Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-21
In THE ZULU WAR
Thomas G. Roe Mas in the
British Army
DURING The GREAT CAMPAIGN
Against Old CstewsyO-Hs Saw the
Dead Body OF Prince Napoleon.
"Reminiscences Of the War.

indian or African campaigns. lncI7
Is enough of mystery concerning the
savage inhabitants OF these two coun-
tries, and enough of romance con
corning England's connection with
them 10 make any man who has act
lively participated IN any OF the cam
palgns begun by the Brush govern
ment against the almost lrrepresslble
natives of the dark contine ut and lower
India, all object OF interest.
Thomas {. Roe, who Is ct present
"Slug u" IN The HERALD composing
room WAS member OF the nth COM
pany OF engineers of the British army,
aud WAS IN active service III South Al
rica during the Zulu war, and al the
time of tue overthrow OF Cetewayo.
This IS the campaign made memorable
by the death OF Prince Napoleon, the
lie of unhappy Eugenle's soul, and
the hope of the French Bourbons.
While III a reminiscent mood yesterday
Mr.. Roe said: al Was originally prln-
ters apprentice IN Dublin, but l had
the army fever, and three days after
my apprenticeship expired | enlisted
IN the fifth engineers. This lie one of
the crack corps. Every member Is
After the enlistment we were drilled in
military tactics for SIX month";, and
then sent 70 the Chatham school, where
We received years instruction In
field works, building pontoon bridges,
throwing up Notifications, setting up
batteries, and the like.
Sent to Africn.
The Zulu war was on when We fin
"A
were sent TO Africa to try with the un-
tanned Zulu and have our ylscera prod
ed out of shape by kattir assagals,
Our company spent eighteen months IN
Africa and participated IN three battles.
one at Isandola, another at Linghlova,
and the final battle of the war, Ulundi,
when the Zulu forces were routed and
Cetewayo was captured while hiding IN
q cave with thirty of his wives.
Prince Napoleon was killed at Ungovo
drift, about seventeen miles from Pet
erma-ritzburg. He was non-cOmbat-
ant and was under the protection of
Captain Carey at the time. The prince
wished TO 60 on sketching tour and
with Captain Carey left the camp with
body guard OF Natal carbIneers. The
prince was sketching some old Katfir
kraals, and the party was surprised by
Kaffirs who had crept through field
OF maize. The prince was thrown from
his horse, but his foot caught IN the
s.irrup and he was dragged some dis
lance. The instant the horse was
stopped horde of Kaffirs surrounded
him and began stabbng him with their
assagais. They stabbed him seventeen
times and every thrust went clear
through the body. Ii was horrible
death and his corpse was frightiuliy
putchered. | saw IT the next day after
1t had been brought TO camp. Captain
Carey escaped, but the escort, with the
exception of one CO rblneer, was killed.
Captain Corey was courh-martialed Tor
| deserving the prince, but was acquitted.
Broke His Heart.
He was afterward transferred to
India and died of broken heart, hav-
ing grleved continually over the death
of young Napoleon.
The Zulu is treacherous fighter,
| and is terrible opponent IN a hand
| to-hand fight. At the battle of UlCndl,
we formed into four-line hollow
| square in the usual manner, two rows
| of men kneellng and two standing,
with the officers and cavalry IN the
center. We poured a fire from the
| Martinl-H Henry rifles on those savsges,
| and for two hours il did not seem To
phase them. They fought like huge
| black demons. In their frenzy they
would rush upon the lines in face
of liquid fire, grasp the bayonets OF
the soldiers and try TO wrench them
from the rifles. They would pick their
dead up in their arms and fling them
| on the points Of the bayonets in the
hope of beng able TO rush in before
the soldiers could disentangle their
guns. When their lines were finally
broken and we opened up to give the
cavalry chance 10 charge, they still
| fought like fiends. | remember that
one of the cavalrymen WAS thrown
| from his horse and was injured by the
animal falling upon him. He lay
there helpless on the ground, and
about fifty feet from him was a Zulu
that had been shot and was dying.
The wounded savage raised his eyes,
and seeing the cavalryman lying there,
nerved himself for a final effort.
Grasping his assagai in his teeth he
| began TO crawl toward the helpless
! soldier. When he was almost near
enough to accomplish his purpose and
stab his victim, lancier sped him
and put swift end to his designs.
Ambushed n Picket
There is no discounting the treachery
and cunning of the kstiir. ] had an
experience with il myself once, and
thought my last hour had come. One
night picket stationed at the corner
of a field of maze did not report, and
was afterwards found cut to pieces by
sssagais. Another man was detailed
for picket duty and IN the morning he
failed to show up. HIS hacked and
| mangled body was found near the same
| place where the other picket had been
| killed. The next night II was an
| nounced that no details would be made,
/ but that volunteers would be called
for. party of three or four Of Us
I had been over and captured n Dutch
/ Boer saloon. When we returned we
didn't fear Iulus or death. So W vol
/ unteered. | was put on tie second
I relief from u . clock until 2. ] didn't
worry any about kaffirs or anything
else. and finally decided I would got
I my pipe and have good smoke. While
( vas lighting { ! EAU e movement IN
( the maze. / looked and saw the sts "a
I move iu peculiar msnner, and cold
+ chill vent a over me. The moon wss
shin,pE AND I coa q see everything that
happened In q few minutes J ssw
F The head and shoulders % wsrrof
s~rvs. --rfr.r-sIw from tho rr-- and