The Express.
London, England, 1851-03-06 00:00:00

nntlnll the :11711% of the killed and wounded.

Christmas-day, at 5 a.m., we marched from near Buller's
camp, carrying our wounded,—no very easy job. We pro-.
ceded from tois camp quietly until we gut to the top of the
path whence you may remember may he seen Buller scamp
firs, and where there is a pretty thick bush, with some
immensely large stones on each side of the road. Here the
Kaffir* b• an, and continued hard on us to where we
breakfasted under the neck with Colonel :Somerset the day
after we left King William's Town in 1817. From here
they continued tiring lung shots at us until we reached the
Belie Neck. On Thursday we marched from Fort Cox to
Fort Hare, with Major Somerset, in charge of despatches,
HLLCe which time we have been skirmishing nearly every
day. An express was to have gone to the governor's ramp
yesterday behire daylight, but the party sent had to return
quicker than they started. The colonel then went out with
60 Cape Mounted !tides, 150 of the 91st, and a small gun,
and these al-ai had to retire, owing to the gun-carriage
breaking. Two officers of the 91st and 21 men were killed
and several wounded, including 4 of the Cape Mounted
Rifles. There is a party out now to bury the dead.
" Furt White, Dee. 20, 1950.
"The following are the particulars of u sharp affray. with
the Kettles, which took place at this peat on the morning of
the 25th iast.:
" It being reported that three men of the 4.3 th Regiment
lay dead on the Commigce flat, Lieut. Golf sent. a party of
twelve men to bring in the bodies, with a waggon belong-
ing to Mr. A. 1/cycling, of this post. But, as they did not
return, two mounted men were despatched to reconnoitre,
who met an express from King William's Town, with the
report that the whole of the men, together with a man in
the employ of Mr. Beveling, had been murdered, and the
waggon destroyed.
It is supposed that the Kaffirs, considering they had
sufficiently weakened the post, resolved on the attack. The
following was the result :—The cattle belonging to the post
were grating within three hundred yards of it, when
two mounted Katfirx, aided by forty or fifty on foot, at-
tempted to sweep them away, but, in consequence of the
prompt efforts of Mr. F. Hawkes and Mr. Besting, they only
succeeded in securing 35 sheep, one horse, and a few
goats. The cattle were driven to the kraal, and secured by
the above-named persons. Finding themselves baulked in
their principal object, they collected to the number of 200
or thereabouts, of whom about 60 had guns, and gradually
made their way to within 60 or 70 yards of the kraal. Here,
finding themselves confronted by 16 or 17 men of the 45th
Itegt., they seemed irresolute. This was but for a moment;
for their leader throwing his blanket over his head, slued,
his assagai, and in a few seconds was seen climbing the
kraal hefty with many others, under the fire of the military
supported by that of their own men who had fire-arms.
The close fire of the military, sided by the civilians of the
post (fire in number), was too hot for them, and not being
able to get the cattle from the kraal after several attempts,
they retr. and, fighting desperately, leaving two dead
within 60 yank of the post, and bearing off many severely
wounded. There being so few soldiers present, it was
impossible to pursue them, or more would have fallen.
Being repulsed, they retreated to the distance of a mile or
mile-and-a-half from the post, and remained there until the
evening, when, the division commanded by Cul. Mackinnon
being in sight, they dispersed.
" The iuhabitants of the post cannot too warmly express
their gratitude and admiration of the conduct of Lieutenant
Goff and the few gallant soldiers of the 45th Regiment,
whose daring bravery demands this acknowledgment. Also
let me remark the exertions of Mr. James liawkia and Mr.
A. Beveling, who were foremost among the defenders, in the
hottest fire, and who displayed the cool courage and daunt-
less bravery of the most veteran soldier. Their conduct
was exemplary, and will be an example to all siviliana in
the hour of danger. " ALEX. JAMES."
" ES. The liottentot driver who went out with the waggon
and soldier to bring in the fLud bodies of the three men
mentioned above, was made prisoner by the Kaffir" but
escaped when they were attacked by Colonel Mackinnon.
He reports that wh.m the twelve men were passing the Debi
Neck a body of Kitties to the number of two or three hun-
dred pounced on them. They had only time to fire one
volley, when they were literally cut to pieces with assegais.
The struggle was desperate but unavailing. The men in
their dying momenta were seen to draw their bayonets and

thrust vainly at their ferocious enemise, who were wresting ing the enemy, in the Fish River pasos, or the
their Unlocks from their grasp. The bodies of the men escape of the governor from Fort ('ox, and his arrival there
remain on the aput on which they were killed." on the 30th ult. Ili. excellency made a dash from the rof.,
From King William's Town we have the following intel- with 250 of the Cape Mounted Rifles, furring Ins lass*"
ligence. The date is December 26:
through the Dche Neck, though opposed by a tura., toot
"Ero this you will no doubt have heard the sad news of of the enemy, who kept up a heavy fire, but without, as far
the commencement of hostilities, mid this beautiful but us we ran learn, occasioning any Mat to the colonial tropa,
unhappy country is again being laid desolate by the rest- Ills excellency, it IS Mill, exchanged his hat for a forage.
lets SltTageS. I'ur some time the opinion 100 been gaining cap of the Rifles. as a prudent 'incaution against Maio
ground very generally, and has now unfortunately proved mule a target of by his assailants.
too true, that no reliance can he placed upon the Kaffir.. Fort Cox, no well as all the forts along the line ta m fee
-
On Monday morning last the inhabitants were much Buffalo, will he maintained, East London being nettle the
alarmed by several person. affirming they had heard heavy basa of the military toperwtions now admit to t plate.
firing towards mann:tit, but nothiog certain was known Supplies may be readily landed there, and then flea aelta
till night, when our tears were confirmed by a man who with great facility along that line.
came galloping in front l'eirie, stating that they had been Sir Harry Smith L. at present in the midst of the enemy,
plundered of everything by the Kaffirs, and had barely holding them in cheek, and preventing them from menet-
esnipeti with their lives,. The people residing there are toting themselves upon the colony. But at present he (an
mostly sawyers, and at the time of the attack many of do no more than this. Tu enter upon offensive operations
them were 'oat returning from their day's toil, when they he must have aid, and in the meantime there is danger lest
were surrounded and stripped of everything they bad. the troops should be destroyed in detail. Should a angle
The same evening two waggon drivers came in, reporting military post be carried the effect may be most disastrous to
that the Klatt." had taken their waggon and killed four the colony, while, on the other hand, if reinforcements In,
Englishmen. It appears that these waggons left here the at once poured into Kaffirland, the title will Ist turnal, the
game morning with government loads without escort. military communications will be opened, anti the 01,j,•(1 in
Three soldiers of the 4. the Regt.,returning to Fort White, view—the complete subjugation of the GaPatts -be elf e-
were in company with them. The waggoner/1 state that toothy necomPlished•
while the waggung were travelling, a great body of Kaffirs The following is the turn of the information which has
came up to them with guns and assegais. They caught been gleaned from the Kaffir messengers, the bearers of the
one of the driver., an old Portuguese, the owner of one tits Matches reeeived yesterday from the governor •
of the waggons, and run him through with an assegai— They state that all Gaikas, including Minoan, T ola, awl
they then ass( gaid the three soldiers. The two men who the chiefs of Elites tribe., ant fighting. Seytile is also t 11:
brought the report managed to get into the hush and gaged and has moved down to Line Drift, to prevent any
escaped with their lives. The following morning an express communication that way. Mapassie and Nyila,
'I nnlls.l-
came in front the Keiskamma with the intelligence of a very kit's, have also joined. Ante attacked Vika, the petty chit f
sharp engagement between the *mole, and Kithira. [Dere who protected :Sinai's misaion station. They had a wrest
some particulars already known are stated.) —The Endive skittish ; the latter driven hack, anti the station &sato. d.
threw an assegai at the men who rode this express, and Nos also had Trati, the head man, appointed by the go_
wounded one of the horses. This occurred only about vernor to aasiatHrownice, murdered, for telling the haters
three miles from town. it wag folly to make war through the land for the take of
Yesterday we heard very heavy firing again, early in the one man, Sandille
morning, which continued till about noon. Some Katfirs A good many Kuffirs were killed in the different entetee.
told the missionary Ross they had had a very hard fight molts. The hattira are beginning to ak when the wonders
with the trop., the iSslle of which is doubtful. The nil,- stated by the prophet will come to pas, as they have Moen
sinnary Birt moved in last night. He had determined to fighting their beat, and the English have nut yet comment%
make a stand. a Kaffir chief living in his neighbourhood and still, notwithstanding his predietions of safety, they .iro
having pledged his word that he would not join in the war; killed. The tribe, of Kreli and limn (hooka), al.) of
but yesterday he sent in word to Mr. Dirt that he was going trudtala, 'foise and Paw, have not at present juitaal in the
to tight, and shortly afterward. a mintier of Kaffir.) weft war.
to his (Mr. Dirt's) brother's place, seized the cattle, and The eon bug of the Calle corps, throughout the skirmishes,
plundered the shop of all the goods. The young Mr. Dirt which 113,,• taken place between the Katfira and the troops,
they got hold of, and took him to the kraal, it i. supposed is niention al in Plata of eleaerved tepprolettion. They havo
with the intention of killing hint, but eventually they done themselses high honour and the enuitry good service.
allowed hint to metope. Several Katlirs were knocked over while escorting the go-
Another hand at King William's Town writes, after senior, and after the arrival of hi. excellency at King Wil-
giving *maw account of the affair under Col. Mackinnon llama's Town, in a skirmish with a strong party of the
lee arts have come in stating that we lost sixteen men, enemy, five of the latter were killed and NO gm, taken,
while the Kaffir. had tee killed, besides two chiefs. without sustaining any loss themselves. Their g &ma eon-
" Yesterday afternoon two of Kreili'a men arrived, bring. duct affonis a fine example and gives the fed eitatunige-
lag an ox for the governor in token of friendship. One of vent to all moms&
Krell's men told me that all the Ktiffirs along the road were SareleniY, January I.—We have letters from Fort
determined to fight. They were still sore about the last Hare, Fort follies and Whittleaca, all containing infornt.i-
wa . Uneleinjeta wan also talked shout by them, showing tan calculated to rola.• the colony to &ten ll ill ed resistant,.
that they place cousitlerable reliance on his power. 'they The information continua fully the reports of the &erten
also said that the Kaffir told them about Mackin lon a of Henn:toes. the Blink Water chief', and who ha+ induced,
affair—that the English had been driven away by Sandilla's either by intimidation or threats, mote of the Hotttntots of
arms', and that stone were killed. About three o'clock in the Kat River to jail him. A notice. on the subject loan
the afternoon Comm, a chief living with Mr. flirt, rent Colemel Somerset is published for general inform:tem, and
kin word that he should fight, and that they were going will, we trust, have the de:ired etbet. from Fort Petelaiu
alter the waggons which had gone to Kabousie. This our correspondent report. the &Arnett 111 l of all the polite
alarmed Mr. 11., anti induced him and till the other Euro- station+ and the olewrtion of all the Kaffir polices. Ila
peals to remove at once to King William'a Town. They had says that a large quantity of government stores ha+ bee n
only left an hour when the Kaffir* attacked the station and nestronal at these aes end rtationa, and naturally inquiet
wept tuff everything, what effort wa* made to save them ?—What is the resident
to We were thrown into gnat commotion late on Tuesday magistrate at Peddle doing of a preventive character, and
evening by all the l'irie people coining in. They had barn where is the superintendent of Fiume% mid the Fingoes
driven off by the Kaffirs, who marvel their liven, hut took undor his charge at this juncture ? These are que-tiotoe we
everything they possessed. Tina wax preceded during the cannot answer, but to which replit mita be given hen -
alteration by the murder of three soldiers (45th) and a poor after to those impowered to deal with theaubject. Our none-
Portuguese of this place. The soldiers were all intoxicated, manident !ass the Engem inquire wonderingly, Where is
and it :ippeani this there was some altercation between one the Englidiman now r Surely lie sleepeth." It is added
of tit, soldiers anti one Of the Kaffirs who had come up to that Mr. Nightingale, from 'Mamba, Bay, had reached
the waggon. 'Phis ended by the soldier shooting the Kaffir, Peddle with hi. eight children. They walked all the way
when the other immediately a Waled, mid out came about (22 miles), and are, save this cloth,. on their bucks, quite
40 or 50 Kaftan, who speedily despatched the weldiers, and destitute. The family of the Missionary Niven were also
afterwards the Portuguese, and of course took all the oxen, intercepted while witleavouring to effect their escape nn
as well es silty muids of meal. Part of Mr. Browniee's horseback. They were nearly stripped of their clothes.
people cam property
ein yesterday with all their pperty and rattle. Mr. Niven'e life was spared, and he was pe pro
\- rmitted to p-
:So Kaffir. are now allowed to remain on the post. All are teed after being partially deprived of i+ apparel. An
turned °Was soon as they conic." attack we hear has hem made on the cattle and horses
A letter dated a day later than the above (namely 2;th) deptuotured in the neighbourhood of Fort Beaufort, but the
announces the safe arrival of the troops under the command result, in the alownet of direct intellimowe from that place,
of la.-Col. Eyre. This communication's adds:— we are unable t, give. The attack wag made by the Kadin
" They appear to be quiet between this and the sea. Ru- under Henna:to., a man who for part has been festered by
mount have reached u. that Anta and his followers have the colony. It is vetted that Henn:anus had his boric shot
lied from the Amatula, and that a great many Kaffir. have under bilk mud was himself wounded. Alice is still in
Men killed. Large numbers of cattle belonging to the Feat peril, but we hope that, with the troops at Fort Hare
friendly Kaffirs around us have been mowing through to- immediately :Mining, it will be preserved until the arrival
day to 13rowalee'a station, or somewhere near it." of senator from thin, interior districts. We have a letter
flaw extracts may give a taint idea of the state of alarm from Mr. Loxton, dated Whittlesea, December list. Ito
and anxiety into which the people of the frontier are reports the desertion of the K odic police stationed in that
thrown, not merely by report:, but by actual occurrences, quarter, taking with them all their arms and accoutre-
which of themselves would, we may Nutmegs., be sufficient meet's Mr. Loxton had fortified his house as well as ho
to arouse the whole colony to determined effort in the Fres could, and was restanal to make a most deter min: stand.
neral defence. The intelligence, however, which came Mr. J. 11. Bowler was with hint, and there is no doubt,
down this morning is far amore exciting, showing that emu- judging from their skill a, mark:nten, and their well
munication with the governor is effectually cut off, and that known pluck, that all that Utt'll tan do will ho
his personal danger it. imminent. done by theta tinder their eireumstanevg. The Tamhookio
11 ednerday (New Year'oalay).—To-day the following chiefs, Manch and Nonesi, wen, there, hut it was understood
communication was received : that Mapasei hail joined the war party, and an attach by
OLIPHANT'S Hoag. hint was expected hourly. The Mott, niets at Shill, had
•' Oliphant's Hoek, Dec. 31, 1850. also been iampered with, but the missionary had called a
"We have all abandoned our farms, and, what is infi- meeting, and it was determintal unanimously to defend the
nicely worse, our crop.. On Friday night intelligence place, and to make the most stet:mous efforts in their power
reached us of the dreadful ina.ssucreat the Military Villages, to aid the colony in the struggle for exidence to which it is
and on Saturday we commenced packing up and trekking. now called. Major Burnaby, Commandant, has received
The whole of this part of the hock was on the " trek" in a information that Major Bissest, Cape Mounted Rifles, and
few hours to the village. Those who lived near were ens- Lieutenant Catty, fifth Reginient, who had been wounded
bled to loose remota of their furniture ; but plougltlultfannry: on the 21th December, ant eking well.
ing implements of every description, W.V.'S., pigs 2 poultry, The Governor was at Fort Cox when the intelli-
Ste. tic., amounting in value to 111110 y hundred pountla, genet: of Ga. Mackinnon engagetnent reached him,
were alianded. Very few peewees had finished reaping and
and inuncsliately caused the following notice to be
made stacks. The out hay, attemly cut and bound up, to
she extent of three or four million pounds weight, ha. been' forwarded to the colony :
left packed up in small heaps on the several farms. 'The
principal portion of our wheat crops were left standing,
ripe and overripe, and will, of course, be lost. Our napera,
principally Flumes, have all left—and the loss will amount
to borne thousand of pounds sterling. Many persons
who up to last Saturday lived in comfort and affluence
will be utterly ruined, and what the result will he God
only knows. My own opinion is that the Hoek is full
of kutlirs, living at their cane upon the spoil of our farm+,
and only waiting the signal to commence the deadly
struggle, fur a deadly struggle it will be when it emus.
Added to this we have upwards of one hundred Kailas in
our camp—aervants, but to .ay the least suspiciowt persons.
Only the day after we came here (last Sunday) our worthy
commandant—a man against whose pluck not one, of his
traducers dare say a word—rode over to his farm, and saw
two Kaffirs crouching down behind one of hit stacks. lie
put spun to his horse anti rade at them, the scoudrels
bolted, and Wiest after them, imprudently I must say, into
a dense hush. The fellows ran through a ylei overgrown
with high reeds, and Woest drove tooth barrels after them.
One loaded with Mora, he thinks settled one fellow, and
when we have a little leisure see intend going to see.
There has been much dimension here, caused by factious
opposititm to our commandant on the part of two or
three individuals who have been put down by the pro-
ceedings of two public meetings, and who will, no doubt,
hare to answer for their conduct should our lives be spared
after the war. All is now quiet and going on well in the
lager. We are all at work ' with a will' entrenching our-
melees. There is a cool determination, apparent in all, should
we he attacked, to conquer or die, fur quarter is out of the
question on both sides. Our camp is large, hut we cannot well
make it mailer without excluding many housesoccupied by
women anti children. Our prospect+ are gloomy, but we
must put our trust in Providence and hope for the best.
We are all anxiety to hear from town ; pray send us the
news by any opportunity."
Information has also been received that some Kaffirs
have presented themselves at l'igot Park, about 7 miles
S.E. of Town. The men (three Flumes) who were reap-
ing, saw seven armed Katfirs approaching, and instantly
fled, followed by the marauders, with what result is not
known, as only one of these men has reached town. Ile nays
that several other Kaffirs were seen near the spot. alr.
Curran and others have since returned front the same loca-
lity, and report that some marauder' had done a good deal
of mischief about the premises. Many articles had been
destroyed ; a quantity of coffee was found strewed on the
ground, and a pig and a number of fowls had been
The crops on the place, fully ripe, are described as being
unusually fine, and an attempt is made to gather them by a
party of eight or ten men well armed, who have their horses
ready saddled in the middle of the field, and while some
reap others stand sentry and are upon the look-out around.
Mr. Howse reached town from Leuwe Fontein, with Mr.
Crouch and some of the gallant little band that went out to
his rescue. They report that the spoor of a good many
Kuffirs was seen along the road, and in one part the foot-
marks of about 100 were observed, as though moving in a
body. Opposite Fort Brown they saw the corpse of an old
Fingoe man, who had been barbarously muniered. There
was a gunshot wound through his chest, and another in his
jaw ; an as egai was stuck in his mouth, and a knob keerie
I tied in Ins hand—the work of his fiendish murderers. From
what can be gathered respecting this unfortunate creature,
it appears that he had been attempting to remove his cattle
' (120 head) from Fort Beaufort to Graham's Town,
i when he was met by Kaffir; and butchered as above stated.
One hundred of the cattle became booty to his murderers.
Two boys who accompanied the old man escaped, and
brought with them twenty head of cattle into town.
Heavy firing was heard, they report, in the direction of
Fort Cos.
Thursday.—This afternoon a party of the Cape Corns,
accomproned by Mr. Walsh, late superintendent of Kaffir
I police, reached town from Fort Hare, with despatches from
Colonel Somerset, announcing that the governor had fully
authorised him to organise provisional levies, with pay, ra-
tions, clothing, ate. Notices upon this subject will be found
in our front page, and will convey unmistakably the ear-
, nestle° with which his excellency has resolved to crush the
; wicked attempt of the enemy to destroy the colony.
A party of burghers, under Mr. L. H. Meuradt, came
! in this day from Oliphant's Hoek, for arms and cournuni-
Con. Mr. M. brings with him a plan of their fortified
lage, which, with the force they have, about 400 men, all
good. marksmen, renders their position against the Kaffirs
lan impregnable one. It is of the utmost importance that
this position should he maintained, covering, as it does, one
of the richest grain and cattle districts of the colony, and
which, if abandoned, would give the enemy access at once
into the heart of the Citenhage district, not to speak of Port
Elizabeth.
ESCAPE OF THE GOVERNOR.
Friday.—This morning the welcome iutelligence reached
us from King William's Town, the despatches being
brought by Kadin of Pato's tribe, who succeeded in elud-

ifead-quarter, Fort Cot.
An affair having taken place between a stnong patrol
under Colonel Mackinnon and the Kaffir., in the neigh-
bourhood of concealment, the coloni.t. are hereby
warned to prepare to act .111 the defen.ive, as it is impassible
to tell at the moment how far the hostile feeling may 4pread.
Every information will be afforded, ;and mea.ures taken
the moment the general state of Kaltirland develops itself.
(Signed) 11. SMITH.

A proclamation from the governor had (Iceland
the eastern division of the colony under martial law,
and all inhabitants, between the ages of ltc and 50,
were called upon to enrol themselves under such
le ulers as they shall choose, and to place themselves
at the disposal of the ()dicers comemmding ou the
frontier.

FRONTIER DISTRICT ORDERS.
Fort Rare, Deremlwr 3th, 1850.

Colonel Somerwt desire. to tqlire.s to Lieut..-Colonel
Yarborough, Ntajor Somerset, and the ottieem :md troop.:
engaged with the enemy yesterday, his high SULK, of their
exertions and gallant conduct.
_ . . .

Deeply doe. the Colonel lament the loss of those gallant
°Mem% and soldiers who fell in the aetion.
The communications with Fort Co. having been inter-
ruptml, it became the Colonel's duty to endeavour to com-
municate with the commander-in-chief for many important
INC&SORS.

The result has proved that it was not possible to effect
this object, the troops having to contend against such supe-
rior numbers in most difficult ground for four hours. 'I ho
troops had to contend against the enemy (retiring, however,
in perfect order) who brought large bodies of fresh troops
up on both Hanks from each successive valley as it was
passed. Notwithstanding these obstacles and the silvan-
. tam. on the side of the enemy, the steadiness of the troops
I was admirable, contesting every point of ground, and
eventually reaching the post in the highest order.
Major Forbes, 9lst Itegt.,commanding in Fort Hare, hav-
ing with great judgement sent out 100 men in support of
the retiring force, whose timely aid was of the greatest as-
sistance.

Colonel Somerset also desires to express to Captain Carey
his thanks for the able manner in which he conducted a
forted march to afford aid and protection to a weak escort,
which was said to be on the road from Fort Peddie, through
the country occupied by the enemy. This responsible
duty was conducted with judgment, energy, and success.
Captain Carey, and the officers and troops under him, merit
the colonel's thanks and approbation.
Colonel Somerset will nut fail to bring the conduct of all
' these troops under the favourable notice of his Excellency
the commander-in-chief.
11. SogEstaEr, Col. Com. Frontier.
(By command) C. D. BELL, Lieut. C.U.R., Act. Attjt.
Major Burney IL A., Com.