THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 122, 7 May 1853, Page 4

THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

[From the " Sydney Herald."]

After a careful perusal of the Cape Journals, we fear it must be confessed that the aspect of the frontier has assumed the reality of a guerilla war. We are told that the masses of the enemy are broken, but numerous and strong fragments of his once formidable war party were still harassing the colony, and effectually robbing it of that security, which, as a British possession, it might look to enjoy. The Cape Town Mail, of the 25th January, gives a graphic account of the December proceedings : — Foremost in importance among the events of the past month, we have to notice the expedition of General Cathcart into the country of the Basouta chief Moshesh, and the sanguinary battle of Berea, followed by the submission of that chief and the prompt return of the troops into the colony. General Cathcart proceeded across the Grange River, into the Sovereignty, and on the Ist of December, encamped on the Caledon River, where he was joined by Colonel Eyre, 73rd Regt.. and Colonel Duff, 74th, with their respective columns; the whole force including the column under his Excellency's immediate command, amounting to about 2500 men of all arms. On the Bth the camp moved forward towards Platberg, and was joined by a detachment of the 45th regiment, under Lieut. Howard, with some field pieces ; while 40 burghers of a neighbouring field cornetcy, turned out to protect the border in the rear of the Governor's operations. Unfortunately, during the first day's march, his Excellency lost the valuable aid of his Military Secretary, Col. Seymour, who was thrown violently from his horse, by which his left shoulder was fractured, and he had consequently to be conveyed, in a cart, to the neighbouring village of Smithfield.

On the 13th, His Excellency arrived at Platberg, which he found deserted by the natives, the only person remaining there being Mr. Giddy, a Wesleyan Missionary, who has for a considerable number of years laboured among the Basoutas. In the evening, two young chiefs, sons of Moshesh, came to the camp, but General Cathcart refused to see them; and next morning they returned to their father's great place Thaba Bossigo, accompanied by Mr. Commissioner Owen, who was bearer of a message demanding that a fine of 10,000 cattle and 1000 horses be paid within three days. Next day, Moshesh himself made his appearance, and an interview took place between him and the General, highly characteristic on both sides. On the 3rd day, 3,500 head of cattle were brought in by Moshesh's Nehemiah ; and no more appearing, the order was given for the troops to advance. Colonel Eyre, with a large body of cavalry and infantry, and two guns, moved forward and encamped upon the Upper Culedon waggon drift, in order to cut off the communication between the country of Moshesh and that of Molitzani, a neighbouring chief from whom the Basoutas were expected to obtain assistance; and on the 20th a combined attack was made in three columns, upon the Berea Mountain, where vast droves of cattle were known to be collected. Here a desperate resistance was encountered, no less than 6,000 armed Basouta horsemen assailing the troops in the plain, while on the mountain, large bodies on foot used every effort to prevent the cattle from being captured. The iirst column led by the General in person appears to have drawn first lire. His Excellency rode forward, to give an opportunity for a parley, and was saluted with a shot; upon which the cavalry extended and advanced, and the enemy, who took up a position in some stony ground, were dispersed by a couple of rounds of shrapnel, and fled towards the main stronghold, Thaha Bossigo. The infantry were then brought up, and the eclumn mored forward to the point where the two others were directed to meet. " Whilst in this position," the report states, "the enemy were .collecting in fresh patches of horsemen in all directions ; those approaching within distance were driven back. Ou the clearing away of a thunder storm and rain, the. enemy suddenly displayed his whole force. Masses of horsemen were observed to move from the Thaba Bosigo Poort to turn our right, whilst large bodies of them extended along our front. These movements were conducted with the utmost order and regularity." Colonel Eyre's column, in the mean time gallantly swept over the summit of the moun-

tain. Favoured by the rocky and acclivitous ground, the enemy at first disputed the passage with great determination, but, on the troops cresting the heights, they dispersed and fled in all directions, great numbers of them being killed and some taken prisoners. Here 30,000 head of cattle were captured; but owing to the small number of mounted men attached to the column, it was found impossible to retain possession of more than 1,500. Thus encumbered, the column was descending to the point of rendezvous, when an unfortunate circumstance occurred. 200 or 300 mounted men who suddenly appeared in front, some with white bans on their heads, and bearing lances, were taken for his Excellency's escort, and before the error was discovered, Capt. Faunce, 73rd regiment, with two or three men, fell into this ingeniously contrived ambuscade, and were killed. The number of the enemy afterwards increased, and the column was pressed upon by 700 or 800 mounted men, who charged up several times within two or three hundred yards, but recoiled before the steady gallantry of the covering skirmishers who cooly lay down to receive them ; and some rockets, skilfully sent in amongst them, at last put them to flight. At a subsequent period of the day, this column was surrounded on all sides by from 6,000 to 7,000 mounted men, through whom they gallantly fought their way. " Our position," Col. Eyre writes, " was most critical ; but the coolness and steadiness of the men, though opposed to such overwhelming numbers, —at the close, too, of a long and arduous day, during which we had not been able to halt once for refreshment, was all that a soldier need desire."

When these operations were in progress, the third column, under Lieut.-Colonel Napier, proceeded round the south-east base of the mountain, in order to intercept any cattle driven in that direction. Here they were not long in falling with a large drove, which they secured, the enemy making little resistance; but shortly afterwards the rear guard was suddenly attacked and driven in by about 700 mounted men. A desperate conflict ensued, the enemy striving to outrank the troops, who were greatly impeded by the rugged nature of the ground. This, however, was prevented by the steady front maintained by the Cape Corps; and on reaching open ground a splendid charge was made by the Lancers, which sent the enemy flying up the.mountain in all directions. The cattle were again collected, and although repeated attempts were afterwards made to retake them, 4500 head, and 55 horses were conveyed to the camp. The loss of life during the day, on both sides, was truly lamentable. The exact number is not known, but it is stated that from 600 to 700 of the Basoutas were killed, the destructive Minie rifle, with which a large proportion of the troops were armed, making terrible havoc. The loss 'on the part of the British force was, 38 killed, and 15 wounded.

On the afternoon of the following day, a messenger arrived in camp, bearing a flag of truce and the following letter to General Cathcart: —"Thaba Bossigo, midnight, December 20th, 1852. Your Excellency,—This day you have fought against my people, and taken much cattle. As the object for which you have come is to have compensation for the boers, I beg you will be satisfied with what you have taken. I entreat peace with you—you have shown your power—you have chastised, let it be enough I pray}-ou: and let me no longer be considered an enemy of the Queen. I will try all I can to keep my people in order in the future. Your humble servant, Moshesh.''

In a General Order, General Cathcart conveyed his thanks to the troops for their,gallant conduct, warmly expressing his admiration of their steadiness and discipline, by which an overwhelming host of Basoutas and Bataungs were defeated, during a contest which lasted from early in the morning until 8 p.m., when the enemy, with a force of not less than 6000 well-armed horsemen, under considerable organization, after repeatedly assailing the troops ut every point, was driven from the field, with such severe loss as to compel him to sue for peace.

Having also issued a Proclamation, declaring that peace with Moshesh was restored, and empowering the Burghers of the Orange River Sovereignty to organize themselves for self defence, and the protection, security, and recovering their property in case of need, his Excellency broke up his camp and returned to the colony, the troops falling back on their former

positions, in the neighbourhood of Kaffirland. During all this time the more exposed parts of the eastern frontier continued to be harrassed nearly as much as at any former period of the war, by prowling parties of Kafirs and vebel Hottentots. It was hoped that long eve now the Gaika chiefs would have submitted, and that the rebel Hottentots would have desisted from a struggle so obviously hopeless; but notwithstanding the large numbers of men they have lost, and the miserable condition to which they were some time ago said to be reduced, murders and depredations of the most alarming nature have recently been committed by them at various places within the colony; while their rapid and stealthy movements, and the sudden manner in which they make their appearance where least expected, keep the families of the frontier farmers in a constant fever of apprehension, and thus render large portions of the once most productive districts uninhabitable.