SOUTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN, 1878-9. 
261 
Two 9-prs., two 7-prs., and two Gfatlings on tlie front face; two Disposition 
9-prs. and two 7-prs. on the right face; two 9-prs. on the rear face; ofguns - 
two 7-prs. on the left face.* 
My division was placed in the centre of the 1/13th L.I. on the right 
face of the square, and opened fire at 1000 yds. against the Nodwengo 
Kraal (formerly the residence of the old King Panda), behind the 
stockade of which the enemy had massed in large numbers. The bullets 
of the shrapnel not seeming to penetrate the stockade, common and 
double shell were fired with great effect, driving the enemy into the 
open. The action lasted but one hour, during which time the guns 
played unceasingly on the advancing Zulus, who at times came to within 
80 yds. of the square. 
The number of rounds fired by each gun of Major TremletPs battery 
averaged 22. The right division, under Lieut. Davidson, K.A., expended 
all their case in the early part of the engagement, and had to borrow 
additional rounds from the left division. Captain Browne, It.A., com¬ 
manded the battery on this occasion, as Major Tremlett was in command 
of the artillery of the flying column (four 7-prs., M.L.R., and two 
Catlings). 
Before closing this paper, I venture to make some remarks on the 
guns and equipment used during the Zulu war. 
1. There is no doubt that all the divisions should have been armed 
with the 9-pr. M.L.R. gun of 6 cwt., as in Zululand the country is so 
easy for wheel traffic, that wherever the 7-pr. on the Kaffrarian carriage 
could travel, there also could the 9-pr. go. 
The initial velocity of the 7-pr. is so low (968 f.s.) that shrapnel is 
absolutely of no use beyond 800 yds. range. The bursting charge of 
the common shell is so small that on explosion it would not even ignite 
the dry Zulu huts; and their destructive effect is very insignificant. 
Fortunately the Zulus attacked in such dense masses, that the shells 
could not but have the greatest possible effect. 
2. The special short friction tubes have not sufficient force to ignite 
the cartridge, and miss-fires frequently occurred. After the first 
engagement, I gave orders that in future all the cartridges were to be 
pricked. 
3. The glass tube of the spirit-level of the clinometer is so weak Clinometer, 
that in every case it was broken before the division had been in the 
field a month. 
In the case of a broken spirit-level, high elevation with the 
clinometer was given in the following manner :—• 
One spoke of one wheel was placed as vertical as possible, as judged 
by the eye. The clinometer was placed against the face of the muzzle 
in the ordinary way, and the gun elevated until the broad arm of the 
instrument formed a tangent to the felloe of the wheel at the point 
where the vertical spoke cut it. 
This proved very accurate after the eye had become accustomed to 
the operation. 
* (See Colonel Brown’s Paper 
the Ii.A.I,” p| 154). 
on the march to Ulundi, in April number of the “Proceedings of 
32 
