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

AV`
sorted, which well records the result of the various suc-
cesses:—
" The country recently occupied by liacomo's force
comprises a mountain range of twenty square miles of
country, intersected with almost impassable forest ra-
vines, affording shelter for an innumerable force, and
protected by immense ridges of rocks, every one of
which affords 3 strong position.
" In the course of the next three or four days I shall
have fully ascertained whether the enemy has finally
abandoned these formidable fastnesses, which will enable
me to allow Colonel Michel's brigade to return to King
William's Town. But the clearance of this position is
of such importance, the holding it giving such strength
to the enemy, I dare not do so until I have thoroughly
e stablished that point.
" We have driven the enemy from all his positions, and
have bivouacked on, and possessed ourselves of all his
encampments.
" By report from Kafir women, I learn that the man
who are now remaining lurking about are in attendance
on the wounded, whom they cannot get off, and who are
said to be very numerous."
The Commander-in-Chief is well aware that no diffi-
culties, no fatigue, no danger, nor intricacies of country,
can resist her Majesty's arms, when directed with the
military skill and ability exhibited by Major-General
Somerset, whose services throughout this campaign, and
especially during the last three weeks, will, his Excel-
lency with confidence assures himself, upon his report,
as the supreme civil and military authority in South
Africa, be laid by her Majesty's Government and his
Grace the Commander-in-Chief before the Queen, for
her Majesty's gracious consideration. His Excellency
also rests convinced that the services of the gallant officers
brought; prominently to his notice—namely, Lieut.-
Colonel Michel, 6th Royal Regiment ; Lieut.-Colonel
.Fordyce, 74th Highlanders; Lieutenant Campbell, Roy al
Artillery; Lieutenant Field, Royal Artillery ;
Colonel Sutton, acting-assistant quartermaster-general;
lieutenant Green, deputy-assistant quartermaster-
general; Lieutenant Bell, field adjutant; Lieut. Jeasy,
acting as staff officer; Lieut.-Colonel Yarborough,
.91st
Regiment; Lieut.-Colonel Nesbitt, 60th Royal Rifles;
Lieut.-Colonel Percival, 12th Regiment ;
Burns, 2d Regiment; Major Pinckey, Lieut.-Colonel
73d Regiment;
Major Kyle, 49th Regiment; Major Somerset, com-
manding Cape Mounted Rifles; Captain Robertson,
Royal Engineers; Captain Mansergh, commanding 6th
14`'giment ; Lieutenant Harris, Royal Marines; Cap-
tains Verity, Ayliff, Tainton, Musgrave, and Wynne;
Lieutenants Harwell and Davenish, commanding F.vies;
Surgeon Fraser, 47th Regiment, senior medical officer;
Ensign Somerset, Cape Mounted Rifles, aide-de-camp,
and of the officers and soldiers generally of the 2d, 6.h
12:11, 60th, 74th, and 91st Regimen!› ;the Cape Mounted
Rifles, and detachments of Royal Sappers, 45th Regi-
ment, Royal Marines, and 73d Regiment will not fail
to be submitted in like manner. To the Irregular troops
his Excellency desires to express his admiration of their
conduct—of their devotion and loyalty, affording a bright
example to the whole colony.
A. J. CLOETE,
Lieut.-Colonel, Deputy Quartermaster-General.
Head -quarters, King William's Town. Oct. 31, 1851.
1. Mr. Edward Driver is appointed Lieutenant in the
Fort Peddie Fingo Levy.
A. J. CLOETE,
Lieut.-Colonel Deputy Qaart‘:!rraaster-General.

DEATH OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FORDYCE.
(From the Cape Town Mail extra, of Nov. 17.)
The frontier post brings the lamentable intelligence of
the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyc) and Lieutenant
Carey, of the 74th Regiment, as well as of several
soldiers of that regiment and other corps, who were
killed in a series of desperate engagements with the
enemy in the Wsterkluof. The suejoieed letter end
extracts comprise all the important particulars which
were knevve at Graham's Town relative to these dis-
asters!:—
GRAHAM'S Tower, Nov. 11,—Accounts have just been
received of one of the most distresaitig and calamitous
events that have occurred in the cows.? of :he war. We
have endeavoured, as far as possible, to come at some-
thing like a correct, statement, but, as is usual in such
cases, the reports vary considerably ; and we must wait
for official returns before the truth, as regards losses,
can be ascertained. I just give you what I have
heard. There has been severe fighting in the
Waterkloof, and the two Commissioners it
appears were present among the troops on the °cession.
Colonel Fordyce., of the 74th, has been killed, having
been shot by a Hottentot, who was concealed in a tree;
he lived only about fifteen minutes after receiving the
fatal wound, and his last words are said to have been,
" What will become of my poor regiment ?" Captain
Carey, of the same regiment, has also been killed; and
the men, killed and wounded, partly belonging to the
74th, and partly to the 91st, are said to amount to be-
tween 70 and 80. Lieutenant Gordon, of the 74th, has
been shot through one or both thighs, and his survival
is doubtful. Should he live, he will have to submit to
amputation. The loss of the enemy we have not beard
stated, but suppose it must have been considerable. We
are anxiously waiting for further particulars. This is,
indeed, a most terrible blow, and has thrown a gloom
upon every countenance. Col. Fordyce was much re-
spected, and, indeed, beloved by his regiment, for the
welfare and prosperity of which he seemed to live. His
brother, the major, has just left on account of his health,
so that the command will devolve,upon some of the junior
officers.

DIVISION ORDERS.
Camp, Blinkwater, Nov. 9, 1851.
It is with the deepest regret that Major-General So-
merset announces to the division the death of Lieut.-
Colonel Fordyce, commanding the 74th Highland2rs.
Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyce fell mortally wounded in
action with the enemy on the morning of the 6611, and
died on the field.
From the period of the 74th Highlanders having joined
the Ist division, their high state of discipline and effici-
ency at once showed to the Major-General the value of
Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyce as a commanding officer;
the subsequent period, during which the Major-General
had been in daily intercourse with Lieutenant-Colonel
Fordyce, so constantly engaged against the enemy in the
field, had tended to increase, in the highest degree, the
opinion which the Major-General had forsied of Lieut.-
Colonel Fordyce, as a commander of the highest order,
and one cf her Majesty's ablest officers, and whom he
now so deeply laments (while he truly sympathises with
the 74th Highlanders in their irreparable loss) as an
esteemed brother soldier.
The reports of the 74th Highlanders will be made to
Captain Monkland, the senior officer. Captain Monk-
land, being detained at Fort Beaufort from the effects of
a severe accident, the command in the field will devolve
on Captain Patton. By command,
C. H. BELL, Lieutenant,
Field Adjutant Ist Division.

'
(From the Frontier Times.)
Camp, 131inkwater, Nov. 9, 1851.
Really, that old chief Maccmo shows more tact, and
the enemy generally more courage, than most persons
give them credit for. It now appears evident that his
retreat to the Buffalo Poort, and the reports circulated
by their women that he had entirely abandoned Water-
k'oo , was B. mere ruse to throw ns off our guard:
however we were not ignorant that the enemy had his
strongholds still in these eternal astnesses, that much
valuable life would be lost
bexpelled from thesee
f
ore he should be entirely
immense
mountainforests.
lf
Cer-
tainly, even the much lamented Colonel Fordyce himse
never for a moment anticipated such an amount of opposi-
tion as was met with on Thursday,
after the hard work we
mountains; none ot,
had for 16 days previously in
us expected to meet such fierce resistance as was shown
on the 6th instant, and although ouerf9rce was large
with both brigades, the event proved that i
e
and was not
suffi-
ciently so in such a broken country,with such an
enemy. On Thursday, we recommenced operations
for patrolling the Waterkloof. ColonelFrdyceecgoamin-
i; Colonelot
mending one brigade, marched from the top
Sutton, eo-operating, commenced from the
the kloof. Colonel Fordyce's division had not prcet°ernede odf
very far, when they were most warmly engaged by the
enemy, who, it would appear, had taken up a position
waiting our arrival. The first volley knocked over
our poor Fordyce, and several of his brave men; he fell
mortally wounded from the shot of a Hottentot, and died
ten minutes after. Lieutenant 11. Carey, 74th High-
landers,
was likewise killed, while the regiment was re-
tiring. Both bodies were brought out, and buried at
Post Retief. Never had the country more cause to
grieve than at the loss of this brave and intelligent
commander who fell, at the head of his regiment, in
this inglorious war. We were at it again yesterday,
and I am happy to say with better success; but still, for
two days' work, our loss may be considered at very se-
vere,viz.:—
gilled.-14th—+2 officers, t 1 sergeant,"2 rank and file.
91st-1 rank and file; hat River Levy, 1 rank and file;
Beaufort (West) lOu Lev—, + %
bevy, $1
Wounded.-74th—§1 officer, 9 rank and file. 91st-3
Tank and file; Fingo Levy, 2 rank and file.
To the present time the above are all the casualties re-
ported, but mere are supposed to have occurred which
are not yet known.
It is not anticipated that further operations will be re-
svoaed till large reinforcements arrive.
The command of the 74th Highlanders devolves on
Captain George Monkland, the senior officer. Any man
may feel proud to command such a regiment.