Epilogue

On January 23rd 1879, the eastern column, lead by Colonel Pearson arrived at the abandoned mission in Eshowe and began to fortify it. The Zulus, lead by Cetshwayo's half brother Dabulamanzi who had failed to dislodge the British from Rorke's Drift, then besieged the fort for ten weeks.

The fort was relieved by Chelmsford on April 3rd after more than 30 soldiers had died of disease. At almost midnight, the besieged soldiers heard the pipes of the Highlanders approaching.

Chelmsford, about to relieve Eshowe was attacked by some ten thousand Zulus on April 2nd 1879. They were repulsed and fled towards the Nyezane.

The English Liberal Government in 1880 reversed the Conservative's expansionist policies and Zululand was carved up into several chiefdoms, annexing the dismembered state en bloc in 1887. Cetshwayo went into hiding, was captured and imprisoned in Cape Town.

Sympathizers wrote doggedly to Britain for his release and in 1882, he visited that country, installed in a house in Kensington. In 1883, he was restored to the throne of a small part of his original kingdom.

During this campaign, Napoleon's only son and heir, the Prince Imperial, was ambushed and killed whilst on a scouting expedition.