Latest topics | » Colonialism: A Moral LegacyYesterday at 5:25 pm by Julian Whybra » Punch's view of Chelmsford's tactics!Yesterday at 11:37 am by lydenburg » Writing adviceTue Mar 26, 2024 2:26 pm by Julian Whybra » Private John Scott 24th Regiment a fugitive at largeWed Mar 20, 2024 12:53 pm by Dash » Sergeant W E Warren RA - VeteranTue Mar 19, 2024 9:32 pm by Matthew Turl » Your favourite line from Zulu or Zulu DawnTue Mar 19, 2024 4:52 pm by Julian Whybra » 100,000 posts!Tue Mar 19, 2024 2:20 pm by Julian Whybra » Zulu Dawn/Zulu - New Immortals Film The Way Forward ?Sat Mar 16, 2024 2:34 pm by jgregory » Badge on 2/60th and 3/60th foreign service helmets Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:05 am by John Young » Corporal James Frowen Williams F Company. Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:08 am by Julian Whybra » British rations and moraleMon Mar 11, 2024 11:05 pm by Julian Whybra » Blue Plaque to James Egan, alias Private HaganMon Mar 11, 2024 9:16 pm by ADMIN» A few questions regarding Rorke's Drift and IsandlwanaWed Mar 06, 2024 9:16 pm by Julian Whybra » William J Hoare 24th Regiment??Sun Mar 03, 2024 7:08 pm by Dash » Swinburn Carbine issue in AZWThu Feb 29, 2024 12:53 pm by Rob D » Australians who went to Zululand and fought in the 1879 war.Thu Feb 29, 2024 8:39 am by John Young » Philip Price Thu Feb 29, 2024 7:55 am by Julian Whybra » Alfred Fairlie Henderson Thu Feb 29, 2024 7:47 am by RoryReynolds » August Hammar Letter Dated 6th Jan 1879Thu Feb 22, 2024 8:34 pm by Stefaan » Bearing The Cross by Ken Blakeson | BBC RADIO DRAMA: Ken Blakeson's play tells the story of the Battle of Rorke's Drift and the effect it had on three of the soldiers who fought in it.Wed Feb 21, 2024 10:57 am by Julian Whybra » Letter of officer during Zulu wars.Wed Feb 21, 2024 10:47 am by Julian Whybra » About the second invasionTue Feb 20, 2024 9:14 pm by 90th » Zulu Festival Brecon July 2024Sat Feb 17, 2024 7:35 pm by John Young » Watford band boys killed at iSandlwanaFri Feb 16, 2024 8:26 am by Julian Whybra » Private J. McCrudden 1/13 Foot Sun Feb 11, 2024 3:10 am by 90th » Death of Michael Jayson (Zulu Dawn)Thu Feb 08, 2024 9:55 pm by ADMIN» The anniversary of 22nd January in 2024Thu Feb 08, 2024 3:51 pm by luke1997 » What was the distance?Thu Feb 08, 2024 8:46 am by Stefaan » Mrs Henry HookTue Feb 06, 2024 3:14 pm by Kenny » "With 6 good riflemen"Mon Feb 05, 2024 2:30 pm by Mr M. Cooper » What was G company supposed to do?Sun Feb 04, 2024 9:31 pm by Julian Whybra » Private 1445 Charles Meates 17th Lancers and his brother William WylieFri Feb 02, 2024 10:07 pm by John Young » South Africa Medal With Clasp To Pvt J. Salter 3/60thFri Feb 02, 2024 3:12 pm by Foody » Weatherleys Border Horse FlagThu Feb 01, 2024 9:40 pm by Herbie » Edward Plantagenet Kemeys-TynteTue Jan 23, 2024 10:06 pm by Edjg |
March 2024 | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
---|
| | | | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | Calendar |
|
Top posting users this month | |
Zero tolerance to harassment and bullying. |
Due to recent events on this forum, we have now imposed a zero tolerance to harassment and bullying. All reports will be treated seriously, and will lead to a permanent ban of both membership and IP address.
Any member blatantly corresponding in a deliberate and provoking manner will be removed from the forum as quickly as possible after the event.
If any members are being harassed behind the scenes PM facility by any member/s here at 1879zuluwar.com please do not hesitate to forward the offending text.
We are all here to communicate and enjoy the various discussions and information on the Anglo Zulu War of 1879. Opinions will vary, you will agree and disagree with one another, we will have debates, and so it goes.
There is no excuse for harassment or bullying of anyone by another person on this site.
The above applies to the main frame areas of the forum.
The ring which is the last section on the forum, is available to those members who wish to partake in slagging matches. That section cannot be viewed by guests and only viewed by members that wish to do so. |
Fair Use Notice | Fair use notice.
This website may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorised by the copyright owner.
We are making such material and images are available in our efforts to advance the understanding of the “Anglo Zulu War of 1879. For educational & recreational purposes.
We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material, as provided for in UK copyright law. The information is purely for educational and research purposes only. No profit is made from any part of this website.
If you hold the copyright on any material on the site, or material refers to you, and you would like it to be removed, please let us know and we will work with you to reach a resolution. |
| | Another attack location other than Isandlwana. | |
| | Author | Message |
---|
Chard1879
Posts : 1261 Join date : 2010-04-12
| Subject: Another attack location other than Isandlwana. Sun Dec 05, 2010 1:08 am | |
| “Scenario” I expect this only relates to those members that know Zululand well.
Lets imagine Isandlwana never happen. The British successfully arrived at Isandlwana stay for a few days then moved further into Zululand.
Where would the most likely place have been to launch their attack ? Either as the British column was on the move or camped. But this time the full force of Chelmsford’s column would be in its entirety. There are quite a few members who live or have been to the Battlefields many times. The ones that come to mind are Ken, Springbok & Neil. For instance are there other locations like the Ngwebeni valley further into Zululand on the route Chelmsford would have taken in 1879 where 20,000 Zulu could hide and launch a similar attack to that of Isandlwana. Where would that prime location have been. This can be a personal preference.
On the move. When my interested in the Zulu War began, I was in the mind that a British column on the move would have been a far easier target for the Zulu’s but I started thinking most of the Zulu attacks were launched against fortified British positions. This is something I could not get my head around, but then thinking of the traditional Zulu fighting formation, would it not be necessary for the enemy to be static in order for them to bring the horns ect into action or it just would not have worked. Or is this not the case.
|
| | | 90th
Posts : 10881 Join date : 2009-04-07 Age : 67 Location : Melbourne, Australia
| Subject: Another attack location. Sun Dec 05, 2010 6:09 am | |
| Hi Chard18 Because I'm to lazy to get off my backside and organize my passport to actually get to Zululand ! . I cant answer or attempt to answer your first question ! . I have always been surprised why the zulu didnt attack the columns in the open . Cetswayo did forbid his army to attack fortified positions . Dabulamanzi knew this but still decided to attack R.Drift anyway . At Khambula it was more a case of the zulu being goaded by Buller which made them attack in an un-organized unit . But , as Wood said himself , it was a close run thing . And one gets the impression had the zulu leaders been able to co - ordinate the attack in the proper way , they may well have been victorious again . Had the zulus been a little more flexible in their tactics I think there would have been many more English and Colonial casualties . cheers 90th. |
| | | Frank Allewell
Posts : 8572 Join date : 2009-09-21 Age : 77 Location : Cape Town South Africa
| Subject: Re: Another attack location other than Isandlwana. Mon Dec 06, 2010 6:45 am | |
| Chard Interesting point Politically any Zulu defence of the country would have had to have happened close to the boundary. So if not isandlwana it would have been very close. Considering that the next planned stop would have been around the Gorge and the Army was supposedly gearing to attack on the 23rd it would have happened either en route or at the Gorge. Just a thought.
Regards |
| | | 24th
Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25
| Subject: Re: Another attack location other than Isandlwana. Mon Dec 06, 2010 5:37 pm | |
| I would have thought the best time to have launched an attack would have been when the British were crossing into Zululand from Rorkes Drift. There would have been no fortifications the ammo boxes would have still been screwed down. The British would have been in line formation. The RA would not have had time to un-hitch the guns position and fire. 20 odd thousand Zulu would have been very hard to stop. Plus the moon would have been ok. Possibly the early hours while it was still dark. |
| | | Dave
Posts : 1603 Join date : 2009-09-21
| Subject: Re: Another attack location other than Isandlwana. Mon Dec 06, 2010 6:09 pm | |
| I'm not to sure on that 24th. They would have been caught off guard, but they would have formed up and poured a lot of rounds into the 7ulus. Don't forget the men at Isandlwana were spread to far out, they would have been together at RD. There would have been enough cover fire for the RA and Rocket brigade to come in to action. Not sure but there might have been Gatling guns at the point of crossing before dividing into three columns. |
| | | Chard1879
Posts : 1261 Join date : 2010-04-12
| Subject: Re: Another attack location other than Isandlwana. Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:15 pm | |
| 24th. Cetshwayo would then have been seen as the aggressor in the eyes of the world not good tactics. Cetshwayo kaMpande knew this. So he waited until the British Drew First Blood, which they did at the attack on Sihayo Kraal. |
| | | Frank Allewell
Posts : 8572 Join date : 2009-09-21 Age : 77 Location : Cape Town South Africa
| Subject: Re: Another attack location other than Isandlwana. Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:25 am | |
| I dont think an attack at the Drift would have been a good idea. The ground drops sharply into the river from the Natal side. From the camp area there is a view over the plain on the other side for a long distance. Any impi would have been visible for a long distance. An impi could have aproached up or down river but would have been very constrained in width. If an attack was developed when the crossing was under way it would have been pretty suicidal, the troops on the Zulu bank were protected by cavalry vedets. They would have had all the time in the world to form up with their backs to the river. On the oposite bank the balance of the troops plus guns would have had the advantage of elevation being able to fire over the heads of the troops at any advancing impi. Again at the time of the crossing the Zulu army was still on its way down from Ulundi.
I would still believe that any attack would have been developed aimed at the road to the Gorge or at the Gorge.
Regards |
| | | | Another attack location other than Isandlwana. | |
|
Similar topics | |
|
| Permissions in this forum: | You cannot reply to topics in this forum
| |
| |
| |