SEVERE ACTION WITH THE GALEKA KAFFIRS.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2847, 30 March 1878, Page 3

SEVERE ACTION WITH THE GALEKA KAFFIRS.

The Daily News' correspondent, writing from Port-Elizabeth, says :—More details bare come to us about the late severe action at Unizitanzi, in which Capetown, Grahamstown, and Port Eiizabe'h Volunteers fought side by side with the steadiness of old soldiers against overwhelming odds. At 6.30 in the evening, as the oxen and horses were being brought into the camp, the dark forms of the enemy's horsemen began to debouch over the hill. Oar men wondered at their regular formation and order. Surely these are a troop of mounted police the men thought, till Inspector Bourne ordered Lieutenant Stigart, of tho Capetown Artillery, to drop some shrapnel into them. Just at that moment the dark horsemen deployed into line, and steadily advanced towards our little camp. Over the heads of our horses and cattle, which were being driven in, whizzed Stigart's first shot, which bowled over some six or seven on tho ex-? treme right of the enemies line. Startled by the firing, our oxen and horses rushed wildly off, the five or six fingo drivers following suit, and the enemy speedily captured them. And then on they came, horsemen and clouds of skirmishers down the hill and tip a narrow gorge, upon our handful.of citteen soldiers, outnumbering them eighf^fcj one at least. Our men simply, lay down in a hollow square with the two waggons in the centre, the Capetown gun on the left, and the Grahamstown gun on the right; - There was no time for shelter trenches, or to make any eorer; tho Volunteers simply lay down on the grass and plied their Sniders like men. They were exposed to a hot fire in front and rear and on both ranks. Steadily and bravely the Galekas ad ranced. A chief is seen riding coolly up and down, giving hia orders. Hotter and hotter grows the enemy's fire. as they steadily advanced towards the guns. Balls rattle thick and fast upon the guns and their carriages. Gunner Hornabrook is shot through the thigh while serving the Grahamstown gun, but still works away till positively forced to the rear. Lieutenant Wells (an old j

Boyal Artillery man), in command of this gun, a brass 9-pounder, issues his orders with a cool judgment that fills his volunteer gunners with confidence, and they fire round after round of canister with deadly effect. Near the Grahamstown. gun just as the action commenced in earnest, Sergeant Stahlschmidt, of Prince Alfred's Guard", fell severely wounded, and was carried under the waggon in the centre of the square. A little later Mr Pickering, of the same corps, received his wound as he stood to take a snap shot at one of the enemy within thirty paces. The Kaffir and the Volunteer fired

simultaneously, and the Kaffir fell • dead, while the wounded Volunteer, unable to handle his rifle had to seek shelter under the waggon. As he passed to rear he saw poor young Barron lying dead on his face, with hands outstretched. He and a great friend of his, both of Prince Alfred's Guards, were skirmishing next to one another when a bullet from the direct rear struck him at the back of the head, going out under the left eye. Death was almost instantaneous, and his comrades carried the body under corer of tho waggon. This was about seven o'clock, and the fire was as heavy as ever. The Capetown gun was in hot action all the time, doing splendid service. Captain Bayley (late adjutant of the 9th. Foot), who was attached to the column as Commandant of Infantry Volunteers, was calm courage itself. There he was, conspicuous in white helmet and scarlet jacket, walking revolver in hand behind his line of skirmishers, giving a cheery word here or a prompt order there, filling the Volunteers with thorough confidence in themselves and their officers. Nor was Captain Gordon of our Volunteers one whit behind in cool pluck. In charge of aline of skirmishers he encouraged Bis men by his own example, cpietly sitting down and adjusting his sights as if at a rifle match, and picking out the enemy one by one. Fortunately for oar men the Kaffirs shoot high, or it is difficult to see how the officers or the gunners and men near the guns escaped at all. Sergeant-Major Wasley of cur Volunteers had to cross the square for more ammunition in the hottest of the fire. Eyes were turned upon him, expecting every moment to see him fall, but he returned without a scratch. Soon a private of police and three more of Prince Alfred's Guard were wounded. Darkness came on, and ammunition began to run short. Captain Bayley ordered the men to be chary of ammunition, and not to fire unless absolutely necessary. This reserving of our fire seemed to weary the enemy; their fire slackened, and at about 11 p.m. the last dropping shots ceased, and our wearied handful of men had a little' breathing space. A derisive voice from the enemy's ranks called out in English, "You can go to sleep now till to-morrow;" but the savage foe! had little cause for his sarcasm, occupied as he was in carrying off his wounded and securing the ammunition of his numerous dead,. The men lay on their arms all night, momentarily expecting a second attack. Captain Bayley resolved to husband his scanty store of ammunition till daylight, and ordered the men to use their bayonets* in case of a night attack. At two o'clock in the morning leisure was found tq jo*rry a little water to tho wounded nieri, and after the arrival of a welcome reinforcement of mounted police from Theka, the next morning showed the enemy retiring, carrying off his wounded and the arms left on the scene

ofthe action. The enemy left 107 dead close to our camp, the Fingoes traced anany more afterwards in the bush, and besides this the Kaffir* always carry off their mortally wounded whilst there is any sign of life in them. Their loss may be reckoned roughly at some 200 killed and wounded as an estimate well within the mark; Daring the action and. through the night the wounded under the waggon had a bad time of it. Bullets struck the waggon perpetually, and the horrible inaction of lying helplessly under the fire, with suffering limbs and bleeding wounda was ten thousand fold worse

than any amount of fatigue and ci-

posure in action; . . ... There seems to bo a very strong feeling against Mr Brownleo, the Secretary for Native Affairs, as well as against the leaders of the Cabinet. People know that be understood the natives, and that he could read the signs of the times; and he is bettered to hare sacrificed his independence of character and personal knowledge ef affairs to the imperious will of his colleagues in office. Messrs Molteno and Merriman had said that there was to bo no war, had disbelieved the warnings of experienced men on the frontier, and had co'mmiited the Ministry to peace-

at-any:price policy, and Mr Brownlee swam In their boat. Had he taken an independent line, and resigned his portfolio with a clear note of warning to tho country—the Ministry wonld possibly have taken steps in time, and saved the country from thu ruin and loss of this war. Ruin is a strong word; but lam credibly informed that near Komgha alone —a small village and military post, i»«\ir Zing William's Town and the Kei—£BoUo worth of cattle have been stolen in the last three months, slid other border districts have suffered in like numuer. We must end this state of afftiirs at all coats, and the soouer the better. How it is to be done, and who is to do it, are questions easier asked than answered.