The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-01 00:00:00

--
avoided all all the difficulty, we will not say danger, of !
breaking down stone walls * * * Informed by the same
'ippon-units* that Sir Andries Stockenstrom's residence,ir
tie- P. NOrton's, Major BlakewLy'a, Mr. Robinson's, 3 •P, t4inter's, Mr. Nielaud's, Mr. Andrew's, and several others,
many of them fine, spacious, well-finished dwellings, have
been fired and consumed by these ruthless destroyers. In
addition to the number of cattle swept away, the loss of
....CheeP, beautiful fine-woolled merinos, has been immense.
men and horses are getting completely worn out, and unless
help is received very speedily the consequences must ba
still more deplorable. Colonel Somerset brings information
that Lieut.- Colonel Richardson had moved downwards to
Port Peddie, there to watch and act upon the Congo tribes,
Who were kno*wn to have joined the confederacy against
the colony * * defence Received an account of a very gallant
J. Smith made by a small party assembled at the farm of Mr. ,
tigh J.
attack ,lo the Winterberg. The Kaffirs made their
t
but were stead with their usual determination and subtilty,
ay met by the gallant little party—keeping up
an incessant fire of vollies from three guns at a time, until
a enemy at length sheered off Without his expected booty.
Mr. Smith's sons distinguished themselves by
great intre- ,
vidity. Fine genial weather. Average of the, thermometer
68 deg. in the shade. .
THuRBI34Y--Received to-day an account of a most gallant
affair at Salem wi
htth a stron body of the enemy, who at-
tempted, in daylig, to capture the cattle of the inhabitants
of that village. The bravery and determination of the young
me
en, who attacked and defeated the enemy, is deserving of
th highest commendation.
The folio
been hand.ed to us
Wing details of the spirited affair at Salem have
gra"z°hinfr v'arednesday, the 20th inst , the Salem cattle were out
tweer , on the fiat, near Dr. Livingstone's, in number be •
att- A 2,000 and 3,000, when about eleven o'clock they. were
1... Aeked by about 300 Kaffirs, who came upon them. in three
Before
u .dies, shouting and making the most horrid noise.
the cattle guard could collect the cattle together,
the
were in the midst of them, and then they opened a
severe fire
enemyfir
on the mounted patrol, who came to the relief. The gaffers
ed
got off with about 1,000 head, but were immediately pursued
by the patrol and the Fingoes, who were speedily raeFtnfewrosrffiuceid.
Vern Salem. The patrol came up to the enemy
flutes, who turned and fired upon them, and theehnniwnnednretdonheraed-
loading their guns as they proceeded. b
Were retaken on the Salem side of the KaTte' re
iga'were, however,
got through the river with the rest.
Theyrushing after them
but the Stars
still -pursued—the patrol and the
uFingoes
through a very narrow pass, 0
rgeha numbersebi
nreaching the
he of
high the
Were in the bush on both sides. On ground
s
on the opsosite side the maraudersn showed themselves in
great numbers, but being hotly pursued ran i.nto the bus.
The patrol then retook the whole of the cattle in the enemy's
possession, not far from Keulder's ; and in addition to their
own, a number supposed to have been taken from Farmerfield
the previous night. The whole of the cattle were brought
through the bush in triumph, and on returning home to Sa-
lem in the evening the Fingoes sang a war song, and seemed
in a transport of delight. In the affray one of the Fingoes
was killed, but on the side of the enemy several must have
fallen, as the K.affirs were seen dragging away the bodies.
The bravery of this party, which did not consist of more
than twenty mounted men, and about thirty Fingoes and
others on fcrot, is beyond all praise. Mr. H. Gardiner, the
Field-Commandant, Mr. J. Gardiner, Mr. Wedderburn, and
Mr. Scavin, acted with the greatest courage and fortitude.
Mr. F. Short being pursued by one of the enemy turned
and shot him in the head, his gun being charged with buck
eaot. A ball grazed the hat of Mr. Scanlin, when he in-
stantly brought down the man who hail fired itond his body
was observed to be dragged into the bush. The patrol state
that the Fingoes conducted themselves in the most deter-
mined manner. One man knocked a Kaffir from his horse
which he was riding, and captured his horse, and took the
Kaffir's ;kaross. The Kaffirs, though numerous, were ex-
ceedinsly cowardly and seemed to have very little manage-
ment in using their guns.
" Farmerfield was attacked on Tuesday night, and about
400 head of cattle taken. Man of the Kaffirs came within
gun shot of the chapel, and shoyt at the people who were de-
fending themselves there. When will assistance come?"
The folio
Justice o the Paeac
dent
coepy._of the Official Report of the Resi-
" Sir, I have to inform you that, finding it impracticable
To go or send to town, as the enemy were very numerous
_nriong th eR. ariega, and heavy firing having been heard during
was e
night in the direction of Farmerfield, I went there, and
_as informed that two desperate attacks had been made, and
that notwithstanding the inhabitants behaved very bravely,
the enemy being so numerous, succeeded in getting off with
000 head of cattle. While hearing these particulars, messen-
gp.s came from Salem to say that the Kaffirs, in number
about 300, were attacking our party, who had charge of the
!Attie. I immediately returned, and, proceeded with a few
friends to the farm of Dr. Livinone. On arriving there,
we perceived a herd of
.cattle, about a mile and a half on the
other side of the river, in possession of the Kaffirs, and
n,Our .itartY, consisting of 11 Europeans, 3 Hottentots, and ''''' -ringoes, a short distance from them. Our friends soon
commenced the attack, and after a sharp struggle, succeeded
in getting possession of the whole of the cattle, the enemy
f°ll, owing them down the road and through the Kariega, firing sharply all the time. I have often heard that the
looker-on sees more of the game than the players. Being in
that situation, I could not help wishing that some military
Man had been there to have seen the gallant and steady man-
nerp
in which our friends advanced in three
art" against
our enem many to one in the affair, in which all conducted
themselves so well, it is almost unfair to mention names; yet
I cannot omit to mention those of Messrs. H. Gardiner,
T. Scanlin, G. Wedderburn, and T. Berrington. They fol-
lowed on this side, and kept firing until the party got clear
of the bush. Our party escaped with no other loss than one
brave Fingte, who was mortally wounded, and was obliged
to be left, he being unable to sit on a horse. We and the
inhabitants of Farmerfield are now placed in very critical
circumstances. We have very little ammunition, and we
cannot send a sufficient number of men to insure its safe
arrival. I most earnestly request that you will without delay
'bring before Colonel Johnstone, or his Excellency the
Governor, our perilous situation, that a good supply of am-
munition, &e.
a may be sent here, or we shall not only lose
our cattle, l'aut our lives will be destroyed. We are able and
willing te, defend ourselves, but cannot without the means.
" I B'aould be obliged if you will get his Excellency to ap-
point Mr. H. Gardiner Provisional Field Commandant. He
Jaas shown sound judgment and great bravery.
(Signed) "W. H. MATTHEWS, J.P."
The following is the report of this affair made by Mr. Gar-
diner, the leader of this gallant little party "The cattle were feeding on the main between Salem and
Dr. ;Livingstone's farm, about a mile from Kariega rie
when suddenly the Kaffirs came on them in three divisiondgs., Itbouco ult
d. 300 rushed in amongst the cattle, got up as close as
they. to the guard under co
gver of the cattle, anal openea
a terrific fire. -roe guarcl bein weak then retreated, the
Baffirs driving off 1,000 head. They were immediately
pursued by the little party, who soon recaptured 600 head.
The rest, the choice of our flock, they drove into a deep
kloof on the opposite side of the Kariega. Our party then
being reinforced from Salem, followed them. Here the
Raffira had every advantage. They had lodged the cattle
safely, as they thought, in the bush, which they surrounded
on all sides, with a determination to fight for them. Our
little party, determined not to be daunted, advanced upon
them, and recaptured all the cattle, and one horse. We
unfortuneaely lost one Fingoe in the affair, but we have
reason to believe that many Kaffirs were shot: several were
seen to fall. I must say that the whole of the party acted
With great courage.

(Signed) 11. GRDER."
Some intelligence was brought this' day bra FIN
ingoe, who
got through the bush with difficulty during the night, from
the position on the Fish River, under the command of the
Field Cornet Jury Lombard. This Fingoe states that the
position is surrounded by Kaffirs, that many cattle have
been taken, anti that unless succour be promptly afforded, the
camp would either be carried or must be abandoned. The
messenger also stated, that on his way through the bush he
overheard the Kaffirs speak of their designs, one of which is
said to 'oe an attack upon Graham's Town. A party of Hot-
tentqls set out to reinforce this position, and also a detach-
ment of C. M. Rifles under Lieut. Salis. * * A party of
60 Cradock Burghers arrived to-day in town, having on their
waydiate down left detachments at Fort Brown, and other inter-
me
hous posts. * Received information that the large
Pohl
farm e called Carel's Rust, the residence of Mr. C. F.
,on the old Bay-road, had been fired by the Kaffirs, and
also the dweliing of the widow Heley, at Salem Hills, on the
Bathurst-road, nine miles south of town, besides many other
buildings, which, in the absence of fuller information than we
possess, we abstain from specifying.
FRIDAY.—This morning some Fingoe spies came in, who
had been sent out the previous night, stating that the
Kaffirs were in great force in the bushy ravines border-
ing the Kowie and Kariega Rivers, and it was instantly
resolved by Colonel Somerset to move with a strong force is
that direction. This force mustered on the market-place at
ten, A.lll. It consisted of 150 men of the C. M. R. under
Major Armstrong, a detachment of the 7th Dragoon Guards,
under Cornet Banbury, and parties of the Cradock and Al-
bany Burghers, under their respective Field Commandants.
Two light field pieces, under Captain Brown and Lieutenant
Gregory, were attached to this force, making, altogether a
force of about 300 mounted men. At half-past ten o'clock
this force moved from the market-place, the Hottentot
riflemen cheering as they defiled towards the drift, taking
the road leading to Weest's Hill—it being intended to take
take up the old position of Major Frazer, at Lembard's Post,
so celebrated in Katlic warfare 'and by which Salem, Far-
merfield, Bathurst, Port Frances, and some other interme-
diate stations, would be equally protected. * * *
The Fingoe *
picquets have this week fully maintained that high character which they had before earri,d for themselves
by their activity, courage, and vigilance. This will be seen
by the following report made by their commanding officer,
Mr. James Thackwray (one of Colonel Smith's corps of
guides) :

'
"TO LIEUT.-COLONEL.-COLONEL JOIINSTONE COMMANDING.
u
4. May 1, 1846.
" Graham's Town, .I. Sir—l beg leave, in compliance with your order, to hand
Sou a report of duties performed by the Fingoe and Bech a na_
picquets, commencing from the 21st of April to the end of the same month.
"April 21st—No. 1 picquet shot a Kaffir near Round
Hill, who told the guard he was Mocomo's man ; heard
several parties of Kaffirs on the flat, and fired 15 rounds at
the same.
" 22d—Another Kaffir found near Cawood's farm, supposed
to have been shot by picquets the preceding evening.
"23d—No. 2, Bechuana
Xaffirs,picquet, attacked a party - of
Malony's
who the same evening had succeeded in taking Mr.
and Palmer's cattle, to the number of 121 head,
could escape.
killing the latter person's herd, and a Hottentot, before they
24th—No.
The picquets recaptured the whole of the
cattle, and supposed two Kaffirs were wounded in the scuffle.
very quick firing during the •
" 25th No. 5,
, report having seen several fires, and heard
g night,
and brought their •
picqueat fired at 30 Kaffirs—wounded two,
assagis.
" 26th—No. 3, picquet report having heard very quick
firing all night towards Mr. Ogilvie's farm.
.
" 28th—No. 1, Bechuana picquet, attacked ap o
Kaffirs, and captured five oxen stolen from C. Maynarartyd, lisq, f
and four horses belonging to the thieves.
"No. '2, captured two horses, six fowls, one dish ; sup-
pose one Kaffir wounded.
" 29th.—No. 1, brought in two hrses left in bush by.
Raffirs, on the Flat above Col. Somerseot's.
" 30th.—No. 1, found an ox which the Kaffirs abandoned
on their approach ; ten spies returned from direction of
Begelly farm—report having seen two fires.
" MAY I.—No. 3 picquet, report all quiet during the night ;
No. 4 picquet was fired at by three men proceeding to
Cawood's farm with four others. Three spies returned from
Kowie Bush, who saw a great number of fires, which were
lit up about 11 o'clock and put out just before dayliplit.—l
have, &c.,
" JAS. THACKWIIAY."
Peddie,
12 o' c.,
Noox.—An express just come in from Fort
brought in by eight or ten Dragoon Guards, brings
intelligence that Pato, having joined the confederated chiefs
against the colony, had sent a part of his warriors into the
colony, and that he had also attacked the Fingoe settlement,
the engagement then raging when the express left the post.
* 3 * Received communications from this point, the sub-
s`ance of which is contained in the following extracts :
" FORT PEDDIE, APRIL 30.
" Since the date of my last, nothing of any consequence
has taken plice. The body of Kaffirs which were within
two miles of Fort Peddle (when I last wrote to you), have
dispersed and entered the colony ; and we were kept in the
most painful suspense until yesterday, not having received
any utly4 frQul the ti'Dcp4 yr Graham's Tov4 IlinGQ the 24th