deft," and played upon the devoted Zulus, the regiment of Macalooroo,
under Umlinoya, suffering most. Buller's gallant fellows nobly avenged
their slaughtered comrades of the previous day, and for more than seven
miles the broken Zulu army was chased like a flock of sheep.
It was subsequently ascertained that the attacking Zulu force consisted
of nine regiments sent from Ulundi--making a force of 23,000--and of
Umbelini's mercenaries; together forming a total of not less than
25,000. Tyangwayo was in chief command, whilst Umbelini held the next
rank. The latter having retreated in the direction of the Upper Pongolo
Drift, was subsequently pursued and killed by a patrol under the command
of Captain Prior, of the 80th Regiment. A wounded prisoner of some
importance, by name Waishlahla, who was brought into camp on the 2nd,
pointed out to Colonel Wood the bodies of Mubalawa and Maheitjesa, sons
of Mnyame, killed on the 29th; and this man said that he knew that
Mabuna, son of Umbangasita, Makweli, son of Umlandela, Ummensododo, son
of Umfoonsa, and Tyangwayo, his brother, were also killed on that day,
together with, according to the Zulu estimate, above 3000 of the king's
bravest and best men! There is little reason to suppose that these
figures are exaggerated; for 1500 bodies lay about the vicinity of the
camp on the night of the 29th, though in the morning many were gone.
The sad duty of burying their own dead and the bodies of the enemies
occupied the troops nearly the whole of the week following upon the
attack upon the Kambula camp. During the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of April
above 800 Zulus were buried, while others were subsequently found in the
caves and krantzes near. There were also 326 fire-arms picked up,
amongst which were recognized one Snider belonging to the Artillery,
and 16 Martini-Henrys belonging to the 24th and 80th Regiments. Lieut.
Bright, 90th Light Infantry, Lieut. Nicholson, R.A., Mr. Ferreira,
interpreter, seven privates 13th Light Infantry, ten privates 90th Light
Infantry, and one colour-sergeant, two Frontier Light Horse, and one of
Buller's Horse were interred on the day following the attack, the
service being read in the most impressive manner by General Wood.
Wounded Zulus were for some days continually brought into the camp; and
these men, as soon as they found that their wounds were attended to, and
that the soldiers were kind to them, became most communicative. They
said that Cetywayo had sent all his available men, with the exception of
two of his favourite regiments, retained as a bodyguard. These prisoners
also all agreed in setting down the Zulu losses on the 28th and 29th at
3000 men.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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