“‘5. That these are His Excellency’s instructions, which he intends to carry out to the best of his ability.’” (P. P. [C. 2308] p. 39).
On the 11th January, Lord Chelmsford, with No. 3 Column, crossed the Buffalo River at Rorke’s Drift, the infantry crossing on a barrel-raft, a punt, and a small boat; the cavalry and natives by a ford lower down the river. The force encamped in the Zulu country where it crossed.
The General, with the cavalry, rode to the left to meet Colonel Wood—commanding No. 4 Column, which was at Bemba’s Kop—about thirty-five miles off. They met about halfway. Colonel Wood, on his return, commenced operations against the Zulus by seizing some 2000 cattle belonging to Inkomi and Sihayo, the Zulus only making “a show of resistance.” In addition to this, Colonel Wood reports, on the 13th January, that he had also captured 2000 or 3000 head of cattle from the Sondolosi tribe, and on the same day an attack was made on a petty chief, Mbuna, whose men refused to disarm, and seven Zulus were killed.—(P. P. [C. 2242] p. 45).
Colonel Wood crossed the Blood River on the 6th January, and here we must leave No. 4 Column for the present.
No. 1 Column had some difficulty in effecting the passage of the Tugela, the river being in flood. The fortunes of this column will be followed in a future chapter.
Colonel Durnford, No. 2 Column, reported to the General (on his return to camp on the 11th) that the country in his front was quite quiet. He then returned to his command with further instructions as to its disposition, when “he and the mounted men and rocket battery were to join me with No. 3 Column,” writes the General on January 14th.—(P. P. [C. 2242] p. 47).
On the 11th, the General writes: “Both Colonel Wood and Major Russell took a good number of Sirayo’s cattle this morning, which we found quietly grazing along our line of advance.” And again: “Several hundred head of cattle, etc. were taken by Nos. 3 and 4 Columns on the 11th. This I considered desirable on political grounds, as they all belonged to Usirayo, as well as from military necessities” (ibid. pp. 43-46). It is rather difficult to reconcile this commencement of operations with the words “The British Government has no quarrel with the Zulu people;” or with the General’s message to the Zulu king (through Mr. Fynney, Border Agent, and the Zulu messengers Sintwangu and Umpepa, December 29th, 1878) ... “if all the demands are not complied with the troops will advance. That such advance will not be directed against the Zulu nation, but against the King....”—(P. P. [C. 2308] p. 39).
On the 12th January, No. 3 Column first came into contact with the Zulus. The General made a reconnaissance in the Bashi Valley and towards Izipezi Hill. Sihayo’s people were seen driving the cattle to the shelter of the hills, “as, however,” the General says, “it is well known that we had made a distinct demand for the punishment of the sons of this chief, and that his clan was one of the bravest and most warlike of the Zulu nation, I considered it very desirable to punish them at once by capturing their cattle.”
The Ingqutu Mountain was occupied by infantry, when “a fire was opened upon them by the Zulus, who were occupying very strong positions in the caves and rocks above.” An officer present states that the actual first shot was from the side of the British, but this is not of great importance, as it is impossible to imagine the Zulus could have been expected to look calmly on, whilst their cattle were being captured. After about half-an-hour’s fight the cattle and horses were taken. The mounted force was likewise engaged higher up the mountain. Our loss, 2 Native Contingent killed and 12 wounded. The loss inflicted on the enemy, 30 killed, 4 wounded, and 10 prisoners; the cattle, etc. taken, 13 horses, 413 cattle, 332 goats, and 235 sheep.—(P. P. [C. 2242] pp. 47, 48).