St. Landry democrat., 1879-08-02
camp was to all intents and purposes

camp was to all intents and purposes
impregnable. It was proof against an
ordinary European army withour artil.
lery. About eleven o'clock in the morn
ing we learned that Zulu spy had been
caught and informed Colonel Wood that
the Zulus were to attack us during our
dinner. Shortly afterward it was shown
that this was 30. The Zulus could be
seen in huge black mass about five
miles away, coming on very slowly and
leisurely. Everything went on in camp
ust the same; even the dinner was pre-
pared and eaten. There were two
thousand OF us, and we were confident
and eager to be avenged. When
they got within about three miles the
alarm was sounded, tents struck, the
forts manned and every one stood
to arms. The Zulus appeared TO
form themselves into battle array
about three miles of, the main body
advancing direct to the camp and the
"horns," as they are termed, stretching
to the right and left. When they got
within about tnreo thousand yards the
calvary were sent out and did good ser
vice in drawing them on firing and re,
treating) within the range of the artil-
lery. The calvary being very small
force, retreated within the camp, at
about mile range the artillery opened
up on the enemy. The rapidity and
precision with which this branch volleyed
death and destruction into the dense
mass of Zulus was admirable. Ten or
fifteen of them were sent to glory every
shot. Next day they lay in rows. But
still on tkey came with the ferocity of
tigers, never halting, never wavering,
never hinching or hesitating for q mo:
ment. Say what people may about its
being animal ferocity rather than manly
bravery, no soldiers in the world could
have been more daring than were the
Zulus that day. When the main body
got within about eight hundred yards
the men OF the Nineteenth regiment,
who were opposite to them, opened one
of the most deadly fusilades it is impos-
sible to imagine. Numerous as they
were, this CALLING fire stopped the pro-
gress of the enemy, and they began to
break up and shelter behind the stones
and trees. In the meantime the forces
that had attacked our right and left
aanks had been equally warmly received,
and the enemy apparently saw that they
must change their tactics. They did so,
and scattered themselves, and began to
creep up through the long grass, while one
portion made desperate rush and sue
ceeded in getting possession of small
hill commanding the cattle lager. Il
was necessary to dislodge the enemy
from the hill, and Major. Hackett and
two companies of the Ninteenth were
sent out, and although they suffered
severely they succeeded in doing SO,
firing volley after volley, and at last
charging the position at the point of the
bayonet. In bringing back his men
Major. Hackett was fatally wounded and
Lieutenant Bright was killed. During
all this time fighting had been going on
all around, and party of Zulus made
desperate rush and got into the cattle
laager, driving company of the Thir"
teenth out of it. They, however, gal
lantry reformed and gallsntly drove back
the enemy at the point OF the bayonet
The artillery sill the while had been pour
ing grape and canister into the Zulus
with murderous precision. By five
O'Clock the enemy evidently began to
see we were not to be taken, and began
to slacken their fire, ultimately retiring
altogether. At half>past five O'Clock in
the evening they had fired their last
shots and began to retreat, and the
cavalry and horse artillery were sent
after them. Terrible execution was the
result and no quarter was shown.
Exeter Hall may say what it may, but
it was death to every Zulu who came
within range of the carbine a trooper
or the stroke of his saber. The cavalry
pursued them for about ten miles, re-
turning to camp at dusk. The few
native allies we had LETT did terrible
work in this pursuit, and it was difficult
for our officers to recall them to return.
As they cut off and dispatched the
retreating Zulus the cry of 'Isandhlwana'
resounded in the evening air"