After the Lord Chelmsford's disaster at Isandlawana, Colonel Henry Evelyn Wood restored British military supremacy in Zululand.
The 1879 Zulu War
The British had first taken control of the cape of Africa in 1806, during the Napoleonic Wars for strategic reasons. Over the years, the British slowly expanded the region of their control in Africa in attempt to bring peace to the area. By 1879, the Zulu nation remained the only bordering state strong enough to challenge British power in the region, though the Zulu King had no intention of bothering the British. Although most in the British government were happy to leave the Zulus alone, Sir Henry Bartle Frere, the High Commissioner of South Africa, decided the Zulus were a threat that must be eliminated. He soon grasped on a couple of minor border incidents as justification for a major invasion of Zulu Territory.
Lord Chelmsford & Isandlawana
The Invasion of Zululand was led by Lord Chelmsford who devised a complicated strategy of advancing in five columns, with himself leading the main attack column in the center. However, due to poor intelligence and overconfidence, the Zulu army was able to flank the front portion of Lord Chelmsford attack column and assault the rear. The resulting battle of Isandlawana was the worst defeat suffered by a Colonial British Army. The British force was very nearly exterminated. After this defeat, Lord Chelmsford ordered a general withdraw. However, several of the other columns were now trapped, most notably, the column led by Colonel Henry Evelyn Wood.
Colonel Henry Evelyn Wood
Although slightly vain and occasionally reckless, Colonel Wood had seen a lot of Colonial military service and was considered a strong leader. He would eventually be promoted to Field Marshall. After the defeat at Isandlawana, Colonel Wood dug in his forces and launched a series of raids against the local Zulus. It was not long before the Zulus turned their attention his way.
The Battle of Khambula
Wood had around 2,000 men under his command and several field guns. He held the high ground and posted his men behind makeshift fortifications. The Zulu army numbered around 20,000 warriors, which broke into three parts to attack from three different directions. Luckily for Wood and his men, the Zulus were unable to co-ordinate their offensive, and the attacks came in waves from various directions. The battle was a one-sided slaughter. Wave upon wave of Zulus charged into the massed fire of Martini-Henry rifles and shrapnel from the cannons. Few warriors ever made it to the British defences, and those that did were quickly dispatched. When the day had ended, Wood had lost about 20 men killed and another 65 or so wounded. The dead of the Zulus can only be guessed. The British buried over 750, but experts guess the number to be closer to 3,000.
The Battle of Khambula marked a turning point in the Zulu War. The Zulus came to realize that Isandlawana was an aberration, a lucky strike against an unprepared enemy. The morale of the Zulu army was broken. Although Lord Chelmsford would force them to fight one more battle, the outcome had already been decided.
Primary Information for this article obtained from Zulu War 1879 by Ian Knight & Ian Castle, Osprey 1982.
