The Express.
London, England, 1852-03-08 00:00:00

THE KAFFIR WAR.

ARRIVAL FROM THE CAPE.

In the course of Saturday night the Windsor, East
Indiaman, Captain Pryce, one of the Messrs. Greens
vessels, arrived in Plymouth Sound, from Madras, for
London, last from the Cape of Good Hope, which
she left on the AL day of January. She brings 11
days' later dates than that brought by the General
Steam Shipping Company's vessel, the Hellespont,
Captain Watts, which arrived with the Cape mail
on the Ist of February. The news brought by the
Windsor is of a favourable character, as will
be seen by the latest Government order, given be-
low. In consequence of the circumstances therein
related, and the increase of confidence amongst the
colonists, the general tone of feeling at Cape Town,
and throughout the colony, had considerably im-
proved, and the reduction of the rebel forces was
confidently spoken of and anticipated.
The arrival of the reinforcement of troops had
greatly tended greatly to increase the growing
confidence of the colonists in the power of the
Government, and it was rumoured that Sandilli,tired
of the hostile position ho Las hitherto maintained,
was about to abandon it.

The dispatches, said to be of considerable import-
ance, brought by the Windsor, were landed at
Fal-
mouth on Friday. She also landed a mail there
from the Mauritius and the Cape. The following
general order contains the gist of all the informa-
tion by this arrival relating to the war :

King William'm Town, Jan. 2,

. -
Dispatches hive been this evening received by his Excel-
lency the Commander-in-Chief, from Major-Ueneral So-
merset and Lieut.-Wow:I Eyre. Upwards of 6,000 head of
cattle hail been captured by Major-General Somerset up to
the 23rd ult., and 7,000 were in possession of Colonel Eyre
to the 21st ult., exclusive of vast numbers, estimated
seven hundred, drowned at the confluence of the Tsomo
and Kei. Major (hikers' Somerset and. Lieutenant-
Colonel Eyre were in direct communication on the 23d ult.,
and were about to descend the luaLr ILisliee, to which
large herds of cattle hod been driven, while Faku, it was
expected, would make a forward movement.
The }lngots Lid rallied round the British troops. The
continued rains had been much against the troops, who
were, however, in high spirits. and health.
By his Excellency's command,
JOHN OAUVOCIL, lieut. Colonel,
Principal Secretary.

January 4111.
Mournful intelligence has reached town this morn-
ing of the death of Major-General Wilmot, Royal
Artillery, commanding at Fort Peddle. This able
and gallant officer was shot on New Year's hay,
while leading on his men in an attack upon the
enemy in the jungle of the Fish River, where it was
said Sandilla had taken shelter. The lamented
deceased was amongst the bravest and must
active officers in the field. Oa every occasion
where hard and gallant service was demanded, he
distinguished himself. lle fell as a soldier, and his
name will stand conspicuous among the defenders
of the country, and be embalmed in the memory of
its inhabitants.

Respecting the trans-Kei expedition, the Sout4
African Adrertiser of Jan. 7, says :

No intelligence respecting the operations of the forces
on the Kei has been received since the 16th of last month.
The force assembled under Guieral Somerset, across that
river, on the 3rd, amounted to 4,000 men, incluilinc the
12th Lancers, Cape Corps, Armstrong's lior-e, filth
and 2nd and 3rd regiments. Several &Liebe:outs from
this force have had occasional skirmishes with parties of
the enemy, and between two and three thousand cattle and
goats are said to have been taken, but no large bodies,
either of foes or cattle, have yet been discovered. The
weatherfrom the first Art= to have been in the 11 ghest de-
gree uorivourable—rain, fat, and swollen rivers—so tat
the Kaffir,. have had ample time to remove their cattle,
and themselves, if so inclined, to an almost unapproach-
able distance. In November and December, 1817, General
Somerset traversed the same country, and had to con-
tend with precisely the same obetaeles and alien ten
days' hard work brought about 2,1/00 head of cattle.
Besides the inclemency of the weather tho horses and other
cattle suffered severely from the badness of the grass. In a
letter, dated East Bank of the Kei River, Decemlail 1,
1817, he says, " I returned to the springs yesterday morn.
ing, conceiving it useless to attempt any further movements
until the waters should subside, bringin; in about 2,00 J
head of cattle." and Sir George Berkeley, in a letter dated
"Camp on the Camp, December 2, 1847," say*, "Both
men and horses have been so much fatigued that they will
require some days rest; and an the grass on the opposite
side of the liei is very bad, and the pievoitre of the river un-
certain in cons.-quence of the weather, I have ordered Col.
Somer-et to withdraw his camp to this b ink, so as to ensure
I supplies, and to afford rest to his hoses." The expedition
in December, 18.51, resemb ing that sit 1817, in an many un-
favourable C114..U111.A.41.Cef, leaves little ground to expect
immediate success. It was said, when the forte left King
Walliana's TOWit, that they would probably be absent two
months. Nearly half of that time had already elapsed.
_ _ _

The Cape Tara Mail, of Jan. 6, has the following:

Graham's Town, Dec. 30, IBsl.—The usual post from
Kathrland arrived at the accustomed time yesterday morn-
ing, and has again proved deficient as regards public intel-
ligence of uuy importance. The people at King William's
Town, generally, stem to know about as little of the move.
talents of the troops beyond the Kei as we do here in
Graham's Town. it is resorted that the troops are iu pos-
session of immense booty, in the shape of captured cattle,
and that the governor is about to send, or has already sent
forward, additional forces to bring this booty safely to hula
Accounts from seine other parts of the colony are wearing
a more unfavourable aspect than of late hoe been the
In the neighbourhood of Cradock, the enemy is said to be
again very active, and cattle and sheep to a considerable
extent have been stolen. In the Winterberg, tour sons of
Mr. Knott have had severe work with the Kaffir.. They
are reported to have beeu surrounded and attacked by some
300 or 400 Kaftirs, who told them they hal come to "roast
them," and they hail some difficulty in effecting their
escape. Very near Uitenhage, a Dutchman (Stephanus
I'otgieter) has been shot by KLars. Within the last few
days, it is said, the house of Mr. Whiting, on or near the
line of road from Gt 11111101.6 Town to Algoa Bay, was burnt
by a party of Kaffira, the family here also hoeing some delft-
' culty in escaping from their savage foe.. Cattle have like-
wise been stolen from this vicinity. All these affairs show
that the enemy is still hovering about us, and only watching
for suitable opportunities fur mischief.
Some information has been received this morning which,
if it prove correct, is of considerable importance. It is mid
that two men have come in from Col. Percival's camp, who
report that the notorious Jan Peckham, with twenty of his
followe re' have been captu:ed in the Fish River Bash.
But, lest disappointment should ensue, it may be as well to
remember' that he has already been killed or taken oftener
than once during the progress of the war.
An account received from another quarter may, we be-
lieve, be more depended upon than the above. It has been
ascertained that there is a considerable party of rebel Hot-
teutots in the bush somewhere not far from Mr. Goldswaiii's
farm, Burt Kraal. A man who has been in communication
with them has been seized, and lie has promised
to disclose their place of retreat. Under his guidance about
40 of the mounted Bangers, headed by Captain Stubbe,
have this morning started from town, and it is confidently
expected that betere nightfall they will be able to give a
good account of some of these vagabonds. The results, of
course, will not be known until the return of the Rangers.
We have heard that the village of Somerset was visited last
Wednesday by le most severe storm of hail, Which has done
great damage to the bosses, fields, and gardens.
Graham's Town, Dee. 27, Pi il.—The post from the
interior,—that is to say, from Bloem Fontein, Colcsbere.
Cutback, and Somerset, arrived at the usual time. We
cannot learn that any information of moment was received
from that quarter. The inquiries and expectations of the
frontier are now •Ilmott solely directed towards the opera-
! nous beyond the Kei. Of these operations but very little is
yet known wish certainty. Notwithstanding the man-
ner in which the account has been published in the
Journal, and which would lead most readers to
suppose the statements to he official, wo learn
from a letter from King William's Town, of the
most indisputable authority, that little is known
there except through the medium of Kaffir reports. On
these reliance cannot always be placed. It appears that, so
far as is known, Col. Mackinnon's division has not been
very successful, having captured only about 300 head of
cattle, hail little or no lighting. and, in fact, scarcely seen
an enemy.
It is reported in the same letter, as a Will known fact in
King William's Town, that Sandilli has sent messengers
to the governor to know on what terms peace may he ob-
tained. The brief reply was, " I do nut know you. • It is
to be hoped the governor will listen to nothing short of full
and unconditional surrender. The eastern protinee will
not be, and the colony at large ought not to be, satisfied if
it be lett iu the power of Sandilli, or any other Kaffir chief,
to enact over again in a fsW years the terrible twisty
which we have witnessed within the last twelve months.
Some sensation has been created here by a repent, mid
t 4, have taken its rise from some holding official stations.
that the idea is entertained by the home government of
colonising British Kroh-aria, that is, as soon 11,1 the Kitties
ore thoroughly expelled from it, by convicts from Gnat
Britain. Should this plan really lie in contemplation, the
evil will he but one remove from having them amongst our
own pooulaion. We likewise hear that litters frost Eng-
land speak with some confidence of the prolsability of the
removal of the seat of government from Cape Town to
Graham's Town, or at any rate to the frontier districts.
Yesterday reining, about II o'clock, the two hon. members
of a outwit arrived in Graham's Town, having come up from
Port Elizabeth iu a government mule waggon, which was
placed at their service.
During the last few days, eve have again had thunder-
storms' attended by heavy rains. So much rain has lento
within so short a period of time, that it it feared the croln

of oats, wheat. mad will materially safer. The past
ppm cape Town, stririen=tithuiest mom has sot yet
arrived, greatly to the t of these expeetang
Paters.
(From the Gnallmses Mars Joanna.)
TM intelligence from the army now is Kreli's ematry,
fornishe. very little beyond war previous inaperfeet know-
ledge of its p We fear the troops have been
laering mostwrencilelrys.from the almost daily torrents of
rigs. which have fallen in all parts of rho reentry, brat
oepecially in the region where they are now operating. It
• mipowible to think without deep sympathy of the sa-
ran and suffering of so 'Keay brave men, the greater
were of whom are, we believe, without tents to urea them.
'We greatly fear that not a few win suff, r iu health and
perhaps life, from being obliged so Mug to sleep, when they
ma deep, at nights on the wet grand. From the temper of !
Writieh troops, we believe, however, that their vexation
will come chieffy from the great hinderanee which the
heave ruin* and overflowing of the rivers must be to their
active efforts, and the advantage which the enemy has
thereby s mired of time to carry off or secrete his cattle. Ili
the latest intelligence the division under (hwn"! Somerset
yd captured about 2,.i0n head of cattle. No precise ac-
count bad been received from Col. Eyre'. brigade, but it is
bike& that they had a'• • secured a considerable manlier
of eattk. There is very little doubt if the weather
hail been propitious that the movement beyond the Kei
would have hen before now preduciive of some decisive
results. .the Ay the very attempt of the troops to get at
the fide cattle of the Gaikne, which have been so long de-
peter, .1 on, 41,4 beyond the Kei, has produced its effects on
ilk, „nem, . We stated in our extra, on Tuesday, that there
was a rumour that the Chief Seyolo had sent a woman
through a particular channel of communication to ascertain
from the governor on whet term. it would be pooible te
obtain peeve. It is now known that this was not Mere ru-
mour, but feet : and a still inure sienificant sign of the times
ti the[ Saudilo ale Seat a ales,e inter to the governor oaths
Vii.l inst. to ask for conditions of peace. We are glad to
learn that hi. Eteellency caused the messenger to receive SO
Other reply that " Andintaxe Sanelilla '." i.e. &toddle ? I
don't know him "' This reply will be at since understood
by all Kalifs to mean that the governor will nut acknow-
ledge or neierniee that chief. This brief but decisive reply
shows that his Excelleney is fully aware of what the crests
demand., awl will be eatiefactory to the colonists as chew-
ing that there is no desire to hasten hostilities to conclusion
without any att. inpt to obtain a satisfactory settlement of
&Law
TUE FRONTIER.
(From the Town !mem?. let. At

The intelligence. from the seat of Vf.lr is unimportant.
'Vague rumours were afloat as to the movements of the
British forces across the Itei, but thew ore so obscure that
we do not deem it desirable to do more than refer to them.
One thing only appears to be certain—namely, that this for-
ward movement has had a most salutary effect upon the
belligerent tribes, exciting amongst them the greatest
alarm, and leading to the withdrawal, toe considerable ex-
tent, of the marauders by whine' the frontier districts had
been pre eniasly infested. l'nfortunately, the weather has
been eery unfavourable for the neoremeut of the troops in
the Kaffir country, where every river, after heresy rains
Llr those lately experienced, becomes a torrent, rend^riaF
the passage of them extremely difficult and dangerous, if
not utterly impracticable.. This state of the weather is not
without its advantages. 'f he whole fare of the country is
splendid; pasture and watt r arc abundant everywhere, and
the crops within the colony, where not destroyed by super-
abundant moisture, pre wuts an appearance of luxuriance
Which has nee: f been surpassed.
The same journal aat•a :

Lt puhlAing the following extract from s "general
*via,' just promulgated, we simply remark, at preseut,
that it is a great pity that the offending burgher camps
should not been inentione,L—awl that it i. much to be
regretted tl• :t whole mighbourboods should sulf,r for the
faults 01 :.v.
GENERAL ORDER.

11,.n1-luarters, King Wm.'s Town, 28th Dee., 18.11.
An inv., tion report of *nine of the burgher posts esta-
bli-heil in .%lhany having beau laid before the commander-
in i hivr. his excellency i. called on to exprts, Ilia surprise at
their inefficient 'date. At one of those posts, where rations
were grant. d to 40 emu and 3d horses, there were only 10
mounted roes mustered ; at another only 11 mounted men
turned out where rations were loaned for 30 men and 31
horses; at a third, with 30 men and horses on rations,
only Iu mounted men appeared; and at a fourth, with sti
men and horses on rations, only 23 could be assembled ; thus,
where 1.10 min were rationed, only 34 were present. Ilia el-
itellency is aware that some of them might have bees
inri-
dentall, absent, but being hilly satisfied of the total want of
aerniari7 of dependence to be placed on those detached posts,
direets all burgher lards not regularly enruhed and placed
taller military rootril lo be discontinued from the Ist Feb.,
boat which rte all rations will cease to be issued to them. '
It afforded the commander in-chief every possible satisfac-
tion to e-tabists them and other burgher posts, and while a
habit of complaint axiom, the came of great circumspection
Is the public eapeuditnre is apparent.
(Signed) A. J. Cunt's, Q.-M.-G.

The Fro ad eke Sovereignty, of the 22nd of De-
cember says, that the Basuto tribes are restless and
unsettled. through attacks made on them by reputed
allies of the government, the Plattbcrg Ikudards and
Burolongs. Previous to these attacks the people of
Meshes); were disposed to abstain from violence.
Since then the farmers along the boundaries have
suffered from the Bondi*, who un the llth of De-
eetuber attacked three waggons belonging to some
trek-been, and captured a number of cattle Ind
bones. Two companies of the 45th, under Captain
Parish, and a detachment of artillery under Lieu-
tenant Singer, have been stationed for the protec-
tion of the chief Maroc,' and the Bar°long tribe;
and Lieutenant Bourke and 23 of the Cape Corps
have marched to iVinburg to enable the district far-
mers to return to their homes.

"Mr. Thomson of the Zulu—expedition, arrived in
Pietermaritzburg on the Nth December, having left
the Zulus, that lieve now returned from the sove•
reignty. at Ladysmith. The cause of his return is
we understand, firstly, because the Zulus were not
longer required there; secondly, the dysentery had
let in violently among them, and some had died, se
that it P 4 vfDa advisable to conduct them hack. The
report of conflict with Nlolitzani, and casualties but
too eagerly grasped at by fabricating report, is all
remote from the fact, nothing having occurred of
teach a nature.—Natul Ineleprsiticut.
Iler Majesty's steamer ulcan was to leave Table
Bay on January 3rd fur England. Captain Monk-
land. ;Ith Ilighlandirs, Dr. Dick, and Lieutenant
Palmer, of the 13th Regiment, and Quartermaster
Cassidy. take pruisage in her. The Ithadamanthus
sailed on the 2nd of January from Table Bay for
Simon's Bay, where she would join Commodore
Writ', in the Cuter, and the Senngapatam bulk.
The Sty:, 6, arrived at Port Elizabeth on the 20th
of December, with a mail and 20,0001. in specie.
In Table Bar were the merchant ships Coiling-
wood, for Bowline ; Phmnix, for Algae Bay ; Wind-
fice, and Lady Montague, and John Bull, for Lon-
don; and .k.casts, for Ceylon ; the brigs Jose-
phine. for London ; Workington, fur East London ;
and Essex, Anne, Curlew, Wanderer, Sarah Bell,
and Jane. The barque Reginald Heber. from Cal-
cutta, for Liverpool, was under repair. On the 3rd
of January amyl the barque Athenian, 80 days
from England, full of passengers. Sailed, on the 31st
of December, the Caldew, for London; and the Isa-
bella Wood, for the Mauritius; 2nd of January, Ro-
dolphe, for Bourbon; Hyderabad, fur Trinidad; and
Thorwaidaco, fur Batavia.