PAYMENT OPTIONS

Forthcoming titles

(Book titles are subject to change)

A Royal Engineer in the Low Countries

A Cavalry Surgeon at Waterloo

With the Third Guards during the Peninsular War

The First and Last Campaigns of the Great War

Supernatural and Weird Fiction of Vincent O'Sullivan

Supernatural and Weird Fiction of Algernon Blackwood

Narratives of the Anglo-Zulu War

and many others

History of the Zulu War, 1879

enlarge Click on image to enlarge
enlarge Mouse over the image to zoom in
History of the Zulu War, 1879
Qty:     - OR -   Add to Wish List

Author(s): Alexander Wilmot
Date Published: 2010/07
Page Count: 180
Softcover ISBN-13: 978-0-85706-077-8
Hardcover ISBN-13: 978-0-85706-078-5

On the spot reportage of catastrophe and victory in Victorian Africa

This book has much in common with D. C. F. Moodie’s work on the subject published by Leonaur under the title ‘Zulu:1879.’ Wilmot was also present in South Africa at the time the events were unfolding and his book was completed there before the year was over. Wilmot also seems to have had access to those who experienced at first hand the war’s low and high points and he was also made reference to Blue Books and the work, reports and letters of correspondents of all kinds. Whilst this manner of reportage lacks the evaluation of time considered analysis, it nevertheless provides an immediacy that no true history book can possibly match. Wilmot’s perspective of the Zulu War gives the reader a predictably colonial view of the causes of the conflict as well as an outline of its principal events. Much valuable information is found in his accounts of Isandhlwana, Ekowe, Ulundi and the hunt and capture of Cetywayo. Available in soft cover and hard cover with dust jacket for collectors and an essential addition to any library of the Zulu War.

Very shortly after a halt had been made, and while the solemn duty of burying one of our men, killed on the previous day, was taking place, it was observed that the enemy was approaching from the direction of Ulundi, and from the bush on the right. Our troops were formed up in a hollow parallelogram. In the centre was the Native Contingent, with ammunition wagons. The four sides of the parallelogram were formed by eight companies of the 13th Regiment, five companies of the 80th Regiment, the 90th, 58th, and 34th Regiments, together with the 17th Lancers and the mounted irregulars. At the corners and centres artillery was placed—Gatlings,6 7-pounders, and 9-pounders.<br>
At half-past 8 a.m., as the enemy were advancing, Buller’s mounted men were thrown out on the front, left, and rear. As the right was left uncovered by cavalry, Cochrane’s Mounted Basutos were sent out from this direction to make the enemy advance nearer. As they retired the right face of the square commenced the action by a brisk fire. At ten minutes to nine o’clock the attacking army was so near the British as to make the fire from the latter become general. Silently and steadily the horns of the Zulu army came on in their usual manner; without a word or cry, the warriors of Cetywayo continued to press forward in spite of the deadly fusillade.<br>
As at Ghinghelovo and Kambula, so now at Ulundi, their extraordinary bravery and contempt of death was the chief feature in the attack. During this time the British infantry were formed in four ranks, of which the front knelt, while the rear rank was reversed. Inside the square every means of obtaining ammunition swiftly was provided. The continuous and tremendous fire poured upon the advancing enemy had no perceptible effect at first. On, like a wave of the sea which cannot be stopped, poured the human tide; but when it had advanced to a distance of seventy yards, flesh and blood could no longer stand the awful destruction which poured from the British lines.<br>
The main body hesitated and stopped. A few, more intrepid than the others, rushed on; but the wavering feeling spread throughout the Zulu host, and now was the exact moment to take advantage of it. The dogs of war were suddenly slipped. Out rushed the Lancers, and bore down like a hurricane upon the disheartened and discouraged multitude. Shells were breaking in all directions among their masses, the incessant “pings” of rifle bullets were doing deadly execution; and when the cavalry plunged in among them, the Zulu army was literally torn asunder and broken. The flower of these warriors of Zululand made yet one wild effort, when Captain Edgell, of the Lancers, was shot dead, and Captain Drury-Lowe, Lieutenant James, and other officers had a narrow escape.<br>
Nine men were killed, and no fewer than seventy-five were wounded. But all was in vain; Cetywayo’s great army was forced to turn and fly. They had met the white man upon the open plain, and, though more than 20,000 to 5000, were totally and completely defeated. Away went the mounted men in pursuit, and before the slaughter ended, fully 1000 of the Zulu army bit the dust. The Lancers, with the Irregular Horse, did very good work, as it is estimated 450 of the enemy were killed in the pursuit. The Zulus ran with surprising swiftness. The Lancers drove a crowd into a donga, and working round, pursued a mass of fugitives, who, being overtaken and at bay, made an unavailing stand, when 160 of their number were killed.<br>
A rest was ordered after the battle; and then the mounted force rode on to Ulundi, which was found wholly deserted, and was at once given to the flames. Subsequently all the forces fell back upon the laagered camp which had been left in the morning. Ulundi, the great place of the great monarch of Southern Africa, was wholly destroyed. The king’s palace consisted merely of a thatched building of four rooms with a verandah. A Spartan absence of all furniture and of all luxuries was perceptible, but the numerous huts and kraals indicated that this place had been the headquarters of a powerful army. Lord William Beresford was the first to enter.<br>
It was a grand sight to see the flames mounting to the skies, and to know that in their smoke the prestige and influence of the greatest savage power in Southern Africa had ended.
You may also like