The Red Cloud chief., 1879-06-12
THE RORKE,S DRIFT FIGHT.

One COmD8OyO OF nT1ul9n 6OIO10TB hkdtuDt
5000 Zulns--Repsated Attacks Upon
the Fort Repulsed with Terrible Taught
er--Fourteen Warriors Killed from One
from the PaIl Mall Gazette.l
On the same day Al the fatal battle
and disaster at Isandlana, q Zulu army
numbering at least 5000 men attacked
with great bravery and persistency the
post at Rorke's Drift. 1t was held by
B Company of the Second Battalion of
the Twenty fourth Regiment, under
Lieut.. Gonville Bromhead. The COM
pany numbered 80 men; besides these
there were 40 "casuals I" present, IS of
them patients in hospital, left behind
i'll when the column advanced into Zu-
luland under Lord Chelmsford. The
whole of these were under command of
Lieut.. Chard, Royal Engineers, the
senior officer, under whose able super
intendence and orders Lieut.. Bromhead
and his men worked and acted. At 8
O'Clock in the afternoon of the 22d
Lieut.. Bromhead received . hastily
written dispatch from Capt. Gardner,
Fourteenth Hussars, informing him
that the camp of the Third Column
had been taken by the enemy, and that
he would be attacked that night. Capt.
Gardner had been engaged in the fight
at the camp, had stayed till the last
moment, and then galloped for his life.
He escaped across the Buffalo River
holly pursued, managed to write the
warning to Lieut.. Bromhead, and then
rode on to Helpmakaar, another post
in{the line of communications.
The advanced guard of the Zulus ap-
peared at first at 4 p. m. It came round
the south corner of the hill in . body of
from 500 to 600 strong, led by . chief
on horseback. They halted q moment,
and then advanced quietly but quickly,
at a run, taking advantage of every bit
of cover. 1t seemed as Il they had ex-
pected to surprise the camp. Our men
opened fire at 500 yards. The first man
to fall was the Chief. He wa shot by
Private Dunbar, and fell off his horse
headlong. Numbers of the enemy fell
at once. They hesitated, broke, and
the greater number scattered to their
left, and occupied the garden and
orchard, where there vas plenty of
cover. A few gotup close to the houses
and lay behind the field oven and
kitchens that there were built. Scarcely
any of these men had guns or rifles.
occupied the hill above, and gradually
encircled the two houses. All the
men who had guns we're stationed on
the bill, and kept up . continuous and
rapid fire on the yard. It caught our
men ID their backs Is they were guard
ing the garden side, and five men were
thus shot dead.
Itnow became dusk. The Zulus crept
up nearer and nearer. Under cover of
the bushes and long grass they were able
to get within five yards of the hospital
without being seen. From this point,
in parties of fifteen to twenty, they re-
peatedly attacked the end room of the
hospital. They made these attacks in
after the manner of their dane
ing, with a prancing step and high
action. They cared nothing for slaugh-
ter, but endeavored, in the most persist
ent manner, to get over the barricade
and into the hospital. Many times,
seven or eight at least, Lieut.. Brom-
head, collecting q few men together, had
drive them off with . bayonet charge. |
Then they would retire, and all of them
in chorus shout and strike their shields. |
Our men cheered in answer, and let
them have it. There was plenty of am
After the first half hour
there was no waste.
How deliberate and telling the fire
was may be gathered from the following
Private Joseph Williams, 4
young Welshman, under two years
service, had q small window in the hos
pital to shoot from. Next morning IA
dead warriors were counted outside his
window, and several more down his line
If fire. As soon as his ammunition was
Il expended, he and the other men with
Tim defended the door of the room till
he enemy, BY sheer weight Of numbers,
orced it open. Poor fellow, he was
eized BY the hands and arms, dragged
and assegaied and mutilated before
be eyes Of his comrades. Another in
lance: Private Dunbar, the same man
,ho shot the Chief on horseback, was