During the period when the Zulus were a major power in South Africa, they clashed with the British numerous times. One of their most notable battles was the battle of Rorke’s Drift. Rorke’s Drift is located on the Tugela River in modern day Natal Province, South Africa. At the time of this battle, Rorke’s Drift was nothing but a small farming community which was being used as the mission command by the British[1]. There were a number of factors that led to this battle. The main British force in Natal had been engaged and overwhelmingly crushed by the Zulus in the battle at Isandlwana[2]. There were few Survivors. Cetshwayo, then King of the Zulus, ordered his younger brother, Prince Dabulamanzi kaMapande, to sneak around the Tugela River and cut off and eliminate the few escaping British survivors. After slaughtering all the retreating British they encountered, Dabulamanzi disobeyed orders to lead his Zulu warriors to further triumph by capturing the British base at the Rorke’s Drift crossing[3]. Instead, on 22nd January 1879, Dabulamanzi with about 4,500 of his Zulu warriors engaged the 139 regular British troops, 11 Colonial troops, and 100 native Natal horse cavalry at Rorke’s Drift[4]. During the first few hours of this battle, the Britishlost nearly half their forces. The native Natal Calvary charged the Zulu lines, shot their pistils once, and then ran from the battle[5]. This reduced the chances of a British victory from slim to none. The Zulus then advanced towards Roke’s Drift, but were met with heavy fire from the garrison. At about 50 yards from the wall, the Zulus maneuvered around the hospital to attack from the North West[6]. They were driven back by the fire from the garrison and retreated away from the settlement to regroup[7]. The Zulus made a push again, this time against the hospital at the western end of the fortifications. Set on fire and stormed by the Zulus, it became untenable. The British then retreated to their wall of biscuit barrels linking the mission house with the mealie wall[8]. Holding the line there for as long as possible, the British had to withdraw to the center of the station where a final bastion had been quickly assembled as night fell[9]. The light from the burning hospital assisted the British in their fire. The savage Zulu attacks were resisted until around midnight when unexpectedly the ferocity of the assault fell away. Firing continued until around 4am when the Zulus withdrew[10]. This is because the Zulus had seen Chelmsford’s column approaching so they retreated[11]. Of the 4500 Zulus that attacked, there were 451 confirmed kills and an estimated 500 wounded, while the British only suffered 17 dead and 19 wounded[12].