The Express.
London, England, 1848-10-26 00:00:00

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

DEFEAT OF BOERS.
W. were enabled yesterday to publish a brief
loth* of the action fought on the 29th August, at
Boma Pleats, beyond the Orange River, between her
Majesty's fame commanded by Sir Harry. Smith,
sad the insurgent Boers, under Pretorms, which
ended in the defeat of the latter. Intelligence of this
swam was made known on the arrival of the Rosa-
monl 'tamer, yesterday, at Cowes, from 81:11011'd
Bay,the 10th ult., by which opportunity we have
files of the South African Advertiser and other
journals, from which we extract as follows:

GOVERNMENT NOTICE.
COLONIAL Orrice, AUGUST 30, 1848.—Hie mellow
the Governor km directed the Monies notillsetka to be
pffiihbei :—" On the 22nd instant, nearly all the troops re-
hrt sanitary operatiseshaviag then "seabed Colesberg,
emelkesey sommeneed the pomp et that river, and had
en the 28rd moneyed the greeted Needpepalesiems. moss to the right
emit The al porde& of the beyond th
Orange river hamloy been inspired with eseffilenes, end havee
egeserned their readiness to join die gases. Mega. sad set
wind Om rebels. Two of the fell su
end Tae—.wen With WI me,ll4"l=lNl4Non
tb ONIIINNIO and sapped et their eheeld dray be err
girl& The ehisli Aim Yak was also In h rsarg's
Mewl broth hem* the Weds Waterboaand Kiska had
piths melt szesegiery fidelity to their engegemests of
with her Megeft, netwlthstandiag the eesea of
the rebels te endernikes *Mr "spiny. _ Oa 110 err head,
his seetilmasys
.remdiev. lam hied the Niels with ma-
entreaties sad disobey. Thep have fella hest le Wiaboseg,
=am essimge mie seem weemomeye. ding emir
their baskward snewerneet die momseit $5 isitasty
adverted, their es_ tposta lying tem the beaks of the fiver,
kiwis( die meat half smoked upon the fires ; and, although
they 401 haft of their iateetleer• it appears at prier at pee-
baffis that they will not Testate to make a stand at all. -Hie
essellemy regrets that the preemie movement hes been at-
tended with modem loss and dmtrestion of property to many
of her Mainty's leyel subjests begged the Orange river. In
the Wade& MWsa., 600 Ise bee have been forced from
their homes, and the enema esmeatted by the rebel Preto-
rim upon isolated farms and &mem have caused his excel-
lency severe mortification. His excellency, however, re.
juices that there n now a ardent prospect of destroying, ones
and for ever, the inflames of these designing men among
her Majesty's faithful *signet subjects.—By his :2-
lency's commute
(Biped) " JOHN Mosmor, See, to Gay."
" GOVERNMENT NOTICE.
"COLONIAL 0/NICI' Car. Town, SIFT. 9.—His ex-
cellency the gommor' has directed the publication of the
following asonat of the action which took pies. on the 29th
ult. at Home Pleats, between the troops under his command
and the rebel Imre beyond the Orange River, and which
ended in the total rout and subsequent filaht of the rebels.
The notice published on the 30th ult. gays intonnatioa of
the passage of the Orange River, by needy all the troops, on
the 23rd of that month • whereupon Preterits, the rebel
chief, together with those 'under ho. Gourmand, in number
exceeding LOOS men, had fallen backwards towards Win-
burg, with a degree of pre.ipitatiess which rendered the
prospect of s general action improbable. All the
troops bad arrived on the 25th, when his excel-
lency crossed the river in person at their head, and, by
incredible exerfidne, the passage of the river was completed
by them on the 26M. His exlmey then moved the troops,
wits the greatest rapidity, in the direction of Bloom Fon-
tein, in pursuit of the rebels, whom, on the 29th, he found
posted in a very mem
_position at Been Platte, on the
Erma Elleboog River. There is here a succession of ridges
or low hills, basked by a higher range, through • pm in
which the road runs. On a reconnoitering party, accom-
panied by hi. exoelleney, approaching the first ridge, the
rebels suddegly sprang up, and opened a heavy fire upon
them ; the left of their position was, however, quickly
carried by the Rifle Brigade, 46th, and 91st regiment, the
artillery ((sin-poandere) opening at the same time a very
effective tire. The rebels' right, having been considerably
thrown forward, was gallantly attacked by the
Cape Mounted Rifles, under the orders of Lieut. Col.-Buller
and driven back towards the per, in the direction of whisk
the enemy_were now at every point huing, punned front
ridridgeto Mg, of the low hills by her Marryjesty's troops, and
suffering great lose ma they retired from the guise which
opened upon them wherever they could be brought to bear.
It was atnywards found that twelve men had been killed by
one well-directed round shot. On reaching the summit of
the pass the enemy made • bold though fruitless effort to
maintain their position; but by a combined attack of the
Cape ?donated Rifles, with a body of the Griqua Aux,lia-
ries, they were at length driven from this their last
position ; en abandoning which, they fled in the
utmost disorder, and in all directions, over the plain
beyond, leaving behind them many horses and various ani-
ons of dress, &c. Hi, excellency eossinued the pursuit for
several miles, and until it was dark ; but, it being evident
that the rebels were completely broken, he halted for the
night at Calver Fontein. In the hope of overtaking and
capturing the testis of waggoes, he marched next morning,
the 31st, at two o'clock, KW Bethany, which he reached
early in the day; and then ascertained that the enemy's
amp no longer exited, they having fled, with their wagging,
in all dine:tines. On the march, evidence was everywhere
afforded of the precipitate retreat of the rebels, a number
of horses, Ito., Laving been left on the road 49 of the
roomy were counted dead upon the field. Their wounded
may be considered upwards of 150. Owing to the nature of
the ground, which afforded great advantage to the rebel.,
the loss on the aide of her Majesty's troops is, unfortunate)y,
rather heavy, as will be seen by the following return. By
hi. 's commend. (Signed), JOHN INONTAOST,
Secretary to comment."
" Bete= of killed and wounded in action with the rebel
Been, at Boem Flints, on the 29th of August, 1848: Gene-
nil Staff Officers killed and wounded, none; man, ditto;
horses wounded, 2. 45th Regiment (reserve battalion):
Officers ki.led and wounded, none; men killed, 1 ; wounded,
19. 91st Regiment (reserve battalion) : Offiorn killed,
none; wounded, 1 ; men killed, now wounded, 2.
Rifle Brigade: Officers killed, none; wounded,' 2; men
WSW, 3 ; wounded, 12 ; hones killed, 2.—Caps Mounted
Rises: Officers killed, none; wounded 4 ; men killed, 4 ;
ININNOod, 6; hones killed, 9; wounded, 11.—Total: 7 oa-
ses wounded; 8 men killed, 39 wounded; 11 horses killed,
12 wounded.—Officers wounded: Lient.-Colonel
EW Belrgeas, severely ; Cept. Murray, ditto, mortally Naos
11 01.1• Armstrong, Cape Mounted Rifles, severely ;
lidemeseme Salk, ditto, dangerously ; Lieutenant Mill, ditto,
ems*; ledge Steele, ditto, dangerously ; Ensign Cramp
sm. 51stIsitaism, dangerously.
(Signed) " JOHN GAMMON, Major."