Lt Chard and his sighting of Zulu enemy at Isandlwana

Posts : 4 Join date : 2016-09-28

I'm a little confused by Lt Chard's report about arriving at Isandlwana on the morning of the 22nd Jan.

He wrote that he was lent a field-glass by a NCO of the 24th, and through them could see the enemy moving on distant hills, and apparently in great force.

Chard continued watching them moving to his left until the lion hill of Isandlwana, on my left as I looked at them, hid them from my view.

From this Chard then went on to say he though that perhaps the Zulu were to make a dash for the ponts. On leaving Isandlwana, he meets Col Durnford a quarter mile way - and considering most agree than Durnford arrived at Isandlwana at 10:30, means Chard must of left at around say 10am/10:15am.

So my question is, who were the Zulu's he spotted? It must have been a company of NNC surely? For Chard to have spotted any Zulu's in the distant hills means that they were silhouetted on the ridge line of the Nqutu plateau, there's no other explanation (in my mind anyway).

Am I right?

Morning Sheldon.
It doesnt appear that Chard ventured to much further into the camp than the HQ tent looking for his orders. The regiment was on standby at the time.Looking from the HQ position across at the ridge there is no sighting of the spur and portion of Mkwene hill is blocked. Chard doesnt say the force he witnessed went behind the hill, rather the hill blocked his view.
Ive had the same problem as yourself in trying to come to terms with a large column of men INSIDE the perimeter of the piquets. And to be visible from the camp they would have to be, as you point out, on the ridge line or below the ridge on the iSandlwana side.
If they were NNC, then which group?
Regards