Lord Chelmsford and the Zulu WarThe Anglo-Zulu war of 1879 was perhaps subjected to much controversy as a result of the epic Zulu victory at the battle of Isandlwana. Lord Chelmsford, the General Officer commanding the invasion force during the war, sustained severe criticism from both journalists and parliament following his actions and conduct at Isandlwana. In 1939 and on the sixtieth anniversary of the battle, Major, the Hon Gerald French, wrote a controversial but riveting book titled'Lord Chelmsford and the Zulu War,' is based on defending both Lord Chelmsford's actions and reputation. The foreword to the book was written by General Sir Bindon Blood who served under Chelmsford in India and a devoted admirer.French however, had fallen into the error of selective inaccurate source material and false reports that were, at the time, specifically designed to shield Lord Chelmsford from the Isandlwana debacle and conveniently lay such blame on the shoulders of Colonel Anthony Durnford, Royal Engineers, who was present at Isandlwana. For example, in looking for such evidence, French deliberately altered a map that showed the true disposition of the imperial defence line at the battle in order for readers to reach the conclusion that the primary course of the defeat was the retreat of the Natal Native Contingent , that opened a gap in the defence , thus allowing an unopposed Zulu advance.The book is nevertheless a comprehensive and detailed coverage of the Anglo Zulu war from the initial invasion to the final battle of Ulundi some months later, and has been used extensively as bibliography by authors when addressing the subject of the Anglo-Zulu war. This book is highly recommended for those with a historical interest of the events of 1879 and the demise of the Zulu nation. |
Contents
| 2 | |
| 4 | |
Lord Chelmsfords Plan | |
Opening of Hostilities | |
Isandhlwana | |
Defence of Rorkes Drift | |
General Cliffords Attitude | |
Death of the Prince Imperial | |
Peace Proposals | |
Progress of the Advance | |
Sir Garnet Wolseley Appointed High Commissioner | |
Ulundi | |
Lord Chelmsford Resigns | |
Lord Chelmsfords Return Home | |
Lord Chelmsford Reports the Disaster | |
The Flank Columns | |
News of Isandhlwana Reaches England | |
Preparations for a Resumption of the Advance Towards Ulundi | |
Relief of Ekowe | |
Action at Hlobane Mountain | |
Zulu Attack on Kambula Camp | |
Reorganisation of Lord Chelmsfords Force on Arrival of Reinforcements | |
Transport and Commissariat Difficulties | |
The Remarkable Case of Captain Shepstone | |
Lord Chelmsford and his Critics | |
Omission of Important Documents from Sir Garnet Wolseleys Despatches | |
Subsequent Service | |
Appendix A Constitution of the Zulu Army in 18789 | |
Appendix B Composition of British Columns and Distribution of Troops on January 11th 1879 | |
State of South African Field Force End of May 1879 | |
Distribution of Lord Chelmsfords Northern Force for the Final Phase of his Advance on Ulundi | |
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Common terms and phrases
1/24th Regiment 17th Lancers 2nd Division 90th Regiment advance afterwards arrival assegai attack battle of Ulundi Battn Brigade British Caffres camp campaign Cape Capt Captain cattle cavalry Cetywayo chief Clifford Colonel Buller Colonel Durnford Colonel Glyn Colonel Pearson Colonel Wood Colonial command commissariat companies Corps Crealock dear defence despatch disaster Durban Ekowe enemy Entonjaneni feel fire Flying Column Forbes force garrison Guards guns hill Hlobane horses Isandhlwana January Kambula King kraal laager letter Lieut Lieut.-Colonel Lieutenant Lord Beaconsfield Lord Chelmsford Lower Tugela Majesty's Major Major-General March miles military Mounted Infantry mounted troops move Natal Native Native Contingent operations orders oxen Pietermaritzburg position Pulleine received regarding Regt reinforcements Rifles River road Rorke's Rorke’s Drift Royal Artillery sent Shepstone Sir Bartle Frere Sir Garnet Wolseley South Africa supplies telegram Thesiger transport Transvaal Ulundi Umvolosi wagons whilst Wood's wounded wrote Zulu army Zulu War Zululand