DEFENCE OF EKOWE. 
463 
men, for owing to the ravages of sickness we had only just sufficient 
men to hold the fort in case of attack. 
There were now three large Zulu armies reported to be in the vicinity 
of Ekowe, and their instructions were to “eat up” the relieving 
column, and then to turn their attention to us. 
We were most anxious for them to attack us. Had they dared to 
do so they would truly have fared badly; for our position, to a forco 
without artillery, was very strong, and they would have come under a 
withering fire from the fort. 
The cavalry scouts of the relief column were first seen on 31st 
March; they were evidently some miles ahead of the column, and about 
13 miles from the fort. However, on the following day, with the aid 
of field glasses, we made out the white hoods on the wagons of Lord 
Chelmsford's Column. Towards evening we saw them halt and form 
laager. 
But in the meantime Lord Chelmsford had informed us by flash-signal, 
that at daybreak on the day on which he intended to march into Ekowe 
he would fire two guns as a warning for us to be on the look out; and 
in case of his force getting the worst of an engagement with the 
enemy to be ready to render him any assistance in our power with such 
troops as could be spared. Accordingly the following troops were 
ordered to be under arms at daybreak on 1st April, ready to turn 
out at a moment's notice,—6 Companies of Infantry (350 men) some 
Naval Brigade and Royal Engineers (50 men) Mounted Infantry and 
one gun Royal Artillery. 
The laager formed by Lord Chelmsford's column lay in the plain 
below the Ekowe heights, about 12 miles distant from the fort. The 
name of the spot was Gingilovo. The relief column had not advanced 
by the road originally selected by our column, but had used the coast 
(or John Dunn's) road in order to avoid the thick bush, through which 
they would otherwise have been obliged to pass. But by 31st March 
they had commenced to work gradually inland again, and the laager 
which they formed at Gingilovo on that day was within four miles of 
the Inyezane, the spot where our first battle was fought. We then 
made certain that the Zulus would allow Lord Chelmsford to break up 
his laager and advance until his force reached the Inyezane, and had 
commenced the ascent of the Ekowe hills. Here the bush was very 
thick, the ground uneven, and favourable to their method of fighting. 
At the same time we fancied that their attack would be delivered as far 
from Fort Ekowe as possible, consistent with their tactics, as they 
must be aware the danger of being suddenly taken in rear by our 
force. 
There was not much sleep that night in Fort Ekowe. What with the 
hope of relief and the expectation of a fierce battle on the morrow, 
talking was kept up till a late hour. Of the events which took place 
next day, the 2nd April, I shall tell my own story:— 
At the dawn of day I crawled out as usual from under my wagon. 
The niggers who, as I before said, were generally driven out at day¬ 
break were still inside the fort, some slumbering peacefully, some few 
other restless creatures like myself had left their resting places, but 
