To Commodore Sullivan, Major Barrow, and the captain of H.M.S.
"Forester" principally belong the honours of the discovery; and while
the sailors worked heartily seaward and along the dangerous and
difficult coast, Barrow and his riders found out all the roads which led
to the point selected. It had been arranged that General Crealock, with
the advanced guard of the 1st division should move down the Umlalasi to
a point carefully surveyed by Barrow, and which was subsequently, in
compliment to the gallant young prince, called Fort Napoleon. Thence he
was to proceed to Port Durnford, to meet the "Forester."
Hitherto the advance had been slow; but when it is remembered that forts
were constructed at every strategic point of defence--at the Amatikula,
the Inyezani (respectively Forts Chelmsford and Crealock), and the whole
of the road between this place and the Tugela had been put into working
order by fatigue parties and Engineers, it is clear there was no real
ground for complaint of the delay. Every stream had been bridged, either
with pontoons, casks, or trestles, and trees had been cut down, rocks
and boulders blown up, as well as gradients eased and facilities for
transport carried out. Forts Pearson, Tenedos, Chelmsford, Crealock, and
Napoleon were garrisoned by the less robust men of the column. Six
companies of the 88th, with the headquarters, held Fort Chelmsford,
while a wing of the 99th performed the same office at Fort Crealock. The
regular communications along this line of advanced forts were placed in
charge of one of the best men out there, namely, Colonel Hugh Rowlands,
41st Regiment, whose eye for country, tact, and temper with the natives
and incessant vigilance eminently qualified him for such a
responsibility.
At this time the force of the 1st division stood as follows:--General
Crealock, Brigadiers Bray and Rowlands; two batteries of artillery and
one ammunition column; Royal Engineers, 30th company and C troop;
infantry, six battalions, viz.:--the Buffs, 57th, 60th, 88th, 91st, and
99th Regiments, two squadrons of mounted infantry, the Natal Horse, the
native scouts; as pretty and compact a little division as any moderately
ambitious general could wish to command, and it speaks well for the
chief's admirable temper under difficulties that, chafed as he now was,
and tied as it were by the leg, by want of transport, he kept working
incessantly without a murmur at the forts, bridges, fords, roads, and
other requisites.
In accordance with the above-mentioned arrangement, General Crealock,
Commodore Richards, and Lord Gifford set forth on the 25th June for Port
Durnford, taking with them the advance-guard of the 1st division.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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