Zulu Ammunition carried at Isandlwana

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK

We often talk about the amount of ammunition the British had at Isandlwana, How much ammunition would a Zulu riflemen had carried. And is it known how many Zulus were armed with rifles at Isandlwana.

Posts : 747 Join date : 2009-10-18

I think it would be impossible to say what they had in the way of ammunition. The British soldered were issued around 70 rounds per man. The Zulu’s would have to make their own ammunition, I do recall someone saying in other thread, that some cartridges had been found at Isandlwana with teeth marks where the Zulu’s had been trying to get at the powder. I expect they also to the lead head to mould into a ball.

Mr G.

Posts : 2008 Join date : 2011-08-01 Age : 27

I think the Zulus carried a powder horn for their muskets.

I read in Zulu Rising that the Zulus pulled the bullets of the tops of cartridges to get to the powder and lead.

Regards Idea

Subject: Re: Zulu Ammunition carried at Isandlwana Tue Oct 11, 2011 9:14 pm

Quote :: I read in Zulu Rising that the Zulus pulled the bullets of the tops of cartridges to get to the powder and lead.

"I climbed to the summit of Isandhlwana, which ascent is neither long or perilous, being at the north end gradual and easy, albeit good exercise for wind and limb. From the top a good sweeping view is to be had, and the whole battlefield lies spread out beneath like a map.

I suppose that for many years relics of the conflict will keep on turning up â€” assegai heads, buttons, and such like ; here and there a bullet is to be found, and cartridge cases in plenty. Every now and then you come across a heap of these, and begin to speculate on how some poor fellow made a long stand for it on this particular spot until his ammunition failed. On closer inspection, however, the illusion is dispelled, for about eight out of ten of these cartridge cases have never been fired at all, as you may see by the unexploded cap and the marks of teeth where the enterprising savage has torn open the case to extract the powder and ball. I particularly noticed that none of these unexploded cases were to be found on the outskirts of the field, all there having been fired off ; not until one got upon the site of the actual camp did they become plentiful, pointing, if anything, to the fact that the fight in camp was hand to hand, our men being rushed before they had time to fire many shots, whereas those forming the outer lines of defence would have had plenty".

Through the Zulu country Bertram Mitford

Posts : 2008 Join date : 2011-08-01 Age : 27

Thanks Littlehand Idea

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