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Chapter 13 WAR IN THE HILLS Entering into Zululand The invasion of the interior depended on the discovery of a route by which the Flying Column and the 2nd Division, which in Zululand became the Headquarters Column, could approach the Zulu King’s great place, Ulundi, with the least difficulty in the shortest time. The route by which the 2nd Division would invade Zululand had still to be determined. The way from Rorke’s Drift in January had proved more difficult than anticipated. A course following higher ground to Ulundi was preferable. It appeared that the division might have to take a northerly route along with the Flying Column. An advance depot was being prepared for it at Conference Hill, on the right bank of the Ncome river.1 The discovery of a more direct route was largely the responsibility of the mounted troops attached to the columns. Reports of spies and sojourners might provide valuable information but only personal inspection could verify it. Reconnaissance was the method of verification, and it was the duty to which the mounted troops were best suited. Reconnaissance fell initially to the mounted troops of the Flying Column, which were already organized and in the field, while those of the Headquarters Column were still forming. The bulk of the Flying Column’s mounted troops consisted of small units of colonial mercenaries and the Natal Native Horse, under Captain Cochrane, consisting of the Edendale and Sotho troops. These two troops had been tested from the start on patrols and scouts and in battle at Khambula. Colonel Buller, commander of the Flying Column’s mounted arm, pushed his men and horses to the limit of endurance. He was active, inquisitive, even reckless at times, apparently never happier than when in action. The Native Horse stood out in character from the mercenaries, whom an English gentleman of the general’s staff noted were ‘the greatest set of rogues I ever met, and they compare badly with the Zulus, in both sentiments and language’.2 (Presumably he meant by ‘Zulus’ the men of the Native Horse). An officer of one of the mercenary units remarked that the ‘Basutos’ – British and colonist alike used the term generically – were courageous as well as invaluable as scouts. Their only weaknesses were a tendency to become overexcited and a habit in combat of levelling their rifles over their horses’ heads with one hand and firing wildly.3 The Edendale men and their fellows from Driefontein, in Shepstone’s Horse, also stood out as Christians. Every morning and evening they held divine service. It was then presumably that Simeon Kambule yielded to John Gama. They were Methodists and their hymns were memorable. The British soldier understood not a word, but he would stop to listen.4 Edendale would be the hammer of the heathen, nemesis of the Zulu King. The Flying Column was to co-operate with the 2nd Division in the invasion. It moved south from Khambula to Segonyamana hill on May 5th. Yet the northerly route to Ulundi from Conference Hill, by way of Nhlazatshe mountain, appeared to lead into a formidable massif. Geography dictated finding a way through easier terrain just east of the Ncome and picking up the track from Rorke’s Drift further into Zululand.5 Before dawn on May 10th a mounted force of 140 men, including forty men of the Edendale and Sotho troops under Captain Cochrane, left the Segonyamana camp. The column commander, General Wood, accompanied the force, which was to find a track for wagons in the direction of Babanango, a mountain overlooking the track between Rorke’s Drift and Ulundi. It was still dark when the mounted men rode through a bushy ravine. A few Zulus watched from concealment. One on a hill above jeered at them to visit his home. The Native Horse wanted to shoot him, but orders were not to fire unless fired upon, and they were restrained with some difficulty. The party emerged from the ravine, and by sunrise they had ridden ten miles. The sun raised and burnt off a heavy mist and the day was warm and still. The horses cantered along to a high hill called Munhla. Just west of it the force came upon a track, approximately following a north-south line, and halted for breakfast. The march resumed along the track. The troops kept up against the steep hillside, and entered a wooded defile between Munhla and another, higher hill to the west, called...

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