451 
THE DEFENCE OF EKOWE. 
BY 
LIEUT. W. N. LLOYD, E. H. A. 
On New Yearns Day, 1879, No. 1 Column, under the command of 
Colonel C. K. Pearson, was encamped at Timing's Post, 24 miles from 
the Lower Tugela drift, better known as Fort Pearson. 
At this time all hope of King Cetewayo complying with our 
conditions had been set aside, and our column was under orders to 
march to the Lower Tugela drift on 3rd January; should no signs of 
compliance on the part of the King be visible by 11th January, we 
were to cross the river into Zululand. 
On 12th January, at daybreak, the passage of the river commenced, 
but it was not till the 16th that the whole column was encamped in 
the enemy's country. On Saturday, 18th, at 6 a.m., our column 
commenced its forward march, the troops being in excellent spirits 
and eager for the fight which we well knew was at hand. Everything 
progressed in the most satisfactory manner until the 22nd, for although 
we had, up to this time, observed the Zulu scouts watching our 
movements from the hills in front, yet we apprehended no imminent 
danger. However, on that morning we marched as usual at daybreak 
and all went on quietly until 8 o'clock, at which hour we were ordered 
to halt for breakfast. 
The “ Buffs" and Naval Brigade had just “ piled arms," and the 
gunners were on the point of “ unhooking," when we were startled 
by the rattle of musketry in the bush about 50 yds. to our front, 
where our native scouts had been posted. We lost no time in taking 
up position on a knoll which lay to our left, from the top of which 
we could overlook the bush in our rear and right and left, but 
which was commanded by hills in front; from this point we saw the 
Zulus swarming down our right flank, in what appeared to me to 
resemble echelon of companies. The infantry and Jack Tars swarmed 
up the sides with all speed, and, with the assistance of some of the 
latter men, the guns soon gained the summit, so that in a few minutes 
