The Zulu War, 1878-1879
The background to the conflict
With hindsight the Zulu war was caused by British aggression. Within a few years from the emergence of the Zulu nation British adventurers were attracted to it in search of trade and treasure, and by 1840, Natal, a British colony had sprung up on the southern borders of Zululand. By the 1870s the British had begun to conduct a policy of inclusion, they hoped to incorporate the British colonies, the Boer republics and the African regions under a common British rule in order to aid trade and economic development. However, it was believed that a strong Zulu nation was a threat to this ideal, thus in December 1878 the British High Commissioner in South Africa, Sir Henry Bartle Frere, picked an argument with King Cetewayo, believing that the Zulu's armed with spears and shields would soon fall under a show of British superiority.
King Cetewayo, King of the Zulus
The conflict
The war began in January 1879: Cetewayo had forces estimated to number around 40,000 men, all of which were extremely mobile. Lieutenant-General Lord Chelmsford was placed in charge of the British forces, which he organised into five separate columns, of which the 13th formed part of the number 4 column, based at Utrecht. The aim of the campaign was to secure Natal and the Transvaal from invasion. An ultimatum was delivered to Cetewayo, which upon expiry on 11 January 1879, led to the invasion of Zululand by columns 1, 3 and 4, with the other two columns remaining in defence.
During the first two weeks of the campaign the British army received
unmitigated disaster. On 11 January, number 3 colony crossed the
Tugela River at Rorke's Drift, leaving a small garrison there they
continued to Isandhlwana. On the 22 January a huge force of Zulus attacked
Isandhlwana killing 52 officers and 806 other ranks. They then attacked
the garrison at Rorke's Drift, where just 145 men, after ten hours of
fierce fighting, drove off the attacking Zulus, a scene made famous by the
1964 film Zulu. British moral had been severely dented by
the attack on Isandhlwana, much ammunition, all the transport and supplies
from the 3rd column had been lost and it was feared that an
invasion of British territory would follow, although luckily the Zulu's
did not follow up their success and British forces gained much needed
breathing space.
Bringing in Zulu spies to Kambula Camp, drawn by Colonel JME Waddy
A force of 20,000 strong Zulu's advanced on Kambula and on the afternoon of 29 March 1879 formed their traditional attack position resembling a bull's head. 100 mounted men were sent out of the fort to engage with the right wing of the Zulu attack, it was hoped to entice the Zulus into making a premature attack. The Zulus fell for the trick and advanced, whilst the British forces retired to the fort. When the enemy came within 300 yards of the garrison they were greeted by tremendous firepower. After a day fighting the Zulu forces were driven back with an estimated death of 2,000 Zulus and only 18 British.