Cetewayo returned no answer, and in Jan. 1879 a British force under Gen. Thesiger (Lord Chelmsford) in vaded Zululand. Chelmsford had a force of 5,00o Europeans and 8,200 natives; Cetewayo an army of fully 40,000 men. Chelmsford divided his force into three columns—their entry was unopposed—which were to converge on Ulundi, the royal kraal. On Jan. 22 the centre column (1,60o Europeans, 2,500 natives), which had advanced from Rorke's Drift, was encamped near Isandhlwana ; on the morning of that day Chelmsford moved out with a small force to support a reconnoitring party. After he had left, the camp, in charge of Col. Durnford, was surprised by a Zulu army nearly ro,000 strong. The British were overwhelmed and almost every man killed, the casualties being 8o6 Europeans (more than half belonging to the 24th regiment) and 471 natives. The reconnoitring party returned to find the camp deserted; next day they retreated to Rorke's Drift, which had been the scene of an heroic and successful defence. After the victory at Isandhlwana several impis of the Zulu army had moved to the Drift. The gar rison stationed there, under Lieuts. Chard and Bromhead, num bered about 8o men of the 24th regiment, and they had in hospital between 3o and 4o men. Late in the afternoon they were attacked by about 4,000 Zulu. On six occasions the Zulu got within the entrenchments, to be driven back each time at the bayonet's point. At dawn the Zulu withdrew, leaving 35o dead. The British loss was 17 killed and 1 o wounded.
In the meantime the right column under Col. Pearson had reached Eshowe from the Tugela; on receipt of the news of Isandhlwana most of the mounted men and the native troops were sent back to Natal, leaving at Eshowe a garrison of 1,300 Euro peans and 65 natives. This force was hemmed in by the enemy. The left column under Col. Evelyn Wood, which had advanced from Utrecht, found itself obliged to act on the defensive.
News of Isandhlwana reached England on Feb. II and on the same day about 10,00o men were ordered to South Africa. The first troops arrived at Durban on March 17. On the 29th a column under Chelmsford, consisting of 3,400 Europeans and 2,300 natives, marched to the relief of Eshowe, entrenched camps being formed each night. On April 2 the camp was attacked at Ginginhlovo, the Zulu being repulsed. Their loss was estimated at 1,200, while the British had only two killed and 52 wounded The next day Eshowe was relieved. Wood, who had been given leave to make a diversion in northern Zululand, on March 28 occupied Hlobane (Inhlobane) mountain. The force was, how ever, compelled to retreat owing to the unexpected appearance of the main Zulu army, which nearly outflanked the British. There were zoo casualties among the 400 Europeans engaged. At mid day next day the Zulu army made a desperate attack, lasting over four hours, on Wood's camp at Kambula ; the enemy—over 20,000 strong—was driven off, losing fully i,000 men, while the British casualties were 18 killed and 65 wounded.
By the middle of April nearly all the reinforcements had reached Natal, and Chelmsford reorganized his forces. The 1st division, under Maj.-gen. Crealock, advanced along the coast belt and was destined to act as a support to the 2nd division, under Maj.-gen. Newdigate, which, with Wood's flying column, an independent unit, was to march on Ulundi from Rorke's Drift and Kambula. Owing to difficulties of transport it was June before Newdigate was ready to advance. On the 1st of that month the prince im perial of France (Louis Napoleon), who had been allowed to ac company the British
was killed while out with a recon noitring party. On July 1 Newdigate and Wood had reached the White Umfolosi, in the heart of the enemy's country. On the 4th they crossed the river, the force numbering 4,200 Europeans and 1,000 natives. Within a mile of Ulundi the British force, formed in a hollow square, was attacked by a Zulu army numbering 12,000 to 15,00o. The battle ended in a decisive victory for the British, whose losses were about Ioo, while of the Zulu some 1,500 men were killed (see ULUNDI). Sir Garnet Wolseley had been sent out to supersede Chelmsford and reached headquarters on July 7.
After Ulundi the Zulu army dis persed, most of the leading chiefs tendered their submission, and Cetewayo became a fugitive. On Aug. 27 the king was captured and sent to Cape Town. His deposition was formally announced to the Zulu, and Wolseley drew up a new scheme for the govern ment of the country. The Chaka dynasty was deposed and the Zulu country portioned among II Zulu chiefs, John Dunn, a white adventurer, and Hlubi, a Basuto chief, who had done good service in the war. A resident was appointed who was to be the channel of communication between the chiefs and the British Gov ernment. This arrangement was productive of much bloodshed and disturbance, and in 1882 the British Government determined to restore Cetewayo to power. In the meantime, however, blood feuds had been engendered between two chiefs of the royal house, Usibepu (Zibebu) and Hamu, and the tribes who supported the ex-king and his family. Cetewayo's party (who became known as Usutus) suffered severely at the hands of the two chiefs, who were aided by a band of white freebooters. When Cetewayo was re stored Usibepu was left in possession of his territory, while Dunn's land and that of the Basuto chief (the country between the Tugela and the Umhalatuzi, i.e., adjoining Natal) was consti tuted a reserve. Before very long this new arrangement proved as futile as had Wolseley's. A collision soon took place; Usibepu's forces were victorious and, on July 22, 1883, led by a troop of mounted whites, he made a sudden descent upon Cetewayo's kraal at Ulundi, which he destroyed, massacring such of the inmates of both sexes as could not save themselves by flight. The king escaped, though wounded, into the reserve ; he died in Feb. 1884.