History of the Zulu War Author:Alexander Wilmot General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1880 Original Publisher: Richardson Subjects: Zulu War, 1879 Zululand (South Africa) Fiction / Classics History / Africa / General History / Military / General History / Africa / South / Republic of South Africa Literary Collections / General Literary Critici... more »sm / General Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER IV. Loed Chelmsfoed's Plans -- The Battle Of Isa- Ndhlwana -- The Heeoic Defence Of Eoeke's Deift -- Panic In The Colony -- Eequest Foe Eeinfoece- Ments -- Eeply Feom The Queen -- The Ministey -- Sie Babtle Feeee -- Loed Chelmsfoed. It is desirable for the sake of justice that the plans of Lord Chelmsford in commencing the campaign should be given in his own words. They are contained in a memorandum dated 16th January, 1879, and are as follows : -- " The reports which I receive from officers commanding the several columns now operating against Cetywayo show clearly that at this season of the year a rapid advance into the heart of Zululand is absolutely impossible. " The present state of the roads in Natal will be sufficient to bring home to the mind of every one what difficulties must stand in the way of those who are endeavouring to move forward into the enemy's country, over tracts which have never been traversed, except by a very few traders' wagons. " No. 3 column at Eorke's Drift cannot possibly moveLOUD CHELMSFORD'S PLANS. 51 forward even eight miles, until two swamps, into which our waggons sank up to the body, have been made passable. " This work will occupy us for at least four days, and we shall find similar obstacles in front of us, in every march we are anxious to make. " Accepting the situation, therefor...« less