but all must first give up their arms and the +king's cattle in token of their submission. The old laws of Zululand +shall be restored, and you shall be ruled by your own chiefs, whom you +all know. I shall divide the kingdom into four or five districts, and +all men shall be free to come and go, to work, to marry, and to become +rich. The great Queen, who sends me, wishes the Zulus should be happy, +but those who continue to bear arms, and will not submit, must be given +up. On the north the Swazis and the Amatongas are only kept by my orders +from invading Zululand, while Oham and his soldiers are moving upon the +west. I am going myself to Ulundi on the 10th, where I shall tell the +Zulu people my arrangements for the future government of the country." +This address was listened to with great attention, and with the most +respectful silence, and several of the chiefs replied, one in particular +making the naive and rather sarcastic remark that he and his friends +could not see what fault Cetywayo had committed, but as the English +chiefs had seen it they were satisfied. Dabulamanzi did not speak, +except to Magwendi, who rose and complained that his cattle had been +taken from him, and that some of them had been sent in as belonging to +the king. Redress was at once promised by Sir Garnet. The meeting then +broke up, the chieftains undertaking to meet Sir Garnet again at Ulundi +on August 10th, to arrive at a final settlement of affairs. + +It has been before mentioned that General Crealock had determined to +resign his command of the 1st Division; it was in pursuance of this +resolution that he ordered a general parade on July 21st, on which +occasion he made a short but appropriate speech to his men. + +There were on parade the Buffs, 60th Rifles, 91st, the naval brigade of +the "Boadicea," one company of Marines, two troops of Lonsdale's Horse, +one troop of Natal Horse, and a battery of 7-pounders. This little army +was drawn up on the usual parade-ground, not far from the river, and in +the midst of a scene of the greatest natural beauty. The banks of the +stream are thickly wooded, and the valley is the resort of large species +of game. Crocodiles frequent the river, and make it dangerous to bathe. +Thick, thorny underwood, mingled with tall reeds and date-palms, grow +close down to the waters, which reflect the tall green trees that +overarch above. Trees, with branches bearing bright green leaves and +yellow fragile flowers, drooped nearly to the ground around the plain. +Pre-eminent in splendour shone out the brilliant _combretta_, whose +masses of bloom gleamed like torches amidst the dark green of the +thickets, whilst the golden sheen of the fruit intensified the marked +contrast of the tints. At the drinking-place used for the horses the +water flowed in streamlets over the rocks and along a long red sandbank. +A ledge of granite forms a rugged barrier eight or ten feet high across +the river, and down the hollows of this the clear waters rush and ripple +in rills, cascades, and rapids, bubbling and eddying among the great +masses of rock below, in many of which, like those of the Zambesi, great +holes are worn by stones which during the flood perhaps had settled in +small hollows. Dark lines of trees border the river on the right, and on +the left there is a fine grove of baobabs with large dark green leaves +and wide-spreading branches. Crossing a sandstone hill with a spur +stretching away to the eastward, and adorned with some splendid +specimens of the encephalartos, or Kaffir bread, and then descending +into the valley of the Umlalasi, one comes to sandstone and gneiss, +rising in cliffs of 600 feet on the south of the river, but sloping away +gradually on the north. The banks are covered with verdant and +golden-blossomed acacias, some of them with yellow bark and the sweet +gum, which is said to indicate the presence of the tsetse fly. Away to +the north are to be seen groves of palm and mimosas, with stems forty +feet to the lower branches. Far away beyond the plain can be seen the +purple outlines of the great Lebombo range of mountains. These are to +the east of the Drakenberg, and intervene between it and the sea. +Stretching northward from the Pongolo river, this range crosses the +Oliphant and touches the Limpopo. Its highest elevation is about 2150 +feet high, and at the point at which the Umvolosi passes through the +range to Delagoa Bay there is a lofty peak which reaches to 1900 feet, +the river bed being there only 300 feet above sea level. Further north +the range declines, and is cut through by the Pongolo and the Usuta, +tributaries of the Maputa; also by the Umvolosi, the Umcomazi, the +Sabia, and the Oliphant, all of which run into the Indian Ocean. Such +were the features of the landscape, and such was the background to this +farewell parade. + +After the division had wheeled into line a very creditable march past +was performed, and the troops then wheeled into a square, and were +addressed by General Crealock, who told them that, in obedience to +orders received from Sir Garnet Wolseley, the column was to be broken up +and dispersed. The General said that he took this opportunity, before +separating, to thank all hands for their good conduct and constant hard +work, carried on without a murmur and in the midst of many difficulties. +The task allotted to the 1st Division was to establish a series of posts +along the coast of Zululand with an advanced depôt of supplies, to open +a base of supplies at Port Durnford, from which to feed a force +operating against Ulundi, and finally to destroy the military kraals and +clear the district of Zulus. All these instructions were fully carried +out by the 1st Division by the 5th of July; and the General, in wishing +them a hearty good-bye and success and prosperity, thanked all for the +good conduct and zeal which enabled him to do so much. + +Lord Chelmsford, who was now on his way home to England, received most +enthusiastic receptions at Maritzburg, Durban, and Capetown. The banquet +given in his honour at Pietermaritzburg was, perhaps, the most brilliant +affair of the kind ever achieved in the colony, but there were those who +considered the ball in Durban as a still greater, for there were more +ladies and officers present who had come long distances to assist at the +festivity. Sir Garnet Wolseley and the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Evelyn +Wood, and his _Fidus Achates_, Colonel Buller, Major-General Clifford, +and all the fighting and dancing men within a hundred miles of the place +responded to the call. Durban never before saw such a display of "rank, +beauty, and fashion." All the belles of Natal were there to welcome the +winner of Ulundi, and to sympathize with him in his efforts, under +adverse criticisms and untoward fortune, to do his duty as a soldier of +our Queen. The general feeling of the colony may be gathered from the +mayor's speech, who, in proposing his lordship's health, said that he +felt doubly proud on the occasion, as he did not speak alone for +himself, but in the name and with the voice of all Natal. Against +difficulties which only colonial experience could realize, and against +bitter and most vituperative criticism, Lord Chelmsford had worked +steadily and patiently until he accomplished the object he was sent to +perform. The General, in reply, expressed in a soldierlike and +impressive manner his deep sense of the kind feelings expressed by the +mayor, and acknowledged that the reception accorded to him had quite +overwhelmed him. But in giving his acknowledgments and thanks, his +lordship made a happy allusion to the devotion and zeal of those who +commanded and fought under him; and when he came to the mention of +Evelyn Wood and Redvers Buller--two names which, he said, represented +all that a soldier could show in loyalty and efficiency--his modest +eulogium upon these, "his right hand and left hand supports during the +war," was perhaps the most well received and telling point of his +address. That Wood's services were appreciated by the colonists may be +gathered from the fact that he was most warmly solicited by Mr. Gordon +Sprigg, the Premier, to accept the appointment of Commandant-General of +the Colonial Forces; and this request was made by the almost unanimous +wish of the whole ministry. Sir Evelyn, however, did not feel at liberty +to accept till he had consulted with the authorities at home. + +On August 5th, Lord Chelmsford, Sir Evelyn Wood, Colonel Crealock, +Colonel Buller, Major Grenfell, Captain Molyneux, and Captain Buller, +embarked on board the Union steamship "German," and sailed for England, +where they arrived safely and were received with the honours they had so +worthily deserved. + +After the meeting of chiefs on the 19th, at the camp on the Umlatoosi, +Sir Garnet Wolseley returned to Pietermaritzburg. Here he was engaged in +arranging matters of detail until July 29th. Disturbances in Pondoland +and the Transvaal also now claimed his attention. In the former the +Pondos had attacked the Xesibes, a tribe in alliance with England and +under British protection. Hither Lieutenant-Colonel Bayley, with a +detachment of Cape Mounted Rifles, was despatched from Butterworth, and +soon succeeded in putting an end to this trouble. In the Transvaal the +Boers were agitating for a repeal of the union, and threatening to +assert their independence by force of arms. To render matters secure in +this quarter Sir Garnet sent the headquarters of the King's Dragoon +Guards, under Colonel Alexander, to Pretoria. On the 30th the Commander +and his staff moved to Greytown and thence on, with a small escort, to +the temporary camp at Umsingu. Travelling herefrom with all speed he +reached Rorke's Drift early the following morning (August 3rd). +Despatches were waiting here for the Commander-in-chief, and determined +the next week's movements. Cetywayo was still reported in a kraal in the +Ngome, while letters were at hand from Villiers giving anything but a +flattering account of his friend Oham and his promised Burgher and +native levies. M'Leod also wrote to point out the difficulties under +which he was labouring with his Swazis, and asking for some European +troops to be sent to him to keep them under control. Villiers was +concentrating his heterogeneous gathering of levies at Luneberg, and +hoped to be ready on or by the 6th; while M'Leod suggested that he +should merely guard the frontier to prevent Cetywayo's escape, and not +tempt his savages with the sight of their enemy's kraals or cattle; for +to allow them to cross the border would be, he wrote, risking murder, +rapine, and all sorts of atrocities, which, if once begun, it would be +impossible to stop. + +So little is generally known of the Swazis, that a short description of +their persons and habits may here be acceptable. What are usually called +Swazis are, in reality, somewhat a mongrel race, being a cross between +the Zulu and the old race of Swaziland. The Swazis living along the +borders of the Wakkerstroom, until late owed allegiance to Cetywayo, and +some of them indeed had fought for him, notably Manyoyaba, a chief +paramount in the Abakalusian district. But quarrels arose between the +two races and they became most bitter foes; indeed once the Swazis were +near extermination at the hands of the Zulus. + +The whole tribe possess characteristically broad heads with thick hair, +which would be as frizzly as that of a negro were it not carefully +dressed in the Zulu fashion with plaster of grease and red clay. Their +eyes, almond-shaped and somewhat sloping, are shaded with thick, +sharply-defined brows, and are of remarkable size and fulness. The wide +space between them testifies to the unusual width of the skull, and +contributes a mingled expression of animal ferocity, warlike resolution, +and, strange to say, ingenuous candour. A flat, square nose, a mouth of +about the same width as the nose, with very thick lips; a round chin, +and full, plump cheeks complete the countenance which may be described +as circular in its general contour. The bodies of the Swazis are +generally inclined, like those of the Zulus, to be fat, but they are +seldom wanting in muscular strength. They are fairly well proportioned, +but the upper part of the figure is somewhat long in proportion to the +legs, and this peculiarity gives a strange character to their movements, +although it does not seem any bar to their agility in their war-dances. +Nothing can be more simple than the ordinary headgear of the women. It +would, however, be a matter of some difficulty to find any kind of +plait, tuft, or topknot, which has not been used by the Swazi men. The +hair is usually parted right down the middle; towards the forehead it +branches off so as to leave a kind of triangle, and from the fork which +is thus formed, a tuft is raised and carried back to be fastened behind. +On either side of this tuft the hair is arranged in rolls, like the +ridges and crevices of a melon, while over the temples separate rolls +are gathered up into knots, from which hang more tufts, twisted like a +cord, that fall in bunches round the neck, three or four of the largest +tresses being allowed to go free over the breast and shoulders. A +favourite decoration is formed with the teeth of a dog strung together +under the hair and hanging along the forehead like a fringe. Another +ornament not at all uncommon is worn by some, and this is ivory cut in +imitation of lions' teeth, and arranged in radial fashion round the +breast, the effect of the white substance in contrast with the dark skin +being very striking. The weapons of the Swazis are much the same as +those of the Zulus, but they have more variety in shape and quality of +the assegai. The shields are smaller, and usually woven of stout reeds +and then covered with undressed hide. They use also a heavy kind of +lance which is adapted to the chase of large game. + +A favourite amusement is a kind of war-dance, in which a warrior +describes a conflict in which he was once engaged. Thus a chief may be +often seen with his assegais in one hand, his woven shield and +knobkerrie in the other, with his knife in his girdle, and his limbs +encircled by a skin, to which are attached the tails of the wild cat and +other animals. Adorned on his breast and on his forehead by strings of +teeth, the trophies of war or of the chase, his large keen eyes gleaming +from beneath his heavy brow, his white and pointed teeth shining from +between his parted lips, he alternately advances and retires before an +imaginary foe, with a wild yet dramatic grace, which adds life and +reality to the tale he is telling. In describing these people, it is +hard to determine how far they should be deemed a race of hunters or of +agriculturists, the two occupations being apparently equally distributed +between the sexes. The men most assiduously devote themselves to their +hunting, and leave the care of the cattle and the culture of the soil to +be carried on exclusively by the women. Now and then, indeed, the men +bring home fruits, tubers, and funguses from their excursions in the +forests, but practically they do nothing for their families beyond +providing them with game. The agriculture of Swaziland, like that of +Zululand involves but a small amount of labour. The area of the arable +land is certainly limited, but the exuberant productiveness of the soil, +scarcely to be surpassed in any part of the world, makes the cultivation +of the country supremely easy, and provides the people with all they +want. The entire land is, besides, pre-eminently rich in spontaneous +products, animal and vegetable alike, and these conduce to a direct +maintenance in comparative ease of human life. Manioc, sweet potatoes, +yams, are cultivated with little trouble, and all yield good crops. +Plantains are rarely seen. Although the Swazis have a few carefully +prepared dishes, of which they partake on high feasts and festivals, in +a general way they exhibit as little nicety or choice in their diet as +the Amaxosas or the Zulus. They have one dish, however, on which they +pride themselves, and this most palatable mess is composed of the pulp +of fresh maize, ground or pounded while the grain is soft and milky, +cleansed from the bran, and prepared carefully, so that it is not burnt +to the bottom of the pot. The mode of preparation is ingenious. A little +water having been put over the fire, until it is just beginning to boil, +the raw meal, which has previously been rolled into small lumps, is very +gently shaken in, and, having been allowed to simmer for a time, the +whole is finally stirred up together. The acme, however, of all earthly +enjoyments to these people would seem to be meat. "Meat!" is a watchword +that one hears in all their campaigns, and beyond all doubt the alacrity +with which these people responded to M'Leod's appeal was caused by the +anticipations of devouring Cetywayo's cattle. Amongst their other +accomplishments may be mentioned the art they possess of making from +malted eleusine a very palatable species of beer. This drink, which by +the Swazis is prepared from the eleusine, is really capable, from the +skill with which it is manipulated, of laying a very fair claim to be +known as beer. It is quite bright, of a reddish pale brown colour, and +is regularly brewed from the malted grain, without the addition of any +extraneous ingredient. It has, moreover, a pleasant bitter flavour +derived from the dark husks, which, if they were mixed in their natural +condition with the dough, would impart a twang that would be exceedingly +unpalatable. How large is the proportion of beer consumed by the Swazis +may be estimated by simply observing the ordinary manner in which they +store their corn. As a rule there are three granaries allotted to each +dwelling, of which two are made to suffice for the supply which is to +contribute the meal necessary for the household, and the other is +entirely devoted to the grain that has been malted. + +On August 4th Sir Garnet Wolseley left Rorke's Drift, and, after +inspecting the several posts _en route_, reached Intanjaneni on the +evening of the 6th. Intanjaneni is admirably situated for a central +rendezvous as well as a depôt of supplies. It is on the left bank of the +Umlatoosi, or Slater's River, a stream which is constantly confounded +by careless geographers with the Umlalazi, which is ten miles further to +the south-west. Hither General Clarke and his column had preceded him; +messengers also had already come in from Umnyama, Cetywayo's prime +minister, from Tyengwayo, who was second in command at Isandhlwana, and +likewise from the headmen Usukame and Umkilebani; all these men said +they would come in if their lives were spared and their property not +confiscated. Many other chiefs were also in correspondence and treaty +with the General, and all had promised to come to Ulundi on the 10th +August. + +On the 7th August messengers came from another chief of importance, by +name Mbelebele, whose kraal was situated on the eastern bank of the +Black Umvolosi, about twenty miles N.N.E. of the old kraal at Ondini. A +party was sent, in accordance with his request, to meet him halfway +between his kraal and Fort Victoria, the new post near Ulundi. The +interview, which took place at the foot of the mountain range of the +Lebombo, was short and satisfactory. + +Mbelebele brought with him over 200 guns. He also brought information +that Mangondo, another chief whose dwelling is near the Inkankla, would +surrender if assured of safety against the vengeance of the king. +Mbelebele seems to have been a man much trusted by the other chiefs, as +he had been in correspondence with the younger brother of Cetywayo, +Tyami, Usmwelu, Usiteon, and with Sekatewayo, a northern chief, who all +manifested a wish to come in and surrender their arms, cattle, and +ammunition, provided life and safety were assured. The chief, in +speaking of the king, although somewhat reticent on some points, was +certainly not so on others, and stoutly maintained that Cetywayo had +doubled upon his pursuers, and so far from being, as was thought, on his +way westward to Secocoeni, was in all likelihoods heading back towards a +kraal beyond the Lebombo range, called Mussipulo. This information, of +course, was at once sent to Lord Gifford and to Colonel Baker Russell. + +Sir Garnet Wolseley's next move was on to Fort Victoria, Ulundi, where +he arrived on August 9th. On the following day he received information +which eventually led to the capture of Cetywayo; but of this we shall +speak hereafter. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + Plans for the capture of Cetywayo--The Jantjis--Vijn's appearance at + Victoria--His narrative--Its consequences--Despatch of Major Barrow + and Lord Gifford in pursuit of the king--Their march--Description of + country traversed--Gifford and Maurice sent on by Barrow--Marches + and countermarches--Physical characteristics of country; its flora + and fauna--Visit to kraal of friendly Zulus--Capture of two of the + king's attendants--Women of the king's household captured--Captain + and twenty Basutos join Lord Gifford--Gifford's stratagem to obtain + information of the king's hiding-place--Cetywayo's refuge + discovered--Forced night-march--Message to Major Marter--His arrival + on the scene--Capture of the king. + + +Meantime the meshes of the net spread for King Cetywayo's capture were +being more and more closely woven. Colonel Villiers, who it has been +before mentioned had been sent to Oham's district, having got together a +force of 65 Europeans and 3050 natives in a fair state of organization, +had by August 13th advanced as far as the Assegai river, so as to form a +junction with M'Leod and his 5000 Swazis, at that time on the banks of +the Pongolo, and thus complete the chain round that side of the Zulu +country. + +Lord Gifford, with a number of Jantjis, was following up the king, +whilst 200 of the 57th were also in pursuit, carefully patrolling the +hills that lay beyond Amansekranze, ably seconded by 500 of Barton's +natives. The Intanjaneni district, from Middle Drift to Victoria and +St. Paul's, was laid down with a line of piquets, whose orders were to +keep strict watch by night and day. The escape of the Zulu monarch +therefore appeared an impossibility. The Jantjis just spoken of merit a +few words of description, not only on account of the good services they +rendered, but also because in some points they differ vastly from other +South African tribes. The men of this race are fine, active, and well +made, standing not unusually six feet in height. Their clothing consists +simply of a blanket, worn in peace time in the manner of a Roman toga, +but on the war-path invariably discarded for a simple belt of wild-cats' +tails. Their weapons are the light assegai, or umkhonto, and this spear +can be thrown by them to the distance of seventy or eighty yards, when +at that it will have sufficient strength to enter a man's body. Many of +the men even brought their guns, and showing Lord Gifford how expert +they were in their use, were allowed to carry and employ them, instead +of the original native weapon. The Jantjis, like the Kaffirs first, and +then the Zulus, are beginning to find out that the assegai is not a +match for a gun; consequently, as they have money, they procure a +tolerably large number of them. Like most of the Zulu tribes, they build +wickerwork huts, and thatch these with the long tambookie grass. These +huts are, as usual, arranged in a circle, and thus form a village, or, +as we should say, a kraal. The men, unlike the Zulus, are very fond of +horses, and most of them can ride. This makes them most useful as +mercenaries and levies. As they ride well, it is a pretty sight to see +those who are chosen as orderlies dashing along with the letter-bag +upon the smart little horses given them by Government. They utterly +disdain the use of a saddle, and always gallop along at full speed, with +an ostrich feather (if a chief) streaming in the wind, and some wild +animal's skin worn hussar fashion, and floating behind. Even with their +long black legs almost touching the ground, there is nothing grotesque +in their appearance, though doubtless in London such a horseman would +cause astonishment. Dashing up with a letter or heliographic message +from Sir Garnet, these fellows bring their horses to a sudden stand, as +Bedouins do, sending the mould and grit beneath the hoofs flying in the +air. Saluting then most gracefully, with the spearhead to the earth, the +messenger springs to the ground, and hands in his _paquet_. + +To resume our narrative. On Sunday afternoon (10th August), as Sir +Garnet Wolseley was walking with an aide-de-camp near the camp at Fort +Victoria, Ulundi, a man on foot was observed, apparently lame and +feeble, making the best of his way towards our camp. With glasses it +could be made out that he came along with difficulty, limping much, and +occasionally casting a furtive glance behind, as if in danger of being +pursued. As ponies were ready at hand and saddled, Sir Garnet mounted +and cantered out of the camp to see who the man was. On coming to close +quarters he found the wayfarer to be no less a personage than one +Cornelius Vijn, a Dutch trader of Natal, who was known to have been a +prisoner for some time at Cetywayo's kraal. His aspect and general +appearance were, to put it mildly, more those of a badly-dressed +scarecrow than those of a human being, and his haggard and hungry +contour, his wearied look, lean and meagre, with eyes deeply sunk in +their orbits, and his parchment-like cheeks, hollow and cavernous, all +spoke with an eloquent voice of the ordeal he must have undergone while +the enforced guest of King Cetywayo. The aide-de-camp, having with him a +flask and some biscuits, was enabled to somewhat revive the fugitive, +who then informed them who he was, and how he had managed to escape from +the king's thrall. As his information was considered highly important, +Sir Garnet desired Mr. Vijn to narrate briefly his story out of hearing +of the camp in order that any future operations or measures, consequent +upon the information given, might not transpire to the outer world. The +necessity for this precaution had been of late forced upon the General, +who had had many of his plans and movements made known by those upon +whose discretion while at headquarters he thought he could vouch for. +Besides, since his arrival in Natal, Sir Garnet had achieved all his +successes by striking without warning, and by carefully concealing the +movements of troops, stores, &c., from all but those actually in command +where the movement was to be made; and there was but little doubt that +the Zulus, in the earlier portion of the war, obtained much of their +information from the Dutch, at least from that section of the Boers who +thought it their interest to see the English army unsuccessful, and who +consequently made known to the enemy the British weak points. + +Mr. Vijn's narrative, although very long, did not contain many details +of general interest. He left Natal for trading purposes as far back as +the 29th of October, 1878, and about the middle of January fell into +the power of the king, who, however, does not seem to have treated him +at all rigorously, but allowed him to remain at one of his brother's +kraals under a sort of friendly supervision. During this detention Mr. +Vijn appears to have kept a sort of journal, which has a certain value, +as showing the opinions of the king, his brothers, and the Zulu people +in regard to the war. As Mr. Vijn's information regarding the movements +and whereabouts of the king was both authentic and valuable, and as he +volunteered to return to Cetywayo and persuade him to surrender, Sir +Garnet decided to avail himself of such offer. His presence near the +camp was, however, kept entirely secret, and having been allowed to rest +and refit, he was despatched on his return journey, pledging himself to +return if possible by Tuesday evening with the king's answer. On the +following Wednesday Mr. Vijn came back to the camp, and reported that +his mission had been unsuccessful, as the king had left the kraals where +Vijn had last seen him, and had fled away to the north towards the Ngome +forest. As soon as this news was communicated to Sir Garnet, +instructions were given to Major Barrow to take a troop of the King's +Dragoon Guards, sixty mounted infantry, some colonial levies and +natives, making in all a force of 220 whites and eighty natives, and to +proceed into the territory of those chiefs who were still holding out, +and where, it was supposed, the king had taken refuge. Major Marter, +K.D.G., Captain Maurice, Lord Gifford, Captain Hardy, Captain Hay, and +Mr. Herbert accompanied Major Barrow, and they merely took with them, to +be in as light marching order as possible, three days' preserved +rations--their commander wisely assuming that they would find no great +difficulty in foraging as they went on. Half an hour after the order to +parade was given they were all in the saddle and ready for the road. Sir +Garnet, accompanied by Colonel Colley, minutely inspected men, horses, +equipment, rations, and ammunition, and, after addressing a few private +words of advice to the officers, bade them "God-speed." + +Proceeding north-eastward at starting they soon came to the little river +Umbellan, which, flowing past the dense bush of the district, ultimately +joins the Umvolosi. At this time of the year it is about twenty feet +deep, and murmurs along a channel of from twenty to thirty feet wide, +now and then forming deep basins, which were found to be full of fish. +Soon after midnight the junction of the Black Umvolosi was reached, and +the first night's camp was made near a fine tamarind-tree, which was +noted as a landmark in case of a return that way. At this season there +was a rather heavy dew towards daybreak, but the nights were calm, and, +in comparison with the day, considerably colder than would be expected. + +Just as the party was ready and preparing to start, after an early meal +in the morning, some natives came from a neighbouring kraal with the +information that on the previous night one of their best oxen, having +strayed outside the cattle enclosure, had been seized and carried off by +a lion. It had already been stated by John Dunn that the district +through which they had to pass had been for some years infested with +lions, and lately the casualties had been so frequent that the +inhabitants were commencing to migrate. The Umvolosi at its junction +with the Umbellan is about the same size as the latter river, and at +this point makes a most remarkable bend from south-east to north-east, +but its general direction for some distance in this district is due +north, the stream flowing between banks twenty or thirty feet in height, +with an average width of full forty feet and a depth of only three feet. +The velocity of the current, however, was 120 feet a minute. Leaving +Amansekranze, they marched about nine miles towards the north-west, +having on their left the Black Umvolosi, and on their right the huge +terraces and wood-crowned ravines of the Lebombo mountains. The woods +came down to the river as it flowed between its rocky banks; and farther +north-west some wide meadow-like flats were crossed, containing water +basins almost as large as lakes. Several kinds of antelope of the larger +sort, waterbucks, and hartebeests appeared, and as the troopers managed +to wound and ride down several, their nightly bivouac in the forest was +solaced by a feast of excellent venison. Between the Umvolosi and the +Lebombo range the previous uniformity of the rocks began to be broken by +projections of gneiss and by scattered hills. About twelve miles from +the junction of the rivers at Amansekranze a remarkable illustration of +this formation was passed, where huge blocks of stone rose in mounds +from which colossal obelisks could be cut. These elevated places +alternated with extensive flats as level as a table-top. In keeping with +this weird and fantastic scenery and eccentric native architecture is +the peculiarity of the conies or rock rabbits that have their dwelling +among the crevices of the gneiss. Soon after the sun went down, and just +before sunrise, they were to be seen all round squatting like natives at +the entrance of their holes, into which at the slightest noise or sound +of danger they darted with the most extraordinary snorts and grunts. +There is, however, a great variety of species--difficult for one who is +not a skilled naturalist to distinguish the one from the +other--scattered through the whole of Zululand, each district seeming to +present its own representative. They appear to feed chiefly on the bark +of trees, although they will occasionally devour young shoots and grass. +Distinct from anything in the more civilized parts of South Africa was +the aspect of the landscape presented to view on the second morning of +the march. From the heights to which Barrow and his men had ascended, +and as far as the eye could reach, there extended a wide, grassy plain, +broken artistically by huge stones of the most fantastic outline and by +thickets and single trees. Graceful and luxuriant palms of the fan +species waved above the groves, while the russet autumnal tints gave a +rich colouring to the scenery; every rock, with its wealth of covering +parasites, being a picture in itself. In the far north could be seen the +Mussipulo and the distant portions of the Lebombo, whose purple peaks +stood out in bold relief in the pale azure of the horizon. In the far +distance, and in the direction of the Amatongas, the country had the +deep and luscious blue of a Neapolitan sky, mellowed, however, as it +came nearer and nearer into the most bewitching tints of grey and a +golden brown that Titian would have loved to paint. In the foreground +were the sturdy troopers of Marter's squadron grouped in picturesque +disorder as the process of saddling went on. These with their bright +uniforms, and the glint of steel scabbard, spur, and chain, were thrown +out by the splendid hues of a foliage rich and alternating with the +varied tints of red, yellow, and olive green, lightened up with the glad +freshness of the sprouting shrubs, the deep red of the numerous +ant-hills and the silver grey of the jutting rocks. + +After leaving the river, the way at first led over what for horses +alone, without wheels, was fair trekking ground. They then descended for +about five miles, coming gradually down the slopes to a sort of rough +trampled pathway, evidently made by a herd of driven cattle. Here could +be distinctly traced the spoor, and here the king's cattle had evidently +been driven. Now dipping into a deep hollow, where the grass grew in +rank luxuriance, now topping a gentle rise and stopping to listen if +they could hear the distant horns of the Zulu sounded when they announce +the proximity of an enemy,--the horsemen neared the forest-land at the +foot of the steep mountain range. Troops of eland crossed their path now +and then, and occasionally a herd of koodoo. They now came to the end of +the plain, and had to pass over a much more difficult country, where +they could scarcely manage to get along two abreast, and sometimes in +Indian file. The onward path at one portion of the kloof seemed +completely barred by a closely set forest of underwood bush of dwarf +acacia and creepers of the most tangled nature. Indeed it seemed at one +time impossible to pass, but Lord Gifford, after a search of some +moments, found the dry bed of a stream, up which, he said, they might +have a chance of progressing. They had now to dismount and lead their +horses, and slowly and with the greatest difficulty made their way on, +sometimes crawling on hands and knees, and having to drag their rifles +after them, winning way patiently, yard by yard, and almost inch by +inch. Sometimes they were fairly stopped by huge masses of rock, and +even compelled to cut a road through the spiky branches of the mimosa, +which were bound up tightly together with the wild vines and creeping +cane-like plants. For more than a mile did the column toil on through +this ravine, their clothes torn, and face and hands bleeding from the +thorns. + +The morning after the first day's march brought them to the kraals where +the king had been a fortnight previous to his flight, as stated to Sir +Garnet by the Dutch trader, and it was no surprise to find these kraals +burnt to the ground, and completely deserted. Therefore, after a brief +halt, they pushed on, and did not draw rein until it became only too +evident that the tired horses could go no further. They had been more +than three and twenty hours in the saddle, and the weight of the +dragoons had told severely upon Marter's horses, which, after the last +ten miles under a most burning sun, and over rough and broken ground, +were nearly all done up. On coming to the next kraal they found they +were still upon the right track, as they gleaned sufficient intelligence +to know that the king had slept there on the day preceding. He had, +however, been warned by scouts and signal-fires,--the latter had been +noticed as they came along,--and had decamped in time to get a good +start. At this point Major Barrow decided to leave the King's Dragoon +Guards behind, and push on with the lighter portion of his mounted men, +and this arrangement was carried out with the understanding that the +"King's" should follow as soon as their horses were fit. Once more, +therefore, Barrow set out, and, as he subsequently found, was upon the +king's trail for two clear days, having by dint of bribery and threats +extorted information as to the king's intentions. On Thursday the column +had a fearfully fatiguing and at the same time disappointing day. They +reached another kraal at sundown, having travelled over a most difficult +and hilly country all day. Major Barrow decided to bivouac at this +kraal, and to start during the night should the moon give sufficient +light. The moon, however, rose so late that it was really sunrise when +they were on the move on Friday morning. Lord Gifford was now sent on +ahead with a few men, and it was subsequently found afterwards that he +and Captain Hardy chased and nearly caught one of the king's principal +attendants. This man would have been caught had he not dexterously +abandoned his horse, and, taking to the jungle, managed to elude further +pursuit. Meanwhile the main body followed on, and on Saturday came to +another kraal. One of the king's personal attendants was here captured, +who having been frightened by a little threatening, showed where the +king had stayed and slept on Thursday. This fellow's statements were +somewhat contradictory and improbable. He wished Major Barrow to believe +that the king meditated changing the direction of his flight and +endeavouring to gain the Inkhangla bush, which is as nearly as possible +opposite the Tugela middle drift. But to make this point the king would +have had to get through the line of posts stationed in this district, +and this made the story seem improbable. Major Barrow, however, taking +the remote chance of the man being truthful, and having no better +information, allowed the Zulu to take him in a retrograde and southerly +direction, until he met another Zulu messenger, who said he had heard +nothing of the king along the road he came. Major Barrow therefore +retraced his steps to the camp of the main body on the Black Umvolosi, +and sent Lord Gifford and Captain Maurice on with eight men to get some +cattle from a kraal and obtain what information he could. + +The first destination of this party was a kraal with cattle and mealies, +and this was said to be about seven miles from where they were then +halted. On reaching the said kraal on Saturday afternoon they surprised +some Zulu boys, and partly by threats and partly by persuasion induced +them to come on to another kraal, seven miles off. These boys, after +some pressing, confessed that on the previous day (Friday), the king had +endeavoured to double back towards the south, and had slept within a +mile of where they had bivouacked, and had actually passed the kraal +where they then were. This intelligence confirmed the story that had +previously been told by the king's attendant, and the information was at +once sent back to Major Barrow. On Saturday night they slept in the +kraal they had reached in the afternoon, having during the day visited a +number of smaller kraals and villages, in which they captured many +assegais and other weapons. They thus had made a circuit and were now +heading almost due south, and though they had now been four clear days +in the saddle, had managed their three days' supply of rations so well +that they had still a reserve to fall back upon. This feat of +commissariat skill was accomplished by obtaining wherever they could +such simple supplies as the kraals afforded--sour milk, Indian corn +cakes made of mealies, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and now and then a +little Kaffir beer, which after a time, and when the taste is acquired, +is not such very bad stuff. Sunday, the 17th, was a most eventful day. +Lord Gifford paraded his men, and they started, as usual, just before +sunrise, their destination being an important military kraal, which they +had every reason to believe the king must have visited. The gallant +leader had on the previous evening induced two Zulu boys to accompany +his men as guides, for the shortest way was through the forest and +across country, where it was impossible to find the smallest trace of a +trek. When they set out, the whole of the wood was veiled in mist, and +the ground was yet reeking with the early dew. But as the light came on +they were rewarded by seeing an immense variety of forest shrubs. +Especially beautiful was the _Encephalartos_, which grew in abundance; +most noticeable too was a cabbage-shaped _Euphorbia_, as well as a large +variety of conspicuous shrubs, many of them covered with such fine +blossoms as to give the wilderness the aspect of an artificial park. + +About three miles to the right, and to the south of the ford last +crossed, rose several thickly-wooded hills, and in the kloofs could be +seen the smoke of kraals. The guides had by this time become quite +friendly and confidential, and by their advice more than one of these +kraals were surrounded, in hope that if they did not see the king they +might hear of his more recent movements. At three of these kraals they +captured arms and ammunition, and filled their haversacks with mealies, +but could gain no tidings of Cetywayo, although they knew he could not +be far off. In one instance they thought they had discovered their +prize, as coming out of the forest they saw a portion of open country +before them and several natives on horseback and on foot about two miles +away to their right. The scenery they were now approaching towards the +south-west assumed a character very different to the parklike landscape +through which they had been passing. For many miles the eye rested upon +treeless steppes and flats, broken by bamboo and mimosa jungles that +seemed almost impenetrable, and standing in detached groups, their dark +olive green contrasted admirably with the bright hue of the grass, +giving a complete novelty of character to the general aspect. The moment +the group of natives saw them emerge from the forest they quickened +their pace, and endeavoured to gain the jungle to their left, while Lord +Gifford detached three of his men round a small hill to cut them off. A +most exciting race now commenced, two Basutos joining in the pursuit, +and taking advantage of every rock and bush to dodge and intercept the +fugitives. Suddenly the Zulus became aware of the party sent round the +hill to intercept them, and giving a shout of alarm ran back in the +direction of the kraal the English troopers had left. This was exactly +what was required, and galloping right across the plain the troopers +caught them halfway. These men were found to be Zulus of the +neighbourhood, and when they were satisfied that their pursuers had no +hostile intentions they became quite friendly, offering milk and Kaffir +corn, as well as food for the horses. They professed to be starting on a +journey to a kraal about ten miles off, belonging to a chief named +Isnabomlika, who, they said, was anxious for the capture of the king, as +he had grievously oppressed him. Leaving these men, they continued their +march, and soon came to a tract of country much better cultivated than +any they had hitherto seen. Maize-fields (mealies) showed that the +ground was fertile, and although no cattle was seen, the presence of +several kraals on the neighbouring hills showed that the district was +populous. + +About midday they reached the large military kraal where it was thought +probable the king might have stopped. His guides had served him with +fidelity, and so Lord Gifford promised to reward them at headquarters +with a present of cattle to each. These lads had made themselves great +favourites with the men, who seemed quite to fraternize with them. Their +delight was unbounded when the officers came across and killed with +their rifles any description of game, and they seemed wonderfully +impressed with the accuracy of the shooting. They said it had been +currently reported in their neighbourhood that the king was lame and +could not travel fast, and that his followers were leaving him every +day. Just before reaching the kraal one of the lads, an intelligent, +sharp little fellow, as he was running a few yards in front of the +horses, pointed out to Lord Gifford the track of cattle leading away to +the bush on the right. They halted and had a consultation; but it was +decided not to follow these tracks, but to continue on southwards, their +object being, if possible, to hem in the king, and drive him on towards +the pickets of Barrow's party or the scouts of General Clarke, who had +four companies of infantry, the headquarters of the King's Dragoon +Guards, and a number of irregulars (cavalry and infantry) encamped at +the drift of the Black Umvolosi. As they knew that Clarke's patrols were +scouring the country to the north and east, they had no fear of the +king's escape in that direction. But little information was gained at +the big kraal, where they off-saddled for two hours, and fed their +rather overworked mounts. At three o'clock they again started and now +made a bend towards Entonjaneni, as by this course it was considered +they would have the best chance of intercepting the king in his attempt +to cut through the cordon now drawn around him. The range of hills which +they now had on their right were the Umyati. They are a continuation of +the Ngome mountains, which shoot out from the Lebombo towards the west, +and they form a portion of the ridge bordering the southern or right +bank of the Black Umvolosi. + +On the summit, as far as the eye could reach, there was an extensive +plateau broken by detached groves and handsome trees, and sloping down +towards the north to the stream. A few miles on they came to some fine +tamarinds, under the pleasant shade of which another short halt and +off-saddle was made. Before reaching the river they had to cross four +little brooks that flowed in an easterly direction to join it. The +first of these to the north of the hills was the upper course of the +Enhlongana, and was full of water in a deep bed enclosed in an avenue of +trees. A ridge of hills ran parallel to the path on the left, and after +they had crossed the second brook a mass of red rock, rising to about +300 feet was observed on the right. The long grass was now very +troublesome, coming up in some places to the saddle-flaps, and tickling +the horses in a most unpleasant manner. Towards five o'clock they +entered the splendid forest of Enhlongana, through which, but ten miles +to the west, they had passed some ten days before. After the forest came +an open steppe, with a distant view of the hills in front, which they +crossed, though more to the west than before. The passage of the +Enhlongana having been accomplished without mishap, the road began to +ascend and led through a wood, where the foliage was so dense that it +was quite impossible to see many steps in front. + +It will be observed that there were no less than twelve brooks crossed +in the interval between the march in the morning and the final bivouac +on Sunday night. These are all supplied more or less copiously with +water, even in the dry season; at least so said the guides. Although all +these streams have their origin quite close to the left bank of the +Enhlongana, yet they take a very devious course before they actually +join it; the last five, indeed, do not actually meet the river, but join +another stream a little to the west called the Ivuma, which unites +itself with the Black Umvolosi under the Ngome mountain. On this +watershed bamboo and mimosa jungles extend over an area of many square +miles. The species of bamboo which is thus found in such masses is not +so large as that one is accustomed to see in India, Ceylon, or the +Mauritius; and in the manner of its growth it is not unlike an asparagus +bed in the summer-time, hundreds of sprouts starting up from a single +root, and drooping in the most graceful curves over towards the ground. +In other respects the habit of the plant is similar to the Indian +bamboo. The night was now coming on; they had ridden at the very least +thirty-five miles, besides exploring kraals, examining prisoners, and +galloping after wounded game. All knew and felt instinctively that the +king was in the toils, that he could not have broken through the network +spread for him, and that it was a mere question of days as to when he +would be forced to surrender. The horses were indeed fatigued, but none +as yet were lame, while the three days' rations of biscuit and preserved +meats, with which they had started, were almost intact, so well had they +been husbanded by the men living on what they could shoot or obtain from +the kraals. + +On Sunday night (August 17th) the bivouac was made at the wild mountain +kraal of Unhlovani; some women, girls, and children were found here, who +at first were terribly frightened at the approach of the troopers, but +soon became reassured and friendly. Indeed Lord Gifford had a wonderful +faculty of ingratiating himself with the native races, and, after a +little persuasion, made one of the chief's daughters confess that, +although the king did not pass by this particular kraal, his attendants +did but two days since. She also added information of great value, +namely, that there were but two passes over the mountain they had now +reached, and that three of the king's wives had passed over the eastern +road the day before, carrying bundles and food. They further learnt that +this girl had no possible reason for sympathy for or loyalty to +Cetywayo, inasmuch as an old Zulu, who stated that she was his niece, +told them that the king, about two years ago, suspecting her father of +some pretended conspiracy, had had him smelt out and killed, and that +the children were at Cetywayo's disposal for sale or gift. On the +following morning (Monday) the horses were tolerably refreshed. They had +a good amount of forage given them, and a careful examination of each +animal showed that no back sinews were strained, and that no sore backs +had come on. A small supply of sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and a quantity +of mealies were given to them by the chief's daughters, whose hearts +their leader had won by explaining to them that the king's reign of +terror was at an end, and that henceforth they could marry any young +warrior they pleased. Bidding these Zulu friends adieu, the party were +in the saddle and on the road by five o'clock; and, ascending by a path +pointed out by some boys of the kraal, they came to a lofty ridge +dominating the valley below, and along which they pushed at a fast walk +for about an hour. From this ridge, which they were following as quickly +as the rugged nature of the narrow ledge would allow, the view was +magnificently grand. In the foreground, where they were compelled to +march in single file, and where a halt was made every now and then to +allow a straggler to come up, was a most inviting grove, with some of +the most charming types of tropical vegetation--the large-leaved, +blue-green anona, the purple _Grewia mollis_, and a number of pretty +little trees of the pine genus, that gave a Swiss character to the +scene. Having risen in their march to an elevation of 2000 feet, they +gazed down upon a fine view of the valley and its meandering rivers +below. The banks of each stream were marked by rows of tall reeds, and +the morning sun gleamed upon the mirror of the numerous backwaters, +while the distance revealed a series of woody undulations in the +direction of the Norwegian mission station of Enhlongana. Turning +sharply round a curve in the rocky path, they came suddenly upon a kraal +nestled in a most secluded and difficult spot, and here they found two +good-looking and very communicative Zulu girls, who fetched for them +some capital milk, and, after a little coaxing, told them that the +king's attendants had passed on that way the previous evening. These +women, as far as could be gleaned from the interpreter, had also +suffered some wrong and oppression, and whatever might be the political +feeling or loyal tendencies of Cetywayo's male subjects, it seemed +tolerably evident that the Zulu women would have no objection to a +change of government. These women at the kraal having shown them a short +cut down one side of the ridge, they hastened on in the hope of +overtaking some of the king's following, and their activity was soon +rewarded by discovering a couple of figures making their way hurriedly +along the lower ledge about a mile from them. One of the officers +volunteered to proceed on foot to cut these people off by a sort of +goat-path that seemed practicable down the side of the cliff; and, +accompanied by one trooper, half-sliding, half-falling, and with a +desperate scramble, the gallant fellow reached the next ledge at a point +where it was evident the travellers must pass. In ten minutes they came +up--a tall and stalwart Zulu with a bundle of assegais, accompanied by a +lad carrying a sort of canvas bag, something in shape like those in +which cricketers carry a bat and flannel suit. At the word "Halt!" +accompanied by a presented revolver, the couple of natives came to a +stand, and on being questioned declared they were messengers from the +chief Usibibo to a neighbouring kraal. As this story seemed rather +doubtful, it was determined to search the cricket-bag, and they were not +long in finding a trophy that almost repaid them for their many weary +miles of travel. Inside was a very handsome Henry rifle belonging to the +king, a small leather handbag, a number of cartridges, and a +hand-mirror! As such articles do not form the travelling appendages of +the ordinary Zulu, it was at once seen that they were getting hotter and +hotter on the trail. While these two were thus carefully examining the +captured spoil, the main party came winding down the kloof, having +during their absence come suddenly upon and surprised some more of +Cetywayo's attendants. A halt was immediately ordered, and the whole of +the prisoners examined one by one. + +Some of the people from the friendly kraal had, in the meantime, +overtaken the English horsemen, and their presence seemed to act as a +wonderful incentive to truth on the part of the prisoners. "Tell them," +said Lord Gifford, "that if they all speak the truth to our questions we +will do them no harm and let them go free." This had a wonderful effect, +and, coupled with a private communication of a confidential nature, +from the Zulus of the kraal, evidently to the effect that the white +man's intentions were not hostile to them, it caused the prisoners to +confess at once that they were of the king's following, and that the +elder was his personal attendant. From further information then obtained +from these people it was found that a mile further on, and hidden in a +cave, were a troop of Zulu girls and other attendants with goods and +chattels of the king. Guided by these not too faithful adherents of +Cetywayo, the troopers soon came to where these people were, and they +surrendered at once without any attempt to escape. These latter +prisoners appeared to have with them all the paraphernalia of the +monarch's toilet. There were gums, wax, and unguents for the hair and +face, brushes, combs, tweezers, scissors, and razors, together with old +pocket-books, almanacks, gaily-coloured pocket-handkerchiefs, and charms +and medicine, made of ground human teeth, and hair and skins of +reptiles, reminding one irresistibly of the ingredients of the witches' +cauldron in Macbeth. A silk pocket-handkerchief was recognized as +belonging to Colonel Degacher by the name in its corner, and this was +almost the only article that could not be considered rags or rubbish. +While Lord Gifford and his party were holding a solemn Court of Inquiry +over this burlesque of human vanity a loud whistle was heard, and coming +round the corner of the ledge, they saw Captain Hay and a Basuto +approaching at a smart canter. Hay, flinging himself from his panting +mount, and wiping the perspiration from his forehead, announced that he +was sent on by Major Barrow, to say that, having himself failed in +obtaining any traces of the king, and deeming it inadvisable to delay +the others in waiting for him to catch them up, he had decided to +increase Lord Gifford's little force with twenty Basutos, under their +leader, Jantzi, and to leave the pursuit of the king in his (Gifford's) +hands, while he (Barrow) made his way back to Clarke's camp. Meanwhile, +the arrival of these additions to the English force seemed to exercise a +marked influence upon the ladies of the king's household, who +immediately jumped at the conclusion that Cetywayo had fallen into the +hands of the soldiers. This had a wonderful effect, as they now +discovered from the women and attendants where the king had actually +slept the previous day, and armed with this information, they pushed on, +bivouacked for the night at the nearest kraal, and started before +daybreak on the following morning. From these prisoners they learnt, +moreover, several most important and invaluable pieces of information: +first, that the poor king was almost deserted; secondly, that he had +been obliged to abandon his horses; and, thirdly, that he was ill and +footsore. + +From Tuesday, the 19th, until Wednesday, the 27th, long marches were +incessant, and to describe the adventures that befell this small party +would be merely a repetition of those already told. The arrival of +Jantzi and the timely reinforcements of Basutos enabled Lord Gifford to +detach parties and hem in the fugitive monarch in a manner he could not +have effected with only nine men. It was now almost a point of honour +with Gifford that his men should succeed in capturing the king after the +way in which Barrow had entrusted the pursuit to him; and although he +knew that the king was pursued by Barton's Native Infantry, three +companies of the 57th, and 150 of Marter's Dragoons, he still felt +confident that his party alone were upon the right track. Marter he had +heard had gone back after losing three of his horses by lions in the +district through which he had passed; and his only fear now was that the +Mounted Police would take the wind out of his sails by a rapid move from +the Transvaal, and capture the king should he attempt to escape towards +the north. This he considered was not improbable, as he had news from +Villiers up to the 12th, saying that the tribes in his neighbourhood +were most unfriendly, and anxious to afford help to the king. Indeed +they had attempted an attack upon the mixed force organized by Villiers, +but had been easily beaten off. The movements of Gifford's party from +the 20th (Wednesday) up to the 26th, were not of special interest. They +marched and countermarched, the king never far in front, but always +managing to keep thirty or forty miles between himself and them, and +their information sometimes right and sometimes wrong, according to the +feelings of the natives whom they questioned. + +On the 25th they had tolerably authentic information that the king had +decided to come in to Lord Gifford, and surrender. Dabulamanzi, however, +a brave soldier although a double-dyed and scheming traitor, wrote or +sent to the king, telling him the English would hang or shoot him if he +surrendered. Dabulamanzi's object was most transparent. He hoped the +king might be killed or die in the wilds of starvation, as then he might +possibly be made the English nominee to the throne. + +Jumping over the interval between Monday, 18th August, and that day +week, during which the pursuer's movements merely resembled those of a +pack of harriers when "pussy" will keep dodging and doubling over the +same ground, we may come to the incidents which led up to the king's +capture. On Monday night, 28th August, scouts came in, who kept Gifford +and his party well in line with the king's refuge, and although their +horses were nearly dropping from fatigue they marched on Tuesday and on +through Tuesday night, until at daybreak on Wednesday they came to a +large kraal situated close to the Ngome forest, where it was known the +king had passed the previous night. This kraal was situated in a most +curious and out-of-the-way portion of the land that skirted the forest, +and, hidden as it was between two high kops, it might have been easily +passed unobserved had it not been for the information Lord Gifford had +been enabled to obtain. They approached this kraal at dusk, and found +that the king had left early in the morning. Some mats, two blankets, +and a snuff-box were recognized as belonging to the king. A couple of +lads were caught, who at first would tell nothing, but Lord Gifford, +assuming a stern air, ordered them both to be blindfolded, and said in +their own language, "Shoot first one and then the other!" A volley was +fired, and the ruse succeeded, for one boy had been led away out of +sight, and the other, thinking he was shot, exclaimed, "They will kill +me next; I will confess!" He accordingly said, if his life were spared, +he would conduct Lord Gifford to the king's hiding-place. + +What was to be done? The horses had had a terrible ten days' +"bucketing," the men were tired, hungry, and incapable of great fatigue; +but when their chief said, "My lads, we must do it to-night!" every +heart beat high with enthusiasm, and hunger, thirst, and fatigue, were +at once forgotten. That night-march, conducted by the Zulu boy, was an +event that will never be forgotten by those engaged therein. Scarcely +had the sun disappeared below the horizon when the devoted little band +started on their way, and the novelty of their position in the +wilderness could hardly be realized by those who were not used to the +country--the deep hum of hundreds of insect creatures signalling their +presence to each other, the lizards and poisonous snakes that crawled +across the path, the grim, gaunt figure of the beast of prey stalking +near the projecting rock, the yells of the monkeys, and the howl of the +wild dogs in the plain. Busy, silent, spectral-like forms passed in the +night, and, with a snort of terror or a growl of anger, moved out of the +path, scarcely liking to let pass such defenceless creatures as men seem +to be, yet apparently in awe of a certain presence which the brute +creation can never thoroughly overcome. Tiny creeping animals crackled +the crisp leaves as they scampered about in their fastnesses among the +bushes, and sniffed the scent of the strange intruder, while the +noiseless flapping of wings attracted for an instant the soldier's sight +as some ghostlike moving night-bird flew around and examined the strange +being that intruded in his domain. Having marched all Tuesday night, +with men and horses almost dead with fatigue, they arrived at daybreak +within four miles of the kraal where they were told the king was lying. +He was, they knew, footsore, weary almost unto death, and so despondent +that he would scarcely speak to those who still continued with him. Lord +Gifford, knowing the king could go no farther, deemed his capture more +certain in the dusk, and accordingly sent back a message to Major +Marter, who was known to be not far off, for him to come up on the +opposite side to that on which he and his men were posted. Where Lord +Gifford was posted was a splendid ambush, as they could see without +being seen, and during the day they noticed that an ox was killed and +preparations made for a feast. They also saw Marter's men appear on the +opposite heights, and then they knew that their task was virtually +accomplished. Gifford's ambush, it may be remarked, was on the +south-east side, while Marter had posted his men on the north-east. + +The king, it was subsequently learnt, saw Marter, but did not see +Gifford's men, and he considered that the cavalry could not approach +without his knowing. But Marter had wisely taken off his saddles, and +made his men leave their steel scabbards, advancing only with numnahs +and naked swords, and then, disappearing into the bush as if +disappointed in his quest, the major stole up quietly by a circuitous +route to the kraal, and surrounded the king's hut. The Native Contingent +were actually the men first up, as they were on foot, and could move +more rapidly than the horses. These fellows dashed at the kraal, saying +to the king's attendants, "The white man is here, you are caught!" Major +Marter then rode up quietly to the king's hut, inside the kraal, and +called upon Cetywayo to surrender. The king said, with a certain amount +of dignity, "Enter into my hut; I am your prisoner!" Major Marter, +however, declined this invitation, and prudently invited the king again +to come forth. This was the final picture! A Zulu kraal is, perhaps, a +refuge with as little of the picturesque or dignified as any known +habitation, yet the poor king, somewhat bloated in appearance, weak, +footsore, and evidently sick at heart, came out of his refuge with a +royal dignity which could not be surpassed, and when a too heedless +dragoon tried to touch him, said, in grave and majestic tones, "White +soldier, do not touch me--I surrender to your chief." + +Meanwhile Lord Gifford, to whom, beyond all doubt, the capture was due, +as he alone tracked down the quarry, galloped in, and the king expressly +said he surrendered to him, and not to Major Marter. With haughty gaze +and supremely regal though savage dignity, with head erect, and the mien +of a Roman Emperor, Cetywayo marched between the two lines of the 60th +Rifles to his tent, while the men, by the order of Lord Gifford, +presented arms to him as he passed. Such was the final scene of the Zulu +War. + + + + +NOTE I. + +NARRATIVE OF CETYWAYO'S WANDERINGS AFTER ULUNDI, TAKEN FROM HIS OWN +LIPS. + + +The following account of Cetywayo's movements after the battle of Ulundi +is of great interest as having been taken directly from his lips since +he has been confined in Capetown:-- + +"Cetywayo was not present at Ulundi; he was then at the kraal of a chief +called Umbonambi, which is situated about three miles north of +Kwamizekanze. One of Cetywayo's brothers, Uziwetu, in company with +Vijn, the captured German trader, had posted himself on the summit of +the Uncungi hill, and thus witnessed the conflict. Men, also, had been +placed on the look-out, and they brought the news of his army's defeat +to Cetywayo, who, at once crossing the neck of the Ntabankulu mountains, +retreated into the bush beyond, where he was joined by Umnyama and other +chiefs. Vijn and Uziwetu came to the king on the following day, but +after a short interview withdrew to Uziwetu's kraal of Ematina. Cetywayo +then retired to Ekushu Maileni, a kraal belonging to Umnyama, his prime +minister, which is on the banks of the river Isiqmeshi. Arriving here +three days after the engagement, he received news of the retreat of the +English army; this determined him to remain where he was; so he lived in +this kraal for nearly three weeks. + +"When information of Sir Garnet Wolseley's advance was brought to him, +Cetywayo despatched three chiefs to meet the General, and tell him that +the king was getting together his cattle, and would send them on to Sir +Garnet by his minister Umnyama, who was then personally engaged in +collecting the royal herds. These messengers, having fallen in with a +detachment of Clarke's column, were directed by them to Entonjaneni, +where they met Sir Garnet on his arrival. Vijn, in the meantime, had, by +the king's command, gone to Fort Victoria bearing a similar message, +with this addition, that after the cattle had been received by the +English commander he would give himself up. During Vijn's absence +Cetywayo moved on to Zonymana's kraal; here he was rejoined by Vijn, who +told him that the English were thoroughly determined to capture him. +Hereupon he sent Vijn a second time to Sir Garnet, with no definite +proposals, but merely a complaint that he could not give himself up to +any of the patrols, as he was apprehensive that he would be killed out +of hand. And there was some ground for this fear, as Dabulamanzi had +sent a message warning him that the English meant to put him to death, +and so he had better not yield himself up until the cattle had been +received and Umnyama made terms for him with the English commander. The +three first messengers, after leaving Entonjaneni, fell in with Umnyama +and the cattle near Ulundi, whither they betook themselves, in company +with that chieftain, instead of returning to Cetywayo. + +"The morning following that on which Vijn had been despatched on his +second embassy the king moved on to the river Mona, and slept that night +in a kraal upon its bank. On the next morning, having crossed the +stream, he was ascending the hill that rose on the other side when a +messenger from his brother Uziwetu came to tell him that soldiers on +horseback had just visited Zonymana's kraal. He therefore concealed +himself in the bush, and in no long time beheld the white men's scouts +on the opposite hill; thereupon he descended the ravine into the Mona +bush. The same evening he travelled as far as the Black Umvolosi, and +slept there. On the following day they had scarcely finished killing +and skinning a couple of oxen when scouts came in to say the white +horsemen were coming through the bush. The king then bade all the women +to escape as best they could, whilst he, going out of the bush, +concealed himself in the long grass on the top of a mound just above the +drift, whence he could clearly watch the patrol as they passed, and, +indeed, could hear them speak and laugh. As soon as they had passed, he +and the five or six followers, who were now all the retainers that +remained with him, journeyed further up the Black Umvolosi, and lived +for some days in various kraals. Remaining for three days in the same +kraal, he was joined by one of his wives. Finding the troops still on +the trail, he now struck off across country into the Ingome forest, +where news reached him that Umnyama had, instead of making terms for +him, promised Sir Garnet Wolseley to use his best endeavours to capture +the king and to deliver him up should he be found in any of the kraals +of his (Umnyama's) district. Cetywayo was much grieved at this, and +exclaimed, 'Why does Umnyama do this? Why does he act treacherously +towards me? Why does he not send a message to tell me to deliver myself +up?' He then moved on to the kraal of the Ingome, where four more women +rejoined him. Here he was taken by Lord Gifford and Major Marter, and +conducted by them back to Ulundi. On the way one of the women escaped +into the bush." + + + + +NOTE II. + +FATE OF CETYWAYO AND FINAL SETTLEMENT OF ZULULAND. + + +Cetywayo was first taken to Sir Garnet Wolseley at Ulundi, and thence by +that General's orders was conveyed, under an escort commanded by Captain +Poole, R.A., to Capetown, where he still remains in an honourable +captivity, treated with all the respect and indulgence due to his +position. + +After Cetywayo's capture no further opposition of any sort was +encountered in Zululand, but the chiefs and people immediately assented +to the terms of peace proposed by Sir Garnet, by which the country was +split up into thirteen districts, each subject to its own chief, while +supreme over all these was placed a British resident. Native laws and +customs were to be respected, and European immigration was forbidden. +Mr. Wheelwright, for some considerable time a magistrate of Natal, was +appointed the first resident. + + + + +GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, PRINTERS, ST. JOHN'S SQUARE, LONDON. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of the Zulu Campaign, by +Waller Ashe and E. V. Wyatt-Edgell + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42956 *** |