The Tahelane Spur.

"I was placed on the extreme left of the ridge. Essex was next to me: next to him was Wyatt Vuase (sic) or Alfred Henderson. When we arrived on the ridge, I halted and my induna Ntini came to see me and asked me to show him how to regulate the site of his rifle. There were a large number of Zulus sitting down about 800 yards from us. I put my site up to 700 yards and fired into them, The bullets struck short and I put my site up to 800 yards and that bullet struck amongst them. I firmly believe without exageration, that that was the first shot fired. The Zulus then got up and advanced towards us. I then sent a note to Essex to let Colonel Durnford to know and suggested to ...............that we join our troops."

W H Stafford 1938.

Interesting extract. If anyone can fill in the gap......... I would apreciate it

First Ive ever heard of the Impi sitting and waiting?

Cheers

Hi Springbok .
Thanks again for the email , I have read the Stafford Report I think it's Barton not Essex as it seems to be the same name to me in both instances !. I may be wrong but unfortunately its hard to read . They were sitting in zulu dawn !!! .
Lt. Raws report is a little differant it was written at Pietermaritzburg it looks as if its Feb 1879 , so well before Stafford's.
This from Raw - '' The enemy in small clumps retiring before us for some time drawing us 4 or 5 miles from the camp when they turned and fell upon us , the whole army shewing itself from behind the hill in front where they had evidently been waiting , here Capt Stafford returned to camp to report that the zulu army was making for the camp . Leaving instuctions for us to engage the enemy retiring on the camp , the enemy had already opened fire upon us , we then opened fire upon them and retired skirmishing on to the camp '' . This is taken exactly as it is written , including one spelling mistake SHEWING ( Showing ).
Cheers 90th.

90th
Just had another look, what I thought was a smudge is actually a crossing out with Barton written above.
It was I think, Shepstone that went back to the camp not Stafford.
Just trying to get to the bottom of the Tahelane placements. And also the actual movement. Two schools of thought on the engagement of Cavaye, first that it was the right horn, the uNokhenke or at least portion of it. Second verion is that it was the right flank of the uMcijo.
Im trying to coalate this part of the attack with the earlier sightings. And with all the conflicting reports Im getting to the conclusion that possibly the are all correct, just seen from different perspectives. Thinking logically, would Stafford make up a story? Or even Raws induna? no real reason for them to do so, or Essex for that matter.

Its a puzzle without a picture.............and different parts.

Cheers

Hi Springbok .
Most of what I've read has Shepstone riding pellmell back to the camp , but Raw's account is written in feb 1879 so I tend to go with that being the more reliable , It's possible that they both ( Shepstone & Stafford ) made their way back to camp at differing times from different parts of the ridge , I tend to believe that may have been the case .
Cheers 90th.

90th
Stafford didnt go up onto the plateau did he?
Nope just re read Raw, he mentions Shepstone rushing back.

Cheers

Hi Springbok.
I'm pleading a senior moment involving rushing out to get kids from work ! , my bad , Raw does say Shepstone and not Stafford ! .
Cheers mate , 90th .