THE WAR AT THE CAPE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 94, 26 February 1879, Page 2

THE WAR AT THE CAPE.

(m FREES AGENCY,) The Cape Times of Monday, January 2f, received by the Garonnej publishes the following official notification by the Hio'h Commissioner's command The High Commissioner states withregrot that he lias received a despatch from General Lord Chelmsford, dated Rorke's Drift, 23rd instant, and stating that No. 8 column had sustained yevy serious loss on the previous day at the camp of war at Isandala, about nine miles from Rorke's Drift. Lord Chelmsford was himself in advpeo with the main body of tho column. His Excellency statfe? tjiat tho moimped pplic'c and several corps ; under' Captain Shepstone's command, together 'with two battalions.pf the IfjUal native contiiir gent under Commandant Lonsdale, proceeded to search in tho Atynns (?) district. Major Dartwoll, in command of the mounted troopers, says that tliey found it necessary on the nicjht of tlip 21st to bivouac about sixtpen miles from Isandala, and o)i tjip following morning Lord Chelmsford proceeded witli the 24th, undor Colonel Pegacher, with four guns of the 'Royal Artillery undor Colonel Havneas of the mounted infantry, and two companies of pioneers (the whole under the command of Colonel Gwynric), to strengthen them. The troops left in Isandala consisted of five companies of the Ist battalion of the 24th Regiment, two guns of the Royal Artillery, about twenty Bpntqd tyfaiitry, mounted pplice,. a\id 39 Natal volunteers, beside numerous camp followers. 1 The rocket battery uhdilr Captain Russell, tho Royal Artillery, and troops of the Natal native contingent, commanded by Colonol Dunsford, 11, E., arrived at the camp in the course of the morning. On hearing that the camp had been attacked the General at once moved back, and found that it had been in complete possession of the Zulus. Tents and \vaggptia had been looted and destroyed, apd tlie' ggneral further states thaj; thq camp had been defended with tjie utmost gallantry; but loui forces were' Alter, whelmed by numbers, His Excellency did not arrive at the camp until nightfall, and with his troops bivouacked among the bodies of his dead soldiers and of the

enemy. Oil tho mowing of the 23rd his Excellency tho Goneral and tho forces with him reached the Drift without interruption, though large bodies of the enemy were seen in the distance, and found thefort uninjured. A determined attack'had been madedurinst the night on the commissariat stationed there, which was occupied by companies of the 24th under Lieutenant Brompead, tho whole " being under tho command of Lieutenant Chard, R.E, These officers and their men made a most gallant and effectual resistance. His. Excellency states that it is reckoned that the attack on tho Isandala camp was made from 15,000 to 20,000 Zulus, and that-he cannot yet give any details of our severo losses." The latest accounts from authentic sources report that Major D'Artnall and Commandant Lonsdale's forces at Rorke's Drift lihd an engagement with the enemy, iifcjyhich they were victorious, with a loss to'our forces of some of the Natal native contingent.