The Anglo-Zulu War: An Interactive History
Some Information:
After reading a few other interactive histories here I couldn't shake this idea from my mind. So here it is! Please reply and I'll answer as fast as I can on your options. The rules are that the first person to reply can voice a new option and then it is taken as a majority vote of the rest of the choices. Good luck .
Overview:
Britain, wishing to 'gather' all of the small south african nations into a single, centralised country -obviously run politically by themselves-, has sent an ultimatum to the Zulu king, Cetshwayo kaMpande, stating that Cetshwayo should disband the system by which the king exacted tribute from his young men through military and social service, and that he hand over authority to a Britain. Obviously, it was an ultimatum that no self-respecting King would agree to, something which the British probably intended, and Cetshwayo refused.
The highest ranked British commander, Lieutenant-General Lord Chelsford, decided to advance into Zululand in three columns with two others in support -guarding areas to stop Zulu invasions of British territory-, Chelmsford himself took command of the central column. The strength of this column is given in the official records as 20 staff, 132 Royal Artillery crew (manning six 7 pounder guns and two Congreve rocket troughs), 1275 infantry (two battalions of the 24th Regiment of Foot), 320 cavalry (mainly a mixed force of a largely volunteer section), 2566 Natal Native Contingent (an auxillary of hastily recruited and trained africans).
Trudging through the harsh rains of the south african summer, Chelmsford's column attacked, and defeats, Chief Sihayo kaXongo's territory in the Batshe valley on the 12th of January. Afterwards Chelmsford's advance was very slow, mainly due to a streched supply route and the trader's roads they were using turning to mud in the dense rain.
It was on the 20th that he finally reached the plains of Isandlwana, a few miles distance away from Rorke's Drift. This is where you come in; taking the part of Lord Chelmsford.
20th January, 1879
Chelsford knew that the Zulu forces were approaching fast, much faster than his own 'army' had approached this place, but still he strode with a confidence as he made inspections of the camp, so as to silently tell the troops that all was going to be well. His beard was sodden, dispite the flimbsy umbrella held up by his servant, Mothusi, due to the chilling and constant drizzle that soaked all to the skin and turning the veldt into a mush.
He was convinced that the Zulu's wouldn't advance 'en masse'. Instead he believed that they would employ the guerrilla warfare much as the Xhosa had at the Cape Frontiers, which was why he was having trouble believing the reports coming from the east. Since the reports told nothing of the size of the enemy forces, he believed that these were but skirmishes, and that the British forces would have to pin the Zulu after a long war of attrition.
However, that was for a time far away and Chelmsford would have to deal with the present. He entered his large tent and sighed in irritation, realising that the water mearly soaked through the canvas and still fell in clumps. Lieutenant Coghill was sat at a desk, feet placed casually on a portable desk, telling a company clerk the imformation to process and leaving him little room to scratch the words onto the wet paper due to his muddy boots.
Upon noticing Chelmsford's entrance Coghill swung his legs around, knocking several vital pieces of paper to the floor, much to the dismay of the clerk, and snapped to attention. Lord Chelmsford smiled, "Coghill, gather the senior officers please, and sharpish. I'm having a meeting, that's all you need tell them." Coghill hastily saluted and ran from the tent. Chelmsford turned to the clerk, "Please leave, good sir." The clerk also saluted and ran out of the tent, as fast as Coghill had much to the amusement of the Lieutenant-General. Chelsford sat and waited.
Eventually Chelmsford's staff officers and the senior officers had all gathered into the large tent, discussing their own theories of plans of the campaign. Chelmsford stood up, resulting in all of the officers to instantly hush, and said to them, "I want options."
Major White was the first to voice an opinion, "Sir, as we all know there have been reports of a Zulu force to the east and perhaps the north. I suggest that we use this camp as a base of operations and sweep the surrounding mountains of the Zulu force."
"Sir," intervened Lieutenant-Colonel Pulleine, "Perhaps sending a sizable force east and holding about a third of the troops in reserve here would be the best option."
"No! We must not divide our forces. We should all advance further, it is evident that we would soon strike resistance, as our reconnaissance parties have shown." voices Colonel Glynn.
After this, all the officers begin near screaming to get their own ideas heard. Chelmsford coughed softly and again the noise disappeared eerily. He gave them their orders:
1. Leave the larger portion of the troops at Isandlwana and send a portion of your troops to sweep the hills and valleys to the east.
2. Send out a larger portion of soldiers to the east to stop any movements of Zulu forces and break up resistance.
3. Advance all your troops east towards Ulundi, the Zulu capital. It would take at least another week to arrive there.
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