Battle of Blood River
At a glance:
- Series: Magill’s Guide to Military History
- Categories: Military History
- Subcategories: Colonialism, Colonies, Settlements, African Americans, Blacks, Wars, Battles, Empires, Dynasties
- Curriculum: African History
- Geographical Location: South Africa
- Date: December 16, 1838
Article abstract: Type of action: Land battle in the Zulu Wars of Empire. Result: Successful Afrikaner defense with nearly no casualties.
On December 15, 1838, an Afrikaner commando force of about 470, led from Cape Colony by Andries Wilhelmus Jacobus Pretorius, arrived on the banks of the Ncome River, thus encroaching on Zulu chieftain Dingane’s Zulu Kingdom. The Afrikaners formed their 57 wagons into a tight laager and on December 16 faced repeated onslaughts from some 10,000 Zulu warriors—on foot and armed only with spears. The Afrikaners had at least one...
[The entire page is 287 words long]
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