Rising up into the clear blue sky the dust of the horse men could be seen well before their shouts could be heard.
It was before they were audible that the men in the force could tell that something had gone very wrong.
There were less than 50 of the black clad horsemen. Inspector Keating greeted Captain Thornton when he reigned his horse up in front of the latter.
"I don't know where the Boers have gone," were the first words out of his mouth.
"We were ambushed," was the follow up.
(the British approach the donga warily.)
The tale he told detailed the attack on the wagon train and its escort that was supposed to be bringing a resupply of ammunition to the British forces in the area for their next attack.
It appeared that Zulu forces had appeared in front of Captain Winchester and he sent his two companies of the 24th to clear them away while moving his companies of the 60th to his right and sending his Natal native contingent to the left.
(Zulus mass to repel the small British force.)
Inspector Keating led his police forward to scout for any enemy that may have been hiding in some tall grass that was ahead of them.
(Keating and his men scouting ahead to get an idea of the size of the enemy force.)
The Zulus came on much more quickly than anyone was prepared for. The initial charge against Keatings mounted men drove them behind the 24th who repelled the Zulus with disciplined and scientific musketry.
(The first Zulu charge.)
The Zulus also charged the 1st company of the 60th that had moved up to support the 24th. The Zulus forced the inexperience men back.
(The Zulu masses advance.)
The second company of the 60th had moved up to a hill looking over the battlefield to try to get a better idea of how many natives they were facing.
(This is what they saw.)
Much to their surprise they saw a much greater number than had been expected and they were coming up on their position quickly.
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("I say, that is an awful lot of them, awfully close.")
("Bother, they are behind us too.")
The white-shielded Zulu's quickly ran up and past the green-clad men and others started moving up the hill from their front.
(Not too hip to form square,)
The company formed a square on top of the hill and prepared to repel the inevitable assault.
(The men of the 60th prepare to sell their lives dearly.)
They didn't prepare enough, two waves of Zulus crashed into them and with nowhere to run the men were slaughtered in the attempt to find a better position.
("We don't like it up us, either!")
The Zulus swept on past them pursuing the few who did manage to get away.
(Gone, without a trace.)
The other company of the 60th were horrified seeing their comrades wiped out and as the Zulus came around and over the hill in front of them they pulled back and formed a line and started firing into the mass of men.
(Some strangely angular cloud formations cast their shadows on the battlefield.)
The Natal police dismounted to their left to support them and prevent the Zulus from getting into the rear of the 24th who were being very successful in picking off and pinning down Zulus in the center of the Zulu army.
(The British right collapses.)
The Zulus merely changed direction in their movement without slowing down and were soon among the second company of the 60th.
The Zulus rushed over them in short order wiping out every green jacketed man.
(Zulus get into the rear.)
The police mounted up and fired in an attempt to draw the Zulus after them. It didn't work. As the unit of unmarried Zulus were stabbing the dead bodies of the 60th the police charged them. Surprised by the onrushing horsemen the Zulus were scattered in all directions or left dead upon the field.
(The NMP maintain order.)
The 24th kept up a steady fire to the front keeping the center of the Zulu army pinned down. Unfortunately they were about to be surrounded.
(Zulus flee in disorder or die where they stand.)
Another Zulu attack exploded on the British left with two units of Zulus rushing up to get onto the other flank of the British force.
The Natal Native contingent had been watching the British left and when the first unit of Zulus came up with them they were prepared and thrust them back in short order.
(The NNC face off against a thrust by the young Zulu warriors.)
Before the NNC could catch their breath a second unit of Zulus smashed into them and they were forced back and then surrounded and destroyed.
Meanwhile the married Zulus had plowed into the rear of the company of the 24th on the right.
(Caught by surprise, the 24th have a daunting task ahead of them.)
As they turned to face their attackers another Zulu unit smashed into them and the brave men died where they stood, the disciplined ranks could be recreated horizontally where they had been vertically.
(Surrounded, the A company falls to the spears.)
The other company was ordered to form square, being now almost completely surrounded.
("Form on me, my men.")
Just the Boer wagon guard came on and scattered a unit of Zulus intent on the kill and caught completely by surprise.
(The Boer charge.)
They pursued them and saw them off, only to turn and see the 2nd company of the 24th disappear under a tide of assegai. Seeing little to be done against the masses of victorious Zulus the Boers rode off leaving the field and the ammunition wagon in the hands of the enemy.
(The bodies pile up on both sides as more Zulus pile in.)
More pictures can be seen here:
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scratchbuilds another Victorian flying machine.
