The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-03-20
Cetawayu Says "Get-Away-
You !" to the British

II aCCOuLlt u IA A4ac
sacre of five hundred English so diers
reminds one of the fearful trap into
which Setting Bull led Custer.
The African Assegai is a light spear
which is thrown like a Roman Jave-
lin. and to the Indian bow
and arrow.
Tie rear guard had flashed its
usual morning march and ouss-
PANIED when Zulu skirmist ers
WEE observed surrounding the Hills.
these skirmiSheIs advanced toward
the camp, keeping up a desultOIy fire.
The camp was pitcned In a oxen
country in a sort of valley, with dis
tant surrounding bills. Colonel Pull
leine sent skirmishers, who res 5oaded
to the fire Of the Zulus. 1t seems that
the number of Zulus vas not estimat-
ed, it being considered a slight de-
monstration of a few men. As the
enemy's scouts were soon Joined by
bodi S IF considerable stlenst tn Colo
mel Pulleine's skirmishers Wei recalls
ed, and the camp hastily put upon the
defensive. The Zulu amy then came
on rapidly in regular battali)ns, eight
deep, keeping up a heavy steady fire,
until we'll within aSsegai distance.
They then ceased their fire and hurled
assegais. Our men kept up a very
ST. ady, tell ng fire, and great numbers
of the enemy dropped, but without
checking their progress. The places
of the men who fell were Constantly
filled By comrades.
THE AMMUNITION WAGONS CAPTURED.
While this attack was goiug en- in
the real a double flank movement was
executed, by which the horns OF the
Zulu army surrounded the camp. The
disadvantage Of the wagons not being
packed In laager was now evident and
1T led to the disaster. Our men lad
emptied their pouches and fCu,d iC
impossible to r.plenish them, as the
Zulus had obtained possession Of the
ammunition agOnS The affair hen
became one of absolute butchery. Our
officers and men were javelined IS
they stood. Thy made no charges.
The Zulu host anne down with the
weight Of its battaliOns and liter ally
crushed the small body which could
only defend iself with the bayonet,
and very sOOn il had nOe even room TO
use that. The Zulus picked up the
dead bodies of their comrades and hur |
led them on the bayOnet points of our
soldiers, thus simply beating down all
defence. The work Cf destruction
was complete. Within two hours f.on
the tine the Zulu skirmishers were
seen there was not a living white nan
In the camp. The ammunition, the
guns, the c,mmissariat supplies, the
wagons, the oxen, ali the material Of
the column, tell into the hands of the
enemy. Fortunately two annon
were sp ked by Captaia Smith, Royal
4 ~t.llorxy y-I,, x,nS n-cnprnInI u,1iI. ~, \
the act Of spiking ZEN. The Sayag S
took all the ammunition and some
wagons, and destroyed whatever was
left behind.
The Zu u army was completely or
ganiZed. 1t advanced. ii st thrO VIII
out skirmishers !; hen as The battall-
Ons came down in mass, used their
rifles while at long range with con-
sidera bic effect. When near enough
to use their own more familiar Weapon
the asseg i,they threw in two or three
showers. All this time they wete adj
vancing steadily and rapidly, and the
stabbing assegai was soon at work.
The impression in Natal is thai this
eng cement on the part Of the Zuius is
not attributable to g~eneralship, but
that the army Of invasion was making
Natal aud accidentally came across
the rear guard Of Colonel Glynn's col
Our troops We're allowed to
cross the river at various points. Col
Onel Glynn'S main body was enticed
by a feint advance away from its ma
terial. Then the main body Of the
enemy, supposed TO be under Si!ayo,
the favoiite Induna Of Cetewayu,swept
on the baggage guard. Our ma
tive allies fought bravely, too, and if
camp had been formed in Iaager,
and our men could have been furnish
ed with the ammunition with which
he camp was so generously supplied,
it would have given a different ac>
count of the enemy. Young saw
nothing of barbarit; es. The way in
the men were surrounded and
down by weight of numbers
proves that utter ann1hilatioa took
place, but it is hoped that the terrible
stories in circulation have no f und-
in fact.
THE HORRORS OF THE SCENE. /
All that are left of the tweLtyfourth
-egiment are Captain Harrisou's com :
)any, stationed at It Johns River &
captain Ypchers and Cap ain Rim !
'Orth. who were at that time on their 2
march to join their battalion Major
Much and DIR. Hartley who were IN I
a short time before. and Lieu J
enant Morshead, who was doing staff t
luty at Pieterma itzburg. The great t
lder was that so few men-frr 1
men in the camp, excluding natives g
Who ran. and not including Colonel I
)urnford's mounted men, undar Cap, /
ain Barton, who did fight well-were
bile in the ope1, ard with no protec- I
of cover t. k en- off for -four or II