CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 55, 24 January 1852, Page 3

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

=7. [From the " Graham's Towa Journal," July 26.] H Last evening the mournful intelligence reached E£j town of the death by the hands of the rebel Co Hottentots on the Beaufort Road, of five Euro- ~ peans—two of them highly respectable trades*7 men of "Fort Beaufort, named Mr. S. P. Impey, N and Mr. J. Curley. It appears they came hither last week for supplies, and having made their purchases, were on their way home, availing themselves of the return post to their place of residence. They quitted town about half-past 8 on Wednesday morning last, got through the dangerous defile of the Queen's road in safety, reached Fort Brown about 11, and were pursuing their way up to the wooded Konap hill, where, near the top, they fell into an ambuscade of rebels, who in great force had placed themselves in the thick bush on each side of the road, and behind a dwarf stone wall which lines the lower side of that part of the ascent. Without having time to fire a single shot, no - less than five of their number, sad to say, were ) shot dead, and two others, named Serjt." Bragshavy and Private Nelson, wounded. The post carrier and another of the post-riders escaped unhurt, and succeeded, followed by one of the wounded, in reaching Leeuwe Fontein with the distressing intelligence. A party of 25 volun- \ teers, there on escort duty, under command of \ Mr. Thackeray, 74th Regiment, at once proceeded to the spot, where they found the dead bodies of Mr. Impey and two* of the Alice Levy, named Mortimer and Lane, and also a dead horse. While picking U p the dead bodies, a reinforcement came from Leeuwe Fontein of about a dozen men, Hottentots and Fingoes. On reaching the third body, a shout was heard from an adjacent bush, which proved to be from one of the post-riders nan ed Nelson, who, after being wounded, had found concealment where

he then was. This man said, that while in the bush the murderous rebels, to the number he estimates of 200, among whom were only two or three Kaffirs, sat down within about ten yards of him, where they remained for a few minutes only. On the way back with the dead bodies and wounded man to Leeuwe Fontein, the fires of the bandits were seen on the left at about 4 miles distance. Leaving the bodies at Leeuwe Fontein, Mr. Thackeray and his party proceeded the next morning towards Graham's Town ; and on the road down the Konap hill, the dead body of Mr. Curley was found, a little further on, a dead horse, and beyond that the corpse of a man of the Alice Levy named Clark. The former was stripped naked, the latter partially clothed ; —one man is still missing. The two dead were conveyed to Fort Brown, where they were interred in separate graves. On their way to this post, when near the deserted farm house of Mr. Futter, the trousers of Mr. Impey were found in a hush quite wet, having been just washed. The fresh spoors of a number of Hottentots were seen at this place, leading towards Fort Brown. On the arrival of the party at this post, a party of men of the levies returned, who had been out in the pursuit of cattle taken from old Mr. Delportby the enemy. This detachment reported that they had fallen in with the enemy, and' that in the conflict which ensued, four of their number were killed, and a fifth missing, but whether killed or wounded was not known. Mr. Thackeray and party remained the night at Fort Brown, and the next morning 60 men of the 91st Regiment, and 30 of the European Levies, proceeding to the scene of action for the purpose, of bringing in the dead, and ascertaining the state of the missing man. Firing was subsequently heard from the direction taken by the party, but the result has not transpired.

Dr. Mandeville was very fortunately with the escort at Leeuwe Fontein and gave most ready and valuable assistance, accompanying the volunteers, and rendering every aid in his power to the wounded men.

The following are the names of the persons killed and wounded in the affair at Konap Hill •. —Killed, Messrs. Impey and Curley of Fort Beaufort; Messrs. Mortimer, B. Lang, and Clarke, Alice Levy.—Wounded, Serjt. Bragshaw and Paivate Nelson, Alice Levy.—Missing, Privates, White and Redington, do. Private Brewer escaped unhurt.

Of the Fort Brown party the following were killed:—Serjt. Rosenblom, Corporal Griffiths, Privates Mc'Guire and Mc'Veety. Missing, Private M. Hoare—all in Alice Levy.