THE DISASTER IN ZULULAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 59, 10 March 1879, Page 4

THE DISASTER IN ZULULAND.

From copies of the Cape Argus and Cape Times to the 25th January, we take the following particulars of the was apain st the Zulus, and the disaster which befel the British Brms on the 22nd January, at Rorke* Drift. The issues of the Argus in which the particulars of disaster are related appears in mourning. The following are the telegrams conveying the news: — Maritizbubg, midnight Jauary 24. Pencil despatch from Lord Chelmaford oo leaf of pocket book, gives brief particulars of appalling disasters on Wednesday last, confirming worst rumours. Ha left his camp, ten milas beyond Rorke's Drift, on Tuesday, leaving it in charge of Colonel Pulleine, to whose support Colonel Durnford with his native contingent was ordered to hurry up. On Wednesday morning the camp was attacked by some 15,000 Zulu wbo cama instantly to close quarters, more than 2COO being slain. The British force was destroyed almost to a man. Colonel Durnford supposed, *nd Colonel Pulluoe, with all bis officers, known to be killed, besides Smith, Russell and McDougal, of artillery, Surgeon bhephard, and iv fact sli but a remnant of the entire force. When intelligence Gsme to tbe general, be retraced bia steps with bis email force, -lading tbe enemy io possession ot the camp. He bad to await reinforcements, but b.fore they came ur» the enemy had decamped. Ho bivouacked amongst tbe dead in the old encampment, and yesterday retired to Rorkt'a Drift, tho camp at which place had been unsuccessfully attacked on Wedcesday afternoon. Nothing has yet been done to retrieve this disaster unprecedented in South African history, and oce, it is everywhere said, due lo tbe folly of taking inlo tbe country a baggage-train of such enormous length. Tbe distress, anxiety, and bumiiiatioa felt here is indescribable.

PiETEBMARiTJ-BUBG, 23rd January. Two large bodies of Zulus have crossed between Fort Pearson and Buckingham. Excitement here is intense. It ia officially reported that Pearson's column was attacked yesterday morning by a force of Zulu 3, estimated to number 4000 men. The waggons were about to outspan when the attack was made, and were, therefore, partially garked; about 300 of the Zulus are reported killed. Our loss consists of: killed — three men B.ff., 2 officers, an J four Native Contingent, one Mounted Infantry ; wounded— -five Bufla, four Naval Brigade, three Native Contingent, ooe MoonleJ Infantry. The action laßted an hour au a-half, when the ecemy ran away in all directions. The engagement took place five miles from Ekowe, upon which place Pearson resumed his march, and which' place he expected to reach to-day, tbe roads being heavy and the oxen too tired to complete tbe march last night. There is no news oi fighting from any other quarter. From the headquarters column it is reported that tbe lorces are employed in making roads passable and tha transport service is being likewise organised. John Dann was bere yesterday, but has returned to the Tugela, after a short interview with the Hi^h Commissioner. Sir Arthur Phayrc arrived yesterday, and an officer ot the Indian Government has been heie seme daye.

Colonel LuDyon is shortly expected. Sir T. Sbcfistoue is wiih the General in Zululand. Gbaham's Town, Jar.vary 24. Twenty - ODe volunteer artillery, under Lieut. Albert Nelsoo, left here this morning in c.rts for _.licedale, en route lo Cspe Towu and Northern border. Guns are there ready. They are excellently equipped, and the response to the Premier's call was as prompt as possible. Agreed to aerve four months.

Durban, Jaiiu try 24. Captain Siaffora and Lieut-nnnl Davies, of th. Natal Naiive Contingent, bos returned to Pieturmaritzburg, bearing the tews of eevere loss suttaiued by a drca Bppßrenlly under the command of Colouel Dura lord, R.E., about ten miief from Rorrk_'_ Drift, od Wednesday, 220 d in.laofc. LieutGeneral Lord Cbelm.ford waa a few mile- in aiiv«ace, and oppe.re io hive been enps,. d ht ttie same time with the Cbitf Nuiyauo, but Colonel D_rnford's hft<J to bear tbe burnt of (he attack (v very strong, possibly the main, body of the enemy) while protecting a lor«e convoy of stores The action bft»an at 11 a.m. with tho enemy 'a .kirmishers, who were supported by dense masses of Zulus. These, in spite of the heavy losses inflicted on them by the fire of our men, gradually dosed in and overpowered them. Some of our men made good tbeir retreat in the direotion tbat Captain Stafford and Mr Davies did, and crossing the river at a ford before Rorke's Drift, reached H.lptnakaar the same night. They believe that others cut their way through the enemy in lhe direction of the General's main force, but there seems no room to doubt that our loss has been very heavy. The exact force engaged is not known, but apparently consisted of tbree companies ot tbe 24ih Regiment and detach ments of the carbineers of the Buffalo Border Guard. A portion of the Commandant Lonsdale's regiment of tba Natal Native Contingent and about 800 natives of Colonel Daroford's battalion, with two gune aod a rocket battery. The following telegram is from the Natal correspondent of the Standard andMqili- UL

Maritzbobg, January 24. On Wednesday the flower of Cete- J wayo's army attacked tbe camp, about ten miles from Rorke'e Drift, and fell ! upon a portion of Colonel Glynn's | column, our force consisting of tbree j companies of the lst-24«h, about 500 j .■Natal mounted natives, two guns and a j rocket battery. Zulus first attacked on bills all round, and as they were shot by infantry) dense masses still came on, gradually advancing under murderous fire; at length overpowered our men and took the camp after deadly hand to hand fight. All soldiers killed, and 300 of the Native Contingent. Zulu lobß estimated at 5000. Tba enemy forced our men across Buffalo River into Natal. Burnt the mission station and returned. Remainder of our forces retreated to Helpmakaur. The Cape Argus gives the following narrative of the events which led up to the disaster of the 22nd January : — The forces under Lord Chelmsford's command, in Natal, Zululand, and the Transvaal, were divided into five columns, — the first, under Col. Pearson, which advanced into Zululand from Natal by the Lower Tugela Drift ; the second under Col. Dunford, that was to advance by the Ferry Drift on the Tugela River; the third, that advanced by Rorke's Drift, on the Buffalo River ; and fourth, under Col. Wood, advancing from tbe Transvaal over the Blood River ; and the fifth, under Col. Rowlands, engaged in watching Secocoeni to the north- east of the Transvaal. With the movements of the latter we shall not deal here, as they have but an indirect connection with the subjugation of the Zululand. Turning to the other four columns, we find that Col. Pearson, having passed into Zululand, advanced towards Undini, Cetewayo's old kraal, and when within five miles of Ekowe, was attacked by a Zulu army. After a fight, lasting over an hour, the enemy were defeated, and Col. Pearson resumed his march. In connection with this matter we would direct attention to the fact that the British force was almost equally divided into Europeans and natives, the English troops in the column numbering 1650, and the coloured contingent 2000. So far as information has been received, Col. Pearson's force has been thoroughly successful, and at a loss of life on his side comparatively small. It has been very different, however with the force under Col. Durnford. This force consisted mainly of natives, who numbered 3300. The only Europeans with it were officers and noncommissioned officers, most of whom went up from the Cape colony aad chiefly from the border districts. In view of what we know to have happened this is important, as those Europeans fresh to that country could hardly be expected to know the language, the habits, or the modes of thought of the men under their command. In a crisis there is no knowing the extent of the mischief this ignorance may have caused, especially when the natives were not supported by a European force in proportion to their own numbers. It appears that Lord Chelmsford desired to advance in Zululand, seemingly with the intention of pushing on to Cetewayo's new kraall, but, fearing to leave his line of communication with Natal unprotected, ordered several companies of the lst.24_h Reg.., under Col. Puelline to remain a few miles on the Zulu side of Rorke's Drift. To strengthen this force, Colonel Durnford was directed to join Colonel Pulleioe with bis native contingent. He did so, aod the force at the camp under Colonel Durnford, who was senior officer, numbered about 4000 men. On Wednesday morning they were attacked by 15,000 Zulus The a.sauit proved successful. Though beaten off several times, numbers and discipline carried the day, and the Natal Native Contingent, hastly organised and officered as we have described, had to submit to defeat at tbe hands of the well-disciplined forces of the Zulu king. Our native troops are reported to have fought witb a bravery that called forth the praise of the Europeans, but they weie crushed by tbe massive columns of lhe Zulu regiments, and broke into disorder. The men of the 24th regiment upheld the honor of tho English name, and were true to tbe traditions of a corps whose color- bear mnny of the names of tjie most famous battles iv modern British history. Tbe gallant 2_th had to choose between death and dishonor, aud, as the story reaches us, almost to a man they gave their lives rather than turn their backs tn the enemy. On Wednesday last some hundreds of British soldiers were sb t down or aasagaied in conflict with a foe twenty times their number. Whilst we deplore the loss of these gallant men, we feel proud of them and their native comrades. Colonel Durcford'a column was utterly destroyed. Some of its members fled into ISatal, and others tried to cut their way through the Zulus to join Colonel Glyn. All its stores and arms were taken by the enemy, who pursued the fugitives to the Buffalo River.