river at Fugitives' Drift, and
these, almost the only English survivors of the force at Isandhlwana,
rode on, still followed by Zulus, to the provision depot at Helpmakaar
some fifteen miles away, where they mustered and entrenched themselves
as best they were able, expecting to be attacked at any moment. But no
attack was delivered, the Zulus being busily employed elsewhere.

* * * * *

Some little distance from the banks of the Buffalo, and on the Natal
side near to a mountain called Tyana, stood two buildings erected by the
Rev. Mr. Witt; Rorke's Drift, from which No. 3 column had advanced,
being immediately in front of them. One of these buildings had been
utilised as a storehouse and hospital, and in it were thirty-five sick
men. The other was occupied by a company of the 2nd 24th regiment, under
the command of the late Lieut. Bromhead.[12]

On January 22, the ponts at Rorke's Drift were left in charge of Lieut.
Chard, R.E., with a few men. About a quarter-past three on that day an
officer of Lonsdale's regiment, Lieut. Adendorff, and a carbineer, were
seen galloping wildly towards the ponts. On coming to the bank of the
river, they shouted to Lieut. Chard to take them across, and so soon as
he reached them, they communicated to him the terrifying news that the
general's camp had been captured and destroyed by a Zulu impi. A few
minutes later a message arrived from Lieut. Bromhead, who also had
learned the tidings of disaster, requesting Lieut. Chard to join him at
the commissariat store. Mounting his horse he rode thither, to find
Lieut. Bromhead, assisted by Mr. Dolton, of the commissariat, and the
entire force at his command, amounting to about 130, inclusive of the
sick and the chaplain, Mr. Smith, a Norfolk man, actively engaged in
loopholing and barricading the house and hospital (both of which
buildings were thatched), and in connecting them by means of a
fortification of mealie bags and waggons. Having ridden round the
position, Lieut. Chard returned to the Drift. Sergeant Milne and Mr.
Daniells, who managed the ponts, offered to moor them in the middle of
the stream, and with the assistance of a few men to defend them from
their decks. This gallant suggestion being rejected as impracticable,
Lieut. Chard withdrew to the buildings with the waggon and those under
his command.

They arrived there about 3.30, and shortly afterwards an officer of
Durnford's native horse rode