THE DISASTER IN ZULULAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5397, 5 March 1879, Page 3

THE DISASTER IN ZULULAND.

Froji copiea of the Cape Argus and Cape Times ta the 25tU January, we take tho following particulars of the war against the Zulus, and the disaster which befel the British arms on the 22nd .Tanuary, at Rorke's Drift. The issue of the Cape Argus in which the particulars oi the disaster are related appears in mourning. Tho following are the telegrams conveying the news :— Maritzburg, midnight, January 24. Pencil despatch from Lord Chelmsford on leaf of pocket-book, gives brief particulars of appalling disasters on Wednesday last, confirming worst rumours. Ho left his camp, ten miles beyond Korke's Drift, on Tuesdiy, leaving it in charge of Colonel Pulleine, to whose support Colonel Durnford with his native contingent was ordered to hurry up. On Wednesday morning the camp was attacked by some 15,000 Zulus, who came instantly to close quarters, more than 2000 being slain. Tho British force was destroyed almost to a man. Colonel Durnford supposed, and Colonel Pulleine, with all his olllcers, known to ba killed, besides Smith, Kussell, and McDougal, of artillery, Surgeon Shephard, and in fact all but a remnant of the entire force. When intelligence camo to the general, he retraced his steps with his small force, finding the enemy in possession of the camp. He had to await reinforcements, but before they came up the enemy had decamped. He bivouacked amongst the dead in the old encampment, and yesterday retired to Rorke's Drift, tho camp at which placo had been unsuccessfully attacked on Wednesday afternoon. Nothing has yet been done to retrieve this disaster, unprecedented in South African history, and one, it is everywhere said, due to the folly of taking into the country a baggage-train of such enormous length. The distress, anxiety, and humiliation felt here is indescx'ibable. PiETEMiAitiTZBUiiG, 23rd January, 1579. Two largo bodies of Zulus have crossed be- j tween Fort Pearson and Buckingham. Excitement here is intense. It is officially reported that Pearson's column was attacked yesterday morning by a force of Zulus, estimated to number 4000 men. The waggons were about to outspan when the attack was made, and were, therefore, partially garked; about 300 of the Zulus are reported killed. Our loss consists of: killed—three men Buffs, 2 officers, and four Native Contingent, one Mounted Infantry ; wounded—five Buffs, four Naval Brigade, three Native Contingent, one Mounted lufantry. Tho action lasted an hour and a-half, when the enemy ran away in all directions. The engagement took place five miles from Ekowe, upon which place Pearson resumed his march, and which place he expected to reach to-day, the roads being heavy and the oxen too tired to complete tho march last night. There is no news of fighting from any other quarter. From She head-quarters column it is reported that tho forces are cmployed in making roads passable, and the transport service is being likewise organised. John Dunn was here yesterday, but has returned to the Tugela, after a short interview with the High Commissioner. Sir Arthur Phayre arrived yesterday; and an officer of the Indian Government has been hex*e some days. Colonel Lanyon is shortly expected. Sir T. Shepstone is with the General in Zululand. Ghaiiam's Town, January 24. Twenty-one volunteer artillery, under Lieut. Albert Nelson, left her® this morning in carts for Aliccdale, en route to Capo Town and Northern border. Guns are there ready. They are excellently equipped, and the response to the Premier's call was as prompt as possible. Agreed to serve four months. Durban, January 24. Captain Stafford and Lieutenant Davies, of the Natal Native Contingent, have returned to Pietermuritzburg, beariug the news of severe loss sustained by a force apparently under the command of Colonel Durnford, R.E., about ten miles from Korko's Drift, on Wednesday, 22nd instant. Lieut.-General Lord Chelmsford was a few miles in advance, and appears to have engaged at tho same time with the Chief Matyana, but Colonel Durnford'a force had to bear the burnt of the attack (a very strong, possibly the main, body of tho enemy) while protecting a large convoy af stores. The action began at 11 a.m. with tho enemy's skirmishers, who were supported by dense masses of Zulus. These, in spite of the heavy losses inflicted on them by the fire of our men, gradually closed in and overpowered them. Some of our men made good their retreat in the direction that Captain Stafford and Mr. Davies did, nnd crossing the river at a fort before Korke's Drift, reached Helpmakaar the same night. They believe that others cut their way through the enemy in the direction of the General's main force, bat there seems no room to doubt that our loss has been very heavy. The exact force engaged is not known, but apparently consisted of three companies of the 24th Regiment and detachments of the carbineers of the Buffalo Border Guard. A portion of Commandant Lonsdale's regiment of tho Natal Native Contingent and about SOO natives of Colonel Durnford's battalion, with two guns and a rocket battery. The following telegram is from the Natal correspondent of the Standard and Mail:— Mauitzburg, January 24. On Wednesday the flower of Cetewayo's army attackod the camp, about ten miles from Koike's Drift, and fell upon a portion of Colonel Glynn's column, our force consisting of three companies of the lst-24tb, about 500 Natal mounted natives, two guns and rocket battery. Zulus first attacked on hills all round, and as they were shot by infantry, dense masses still came on, gradually advancing under murderous fire; at length overpowered our men and took the camp after deadly hand to hand fight. All soldiers killed, and 300 of the Nativo contingent. Zulu loss estimated at f)000. The enemy forced our men across Buffalo River into Natal. Burnt the mission station and returned. Remainder of our force retreated to Helpmakaar. The Cape Argus gives tho following narrative of the eveuts which led up to the disaster of tho 22nd January :—The forces under Lord Chelmsford's command in Natal, Zululand, and tho Transvaal, were divided into five columns, —the first, under Col. Pearson, which advanced into Zululand from Natal by the Lower Tugela Drift; the second, under Col. Durnford, that was to advance by tho Ferry Drift on the Tugela River ; the third, that advanced by Korke's Drift, on the Buffalo River ; and fourth, under Col. Wood, advancing from the Transvaal over the Blood River ; and the fifth, under Col. Rowlands, engaged in watching Secocoeni to the north-east of the Transvaal. With the movements of the latter we shall not deal here, as they have but an indirect connection with tho subjugatiou of the Zululand, Turning to the other four columns, we find that Col. Pearson, having passed into Zululand, advanced towards Undini, Cetewnyo's old kraal, and when within five miles of Ekowe, was attacked by a Zulu army. After a fight, lasting over an hour, the enemy were defeated, and Colonel Pearson resumed his march. In connection with this matter we would direct attention t® tho fact that the lJrilish force was almost equally divided into Europeans and natives, the English troops in the column numbering IGSO, and the coloured contingent 2000. So far as information has been received, Colonel Pearson's force has been thoroughly successful, and at a loss of life on his side comparatively small. It has been very different, however, with the column under Colonel Durnford. This force consisted mainly of natives, who numbered 3300. The only Europeans with it were otticers and non-commissioned officers, most of whom went up from the Cape colony and chiefly from the border districts. *Iu view of what we know to have happened this is important, as those Europeans fresh to that country could hardly be expected to know the language, the habits, or tho modes of thought of the men under their command. In a crisis there is no knowing the extent of the mischief this ignorance may have caused, especially when the natives were not supported by a European forco in proportion to their own numbers. It appears that Lord Chelmsford desired to advance into Zululand, seemingly with the intention of pushing on to Cetewayo's new kraal, but, fearing to leave his line of communication with Natal unprotected, ordered several companies of the lst-24th Regt., under Col. Tulleine, to remain a few miles on the Zulu side of Rorke's Drift. To strengthen this force, Colonel Durnford was directed to join Colonel Pulleine with his nativo contingent. He did so, and tho force at the camp under Colonel Durnford, who was senior olficor, numbered about 4000 men. On Wednesday morning they were attacked by 15,000 Zulus. The assault proved successful. Though beaten off several times, numbers and disciplino carried the day, and the Natal Nativo Contingent, hastily organised and officered as we have described, had to submit to defeat at tho hands of the well-discix)lined forces of the Zulu Our native troops are reported to have fought with a bravery that called forth the praiso of the Europeans, but they were crushed by the massive columns of the Zulu regiments, and broke into disorder. Tho men of the 24th Regiment upheld the honour of the English name, and were true to the traditions of a corps whose colours bear many of the names of the most famous battles in modern British history. The gallant 24th had to choose between death and dishonour, nnd, as tho story reaches lis, almost to a man they gave their lives rather than turn a b.»ck on the enemy. On Wednesday last some hundreds of British soldiers were shot down or assagaied in conflict with a foe twenty times their number. Whilst we deplore the loss of these gallant men, we feel proud of them and their native comrades. Colonel Darnford's column was utterly destroyed. Some of its members fled into Natal, nnd others tried to cut their way through the Zulus to join Colonel Glyn. All its storcß and arms were taken by the enemy, who pursued tho fugitives to the Buffalo River.