OFFICIAL REPORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 53, 28 February 1879, Page 2

OFFICIAL REPORT.

The Cape Times of Monday, January 2., received by the Garonne, pub, lishes the following official notification, by the High Commissioner's command :— ** The High Commissioner states with regret that he has lecoived a despatch from, General Lord Chelmsford, dated Broke's Drift, 23rd instant, and stating that No. 3 column had sustained very serious loss on the previous day at the camp of war at Isaudala, about nm* miles from Broke's Drift. Lord Che'msford was himself in advauca of the main body of the column. His Excellency states that on hearing that the camp had beeu attacked tiie General at onco moved back, and found that it had been in complete possession of the Zulus. Tents and waggons had been looted tind destroyed, and the Goueral further states that the camp h. d been defended with the utmost gentry ; but our forces were overwhelmed by nuinb.rs. His Excellency dii riot arrive at the camp until nightfall, and: with his troops bivouacked among the' holies of his dead soldiers and the enemy. On the morning of the 28rd, His Excelleucy the General for*6S with him reached tbe Drift witbout interruption, though large bodies of the enemy were seen iii the distance," aud found the fort uninjured. > A determined attaok had been made during ihe night ou the commissariat station there, wbioh was oooupied by companies of the 24th under Lieutenant JBrompead, the whole being under the command of Lieutenant Card, R. 15. These officers and their mon made a moat gallant and effectual wstotanoe.

•_^__n-__— -—-——>—-_-•-— ----__~-»— _--«------__*_» -Tips Excellency states that it is reckoned the attack on the Isandala camp was made by from 15,000 to 20,000 Zulus, and that he cannot yet give any deaails of our severe losses. The latest accounts from authentic sources report that Major D'Annall and Commandant Londsdale's forces at Broke's Drift h.d an engagement with the enemy, in whioh they wore victorious, with a loss to our forces of some of the Natal Native Contigent.