CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 680, 7 February 1852, Page 3

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

THE KAFIR WAR. (From the Sydney Morning Herald.) Our previous summaries of events connected with this disastrous war extended to the commencement of September. From 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 B’h of September, Colonel Fordyce, with a force of about six hundred men, of whom about half were regular troops, chiefly of the 74th tegiment, proceeded to the Kroome Heights, in the neighbourhood of Waterkloof, with a view of endeavouring to check the depredations of the enemy in that quarter. 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 we believed, considerable loss. The ammunition of the troops being then more than half expended, and their supply of provisions being scanty, Colonel Fordyce determined to return to the camp. Unfortunately, while marching along a narrow pass, the Fin goes, who had behaved very well during the engagement were struck with a sudden panic on the approach of a body of Kafirs, and rushed do’.vn upon the two rear companies of the 74th, who were thus crowded up together, and prevented from using their arms. “ The Kafirs,” Colonel Fordyce states in bis report, “ seeing their advantage, rushed from the bush, shooting and stabbing many of our men while thus disabled.” Eight men of this gallant corps were thus slain, and as many wounded. Several of the Fingoesalso fell. The enemy kept up their fire until the detachment had cleared the bush.”

“ On the following day (the 9tb) an accident of a smaewhat similar character, but attended with more disastrous consequences, took place in the Fish River Bush, near Double Drift. A detachment, consisting of two companies of the 2nd Regiment, under Captain Oldham, with a party of the Levies, was sent by Colonel Mackinnon to scour the bush in one direction. After entering the forest, the companies of the 2nd unfortunately got separate from the more experienced men of the Levies, and fell into an ambuscade. The greater number of them were cut off by an overwhelming force of the enemy, and the whole would probably have been massacred but for the advance of Lieutenant Colonel Michel io their aid. The loss in killed and wounded is reported to have been upwards of sixty, nearly all of the second regiment—including the commanding officer, Captain Oldham.”

“ By the last post received at Cape Town on the 2nd October, intelligence had been received that Lieutenant Colonel Eyre had been in command of the district of Albany, and, with 400 infantry ami 80 cavalry, would take post at or near Driver’s Hill, between Graham’s Town and the Fish River. Major General Somerset was said to be collecting his forces, preparatory to another attack upon

Mocomo’s position. Mosaesh is reported to have suspended hostile proceedings until he learns the result of an appeal which he has made to the High Commissioner.”