The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-08 00:00:00

THE OPERATIONS IN WATERKLOOF.

The following account of the recent operations in this re-
doubtable fastness will be found to embrace a very well-con-
-meted account of the whole movement :

" On the 10th March we leftßlakeway's Farm for the Wa-
terkloof, leaving behind the waggons and a strong camp
guard. We posted our guns on a hill over the Waterkloof.
The men stripped off their blankets and other incumbrances,
and then took the bush in extended order, one regiment
sweeping round in the direction of Fuller's Hoek—where
Colonel Eyre was operating—the remainder extending di-
rectly across from krantz to krantz. It was difficult work.
we heard very heavy firing on our right front. When we
reached the more open part of the Waterkloof some Kafirs
showed in front, who ran away on a few shots being fired at
them. We turned up the bush path that divides Fuller's
Hoek from the Waterkloof. Several shots were fired from
each side—some Kafirs appeared in the centre path, who
escaped without injury. The path was covered with car-
tridge paper and some blood marks. Shots were flying
over the. path from friends as well as foes--the
greater number from the former. As we neared the head of
the pass we found the Ist division, who had just ascended
before us. They reported ten men wounded. Communicated
with Colonel Eyre, and wound down by another pass, joined
our guns. Next morning returned to the hill we had left
the day before, and with the let division went down the
Waterkloof; burned a large numbeeof huts; moved on till
we came to the foot of a high hill called Iron Rock. On the
-top were large bodies of Kafirs, who paraded a number of
cattle, inviting us to try our luck. As we could not walk up
the face of the krantz, we moved round the hill in two divi-
sions, and ascended a bill on the opposite side, where we
found the guns posted. It was so steep that both men and
horses were regularly blown. It was now growing late, so
we had tomove to some place for water, and halted. The
Kafirs (as we anticipated) were in full confidence, thinking it
was the usual sort of work, i. e., luok at it, and leave. Next
morning we (the Ist division) went home, and as our
chief knew that on our retiring home, on next
appearance the enemy would all, betake themselves
to the hills with their cattle—the event justified
it. • We left our guns at Blakeway's farm, took four
day's rations, and returned. The morning of the 13th it was
reported that about 1,000 Kafirs, with a number of cattle,
were on the hill. An officer commanding a regiment with a
,good glass said about 400 came into the krantz and bush
which covered the ascent, and I saw about 200 or 300 go
into another part. We formed in front, and sent in a few
rockets, and moved on.- The enemy fired very briskly, and
from strong partieS within a few yards of our men. They
were certainly very numerous. Colonel Michel cheered ou
the skirmishers, and snatching .a rifle from a man shot the
first Kafir. It was then all excitement—shouting, cheering.
Michel still leading; and the bill was, our own is less than
an hour. We took 570 head-of cattle and 60 horses from
the ugliest place in Kafirland. The enemy had some
loss. We, found in several places 14 or 15 geed. You
know I was always more than sceptical as to the
large amount killed, on pence. Next day hunted up all
their kloofs, took some catle; burned immense kraals ; and
with our cattle slept a second night in the bottoiri of the
redoubtable Waterkloof. Oa the 15th attacked a nest of
Totties; took one prisoner, eleven horses, and lots of stores,
bibles, tAllet moulds, pans, clothing, See, then moved back
to the hill ; and in two days after found the Commander-in-
Chief. You have seen the general order in which one bri-
gade and its commander are eulogised, and with much justice,
but Colonel Michel's work passed over very quietly. Had any
other commander performed the. same 'work, ,four sheets of
foolscap would riot have contained it, though our dear chief
is enthusiastically loved and respected by every officer and
man under his orders, and is possessed of every good quality
which can endear him to all who know him."
The following particulars show the character of the fight-
ing in which the troops and burghers are 'engaged. It will
be•seen that one of Whittlesea's most gallant defenders is
now engaged in the operations against Waterkloof. Mr. T.
H. Bee ker, whose hand was some time ago injured by the
bursting of his gun; has, we are happy to say, healed, but is
yet weak.
"POST RETIES', Mnacir 12.—We 'left Fort Beaufort on
Monday afternoon, soon after the arrival at that place of
Captain Tylden, Commandant T. H. Bowker, and about 40
men, from Shiloh. 'We then proceeded to Blinkwater (seven
miles); passing the camp of the troops of the second divi-
sion that had entered it the day before. A long wattle-and-
daub place, that was intended for a church, is now the com-
missariat store at Blink water and the centre of the camp,
around which all the tents are stretched. Here our horses
had as much forage as they could eat, and we ourselves, as
listed, mutton, biscuit, beer, &c, as we wanted, besides a
. shake down on the floor, all free of expense. About three
next morning we started for Post Ilet ef ; after a beautiful
ride, passing through Buxton, s.t which place we found that
the Somerset burgher% had not yet arrived. The next day
(Wednesday) was the day of the attack on Waterklocf.

About seventy of us, including Captain Tyldea and Coin
mandant T. H. Bowker, kept the open ground within sigh
of the kloof, and within some 300 yards of a quantity of
having
Kafir huts. We saw the 73d on the top of the hill,after
gone up through the bush out of the kloof with some casualty,
but we were not near them. Toe Somerset Burghers
n to
were on the hill before we were, and had
the spot were the 731 were resting. Amongst them
Messrs. William and Octarius Bowker.. saw very
e
few Kafirs, but heard great deal of firing in the kloof.
We here intended to attack the enettnyo,
should the troops drive them
returned home without an opportunity of
follicetoanklkei lioitioshilf,eiiorbegulattwylee:
thing. Yesterday we went out again for the seine purpose,
but to a different spot,
duel' wo could see into the ,
kloof. The troops were fbrouiil s
burning
lua tcsoa.nlkrtraaalsh.
digNhVke
rcoa:tlzd,
perceive lots of huts in different
in the opposite side of the kloof, surrounded on three sides
by krantz, and on the fourth by bush, were about 300 to 400
head of cattle, guarded by aboutliaa
ofK atfirrosop—saspnperaeralychatshle
could judge. We could see a column
climbing up a fieryi
then s tilekekpi
eohefi.fl.l tlovN
vtehee onlyfootcould
of the krantz, when they
c
krantz in single file,
heard two shots as they adpi spaPr opa
ec
ah
reed('
4:Atale nuwinerbee was r
see at the back of the bush, onthwenfoertiertthhaei of
burghers off-saddled.
on tire, and we could seThe
grass
mo-e of the
great deal of cannonading no
gi_nFu Fuller's Hoek, and There was a
and a few shells
were thrown in Waterkloof. After remaining on the hill
until three o'clock P.M., we returned back, leaving a party
of sixteen to forelay one of the paths. Including our oven,
five parties of burghers were on both sides of the kloof.
We g
_night on a forelaying expedition, and to-morrow
we areo o
to-night
on
some
other service, taking three clays
provisions with us. There are about 300 here, nearly all
mounted, being burghers, Fingoes, Hottentots, and men of
the gallant 74th. •
Messrs. A. 'Rubidge and Charles Coleridge have joined
Mr. William Bowker. We are all in good health and spirila.
This is a fine country, full of grass and water." -
GENERAL ORDER.—No. 249.
Head-Quarter Camp, Blinkwater, March 16, 1852.
1. The Commander-in-Chief congratulates the officers',
soldiers, levies, and burghers in the field, upon the success of
the late six days' operations over the enemy in every direc-
tion in which he could be encountered success whiCh may
well be expected to lead to a permanent, lasting peace, The
Kafir tribes have never been previously thus punished, and if
their expulsion over the Kei be effected, tranquillity on a per-
manent basis may be looked for.
No soldiers ever endured greater fatigues, none ever en-
countered them with more continued cheerfulness and devo-
tion to their Sovereign and country.
To Major-General Somerset the Commander-in-Chief
again desires to express his approbation.
The most prominent of the recent services are Lieutenant-
Colonel Michel's on the Iron Mountain' which was cat ried by
the bayonet in „spite of.the difficulties of the ground and tho
.numbers and spirited opposition of the enemy; Lieutenant-
`Colonel Eyre's intrepid, jndiciou, and disarmed attacks on
the extremely difficult 'mountain range of the Fuller'.; Hock.
occupied by the chief 'Viacom° with his best warriors, to tra-
verse which passes of an extraordinary character had to be
carried, in which Captain Campbell, 73d" Regiment, greatly
distinguished himself; but the great effort was required upon
what is termed Macomo's den, and this was assailed and
penetrated by Lieutenant-Colonel Eyre in person, descending
among daring savages, every one of whom was slain, and
where 130 women were captured, amongst whom were Ma;
como's great wife and three others. This clearing of Fuller
H
Hoek was an achievement of no ordinary.character, and the
Commander-in-Chief regards it as the last object the enemy's
hostile disposition clings to.
Lieutenant-Colonel Napier's affair in the Watetrhkelotroofoorns
the 10th inst. reflects equal credit upon himself and
under him.
The Commander-in-Chief desires also
of Lieut.
ena t L,
to convey hie
marked approbation of the conduct . ,liteutzt_co.
cQmmantliogNe bitty. the 606A1itegirawi "°