Whilst the first battles of the Anglo-Zulu war are well known, those of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, of as much significance is the final climactic battle of the war, the Battle of Ulundi.
After the defeat at Isandlwana in January of 1879, most of the British invasion force of Zululand had withdrawn from the country to reorganize and await reinforcements. Of the three columns of British forces who had invaded Zululand, the column and left columns had both withdrawn, but the right column was besieged at Eshowe.
In March, the British suffered another defeat at the Battle of Intombe when a supply convoy transporting goods to the frontier settlement of Luneburg was ambushed by Zulu troops.
The main British force went into Zululand again in April, and on 5 April they rescued the trapped forces at Eshowe.
Zulu King Cetshwayo attempted to try and seek a peace agreement with the British before the 2nd invasion force could reach his capital of Ulundi, but the shocking defeat of British forces at Isandlwana meant that despite significant initial opposition to the war within the British government, the British now needed to recover their prestige by smashing the Zulu army.
On 3 June, the British began their 2nd invasion of Zululand. Cetshwayo did not launch significant attacks on the British force in the hopes he could still get a peace deal. In a month the British had arrived at the Zulu capital of Ulundi and were now met with the main Zulu army.
On the 4 July, after a skirmish with the Zulus, the British force moved forward to engage the Zulus. Terrified of repeating the mistakes that led to their defeat at Isandlwana.
Instead of forming a thin line of troops as they had at Isandlwana, the British formed into a large square, with cavalry outside the square supporting it. They purposely decided not to dig trenches or laager their wagons, in the hopes this would convince the Zulu army that it might win an attack on the square.
Within the British square were 10 cannons and 2 new Gatling guns.
In total the British force numbered around 4 200 regular British troops and 1 000 African auxiliaries. Waiting nearby hidden in the grass was a Zulu force of some 15 000.
The British sent out their cavalry to provoke the Zulus, who suddenly emerged in force on three sides of the British square. A reserve force of Zulu troops moved to complete the encirclement.
The British cavalry rode forward and fired at the Zulus from the saddle, hoping to provoke the Zulu force into an unplanned charge but were largely unsuccessful.
The Zulus advanced steadily by orderly firing their outdated muskets and captured British weapons at the square.
Throughout the war, the Zulu forces had not drilled in firearms and so despite having a significant number of those weapons, even though these were outdated, as well as some captured British weapons, their marksmanship was poor, and they would usually miss shots. The Zulus also had problems with poor powder and logistics and so could not ensure high-quality ammunition for their troops.
As the distance closed, the Zulus were met with massed rifle fire from the British square, as well as canister shot from the cannons and fire from the Gatling guns. Whilst there were many veterans of Isandlwana in the Zulu force, the memories of that battle haunted them. Isandlwana had been a Zulu victory, but it had come at great cost, and the Zulu warriors now knew the true horror of organized rifle fire. The Zulus attempted several charges at the square but could not make headway against the firepower sent against them.
Some British troops fell to Zulu fire, but the Zulu marksmen were not effective enough to disrupt the square.
A major charge was attempted by the Zulu reserves who had now arrived, and they almost reached the square before breaking under the cannon and rifle fire. With that the British sent out their cavalry who charged the Zulus and cut down many of them. With the cavalry now charging them and the great toll they had taken in charging the square, the Zulus fled the battle.
The mighty Zulu army had finally been defeated.
By the battle’s end, the British had suffered 18 killed and 89 wounded, whilst the Zulus suffered at least 473 killed and another 1000 or more wounded.
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