The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-11
THE ENGLISH PLEVNA.
The Zulu Fort In which Col. Pearson Ii
C00psd UP.

NOW 1orK WOTlul
with the CRUISES which led to the outbreak
OF the Zulu war and the disposition and con-
sttution Of the English invading columns
readers Of the World were made acquainted
Mt the time that hostilities began. The Eng
llsh advanced III three columns along the
primitive tOada-mere agOn-tracks-Wili
lead from the principal fords to the capital,
Undini Col. PearsoA moved along two roads
which cross the Tugea opposite Fort Will
hanson; Lord Chelmsford from Rorkes
Drift, aud Col. Wood by the road from Utrecht
across the Blood river. They moved stimuli
taneously, Col Pearson leaving the northern
bank Of the Tugela January ID In three divis-
ions, with thirty miles of a fair road before
him. Cetywayos tactics were to retire, only
deserted kraais were seen, and not d herd of
the twenty -second, while the column was
struggling through some very difficult coun
try, about 5000 Illus appeared OH the ridges
of 1nyezane, commanding the route, the van
guard holding u knoll within range Of and
above the English camp upon the shoulder of
an adjoining hill, while the main body WAS
sheltered IN gorges communicating with it,.
Having Cuttings and rUcket-tubes Col. Pear
son WAS able to prevent the Iulus from get
ting To CLOSES quarters, and at once psreeiving
the Importance Of OustinE the Iulus he
stormed the knoll with two companies OF the
Third Bluffs and the naval detachment, and
placing his Cuttings upon IL swept the gOrges
with u murdeious fire, then brought up tho
infantry and cleared the ravines. About 700
men were engaged in this neatly managed af-
fair and they gave an account OF $50 IuIus
The natives broke and fled to the hills and
Col. Pearson pressed ON TO Ekowe(p
Etshowel, where he had intended to establish
u depot and operate against the royal kraaI
Ekowe IL the Oldest Of the abandoned mis-
sionary stations IN Iuluand, and Is we'll pro-
vided with substantial buildings, including d
chapel and farm house. 1t ID about thirty
five miles from tho Tugela, III an open coun-
surprises. While ut Ekowe and bringing up
the train the Colonel heard OF the disaster of
Isandula, the practical wiping out of part
OF Lord Chelmsford's column, and had IN
stantly to change his plans. Fearing that If
he retreated the victorious Iulus from Rorke's
Drift might join those lowering about him
and overwhelm his column, and knowing
that by remaining where he was he would
keep large portion of CetyWayo's force oc-
cupicd and probably save Natal from inva-
sion, he promptly determined upon intrench-
ing himself at Ekowe and waiting till rein
forcements from England would permit Lord
Chelmsford to come. to his aid. He "weeded
down" the force, and sent back part, with the
cavalry, all the native contingent and the
sick, retaining about 1900 men, enough to
hold the entertainments and yet not more
than he could feed. The force shut up in the
Plevna Of Zuiuiand Is as follows:
Col Charles Knight Pearson, commanding.
Third Regiment Second BattaIionl Lieut..
Col. Ii. Parnell, six companies.
Ninety-ninth Regiment, Col. Welman, three
companies.
Naval Brigade, Capt Campbell, r. N, 1913
men.
Royal Artillery, Lieut.. w. N. Lloyd, r. A.
twenty-three men.
Natal Pioneers, one company.
Guns-TWo 7-pounders, two 1-pound muz-
zle-loading guns, one Gatling, one rocket
tube.
AT the same time Col Pearson placed Major
Barrow in command at the Lower Tugela
where he Is established in two forts, Pearson
and Tenedos, one on either bank OF the river
with three companies OF the Ninety-ninth
Regiment and two Of the Third, forty-three
men of the Naval Brigade, two 12-poundeI
! guns a squadron OF mounted infantry, half a
troop of Natal Hussars and four troops Of
mounted rifles. These troops have regularly
patrolled the country and with torpedo
| company make the river sure.
4 The Zulu forces Immediately in front Of
Col. Pearson are about 5000 strong, but the
whole country fairly swarms with Lulus
within easy reach should 1t be necessary fol
them to attempt to storm the place or to at
tack reinforcing column. The two Zull
corps conducting the siege are the Umsinyat
(marriedl and Nkobamakosi (unmarriedl regi
mentS.
| Ekowe is quite impregnable. The camp il
small but compact and well protected By
earthworks seven feet HIGH SO CONSTRUCTED
| that those inside can see the enemy while tn,
enemy cannot see the heads W the defenders
and ditch seven feet deep and ten feet wide
| Ammunition for all arms there is ia album