Colonels Pearson and Wood held on to their positions. Wood was attacked on the 25th by the Zulus at Kambula, but beat them off after a sharp engagement with but slight loss, his two regiments showing themselves worthy of their high reputations as light infantry corps.
Pearson, on the other hand, was shut up in Etshowe, and was only relieved some days later by the Commander-in-Chief, who on his march to Etshowe inflicted a defeat on the Zulus at Ginghelovo.
The news of the disaster to the 24th caused a strong sensation in England. Reinforcements were hurried out to the Cape, and the command of the forces entrusted to Sir Garnet Wolseley. On his arrival in Natal he reorganized his army, which was now constituted as under:
First Division: Major-General Hope Crealock.
First Brigade—Brigadier C. Pearson: 2nd Battalion 3rd Buffs, 88th (Connaught Rangers), and 99th (Wiltshires).
Second Brigade—Brigadier-General J. Mansfield Clarke: 57th (Middlesex), 3rd Battalion King's Royal Rifles, and 91st (Argyll Highlanders).
Divisional Troops: Naval brigade (800 strong), ten mountain guns, one company of sappers, and two battalions of native troops.
Second Division: Major-General Newdigate.
First Brigade—Colonel Glyn: 2nd Battalion 21st (Royal Scots Fusiliers) and the 58th (Northamptons).
Second Brigade—Colonel Collingwood: 1st Battalion 24th (South Wales Borderers) and the 94th (Connaught Rangers).