The daily gazette., 1879-04-17
The ROEke's Drift Fight

OStc NOHpuVy ~ DT1uSN COtHte1S against
5000 Zulus-Repedted AttGcks upon
the Fort Repulsed NTH terrible Sldugh-
ter Fourteen Warriors Killed from
One Soldiers Wsndo,p. fsl
From the Fall Mall Gazette.
On the SAINT day as the fatal battle and
disaster at Isandlana, Zulu army num-
bering at least 200 men attacked with
great bravery and persistency the post at
Rorke's Drift. 1t was held by b Com
pany of the Second Battalion of the oath
Regiment under Lieut.. Gonville Brom-
head. The company numbered ninety
men; besides these there were forty
"casuals" present. thirly-tive of them
patients in hospital left behind i'll when
the column advanced into Zululand under
Lord Chelmsford. The whole of these
were under command of Lieut.. Chard,
Royal Engineers, the senior officer, under
whose able superiniendence and orders
Lieut.. BrOmhead and his men worked
and acted. AT o'clock in the afternoon
of the 22d, Lieut.. Bromhead received a
hastily written dispatch from Captain
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 Tor his life
He escaped across the Buffalo River hotly
pursued, managed to write the warning
to Lieut.. Bromhead, and hen rode on TO
Helpmakaar, another post In the line of
communications.
The advanced guard of the Zulus ap-
peared at first at z. NJ. 1t came around
the south corner of the hill in body of
from 500 to 600 strong, led by chief on
horseback. 4 ihey halted q moment, and
then advanced quietly but quickly, at a
irun, taking advantage Of every bit of
cover. 1t seemed as ii they had expect
ed to surprise the camp. Our men OPEN
fall was the chief. He was shot by Pri-
long. Numbers of the enemv fell at once.
They hestated, broke, aud the greater
humber scattered to their lett, and occu-
ipied the garden and orchard, where there
was plenty of cover. A few got up close
} to the bouses and lay behind the field
oven and kitchens that there vera built.
Soarcely any of these men had gaIns OF
rifles. Others came on In coi,sinuous
lstream, occdpied tire hill above, and
lgradually encircled the Two houses. All
the men who had guns were stationed on
the hill, and kept up continuous and
, rapid fire on the yard IT caught our men
, in their backs as they were guarding the
! garden SIDE, and i've men were thus sho,
dead.
1t now became dark. The Zulus erept
up nearer and nearer. Under cover OF
the bushes and long grass they were able
to get within five yards of the hospita
without being seen. From this point, in
parties of fifteen to twenty, they repeat
edly attacked the end room of the hOspi-
tai. They made these attacks in the
most deliberate manner, advancing after
the manner of their dancing, with a
lprsncing step and high action. They
cared nothing for slaughter, but endeav-
ored, IN the most persistent manner, tC
lget over the barricade and into the hospi-
tai. Many times, seven or eight at least
Lieut. Bromhead, collecting few meI
together, had to drive them off with g
bayonet charge. Then they would re ire
and all of them in chorus shout anC
: strike their shields. Our men cheered il
! answer, and let them have it. There wal
e plenty of ammunition. After the firs
: half hour there was no waste.
How deliberate and telling the fire wa
: may be gathered from the following Incl
! dents Private Joseph Williams, a young
!. Welshman, under two years service, hal
: a small window in the hospital to shoo
J. from. Next morning fourteen dead war
: riors were counted outside his window
!, and several more down his line of fire
# AS soon as his ammunition was all ex
d pended, he and the other men with hin
= defended the door of the ro III till tn,
v enemy, by sheer weight Of humbers
forced it open. Poor fellow, he wa
seized by the hands and arms, draege,
out and assegaied and mutlated befor,
the eyes of his comrades. Another In
stance : Private Dunbar, the same mar
y who shot the chief on horseback, wa
posted to watch the hill. AS the kaffir
streamed down from their right, this mai
(also Welchman, and Of less service
y u than the above mentioned), shot eight o
/. the enemy in as many consecutive shots
Lieut.. Chard was standing by him as h
did it, and the bodies were found heape,
one Oh the other next morning.
y The enemy at last effected lodgmen
in the hospital. Thirty of the patient
were got out in time. Most of them wer
pushed and pulled through window
which opened oh the yard. Sergt. Max
field, fine young soldier, was very il
with fever and delirious. He could no
be moved, aud he was killed in his bed
, They now set fire to the hospital. TIL
l. roof was thatch, and it quickly blazed
BY its light our men were enabled to se
their foes better, and many fell befor
they retreated to better cover. After
}. pause, encouraged by chief who iron
time to time shouted his orders from tn
hill side, they came on again. The fight
ing in places became hand to hand owe
the mealie sacks. The assailants use
5, only their ass gals. These they did nc
throw, but only used them as stabbin
weapons. Directly soldier showed hi
% head over the paiapet to get shot b
H. was thrust At Once or twice the Kaffil
ot. actually seized the bayonets and tried
wrench them OIL the rifles. one of on
men loaded while Zulu was tugging {
al his bayopet lie pulled the trigger All