the Frontier Light
Horse, now rode in from the camp of Colonel Wood's force, which had
crossed the Blood River and had encamped in Zululand at a spot about
thirty-two miles distant. Lord Chelmsford rode over there with an
escort of the Natal Mounted Police and the Natal Carabineers, who on
their return captured three hundred head of cattle, several horses, and
a number of sheep and goats. During the day the waggons, oxen, and
ambulances were brought across the river on the platoon.

Early next morning the 1st battalion of the 1st Native Regiment, four
companies of the 1st battalion of the 24th, and 300 of the irregular
horse started on a reconnaissance towards the kraal of Sirayo, the chief
whose sons had been the greatest offenders in the raids into Natal. The
cavalry were thrown out in skirmishing order, and after marching nine
miles they descended into the slope of the valley in which Sirayo's
kraals were situated. The enemy were heard singing their war-songs in
one of the ravines, and the 3rd Native Regiment advanced against them
with the 24th in reserve. The Zulus opened fire as they approached, and
so heavy was this that many of our natives turned and ran; they were
rallied, however, and with a rush carried the caves in which the Zulus
were lurking.

In the meantime the 24th's men had moved round to the head of the
ravine, and cut off the enemy's retreat. There was a skirmish between
the cavalry and some mounted Zulus, and six of these, including a son of
Sirayo, were killed. Thirty horses and 400 head of cattle were
captured.

The next day was spent in cleaning up arms and accoutrements, after the
heavy rain which had fallen the preceding week, and several days were
spent in making the roads passable for the waggons.

On the 20th the force moved forward, leaving one company of the 2nd
battalion of the 24th, under Lieutenant Bromhead, with some engineers
and a few natives to guard the ford and look after the platoons, and
garrison the store and hospital. The column camped at Isandula, or, as
it is more properly called, Isandwhlana, ten miles distant from Rorke's
Drift. A portion of the road was extremely rough, and the waggons had
the greatest difficulty in making their way forward.

The spot selected for a camping-ground was a wide flat valley, with
hills on the left and undulating ground on the right; almost in the
centre rose an isolated hill, perpendicular on three sides, and very
steep and dif