TERRIBLE DISASTER TO THE BRITISH ARMS.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 84, 10 May 1879, Page 2

TERRIBLE DISASTER TO THE BRITISH ARMS.

Tho following is an occount of the Isanahlwana disaster, given by one Of the survivors:—" About H or 0 a.in. the enemy showed themselves on the tops of the hills around, sometimes about a hundred at a time, sometimes less. On arriving at the camp we found Colonel l'ulleino had made the following preparations : 24th falling in, guns in position, bullocks, mules, 4c., inspened in their respective vohicles, frequent communication being kept up with the outposts and

patrol, various raporta kept coming in. ' The enemy were reported to be in three columns number* not known, than that the enemy were retiring in all directions.' Colonel Durnford arid: ' Oh, they are retiring, are they V and immediately »ei.t two troops of mounted natives on the hills surrounding the position, and took with him two troops of the rocket battery and one company native infantry, the remainder of the native contingent being baggage guard. He asked the Colonel Pulleine to let him have two companies 24th; but to this the colonel objected, saying that his orders were 'to defend the camp' However, after some altercation, Colonel Duruford started without any detachment of the 24th. He went at a canter for about live miles, towards the hills; an orderly came down and said the enemy were in force at the book of them. lie had hardly breathed the words when the Zulus came over at the front of us in thousands, and dense crowds of skirmishers. They ala j appeared towards our left. There were several dongahs or watercourses intersecting the plain between us and the camp, and to the first of these we retired, exchanging and returning the fire of the Zulus, which was opened on us at about 700 yards. We retired steadily for about two miles, firing the Zulus firing from the left. We then came upon the remains of the rocket battery and infantry, which had been cut up. Leaving the enemy on the hill immediately to oar true left Russell fired three rockets at them, but a volley in return startled the mules as well as the native infantry, and caused some confusion, and it was about this time that Russell was killed. We drove book the enemy on our left with our left troop, by wheeling up, while the right troop gradually retired, and at the dongsh nearest to the camp we were > reinforced by about forty mounted men. This position was held for some little time. While this was going on the two ■troops on the bills and the left gradually fell bock, and the artillery and 24th kept up a continuous fire on the enemy who had now covered the hills as well as the plains in front, and numbering in all between 15,000 and 10,000, and extending in length upwards of live miles. The Zulus then moved steadily on, and never slackened their pace, and no amount of casualties seemed to affect their determination to take the camp. The position now taken up was as follows:—Two guns were on the extreme left, four companies 24th at left centre, two companies on the left, with the mounted men in the dongnh in the front of the camp, extending towards the left. After about twenty minutes these positions were untenable and a retreat from them was made. The artillery moved along from left to right, and tried to make for the road to Rorke's Drift, while the 24th endeavoured to fall back upon the hill, and the mounted men upon a hill on the extreme right. The guns got a little way on the road, but were cut off by the Zulus, who, by this time, had reoohed the road in our rear. They (the guns) then struck off the road into the veldt, but came to grief in a dongnh, and wese abandened, nearly all the artillerymen, including Major Smith, beiug killed. About this time the Zulus were all amongst the 24th, stabbing them with their assegais. A few, however, of the mounted men escaped ; they ran the gauntlet for five miles ; being fired at the whole way, with men being osseguied right and left. The route was over a country which might bo called impassable, and how any hones managed to travel it is a marvel to every one. They got down to the Buffalo River by slipping down slopes which are almost pices, and here was another danger—the river was high, and there was a bad drift. Numbers of horses and men were drowned, but those who managed to mount the steep bank on the opposite side were safe." It is reported that the bodies of the killed wear fearfully treated by the Zulus. In the battle iteelf it is said the young drummers were tossed about on assegais by the enemy. With respect to the attack on Rorke's Drift, on 25th of May, the Cape Argus is severe in its comments on tho conduct of some of the troops. It says: —When the enemy approached the encamptmeut, Dure ford s horse bolted for Helpi nakar, and about the tame time Captain Stephenson, of the Natal Native Contingent, with a detachment of his men, also retired out of danger. We hope an inquiry will be made into these desertions, disgraceful as they seem to us and that if cowardice is proved, an example will be made of Captain Stephen • son. In consequence of these men leaving, Lieutenant Chard had bat 139 officers and men under his command, and of these thirty-five were sick in hospita , The enemy who attacked the force numbered about 8000. The Yorke'a Drift garrison under Lieutenant Chard, made % gallant resiitaneo, killing about 350 of their opponents. Dabulmanza, brother of Cetewayo. who led the attack on Rorke's. Drift, has been mad* a prisoner in consequence of his violation of the king's commands not to crosa, tho border. Usirayo is also a prisoner, bound hard and fast at the kings kraal. Urnbelino is also there, but not the duranco— Capo Argus, Feb., 80.