British Background and Set-up

The No. 1 (right flank) Column of the British invasion of Zululand had been at their base, Eshowe (a disused Norwegian mission station), for nbont two months after the battle of iNyezane River (22 January 1879). They had made the mission into the first major fortified site, called Fort Eshowe, to be used as a staging post for the final push on Ulundi, the Zulu capital.

Although, after receiving the news of both the No.3 and No.2 Column's disaster at Isandhlwana, and that they "could expect the whole Zulu impi at any time", and that "no reinforcements were to be expected", the troops were forced, to endure a siege.

Over the past couple months the Zulu impi has not appeared yet, but bodies of Zulus (probably from independent inDunas in the area) have kept the fort under an almost total siege of sorts. The only daily activity was for the mounted troops to patrol and scout the surrounding countryside (sometimes up to seventeen miles away) for Zulu movements, and to harass any bodies of Zulus they found.

In a recent heliograph signal word was received that Lord Chelmsford would push through with relief for Fort Eshowe, but would not be there until at least April/May (which would be the second invasion of Zululand led Lord Chelmsford.

During the last month or so the Zulus have keep an almost constant siege of Fort Eschowe, and supplies are very low. Subsequently, the garrison has sent back most of its Native troops, and is on half rations.

At the end of Feburary 1879, one of the mounted patrols from Fort Eschowe reported that a large kraal, reported to be of Prince Dabulamanzi kaMpande, who is the popular Cliief induna of the area and King Cetshway's brother (and led the impi that attacked Rorke's Drift), was only about seven miles away.

The No.1 Column, and subsequently Fort Eshowe's commander, Colonel Charles Knight Pearson (C.O. 2nd Batt./3rd Regt. "The Buffs" East Kent Regt.), decided to personally lead a force from the garrison to Dabulamanzi's kraal. Then after dealing with the expected warriors there or encountered on the way (about 12000), to burn it to the ground. This should then cause considerable problems for Dabulamaulzi, and possibly lead him into being dishearted from sending his forces to Ulundi when the King so ordered, or at the very least cause him to attempt an all out assault on Fort Eshowe, which would be quite bloody for the Zulus (Fort Eshowe was remarked to be "Zulu proof"!).

At 2 a.m. on the 1st of March, 1879, Colonel Pearson set off with his force, which included four companies of the 2nd Battalion/3rd Regiment "The Buffs" (East Kent Regt.) and one company of the 1st Battalion/99th Regiment "Duke of Edinburgh's Lanarkshires", along with 1 gun of the Royal Artillery, a detachment of the Naval Brigade from H.M.S. Tenedos, some mounted infantry and other mounted troops (called "Uhlans"), as well as a half company of Royal Engineers and a company of Natal Native Contingent Pioneer Corps.

Arriving about dawn in the area where reportedly Dabulamanzi's kraal was located, a couple of Vedettes were sent out to scout the area and locate the kraal. About 6 a.m. Dabulamanzi's kraal was located. It is rather large, about 60 huts in size, and nestled just below a rocky hill, known as eNtumeni. The area, like most in Zululand, is of dense bush with patches of tall (at least waist height) mealie grass. There are also some rocky outcroppings, as well as a ravine (donga) which between the far hills.

No Zulus were encountered during the night's march, but they could be either asleep in the kraal or already aware of your presense. Although, all seems quiet at this time. The British forces, being tired after a hard march, are currently resting in the plain just below the hill, Colonel Pearson and his staff discuss plans to proceed quickly with the mission and get back to the safety of Fort Eshowe. Your troops are both tired and hungry, and the Natal Native Contingent wants to get through with this mission, as you are sending the rest of these back to Natal after the mission, due to having even less supplies now.

Basically, although your force is sufficient to handle a small Zulu force, it would not want to be caught by the entire Zulu army!

Notes:

1) Set-up forces within 12" of Western edge of board, in any formation desired, even column.

2) You may, if you wish, send out Vedettes from the mounted units to Scout the area more closely. A Vedette is 2 figs (1 NCO/ 1 Pvt).

3) Areas of brush (thick shrub) and long wet mealie grass (at least waist height) both give soft cover. Rocky outcroppings give medium cover. The kraal also gives medium cover, but in umuzis or amongst huts of kraal, then only gives soft cover.

4) British Commander (Col. Pearson) is a + 1 Commander (+ 1 to initiative roll), and British get + 1 to initiative roll since they are facing irregulars (Zulus). Total this means British have +2 to initiative roll each turn, and when not British initiative, they can move 1 unit a half move or half charge (declared after Zulus declared theirs). British Adjutant Commander (Lt-Col. Walker) is also a +1 Commander, and if he assumes command then aforementioned remains the same.

5) Your mission is simple. Capture and burn all Zulu dwellings in the area after dealing with whatever slight resistance is encountered. Then retire off-board from same edge (Southwest) that you have just entered.

Total Historical British Forces

11th Battery/7th Brigade, Royal Artillery
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men	Description
Art.	1	10	Lt. Wilford N. Lloyde Battery-Commander (17-pder gun)

Royal Marine Light Infantry, H.M.S. Active
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men	Description
Marines	1	40	Lt. T.W. Dowding, C.O.

2nd Battalion/3rd Regiment "The Buffs" (East Kent Regiment)
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men	Description
4 Companies	6	280	Capt. H.J.N. Williams & Lt. Martin, Coy 'A' Capt. H.D.Harrison, Coy 'F' Capt. W.H. Wylde & Lt. C.E. Mason, Coy 'H' Capt. J.E. Forster, Coy 'I'.

99th Regiment "Duke of Edinburgh's Lanarkshires"
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men	Description
Company 'B'	2	118	Capt. F.L. Stroy & Lt. A.W. Turner Colour-Sgt. J.W. Burnett

No.2 (Field) Company, Royal Engineers
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men	Description
Half Company	2	60	Capt.Warren Richard Colvin Wynne Lt. D.C. Courtenay Sgt. Tuckett, Senior-NCO

Natal Native Contingent Pioneer Corps
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men	Description
No. 2 Company	2	60	Capt. G.K.E. Beddoes & Lt. Porrington

Natal Native Contingent Pioneer Corps
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men	Description
No. 2 Company	2	60	Capt. G.K.E. Beddoes & Lt. Porrington

"Uhlans" (Imperial Mounted Infantry from the 99th Regt. and Natal Volunteers)
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men	Description
No. 2 Company	2	30	Capt. Charles Shervinton (1st/2nd NNC) Lt. Rowden (99th Regt.)

Total number troops = 22 officers 663 NCOs/men

British Forces, Player 1
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men and UV	Personnel
Staff	2	0 4 V(1)	Col. Charles Knight Pearson, Commander [+ 1] (C.O. 2nd/3rd) Surgeon H.F. Norburg (Royal Navy, H.M.S.Active) 2nd 3rd Bandsmen (2 stretcherbearers) Orderlies (2 stretcherbearers)
Notes: Officer and surgeon are both mounted; All stretcherbearers are considered 'Weak Opponents' 'Firearm Irregulars' for melee morale purposes.

2nd Batt. 3rd (East Kent) Infantry Regt. "The Buffs"
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men and UV	Personnel
Coy 'A'	2	4 / 10 V(1)	Capt. H.J.M. Williams Lt. Martin
Coy 'F'	1	4 / 10 V(1)	Capt. H.D. Harrison
Notes: 1 NCO in each Coy is a bugler; Both Captains are mounted.

British Forces, Player 2
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men and UV	Personnel
Staff	1	0 / 0 X(1)	Maj. C. Coates (1st/99th) [+1]

99th ("Duke of Edinburgh's" Lanarkshire) Infantry Regiment
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men and UV	Personnel
Coy 'B'	2	6 / 18 X(1)	Capt. F.L. Story & Lt. A.W. Turner Colour-Sgt. J.W. Burnett, Senior-NCO
Notes: 1 NCO is a bugler.

Royal Marine Light Infantry, H.M.S. Active
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men and UV	Personnel
1 Coy.	1	2 / 6 V(1)	Lt. T.W. Dowding
Notes: 1 NCO is a bugler.

11th Battery/7th Brigade, Royal Artillery
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men and UV	Personnel
1 Btty.	1	1 / 4 V(0)	Lt. Wilford N. Lloyde, Battery-Commander
Notes: 7-pder rifled muzzleloader; no limber; Sgt is Senior-NCO (Ammo: 6 shell/6 shrapnel/ 1 dbl-shell/4 case shot).

British Forces, Player 3
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men and UV	Personnel
Staff	1	0 / 0 V(1)	Lt-Col.Walker [+1](Adj. C.O. 2nd/3rd)

2nd Batt. 3rd (East Kent) Infantry Regt. "The Buffs"
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men and UV	Personnel
Coy 'H'	2	4 / 10 V(1)	Capt. W.H. Wylde & Lt. C.E. Mason
Coy 'I'	1	4 / 10 V(1)	Capt. J.E. Foster
Notes: 1 NCO in each Coy is a bugler; Both Captains are mounted.

British Forces, Player 4 No.2 (Field) Coy, Royal Engineers
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men and UV	Personnel
Half Coy.	2	2 / 4 V(2)	Capt. Wynne & Lt. D.C. Courtenay Sgt. Tuckett, Senior-NCO
Notes: Capt. Wynne is mounted, 1 NCO is a bugler.

No.2 Coy, Natal Native Pioneer Corps
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men and UV	Personnel
Half Coy.	2	2 / 10 T(2) Irr	Capt. G.K.E. Beddoes & Lt. Porrington
Notes: Armed with breechloading carbines, but no bayonet, spear or shield, and therefore are 'Weak Irregulars' for melee and morale modifiers; Fire as 'Green' troops; Wear red coats & white pants; Officers are IJV: Vet/Fieldcraft 1, armed with word & revolver; Capt. Beddoes is mounted.

"Uhlans" (Mtd. Inf. of 99th Regt. & Natal Volunteers)
Unit	#Ofcs	#NCO's/Men and UV	Personnel
Cav.	2 (2)	2 / 4 X(1) 2 / 3 X(1)	Capt. St. Leger Shervinton (2/3rd NNC) Lt. Rowden (99th Regt.)
Notes: Hvy.Horse, but Lt.Horse in melee; Armed as infantry, but may not fire while mounted; When dismounted use numbers in ( ) as rest are horseholders 2" to rear; Mount/Dismount takes half of move; May be in Close or Open Order, and may volley fire if in Close Order.

Scenario

Rules and Set Up
GM Background and Notes
British Background and Notes
Zulu Background and Notes
Scenario Map

Raid Addendums and Clarifications (in issue 98)

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