The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-07 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY

enemy from hie positions in the mountains of the Krona'
Range. On the 18th instant I detached a large force, under
Lieut.-Culiinel Fordyce, to the Blinkwater valley, to bring
up ammunition and supplies. In the meantime, I employed
the remainder of the force in making a strong reconnnisauce
' of the enemy's various positions, preparatory to my in-
tended attack upon him, on the return of Lieut.. Colonel
Fordyce's force with the necessary supplies. These were,
however, delayed by the heavy rams, which set in on the
18th and 19th instants—preelnding the execution of any
operations with advantage. In the meantime, I proceeded
to Post Relief, to make certain arrangements fur the
wounded men whom I had wet to that poet.
On the 21st instant, the enemy having previously shown
on the distant heights a very strong concentrated hirer,
threatening the passage of the convoy from Blinkwater, I
moved, with .Lieutertant.Culonel Michel's brigade, at dawn
of that day, and occupied the eastern spurs of the Kromme
Range, to give protection to the convoy proceeding up the
steep end difficult pass of the Blinkwater hill, and the eon-
vo was thus safely conducted to the bivouac at three p.m.
On the 22nd instant, having made my dispositions for
attacking the enemy on the following morning, I marched
Lieuteuant-Colonel Michel's brigade from the heights to
Illinkwater, preparatory to musing up Fuller's Hoek the
following morning.
On the 23rd in-tant, having arranged with Lieutenant-
Colonel Nesbitt that he should move his force at daybreak
up the Blinkwater to the point where the Hog's Back Range
abutted on the waggon road, and then, bringing his right
shoulders forward, work up that :WIN, I ordered the re-
mainder of the troops, consisting of the royal artillery,
under Lieutenants Campbell and Field, Lieutenant-Col.
Fordyce's brigade, and the Cape Mounted Rifles, direct on
the enemy's position at the head of the Waterklis:f. The fog
lifted as the run rose. Ou approaching the forest. I detached
two guns Royal Artillery and Cape Mounted Rifles to the
left of my position, on the western ridge of the !log's Back
Hill, to cover the movement of Lieut.-Colonel Neshites
force. I opened fire on the enemy's position at that point,
where I observed the Rates hotly. engaged with the enemy,
moving up in skirmishing order, in fine style, along the face
of the ridge, receiving the enemy's tire, and driving him up
the hill.

I then ordered the 12th end 74th Regiments upon the
enemy's position along the edge of the ton,t, occupying
the Links with the Forgoes. The enemy here, ha ing strongly
posted below rocks in the forest, opened a galling and well-
sustained fire on the advancing line. Seeing the Iliac, had
gained the height, I opened tire with artillery from both
Hanks of my position, the enemy still holding the rocks, and
firing severely from the cover, the 74th suffering some loss.
At nine o'clock I observed brut.-Colonel Michel's brigade
advancing through the belt of forest on the right of the
enemy's position. I directed him to cross the front of their
position, and support the 74th on their right. A., the rear
of Lieut.-Colonel Michel's column had cleared the forest, I
saw it strongly attacked from behind; the 91st faced about,
and drove the enemy back, suffering some loss ourselves and
the enemy suffering severely. The Ritles, having captured
69 head of cattle, end baring now joined on my leR, the
enemy's position being turned and driven back, I threw out
three companies to occupy the belt of forest at the head of
Waterkloof. At hall•past 11 I ordered the troops is halt
and breakfast, having been under arms, marching, and en-
gaged with the enemy, from 4 s.ni. While halting, I ob-
served the enemy retreating, rod passing from tie bath of
the Waterkloof Forest towards the lirenune Range. At
2 p.m., Lieut.-Colonel Nesbitt's brigade having moved up
in light order without blankets, I desired his force to return
to the Illinkwater by the eastern spur of that range, cover-
ing this movement with the guns. At 3 p.m. I placed
Lieut.-Colonel Michel's brigade in position, retiring with
the remainder down the valley for water. Our loss this
day was three men of Lieut.-Colonel Nesbitt's brigade
wounded—one mortally; two men 74th killed, three
wounded ; three men 91st Regt. wounded, having driven the
enemy from one of the strongest positions I ever saw, de-
fended by large rocks end headlands, intersected by ravines
of immense depth.
On the morning of the 24th inst., I moved up to Lieut.-
Colonel Mithel's position, but the weather set in with such
a fog, accompanied b 7 sleet end rain, that I found it im•
practicable to act against the enemy with advantage. The
following morning, the weather becoming more lever*,
with violent hail and sleet, I countermanded all further
operations.
On the morning of the 26th, I moved Lieut.-Col. For-
dyce's force, at five cm., from Mundell's farm down to the
bottom of the Waterldoof valley, with directions to him to
march round the western spur of the range up the valley
to the southern bead of the /imam Ridge, to attack the
new position which the enemy had taken up in force.
While this movement was going on, I directed Lieut.-Col.
Michel to move on their force, and occupy the belt of bush
that intersects the range between Fuller's Hoek and Water-
kloof. This movement was executed in the most able and
spirited manner by Lieutenant Colonel Michel and his
force. In the meantime, I observed Lieutenant-Colonel
Fordyce's force advance from the opposite heights, did
clearing the enemy's position. I then passed the 91st Reps.
through the forest, and reinforced Lieut.-Col. Fordyce with
it, directing him to occupy the encamp on the enemy's posi-
tion. A company of Captain Verity's Fingoes came across,
bringing out ten oxen and some Hottentot women from the
rebels. These, however, profess to know nothing of the
enemy, saying that their husbands were killed on the 234
inst., that the enemy's loos is very great, and that Macomo
does not know where to find security. One of these pri-
soners is the widow of Christian Van Staden, a prominent
leader of the Blinkwater rebel Hottentots, from the omit-
mencement of the war.

Oa the 27th inst., Lieut.-Col. Fordyce came through the
heist with his regiments. The enemy showed name re-
dolence at the bead of Fuller's Hoek, attacking two wpm
rubs skat bed sawed that point, and were not driven
bre Intel le:11=• meant/non them with the gnu
mid airesply the party; Licut.-Col. Michel's
hens haring, remanding le my previous direction, worked
up the the valleys of the Blinkwater. Our loss this day
Wlll kinftd,, bllt the enemy must have suffered considera-
bly. I elsonwell him retiring from all points. I saw the wo-
Yam retreatiaidevra the distant willies, with loads on their',
buds—tbiseetly indicating aaireacuation of their coon-
toy. As I had ~red yesterday the enemy retiring towards
Mr. the Krems., I saw that he had'.
abanßdtedwet m sad I armed Lind:Col.
Fordyce to sea his brigade at daybreak yesterday, to
follow the enemy down through the pares of the forest.
Leaving LiraL-Col. Michels brigade in position at the
head of ttos Wellarldoef, I moved the Cape Mounted Rifles
Gad two pas imalAstillery down the valley of the Blink-
wow, in mar i• operate against the enemy in the lower
At mid-day I found Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyce
peened down the Kromme heights and through the
tsion, esenieg it is ell direction, but he had seen nothing
of the many easseeng a few straggling Win. The very
ispolest pins race nomerees duties that have engaged
Guy aelseilisa den my upset of the 17th instant have not
modeled my goading a mere detailed report of them ope-
rations oath this date, which I trust the anamander-in-
aid will meow. The result of than swessrfai mem
lions has whin me to dispense with the farther esnisas
of LiostssmthCeinsi Neshitrs inn The amatry
remedy easoetpied by Nemeth twee emempless a mesa.
onset with
tan thee sc=t mis s et esothy Ithenested
mins. sesirdisi. Adige for
an lbszear=ted by themesot =Nlt
rocks, eneyese a very Orme
Is thiamin of the next these or four den I shall have
fully anestithed whether the wary has finally abetheasd
thaw heothishis Swamies, width will swan* me M allow
Lieet-Oellmei Webers beige& to ratan to K Wil-
lbws Tows. Bat the cleaned* ef this is ell mash
importance, the boldly' it stromerettris
I dare set venom large and I ban 7
thee pent.
We nth tisiva the man from ell Ms positione, and
bees hthuniked ea end powered wareidese of all hie ea-
eampreesta
By replete Am Lair wen's, I isms that the iota who
an now
warm
abut am is athedsose ea the
tsssmisd,wiloot asmet pet en and who Nell labs
thy orsetheus ; haplisit relines enact he pnesd
sub dellethats.
I ban to express m warmest thanks to Lieut.-Colonel
Wheel end Lion Fordyce. ensnandieg brines;
es vii es le Lint-oth Nesbitt, be the thin ersomer in
width be bee send es the enemy's heals l end to every
either sod ram engaged is the most impertaat and ar-
duous seniew—l have, de.,
H. Sonoma?, Motor-Oeseral.
Lieut.-Col OlooteC.H.,
Lim William's Town.
11.. _

Caatp,itlinkwater, 9th Nov., 1861.
84,—1 have the beseue w aegweist yea, far th• iaieester
ties of hie steamy tie annewilleriswih4 that la se-
eselease with the orrempueseie had dews ha the weeleeed
sesseenadam, I assembled the Imps at the weevil points
laillsoted as the Know lams, as the sondes of the
Idt bet

ems a.ra. I theureed Limai•Colonel Sutton's
erneeled force sairviii bum the Bush Neck. In the
mess time, Lien olonsd Fordyce had, agreeably to
mg previous direolisme, placid the troop' of his brigade
lit position on the dikes, and occupying the belt of bash
*el intersects the eneing's position, by four companies
of the 74th Highleadees, supported by two companies of
Ithe 117th Kollsoust. ark r Lket.-Col. Percival. This ar-
eselgement he ems to cover the advance of the
demehmeate of Memssd levies, which I had directed
Liorediel. Puss, to rove up by the Waterkloof. While
emersieriffisrve=reelb into effect, I regret that Lieut.
CaL a aortal wound by tie emery, eta-
'Mord Mtenget Nor mite as the utters lea Orr pod-
der • body of the emery appear to bare osseestratod
es rot point, but were driven from it is the moat spirited
mamme by the 74th Highlanders, not, however, I lament
te my, M esseust of the strong position, without suffering
SWIM 1111111111111 SSW (Lieut. Carey), two saiate, and
twe sod Pb Wog officer og killed, and one (Lieut. Clor-
tan :MI litillllls wounded. The 74th Highlanders,
driving the enemy from this part of the
hour Zia reeks, and holding the position until I with-
deem
et= the afternoon.
usui
el Sutton's detachment passed up the
Waterklesf, r far u Mr. Brown's place, and came out at
the hotpath by Mundell's farm, without seeing anything of
the =say. The left of the position was in the meantime
atoopiai Try Judiciously by Lient..Colonel Yarborough,
118•11111101116 9let nreggi•sn t. I also moved Captain Robin-
eft's MN opposite the Waterkloof, where
captrs labium epsodeil tkem with good effect. A dense
he aerie ea at 7 p.m., I withdrew the troops and formed
es my own pugilism without further less, the enemy
imai at all. LINO. Col. Michel had, is accordance
with die previous arrangements, employed the fore* under
bin orders in securing the lower ridges of the Kromme as
far ae Mr. Blakeway's farm, but met with no opposition.
Observing some parties of the enemy occupying the forest
and the rocks at the point of ascent from Fuller's Hoek, I

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