On the 11th, Colonel Wood met the General halfway to Rorke’s Drift, and received instructions “to occupy himself with the tribes on his front and left flank, notably Seketwayo,” until No. 3 Column was ready to advance to Isipezi Hill, when he was to proceed to Ingwe, both columns to establish advanced depôts, bring up supplies, and then move forward. Colonel Wood induced the Zulu chief Bemba to give up his arms and come in, which he did on the 10th, bringing with him about eighty of his people and 1000 head of cattle, sheep, and goats; they were sent to Utrecht.
On the 11th, Colonel Wood, who had advanced with a portion of the force from Bemba’s Kop towards Rorke’s Drift to meet the General on his return march, seized about 2000 head of cattle, the owners of which were quietly tending them as usual (these were supposed to be Sihayo’s), and next day attacked a petty chief, who was said to have “given considerable trouble to the Transvaal farmers”, with the result of seven Zulus killed and upwards of 500 head of cattle captured.
Some 2000 to 3000 head of cattle were also taken from the Sondolosi tribe,[161] a slight resistance being offered by the Zulus, of whom one was killed. Colonel Wood thus endeavoured to induce Seketwayo’s people to be pacified, and was “therefore most anxious to refrain from taking any steps which might discourage these men from coming in!”
The General, on entering Zululand, finding the difficulties greater than he had anticipated, instructed Colonel Wood “to act altogether independently, about the head waters of the White Umveloosi River” (16th January, 1879), and when Seketwayo had either surrendered or been defeated, to “take up a position covering Utrecht and the adjacent Transvaal border, wherever he considers his force can be most usefully employed,” and not to “attempt to advance towards the Inhlazatye Mountain until an advance by the other three columns across the Umhlatoozi River has become possible.” (P. P. [C. 2252] p. 63.) Colonel Wood, from Bemba’s Kop, communicated with Uhamo—a brother of Cetshwayo—who had asked for a way to be pointed out by which he might escape.
No. 4 Column now moved towards Intemgeni River, and encamped there on 18th January, Colonel Wood reporting “many of the natives are giving themselves up to me; I have captured about 4000 head of cattle.” On the previous day a party of Wood’s “irregulars” attacked some Zulus, killing 9, wounding about 20, and taking 5 prisoners and 100 sheep; with a loss to themselves of 2 wounded (ibid. p. 66). On the 19th and 20th there were skirmishes with some of Tinta’s people, of whom about 12 were killed. A prisoner was brought in by the Native Contingent on the 19th, whom they gravely asked permission to kill in the evening, “thinking they had done their whole duty in obeying orders and bringing the man in.”
The column encamped at Tinta’s kraal, on the left bank of the Umvolosi River, and a stone fort was commenced. A reconnaissance across the Umvolosi to Zinguni Mountain met the Zulus in force, and was compelled to retire with a loss of two wounded, the enemy not being checked until the river was recrossed. January 22nd, the Zinguni Mountain was patrolled by a strong force, the enemy retiring hastily, and leaving about 600 head of cattle. In the distance a large force, estimated at 4000, was seen, and it apparently ascended the Indhlobane Mountain. The column had a smart engagement with the enemy on the 24th, and drove them off with a loss of about fifty killed; but on receiving intelligence of the disaster to No. 3 Column, retired to Fort Tinta.
At Luneburg a laager was formed by the Dutch farmers, under Commandant Schermbrucker, and Colonel Wood moved his force to Kambula Hill, to cover Utrecht and the neighbouring border, and there firmly entrenched himself. The situation chosen was a commanding and central position between the Umvolosi and Pevana rivers on the Jagt-pad (Hunter’s path), covering the country northward to Luneburg, eastward to the Amaqulusi, southward to the Umvolosi, and westward to Balte’s Spruit and Utrecht.
The Zulus abandoned the open, and remained in the mountains and broken country, where rocks and caves afforded them secure positions.
On February 1st, Lieut.-Colonel Buller, with 140 irregular cavalry, made a dash at the Amaqulisini (or Amaqulusi) kraal, thirty miles distant. This was a military stronghold, deemed by the Boers to be impregnable. It was situated in a basin at a distance of nearly two miles from the summit of the rugged heights by which it was surrounded, and almost hidden from view, although about 300 yards in diameter and containing at least 250 huts.
Leaving thirty men as a covering party, Colonel Buller moved with the remainder down the almost precipitous slopes, the horsemen frequently obliged to dismount and lead their horses. However, the kraal was not occupied in force, and, after a few shots, the inmates fled. Six Zulus were killed, 270 head of cattle taken, and the kraal burnt, the force returning from this daring exploit without casualty, after a hard day’s work of twenty hours.