22 chapters
17 hour read
Selected Chapters
22 chapters
THE MATABELE CAMPAIGN
THE MATABELE CAMPAIGN
BEING A NARRATIVE OF THE CAMPAIGN IN SUPPRESSING THE NATIVE RISING IN MATABELELAND AND MASHONALAND 1896 BY Major–General R. S. S. BADEN–POWELL 13TH HUSSARS FELLOW OF THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY WITH NEARLY 100 ILLUSTRATIONS FOURTH EDITION METHUEN & CO. 36 ESSEX STREET W.C. LONDON 1901 ...
15 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
PREFACE
PREFACE
Umtali, Mashonaland , 12th December 1896 . My dear Mother ,—It has always been an understood thing between us, that when I went on any trip abroad, I kept an illustrated diary for your particular diversion. So I have kept one again this time, though I can’t say that I’m very proud of the result. It is a bit sketchy and incomplete, when you come to look at it. But the keeping of it has had its good uses for me. Firstly, because the pleasures of new impressions are doubled if they are shared with
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
TO THE READER
TO THE READER
The following pages contain sketches of two kinds, namely, sketches written and sketches drawn. They were taken on the spot during the recent campaign in Matabeleland and Mashonaland, and give a representation of such part of the operations as I myself saw. They were jotted down but roughly, at odd hours, often when one was more fit for sleeping than for writing, or in places where proper drawing materials were not available—I would ask you, therefore, to look leniently upon their many faults. T
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER I
“ Sir ,—Passage to Cape Town having been provided for you in the s.s. Tantallon Castle , I am directed to request that you will proceed to Southampton and embark in the above vessel on the 2nd May by 12.30 p. m., reporting yourself before embarking to the military staff officer superintending the embarkation. “You must not ship more than 55 cubic feet. “I am further to request you will acknowledge the receipt of this letter by first post, and inform me of any change in your address up to the dat
2 hour read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER II
In the centre of the town is the market square with its market house—a big brick building which is now used as the main refuge and defence of the town. Round the market house is drawn up a rectangular laager of waggons, built up with sacks full of earth to form a bullet–proof wall. Outside the laager the ground for twenty or thirty yards is rendered impassable by means of “entanglements” of barbed wire and a fence of the same, as well as by a thick sprinkling of broken bottles all over the groun
13 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III
Our Work at Buluwayo Organisation of Supply and Transport—The Volunteer Troops—Experiences on Patrol—Sir Charles Metcalfe reports the Enemy just outside the Town—The first sight of the Enemy—Fight on the Umgusa River, 6th June—Maurice Gifford—Reconnaissance of the Inugu Stronghold—Burnham the Scout—Rebellion breaks out in Mashonaland—The Difficulties of Supply—The Humours of Official Correspondence—Colonel Spreckley writ down an Ass—Colonials would serve under Sir Frederick Carrington, but not u
3 hour read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER IV
ill-91 Solitary Scouting Scouting alone gave better results than reconnaisance in parties. Accompanied by a reliable “boy,” who could keep a good look–out and take care of the horses, one was able to do a lot of effective scouting. We generally moved by night, and worked in the early dawn. So long as you are clothed, as we are in non–conspicuous colours, you can escape detection even from their sharp eyes; but you must not move about—directly you move, they see you, and take steps to catch you
27 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER V
The Rebels Decline to Surrender 14th July to 18th July Plumer’s Victory at Taba–si–ka–Mamba—How the M’limo Oracle is worked—Reorganisation of the Buluwayo Field Force—The Price of Beer—I am nicknamed “Impeesa”—The Proclamation of Clemency—The Local Settler’s View of it—The Rebel’s View of it—The Enemy hopeful—The General’s Plan of Campaign—Reconnaissance of the Central Matopos—Preparing for Operations in the Hills—Reconnaissance of Babyan’s Stronghold. Meanwhile, during the first week in July, t
2 hour read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI
First came an advance force comprising the two corps of Cape Boys, Robertson’s and Colenbrander’s. Cape Boys are natives and half–castes from the Cape Colony, mostly English–speaking, and dressed and armed like Europeans. There were also 200 friendly Matabele under Taylor, the Native Commissioner, 20 mounted white scouts under Coope, and a Hotchkiss and two Maxims under Llewellyn. This force was under my command. Then came the main body of white troops under Colonel Plumer; this consisted of thr
19 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VII
Our Work in the Matopos 25th July to 2nd August Reconnaissance of the Chabez Valley—Kershaw completes the Reconnaissance—War Correspondents—Pack–train organised—A Night March and Attack on the Chabez Position—Successful Artillery Work by the Screw Guns—Cattle–raiding—Bowled over, but not wounded—Inyanda’s Stronghold cleared—Stores of Corn—Scene of Brand’s Fight of 10th April—“The Human Animal in Battle”—His State of Mind and Thirsty Condition. 25th July. —To–day I have had a long day reconnoitri
2 hour read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER VIII
ill197 My Boy preparing Breakfast An important item in the day’s doings when out scouting was breakfast. For, as a rule, we had marched a good part of the night, and had reconnoitred during the early morning, so that by breakfast–time we were getting ravenous. A place had to be selected where we should be safe from surprise, and while one of us kept a look–out, the other lit the fire and boiled the “billy.” As we went down the road through the pass, we found the road barricaded with trees whic
23 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER IX
The Final Operations in the Matopos 6th August to 10th August Patrol to the Back of Umlugulu’s Stronghold—We toy with the Enemy—Capture their Cattle—Reconnaissance in the Matopos—Night March—Do not speak to the Man at the Wheel—Delays in a Night March—The Penalty of Non–Alertness in a Piquet—Mnyakavula’s Stronghold—More of Umlugulu’s Cattle captured—Duels with the Enemy—Enemy serenade us in Camp—A chilly Night—Hints to young Leaders. 6th August. —It is a sad shock to sit in one’s little mess of
2 hour read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER X
ill251 The Peace Indaba with the Matopo Rebels Mr. Cecil Rhodes carried out the peace negotiations with the Matabele chiefs. He was assisted by Dr. Sauer (on his left) and Capt. Colenbrander (on his right), and accompanied by Mr. Stent (war correspondent of the Cape Times ). These officers went unarmed among the rebels, in order to show their peaceful intent. After five weeks, the negotiations resulted in the surrender of the chiefs. Unfortunately, I was not able to have any further say in the
17 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XI
The Downfall of Uwini 8th September to 14th September Start for the Somabula Forest to find Ridley’s Column—Native Pantomimic Description of a Battle—The British Subaltern—Taba–si–ka–Mamba—Bread–Making—Difficulty in Finding the Column—A Vision Fulfilled—A Man’s Toys—Meeting with Vyvyan—Join, and assume Command of the Column—The Wounded Men—How Uwini was captured—Why he was tried—Cutting off the Enemy’s Water–Supply—The Somabula Forest—Execution of Uwini—A Soldier Missing—A Fruitless Night March—
2 hour read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XII
Our camping–place for the middle of the day is on the drift where the Hartley Hill road crosses the Uvunkwe River, and the Native Commissioner (Gielgud), my orderly, and I were making our way back from Lozan’s to this camp by a roundabout route through the bush, in the hopes of picking up more prisoners, when we suddenly came on a couple of koodoo, splendid great brindled buck. I had a hasty shot at one with my Lee–Metford, and luckily struck him through the upper part of the forelegs, breaking
18 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIII
Shangani Patrol—Return March 20th September to 1st October We try to reach the Shangani, but fail—Reduced to Horseflesh—Our Difficulties—Searching for Water—Gielgud volunteers to bring Assistance—We find Water—The Shangani at last—The Doings of our other Patrols—Lions everywhere—My Column, reunited, moves towards Inyati—We capture some Rebel Koppies and Caves—A Funeral by Night—Our Enemy thinks Discretion the better part of Valour, and surrenders—A new Expedition organised—We drink Her Majesty’s
2 hour read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XIV
6th October. —We are once again in a country where an enemy is possible, which I much prefer to a half–and–half country, because here all ranks are apt to become slack in the precautionary duties of the line of march and camp. It is curious how new–comers fail to appreciate the necessity of precautions until they have been bitten or nearly bitten, and this they do in spite of all the teachings of history, such as Isandhlwana, the Prince Imperial, Bronker’s Spruit, and a half a hundred narrow sha
20 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XV
The Downfall of Wedza 14th October to 21st October We clear out Matzetetza’s Stronghold—Paget unable to co–operate with us, we determine to tackle Wedza unaided—Plan of Attack—The Mounted Infantry gain the Commanding Heights, but are threatened by the whole of the Enemy’s Force—We make a successful Diversion by a Ruse—We shell the Strongholds—A Patrol has a Narrow Shave—Prince Teck to the Fore—A Night Investment of the Stronghold—The Enemy evacuate the Place—Destruction of the Kraals—We go in pu
2 hour read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVI
Bathing “the altogether” too often is apt to result in fever. Too much washing of hands is apt to help veldt sores to originate—so we don’t trouble to keep clean. Veldt sores bother nearly every one of us. Every scratch you get (and you get a good number from thorns, etc.) at once becomes a small sore, gradually grows, and lasts sometimes for weeks. It is partly the effect of hot sun and dry air too rapidly drying up the wound, and also probably the blood is not in too good a state from living o
24 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVII
Through Mashonaland 13th November to 2nd December I proceed with the General to Mashonaland—A new fashionable Pastime to be found in Spooring—Charter—Our Daily Trek—Salisbury—The inevitable Alarmist Rumours and their Inventors—Celebrities in Salisbury—A Visit to the Hospital—Cecil Rhodes in Council—A Run with the Hounds, with a Check at the Telegraph Line—A Countess saves her Sewing–Machine and kills a Lion—Marshal MacMahon’s Aide–de–Camp as a Trooper in Mashonaland—The Delays incident to being
2 hour read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XVIII
During the early part of October, Major Jenner, D.S.O., had taken a column of 180 men against Umtigeza, south of Salisbury, had captured the chief and destroyed his stronghold, losing three men killed and three wounded in the action. Captain Tennent, Mashonaland Field Force, with 160 men, had made a successful raid on Simbansotas, capturing the stronghold and numerous kraals, with a loss of two killed and three wounded. Captain Sir Horace MacMahon, with 200 men, finally cleared the country north
12 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XIX
After War—Peace We leave Salisbury for the Coast—Bikes versus Horses—Ancient Ruins in Mashonaland—Another possible Clue to the Builders—Camp at Umtali—Maori B——n—Gold–Mining in Mashonaland—New Umtali—Cecil Rhodes buys a ready–made Town—Portuguese Territory—Massi Kessi—The Railway—Lions on the Line—Fever rampant—Beira—The Sea at Last—Durban and its ‘rickshaw Men—Port Elizabeth—Rhodes’ Reception—Peace and Goodwill—Cape Town—The Personality of Table Mountain—We leave the Cape, a varied Crew—Home. 2
43 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter