Colonel Archer Dornan's 29th Lancaster Regiment
Dornan peered through his rusty old telescope. The South African wastes proved a harsh environment to his regiment, not just the wildlife but the Zulu empire as well. The regiment was checked numerous time by various skirmishes from Zulu soldiers looking to close in before they could get a shot off. Casualties were high for the regiment, and morale wasn't exactly great either.
Nonetheless, Dornan could not help himself but admire the African Savannah, it all seemed so peaceful. Life was teeming everywhere he went, and the landscape was so just so beautiful to him. Whenever he observed the battlefield through his telescope, he'd often lose himself in the view. The landscape was just so damn beautiful to him.
Except for the thousands of Zulus trying to kill him.
His men had deployed in three rank deep line formation, Dornan himself placed himself at the front to reassure the men. Dornan had reassured himself since his regiment was deployed on the crest of a sizable hill, and to his left flank was a Gardner gun. The Regiment therefore, was at a somewhat good position.
"29th! Hold steady!" Dornan shouted, the Zulus were encroaching on his position. Dornan's regiment was about to receive one of the "horns" of the infamous Zulu Buffalo horns formation. The formation resembled a sort of primitive pincer maneuver, however, the pincers or horns, attacked first to pin the enemy on the flanks, while the center would deliver a strike blow to the front.
The Zulu's closed in. Dornan's regiment was ready to receive the devastating charge. The guns were loaded and the bayonets clean and sharp.
"Make ready!" Dornan shouted, the men gripped their guns in a ready position.
"Take aim!" He shouted further, the men lowered their guns, aiming them at the incoming Zulu horde.
Dornan sweated, they were getting closer. Much closer. But he needed to make the volley count. He needed to at least keep them in place for reinforcements or cavalry to arrive and help.
"Fire!"
The men fired their guns, the first rank knelt down, the second proceeded to give off their volley. The third gave off their volley after the second knelt down. Dornan held steady in his position. Clasping his hands behind his back and observing volley after volley. The horde of angry Africans did not stop however, and it seemed that the volleys only made them angrier. They had managed to close with the 29th. The fierce melee between the British and the Zulu went on for about an hour until the Zulu retreated and the British claimed victory. Piles of dead bodies and pools of blood spilled out onto the hill, decorating the grass in a red, almost autumn like color.
Colonel Archer Dornan was killed in the fight.
His last words, accredited to a Sergeant Major were reportedly, "Bugger."