1879: The African war you haven't heard of...
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- Опубліковано 26 вер 2024
- Did you know that while the British army was battling the Zulus, another force of Cape soldiers was fighting in a nearby region against the BaPhuti people of southern Lesotho?
It's now known as the Siege of Moorosi's mountain or the Moorosi rebellion.
It was a complicated, drawn out conflict against a skilled and dedicated opponent.
In today's episode, I am joined once more by Cam Simpson to learn all about this little-known war in a remote part of southern Africa.
Cam's books can be purchased here - amzn.to/3EqQYGe
If you are interested in the Zulu War, then please sign up for my mailing list to receive my free book on the subject: www.redcoathistory.com
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My father bought 2 Snyder rifles (1 long and one carbine) and two flintlocks from Basutu Shepherds in the 1970s. We restored the Sniders in the 90's and still shoot them to this day. I always wondered what the history of those guns was, and how they ended up there.
Never heard of this. Moorosi was brilliant in his use of terrain. Thanks Christian.
Yes. “ Respect for all involved “ damn good line to end with. Thank you both for this inspiring story of a yet relatively unknown action.
Thoroughly enjoyed it
Excellent story. I did not know of this campaign, and I am grateful for your re-telling of it. Thanks you!
Excellent. Thanks for sharing!!!
I would think of the decapitation as a sort of posthumous honour. A couple of decades before this, there was a Boer Kommadant called Lou Wepener who tried his luck against the Basuthu and got killed. Before this, he had won many skirmishes in the Frontier Wars, etc and he was a known brave warrior. After he was killed, King Moshoeshoe I ordered his warriors to cut out Wepener's heart and eat it, and everybody had to get a piece in order to ingest some of Wepener's courage. After the war, Wepener's son went to collect his father's body for proper burial and King Moshoeshoe I's son himself took him to the body, and proudly relayed that as Wepener was so brave they all had a chomp at his heart. I'm not sure what young Wepener's reaction to this was, but I wouldn't be surprised if this became part of the legend of Lou Wepener amongst his Boer peers - "Wottaguy! They ate his heart to be just like him!"
Boers were hardcore people.
@@hebanker3372 ...are.
@@
We are still hard people, people with great integrity! Where the English tried to kill us! You should know about this..the woman and children in the consirtration camp! ...
This was excellent! I did not know about this war. Just excellent!
I started watching your channel a while ago when it was suggested to me and I am very glad I did. You do excellent work. I’ve enjoyed watching your videos most especially the ones on South Africa history (a subject for which I have a particular enthusiasm).
Thanks for your work!
Lovely thanks!
Good stuff. Thank you.
Great video thanks.
Bravo well done 🙂
Thank you- excellent presentation.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I was a member of the Border Stock Theft Unit of the SAP from 1976 to 1980 . Worked Lesuthu on horse back . I can say that the Basuthos are still excelent stock thieves 😂
I visited Mount Morsi ,as it was in our patrol area . I did not research the campaign, but heard about it from the basuthos who was in the unit .
There is a rock overhang where soldiers of the Cape Mounted Rifles scratched their names on the rocks . Paul Kruger was a scout for them , and his name is there .
I also "traded" for old firearms , and amongst them was a cavalry (short) Martini Hendry carbine , and a muzzle loader marked "G.C. GILES , D'urban . (The company became King Sports in Durban) It is alleged that they used to smuggle firearms to the natives "in the good old days" I donated the guns to Kings and they may still be there .
Fantastic story. Thanks so much for sharing.
An excellent programme, there are certainly a large number of British campaigns during the British Empire period.
A fascinating story Chris thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it
Excellent piece. Well balanced and thoroughly researched.
Australia checking in, subbing Mate outstanding content.
Glad to have you on board mate!
More History from South Africa that they don't teach us here at school, I had no idea we had such a battle
As a South African I appreciate this content.
I do want to point out that (southern) Lesotho and the site of Isandlwana are both in the South-east of the country ;)
The last colonial war was the Igedde wars in 1923-26. I hope you can do some research. My clan was part of the battle order and would love to give insight.
Thanks - I havent heard of it so will do some research. Appreciate the input.
No. The last colonial war was in 1982. The Falklands War.
@@englishalan222 Argentina was never a colony.
@@idomalion6167 No. But the Falklands was and still is. The British were defending their colony. That makes it a colonial war.
Another forgotten War the British fought against the Sotho was in 1852. At the time the Free State had been annexed by Sir Harry Smith and was called the Free State Sovereignty. The British High Commissioner in The Free State, Major Warden was assigned the task to determine the border between the Sotho and the Sovereignty in 1849. Moshoeshoe was dissatisfied with the border and commenced raiding into the British held territory, raiding only the farms of British loyalists and declaring that Boers should be left in peace as he had no quarrel with them. In 1851 the British was forced to act upon the Sotho raids and on orders of Sir Harry Smith, Major Warden issued an ultimatum that the Sothos were to deliver 6000 head of cattle and 300 horses in reparations or face military action. Moshoeshoe ignored this and on the 20 June 1850 the British and Sotho's engaged in battle near the present town of Ladybrand in the battle of Viervoet. The British was defeated with a loss of 138 killed. The result of this defeat caused chaos in the British territory and the New Governor of the Cape Colony, Lord Cathcart personally led a force of 2500 men, of which 500 were mounted, against Moshhoeshoe in 1852. At the battle of Berea, on 15 December 1852, Cathcart was soundly beaten, resulting in the withdrawal of the British from the Sovereignty and the granting of independence to the Free State Republic on the 23 February 1854. A minor war with far reaching consequences. Near Ladybrand is a ford across the Caledon River that to this day is called Cathcart's Drift.
Brilliant video, and an absolutely fascinating story
Great upload. Very rare to encounter indepth retelling of South African British war history. Appreciated
Thanks a lot. If you like South African military history then I think you should find some stuff you like on my channel. Enjoy.
@@redcoathistory freshly subbed , thanks
Superb video ! Thank you.
Glad you liked it!
I ordered one of Cam's books via your link. One of my ancetors was in the Frontier Light Horse under Buller at the battles of Hlobane, Kambuli and Ulundi. We are not sure how he came to be in South Africa, (he had been in India as a Captain in the 7th Hussars then the 9th Lancers and was at the relief of the Seige at Lucknow) but he was, for a while, the commissioner of Waterberg and was imprisoned by the Boers in 1880 in the first Boer war, (who auctioned of all his goods).
Oh wow what a fantastic story.
Hard to believe Flashman didn't cover this one.
Awesome story
Glad you liked it
Great video, really interesting. Will you ever do a video on the Abyssinian Expedition, such an interesting campaign.
One day I hope though not iminantly
@@redcoathistory 👍 look forward to it and all upcoming videos !
it would make a great movie!
It sure would....
A great story. Respect to all involved on both sides. History is being re written and I feel that this is a great shame. The past is the past and we were not there.
If he fought against Shaka Zulu and over lived to tell the tale has my respect.
He never fought Shaka but referred to flee into the mountains where the basutho still live to this day
Hi Christian,
Absolutely love your videos - I've been watching them for over a year now.
And partly because of this, and partly a lifelong fascination particularly with Isandlwana, I fly to Durban today! Arrive at Rorke's Drift Lodge on 13th and visit that battlefield and Isandlwana on 14th. Can't wait!
I read on your website that you were training to be a battlefield tour guide. Has this come to fruition? I would love to have you as my tour guide!
Hi Sam - that's wonderful. You are going to have a great time. I am a qualified tour guide now but at the minute my day job keeps me from practicing. I hope to be able to do more in the future though. Have a brilliant trip. Chris.
@Redcoat: British military history Ah those blasted day jobs!
I would love to contact Cam Simpson
the BaPhuthi people of southern Lesotho. Morosi (or Moorosi; died 20 November 1879) was a Baphuthi chief in the wild southern part of Basutoland. He led a revolt against the Cape Colony government ...
It would be wonderful if you could do something about the Maori or the Ashanti wars.
Hopefully one day
I'll second that, look up the story of Te koti he was a interesting guy
@@kiwiprouddavids724 I don't the the Moriori on the Chathams were too keen on him.
@@theflamingone8729 yeah I agree , but he was a hero of sorts for his people and it's part of our history. We need to think and talk about all of it the good and the bad like how Maori kept slaves and it was the Europeans that stoped that
@@kiwiprouddavids724 and, as I understand it, he was exiled to the Chathams out of business rivalry, a trumped up accusation, to remove competition.
*I'm still going LOL.
Te Kooti's story is also a good example of how Europeans and Indigenous peoples often invited each other into their conflicts with other Indigenous people. With Indigenous benefiting from technologically advanced allies against traditional enemies and Europeans benefiting from allies with local knowledge in their struggles.
Corporal Morely? You wrote him out of the script!
His story is mentioned in the pod cast and a subsequent video on the VC's of Moorosi's Mountain.
Great video
Thank you for reminding us of battles left out of history. Obviously on purpose.
Bad time for the Brits. Defeats in the Zulu war, Afghanistan, Majuba Hill, all spoke of this era and the failure of British generalship, and their officer corps as a whole.
Hmm, Maybe? Africa's Mt Masada, this Yank Knows more British history than some Brits? But I do LOVE History! and I'm a sucker for any Military History.
Yank? Sounds like he's from down under.
Yank ha ha ha. What's your nationality? He's Australian, the accent is unmistakable.
The biggest insult to Moorosi and his people is calling them BaSotho. The BaSotho of Moshweshwe who arrived in the early 1820s were their chief enemy. In fact during the Moorosi War, the baSotho allied with the British against Moorosi hence the independence / separation of BaSotho of Moshweshwe from South Africa.
Apologies for any slips of the tongue.
Agreed, Moorosi at the time was a reluctant vasal of the BaSotho and wanted to break free of them also. The Cape Government originally wanted Letsie to deal with Moorosi directly but then changed their mind. The Basuto Contingent under Leretholi witnessed the weakness of the Cape Government which in fact gave them the confidence to rebel the following year.
You just have to research the post WW2 ready reaction force to see how busy things where. They were involve in a lot of forgotten operations, not all of which ended in fighting. Also the closing years of the Empire involved a lot of fighting.
Prior to that Britain was alway having to fight someone in local conflicts.
Thanks Rod, its perhaps a bit after my main period of study but it certainly is intersting. Were you part of the force?
No, I was a RAF brat born in 1949. My father was an air gunner from 1944 to 1954 and then air traffic controller retiring in 1968.
WW2 bomber command, Helifaxes and Lancs. Major OS postings, Singapore 1952/4 (Sunderlands) and 1965/7. Aden 1958/60. All these involved some fighting as dad was often embedded with the army as a forward ATC.
My service was with the Australian army reserve 1967/87.
@@roddixon368 Thanks Rod. Sounds like your dad had an amazing career.
He was a fierce opponent of Shaka Zulu on and off the battlefield, even publicly accusing S.Z.of membership in FM Societies Under Shaka's real legal name Shaka kaSenzangakhona
Very interesting, but you make one repeated error in your commentary that rather grates: it's not a four-syllable 'yeoman-airy', but a three syllable 'yeoman-ry' - no 'a' involved.
Other than that, very good! I grew up in what was then called Rhodesia, so the history I learned in school was of Rhodes, Lobengula, Mzilikazi, the Voortrekkers, Shaka, etc, but there was never any mention of this campaign.
who hasnot heard of this
hold up did he get a vc for forgetting to let go of the grenade
If there were Winchester model 1873 rifles available, they would have been the equivalent of having a modern semi-auto rifle. With that tube magazine, you can keep firing and firing and feeding in cartridges through the loading port from time to time. And that 150gr, .30 cal bullet was a real man stopper out to around 150 yards or so. But I've never heard of these battles with this other tribe, all I've heard about were the Zulus.
Red coat history should do shows on how the British Empire abolished slavery around the world. You should consider having Thomas Sowell on to cover the subject. I wish America would have done something as noble as that.
Thanks Jesse. It's an interesting subject tho slightly beyond the scope of my focus.
America did eventually abolish its own slavery. So much time is spent discussing historical slavery, and not enough time is spent discussing present-day slavery.
Intriguing shield shape, maybe those wings were used to sweep and/trap thrusting spears?
Yes, I'm not sure - would be interesting to find out more.
SOMALIA HISTORY
You forget a Man British call him Mad Mulah,
Between 1889 To 1921
War between Somalia’s Dervish Military VS British
Around 22 years on going war, British couldn’t hold on the ground and first time British used warplanes in Somalia.
Salaam. I would love to look into this conflict and others in the region. Thanks for the comment.
Has anyone used a metal detectors up there?
An excellent story, excellently told, thank you, Christian. One of my favourite channels!
Thanks, Duncan. That feedback really does mean a lot.
How did they get water to the top of the mountain when they were under siege?
water catchment - they are stll there Douglas
I read melton prior and g a henty
Their despatches to such venerable
Publications as the London illustrated news, and enjoyed the
Mirth with point ,the cartoons of punch.
Indeed morosis mountain , and the story thereof, is no stranger to mineself, neither are the tales of huts painted in the blood of their enemies , by the ashanti.
Of particular pride were the 24th who, in the southern cape swept all before them, veterans all
And unawares of date with destiny.
I have always wondered about the history of Lesotho since in southern africa they are famous for being horsemen and I believe they are still independent from south africa.
After watching this video, I just wondered why they didn't just put the area under siege around the whole encampment, not easy but they could have left openings to coax the enemy out then pick them off. Ordinarily a artillery bombardment would have done the job, but the old style full frontal assaults never works.
They did put a cordon around the mountain, however, they had a line of communication that ran back to Palmietfontein and just didn't have enough resources. The podcast version discusses this point. There was also heavy patrolling and fighting away from the mountain.
A total Vercingetorix situation was going on here. And every British cheer for this questionable victory is a spit in the face of a dead soldier's family and Caesar's military genius. No one had to die. No one had to be heroic for an even better outcome. The deaths and beheading get historical glorification so you learn that spirit and adapt it toward your reasoning for going to work tomorrow. There was certainly no need for a beheading. But that's how barbaric people used to be. You're educated. You know Caesar. The officers of the Crown knew Caesar better than you know him now. No one should have perished. Is your alarm set for work tomorrow?
Battle of Nooitgedacht, December 1900, 1,000 foot cliffs -
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
my great-grandfather led half the yeomanry up the kloof,
set in the Magaliesberg range,
in a forlorn hope diversionary attack
set in motion by Brigadier Clements
to extract what he could
from a very nasty defeat.
Captain William Bolitho was awarded the DSO for that day,
for the yeomanry were cut to pieces by the Boers at the top,
and he lay out there wounded for 2 days and 2 nights.
Would love to see the story of that battle told!
And sight of the battlefield
with an infantryman's eye.
Boer generals De La Rey and Beyers were there,
as well as Jan Smuts,
and their plan was as brilliant
as the British dispositions were fatally flawed.
The Wily Boer knew both his ground and his enemy,
and struck while the iron was hot.
The story needs properly telling!
.
Another good story.
@@cameronsimpson-ld8nk
You have got to hand it to the Boers,
they won hands down that day.
Had the Boers not looted the British camp,
it would have been even worse.
1879 Is the year that EVERYTHING happened, so your title is incorrect. The year began with Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift and ended with the annihilation of the Zulus at Ulundi. King Cetshwayo was then welcomed throughout Europe on a large tour after his defeat.
It’s not incorrect - feel free to watch the video 👍🏼
Excellent Episode 👍 I never heard of this Engagement. It seems as time goes on the battles of the British Army vs many Indigenous People is being revealed! So glad the "Natives" are finally getting their due credit! Sadly all of these people lost their lives and were wounded due to Colonialism,Empire Building,and Exploitation!😡🇬🇧
Another bleeding heart liberal. Get over it.
Empires rise from hell ......Roger casement
Again, history is never written by the Vanquished! The only words we hear are by the ones who did the conquering!!
I have an 1879 medal to a trooper that fought at Morosi Mountain
A comment on the video production, remember that a lot of people are viewing this on a mobile device, not a big screen. Watch your video back on a 4 inch screen, with the video quality set to minimum (144p) and you'll see a lot of improvements you should make. Tiny text is unreadable, small details in the map difficult to spot. Instead of showing the same pictures multiple times, sometimes crop or zoom in on details.
On location, say on the side of the mountain, it's not you speaking about the mountains that's most important, it's the mountain and terrain itself we're most interested in seeing. Maybe a sweeping panorama view even?
Just some ideas for the future videos. Watch it back and think about what you, as a casual viewer, didn't see that you wish that you could.
Malusi, inkosi of the baPhuthi. He was very light skinned. BaPhuthi are natives of the land that is now known as Lesotho.
Their relatives are the Mzizi /Zizi people of the Drakensburg, now mainly in the Eastern Cape.
Today, they have been Sotho-nized, hence the name Moorosi instead of Malusi (the Sheperd).
Thanks for clarifying Mthoko.
Mzizi are Dlamini's. Originally from Swaziland. They were cannibals
@@mazambane286 Wrong, very wrong. There are 4 AmaZizi sections all sharing a common ancestor in the Nguni king named Mlotshwa (Thumbeza).
1. Mzizi kaZitha (Labase, Msezane, Ndawonde, Nkumane).
2. Mzizi kaMasango (different brances: Jama kaSjadu, Langa kaDlamini kaNgubonde, Lamyeni, Sandlulube, Njokweni) with Dlamini kaNgubone kaMasango as common ancestor. They are related to the BaPhuthi.
3. Mzizi kaMcusi (Nkabinde, Malinga, Magubane, Zindela)
4. Mzizi kaMiya (Ndlangisa, Mdlangathi, Limako, Miya).
The 5th group is just one clan Mangeni of the Msuthu, Khoza, Mbuyisa, Mbongwe group
@@ohlangeni All cannibals chased out of Zululand by Shaka.
@@ohlangeni As was mandela's tribe today known as The Tembu's were originally the Mtembu from Msinga region. Chased down to the Eastern Cape for being cannibals.
i"m surprized whiteman sold or allowed the locals to have guns...also he said they made / recycled their own ammo }}} where did they get gun powder?
gun powder easy to make, cave dirt, charcoal, urine and sulfur which can be found in limestone or salt dome in caves in mountanious region
@@BStial223 >> a HA! but what the hell is cave dirt? Never tried this in high skule! but! we made moon shine/ white lightning once
you look like tintin
No one beats the Brits when it comes to machine gunning natives with spears
No machine guns here mate and a worthy African foe with plenty of firearms.
Moorish perhaps?
nobody cares
Who cared
My granddaddy flew a helicopter in that war. He got shot down over Cape Town and they ate him. The zulus aint have a real strong Air Force back then like they got now.
Get a life
Nothing changes. Lesotho still has one of the highest murder rates in the world.
Interestingly I thought that this can't possibly be true but then I googled it and saw that you are right. What a shame as it's a beautiful country with very nice people.
Where is your episode on Robert Napier’s Abyssinian campaign?
How bout the African wars you dont know about NOW?
Splendid video about a forgotten history, Chris! 👍
By the way, your Lord Kitchner mustache is growing, and you start to look like your victorian historical figures. Lol!
Those subjects influences apparently?😉
Did you also a video about the ashanti war and Wolesley? Looking forward to your next videos. Many greetings from Belgium!
P.s. If you would like to do some stories about the British in Belgium, for example Ramelies or something about the Belgian Congo, let me know.
Hi Johann - thanks for the message. I think maybe I am slowly morphing into an old Victorian :-) I haven't covered Ashanti yet though a lot of people are asking for it so hopefully one day! With regards the British in Belgium I am afraid I am a bit of a novice (beyond a little Waterloo and Ypres knowledge). Feel free to drop me a line with any thoughts or ideas you may have...redcoathistory at gmail - thanks and keep in touch.
@@redcoathistory i surely shall write an email in the near future. Will do first some research so that you can work with an interesting bibliography. All the best!
Great video indeed Chris, excellent information, thanks for sharing it.
Brilliant I am glad you liked it.