It was not to launch a recognition but a cleaning operation to repel the Zulu

Isandhlwana at 8 o'clock,while the men were at breakfast ,a Natal Carbineer called Whitelaw rode in the camp on Scott's instructions ,from the vedettes to report that had seen "thousands" of Zulus approaching on the high ground to the north-east.

Pulleine sent him back to Scott with an order to watch the Zulus carrefully and send back reports of their movements.

But some reports referred to thousands,also at about 11 o'clock ,the Colonel Durnford decided to use his own men to clear this flank (north-east),also George Shepstone with Captain Barton of the NNH and his two remaining Sikali's troops under Lieutenant Raw and Roberts to climb the escarpment and drive the Zulus from the plateau and the valley beyond it.On the way they were to pickup Captain Barry's company, on picquet duty on the escarpment ,to give such support as might be necessary.

Shepstone and Raw's troops,with Barry's picquet ,wear to clear the Zulus from the plateau,while Barton and Robert's troop,including Nyanda ,cleared the valley beyond it ,the two parties supporting each other.

Cheers

Pascal

It is believed that Ntshingwayo intended to attack te Isandhlwana camp on the morning of the 23rd.

The 22 was the Day of the New Moon ,and therefore unlucky ,so the army had not been prepared for a battle this day.

We can therefore conclude that with its cleaning operation ("and drive the Zulus from the plateau and the valley beyond it."), the Colonel Durnford triggered the massacre ...

Cheers

Pascal

Look THE COCHRANE ACCOUNTS OF ISANDHLWANA in STUDIES IN THE ZULU WAR 1879 II by Julian Whybra

I received there over a week  

In fact by his mini-offensive operation, Colonel Durnford was neither more nor less triggers the Zulu attack, while the camp was not attacked or even threatened, as the Zulus would attack the next day,the 23 ...

And the 22 Zulu would not have attacked the camp, because without the disastrous initiatives of Durnford, the camp could have moved slowly and there have been no camp to attack to Isandhlwana the 22 ...

The Zulu have attacked the next day ,the 23 , it would be on their way by following Pulleine...

If Durnford had survived, he was responsible for the carnage and it was deserved ...

Durnford should not remain in the camp, but join LC, for the short time he remained in the camp, he had the time for committing the irreparable, what he did was to give a true kick in the anthill!

When LC was told by the survivors, why and how the battle started, he had a grudge against Colonel Durnford, the latter destroyed the military career of LC...

There is not to say, those are the orders of Durnford, who triggered the carnage

It is even more responsible for the disaster that LC ...

When we think Durnford was just passing by the camp to join LC ...

Poor Pulleine

I think it Durnford had survived, it would have been strangled by Lord Chelmsford ...

Shepstone and Raw's troops, with Barry's picquet, wear to clear the Zulus from the plateau, while Barton and Robert's troop, Including Nyanda, cleared the valley beyond it, the two parts Supporting Each Other.
In fact it is the Zulu who performed the cleaning ...  

L  L