The missing five hours.

Posts : 2872 Join date : 2010-06-02

Fred

You are quite right. The letter of 1 November 1879 from Mansel to Durnford is in Keith Smith's book on page 93. It refers to a number of notations on Mansel's map which must therefore have accompanied the letter. Those notations correspond to the KCAL map numbering reproduced by Ron Lock, so at some point after receipt Durnford must have changed the numbering system (I guess to include the point at which Durnford's Horse was attacked by the Zulu left horn) for publication in the Colenso Durnford 2nd edition. How did all this end up in the Wood papers in KZN I wonder?

Steve

Posts : 2392 Join date : 2011-09-12

Fred
I knew I had a copy of the hand-drawn original of Mansel's drawing. In finding it just now I'd forgotten that it formed part of a letter from Mansel to Durnford. (I obtained it in 1993 so it was in a dusty old file - I have a good excuse for having forgotten the accompanying letter). It is dated 1.11.79. In it he says "I have sent you a small drawing of Isandhlwana with the particular places numbered. It is an exact representation of the place and gives you a very fair idea of it."

Posts : 1191 Join date : 2015-11-24

I knew I had a copy of the hand-drawn original of Mansel's drawing.....

Nice one Julian. it would be cool if you would post it.

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

rusteze wrote:: Fred

You are quite right. The letter of 1 November 1879 from Mansel to Durnford is in Keith Smith's book on page 93. It refers to a number of notations on Mansel's map which must therefore have accompanied the letter. Those notations correspond to the KCAL map numbering reproduced by Ron Lock, so at some point after receipt Durnford must have changed the numbering system (I guess to include the point at which Durnford's Horse was attacked by the Zulu left horn) for publication in the Colenso Durnford 2nd edition. How did all this end up in the Wood papers in KZN I wonder?

Steve

Steve,
Fine! The substancial part of your "little mystery" (I.E:Your own words) is now resolved. Well done, indeed! Salute

Amitié.
Fred

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

Julian,
Don't worry!
1°) My memory is also often faulty,
2°) I already knew the existence of the letter (mentioned by JY on this thread),
3°) I only asked you if you had seen the Mansel's map in the Durnford's papers at Chatham.

I shall study a remark written by you on this thread about the vedettes ... Wink

Amitié
Fred

Posts : 2872 Join date : 2010-06-02

Fred, with your help and Julians i think the little mystery is largely solved.

Here's another. Durnford includes an appendix in the 2nd edition "Lord Chelmsford's Statements compared with the Evidence" in which he refers to a Reconnaissance Sketch of Isandhlwana by Capt. Heneage RE. I don't seem to have a copy - does anyone else?

Steve Reinstadtler

Posts : 1191 Join date : 2015-11-24

From Blood on the Painted Mountain.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

Steve,
Thanks.
Times of Natal 11th April 1879
Captain F. Heneage (RE) was appointed extra aide-de-camp to Major General Marshall, commanding Cavalry Brigade.
Marshall, as you know was at the head of a burial party at Isandhlwana...
Amitié
Fred

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

Steve,
Do you think that there is a possible link with the map published first in the RE journal and then in Shadbolt?

Posts : 2872 Join date : 2010-06-02

Fred
That's exactly what went through my mind!
Steve

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

It was my "feeling"!

Posts : 2392 Join date : 2011-09-12

Xhosa
That is the Mansel's diagram - a little fainter then the original but that's it. And the printed words are identical to Mansel's hand-written original.

Posts : 2872 Join date : 2010-06-02

Hmm - not quite. Where did the reference to Mansel producing it for Durnford's father come from? And the distance to the RB has become 2 1/2 miles not 3 1/2. But I agree the sketch is exactly the same.

Steve Reinstadtler