COLONIAL NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 28, 19 July 1851, Page 3

COLONIAL NEWS.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

THE KAFFIR WAE,

(From the Hobart Tmun Courier, June 7th.)

We have news direct from Graham's Town to the 22nd March, via Adelaide, from Cape Town, April 4th, and from the seat of war to March 26th; upon the sth of that month it became necessary to throw in supplies to Forts Cox and. White, and Colonel Mackinnon Avas directed to march with a convoy of 24 mule waggons, and 13 ox waggons, escorted by two guns Royal Artillery, and 2500 men of all arms. This force met with no serious interruption on its march to Fort Cox. While, however, it was at that post, and during the delivery of the supplies, Colonel Mackinnon observed large bodies of the enemy descending the hills in every direction, evidently for the purpose of interrupting his march hack to Fort White. He was therefore well prepared; and by a very judicious and truly military arrangement of his force, for the protection of the empty waggons through a dense bush of three quarters of a mile in length, the enemy's attempt to interrupt the convoy— though active—was futile. On quitting the bushy country referred to, the roads lead to elevated and open ground ; and here the Colonel with his well collected force, reached the point where he was enabled to become the assailant ; the enemy being* principally posted on his left flank. Sending forward the waggons, Colonel Mackinnon commenced a most vigorous and irresistible attack, the successful result of which is shown by the following extract of his report, so truly descriptive of this gallant affair: — " I sent the waggons under escort of two companies of the 6th Regiment and a troop of the C. M. Riflemen, on to Fort White, and I proceeded to dispose my force for acting on the offensive. " I placed the two guns in favourable positions on each side of the road, where they could overlook the whole valley through which we had just passed. " The main body of the enemy were at this moment posted in a very strong position amongst the rocks and bushes to the left of the road. Some were also warmly engaged with the Levies in the valley from which the waggons had just emerged. I directed the 73rd Regiment, supported by the C. M. Riflemen, and a portion of the 2nd Corps of Levies, to attack the enemy amongst the rocks and bushes on the left— a service which was most efficiently and gallantly performed. The guns in the meanwhile played upon the masses of the enemy as they appeared in the valley where levies were engaged with them, or on the heights above the points to which the attack of the 73rd Regiment was directed. " After a sharp action of about one hour's duration the enemy were driven from all their positions, and followed to a considerable distance. Great numbers of them were killed. The number seen to fall exceeded 100, besides those who were killed and wounded at a distance." The results of this movement were, that the posts of Fort Cox and Fort White were supplied with eleven weeks' provisions, and such a severe blow was struck upon the enemy, that on the following day the column marched from Fort White to head-quarters without a shot beingfired. Major-General Somerset marched from Fort Hare with the division under his command, on the 21st February, into the Chumie Basin, near •Auckland. He left Chumie on the 22nd. His advance was opposed on the Ridge by a body of rebels, concealed along the face of the bush and

on the point of the hill, but the enemy were speedily driven off. The road at that point is very rugged, and the ridge difficult of access. This interruption delayed the march some short time ; but the Major-General continued his advance on Fort Armstrong, and heard heavy discharges of musketry in that direction. On reaching Hertzog the infantry rested, and he proceeded with the two Howitzers, R.A., and mounted force. We speak the rest in his own words.—" Coming in sight of the Fort, I observed the Burghers advancing on that point, and bodies of rebels rushing into Fort Armstrong and the adjacent buildings. I opened the guns on the Fort; in a short time the Field-Com-mandant Groepe came out to meet me, and. suggested to Major Somerset, commanding the advance, that I should give time to the women and children to move out of danger. This I acceded to, and detached a squadron of the Cape Mounted Riflemen to assist and protect them; the enemy continued firing from the Fort, and held a strong position on the hill, occupying also the tower. The guns were most effectually served by the Eoyal Artillery to attack the enemy along the face of the hill. Seeing the enemy determined to hold the Fort, and having rescued, as far as possible, all the women and children, I directed Major Somerset to advance with the Cape Mounted Riflemen, and to storm the fort.

The Regiment galloped up the face of the hill and jumped into the midst of the enemy; then dismounting from their horses, they attacked the enemy, who continued firing from huts and concealed positions, and drove them, from every point. This movement was well supported by the Fort Beaufort Burghers, who operated on the flanks of the enemy.

The enemy were shot down and lay in heaps all round the fort, which remained in our possession. Meantime the rebels in the detached tower continued firing from the loopholes, and refused to surrender. I then ordered the gun to be brought up and blow open the door; still they kept up a fire ! Several of the enemy were lying dead on the lower floor, the remainder climbed to the top of the Fort, and remained concealed under the parapet, where they remained for some time, but were at length brought out with their arms and ammunition.

The Burghers, who had been fiercely engaged with the enemy from dawn of day, advanced along the causeway from the opposite side of the Fort in the most gallant style, and completed our triumph, bnt the Burghers suffered severely in the action, having been nobly led by the Field Commandants and Field Cornets.

The gallant Fin goes advanced in their usual style, and routed the flying enemy at every point. Shortly after the Fort was taken, the remainder of the division came up and assisted in securing our position. Upwards of 160 prisoners weve secured. Of the enemy 46 lay dead in and around the Fort. Several were burned in the Magazine, and 9 in the Tower." On the night of the 13th March, 48 of the 0. M. Rifles, together with their wives and families, deserted and went over to the enemy, taking their arms and ammunition with them. On the evening of the 14th a general parade of all the troops in garrison at King William's took place, at which the remainder of the detachment (except such as Major Armstrong pointed out) was disarmed before the whole of the assembled troops, and the C. M. Rifles is now a mere nominal regiment—sentries of the line placed round its camp at night, and a Court of Inquiry sitting daily to endeavour to find out the cause of the disaffection, and of the former gallant services of the Regiment being blemished by this sad occurrence. A number of the Levies had also deserted, and also a few of the Mule train —in all about 90 men. Intelligence had been received from King William's Town up to the 18th March. From the accounts before us, we learn that His Excellency Sir Harry Smith had himself taken the field, having marched that morning towards Fort Hare with a division consisting of about 2,400 men. The accounts also state that the defection of the C. M. Rifles had greatly encouraged the Kaffirs, who boasted of having it in contemplation to attack KingWilliam'sTown. Seyolo, it is said, had contemplated proposing terms of surrender : but that since the desertion of the Hottentots he assumed another tone, and spoke confidently of overcoming the English.

We have since learned that during the journey they were attacked by about 2000 Kaffirs, who were speedily routed with a loss of 50 men.