The opening situation
has Colonel Durnford deployed off table while scouting for elements of the Zulu
army. Raw’s troop while chasing cattle being herded by udibi boys stumbles
across the Zulus resting in a valley on the Nuqutu Plateau. Nearby Major
Russell with an escort of a company of NNC begins to ascend Conical Hill
looking for Raw’s troop. Firing erupts as Raw withdraws back over the ridge and
with the Zulus close behind.
Seeing this, the Rocket
Battery and its escort turns tail and flees back down the slope toward the
British camp and safety. Colonel Durnford, meanwhile begins to backtrack toward
the British camp as he and his troops see Zulus swarming up on top of the Ridge
to their north. Raw dismounts his command in the Donga just past Conical Hill
and begins firing at the Zulus as they crest the ridge and the top of Conical
Hill. The Zulus slowly begin to deploy into battle formation as the shots from
Raw’s men drop several Zulus apparently with little or no effect.
Colonel Pulleine
meanwhile has ordered 2 companies to secure the ridge line on his left flank
while the rest of the command stands to. On his right the NNC stirs and begins
forming on the right flank in front of Blacks Koppie. The British artillery
limbers up and prepares to move into position cutting a path through the NNC as
it forms along the ridgeline.
Raw meanwhile is facing
a severe predicament as he is facing several Ibutho’s of Zulus which are
steadily advancing down from the height of Conical Hill and along the Dongas
Northwest of it.Under heavy pressure Raw continues to hold whilst Durnford
extracts his command farther to the West towards Pulleine.
As Durnford
passes the Donga, Raw continues to fire on the Zulus covering the Rocket
Battery and the NNC
trailing behind Durnford’s cavalry. The Zulus charge the troopers and
at the last moment and Raw’s troopers retire toward the camp closely pursued by the Zulus.
The Zulus full of
bloodlust pursue so closely that Pulleine is unable to bring fire from his now
formed battleline against the pursuit.
Pulleine his
battle line formed realizes that the Zulus are attacking in strength and begins
what
long range fire he can bear on the Zulus without endangering Durnford’s command.This will
have a profound effect on the outcome of the battle.
Durnford finally
gets his command into position on the far British right flank just in time
before
the Zulu Left Horn closes with his command. Meanwhile on the British left, the Zulus catch up
with Raw’s troop
and maul it and drive the few survivors up a draw a mere 200 yards
from the British line.
The troopers
scramble to safety but mask the rifle fire of 4 companies of British infantry
which allows the Zulus to pour into the Donga in front of their position. All along their front
Zulu masses surge
forward to engage the British line. The British rifle fire and cannon shot
tear
huge gaps in the
oncoming wave of human flesh. Pulleine holds firm as the Zulus attempt
to
pierce his line.The Zulus in the Donga
surge forward and engage the British infantry on the
slope above them and a
intense melee erupts with neither side gaining a clear advantage.
The British line holds
for the moment but many Zulus make their way into the donga on the British left
and begin to close on the supporting infantry companies. Suddenly the Zulus
commit their reserves and increase pressure all along the line. Heavy rifle and
cannon shot fells many Zulus and routs several Ibutho’s but they still advance.
The 1/NNC steady until this time start to waver and this coupled with a sudden
ammunition shortage amongst several units along the line is all they can take
and they break leaving a gap in the British right which Durnford desperately
tries to plug shut.
On the British right
faced with ammunition shortages and close contact with the Zulus the full
weight of the Zulu force bears down on the British and after heavy fighting
they wipe out one infantry company and send another fleeing into the British
camp hotly pursued by the Zulus.
Once in the camp the Zulus on the British
right launch their final assault and overrun the British infantry and cause the
remaining NNC companies to flee. Durnford tries to hold the line but is forced
to withdraw as the Zulus pour out of the tents and attack Pulleine from behind
capturing the British Colours after wiping out the Colour party led by Pulleine.
The remaining infantry form rallying squares and fight to the last near the
guns and along the ridge until finally overcome by superior Zulu numbers. Durnford
and the few survivors escape across Fugitve’s Drift back towards Rorke’s Drift.
