Ekowe described--The fort--Guard for the frontier--Raid on
Dabulamanzi's Kraal--Another raid--Life in Ekowe--Wood at Potter's
Kraal--Capture of Baglusini--Skirmish and capture of
cattle--Destruction of Manyanyoba Kraal--Colonel Rowlands--Capture
of Makatees Kop--Junction with Wood--Camp at Kambula--Coming in of
Oham--Disaster at Intombi Drift--Death of Moriarty--Rescue of Oham's
wives and people--Events that led to the attack on Umbelini--The
Zlobani--The attack--Details--Death of Campbell--Narrow escape of
Wood--Death of Weatherly--St. Helena and H.M.S. "Shah."
We must now return to Pearson, whom we left entrenching himself at
Ekowe.
The position is a most commanding one, being almost on the summit of the
Tyoe range, and more than 2000 feet above the sea level; and for beauty
of site could scarcely be surpassed. To the north, about a mile and a
half, is the Umlalazi river, at that time rather full from the late
rains, and beyond this stream are long undulating grassy plains, almost
devoid of bush, with the exception here and there of a few wild and
dwarf date-palms, and lichens in the hollows. Behind, to the south, is
the Umkukusi range, and a hilly but open country, while on the west is a
very broken and difficult country, bounded by the Hintza forest. Away to
the east, right to the coast at Port Durnford, is about forty miles of
undulating and here and there hilly country. About 1200 yards to the
south-east there is a rocky eminence at least 600 feet higher than the
fort, and from this place a magnificent view of Port Durnford and the
mouth of the Umlalazi can be seen. The sea is not more than twenty-two
miles off, in a line as the crow flies. The original building was
formerly a Norwegian mission station, and when the present war began it
was abandoned by the missionaries and plundered by the Zulus. The
buildings, when Pearson arrived, consisted of three moderately-sized
brick erections, thatched originally with straw, but subsequently
covered with a less inflammable material. In addition to these
buildings, which were utilized as stores, there was a small church,
built of the native-made sun-dried bricks, and covered, as most of these
edifices are in that country, with corrugated galvanized iron. The
church was turned into an hospital, while the tower made a capital
look-out, from whence could be seen the next post, and which afterwards
proved of such service in the way of signalling. Pearson now began to
suffer the inconveniences of a regular siege; his communications were
cut, and it was found that of the twelve messengers belonging to the
Natal Native Contingent sent from Ekowe with letters during the first
week in February, only one arrived, the others having been intercepted
and killed on their way. The fort soon completely changed its character
under the incessant labour bestowed upon it by Pearson's men, under the
vigilant supervision of their chief. It now became a six-angled
enclosure, about sixty yards wide, having a ditch eighteen feet in
depth, while its breadth was twelve feet. At the bottom it was studded
profusely with assegai heads securely planted, and the parapets,
carefully rivetted, were proof not only against any musketry fire, but
field artillery. From its southern angles ran out two well-built curtain
walls, enclosing a fine kraal for cattle and horses. These curtains were
well protected by the fire of the angles from which they sprung, while
the kraal itself had its own massive gateway and drawbridge. At the end
of the kraal, or cattle enclosure, furthest from the angular fort, was
constructed from the remains of a dilapidated magazine, a kind of
irregular redoubt, which also had a deep ditch and thick mud walls,
defended by a quantity of powerful thorns laid along the parapet. It was
most fortunate that this force brought with them a large supply of
well-selected entrenching tools, consisting of shovels, picks, spades,
billhooks, axes, and crowbars. Day by day, whenever their time could be
spared from patrol and outpost duty, the men were employed in making
entanglements of rows of felled trees, as well as constructing fascines,
filling sandbags, turning out gabions, loopholes, and _abattis_. All
these obstacles possessed the usual requisites. They were under the
close fire of the fort, were covered from the enemy's fire, and gave him
no cover; while they were all made so substantially that they could not
be cut down or removed without immense difficulty. The piquet duties
were rather severe, and each piquet had to furnish two or three double
sentries in reliefs, patrols, and links. They were posted under the best
circumstances obtainable, being sheltered from the enemy, having a good
range in front, with every advantage in retreating if attacked in force.
Each face or front of the fort was cleared up to 800 yards; shelter
trenches were made for the first line of defence; cover was left for the
supports and reserves; ranges were marked and measures taken for the
artillery and rifle fire, and all precautionary arrangements made in
regard to the supply and storage of provisions, forage, water, and
ammunition.
The water was good, and not brackish at that time of the year. It was
taken from a bright stream well under the fire of the fort, and fed by a
capital spring, also under fire of one of the seven-pounders. The church
and the storehouses were also carefully loopholed, and sandbags
furnished to make the defences more secure. These three strong loopholed
buildings, forming part of the _enceinte_, were rendered more formidable
by double planking, backed crossways by iron barrel hoops, while fine,
damp, heavy sand from the neighbouring hill was employed in filling
bags, made from old provision sacks.
Every man in the fort had his proper place assigned to him, and at
exercise it was found that with three minutes' notice each detachment
was in its place. The Buffs were told off to the two northern faces, on
which side there was a well-made _caponnière_ thrown up in the
re-entering angle. At the west angle of this fort one gun and a
detachment of the Royal Artillery were posted, while on the east salient
were two guns and a somewhat stronger number of men. Here there was a
small outlet for water-parties, guarded on the flank by a little
loopholed building, and commanded in the rear by a strong building with
a thatched roof. The rocket tubes were placed under charge of the Royal
Marines, on the south-west front, and could, if necessary, sweep the
trek oxen laager, and slaughter oxen laager outside the fort on that
side. The principal gateway was on the west face, and was guarded by a
company of the Buffs, who loopholed the church tower in their rear to
fall back upon, and to act as a commanding flanking fire. The front,
facing due south, was served by the 99th, with one gun at the salient
angle, a _caponnière_ in the centre, guarded by a Gatling, and with a
thirteen feet stockade at the opposing angle. Another strong building,
also thatch roof, commanded this front. Not a day passed but some
improvement was made in strengthening these works, and this as much for
prudence against possible attack, as to keep the men occupied and free
from the lassitude attendant upon long confinement. It should also be
mentioned that torpedoes had been laid down by the bluejackets for three
miles along the bed of the Tugela, so that if the Zulus attempted to
cross near any of the posts of observation they might be somewhat
astonished.
The ration daily used to be two pounds of beef--fresh killed and tough
as leather--a couple of commissariat biscuits--hard as flint--a very
small complement of coffee or tea, sugar, and one spoonful of lime
juice, which every man had to take whether he liked it or not; preserved
potatoes, compressed vegetables, and an occasional ration of beans, made
a little variety now and then. During the last days of the siege the
meat and biscuit ration was reduced. A day's routine was as
follows:--The men rose with the _réveille_ at four a.m. for a parade of
all hands and fatigue duties for a couple of hours, weather permitting:
the breakfast bugle sounded at eight, and fatigues were again performed
from 9.30 till noon; dinner bugle at 1.30, and rest and recreation till
4.30, and finally "retreat" at 6.30, when no one was to be outside the
walls. The men amused themselves with quoits, cricket, and athletics,
some of the Buffs being good "all round;" while all the officers,
especially the colonel, encouraged these pastimes by example as well as
precept. After all, the life was not more monotonous than that on board
ship. There was no lack of ammunition, as Colonel Ely on march to Ekowe
had to abandon only ten waggons, and these were looted. The rest,
however, arrived safely. The garrison also from time to time received
valuable and most reassuring information regarding the disposition and
whereabouts of their friends along the line of the Tugela, and in their
rear. At Fort Pearson, which might be said to be the principal base of
operations, and which commanded the river and lower drift from the Natal
side, there were sufficient men of the Naval Brigade to work the two
guns there. They had also the European officers and the non-commissioned
officers of the disbanded native corps. Then, to keep up communications,
the Mounted Volunteers of Coast District were posted at intervals along
the river, between Fort Pearson and Kranz Kop. Another fort on the Zulu
bank of the Tugela was called "Fort Tenedos," in compliment to the
detachment which formed its garrison. Major Barrow, with a squadron of
mounted infantry, and Lieutenant Kingscote, with a smart body of
marines and bluejackets, formed the defensive force. At Rorke's Drift
there were now five companies of the 2nd battalion of the 24th Regiment.
A strongly entrenched position had also been formed on a commanding site
called Macdonald's Farm, on a rocky eminence overlooking the Tugela.
Ditches ten feet deep were cut, parapets seven feet high thrown up, the
farmhouse itself strengthened, and all the garden walls loopholed. The
garrison consisted of the Stanger Mounted Rifles, and some native
auxiliaries, who proved most trustworthy as scouts and messengers.
Captain Lucas, whose admirable powers of organization were quite
proverbial amongst the colonists, and whose frontier experiences were of
long standing, was strongly posted at a bend of the river between the
farm and Thring's Post, and had with him a useful body of natives.
Thring's Post came next on the list, and here there were a couple of
hundred of well-mounted and well-armed volunteers divided into
squadrons, or corps of fifty men. Thring's Post is on the Imyamazana
Mountain, and is about twenty-seven miles from Fort Pearson. The
volunteers, knowing the country well, were employed in keeping up by
constant patrols communications with Fort Pearson and Fort Cherry.
News also reached them that Wood had been reinforced, and was more than
holding his own. There was, therefore, little anxiety felt for the
security of the frontier, and everything strengthened Colonel Pearson in
his determination to remain in his position instead of attempting to cut
his way out.
The health of the Ekowe garrison continued very good. The hospital, it
has been said, was the old church of the mission-station. At the end of
the second week in March there were only twenty-five men on the
sick-list, and many of these almost convalescent. They had, however,
lost two of their number lately, namely, poor Williams of the Buffs, and
another great favourite, young Coker, the mid-shipman, who fought his
Gatling so well at Inyanezi. Both these fine fellows were ill but a
short time, and succumbed to fever. They were buried with the usual
honours just outside the fort.
Lieutenant Rowden, 98th Regiment, who was nominated by Colonel Pearson
commander of the mounted scouts, performed his difficult and dangerous
task to perfection. He had by the end of February successfully explored
the country in the direction of the Isangweni military kraal, which was
not far from Ondini, and about three miles from Ekowe. He reported that
there were 1500 men there, and more collecting. The 1500 were composed
of the married regiment Isangu, whose average age is fifty-four, and
whose services in former wars had been most distinguished. The country
between the fort and Isangweni was an undulating table-land, running
parallel to the forests on either side, and admirably suited for
cavalry. Another brother of Cetywayo, named Dabulamanzi, had a fortified
kraal not far from that of Isangweni, and Pearson determined to attack
both those places as soon as he was in a position to move upon them.
The second week of March had now come to an end, and it was deemed
advisable to vary the monotony of life in the fort by one or two
offensive expeditions. The most important of these, both as to the
numbers engaged and its effects, was the foray on Dabulamanzi's kraal.
The forces detailed for this expedition consisted of fifty men of the
Buffs, the same number of the 99th, and twenty-five of the Naval
Brigade, with their Gatling, and a small body of mounted scouts, under
the active Lieutenant Rowden (98th). Starting about five a.m., the party
descended the slopes that led to the river, and continued its march
along a valley running north-east, and gradually narrowing. The track in
some places was crossed by difficult spruits, and was scarcely defined;
but their guides were well acquainted with the landmarks, although the
pathways were often obliterated by thorns and bush. The track was also
frequently commanded by spurs and bluffs projecting overhead, but these
were carefully explored by the mounted men, and no enemy could be seen.
A considerable watershed was reached about eight miles from Ekowe, and
here, in a favourable and secluded position, was made the first
off-saddle for half an hour. The country about here was entirely denuded
of fodder, but the horsemen had been fortunately directed to bring a few
mealies for their mounts. On resuming the march they crossed the bottom
of a deep sandy nullah with very precipitous sides, which they were
forced to follow, as it was the only practicable track. About a mile and
a half further on the advanced patrols sent back to inform the officer
of the main body that there was a camping-ground or temporary kraal
about three miles and a half north, where there was sufficient water and
grass. The orders were therefore given to push on for this point, and in
about forty-five minutes it was reached. It was now sundown, and their
chief, having decided that it was inexpedient to march during the
night, orders were issued for the usual precautions to be taken, and to
bivouac till daybreak.
During the night, however, no one slept, as they had several alarms, and
it became evident from certain indications known to the experienced in
Zulu camping-out, that they were being reconnoitred by the enemy, though
in all probability not in sufficient force to deliver an attack. As,
however, it was quite possible that messengers would be despatched to
the neighbouring kraals, it was deemed advisable to strengthen the
position, in case of their being surrounded before the morning. Taking
one of the guides, who said he knew the neighbourhood, from having
frequently hunted here, one of the officers and a couple of men were
sent to make a reconnaissance round the bivouac. This party at once
started without making any noise, and entering on the old watercourse
worked their way up towards the summit of the kloof. Large, indeed
enormous, blocks of stone were lying about in various directions, and
the water during the heavy rains had so far worked its way among these
rocks that several hollows were scooped out so as to form caves large
enough to hold one or two human beings. These places had evidently been
recently occupied, remains of mealies and the charred wood of a recent
fire indicating the use to which the shelter had been applied. Ascending
the kloof still farther, and keeping well under cover of the bush, these
scouts walked along what at first seemed an old war-path, and this being
examined it was evident that it had been worn by human beings, and not
long since. On following this path, it led to a small piece of
table-land not much larger than an ordinary mess-tent or marquee, and
this platform was formed by a solid piece of rock rising, not unlike the
Pieter Bot at Mauritius, to a couple of hundred feet above where the
explorers were standing. To the eye of a soldier the place was
impregnable, and as the scouts scanned the country round by the fitful
gleams of occasional moonlight they saw that twenty well-armed and
steady men could hold the rock against an army. The face of the rock had
been scooped out, and, either by time or human labour, a sort of cave or
shelter afforded additional protection. Upon leaving the rock and
descending the ravine to carry the intelligence to the column in
bivouac, these patrols were startled to see the outlines of several dark
figures moving in the neighbouring bush. Making all possible speed,
therefore, the messengers hurried back, and at the news received every
man stood to his arms. They had not long to wait, for the enemy soon
appeared, drawn out in clear relief against the grey of the early dawn,
which was now coming on. Bodies of Zulus on the opposite ridges, which
could not have been seen lower down, were now observed, while a few
cattle were being rapidly hurried away in the distance. The Zulu scouts
were evidently puzzled at the white men's proceedings, the more so as
before leaving the kop one of the guides had tied his handkerchief to an
overhanging branch, thus giving the enemy the idea that a detachment had
been left to occupy the post. This error on the part of their
antagonists served the troops materially, as, by hurrying forward at a
quick pace, they were enabled to gain the kop, and with some
considerable difficulty get their Gatling to the summit. Their horses,
of course, could not ascend, but halfway up there was an excellent
position, where grass and water were found, and here the animals were
tethered in the usual manner--by the head and knee. When daylight
enabled them to examine the surrounding country with field-glasses, they
could see the neighbouring kraals of the chief Dabulamanzi and his
neighbour, Ungakamatue, and it was evident that the alarm had been
given. Several extraordinary movements attracted their attention. Armed
bodies of natives were seen to be leaving the villages in various
directions, as if going upon messages of importance. Aware of the
celerity of movement of the Zulus, and the enormous distances their
soldiers can cover in a few hours, this activity was not reassuring, as
it was concluded that reinforcements were being sent for, for the
purpose of intercepting the retreat to the fort of Ekowe. The English
commander, however, was not long in choosing his plan of operations. It
would never do to sustain a siege on the rock or kop, which, however
defensible if provisioned, was sure to be taken by starvation in the
long-run. The Dabulamanzi kraal had evidently been weakened by the
absence of men harvesting, and it did not seem more than a mile from
where the troops were. One of the guides remembered a cattle-track
which, by a circuitous route, led back on the eastern side to Ekowe, and
as the road they had arrived by was certain to be now ambushed, it was
deemed advisable to make a dash at the kraal, and return with what spoil
they could obtain in the new direction. Having cut some long canes, some
of the soldiers fixed them securely between the ledges of the rocks,
and attached to them some coloured clothes, which they hoped would lead
to the belief that they still occupied the kop. These precautions having
been taken, the troops moved silently down through the dense bushes on
the reverse side of the cliff, and succeeded in getting away without
being observed by the Zulus, who evidently seemed principally anxious
about their cattle. Part of the mounted force went in front to explore
the bush, while the rest remained in rear to follow and reconnoitre. On
coming again to the valley, they moved still more rapidly until they
came to a little rise, which, on surmounting, they found led to a deep
kloof, the mouth of which was almost closed by the proximity of the
hills, on either side rising to about 600 feet in height. These
curious-looking hills appeared to be a series of ledges of rocks, with
lines of dykes--probably of volcanic origin--cropping up, and forming
the most natural-looking breastworks, behind which a determined party of
men might destroy any attacking party. Having waited to collect the tail
of the column, they descended the rise, and sending out a few men to
scout on the ridge skirting the hill on their right, the commander led
the main body under cover of this range towards the mouth of the kloof,
which the guides said was the main entrance to the kraal. When about 200
yards from the mouth of the gorge, the enemy commenced firing upon the
advanced files from behind a formidable-looking dyke, and seeing that
one of the horses had been badly wounded in the quarter, an officer sent
up a dozen men to the top of the range to extend as a covering party.
These had barely been posted in a good position, when a perfect shower
of bullets fell amongst the main body, the only casualty being, however,
one man struck by an almost spent bullet. It being thus seen that they
were out of range as far as any material injury could be effected, the
men were directed to keep moving along the flank, while the Buffs
advanced along the valley in a parallel line, closing to their centres
as they neared the mouth of the kloof. At the same time, the men of the
Naval Brigade (twenty-five) were detached with their Gatling towards the
foot of the left-hand hill, to see if there was a path by which the
kraal could be taken in reverse. This left-hand hill seemed to be the
key of the position, as it looked down upon the kraal itself. The 99th
were all this time held in reserve to prevent the troops being taken in
reverse should the enemy's reinforcements come up. While the English
were effecting these movements the Zulus, whose forces did not seem to
be augmenting, kept up what would have been a hot cross-fire had they
been armed with Martinis, but which was perfectly innocuous at 700
yards.
A bugle-call now gave notice to the skirmishers to close in, and when
this was effected the mounted men dashed through the kloof, followed by
the Buffs and the 99th at the double. The Naval Brigade meanwhile was
seen working its way in the most energetic manner round the left flank
and ready to effect a junction with the others at the foot of the mound
on which stood the outer defences of the kraal. A general stampede of
men, women, and cattle now took place, the soldiers being specially
warned not to fire at the two latter, and only at the former in return.
In ten minutes the outer and inner circles of the kraal were fired,
care having been taken to see that no living creature was hidden within.
As the Zulus generally store their mealies (Indian corn) underground in
the cattle enclosures, there was not time to look for any supplies, but
they managed to carry off a few large packages which were found in two
huts, as well as some millet (Kaffir corn). They also collected all the
cattle they could find, not many having been left, and getting them
together in the centre of the column, moved away by the path mentioned
by their guides. These movements were conducted so quickly, that they
were on the homeward march within half an hour of the time they had
entered the kraal. About half a mile from the kraal the kloof separated
into two narrow gullies, the ledges of rock between them being
inaccessible, and as it was known that these paths made a junction some
two miles on, it was decided to use them both, to enable the troops to
march more quickly. The Buffs accordingly took one trek, and the 99th
detachment the other, both uniting again without any casualty later on.
The English attack was undoubtedly a complete surprise, inasmuch as the
bulk of the people belonging to the kraal were away, and could not be
recalled in time to defend their village. Had the British column
possessed a larger force of mounted men, they could have intercepted and
carried back the cattle which they saw the attendants driving off. As it
was, however, it was not safe or prudent to risk the chances of
communications with the fort being cut off by delaying to pursue these
animals.
The column had made good about ten miles of the return march when they
discovered that their retreat had been found out; straight in front of
them also were wooded krantzes and dark ravines, where an army of Zulus
might have been concealed, but pioneers having been sent out reported
that all was safe in that direction. Upon this they used the utmost
speed to gain the friendly covert, as they saw that if pursued there was
the best chance of eluding the vigilance of their enemies; or if unable
to do this, they would have the opportunity of fighting them to the best
advantage. As the troops moved quickly on, they entered the forest and
lost sight of the Zulus, who seemed in force, and were apparently
retracing their steps for some mysterious object. They were not,
however, kept long in doubt as to their proceedings, for upon sending on
scouts to an eminence where they could see without being seen, it was
found that the whole Zulu force, apparently some 2000 strong, was upon
the crest of the hill over which they had passed. An advanced party of
skirmishers were running very rapidly, their shields held aloft, and
their assegais waving over their heads. They had discovered the trick
played upon them, and the ruse of the coloured cloths planted upon the
kop. When, however, they could not discover the spoor upon the direct
trek by which the English party had come, they lost a considerable
amount of time in casting about to make out their real direction. At
last, however, when crossing a bit of open veldt, the keen-sighted Zulus
observed their cattle being carried away, at least five miles from them.
The rage of the pursuers, and their contempt for the marching qualities
of British soldiers--compared to their own speed and powers of
endurance--no doubt made them confident of overtaking them; but the
latter had little apprehension of the result, even if this were
effected. They knew that as soon as their foes came within range, they
could pick them off at 1000 or 1200 yards, and the little column had
been specially furnished with several crack marksmen to whom this
distance was no difficulty. They continued their march therefore
steadily, and did not abandon the cattle, which, strange to say, gave
little trouble, and were kept at a good pace by some of the mounted men,
whose anticipation of a full beef ration on their return, from the
spoil, made them doubly zealous in their duties. In about an hour the
Zulus had gained considerably upon them; they were imprudent enough to
move in close order. The evening was, however, now drawing on, and in
another hour the troops should be under the guns of the fort. A mist,
which had been for some time hanging about the streams and the kloof,
prevented the exact progress of the pursuers being seen, but the pursued
were not long without intimation of their whereabouts. The rear-guard
were attracted, when about three miles from the fort, by what seemed to
be dark objects moving between some rocks about half a mile on their
left rear. So fitful was the view obtained, however, that the men were
uncertain whether they were Zulus or some of the larger species of
baboon, which often come out of their holes and caves to look at any
human creature passing by. A steady watch was, however, maintained, and
before many minutes they could plainly see that a large body of the
enemy had, by the most tremendous pedestrian feat, succeeded in getting
almost on a level with them, in a position to assail them in flank. The
column had not long to wait, for as they came to a portion of the trek
they could not avoid, on account of the proximity of a deep morass on
the right, the pursuers, deeming them within range, treated them to a
volley which rattled up to about fifty paces short of their flank. Ten
of the mounted men, all excellent shots, were now sent out to cover the
attacked flank, and, as far as they could, to harass the enemy. The
ground was difficult and broken, but this was no impediment to these
gallant fellows, who, gaining a commanding position 500 yards from the
Zulus, and where there was admirable cover, dismounted, and kept up such
a galling fire that the Zulus retreated, as if waiting for their main
body to come up. As the mist rolled away, they could distinctly be seen
carrying off their dead and wounded with improvised stretchers of
branches of mimosa. A running fire was now kept up, the English shot
taking deadly effect, while no casualty occurred to their men. For more
than half an hour this went on, until the fort was sighted, and as the
Zulu main body had not come up, the flanking party drew quietly off.
The sun was sinking in the horizon as the returning soldiers received
their well-earned welcome from their beleaguered comrades, who were
beginning to be somewhat anxious as to their safe return.
Pearson's next raid was a most brilliant affair. It was found out from
reliable sources that a body of Zulus had charge of a convoy of cattle,
intended for the king's kraal at Ulundi. Deeming the Ekowe garrison as
of no account for more than defensive purposes, the Zulu general had
merely detailed 400 or 450 men to form the escort, which was known to
be on its march not more than seven miles to the north-west of Ekowe,
not far from the Inyezani river. Now here Pearson had an opportunity of
achieving two objects at one stroke. He wished to explore the land and
salient features of the country towards Inyezani, in order to see
whether a road could be made by which the dense bush of Hintza could be
avoided, while, at the same time, he could inflict a lesson upon the
Zulus, and possibly obtain some cattle. The foray was not to be on such
a grand scale as that made on Dabulamanzi's kraal, but it was intended
to be equally important for military purposes. Twenty men of the Naval
Brigade, all the small force of acting engineers, forty of the Buffs,
twenty of the 99th, and the mounted scouts were placed under orders to
parade before daylight on Friday, 21st March. No Gatling was to
accompany, as the utmost celerity of movement was required, and if the
expedition did not succeed in its first dash an immediate retreat upon
the guns was to be made. On leaving the fort at 3.30 a.m., the road by
which the band advanced was found to be good, although here and there
commanded from the neighbouring mountains. About two miles from Ekowe a
bluff runs out from the spur of the range of hills which had often
served as a reconnoitring point, and this was immediately occupied by
the mounted men, who had orders to keep up signalling both with the fort
and the rest of the expedition. Continuing on its march, the column came
to the Inyezani river, which for several miles runs between two
remarkable mountains, the bases of which are clothed with luxuriant
forest growths, while above spring sheer precipices 1000 and 1100 feet
high. The formation seemed to be sandstone and limestone, affording
excellent material for building purposes. Before reaching these dark
solitudes the river passes through a country undulating and fertile, and
the horizon is closed by higher hills, covered in the most part by
forest. These forest-trees are of fine growth and of the most valuable
description. The banks of the river are fringed by a quantity of
bamboo-looking reeds, which serve as wattles in the district, and which
are about the thickness of a finger, and some ten or twelve feet high.
Tracks of hippopotami are occasionally seen, and it is known that such
are in the neighbourhood. The river here is about 200 yards broad, while
the depth averages twenty-five feet. The expedition now noticed a few
deserted kraals on the right bank, while those on the left were found to
be in ruins, as if lately destroyed. At eight a.m. a herd of cattle was
seen some two miles off, and rapidly skirting the base of a friendly
hill the troops managed to cut in between these animals and a body of
Zulus, who appeared to be bivouacking in front of some neighbouring
caves, where fires were lit and cooking was going on. The mounted men,
who were observing these movements, now descended from the bluff where
they had been watching, and coming up rapidly at a canter, made a dash
at the Zulus, to cover the infantry retreat, which they effected with
the capture of some thirty-five fine cattle. A desultory fire was kept
up upon them from the hills during their return, and the enemy, who
seemed to be gradually augmented, at one narrow gorge managed to get
within range, slightly wounding two or three of the rear-guard. By noon
on the same day the men with the captured cattle were safely discussing
their frugal dinner, consisting of an extra half-ration in honour of the
event, within the old fort, which they were already beginning to look
upon as a friend from whom they were soon to part.
In spite of the rapidity of the raid, the necessary observations were
made by the officers deputed for this duty, and a rough sketch of the
ground passed over gave all the information requisite for the
construction of the projected road. This work, which was forthwith taken
in hand, had a most satisfactory effect upon the spirits of the garrison
generally. The working parties were occasionally driven in, but not
without inflicting loss upon the enemy, whose attention was much taken
up in guarding and patrolling the main road by which Pearson came.
Wood, it has been mentioned, fell back upon receiving the news of
Isandhlwana; but this retrograde movement was of short duration, and
from that time till all was ready for the relief of Ekowe, his was the
only column acting on the offensive.
From the 25th January to the 1st February his marches and countermarches
afford little matter of interest. On the 28th he moved on to a new
camping-ground, called Potter's Store, and there obtained full
particulars of the Maglisini or Baglusini Kraal. This place Colonel Wood
had for some time known as one of the principal rallying-points and
depôts of supplies for the Zulu armies. Large quantities of "mealies"
(Indian corn) and grain of other sorts were known to have been
accumulated at this magazine, while cattle in large droves had been
seen on their way to the depôt. Under these circumstances it was
necessary to proceed with caution, as, had any ostentatious preparations
been made for an advance in the direction of the magazine, it is more
than probable Wood's object would only have been gained at a severe
cost. In this view it was determined that a cavalry raid should be made
by the mounted troops under Piet Uys, with his Burghers, and Colonel
Buller, with his dashing corps of Frontier Light Horse. From the camp
near Potter's Store to the Baglusini stronghold was at least thirty
miles. A plain suitable to the passage of cavalry intervened before the
Manzana river was reached, and Colonel Buller saw no reason why the
distance should not be covered in one day. The kraals of Umbelini and of
Inyatini were also in the same neighbourhood, therefore the utmost
caution and secrecy were necessary in making preparations for the
attack. The weather had been most unfavourable for some days, but
fortunately cleared up, and became settled on the 1st of February. On
that morning Colonel Buller, having selected on the previous day 106 of
his best mounted men and thirty-three of the Dutch Contingent under Piet
Uys, their commandant, paraded his men under the supervision of Colonel
Wood, and explained to them clearly the feat they were about to attempt,
not concealing the danger which they would have to incur in the
performance of a most difficult and dangerous duty. The scene was a most
dramatic one, as the camp lanterns lit up the faces of the bronzed and
stalwart volunteers who formed the devoted band. Each man was
exceedingly well horsed, and no precaution had been neglected in the
careful overhauling of arms, accoutrements, and saddlery. Biscuit and,
for those who cared, a little ration of rum were served out, and with a
hearty "God-speed" from their comrades, who half envied their chances of
adventure, the little troop of 141 gallant fellows started long before
the earliest streak of dawn. The utmost silence was ordered and
maintained, while the ground for some miles was so favourable that the
horses' hoofs were scarcely heard as they cantered over the light and
springy veldt. Distances on horseback are so differently estimated out
in South Africa and at home in England, that when the ground is
favourable, very long, and to European experience almost impossible,
marches are constantly made without distress to horse or rider. In the
present instance two short off-saddles only were indulged in; the first
not far from the centre of the flat, and the next after the Manzana
river had been safely crossed. The country now became more broken and
the pace was reduced to a walk, but before the sun was well up the goal
was in sight, and the herds of cattle were seen calmly feeding on the
slopes. No suspicion would seem to have been excited, and it is more
than probable that the very smallness of the attacking force, and its
being all composed of the mounted branch, contributed to the success of
the affair. The kraal was exceedingly well built, and seen from a
distance of 1200 or 1000 yards it was doubtful whether it held a large
guard or not. Cautiously yet swiftly advancing, Colonel Buller felt his
way, with a few of his best shots thrown out as vedettes. These men soon
encountered some scattered Zulus, who did not seem at all prepared for
any hostile demonstration, but on retiring towards the hills they were
reinforced by several other larger bodies, who had evidently been sent
out to reconnoitre. After a few shots had been fired, a sudden and
simultaneous advance was made on two sides of the kraal, and almost
without resistance on the part of its defenders the kraal was captured.
Two hundred and fifty well-built huts were counted by Buller's men, who,
losing not a moment, collected no less than four hundred head of cattle,
and a large quantity of grain, and then set fire to the magazine. Six
Zulus were killed in the capture of the place, and although more than
one body of them were seen hovering about in the vicinity, numbering
severally 100 to 200 and 300 men, no opposition was offered to the
rear-guard or patrols.
Wood then again moved his camp to the White Umvolosi. His position here
was a remarkably strong one, and from it he commanded the passage of the
White Umvolosi, the Pewana, while his day and night patrols held the
disputed territory south of the Pongolo. A raid was next made in the
direction of the Insulwa Kraal. The men got upon the road about seven
a.m., and steady marching for about three miles brought them opposite
the spot where, a few days before, a large force of Zulus had been seen
engaged at drill. A scout who had been sent out on the right front came
galloping back with the news that the Zulu cattle were in considerable
numbers at the lower end of the valley, while he also added that the
guard over these animals was not much larger than the English party.
Piet Uys at once concerted with a couple of his smart non-commissioned
officers, and decided, as they were exceedingly well mounted, to ride
for the kloof which formed the exit to the valley. To execute this
man[oe]uvre was the work of ten minutes, during which they were hidden
from sight of the Zulus by a tall ledge of scarped rocks which almost
divided the valley. In the meanwhile the remainder moved steadily on at
a walk, so as not to alarm their prey. In rather more than half an hour
they had so far gained upon the cattle that they could make a tolerable
guess as to their probable number, which was estimated at a couple of
hundreds. The main body had now arrived at a place which Piet Uys and
his Dutchmen seemed intimately acquainted with, and the Zulu cattle and
guard could be seen on a ridge running parallel to the one they
themselves were upon. Below was a deep kloof leading to the river. Some
of Buller's Horse were now sent round to the opposite side, to drive the
enemy down the kloof to the main party, while they continued to march
down the ridge to meet these men as they came on. But they had not
advanced very far when, as was expected, a much larger force appeared on
the neighbouring heights, but the cliff was so precipitous they could
not join their comrades. The seven-pounder was now brought into action,
and sent a couple of shells right in amongst them, one of the rounds
being a capital shot. Advancing still, the English leader saw that the
enemy lately on the heights had managed, by making a détour, to get to
the cover of a dense mimosa bush on his left. This move was answered by
several rounds of canister, which it was afterwards found were not
without effect. The foes were thus driven out into the open, and at one
moment it seemed as though they were going to fight; the Boers, however,
who had been detached to the neck of the valley now served their
comrades by an excellent ruse. They had taken with them one of the bugle
boys of the 13th, mounted on a wiry Kaffir pony, and the main party now
heard coming across the valley the echoes of his bugle sounding the
advance. The Zulus could not make out the meaning of this sound, and
evidently imagined that the English commander had posted at least the
wing of a regiment to intercept them. The consequence was, that the
moment the main body cantered forward with a bold front, the cattle were
abandoned; and they were left masters of the field, taking 170 head and
some few wounded prisoners. Two villages were left in flames behind the
retiring troops, who, as the crackling and flashing approached the bush
where the hills met the plain, could see individual forms of black
warriors shouting and gesticulating from out of the dust and smoke, wild
with impotent rage at the loss of their kraal and cattle. The ridges
beyond the gullies still afforded considerable shelter, and the English
party were continually fired upon as they returned with their spoil; but
it was evident that the Zulus had not any long-range weapons, as it
could be seen from the splashes of dust how far short their bullets were
falling. Ten of Buller's men were now sent on to cover the passage of
the guns through the drift, and in about twenty minutes, and under the
protection of the rear-guard, it was passed over in safety.
On the 15th, Wood was fortunate enough to destroy the great military
kraal of Manyanyoba. Several reconnaissances had been made by Colonel
Wood's directions, and from the local knowledge of one of Piet Uys's
men, Colonel Buller was enabled to carry out the instructions of his
chief with a success fully equal to the most sanguine expectations. The
stronghold in question was situated on the Intomba river, and had always
been considered by Cetywayo and his Indunas as a place of more than
ordinary strength. At ten p.m. on the 14th the men were got under arms,
and the column was composed of a strong detachment of Buller's Horse and
fifty of the Burgher Volunteers under Piet Uys, whose services had on
more than one occasion been most handsomely mentioned by Colonel Wood.
The men paraded without lights, bugles, or the slightest sound, and
moved off silently into the bush, without even the jingle of a sabre or
the clank of a chain. Their march was accompanied by one gun, the wheels
of which were, however, carefully wrapped with cloth and bound with raw
hide. This was not only a protection against sound, but a preventive to
injury to spokes and axles from the sharp boulders and rocks in the bed
of the drift. The column left the camp by moonlight, crossing the usual
ford, and were fortunate enough to gain the shelter of the bush without
being seen or heard in the neighbouring villages. After a couple of
hours' marching they reached a wide plain, where there was a broad
watercourse, but sufficiently shallow to be easily forded. Here the gun,
as the early grey of the morning came on in the sky, was brought into
position, and here the final instructions were given to the men. As the
daylight grew more marked there could be seen in front a long unbroken
range of mountains, varying in height from 900 to 1000 feet. This range
ran along the valley leading to the smaller kraals in the distance. Half
the cavalry were now sent away by Colonel Buller to the left, with
instructions to gain the bush, and wait dismounted until the shells were
heard. They were then to dash forward at a swinging canter and cut off
the cattle to be seen feeding on the slopes, which man[oe]uvre would, if
carried out, drive them into the hands of Piet Uys and his men posted on
the right. Just as the sun began to appear above the horizon the gunners
managed to hit off the range to a nicety, and the second shell crashed
and burst right into the centre of the interior circle where the cattle
were placed at night, and which is usually surrounded by the
beehive-shaped huts where the Zulus live. It was at once perceived that
this shot had caused the wildest commotion, as it was immediately
followed by smoke and flame, figures rushing about through the village,
the bellowing of oxen, and the shouts of men. As the horsemen advanced
at a gallop towards the kraal, the enemy, firing a random and hasty
volley, fled up the sides of the mountain, where cavalry could not
follow. All the huts and stores along the base of the mountain were now
destroyed without much resistance, although as soon as the Zulus got a
little vantage-ground on the cliffs, they turned, and replied to the
English fire. Four hundred head of cattle and a quantity of sheep and
goats were brought off by Buller's men, who behaved with the most
admirable coolness and steadiness. The fight had lasted about half an
hour, when indications of reinforcements to the Zulus were observed.
Seeing that nothing more was to be gained, and that he might lose the
cattle, Colonel Buller gave the order to make good the retreat, covered
by skirmishers and a rear-guard. This movement was skilfully effected
without loss, and the column reached the camp early in the afternoon,
having been about eight or nine hours in the saddle.
Meanwhile, to strengthen Wood's hands, the Commander-in-chief had
ordered Colonel Rowlands to join that general. Rowlands at this time had
with him, at his entrenched camp at New Derby, only a wing of the 80th,
a couple of guns, and 200 Swazis. Raaf's Horse and Weatherly's Borderers
were, however, expected daily to reinforce him. In the meantime,
Rowlands was not allowing the grass to grow under the feet of his men,
for, on the same day that Wood destroyed the Manyanyoba Kraal he left
his camp at Derby and marched on to the Talako range, where he knew the
enemy were in the numerous caves hidden by dense bush. The operations
were entirely successful. Five large kraals, some of them of great
natural strength, were burnt to the ground, 197 cattle, seventy goats,
and forty-five sheep were captured. Magalini, the chief, was killed,
with ten of his men, while defending one of the caves. One Zulu prisoner
was taken, and forty women and a number of children came in and claimed
protection. Six of the Swazi allies, under Fairlie, were wounded, and
one horse killed.
On a still more recent occasion Colonel Rowlands had shown even greater
activity. On the 20th February intelligence was brought to his camp that
a small force of Zulus had been left in charge of supplies at Makatees
Kop, a natural fortress close to Elozo, and intended as a depôt for
future operations. The place was by no means easy of access, and
apparently innumerable difficulties were mentioned to dissuade the
colonel from any hostile attempt. On the date just named (20th) the
detachment sent forward as a sort of advanced guard by Colonel Rowlands
reached one of the mission-stations still left on the border. There was
a laager consisting of a simple stone enclosure, bastioned, however, and
loopholed, and situated on the bank of a running stream of bright and
clearly sparkling water. In the dead of night the sentries were heard to
challenge, and the sergeant on guard at once called his men to arms.
This alarm, however, proved to be merely the return of some mounted
Boers who had been sent on to reconnoitre on the previous day, and the
information they brought in was important. The kraal which they had been
seeking was about twenty miles off and supposed to be only held by about
fifty Zulus, belonging to the regiment of Nkobamakosi, and part of the
Undi or Royal corps. A large number of cattle were not supposed to be
yet there, but some were coming in daily, and it was considered
advisable to break this link in the enemy's communications. In the early
morning, preceded by a few horsemen (many were coming in as volunteers
to both Rowlands' and Wood's column), and marching with only their
haversacks full of rations for two days, the little expedition started
for a duty uncertain and believed to be full of risk. Eight European
officers, 275 natives, partly Swazi allies, and some volunteer horse,
the whole under command of Captain Harvey, staff officer, formed the
reconnaissance; but, as it turns out, a smaller force would have
sufficed. From the post or laager at the mission-station the road lay up
a narrow valley, from which, after an ascent of about 200 feet, it
stretched out on to a wide grassy plain ten miles in length. On the left
of this could be plainly seen a number of Zulus tending sheep and cattle
on the hills. Crossing part of the Iwangovini district, and fording a
drift on the Inpongo river, the Iembe mountain could be seen always to
the right; while the Eloso, a rocky height, loomed in front. At the
bottom of a steep, rocky, and heavily bush-grown gorge, fourteen miles
from the laager, a halt and short off-saddle were made, and every
precaution taken against surprise. From this point to the stronghold the
pathway was most difficult, and the men had to proceed with the greatest
caution, in case of an ambush, which was half suspected. Two columns of
smoke, one from a steep krantz on the left and another lower down on the
right, were noticed, but these were afterwards found to be abandoned
camping-grounds of the enemy, who fancied the British force was much
stronger than it really was. On nearing the kraal, and on turning an
angle of the gully, the column came in sight of the first village, which
was as usual fortified in the Zulu fashion. As the foremost files dashed
on, a couple of shots rang out and some assegais were thrown, causing a
couple of casualties amongst the Swazis, who, however, showed a bold
front, and, gallantly led by the European officers, carried the kraal by
a rush. The results of this skirmish may not appear of great importance,
but, taken in conjunction with Wood's recent successes, they had a most
useful effect upon both the minds of the regular soldiers and those of
the colonial volunteers.
The junction of Rowlands' column with Wood's was the next eventful
incident in the history of the latter force. It was found, of course,
impossible for Wood with so small a column and with so few cavalry to
keep an efficient and reliable watch over the lengthy border he had to
defend, and the result was that a Zulu force managed to effect a raid in
the German settlements over the Pongolo. Commandant Schermbrucker had
hitherto done remarkably well in keeping his line of defence intact, but
his want of mounted men seriously hampered him, and enabled the Zulus to
elude his vigilance. A serious raid happened on the 11th February; but
Schermbrucker came up with the marauders as they were retiring with
their booty, recaptured some of the cattle taken, and killed about a
dozen of the enemy. On the 13th a large Zulu force managed to cross the
Pongolo, and steal past the fort and laager of Luneberg. This was in the
dead of night, and by daybreak they had burnt a number of huts belonging
to natives friendly to or in the employment of the Dutch. The savages
rushed in thousands upon the kraals and single huts, setting the roofs
on fire and massacring old people, women, and children who could not
escape. They deliberately tortured to death about a score of old men,
killed in the most brutal manner at least fifty women and an equal
number of children, while they left several young women fearfully
stabbed with assegais. All this took place within five miles of the
fort; and as fire-arms were not employed, the attention of the sentries
was not aroused. Early in the morning one of the wounded managed to
effect his escape, and brought this terrible news to the laager, and
measures were immediately taken to follow and punish the band. Patrols
were ordered out, and the utmost diligence exerted to overtake the
enemy, who, it was known, was overladen with spoil. Before the Tombe
river was reached, the leading patrol came up with a portion of the
enemy's rear-guard, and a very pretty fight took place. The Zulus
numbered about 450, but they were embarrassed by the cattle they had
charge of, and this did not allow them to make a good stand. The
consequence was that the Boer patrol killed twenty of their foes, put
the remainder to flight, and won back a number of the stolen cattle. The
rest, however, managed to escape over the Tombe, and the patrol were
wisely ordered not to pursue. These raids were principally due to the
activity of both Umbelini and Manyanyoba, and were the immediate cause
of the expedition to attack and burn the kraals of the chiefs on the
Intombe river. It should be mentioned that Umbelini was a Swazi refugee,
and not even a legitimate chieftain of that tribe, but was regarded by
the real headmen as a mere adventurer and pretender. Manyanyoba's
people, again, were not Zulus, but the _débris_ or remnants of various
tribes conquered by Chaka and Dingaan. They wandered about in a starving
condition, landless, and without flocks or wealth of any kind, until
Cetywayo, from compassion, allowed them to settle north of the Pongolo,
and on the banks of the Tombe river. This very land was mentioned in the
ultimatum sent by Sir Bartle Frere to the king, who had no right
whatever to cede any portion of it.
Wood next moved his camp to the Kambula Kop, and there entrenched
himself in a position of great natural strength. There now occurred an
event of considerable importance. Oham, brother of Cetywayo, had always
declared himself opposed to war, had openly stated his opinion in Zulu's
councils, and had ever since the outbreak of hostilities been making
overtures of friendship to the British. These, however, had been but
lightly treated, as suspicions of their honesty were entertained by the
powers that were. How groundless were these suspicions the event proved.
On the 2nd inst. Oham came into the camp of Captain M'Leod, the
political agent on the border of Swaziland, arrived at Derby on the 4th,
and came on thence to Wood at Kambula a couple of days back, and
declared his complete submission to her Majesty's Government.
Immediately before leaving his kraal in Zululand the chief took the
precaution to try and save some of his best cattle, and he subsequently
sent a thousand head of his finest herds into the Swazi county; but they
fell into Dutch hands, and some of the Boers, obtaining possession of
them, had the audacity to brand them as their property before M'Leod
could arrive to claim them. Oham had with him between 300 and 400 of his
people, and was accompanied by his eldest son, an intelligent lad of
fifteen, who soon made himself an object of great interest in Wood's
camp, and a favourite with the soldiers. Immediately on his arrival he
had an interview with, and was received with great respect by Colonel
Wood, who was informed by him that he would have surrendered some time
back but for two reasons. In the first place, he was under a system of
espionage by the orders of the king, with whom he had never been on good
terms since he openly, before the Indunas, spoke against the warlike
attitude and aggressive tone of his brother; and, secondly, when he did
make his first overtures for submission, he was told that he was not
believed by the English, and would be cast into prison, and sent to
Robbin Island as a convict.
Oham was a black ikehla (head-ringed man), resembling both his father,
the late Mpanda, or Panda, and his brother Cetywayo, and although a
large man, his body and muscles were firm, not flabby like those of so
many other big Zulus. After the usual salutations he thus opened his
interview with Wood:--
"Sir, chief, and great warrior, whom I respect, because you fight
against men, and do not kill women or children, I came here to your camp
from a desire to see you, and to ask you to intercede for me and my
people, who have never wished to make war upon you, but to live in peace
and goodwill, and hunt the wild deer together. I have left more than two
thousand of my people ready and most anxious to come in and submit to
you, surrendering their arms and cattle, and giving their sons as
hostages, if you will guarantee their safety."
The chief, who had a dignified manner and an honest expression of
countenance, was then informed that he and his people should receive
every consideration, and as much protection as was consistent with the
safe advance of the English troops into Zululand. He then assured Wood
that the Zulu army was considerably demoralized, and that, the people
having gone back to their kraals, Cetywayo found it no easy task to
collect a really effective fighting force. With some difficulty,
indeed, the king had managed to get together a strong impi, composed of
the Udhlambedhlu, or "Ill-tempered" Regiment, whose kraal was at
Udhlambedhlweni, about six miles east of the Usixepe, to exercise a
surveillance over Oham and his people. This corps, however, was formed
originally from a clan, or tribe, which were Dingaan's chief and
favourite regiment, and although in a measure loyal to their then ruler,
they were somewhat indignant at the duty imposed upon them, when they
would infinitely prefer the chances of raiding and plunder, which the
present unsettled state of the border presented. Now, when Wood was at
Utrecht the previous autumn, a letter was sent by the Landdrost Rudolph
to the Secretary for Native Affairs, in which he mentioned the arrival
of Gwegwana, the favourite messenger of Uhamo or Oham, with letters from
that chief to the following effect, which Oham now repeated to Colonel
Wood:--"I am sent back by Uhamo to hear what answer his father, Somtseu
(Sir Theophilus Shepstone), has sent to his message brought by me on the
10th October last. Uhamo is very anxious to know what is going to take
place in the land now that Cetywayo has called the whole of Zululand
together, and Uhamo has refused liberty to his people to assemble at
'Ondi,' and will openly tell Cetywayo that if he (Cetywayo) makes war
upon the English, he (Uhamo) will not join him, because Cetywayo's
people, Sirayo and Umbelini, have, by their overt acts, brought the
country into its present state of trouble and disgrace. Moreover, the
building by Cetywayo's orders of a military kraal on the Pongolo, and
the claims made by him of a portion of the Transvaal beyond the Blood
River, which had been, as Uhamo repeatedly told Cetywayo, ceded many
years ago to the Transvaal people, and other acts, had never received
any countenance from Uhamo, who now asks, Why does Cetywayo want to
quarrel with the English, who have ever been his friends, and who,
indeed, placed him on his present throne?"
In his second interview with Colonel Wood, Oham was still more explicit
and demonstrative. He expressed himself with much indignation at his
brother's countenancing such a despicable character as Umbelini, who,
neither a pure Zulu nor a Swazi, had all the vices and none of the good
qualities of either; and he added that the degradation which his brother
had brought upon the race of Chaka by such an unworthy alliance has
caused him to lose much of his former popularity. Oham also added that,
in case of the continuance of the war, rather than be compelled to fight
against his old friends the English he would at all hazards bring his
people bodily over to that Government, and under these circumstances
claim their protection. "Uhamo loves peace as his father Panda did,"
said the chief in conclusion, and his open and honest-looking eyes
seemed to corroborate this expression.
We now come to another sad event, which though less in magnitude, is in
many points similar to the Isandhlwana disaster. Major Tucker, the chief
officer at Luneberg, gives this account of the affair:--Captain
Moriarty, with a company of the 80th, was ordered to march from Luneberg
on the 7th March, for the purpose of bringing in twenty waggons from
Derby, variously loaded, which had arrived at the Intombi Drift.
Earlier in the month Major Tucker sent down to the Drift, which was not
more than four miles off, a small escort to await the arrival of these
waggons. Believing, however, the position a perilous one, owing to the
proximity to Umbelini's kraal, on the 5th he ordered it to return. On
the 7th, however, the waggons, which had all but been captured on the
way down, did arrive at the Drift, and Moriarty was again sent with
seventy men of his company to act as escort and assist in getting the
convoy across the stream, which was considerably swollen by the
continued rains. The Drift was only four miles from the stronghold of
the renegade Swazi freebooter, Umbelini, who had of late given so much
trouble, and Moriarty had orders to neglect no precaution, and above all
to laager his waggons and keep an incessant and vigilant look-out. It
was ascertained from survivors that the waggons were actually parked,
but in a somewhat loose and careless fashion, and that no earthworks
were thrown up around the camp. For several days the river continued in
strong flood, and consequently no crossing could be effected. On the
11th it was reported by the native waggon-drivers that Umbelini's people
were gathering in the neighbourhood. The camp was pitched in a most
dangerous position, with its face towards some high ground, covered here
and there with dense bush, while its rear was resting upon the swollen
river, across which Lieutenant Harward and thirty-four men were posted.
No particular precautions appear to have been taken, with the exception
of a sentry being posted about fifteen paces from the front of the camp,
on the Derby side. When first warned by the drivers, Moriarty ordered
the men to stand to their arms, but only for a short time. On the
morning of the 12th, at four o'clock, a shot was heard from the
unfortunate sentry, who had barely time to call "Guard, turn out!" when
dense masses of the savages were seen not more than two hundred yards
from the camp. Their front extended for several miles, and they could
not, by the lowest estimate, have been less than 4000 or 5000 strong.
Lieutenant Harward, who had been on the _qui-vive_, and who had
carefully placed his thirty-five men under cover of his solitary waggon,
at once called his detachment to arms, and made what dispositions he
could to open fire upon the enemy's flank. In less than ten minutes,
however, the whole valley was swarming with the savages, who at once
proceeded in their usual manner to surround and overlap the camp and
waggons. In less time than it takes to tell, the camp was in their
hands, and the majority of the soldiers were assegaied, many of them
before they could leave their tents. The fight, or rather butchery,
which ensued was soon over, and, in spite of a well-directed and
well-sustained fire from the Luneberg bank of the river, the enemy
followed up the men, and assegaied them as they endeavoured to swim the
river. Harward, seeing the enemy crossing the river in large numbers,
gave the order to his men to retire slowly. Then, jumping on the back of
his horse, he galloped away at full speed to Luneberg, where he reported
what had happened. The savages continued to cross the stream, and coming
on in dense masses, for a short time a hand-to-hand fight took place,
ending however in the little band being broken up.
Eight men, and the sergeant of Harward's detachment, by taking advantage
of shelter afforded by an old and dismantled kraal wall at some little
distance from the stream, and by their cool and determined shooting,
succeeded in saving their lives and getting to Luneberg. Ten men only
were saved from Moriarty's party, while he, with a civilian, Surgeon
Cobbin, was slain.
The camp was evidently wrongly placed, and was clearly taken by
surprise. Major Tucker went out from Luneberg in person, with a small
party of horsemen, followed by 150 of the 80th, to see what could be
recovered, and the bodies of the dead were brought over the river and
buried, while twenty-five of the enemy's dead were discovered, and a
couple of wounded taken prisoners. From these men it was ascertained
that Umbelini himself was in command, having with him some men belonging
to our old antagonist Manyanyoba. Mcame, a powerful induna, had been
asked to join in the foray, but refused. When Tucker and his handful of
horsemen arrived on the banks of the river, the enemy were seen to be
retreating, but they could not be followed until the infantry came up.
Curious to remark, the waggons were not taken, and many of them were
only half plundered by the savages, who seemed most anxious to decamp
with what spoil they had secured.
For his conduct in this affair Lieutenant Harward was subsequently tried
by court-martial. The ground of complaint was his having galloped off on
his horse--the only one present on the scene--leaving his men engaged in
a desperate engagement. The loss of the camp, or anything of a similar
nature, was in no way charged against him. His defence was that he had
ridden off to obtain assistance from the nearest point--that this was
his duty--and that he could not send a soldier in his place, as none of
them could ride. In the event the Court acquitted him. But in May of the
ensuing year (1880), the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief issued the
following special general order relative to a court-martial recently
held on an officer in South Africa:--
"At a general court-martial recently held, an officer was arraigned upon
the following charges,--First. Having misbehaved before the enemy, in
shamefully abandoning a party of the regiment under his command when
attacked by the enemy, and in riding off at speed from his men. Second.
Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in having
at the time and place mentioned in the first charge, neglected to take
proper precautions for the safety of a party of the regiment under his
command when attacked. The Court recorded a verdict of 'Not Guilty' on
both charges. The main facts of the case were not in dispute. The
officer rode away from his men to a station distant four and a half
miles, at a moment of extreme danger, when to all appearance the small
party under his command were being surrounded and overwhelmed by the
enemy. The charge alleged misbehaviour--that is, cowardice in so doing;
the defence averred that it was to procure reinforcements, and either by
their actual arrival, or by the imminence of their arrival, to ward off
destruction. In acquitting the prisoner, they have found that he was not
guilty of cowardice. The proceedings of the Court were submitted to the
General commanding, who recorded the following minute:--'Disapproved and
not confirmed. Lieutenant ... to be released from arrest, and to return
to his duty.' The confirming officer has further recorded his reasons
for withholding his approval and confirmation in the following
terms:--'Had I released this officer without making any remarks upon the
verdict in question, it would have been a tacit acknowledgment that I
concurred in what appears to me a monstrous theory, viz., that a
regimental officer who is the only officer present with a party of
soldiers actually and seriously engaged with the enemy can, under any
pretext whatever, be justified in deserting them, and by so doing
abandoning them to their fate. The more helpless the position in which
an officer finds his men, the more it is his bounden duty to stay and
share their fortune, whether for good or ill. It is because the British
officer has always done so that he occupies the position in which he is
held in the estimation of the world, that he possesses the influence he
does in the ranks of our army. The soldier has learnt to feel that, come
what may, he can, in the direst moment of danger, look with implicit
faith to his officer, knowing that he will never desert him under any
possible circumstances. It is to this faith of the British soldier in
his officers that we owe most of the gallant deeds recorded in our
military annals; and it is because the verdict of this court-martial
strikes at the root of this faith that I feel it necessary to mark
officially my emphatic dissent from the theory upon which the verdict
has been founded.' In communicating to the army the result of this
court-martial, the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief desires to signify
his entire approval of the views expressed by the confirming officer in
respect of the principles of duty which have always actuated British
officers in the field, and by which his Royal Highness feels assured
they will continue to be guided. This general order will, by his
Highness's command, be read at the head of every regiment in her
Majesty's service.--By Command, H. ELLICE, A.-G."
It was about this time that Oham, whose actions had now clearly proved
his sincerity, and the value of his friendship to the British, having
made an earnest request to Colonel Wood that his wives and family might
be rescued from the power of Cetywayo, the colonel sent off about twenty
of the chief's men to collect them. To carry out the remainder of the
project, some days after, (on the 14th), a strong detachment of Buller's
men and the Burghers under Piet Uys, with 200 of Oham's people, left the
camp at daybreak, and guided by James Rorke and Calverly, marched to the
caves of Nhlangwine, which were situated rather more than twelve miles
east of the source of the Unkassi, and not less than forty-five miles
from Kambula. The caves were reached at 9.30 p.m., the last of the march
of seven miles being very difficult travelling, and taking three hours
to surmount. A few Zulus in charge of cattle were shot, and the animals
which had belonged to Oham were taken possession of. As has been said,
it was scarcely daybreak when the little column started. They rode along
for a considerable time in complete silence, the men being allowed to
smoke their pipes, but not to speak above a whisper. At first they
followed the spoor of some cattle, which indicated the road by which
Oham and his people had come to the camp, and then turning more in a
northerly direction, followed the course of some small streams which
flowed from the hills upon the left. The moon shone brightly, and
enabled them to see clearly for some distance before them. Many strange
sounds were heard, the growl of some beast of prey or the scream of the
night-birds disturbed by the clank of the horses' hoofs, or the
occasional rattle of a chain. The rapidity with which the column
cantered over the soft and springy veldt, the dead and ominous silence
maintained by all hands, and the steady and business-like mode in which
they pursued their course, neither turning to the right nor the left,
gave the journey a singularly weird character. As soon as the first
morning's light began to appear the guides, who rode in front, turned
into a ravine covered with dense brushwood and trees, and, having
ascended this for about three miles, they found it was possible to ride
out of it in three different directions, besides the one by which they
had entered, and thus a retreat could be effected if any attack were
made. Here it was decided to make the first off-saddle and partake of
breakfast. At a signal from their leader, and without any word of
command, the horsemen dismounted, slackened girths, and took off
saddles, while the bits were removed from the horses' mouths and the
animals allowed, Cape fashion, to take the customary roll in the grass.
This luxury to a Cape horse seems indispensable, and without it he will
rarely enjoy his grass or corn. No sooner, however, had the steeds
rolled than each was again saddled, and, with the exception of the still
slackened girths, was ready to be mounted in half a moment. Rifles and
revolvers were carefully examined, to see whether the night dew had done
any mischief, and then, having made a careful sweep round the horizon
with his field-glasses, the commander gave the order for the morning
meal, which consisted of a little cold tea, some bread, and "beltong"
(sun-dried game).
After half an hour's rest they again started as silently as before. The
day had broken with all the splendour of an African morning. The day
before had been rainy, and the showers had refreshed the ground and
filled the various pools with water, and all kinds of wild animals were
busy and cheerful in the plains. A number of parrots and monkeys were
screaming and chattering with content, and the sportsmen of the party
were much exercised at hearing the pleasant double whistle of the quail
sounding from various patches of long grass. Figures which it was first
thought were Zulus were seen on the summits of the rocks, but Piet Uys
declared that they were merely baboons, whose early morning custom was
to come from the heights to search for and dig up roots, which seemed to
grow here in abundance. Vultures, sweeping aloft, were circling in the
air above where there had evidently been a skirmish, for the carcasses
of some horses still remained uneaten and poisoning the pure air. Here
and there a black-breasted and magnificent eagle sat on some withered
branch, and, seeming quite indifferent to the soldier's presence,
scanned the ground below him as if to select the daintiest morsel for
his morning meal. Mounting to the head of the kloof the party came to a
splendid prospect and panorama stretching out below. The plains seemed
to roll away to the north-east as far as the eye could see, while the
bright, glowing tints of the rugged foreground were mellowed away into
the middle distance, until, quite far away, the bold outlines of the
mountains assumed, not a purple, as in Europe they would have done, but
a rich blue tint, yet standing out in fine clear relief against the
distant sky, the dry atmosphere failing to give the subdued effect of
distance usually observed in other climates. These mountains were the
Tobomba range, which run northward, and almost parallel to the
coast-line. Amidst small groves of what seemed in the distance to be
acacia, and near the banks of many tiny streams that wound along the
plain, were groups of game. Herds of various kinds of bok were there,
and here and there some solitary and not gregarious animal was to be
seen, now bounding away from some imaginary danger, and now calmly
browsing on the sweet veldt. What a place for an encampment!--wood,
water, cover, commanding heights, which, properly occupied and
entrenched, could be held against an army; and a climate where fever
could scarcely penetrate, so pure and bracing was the air. Away up a
smaller valley on the right lay the path that had to be followed, and,
leaving the bright and smiling landscape in front, the column once more
plunged into the gloom of the bush. Two more outspans brought them to
sunset, and now precautions had to be redoubled, as they were nearing
most dangerous ground. The chances were more than probable that
Cetywayo, on hearing of his brother's defection and flight, had sent a
party of his warriors to take possession of his wives and cattle, both
vendible commodities in the land. If this were the case, it would
inevitably result that a vigilant watch would be kept to prevent their
escape to Oham. Strange to say, these anticipations were only partly
verified, for as the troops neared the caves they could see that they
were watched, but only by scattered and weak bodies of Zulus. These
fellows had evidently discovered that the white man's intention was
hostile, and they probably thought his object was cattle, and not to
recover or rescue Oham's wives and children, for they ran rapidly along
the heights above, taking no precaution for concealment, and seeming
only anxious to drive away their herds. As the horsemen approached the
caves at a canter, flankers were extended on either side to prevent
surprise. The excitement of Buller's men could hardly be restrained,
while the calm and stolid Dutchmen, who glided silently and grimly on,
offered a wide contrast to their more hot-blooded comrades. As they came
nearer and nearer the place seemed inhabited, and it was evident that
the natives sent on a few days previously had apprised the people of
Buller's advent and friendly intentions. Then Oham's people came
crowding out of their caves, jostling each other in their anxiety to
greet the English soldiers, grasping their assegais, and giving vent to
a succession of guttural clicks, which it would baffle any known
combination of vowels to reproduce. They did not cheer; such was not
their custom, but they waved their spears aloft, as if they felt them
entering the enemy's body.
Rorke, having now been sent on with a small escort to explore the
caves, was not long in reporting that all the women and children had
been collected, and a bivouac having been formed, with outlying pickets
in every direction, and sentries posted, that night was passed without
molestation. At nine a.m. the following morning a compact column was
formed, consisting of the rescued allies or prisoners, the few cattle
collected in the centre, and the whole party started for the homeward
march. It could scarcely have been hoped that the retreat would have
been unmolested, yet only at the Inklepgwene, a difficult defile, were
they fired upon by a body of Zulus, evidently hastily collected, and
numbering some thousand men. The detachment reached the camp, with the
rescued families, at one p.m. on the 16th.
Wood had for some time purposed taking the initiative against Umbelini,
and from information obtained from Oham's people came to the conclusion
that Umbelini's place on the Mhlobana Mountain, which was not more than
five and twenty miles from Kambula, was capable of being successfully
surprised. He had heard from headquarters that Lord Chelmsford would
probably start for Pearson's relief on the 28th, so he determined to
take that opportunity of making a diversion towards Mhlobana.
On Wednesday, 26th March, Colonel Buller and Piet Uys were summoned to
Colonel Wood's tent, and told that information had come in to the effect
that a large quantity of fine cattle had been seen on the Zlobani range
of mountains, some ten or twelve miles from Kambula. This Zlobani range
could be seen from the camp, and in most places was steep and
precipitous, well wooded, and full of large caves, places of
concealment, and natural fastnesses.
Several reconnaissances had been previously made by Colonels Wood and
Buller, who had both made themselves well acquainted with its natural
features and its various difficulties of attack. It was well known that
scattered bands of predatory Zulus, guarding large quantities of cattle,
had been for some time concealed in these rocky recesses, and that, in
compliance with the king's orders, these bands had been consolidated and
reinforced by regiments sent by Cetywayo from Ulundi. Colonel Wood had,
however, other information, from some of Oham's people, that all the
regiments indicated had not yet come in, and that want of ammunition was
detaining them in their own kraals. This, as it turned out, could not
have been quite correct. After some conversation, Colonel Weatherly and
Commandants Raaf and Schermbrucker were also summoned to the colonel's
tent, and it was unanimously decided that it would be advisable to take
the initiative and strike a blow before the Zulus concentrated to attack
the camp, as Wood was on all hands assured they would do. Before any
operations on the Zlobani are described, it should be mentioned that
Wood had been enabled from the additions to his column to establish a
chain of communications between Kambula, Utrecht, and Dundee. He had
also organized a strong outpost between his camp and the Transvaal
border, and another at Doornkop, or Thorn-hill. To this place Captain
Schermbrucker and a party of his men were sent, but had been temporarily
recalled to assist us at Kambula.
After the council of war held by the colonel on the 26th, arrangements
were at once made for the reconnaissance to the Zlobani. The force
selected for this expedition consisted of the Imperial Mounted
Infantry, 150; the Frontier Light Horse, 125; Raaf's Contingent, 50;
Piet Uys's Boer Contingent, 50; Weatherly's Horse, 80; and
Schermbrucker's Horse, 40, making a total of 495; and each man was
supplied with three days' rations and 100 rounds of ammunition.
All the horses intended for the expedition were carefully inspected on
the 26th, and the colonel rejected several that did not seem in good
form. They did not, as a rule, average more than fourteen hands two
inches in height, but all were stout, short-backed, well ribbed up
animals, and up to far more weight than their appearance would lead a
novice to suppose. All these animals were trained to remain perfectly
quiet when the men dismounted to fire, and many of them would actually
come to their rider at a whistle. Piet Uys's men were especially well
mounted, and it was necessary that they should be, as your Dutch Boer
is, as a rule, by no means a feather-weight, being usually over thirteen
stone. They are also very powerful men, and until forty or forty-five
not unwieldy. After that age, they generally get heavier. Most of the
old-fashioned Boers still retained the long "roer" or smoothbore, but
all the younger generation had taken to the latest pattern rifles. A
revolver and stout cutlass also formed part of their equipment, and a
single blanket strapped in front of the saddle carried all their kit.
At three a.m. on the 27th, the first little band of gallant horsemen
under Colonel Russell were quietly paraded in the moonlight, and after
being carefully inspected were addressed in a few well-chosen words by
Colonel Wood, who had finally decided to accompany the party. The whole
party made up altogether 495 sabres, every one of whom was a good
swordsman and a picked marksman. The horses, although somewhat rough in
the coat, were in good wind and excellent condition, and every one of
these animals was well trained to stand fire. They moved off quietly
from the camp, and passing along the track, which descended towards a
sandy and deep nullah with most precipitous sides, debouched into an
open space, from which the Zlobani range could be seen in the intervals
of moonlight, now and then obscured by the passing clouds, which seemed
to foretell a stormy day. The track in many places crossed difficult
spruits, and in parts was obliterated by thorn-trees and bush. It was
frequently commanded by projecting spurs and bluffs, from which an enemy
could have seriously annoyed the advance. At five o'clock the column
halted, and after a careful reconnaissance, off-saddled for half an
hour, while the men partook of a ration of cold tea and beltong. This
halt was made near a large dried-up, sandy watercourse, in parts of
which the sand was moist, and by digging holes water was found in
sufficient quantities for the horses to wash their mouths. The
surrounding country was totally denuded of fodder, and as far as the eye
could reach the most wild and barren prospect was to be seen. Another
advance of about five miles changed the aspect of the scene, and brought
them to a slightly wooded ravine, amidst the rocks of which ran a clear
stream, over a grassy or pebbly bed, behind which loomed a range of
rocky hills, the summit of which seemed crowned by immense boulders,
looking in the distance like huge slabs placed by giant hands in their
present position. Away to the left was an undulating plain, upon which
were detached clumps of bushes and trees. Over this plain small mountain
streams flowed in various directions, winding amongst trees, shrubs, and
ferns of different variety. Here and there antelopes were grazing,
ostriches were stalking, and now and then vultures were seen grimly
circling round in seeming anticipation of a morning feast. A couple of
miles further on they came to a large cultivated flat terminating to the
right in a long, dark, and winding gorge, black with bush and skirted by
huge precipices of sandstone and granite. They turned into this, and
proceeded silently but quickly along the banks of a small rivulet, until
they came to the foot of the mountain, and, after some little time,
discovered a steep path, which seemed cut out of the solid cliff, and
wide enough only for one horseman to pass. They were more than
three-quarters of an hour scaling this path, which was most dangerous to
horsemen unaccustomed to such tracks, and suited more to the bush bok
seen here and there as the horsemen ascended higher and higher.
On nearing the top of the krantz the view was magnificent. Away to the
extreme right was the purple range of the Ingive Mountains, behind which
the sun was fast rising. The Ingonyama came next, and joined the
Ntabatulu and Ingoma ranges, the latter of which overhangs the left bank
of the Black Umfolosi, all along which are the most extensive forests
and inaccessible kloofs and krantzes. The head of the column had no
sooner gained the summit of the last ledge than the leading files
noticed a large number of cattle grazing on the plateau. These were
guarded by about 150 or 200 armed Zulus, who, however, did not see the
advancing troops. The range upon which the English party now found
themselves extended about seven or eight miles, and was accessible only
by a few most difficult footpaths leading from the plains below. Huge
masses of scrub and boulders, krantzes, terraces, and ledges of rock,
caves and immense fissures in the sides of the mountain, formed a
retreat for the cattle, which, upon an alarm being sounded, were quickly
driven from the grazing-ground above. The northern face of the mountain
was a sheer precipice, perfectly bare of all bush or shrub. They were
now halted, and ordered to bivouac. At about seven in the evening
Colonel Wood rejoined them, having with him his usual small staff and
personal escort, consisting of Captain the Hon. Ronald Campbell, his
staff officer; Lieut. Lysons, 90th Light Infantry, his orderly officer;
Mr. Lloyd, political agent (son of General Lloyd, of the Natal
Legislative Assembly); eight mounted men of the 90th Light Infantry, and
six stalwart natives under Umtongo, one of Pondo's sons. Umtongo had by
some means or other obtained information that the regiments named
Naxeane, Umdomandi, Ucaridanburg, Macalsiene, Udmine, Ekotsamaclooser,
and Macalvoore, under the Indunas Umgongo, Umsimoyao, and other noted
chiefs, had left Ulundi three days before, on the 24th, and Umtongo was
consequently most anxious that the column should at once return to the
Kambula. This advice, however, could not have been followed without
exposing Colonels Buller and Weatherly and Piet Uys, who were in front,
to be cut off and surrounded, so that it was decided that a junction
must be made with them at whatever risks.
At half-past three a.m. the commanding officer ordered the word to be
quietly passed round for the men to stand to their horses and prepare to
march. An occasional and straggling ray of moonlight helped them to
follow the faint tracks of those who had gone before them, and before
going very far they came upon unmistakable evidences of the advance
having been opposed. A distant shot was now and then heard, away towards
the bluff of the mountain on the north-east side; and soon after these
indications of fighting was heard the sound of horses, and Colonel
Weatherly, with his son, and about eighty of his troopers, met Colonel
Wood, bringing him the news that on the previous night he had been
unfortunate enough to miss his road. As the morning was now breaking,
and the warm sun commenced to light up the scene, Colonel Wood noticed,
here and there on the path, a broken assegai, a damaged shield, rent
with a Martini-Henry rifle-bullet, and further on the bodies of some
Zulus and the carcass of a dead horse. These signs marked where Buller
had passed and had been attacked. Campbell and Lysons therefore ascended
the rocks above a huge cave, and, taking every precaution to screen
themselves from observation, scanned the surrounding horizon with the
field-glasses. Far away, almost upon the summit of an apparently
inaccessible and gigantic cliff, the van of Buller's column could be
seen slowly advancing, and driving some dark masses of cattle and Zulus
before them. These officers came down at once to report, and Colonel
Weatherly requested permission to lead his men on to Buller's
assistance, while Colonel Wood followed with the remainder of his
horsemen. This permission being granted, Weatherly moved on by a
terribly difficult path to the right, while the remainder kept to what
seemed to be the main track. About half a mile farther on this party
saw, a few hundred yards to the left, about 200 Zulus, who appeared to
be armed with rifles. They were moving rapidly across the English front,
stopping occasionally to take a shot at the leading files, who had, on
account of the difficulties of the road, been compelled to dismount and
lead their horses. The object of this detachment was now evident, it
being their intention to get between the main column and Weatherly's
little band. It was noticed that half a dozen gigantic warriors, each
armed with rifle, shield, and bundle of assegais, led the main body of
these Zulus. These men took it in turns to run in front, and were
evidently acting as guides, often enabling the rest to make short cuts,
and thus to get over the ground more quickly. They paused, however, now
and then, as if to examine the spoor of the horses, on which the
previous night's rain had fallen, and from this Colonel Wood concluded
that some of his people were in the same direction. By means of some
wild vine and creepers Lysons and one of the escort now descended from
the opposite side of the plateau on which was the cave, and running
rapidly along the top of the next ridge, made their way unseen to the
edge of the bush. They thus commanded the plain below, and the
serpentine pathway by which Buller had found his way to the summit of
the cliff. From this point Buller and his men could be seen scouring
the mountains beyond the intervening kloof, and about halfway up the
opposite ascent were observed a strong party of Zulus working forward as
if to cut off the horsemen above. As Weatherly and Colonel Wood were now
separated by a deep and impassable ravine, they could only hope that
they should be able to effect a junction with Buller by different
routes, and, if possible, in time to give effective help. Crouching down
so as not to be seen by the main column were a few of the enemy on a
narrow ledge of rock, about a hundred yards above their heads. Where
these fellows had come from it was not easy to imagine, but they
immediately opened a hot, but ill-directed fire, which the English
troopers did not at first return, as they were too much occupied in
guiding their horses over the dangerous places, where a single false
step would have sent them to the valley below. Meanwhile Umtongo and two
of his men had climbed round by a higher portion of the cliff, and,
guiding some of the English marksmen, they opened a fire upon the Zulu
scouts, which soon cleared them from the path. Another half-hour's
toilsome march brought Wood upon Weatherly's track, and they then could
see the rear of Buller's column high above them to the right.
It would be difficult to describe the marvellously rugged and weird
nature of the rocks around, and the ghastly features of the sheer
precipices gaping on either side. Killed and wounded horses now were
seen at every turn of the road, showing how stoutly the enemy must have
held their ground, and how difficult an operation Buller had performed.
Sending fifty men round to work on our right flank and to endeavour to
take the Zulus in the rear, Colonel Wood kept his men for a few moments
under cover of a friendly ledge of rocks to look to their rifles,
girths, and ammunition, and then ascended rapidly to the front, passing
the Border Horse, who had by this time got off the track. The scene was
at this moment intensely exciting. The firing was almost continuous, and
the yells of the savages were re-echoed back by the loud and
heart-stirring cheers of their gallant comrades, who had seen Wood's
column coming and gave them this encouragement. It was not long before
they came under more direct fire, and at this juncture Colonel Wood, who
had been keeping his men cool and steady by his own presence of mind and
good-humoured encouragement, left Colonel Russell in charge, and jumping
upon his horse, as the ground was now practicable for riding, trotted
through the skirmishers, and, closely followed by his staff and escort,
pushed rapidly to the front. This party, with a dozen of the Border
Horse, galloped to within a hundred paces of the summit of the cliff,
where they saw that they were in the thick of the fire, raining upon
them both from front and flank, and proceeding from a mass of Zulus
skirmishing in the most artistic and workmanlike manner from their
caves, crevices, and enormous boulders which formed the natural
fortifications of the mountain plateau. At this moment Weatherly, with
his gallant and noble-hearted boy, aged only fifteen, and who insisted
on fighting by his father's side, were cheering on their men, dashing
boldly into the caves, and closing in mortal strife with the Zulus.
"Take a dozen men over to the cave to the right front, and rattle out
the fellows who are firing so well, Colonel Weatherly," said Colonel
Wood, as his horse staggered under him from a deep assegai wound in the
chest, and a savage from behind a boulder fired at that officer at ten
paces' distance. The bullet missed him, and Llewellen Lloyd, seeing the
man loading quickly again, at once rode to cut him down, and was shot
through the head. Wood, seeing this officer fall, dashed spurs into his
wounded horse and galloped up to catch him, closely followed by Ronald
Campbell. Two other Zulus from the cave now fired simultaneously at the
colonel, whose horse at this moment was again struck, and fell upon him.
The colonel was upon his feet in a moment, and assisted Captain Campbell
and his orderly to carry Lloyd's body to a ledge more out of the way.
The shot which killed poor Llewellen Lloyd tore Colonel Wood's sleeve
underneath his arm before reaching its mark. As Colonel Weatherly's men
were engaged with several Zulus at close quarters, some little delay
occurred in their advance upon the cave, whence the fire was most
galling; and Ronald Campbell, calling on Lysons and some of the escort
to follow him, dashed at the opening, having first cleared a sort of
breastwork at the entrance. Poor Campbell fell, shot through the head;
and Lysons and a brave fellow, Corporal Fowler, following closely upon
the footsteps of the brave young guardsman, killed the two remaining
Zulus within the cave, while another, severely wounded, managed to crawl
away through a narrow crevice in the rock. Having ascertained that the
enemy were retreating before Buller on the summit, Colonel Weatherly was
sent to make a small circuit lower down the cliff, to endeavour to hit
off the path by which the former had so successfully ascended, and
which the others were unfortunate enough to miss. Buller, in the
meanwhile, was not only driving the Zulus' cattle before him, but was
able to assist his comrades by his fire from his vantage-ground above.
The enemy in front and flank retired, disputing every available spot,
while Weatherly was most skilfully working round to their left rear. His
disposition of his men was most judicious, and he rendered very material
help to Wood's portion of the force, intercepting and driving back a
strong party which were coming up to assist the body they were engaging.
These, however, eventually took up a formidable position in some caves
in a deep kloof, from which they kept up a constant and dropping fire.
Amongst Wood's party they had up to this time but few casualties, though
the loss of such splendid and noble-hearted soldiers as Campbell and
Lloyd was a terrible blow to their chief, whose right hand men they
were. Colonel Wood, in spite of the galling fire still maintained by the
entrenched Zulus, assisted the party told off to carry the bodies of the
dead to a place about half way down the first hill, where, in disregard
of the bullets which kept rattling round, these noble young heroes were
buried in a soldier's glorious grave, the funeral honours being
discharged over them by the rifles of friend and foe.
Colonel Wood now made a flank movement with a portion of the column in a
north-westerly direction, to see if a junction could be effected with
that portion of the men which had been left in the charge of Colonel
Russell. In effecting this change of position Wood had to pass under the
steepest cliffs of the Zlobani Mountain. Umtongo, true to his Rob Roy
and predatory instincts, had utilised his opportunity by a little
cattle-lifting, and, in spite of the rather hot time he had been
experiencing, was engaged in driving, with the aid of his people, a herd
of sheep and goats abandoned by the foe. As Wood's party were carrying
their wounded men, and now and then halted to give them stimulants,
their progress was necessarily slow, and this delay led to serious
consequences, for the large reinforcements they knew might arrive from
Ulundi later in the day had, without their knowledge, actually arrived,
and were marching parallel to their right front, and concealed from
sight. Umtongo was the first to discover the proximity of this hostile
array, and, although without an interpreter, Colonel Wood understood
enough of his language, aided by signs, to comprehend the gravity of the
situation. The colonel, having obtained a fresh horse, cantered across
some very broken ground to a high bluff just under the Zunguin's Neck,
and, guided by some of Oham's people, managed, not without considerable
difficulty, to reach a point upon a ledge of rock whence he could,
without a glass, see the movements and exact formation of the enemy's
force. The column was evidently the reinforcements expected from Ulundi,
and had a portion of the English column not missed its way on the night
of the 27th, it is tolerably certain they would have effected the object
of their raid and retreated to the shelter of the camp without much
loss. Wood knew of the despatch of this army on the 24th, but did not
calculate that it could have compassed the distance it marched in three
days. As matters stood, however, the colonel and his staff could see
from their coign of vantage that the Zulu army from Ulundi were
marching in a line of five contiguous columns, with a line of
skirmishers thrown out in front and on flank, forming the usual horns
and chest. From subsequent description given by Buller, it appears that
the first part of his task was successfully carried out; that the track
up the Zlobani was correctly hit off, the Zulu entrenched caves
triumphantly carried by storm, and a large quantity of cattle taken and
driven off. Had Wood's portion of the attack and that commanded by
Weatherly appeared on the scene of action in time to support Buller's
splendid onslaught, all would have gone well, but the delay caused by
their missing the track enabled the Zlobani followers of Umbelini and
Manyanyoba to hold their own ground until the arrival of the Ulundi
army. Buller did all that a skilled general could effect to bring off
his men with small loss, but from the nature of the ground it was in
this instance almost impossible for cavalry to work with any degree of
celerity. The mountain having been carried soon after daybreak, a long
off-saddle to feed the horses and an unavoidable delay of four hours
were made, to enable the main division to come up. Suddenly the immense
force of Zulus, seen by Wood from the Zunguin's Neck, was observed by
Colonel Buller and Oham's scouts. An immediate but orderly retreat was
commenced, but could not be effected without the most desperate fighting
and severe loss. The enemy had massed themselves on three sides of the
mountain, and only one terribly steep path was left to descend. This was
thoroughly blocked by the Zulus, who, under cover, rained bullets and
assegais upon these devoted men, and then, when the moment came for
close fighting, dashed in dense masses upon their thinned and weakened
files. Halfway down this fearful gorge the road was so narrow and so
steep that it was nearly closed up by the proximity of the tall cliffs
on either side. These hills seemed to be formed of smooth and slippery
ledges, over which many wounded men and horses fell, coming down upon
the points of the assegais waiting below to receive them! Caves, with
natural breastworks, like casemated batteries, were on either side of
the path, wet and slippery with blood. Colonel Wood was of opinion that
the Ulundi army did not follow up Buller's retreat for two reasons:
first, because its wonderful three days' march had in a great measure
exhausted the men, who came in such haste as to dispense with provisions
and spare ammunition; and secondly, on account of the powerful
demonstration the main or second division made on their flank even at
the eleventh hour. To the cool valour and devoted courage of Colonel
Buller the safety of those who came back to camp was due. He fought at
the rear of the retiring column, assisting the wounded, charged
desperately at the dense masses of fiery Zulus who were pressing on with
the thirst of blood, and not until he saw the last of his band through
this terrible kloof did he turn his horse to follow his men, or to think
of his own safety.
Seeing that nothing more could be done to help Buller in his retreat,
Colonel Wood despatched a messenger to Colonel Russell, who by this time
had commenced the ascent of the extreme westerly point of the range, to
retrace his steps eastward, and to cover the retreat of the native
allies upon the camp. Russell lost no time in carrying out these
instructions, but before he could arrive several natives had been
overtaken and speared. The Kambula camp was reached by the column about
7.30. Buller, on learning that our gallant young friend Barton had not
returned, and was away on foot with the survivors of the Border Horse,
some ten miles off, at once obtained permission from Colonel Wood to go
in search of the party. The evening had set in stormy, and torrents of
rain were now coming down. Buller had been in the saddle for forty-eight
hours, was severely contused, and had escaped death by almost a miracle;
but setting a noble example, he obtained a party of volunteers, and
taking led horses, started on his expedition. Seven men, who would
probably have never reached the camp, were brought in by this gallant
act, and these were the sole survivors of Barton's Horse. It would seem
that in attempting to follow Wood's track in retiring they were
overtaken and cut off. They then attempted to retreat by the north and
the Hyntecha Kloof, where the majority died fighting gallantly to the
last. Splendid, manly, honest, simple, and taciturn Piet Uys, whose
father, uncles, and cousins fought and fell in the old wars with
Dingaan! On the evening of the 17th, after the conference in Wood's
tent, he spoke in the most feeling terms of his children, of whom, like
all Cape Dutchmen, he was passionately fond, and Colonel Wood, with that
thoughtful kindness for which he is so well known, at once said that,
should anything happen to the father, he would interest himself with the
Government to provide for the orphans. Piet Uys could have easily
escaped, but, like Buller, he would see the last of his men clear before
turning rein. He was last seen with his back to the cliff, standing
across the body of his favourite "mooi paard" (grey horse), with six
large Zulus lying dead in a circle round him, his empty revolver in his
left hand and his body pierced by two assegais! Colonel Weatherly's
Horse went into action about eighty strong, and of these brave fellows
forty-five were dead, including the gallant colonel and his brave,
intelligent, and handsome son, a lad of fifteen, who, at an age when
many an English youth is celebrated only in the cricket-field or on the
river, had seen more of real fighting than many a veteran in the
regulars. Nothing could be more sad than Weatherly's death. At the fatal
hour when all save honour seemed lost, he placed his beloved boy upon
his best horse, and kissing him on the forehead, commended him to
another Father's care above, and implored him to overtake the nearest
column of the English horse, which seemed at that time to be cutting its
way out. The boy clung to his father, and begged to be allowed to stay
by his side, and share his life or death. The contrast was
characteristic. The man, a bearded, bronzed, and hardy _sabreur_, with a
father's tears upon his cheek, while the blue-eyed and fair-haired lad,
with much of the beauty of a girl in his appearance, was calmly and with
a smile of fond delight loading his father's favourite carbine. When the
two noble hearts were last seen, the father, wounded to death with cruel
assegais, was clasping his boy's hand with his left, while the right cut
down the brawny savages who came to despoil him of his charge.
* * * * *
Though in all these operations of which mention has been lately made
Lord Chelmsford never once appears, it must not therefore be supposed
that he had rested from his labours. On the contrary they were more
incessant and arduous than ever. When the news of Isandhlwana first
reached the colonies, it caused the utmost excitement and wildest
apprehensions. Nothing less, it was averred, was about to happen than an
immediate and overwhelming invasion of Natal by the Zulus. The black men
were on the point of sweeping the whites into the sea. Lord Chelmsford's
first duty, after an urgent application to the home authorities for
reinforcements, was to render these alarms groundless. To organize of a
sudden the defence of so extended a frontier was no easy task. How
thoroughly and conscientiously it was performed the result testifies.
Another duty scarcely less urgent was the rescue of Colonel Pearson. And
in this project he received aid, as valuable as unexpected, from the
Governor of St. Helena. No sooner did that official hear of Lord
Chelmsford's urgent need, than he at once assumed the responsibility of
sending on the garrison of his island--in all 160 soldiers--to the
rescue. Captain Bradshaw, of H.M.S. "Shah," chanced to be lying in the
harbour, homeward bound, after a period of foreign service, but he
hesitated not one whit more than the Governor. He embarked the garrison,
and on February 19th had anchored at Durban. There a naval brigade of
400 men was furnished from his ship; and thus it came about that long
before reinforcements from England could arrive, and on the day that
Zlobani was fought, Lord Chelmsford was already well on the way to
deliver Pearson from his captivity.