Recovery of the Colors of the 1-24th Regiment.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3176, 24 April 1879, Page 2

Recovery of the Colors of the 1-24 th Regiment.

The Natal Witness iiiygi'-^On Tuesday, February 4, a party went oat from oar little camp at Boferk'i Drift, JOttuitHmgiat Major Black, of the 2-24 th Kegiment, tie Rer.Gtoo. Smith, chaplain to ths forettT, Captain Hafford tfJ agd, nineteen rntn, of Commandant" Lonsdal's Corua, ■ EmMm Ck»: Ibm «#^four men of tbe Natiro Mountsd Contingent, and Mr BrieUriU, Interpreter to the Staff. The downward course of the Buffalo Hirer wai followed

until the crossing place (an almost impassable drift) was reached, where many of our brave fellows, after the carnage of the Isandhlwana camp, had essayed to pass, and perished in the attempt. The route was strewn with the dead bodios of natives, the majority being either members of the Natal Native Contingent or loyal natives. who believed in the supreme power of the Government, or the masical effect of a boundary line even to tho last. When the Bteep path-leading down the precipitous rocks to the river was reached, and scouts posted, the descent was made; and halfway down, nearly half-a-mile from the river, lay the bodies of Adjutant Melville of the 1 24tb. and Lieutenant Coghill of the General's Staff. Tliey were decently interred, and the service periformed by the chaplain; Lieutenant Coghill's ring, and Adjutant Melville's spurs, and other articles belonging to the brave fellows, being carefully taken charge of by their comrades. The path thence to the river was strewn with the dead Zulus, and the various paraphernalia of savage warfare. Arrived at the river, dead horses, saddles, itirrupß, spurs, leggings, charms, and other articles of native dress (accidentally or purposely cast off), with the roaring stream foaming over huge boulders between precipitous cliffs, covered with bush and aloes, showed the spot where the, rushing torrent and the savage foe Hike,,overwhelmed many a brave man. About five hundred yards below the erosBipsyjlace, Mr Harbour, of Commandant Corps, succeeded in finding the Queen's Colors of the l-24th, with pole complete, injured by the action of the rapid stream, but otherwise untouched. The gilt Lion and Crown, to surmount the pole, and the color-case, were found by two other of Lohds.dale's men a few yards lower down. The colors were borne back at the head of the little cavalcade in triumph, and when Eoerk's Drift Fort were reached, the soldiers left their dinners, or whatever occupation they were engaged upon, overjoyed at the sight of their lost colors regained, and gave their heartiest cheers for their old flag, and for Major Black and the volunteers who had recovered it. The Major, in a few wellchosen words; then handed the colors to Colonel Glyn, amidst loud huzzahs, and the Colonel, with heartfelt emotion, on behalf of himself and the regiment, thanked the little band for the noble work that they had voluntarily undertaken and so successfully performed.