The head of the column, keeping the footpath, passed on through neck marked C on the plan to knolls D and E. Another halt of about half an hour was made on the western slope of E.
During the interval, thirty mounted men were sent to burn a kraal (Mlibo's) a few yards off on the left. Lieut. A.H.G. Blamey, with a few N.M.R., then advanced to knoll F to reconnoitre. The time was about 3 p.m. Moving up the eastern incline, and when about 350 yards from the base of E, the scouts came upon about 300 rebels lying perdu among the weeds and grass of an old garden, a hundred yards to the right of the path. They were not seen until they simultaneously rose to charge. As they got up, they shouted "Usutu! Usutu!" at the top of their voices, and dashed at the scouts who, after quickly dismounting and firing a few shots, fell back to the rest of the guard and Nongqai at E as best they could. At the first shot, the Nongqai immediately lined themselves in regular order on the right, along a contour of E about half-way down the hill, and, with the N.M.R. and mounted infantry—the latter having galloped up from the kraal they were burning on hearing the fire and ranged themselves on the left—opened a heavy fusillade on the enemy as he came rushing through a hail of bullets, the bullets which up till that moment he believed would not 'enter.' Each ran stoopingly with shield before his face, as if trying to ward off the bullets, whilst a tshokobezi badge tossed wildly about his head. They came on with great dash, directing their attack mainly at the left front of the position. It was at that point that most of them fell. In one or two instances, the Nongqai, who behaved with conspicuous coolness and pluck, were obliged to resort to their bayonets.
Finding themselves beaten at the first rush, they broke, large numbers making down the steep and slightly wooded watercourses on either side of the kraal marked "Manyunda." Another section disappeared down the northern slopes that converge at F, where they concealed themselves, in the vicinity of Nkunzana river. A number were shot as they ran, especially on the south-western slopes.
The Natal Police, when the action began, were quickly pushed up to support at D, about 300 yards from E, from where a heavy and effective fire proceeded for the few moments the enemy was visible. The Navals and the D.L.I. came forward on hearing the fire. The former, at the time, were on the Bobe side of the neck leading to D, i.e. at B, some few yards up the incline. From such position, a Maxim they had with them opened at long range, proving effective. The D.L.I., still further up Bobe at A, being rear-guard, did not come into action at this stage.
BOBE
Scale of yards
0 100 200 400 600 800
REFERENCE
A, B, C, &c., see text
Footpath Native kraal
Route taken by troops
Nkandla forests lie on immediate right and right front of the map
After the rebels had dispersed, the column moved forward and began to close up about 300 yards west of F. Suddenly another body of rebels, about 400 strong, was seen moving up the Nkunzana, as if making for the rear of the rear-guard, and therefore attempting a belated encircling movement. Possibly Mansel's extraordinarily long column and its abnormally slow progress, was the reason why the enemy's attack on the rear-guard failed as it did. The front impi had come into action before the rear one (owing to the very high ground Mansel's rear-guard was still descending) could attempt the usual enveloping tactics. As this body reached a kraal on the north side of Bobe, it was joined by a company that had been scouting for some days on Nomangci and which, hearing the fire, had come unsolicited to help. The impi then advanced towards the rear-guard (D.L.I.). Not many minutes before, the officer in charge of the guard had had occasion to send Mfungelwa and his force to capture stock and burn kraals on the left, consequently he was under the impression the Natives he saw were the Native contingent, until, examining with field-glasses, he noticed that none wore the usual Turkey-red and calico badge. The enemy was thereupon fired into by the guard and N.N.C.; without charging, although firing a few shots, he broke and disappeared down the slopes up which he had just come.
The column again moved on, only to turn sharp left to cross the Halambu still further below. The enemy followed. The rear-guard was now supported by mounted men, who, firing on the impi in the direction of F, were themselves fired on from the Nkunzana by eighteen rebels stationed at that point. After pretending to move on to join the column at Halambu, the mounted men suddenly returned and, finding the rebels in force in the open at short range, shot down a number. Still another section showed themselves near Nkolotshane hill, about two miles off to the south-west. They opened ineffectively at long range.
It was now late in the afternoon. Owing to the exhausted condition of the men, the desirability of camping on the left side of Halambu was considered, but, because of the long, dry tambookie grass thereabout, which could easily have been set alight, and to most of the ammunition being spent, Mansel decided to make for Fort Yolland.