The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-06-26
SURROUNDED BY ZULUS.
A Ride for Life Down n Rocky Pass
SvarminS with the Merclless Savages
An English Victory.

\ letter to the Edinburgh scotsman
saws: | have obtained from Il trust
worthy source the following graphic
description Of the terrible encounter on
the Ziobana mountain. South Africa, by
one who participated in it:
On March p we started from our
camp at Kambula Hill, in Zululand, to
attack Zulu stronghold some twenty
miles away called the Iiobana mountain.
We numbered about eight hundred
mounted men, and were nearly all of us
volunteers, under Colonel Wood nOmi-
nally, but the real command was exer-
ciscd by Colonel Butler. We started
about eight o'clock in the morning, and
very cheerful and lively we all were.
About five o'clock in the evening we
reached the slope of the mountain. We
were here fired ut, but took no notice, us
we wanted to get along unperccived.
When darkness set in we biyouackcd,
each man holding his horse in hand
while he lay down to rest-not to sleep.
During the nj ght there was Il terrible
thunderstorm and we got thoroughly
drcnched. At four A. VI. we were all
astir, feeling miserable enough; our sad
dies were nearly us soft and wet us our
clothes. We aSccndcd the hill pretty
easily, but nearly at the top the Iulus
began to make us aware Of their presence.
By six o'clock we were ut the top of the
plateau and our native allies were setting
fire to some Zulu huts and collecting the
cattle, about 1000 in number. After 4
time we collected at the opposite end of
the plateau, and here we found the IuluS
in stronger force than we had estimated.
They commenced heavy fire upon us
and we were engaged fully half IN hour
with them before we succeeded In sllenc-
ing them. Aboat eleven we became
aware of the serious fact that while we
had been engaging few Zulus ut one
side very large number Of them had
come the way we assembled, and others to
our right and left, and that we were be-
ing surrounded. 4 very few minutes
was sufficient to convey the
terrible impression to our minds that
once more the ZuluS had got us into a
trap and that we were going to have to
fight for our lives to get out of it rs best
we could or die. The willy savages be-
gan to appear on every side-not in twos
or threes, but in hundreds and thousands.
Some of them had evidently climbed
what to us seemed Il positively perpen-
dfVdlar buttress on our left. Our retreat
was cut off, and there was nothing to be
done but either fight it out to the end "
or endeavor to escape down IN almost
perpendicular pass a few hundred yards
in front of us. There had been too much
Fighting " it out to the end in the two
months Immediately preceding Isandula.
There was but one outlet for US, and
toward it we had orders to gallop. Twas
in the rear, and when l reached the
place the sight was sickening. There
was an almost perpendicular pass about
ten feet wide and about 800 or 400 yards
down. 1t was filled with rough, ragged
boulderS, between which were crevices
where once the poor horse and rider fell
he was seen no more. 1t seemed full of
horses and men tloundering one upon
the other in dire and dreadful confusion,
while the Iulus were pouring q murder
Gus fire among them. How got down
| do not know; | have not met with
single comr;lde yet who does. The chief
sensation I experienced was that behind
me. ut about 800 yards distance, was a
very strong force Of Zulus yelling in q
manner the most bloodthirsty and tiend-
iSh. In one or two places progress was
altogether impedcd by chasms six or
eight Feet wide, and it was only by jump
ing them, or rather by risking the at
tempt Oor many poor fellow lost his
footing and his life here), that further
descent was possible. Nearly all the
horses were killed or had to be left before
we reached the bottom. All this time
the Zulus were firing on US, and
amid the most piteous shrieks for mercy
rushing from the sides of the pass and
assegaicing our poor fellows. How any
Of us escaped it is to me, and almost
every one else, miracle. At last. some
how or other, l got to the neck Of the
pass, escaping injury from the heavy fire
Of the enemy, but only to find that on the
plain in front was big Zulu army en-
gagged with our men, who were divided
into parties and fighting for dear life.
Colonel Weatherly and his corps were
almost cut up to 4 man. They were
separated from the main body, and the
last that was seen of the gallant colonel
was his commanding figure, sword in
hand. killing the enemy right and left
and selling his life rs dearly us possible
The retreat home was fight. We
reached the camp in the evening by twos
and threcs, some with arms and clothing,
others almost devoid Of either. Some
horses were carrying two men, others
three; every one was Inundated and
..dispirited. This is one picture of the
flSaster in THE Devils Pass on the
Iiohana mountain on March 2S, 1879.
1t was getting considerably into the
forenoon of the 2Sth before l had sutli-
cicntly recovered myself to feel exactly
how and where / was. The ordinary
morning duties Of camp life had been
going on, and now and then had come
across companion of the previous day
whose haggard face still betokcned how
he had been "facc to face with death" D."
Our camp was to all intcnts and pur-
poses impregnablc. 1t was proof
against IN ordinary European army
without artillery. About II A. II. we
learned that Zulu spy had been caught
and informed Colonel Wood that the
Zulus were to attack us during our din
ner hour. Shortly afterward it was
shown plainly enough that this was so.
The Zulus could be seen in 4 huge black
mass about five miles away coming on
very slowly and leisurely. Everything
went on in camp just the same: even
the dinner was prepared and "ateI..
There were 1000 of us, and we were con-
iident 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 off, 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