No. 3 Column to cross at Rorke’s Drift when the thirty days expired; to move forward and form an advanced depôt, strongly entrenched, as found advisable from the nature of the country, etc. To assist in clearing the border south-east of Rorke’s Drift, and to keep up communication with the columns on left and right.
No. 4 Column to advance to the Blood River. “The civil authorities on the border will take every care to warn the Zulus that our first advance need not be deemed hostile, but that no collection of armed natives in the vicinity of our forces can be permitted; no act on our part to unnecessarily bring on hostilities should be permitted.”—(P. P. [C. 2222] p. 223).
In the event of a further advance, the advanced depôt of this column to be near the intersection of the roads from Utrecht to Ulundi, and Rorke’s Drift to Swaziland; but “to delay its advance toward the Umvolosi River until the border is cleared, and to move in a southerly direction towards Colonel Glyn’s column to assist it against Sirayo.”—(P. P. [C. 2242] pp. 27, 28).
On January 11th, the General met Colonel Wood, and arranged with him that he should “occupy himself with the tribes in his front and left flank,” till the General was “ready to advance to Izipezi Hill” (ibid. p. 42).
By this unfortunate change of plan, the left of No. 3 Column was exposed, of which the Zulus took fatal advantage.
We must now return to Sir Bartle Frere, who, considering that he had “exhausted all peaceable means for obtaining redress for the past, and security for the future,” “by a notification dated the 4th of January, 1879, placed in the hands of Lieut.-General Lord Chelmsford, K.C.B., commanding Her Majesty’s forces in South Africa, the further enforcement of all demands;” and remarks, “it only remains for us to await the issue with perfect confidence in the justice of our cause. The contest has not been provoked by the British Government. That Government has done its best to avoid war by every means consistent with honour.” An absolute truth as regards the Home Government. “That” Government, as Sir B. Frere cleverly remarks, “had done its best to avoid war,” and did not see the necessity, or, at all events, the immediate necessity, of that war into which its servant, contrary to its instructions, plunged it.
The period allowed to Cetshwayo having expired, on the 11th January, 1879, the following notification was published in both English and Zulu:
NOTIFICATION.
January 11th, 1879.
The British forces are crossing into Zululand to exact from Cetywayo reparation for violations of British territory committed by the sons of Sirayo and others; and to enforce compliance with the promises, made by Cetywayo at his coronation, for the better government of his people.