American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-02-22
A TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER.

Particulars of the Recent Disaster I'd
British Troops in South Africa-How the
willy Zulus Lured Their Victims to the
Slaughter-Pen.
LONDON, Feb. 1.-THE following COM
municatiOn has been received at the W ar
Office from Lord Chelmsford: I regret to
have to report a very disastrous engage
ment, on the 22d of January, between the
Zulus and portion Of No. 3 column, which
in front of Rorke's Drift. The, zulus came
down in overwhelming numbers, and in
spite of the gallant resistance by five COM
panies of the 1st Battalion of the oath Regi-
ment, one company, I'd Battalion Mth Regi,
ment, two guns, two rocket tubes, 1874
mounted men, and about 800 natives, they
overwhelmed them. The camp, containing
all surplus ammunition and transport of
defenders escaped. Our loss, fear, must
be set down at 30 officers, and about 500
non commissioned officers, rank and file,
Imperial troops, and 20 non-com-
missioned officers, rank and file,
colonial troops. A court of inquiry has
been ordered to assemble, to collect evidence
regarding this unfortunate affair, which
will be forwarded to you as soon as recev-
ed. Full particulars, as far as can be OBJ
tanned, have been sent in my dispatch,
which will reach you by the next mail. 1t
would seem that the troops were enticed
away from their camp, as the action took
place about a mile and aquarter outside it.
The remainder of Col. Glynn's column reOc-
cupied the camp after dark the same night,
having been with me II miles away all day.
On the following morning we arrived at
ROrke's Drift post, which for II hours had
been attacked by from 5000 to 1000 Zulus.
Its defense by some so men Of the oath Regi-
ment was most gallant. Three hundred
and seventy bodies lay close around the
post. 1 compute the Zulu loss at 900 here
alone. At the camp where the disaster oc-
10 nf no tad af
over2,OO0. Col. Pearson, commanding num-
Der one column, has been attacked, but he
repulsed the Zulus."
REINFORCEMENTS ORDERED.
The Cabinet Council to-day decided to
send six battaliOns of infantry, two regi-
ments of cavalry, two batteries of artillery,
a company of engineers, three companies of
the army service corps and company of the
army hospital corps to reinforce Lord
Chelmsford.
THE GRAVITY OF THE CATASTROPHE.
The Times, commenting on the news from
Cape Town, says: Nothing can exceed the
nothing has been held back. 1t would be
useless to deny either the sadness or extreme
gravity of the catastrophe. Whether there
was or was not any want Of vigilance on the
part of our own force. it is clear that the
Zuus are even more formidable than our
military forces expected to find them. 1t
was already known that they are well drill
ed; that great numbers of them are armed
WIN Dreecn-loaueTs, anu tnaI GHey cOulQ
fight courageously. We now know but
too well how large force they can mass at
one point. Sad as the loss of our troops is,
still graver is the peril which must arise
from the defeat. The Zulus will be embold-
ened by their triumph, and the colonists will
be exposed to fresh and formidable dangers.
In these circumstances the duty of the Gov
eminent can not admit of the slightest doubt,
and it is to send ample achievements TO
the Cape without the needless delay of a
single hour. 1t may be that they can be no
more quickly sent from Mauritius or India
than from England, but at all events no
effort and no expenditure must be spared to
save the colony from an impending disaster,
and the power of the country from grave in
jury. H. is 4 melancholy consolation in the
meanwhile that the gallant troops OF the
Twenty fourth regiment did their duty and
died at their posts like Engishmen.