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Chapter 12 WAR ON THE PLAIN The 1st Division at Fort Chelmsford The British army prepared to invade the Zulu country again in May. The force at the coast was the 1st Division, successor to the old No. 1 Column. The forces in the interior were the 2nd Division, successor to the old No. 3 Column, and the so-called Flying Column, the No. 4 Column on the TransvaalZulu border with a new name. There were delays, in part because of inadequate transport and supply – a constant vexation deriving from relatively light settlement and primitive communications, and in part because a suitable route in the interior had to be found. By early June both these problems had been overcome to the extent that the invasion could begin. The 2nd Division, often called the ‘Headquarters Column’ because the LieutenantGeneral accompanied it, and the Flying Column would converge and then move together along high ground to Ulundi, the great place of the Zulu King. In this invasion the Natal Native Contingent played an important part. While not so numerous as in the first invasion, it still made up a large part of the invading columns. The Lieutenant General described its importance: ...[T]he presence of these battalions with the column ... is absolutely indispensable to their efficiency; as there is much work which native levies alone can properly perform – They are excellent scouts, indefatigable and quick witted; perform all fatigue duties most cheerfully; and can be employed with mounted men when necessary, in consequence of their wonderful marching powers – Many of the men are employed as spies; and all cheerfully and willingly perform any duty they may be detailed for such as bringing in wood, repairing roads, searching difficult country, building entrenched posts, etc, etc ...’1 The relief of Eshowe marked the ascendancy of British armies at the coast. The enemy had been defeated in battle, the beleaguered garrison rescued, and a foothold in the Zulu country established. What followed was a consolidation of that hold and a methodical advance along the coastal plain, which deprived the Zulu King of his power there. The campaign turned out to be more important politically than militarily. The 1st Division consisted of six battalions of infantry and smaller units of other troops. The 4th and 5th Battalions, the No. 2 Pioneer Company, Jantze’s Horse and the Mafunzi Corps, made up one-fifth of its strength.2 The 4th and 5th Battalions had remained at the laager at Gingindlovu when the Lieutenant General led a flying column to lift the Zulu siege of Eshowe. The laager was reduced in size to accommodate the smaller garrison. The returning flying column passed it by and laagered on top of a low ridge about 3000 yards to the southeast. The garrison of the old laager joined it a day later, on April 7th.3 The new camp was situated on two adjacent hills. The British infantry occupied the higher one, the two battalions of the Native Contingent occupied the lower one. At night three British companies with a Gatling gun and a rocket tube came down to reinforce the battalions. It was arranged that they would do so in day-time, too, if there was alarm. A shelter trench was dug around the camp. A breastwork and a bush entanglement were added. Strong defences were in order. This was the most advanced position the British had in the Zulu country. Unfortunately, it proved to be no healthier than the old laager on the blood-soaked battlefield. Diarrhoea and dysentery became a problem and were blamed on the water, drawn from nearby streams.4 The Lieutenant General left camp in April 7th to superintend the British reinforcements arriving at Durban and arrangements for the second invasion of Zululand.5 His orders to the commander of the 1st Division, Major-General H.H. Crealock, were to establish a strong forward base at the Nyezane and from it to advance and destroy the cantonments of the Zulu army at Mangweni and Ndini and to clear the district in which they lay. He should do this as soon as possible. No physical difficulties were expected in the vicinity of these strongholds. It was expected that the Zulu King would try to defend these places. The implication was there were battles to be fought and the 1st Division would be diverting enemy force from the main thrust of the interior columns. After it destroyed the cantonments the 1st Division should try to assist the...

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