The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-04-02 00:00:00

COURAGE OF THE BASUTOS IN
BATTLE.

The following letter from an officer serving in Basutoland
is sent to us for publication (says The Times of Tuesday),
with the view of showing the determined courage of the
Basutos in battle :
" Ramakhoatse Camp, Feb. 16, 1881.—Yesterday
Colonel Brabant, let Yeomanry, went out to make a
reconnaissance in the direction of Boleka. We had
570 men, a 70-pounder howitzer, and two 7-pounder
field guns. Directly we started the enemy began
gathering on our front and both flanks. The trek
chain of the big gun broke in a hollow, and the
column hi..d to halt to repair it. I was ad-
vanced guard as usual. The enemy, we knew,
had massed on the top of the rise just under
cover, and knowing their tactics I dismounted
the Cape Mounted Rifles and moved up the ridge
in a hollow square, with the horses in the centre,
about 150. Infanbry were on our left, about forty
yards off. Before reaching the top of the ridge we
again halted to give the men a breathe, and I rode on
to the top to find out where the enemy really were.
When I got on the top I saw them on our right
all mounted, and waiting the moment to charge.
I gave them a shout, and rode back. We then
advanced, one side of my Cape Mounted Rifles square
forming a support to the infantry, who had only
just arrived in Basutoland, and had never been
under fire, with the exception of a few old
hands of the Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer
Rifles (Cape Town). Directly we got on top of the
ridge they charged on three sides, front, right, and
left. On the front and right they were met by the
Cape Mounted Rifles and at once gave way, those on
the right rallying behind a ridge and opening fire at
400 yards' range. Those who charged in front got to
within about 70 yards of us, then broke, and did not
rally. Directly I saw we were all right, I looked to
the left to see how the infantry were getting on, and,
te my astonishment, there were the Basutos almost
on top of them. The charge on the infantry was
the chat E of the day, and it was magnificently re-
pulsed. :he enemy charged right on to their
bayonets, one man being actually bayonetted in
their ranks. Horses and men were lying dead all
round, and so close that a man could touch them
without leaving the ranks. It was the most despe-
rate charge I have yet seen, as the enemy on that side
were not more than 300 strong. They were about
the same strength on our front, and from 1,200 to
1,500 on our right, altogether not so many by half :IF
charged my squadron on the 4th of January. I believe
they attempted a charge on the rear, but I did not see
it. I hear it was stopped by a gun we keep on the
kopje near the camp. Our loss was three wounded,
one dangerously. The enemy lost about 100. There
were 21 dead bodies and 17 dead horses in front of the
infantry, and we could see them carrying away their
wounded. The howitzer did great execution at 800
yards as they were retreating, but they are no good for
case unless they are already laid, as it is hard work to
get them round into action, they are so heavy. We
hope to move on to Morije in a day or two. The
General left the colony for this yesterday, and the
reinforcements are moving up steadily.'