Lord Chelmsford and Major Dartnell.

Hi all.
On further investigation I came across a letter written by Clery to a Colonel Harman ( any relation Pete ! ) back in Eng
From Rorke's Drift written on 17th Feb 1879 . In Part and I quote ; '' About 1.30 that night a message written in pencil
was brought to my tent from the commander ( Dartnell ) of the force bivouacking out , to say that the enemy had shown
in increased force and that it would not be prudent to attack them in the morning without some white troops . I took this at
once to Col Glyn who simply said I must take it to the General . The General's tent was close by , so I roused him up . Lying
on my face and hands close by his camp bed I can still remember how I read out from that crumpled piece of notebook paper
written across in pencil , word after word what I had just previously had such difficulty in deciphering in my own tent . The
General did not hesitate much , he said , ' Order the 2 / 24th Regt , four guns and all the mtd troops to get ready to start at
Day-break ' . He also added '' Order up Col Durnford with the troops he has to re - inforce the camp . This was overheard
by Crealock in the next tent , so he joined in by asking ( very properly I think ) , '' Is Major Clery to issue orders to Col Durnford ? -
For Durnford's was an independent command hitherto. So the General said , '' No , Let you do it ''. Unquote .
cheers 90th

Before it was necessary to assist Major Dartnell, is it know for how long Chelmsford had intended to stay at Isandlwana.

It was only to be for a couple of days , Glyn asked LC about Laargering . LC''s reply was basically it's a waste of time , to difficult , and we wont be staying here for long , or words to that effect .
90th