A battle fought between Zulu and British forces in South Africa. The Zulu War had begun on 11 January when Cetshwayo ignored the British ultimatum to disband his army of 30,000 Impis gathered in Ulundi. A British force, under Lord Chelmsford, of some 7000 regulars, with as many African levies, advanced on Ulundi. The British force was caught unawares at Isandhlwana, with 1600 killed in close-combat fighting. That night a force of Zulu warriors went on to attack a mission hospital at Rorke’s Drift on the Buffalo River. Eighty defenders under Lieutenant Chard killed some 470 Zulus before being relieved by Chelmsford.