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

COLONEL EYRE'S REPORT.

Head:quarters Camp, Blinkwater, March 11.
Extract of a report just received from Lieutenant-Colonel
Eyre, dated Fuller's Hoek, March 11, 1852:
" We have done two good days' work, and the result sa-
tisfactory. We have penetrated a dense bush in eight dif-
ferent directions—burned a large :lumber of huts, and killed
a good many Kafirs—oleven were seen to-day, all headed
together, apparently killed by cannon shot or shell, and
many others were also found this morning. We surprised a
den, I believe myself Macomo's head-quarters. We took
130 women and children, hidden in caves in an immense
krantz. Among these women is ono of Macomo's wives, and
there are two of his children. His wife had a quantity of
ammunition in her possession. She says that Macomo went
yesterday into Kafirland. They all say that the Hottentots
are in Waterkloof, and the Kafirs are in Fuller's Hoek.
We found all sorts of things concealed in caves—msalios,
butter, clothes, blankets, pots and pans of all descriptions, a
bullet mould, lead, and some little ammunition. The troops
have worked admirably. I propose bivouacking again in the
bush, andgoing at them again.
"wee. EYRE, Lieut.-Colonel, 73d Regiment.
"This was Macomo's kraal, believed to be inaccessible."

MAJOR-GENERAL SOMERSET'S REPORT.
Camp Konap River, March 5, 1852.
Sir,—l have the honour to acquaint you, for the informa-
tion of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, that haying
reconnoitred the enemy's position in the Waterkloof on the
2d inst., I decided to attack him as soon as practicable.
I, therefore, ordered 450 infantry, viz., 800 91st Regt.,
150 74th Regt., and 70 Cape Mounted Rifles, at one A. 111., 011
the 4th inst., to Waterkloof, under the command of Lieut.-
Colonel Yarborough, 91st Regt., in order to come upon the
enemy's kraals at day-break, moving myself with one gun
Royal Artillery, a squadron Cape Mounted Rifles, at four A.M.,
in support.
After a march of seven miles Lieut.-Colonel Yarborough
attacked the enemy at day-break, whom he found strongly
posted in the Waterkloof, at the place of a farmer named
Nel, and also occupying another position below Mundell's
farm, in the same valley.
Moving on the squadron of the Cape Mounted Rifles in
advance, the whole of their kraals were simultaneously at-
tacked and destroyed; 40 horses and 100 head of cattle were
captured and sent to my camp; five kraals, containing up-
wards of 150 houses belonging to rebel Hottentots and Kafirs,
were burned and'destroyed.
Finding that the Cape Mounted Rifles and one comfuparry
91st Regiment had proceeded and pursued the enemy rther
into the dense forest of the kloof, the troops were halted to
recall these parties. In the meantime, the alarm having been
given, the enemy had become greatly reinforced ; and pres-
sing upon the troops, they fixed bayonets and charged
the enemy, and the Cape Mounted ,Rifles charging at
the same_ time, the enemy was defeated and driven back with
great slaughter.
The troops then moved down to the place of Adrian Nel,
where there was a stone house and garden, which they
occupied. At this time Lieutenant-Colonel Yarborough re-
ceived a severe wound, and his horse was shot. Captain
Bramley, Cape Mounted Rifles, and Ensign Hibbert, 91st
Regiment, were severely wounded; four or five men were
also wounded by the enemy's fire, who were carried into the
house. Here a strong and well-directed fire was kept up by
the troops, killing several of the enemy.
Seeing what was going on, I placed a company of infantry
with the gun in support, and moved up Captain Carey 's
squadron Cape Mounted Rifles to the reserve, under Major
Somerset. I directed_ Captain Carey to charge the enemy so
as to clear the front to enable me to remove the wounded
out of fire. This was effected in the most gallant style by
Captain Carey with the Cape Mounted Rifles, the right wing
charging and opening a fire en the enemy, and driving him
up the face of the mountain, the remainder diverging to the
left to the house ; and pining the wounded men on spare
horses, they were brought off without molestation.
Having fully effected all I intended to do by this move-
ment, the enemy having been completely beaten and his
kraals destroYed, I directed the troops'to return to camp.
I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of the officers
and troops, having been most ably led and the whole move-
ment conducted by Lieutenant-Colonel Yarborough until he
fell wounded.
. . .

A great number of the enemy was killed; and, although
having greatly the advantage of ground, and being in great
force, he never attempted to pass the belt of bush, but re-
tired up the hill. I have to regret the loss of Colonel Yarbo-
rough's services, I fear, for some time, as also those of the
other officers and men, and four men killed; but a position so
strong as that held by the enemy could not be attacked and
carried without experiencing loss.
I beg m )st earnestly' to bring the conduct of Lieutenant-
Colonel Yarborough, who so skilfully conducted the attack,
as well as of all the officers and troops engaged, to the favour-
able notice of his Excellency the Commander-in-Cbief.
I have the honour to enclose the return of killed and
wounded.

Surgeon Frazer, 74th Ffighlanders, Dr. Barclay, 91st Regi-
ment, and Assistant-Surgeon Allison, ILA., were unremitting
in their attention to the wounded.
(Signed) H. Somnitsvr, Major-General:
Return of killed and, wounded in action with' the' enemy
in Waterkloof, March 4, 1852:
74th Highlanders, 1 rank Wand file killed, and 1 ditto
wounded; 91st Regiment, 1 sergeant and 3 rank and file
killed, and 2 officers, 3 sergeants, and 11 rank and file
wounded ; Cape Mounted Rifles, 1 officer wounded ; total,
1 sergcaut and 4 rank and file killed; 3 officers, 3 sergeants,
and 15 rank and file wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Yarbo-
rough and Ensign Hibbert, filst Regiment, both wounded
severely; Captain Bramley, Cape Mounted Rifles, wounded
rather severely.
(Signed) C. IL Bum., Lieutenant, Field-Adjutant.
Colonel Cleote, C Quartermaster-General.

(From the Graham's Town Journal Extra, March 18.)
The latest post from bead. quarters brings us the officia
reports of the proceedings in Waterkinof on the 12th, an
outline of which was g;ven in Colonel Eyre's dispatch, pub-
lished on Saturday. Tne intrepidity of the officers engaged
in this duty is conspicuously set forth in the private as well
as in the official accounts. The enemy had fought, however,
most determinedly, and it will be seen that Lieutenant-
Colonel Napier's column was hotly pressed; yet the skit of
that officer carried him safely out of his difficult position.
From private sources we learn that an engagement had
occurred subsequent to the date of the official reports above
referred to, and that the troops had suffered the loss of a
very promising officer, the Hon. H. Wrottesley, of the 43d
Regiment, one private 91st Regiment, and one levy man
killed, and 10 men of the 91st wounded. It is truly lament-
able to reflect upon how many brave fellows the fatal Water-
kloolhas proved the grave.
From Lieutenant-Colonel Perceval's camp, in the Fish
River Bush, we have encouraging accounts. Our advices,
received on Sunday morning, state that a patrol went out
under the Gallant Colonel,' on the litb, to storm the lair of
the Chief Stock and his rebel allies. The force consisted of
detachments of the 91st and 12th Regiments, Armstrong's
Horse, the Lower Albany Burghers, Graham's Town Bur-
ghers,and others who assembled at Fort Brown, the Peddle
Fingoes and Graham's Town Fingoes also co-operating. This
force moved against the enemy in Foonah's Kloof (where the
2d Queen's suffered soon aiter their arrival), but were an-
ticipated by them, as ambushes were laid and every means
taken to cut-off the assailants. The attack was, however,
completely successful, and appears to have been planned
with great judgment and carried out with equal alacrity.
The results were twenty Kafirs killed, 120 head of colonial
cattle, chiefly well-bred cows, taken, and some horses, with
-only one casualty—a private .of the 12th wounded. Two
other Kafka were shot after the engagement, in swimming
the Keiskamma. These were supposed to have been mes-
sengers from Waterkloof. It is asserted that the Chief .Doda
has been killed, as a double-barrelled gun recognised as his
was amongst the booty, and in every/ particular the deroute
is said to have been most complete.'
A howitker, Royal Artillery, played upon the enemy's
position in the most efficient manner. It is gratifying to re-
cord the perfection to which the officers serving in the bat-
talions now in this colony have brought their shell prac-
tice. A plentiful distribution of projectiles appears to us to
be most advisable* previous to the storming of any position,
as by-this means the lives of our officers and troops may be
spared. Oar correspondence speaks in high terms of our
allies, the Fingoes, and we are glad to be enabled to publish
this testimony of their sorvices.
The following letters afford particulars of the eugage-
ment
" Camp, near Foonah's Kloof.—We attacked the camp,
supposed fo have been Stock's, to-day; found few or no
Hottentots. Twenty Kafirs killed, and 190 ho of cattle
captured. Oa our side, one man of the 12th bee went badly
wounded. This affair was carried out by MajorAmrinstrong's
command, to whom the Lower Albany 13urghers are at-
The camp was
tached, and was in every respect successful.
situated in a most villanous place, and tip
aken i liafira laid a
tn' by the
strong ambush ;abut fortunately they a
Burghers. A prty of the 12th attackwcdrethem on the left in
,r a high krantz. h 91st, the Peddle Fin_ ger, and.rm those
Major n strong
from town entered the bush in fine stylen.d
go heart and hand
and 11. Bertram are splendid felloers,
at them. Every one teemed
t 9 one
dmooshtidangerous on
situation of the camp is perhaps one of h
the Fish River. The chief Doda is supposed to havesss been
the
Kar
shot by Moses Wiggcl, of LowermAlebtatnemy.pti'Drgwoto cfiro
yesterday shot by our people
Keiskainina."
,cercia's Moor, Bivouac, Thursday morning, five o'clock.—
Vie have just returned from
atahe.oaamttapc,kwboinob lw'oelab'suraK.at,
afinrsa
at the place said to be Pockb,e
te
s itsht e-
killed fifteen Kafirs, one liofrrittentsobto,:enad
owsounnodegdroeafal.itsotril
same number of Ka'firs.
resist-
ance. We captured from of about 200 head
cattle, the princi.onoart. of which are well-bred C3olonnliaidl
I am happy to
Only one
cows. The loss r side has been very little,
man of the 12th Regiment badly wounded.
behaved well;. , they are a good
say the Graham's Town m.
set of men. We start at eiegnht o'clock to-morrow for Break-
fast Vley."

OFFICIAL REPORTS.
Head-quarters, Camp, Blinkwater, 12th March, 1852.
The troops under the Commander-in-Chief were placed,
on the 9th inst., on the respective bases of operation for the
purpose of dislodging the rebels under Macomo from Fuller's
11941 and tilt) U9tteLitOtS endblabookies Of Q 4900, ocu.