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Date	Original Topic
16th August 2001	Durnford's absence By Bob Bennett If Durnford had stayed at RD would Pulleine have been able to hold out? I believe that he extended his force too far, mainly to cover Durnford. If Pulleine had only the camp to defend (not Durnford) do you believe the outcome would have been different?
Date	Replies
16th August 2001	Alan Critchley Bob, if Durnford had not been at Isandlwana with his Sigali Horse, Pulleine may have deployed his forces differently. Durnford was deployed to fend off the left horn of the Zulu horn at the donga to the front of thje camp. Without them being there, Pulleiine would have reconsidered his strategy. He may have considered that his right flank was vulnerable and therefore may have thought it better to concentrate his force on the slopes in a square. In my humble opinion, Pulleine made the wrong decicion in both not laagering the waggons and then not forming a square on the slopes of the mountan. Couple that with not striking the tents, I think that Pulleine has a lot to answer for. If he were alive that is. Alan
16th August 2001	Stephen McDonald I agree Alan. However, I understood the decision to not laager was Chelmsford, as he thought Pulleine would move shortly after 22nd. Also, I think a square formation in lieu of no laager would have the best defence. Altho the large number of Zulus tells me the British were done-for anyways. By the way, whatever happened to the Natal Native Contingent officer (Stevenson?) who immediately after Isandlhwana road his troops past RD, refusing Chard's command to stay help defend the place?
17th August 2001	Alan Critchley Stephen, in the film Chelmsford didn't take the advice of the boer to laager. I think that Pulleine did expect to follow Chelmsford's half shortly and since it was to be dhortly and would take a great deal of time thought it pointless. As to the outcome if the British had formed a square or lines on the slopes, near to the ammunition supply, I think the outcome may well have been different. Remember that during the advance by the Zulus, they wavered and were about to retire when one of their Induna urged them on saying that "Cetywayo hasn't said to retire". If Durnford's horse had formed the centre of a square and the artillery too, perhaps 'Zulu Dawn' wouldn't have been made, and therefore Rorke's Drift wouldn't have happened and therefore this website wouldn't exist, and then I wouldn't be typing this. Funny world isn't it? Stevenson of the NNC did actually deploy his troops to observe the Zula advance but realised it was useless. I'm sure other contributors will say what happened to him afterwards. Alan
17th August 2001	John Young Re: Stevenson/Stephenson, Natal Native Contingent. Point raised by Stephen above. Just to clarify as there appears to be some confusion over Captain W. Stephenson/Stevenson. He was dismissed from the service "Times of Natal" for 21/2/1879 refers. Also clarified by John Maxwell, see "Reminiscence of the Zulu War", page 10. There is apparently a local General Order on this also. He and his men did not deploy to observe the Zulu advance, that was in fact Lt. A.F. Henderson and the Natal Native Horse survivors from Isandlwana, some hundred men from Hlubi's Troop & the Edendale Troop. (See Detailed Account, on this site.) See "The Natal Native Contingent in the Anglo-Zulu War 1879" by P.S. Thompson, pub. 1997, for further information. John
17th August 2001	John Young Re:Bob's original point Isandlwana was a temporary staging camp, prior to a further advance into KwaZulu. It is said that the wagons were not brought into laager as they were always to & fro, between the camp and the Column's store depot at Rorke's Drift. As stated above it was the intention that Pulleine & his section of No.3 Column were to move up when a suitable camping ground had been located. The initial deployment of the infantry was in response to the earlier sighting of the Zulus at 8a.m. Those deployments were presumably Pulleine's, and his alone. As Durnford is not in the camp for another two and a half hours. The only major change from initial deployment was the replacing of No.5 Company, N.N.C. by 'E' Company, 1st/24th, which takes place at about 11a.m. However, subsequent movements are made as reaction to the Zulu action, again I contend these were Pulleine's deployments. Perhaps if the tents had have been struck, Chelmsford might have reacted, and may be there might have been different end to the tale, who knows? But who are we to seat in judgement of Durnford or Pulleine, to quote from the Natal Carbineers' memorial "...neither praise nor blame add to their epitaph..." This battle is full of "What if...'s", and despite modern surveys and opinion, we are not going to get to the bottom of it ever! That's what makes it as interesting as it is, there are still things turning up to this day about it, but we are no further along from discovering the real truth. But let us not forget Nsthingwayo kaMahole and his tactics, or his izinduna and their men, in this, Isandlwana was their day, their victory. John
17th August 2001	Bob Bennett John, The replacing of the N.N.C. by E Company was due to Durnford's presence. The N.N.C. being picked up by the N.N.H. sent by Durnford. Without this action Cavaye would have stayed in his original position, also Mostyn's company would not have advanced to support Cavaye. To stretch the line even further Younghusband was ordered to advance to cover the withdrawel of the two aforementioned companies. Enough with the Left. Durnford himself was in a fighting retreat on the Right. Not a tactical manuever to hold the left horn in check, but quite by accident he found himself in this predicament. Pope pushed out to cover and again over extended the line. My question is, opinions only, if Durnford had stayed at RD, then the Left would not have been so stretched as well as the right. Would the camp be able to hold? Isn't speculation wonderful. Bob
18th August 2001	John Young Bob, In answer to that question then. I contend if Durnford and his command of part of No.2 Column had stayed at Rorke's Drift, Charles Raw would not have moved up to Isandlwana, and the concealed impi would not have been discovered. Pulleine would have been oblivious to the impi's presence, and would have begun to move up towards Chelmsford's area of operations. The Zulu impi would have attacked on the 23rd as planned, and maybe we'd be discussing the Battle of Mangeni, and not Isandlwana. Or the attack on Pulleine's force on the move, who knows? Leaving Nyezane the only action to be fought on the 22nd January 1879. So yes speculation is wonderful. John
21st August 2001	Ian Woodason It would have made Chard's job a lot easier. :) Ian