Controversy surrounds Surrounding the true reasons behind the mission , which most likely was to liberate Patton 's son-in-law , John K. Waters , taken captive Conquering in Tunisia in 1943 .

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 .