Battle of Inyezane

The Battle of Inyezane, was a British victory early in the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879.

Battle of Inyezane
Part of the Anglo-Zulu War
Map showing Inyezane
Date 22 January 1879 Location North bank of the Inyezane River 28°57′2″S 31°32′36″E Result British victory
Belligerents
British Empire	Zulu Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Charles Pearson	Godide kaNdlela[1]
Strength
2,758 4 × 7-pounder guns 1 × 24-pound rocket battery 1 × Gatling Gun[2][3]	6,000[4]
Casualties and losses
10 Europeans and 5 NNC killed[5] 16–20 wounded[6][7]	300+[5] or 400–600 killed[7] 2 prisoners[6]

Background

In December 1878, the British invasion force assembled on the Zulu borders in five columns. However, columns No. 2 (under Anthony Durnford) and No. 5 were allocated a defensive role. The remaining three columns advanced on Ulundi (Zulu capital) from thee sides, and crossed the Zulu border between 6 and 12 January 1879. On the north, No. 4 (Left Flank) Column crossed the Blood River into the Zululand on January 6. No. 3 (Centre) Column (accompanied and effectively commanded by Lord Chelmsford) crossed into Zulu territory across the Rorke's Drift following the expiry of the British ultimatum, on 11 January 1879. A day later No. 1 (Right Flank) Column, under command of colonel Pearson, began to cross into Zulu territory in order to advance along the coast. In response, on 17 January 1879, King Cetshwayo's army marched out from the royal homesteads at oNdini. On 18 January 1879, Cetshwayo's force divided: the main section (some 25,000 strong), under Ntshingwayo kaMahole and Mavumengwana kaNdlela, advanced west towards Rorke's Drift, while a smaller detachment (3,000–4,000 men) under Godide kaNdlela moved south to support Zulu forces harassing Pearson's advance.^[8]

Pearson's Column No. 1 advanced north slowly, hamperd by 384 heavy wagons with more than 1,000 oxen and several rivers on its way. Crossing of the river Tugela (southern border of the Zululand) by ferry at Fort Pearson lasted from 12 to 16 January. On the northern bank Pearson erected Fort Tenedos in order to protect the ferry, which was finished by January 18. From there, Pearson split his forces into two divisions, in order to advance faster with lighter units, cavalry and pioneers in the first division and prepare the river crossings on their way for the slow and heavy wagon train which was left with the second division. In the mid-morning of 22 January, Zulu forces under command of Godide, some 6,000 strong, intercepted Pearson's column during the crossing of the river Nyezane, on its northern bank.^[8]

Opposing forces

No. 1 Column

No. 1 Column had sbout 4,750 men, including 4,271 fighting troops and 384 wagons with more than 500 civilian drivers, under command of colonel Charles Pearson. It included two battalions of the British infantry – eight companies of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Regiment (with 749 officers and men) and six companies of the 99th Regiment (with 515 men)^[3][9] and more than 200 sailors from the Naval Brigade with two 7-pounder field guns and a Gatling gun, and a company of Royal Artillery with two 7-pounders.^[10] There were also about 312 European horse, including Imperial mounted infantry and colonial volunteer cavalry of the Victoria Mounted Rifles (47 men), Stanger Mounted Rifles (37 men) and Natal Hussars (39 men).^[11][10] African auxiliary troops included one company of pioneers (104 men) and two battalions of the 2nd Regiment of the Natal Native Contingent, some 2,256 men divided in 20 companies, each comprising nine Europeans (three officers and six NCOs), 10 African NCOs armed with rifles and 90 African spearmen.^[12] Cavalry was commanded by Major Percy Harrow Stanley Barrow, the 2nd Regiment NNC by Major S. Graves, and native pioneers by Captain G. Beddoes.^[10][13]

One company of sailors and several companies of the NNC were left to garrison Fort Pearson, on the south bank of the Tugela River, and another company of sailors and two companies of the 99th Regiment were left in Fort Tenedos, on the northern bank of Tugela. From there, No. 1 Column advanced to Eshowe in two divisions, and only the first division, little more than a half of the entire British force, was engaged in combat.^[14] Consolidating on the right bank of the Tugela River, Colonel Pearson's first division had approximately 2,758 men: 400 from six companies of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Regiment; 160 from three companies of the 99th Regiment; 138 Naval Brigade (Blue Jackets), men from HMS Active with two 7-pounders, one Gatling and a Hale rocket tube; 23 men of the Royal Artillery with two 7-pounders; 90 Royal Engineers; 115 locally raised mounted infantry; 117 Colonial troopers; 1,655 men of the 2nd Regiment, Natal Native Contingent; and 60 of 2 Company, Natal Native Pioneers.^[2]