'Battle of Isandhlwana', 1879

Hand coloured lantern slide.

After King Cetshwayo refused to disband his army or to co-operate with the plan for imperial federation, a force commanded by Lieutenant-General Lord Chelmsford invaded Zululand in January 1879. Chelmsford himself accompanied the centre column which crossed the Buffalo River at Rorke's Drift mission station to seek out Cetshwayo's army.

Underestimating the Zulus' speed of movement and fighting ability, Chelmsford split his column. On 22 January 1879 his camp, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Pulleine, was surprised by the Zulu army at Isandlwana. The camp had not been adequately prepared to resist attack. Pulleine's troops were dangerously strung out. His over-extended line was swamped by sheer weight of numbers and the majority of his 1,700 troops were killed. The Victorian public was shocked by the news that 'spear-wielding savages' had defeated their army.

One of 37 hand coloured lantern slides.