SOUTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN, 1878-9. 
255 
Advancing rapidly to within 1200 yds. of a large stadt or village, I 
opened fire upon it, supported on either side by the company of the 
1/18th L.I., and the native contingent. As soon as the first shot was 
fired, the enemy swarmed down the mountains from all directions, 
blowing their war horns'* and shouting. 
After firing for half-an-hour at the stadt with very good effect, the 
gun was retired and sent under escort to rejoin the column, the infantry 
retiring at the same time slowly towards Fort Faugh-a-ballagh. The 
men of the 1 /13th L.I. had had only one hour's instruction before they 
were called upon to work the gun under fire, which they did to my 
entire satisfaction. 
This feigned attack proved entirely successful, as the column had 
crossed the pass in safety before the enemy, who had been drawn away 
by the sound of firing, could return and hold it. 
After joining the main column under Colonel Rowlands, FC, C.B., 
at Fort Burgers, I substituted six Zulu oxen for the eight mules, and 
drove them with pole and the ordinary yoke. 
This was done on account of the limited number of mules available, 
and for the reason that the bullocks were easier to feed, not requiring 
any forage. 
On the 27th September the column was attacked during its passage 
through the Elephant's Poort, but it being unadvisable to bring the 
guns into action, the attack was repulsed by the infantry alone. 
On the 25th October, a column, composed as follows :— 
Royal Artillery (two 7-prs. and two 6-prs.). 53 men. 
l/13th L.I. 480 „ 
Swazies. 189 „ 
Native Contingent . 308 H 
Mounted Infantry. 50 „ 
Frontier Light Horse . 100 ,, 
Raaf’s Horse. 60 „ 
under the command of Colonel Rowlands, FC, C.B., marched from its 
camp in the Speckboom Yalley, to attack Tolyana's stronghold. 
Bivouac was formed that night at Johanne's Kraal. On the 26th 
October the column marched through the Elephant's Poort, where it 
was again attacked, and bivouacked on the Steelport Road. At Assault of 
3.15 a.m., on the 27th, the column crossed the river in two divisions, ^oiyana’^ 
and advanced in the grey dawn towards the stronghold, which rose 
nearly perpendicularly out of the plain. While crossing the river, one 
of the gun mules of the mountain train, commanded by Lieut. Nicolson, 
R.A. (afterwards killed at Kambula), slipped down the bank and fell 
into the water, and was nearly drowned in consequence of the weight 
of the gun keeping the animal below water. 
Advancing in line to the point of attack, the guns opened fire at 
1300 yds., against the stadt of 200 huts, situated at the foot of the 
mountain, and surrounded by a thick hedge of prickly pear. The shell 
* The Secocceni Kaffirs are the only South African tribe who use the war horn, 
