The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-05-10 00:00:00

THE ZULU WAR.

THE BATTLE OF GINGIHLOVO.
The Union Steamship Company's Royal Mail steamer
Roman arrived in Plymouth Sound on ruesday morning,
after a passage (exclusive of stoppages) of nineteen days
twenty-three hours, the shortest yet made by any vessel,
calling, as she has done, at St Helena, Ascension. St Vin-
cent, and Madeira She Id: the Cape on April 15, and brit•ge
detailed accoun s of the b Aide of laingtoovo, a grapple des-
cnpt oa of which was given immediately after the engage-
ment (aud tue whole of a supplement devoted thereto) by
the Cape Argus. The letter is dated April 2, and we give
the foilowing extracts therefrom :
- -

The site of the Gingihlovo camp was of John Dunn's
selection, which is no mean guarantee for its suit-
ability. In the neighbourhood are the ruins of a
military kraal burned by Pearson's force upon his ad-
vance into the country. The position is commanding,
and wood and water are plentitul in moderately close
proximity. On all sides except the rear, the ground
falls uwey gently into the bread valley of the
Inyezane, which hereabouts is somewhat thickly
wooded with a considerable belt of the stunted
mimosa, which is without any rival here as elsewhere.
The long grass round about is very luxuriant, and at
a distance of about 300 yards on the left front of the
camp waved a mellow held of Kaffir corn just ripe
for the sickle. On every face of the position, at
only a few steps from the shelter trenches, there are
numerous little hillocks and clumps of bash, not
capable of affording much cover, but suffieient to con-
ceal an advance upon the camp. If only the ground
had been cleared for a distance of, say, 300 yards on
all sides, no camp could have offered better oppor-
tunities for repelling an assault. Of the events
which have already occurred here, or which may
yet occur, some are likely to live long in
the memory of all those who have borne any
part in the relief of Ekowe, and not all of these
events have immediate relation to the exchange of
hard blows. From an eaely hour yesterday morning it
had been steadily threatening for rain, and laager was
scarcely formed when the storm came down upon us.
Everybody sought what poor shelter they could find
under the lee of the waggons, and for half an hour or
more the rain fell in torrents, the thunder pealed its
loudest, and the heavens were all ablaze with the purple
lightning. It was four o'clock when the storm cleared
away, and the cendition in which it left the laager and
its inmates may be better imagined than described.
Six thousand human beings and 3,000 head of oxen
horses, and mules all pent up within a narrow spec
not more than 200 yards square, and all knee deep in
mud, formed a picture ot perfect wretchedness and
discomfort; while the ground remained in so damp
a condition that cooking was all but impossible;
and the General became a very popular man
when it was announced that he had ordered to be
served out to each man—natives alone excepted
—a liberal ration of grog, Soon after nightfall, while
the troops were doing what little they could to make
the best of a very miserable situation, the alarm was
given, and every man struggled through the mud and
the mire to his appointed p at, there to take part in
repelling the expected attack. Nothing came of it,
however, and the order was shortly given to disperse.
We were not altogether unprepared for the attack
made upon us a few hours ago, for Dunn's invaluable
scouts observed last night, at no great distance from
Gingihlovo, a number of camp and signal fires', de-
noting the presence, between us and Ekowe, of
a considerable body of the enemy. Luckily there
was no mist under cover of which we might be
taken by surprise. On the contrary, that morn-
ing was bright and fine, and the first ray of the
rising sun disclosed to view on the slopes of the hills
about two miles away on our right front a long heavy
column of the enemy, estimated by competent men at
ten or eleven thousand. Before entering the bush in
the valley below two wings had branched off, and the
whole force had all but completed a deploy movement
'before it emerged on the plains below us. It was quite
easy to perceive, however, that a larger number issued
from the bush than had originally entered it, and the
general opinion seemed to be that at least half of the
entire impi was held in reserve. The celerity of
the enemy's movedients evoked more than a little ad-
miration and surprise. From the moment when he '
was first sighted the advance was maintained without
any halt or divergence, and so rapidly did the circle
form around us diminish in extent, that the front
line of skirmishers was within range of both rifle and
cannon almost befcre the reality of the attack had be-
come quite understood, and the defenders of the Jaeger
had settled into their proper position. It was hoped that
the enemy would be allowed and encouraged to come to
close quarters for we were not far short of seven thou-
sand rifles, with a couple of nine-pounders, and the
same number of Gatlings, and four rocket-tubes, with
the enormous advantage of being strongly entrenched;
while against us were pitted less than our own number
of naked savages provided with inferior arms, and
attacking as we have since discovered agaiaet their own
better judgment. But it was determined otherwise, and
at ten or fifteen minutes after six the enemy being then
at a distance of about 1,000 yards, the ball was opened
by a discharge from the Boadicea's Gatling, placed at
the south-eastern angle of the position, The enemy
was not slow to reply, and shortly the whir and the
whiz, the ping and the dull thud of the various
missiles, were to be heard at every puiat of the laager.
One of the first shots, if not the very first, struck
Colonel Nerthey, a popular officer, second in command
I of the 60th Rifles.
Colonel Low, with the several corps previously
enumerated as forming the leading division of the
column of advance, was entrusted with the defence
of the left flank and the rear, and he, with that
very promising staff fficer Captain Hart, was to be
seen wherever the fire of the enemy became hottest.
Colonel Pemberton was in command of the other
two sides of the position, and Lord Chelmsford him-
self had the supreme direction of the defence. The
attack was fully developed before twenty minutes
after six, the Zu2us having come on at the
double in most magnificent style indeed, the
attack was so unquestionably bold, that British
offices's were heard frankly to declare that British
troops—than wkom we have not yet learned to believe
there are better in the whole civilised world—could not
have done anything better, if se well. The civilised
soldier avails himself of anything that may offer in the
way of protection from the missiles of his antagonist;
and if he centinues to advance in the teeth of a murder-
ous fire, it is because of the moral support he derives
from immediate contact with some one within hand's
reach who stands in the same perilous position as
himself; but the Zulu despises cover, and he presses
eagerly forward, though there be net a friend or a
comrade within a dozen or more yards of him. The
enemy's fire was both feebly and badly directed, too,
and the majority perhaps of those who sustained anj,
casualtiee, either in the trenches or the laagar, were
tit through enfilading. Nevertheless, the bullets
rained in upon the parapet of the breastworks in num.
bers sufficient to make men, who had previously
thought sheltered trenches sup-rfluous, give a recogni-
tiun of their practical value. Upon our aide, on the
other hand, the fire was less feeble then effective. In
fact, although the average is said to come out at less
than eleven rounds per man, there was amongst
some particular corps a decided waste of ammuni-
tion. The older soldiers, such, for instance, as the
i• Old Die Herds," and the splendid fellows who re-
present the Navy, which may happily yet continue
England's pride, were not open to this animadver-
sion. •. . The attack nowhere culminated in a
rush, and nowhere had the most unexampled valeur a
chance against the deadly hail which poured upon the
luckless warriors who had come so bravely to their
defeat and death.
Shortly after half-past six firing ceased altogether
on the front face, and a quarter of an hour afterwards
the mounted men, quickly followed by the two native
battalions, were slipped over the trenches and "went
for " the enemy in good style, he retiring somewhat
precipitately, but not until a well-directed volley at
Nettleton's men had stretched some half-dozen of
them low. This was the moment for the sabre
or the lance to do its work, for although the
Native Contingent were anything but backward
in entering upon the pursuit, when they got
into the open they dodged about a little, hang.
lug back whenever it seemed likely that a stand
would be wade. Possibly they displayed a wise
discretion, for a Zalu at bay, I should imagine, would
be a rather a ugly customer to deal with. Major
Burrow, with about 50 men of the• Mounted Infantry,
did succeed in getting amongst a small body of the

enemy, who retired rather sullenly after failing in
their attack upon the rear faoe of the camp. Some
20 or 30 of the beaten foe were thus out down, and
many of the remainder who sought to es.spe the sabre
by falling fiat upon the ground fell into the hands of
Barton's natives, who had come up close on the rear of
the Mounted Infantry. The pursuit was net con-
ducted with much zest, and long before eight o'clock
mounted men and natives were all bask in camp. . . .
[Upon oounting the losses, it appeared that the
casualties were as follows :—One officer and ten men
killed; three officers and forty-eight men wounded.)
The (sfficer killed was Lieutenant George C. J.
Johnson, instructor of musketry in tilts 90th Regi-
ment. Ile loss of this gallant young officer is
universally deplored. He was the life and soul of
his regiment, which, as one of his superior officers
declares, could have better spared a better man.
He was shot through the heart, death being almost
instantaneous, and he fell with one of those merry
j-sts upon his lips whieh had done not a little to
make him the friend sod the favourite of all ranks
amongst his comrades in arms. Of Colonet
Northey mention has been already made. Capt.
Hinxtnab's wound was nothing serious nor was that of
6urgeon Long tield, of the Tenedos, certainly the most
popular man amongst the medical men doing duty
with this column. . . . There were some narrow
escapes, of course, principally amongst those whose
duties made it impossible for them to take advantage
of such cover as might offer. Colonel Crealock, for
instance the assistant imildary secretary, and Lord
Chelmsford's right-hand man, had the sleeve of his
tunic pierced by a bultet ; Lieutenant Moly-
neaux, A.D.C., had his horse shot under him, he
came to dreadful grief in a mudhole ; Lieutenant St.
Clair, the dashing adjutant of the 91st Highlanders,
had his helmet pierced by a bullet; and if Mr. Mylne,
the naval A.D.C. escaped without more than one
narrow shave, it was a matter for great marvel, seeing
the extent to which he was throughout exposed.
There were doubtless hairbreadth escapes, too, in the
lower ranks, but they have not been accorded general
mention.
•

The enemy's loss as at first estimated was not more
than 400 men, but this has now swelled to a total
which I should be slow to accept but for the positive
official declaration that more than 700 bodies have
been given sepulture within a radius of 1,000 yards from
the camp. According to the reports ot wounded pri-
soners, Dabulamaezi, "The Troubler of the Waters,"
and brother to the King, was in chief c)mme.nd upon
the side of the enemy lt would seem as
though Dabulamanzi had been but very imper-
fectly informed as to the real strength of the
force with which Lord Chelmsford left the Tugela,
The prisoners were unanimons in stating that there
had been serious differences of opinion as to the
wisdom of attacking us while in laager, but that
Dabulmanzi had overruled all objections. The
Zulu general's judgment was possibly sound; but,
tortunately for us his information was anything
but correct. Thinking the original plan had been
adhered to, he imagined the force opposing him to
be insignificant, and thought, moreover, teat per-
manent posts would be formed at distance from
one another of only a very few miles. Hearing of
our arrival at Gingihlovo, he resolved upon attacking
at once, lest we should "dig a hole," and become as
impervious to attack as we evidently were at Ekowe.
But rain affects the savage certainly no less that it
affects the civilised soldier, and the storm which came
down within a few hours of our arrival, made it neces-
sary for Dabulamanzi to postpone the immediate exe-
cution of his intention. The attack accordingly did
not come off until this morning, and the result must
have been very discouraging to the enemy.

In writing of the battle of Ginghilovo, a Military
Correspondent of the Daily News says
The defeat was crushing and complete. The little river
which lies in the path of the retreating Zulus had numbers of
guns thrown into it. a waggenload and a half, or about 400,
being recovered. They were mostly old weapons, only forty or
fifty being Martini-Henrys. The site of this battle—Ginglii-
lovo—is a spot well known to the colonial natives living
on the borders of Zululand. It is the name of a Zulu kraal
at which Cetewayo's mother resides, and fr im that fact its
occupation by the British forces will be most annoying to
the enemy, who have another disaster to "wipe out" as well
as the one they sustained on March 29 at the Kambula Camp
in Upper Zululand. During the attack of the Zulus on the
camp, General Lord Chelmsford was actively engsged
in directing op,rations. As soon as the alarm was
given his lorushlp was up, dressed in only such
things as he had on during the night, including
boots and nightcap, he encouraged the troops, orderii,g them
to tire steadily and slowly. He was often under the fire of
the enemy; as a gallant general and good soldier he knew
no danger. Wednesday was spent by the relief column in
taking stock of the killed among the enemy, In colleting
the guns, assegais, shields, (tc., which the Zulus left around
the camp, and in attending to the wounded, the number of
whom will have reached England by teLgraph. . . .
The attacking force of Zulus at Ginghilovo was com-
puted by some to be 15,000. It certainly was not less
than 11,000. Their losses may be set down at 1,200.
At no time did the enemy get within twenty yards of
the shelter-trench which had been dug. fhe
worked well, and much execution was done by the
rockets. Fourteen Zulus were killed by one charge
alone. The Naval Brigade behaved admirably, being
commanded by Commodore R,chards, of the Boadicea;
Captain Brackenbnry, of the Shah, leading the attack Our
losses were two officers and five men killed, and two
officers and twenty-eight men wounded. Our native
losses were not large, but have yet to be made known.
Colonel Northey, of the 60111 Eines, whose death is
lamented by all, was a most zealous and gallant
officer. He was wounded In the engagement, and whilst
lying under a waggon jumped up to cheer on his men, an
effort which brought on a violent Irasmorrhs.ge. The 67th,
as well as the 60th and 91st, did splendid service, and high
praise is accorded to all who took part in the engagement,
including the irregular forces of Commanders Barton,
Nettleton, and Lonsdale.