Jul 20 After a night march, an 800 strong force of the MRF (accompanied by Cecil Rhodes and Carrington) attack the rebels commanded by Bhabhiyana Masuku, at Nkantola¹. The rebels fight a running battle and are chased across the Tuli river. This battle is certainly not a victory for the MRF as the AmaNdebele regroup once the battle is over. There were no severe casualties on either side - the M R F suffered 4 men dead.

Inugu Mountain stronghold Near the western end of the Matopos, and occupied by about fifteen hundred rebels. Mt Inungu, in the vicinity of which Laings column was attacked

At the same time as the engagement at Nkantola, a 500 strong column led by Capt Laing is moving from Figtree in the west, to outflank the Nkantola rebels. Instead his column is attacked at dawn at the foot of Mount Inungu (where they had laagered for the night), and is fortunate to barely escape annihilation, suffering over sixty casualties. This was to be the bloodiest fights of the entire rebellion - even today the battle site is known as Laing’s Graveyard.

Jul 21 Carrington decides to establish a series of small forts to cover the principal exits from the Matopos Hills, so as to (attempt to) contain the rebels.

Jul 22 Fort Usher² No 3 is established after Baden-Powell selects a suitable site.

Jul 25 A force of 250 men led by Capt Nicholson is sent by Plumer back to Mount Inungu to teach the rebels a lesson. This column is also forced to retreat, bringing the score to 2-nil in the Inungu Rebels favour.

Having not been terribly successful conquering the rebels in the western Matopos, Carrington now decides to try out the Rebels eastern flank - as yet untested.