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War Office, March 15,1879.
THE following Despatch has been received by the Secretary of State
for War from Lieutenant-General Lord Chelmsford, K.C.B.,
Commanding the Forces in South Africa:—
From the Lieutenant-General Commanding in South Africa to
the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for War.
Durban, Natal, February 8, 1879.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to forward herewith the proceedings of the Court
of Inquiry held to take evidence regarding the disastrous affair
of Isandlwana.
The Court has very properly abstained from giving an opinion,
and I myself refrain also from making any observation or from
drawing any conclusions from the evidence therein recorded.
I regret very much that more evidence has not been taken, and I
have given instructions that all those who escaped, and who are
able to throw any light whatever upon the occurrences of the
day, should be at once called upon for a statement of what they
saw.
I deem it better, however, not to delay the transmission of the
proceedings, which will no doubt be awaited with anxiety.
I have directed my Military Secretary, Lieutenant-Colonel Crealock,
to append a statement of the facts which came under his
cognisance on the day in question, which may possibly serve to
throw some additional light on what, I fear, will still be
considered very obscure.
It will, I fear, be impossible to furnish an absolutely correct
list of all those who perished on the 22nd January, as every
record connected
with the several corps belonging to No. 3 Column has been lost.
Colonel Glyn is doing his best to furnish what is required.
Since writing the above the printed list of killed and wounded has
reached me, several copies of which I beg to enclose.
I have, &c., (Signed) CHELMSFORD, Lieutenant-General.
Adjutant- General, Camp, Helpmakaar, Natal, January
29, 1879.
HERE WITH proceedings of Court of Enquiry assembled by order of
His Excellency the Lieutenant-General Commanding. The Court has
examined and recorded the statements of the chief witnesses.
The copy of proceedings forwarded was made
by a confidential clerk of the Royal Engineers.
The Court has refrained from giving an opinion,
as instructions on this point were not given to it.
(Signed) F. C. HASSARD, C.B.,
Colonel Royal Engineers,
President.
Proceedings of a Court of Enquiry, assembled at
Helpmakaar, Natal, on the 27th January, 1879,
by order of His Excellency the Lieutenant-General Commanding the troops in South,
Africa, dated 24th January, 1879.
President:
Colonel F. C. Hassard, C.B., Royal Engineers.
Members
Lieutenant-Colonel Law, Royal Artillery.
Lieutenant-Colonel Harness, Royal Artillery.
The Court having assembled pursuant to order, proceeded to take
the following evidence:—
1st Witness.— Major Clery states: I am Senior
Staff Officer to the 3rd Column, commanded by
Colonel Glyn, C.B., operating against the Zulus.
The General commanding accompanied this
Column from the time it crossed the border into
Zululand.
On the 20th January, 1879, at the Camp, Isandlwana, Zululand, the Lieutenant-General
commanding gave orders to Commandant Lonsdale
and Major Dartnell to go out the following
morning in a certain direction from the camp with
their men, i.e., the Native Contingent, and the
Police, and Volunteers, part of the 3rd Column.
On the evening of the following day (the 21st) a
message arrived from Major Dartnell that the
enemy was in considerable force in his neighbourhood, and that
he and Commandant Lonsdale would bivouac out that night. About
1.30 A.M., on the 22nd, a messenger brought me a note from Major
Dartnell, to say that the enemy was in greater numbers than when
he last reported, and that he did not think it prudent to attack
them unless reinforced by two or three companies of the 24th
Regiment. I took this note to Colonel Glyn, C.B., at once, he
ordered me to take it on to the General. The General ordered the
2nd Battalion 24th Regiment, the Mounted Infantry, and four
guns, to be under arms at once to march. This force marched out
from camp as soon as there was light enough to see the road. The
Natal Pioneers accompanied this column to clear the road. The
General first ordered me to write to Colonel Durnford, at
Rorke's Drift, to bring his force to strengthen the camp, but
almost immediately afterwards he told Colonel Crealock that he
(Colonel Crealock) was to write to Colonel Durnford these
instructions, and not I. Before leaving the camp, I sent written
instructions to Colonel Pulleine, 24th Regiment, to the
following effect:—" You will be in command of the camp during
the absence of Colonel Glyn; draw in (I speak- from memory) your
camp, or your line of defence"—I am not certain which-"while the
force is out: also draw in the line of your infantry outposts
accordingly; but keep your cavalry vedettes still far advanced."
I told him to have a wagon ready loaded with ammunition ready to
follow the force going out at a moment's notice, if required. I
went to Colonel Pulleine's tent just before leaving camp to
ascertain that he had got these instructions, and I again
repeated them verbally to him. To the best of my memory, I
mentioned in the written instructions to Colonel Pulleine that
Colonel Durnford had been written to to bring up his force to
strengthen the camp. I saw the column out of camp and
accompanied it.
2nd Evidence.—Colonel Glyn, C.B., states: From the time
the column under my command crossed the border I was in the
habit of receiving instructions from the Lieutenant-General
Commanding as to the movements of the column, and I accompanied
him on most of the patrols and reconnaissances carried out by
him. I corroborate Major Clery's statement.
3rd Evidence.—Captain Alan Gardner, 14th Hussars, states:
I accompanied the main body of the 3rd Column as Acting Staff
Officer to Officer commanding 3rd Column when it left the camp
at Isandlwana on the 22nd January, 1879. I was sent back with
an order from the General between ten and eleven A.M. that day
into camp, which order was addressed to Colonel Pulleine, and
was that the camp of the force out was to be struck and sent on
immediately, also rations and forage for about seven days. On
arriving in camp I met Captain George Shepstone, who was also
seeking Colonel Pulleine, having a message from Colonel
Durnford, that his men were falling back, and asking for
reinforcements. We both went to Colonel Pulleine, to whom I
delivered the order. Colonel Pulleine at first hesitated about
carrying out the order, and eventually decided that the enemy
being already on the hill on our left in large numbers, it was
impossible to do so. The men of the 24th Regiment were all
fallen in, and the Artillery also, and Colonel Pulleine sent two
companies to support Colonel Durnford, to the hill on the left,
and formed up the remaining companies in line, the guns in
action on the extreme left flank of the camp, facing the hill on
our left. I remained with Colonel Pulleine by his order. Shortly
after, I took the mounted men, by Colonel Pulleine's direction,
about a quarter of a mile to the front of the camp, and loft
them there under the direction of Captain Bradstreet, with
orders to hold the spruit. I went back to Colonel Pulleine, but
soon after, observing the mounted men retiring, I went back to
them, and, in reply to my question as to why they were retiring,
was told they were ordered by Colonel Durnford to retire, as the
position taken up was too extended This same remark was made to
me by Colonel Durnford himself immediately afterwards. By this
time the Zulus had surrounded the camp, "the whole force engaged
in hand to hand combat, the guns mobbed by Zulus, and there
became a general massacre. From the time of the first infantry
force leaving the camp to the end of the fight about one hour
elapsed. I estimated the number of the enemy at about 12,000
men. I may mention that a few minutes after my arrival in camp,
I sent a message directed to the Staff Officer 3rd Column,
saying that our left was attacked by about 10,000 of the enemy;
a message was also sent by Colonel Pulleine. The Native Infantry
Contingent fled as soon as the fighting began, and caused great
confusion in our ranks. I sent messages to Rorke's Drift and
Helpmakaar Camp that the Zulus had sacked the camp and telling
them to fortify themselves.
4th Evidence..—Captain Essex, 75th Regiment, states: I
hand in a written statement of what occurred, I have nothing to
add to that statement. This statement is marked A.
5th Evidence.—Lieutenant Cochrane, 32nd Regiment, states:
I am employed as transport officer with No 2 Column, then under
Colonel Durnford, R.E., on the 22nd January, 1879, the column
marched on that morning from Rorke's Drift to Isandlwana in
consequence of an order received from the Lieutenant General. I
do not know the particulars of the order received. I entered the
Isandlwana camp with Colonel Durnford about 10 A.M., and
remained with him as Acting Staff Officer. On arrival he took
over command from Colonel Pulleine, 24th Regiment. Colonel
Pulleine gave over to Colonel Durnford a verbal state of the
troops in camp at the time, and stated the orders he had
received, viz., to defend the camp, these words were repeated
two or three times in the conversation. Several messages were
delivered, the last one to the effect that the Zulus were
retiring in all directions—the bearer of this was not dressed in
any uniform. On this message Colonel Durnford sent two troops
Mounted Natives to the top of the hills to the left, and took
with him two troops of Rocket Battery, with escort of one
company Native Contingent, on to the front of the camp about
four or five miles off. Before leaving, he asked Colonel
Pulleine to give him. two companies 24th Regiment. Colonel
Pulleine said that with the orders he had received he could not
do it, but agreed with Colonel Durnford to send him help if he
got into difficulties. Colonel Durnford, with two troops, went
on ahead and met the enemy some four or five miles off in great
force, and, as they showed also on our left, we retired in good
order to the Drift, about a quarterof a mile in front of the
camp, where the mounted men reinforced us, about two miles from
the camp. On our retreat we came upon the remains of the Rocket
Battery which had been destroyed.
6th Evidence.—Lieutenant Smith-Dorrien, 95th Regiment,
states : I am Transport Officer with No. 3 Column. On the
morning of the 22nd I was sent with a Despatch from the General
to Colonel Durnford, at Rorke's Drift, the Despatch was an order
to join the camp at Isandlwana as soon as possible, as a large
Zulu force was near it. I have no particulars to mention
besides.
7th Evidence.—Captain Nourse, Natal Native Contingent,
states : I was commanding the escort to the Rocket Battery, when
Colonel Durnford advanced in front of the camp on the 22nd to
meet the enemy. Colonel Durnford had gone on with two troops,
Mounted Natives. They went too fast, and left us some two miles
in the rear. On hearing heavy firing on our left, and learning
that the enemy were in that direction, we changed our direction
to the left. Before nearly reaching the crest of the hills on
the left of the camp, we were attacked on all sides. One rocket
was sent off, and the enemy-was on us; the first volley
dispersed the mules and the natives, and we retired on to the
camp as well as we could. Before we reached the camp it was
destroyed.
8th Evidence.—Lieutenant Curling, R.A., states: I was
left in camp with two guns, when the remaining four guns of the
battery went out with the main body of the column, on 22nd
January, 1879. Major Stuart Smith joined and took command
of the guns about twelve noon. I hand in a written statement
(marked B). I
have nothing to add to that statement.
(Signed) F. C. HASSARD, Colonel, Royal Engineers, President.
F. T. A. LAW, Lieutenant-Colonel, R.A.
A. HARNESS, Major R.A. and Lieutenant-Colonel.
A.
Captain Essex's Evidence. Rorke's Drift, January 24, 1879.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to forward for the information of the
Lieutenant-General Commanding, an account of an action which
took place near the Isandlwana Hills on the 22nd instant. After
the departure of the main body of the column, nothing unusual
occurred in camp until about eight A.M., when a report arrived
from a picquet stationed at a point about 1,500 yards distant,
on a hill to the north of the camp, that a body of the enemy's
troops could be seen approaching from the north-east.
Lieutenant-Colonel Pulleine, 1st Battalion 24th Regiment,
commanding in camp, thereupon caused the whole of the troops
available to assemble near the eastern side of the camp, facing
towards the reported direction of the enemy's approach. He also
dispatched a mounted man with a report to the column, presumed
to be about twelve or fifteen miles distant. Shortly after nine
A.M., a small body of the enemy showed itself just over the
crest of the hills, in the direction they were expected, but
retired a few minutes afterwards, and disappeared. Soon
afterwards, information arrived from the picquet before alluded
to, that the enemy was in three columns, two of which were
retiring, but were still in view; the third column had
disappeared in a north-westerly direction. At about ten A.M. a
party of about 250 mounted natives, followed by a rocket.
battery, arrived with Lieu tenant-Colonel Durnford, R.E., who
now assumed command of the camp. The main body of this mounted
force, divided into two portions, and the rocket battery were
about 10.30 A.M., sent out to ascertain the enemy's movements,
and a company of 1st Battalion 24th Regiment, under command of
Lieutenant Cavaye was directed to take up a position as a piquet
on the hill to the north of the camp at about 1200 yards
distant, the remainder of the troops were ordered to march to
their private parades when the men were to be down in readiness,
at this time, about eleven A.M., the impression in camp was that
the enemy had no intention of advancing during the daytime, but
might possibly-be expected to attack during the night. No idea
had been formed regarding the probable strength of the enemy's
force. At about twelve o'clock, hearing firing on the hill where
the company 1st Battalion 24th Regiment was stationed, I
proceeded in that direction. On my way I passed a company of the
1st Battalion 24th Regiment, under command of Captain Mostyn,
who requested me, being mounted, to direct Lieutenant Cavaye
to take special care not to endanger the right of his company,
and to inform that officer that he himself was moving up to the
left. I also noticed a body of Lieutenant-Colonel Dunford's
mounted natives retiring down the hill, but did not see the
enemy. On arriving at the far side of the crest of the hill, I
found the company in charge of Lieutenant Cavaye, a section
being detached about 500 yards to the left, in charge of
Lieutenant Dyson. The whole were in extended order engaging the
enemy, who was moving in similar formation towards our left,
keeping at about 800 yards from our line. Captain Mostyn moved
his company into the space between the portions of that already
on the hill, and his men then extended and entered into action.
This line was then prolonged on our right along the crest of the
hill by a body of native infantry. I observed that the enemy
made little progress as regards his advance, but appeared to be
moving at a rapid pace towards our left. The right extremity of
the enemy's line was very thin, but increased in depth towards
and beyond our right as far as I could see, a hill interfering
with an extended view. About five minutes after the arrival of
Captain Mostyn's Company I was informed by Lieutenant Melville,
Adjutant, 1st Battalion 24th Regiment, that a fresh body of the
enemy was appearing in force in our rear, and he requested me to
direct the left of. the line formed, as above described, to fall
slowly back, keeping up the fire. This I did; then proceeded
towards the centre of the line. I found, however, that it had
already retired. I therefore followed in the same direction, but
being mounted had great difficulty in descending the hill, the
ground being very rocky and precipitous. On arriving at the foot
of the slope I found the two companies of 1st Battalion 24th
Regiment drawn up at about 400 yards distant in extended order,
and Captain Younghusband's company in a similar formation in
echelon on the left. The enemy was descending the hill, having
rushed forward as soon as our men disappeared below the crest,
and beyond (?) the right of the line with which I was present
had even arrived near the foot of the hill. The enemy's fire had
hitherto been very wild and ineffective, now, however, a. few
casualties began to occur in our line. The companies 1st
Battalion 24th Regiment first engaged were now becoming short of
ammunition, and at the request of the officer in charge I went
to procure a fresh supply with the assistance of Quartermaster
2nd Battalion 24th Regiment and some men of the Royal Artillery.
I had some boxes placed on a mule cart and sent it off to the
companies engaged, and sent more by hand, employing any men
without arms. I then went back to the line, telling the men that
plenty of ammunition was coming. I found that the companies 1st
Battalion 24th. Regiment before alluded, to had retired to
within 300 yards of that portion of the camp occupied by the
Native Contingent. On my way I noticed a number of native
infantry retreating in haste towards the camp, their officer
endeavouring to prevent them but without effect. On looking
round to that portion of the field to our right and rear I saw
that the enemy was surrounding us. I rode up to
Lieutenant-Colonel Durnford, who was near the right, and pointed
this out to him. He requested me to take men to that part of the
field and endeavour to hold the enemy in check; but while he was
speaking, those men of the Native Contingent who had remained in
action rushed past us in the utmost disorder, thus laying open
the right and rear of the companies of 1st Battalion 24th
Regiment on the left, and the enemy dashing forward in a most
rapid manner poured in at this part of the line. In a moment all
was disorder, and few of the men of 1st Battalion 24th Regiment
had time to fix bayonets before the enemy was among them using
their assegais with fearful effect. I heard officers calling to
their men to be steady; but the retreat became in a few seconds
general, and in a direction towards the road to Rorke's Drift.
Before, however, we gained the neck near the Isandlwana Hill the
enemy had arrived on that portion of the field also, and the
large circle he had now formed closed in on us. The only space
which appeared opened was down a deep gully running to the south
of the road into which we plunged in great confusion. The enemy
followed us closely and kept, up with us at first on both
flanks, then on our right only, firing occasionally, but chiefly
making use of the assegais. It was now about 1.30 P.M. ; about
this period two guns with which Major Smith and Lieutenant
Curling, R.A., were returning with great difficulty, owing to
the nature of the ground, and I understood were just a few
seconds late. Further on the ground passed over on our retreat
would at any other time be looked upon as impracticable for
horsemen to descend, and many losses occurred, owing to horses
falling and the enemy coming up with the riders; about half a
mile from the neck the retreat had to be carried on in nearly
single file, and in this manner the Buffalo River was gained at
a point about five miles below Rorke's Drift. In crossing this
river many men and horses were carried away by the stream and
lost their lives ; after crossing the fire of the enemy was
discontinued, pursuit, however, was still kept up, but with
little effect, and apparently with the view of cutting us off
from Rorke's Drift, The number of white men who crossed the
river at this point was, as far as Icould see, about 40. In
addition to these, there were a great number of natives on foot
and on horseback. White men of about 25 or 30 arrived at
Helpmakaar between five and six P.M., when, with the assistance
of other men joined there, a laager was formed with wagons round
the stores. I estimate the strength of the enemy to have been
about 15,000. Their losses must have been considerable towards
the end of the engagement.
I have, &c., (Signed) E. ESSEX, • Captain, 75th Regiment,
Sub-Director of Transports.
B.
From Lieutenant Curling to Officer Commanding No. 8.
Helpmakaar, January 26, 1879.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to forward the following report of the
circumstances attending the loss of two guns of N Brigade, 5th
Battery Royal Artillery, at the action of Isandlwana, on January
22. About 7.80 A.M. on that date, a large body of Zulus being
seen on the hills to the left front of the camp, we were ordered
to turn out at once, and were formed up in front of the 2nd
Battalion 24th Regiment Camp, where we remained until eleven
o'clock, when we returned to camp with orders to remain
harnessed up and ready to turn out at a minute's notice. The
Zulus did not come within range and we did not come into action.
The infantry also remained in column of companies. Colonel
Durnford arrived about ten A.M. with Basutos and the rocket
battery ; he left about eleven o'clock with these troops in the
direction of the hills where we had seen the enemy. About twelve
o'clock we were, turned out, as heavy firing was heard in the
direction of Colonel Durnford's force. Major Smith arrived as we
were turning out and took command of the guns, we trotted up to
a position about 400 yards beyond the left front of the Natal
Contingent Camp, and came into action at once on a large body of
the enemy about 3,400 yards off. The 1st Battalion 24th Regiment
soon came up and extended in skirmishing order on both flanks
and in line with us. In about a quarter of an hour, Major Smith
took away one gun to the right, as the enemy were appearing in
large numbers in the direction of the Drift, in the stream in
front of the camp. The enemy advanced slowly, without halting;
when they were 400 yards off, the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment
advanced about 30 yards. We remained in the same position. Major
Smith, returned at this time with his gun, and came into action
beside mine. The enemy advancing still, we began firing case,
but almost immediately the infantry were ordered to retire.
Before we could get away, the enemy were by the guns; and I saw
one gunner stabbed as he was mounting on to an axle-tree box.
The limber gunners did not mount, but ran after the guns. We
went straight through the camp but found the enemy in
possession. The gunners were all stabbed going through the camp
with the exception of one or two. One of the two sergeants was
also killed at this time. When we got on to the road to Rorke's
Drift it was completely blocked up by Zulus. I was with Major
Smith at this time, he told me he had been wounded in the arm.
We saw Lieutenant Coghill, the A.D.C., and asked him if we could
not rally some men and make a stand, he said he did not think it
could be done. We crossed the road with the crowd, principally
consisting of natives, men left in camp, and civilians, and went
down a steep ravine leading towards the river. The Zulus were in
the middle of the crowd, stabbing the men as they ran. When we
had gone about 400 yards, we came to a deep cut in which the
guns stuck. There was, as far as I could see, only one gunner
with them at this time, but they were covered with men of
different corps clinging to them. The Zulus were in them almost
at once, and the drivers pulled off their horses. I then left
the guns. Shortly after this. I again saw Lieutenant Coghill,
who told me Colonel Pulleine had been killed. Near the river I
saw Lieutenant Melville, 1st
Battalion 24th Regiment, with a colour, the staff being broken.
I also saw Lieutenant Smith-Dorrien assisting a wounded man.
During the action, cease firing, was sounded twice.
I am, &c. (Signed) H. T. CURLING, Lieutenant R.A.
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