As the mounted men gradually extended their patrols to search for the elusive Zulu army, the central Number Three column settled in at Isandhlwana.
Rather than form a laager, the British set up their tents in a line from north to south, with the NNC on the north and the mounted men and the First Battalion of the 24th Foot on the extreme south. Even after his experience in the Frontier War, Andrew was surprised at the number of tents. As well as the bell tents, which held sixteen private soldiers each, there were hospital tents, headquarter tents, tents for officers and sergeants, mess tents and the adjutant’s administration tent.
“We need scores of tents for even a simple camp,” Andrew said. “How many do the Zulus need?”
“None, sir,” Abernethy said. “They travel light.”
Andrew grunted.
