Presuming that the rebels would move down the Insuze valley, that being their easiest route, it became necessary to place the responsibility of preventing the entry primarily on the column already in the vicinity of the grave. This column, in the absence of Mansel on duty in Pietermaritzburg, was then under the command of Lieut.-Col. W.F. Barker, D.S.O.[228] The instructions issued at 10.30 p.m. by McKenzie to Barker, being important, are given _in extenso_: "From O.C. Troops to Colonel Barker. "On receipt of this despatch, you will please move _at once_, with all available men (leaving sufficient for the defence of your camp), to the mouth of the Mome valley. I have information that an _impi_ is coming down from Qudeni to enter the Mome valley between this and to-morrow morning. Please try and way-lay this _impi_ and prevent them from entering the Mome, and at daylight block the mouth of the Mome at once. It is anticipated that they will not enter the Mome till daylight. "I have reliable information as to almost the exact spot Sigananda is in and I am moving from here to surround him. He is supposed to be just below the Mome stronghold, a little lower down than where we burnt his kraal. I will cut off this portion at daylight and drive down towards you, so please do all you can to prevent his escape, and to co-operate with me generally. "At daylight, please send the Zululand Police and Native levies up to Sigananda's kraal, which you burnt the day we attacked the stronghold, where they will join my forces. You must take your gun[229] and Maxims in case you meet the _impi_, which is reported to be of strength. "Look out for my signals." FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 219: Small parties of troops were, of course, sometimes swooped down on suddenly in 1879 and overwhelmed, _e.g._ the Prince Imperial's party and the Intombi disaster. Such tactics, however, were merely incidental or subsidiary to those generally practised.] [Footnote 220: N.C. remained with the O.C. troops at Gun Hill during the drive.] [Footnote 221: W. Bosman, _The Natal Rebellion of 1906_, p. 66.] [Footnote 222: This appointment had become necessary early in June, owing to Colonel Bru-de-Wold being obliged, through illness, to temporarily relinquish the duties of his office.] [Footnote 223: The following account is now published for the first time.] [Footnote 224: This cloth (Turkey-red) had been issued to members of levies as a badge to indicate that they were loyalists. It was worn either round the left arm or round the head (above the forehead).] [Footnote 225: Report, Col. D. McKenzie, September, 1906.] [Footnote 226: Some account of the excellent services performed by N.N.H. will be found in Appendix XI.]