Today In History:The Battle On The Side Of The Mountain

A rememberance of a famous battle as written by fifth-grader, A.R-G.

Today In History:The Battle On The Side  Of The Mountain

By A.R-G.

  

144 years ago this Wednesday an empire was defeated. At Iswandlewhana, South Africa a portion of the British Colonial army under Lord Chelmsford was attacked by a massive hoard of native Zulu tribesman. The British camp was overrun, in the end causing the death of 1300 british soldiers.

  

It all began when the Zulu tribe refused to give up their land. The British invaded, splitting their forces into 3 collums, the third commanded by Colonel Anthony Durnford. Number  3 column marched first into the kingdom of Natal, then crossing into Zululand. They camped on the side of Isandlewhana, a bluff shaped like an upside-down cupcake. Scouts rode out from the camp, led by Lieutenant Charles Row. They discovered 15,000 Zulu, ready to ambush the army. Row's men retreated back to camp. Messengers were dispatched to tell Lord Chelmsford of the attack. The British folded out into a line in front of the camp, holding off the Zulus with the rifles and cannons. In the end they were forced to fall back. First went the 24th regiment, who had been fighting the longest. The rest retreated soon after.

 

At 2:29 p.m., there was a total eclipse of the sun, plunging the battle into complete darkness. During the solar eclipse, Lieutenants Melville and Coghill attempted to carry the British flag way from the battlefeild, but were killed as they crossed a nearby river. It is believed that a number of last stands were made, the soldiers forming squares and fighting back to back. Probably the last survivor of the battle was a soldier belonging to the 24th regiment, who held out among the rocks into the evening. Chelmsford's troops finally arrived at the camp the night of the 22nd, to find it in flames. Almost not a single redcoat survived, 5 officers rode away across the river, making the total losses 1300 soldiers.

  

144 years ago today, an empire was defeated. However it took decades before South Africa was returned to the control of its native people groups. In 1934 South Africa achieved its independence from the Colonial occupation of British forces.