The Matabele Campaign Being a Narrative of the Campaign in Suppressing the Native Rising in Matabeleland and Mashonaland, 1896

"The Matabele Campaign" by Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell Baden-Powell of Gilwell is a firsthand historical record of the 1896 military campaign against the native uprising in Matabeleland and Mashonaland. Written by a key figure in the conflict, the book starts with the author's voyage to the battlegrounds, outlining the setup and mood before the fighting. Starting with a journey on a troop ship through the Cape and Mafeking, before reaching Buluwayo, the narrative vividly illustrates both the land and the troops. Early troubles, like the impact of rinderpest on animals and supply problems hindering troop movements, are highlighted in these locations. This sets the stage for the clashes to come, hinting at the complicated interplay between the military operations and the colonial power dynamic in Africa during that time.