THE KAFIR WAR. [From the Sydney Herald, December 18.]

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 597, 3 January 1852, Page 3

THE KAFIR WAR. [From the Sydney Herald, December 18.]

Oim previous summaries'of events connected with tliis disastrous war extended to the commencement of September. Fiora the journals just received by us containing narratives of the military operations to the commencement of October, we with much pain take the following extracts: — " On the Bth of September, Colonel Fordyco, with a force of about f>oo men, of whom about half were regular ti oops, chiefly of the 74th regiment, proceeded to the Kroome heights, in the neighbourhood of Waterkloof, with a view of endeavouring to check the depredations of the enemy in that quaiter. In an open plain, on the summit of the Kroome ridge, he was furiously assailed by a large body of Kafirs, estimated at not less than 2000 in number. After a sharp engagement, which lasted about twenty-five minutes, the assailants were beaten off with, as was believed, considerable loss. The ammunition of the troops being then more than half expended, and their supply of provisions being scanty, Colonel Foulyce determined to loturn to the camp. Unfortunately, while marching along a narrow pass, the Fingoes, who had behaved very well during the engagement, weie struck with a sudden panic, on the appioach of a body of Kafir*, and rushed down upon the two lear companies of the 7<lth, who weie thus crowded up together, and prevented from using their arms. "The Kafirs," Colonel Fordyce states in his ropoit, " seeing their ndvant'ige, rushed fiom the bush, shooting and stabbing many of our men while thus disabled." Light men of this gallant corps wero thus slam, and as many wounded. Several of the Fmgoes also fell. The enemy Kept up then fire until the detachment had clem oil the bush. On the following day (the 9th) an accident of a somewhat similar character, hut attendod with nioie disastrous consequences, took place in the Fish Jtiver Btifeh, ?ifai Double J)nft. A detachment, consisting of two conip'ui.L's oi the 2nd lcgiincnt, under Captain Oldham,

with a party of the Levies, was sent by Colonel i\Jackinnon to s<oui the bush in one duection. Afti'r cuter ing i he forest, (lie compinies of the ilnd unfoitunately »ot sep.uuted irom the moie expononcod men ot the Levies, and fell into .in ambuscade. The qi eater num- | her of them were cut off by tin overwhelming force of , the enemy, and the whole, would probably havo been \ massacred but for iho advance of Lieutenant Colonel j Michel to then- aid. The loss m killed and wounded it> repoited to have hern upwards of sixty, nearly all of the 2nd reg-i'nent— including the commanding oilicer, Captain Old ham. ]3j the last post iccnved at Capo Town en the 2nd October, intelligence had be^n received tkt Lieutenant- ! Colonel liyre had been in command ot tho district of | Albany, and, with 400 infantry and 80 cavalry, would \ take post at or neai Duver'b Hill, belwwn Gi i- j ham'h Town and the Fi-.li Jiiver. ftlajor Wilmotjivas . expected to take the command at Fort Peddle. Major Somerset was. biul to be collecting his forces, pieparatory to another attack upon Mocomo's position. Moshesli is teported to have ;,u.spendod liostilo pioceedings unlil he leii ns the result of an appeal which he has made to the Hiyh Commissioner.