In Zululand with the British throughout the War of 1879

Front matter

MAJOR GEN. LORD CHELMSFORD. G.C.B. IN ZULULAND WITH THE BRITISH THROUGHOUT THE WAR OF 1879. ne CHAELES L. NOEEIS-NEWMAN, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE LONDON "STANDARD," THE CAPETOWN "STANDARD AND MAIL," AND THE "TIMES OF NATAL." LONDON : W. H. ALLEN & CO., 13, "WATERLOO PLACE, S.W. PUBLISHERS TO THE INDIA OFFICE. 1880. [All rights reserved.] LONDON I PRINTED BY WOODFALL AND KINDER, MILFORD LANE, STRAND, W.C. <§zbxtKtxfm. TO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL LORD CHELMSFORD, K.C.B., etc. etc. Late Commanding the Forces in South Africa. This personal narrative of the events of a war — which, however unfortunate in its beginning, was yet brought to a final and effective close by the persistent working out of a preconceived plan of a campaign ending in the battle of Ulundi — is dedicated, with the highest feelings of respect and admiration, by the AUTHOR,

Preface

. They say that " self-praise is no recommendation," but I must, in fairness to my readers, explain that I was the first and only officially appointed special correspondent that was in the field with the troops during the early days of preparations and our first entry into Zululand ; which ended so disastrously, as every one knows, on that fatal 22nd January at the camp of the Head-quarters column at Isandwhlana. Having been sometime previously residing in Natal I knew something of the country, and of the native language and customs ; and throughout the whole campaign I was constantly about with the different Divisions of our forces. Thus I was able to get a more general view of the whole conduct of the war than if I had attached myself to any one Division throughout. I have in this work tried to confine myself to a concise (but I hope interesting) description of facts, as they occurred, and as I saw them, without going into any detailed criticisms ; and the descriptions of those events, some of them very important, at the occurrence of which I was not present, have been compiled from the official reports and the letters of my confreres.

This work does not pretend to be a complete history, — military, political, and general — of the war, its causes and effects ; and, in fact, is hardly as voluminous as it was my original intention Preface. VI to make it ; but a very severe illness which attacked me after leaving Sir Garnet Wolseley at Utrecht, and from which I am only now slowly recovering, must "plead as my excuse for any shortcomings. CHAS. L. NORRIS-NEWMAN. PlET_KMARITZBUKG, NaTAL, 1880.

Introduction

. The narrative of my personal experiences in the late Zulu Campaign would be incomplete without a short sketch of the political causes which led up to the outbreak of the war ; and I shall, therefore, endeavour to lay before the reader, as briefly as possible, a statement of the relations between Zululand and our South African colonies, and more particularly between that country and the Transvaal and Natal, which both lie contiguous to it. It has been very commonly and repeatedly, but very inaccu rately, stated that Sir Bartle Frere " caused the war." The truth is that a difficulty, likely to culminate in war, had existed in connection with Zululand for fully a quarter of a century before Sir Bartle Frere set foot in South Africa ; and the existence of this difficulty was well known to the Home Government.

Sir Bartle Frere was sent out as High Commissioner to endea vour to put an end to the trouble, without war if possible ; and events proved that the Zulus would not yield to any of his re quests unless he showed himself willing, if necessary, to enforce them. He was thus placed in the position of deciding whether he would leave the danger, which threatened Natal and the Transvaal directly, and the whole of our South African Colonies indirectly, unchecked ; or would insist, if need were, by force, Introduction. VIII upon such securities being given by Cetywayo, the Zulu King, as would make our colonies secure from invasion in the future. From the earliest days the constitution of society (if society it can at all be called) in Zululand was that of one vast camp. The nation was founded early in the present century by the renowned Charka, who laid waste Natal, with its then peaceful native inhabitants — so much so that the early settlers, in the year 1810, found it almost depopulated, the only inhabitants at that time being miserable refugees from the Zulu despot.

In 1828, after an iron reign, Charka was assassinated by his brother Dingaan, who threatened the early English settlers with war, on the ground of their harbouring the refugees from his brother. This difficulty was smoothed over ; but the Dutch settlers, who later on found their way to Natal from the Cape over the Drakensberg, became involved in similar difficulties. " Dingaan," to quote the words of Mr. Trollope, who aptly and succinctly describes this portion of the history of the Zulus, " did not add much to the territories of his tribe, as Charka had done ; but he made himself known, and probably respected, among his subjects by horrible butcheries of the Dutch pioneers. The name of Dingaan then became dreadful through the land. It was not only that he butchered the Dutch, but that he maintained his authority and the dread of his name by the in discriminate slaughter of his own people.

If the stories told be true, he was, of all South African savages, the most powerful and the most savage. He met the end common to tyrants, and was murdered, after having, however, been first defeated by his brother Panda, whose cause the Dutch settlers espoused, vanquishing Dingaan, and driving him out of his land." Panda then ruled in his stead. He was an easy-going man, not inclined to war, and disposed to keep on good terms with Introduction. IX his neighbours. So long as this state of affairs continued, it was comparatively easy to keep peace with Zululand ; but Panda, on his death, was succeeded by Cetywayo, who turned out to be a man of a very different stamp to his father, and openly declared that he intended to emulate the warlike policy of his uncle Dingaan. How far Cetywayo was influenced in this by his personal disposition seems open to question.

Those who are best acquainted with him do not seem to consider that he was, by instinct, a warrior, though he took deep interest in wars. In a great measure he was probably influenced by the undoubted fact that his people, or at any rate the younger por tion of the nation, were beginning to chafe under the peaceful policy of Panda, and were anxious (to use the expression familiar among them) to " wash their spears," that is, to go to war with some neighbour. Cetywayo, like his predecessors, found himself able to maintain his despotic authority only by acts of cruelty and oppression, and by keeping up the military system founded by his uncle Charka. The "young men" of his army were not permitted to marry until they had fought some enemy and obtained the King's permission ; and this powerful lever was used to keep the army together around him.

Cetywayo, however, at first avowed friendship for his English neighbours in Natal; and in 1875 he consented to go through the form of coronation at the hands of Sir Theophilus Shepstone, who went into Zululand, accompanied by a company of volunteers, for this purpose. Whether this act of humility was sincere, or was, as is quite possible, intended only to put us off our guard, is not even yet quite clear ; but it was not long before reports arrived, from missionaries and others, to the effect that the King was steadily increasing his army, and that guns and ammunition were being imported in large quantities into Zulu- Introduction. X land. So long, however, as the Dutch held the Transvaal, he confined his quarrels to them, and was content to maintain peace with Natal, in the hope, doubtless, of pitting the English against the Dutch, should a serious quarrel arise with them.

In 1877 the Transvaal was annexed to the British Crown ; and, this motive for maintaining friendship no longer existing, Cety wayo began to show his hostility more openly. On Sir Henry Bulwer, the Lieutenant-Governor of Natal, remonstrating with him for his cruelty to his subjects, contrary to his promise, when crowned, that he would not take their lives without trial, he sent back a defiant answer, " that he would kill his people if he liked, and that he did not ask the Governor of Natal not to kill his own." The messengers sent by the King to attend the enquiry which was set on foot about this time, as to the boundary with the Transvaal, concerning which there was a dispute when we took the territory over (and to settle which a Commission was appointed), used haughty language, and were very independent; saying that " they had only been sent there to declare what the King said."

About the same time an armed raid was made across the Buffalo into Natal by the sons of Sirayo (a border chief in Zululand of bad repute), who seized two women on our territory, and dragged them across into Zululand, where they were barbarously put to death, merely on the ground that they had run away from their husbands. All these circumstances, combined with the undoubted fact that Cetywayo was evidently preparing his hordes for war, and that we were the only neighbour he was likely to attack, made it absolutely necessary for the Home Government to take the matter in hand. Accord ingly His Excellency Sir Bartle Frere, Governor of the Cape Colony and High Commissioner of South Africa, was ordered Introduction. XI to proceed to Natal, to confer with Sir Henry Bulwer, and decide upon measures for inducing Cetywayo to govern his people in a manner more in accordance with the dictates of humanity and less threatening to his neighbours.

Towards the end of September, 1878, His Excellency arrived in Pieter Maritzburg, took up his abode at Government House with our Lieutenant-Governor, and proceeded to obtain the necessary information with a view to this end. It has only recently come to light how critical matters at that time appeared to be, when they were investigated. In the last Blue Book it is shown that on the 12th October, 1878, Mr. John Dunn, a confidential adviser of the Natal Government in Zululand, reported that Cetywayo was already moving his forces. It is not improbable he was incited to this by observing that the forces in Natal had been increased shortly after the arrival of Lord Chelmsford (then General the Hon. F. A. Thesiger, C.B.), which had taken place early in August. Much has been made of this fact, as showing that we brought about the war, by assuming a needlessly aggressive attitude.

But Sir Bartle Frere saw clearly that Cetywayo was likely to be difficult to deal with, if this was the attitude he assumed, from the moment it seemed likely that we should demand with firmness that he should adhere to the promises he had made when crowned by Sir T. Shepstone. As further showing the state of affairs then existing, I may quote the opinions of the best authorities in Natal at that time, viz.: Sir T. Shepstone, Sir Henry Bulwer, and Lord Chelmsford. Sir T. Shepstone expressed his firm belief that Zululand must be made amenable to civilised ideas and Government, the military organisation be done away with, and British officers received as Residents. These changes he deemed absolutely necessary, " before any commencement Introduction. XII could be expected in the change which was required to make the Zulu people safe neighbours and an improving community."

Sir Henry Bulwer expressed his opinion that these changes should be demanded; significantly saying, "there can be no question as to the right of interference to such extent as is necessary to secure the objects in view, namely : the better government of the Zulu people, and the security of British territory from constant danger." He farther added " in the measures proposed by the High Commissioner in his present Minute, His Excellency (Sir Bartle Frere) has not, in my opinion, gone beyond what is necessary to secure these objects." Lord Chelmsford said that there was " no doubt in his mind that the guarantees demanded were absolutely necessary for the future peace of South Africa." After carefully feeling his way and ascertaining the true state of affairs, as well as the opinions of those best qualified to judge of them, Sir Bartle Frere sent his celebrated message or ultimatum to Cetywayo on the 11th December, 1878, after having given due notice to the King to send messengers to hear it read, receive it, and then convey it to him.

It was delivered to these messengers by the Hon. C. Brownlee, representing the High Commissioner, and the Hon. John Shepstone, Secretary for Native Affairs, who were attended by several officers, Mr. Fynn,R.N., Mr. Fynney,our Border Agent, who acted as interpre ter, and a small escort, at a spot just below Fort Pearson, near the mouth of the River Tugela. The demands therein made were that the brother and sons of Sirayo — who had been connected with the armed raid into Natal, and seizure of two women refugees — should be given up and a fine of cattle paid for the offence ; and farther, that the numerous promises made at Cetywayo's coronation should be fulfilled, that he should cease Introduction. XIII to kill his subjects without trial ; that his threatening army should be disbanded ; and the right of a British Resident to live in Zululand be recognised.

Twenty days were given him in which to give up Sirayo's relations and pay that fine ; and an extension was made of another ten days, making thirty days altogether, for the final answer of the King and payment of the fine inflicted upon him for the previous non-fulfilment of his promises. The message also treated of the settlement of the long dispute as to the territory bordering on the Transvaal. In this Sir Bartle Frere followed the award made by the Com mission which had sat previously at Rorke's Drift to decide the question, and much to the surprise of many he also gave back to the Zulus a strip of land which, it was stated upon very good authority, belonged to the Dutch, but which the Commissioners had held to be part of Zululand. It was, however, understood, with a view if possible of satisfying both sides and doing justice to all concerned, that Sir Bartle Frere would, if his ultimatum had been accepted, have endeavoured to arrived at an arrangement whereby, while recognising the sovereign rights of the Zulu King over this portion of the land, he would secure to the Dutch farmers who had settled upon it such individual rights as they were entitled to, or compensation for losing them.

Such, briefly, was the state of affairs existing in South Africa which led up to the Zulu war, and the part which Sir Bartle Frere played in them. Now, more than ever, can we see that the war was inevitable ; and had the matter only been quietly shelved for a little while, we should most likely have been the invaded instead of the invaders. The Colony of Natal had long been threatened with invasion by the Zulus, and the utmost care and tact on the part of our authorities had been required to prevent some outbreak long before. When Sir Introduction. XIV Bartle Frere came round to Natal he found it was absolutely necessary that definite steps should be taken to obviate this danger. Indeed there can be little doubt that he was expressly commissioned to do so by the Home Government. Whether it might have been possible for two or three years longer to continue living on the edge of such a political volcano may be an open question.

Possibly matters might have held together for a short time ; but it was certain that the danger, already formidable, would continue to increase every year, nay, almost every month ; and that the difficulty of dealing with it, which might arise from immediate and decisive action, would be proportionately augmented by delay. Parleying with Cetywayo had long proved useless, and it was hopeless to expect to bring him to reason without some display of force. Sir Bartle knew that the demands which he was thus compelled to make would be unpalatable to Cetywayo, but he still hoped that the Zulu King would be disposed to yield, rather than face going to war with us, when he perceived that we were prepared if necessary to enforce our demands. It was reasonably considered that, in the event of a refusal, the troops which Lord Chelmsford had under his command would prove sufficient to awe Cetywayo into submission ; and though preparation for ulterior measures was compulsory there seemed every reason to hope to the last that the Zulu King would concede the terms which we demanded.

It may be noticed that even Bishop Colenso, who all along has been, and still is, a strong opponent of Sir Bartle Frere and his policy, admitted that the demands as a whole were justifiable and necessary; although he took exception to the proposed plan of recognising the territorial rights of the Dutch farmers on a part of the disputed boundary land, to which I have before alluded. But to the surprise of all, it was found that, even Introduction. XV before the receipt of the message, Cetywayo had been actively preparing for war; and on the 25th November, a fortnight before the ultimatum was issued, Lord Chelmsford reported that Zulu piquets were within rifle-shot of our own men. There thus appeared to be every probability, nay, almost a certainty, that, long before Sir Bartle Frere could have referred the matter home .and received his answer (the telegraph not being established at the time), the Zulus would have invaded Natal.

Lord Chelmsford had declared — and the whole course of the war shows that he was justified in his opinion — " that Natal could only be protected by our acting on the offensive ; " and the case was clearly one in which promptitude as well as firmness was required. Delay would have given Cetywayo the greatest possible temptation to attack the colony. He would have seen that we marched our troops forward, and that we hesitated to do more ; and this hesitation would infallibly have been construed as the results of fear. How thoroughly prepared he was to carry out his threats was only too well shown by the furious onslaughts made against our forces on the sad and memorable day at Isandwhlana, and by the subsequent desperate attack of 4,000 Zulus upon our small fort at Rorke's Drift, in Natal. The time allowed by the ultimatum for compliance with the demands having expired, and no answer being received from Cetywayo, Sir Bartle Frere made over the settlement of the whole question to Lord Chelmsford, who marched our troops in five Columns, at different places, across the frontier from the 5th to the 11th January, without opposition from the enemy, and thus commenced the first campaign in Zululand.

Chapter I

Evee since the commencement of the Cape War against the Gaikas and Galekas, at the end of 1877, signs had not been wanting that disturbances were likely to break out, not only among the small surrounding tribes along our Natal border and that of the Transvaal ; but also it was found that even Cetywayo himself was fomenting these smaller quarrels, so as to enable him to carry on his own projects with greater success. Seco coeni and Umbelini, two of the most noted, powerful, and independent predatory chiefs in the Transvaal and Zululand — or just beyond the north-west corner of Natal — were the first to show signs of what was impending ; and, having for some time successfully waged a desultory warfare with the inhabitants of their surrounding neighbourhoods, while the Transvaal was under the Government of a Dutch Republic, they doubtless thought that the opportunity was come for doing so on a still larger scale when the British annexed the country and took over the Government.

They, however, greatly miscalculated the power of their new foe. In order to check these lawless mountain chieftains, the regiment then at Pretoria (the 13th P.A.L.I.) was strengthened in August, 1878, by the 80th "Staffordshire Volunteers," and several mounted Volunteer E corps were raised locally ; while forts were built along the line of communications, thus enabling the troops to keep the forces of those chiefs in check, until we should be able to enter into a regular campaign against them. In Natal itself, owing to the dispute on the boundary question being again raised by Cetywayo, and other news from Zululand, the first and second battalions of the 24th " Warwickshire " regiment were added to the 3rd "Buffs," at that time the only regiment quartered in Natal. Shortly after this, matters had come to such a pass between our Government and the Zulu King, that it was clearly seen that some decisive steps would have at once to be taken, in order to put an end to the outrages and insolent behaviour of Cetywayo.

Under these circumstances, His Excellency Lieu tenant-General the Honourable F. A. Thesiger, C.B., came round from the Cape in August, and made the necessary preliminary arrangements, so as to protect our own territory and enable us to resort to force, if nothing else would suffice. The advent of the General was quickly followed by that of His Excellency Sir Bartle Frere, K.C.B., Governor of the Cape, and Her Majesty's High Commissioner in South Africa ; as well as by the arrival of large reinforcements of troops from the old colony, including the 88th " Connaught Rangers;" Wood's Column, consisting of the 90th regiment, a battery of artillery and some mounted infantry ; the Frontier Light Horse, which had originally been raised by Captain F. Carrington, l-24th regiment, but were then 200 strong and specially com manded by Major Buller, C.B., 60th rifles, who had with him as second in command the late Captain Barton, Coldstream Guards; the "KaffrarianRiflemen,"underCommandantScherm brucker; and drafts from every other branch of the service.

These were again supplemented in January by the arrival from England of the second battalion 4th " King's Own " regiment, and the 99th " Duke of Edinburgh's." The navy also con tributed its share, a large naval brigade being landed from H.M.S. Active, Flag Ship of the Cape Station, flying the pen nant of Commodore Sullivan, C.B., and placed under the com mand of Captain Campbell, R.N. Three regiments of a Introductory. 3 Native Contingent were also formed, two having two bat talions, and the third, three, of 1,000 men in each (of the formation of which I shall give full particulars farther on). Troops of mounted natives were raised to act as scouts, and every Mounted Volunteer corps in the colony — eight in number — was called out ; while Town Guards were established at Durban and Pieter Maritzburg, and arrangements were made to put all the "laagers" throughout the colony in a defensive state.

The Natal Mounted Police, a purely colonial force, was also much strengthened and called out for active service. ' Our forces were stationed at various posts along the Border, and divided into five Columns. No. 1 Column was commanded by Colonel Pearson, and encamped at the Lower Tugela Drift (where Fort Pearson was built), with Durban for its base, and Stanger as an advanced depot. It numbered about 1,900 whites and 2,000 natives — a total of 3,900 men. No. 2 Column was that under the command of the late Lieutenant- Colonel Durnford, R.E., and was stationed at Kranzkop, Middle Drift, with Grey Town as its advanced depot, and Pieter Maritzburg as its base. It consisted entirely of natives, with the exception of their white officers, and had about 150 whites and 3,300 natives — together 3,450 men enrolled.

No. 3 Column, with which went the Head Quarters, was commanded by Brevet- Colonel Glynn, C.B., and was the strongest of the five. It was organised at Helpmakaar and Rorke's Drift, having Pieter Maritzburg as its base, with Ladysmith on the main road, and Grey Town on the Border road, as advanced depots. It numbered about 2,200 whites and 2,500 natives, or 4,700 in all. No. 4 Column was under the command of Colonel Wood, V.C., C.B., and was stationed at Conference Hill on the Blood River, with Utrecht for its base. The original strength of Colonel Wood's Column has not been precisely ascertained, as he was constantly adding more Irregulars and Dutch Volunteers ; but at the beginning he had a nucleus of about 1,800 whites and 500 natives, that is 2,300 men. No. 5 Column was hardly intended for offensive purposes against the Zulus, but was left behind at Luneberg and in that district, to check Secocoeni.

It was commanded b by Colonel Rowlands, V.C., C.B., and numbered about 1,500, of whom 1,000 were whites, and 500 natives. So that altogether, exclusive of the Dutch Volunteers, the Irregular corps then being raised at the Cape, and the Swazie levy, Lord Chelmsford had under his command a force of nearly 16,000 men, made up of 7,000 whites and 9,000 natives. The following is the official List of our Army in the field at the commencement of operations : — NATAL AND TRANSVAAL. Lieutenant-General Commanding the Forces, — F. A. Lord Chelmsford, K.C.B. Personal Staff. — Assistant military secretary, Brevet Lieu tenant-Colonel Crealock, 95th foot ; aides-de-camp, Brevet-Major Gosset, 54th foot, Captain Buller, R.B., and Lieutenant Milne, R.N. Head-quarters Staff. — Deputy adjutant and quartermaster general, Brevet- Colonel Bellairs, C.B. (unattached) ; deputy assistant adjutants and quartermasters-general, Brevet-Major Spalding, 104th foot, Brevet-Major Grenfell, 60th foot ; officer commanding Royal Artillery, Lieutenant-Colonel Law, R.A. ; commanding Royal Engineers, Colonel Hassard, C.B., R.E. ; commanding Natal Mounted Police and Volunteers, Major Dartnell, N.M.P. ; district commissary-general, Commissary- General Strickland, C.B. ; commissary-general (ordnance), Deputy Commissary-General Wright ; district paymaster, Staff Paymaster Ball ; principal medical officer, Deputy- Surgeon Woolfryes, C.B., M.D. No. 1 Column. — Colonel commanding, Colonel Pearson, 3rd foot.

Staff — Orderly officer, Lieutenant Knight, 3rd foot; principal staff officer, Brevet-Colonel Walker, C.B., Scots Guards ; general staff duties, Captain M'Gregor, 29th foot ; transport duties, Captain Pelly Clarke, 103rd foot ; senior commissariat officer, Assistant Commissary Heygate; sub district paymaster, Paymaster George (hon. captain) ; senior medical officer, Surgeon-Major Tarrant. Corps — Royal Artil- Official list of the British Army. 5 lery, two seven-pounders (mule), Lieutenant Lloyd ; Royal Engiueers, No. 2 company, Captain Wynne, R.E. ; 2nd bat talion, 3rd foot, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Parnell ; 99th foot (six companies), Lieutenant-Colonel Welman ; Naval Brigade, Commander Campbell, R.N. ; No. 2 squadron Mounted Infantry, Major Barrow, 19th hussars ; Natal Hussars, Captain Norton ; Durban Mounted Rifles, Captain W. Shepstone ; Alexandra Mounted Rifles, Captain Arbuthnot ; Stanger Mounted Rifles, Captain Addison; Victoria Mounted Rifles, Captain Saner. 2nd Regiment Natal Native Contingent — Major Graves, 3rd foot; staff officer, Captain Hart, 31st foot; 1st battalion, Major Graves ; 2nd battalion, Commandant Nettleton ; No. 2 company, Natal Native Pioneer Corps, Captain Beddoes.

No. 2 Column. — Commanding, Lieutenant-Colonel Durnford, R.E. Staff- — For general staff duties, Captain Barton, 77th foot ; for transport duties, Lieutenant Cochrane, 32nd foot ; senior medical officer, Civil Surgeon Cartwright Reed. Corps — Rocket battery (mules), Captain Russell, R.A. lsi Regiment Natal Native Contingent — 1st battalion, Commandant Montgomery ; 2nd battalion, Major Bengough, 77th foot ; 3rd battalion, Captain Cherry, 32nd foot ; Sikali's Horse ; No. 3 company Natal Native Pioneers, Captain Allen. No. 3 Column. — Commanding, Brevet- Colonel Glynn C.B., 24th foot. Staff — Orderly officer, Lieutenant Coghill, 24th foot ; principal staff officer, Major Clery ; for general staff duties, Captain Gardner, 14th hussars ; for transport duties, Captain Essex, 75th foot ; senior commissariat officer, Assistant Commissary Dunne ; sub-district paymaster, Paymaster Elliott (hon. captain) ; senior medical officer, Surgeon-Major Shepherd.

Corps — N battery, 5th brigade, Royal Artillery, Brevet Lieut enant-Colonel Harness ; Royal Engineers, No. 5 company, Captain Jones, R.E. ; 1st battalion, 24th foot, Brevet Lieut tenant-Colonel Pulleine ; 2nd battalion, 24th foot, Lieutenant- Colonel Degacher, C.B. ; No. 1 squadron Mounted Infantry, Lieutenant-Colonel (loc. r.) Russell, 12th lancers ; Natal Mounted Police, Major Dartnell; Natal Carbineers, Captain T. Shepstone ; Newcastle Mounted Rifles, Captain Bradstreet ; Buffalo Border Guard, Captain Smith. 3rd Regiment Natal Native Contingent — Commandant Lonsdale ; staff officer, Lieutenant Harford, 99th foot; 1st battalion, Commandant Lonsdale ; 2nd battalion, Commandant Cooper ; No. 1 com pany Natal Native Pioneer Corps, Captain Nolan. No. 4 Column. — -Commanding, Brevet-Colonel Evelyn Wood, V.C., C.B., 90th foot.

Staff— Orderly officer, Lieutenant Lysons, 90th foot; principal staff officer, Captain Hon. R. Campbell, Coldstream Guards ; for general staff duties, Cap tain Woodgate, 4th foot ; for transport duties, Captain Vaughan, R. A.; senior commissariat officer, Commissary Hughes ; commissary of ordnance, Assistant Commissary Phillimore ; sub-district paymaster, Paymaster MacDonald ; senior medical officer, Surgeon-Major Cuffe. Corps — Royal Artillery, six 7-pounders, Major Tremlett, R.A. ; 1st battalion, 13th foot, Lieutenant-Colonel Gilbert ; 90th foot, Brevet Lieutenant- Colonel Cherry ; Frontier Light Horse, Brevet Lieutenant- Colonel Buller, C.B., 60th foot; Wood's Irregulars, Com mandant Henderson. No. 5 Column. — Commanding, Colonel Rowlands, V.C., C.B. Staff— Principal staff officer, Captain Harvey, 71st foot ; district adjutant, Lieutenant Potts, 80th foot ; senior com missariat officer, Assistant Commissary-General Phillips ; com missary of ordnance, Commissary Wyon ; sub-district pay master, Assistant Paymaster Burgers ; senior medical officer, Surgeon-Major Johnson.