THE BATTLE OF ISANDLWANA
War: Zulu War
Date: 22nd January 1879
Place: 10 miles east of the Tugela River in Zululand, South
Africa.
Combatants: Zulu army against a force of British troops, Natal
units and African levies.
Generals: Lieutenant Colonel Pulleine of the 24th Foot and
Lieutenant Colonel Durnford commanded the British force at the
battle. The Zulu Army was commanded by Chiefs Ntshingwayo kaMahole
and Mavumengwana kaMdlela Ntuli.
Size of the armies: The British force comprised some 1,200 men.
It is likely that they were attacked by around 12,000 Zulus.
Uniforms, arms and equipment: The Zulu warriors were formed in
regiments by age, their standard equipment the shield and the
stabbing spear. The formation for the attack, described as the
“horns of the beast”, was said to have been devised by Shaka, the
Zulu King who established Zulu hegemony in Southern Africa. The
main body of the army delivered a frontal assault, called the
“loins”, while the “horns” spread out behind each of the enemy’s
flanks and delivered the secondary and often fatal attack in the
enemy’s rear. Cetshwayo, the Zulu King, fearing British aggression
took pains to purchase firearms wherever they could be bought. By
the outbreak of war the Zulus had tens of thousands of muskets and
rifles, but of a poor standard, and the Zulus were ill-trained in
their use.
The regular British infantry were equipped with the breach
loading single shot Martini-Henry rifle and bayonet. The British
infantry wore red tunics, white solar topee helmets and dark blue
trousers with red piping down the side. The irregular mounted units
wore blue tunics and slouch hats.
Winner: The British force was wiped out by the Zulu Army.
http://www.britishbattles.com/zulu-war/isandlwa…