Zulu Battle Piece Isandhlwana 1879

First published in 1948, renowned British Empire historian Coupland describes, with swift and vivid strokes, the situation between whites and blacks, the great military qualities and terrifying military tactics of the Zulu warriors and the characters of the Englishmen, soldiers and politicians, involved in the disaster. Having prepared the reader with consummate art and scholarship, he then sets the great action in that strange, eerie land, until the reader can truly feel that he has lived through it himself. The aftermath brings him to Rorke’s Drift and the gallant British stand that averted irretrievable disaster. A first-rate account of the battle.

An erudite examination of a great military catastrophe Whilst several works were written concerning the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 in years immediately following the event, the proliferation of wars that followed it during the imperial period followed by the First and Second World Wars, probably meant that little retrospective consideration was given to the conflict for over half a century. The author of this book, Reginald Coupland was an Oxford University historian who specialised in the history of the British Empire and who had published several works on the subject. This book, published quite close to the end of his life, was a reappraisal of the pivotal-and disastrous for the British- Battle of Isandlwana fought in 1879, which resulted in a significant portion of Lord Chelmsford's centre column (which remained encamped) being massacred by the Zulu Army of King Cetshwayo. The loss of life and damage to British prestige was momentous. Coupland's comparatively early academic re-examination of the event, its causes and his consideration of the actions of those who were present will be fascinating for all those interested in the subject. This Leonaur edition has been enhanced by maps, illustrations and photographs not present in the original edition together with interesting first hand accounts by two survivors from the British camp and two short recollections by Zulu warriors who took part in the battle. Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

"The battle of Isandlwana fought on January 22, 1879, was the greatest defeat suffered by the British Army during the Victorian era. A Zulu Army of 24,000 warriors had moved undetected to within striking distance of the British camp in the shadow of Isandlwana Mountain. From the start the 1,700 defenders underestimated the danger descending upon them. They were swept aside with horrifying speed and the final stage of the battle consisted of desperate hand-to-hand fighting amid the British camp. Ian Knight employs new archaeological and historical research to provide a completely new interpretation of the course of the battle."--BOOK JACKET.

This is an account of one of the most dramatic episodes in 19th century military history, which continues to exert a unique fascination. On 22nd January 1879 the British military camp at Isandlwana, South Africa, was annihilated by about 20,000 Zulu warriors. Some 1200 troops died under the Zulu spears, half of them British regular infantry of the 24th Foot armed with modern breech-loading rifles. This battle was partly redeemed that evening at the tiny hospital and supply post of Rorke's Drift, successfully held in hand-to-hand fighting against thousands of Zulus by some 140 defenders, only 80 of them able-bodied redcoats.

The full, fascinating true story of the Anglo-Zulu conflict - responsible for some of the bloodiest battles in British history, including Rorke's Drift. Drawing on primary sources and original research, Schoeman's readable and accessible style is perfect for this single-volume study of the conflict.

The Zulu War of 1879 remains one of the best known British colonial wars and included two battles whose names reverberate through history. At Isandlwana the Zulus inflicted a crushing defeat on the British; the gallant British defence at Rorke's Drift followed and re-established British prestige. Yet as this book shows, there was more to the war than this. Six months of brutal fighting followed, until the Zulu kingdom was broken up, its king imprisoned and the whole structure of the Zulu state destroyed. Years of internecine strife followed, until the British finally annexed Zululand as a colonial possession.