Zulu Victory: The Epic Of Isandlwana And The Cover-Up (Greenhill Military)

The Battle of Isandlwana–a great Zulu victory–was one of the worst defeats ever to befall the British Army. At noon on January 22, 1879, a British camp, garrisoned by over 1,700 troops, was attacked and overwhelmed by 20,000 Zulu warriors. The defeat of the British, armed with the most modern weaponry of the day, caused disbelief and outrage throughout Queen Victorias England. The obvious culprit was Lieutenant General Lord Chelmsford, the defeated commander. Appearing to respond to the outcry, he ordered a court of inquiry. But instead there followed a carefully conducted cover-up in which Chelmsford found a scapegoat among the dead–notably, one Colonel Anthony Durnford.