As soon as the principal rebel force had been disposed of, attention was turned to that of Matshwili. McKenzie decided to surround this impi in the same way that had been attempted in Umvoti valley. The situation demanded celerity of action. With such crafty foes, action within twenty-four hours or so might meet with success, when a couple of days would result in absolute failure. The problem, however, was not of such vast dimensions as that in Umvoti valley, but, in view of the rugged country in which Matshwili's people lived, quickly descending as it does into a far more difficult and thickly-wooded district in the vicinity of the Tugela, it was necessary to cut off retreat thereto before the enemy had conceived the possibility of such movement taking place. Owing to the nature of the country, offering innumerable facilities for escaping, McKenzie was especially careful in the preparation of his plans.
The columns employed were those of Mackay, Woolls-Sampson and Leuchars. They were composed as follows:
Mackay's—Right and Left Wings, N.C.; 2 guns, N.F.A. (Wilson).[288]
Woolls-Sampson's—4 squadrons, N.M.R. (Murray-Smith); 2 squadrons, N.D.M.R. (Abraham); 1 squadron, Z.M.R. (Vanderplank); 2 guns, N.F.A. (Acutt); detachments of D.L.I. and N.R.
Leuchars'—3 squadrons, U.M.R. (Newmarch); 2 squadrons, B.M.R. (Arnott); 1 squadron, N.C. (Montgomery); L. and Y. (Peakman); 2 guns, N.F.A. (Currie).
Mansel, as will presently be seen, also co-operated on the north-east.
McKenzie, with Mackay's column, left Thring's Post at 3 a.m. on the 8th, and advanced towards Izinsimba from the west. With a good moon, the first part of the march was comparatively easy. The ground, moreover, was fairly level. Matshwili's principal kraal was approached by two squadrons N.C. (dismounted), led by McKenzie, and then smartly, though quietly, surrounded by men with fixed bayonets before dawn, in the hope of arresting the Chief. The place, however, was found to be deserted. Mackay was directed at once to occupy a small, narrow ridge immediately overlooking Izinsimba (right bank), on which was a small mission station, and, in addition, to throw forward along the same ridge a strong force to hold ground on the immediate west of Woolls-Sampson's position.
By this time, Woolls-Sampson had already taken up the position assigned him further down the Izinsimba. He had left Thring's Post at 2.30 a.m. and proceeded by road to Macrae's store, where he turned off sharp to the left and descended a long ridge to take up a position on the Izinsimba, about a mile and a half below Matshwili's principal kraals. The N.M.R. took the advance. Rattray was sent with squadron B to get astride of the stream, about fifty yards below where a tributary (which springs immediately east of Macrae's store) enters it. Ground was accordingly held to the extent of about fifty yards on either side. Murray-Smith, with the rest of N.M.R., remained for the time being at the base of the ridge the troops had come down, covering the entrance to Indaka spruit. The remainder of the troops supported some 200 yards in rear. All these positions were reached before daybreak.
Leuchars, who had marched at 3 a.m. to link up and co-operate with Woolls-Sampson on the opposite or left side of the Izinsimba, got generally into position by daybreak.
The converging on the valley by the three columns from different directions was accomplished in a highly creditable, and, indeed, remarkably simultaneous and accurate manner, owing chiefly to the excellence of the plan and the orders issued for carrying it into execution.