The Anglo-Zulu War: An Interactive History

**GiantMonkeyMan** · 09-30-2006, 17:48

Historical Note: Chelmsford waited until the 23rd before splitting his forces and taking the majority north to where he believed the Zulu would be, leaving the remainder of the army under the command of Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Pulliene. Unfortunately for him, the Zulu army was not where he thought it was and the camp was assaulted and utterly wiped out apart from a few who escaped to Rorke's Drift.

22nd January, 1879
The rain had cleared and the first of the reconnaissance parties, mainly of the Native Natal Contingent, were arriving back from the east; the northern patrols would take another day. Chelmsford hurried to meet the largest group. Two companies of the Native Natal Contingent, led by a Captain Barry, had been the cause of gunshots that were heard in the distance yesterday. Chelmsford needed information.
The two companies were stifly in salute but Chelmsford muttered for them to be at ease. All the soldiers collapsed to the ground gratefully. Their faces were smeared by powder stains and more than a few were sporting dirty, blood covered bandages. Captain Barry stood to attention and the superior offered back a lazy salute in return. "Tell me, what do you have to report?"
"Yesterday, we travelled onto Conicle Hill, sir, and from there we saw a group of about fifty natives running away from us northwards. Naturally we pursued them and I had the best shots in the party try to get as many as possible. They were too fast for us though and I called off pursuit as night was approaching. We had barely set up camp when the bastards jumped us. We had to fall back, I'm sorry, sir."
"How many of them were there?" Chelmsford asked.
"I don't know," said the captain, slightly ashamed, "but there were definately more than my two companies, sir." Chelmsford studied Barry's face carefully. His hair was matted to his forhead with sweat and what Celmsford assumed was blood.
He nodded towards the soldiers, lazing about in the veldt. "How about them, did they perform well?"
"To be frank, sir, they were good when attacking the zulu but they ran at first blood once on the defensive." Chelmsford nodded; it could only be expected.
Chelmsford shook the captain's hand and left him to deal with his men. He was deep in thought. He knew he must know the size of the enemies forces and if they were divided like the Xhosa were (another tribe that Britain defeated at the Cape Frontier) or, against all of Chelmsford's previous thoughts, they were concentrated and ready to attack.
Chelmsford also considered the defenses to the camp that he must organise. Unfortunately, in their haste to advance into Zululand, sets of of the entrenchment tools had been left behind or were enroute, and those tools they did have were worn from the need to improve the roads as they marched.
After a few hours of consideration, he gathered his officers:

1. You need to decide what you consider the enemy force to be and so future tactics can be made accordingly.
a. A large, but divided, force similar to other native armies in africa. This train of thought would be most agreeable to your officers.
b. A large, but concentrated force. A rare occurance in south africa and believing this would be against most of the views of the staff.

2. Your defenses need to be prepared.
a. Be content with the wagon lagaar that your camp is organised as, and do nothing. Eventually you will have to advance on Ulundi anyway and you could rest the men for that march and the following campaign.
b. Dig a small trench and barricade around the north and east parts of the camp. This will inevitably tire your men a little but it should be a better defensive position than a wagon lagaar.
c. Position your artillery and build up a full encircling defense system. This would turn Isandlwana into a temporary fortress. However, without the proper tools this will surely demoralise and tire your soldiers.

**Rex_Pelasgorum** · 09-30-2006, 20:39

1 b. A large and concentrated force ! You face enemyes which outnumber you, and you need your army to be grouped ! Splitting the army in small groups would be the worst possible decision.

1 b. You need that thrench ! It can proove critical in an eventuall Zulu attack !

Stay in the camp, and send some recon... small groups of man... if you can, try to lure the Zulu into an unwise attack against your fortified camp

**Silver Rusher** · 09-30-2006, 22:54

Rex said what I would have said.

**King Kurt** · 10-02-2006, 11:32

With the wonderful gift of hindsight, I would say c. We need as good a position as is possible - the men can recover once it is built. If we wait the Zulus will come - a military system which only allows you marry after you have been blooded in battle tends to encourage reckless attacks!!!! It has been alleged that Rorke's Drift only occured because the Impis involved had not been at Isandwana and were all unmarried - so sexual frustration led to them throwing themselves on the station's defences!!

**GiantMonkeyMan** · 10-02-2006, 17:11

23rd January, 1879
Chelmsford smiled at the tired troops that were digging a trench around the camp in the pooring rain that had started again. He tried hard not to appear uneasy about the low morale caused by disgruntled officers who believed that Chelmsford had gone mad and the hard work that the men had to put up with. He knew he was right. He had to be right. Somehow he unquestionably knew that the Zulu were massing somewhere to attack right this minute. The reports nearly proved it, and yet almost everyone else didn't believe so.
Once out of sight he sighed and walked to his tent, Mothusi followed obediently, holding up an umbrella. Once inside he sat down and looked over the reports. Skirmishes to the north and east, the trench progressing well despite the rain. All in all Chelmsford was pleased so far with how the campaign was progressing.
Lieutenant Coghill burst in, officers uniform soaked, and said, "Sir! People on the hills!"
Instantly Chelmsford belted out of the tent, both Mothusi and Coghill racing to catch up. Some of the soldiers had stopped digging and were looking at the growing mass of silhouettes amassing on the hills north and east of the camp. "The old fool was right..." muttered someone in front of him. Chelmsford ignored the comment.
The rain was dying down, allowing the troops to easily see the mass of enemy suddenly swarm down the hill-sides in incoherant hordes. Chelmsford's glee at being correct was instantly quashed at the sight of the attack. The trench was incomplete on the north side of the camp and most of the Zulu were coming from that direction.
Officers were already gathered around him, waiting for orders:

1. First you need to position your troops.
a. Assemble most of the British line to the north with a small NNC group for aid; their experience and training will help hold off the enemy. To the east have the majority of the NNC with a small group of British soldiers.
b. Assemble most of the NNC to the north with a small group of British soldiers to help; their larger numbers will hopefully pursuade some of the Zulu to instead attack the east where you would have placed the well trained British soldiers in the defensive position.
c. Have one battalion of the 24th to the north and the other to the east, spreading the NNC between the two directions.
d. (The first poster can come up with option d. if they wish)

2. You need to position your artillery.
a. Spread the 7 pounders evenly around your inevitably curved battle line. With the Congreve Rockets to the north.
b. Spread the 7 pounders evenly around your inevitably curved battle line. With the Congreve Rockets to the east.
c. Leave all your artillary towards the rear. They won't be able to fire as far but they will have a larger arc in which to fire.
d. (First poster again can make a new option, obviously there is a lot of choice available for this)

3. You still have about 200 cavalry in camp.
a. Send 40 cavalry to get aid while leaving the rest as a mobile auxillary. (Most of you cavalry are carbine/rifle armed).
b. Keep all of your cavalry as a mobile reserve.
c. Send 50 to get help and the rest to circle around the Zulu and attempt to gather the reconnaissance forces left in the hills.
d. (Another option that you can make a new decision about)

**King Kurt** · 10-03-2006, 10:37

I think a - brits to the north, NNC to the east - the NNC are the weak link , so the trench in the east will help.
Artillery - again a. We need the firepower to help break the main attack from the north. By spreading the guns, the infantry will help support the guns when the Zulus get close. The rockets are more of a morale breaker, so again, near the main attack.
Cavalry - I think b - we need a mobile reserve to shore up where we are pressed most - perhaps a small number say 5 could be dispatched for help.

Finally, we need to get as much ammo as possible up near the firing lines of British troops - there will be plenty of targets soon!!