The Battle of Isandlwana
Isandlwana, the battle
that rocked Victorian Britain; at which the Zulus wiped out a
substantial British force including the 1st Battalion, 24th Foot.
War: Zulu War
Date: 22nd January 1879
Place: 10 miles east of the Tugela River in Zululand,
South Africa.
1st Battalion, 24th Foot, massacred at the hands of
the Zulus at the
Battle of Isandlwana, 22nd January 1879
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Combatants: Zulu army against a force of British troops,
Natal units and African levies.
Generals: Lieutenant Colonel Pulleine of the 24th Foot and
Lieutenant Colonel Durnford commanded the British force at the
battle. The Zulu Army was commanded by Chiefs Ntshingwayo kaMahole
and Mavumengwana kaMdlela Ntuli.
Size of the armies: The British force comprised some 1,200 men. It
is likely that they were attacked by around 12,000 Zulus.
Uniforms, arms and equipment: The Zulu warriors were
formed in regiments by age, their standard equipment the shield and
the stabbing spear. The formation for the attack, described as the
“horns of the beast”, was said to have been devised by Shaka, the
Zulu King who established Zulu hegemony in Southern Africa. The main
body of the army delivered a frontal assault, called the “loins”,
while the “horns” spread out behind each of the enemy’s flanks and
delivered the secondary and often fatal attack in the enemy’s rear.
Cetshwayo, the Zulu King, fearing British aggression took pains to
purchase firearms wherever they could be bought. By the outbreak of
war the Zulus had tens of thousands of muskets and rifles, but of a
poor standard, and the Zulus were ill-trained in their use.
The regular British infantry were equipped with the breach
loading single shot Martini-Henry rifle and bayonet. The British
infantry wore red tunics, white solar topee helmets and dark blue
trousers with red piping down the side. The irregular mounted units
wore blue tunics and slouch hats.
Winner: The British force was wiped out by the Zulu Army. British Regiments:
2 guns and 70 men of N Battery, 5th Brigade, Royal Artillery
(equipped with 2 seven pounder guns).
5 companies of 1st Battalion, the 24th Foot
1 company of 2nd Battalion, the 24th Foot
Mounted volunteers and Natal Police
2 companies of the Natal Native Infantry
Account:
The battle at Isandlwana stunned the world. It was unthinkable
that a “native” army armed substantially with stabbing weapons could
defeat the troops of a western power armed with modern rifles and
artillery, let alone wipe it out.
Until news of the disaster reached Britain the Zulu War was just
another colonial brushfire war of the sort that simmered constantly
in many parts of the worldwide British Empire. The complete loss of
a battalion of troops, news of which was sent by telegraph to
Britain, transformed the nation’s attitude to the war.
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The Battle of Isandlwana
The Zulu War began in early January 1879 as a simple campaign of
expansion. British colonial officials and the commander-in-chief in
South Africa, Lord Chelmsford, considered the independent Zulu
Kingdom ruled by Cetshwayo a threat to the British colony of Natal
with which it shared a long border along the Tugela River.
Zulu Warriers
In December 1878 the British authorities delivered an ultimatum
to Cetshwayo requiring him to give up a group of Zulus accused of
murdering a party of British subjects. In the absence of a
satisfactory response Chelmsford attacked Zululand on 11th January
1879.
Chelmsford’s previous wars in South Africa did not prepare him
for the highly aggressive form of warfare practised by the Zulus.
The advance of Lord Chelmsford's column from Rorke's Drift on the
Tugela River to Isandlwana; January 1879
Chelmsford divided his force into three columns. Colonel Evelyn
Wood VC (won in the Indian Mutiny) of the 90th Light Infantry
commanded the column that crossed the Tugela into the North of
Zululand. Colonel Pearson of the 3rd Foot (the Buffs) commanded in
the south, by the Indian Ocean coast. Colonel Glynn of the 24th Foot
commanded the Centre Column, comprising both battalions of the 24th
Foot, units of the Natal Native Infantry, Natal irregular horse and
Royal Artillery.
H Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Foot: Wiped out by the Zulus at the
Battle of Isandlwana
Chelmsford accompanied the Centre Column into Zululand on 11th
January 1879, crossing the Tugela River at Rorke’s Drift. The column
was to make for Ulundi, Cetshwayo’s principal kraal, joining
Pearson’s southern column for the final assault. A company of the
2nd Battalion, 24th Foot, remained at Rorke’s Drift, the advanced
base for the column.
Isandlwana: the slaughter of 1st Battalion, 24th Foot, by the
Zulus
The Centre Column carried all its supplies in ox carts, each
pulled by a team of up to 20 oxen, walking at a slow deliberate
pace. A considerable part of the day was devoted to feeding and
caring for the oxen. The country was hilly scrubland without roads
and progress was painfully slow. Hilltops had to be picketed and the
country scouted carefully for Zulus in ambush. Movement was further
hampered by heavy rain causing the rivers and streams to swell and
deepen.
The 24th Foot vainly attempt to resist the Zulu Army at Isandlwana.
Over the scene looms the ominous shape of Isandlwana Hill
Chelmsford’s original plan had envisaged 5 columns crossing the
Tugela. Shortage of troops forced him to reorganise his force into
the 3 columns. Chelmsford required the original Number 2 Column
under Colonel Durnford, a Royal Engineers officer with considerable
experience in commanding irregular South African troops, to act in
conjunction with Glynn’s Centre Column.
Chelmsford resolved to head for Isandlwana Hill. Isandlwana can
be seen from Rorke’s Drift, a distinctive shape some 10 miles into
Zulu country that the British troops likened to a Sphinx or a
crouching lion. The proximity of this strange feature adds
substantially to the macabre aura that hangs over the battle.
In the face of the invasion Cetshwayo mobilised the Zulu armies
on a scale not seen before, possibly some 24,000 warriors. The Zulu
force divided into two, one section heading for the Southern Column
and the remainder making for Chelmsford’s Centre Column.
Lord Chelmsford's column arrives at Isandlwana.
The Centre Column reached Isandlwana on 20th January 1879 and
encamped on its lower slopes.
On 21st January 1879 Major Dartnell led a mounted reconnaissance in
the direction of the advance. He encountered the Zulus in strength.
Dartnell’s command was unable to disengage from the Zulus until the
early hours of 22nd January 1879.
Receiving Dartnell’s intelligence Chelmsford resolved to advance
against the Zulus with a sufficient force to bring them to battle
and defeat them. 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot, the Mounted Infantry and
4 guns were to march out as soon as it was light.
24th Foot at Isandlwana- Illustration from Tim Reese’s CD
of uniforms of the British and Colonial regiments in the Zulu War.
Buy the Uniforms of the Zulu War CD
Colonel Pulleine was left in camp with the 1st Battalion of the
24th Foot. Orders were sent to Colonel Durnford to bring his column
up to reinforce the camp.
Early on the morning of 22nd January 1879 Chelmsford advanced
with his force and joined Dartnell. The Zulus however had
disappeared. Chelmsford’s troops began a search of the hills.
The Zulus had bypassed Chelmsford and moved on Isandlwana. The
first indication in the camp that there was likely to be a Zulu
threat came when parties of Zulus were seen on the hills to the
north east and then to the east.
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Lieutenants Melville and Coghill escape with the Queen's
Colour of the 24th Foot |
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Colonel Pulleine, the officer in command in the camp, ordered his
command to form to the east, the direction in which the Zulus had
appeared. Pulleine dispatched a message to Chelmsford warning him
that the Zulus were threatening the camp. At about 10am Colonel Durnford arrived at Isandlwana with a party
of mounted men and a rocket troop.
Durnford promptly left the camp to follow up the reports of the
imminence of the Zulus and Pulleine agreed to support him if he
found himself in difficulties. Captain Cavaye’s company of the
1st/24th was placed in picquet on a hill to the North. The remainder
of the troops in camp stood down.
On the heights, Durnford’s mounted troops spread out and searched
for the Zulus. One troop of mounted volunteers pursued a party of
Zulus as they retired until suddenly out of a fold in the ground the
whole Zulu army appeared.
The Zulus were forced to act by the sudden appearance of the
mounted volunteers and advanced in some confusion, shaking out as
best they could into the traditional form of assault: the left horn,
the central chest of the attack and the right horn. |
One of Durnford’s officers rode back to Isandlwana to warn the
camp that it was about to be attacked.
Pulleine had just received a message from Chelmsford ordering him to
break camp and move up to join the rest of the column. On receipt of
Durnford’s message Pulleine deployed his men to meet the crisis.
It is thought that neither Pulleine nor any of his officers
appreciated the scope of the threat from the Zulus or the size of
the force that was descending on them. Pulleine acted as if the only
need was to support Durnford. He sent a second company under Captain
Mostyn to join Captain Cavaye’s on the hill and 2 guns were moved to
the left of the camp with companies of foot to support them.
| As the Zulus advanced Durnford’s rocket troop was overwhelmed and
the equipment taken, the Royal Artillery crews managing to escape. The main Zulu frontal assault now appeared over the ridge and
Mostyn’s and Cavaye’s companies hastily withdrew to the camp,
pausing to fire as they went.
Pulleine’s battalion, drawn up in front of the camp at the base
of the ridge, opened fire on the advancing Zulus of the “chest”, who
found themselves impeded by the many dongas, or gullies, in their
path and eventually went to ground.
The danger to the British line was presented by the Zulu “horns”
which raced to find the end of the British flank and envelope it.
On the British right the companies of the 24th and the NNI were
unable to prevent this envelopment. In addition the Zulus were able
to infiltrate between the companies of British foot and the
irregulars commanded by Durnford.
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British troops escaping from the Zulus across the Tugela |
It is said that a major problem for the British was lack of
ammunition and failings in the system of re-supply. It seems that
this was not so for the 24th. However Durnford’s men on the extreme
right flank did run out of ammunition and were forced to mount up
and ride back into the camp, thereby leaving the British flank open.
The Zulu chiefs took this opportunity to encourage the warriors
of the “chest”, until now pinned down by the 24th’s fire, to renew
their attack. This they did causing the British troops to fall back
on the encampment.
A Zulu regiment rushed between the withdrawing British centre and
the camp and the “horns” broke in on each flank The British line
quickly collapsed.
The last stand of Lieutenant Colonel Durnford
and his men at the Battle of Isandlwana
As the line broke up, groups formed and fought the Zulus until
their ammunition gave out and they were overwhelmed. A section of
Natal Carbineers commanded by Durnford is identified as giving a
heavy fire until their ammunition was spent. They fought on with
pistols and knives until they were all struck down.
The “horns” of the Zulu attack did not quite close around the
British camp, some soldiers managing to make their way towards
Rorke’s Drift. But the Zulus cut the road and the escaping soldiers
from the 24th were forced into the hills where they were hunted down
and killed. Only mounted men managed to make it to the river by the
more direct route to the south west.
The Zulus attack the British Camp at Isandlwana
A group of some 60 soldiers of the 24th Foot under Lieutenant
Anstey, were cornered on the banks of a tributary of the Tugela and
wiped out.
The last survivor in the main battle, a soldier of the 24th,
escaped to a cave on the hillside where he continued fighting until
his ammunition gave out and he was shot down.
The final act of the drama was played out along the banks of the
Tugela River. Numbers of men were caught there by the Zulus. It is
thought that natives living in Natal came down to the river and on
the urgings of the Zulus killed British soldiers attempting to
escape.
The Colour Party of the 1st/24th Foot prior to presenting the
Queen's Colour recovered from the Tugela River after the Battle of
Isandlwana to HM Queen Vicftoria. The Queen's Colour is on the left.
The soldiers on the far right and fourth from the right fought at
Rorke's Drift.
The most memorable episode of this stage of the battle concerns
Lieutenants Melville and Coghill. Melville was the adjutant of the
1st Battalion, the 24th Foot. He is thought to have collected the
Queen’s Colour from the guard tent towards the end of the battle and
ridden out of camp heading for the Tugela River. Melville arrived at
the river, in flood from the rains, with and plunged in. Half way
across Melville came off his horse, still clutching the cased
colour. Coghill, also of the 24th Foot, crossed the river soon after
and went to Melville’s assistance. The Zulus were by this time
lining the bank and opened a heavy fire on the two officers.
Coghill’s horse was killed and the colour swept away. Both officers
struggled to the Natal bank where it seems likely that they were
killed by Natal natives.
Melville and Coghill probably died at around 3.30pm. At 2.29pm
there was a total eclipsed of the sun briefly plunging the terrible
battle into an eerie darkness.
The flight of Lieutenants Melville and Coghill with the
Queen's Colour, 1st Battalion, 24th Foot
Casualties:
52 British officers and 806 non-commissioned ranks were killed.
Around 60 Europeans survived the battle. 471 Africans died fighting
for the British. Zulu casualties have to be estimated and are set at
around 2,000 dead either on the field or from wounds. The Zulus
captured 1,000 rifles with the whole of the column’s reserve
ammunition supply.
The death of Lieutenants Melville and Coghill after Isandlwana
Follow-up:
Chelmsford’s force was unaware of the disaster that had
overwhelmed Pulleine’s troops until the news filtered through that
the camp had been taken. Chelmsford was staggered. He said “But I
left 1,000 men to guard the camp.”
Chelmsford’s column returned to the scene of horror at Isandlwana
and camped near the battlefield.
Chelmsford’s nightmare was that the Zulus would invade Natal. In
the distance the British could see Rorke’s Drift mission station
burning. From that Chelmsford knew that the Zulus had crossed the
Tugela.
In the longer term the British Government determined to avenge
the defeat and overwhelming reinforcements were dispatched to Natal.
General Sir Garnet Wolseley was sent to replace Lord Chelmsford,
arriving after the final battle of the war. Cetshwayo’s overwhelming
success at Isandlwana secured his ultimate downfall.
21st May 1879: Chelmsford's column returns to bury the dead from the
Battle of Isandlwana and to retrieve the wagons.
Regimental anecdotes and traditions:
• Private Samuel Wassall was awarded the Victoria Cross for his
conduct at the battle. Attached to the Mounted Infantry, Wassall
escaped on his horse from the battle and crossed the Tugela. He then
saw a comrade from the Mounted Infantry struggling in the water.
Wassall recrossed the river, tethered his horse, swam over to the
soldier and dragged him ashore on the Zulu side. The two men plunged
back into the Tugela and swam to safety on Wassall’s horse as the
Zulus came up.
• The Queen’s colour of the 1st Battalion, 24th Foot, was
recovered from the Tugela. The colour was presented to Queen
Victoria who placed a wreath of silver immortelles on the tip of the
staff. Lieutenants Melville and Coghill were awarded posthumous
Victoria Crosses.
References:
Zulu War by Ian Knight (Pan Grand Strategy) |
