The Anglo-Zulu War: An Interactive History

[GiantMonkeyMan]

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.

[Kraxis]

Splitting the troops in face of a more numerous enemy is not considered a good strategy, so that is one down.
Sitting and awaiting the Zulus looks good on paper. Nice big plain with wide fields of fire, but we know the results of the battle...
Moving on Ulundi seems foolish with a strong and faster enemy nearby, well trained in attacking and ambushing columns.

Gah!... No good choice.

I will have to go with staying, 1. Damn!

[GiantMonkeyMan]

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]

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]

Rex said what I would have said.

[King Kurt]

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!!