The Express.
London, England, 1851-09-17 00:00:00

THE KAFFIR WAR.

(Prom last night's Oseotte.)
110ernInG-eTnEET, SEPT. hi.—The following des-
atehes addressed to the Right lien. Earl Grey, have been
-received from LieutenanGGeneral Sir Henry G. W. Smith,
Dirt, Lai% Goveruor of the Cape of Good Hope.
King William's Town, July 3, Isa.
nfy Lord—The general and combined movement into the
Ask Ltut wbieh I hove long had in contemplation
bas !wen etlected with the enceese I anticipated, nail which
y b eve non the honour to lay bef ire your lordship,
I directed the Ist Division, under Major• General Sewer-
set :he 2nd Divisiou, under Colonel Mackinnon, and a
forte of 300 men from Whittelsca, under Captain Tylden,
se to post themselves, that mese mountain ranges might
b, 'emigrated by four distinct columns converging to
• tinter, and which was carried out much to my
last tenon: the operations commencing on the 20th and
cominesher until the :10th ultimo. The combinations were
effected;yufuily each column was at its post as directed ;
mutual support wax thus insert, and signal success was in
s„easquence the result. I in Inc the report. of Major-
tie Lend Simerset, and of Colonel Mackinnon, who was un-
atunately indisposed after the filet day's operations, and
lus saluabh; screwier thus lint. This able officer, however, ,
communicated hie instructions to Lieutenant-Colonel
Michel, open whoin the command devolved, and whose
judgment and energy became conspicuous. His report,
with those of lecutenant-Colonels Eyre and Cooper, are
annexed, together with the general order and government
notice which I issued on the achievement of this important
macaw. They so fully demonstrate the peculiar difficulties
and arduous character of this mountain service, that 1 beg to
grew your lordship's attention to their perusal ; and I, at
tin sauce time, desire to attract your notice to the marked
culoziurn passed upon Ensign Itoberteun, of the Cape
Euented Rine., captain in colniceind of a detachment of
Armstrong's Hone:. The .1.10VC.4 of every patrol iIIV iriably
bore:ses the gallant conduct of this young and most intre-
pid officer, in whose rising judgment I place every confi-
dence.
.pr-fiencral Somerset speaks in the highest terms of
Limb uant-Colonel Fordyce and the 71th Regiment, re-
meetly arrived from Enelaed, upon whom the brunt of these
epeiniene fell in the Ist Division; and I also desire to draw
your lonlship's attention to the ability displayed in com-
mie' by Lieutenant-Colonel Michael, of the 6th Royal
lit; to the usual mnspieuous gallantry of Licute-
nnet-eelonel Eyre and the ;:led ; awl to the conduct of the
Bey.' Marines of her Majesty's ship Castor, under their
editor, Lieutenant Itarrie, and attached to the 73ril, which
netally merits my commendation. Lieutenant-Colonel
Leoper, 4 nth Regiment, eiinimanded with much ability the
Column of troop, from Fort C.a.
Fifteen hundred heal of tattle, 42 horses, and nearly
Le )4 goats were septettd by the 2nd division ; 3'lo heel of
cattle by the Ist, and 300 by the force under Capt. 'f ylilen ;
while larce stores of corn were destroyed, as well ay uumes
reel, recently eonstructed line, To be compelled thus bar-
barously to persecute war, ever cruel in even its most miti-
gatd form, is revolting to the Christian mind. But no
ether cosine is open. The feeling with which the Euro-
peen n garde his country and his home is, in the else of the
Eanir, centered in his herds and flecks, fur which he will
fie ht to the bast; and the only means of opening a prospect
of bringing to a close this harassing and destressiug war is to
we. ,t his muele prized cattle from him in the heart of his
Leone.. I and almost impenetrable forests, into which
hi drives them for conemiment and security. In the
midst of these scenes of deeuletion I am consoled by the fact
th et the motile arc aware that the war was commenced by
the er ; that every prisoner is set at liberty
awl had that peace and the fanner harmony which pre-
ened are our only objects, after the due punishment of the
war party and their mix thins chiefs ; and, more than all,
by the gratifying reflection that our troop. can be charged
with no art of wanton cruelty. Not one instance has been
broueht to my notice of any outrage having been perpe-
trated by the es ce-huinane British soldier, or even by the
existed Hottentot or exasperated lingoes; and this is the
more commendable when it is bonne in mind that the
atr gni,* eimintitted by the Kaffir. at the commencement of
the war arc fresh in the re red hastiest of our soldii ry. Avoiding,
es Italy own part, all .14'.•11,1cre--, they at the Name time
eaunot forget the cold-Wooled murder of our military va-
in es, perpetrated under the guise of frieuelehip, or the
seems uie on the Del Ilets of the eeventeen soldiers of the
4.5 th Iteeinieut. who had eiven no preirecation, and with
whims their murderers had for three years been uu terms of
the meet friendly intercourse.
'lii, success in the &manilas which I have now reported
law. hoses, r, had no pose ptible etfct as regards the ter-
suinetioo of '1 ne people indeed declare, as I
ham from information which nettles inn from various
some", that they are tired of the struggle and that oar
paroles keep them in a state of constant diem ; while the
chief Saudilli amens unit gives out " that an agent
he. gone on his accouut to England. who will pro-
cure the restoration of Cie laud which he forfeited
in the revious war ;" such forfeiture hiving been
the e•undition on which he obtained his own liberty
and that of his "Great Men," who were in confinement
with him when I aunineil the Administration of this go-
vernment, and un which p, ace and tranquillity were given
to his 'ensile. In proof that an asserti 111 l of this kind has
been mettle by Seadili, I unto c the copy of a deposition
formally cads by the Chit I. Tobie before the 'redamleie
ominiiseioner, the purport ut which is corruburated by
various •pit in my einpley.
My nest patted will he directed against the chief, Stock
and liea, and the renegade rebel Hottentots. alio have
he atilt themeelves in the Hell River Bush, to intercept my
conimunicat. with Graham's Town, and to spoil the cattle
of the Eingese around lint have, &c.
The Right HMI. Earl Grey. H. G. SMITH.
VS.—Situ., this deli:oil: was closed, I have receised a
mein from Major-lion. rat Soniersig, that 'Jae had con-
tinent fir maw days his operations on the north aide of
the stmatides—anothi r proot of the activity runt energy of
this experienced °thee:. 1 Mamie his report iu tile shape
in which 1 hose given it publicity in a general order.
11. G. SMITH.
Schedule of Enclosures in Governor Sir 11. Smith's
Despatch to Earl Grey, Nu. 11.1, dated 3rd July, ISA. :-
1 Major-General fieutersit's revert, dated 2Sth Juue 18.51.
°t 2 une' aleekinnon's reaurt, I,t July, 1831. 3. Lieut.-
,!erie I Mithel's reputt, Ist July, ISA. 4. Lieut.-Colonel
Esre'e,report, 3ath June, 1851. 3. Lieut.-ColonelCoriper's
reeert, Ist July, 1851. O. General Order, 3rd July, and
Item, tomcat, Ist Ju1y,1431. 7. Letter from Captain Mac-
h with enclosure. S. General Order, and report of
E.en-lieuer.d Somerset, elated 3rd July, 1851.
Camp on the Cluirane, June 98, 18,51.
r.-1 have the bunion to acqueint you fur the interns*,
b of to excellency the cotinnander-unchief, that agree-
a'.a to the instructions centeinel in the commander-ins
tie is usetworandutu of the 1 Ith inst., I moved troin this
ewe:. with the troupe uuder ray orders before daylight on
te eh lust.
A• dawn, I wended the western range of the Amatola
heidits in two minims, and hating established the troops
se, the ridge, I halted preparatory to attacking the position
of the enemy in the forest un the northern range of the
Ate eela, previous to which I muceseled with a detachment
of :he Cape atuunted Billet. 1.. reconnoitre the position of the
reilay along the elope of the Victoria heights; on reaching
tle eeithent point of the range, the enemy opened a brisk
fir, ea my party, which was returned by the Cape
Illuanted Itifies, and was sustained on both sick'
wed the column of the Levies, consisting of the
be este, Grialf-Reinet, and Fort Beaufort lingoes, whom
I had detached to the right under Captain licathcote, had
been lerought up; these I immediately moved forward,
.reported by two companies 91. t regiment under Major
Fights, the whole commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Sutton,
mel the enemy was driven from his position into the valley
Blew.
While these operations were going forward, I returned
to my left, and moved the 71th regiment, Cape Mounted
Late.. EUrOpeilli Levy, Kit River Levy, and Alice and
knit Tiliabeth lingo; corps, down the valley into the Aina-
tel.i basin. Perceiving the enemy's force of Kalfirs and
real Iluttentots strongly posted along the lower ridges
Under the northern range of the Amatola, and collected in
a racing body on the extreme point of the ridge, partly con-
eedi.d; and covered by the high rocks and stones, I
dinned Eieutensuat-Calonel Fordyce to move his regiment
On to the attack—this movement being flanked by the Alice
and Pun Elisabeth Fiugoee under Captains Cumbers and
The enemy commenced a brisk fire on the advancing
top and lingoes, both from the forest and the ridge—
*. Ith Highlanders steadily moving forward and deploy-
,
into line under fire, extended and opened its fire on
tL enemy, who still kept up a galling fire on the troops,
awl continued it until the position was most gallantly car-
ried, and the regiment placed in position on the ridge—not,
however, 1 regret to say, without some loss on our side,
e men of the 74th Highlanders being killed, and one
ether and nine men wounded.
The force under Lieutenant-Colonel Sutton had in the
meantime: driven the enemy from his position on the lower
Lf.:4-iteittc,ltutthweizitiallti?e,land up the the ridges of the Victoria
men killed of the George
Lee;, and five lingoes severely wounded, two of them
sixes dew,
The Fort Beaufort lingoes having again rejoined me, I
timed the fiat River Levy, European Levy, and Fort
Beaufort lingoes up the ridges of the northern range of
the &omega, proceeding also to that point myself with
the Cape Mounted Rifles and Mounted George Levy, at
which point 1 met the 74th Regiment, where Lieutenant-
Culonel Fordyce had again been strongly attacked by the
enemy from a strip of forest bush which intersected the
4dees at that point, and where two of his gallant wittier,
were killed.
Reviug assembled the troops at this point, it being then one
G.6°4, 1 halted the troops to refresh, and proceeded myself
to reconnoitre the ground and country at the bead of
Vic Zabooka or Woolf River: on the ridge at the
wft Lank of the Zanooka, I observed a reconnoitring
lolly of the Cape Mounted Rifles, from, 1 imigine,
ohs off the detached columns from head-quarters. On
1, returning to where I had left the troops, some
of the rebels, I understood, had called out that they
*shed to surrender. Lieutenant-Colonel Sutton rode out
to hear what they had to say, when they stated that many
at them wished to come away but were afraid, that they
vi*bed time to collect their people, that they might consult
*a all cornea together, and they requested a week. I
*used them to be informed that they must surrender
im-
*Whitely, and that I would only. give them half an hour.
At the expiration of the time, the troops being re-
nesheil, I morsel the 71th Regiment again upon their posi-
tion, flanked by the Fort Beaufort lingoes; Lieutenant-
'2elentl Fordyce took the opportunity to inter two men of
the ash, who bah fallen, and then moped on ; some
ft took place, but the enemy retired into the forestrig
OP Oie mountame, and abandoned the position; one soldier
pi the 74th Regiment was, I am sorry to soy, &irately