Would there have been enough wagons.

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

This has probably been discussed before. But I will ask anyway if you don’t
Mind.

Would there have been enough wagons to form a defensive laager at Isandlwana.
How is the size of the laager? Worked out. The idea if the Laager formation is to get all the men inside as well as the livestock. But I just don’t think there would have been enough wagons to achieve this; which would have meant some of the men would have been outside the Laager

The Battle of Blood River where 464 Boers under the command of Andries Pretorius defeated more than 10,000 Zulu. The defensive laager worked but there were a lot more wagons.

So would it have been worthwhile forming a laager at Isandlwana.

Subject: Re: Would there have been enough wagons. Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:20 pm

That’s a good question John. There would have been no point if it did not serve the purpose. I don’t know how many wagons were actually at Isandlwana. Hopefully someone will know. I have seen a photo of the aftermath at Isandlwana with wagon at the foot of the mountain. But there weren’t that many wagons there. Unless some had been taken back to Rorke’s Drift before the photo was taken.

Posts : 2593 Join date : 2009-04-24

Isandlwana appeared appropriate,The area seemed sufficient to contain the large force of approximately 4 313 men, 2 747 British troops and 2 566 or so Natal Native Contingent. In addition there was space for the large wagon park at the saddle, for the 220 wagons, 82 carts, 346 conductors, room for 1 500 oxen, hundreds of mules and horses, and indeed the whole camp extended for 900 yards, with units spaced at a greater distance at the base of the Nqutu escarpment.
2 500 men left the camp with Col Glyn on the morning of the 22nd January, 1879; thus only 1 800 men remained in the camp for its defence.

There were not sufficient wagons to contain the large numbers of men, oxen, horses, and mules. So it would have been a pointless exercise.

Posts : 1093 Join date : 2009-01-14 Location : East London

Littlehand. Don’t forget the Zulus themselves were using the wagons for days after removing their dead, so I doubt that the photo gives a true image of all the wagons.

Can you post this photo or post a link to it.

Subject: Re: Would there have been enough wagons. Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:34 pm

Thanks for that Old H.
Ref: the Photo. Not sure I can. The photo is in a book. I will try and take a photograph it, but not sure if it will be of good quality.

Posts : 2593 Join date : 2009-04-24

Old H.

Here's a link to a website. But the Image is not that clear, I hoping this is the one Littl Hand is talking about.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Posts : 1093 Join date : 2009-01-14 Location : East London

CTSG. Thanks for the link. But I can't really see the detail, even with me glasses on.
Lets see if Littlehand can confirm, that is the photo in-question. If it is I would like to see a larger version.
also would like to know how long after Isandhlwana, it was taken. was it days, weeks, months.
I also wonder just how far apart the wagons were when the Zulus got into the camp area.

Posts : 527 Join date : 2009-02-28

No laager was formed. As Chelmsford did not see the need for the laager, stating, "It would take a week to make." Even if there had been enought wagons, Chelmsford attitude put pay to it.

S.D

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

Littlehand I have come across the photo inquestion on the net. But is really to small to see the detail. How big is the photo in your book.

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