Riding into camp, the one-armed general saw the British troops under Henry Pulleine, in a relaxed mood, all believing Chelmsford was winning the war for them away to the north. Immediately the experienced Durnford sensed something was not quite right.
Following his uneasy feeling, he decided to send his mounted troops out in a screen around the camp. The second troop, under lieutenants Law and Roberts, spotted some Zulu boys driving cattle about 5 miles away from the camp. They gave chase, and as the boys disappeared over a ridge they followed them at top speed. Cresting the ridge, they froze in their tracks. Squatting quietly in a valley below them were some 25,000 Zulu warriors. They had found the army they were looking for.
On seeing the imperial troops, the Zulus rose as one and started to flow toward them without any apparent orders; the attack on the camp was about to begin. Chelmsford would have his decisive encounter, but not the result he envisaged.
Without any apparent communication and showing a terrific understanding of the British weaknesses allied with complete mastery of the terrain, the Zulu army, running at top speed, quickly formed the classic bullshead Zulu formation, with two horns of 5,000 war riors each running off to the flanks to encircle the camp. The head of the bull, some 15,000 strong, advanced straight on at high speed.
So fast was their deployment that the retreating troopers, on horseback, were able to give the camp only a couple minutes’ warning. Surveying the coming onslaught, Pulleine still felt confident. He had more than 800 crack British troops who were already calmly forming familiar lines to deploy their devastating volley fire. Another 800 well-trained auxiliary troops were forming up around them. As his artillery began to fire he felt even more reassurance and security.
As the troops began to fire volley after volley at the advancing Impis, with rockets screaming through the clear blue sky along with the roar of cannons, he soon saw his confidence had been misplaced. The Zulu force, armed only with short stabbing spears (assegais) and shields, kept coming on, and the stretched British lines were beginning to waver.
By mid-afternoon it was all over. More than 1,500 imperial troops lay slaughtered, scattered over the plain; only a handful on horseback finally escaped. Generals Pulleine and Durnford lay together like brothers, stripped like all their men, with their stomachs slashed open to release their spirits to the heavens.
Meanwhile, Chelmsford’s lunch had been disturbed by the rumors of smoke from the direction of the camp. Begrudgingly he sent one of his junior officers to look through a telescope from a small hill. The officer returned to report that he could see nothing significant. Lunch continued.
Later that day, a stunned Chelmsford returned to camp and witnessed an incredible sight: Hundreds of horses, oxen, and cattle lay dead, intermingled with more than 1,500 of his finest troops. Surely by now all the British territories in the south were under attack by the Zulus? He was forced to retreat and regroup.
However, the Impis had only returned to their king to sing his praises. He had had no intention to invade British territories; their job was done.
Another 10,000 troops were quickly dispatched from Britain, and they eventually got the victory they wanted at the battle of Ulundi. The Zulu power was broken and its king defeated, but even today in modern society their military traditions and strengths live on, defeated but not conquered.
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Chelmsford’s Brunch, January 22, 1879
Although today much of the wildlife that used to exist in the whole of southern Africa is limited, particularly in Zululand, to reserves such as Pinda Mountain Lodge, in the nineteenth century the region was full of game. In fact, most of the shooting done in the first few days of the war was by British officers bringing food to the camp or trophies to be stuffed and shipped home later.
Lord Frederick Chelmsford, like all British gentry on campaign, insisted on a standard, so as his wagons carried all the accoutrements of war, they also carried regimental silver and a quartermaster and native servants trained to produce all the luxuries of home, even in the bush.
Eggs in the Bush (4)
I have fallen into the trap more than once of having someone in South Africa ask me, “One egg or two?” I’m a big guy, so I say, “Two,” at which point two ostrich eggs are broken into the pan in front of me (equivalent to 16 large eggs). These were available to Lord Chelmsford but probably will not be in your supermarket.
1 ostrich egg or 8 regular eggs
½ lb smoked snook, herring, snapper, or fresh salmon, shredded
½ cup fresh milk
4 peeled, seeded, chopped tomatoes
½ tsp chopped sage
½ finely chopped onion
¼ lb unsalted butter
Whip eggs; add a little black pepper. Avoid salt, as most fish will compensate. Add milk.
Heat butter in nonstick pan and stir in the egg mixture, using a wooden spoon to stir constantly; keep the eggs moving so they make tighter clumps.
When the eggs are almost cooked, add the onion, tomatoes, sage, and fish and serve on toasted brown bread with champagne and orange juice (mimosas).
Grilled Antelope Steaks
Antelope is a great substitute for beef and is a very lean meat. When cooking antelope, gazelle, springbok, or warthog you need to use even more oil in your recipes. In 1850 the standard oil of the British Army was a margarine made of suet, milk, and water. For this recipe, treat yourself and use extra virgin olive oil.
Lean flanks of antelope (venison, deer) marinated in oil, rosemary, and sage for at least 3 hours.
Place on medium grill for 45 minutes (about 20 minutes each side), turning only once. Slice thinly.
Serve with claret, Beaujolais, or Fleur du Cap.
Liver and Bacon
(Gazelle, Antelope, Springbok, or Veal) (4)
Although it may not be readily available at your local supermarket, liver of antelope, gazelle, and springbok, lightly floured, with chopped sage, makes a wonderful lunch. Possibly the nearest taste available for urbanites is veal or calves’ liver.
2 lb calves’ liver, thinly sliced
½ oz chopped fresh sage
¼ cup whole wheat flour
2 red onions, finely sliced
16 slices lean bacon
4 oz butter
salt and pepper to taste
Heat pan with butter.
Rub chopped sage into flour, add salt and pepper, and brush both sides of the meat.
Place in pan with a little butter, sauté for 2 minutes each side. In separate pan place a little butter, onions, and a touch of sage. Grill bacon.
Place liver on plate, with grilled bacon on top and onions to finish. Serve with fresh sliced pears and apples. Excellent with Fleur du Cap or any other fine Cape red wine or Pinotage.
Baby Sweet Pineapple with Salted Ham (4)
In Zululand there is a small sweet pineapple that grows wild, excellent grilled, eaten raw, or in salads. Much of the ham eaten in the Zulu wars was imported in cans from the United Kingdom, so the pigs and hogs in South Africa were particularly attractive to the officers.
1 pint maple syrup or honey
2 baby pineapples
2 lb ham steaks, gammon, wild pig, or hog
½ lb unsalted butter
Cut ends off pineapples, retain for decoration. Heat pan, place half of butter in pan, then put the ham steaks in.
In a separate pan place rest of butter and maple syrup.
Cook ham steaks on both sides and place on a bed of pineapple leaves.
Meanwhile, gently heat the syrup and butter.
Slice baby pineapples thinly; place over the top of the ham with the syrup and butter sauce.
Squash (4)
An abundant, readily available food in southern Africa in the nineteenth century. For this recipe, try one of the many varieties, such as acorn squash.
1 medium-sized squash
3 cups apple sauce
6 oz butter
6 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp powdered nutmeg
Cut squash in half lengthways (horizontally). Scoop out the inside seeds, then place in a baking dish and pour boiling water up to 1 ½ inches deep around them.
Mix the other ingredients and place in the hollow squash.
Cover with foil and bake for about 35 to 40 minutes at 350°F.
GAIUS JULIUS CAESAR
The Curia, Rome
March 15, 44 B.C.
Veni, vidi, vici. [I came, I saw, I conquered.]
—Julius Caesar
Born into a patrician Roman family in 102 b.c., Julius Caesar was schooled to be a military man from an early age. Although he grew up in a dynasty that had everything, he spent his youth austerely, as he was made a priest of Jupiter while still a child. He was forbidden any delicacies or real luxuries, habits that he kept for many of his campaigning years, eating little as an officer and banning wine for his subordinates.
In the Roman military Caesar was adored by his men from the beginning; he never asked anything of them in battle he wouldn’t do himself. He often marched at the head of his troops, always coaxing more effort from them. The Rome of his day was full of jealous politicians, always squabbling among themselves for even more power. Rising stars such as Caesar were often sent overseas as consuls of legions to difficult places in the hope they might not return or, better still, their power would be dissipated by some loss on the battlefield, an unacceptable fate for a Roman general.
Caesar would not be denied what he considered his due. After serving successfully in the East for many years, in 58 B.C. he was given the giant task of subduing the Gauls, a fierce Celtic warrior race that was spread across France and Belgium. With up to 1 million fierce barbarian troops at their disposal, the Celts were determined to remain free, and therefore they were the greatest threat to Roman power.
From 58 to 51 B.C., Caesar launched a brilliant series of battles and sieges. His legions were often outnumbered by as many as eight to one. He systematically ground the tribes down with defeat after defeat until he eventually led their King Vercingetorix back to Rome in chains, for a glorious triumph at the head of his seasoned troops, who under Caesar had become Rome’s finest available legions.
Installed as governor of Gaul, he started to reveal his other brilliant skills, using his powers of oration to finally unite the defeated tribes under Roman law, building many new roads to open up the region to Roman commerce, and imposing on everyone the Pax Romana, or Roman Peace.
Two brief invasions of Britain along the way had convinced him that the wet, miserable little island nation, with little known mineral wealth, was not really worth his time, so he began to turn his eye back to Italy and the political stage.
As his star grew, so did his enemies in the Senate, although they remained quiet out of fear of him. He formed Rome’s First Triumvirate with two other generals, Marcus Crassus and the great Pompey, who had rid the Mediterranean Sea of pirates in a little more than 40 days, enabling Rome’s commercial power to expand even more. Pompey further increased Rome’s influence in the East, but his exploits were mainly ignored by the crowds in Rome, who followed and celebrated only Caesar’s frequent victories.
Even more desperate to establish himself, Crassus went to Syria, where he conducted an abysmal campaign against the Parthians at Carrhal in Mesopotamia and was eventually murdered by the Parthian generals in a humiliating defeat for Rome. This left a frustrated Pompey all alone, facing a popular Caesar who now wanted to come home to Rome. Pompey forced the Senate to insist that Caesar disband his legions first, a motion that Caesar refused, knowing his troops were Rome’s finest legions and his power base. But history dictated that no Roman general had ever led troops on Rome or could be permitted to.
In 49 b.c. Caesar and his veteran legions crossed the Rubicon River, which was at that time the border between Italy and France. As he crossed that small stream he knew that there was no turning back; there could be only victory or defeat now, as civil war was imminent.
Watching Caesar and his army march toward Rome, Pompey and all his followers fled to Greece to enlist the help of disgruntled eastern kings tired of paying yearly tribute to Rome, believing they would help tip the balance. But despite compiling a large army, they were wiped out by the pursuing Caesar at the battle of Pharsalus in 49 b.c., where once again the military genius of Caesar vanquished superior numbers.
Pompey fled the battlefield in desperation and looked to find some shelter in Egypt. Caesar followed not just to quash any more rebellion but also to extend the hand of peace to Pompey, who had been his friend for many years. He was horrified to be given the head of Pompey in Alexandria by Ptolemy XIII, the boy Pharaoh of Egypt, who was controlled by the palace eunuchs. Switching his attention to Ptolemy’s sister Cleopatra, who seduced him at their first meeting, Caesar made Cleopatra the sole Pharaoh of Egypt, and after several months he destroyed the forces of Ptolemy and won over the people of Alexandria and eventually Egypt by his gracious treatment of them.
With Egypt now under his sway and no real military opposition to him anywhere in the Roman world, Caesar relaxed in Alexandria and conducted a heady love affair with Cleopatra, who quickly bore him his only son, Caesarion.
Life as a military man had bred simple tastes in Caesar, a tall, lean, handsome man with piercing blue eyes. He ate the food of the common soldier: bread, olive oil, porridge, and bacon. He held a form of epilepsy at bay with a fruit juice cocktail every day and, though surrounded by the gastronomic delights of the royal palace, kept his frame lean and hard, and he expected the same from his subordinates.
Although he was incredibly talented in many fields, Caesar’s legions saw him as one of them. This connection with the real power of Rome, the army, caused endless frustration for the powerful, decadent senators, who for many years had taken the rewards and basked in the splendors of the treasures and land won by the troops.
On returning to Rome, Caesar launched himself into a rapid reform of the political system. Senators had to report to the Senate or lose their privileges, a novel idea. The legions were to be given good land to farm when they left the ranks; the calendar was revised, giving us the 365-day year we use today; and he handed more power in the running of the empire to the common man, the plebian.
An adoring Cleopatra followed Caesar to Rome, where, although she had his love, she endured the hatred of Calpurnia, his wife in a loveless marriage he had entered into some years before.
Seeing “the Egyptian harlot” who had stolen the heart of the most powerful man in Rome, a group of twenty-three senators, organized by Gaius Trebonius, decided their only hope of holding onto any remaining power was to kill Caesar because soon, three days after the Ides of March (March 15), he was leaving Rome to conduct another campaign against the Parthian nation.
On the night of March 14 Caesar attended a dinner party at the house of Marcus Lepidus with ten other senators. As usual, Caesar worked through the meal, dictating orders for troop movements and reform to an endless procession of scribes while managing to be polite and cheerful to his dinner companions.
Rising early the next morning at the home of his wife, he had his usual breakfast of crusty bread and olive oil with lemon juice and honey, and despite the pleas of Calpurnia, who wanted him to stay at home, he marched off to the Curia to meet the Senate, disdaining a bodyguard and chatting jovially to all he encountered on the way.
Seating himself on his chair in the Senate and bringing out his scrolls, he started to dictate more edicts to his team of scribes.
Not noticing the approaching group of senators, he worked on, and only when the first dagger penetrated his back did he attempt to rise. Apparently making no sound at all, he remained on his feet as all twenty-three rogue senators stabbed him, each one encouraging the others.
As the last dagger pierced his heart he finally fell, pulling his toga over his face as if to hide his pain. The shocked senators, suddenly realizing the horror of what they had done, panicked and raced away.
As news of his murder swept the city, it was obvious to the plotters that they had badly underestimated the power of Julius Caesar and the love the people had for him. They were all eventually destroyed by the wrath of the people and his loyal avenging legions.
But nothing could undo the tragic death of one of the greatest generals and leaders in world history.
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Although Caesar retained many of his old habits from his legion days, rising every morning to a breakfast of crusty bread, olive oil, lemon juice, and honey, like all wealthy Romans he indulged in a variety of foods brought from around the empire. Many Romans had their own fishponds in their home, keeping a variety of freshwater and saltwater fish readily available. Specially built aviaries ensured a constant supply of fowls at hand. Spices from Asia, oysters from Britain, and a never-ending procession of exotic game from Africa supplemented the tables of the rich. Most of the food was prepared so it could be eaten by hand, as the Romans shunned the use of forks and ate reclining on couches, while slaves hovered around with finger bowls to wash their hands and keep the food and drink flowing.
Their Last Suppers: Legends of History and Their Final Meals Page 13
