Isandhlwana

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Isandhlwana. Hill, located 75 miles north of Pietermaritzburg (South Africa), site of an important battle in the Zulu War. Part of the centre column of a three-pronged British invasion of Zululand, having underestimated its opponents, was surprised by a Zulu army on 22 January 1879. Disciplined rifle fire enabled the column to hold its own until it ran short of ammunition. Then it was overrun and almost completely wiped out. The Zulus did not follow up their victory because their ruler, Cetshwayo, anxious not to appear to be acting provocatively, had given orders that his forces should not cross into British territory.

Kenneth Ingham

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