The Zulus at War by Adrian Greaves

Author:Adrian Greaves
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2014-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

As the day progressed, Chelmsford experienced frustration heaped upon frustration. The initial stage of the Zulu decoy was effective and resulted in a perplexing tangle of information and disinformation reaching the British headquarters. Chelmsford’s situation was made worse by a local Zulu chief, Gamdana, arriving at the camp. Gamdana had considered defecting to the British but was still wavering. As a sop to Chelmsford, Gamdana correctly reported that the Zulu army was approaching Isipezi Hill but he and his information were dismissed. Rebuffed by Chelmsford, Gamdana was able to assess the strength and layout of the British camp, a point of accusation that would later be levelled against Chelmsford by some of his own staff officers. That afternoon, Chelmsford received incorrect reports from Dartnell’s reconnaissance party that they had found the approaching Zulu army. Dartnell was sent orders to attack the Zulus the following day and supplies of food were sent out from the camp to sustain Dartnell’s force of mainly NNC, some 12 miles from Isandlwana.

Later that afternoon, Chelmsford decided to accompany a reconnaissance patrol to the top of the Nqutu Plateau. One of the officers leading the patrol, Lieutenant Milne RN, later wrote:

On reaching the summit of the highest hill I counted fourteen Zulu horsemen watching us at a distance of about 4 miles; they ultimately disappeared over a slight rise. There were two vedettes at the spot from where I saw these horsemen; they said they had seen these men several times during the day, and had reported the fact. From this point the ground was nearly level; there were slight rises, however, every now and again, which would prevent our seeing any men who did not wish it.8

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