This might be usefull for future discussion.

Can anyone confirm if it is correct..

Zulu War Chronology 1879

11th December, 1878. Ultimatum sent to Zulu King Cetshwayo.

6th January, 1879. No 4 column crosses river Ncome into Zululand.

11th January. Ultimatum expires.

11th January. No 3 column crosses river at Rorke's Drift into Zululand.

12th January. No 1 column crosses Lower Thukela into Zululand.

12th January. No 3 column attacks Sihayo's stronghold.

17th January. main Zulu army leaves Ulundi to attack No 3 column.

18th January. No 1 column advances on Eshowe.

20th January. No 4 column makes a base at Fort Thinta.

20th January. No 3 column makes camp at Isandlwana.

22nd January. No 1 column is attacked at Nyezane by 6000 Zulus and fights them off.

22nd January. Battle of Isandlwana. 25000 Zulus attack the camp and destroy it.

22nd / 23rd January. Defense of Rork's Drift.

24th January. 4th Column hears of Isandlwana defeat.

27th January. 1st Column hears of Isandlwana defeat.

28th January. 1st Column decides to hold its position at the Eshowe mission station.

31st January. 4th Column moves its camp to Khambula Hill.

11th February. Lord Chelmsford's despatch detailing the Isandlwana defeat reaches London.

11th February. Eshowe besieged and all communication ceased.

3rd March. Heliograph communication made with Eshowe.

11th March. First of the reinforcements arrive from England.

12th March. The stranded 80th Convoy commanded by Capt Moriarty overrun at Ntombe Drift by a force Commanded by Prince Mbilini waMswati.

28th March. Mounted troops of No 4 column attacked and defeated at Hlobane.

29th March. Relief column sets out for Eshowe.

29th March. Elements of the main Zulu army attack No. 4 column camp at Khambula Hill and are severely beaten. This battle is generally considered the turning point of the war.

1st April. Prince Imperial arrives from England to join Lord Chelmsford's staff.

2nd April. Eshowe relief column defeats a large Zulu army at Gingindlovu.

3rd April. Eshowe relieved.

11th April. Lord Chelmsford's reinforcements arrive.

13th April. Lord Chelmsford reorganizes his army into 1st Division. 2nd Division and Flying Column.

21st May. A large force goes to Isandlwana to check the camp and bury the bodies, apart from those of the 24th which are left for members of the 24th to deal with at a later date. All wagons found are recovered.

31st May. 2nd Division crosses into Zululand.

1st June. Prince Imperial killed whilst on patrol.

16th June. Lord Chelmsford receives news that he is to be replaced by Sir Garnet Wolseley.

17th June. 2nd Division and Flying column link to advance on Ulundi.

20th June. 1st Division advances from depots in the South.

20th June. Bodies of members of the 24th buried at Isandlwana.

27th June. 2nd Division and Flying column arrive at Mthonjaneni Heights for final move on Ulundi.

28th June. Sir Garnet Wolseley arrives in Durban.

1st July. 2nd Division and Flying column camp on White Mfolozi river.

4th July. Main Zulu army attacks British at Ulundi and is destroyed.

8th July. Lord Chelmsford resigns.

15th July. Lord Chelmsford hands over command to Sir Garnet Wolesley.

28th August. King Cetshwayo captured.

8th September The Last casualties of the Zulu WAR? Smith and Pomfrett killed on Mbongweni Mountain trying to subjugate the last resistance coming from the Kubheka in the eNtombe valley!

That will be useful. One of the more knowledgeable one will tell you if it’s correct.

Hi MrGreaves.
Yes its correct but very basic , there are other dates which had something going on . If anyone has a copy of '' Companion To The
Anglo Zulu War '' by Ian Knight his Chronology has more entries and much more detail .
cheers 90th..

Hi Mr. Greaves,
I wish to challenge your entry for 12 March! The convoy was not attacked by abaQulusi (who lived around Hlobane ), but by local Swazi freebooters under the leadership of Prince Mbilini kwamSwati Dlamini and Chief Manyonyoba kaKubheka who were living in the area around Entombe!

Johann. I don't doubt it for a moment. The idea of posting the list was to get members to point out where it's incorrect,which you have done. Hopefully admin can correct the list as we go and eventually we should end up with an accurate list Zulu war Chronological Chain of events.

Hi all.
Johann is indeed correct , here is the entry from '' Companion To The Anglo Zulu War '' by I. Knight .

12th March .... Stranded 80th Convoy commanded by Capt Moriarty overrun at Ntombe by a force Commanded by Prince Mbilini waMswati.

From '' Ntombe The Bloody Affair At Myer's Drift '' by Mark Hobson . This zulu impi was a combined force consisting of warriors
belonging to Mbilini and Manyanyoba . For many days the latter had watched the convoy's progress down the dirt track , noting
their disarrayed state .

From '' A Staffordshire Regiment In The Zulu And Sekukuni Campaigns 78-79 by Robert Hope ....

'' Mbilini waMswati , a Swazi Prince , challenged his brother , Umbandeni for the crown and as a result he and his supporters became
exiles . Mbilini and his followers moved to the northern area of zululand where King Cetshwayo allowed them to settle in the Pongolo
district . Mbilini's main Kraal and stronghold was on the Tafelberg . He had another Kraal on the Hlobane Mtn in Nthn Zululand ; an
almost impregnable stronghold around the area of Kambula and Hlobane where there was a minimal population , the main inhabitants
being the abaQulusi . During 1878 a number of zulu indunas on the border joined forces in an effort to strengthen the claim of the zulus ( Boundary Commission ) . A small local chief , Manyanyoba close to the Tafelberg , joined forces and encouraged Mbilini . Although Mbilini owed allegiance to Cetshwayo , he turned out to be a renegade who could not be controlled . Such were his raids on
Zulu and Swazi Kraals and Boer Homesteads that Cetshwayo soon found himself being responsible for these actions , at one stage ,
Cetshwayo in settlement for Mbilini's wrongdoings sent a peace offering of 100 head of cattle to the Boers , which was accepted . On
another occasion Cetshwayo gave approval for the Boers to hunt and kill Mbilini .

cheers 90th

March 12th amended.

What about the last casualties of the Zulu WAR? Smith and Pomfrett killed on Mbongweni Mountain on 8 september 1879 trying to subjugate the last resistance coming from the Kubheka in the eNtombe valley!

Thanks Johann. Added.

Hi all.
Sgt Major E.SMITH's Medal was offered for sale on 4 occasions from 14 / 12 / 07 - 18 / 5 / 08 . Price varied from 3,995 opening bid
or 4,495 Pds buy it now , when finally at the 4 th listing it was 3,395 opening bid and the same buy it now . It wasnt sold .
cheers 90th.

The following comes from "Historical Dictionary of the Zulu Wars" By John Laband

1878 16 February: Britain and Portugal prohibit sale of firearms and ammunition to Africans. 4 March: Lieutenant-General Thesiger (later Lord Chelmsford) takes up his command as general officer com- manding in South Africa.
17 March: Boundary Commission meets at Rorke’s Drift.
5 March: British in the Transvaal reopen campaign against Pedi.
April–May: Failed uprising in Griqualand West against British rule.
15 July: Boundary Commission submits report favorable to Zulu claims.
28 July: Sihayo “incident” on the Natal–Zululand border alarms settlers.
August: Conclusion of 9th Cape Frontier War.
9 August: Thesiger sets up headquarters in Pietermaritzburg.
31 August: Thesiger annexes Port St. John’s.
September: Provocative hunts by ZuluamaButho opposite Natal border; abaQulusi order Luneburg settlers to leave.
10 September: Thesiger persuades Natal government to raise large field force of African levies (troops) to guard the frontier with Zululand.
17 September: Deighton and Smith “incident” on the Natal–Zululand border.
7 October: British suspend unsuccessful campaign against Pedi. Swazi freebooter Mbilini waMswati (allied to Cetshwayo) raids Luneburg area.
19 October: British troops move up from Utrecht to Luneburg to protect settlers.October: Temporary mustering of theamaButho in the Mahlabathini Plain.
6 November: UmNtwana Hamu kaNzibe informs British of intention to defect if war should break out.
13 November: Zulu messengers to Natal convey Cetshwayo’s desire for peace.
23 November: Issue of regulations for raising the Natal Native Contingent (NNC) in Natal.
26 November: Natal divided into Colonial Defensive Districts. Natal Mounted Volunteers called out for active service.
11 December: John Shepstone delivers the boundary award and the British ultimatum to Zulu deputation at the Lower Thukela. NNC called into service.
13 December: British military preparations for the invasion of Zululand completed.
20 December: African Border Guards and part-time reserve levies organized for the defense of the Natal border.
22 December: Zulu deputation reports to Cetshwayo with the terms of the ultimatum.
31 December: John Dunn, Cetshwayo’s white chief, deserts to Natal with adherents.

6 January 1879: No. 4 Column under Colonel Wood crosses the Ncome River into Zulu territory.
8 January: ZuluamaButho muster for theumKhosi in the Mahlabathini Plain.
9 January: No. 3 Column under Colonel Glyn concentrates at Rorke’s Drift.
10 January: Public meeting at Wonderfontein of irreconcilable Transvaal Boers decides on policy of noncooperation with British. Bemba, a MdlaloseinDuna (of- ficer), surrenders to Wood.
11 January: No. 3 Column under Chelmsford’s effective command invades Zululand at Rorke’s Drift. Natal Defensive Districts along Zululand border placed under military command.
11–13 January: Wood raids toward Rorke’s Drift with a flying column.
12 January: No. 1 Column under Colonel Pearson invades Zululand at Fort Pearson. No. 3 Column wins skirmish at kwaSogekle.
15 January: Zulu force preventsinKosi Sekethwayo kaNhlaka of the Mdlalose from surrendering to Wood. No. 2 Column under Colonel Durnford divided: part to remain at Middle Drift and rest under Durnford to reinforce No. 3 Column.
17 January: Zulu army marches out from the kwaNodwenguiKhanda.
18 January: Zulu army splits: smaller force underinKosi Godide kaNdlela moves against No. 1 Column; larger force underinKosi Ntshingwayo kaMahole and inKosi
Mavumengwana kaNdlela moves against No. 3 Column.
20 January: No. 4 Column crosses White Mfolozi. Thinta, a MdlaloseinDuna, surrenders to Wood. AbaQulusi repulse Colonel Buller and mounted men of No. 4 Column at Zungwini Mountain. No. 3 Column encamps at Isandlwana. Main Zulu army encamps by Siphezi Mountain.
21 January: No. 1 Column burns undefended kwaGingindlovuiKhanda. Reconnaissance in force under Major Dartnell moves out of Isandlwana camp.
21–22 January: Main Zulu army moves undetected by British to Ngwebeni valley.
22 January: Chelmsford moves out of camp to reinforce reconnaissance force that Dartnell believes is threatened by Zulu forces. Durnford reinforces garrison left in Isandlwana camp with part of No. 2 Column. Main Zulu army overruns Isandlwana camp. Chelmsford returns too late to save it. No. 1 Column fights through Zulu am- bush at Nyezane River. Wood disperses Zulu on Zungwini.
22–23 January: Garrison at No. 3 Column’s depot at Rorke’s Drift repulses the Zulu reserve underinKosi Dabulamanzi kaMpande.
23 January: No. 1 Column reaches Eshowe mission station and begins to fortify it. Remnants of No. 3 Column retire to Natal. No. 4 Column retires toward Khambula Hill on learning of Isandlwana.
27–29 January: Court of Enquiry convened by Chelmsford looks into the loss at Isandlwana.
January–February: Colonists take refuge in their laagers on learning of Isandlwana.
26 January: No. 5 Column under Colonel Rowlands (which had remained in garrison at Derby and Luneburg) raids the Kubheka in Ntombe River valley.
30 January: Pearson decides to hold fast at Eshowe with British troops and sends the NNC and mounted men back to Natal. Zulu under Dabulamanzi blockade Eshowe.
1 February: No. 4 Column forms an entrenched camp at Khambula. Patrol under Buller burns the ebaQulusiniiKhanda.
10 February: Buller raids abaQulusi on Hlobane Mountain.
10–11 February: The Kubheka, Mbilini’s adherents, and abaQulusi ravage farms and mission stations in the Ntombe valley.
15 February: Buller raids the Kubheka in the Ntombe valley and Rowlands attacks the abaQulusi on Talaku Mountain.
16 February: British government agrees to Chelmsford’s urgent request for reinforcements.
26 February: No. 5 Column attached to Wood’s command.
February–March: British reinforcements and colonial troops from the Cape arrive in Natal.
1 March: Raid by Eshowe garrison burns eSiqwakeniiKhanda. Zulu peace emissaries arrive at Middle Drift.
10 March: Hamu and his Ngenetsheni adherents, pursuedby Cetshwayo’s forces, defect to Wood.
Mid-March: Cetshwayo summons his councilors to oNdini to discuss prosecution of the war.
12 March: At the Ntombe drift, Mbilini’s forces overwhelm convoy of No. 5 Column under Captain Moriarty on way from Derby to Luneburg.
22 March: Zulu army reassembles at oNdini.
23 March: Eshowe Relief Column under Chelmsford concentrates at Fort Pearson. Zulu peace emissaries arrive at Fort Eshowe.
24–28 March: Zulu army under inKosi Mnyamana kaNgqengelele marches against Wood at Khambula.
24 March: British border demonstration under Major Twentyman along Thukela at Middle Drift.
25 March: Buller raids Kubheka in Ntombe valley.
27 March: British demonstration under Captain Lucas along lower Thukela.
28 March: Zulu peace emissaries arrive at Mid- dle Drift. Force under Wood trying to clear Hlobane of abaQulusi and Mbilini’s followers trapped by arrival of main Zulu army and routed.
29 March: Wood routs the Zulu army attacking Khambula. Eshowe Relief Column advances into Zululand.
2 April: Zulu army concentrated near Eshowe underinKosi Somopho kaZikhala attacks the Eshowe Relief Column’s laager at Gingindlovu and is routed.
2–3 April: Twentyman raids Zululand at Middle Drift.
3 April: Eshowe garrison evacuated to Thukela and fort abandoned. AbaQulusi and Mbilini’s followers evacuate Hlobane.
4 April: Frere orders that Zulu peace feelers must not delay military operations.
5 April: Mbilini killed in skirmish and local Zulu resistance withers in the northwest.
9 April: Rorke’s Drift garrison raids up the Batshe River to Isandlwana.
12 April: Frere meets Boer leaders at Hennopsrivier and unsuccessfully offers the Transvaal self-government within British confederation.
13 April: Eshowe Relief Column becomes the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division, South African Field Force, concentrating on the lower Thukela under Major-General Crealock. No. 4 and 5 Columns restyled Wood’s Flying Column.
April–June: 1st Division concentrates supplies and builds force in preparation for advance up Zululand coast.
Mid-April: 2nd Division, South African Field Force, under Major-General Newdigate begins concentrating at Dundee.
21 April:UmNtwana Makwendu kaMpande surrenders to 1st Division.
2 May: 2nd Division masses at entrenched camp at Landman’s Drift on the Mzinyathi River.
5 May: Wood’s Flying Column begins its march toward oNdini.
13–21 May: Mounted patrols from 2nd Division clear path of division’s advance of any Zulu presence.
15 May: Zulu peace emissaries arrive at Fort Chelmsford on the coast.
20 May: Twentyman raids Zululand at Middle Drift.
21 May: Reconnaissance in force by 2nd Division begins the burial of the British dead at Isandlwana.
26 May: British government subordinates Chelmsford’s command to General Wolseley.
28 May: Lucas raids Zululand at lower Thukela. Zulu peace emissaries arrive at Fort Chelmsford.
31 May: 2nd Division crosses Ncome River at Koppie Alleen into Zululand.
1 June: Prince Eugène Louis Napoleon Bonaparte of France (an observer on Chelmsford’s staff) killed at the Tshotshosi River on patrol.
3 June: 2nd Division and Wood’s Flying Column effect junction at the Tshotshosi River under Chelmsford’s overall command.
4 June: Zulu peace emissaries arrive at Wood’s camp at the Nondwini River.
5 June: Mounted men of 2nd Division and Wood’s Flying Column skirmish unsuccessfully with Zulu irregulars at Zungeni Mountain and withdraw.
7–17 June: Chelmsford’s columns halt at Ntinini River to escort convoys of supplies. Zulu raiders sweep Luneburg district with assistance of disaffected Transvaal Boers.
14 June: Buller raids north to Ntabankulu Mountain.
16 June: Chelmsford lays down easy terms for surrender of Zulu chiefs but retains stringent conditions for Cetshwayo himself. Chelmsford learns informally of Wolseley’s appointment.
18 June: Joint advance of 2nd Division and Wood’s Flying Column recommences.
20 June: Buller skirmishes with Zulu in Mphembheni valley.
23–26 June: Mounted patrols from 1st Division raid between the Ngoye Hills and the coast.
24 June: Wolseley arrives in Cape Town.
25 June: 1st Division crosses Mhlathuze River and starts Fort Napoleon. Zulu peace emissaries arrive at Fort Pearson. Zulu raiders cross Thukela and ravage valley below Ntunjambili in Natal.
26 June: Wood leads patrol into the emaKhosini valley and burns nine amaKhanda and the sacred iNkatha (symbolic grass coil).
27 June: Zulu peace emissaries arrive near Mthonjaneni.
29 June: Chelmsford’s columns laager on Mthonjaneni Heights overlooking Mahlabathini Plain.
30 June: Zulu peace emissaries arrive at Fort Napoleon. Zulu peace emissaries come into Mthonjaneni camp. Chelmsford gives Cetshwayo until 3 July to comply with conditions.
1 July: 1st Division encamps at Port Durnford where it is supplied by sea and by convoys from Fort Chelmsford.
2 July: Chelmsford forms laager on south bank of the White Mfolozi. Cetshwayo makes last, futile attempt to negotiate a peace.
2–4 July: Wolseley unable to land through heavy surf at Port Durnford. 3 July: Zulu ambush and repel Buller’s mounted reconnaissance from the White Mfolozi camp toward oNdini.
4 July: British under Chelmsford rout the Zulu at the battle of Ulundi and burn all the amaKhanda in the Mahlabathini Plain. Cetshwayo flees north and Zulu army disperses home. Chelmsford withdraws to his base on Mtho- njaneni. Mounted patrol from 1st Division burns emaNgweniiKhanda. More localamaKhosi make their submission at Port Durnford.
5 July: Major coastalamaKhosi surrender at 1st Division camp at the lower drift of the Mhlathuze. Chelmsford resigns his command.
6 July: Mounted patrol from 1st Division burns old oNdiniiKhanda.
7 July: Buller raids south to kwaMagwaza. Wolseley rides into Port Durnford from Durban.
9 July: Chelmsford receives formal notice of Wolseley’s appointment. Wood’s Flying Column starts to withdraw south toward Natal.
10 July: 2nd Division withdraws the way it had come to Natal.
12 July: Dabulamanzi surrenders.
19 July: Wolseley receives formal submission of coastalamaKhosi at lower drift of Mhlathuze near burned emaNgweni and states his terms.
23 July: 1st Division broken up. Elements form Clarke’s Column to reoccupy the Mahlabathini Plain.
26 July: Wolseley issues instructions for inducing Zulu chiefs to surrender. Cetshwayo’s messengers reach kwaMagwaza seeking terms. Baker Russell’s Column (made up of elements of Wood’s Flying Col- umn) begins final pacification of northwestern Zululand. 2nd Division is broken up.
31 July: Wood’s Flying Column broken up.August: African levies and contingents mustered out.
10 August: Wolseley en- camps at kwaSishwili, close to the destroyed oNdini. Cetshwayo’s final message reaches Wolseley. Colonel Villiers’s Column moves south from Derby with Swazi forces and Hamu’s fighting men to support Baker Russell’s Column.
14 August: Mnyamana sues for terms from Wolseley on behalf of Cetshwayo.
15 August: Sekethwayo surrenders to Baker Russell at Fort Cambridge.
14–26 August: Zulu chiefs of central and northern Zululand, including Mnyamana and Zibhebhu, submit to Wolseley.
20 August: Chiefs of southwestern Zululand submit to Natal official, Francis Fynn, at Rorke’s Drift.
25 August: Villiers’s Column reaches Luneburg.
28 August: Cetshwayo betrayed and captured at kwaDwasa in the Ngome Forest by patrol under Major Marter.
1 September: At kwaSishwili, Wolseley imposes his settlement (the 1st Partition of Zululand) on defeated Zulu chiefs. He abolishes the Zulu monarchy and divides former kingdom into 13 independent chiefdoms under appointed chiefs to be supervised by a British Resident.
AbaQulusi surrender to Baker Russell as his column approaches Lune- burg. 4 September: Cetshwayo taken off by sea at Port Durnford for exile at the Cape.
4–8 September: Baker Russell’s Column and Lune- burg garrison break last of Kubheka resistance in the Ntombe valley.
5 September: Clarke’s Column begins its march from kwaSishwili to Middle Drift to enforce submission of southern Zulu chiefs.
8 September: Villiers’s Column disbanded.
10 September: Baker Russell’s Column ordered to Transvaal for renewed operations against the Pedi. British posts along the Zulu border abandoned.
21 September: Final Zulu submissions to Clarke’s Column at Middle Drift

Let us still add the heroic deaths of the two young heros who died in two seperate ambushes in the Entombe/Pongola valley!
Heinrich Filter on the 6 June 1879 and Danish trooper Larsen on 18 May 1879!

Hi Johan.
Good points , they should be added .
cheers 90th.