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

, At nine o'clock I observed Lieutenant-Colonel Miehe I
brigade advancing through the belt of forest on the righ
of the enemy's position. I directed him to cross the
front of their position, and support the 74th on their
right. As the rear of Lieutenant-Colonel Michel's
colmmn had cleared the forest, I saw it strongly attacked
from behind—the 91st faced droveaboutandte
enemythe suf..
f
eeenybearcikng, sufferingseverel.y some loss ourselves, and the
The Rifles, having captured 59 head of cattle, and
having now joined on my left, the enenaw's posed-an
being turned and driven back, I threw out three com-
panies to occupy the belt of forest at the head of
Waterkloof.
At half-past eleven I ordered the troops to halt and
breakfast, having been under arms, marching, and ea-
gaged with the enemy from four A.M.
While halting I observed the enemy retreating and
passing from the back of the Waterkloof Forest to-
wards the Iromme Range. At two P.M. Lieutenant-
Colonel Nesbitt's brigade having moved up in light
order without blankets, I desired his force to return to
Blinkwater by the eastern spur of that range, covering
this movement with the guns. At three Pon. I placed
Lieutenant-Colonel Michel's brigade in position, retiring
with the remainder down the valley for water.
Our loss this day was three men of Lieutenant-Colonel
Neebitt's brigade wounded, one mortally; two men 74th
killed, three wounded; three men 91st Regiment
wounded, having driven the enemy from one of the
strongest positions I ever saw, defended by large rocks
and headlands, intersected by ravines of immense depth.
On the morning of the 24th inet. I moved up to Lieut.-
Colonel Miehel's position, but the weather act in with
such a fog, eccornpanied by sleet and rain, that I found
it impracticable to act against the enemy with advan-
tage. The following morning the weather becoming
more severe,with violent hail and sleet, I countermanded
all further operations.

On the morning of the 26th I moved Lieut.-Colonel
Fordyce's force, at 5 A Z 4 from Alundell's farm down to
the bottom of the Waterkloof vallej, with directions to
him to march round the western spur of the range up
the valley to the southern head of the Broom ridge, to
attack the new position which the enemy had taken up
in force. While this movement was going on I directed
Lieut.-Colonel Michel to move on their force, and occupy
the belt of bush that intersects the range between Fuller's
Hoek and Waterkloof. _ _ _

This movement was Executed in the most able and
spirited manner by Lieut.-Colonel Michel and his force.
In the meantime I observed Lieut.-Colonel Fordyce's
force advancing from the opposite heights and clearing
the enemy's position. I then passed the 91st Regiment
through the forest, and reinforced Lieut.-Colonel For-
dyce's with it, directing him to occupy and encamp on
the enemy's position.
A company of Captain Verity's Fingoes came across,
bringing out ten oxen and some Hottentot women from
the rebels.

These, however, profess to know nothing of the
enemy, saying that their husbands were killed on the .t3-d
instant, that the enemy's loss is very great, and that Ma-
como does not know where to find security. One of
these prisoners is the widow of Christian Tan Staden, a
prominent leader of the Blinkwater rebel Hottentots
from the commencement of the war.

On the 27th instant Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyce oame
through the forest with his regiment. The enemy showed
some resistance at the head of Fuller's Hoek—attacking
two companies that had entered that point, and were
not driven back until I had opened a smart tire on them
with the guns and strongly reinforced the party. Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Michel's force having, according to my
previous directions, worked up the valleys of the Blink-
water.

Our loss this day was two killed; but the enemy must
have suffered considerably. I observed theta retiring
from all points. I saw the women retreating down the
distant vallies with loads on their heads—thus evidently
indicating an evacuation of the country.
As I had observed yesterday, the enemy retiring to-
wards Mr. Blakeway's valley in the Kromme, I saw that
ho had abandoned his position, and I directed Lieute-
nant-Colonel Fordyce to move his brigade at daybreak
yesterday, to follow the enemy down through the passes
of the forest.

Leaving Lieutenant-Colonel Michel's brigade in posi-
tion at the head of the Waterkloof, I moved the Cape
Mounted Rifles and two guns Royal Artillery down the
valley of the I3linkwater, in order to operate against the
enemy on the lower ground,
At mid-day I found Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyee bad
passed down the Kromme heights and through the
forest, scouring it is all directions, but ho had seen
nothing of the enemy, except a few straggling Kadra.
The very important points and numerous duties that
have engaged my attention since my report of the 17th
instant, have not permitted my sending a more detailed
report of these operations until this date, which I trust
the Commander-in-Chief will excuse.

The result of these—iinceessfal operations has enabled
me to dispense with the further services of Lieutenant-
Colonel Nesbitt's force.

The country recently occupied by Macomo's force
comprises a mountain range of 20 square miles of coun-
try, intersected with almost impassable forest ravines,
affording shelter for an innumerable force, and protected
by immense ridges of rocks, every one of which affords a
very 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 Lieutenant-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 Encmy, 1 dare not venture to do so
until I have thoroughly established that point.
We have driven the enemy frcm all his positions, and
have bivouacked on and possessed oursei.vestof all his
encampments.

By ieports from Kafir women, I learn that the men
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, but implicit reliance cannot be
placed on such statements.
I have to express my warmest thanks to Lieutenant-
Colonel Michel and Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyce, com-
manding brigades—as well as to Lieutenant Colonel
Nesbit, for the active manner in which he has acted on
the enemy's flanks—and to every officer and soldier en-
gaged in this most important and arduous service.—l
have, Sz.?, 11. SOMERSET, Major-General.
Lieutenant-Colonel Cloete,
Deputy Quartermaster-General, King William's; Town.

Bivouac, Bliukwater, Oct. 21, 1851.
tar a nsm
detailedi t ted
reportto the
omfd eampayuo
rat yoop,se
:tiafiorlss,
hilatothteenhtoats:
I quarter-
masteragainst the tligheeanveicragi several
mountainous range of , the liromme, which he has for
afirs under
several weeks held with an innumerable force, the
been held by
icuen
thicklyt
under
ee r arduousmstyu command.
od me studded
dutywa
ni.t
dh. in which
southernat hnednothern
G onE range
h aannddh atwesternvhien having been
easternranges
b y by
m a the
con
aroe,
sb ex:
his son Namba ;
I feel it a duty incumbent upon me, now
the troops
I trust, been expelled therefrom, to bring under your
not
have for 17 days been engaged, and the gallant and in-
Excellency's
this service has been exe-
cuted and carried out by the force placed, b
del,fahtiegamboleunrutaainnnreraningewohf which
ii:ronne
.is intersected by
fore' stytry:eus,r every
point of which, defended by
addable position, and f .
high rocks, presents a for-
riceulrnl eonrcoyu'ss orders,
clefs,
force at his command 0 which,
,with the innumerable
• the enemy took advantage, by
baying men strongly posted at each defile, holding a
considerable reserve, which he evidently applied to any
point where the
struggle became the hardest. This
mountain ran
by a eis a fastness intersected in its whole
deep forest ravine, running from east to
!lengthstudded with immense rocks. This was the enemy's
point d'apput, and from this he was most gallantly
driven every time I attacked him with the troops.
Such a position, so determinedly
force, required all the judgment and experience I pos-
sessed in the application of my force to command suc-
cess, and to prevent any unnecessary expenditure of lily
of our gallant soldiers, and I am happy to think that,
although our loss has been severe, the duty has been
satisfactorily conducted at a much; less sacrifice of life
than might have been expected.
Being aware of the feeling of confidence of the Gainey,
for some time past strengthened and supported as he feels
himself by a numerous and desperate band of rebel
Hottentots, I am not sanguine that he will entirely
give up the idea of abandoning this position,
and that ho may not again return to it should he And us
suddenly withdraw from the commanding position we
have taken up, and abandon the advantage we have
gained.
I therefore purposo holding that 'position for a few
days, relieving Colonel Michel's brigade on the 30th inst.
by a force under Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyce, bringing
Colonel Michel'e brigade down to Blink water to refresh,
from whence, I trust, I may in a few days permit alma
to return to head-quarters.

I must again repeat my obligations to the officers
commanding brigades, and to all the officers and troops
engaged. Though suffering many privations, and ex-
posed to a storm of snow and rain for some days, the
finest spirit animated the troops, which it MO most de-
lightful and gratifying to witness.
I have, &c.,
or-General.
Ills Excellency Sir H. G. Smith,
H. SOMERSET Major-Gen
hart., G.C.8., &c.

Oct. 31.
received
GENERAL ORDERSI_
The
from Major-General Somerset .the report
inth of his Head
Commander-quar t e r.
in-Chief
ping!Chie f William'shaving
tnr..liosw
dna, y
con-
tinued and most energetic operations in 42 almost im-
practicable country of the VVa., k l. Fuller's Hoek,
Blinkwater, and Kat River, it_ 1 with infinite satisfao-
sion that his Excellency records his opinion that, in the
long experience of his military life, he
has never ob-
served greater ability displayed in desultory warfare
on the part of the General commanding, or more con-
nd enter •
spictious gallantry
ath __ prise on that of the com-
manders of columns, e officers and soldiers, as also the
irregular forces. The fatigue of these operations, which
continued from the 12th
to the 27th instant, with little
intermission, that little owing to rainy weather, is not to
bo described, and it was endured with that spirit which
animates the soldier and leads him to victory. The com-
bined enemy, very numerous and well armed, regarded
their positions, from one to another of which they could
easily move, as secure from the attacks which have been
sn gallantly and perseveringly made upon them, every
Nair in Kafirland and upon its borders believing them
to be impregnable. The enemy fought each day with
most determined bravery and skill, supporting his skir-
mishers with great ability, and yielding the ground he
fought on to physical force alone. Such an enemy cannot
be defeated day after day without loss on our side, while
that upon his, frcm the superiority and rapidity of
the troops, is known to be very great. Our casualties
lare comparatively few.
Au extract of the Major•Generare Lem; il here it'.