Book excerpt: In Zululand with the British Army. Eyewitness from disaster to victory. Very few professional writers are fortunate enough to be 'on the spot' when momentous events occur. Most often we are left with accounts by amateurs. Charles Norris-Newman is different. He accompanied Lord Chelmsfords expeditionary force into Zululand as a special correspondent and, but for his decision to attach himself to the staff would have been fatefully present at the slaughter that was Isandlwhana. In the event he had the chilling distinction of being able to describe the British Camp both before and immediately after the battle. Norris-Newman remained with the Army through most of the remainder of war and left us in his writing an essential, full and immediate view of the Zulu War of 1879 that is without parallel.