Viscount Chelmsford looked in horror at the scene of devastation and bloodshed that lay before him. That morning when the Army had marched out of the camp at Isandhlwana, many of the men of the 24th Foot and Natal native cavalry who were to be left behind to guard the camp, had been happy to enjoy a leisurely breakfast, and not to have to face the heat and dust of the march across the endless veldt. Now 1329 of them lay dead. Their corpses dreadfully mutilated in the savage ritual known as the Washing of the spears. The only survivors found were some sick who had been hidden in a tent, which was not discovered by the savages.Unknown to Viscount Chelmsford earlier that morning, 12 Impi of Zulu warriors commanded by Chief Shingwayo were watching the camp from a gully not far away. Soon after the departure of the main force a patrol from the NNC discovered the Zulu force and raced back to the camp to raise the alarm. What followed was a race. The British soldiers to form a defensive line before the camp, whilst the Zulus charged out of their hiding place and threw themselves fearlessly against the thin red line. The first Zulu attacks suffered severely from the fire of the British Martini-Henry rifles, but with each soldier having only the bullets in his own pouches, ammunition soon began to run short. Desperately drummer boys were sent to the rear to collect more, but by then it was to late. The soldiers were left to defend themselves against the Zulu Assegais and Knobkerrie with only their bayonets and whatever ammunition could be recovered from the pouches of the dead and dieing. The result of the battle could not be long in doubt.?Save the colours? Lt?s Teignmouth Melville and Neville Coghill gallantly tried to ride through the enveloping Zulu masses to bare the Regimental colours to safety but were both cut down in the attempt. The Colours falling into the raging torrent of the swollen River, where they were found some days later.Major Stuart Smith of the artillery rode up to the position held by as yet unharmed Lt Smith-Dorrien of the 24th whose small company was being cut to pieces by the savages' resolute onslaught. ? For God?s sake get on, man, the Zulus are on top of us? yelled the Major. Lt Smith-Dorrien?s men wasted not a second, racing back towards the riverbank. Again it was too late. The fleeing men were cut down and only Lt Smith-Dorrien chased by hordes of warriors reached the bank. Diving into the water the Lieutenant managed to grab the tail of a horse which bore him to the far bank. Not that his troubles were yet over, looking around he saw that some twenty Zulu warriors had followed him across. Some NNC native cavalry raced past, fleeing for their lives, but as far as he could establish he was the only white man in sight. With his boots full of water and with only his service revolver with which to defend himself he fled up a nearby hill, turning occasionally to take pot shots at his pursuers, who eventually gave up the chase.That evening, he stumbled into Helpmakaar , having walked 20 miles alone through hostile territory to reach safety. Chief Shingwayo it is believed had told his warriors to kill all of the Redcoats. Strange as it may seem, of the six officers who survived the massacre and made it to safety all were wearing an Officer?s Blue uniform on that day of disaster.Lt Smith-Dorrien later went on to serve as a Corps commander during the Great War.