The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-14 00:00:00

FRIDAY

M A -it 141 165 T

THE WAR AT THE C 414 E.

The ftlkaviug it,tier, written by a young oilier-Jr serving
in the Kafir war, in:s been forwarded to us for publiet,

CAMP, WATERKLOOF, Mellen 12.
"I received your let'er jest as I was starting on a
three days' patrol into the Waterkloof. I have just re-
turaed and, as lam to start again to-morrow, I lose no
time in writing to you, as I only pitched my tent at two
o'clock this afternoon, and we march again at six
o'clock to-marrow morning.
" When I wrote to you last I was just starting on a
patrol, the object of which was to destroy crops in the
Amatola mountains, and, as many supposed, to finish
the war. I forget how long we were there, and, as I
lost my diary the other day, I am unable to tell you;
but I think we worked for about a month. We had no
fighting, but most tremendous work, arid many risks.
We were cot strong enough to force our way through
some parts of the country that we had to reap; we were
obliged to climb over hills in the night surreptitiously;
we were very nearly caught once; the Kafirs followed
us up in the daylight, and one Hottentot fired at my
company (who were skirmishing on the left of the co •
limn) from behind a tree at about 16 yards, but he was in
a fright, and the bull passed over us. Another time wo
started at 11.30 P ar, and marched up an awful hill; our
regiment formed the roar-guard. When we wore near
the top a Scotchman came up to the commanding officer
to whom I was talking, and said " Eh, Sir, the amu-
niction paich-hoorse has just rumpled doon the hill, ye
ken,' grinning at the time as if ho had told a good story.
This horse had 1,000 rounds of ball cartridge on his
back; we had to wait for two hours for him; if the
Kafirs had been on the alert they would have got him,
and shot lots of us. They used to fire on occasionally
when reaping, but killed nobody. I had a great deal of
trouble with some Hottentots one day, when I was sent
in command of 100 men to reap a nasty corner sur-
rounded by bush. I was obliged to leave off reaping,
and fire upon them a good eeal before they would let
us alone, but I managed to finish my work in spite of
them. They did not hit any of us, as we wore all be-
hind stones. I cannot tell whether we hit any of them,
as they were in the dense bush, but, at all events, we
drove them off. One of them talked a good deal to me
in English out of the bush. He said they did not want
to fight the Tortoises (the name they give us on account
of the squares in our tartan) or the 73d, but that he
should like to show anybody else, and the Cape Corps
in particular, what they would get if they would come
on. I intended to get up a political areument with
him, but the men would fire on him, and he left off. We
returned to Beaufort on the 26th of February, marched
on the 28th for Haddon, and arrived there on the Ist
of March.
" While we were destroying crops, the Kafirs, and
Sandilli in particular, were very anxious for peace, never
firing on us unless fired on first, and sending many mes-
sages to the Governor. However, he would not listen
to them, and we were ordered to march to Haddon (an
old post at the foot of the Kroome range), to form part
of a combined movement on the Waterkloof, now swarm-
ing with Kafirs driven out of the Amatolas. On the 4th
of March Sir Harry, who would not believe that the
Kafirs were there in any force, ordered a small patrol
to be sent out as a feeler. General Somerset, who had
been informed by spies that there was a Hottentot camp
about 10 miles from Haddon, in the heart of the Water-
kloof, sent 150 of the 74th, 50 of the Cape Corps, and
350 of the 91st, to attack it, under the command of
Colonel Yarborough, of the 91st. We started at twelve
o'clock (midnight) on the 7th, and were to have reached
it at daybreak on the Bth, but it was too far, and we did
not reach it till about an hour after. We destroyed the
camp, and took 30 horses and 100 head of cattle, driving
the enemy before us. Now, having finished our work,
we should have retreated as fast as possible, but, unfor-
tunately, some time was lost in a fruitless attempt to
get more cattle, and during this time the
enemy were pouring down in thousands from the sides
and end of the kleof. At the foot of the camp
there was a small stream, fordable only in one part.
This my company had to guard till the whole division
had crossed; and, while doing so, I shot a fellow who
was pressing on the rear of the 91st with your rifle; he
was a long way cff, and I had to fire over their heads to
do it. They saw me, and mistook me for a Kafir, and
about ten of them fired at me; their bullets knocking the
dirt into my face, and whistling over my head. My men
came running out of cover, and were going to fire on the
91st, thinking that they were Kafirs. Shortly after this
the 91st crossed the ford, the Kafirs were mixed up with
their rear men, and we and the last company of the 91st
had a tremendous fight in the ford. We drove off the
Kafirs, killing, I should say, about ten of them; some
with our bayonets. We did not stop to count the bodies,
as the rest of the column was in full retreat, but made off
as quickly as possible. The Kafirs had assagaied two
of the 91st, and wounded another, and had wounded
two of my company. We brought them all away. Im-
mediately after this the Kafirs, in far greater force,
crowded on our rear and flanks as we retreated, and, as
we had to retreat through a perfect pass, as described by
Sir W. Scott in " Rob Roy," you may imagine our con-
fusion-74th and 91st, men and officers, all fighting and
mixed up, when there was the least opening in the bush.
At last we came to a ruined farm, and here we made a
stand to enable the many wounded to be carried to the
rear, out of danger. Just as we arrived here Colonel
Yarborough was shot through the thigh; and when the
enemy saw him fall they opened a very heavy fire.
" Colonel Yarborough was taken off, and the greater
part of the two regiments, myself among the number,
retired with him. At the time we thought that every-
body had done so. On gaining an opening about two
miles from this we rallied, and found that Captain Pat-
ton, of ours, had remained in the house with about five
or six of the 91st and three or four of our men, and
that some of the Cape Corps were with him. While
talking about it to Mejor Somerset (commanding them)
a note came from Patton to say that he was surrounded
by the enemy, and that he was unable to force his way
through, as he was hampered by wounded. On reading
the note, the Major said that he could not help him, and
that ho must fight his way through, and asked for a vo-
lunteer to carry the message. I went with four of the
Cape Corps; we rode at full gallop, and when we got near
the house I sent the Cape Corps behind a small precipice,
out of fire (intending to return with them as soon as I
had given the message), and galloped on. Just then the
Kafirs saw me, and a pretty smertish fire was opened upon
me. I seemed to hear nothing but the' whish, whish'
of the balls as they passed, an ,1 just as I got to the
door of the house, while I was jumping off, over rolled
my horse with a ball through the small of his
back. How I got into the house I don't know. On en-
tering the first thing that I stumbled over was the body
of a 91st man, shot through the heart, and on looking
about I found myself in the midst of a lot of soldiers,
of whom four were wounded. I gave Patton the mes-
sage, but it was so evident that he would have been
obliged to leave the wounded to the mercy of the enemy
(who always torture them), that I advised him to send
another message for some horses or some stretchers to
carry the wounded. This ho managed to do with diffi-
culty, as no one was game enough to carry the message
from the house to the Cape Corps behind the rocks. I
wished to go back myself; but on making a dash out to
examine my horse, who bad regained his legs, I found
that he was useless; added to which, I was shot at, and
the ball struck so close to me that I was determined not
to give them the: pleasure of shooting me, and regained
the house instantly, which I determined not to leave till
I got a better opportunity; accordingly, I commenced
a steady fire with your rifle from the window
of the house at any place from which I saw
a puff of smoke proceed ; some of the men who
could shoot well followed my example, and after
about an hour, during which I fired ten shots, I had
the satisfaction of seeing many Kafirs leave the bushes
and run up the hill. These were speedily followed by
more, and, a strong body of the Cape Corps arriving
about the same time, pursued them till they saw them
turning and collecting. During this time we were get-
ting the wounded on horses, and, when the Cape Corps
returned, we had got well past all danger. We got
home that afternoon at 5 o'clock, having
been on the
march for 15 hours, taken 30 horses and 80 head of cat-
tle, and destroyed two villages, shooting about 30
Kafirs; our casualties were three officers and 26 men
wounded, five killed, and my horse. This was, at times,
a most desperate fight. At first I thought that our
company would have been surrounded and cut to pieces.
I was so close among the Kafirs that I did not like to
fire off my rifle for fear I should want it to save my life
before I could reload it. However, I gave the ball to
one fellow before we retired; I sighted him somewhere
about the belt (he had nothing on but a pouch-belt, and
carried a firelock and an assegai), and he dropped and
turned over. I almost felt sorry, he was such a magnifi
cent wild beast.

" We started two days after this on a three days'
patrol, and had another fight in a nasty pass in a thick
wood, losing ten men of thu 91st. From this I hate just
returned.

" I will conclude, as it is now 9, P.M., and we march at
6, A. nx., to-morrow, with a few remarks upon firearms,
such as I have found them.

" I have seen, I suppose, some 100,000 rounds fired
from one firelock, and I have seen the effect of Kafir
fire to nearly the same amount; and I say that, first, an
old flint musket, in the hands of a Kafir, who puts in
about six drachms of powder, will kill a man at 800
yards; a regulation firelock, charged with four drachms
and a half (the soldier spills half), ditto at 550; com-
mon rifle, charged with two and a half drachms ball,
conical, hollowed out at the base, 1,200.

" I always put this charge into your rifle, and will
back myself to hit a man in three shots once at 700, and
to put the ball into the midst of a dozen standing toge•
ther at 1,000. I have had a mould made for the balls,
and a long sight made to fix on to the other.
" All those facetious pistols are useless out here; they
are only fit for an Irish landlord.
" I always carry a rifle, and a small Hottentot ser-
vant carries a double carbine (which I have borrowed),
for skirmishing through the bush. I will explain a
few terms that -- does not understand :—A kloof
—a ravine, as it applies to Kafiis, generally in the re-
cesses of some mountain range and densely wooded cn
both sides. The Waterkloof is a collection of about 30
of these, through the principal of which a small stream
runs. I will send a plan of it by the next mail. The
mountains in the heart of which it is situated are called
the Kroomo range. I ern afraid to tell you what I con-
sider the breadth across.
" The Kafirs are of a dark brown colour, of largo
stature, averaging six feet. I should say splendid figures.
They are a very noble, brave set of people, and they aro
immensely superior in every way to the colonists for
whom we are spilling our best blood, while they aro
cheating the officers, men, and Government, and abusing
them at the same time, although they are kept alive by
their money. I would far sooner fight them than the
Kafirs. How many Kafirs do you suppose aro keeping
the colony and their cattle against 5,000 regulars that
and
about 2,000 levies and Fingoes? I don't thinksay
about
there are. 4,000 fighting men in all Kafirland
3,000 in Waterkloof, 1,000 in the Amatolas, and 1,000
is the 'iob River bush."

PORTLAND BREAKWATER,

"The source of our national strength and greatness
(the Navy) has given us commerce, and the sovereignty
of the sea, and created the wee'th and the gra'ideur of
England." The Government Breakwater is progress-
ing very satisfactorily, and has attracted the notice of
those whose interest led them to set a due estimation
on the maritime concerns of Dorsetsbire. But this is a
very limited consideration when compared with those
national results, which so obviously attach to this
important national subject, and to which the kingdom
at large is daily growing more alive. It will ultimately
present a noble specimen of the riches, the strength, the
commerce, and the beauty of every thing connected
with British seamanship, and thereby Weymouth and
Portland will be able to assert their title to be ranked
among the first maritime stations in the world—worthy
the renown of England and the august presence of her
monarchs. The celebrated Sir John Sinclair Long felt
a deep interest in the subject, he was the first who
brought over to this country the plans of the cones at
Cherbourg, and roused the attention of the Government
to that important undertaking; he also very wisely ob-
served in reference to the Portland Breakwater, that
perhaps the future safety of England may depend on its
creation. The late Mr. John Harvey observed, " This
is no job; it stands on its own intrinsic merits." In no
country is the power of capital more prominently
brought to view than in Britain, where its wonderful
effects are everywhere apparent.
Railway companies have now the certainty of the
Portland Breakwater, and from its central position by
land and sea, mast provo of immense importance as un
auxiliary to their lines. It is pleasing to enumerate
some of the important bore fits to be derived from this
stupendous work; it is nearly equi distant from Scilly
and the Downs; opposite to Guernsey and tho Caskets;
between which and the Thames are those dangers and
intricacies which have produced that serious loss of life
and property continually experienced. Indeed the ex-
cellence of its
rendezvous is
an asylum
from
as a general ia admitted,
dt gales,
he
advantage
the commerce will derive by protecting it against south•
east winds is all that is required. The Breakwater
abuts on the land close to the railroad, and the stone is
at once deposited into the sea. In addition to the bee
nefit this Breakwater will offer as a refuge from gales
and hostile cruizers, as'a rendezvous for the collection of
convoys, and as an effective station for her Majesty's
ships, to be in readiness to protect the trade and follow
the movements of an enemy's squadron, will amply
afford to the merchants and shipowners of London, &c:,
assistance for the voyages of their ships. The south-
westerly winds blow eight months out of twelve, and the
consequent delay averagea four weeks on every southern
xp.,rt voyage from the Thames. The detention arises
chi( fly in the Downs, and at the anchorage within the
Isle of Wight, not from the impossibility of getting
from either, fur in moderate weather they can always
get from thence, but from the impracticability of getting
into the safe sea-room of the Channel, without exposure
to those serious dangers which present so melancholy a
picture in our daily and weekly journals. Tne distance
from the Isle of Wight to that part of the Channel in
which ships may be said to be in safety, is about ninety
miles, and as Portland is fifty to the westward of the Isle
of Wight, and may be reached in a tide time, ships will
not only be safe when caught there with a south-east
wind, but be enabled to get to sea without difficulty
with the wind from any point of the compass. They
will now get from the Downs to Spithead, from Spithead
to Portland, and from thence into the safe sea-room of
the Channel! The tides turn three hours sooner on the
shore than the offing, and the wind near the shore is
generally influenced by the land. With the assistance
of nine hours tide with them out of twelve, and the fa-
vourable slants of the wind, the skill and perseverance
of shipmasters when having this harbour to run to in
the event of a gale, will materially decrease the deten-
tion they have hitherto been subject to.
The southeast wind rises rapidly and blows strongly,
and is the wind on which the outward bound ships de-
pend to effect a quick voyage. Those from the other
eastern points are generally of short duration, and the
benefit of being advanced a few leagues to the westward
on their springing up is frequently equal to the time oc-
cupied in a West India voyage; while others, which
sailed at the same time from the Downs, had been com•
pelled to put back again in consequence of the wind
shifting to the westward before they could get below
Guernsey. Although the south-west wind prevails two-
thirds of the year, yet on an average it does not blow
strong above a third of that time, and hence shelter and
assistance will enable the ships to be making progress
on their voyage 160 days of the time they have been
detained at the eastern anchorages. If then the pay
and the victualling of the crews, and the loss of interest
on the invested capital during that period will bo saved,
it is important; but if we take into consideration the
consequence of a late arrival of cargoes at the foreign
markets, and ask, if by so far ensuring an early arrival,
a material benefit is not conferred? English manufac-
turers have to compete with the products of other coun-
tries, which, though of inferior qualities, supply the
demand in the absence of British merchandise, even in
our own colonies the seasons as at home have their
pectitlier requirements, and an expeditious voyage is alike
essential to profit and a quick return of investment.
The merchants, shipowners, and commercial companies,
the public and the Legislature, are aware 'of the im-
mense value of the trade of London, and appreciate the
protection and aid that will arise from this harbour of
refuge, the value of property saved from wreck, and
the impetus given to property, will annually produce
millions.
The works are proceeding in a most satisfactory man-
ner, and extend 1,900 feet from the shore, the stage
erected for the purpose of depositing the stone has a
frontage of 240 feet, the piles composing it are 82 feet
in length, and the iron shoes affixed to the end for
screwing them into the places weigh upwards of half a
dtoenpteh eachf.
water
re paitlesthae requiredpreartnow
of this
ti
selengen
tihg w, the
fathoms; the stone is deposited at the rate of 1,200 tons
per day. Such is the stupendous nature of the work in
progress and zeal now actively displayed in their
execution.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSMOUTII, MAY l3.—The Sampson steamer is
expected to come into this harbour to embark troops
for the Channel Islands.
Wind westerly; strong gales and squally, with light
rain.

DEVONPORT MAY 12 . —Commodore Seymour re-
turned from leave on Tuesday evening, and re-hoisted
his flag on board the Sr. George this morning, and the
Commodore resumed his duties.
Preparations are making to-day for a holiday to-mor-
row, on a grand scale for this part of the country. All
the public departments will have a holiday. There will
be a review on Mount Wise. The railway managers are
going to start trains at reduced fares for the day, and
every accommodation is to be afforded to the pleasure-
takers; but at present the weather does not seem favour-
able. We have had some beautiful showers to-day, and
at present it looks likely for a continuance of them.
PLYMOUTH, MAY 13.—Her Majesty's screw steam-
frigate Dauntless, Captain Halsted, lett the Sound yes-
terday, for Queenstown.
The Hightlyer steam-vessel, Capt. Matson, made her
number off this port yesterday. She is out on a trial
cruize exercising engines.
Her Majesty's steam-ship Retribution, Capt. Warden,
arrived on Monday, from Portsmouth, and sailed on
Wednesday for Lisbon.
Her Majesty's steam-ship Horatio, Captain Carnegie,
arrived in the Sound on Saturday evening, from a cruize
in the Channel, and saluted the flag of Admiral Sir John
Ommanney, which was returned by her Majesty's ship
Impregnable, in Hamoaze. She sailed again on Tuesday
for the eastward.
Her Majesty's frigate Amazon, 26, Captain Charles
Barker, was unmasted on Saturday, and on Tuesday she
was paid off into ordinary.
copHpeerr Majesty's
oleane desntedam-exeslmoop Buzzard,
ioed,waetekheanvoinegt
ofhad
dock
on Saturday, aoxrd
ocoorme,mfiossriocmnoed
Commander
eesdaemr evvd.aHy
H. Debbie.
Lieu-
tenantßichard
Her compliment is to be 160 officers and men.
Her Majesty's steam-ship Calcutta was unmasted on
Tuesday, previous to being docked.
The Goodwill lighter sailed on Tuesday with stores
for Sheerness and Chatham.
Letters from her Majesty's steam-vessel Gladiator, at
the Cape of Good Hope, :dated March 28, state that
she is to be fitted with cabins for the reception of the
ex-Governor, Sir Harry Smith, and suite ; and that she
may be expected home in June.
The British and Irish Steam Packet Cornpan3's
steam ship Foyle, Captain R. Kempston, which left
Kingston on Monday evening at eight o'clock, arrived
here on Tuesday night at twelve, and landed the re-
mainder of the 35th Regiment: about 5,000 men, who
prcceeded at once to their quarters at Devonport.
A MUTINY AT SANDY POINT.—From a letter re-
ceived at Devonport last week from Valparaiso, under
date Feb. 24, we make the following extracts:—" On
our way to Callao with the Admiral we met a Liverpool
steam mail-boat in the Straits of Magellan, which
brought news of a mutiny at Sandy Point, a settlement
which has been formed of convicts and others. One of
the men who escaped was in the steamer (the Lima).
The admiral's ship, the Amphitrite, and the Thetis, were
out cruising, and the Chilian Government wished the
Virago to go in search of the mutineers. We went out
and towed the Portland 50, in on the 15th January. On
the 22d we arrived at Chile% and got aground for about
half an hour, not knowing the passage, but we did no
damage. On the 28th at sea, a sail was reported from
the masthead at ten A.M ; guns were loaded, and all
hands armed. At twelve we neared, and fireda
shetacross the bow of the stranger, which we supposed
con-
tained the rebels. The two cutters were then
d sent
over
off to
the
the brigantine, and the English crew
theyside
aonddy
ou whenar
et camehoeoym
tora:ripe e
rbeo aersd. of
vvuos
and
brought every man and woman eonboard,searched
took everythingfrom
their luggage,
them. Two
officers and three seamen were sent on board the bri-
gantine, which then anchoredweiontaesbafya,r while
Gregoryilewew nay
ent in
search of the barque. We
gnehedescaped to the
and sent the boats Point, on
came to an anchor with the priaonheorrs oetnsoauerdytroop deck. On the 30th we
anchor, and
shore;woods
sail was reported. We gavbeocuhnadswef chase, but bwvueatrieps she
wrsacdasndwel
man-of-war,
another
we
seen
concludednothing
thatof
proved to be ah2oS6rwilPeydriatesf6tnere
srreoaauisrnoed.htehSfOhaeHehodarnwd." The writer then gives a detailed ac-
count of the various movements of the ship up to the 15th
February, when she fell in with the barque at Chiloe,
frcra whence they proceeded in company with the bri-
gantine to Valparaiso. " The brigantine was bound to
Englund with a cargo of 72 tuns of silver ore, many
seven bars of gold, 14 inches long, 3
etch hundred
erse dw
ld slue, and
3i
thick;
three smaller bars, and a bag
go gs, amounting in all, together with the value
of the brigantine, to about 6,5001. We took her.nucler no

FRtF~4'_ed~.'t-rfV,,y^y_4"lYq^Jrda,;:i~#'~l9C,il::~!~i ~~c+y.3a ?~}r'.'-' vn....i.-__l'?~~ ^'~'3~s'T

colours ; the rebels attempted to helot the liwoiaa g.
but ,orno of the Englishmen cut the halyards, upon
which it was proposed to murder them, but as they
cgrured the rebels that we were a Californian vessel,
they became satisfied until taken."

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COORT OF EXCHEQUER, May 14.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL V. BRADBURY AND EVANS

"HOUSEHOLD NARRATIVE."
The proceedings in this case were withdrawn this
morning, it being understood that a difficulty had arisen
with retcrence to the terms of a special verdict, and that
it had been arranged that the question of the liability of
monthly publications to newspaper s:amps should be
raised upon a bill of exceptions, to be tendered to the
judgment already given by the Court.