The Zulu-Boer War 1837–1840

Michał Leśniewski - 9789004449589 Downloaded from Brill.com10/02/2021 03:01:09AM via free access History of Warfare

Editors

Kelly DeVries (Loyola University Maryland) John France (University of Wales, Swansea) Paul Johstono (The Citadel, South Carolina) Michael S. Neiberg (United States Army War College, Pennsylvania) Frederick Schneid (High Point University, North Carolina)

volume 132

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Michał Leśniewski - 9789004449589 Downloaded from Brill.com10/02/2021 03:01:09AM via free access The Zulu-Boer War 1837–1840

By

Michał Leśniewski

LEIDEN | BOSTON

Michał Leśniewski - 9789004449589 Downloaded from Brill.com10/02/2021 03:01:09AM via free access Cover illustration: Drawing of from Nathaniel Isaacs, Travels and Adventures in Eastern Africa, vols. 1–2, London 1836. Drawing of M’Pande, King of the Zulus 1840–1872, from George F. Angas, The Kaffirs Illustrated, London 1849.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Lesniewski, Michał, author. Title: The Zulu-Boer War 1837–1840 / by Michał Lesniewski. Description: Leiden ; Boston : Brill, [2021] | Series: History of warfare, 1385-7827 ; vol.132 | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Identifiers: LCCN 2021001664 (print) | LCCN 2021001665 (ebook) | ISBN 9789004448230 (hardback) | ISBN 9789004449589 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Zulu-Boer War, 1838-1840. Classification: LCC DT2245 .L47 2021 (print) | LCC DT2245 (ebook) | DDC 968.04/4—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021001664 LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021001665

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ISSN 1385-7827 ISBN 978-90-04-44823-0 (hardback) ISBN 978-90-04-44958-9 (e-book)

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Michał Leśniewski - 9789004449589 Downloaded from Brill.com10/02/2021 03:01:09AM via free access Contents

List of Maps vii

Introduction 1

1 Sides of the Conflict 10 1 Zulus: The Origins and the Development of the State to 1837 10 2 Trekboers: The Origins and the Goals of the Boer Emigration from the 32

2 Origins of the Conflict, 1835–1838 53 1 The Zulu Relations with the Port Natal Community, 1824–1837 54 2 The Coming of the Voortrekkers: The Origins of the Conflict 63 3 The First Blow in the War: The Death of and His Companions 78

3 AmaButho vs. Commando 84 1 AmaButho 84 2 Commando 100 3 War Plans 115 3.1 116 3.2 Zulus 117

4 Beginning of the War, February–May 1838 120 1 The Valley of Destruction. Zulu Attack on Boer Encampments, 16–17 February 1838 123 2 The Boer Alliance with Port Natal, March 1838 133 3 Military Actions during Late March and Early April 1838 137 4 The Battle of eThaleni, 10 April 1838 142 5 The Battle of Thukela (Ndondakusuka), 17 April 1838 157 6 The Destruction of Port Natal, 24 April–4 May 1838 166

5 Time of Balance, May–November 1838 170 1 Situation of Boers and Port Natal 171 2 Victorious but What’s Next 178 3 The Battle of Veglaer, 12–15 August 1838 183 4 After the Battle: The Death of Gert Maritz and the Situation in August–November 1838 193 5 A New Factor: The British Occupation of Port Natal 196

Michał Leśniewski - 9789004449589 Downloaded from Brill.com10/02/2021 03:01:09AM via free access vi Contents

6 The Time of Breakthrough?! /Ncome – oPathekloof, December 1838–January 1839 201 1 The Arrival of A.W.J. Pretorius 202 2 Preparations for an Offensive 206 3 The Beginning of the Campaign, 2–15 December 1838 211 3.1 The Voortrekkers 211 3.2 The Zulu 218 4 The /Ncome, 16 December 1838 221 5 The Taking of the uMgungundhlovu 233 6 The Battle of oPathekloof, 27 December 1838 236 7 Return of the Expedition 244 8 What’s Next? 247

7 An Interlude, January–September 1839 249 1 Dingane Alternatives 250 2 Voortrekker Decisions 255 3 British Engagement 258 4 On a Road to Peace with Dingane 262 5 Unstable Peace or Ceasefire? 267 6 The Zulu War with AmaSwazi 275

8 Dingane Disaster, September 1839–February 1840 279 1 The Breaking of the Rope: M’Pande’s Mutiny 279 2 Voortrekkers and M’Pande 283 3 Withdrawal of the British 290 4 Dingane Actions September–December 1839 295 5 The Alliance between the Boers and M’Pande 299 6 The Cattle Commando, 13–31 January 1840 305 7 The Battle of Maqongqo, 30 January 1840 311 8 The Fall and Death of Dingane, the Enthronement of M’Pande, and Ending the Conflict 316

Epilogue 327 1 Republic of Natalia 328 2 M’Pande and the Reconstruction of the Zulu State 337 3 The Fall of the Republic of Natalia 343

Bibliography 355 Index of Authors 372 Index of Personal Names 373 Index of Subjects 377

Michał Leśniewski - 9789004449589 Downloaded from Brill.com10/02/2021 03:01:09AM via free access Maps

All of the maps were prepared by Mrs. Karolina Węgrzyn.

1 Natal and Zululand in the late 18th century 16 2 Zulu state during the reign of Shaka and Dingane 27 3 The , 1835–1848 47 4 Zululand and Natal before the arrival of the Voortrekkers, 1836 60 5 Natal and Zululand in 1838 76 6 The Zulu attack on Voortrekker encampments 16–17 February 1838 127 7 The road of the Boer forces to eThaleni 144 8 Battle of eThaleni, 10 April 1838 152 9 Battle of Thukela, 17 April 1838 163 10 Battle of Veglaer, 12–15 August 1838 187 11 The road of the Commando December 1838 213 12 The battle of Blood River/ Ncome, 16 December 1838 227 13 The battle of oPathekloof, 27 December 1838 241 14 Natal and Zululand 1839 270 15 The road of the Cattle Commando January–February 1840 306 16 The battle of Maqongqo, 30 January 1840 313 17 Republic of Natalia, 1838–1842 331 18 Natal and Zululand, 1845–1852 351

Michał Leśniewski - 9789004449589 Downloaded from Brill.com10/02/2021 03:01:09AM via free access