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Date	Original Topic
4th June 2001	Rork's Drift and the Alamo By Sandy Ghosh I see a close military correlation between Rorke's Drift and the battle of the Alamo which occurred in Texas,U.S.A. in 1836.At the Alamo there were about 136 men fighting between 4 thousand to 5 thousand Mexicans and they held them off for 13 days before finally being overcome and all killed. The men were quartered in a mission church and I see the reason why they held out so long is the same reason why the garrison at Rorke's Drift were able to hold off 4,000 Zulus. That is that both the Mexicans and the Zulus were charging straight into concentrated and disciplined rifle fire and it is amazing what that can accomplish when the numerical odds are against you. You can literally hold off limitless numbers of men even with a small group. Initially this seems like something impossible but military history proves it is possible. Examining the Alamo and Rorke's Drift I know it is a reality. I will share more American comparisons with Rorke's Drift in my next but does anyone have a comment on this?
Date	Replies
4th June 2001	kyle Americans always seem to know so little about anything that doesn't involve them- it is pathetic.
4th June 2001	Peter Critchley Kyle, It is unnecessary to make the statement you have above. It is neither constructive nor intelligent. Please re-read the Forum Rules (available from the main Discussion Forum page), and pay particular attention to point 1: No profanity, slander or otherwise anti-social language will be accepted. Offending messages will be deleted. There was nothing in Sandy's message to suggest that your comment is justified. Please keep your Anti-American views to other websites and forums, as it will not be tolerated here. Peter Critchley Webmaster http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com
4th June 2001	George Thanks, Peter, for the correction. As a southern-born American, I must agree with the message, if not the delivery. Neither Rorke's Drift nor Isandlwana have enjoyed the notoriety enjoyed by U.S. events. Sandy�s point, that defenders hold substantial advantage, was known (and experienced) by General James Longstreet at the American civil war site of Gettysburg in 1863. Ulundi�s defense with the addition of Gatling guns demonstrated these deadly calculations. This American�s entry into S.A. Zulu history (besides the movie) came from rather obvious accounting analogies concerning the dispensation of ammunition �without the proper paperwork�(sic)at Isandlwana. Though some contributors to this site have questioned the authenticity of this dreadful, slavish dedication to procedure, the 120+ year old history lesson bears study for those who would not repeat similar disasters, even metaphorically. Very best, G.
4th June 2001	John Young Sandy, Re-your comment, an equally interesting suggestion would be with Rorke's Drift & "The Wagon Box Fight" during the so-called Red Cloud War against the Lakota. Matters which we in the Anglo-Zulu War Research Society have discussed between us, which did include some input from at least one of our American membership. Equally the events at Isandlwana have been compared with the events on the Rosebud & Little Big Horn Rivers in 1876. I personally think it is the mystique of the epic "Last Stand" actions from Thermopylae through to The Imjin, which stirs the interest, and that holds no national boundaries. On a lighter point, forgive me if I wave the Union Flag, at least twenty-five of the Alamo defenders were actually from the British Isles, and I am told on good authority at least the same figure again were second generation English, Scots, Irish & Welsh, little wonder those "Texicans" held for their position for their "13 Days of Glory". John Young Chairman, Anglo-Zulu War Research Society
5th June 2001	Dave Luff {Re- Sandy Ghosh} There is nothing new about a small force in-line stopping a larger force coming on.wellington did this throughout the peninsula wars of spain and france.His best exploits of this was at the battle of waterloo 1815 when he stopped the old guard the best and most experienced troops in europe at the time.
6th June 2001	Ian Woodason Wasn't the outcome a little different though?