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

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 Highlanders.
Lieutenant-Colonel Fordyce fell mortally wounded in
action with the enemy on the morning of the 6th, and
died on the field.

Prom 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
bad 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 formed of Lieut.-
Colonel Fordyce, as a commander of the highest order,
and one of 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, Blinkwater, Nov. 9, 1851.
~_ Really, that old chief Maccmo shows more tact, and
tar enemy generally mere eourage, 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-
kloof, was a mere rus4., to throw us off our guard:
however we were not ignorant that the enemy had his
strongholds still in these Pternai fastnesses, that much
valuable life w uld be lost before ho should be entirely
expelled from these immense mountain forests. Cer-
tainly, even the much lamented Colonel Fordyce himself
never for a moment anticipated such an amount of opposi-
tion as was met with on Thursday,
in afterthese mountains;
the hard work
we
had for 16 days previously
na expected to meet such tierce resistancern ountains; none of
as was shown
on the 6th instant, and although ourfo
with both brigades, the event proved that it was was large
ciently so in such a broken country, and s,,rhnot
sttc- Bffi.
we recommenced operationsthu
-
veann
enemy. On Thursday,
for patrolling the Waterkloof. Colonel Fordyce
mending one brigade, marched from the top-, cO-107i
Sutton, co-operating, commenced from the bottom
of
the kloof. Colonel Fordyce's division had not proceeded
very tar, when they were most warmly engaged by the
eneosy, 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
mortarly 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
xemmander, who fel!, 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, via.:—
2
Killed.-74th —*2 officers, f 1 sergeant, rank and file.
91st-1 rank and &le; Kat River Levy, 1 rank and file;
Beaufort (West) Levy, officer.
I,Vounded.-74th—§1 officer,
9 rank and file. 91st-3
rank 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 farther operations will be re-
awned 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,

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL EYRE'S DETACH-
MENT.

Camp, Governor's Kop, Nov. 4.
Sir,—lt is with much pleasure that lam enabled to
bring to the notice of bis Excellency the Commander-
in-Child a spirited affair that occurred yesterday be-
tween a company of the 73d, under Lieutenant Knox,
and a body of rebel Hottentots and Kafirs, who were
endeavouring to drive cattle out of the colony. I had
detached this company on the lit 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 arid Kafirs, about fifty in number, having twenty-
four head of mule. Lioitenant Knox immediately
divided his party into three detachments, and attacked
the encnay, killing six and wounding
severely many
others, and recapturing the whole of the cattle, without
having any casualty. I bog particularly to bring to the
notice of his Excellency tie zeal and intern ence dis-
played by this officer during the whole of this
gdetached
service in which he was employed. Lieutenant Knox was

a Colonel John Fordyce, 74th Highlanders, commander of
the brigade. Lieutenant H. Carey, 74th Highlanders.
t The Eargeant could not be brought out, was left in the
bush.
I Captain Devenish, gun-shot behind the ear, ball lodged
in the neck.
Lieutenant John Gordon, 74th.

THE SUN,

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, Bsc.,
W. EYRE, Lieut.-Col. 73d Regt. Comdg.
Lieut.-Col. Cloete, C. 8., MIL, D.-4-11- Gen*

LIEUTENANT KNOX'S BEPORT.
Camp, Governor's Sop, Nov. 3, 1851.
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 Blatant% 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 had refreshed themselves I detached a
party to watch the road that passed the Spitzkop. At
three:P.m., 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 night, and returned to our bivouac at daylight on
the 2d. The Spitzkop party also returned, and had seen
nothing. At seven A.Y. I sent parties again to watch
the Spitzkop and Committee's roads. They were re-
lieved at three P.m. 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.m. on our return to camp. We were just
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
under 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.m. 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
tee by Ensign Williams, 73d Regiment, and the un-
wearied exertions and invaluable assistance of Mr. Koes-
ter, the guide. I have, &c.,
ALFRED C. KNox, Lieut. 73d Regiment.
Lieut.-Colonel Eyre, &c., commanding
Lower Albany.

GENERAL ORDERS.
Head-quarters, King 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 defence 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 and soldier under his command.
A very spirited affair 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 night 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 Kafiri
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 such 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
Plaats, 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 Mr. 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
Rangers, 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,
The dates of commissions and names of the witnesses
to be sent to the officiating deputy-judge-advocate.
A. J. CLOETE,
Deputy-Quartermaster-Gen.