Durnford issued Chard with orders to pass down the line

This from Chard's report to Queen Victoria. Doe's anyone know what these orders stated. And who they were for.

Seeing what my duties were, I left the camp, and a quarter of a mile, or less out of it met with Colonel Durnford R.E., riding at the head of his mounted men. I told him what I had seen, and took some orders, and a message all along his line at his request.

At the foot of the hill I met my men in the wagon and made them get out and walk up the hill with Durnford’s men.

I brought the wagon back with me to Rorke’s Drift, where on arrival I found the following order had been issued. The copy below was given me, and preserved from the fact of its being in my pocket during the fight:

Camp Rorke’s Drift

Camp Morning Orders

22nd January 1879

1. The force under Lt. Col. Durnford R.E., having departed, a Guard of 6 Privates and 1 N.C.O. will be furnished by the detachment 2/24th Regiment on the ponts.

A Guard of 50 armed natives will likewise be furnished by Capt. Stevenson’s detachment at the same spot. The pontoons will be invariably drawn over to the Natal side at night. This duty will cease on the arrival of Capt. Rainforth’s Company 1/24th Regiment.

2. In accordance with para. 19 Regulations for Field Forces in South Africa, Capt. Rainforth’s Company, 1/24th Regiment, will entrench itself on the spot assigned to it by Column Orders para.-dated-.

H. Spalding, Major

Commanding."

The above order doe's not appear to be for Chard directly, but states it's the morning order. So am I right in saying Spalding had left before Chard arrived at Rorkes Drift.

Hi Littlehand.
With further reading of Chard's report to Queen Victoria , Chard states that when he arrives back at R.D.
Spalding is still there . It is on page 21 of '' Rorkes Drift by Those Who Were There ' by Jones & Stevenson.
This is when Spalding asks who is senior , Chard or Bromhead , Chard answers he doesnt know Spalding
goes to his tent to check the army list and returns telling Chard he is it !. He then says '' I see you are senior,
so you will be in charge , although of course , nothing will happen , abd I shall be back again this evening early ''. Chard goes on to say '' I then went down to my tent by the river , had some lunch comfortably , and was writing a letter home , when my attention was called to two horseman galloping towards us from the direction of Isandlana ''. I will also mention that earlier in his report Chard outlines his orders which are given to him at the head Quarters tent at Isandlwana , there are , '' and got a copy of the orders as affecting me & found that I was to keep the Ponts &c ,in working order , & also the road between Helpmakaar and R.D and the orders also particular stated that my duties lay on the right ( underlined ) bank of the buffalo river .
cheers 90th. Idea

Cheers 90th.

What about the orders issued to him by Durnford ? Any ideas.

Littlehand .
Although not stated , I would say the orders given to Chard by Durnford were in fact the Spalding order ;
when it was obvious that Chard was to return to the drift as were his orders stated to him in the head qtrs tent .
cheers 90th.

But it says passing the orders down the line. I take this to mean those coming up to Isandlwana behind Durnford

Hi Littlehand.
This is how things become confused , just in our last couple of posts the wording has changed !. Imagine what 130 yrs will do !. You say in your last post '' Passing orders down the line '' when in fact your 2nd last post says '' and a message along the line at his request '' . Do you see what I mean ?. Durnford in fact did
tell Chard to pass on a message to those back in his rear to the effect to hurry them up and leave one Co
to stay with the Rocket Battery and wagons . So no orders so to speak , just passing on a verbal message.
cheers 90th. Idea

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» Durnford was he capable.2