483 
EXTRACT FROM A LETTER DATED 23 ED JANUARY, 1879, 
FROM LIEUT. F. NICOLSON, R.A., ATTACHED TO 
MAJOR TREMLETT’S BATTERY, WITH THE FORCE UNDER 
COLONEL E. WOOD, V€, C.B., IN ZULULAND. 
Last year Lieut. Nicolson was detached with an independent command 
of two guns with the force under Colonel Rowlands, T7C, employed against 
“ Secoceni," on the termination of which operations he was ordered to join 
Colonel Wood's column at “ Utrecht/' for the invasion of Zululand. In 
the meantime, he had arranged the equipment of his guns and packages of 
ammunition as hereafter described. 
Country hilly but quite open, good grazing, not a tree or bush, about 33 Country, 
miles from Utrecht, after crossing the Blood River. 
The transport is an enormous difficulty; 150 wagons with this column. Transport. 
Eight hours doing a ten mile march. No road. Every dip of ground more 
or less boggy. 
Two guns, 7-prs., 200 lbs. Tandem harness. Whenever the ground Two guns 
admits, drawn by three mules tandem fashion; one gunner walking by the smsou.' 
wheel mule and driving the team with long reins. No. 4 assists by leading 
the leading mule. 
The drill invented by Lieut. Nicolson, for tandem and pack saddles. Drill. 
Two leather boxes on each limber, ten rounds each. Ammuni- 
Eour pack mules. 80 rounds, making 60 rounds for each gun. Two tlon ‘ 
other pack mules carry—on one ten double shell, on the other pioneers' 
tools and rocket trough. Three rockets are carried in top of each front box 
on limbers. 
The remainder of ammunition up to 150 per gun is carried on a mule- 
wagon (drawn by 12 mules) driven by gunners or drivers R.A. 
The tents, camp kettles, pack saddles for guns, and handy tools, &c., On Camp 
same wagons. The remaining gear is carried on an ox-wagon (14 oxen), !Snf. e ' 
also seven days' rations for men and mules. 
Total number of mules, 26 ; two of which are spare. Mules, 
Should the ground become too bad for tandem draught, the guns can be 
placed on mules (three to each gun), and carry 60 rounds per gun, or 40 
