The Massacre of the 24th Regiment by the Zulus.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 636, 26 February 1879, Page 2

The Massacre of the 24th Regiment by the Zulus.

The Rotorua, which arrived at Auckland on Monday brings' news by the Garonne, which arrived at Adelaide on the 17th February. Respecting the Zulu war the Cape Times of January 27 publishes the following official notification by the High Commissioner in command : "The High Commissioner states with regret that he has received a despatch from General Lord Chelmsford, dated Rooke's drift 23rd inst., stating that No. 3 column had sustained a very serious loss on the previous day at a camp near Isandala, about nine miles from Rooke's Drift. Lord Chelmsford was himself in advance with the main body of the column. His Excellency states that the mounted police and several corps, under Captain Shepston's command, together with two battalions of Natal Native Contingent, under Commandant Lord Lounsdale, proceededto search in Attynaa district, Major Dartwell being in command of the mounted troops. They found it necessary to bivouac on the night of the 16th instant 16 miles from Isandala camp, and on the following morning Lord Chelmsford proceeded with the 24th Regiment, under Colonel Degacher, with four guns of the Royal Artillery, under Harness, some mounted infantry, and two companies of pioneers, the whole under command of Col Glyn, to strengthen them, the troops left in Isandala, consisting of five companies of the 34th Regiment, two guns of Royal Artillery, about 20 mounted infantry, some mounted police, and 20 Natal Volunteers, besides numerous camp followers, a Rocket Battery under Captain Russel of the Royal Artillery, and five troops of Natal Natives Contingent, commanded by Colonel Durnford, R. F., arrived at the camp in course of the morning. On hearingthatthe camp had been attacked the General at once moved back, and found it had been in complete possession of the Zulus, the tents and wagons looted and destroyed, and the oxen gone. The General further stated that the camp had been defended .with the utmost gallantry, but our forces were overweighted by numbers. His Excellency did not arrive at the camp till nightlail, and with his troops bivouaked among the bodies of his dead soldiers and the dead of the enemy. On the morning of the 23rd, his Excellency, the general, and the force with him reached Rooke's Drift without interruption, though large bodies of the enemy were seen in the distance. They found the punt, &c, uninjured. An attack had been made during the night on the commissariat station there, which was occupied, by a company of the 24th, under Lieutenant Bromhead, the whole being under the command of Lieutenant Chardre. The officers and their men made a most gallant stand and an effectual resistance. His Excellency states it is reckoned the attack on the Isandala camp was made by 15,000 30,000 Zulus, and that he cannot give any details of our severe losses. The latest accounts from authentic sources report that Major Dartnell and Coxnmandand Lonsdale's forces at Rooke's Drift have had an engagement with the enemy, in which they were victorious, with loss to our force of two natives, of the Natal Natives Contingent.