Zungwini Mountain skirmishes information

The Zungwini Mountain skirmishes took place on 20, 22 and 24 January 1879 during the Anglo-Zulu War. The mountain was a stronghold of the AbaQulusi Zulu tribe, who were reinforced by the forces of exiled Swazi prince Mbilini waMswati. The mountain lay near the proposed route of advance of a British column under Lieutenant-Colonel Evelyn Wood, one of three that marched on the Zulu capital, Ulundi, from early January. Aware that the other columns had made less progress Wood, who had halted to fortify a camp at Tinta's Kraal, decided to deal with the abaQulusi strongholds.

On 20 January a force of 104 irregular horse under Wood's subordinate, Lieutenant-Colonel Redvers Buller, carried out a reconnaissance of Zungwini Mountain. Buller captured a number of kraals before ascending the mountain where he was attacked by a force of 1,000 Zulu. Buller fought a short defensive action before withdrawing, with the Zulus in pursuit. Buller returned to Wood after making a second stand and driving off his pursuers.

The action of 20 January led Wood to order a stronger attack on the mountain, with a force under his command with regular infantry and artillery. Wood reached Zungwini on 22 January and ascended the mountain, driving off a small Zulu force and capturing livestock. The British spotted a force of 4,000 Zulu but Wood decided it was too late in the day to launch an attack. The force rested at Zungwini on 23 January and attacked on 24 January, the artillery inflicting casualties and dispersing a Zulu force before driving back the main body of Zulu. By this point Wood had received news of the defeat of the British centre column at the 22 January Battle of Isandlwana, which exposed his right flank to the main Zulu army. Wood ordered a withdrawal back to Tinta's Kraal and then to Kambula, from which he sent several raids against the abaQulusi before joining the second invasion of Zululand in June, which resulted in British victory in the war.