THE ZULU WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5493, 25 June 1879, Page 6

THE ZULU WAR.

Bγ the mail yesterday, we received files of Cape papers to May 17, from which we make the following extracts :— A NEW EXPLANATION OF THE ISADLWHANA DISASTER. A letter from an officer who was with Lord Chelmeford'a advance-column on the ill-fated 22nd of January throws a most important light on the time at which the general received the first intimation of the fatal light at lsandhlwana. The writer says : '* At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 22nd we were ordered to turn out as soon as possible, in order that we might march direotly it was light, as information had brought in that the enemy had been seen fifteen miles to the right front of our camp. At 4 o'clock we started, leaving behind us one company of the 2nd-24th, with all the servants of the officers of the regiment, its band and its staff colours, and the whole of the lst-24tb, to protect the camp, which we left standing with all our teats and baggage. \Ve proceeded in marching order, taking nothing with ne but what we had on. We wero full of spirits at the thought 3 of a brush with the enemy, aud were disappointed at finding no sign of him. We halted about nooa, previous to marching to the place where were ordered to bivouac for the night. The spot where we rested was on rising ground, and looking right away across the plain the camp could be distinctly seen with field-glasses. Suddenly we heard cannon tiring in the direction of the camp, and looking towards it we saw shells bursting beyond it, and then conld distinguish the rattle of musketry. This was about half-past 12 o'clock. At first we did not think much of it, bat afterwards, noticing some dark figures in the plain below, we became uneasy. A captain volunteered to find out who they were, and," mounted on a horse borrowed from the artillery, he galloped off to do so. When he had ridden about a mile or so, we noticed a horseman galloping towards him from the troops in the plain. Thoy conferred together for a moment, and thun galloped back towards us at iheir utmost speed. The horseman whom our gallant captain had met was an officer of the .Native Contingent, and the dark figures wo had seen in the plain were our natlro troops. This officer exclaimed, directly the captain met him, " For God's sake, come on. The camp is surrounded, and will be taken unless you make haete." This was subsequently repeated to Colonel Harness, who was commanding our part of the force, which consisted of four guns and two companies of the 2nd-24th. Not being able to take the guns over a steep hill on our line of march, we were compelled to make a detour, so that the main body with Lord Chelmsford had got about three miles in advance of ns. Colonel Harness, on receiving the news, immediately gave orders, on his own responsibility, to march back to the lsandhlwana camp. At this moment Major Gosset, on Lord Chelmsford's staff, made his appearance, to whom Colonel Harness explained the position of affairs, and stated what he intended doing. The major made light of the whole busiues3, aud those who were close by distinctly heard him say to the colonel, "It is all bosh. I do not hear any big guns. You had better continue your march as ordered," and the major rode off to head-quarters to report the circumstances. Colonel Haraess, however, decided to abide by the resolution he had first formed in the matter; aud we started on the return march to the camp in good spirits, although oar men had been on foot since 4 o'clock in the mornipg. This was as nearly 2 o'clock ia the afternoon as possible. We had made about three miles on our way back to camp, when we were overtaken by one of the general's aidea-do-camp, who ordered us to rejoin the general, and thus the only chance of diverting the enemy's attention from the beleaguered camp was lost. Unwillingly we retraced our steps, until we arrived at the spot fixed for the night's encampment, and then, when we had laid down after our arduous marches, we were suddenly ordered to ' Fall in, 24th,' and once again we started for the lsandhlwana camp." The remainder of the writer's letter describes the march across the plain, and the state of the captured camp and Korke's Drift. At Isandhlwana, they found the enemy had departed, and " fortunately, too," says the writer, "for we had no spare ammunition." DEATH OF MR. W&I. FROCDE. The Cape Argus,ila.y G, says:—The English public will hear with much regret of the death of Mr. William Froude, which took place at Admiralty House, Simon's Town, on Sunday morning. The deceased was a brother of Mr. Anthony Froude, and, apart from his own reputation, his relationship to the celebrated historian, and his burial on African soil, will give his demise a mourniul interest to South African readers. The uecea3ed gentleman arrived at Simon's Town a few months since by the Boadicea, and came to the Cape partly, we believe, to escape the English wiater, and partly with a view to making some experiments on the minimum resistance of ship 3in motion. As one of his last acts in this respect, Sir. froude sat on tue commission appointed in the case of the Inflexible to investigate the stability of war-ships. Hβ was still intent on pursuing his theories to some practical end when he came to Afrioa, but death, which interrupts many an nnfinished human work, forecloaed the labours which must be accomplished b> some kindred mind. He was of a consumptive tendency, and, being in a delicate conditioa on arriving here, took dysentery, which was succeeded by a low fever, and death ensued from weakness and debility. SERMONS ON THE ZULU WAR. Sermons on behalf of the Zulu War Belief Fund were preached, and collections made, in the morning and evening, at Trinity Church, Cape Town. The morning sermon was preached by the bishop of the diocese, and that in the evening by the rector, the Rev. Charles Hole. His lordship's discourse was founded upon Matthew xxviii., IS, 19. The bishop shewed the solemn commission given to the Apostles to spread the Gospel among all nations, and that the Christian Church had inherited that great task and privilege, as well as the responsibilities involved in them. Applying this thought to the present circumstances of the neighbouring colony of Natal, the preacher referred to a protest which had appeared in one of the papers, written by a respected clergymaD, which testified against the spirit of revenge and the principles of exterminating war advocated by some, but acknowledging that all must combine in strengthening the hands of the authorities, in their endeavour to bring the war to a successful issue, as most advantageous to the Zulu nation itself ; he urged that clemency, and forbearance should characterise our conduct. He paid a high and feeling tribute to the motives and humane character of the High Commissioner, whose earnest desire was to promote the beet interest of the natives as well as to secure the permanent prosperity and peace of the colony. The bishop concluded an improssive sern.on by a forcible appeal on behalf of the sufferers by tho war, which was liberally responded to by an earnest and numerous congregation. In the evening, Dr. Charles Hole delivered a sermon bearing on tho Zulu war. The text was from the 48 tk chapter of Isaiah, " I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."