TEE DEFENCE OF RORKE'S DRIFT AND THOBAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5169, 16 June 1891, Page 3

TEE DEFENCE OF RORKE'S DRIFT AND THOBAL.

Hnjor-Gcncral Bray writes to the Standard: — " I rogrot to see the defence of Thobal by Lioutonanfc Grant ooinparod rather prematurely with that of Rorke's Priffc m tho Zulu war of 1879, m the Standard of tho 13th inßt. The defence of Rorke'B Drift by Lieutenant Ohard, X.15,, and Lieutenant Bromhead, 2ith Hegiment, with a company of the 24th and some fow odd soldiers—in nil "not more than 125 men— against; 4500 bravo Zulus, was tho mort splendid feat of arms performed m South Africa. I saw tho entrenchments of Korke's Drift five days after the fight, and was oblo to form a judgment of the nature of the detorminrd attack of the Zulua, aud the dofenco mado by tho Spartan band of the 24th Hegiment. "The biscuit boxes and mealie bags woro then m position, and tho remains of the Mission House and buohledown outhousea worn to bo scon. lhfi hurried arrangements made by the young Kngineor officer for barriers and barricades ehowed clearly tho nature of tho defence and . tho oritieal position ocoupied by so small I a body of soldiers, who before thiß position was finished woro attacked by tho i Zulus, armed with rifles, guns, and assegai*, i and not " with epears only," aa euppoaod, by Genornl Swanston. 'Iho attack, and a suocession of attempts to carry the position , with ft rush, lasted from 4pm. t) 6 a.m., and , tho ground all round was covered with dead [ Zulus. The small garrison had about onofifth of their number killed and wounded. ■ t What saved tho garrison from total deslruc- , tion was that tho Zulus set fire after dark , to Iho outhouses, which were uaod as an , hospital, and the bright light caused by the , flro enabled Iho gunnora to shoot down tho , Zulus at close quarters wholesale. Surgeon--5 major Reynolds, V.0., the medical officer at I the fight at Horko's Drift, only a week ago, m talking over tho fight at Rorko'o Drift, told j mo that tho bright light enabloH the men to , firo with fei'riGo effect, and thattho onomy j obtained no oovor m the g.irdons, which j otherwise would havo enabled thorn to get c oloso without being scon. I told Lieutenant , Bromhead, when he was showing mo over i< the ground, that hia brilliant defence of Rorke'o Drift would not bo eclipeod during tho war, and that ho wns euro to bo rowardod with a V.O. and brevet majority, I had not „ at tho time heard that the young Engineer ofßcor, Ohard, was eonior to him, JJromhcad 8 boing the older man. I do not m tho least 0 wish to disparage the admirablo conduct of „• Lioutonant Grant m seizing the fort of Thobal. and defending it successfully against the onorny when (hoy tried to rotake it, but tte particulars of this fight are not yet oomo to hand. When they nro knowu I am suro he also will roooivo his V.O. and company for hia gallant and soldiorliko conduct.