"A British Lion in Zululand: Sir Garnet Wolseley in ..." Topic

…South Africa.

"Field Marshal Garnet Joseph Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley KP, GCB, OM, GCMG, VD, PC (4 June 1833-25 March 1913) was an Anglo-Irish officer. The number of letters after his name indicate just how glittering his career was. What first made him a household name – he is the original 'Modern Major-General' – was campaigning in Africa. In just one year he captured the two most powerful and dangerous potentates on the continent: Cetshwayo, whose Zulus had humbled the British in many battles including Isandlwana; and Sekhukhune of the Bapedi, whose warriors had twice beaten white armies including a British one. Wolseley was ambitious, clever, lucky, insecure and a magnificent showman. The reader will love him or hate him as this arch-imperialist re-shapes southern Africa aided by a large cast of colourful and eccentric characters. (Men such as the adventurer John Dunn – who took 49 Zulu wives!) Based on wide original research, with field trips to Africa to explore long-forgotten battle sites and drawn extensively from hitherto unused material including over 600 of Sir Garnet's letters, many to his wife, A British Lion in Africa is a major addition to colonial history. William Wright's analysis of the 1879 Anglo-Bapedi War is the most detailed account available.and the chapters on the Zulu War including the capture of Cetshwayo and the Zulu Settlement break new ground. As the renowned American historian, Charles Ballard, has written, research into the end of the Zulu War and the disastrous settlement are a 'long-neglected facet' of colonial history. This is now no longer true."
See here
link

Amicalement
Armand

I fear that one when sees so much hyperbole it rather puts one off. It is a pity because otherwise it could be a good and informative read, but – for example – although I am no expert on the subject I cannot think of too many engagements that went in favour of the Zulus apart from Isandlwana, unless you count things like the skewering of the Prince Impériale which – if politically embarassing – was militarily a rather minor affair. Also if my memory serves me correctly surely Chelmsford had got his act together and defeated the Zulus at Ulundi before Wolseley arrived to "tidy up". As I say, a pity because perhaps a fascinating read – but off-putting.
I'll leave the morality of colonial warfare for others- although in the immortal words of Blackadder – "it…(probably).. was a very sharp mango…."
C