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The Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 - Hlobane

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Index

Hlobane's background

What makes Hlobane such a great example?

Hlobane's background

The Battle of Hlobane, on 28 March 1879, was intended as a diversion: Colonel Evelyn Wood sent a mounted force under Lieutenant-Colonel George Hamilton-Browne's commander, Redvers Buller, up onto the Hlobane plateau to seize Zulu cattle and draw the Zulu army away from the besieged column at Eshowe. Instead, the main Zulu army of some 20,000 men arrived unexpectedly, and the British and colonial force, caught on the plateau, was routed, suffering around 225 casualties as it fled down the escarpment. Boer commandant Piet Uys was among those killed, turning back to help his own son escape. Remarkably, five Victoria Crosses were awarded for acts of bravery during the retreat, including to Buller himself.

What makes Hlobane such a great example?

Frederic Thesiger and the Disaster at Hlobane

As commander-in-chief of British forces in the war, Frederic Thesiger [Lord Chelmsford] bore ultimate responsibility for Hlobane, even though he was not present himself. The disaster came the day before Wood's much more successful defence of his camp at Kambula, a whiplash reversal of fortune within 24 hours that makes a good test of whether a single chart can hold both a rout and a decisive victory in such close succession.

The chart shown is the birth of Frederic Thesiger, set at midday, with transits for the Battle of Hlobane on 28 March 1879 set at midday.