THE FIGHT NEAR THE ZULULAND BORDER.
0 — ; A Severe Engagement. Gallant Defence by a British
Garrison.
South African papers contain graphic accounts of the remarkable action near the Zululand border in September last, in which the Boers suffered severly. The special correspondent of the “ Durban Mercury,” writing from Kandhla on September 27th, says “ What is admitted to be the severest contest of the war took place in this vicinity yesterday between the force of Louis Botha and a small British garrison at Itala Camp. It was known for a little time previously that the Boer forces, some 1500 to 200 strong, were manoeuvring around Babanango in the direction of Vryheld, and on Wednesday last it was known definitely that an attack was pending. The garrison at Itala consisted of three companies of mounted infantry, composed of the Dublin Fusiliers, Middlesex, Dorsets, South Lancashire?, and Lancashire Fusiliers—about 300 men all told, with two 15 pouuders of the 69th Battery Eoyal Artillery and a Maxim, all under the direct control of Major Chapman, than whom a more capable officer or brave leader it would be hard to find. By 10 o’clock on Wednesday night everything was in readiness to receive the enemy, and shortly after midnight our outposts wore in the thick of it. The outpost camp was situated on the (op of the Itala and was not visible from the main camp beneath. This consisted of eighty men, under Lieutenants Kano and Defroy. So fierce was the onslaught -by the Boers that within the space of twenty minutes nothing could be used by our troops bun (ho cold steel, and of that they made good use, sucli as only a British i-oldicr can, the piles of dead remaining on the top of the mountain telling their own gruesome tale. “Six hundred Boers against eighty British soldiers was, however, too much odds and the inevitable result was that by 1 o’clock the summit of the Itala Mountain was in the hands of the enemy, and Major Chapman’s defending force was reduced to little over 200 men. The enemy was supposed to be 15C0 strong, but it is now ascertained that they brought close on 4000, these being under the direct personal command of Botha, who was supported by every Boer general of repute. After the Boers gained summit of Itala Mountain and captured the outposts, the guns of the 69th Battery were placed out of action, the horses shot, and the gunners rendered
hors de combat. An unlucky bullet striking under the Maxim choked the mechanism with earth, put the gun also out of action. This little band of defenders had only to rely on i’ifles and bayonets, which they used to perfection. R-peatedly lbs Boers demanded surrender, only to he met by volleys and i.ayonet charge . The enemy seemed possessed with some heroic madness, and men who have participated in other engagements say they haVo never seen the Boers exhibit such reckless daring. Piles of dead and dying Boers in front of the trenches testified to the inherent grit of the British soldiers. Scarcely a horse was left alive in the British camp, and the troops wore short of Water, their supply being cut off by the Boers at the first outbreak, and by seven o’clock on Thursday night the outlook for the defenders was anything but a happy one tired out with constant fighting for nineteen hours, short of ammunition, and officers and men lying wounded and dead all over the place. “About seven o'clock last night a cessation of firing on the part of the Boers pointed to some new developeraonts, and a little later it was found that they had evidently had enough of it, and had retired across the border. Documentary evidence found next morning proved that they despaired of taking the position, This retirement left the road open to Major Chapman to also retire with his fagged out but gallant little band, and they consequently arrived at their old camping ground at the magistracy in the early hours of this morning. They had had just nineteen hours’ solid fighting against foe who were least eight times their number.
“The attack proves to have been the severest contest, and moat disastrous to the enemy of any during the long campaign up to the 29th instant. Three hundred and thirty-two dead bodies of Boers were recovered by our burial parties. The enemy were busy during the fight removing dead, and, judging by reports from various quarters, their total loss in killed cannot fall short of 500. They admit 300 wounded, but when the Boer representations on this score during the war are remembered, it may be concluded that their casualties have been extensive and serious. Had the Boers succeeded possibly another invasion of Natal would have taken place, however disastrous to the invaders,
“Major Chapman paraded his heroes on the 29th, and read a congratulatory message from Lord Kitchener, which stated that the Major had been recommended for the Y. C., and that he felt all deserved it.
“While the main body of the Boers was attacking the Itala camp yesterday, another large body devoted their attention to the Prospect camp, about ten miles on the Melmoth road, held by Captain R owley and about twenty men with a Maxim. This camp was in a much better position for defence than Itala. Though fighting great odcUjlie gallant little garrison with" stood all attacks, and although completely surrounded beat the enemy off in every direction. So complete was the demoralisation of the enemy that they did not attempt to bury the majority of their dead, some sixty dead bodies lying round the fort telling their own talc. The total number of their killed at this point is not known, but I do not think that if it were put dvwn at 100 it would be an exaggeration. Of course, their actual casualties will never be known. The casualties amongst the little garrison at Fort Prospect were one killed and twelve wounded.
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Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 16 November 1901, Page 4
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1,002THE FIGHT NEAR THE ZULULAND BORDER. Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 16 November 1901, Page 4
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