The 12 January 1879 action at Sihayo's Kraal was an early skirmish in the Anglo-Zulu War. The day after invading Zululand, Lieutenant-General Lord Chelmsford led a reconnaissance against Chief Sihayo's kraal to secure his left flank for an advance on Ulundi and to punish Sihayo for his sons' incursions into Natal.

En route, the British encountered a small Zulu party in a gorge. The Natal Native Contingent (NNC), supported by British regulars, launched a frontal assault, while mounted infantry moved to the high ground. The NNC attack faltered but was reinforced by regulars, who defeated the Zulus. The mounted force engaged and drove off sixty Zulus on the high ground. Zulu losses were 40 killed, 4 wounded, and at least 3 captured; the British lost 2 NNC members killed and 22 wounded. After their victory, the British found Sihayo's kraal undefended, burned it down, and returned to camp.

свернуть