Though initiating the war was part of a grander strategic aim of a united, confederated South Africa much like British India this did not change the typically small style of colonial army available for the job. Whereas the Zulu could call upon around 30,000 impi warriors, the entire male population of Zululand, meaning that breaking their will to fight was far more important than facing all these warriors head on. Lieven argues that Chelmsford is vastly unprepared to deal with this form of enemy. In terms of supply, terrain and even overall aims Chelmsford is misinformed and lacking. His main strategy, to attack the imperial capital of Cetshwayo’s shows this, the Zulu were not based around a capital or government in the way European nations …show more content…
More mobile ‘flying columns’ are still used by Wolsey but this is more tactically viable as the main body of resistance has been defeated and the columns are needed to chase down Cetshwayo in order to fully end the war in a manner that Britain could call successful. Critically to this inquiry into the campaign; the war was ended differently to how it had been started, in that Bartle Frere and other supporters of a confederated South Africa were less able to enact their plan. This is clearly a change in policy as even though the Zulu were divided and weakened they were ultimately left to their own devices once again. Meanwhile the problems of annexing the Boer states quickly got out of hand with open rebellion in …show more content…
The previously mentioned the confederation of South Africa plan was largely proven unrealistic; Wolsey was ready to use genocide as way of ending the war on British terms. This was against just the Zulu let alone the rest of Africa. The second invasion saw far more firepower brought against the Zulu with more supply depots, cautious advances and fortifications. In terms of remembrance no other imperial engagement saw as many Victoria Crosses awarded than at Rourke’s drift; the validity of this is questionable as, though they fought hard, they were purely defending. A cynical analysis of this would suggest that they brought such attention to these men above what happened at Isandlwana, the public then demanding they receive such recognition for what was ultimately a much smaller event. This all happened at a time when the public began looking at their soldiers in a new, better, light as the public got wrapped up in the lives of ordinary soldiers. The government start demanding the names of every soldier that died to be sent via telegram. Though not a new idea to include all British soldiers killed it shows the larger scale of the conflict and the larger casualty lists than could ever have been expected before Isandlwana. One specific casualty caused just as much of an uproar as Isandlwana, the death of the Prince Imperial, meant to be safe during his time with the British army,