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

'-.,_

avoided all the difficulty, we will not say danger, of
breaking
down stone walls * * * Informed by the same
opportunity that Sir Ae arks S:oetenArem's residence,
Mr. P. NOrton's, Major Blakew- fa, obinson's, Mr.
Painter's, Mr. Nieland's, Mr Ane;aw,e, ands everal others,
many ot them fine,
been fired and cone',Bo7lllc4i°eus'y
addition to the these ruthless destroyers. In
ovell-finished dwellings, have
sheep, beaut'''
Men and -.lumber of cattle swept away, the loss of
, ..rul fine-vroolled merinos, has been immense.
1„1,.. 's 'received
norses are getting completely worn out, and unless 7l' As received very speedily the consequences must . b
8•1.11 more deplorable. Colonel -Somerset brings information
that Lieut.. Colonel Richardson had moved downwards to
Fort Peddie, there to watch and act upon the Congo tribes,
'who
the colony * were known to have joined the confederacy against
* *
Received an account of a very gallant
defence made by a small party assembled at the farm of Mr..
J. J. Smith, in the Winterberg. The Kaffirs made their
night attack with their usual determination and subtilty,
but were steadily met by the gallant little party—keeping up
tahneienneeesmsaynattflre of vellies from three guns at a time, until
length sheered off without his expected booty.
Mr. Smith's sons distinguished themselves by great intre-
Pidity. Film genial weather. Average of the thermometer
6b deg, 'ln the shade.
.' T-11311sDay.—Received to-day an account of a most gallant
araair at Salem, with a strong body of the enemy, who at-
tempted, in daylight, to capture the cattle of the inhabitants
of that village. The bravery and determination of the young
men, who attacked and defeated the enenly, is deserving of
the highest commendation.
The following details of the spirited affair at Salem have
been handed tons :
" On Wednesday, the 20th inst., the Salem cattle were out
grazing on the flat, near Dr. Livingstone's,
o'clock they
by w
be
reeree,
tween 2,000 and 3,000, when about eleven the
attacked by about 300 Kaffirs, who came upon them in h
bodies, shouting and making the most horrid noise. Before
the cattle guard could collect the cattle to ether, theenemy
r
were in the midst of them, and then they opene,d
aThseevicffieraefire
Kaffirs
on the mourated patrol, who came to the reliet. got off with about 1,000 head, but were immediately
speedily sreinforced
pursued
by the patrol and the Fingoes, who were
.
on them and then went on re-
filmn ks The patrol came up to the enemy in a few mi-
ri""4, 4f
who em.
turned and r
(ading their guns as fithedey uprp oceeded., Three hundred head
were retaken on the Salem side of the Kareiga, but the Kaffirs
got through the river with the rest. They were, however,
Still pursued—the patrol and the Fingoes rushing after them
through a very narrow pass, although numbers of the Kaffirs
were in the bush on both sides. On reaching the high ground
on the opsosite side the marauders showed themselves in
great numbers, but being hotly pursued ran into the bush.
he 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 Kaffirs 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 foot, is beyond all praise. Mr. H. Gardiner, the
Field-Commandant, Mr. J. Gardiner, Mr. Weddeaburn, and
Mr. Scanlin, 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 char
shot. A ball grazed the hat of Mr.
Sc ged with buck
anli- when he in-
stantly brought down the man who had edit,fi and his body
was observed to be dragged into the bush. The patrol state
that the Fingoes conducted themselves in the most deter-
'whicmined manner. One man knocked from his horse
which he was ridia d a Kaffir—
h a s, an captured his horse, and took the
n Kaffirs, though numerous, were ex-
ee:edingly cowardly, aend seemed to have very little manage-
Merit in using their guns.
"Farmerfield was attacked on Tuesday night, and about
400 nead of cattle taken. Many of the, Ka came within
gun shot of the chapel, and shot at the' people who were de-
fending themselves there. When will assistance come ?"
dent Justice of the Peace :
The following is a copy 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
along the Kariega, and heavy firing having been heard during
the night in the direction of Farmerfield, I went there, and
vas 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
600 head of cattle. While hearing these particulars, messen-
gers came from Salem to say that the Kaffirs, in number
about 300, were attacking our party, who had charge of the
carittle.
t I immediately returned, and proceeded with a few
,fends o the farm of Dr. Livingstone. 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, andn
°„ur, party, consisting of 11 Europeans, 3 Hottentots,and
00 Fingoes, a short distance from them. Our friends soon _ _
commenced the attack, and after a sharp struggle,
in getting possession of the whole of the cattle,
eth•Aaenm . y
firing
following them down the road and through th X
that
the
sharply all the time. I have often heard h
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-
ner in which our friends advanced in three parties against
our enemy, 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 ke firing until thearty got clear
of the bush. Our party escaped with no other loss than one
brave Fingoe, 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, &c., may be sent here, or we shall not only lose
our cattle, but our lives will be destroyed. We are able and
willing to defend ourselves, but cannot without the means.
" I should be obliged if you will get his Excellency to ap-
point Mr. H. Gardiner Provisional Field Commandant. He
has shown souiid judgment and great bravery.
(Signed) "W. 11. MATTHS, P."
The following is the report of this affair made bEW y
J.
Mr.ar-
G
diner, the leader of this gallant little party
a The cattle were feeding on the main between Salem and
Dr. ;Livingstone's farm, about a mile from Kariega ridge,
when suddenly the Kaffirs came on them in three divisions.
About 300 rushed in amongst the cattle, got up as close as
they could to the guard under cover of the cattle, and opened
a terrific fire. The guard being weak then retreated, the
Xaffirs 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
Raffia 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
unfortunately 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) "H. GARDINER."
Some intelligence was brought this day by a Fingoe, 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, and that unless succour be roptl afforded, the
camp would either be carried or must be mabany doned. 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 be an attack upon Graham's Town. A party of Hot-
tentots 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
way down left detachments at Fort Brown, and other inter-
mediate posts. * * Received information that the large
farm house called Carel's Rust, the residence of Mr. C. F.
Pnhl, 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 Gut the previous night, stating that the
IC.affirs 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.III. It consisted of 150 men of the C. M. R. under
Major Armstrong, a detachment of the 7th Dragoon Guards,
under Cornet Bunbury, and parties of the Cradock and Al-
Twoß light urghers, under their respective Field Commandants.
field pieces, under Captain Brown and Lieutenant
Gregory, were attached to this force, making, altogether a
force of about 300 mounted
men. At alf-ast o'clock
this force moved from the market-plah p ten
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, athiLer kredni's Post,Far
so celebrated in Kaffir warfare;, and, by
merfield, Bathurst, Port Irae.,otaencdt-eadow.me other interme-
diate stations, would be equally
The Fingoe picquets have this pwr'eek fully m ainr themselves
dsetlhvaest
high character which they had before earned for
by their activity, courage, and vigilance. This will be seen
12 y the following report made by their commanding officer,
Mr. James Thackwray (one of Colonel Smith's corps of
guides) :

"TO LIEUT.-COLONEL JOHNSTONE COMMANDING.
" Graham's T 1 1846. " Sir—I beg leave, in compliance withown, your May order,, to hand
You a report of duties performed bythe Fingoe and Bechuana
Picquets, commencing from the 21st of April to the end of
the same month.
"April 21st--No. 1 picquet shot a Kaffir near Round
several pa,4..,i
Hill who told the 'guard he was Mocomo's man ; heard
the same. es of Kaffirs on the flat, and fired 15 rounds at
toi,:h2,,a.:2vsde,---latAnnostilho'etr
by
yaffer found near Cawood's farm, supposed
picquets the preceding evening.
ziu—zio• 2, Bechuana picquet, attacked a part of
Raffirs, who the same evening had succeeded in taking af. .
Malony's and Pahner's cattle, to the number of 121 head,
killing the latter person's herd,
could escape. The picquets recaptured the whole of the
and a Hottentot, before they
cattle, and supposed two Kaffirs were wounded' in the scuffle.
" 24th—No. 4, report having seen several fires, and heard
very quick firing during the night. " 2th—No. 5, picquet fired at 30 Kaffirs—wounded two,
and brought their assagai.
" 26th—No. 3, picquet report having heard very quick
firing all night towards Mr. Ogilvie's farm.
" 28th—No. 1, Bechuana picquet, attacked a party of
Kaffirs, and captured five oxen stolen from C. Maynard, Esq.,
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 horses left in bush by
Kaffirs, on the Flat above Col. Somerset'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, ;; picquet, report all quiet during the night ;
No. 4 picquet was tired 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 davlight.—l
have, &c.,
" JAS. THACKWRAY."
n
Peddle, brought in by eight or ten Dragoon Guards, brings
intelligence that Pato, leaving 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.
* * * Received communications from this point, the sub-
stance of which is contained in the following extracts :
" FORT PEDDIE, APRIL 30.
" Since the date of my last, nothing which consequence
has taken place. The body of Kaffirs 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 painfur suspense until yesterday, not having revived
any lleTie &Qw the troops ig Qrithue4 'Dm place the 20th

inst., when Colonel Richardson, with 274 of the 7th Dra-
goons, reached this, having heard that we were hemmed in
on every &de. Pato has openly declared himself our enemy,
the war cry' having issued from his kraal, and so I think
we have warm work before us,-as at this present moment
about 500 Kaffirs are within one mile of Fort Peddie, fight-
ing with the Fingoes of this settlement ; the bugles are blow-
ing and troops turning out, &c. The Kaffirs are very daring."

-Another liand writes:—
" From the 21st to the 27th we were kept constantly on
the alert—war cries on all sides—but nothing done. We lost
our position at Sand Drift, and which caused such a panic
here, although the strongest post on'the frontier, garrisoned
by 200 men, yet officers and all moved their baggage for
security into the infantry barracks. Stock (Eno's son) re-
mains steady, but his men, there can be little doubt, have
joined the enemy, but not in any great numbers. Umkie
also, with a few, remains steady. Secola, Nonibi, and Pato,
are the only chiefs who have openly mustered a war party.
Umbaia is still quiet, but there is good reason to believe that
he is as deep in the plot as any of the rest. 'There are still
those who are willing to believe that Pato is quiet, and has
committed no overt act against the colony, and this in the
face of his driving in the Fingoes from Sand Drift, and of his
people in great numbers bein.; in the colony, and returning
with large herds of colonial cattle. Such nonsense is quite
sickening, and if Pato should be again acknowledged as a
chief it will be a great error.
" May lst.—Pato's people have attacked the Fingoes close
to this, and the parties are now engaged.
"An instance of what may be done, if the Kaffirs are
dealt with properly, has been reported to us as follows :
Some 20 or 30 Kaffirs being seen on the Konap Heights, Mr.
R. Ayliff, of Leo Fontein, sent out a party of 12 Hottentots,
who creeping stealthily towards the spot fired a volley into
them, when such as were able instantly fled, panic struck,
leaving 12 guns, several assagais, and many other things in
the hands of the attacking party. Three of the enemy are
said to have been shot dead."
gbhyts some since
Dutch to anfarm attackers on b3;htehe Bona
mp
We are informed, also, that a most resolute resistance was
mpoasditeioan
tfeawkenni
, unyindear
J. Nel. The Kaffirs were in great force, but Were repulsed
with the loss of 16 of their number, who are said to have
been slipt dead.

'POSTSCRIPT—SATURDAY MORNING.
Last night the Fingoe picquet again surprised a party of
Kaffirs, said to be about 12 in number, all mounted, passing
along the fiat at the head of Colonel Somerset's kloof. These
Kaffirs did not approach sufficiently near for the picquet to do
execution, and had they not fired when they did, the enemy
would have escaped. Several long shots were exchanged, the
result being that the Fingoes captured one horse, with bags
full of reins, halters, clothing, Sm., also a pass, purporting to
be signed by the Diplomatic Agent, dated February 15, but
in what year does not appear. This pass appears to be a
forged document. Received a report that last night the re-
sidence of Mr. Corbitt, above the Mill River, had been fired
by the enemy. The premises had been abandoned, but they
contained most of their furniture, oats, hay, &c., which, to-
gether with the buildings, was reduced to ashes. The enemy
then proceeded to the residence of Mr. Wilmott, where a
party of farmers are assembled ; but finding them on the
alert, and the place well defended, they moved off in another
direction, without firing a shot. The great body of Kaffirs
appear to have struck off towards the Bushman's River
Poort, a favourite haunt of theirs—the paths leading to
that point being, it is said, covered with the spoor, or foot-
marks, of the enemy. It is understood that Colonel Somerset
will detach a, strong body of his division to the point of
danger.
The detachment of the Cape Corps, under Ensign Salis,
which proceeded to the station of the Field Cornet Lombard,
returned to town this morning, reporting that they had not
fallen in with the enemy, and who would appear to have
moved across the Zuurberg towards the ravines of the Bush-
man's River, as before stated. The Kaffirs avoid meeting our
mounted men in open clay.