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

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL. EYRE'S DETACH.
MENT

Camp, Governor's Kop, Nov. 4.
Sir,—lt is with much pleasure that lam enabled to
his Excellency the Commander-
in-Chief a spirited affair that cccurred yesterday. be-
tween coui-an-
p yof the 73d, under Lieutenant, Ta.nox,
and a body of rebel Hottentots and Kafirs, who were
endeavouring to drive cattle out of the colony. I had
detached te company on the Ist instant to a situation
favourable for an ambuscade, at some distance from our
camp, with directions to waylay the several paths lead-
ing to the Committee's Post, and to remain there for a
couple of nights. On the first night this party surprised
and killed two Kafirs returning from the colony. On
the 3d instant they fell in with a body of rebel Hotten-
tots and Kafirs, about fifty in number, having twenty-
four head of cattle. Lieutenant Knox immediately
divided his party into three detachments, and attacked
the enemy, killing six and wounding severely many
others, and recapturing the whole of the cattle, without
haring any casualty. I beg particularly to bring to the
notice of his Excellency the zeal and intelligence dis-
played by this officer during the whole of this detached
service in which be was employed. Lieutenant Knox was

• Colonel John Fordyce, 74th Highllndere, commander of
the brigade. Lieutenant 11. Carey, 74th Highlanders.
t The zergeant could not be brought out, wag
_.t in the
bush.
I Captain Devenish, gun-shot behind the ear, ball lodged
in the neck.
§ Lieutenant John Gordon, 74th. 1

THE

ably supported by Ensign;Williams, a promising young
officer. Lieutenant Knox also speaks in the highest
terms of the conduct of his guide, Mr. Paul Koester. I
have the honour to enclose herewith the report of Lieut.
Knox of this transaction.—l have, &c.,
W. EYRE, Lieut.-Col. 73d Regt. Comdg.
1 Lieut.-Col. Cloete, C. 8., K.H., Gen-

, LIEUTENANT KNOX'S BEPORT.
Camp, Governor's Kop,
Nov. 3, 1951.
Sir,—l have the honour to state that, in obedience to
your instructions, I proceeded on patrol at three A.M. on
the Ist instant, from the camp at Governor's Kop, ac-
companied by Mr. Koester as guide, with the following
force:-1 subaltern, 3 sergeants, 92 rank and file.
Entering the Fish River Bush directly in front of your
camp, we crossed the Hlatana valley, and at eight A.M.
reached Wildeman's Kraal, a place situated about half
way between the Spitzkop and Committee's road, a
ravine, deep, and affording the most complete conceal-
ment on every side'from observation. There I bivouacked,
and after the men lead refreshed themselves I detached a
party to watch the road that passed the Spitzkop. At
three:roc, I sent a party to the Spitzkop-road to relieve
the one I had detached in the daytime, and at the same
time, accompanied by Mr. Koester, I proceeded myself
with a party of 30 men to waylay the Committee's-road.
On reaching the place we examined the road, and found
the fresh spoor of three Kafirs going out of the colony, but
no cattle. At half-past seven P.M. two Kafirs returning
from the colony approached our ambuscade; we fired, killed
both, and took from them their arms and ammunition, and
a large bag of red clay. We saw nothing more during
the right, and returned to our bivouac at daylight on
the 2d. The Spitzkop party also returned, and had seen
nothing. At seven A.M. I sent parties again to watch
the Spitzleop and Committee's roads. They were re-
lieved at three lex. by the night watches—Ensign Wil-
liams and thirty men at the Committee's, and a sergeant
and twenty men at the Spitzkop. They returned at
daylight, having seen nothing.
This morning we breakfasted early, and left our bi-
vouac at six A,er. on our return to camp. We were jest
beginning to descend into the Hlatana valley, when we
observed on the opposite hill about fifty rebel Hottentots
and Kafirs driving some cattle down our path to meet us.
As soon as they observed us, they left a portion of the
cattle in sight on the path, and hurried the remainder
ender cover towards a kloof on their left. This move-
ment I did not perceive, but, anticipating their making
some attempt to escape by either flank, I detached parties
to the right and left. Mr. Koester accompanied the party
to the right; I remained with the centre, doubled down the
hill, up the other side, and captured the cattle on the top
after some resistance. Perceiving that the greater number
of the enemy were on the right, I sent a party off to co-
operate with the one I had previously detached with Mr.
Koester. These parties secured the remainder of the
cattle, and we then hunted the enemy down the hill, and
followed them for a great distance, till we saw them
fairly on their way to Committee's. We then returned,
and found ourselves in possession of twenty-four head of
cattle, after au hour and ten minutes' fighting; four
Kafirs and two Hottentots were killed, and a great many
severely wounded. We marched on with our booty, and
reached camp at ten A as. this day.
The arms, ammunition, &c., we captured during the
patrol amounted to three firelocks, one assegai, two
powder horns and belts, ten rounds of service ammuni-
tion, and a tin of powder. I had no casualties in my
party.
I beg to bring to your notice the able support rendered
me by
Ensign Williams, 73d Regiment, and the un-
wearied exertions and invaluable assistance of Mr. Koes-
ter, the guide, I have, &e.,
ALFRED C. KNOX, Lieut. 73d Regiment,
Lieut.-Colonel Eyre, &c,, commanding
Lower Albany.

GENERAL ORDERS.
Headquarters, 8.-ing William's Town,
Nov. 6, 1851.

1. The Commander-in Chief desires to express his
admiration of the ability and persevering energy with
which Lieut.-Colonel Eyre has conducted the detence of
Lower Albany, and his able disposition of the troops
placed under his command; and he desires to express his
best thanks to the Lieutenant-Colonel, as well as to
every officer end soldier uuder his command.
A very spirited affeir occurred on the night of the 2d
instant, under the command of Lieutenant Knox, of the
73d Regiment, during one of those arduous night patrols
and Riot watches, in which, while a party of fifty rebel
Hottentots and Kafirs were fleeing with their booty
' (twenty-four head of cattle) out of the colony, they
were in a moment unexpectedly attacked, six Kadrs
killed, many severely wounded, two stand of arms
taken, and every head of cattle recaptured.
The Commander-in-Chief is well aware of the severity
of this species of harassing duty, by which alone ma-
rauders can be effectually punished. Nor can Finch duty
be placed in better hands than those of Lieutenant-
Colonel Eyre and the 73d Regiment, and the troops
under his command.
Major Armstrong, with the detachment of his own
horse and the Cape Mounted Rifles, stationed at Waay
Pleats, equally and well deserves the thanks of the
Commander-in-Chief.
Lieutenant-Colonel Eyre has drawn the marked at•
tention of his Excellency to the highly meritorious ser-
vices of dr. Koester, the guide, which services are fully
appreciated by the Commander-in-Chief.
2. His Excellency has received no official report of the
success of a patrol of " Stubbs' Horse" over a party of
marauders, near Howison's Peort, by which seventy head
of cattle were recaptured, three Kafirs killed, and three
guns taken. The services of Captain Stubbs and his
Rengers, daring the whole of this war, are entitled to
every praise, and merit the gratitude of the colony.
3. A general court-martial will assemble at King
William's Town to-morrow, the 7th inst., at eleven
o'clock, for the trial of such prisoners as may be brought
before it:—
President—Major Pinckney, 73d Regiment.
Seven members to be furnished by the 2d Division.
Officiating Deputy-Judge-Advocate, F. Coddington, Esq.
The dates of commissions and names of the witnesses
to be sent to the officiating deputy-judge-advocate.
A. J. CLOETE, Lieut.-Col.,
Deputy-Quartermaster-Gen.

OPERATIONS AT WATERKLOOF.
MAJOR-GENERAL
mpS, OBlliinEkßwSaEteT'S
r,NoRy.E9P,ORT.
1851.
Sir,—l have the honour to acquaint you, for the in-
formation of his Excellency the Commander-in-Cbief,
that, in accordance with the arrangements laid down in
the enclosed memorandum, I assembled the troops at
the several points indicated on the Kromme Range, on
the morning of the 6th instant.
About seven, A.M., I observed Lieutenant-Colonel
Sutton's mounted force moving up from the Bush Neck.
In the meantime, Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyce had,
agreably to my previous directions, placed the troops of
his brigade in position on the ridges, and occupied the
belt of bush that intersects the enemy's position by four
companies of the 74th Highlanders, supported by two
companies of the 12th Regiment, under Lieutenant-
Colonel Percival. This arrangement became necessary
to cover the advance of the detachments of Fingoes and
Levies, which I had directed Lieutenant-Colonel Sutton
to move up by the Waterkloof. While carrying these
arrangements into effect, I regret that Lieut.-Colonel
Fordyce received a mortal wound by the enemy sta-
tioned among some rocks on the extreme left of that
position. A body of the enemy appear to have con-
centrated on that point, but were driven from it in the
most spirited manner by the 74th Highlanders, not, how-
ever, I lament to say, on account of the strong position,
without suffering severe loss—one officer (Lieutenant
Carey), two sergeants, and two rank and file being killed,
and one officer (Lieutenant Gordon), and eight men
wounded; the 74th Highlanders, under Captain Duff,
driving the enemy from this part of the forest and the
rocks, and holding the position until I withdrew Use
troops in the afternoon.
Lieut.-Col. Sutton's detachment passed up the Water-
kloof, as far as Mr. Brown's place, and came out at the
Mund Ifs farm without seeing any-
thing' d very judiciously by Lieut.-Col.
enemy! The left of the position was in
the meantime occupied
nl"e'l Captain Robinson.
Ytha,erwboartoeurgkhio, 0 commanding
I withdrew
where
cnt;sp
opened them
guns9lst into position opposite
the
the troops and formed camp o
Captain Robinson.
on my own
P"iti°ll Without further loss, the enemy not showing
at all.
good effect. A dense fog coming on at three r.M.
-
footpath
t with of bt
bye

Lieutenant-Colonel Michel had, in accordance with
the previous
in securing the lower
employed the force under
Mr. Blakeway's lower ridge; of the Kromme as far as
serving some parties but met with no opposition. Ob-
and the rocks at the the the enemy occupying the forest
ascent from Fuller's
Hoek, I communicatedpooiot of the
n
with Lieutenant-Colonelhim to move
his force up the ridges to tViel'
itihe evening o_cthe 6th instant
at point on the morning of
the 7th, to co-operate with req nesting
The night having been exceedingly
own force.
did not move until seven the following foggy and wet, I
hour I marched the native troops morning,
to the point above Faller's Hoek,
and Eingoes in advance9lst
at which
Regiment, detaching Captain Ayiiiftil,,P,Pred by the _
by two companies of the 12th Regiment,
the Waterkloof. Having placed the goo, to the head of
Robinson and Lieutenant Field, so as supported
to
cover
souvnder Captain
the rocks,
they were opened with apparently great effect
officers. The Levies and Fingoes, enteringettbhy these
supported by the 91st Regiment and a company of bush,
European levy under Captain Stevenson, drove the
the
enemy from the bush at that point, who kept up a smart
fire. Three of the 91st Regiment were here wounded,
and two Fingoes slightly so.
At ten A.M., Lieutenant-Colonel Michel'a brigade,
having ascended the ridges, advanced on the corner of
the belt of bush and pushed forward, scouring the forest
as they proceeded; the enemy firing several well-directed
shots from some points of the rocks, but with little effect,
except in one place, where I regret to say Captain De-
venish, of the Beaufort West Levy, received a serious
wound in the head. The object of clearing the extreme
point of the belt having been effected, I requested Lieu-
tenant Michel to: halt his men to refresh. In the
mean time I recalled the troops and levies from the se-
veral points they had occupied, and again formed camp
on my position.
These operations have shown me that the enemy are
still occupying, though in small parties, several strong
points of the Kromme Range, for the purpose of maraud-
ing, and probably also for taking care of their wounded,
who I suspect are more numerous than I am able dis-
tinctly to report them, from the rugged and bushy na-
ture of the ground where the contest was maintained.
From fifteen to twenty were this day certainly killed—
four Kefirs and one Hottentot having been slain by the
Kit River levy, besides a good many by the 74th, and
the company of the European levy. On our side one
, and ono of the Kat River levy, man of this latter force
having also been slightly wounded.
At 2 P.M. a storm of hail, accompanied by violent
rain, set in, Which lasted daring the whole night, On