The Tahelane Spur

Subject: The Tahelane Spur Thu Oct 03, 2013 8:00 am

Ive been playying around with the positions of the troops on the hill and the movements up there for a number of years. Ive got some radically different ideas from the standard history and hopefully will be in a position to post an Essay with maps in the not to distant future.
As a teaser, this is a photo of the foot of Mkwene knoll. Tradition says the right Centre of the chest came down the slope on the right and were met by Cavaye Mostynn et all at the bottom along the crest line to the right of the road. Im going to put forward a theory, and it is only that, that the attack actually came to the left of the road, right over where Ive taken the photos and the troops were just in front of the camera. This panorama by the way is a composite of 6 photos.
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This shot by the way is one of a series that i shall be marketing fairly soon.

Cheers

Subject: The Tahelane Spur Thu Oct 03, 2013 10:06 am

Hi Springy .
Excellent composite mate , wonderfully put together . Well done that man ! . I'm looking forward to picking up my print from the Framer's on Saturday Very Happy

.
Cheers 90th. Salute

Subject: Re: The Tahelane Spur Thu Oct 03, 2013 4:43 pm

Enjoy

Subject: Re: The Tahelane Spur Mon Oct 07, 2013 8:18 am

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This as I believe the attack happened. The right wing in full view at 9 oclock heading to the back of the mountain. The chest moving forward and executing a turning movement ( as statements ) and descending on the Eastern side of Mkwene ( not the tradionally believed Western side) Cavaye and Mostyn in between Mkwene and the small knoll on Nyoni and Dyson on the Western Face of Mkwene.

What started this line of thought was
1) a trail had been established by the 9 oclock right horn.
2) considering that was then the direction the threat was deemed to come from ( Statement to that effect) then surely the troops would be deployed across that line not stuck away at 90 degrees to the attack at the bottom of the Tahelane Spur.
3) it fits the map drawn by Essex, its to the front of the isandlwana axis, not the rear.
4) it fits the Gardner map for the same reason
5) it fits with Davis, Essex, statements.

Just something else to keep the wheels turning.

Cheers

Posts : 2593 Join date : 2009-04-24

So am correct in saying, that the left horn could have held up a X giving the right horn (going by he distance) time to move into position. The Zulu at x were about to move, when they encountered Raw or another mounted unit. Question

Posts : 2593 Join date : 2009-04-24

Em!! perhaps not! X seems along way off from the left horn route. I take it X is the one referred to in TMFH?

Posts : 2593 Join date : 2009-04-24

Jamie's website. two small photo's under the forth photo.

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I just can't get my head around, just how far some of these companies were from the camp. It would have been impossible to defend the camp, who was responsible for sending them to these locations. How can LC be accountable for this. absolute stupidity ruled the day at Isandlwana.

Extract from Clery court of enquiry!

"Also draw in the line of your infantry outposts accordingly; but keep your cavalry vedettes still far advanced.

He's seems to have drawn in the cavalry, and left the men far advanced?

Subject: Re: The Tahelane Spur Mon Oct 07, 2013 10:29 pm

Totally agree! Do we have a timeline of when the various companies were dispatched. Was it intended for the companies to move that far from the camp, or did the companies end up operating independently.

Subject: Re: The Tahelane Spur Tue Oct 08, 2013 6:14 am

LH and CTSG
Agree with all your comments so far. Ive presently writing an essay just setting down my thoughts ( I emphasize, my thoughts) on the plateau issue. And yes Im hoping to establish a full time line. One thing we need to remember though guys, point X is actually a ridge covering a couple of humdred metres. Dont be distracted by thinking of it as a square meter of ground.

Cheers

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK

certainly starting to make sense!!!!

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK

There was a point in the Zulu attack where it halted, ( possibly when they thought the Zulus were retiring in all directions. Could this have been a decoy, to allow more time for the horns to get into position?

Posts : 527 Join date : 2009-02-28

There is an account, from a Zulu warrior who makes reference to what you ask somewhere on the forum.

S.D

Subject: Re: The Tahelane Spur Tue Oct 15, 2013 10:44 pm

Moved and back on topic.

Posts : 2593 Join date : 2009-04-24

Order has returned thank god. Springbok I trust we will see some photos of the views from Tahelane Spur.

Subject: Re: The Tahelane Spur Wed Oct 16, 2013 7:03 am

CTSG
I will be posting, as always, more photos. The one at the beginning of this thread is probably the most graphic but I will add some notations later today ( Breakfast time in Cape town )

Cheers
PS: Don't call me God, Sir is more than adequate. Rolling Eyes

Subject: Re: The Tahelane Spur Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:03 am

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This is taken from Tahelane bowl.
The traditional positioning of Cavaye and Mostyn is to the left of the camera position.
In the wide angle posted earlier on this thread the Tahelane bowl is on the right of the photo. That photo is taken from what I propose is the firing line ( Marked in yellow on the second photo.

Posts : 2308 Join date : 2010-07-02 Age : 44

This is what's needed, gives a better perspective of what was going on! Great work Springbok.

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