ran along the valley leading to the smaller kraals in the distance. Half
the cavalry were now sent away by Colonel Buller to the left, with
instructions to gain the bush, and wait dismounted until the shells were
heard. They were then to dash forward at a swinging canter and cut off
the cattle to be seen feeding on the slopes, which man[oe]uvre would, if
carried out, drive them into the hands of Piet Uys and his men posted on
the right. Just as the sun began to appear above the horizon the gunners
managed to hit off the range to a nicety, and the second shell crashed
and burst right into the centre of the interior circle where the cattle
were placed at night, and which is usually surrounded by the
beehive-shaped huts where the Zulus live. It was at once perceived that
this shot had caused the wildest commotion, as it was immediately
followed by smoke and flame, figures rushing about through the village,
the bellowing of oxen, and the shouts of men. As the horsemen advanced
at a gallop towards the kraal, the enemy, firing a random and hasty
volley, fled up the sides of the mountain, where cavalry could not
follow. All the huts and stores along the base of the mountain were now
destroyed without much resistance, although as soon as the Zulus got a
little vantage-ground on the cliffs, they turned, and replied to the
English fire. Four hundred head of cattle and a quantity of sheep and
goats were brought off by Buller's men, who behaved with the most
admirable coolness and steadiness. The fight had lasted about half an
hour, when indications of reinforcements to the Zulus were observed.
Seeing that nothing more was to be gained, and that he might lose the
cattle, Colonel Buller gave the order to make good the retreat, covered
by skirmishers and a rear-guard. This movement was skilfully effected
without loss, and the column reached the camp early in the afternoon,
having been about eight or nine hours in the saddle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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