The New York herald., 1879-02-12
OVERWHELMED BY THE ZULUS.
Eighty Troops Hold -Four Thousand
Cafres at Bay.
A COURT OF INQUIRY.
Prompt Action Of the
Cabinet. s.nl
icy CABLE TO THE HERALD

The following communication has been
received at the War Office from Lord
Chelmsford:-'I regret to have to report a
very disastrous engagement on the 22d of
January between the Zulus and portion of
No. column, which was left to guard the
camp, about ten miles in front of Rorke's
Drift. The Zulus came down in over
whelming numbers, and in spite of gal.
liant resistance by five companies of the
first battalion of the Twenty-fourth reg
iment, one company of the second battalion
of the Twenty-fcurth regiment, two guns,
two rocket tribes, 164 mounted men and
about eight hundred natives they over
whelmed them. The camp, containing all
the surplus ammunition and transport of
column No. 8, was taken and few of its de-
tenders escaped. Our loss, fear, must be
set down at thirty officers, and about five
hundred non-commissioned officers, rank
and file of the imperial troops, and seventy
non-commissioned officers, rank and file
of the colonial troops
FRANK srATEMgNT.
"a Court of Inquiry has been ordered to
assemble to collect evidence regarding this
unfortunate affair, which will be forwarded
to you as soon az received. The full par
ticulars as far as can be obtained will be
sent in my despatch, which will reach you
by the next mail. It would seem that the
troops were enticed away from their camp,
Us the action took place about mile and
quarter outside of it. The remainder Of
Colonel Glyn's column reoccupied the
camp after dark the same night, having
been with me, twelve miles away,
all day. On the following morning
we arrived at Rorke's Drift post,
which for twelve hours had been
attacked by from three thousand to
four thousand Zulus Its defence by
some eighty men of the Twenty-fourth regi-
ment was most gallant. Three hundred
and seventy bodies lay close around the
post. I compute the Zulu loss at 1000
here alone. At the camp where the disas-
ter occurred the loss of the enemy is COM
puted at over 1000. Colonel Pearson, COM
manding No. column, has been attacked,
but he repulsed the zulus."
THE BRITISH FORCE.
The following was the full strength of the
British column, part Of which was at
tackled by the Zulus: -
Column No. 8 headquarters at Helpma-
kaar, near Rorke's Drift), commandant
Colonel Glyn, of the First battalion, Twenty
fourth regiment Artillery-N battery,
Fifth brigade of the Royal Artillery, with
seven-pounder guns. Infantry Seven
companies OF the First battalion, Twenty
fourth regiment, and tho Second bat
TALON, Twenty-fourth regiment, under
Lieutenant Colonel Degacher. The Natal
Mounted Police and Volunteers, the Natal
Carabineers, Buffalo Border Guard, the
Newcastle Mounted Rifles, all mounted and
averaging forty men each, and the native
contingent of 1000 men, under Com
mandant Lonsdale, late of tho Seventy
fourth Highlanders
PROMPT ACTION.
Summonses were issued early yesterday
morning for Cabinet Council. The
Cabinet assembled at two o'clock and de-
cided to send six battalions of infantry,
two regiments Of cavalry, two batteries of
artillery, company of engineers, three
companies of the Army Service Corps and
company of the Army Hospital Corps to
reinforce Lord Chelmsford in South Airica.
OFF AT ONCE.
The reinforcements for Cnpe Colony
ordered from England number about seven
thousand men. The government is actively
inquiring concerning private steamers.
The Assistance, which is the only troop
ship in the harbor, is being rapidly
prepared for service, at Portsmouth. Mr..
w. II. Smith, First Lord Of the Admiralty
speaking at Westminster tonight, stated
that troops sufficient to end the struggle
with the Zulus would be on the way to the
Cape within a week. He declared he had
every confidence in Lord Chelmsford
RHrypoRcEMENrs ron THE CAPE.
The artillery for the Cape is ready at
woolwich, and it is expected it will start on
Thursday. II is understood that several
regiments of infantry will leave with tho
artillery for the Cape. statement is pub
lished that the government has telegraphed