Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 3.djvu/509

 to make arrangements for an expedition against Sekukuni, who had been giving trouble in the north-east part of the newly annexed Transvaal. The expedition, under Colonel Rowlands, V.C., reached Fort Burgers, on Steelpoort river, at the end of September, but owing to want of water operations had to be suspended, to be resumed a year later.

A more serious business claimed attention. The Zulu king, Cetywayo, had an army of 40,000 men, well trained, well armed, and eager to 'wash their spears.' He was a standing menace to Natal and the Transvaal, as Sir Garnet (now Lord) Wolseley had pointed out three years before. It was difficult to guard a frontier of 200 miles against so mobile an enemy, and the high commissioner. Sir Bartle Frere [q. v.], thought it best to bring matters to a head by presenting an ultimatum, in which Cetywayo was called upon to break up his military system. On 11 Jan. 1879, the term allowed for acceptance having expired, the invasion of Zululand began. Lord Chelmsford, as Thesiger had become by his father's death on 5 Oct. 1878, had over 5000 European troops available and nearly 8000 armed natives. He decided to operate in three columns of nearly equal strength. The centre column (which he accompanied) crossed the Buffalo at Rorke's drift ; the right, under Colonel Pearson, crossed the Tugela near its mouth, eighty miles to the south-east ; the left, under Colonel (Sir) Evelyn Wood, had already crossed the Blood river, thirty-five miles to the north of Rorke's drift. All three were to converge on Ulundi, the king's kraal, fifty to sixty miles off.

On 22 Jan. came the disaster of Isandhlwana. The centre column had encamped under the hill so named, and Chelmsford, learning that his scouting troops, ten miles ahead, were in need of support, joined them on that morning with more than half his force, leaving six companies of the 24th with two guns and some native troops to guard the camp. The cavalry vedettes were to be far advanced, but the infantry outposts to be drawn in closer, and the force was to act on the defensive if attacked. At mid-day this camp-guard was suddenly attacked, enveloped and annihilated by a body of 10,000 Zulus. Of the six companies only three men escaped ; the total number of Europeans killed was 860. Chelmsford had been warned by Kruger and others that laagers should be formed, but that precaution was not taken ; and the troops, relying on the effect of their fire, fought in too open formation. 'We have certainly been seriously underrating the power of the Zulu army,' was Chelmsford's own confession (, ii. 148). In addition to the loss of men and the moral effect of such a blow, the transport and camp equipment of the column were lost and the natives deserted in large numbers. The invasion of Zululand was brought to a standstill ; the right column entrenched itself at Etshowe, the left at Kambula, and the remains of the centre column recrossed the Buffalo at Rorke's drift. The successful defence of the post there, held by one company of the 24th against 3000 Zulus on the night of the 22nd, discouraged the Zulus from pushing on into Natal. Reinforcements, which had been refused in the autumn of 1878, were now sent out from England to the number of 10,000 men, but took some months to arrive. On 3 April Chelmsford relieved Colonel Pearson's force at Etshowe, having on the previous day beaten off 10,000 Zulus, who attacked his laager at Gingihlovo. Wood had won a similar victory at Kambula on 29 March.

In June Chelmsford resumed the convergent advance on Ulundi, which had failed in January. The first division, under General Crealock, marched near the coast to Port Durnford, and established a new base there. The second division, under General Newdigate, was joined by Wood's flying column, and by 1 July they reached the White Umvolosi near Ulundi, Chelmsford being with them. They met with little resistance on their march, but there was one deplorable incident: the death of the Prince Imperial on 1 June. He had been allowed to join headquarters as a spectator, and was put in charge of a small scouting party, which was surprised by a few Zulus. Five of the party rode off, but four, including the prince, were killed. On 4 July Chelmsford crossed the Umvolosi with 4166 white and 958 native troops, twelve guns and two gatlings. Formed in a hollow rectangle, they marched on Ulundi. The Zulu army, estimated at 20,000, attacked in its usual enveloping fashion, but was soon driven off and suffered severely from the cavalry in its flight. The Zulu power was broken, Cetywayo's kraal was burnt, and he became a fugitive (Lond. Gaz. 19 Aug. 1879).

Before this battle was fought Chelmsford had ceased to be the commander of the forces in South Africa. Isandhlwana had caused much murmuring in England, and the government had been blamed for