A few brief remarks on the return march are all that are necessary. The day after the battle of Ulundi (5th July) the whole force retired to Entonjaneni, and remained there till the 9th, when the Flying Column moved on the road towards the coast to Kwamagwasa, en route to meet Sir Garnet Wolseley.
On the 10th the 2nd Division marched from Entonjaneni, and arrived at the Upoko River on the 15th.
Lord Chelmsford accompanied the Flying Column. We cannot leave Brigadier-General Wood’s command without a word of notice. From the beginning to the end of the campaign its work was done in a thoroughly soldierlike manner, leaving little or nothing to be desired. There was a thorough reciprocal confidence between commander and men, and a total absence of those “scares” which were occasionally heard of during the campaign.
Where all did well, it may seem a little invidious to single one out for mention, but we will quote the concluding words of Brigadier-General Wood’s despatch of 5th July, referring to Lieut.-Colonel Redvers Buller, not only on account of this officer’s merit, but “to point the moral” as to where was the neglect which led primarily to the disaster to the Head-quarter Column in January:
“He has never failed to cover the column with his mounted men, for from ten to twelve miles in front, and on the flanks.
“Constitutionally fearless, he is prudent in counsel, and though resolute, is very careful of the lives of his troops in action. He possesses, in my opinion, all the attributes of a perfect leader of light cavalry.”
It is stated (Standard, August 22nd, 1879) that, on reaching the White Umvolosi, despatches arrived from Sir Garnet Wolseley, requesting Lord Chelmsford to fall back and meet him at Kwamagwasa—a mission station, where it had at one time been proposed that the 1st and 2nd Divisions should effect a junction.
On the 4th, Lord Chelmsford sent a despatch to Sir Garnet Wolseley, in which he said: “As I have fully accomplished the object for which I advanced, I consider I shall now be best carrying out Sir Garnet Wolseley’s instructions by moving at once to Entonjanini, and thence to Kwamagwaza.”
Why the blow struck at Ulundi was not followed up it is difficult to say. If Lord Chelmsford’s instructions permitted him to advance and engage the enemy, they would be sufficiently elastic to enable him to follow up the victory. The king was known to have a new kraal in a strong position at the junction of the White and Black Umvolosi Rivers, within a day’s march of Ulundi; the Zulu army was thoroughly beaten and dispersed, and there was absolutely nothing to prevent an advance for the destruction of this stronghold, the moral effect of which on the native mind would have been very great. There was an ample force, willing hearts, and no lack of supplies. The solution of the problem must be sought in Lord Chelmsford’s words: “I have fully accomplished the object for which I advanced.” He withdrew at once from the scene of his victory, and—resigned his command.