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

SEVERE ENGAGEMENT IN WATERKLOOF.

An express reached town late this morning, from Haddon,
bringing us accounts of another severe and deplorable casu-
alty that has happened to the British troops at the Water-
ktoof. We are happy to learn that Colonel Yarborough's
wound is not dangerous, and that the wounded have been
removed to Fort Beaufort.

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 number of huts, and killed
a good many Kafirs—eleven were seen to-day, all beaded
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 headquarters. We took
ISO women and children, hidden in caves in an immense
krantz. Among these women is one of Llacomo's wives, and
there are two of his children. His wife had a quantity of
ammunition in her possession. She says that blaeonao went
yesterday into Kafirland. They all say that the Hottentots
are in Waterkloof, and the Kalirs are in Fuller's Hoek.

" We found all sorts of things concealed in caves—mealier,
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, and going at them again.
Wm. 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.
have the honour to acquaint you, for the informa-
tion of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, that having
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., 300 91st Regt.,
150 74th Regt., and 70 Cape Mounted Rifles, at one A.M., on
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 Safirs,
were burned and destroyed.
Finding that the Cape Mounted Rifles and one company
91st Regiment had proceeded and pursued the enemy further
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 Carq'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 on the enemy, and driving him
up the face of the mountain, the remainder diverging to the
left to the house; and placing 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 most 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-Chief.
I have the honour to enclose the return of killed and
wounded.
Surgeon Frazer, 74th Highlanders, Dr. Barclay, 91st Regi-
ment, and Assistant-Surgeon Allison, R.A., were unremitting
in their attention to the wounded.
(Signed) H. SOMERSET, Major-General.
Return of killed and wounded in action with the enemy
in Waterkloof, March 4, 1852 :-
74th Highlanders, 1 rank and 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 sergeant and 4 rank and file killed ; 3 officers, 3 sergeants,
and 15 rank and file wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Yarbo-
rough and Ensign Hibbert, 21st Regiment, both wounded
severely; Captain Bramley, Cape Mounted Rifles, wounded
rather severely.
(Signed) C. H. BELL, Lieutenant, Field-Adjutant.
Colonel Cleote, C. 8., K.H., Quartermaster-General.,

(From the Graham's Town Journal Extra, March 18.)
The latest post from head-quarters brings us the official
reports of the proceedings in Waterkloof on the 12th, an
outline of which was given in Colonel Eyre's dispatch, pub-
lished on Saturday. The 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 skill 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-
kloof has 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 11th, 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 Peddie
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 alter 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 Kafirs 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 dtroute
is said to have been most complete.
A howitzer, 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 ns to
firfsi:om tbhednilo,cwlooclink
be most advisable previous to the storming of any position,
be
as by this means the lives of our officers and troops may
spared. Our correspondence speaks in high terms of oily
allies, the Fingoes, and we are glad to be enabled to publisb
this testimony. of their sorvices.
BlBauicrichamarpo
was The following letters afford particulars of the engage-
ment :
supposed fo have been Stock's, to-day; fon
" Camp, near Foonah's Kloof.—We attackednd
ftehwe camp,
supposed
captured. On our side, one man of the 12th Reg:ixeletrenee Hottentots. Twenty Kafirs killed, and 190 he.anideonft cahatdtllye
wounded. This affair was carried out by
at-
command, to whom the Lower Albany
tached, and was in every respect successful. Thec
' taken in' by the
strong ambush ; but fortunately they were
kedrethem on the left in
situated in a most villanous place, and t Kafirs laid a
Burghers. A party of the 12th attacked them
ues,
and those
a high krantz. The 91st, the Peddi !lin
Di aj or Armstrong
from town entered the bush in fine st
es to do his best. The
at them. Every one seemed anx
ne of the most dangerous on
, and
of LowerinAlabtatneyin.ptiZeteK,ascfirorKseswaritehrrsee,
and H. Bertram are splendid fellows, ande go heart and hand
situation of the camp is perhap2oo.2 is
supposed to have been
the Fish River. The chief .1) a
shot by Moses Wiggel,
srout h
yesterday shot by our people
Keiskamma." Thursday
morning, five o'clock.—
" Tola's Kloof, Bivouac,
i returnedd
to
hep fromooThi Ih :tab
tseootbsa,
01
ntuat
natp cd,2kwoohl
wounded
ne Tweel
oabaf ub
pnitentdide
aWt thee
killed fifteen Kafirs, one 11
resist-
of which are well-bred colonial
They showed us no great
resist-
ance. nuwrinebeerapotfuKrei
partside has been very Fttl
to-morrow
orlrow for Break-
' e, onl-
y one
cows. The loss on our si
cattle, the principal
man of the 12th Regiment a y am happy to
well;
Town men behaved
say the Graham's
set of men. We start at eight
fast Vley."

OFFICIAL REPORTS.
Head-quarters, Blinkwater, 12th March, 1852.
mmander-in-Chief were placed,
puaruntedrse,retahmep,
Co
The troops
on the 9th inst., on the respective bases of oration,
the rebels under Macopemo from Fullers
purpose of dislodging
EQek, and the liettentots and Tutookieri of Queeha, occu-