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Battle of Isandlwana - The Real Story of Zulu Dawn

ANP_History

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"For my father, who introduced me to the Anglo/Zulu Wars when I was in 2nd grade." -AN

The Battle of Isandlwana marked a shocking British defeat in the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. Discover how Zulu warriors defeated a modern army, key commanders involved, battlefield tactics, and why this battle changed imperial warfare forever.

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00:00 - Invasion
04:20 - British & Zulu Forces
12:47 - January 22, 1879
20:18 - Ad Break
21:01 - First Zulu Sighting
24:15 - Durnford Arrives at Isandlwana
26:36 - Durnford's Folly
30:06 - The Zulu Chest
34:14 - Ntshingwayo's Shock
35:39 - Stranded Rocket Battery
37:53 - Isandlwana Camp 11:30am
39:35 - Durnford is Stopped
42:33 - Right Horn Spotted
45:06 - Zulus Reach Isandlwana
49:45 - Durnford's Fighting Retreat
52:04 - Main Firing Line
54:56 - Durnford's Retreat
58:52 - Pope's Mistake
01:00:45 - Speculation
01:01:28 - The Thin Red Line Breaks
01:09:09 - Forgotten Right Horn
01:12:47 - Pulleine's Demise
01:15:38 - Durnford's Last Stand
01:18:15 - Buffalo River
01:21:27 - Younghusband's Charge
01:23:19 - After the Battle

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Also watch: Battle of Rorke's Drift
Battle of Rorke's Drift - The Real Story o...

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Sources:

Beckett, I.F.W., Isandlwana: Battles in Focus (Casemate Publishing, Havertown, PA, 2003),
https://archive.org/details/isandlwan...

David, Saul, Zulu: The Heroism and Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879 (Penguin Publishing, London, 2005), 137
https://archive.org/details/zuluheroi...

Greaves, Adrian. The Zulus at War: The History, Rise, and Fall of the Tribe that Washed Its Spears. Skyhorse Publishing, NY. 2014. https://archive.org/details/zulusatwa...

Knight, Ian (2002). Isandlwana 1879: The Great Zulu Victory. Osprey.

Lock, Ron, Quantrill, Peter, "Isandlwana - The Missing Five Hours", The Battle of Isandlwana (Rorkes Drift VC, September 2010), https://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/isandhl...

Lock, Ron and Quantrill, Peter. Zulu Victory: The Epic of Isandlwana and the Cover-Up. Jonathan Ball Publishing, Johannesburg. 2005. https://archive.org/details/zuluvicto...

Morris, D.R. The Washing of the Spears: A History of the Rise of the Zulu Nation Under Shaka and its Fall in the Zulu War of 1879. Book Club Associates. 1972. https://archive.org/details/washingof...

Niderost, Eric, "The Battle of Isandlwana: Zulu Wars with the British", War History Network (June, 2000)
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/art...
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20 Comments

@ANP_History Creator 8 months ago (edited) Pinned

ERRORS: TO BE CORRECTED ON FUTURE UPLOAD FOUND HERE - https://youtu.be/ECB6dDePpqg?si=BPO0-5zTiUY1K3q4

- It should be 1st Lt. Cavaye, not Capt.
- Conical Hill is mis-pronounced but spelled correctly on the maps.
- Photo of James Brickhill is actually Rev. Smith.
- Bradstreet lead the Newcastle Mounted Rifles, not Natal Mounted Rifles.
- Russell's Rocket Battery were carried on mules, not wagons.
- Porteous was a Lt. not a Captain
- No.3 Column had 7 companies of 2/24th.

Also watch: Battle of Rorke's Drift
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Moy1dOWlh4k

@mike.47 8 months ago

I’m so glad the YouTube algorithm put this channel in my feed. It’s just the sort of history I’m interested in, best of all NO bloody AI voiceover!

@GeezisKryst1 5 months ago

I read Donald R. Morris’ book ‘The Washing of the Spears’ many years ago and have been fascinated by Isandlwhana and Rorke’s drift ever since. Including the movies associated with both. Thank you so much for bring this to life in an entertaining, engaging and informative way.

@brunosmith6925 5 months ago

The best analysis of this epic event i've seen on youtube. In 1978 I was an extra (Redcoat) in the filming of "Zulu Dawn" and have been a keen amateur scholar of this campaign for the last 50 years.. You have done an excellent job, and have provided us with a fantastic timeline of this infamous battle. Well done.

@MELANIE2571 4 months ago

Absolutely brilliant. Great narrator and you made it easy to understand. The added sound affects just added to the tension

@Sgtklark 7 months ago

The best description of the battle I've seen. The near moment by moment movements shown on the map gave me an understanding of the battle that had eluded me.

@dindu551 2 weeks ago

Phenomenonal presentation. Thank you for your contribution to history.

@LeslieDevoe 8 months ago

As a Historian, I wanted to compliment you for your master stroke of a video about the battle of Isandwala. You have created the very best video on this subject to date. My congratulations to you Sir.

@Frank_nwobhm 8 months ago

Well done. I really appreciate the human narration as opposed to proliferation of AI in this sort of content.

@spartacus-freedom 7 months ago

Thank you, this was the most comprehensive video I have seen on YouTube. That Lord Chelmsford, saw fit not to leave orders to make the camp prepared, for a possible attack from the Zulus, was gross negligence and arrogance!

@erikgriffith8706 7 months ago

Your content is top notch, your presentation of the material is expert, you clearly have a background in this, it's so inspiring to see someone who takes their time to present content worth watching. I subscribed when I heard you pronounce all the Zulu names with the diction of someone who took his time to learn to say it right. I have studied the Zulu war for years and this is one of the best depictions of this battle that is immortalized in Zulu culture as an underdog win. Strong work and I look forward to your channel.

@JohnHannigan-wx8ng 1 month ago

Thank you for the excellent presentation.

@John-m4s5g 12 days ago

Good show young man bravo

@TNT1970RULES 4 months ago (edited)

Wow! What an amazing breakdown of this historic battle. I’ve never seen s description of the battle including battle field movements and communication between the scattered troops. Kudos to you sir.
You have gained another subscriber.
And might I add… men back then had GLORIOUS facial hair.

@africanpagan6338 3 months ago

it wasnt a disaster. It was a Victory. people with spears slaughtered men with guns and cannon.

@OlJarhead 8 months ago

Excellent presentation.

@robertohlrich369 7 months ago

Good show! Thank you. Feb, 2026

@ahay69 1 month ago (edited)

Very good research and narration, particularly by an American military history researcher who would be less familiar with the many British campaigns in Africa. I have been to the battle site many times, having grown up in South Africa. I am in Australia now but visited Isandlwana in 2020 and 2022. I have ancestors buried there. It is such a remote location for most followers of military history but well worth a visit because the scenery is breathtaking and the topography is very interesting. Because I have a detailed knowledge of the battle and have walked the entire battlefield I can visualise everything so well but have to say this young man has done such an incredible job that I need never have been to Isandlwana to understand how the battle unfolded. The greatest British military disaster and the only time the British were defeated by a ‘native’ army. Chelmsford of course would eventually be relieved of his command but would hang on to finally defeat the Zulu army at Ulundi. The Zulus were a very capable fighting force and showed immense courage like their counterparts.