The strength of the columns is given as:
| Imperial and Colonial Troops. | Native Contingent. | Conductors and Drivers. | Waggons and Carts. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | Column | 1872 | 2256 | 238 | 266 | (144 hired) |
| ” 2 | ” | 5 | 3488 | 84 | 30 | |
| ” 3 | ” | 1747 | 2566 | 293 | 233 | ( 82 ” ) |
| ” 4 | ” | 1843 | 387 | 162 | 102 | ( 21 ” ) |
| ” 5 | ” | 1202 | 338 | 25 | 62 | ( 50 ” ) |
Forming a grand total of
| Imperial and Colonial Troops. | Native Contingent. | Conductors, etc. | Waggons, etc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6669 | 9035 | 802 | 693 |
| (of which 297 were hired) |
with about 1200 horses belonging to cavalry, etc., and 691 horses, 361 mules, and 5231 oxen. In addition, there were the conductors, drivers, etc., and 4572 oxen of the hired waggons.
The columns to operate on the following bases and lines:
| No. 1. | Durban—Lower Tugela. |
| ” 2. | Pietermaritzburg, Greytown—Middle Drift (Tugela). |
| ” 3. | Ladysmith—Rorke’s Drift (Buffalo River). |
| ” 4. | Newcastle—Utrecht—Blood River. |
| ” 5. | Middleburg—Derby—Pongolo River. |
Ulundi being the objective point of the force.
In place of any urgent necessity for commencing the war, putting political questions on one side, there were strong military reasons for postponing it.