THE DEFENCE OF RORKE’S DRIFT.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 142, 3 May 1879, Page 3

THE DEFENCE OF RORKE’S DRIFT.

• The report of Lieut. Chard upon the splendid defence of Rorke’s Drift by him and the small force under his command, is as follows: — Chard had been left in charge at Rorke’s Drift by Major Spalding, who had gone to Helpmakaar to hurry forward a company of the 24th Regiment, It was at 3.15 on the afternoon of the 22nd that Lieut. Chard was first informed of the disaster at Isandula ; and immediately afterwards he received a message from Lieut. Bromhead commander of the company of the 24th Regiment at the camp near the commissariat stores —asking him to come up at once. He immediately gave instructions to strike tents, and to put all stores into the waggons. He made his way to the commissariat stoic, wheie he found that Lieut. Bromhead had received a note fx’om the ord column stating that the enemy was advancing in force against the post at Roike s Drift, which they were ordered to strengthen and hold at all costs. Biomhead had already begun the woik of entrenchment, and Chard then superintended the he says, “ round our position down to the ponts, and brought up along with their guard one sergeant and six men, the gear, waggons, &c. I desire here to mention for approval the offer of these nont guards, Daniel and Sergeant Milne" of the 3rd Buffs, who, with their comrades, volunteered to moor the pouts out in the middle of the stream, and there to defend them from the decks, with a few men to assist. We arrived back at our post at 3,30 p.m., and shortly after an , officer with some of Durnford’s Horse came in, and asked orders from me. I requested him to send a detachment to observe the drifts and point, and to throw out vedettes in the direction of the enemy, in order to check their advance as much as possible, his men falling back upon the post when forced to retire, and thereafter to assist in the defence. I next requested Lieut. Bromhead to station his men, and, having seen every man thoroughly know his post, the rest of the work went quickly on.” Firing was first heard behind the hill to the south at 4.20 about one hour after they had received the first hint about the disaster, “ The officer of Durnfovd’s Horse returned, reporting that the enemy were close upon us. His men, he told me, would not obey orders, but were going off towards Helpmakaar, and I myself saw them in retreat, numbering apparently about 100, going in that direction. About the same time Captain Stephenson’s detachment of Natal Native Contingent left us—as did that officer himself.” Chard now saw that tbeir line of defence was too extended, and at once commened an inner intrenchment of biscuit boxes, out of which they bad completed a wall two boxes high, “ when, about 4.20 p.m., five or six hundred of the enemy came suddenly in sight around the hill to the south. They advanced at a run against our south wall, hut were met by a well-sustained fire ; yet, notwithstanding heavy loss, they continued to advance till within 50 yards of the wall, when their leading men encountered such a hot fire from our front, with a cross one from the store, that they were checked. Taking advantage, however, of the cover afforded by the cook-house and the ovens, they kept up thence heavy musketry volleys ; the greater number, however, without stopping at all, moved on towards the left round our hospital, and thence made a rush upon the north-west wall and our breastwork of menlie bags. After a short but desperate struggle,' those assailants were driven back with heavy the bush around our works. The main body of the enemy close behind had meantime lined the ledge of rocks and filled some caves overlooking us at a distance of 100 yards to south, from whence they kept up a constant fire. Another body, advancing somewhat more to the left than those who first attacked us, occupied a garden in the hollow of the road and also the bush beyond it in great force, taking special advantage, of the bush, which we had not had time to cut down. The enemy was thus able to advance close to our works, and in this part soon hold one whole side of wall ; while we, on the other hand,. kept back a series of desperate assaults which were made on a line extending from the hospital all along the wall as far as the bush. But such attack was most splendidly met and repulsed bj r our men with the bayonet. Corporal Scbiess,’ of the Native Natal Contingent, greatly distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry. The fire from the rock behind our post, though badly directed, took us completely in reverse, and was so heavy that we suffered very severely, and at 6 p.m. wore finally forced to retire behind the entrenchment of biscuit boxes. All this time the enemy had been attempting to force the hospital, and soon after succeeded in setting fire to the roof. The garrison of the hospital defended the building room by room, bringing out the sick who could be removed before they retired. Privates Williams, Hook, Jones, and W. Jones, of the 24th Regiment, were the last four men to leave, holding the doorway against the Zulus with bayonets, their ammunition being quite expended. From want of interior communication and from smoke it was found impossible to carry off all the sick, and, with"most heartfelt sorrow and regret, we could not save a few poor fellows from a terrible fate.” The enemy then made desperate attempts to fire the roof of the stores, and seeing that and the hospital on fire, they converted- the

mealie-hag heaps into a sort of redoubt, which gave a second line of fire all along. They were now completely surrounded, and, after repulsing several furious assaults, they were eventually forced to retire to the middle and then to the inner wall of the kraal on the east of the position they first had. Throughout it all they had to sustain a desultory fire kept up all night ; but all the assaults were vigorously repulsed. The men fired with the greatest coolness, not wasting a single shot—a matter of the utmost importance in the circumstances. Even the light from the burning hospital proved of great advantage. The firing finally ceased at 4 a. m. on January 23rd ; and at daybreak the Zulus were observed passing out of sight over the hill to the south-weat. Even then, however, the little band did not relax their vigilance. They strengthened their position as much as possible, and this proved to be wise, for about 7 a, m. a large body of the enemy once more appeared on the lulls to the south-west. Wood was sent on to Helpmakaar asking help ; but about 8 a. in, “the British Third Column appeared, and at sight of this the enemy, who had been gradually advancing towards us, commenced falling back as our troops approached. And so it was all over. Lieutenant Chard estimates the number of the attacking force at 3000, of whom about 350 were killed. The total number of men in the camp at Rorke’s Drift was 139. The following is the list of killed : —Sergeant Maxfield ; privates Scanlan, Hayden, Adams, all of the 2-24th ; Privates Nicholls, Horrigan, Jenkins, l-24th; Mr Byrne, Commissariat Department ; Trooper Hunter, Natal Native Contingent ; Trooper Anderson, Natal Native Cavalry. Total, 14, and 12 wounded, of whom two have since died—Sergeant Williams, 2-24th ; Private _ Beckett, l-24th. In a general order issued by Lord Chelmsford respecting this brilliant defence he says he feels sure the gallant conduct of the garrison will receive ample recognition, and trusts the example set by a few brave men, and the success that attended their noble efforts, will be taken to heart by all under his command.