The campaign was arranged on a new plan. The numerous columns in which the strength of the force had been frittered away were abolished, and the following was adopted as the designation of the forces in the field, under the lieutenant-general commanding, viz.:— 1st Division South African Field-forces, Major-General Crealock, C.B., commanding, consisting of all troops on the left bank of the Lower Tugela; 2nd Division South African Field-forces, Major-General Newdigate commanding, consisting of all troops in the Utrecht district other than those attached to the Flying Column under Brigadier-General Wood, V.C., C.B., which was designated as “Brigadier-General Wood’s Flying Column.” Major-General Marshall assumed command of the cavalry brigade, and Major-General the Hon. H.H. Clifford, C.B., V.C., took up the command of the base of operations and superintendence of the lines of communication. The forces were divided as follows:—
First Division (General Crealock’s),
Lower Tugela Command.
Naval Brigade... 800
M. Battery, 6th Brigade, Royal Artillery... 90
Detachment, 11-7th Royal Artillery... 25
2-3rd Regiment... 836
57th Regiment... 830
3-60th Regiment... 880
88th Regiment... 640
91st Regiment... 850
99th... 870
Mounted Infantry, 2nd Squadron... 70
Army Service Corps... 50
Army Hospital Corps... 20
Royal Engineers... 150
8-7th Royal Artillery... 80
0-6th Regiment... 50
Lonsdale’s Horse... 84
Cooke’s Horse... 78
Colonial Volunteers... 105
Native Contingent:—
Foot... 2556
Mounted... 151
Total strength, effective and non-effective... 9215
Second Division (General Newdigate’s.)
1st Dragoon Guards attached to 2nd Division... 650
17th Lancers attached to 2nd Division... 626
N-5th Royal Artillery... 76
N-6th Royal Artillery... 80
10-7th Royal Artillery... 70
10-6th Royal Artillery... 30
Royal Engineers... 60
2-4th Regiment... 790
Detachment, 1-13th Regiment... 63
2-21st (two companies at Maritzburg)... 820
1-24th Regiment... 530
2-24th Regiment... 586
58th (one company at Durban)... 906
80th (several companies in the Transvaal)... 300
94th (one company at Grey Town)... 870
Army Service Corps... 60
Army Hospital Corps... 30
Grey Town District Colonial Volunteers... 139
Natal Mounted Police... 75
Natal Carabineers... 27
Newcastle Mounted Rifles... 18
Buffalo Mounted Guard... 20
Native Contingent:—
Europeans... 41
Natives (foot)... 3128
Natives (mounted)... 243
Total strength, effective and non-effective... 10,238
General Wood’s Flying Column.
11-7th Royal Artillery... 87
Royal Engineers... 13
1-13th Regiment... 721
90th Regiment... 823
1st Squadron, Mounted Infantry... 103
Army Service Corps... 9
Army Hospital Corps... 13
Frontier Light Horse... 173
Baker’s Horse... 179
Transvaal Rangers... 141
1st Battalion, Wood’s Irregulars:—
Europeans... 14
Natives... 377
2nd Battalion, Wood’s Irregulars:—
Europeans... 5
Natives... 355
Natal Native Horse:—
Europeans... 4
Natives... 75
Total strength, effective and non-effective... 3092
Grand Total.
1st Division... 9215
2nd Regiment... 10,238
General Wood’s Flying Column. 3092
Total, effective and non-effective: namely, Europeans, 15,660, and
natives, 6885... 22,545
Out of this grand total there were about 400 sick and non-effective with the 1st Division, 300 with the 2nd Division, and 600 (including some of Wood’s Irregulars, absent and not accounted for since the 28th of March) with Wood’s Flying Column. So that altogether, deducting, say, 1500, Lord Chelmsford had at his disposal, from the middle of April, a total of 21,000 troops, of which over 15,000 were European. Colonels Pearson and Wood were made Brigadier-Generals, and the former was to command Number 1 Brigade, 1st Division, and Colonel Pemberton, 3-60th, the other. They both, however, had to give up their commands through sickness, and Colonels Rowland, V.C., C.B., and Clark, 57th Regiment, succeeded them.
Major-General Clifford, V.C., C.B., had the following staff for the management of the base of the operations and the maintenance of the lines of communication between Zululand and Natal:—
Lieutenant Westmacott, 77th Foot, aide-de-camp; Major W.J. Butler, C.B., assistant-adjutant and quartermaster-general, stationed at Durban; and Captain W.R. Fox, Royal Artillery, deputy assistant-adjutant and quartermaster-general.
On the arrival of the boys with the waggons at Pieter-Maritzburg, they reported themselves at the headquarters of the transport corps, and were told that they were not to go down to Durban, but were to load up at once and accompany the Dragoon Guards, who were to march the next morning for the front.
This time the lads were mounted, as their fathers thought that they would gain more benefit from their experience if they were able to move about instead of being confined to the sides of their waggons, and it was a satisfaction to their mothers that, in case of any untoward event again happening, they would be in a better position for making their escape.