Raid across the Umvolosi by Buller--Gallant rescue of a sergeant by
Lord William Beresford--Buller's losses--Umvolosi crossed by the
main body--Formation of troops into square--Total numbers--Firing of
kraals--Advance of Zulus from Ulundi--The Zulu attack--Repulse of
Zulus--Pursuit by cavalry--Death of Wyatt-Edgell--Losses of both
sides--Withdrawal of English army--Effects of the battle of
Ulundi--Surrender of 700 Zulus to Crealock--Cause of retreat after
Ulundi--Resignation of Lord Chelmsford--His farewell parade--Epitome
of work done by 1st column, and why it was not present at
Ulundi--Ondini burnt by Barrow.
On the morning of the 3rd of July, the last day of grace, so far from
any compliance with Lord Chelmsford's demands being made, all sorts of
hostile demonstrations were shown by the Zulus, who were gathered in
large numbers about eight miles off. All day long, on the 1st and 2nd,
there had been a dropping fire at long ranges upon our men; and on the
3rd the enemy, growing bolder, pushed his skirmishers down to some rocks
on the opposite side of the river, and fired upon the men as they were
watering their horses in the stream. One horse was killed and several
men wounded, and then it was that Buller asked and obtained permission
to make a raid into the enemy's country.
Early in the afternoon Buller was waiting impatiently to cross,
looking, as was said of Picton, "in a heavenly humour, because some one
was likely to be killed." A couple of guns were brought into position on
the banks of the river, to cover Buller's crossing, and, if necessary,
to assist his retreat if hard pressed on his return. A couple or three
rounds of shrapnel made short work of a crowd of Zulus who had
approached on the opposite height in a most impudent manner; and hardly
were the echoes of these heard along the shores before Buller and
Beresford, dashing into the stream with a cheer that made the rocks
resound, were followed over the river by Buller's horsemen, the Mounted
Infantry, and Baker's Horse. A good billiard or racquet player likes a
gallery, and if the very dashing rifleman and _beau sabreur_ were at all
anxious for an audience, they certainly had a large one on this
occasion. In fact the whole camp--if camp you can call a bivouac without
tents--turned out literally in its shirt-sleeves to see the fun. The
fatigue parties stopped their wood-cutting to take a look at the two
camp favourites as they raced like school-boys at a paper hunt after the
Zulus, who were scuttling away like prize pedestrians to gain the
shelter of a friendly kraal. Buller being in command, however, was not
forgetful of his men; and, though galloping at a steeplechase pace, kept
them well in hand, and raced with about a score of his fellows at the
military kraal Dalwayo, on our right front. Beresford, however, being a
sort of chartered libertine, and having no separate command, "went for"
the Zulus entirely, as he subsequently expressed it, "on his own hook."
Meanwhile, by Buller's order, Baker's men, guided by their leader, had
inclined to the left front, to carry and hold a favourable hillock which
commanded the best part of the ford. This piece of thoughtful strategy
proved invaluable at the close of the day, when the horsemen had hard
work to get back. On galloped Buller's men past Nodwengo, Lord William
well to the front, now sabring a Zulu, now stopping to aid a wounded
comrade; while Buller, having picked a hundred of his best-mounted men,
pushed on with the intention of exploring and, if possible, firing
Ulundi.
There was nothing impossible in this project. Buller had good
information that the bulk of the king's army was away upon Lord
Chelmsford's right flank, and that the kraal would possibly have a
slender guard. It was well, perhaps, that this somewhat hairbrained
exploit should not be carried out, and it was stopped as follows:--The
contour of the ground between this point and the king's kraal was formed
by a succession of undulating (at rather a steep angle) plains, which in
the hollows gave admirable cover and concealment to the Zulus. These
large dongas in two places formed positions where bodies of men could be
massed at right angles, and so take an incautious enemy on the flank.
Here the Zulu general, whoever he was, had admirably disposed his
reserves, and here, but for the steady conduct of all hands, Buller
might have met his fate. As suddenly as the mountain warriors of
Roderick appeared above the heather to James Fitz-James, did the tall
Zulu warriors put in an appearance, and from front and flank a very well
sustained fire was poured in upon the daring Buller and his men. But
Buller, with all the dash of a Rupert or a Murat, had much of the
prescience and caution of a veteran, and invariably adopted the
principle which may be indifferently expressed as "having two strings to
your bow," or "not having all your eggs in one basket." He had,
previously to his daring advance in the enemy's country, ordered
Commandant Raaf to halt near Nodwengo, with his horsemen as reserve and
supports. At the imminent moment, therefore, when the Zulus appeared in
the hollows, these gallant fellows came up and saved the day, and it is
more than probable many valuable lives. As Buller and his splendid
marksmen retired by alternate ranks, and as each man fired, dropping his
man, Raaf and his well-trained fellows covered the slow retreat; Baker's
Horse also held the hillock of which mention has been before made, and
did excellent service by the manner in which the Zulus were held in
check. Tremlett's little battery on the right front of the camp kept
back the enemy on the left line of retreat, so that the raid into the
enemy's country, although not productive of any palpable advantage as
regards booty or prisoners, was eminently well carried out as a
reconnaissance in force. The Zulus were exceedingly well led, and it was
impossible not to admire their admirable skirmishing, and the
magnificent manner in which they charged right down to the river's edge,
amidst a storm of grape and shrapnel hurled against them to cover the
retreat. Buller, of course, was wherever hard knocks were most to be
obtained, while Beresford distinguished himself as much by his capital
horsemanship, daring valour, and perfect coolness, as by the noble
chivalry with which he galloped, under a heavy hostile fire, to bring
off, on his tired and overweighted horse, a wounded sergeant of the
Mounted Infantry.
It happened thus:--Just after the volley had been poured in by the Zulus
on either flank, Lord William Beresford, who had literally cut his way
through about fifty Zulus who had tried to surround him, turned in the
saddle to see how his men were getting on, and saw upon the ground a
dismounted and wounded trooper about to be assegaied by half-a-dozen
Zulus. Wheeling his horse round like lightning, he swept like a
thunderbolt on the group, knocking three of the savages over with his
horse's shoulder, and placing the other three _hors de combat_ with a
front and back-hander of his long, heavy sabre. In another moment
Beresford had the wounded man safely _en croupe_, and carried off from
what would have been a cruel death. Commandant D'Arcy, with equal
gallantry, was not so fortunate, for seeing a wounded man on the ground
he sought to carry him off, but his horse, being restive, reared and
fell back, so that the unfortunate trooper was overtaken and assegaied,
while D'Arcy was so severely bruised by falling on his revolver, that,
although able to get back safely, he was unable to take part in the next
day's fight. Three men killed, four wounded, and thirteen horses killed,
was the total loss to our men.
A little before daybreak on the 4th, Wood, with his flying column,
crossed the White Umvolosi, leaving the 1-24th Regiment in laager with
all the heavy baggage and supplies. Lord Chelmsford was so pleased with
Buller's magnificent reconnaissance, that he determined to advance at
once upon Ulundi, giving every temptation to the Zulu army to attack,
upon the plain which had been admirably surveyed two days previously by
Colonel Buller. Nothing could have been better considered, nothing could
have been better planned, and nothing could have been better worked out,
than the details of this splendid action. Every punctilio had been
observed by Lord Chelmsford as regards his answers and promises to
Cetywayo. The General had said he would not cross the river, thereby
placing himself at some considerable disadvantage in a strategic point,
and yet up to noon of the 3rd instant no act of submission was made. On
the 4th, therefore, the main body crossed after Wood's column, and
knowing that the Zulu army were somewhere between the river and Ulundi,
had good reason to hope that they would show fight. Lord Chelmsford
therefore advanced boldly, and without any undue show of caution, across
the plain. They had nothing in the shape of baggage with the exception
of ammunition and water-carts; but each man carried in his haversack
biscuit and preserved meat for four days.
The crossing of the river was made without any opposition, although the
movements of our troops were carefully watched by a body of Zulus from a
neighbouring hillock on the left, and a more brilliant and picturesque
sight could not be imagined. The banks of the river were covered with
tamarinds and acacia, growing right down to the water's edge; while
creeping plants, such as the convolvulus, the jessamine, and the deadly
nightshade, were festooned from tree to tree. The wild guava, the
pomegranate, and many a sweetly-scented bush, pushed upward their
luxuriant undergrowth, and gave out faint odours as they were crushed by
the horses' hoofs. Bees were humming among the sweetly-scented
dholiocs, and the ripple of the stream as it rushed and bubbled over the
clear pebbles below made a music that seemed out of place with thoughts
of bloodshed and strife. With Buller scouting far in front, Wood's
division led the van, Newdigate next, and Drury-Lowe, with his gallant
Lancers, brought up the rear. The fortified camp on the right bank of
the Umvolosi had been left with a Gatling gun, 900 Europeans, and 250
natives, under Colonel Bellairs. As soon as favourable ground had been
reached, Wood was signalled to halt and wait for the main body; and the
order was then given to form a large hollow square, with the ammunition,
two Gatlings, and the entrenching tool-carts and bearers in the centre.
Inside this square were also two companies of Engineers and some native
Pioneers attached, under Major Chard and Captain Ainsley, together with
the _impedimenta_, consisting of water-carts, ambulance-waggons, and
stretchers. The square, although large, was not unwieldy, and the steady
marching of the men prevented the slightest noise or confusion. The
flying column under Wood held the post of honour in the front half of
the square. Major Tucker, with the 80th Regiment, and Major Owen and two
Gatlings in the centre, held the front face. On his right flank were two
7-pounders of Major Tremlett's battery, under Lieutenant Davidson, with
seven companies of the 13th Light Infantry, under Major England,
supplemented in continuation of the right face by two more of Tremlett's
guns, in charge of Captain Brown and Lieutenant Slade; then came one
9-pounder of Major Le Grice's battery, under Lieutenant Crookenden;
four fine companies of the 58th making up the remainder of the right
face. The rear face was composed of one gun of Le Grice's battery, two
companies of the 21st Fusiliers, under Major Hazlerigg, and three
companies of the 94th, under Colonel Malthus. On the left or west flank
were the remaining three companies of the 94th, two 7-pounders of Major
Harness's battery, under Lieutenant Parsons; eight companies of the
90th, under Major Rogers; and two guns of Major Le Grice's battery,
attached _pro tem._ to Major Harness, under Lieutenant Elliott. Buller's
Cavalry were away scouring the front and flanks, while Colonel
Drury-Lowe, with two squadrons of the 17th Lancers, and Captain
Shepstone's Basutos, formed the rear guard. The numbers of all ranks
were as follows:--Flying Column, 2192 Europeans and 573 natives;
Newdigate (2nd Division), 1870 Europeans and 530 natives; making a total
of 5165 men.
Lord Chelmsford and his staff rode in the centre, in rear of the front
face. He, of course, assumed the chief command; and his clear, sharp,
soldierlike voice rang out like a trumpet to the men: "The square will
wheel to the right." This order was taken up by the division as quickly
and calmly as though by a brigade of Foot Guards at Aldershot or the
Curragh. After moving on for a few miles they began to approach the
smaller kraals; and Buller, with his advanced and seemingly ubiquitous
riders, could be seen dashing here and there in every direction to tempt
the Zulu columns, which could now be discerned along the horizon towards
the left front. At the extreme end of the plain the sun glanced down
upon a long line of white shields marching in a sort of double column,
with skirmishers thrown out in European fashion in front and on the
flanks. The square was now halted, while the first kraal was fired.
This, some of Shepstone's Basutos said, was named Umlambo-Bogivimo, and
Buller's men having applied their flints and steel to the task, the
flames and smoke ascended to the sky. Next they came to the great kraal
of King Panda, called Unodwengo; but although this was at first fired,
it was found the smoke acted as such a screen to the Zulus that Lord
Chelmsford ordered its extinction. Strong columns could now be seen
moving out in quick though good order from Ulundi, and as they seemed
bearing down upon the right front, the square took ground to the right
and was halted in a capital position, pointed out to Lord Chelmsford by
Buller. Our troops were now assailed by a dropping but harmless fire
from the Ulundi column on the right front, and from a strong Zulu force
operating in some broken ground from Unodwengo, now on the left. It was
now half-past eight, and by nine o'clock the Zulu attack was fully
developed. Buller's men then made a strong demonstration on the left,
driving the Zulus from the hollow where they were sheltered, back to the
Unodwengo kraal. This movement was well supported by Shepstone and his
Basutos, who skirmished splendidly on the left and rear face of the
kraal. While this, however, was going on, a Zulu on a white horse was
seen leading strong reinforcements from his proper right to assist in
the attack upon the cavalry on the left. The scene was now most
exciting. Buller and his men fought in two ranks, the first mounted and
ready to dash at a moment upon any weak point in the enemy's line; the
second, dismounted, and making capital practice at long ranges, with
their saddles as a rest for the rifle. As soon as the front rank became
too hardly pressed, they cantered to the rear, dismounted, and relieved
the second rank. This is the old Dutch mode of fighting the Zulus, and
it has rarely been found unsuccessful. Colonel Lowe, at this juncture,
asked Lord Chelmsford's permission to send out a squadron of his
Lancers, or even a troop; but the general wisely declined, as the ground
was broken, and the Zulu line too powerful to be charged. Nothing could
be finer than the way in which Buller and Shepstone retired, bringing
the Zulu columns and their horns under the deadly hail of our Gatlings
and Martinis. Now, thought the Zulus, was the time for their grand
attack. Were not the mounted men, under the terrible Buller, flying
before the fierce onslaught of the Zulu braves? Still the line of white
shields came roaring on, like the big white billows that roll on to and
break into foam upon the South Afric shore. The ridges on the front and
left were now swarming with Zulus, fierce, stern, and terrible, as with
fiendish and maniacal shouts they swept over the soft and springy veldt
to be shattered, bloody and broken in their pride, by the leaden tempest
that now whistled from all sides of the square. "Steady, my lads; close
up, fire low, and not so fast!" cried Evelyn Wood, who had his men under
splendid control. "Are the mounted men all in?" said Lord Chelmsford to
General Newdigate. "They are, my lord," replied Buller, who was just
lighting a cigarette. "Then give the enemy a round or two of shrapnel,"
said the chief. Shells from the right and left were now poured in; but
still on came the line of white shields. File-firing from the Martinis
was poured in, but the Zulu columns were deployed, and, regardless of
the _mitraille_, still came on in half-open order. But, under cover of
their strong lines of skirmishers, the Zulu attack was now changed and
further developed on the rear face, where Malthus and Hazlerigg held
post. Hazlerigg, whose tall and stalwart form was conspicuous above the
files of his men, made his front rank reserve its fire till the Zulus
had arrived within sixty yards, and then the word was given to fire low
and steady. The kraal of Unodwengo was, it has been said, upon the left,
and it proved rather a thorn in the side. Behind the rising ground from
which the Basutos had been driven now came a stream of thousands of
Zulus sweeping round the left flank from Ulundi. Their wild yells and
unearthly war-cries smote upon the air, and were heard through the ping
and rattle of the rifle-fire. Under cover of the Unodwengo kraal, and
sweeping over the ground beyond, this strong body, led by the chief on
the white horse, formed a hollow square, and after a few moments' pause
to collect themselves, dashed like a whirlwind upon the right rear angle
of the square. Now every one knows that the angle of a square, like the
salient angle of a bastion, is its weakest point, and for a moment it
seemed a question whether the attack would succeed. The angle was held
by two of Hazlerigg's companies, and although Le Grice's solitary gun,
admirably served, poured forth its most deadly shells, and Hazlerigg
kept his men firing in the most steady manner, at one moment it seemed
as though it would come to close quarters fighting. But one terrific
volley from the 21st, the 94th, the 58th, and Royal Engineers, shattered
their order, their square was broken, and after a moment's pause they
sought shelter from so terrific a fire. Meanwhile the front attack had
again developed, and here the gallant 80th were placed at a certain
disadvantage. That awkward dip in their front enabled the Zulus to make
their formation for attack out of sight and out of fire, so that Major
Tucker's men had to reserve their fire until the tops of the enemies'
heads were seen above the mound. But the 80th behaved so coolly and so
steadily that the front attack at length slackened, and the Zulu line
wavered, and finally ceased to fire.
It was now a quarter to ten, and as signs of wavering were remarked in
every face of the attack, Colonel Drury-Lowe at this juncture had been
allowed to file his men out from an opening in the rear face, and was
just forming them in squadrons, when a spent ball knocked him off his
charger. He was stunned, however, only for a moment, and was again in
the saddle, smiling at his mishap. Now was the moment for which the
gallant Lancers had so long waited. Now every man gripped his weapon
with stiffened sinews and determined heart. "Go at them, colonel, but
don't pursue too far!" shouted Lord Chelmsford, as he raised his helmet
to the men. Moving first at a walk to steady his men, Lowe advanced in
column of troops from the right, and as soon as the ground was
favourable gave the words in succession, "Trot!" "Form squadrons!" "Form
line!" "Gallop!" "Charge!" Away across the broad grassy slopes, and
greeted by a burst of cheering from the square, went the splendid
blue-and-white line, their pennons fluttering in the morning air, and
their bright and deadly steel-topped bamboo lances in rest. On they
went, driving the flying Zulus headlong into a donga, where sweeping
round it the pursuing squadrons forced the enemy out into the open to
fly for safety towards the mountains northward. But flanking the donga,
and hidden by the long grass, half of a Zulu regiment was posted to
cover the retreat, and as the squadrons of Drury-Lowe's men came on a
volley was poured in, which emptied several saddles, and was fatal to
poor young Wyatt-Edgell, who was gallantly leading on his men. His men,
almost maddened as they saw him fall, spurred more furiously on to take
immediate and bloody vengeance.
A moment more and the bristling line of steel meets the black and
shining wall of human flesh, rent, pierced, and gashed by a weapon as
death-dealing and unsparing as their own assegai. Still, though crushed
and stabbed by the lances, and though their firm array was scattered
like sea-foam, the Zulus fought on in stubborn knots, nor cried for
quarter, stabbing at the horses' bellies as they went down, and trying
to drag the men off their horses in the _mêlée_. The lance was now
relegated in most cases to its sling, and the heavy sabres of the
troopers became red with gore. Never was a cavalry attack better timed
or more effective, and never did that oft-abused arm, the lance, better
vindicate its reputation as a weapon of pursuit. But now a troop of the
King's Dragoon Guards, under Captain Brewster, and some irregular
cavalry, are let loose from different sides of the square, and, with
Lord William Beresford full six horse-lengths in advance, charge full
and fair upon the flying savages, who are cut down in scores until they
gain the crests of the hill; but even there no safety or rest is found,
for shrapnel, fired with time-fuzes, scatters them like chaff in the
wind.
The attacking force consisted of twelve regiments, and could not have
been less than 23,000; 15,000 surrounding the British square, and 8000
in reserve. Their loss has been estimated at 1500, but it should
probably be put down as double, for during the whole of the action they
could be seen carrying their dead and wounded away. The total loss to
our troops was not heavy--some dozen killed and about eighty wounded.
Amongst those killed was one officer, of whom might well be said, "We
could have better spared a better man." In the gallant white-and-blue
line of squadrons that swept like a torrent upon the scared and flying
Zulu hordes, there rode no braver, no more knightly spirit than young,
gallant Wyatt-Edgell. The scion of a noble house, and a soldier by
hereditary tradition and birth, he had all the accomplishments and
chivalrous attributes of his race. His loss was a great blow to all, and
his premature though glorious death cast a deep gloom not only over his
own regiment, but over the entire camp in which he had spent so many
cheerful days, esteemed and loved by officers and men alike, from
highest to lowest.
After the battle of Ulundi and the destruction of the king's five great
kraals, Lord Chelmsford marched his division back to Entonyani, where
they remained some days, having had a storm of rain and thunder lasting
thirty-six hours. As they had no tents the first night, the state of
affairs may more easily be imagined than described. The rain came down
in perfect torrents, sweeping away the bivouac fires and pouring through
the camp like the overflow of a mighty river. The men behaved admirably,
taking all the discomforts of their situation with the good humour and
jocularity of disciplined troops. The horses naturally suffered most,
although every attempt was made to picket them in a sheltered spot. On
arriving at Entonyani they found tents waiting for them, and were thus
enabled to get dry and refit. The nights were exceptionally cold and
with heavy dews, causing some little sickness amongst the men.
In fully estimating the importance of this battle, we must not forget
the surroundings, nor the associations of the place. The valley of the
Umvolosi is essentially the heart of Zululand. It is the richest and
most fertile portion of the country, and as such was chosen as the royal
abode. The two branches of the river, named after the district, converge
through it towards the main stream which flows on to St. Lucia Bay. The
one by which the king's great kraal but lately stood passes through a
comparatively open country; and its waters, gleaming clear in the
sunlight, are called "White," just as the waters of the other branch,
which run through a more bushy and broken district, are called "Black."
In the basin drained by this extensive water-system the Zulu nation was
originally cradled. Thither Dingaan retired after he had slain his
brother near the Nonoti. There the brave and bustling Dutchman Retief
and his companions were treacherously murdered in 1838; and there,
again, Bongore, led into a trap the unsuspecting Boers, who were again
duped by his representations, they believing that the king was alone at
Mahlabatini. The valley where this last battle was fought is with the
Zulus a sacred and historic spot. It is rife with what is most dear to
the Zulu pride--legends of bloody massacre, treacherous surprise, and
savage revenge. Dingaan fled from thence; Panda died there; Cetywayo was
first recognized and crowned there. Could the tall and wooded grey
cliffs that looked down upon the combat speak, they could tell, in a
direful tale of tyrannous cruelty and wrong, most of the annals of the
Zulu nation. Year by year they witnessed the periodical gathering
together of Cetywayo's legions, and watched the steady outgrowth of the
savage power whose overthrow, by British troops and British discipline,
they beheld but a few months since. But signal and satisfactory as this
victory was, it could not be accepted as final until Cetywayo had
completely submitted, though some of its effects were immediate and
important.
The day after the battle of Ulundi, and before the victory was known to
the troops of the 1st Division, about 700 Zulus, with all their cattle,
women, and children, came into the camp at Richard's Cove, near Port
Durnford, to tender submission and to claim protection. There is not the
slightest doubt but that they had heard of the battle, although there
was not a whisper of the engagement heard amongst these people. General
Crealock, to give importance to the ceremony, ordered a general parade
of the division at midday, and it was impossible not to be struck with
the attenuated condition of his battalions, although every available man
was put on parade. Both brigades made up rather a weak division. The
1st Brigade was made up of the Buffs, two companies of the 88th, two
companies of the "Shah's" and "Active's" bluejackets, and one of the
marine artillery; while the 2nd Brigade was composed of the Royal
Artillery, 57th, 60th Rifles, and 91st--in all twenty companies. At half
past twelve the General, surrounded by his staff, rode on to the ground,
and the division was wheeled into line. Then a galloper was sent out to
the Zulus who were halted on the crest of the neighbouring hills, and
they were told to advance and lay down their arms. Three hundred
fine-looking fellows then advanced in good order, and arriving at the
prescribed distance, made the customary obeisance while they deposited
assegais and guns, in number about seventy, fire-arms mostly of the old
pattern.
However, time proved that the results of Lord Chelmsford's engagement
and victory on the 4th (July) were of far greater importance than had
been at first imagined. Chiefs and tribes came pouring into the various
camps, not by dozens or by scores, but literally by hundreds, and the
only two questions they asked--and these kept invariably recurring--were
"Why was not the victory of Ulundi followed up vigorously? and why was
Cetywayo allowed to escape?"
It was this great error of immediately retiring from Ulundi which made
us again ridiculous, not only in the eyes of Zululand, but also in those
of military Europe. It was due, not to Lord Chelmsford, nor those under
his command, but to extraneous influences beyond his control; and public
opinion never arrived at a more true or just conclusion than in saying
that the arrival of Lord Chelmsford's successor, no matter how valuable
or how necessary it might have been, came at a most inopportune time,
for it was well known that Lord Chelmsford's plans were so perfectly
matured, that had he been left free to carry out his own designs,
instead of being hampered and constrained by the orders of the new
Commander-in-chief, he would have followed up Ulundi with the utmost
possible activity, and would in all probability have secured the person
of the king. Terms for the final pacification of the whole of Zululand
could then have been dictated on the spot, and there would have been an
end to the entire business.
Under these circumstances therefore Lord Chelmsford determined to resign
all command; and within three days of the brilliant victory of Ulundi it
was known to the soldiers throughout the camp that their General was
about to leave them, and that with him were going Sir Evelyn Wood,
General Crealock, and Colonel Redvers Buller. Accordingly a grand parade
of all arms was ordered on the morning of the 8th (July), that the
General might take a formal leave of his men. At nine a.m. the
bugle-call for coverers was sounded, the staff officers marked the
alignment, and the various corps moved like clockwork upon their
respective pivots. The division was then wheeled into line by General
Newdigate, and the flanks, bringing forward their right and left
shoulders, three sides of a large hollow square was formed, with the
front ranks facing inwards. Lord Chelmsford, his staff, and three
brigadiers formed the fourth side of the square, and in a few
warm-hearted, well chosen, and soldierlike sentences the
Commander-in-chief, under whom the troops had seen so much good hard
work, honest service, and from whom all ranks had received at various
times some recognition of their conduct in camp and on the field of
battle, bade them farewell, and thanked them for the manner in which
their duty to their Queen and country had been performed. "For the
courage, the coolness, and the devotion you have all displayed wherever
I have been with you, I give you my best and my warmest thanks. For the
unselfish devotion and untiring energy and good-humour with which you
have encountered hardship, fatigue, and privation I find it hard to
sufficiently express my gratitude. In all senses you have done your duty
as English soldiers." Such were the concluding words of a leader whom
all loved, respected, and all regretted.
On the following day the camp bivouac was broken up, and the cavalry,
the 2nd Division, and the flying column, marched _en route_ to
Intanjaneni and Kwamagwasa, thus beyond doubt leading Cetywayo and his
indunas to suppose that their losses at Ulundi and want of military
skill caused them to forego the advantages they had won.
Despatches from General Crealock fully demonstrate that his inability to
effect a junction with the 2nd Division before the action at Ulundi was
due to no want of energy or organization on his part, but solely to
those causes which will impede the movements of all bodies of civilized
troops in uncivilized lands. But although sickness amongst the oxen and
other impediments to transport caused General Crealock to lose his share
of the victory gained, his time had not been wasted, for much valuable
work was done in the nature of road-making and raiding over the enemy's
country, thus affording a diversion which considerably weakened
Cetywayo's chances of inflicting a defeat upon the other column. The
task of establishing the new base of supply at Port Durnford and the
building of Fort Napoleon was thrown entirely upon the 1st Division, and
naturally interfered with its rapid advance. The work, however, that
fell to the coast column was fully and admirably carried out, and a
pontoon and a trestle-bridge were built over the Tugela, without which
no important advance could have been made along the coast. The ford over
the Inyoni was rendered permanently practicable, and can, now that the
descent is made easy for waggons, be passed at all seasons. The same
work was effected at the Umsundusi and Amatikula rivers, whose
approaches were made safe for wheels. The Umkusi and Inyezani hills and
drifts were also made passable by improvement in the roads. Along the
Umlatoosi valley numerous small but difficult streams had drifts made
over them. From the Umlatoosi to St. Paul's Mission Station used to be a
bad and most difficult road, but all the dangerous places were now
levelled, and a strong and defensible position was given. Fords were
secured across the Uvulu, the Entonjaneni, the Umvolosi, and the
Umlalasi, and there no physical obstacle was allowed to remain to delay
the march of a European column with its baggage in any part of the coast
and the south of Zululand, while forts had been completed or erected at
Tenedos, Pearson, Crealock, Chelmsford, Napoleon, and Durnford.
The result of this was that Sir Garnet Wolseley, in taking over Lord
Chelmsford's command, found a complete chain of military posts, the
like of which was never before seen in South Africa, extending along the
Zulu frontier from the Blood and Buffalo rivers to the Umvolosi mouth
and Port Durnford, and, in fact, encompassing three out of four sides of
Cetywayo's kingdom.
In addition to the formation of the new base and the seaward
communications the later operations of Barrow's cavalry fully vindicated
the reputation they had obtained for activity. Barrow's Irregular
Mounted Corps, although not so numerous as those of Buller, were equally
worthy of praise, alike for their admirable discipline, courage in
action, and skill in patrolling. They consisted of about fifty enrolled
volunteers under Captain Addison, forming a body called the "Natal
Guides," three troops of Lonsdale's Mounted Rifles, three of the Mounted
Infantry, the Natal Horse, and a very useful contingent of mounted
natives. These, under such leaders as Colonel Barrow, Major Lord
Gifford, Captains Barton and Nettleton, were at once the eyes and ears
of the column. On July 6th Barrow's men made a forced march, during
which they were thirty hours in the saddle, and, reaching Ondini, the
king's old kraal, burnt it to the ground. The patrol paraded overnight,
and started some two hours before daylight, making its way through a
valley district over fifteen miles in length by three or four in
breadth, though here and there narrowing in parts to only one mile, over
lofty spurs and ridges running into it, forming a series of
densely-wooded and impracticable ravines. The weather was intensely hot,
and although the men and horses were both distressed at times, the
troops did their work in a manner which reflected great credit upon all
present. From this valley the road or trek ran for ten or twelve miles
through an open but rather broken country, the hills in the distance
being covered with dense bush. The patrol then turned eastwards over a
table-land which stretched away for about twenty miles, till the edge of
the plateau is reached, and the path descends abruptly into the great
thorn valley to the west of the White Umvolosi; at the edge of this
plateau the coast road joins. From this point the patrol marched a few
miles, and halted for off-saddle and breakfast on the right bank of the
river. The road is fairly good, but passes through thick thorn-bush, and
the country is very broken and contains a number of small streamlets
tributary to the Umvolosi. The drift here is good, and is commanded by a
high stony hill to the north and upon the right of the road, and within
rifle range of one of the smaller royal kraals. The Ondini kraal was
reached about noon. It was occupied by some Zulus, who made away as the
troops advanced at a canter; the place was fired, and in half an hour
was utterly destroyed. The return to camp was made by another road,
which was long and tedious; several of the horses were completely
knocked up, one dying from exhaustion and several having to be abandoned
on the road.