BRITISH VALOUR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 646, 10 March 1879, Page 2

BRITISH VALOUR.

The following fuller account of";the^ Zulu disaster is to hand per Claud' Hamilton.

It appears that Lord Chelmsford desired to advance into Zululand seemingly with the intention of pushing on to attack Oetaway's new kraal, but fearing to leave his line' of communication with Natal unprotected, ordered several companies of the Ist battalion of the 24th Regiment, under Colonel Pulleine, to., remain a few miles on the Zulu side of York's Drift. To strengthen this force, Colonel Durnford was directed to join Colonel Pulleine, who was senior officer, and whose* force now numbered about 4000 men. On Wednesday morning they were atatcked by fifteen thousand Zulus, and the assault proved successful though beaten off several times. Numbers and discipline carried the day, and the Natal Native Contingent, hastily organised and officered as we have described, had to submit todefeat at the hands of the well disciplined forces of, the Zulu King. Our native troops are reported to have fought with bravery that called forth the praise of the Europeans, but were crushed by the massive columns of the Zulu regiments, and broke into disorder. The men of the 24th upheld the honor of the Englishname, and were true to the traditions of, the corps, whose colors bear many of the names of the most famous battles m modern British history. The gallant 24th had tq choose between death and dishonor, and, as the story reaches us, almost to a man they gave their lives rather then turn a back upon the enemy. On Wednesday last some hundreds of British soldiers were shot down or cut to pieces m conflict with a foe twenty times their number. While we deplore the loss of these gallant men, we feel proud of them and their native comrades. Colonel Bur nford's column was utterly destroyed. Some of its members fell into Natal, and the others tried to cut .their way; through the Zulus to join Colonel Glynne, and all its stores and arms were taken by the enemy, who pursued the fugitives to the Buffalo River, , The attack made on Colonel Gly-nne's column did not end so well for the Zulus. This column consisted of 1800 Europeans and 2000 natives, and against it repeated' assaults were made by the bravest Warriors m the Zululand regiments, Whose titles have been the dread of. their native neighbors. Lord Chelrnsford at this point is said to have been eminently successful, but the particulars are not to hand. It is certain the General had to retreat to Rooke's Drift, leaving the country on the Zulu side m possession of the enemy. From Colonel Wood we have heard nothing. The Zulus appear not to have placed their principal forces near the boundaries of Natal.