First engagement Inyezane-any info

hi

I cant find much about Inyezane on the forum, is it here and im just missing it

Can anyone give me some information about Inyezane which was the first engagement of the war. There is not much about it on the internet because it was a very easy win for the british.

Am I right in saying it was when some zulus attacked wagons on a trail and the british were outnumbered 2-1?

Any additional info would be greatly appreciated like the numbers of zulus and British and events of the engagement

thanks joe

Joe - are you looking for photos of the Battlefield? The details are there and well recorded, but if you need some photos, give me a shout.
Regards, Ken

THE ACTION AT INYEZANE. COLONEL PEARSON'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
From Colonel Pearson, Commanding No. 1 Column to the Military Secretary to His Excellency the High Commissioner.

Etshowe Zululand, January 23, 1879.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to report my arrival here at 10 A.M. this day, with the column under my command, and, I am happy to state, without a casualty of any kind—except, of course, those which occurred in the engagement of yesterday, of which I have already duly informed you by telegram, despatched yesterday evening.

Yesterday morning, the mounted troops which preceded the column under Major Barrow, had crossed the Inyezane River—which is about four miles from our camping ground on the previous night—when I received a note from him to say that he had selected a fairly open space for a halting place, which he had carefully vedetted. I at once rode forward, to reconnoitre, and found the ground covered with more bush than seemed desirable for an outspan ; but as there was no water between the Inyezane and the places where we bivouacked last night—four miles further on, and with several steep hills to climb—I decided upon outspanning for a couple of hours, to feed and rest the oxen, and to enable the men to breakfast.

It was then just eight o'clock, and I was in the act of giving directions about the pickets and scouts required for our protection, and the wagons had already begun to park, when the leading company of the Native Contingent, who were scouting in front—personally directed by Captain Hart, Staff Officer to the Officer commanding that Regiment — discovered the enemy advancing rapidly over the ridges in our front, and making for the clumps of bush around us.

The Zulus at once opened a heavy fire upon the men of the company who had shown themselves in the open, and they lost one officer, four non-commissioned officers, and three men killed, almost immediately after the firing began. Unfortunately, owing to scarcely any of the officers or non-commissioned officers of the Native Contingent being able to speak Kafir, and some not even English (there are several foreigners among them), it has been found most difficult to communicate orders, and it is to be feared that these men who lost their lives by gallantly holding their ground did so under the impression that it was the duty of the contingent to fight in the first line, instead of scouting only, and, after an engagement, to pursue.

I must add, however, that every exertion has been made by Major Graves, Commandant Nettleton, and Captain Hart, to explain to both the officers and men the duties expected of them. These officers, indeed, have been indefatigable in their exertions.
As soon as the firing commenced, I directed the Naval Brigade, under Commander Campbell, Lieutenant Lloyd's division of guns, and Captain Jackson's and Lieutenant Martin's companies of the Buffs, to take up a position on a knoll close by the road (and under which they were halted), and from whence the whole of the Zulu advances could be seen and dealt with.

Meanwhile, the wagons continued to park, and as soon as the length of the column had thereby sufficiently decreased, I directed the two companies of the Buffs, which were guarding the wagons about half way down the column, to clear the enemy out of the bush, which had been already shelled, and fired into with rockets and musketry, by the troops on the knoll above-mentioned. These companies, led by Captains Harrison and Wyld, and guided by Captain Macgregor, D.A.Q.M.G., whom I sent back for this purpose, moved out in excellent order, and quickly getting into skirmishing order, brought their right shoulders gradually forward, and drove the Zulus before them back into the open, which again exposed them to the rockets, shells, and musketry from the knoll.

This movement released the main body of the Mounted Infantry and Volunteers, who, with the Company of Royal Engineers, had remained near the Inyezane, to protect that portion of the convoy of wagons. -The Royal Engineers happened to be working at the drift when the engagement began.
When thus released, both the Engineers and Mounted Troops, under Captain Wynne and Major Barrow, respectively moved forward with the infantry. Skirmishers on the left of the latter, the whole being supported by a half-company of the Buffs and a half-company of the 99th Regiment, sent out by Lieutenant-Colonel Welman, 99th Regiment, who with the rear of the column, was now coming up.

About this time the enemy was observed by Commander Campbell lo be trying to outflank our left, and he offered to go with a portion of the Naval Brigade to drive away a body of Zulus who had got possession of a kraal about 400 yards from the knoll, and which was helping their turning movement. The Naval Brigade was supported by a party of the officers and non-commissioned officers of the Native Contingent, under Captain Hart, who were posted on high ground on the left of the Etshowe Road, and who checked the Zulus from making any further attempt on our left.

Shortly afterwards, when the kraal was evacuated, Commander Campbell suggested that the enemy should be driven off still further, to which I at once assented, and I desired Colonel Parnell to take Captain Forster's company, the Buffs, which up to this time had remained at the foot of the knoll, and assist the Naval Brigade to attack some heights beyond the kraal, upon which a considerable body of Zulus were still posted.

The action was completely successful, and the Zulus now fled in all directions, both from our front and left, and before the skirmishers on the right.
I now ordered the column to be reformed, and at noon we resumed our march

hi
Thankyou both ken and 1879graves for the fast response

Do you know how many zulus attacked and how many British soldiers there were?

thanks again joe

hi Joe.
The following info is from " A Staffordshire Regiment in the Zulu and Sekukuni Campaigns 1878 - 79 , 80th Regt of Foot.
by Robert Hope .

British and Colonial forces 2 , 782 , of which 910 were Imperial and Naval Brigade the remainder colonial and NNC.
4 x 7 pdrs , 1 gatling gun , 1 x 24 pdr Rocket Tube . casualties 2 officers KIA , 10 Rank and file KIA ( includes 5 Natives )
Zulu force 6,000 , of which 400 bodies were found on the Battlefield , Died of wounds and wounded not known.
The zulu force was commanded by Chief Godide ka Ndlela.

The 1ST Column actually consisted of the following 4 , 750 officers and men , but it was split into 2 divisions and it was
the First Division which took part in the Battle on the morning of the 22nd Jan.

This is the casualty list from the memorial at Nyezane from " The Zulu War , Then and Now by Ian Knight .

LTS. J.L. Raines , Gustav Plattner , Sgt Emile Unger , Cpls , Carl Goesch , Wilhelm Lieper , Edward Miller , all NNC.
Pvts , John Bough , James Kellerer 3RD Regt Buffs . 5 Pvts of Natal native Corps ( un- named )

This from ' They fell like stones " by John Young .

Pvt Dunne mortally wounded died on 23rd January , 2 / 3rd Regt , Sgt , O. Heydenberg , Dangerously Wounded , His wound
neccessitated the amputation of a leg . He died 26th January. This compiler is not able to establish whether death was of a direct
result of the wound or from trauma .
Thanks to all the authors involved .
cheers 90th.

hi joe .
I forgot to mention that Col Charles Knight Pearson commander of the column , had his horse shot from under him.
cheers 90th.

hi
thankyou 90th, very interesting and informative

thanks again
joe

Estimates placed the number of Zulu warriors at approximately 6000. Initially 4000 left the main 28000 strong army after it had crossed the While Mfolozi River. As has been mentioned, it was commanded by Chief Godide kaNdlela Ntuli, brother of Chief Mavumangwana kaNdlela Ntuli who of course was the second commander under Chief Ntshingwayo kaMahole Khoza at Isandlwana. Both were sons of Chief Ndlela kaNtuli, King Dingane kaSenzangakhona's commander of his army and of course the main commander at the Battle of Blood River / Ncome on the 16th December 1838.
As this force advanced towards the Coast, they were reinforced by elements of other regiments, increasing their number to approximately 6000 as I've mentioned.
The Zulu casualties have been estimated to have been in the region of 400 killed.
I'll send Admin a couple of photographs of the Battlefield.
Regards, Ken

hi
thanks that would be great

thanks joe

hi Ken.
Looking forward to the photo"s , Thanks , They will be much appreciated.
cheers 90th.

Joe - just a point to note; this wasn't the first engagement of the Anglo-Zulu War. The first took place on the 12th January 1879, the day after the invasion of Zululand. It was at Chief Sihayo kaXongo's homestead.
Nyezane took place on the same day as the Battle of Isandlwana and the Defence of Rorke's Drift (the 22nd January 1879).
Regards, Ken

hi ken
thanks, Im no good at remebering these smaller confrontations :)

thanks joe

hi joe.
Believe me joe , in time you will remember all of them :lol!: . I along with many others have
remembered them , the more you read and the time well spent on the forum you will be amazed
at what you will remember . :lol!: .
cheers 90th.

Nyezane drift - battlefield in background
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Photo By Ken Killings.

Redcoat's Battletour: The Anglo-Zulu war part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtKol4bRz8k