Scouting ahead of Major Patrick Forbes 's column attempting the capture of the Matabele King Lobengula ( following Self_motion his flight from his capital Bulawayo a month before ) , it crossed Motion_directional the Shangani late on 3 December 1893 .

Surrounded and outnumbered about a hundred-fold , the patrol made Manufacturing a last stand as three of its number broke out Process_start and rode back to the river to muster reinforcements from Forbes .

However , the Shangani had risen Cause_change_of_position_on_a_scale significantly in flood Motion , and Forbes was himself involved Participation in a skirmish near the southern bank ; Wilson and his men therefore remained isolated to the north .

Controversy surrounds the breakout before the last stand—which various writers have posited might have actually been desertion—and a box of gold sovereigns , which a Matabele `` inDuna '' ( leader ) later claimed Statement had been given Giving to two unidentified men from Forbes 's rear guard on 2 December , along with a message that Lobengula admitted defeat and wanted the column to stop Process_end pursuing him .