The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-29 00:00:00

DISPATCHES FROM COLONEL SOMERSET TO HIS HONOUR

THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR COLONEL HARE.
Amatola Mountains, April 17, 1846.
Sir,—l have the honour to acquaint you that, having
marched from the Deba River on the morning of the 15th
instant, I proceeded to the Deba Flats, where I halted for

two hoUrs. Having in the course of the morning been in
communication with Captain Sutton, who informed me he

had ascertained that the whole of Sandilla's forces were as-

sembled in the Amatola Mountains, I arranged with him to
join me, so as to unite the whole force on- the 15th instant at
-Burn's Hill, where I arrived with Lieutenant-Colonel Rich-

ardson's and my own division on that afternoon, and was
shortly after joined by Captain Sutton with the Kat River

. . . -
burghers.
Having examined the ground, and finding that the whole
of the Kaffir force was in the Amatola, I decided upon at-

tacking them at as early an hour as possible the following
morning. At seven, 16th inst., I moved 200 of the
91st Regiment, and 200 of the Kat River Burghers under
Major Campbell, 91st Regiment, into the Amatola valley,
detaching Captain Sutton with the mounted Kat River
Burghers, and the Cape Mounted Riflemen under Major

Armstrong, over the Arnatolahill, which hill not being very

passable for guns, I requested Lieut.-Colonel Richardson to
co-operate with the guns of his division and the 7th Dragoon
Guards, with a detachment of the Cape Mounted Rifles,
under Captain Donovan. With these I proceeded round the
Amatola hill, in order to unite with and support the troops

already detached under Major Campbell, Mtifor Armstrong,
and Captain Sutton. These troops moved directly to their

Front.

Major Campbell having advanced some way in the valley,
the Kat River Burghers soon came in contact with the
Kaffirs. As the troops advanced, they found themselves
opposed by a numerous body of Kaffirs, who opened a heavy
fire unon them. The troops under Major Armstrong and
Captain Sutton fell in with large bodies of Kaffirs on the
hill, whom they immediately attacked, and drove into the
wooded valleys. Observing that several Kaffirs had de-
scended into the kloofs south of the Amatola, I had an

opportunity of opening upon them with the guns, and I
have no doubt with some effect. After getting round the
_ _

mountain, I united with Major Armstrong's and Captain
Sutton's troops, but we met with some detention in passing
a bad drift with the gun. Having crossed this drift, I
moved round the hill. Observing a very large drove of cattle
to our left, Captain Sutton proceeded with a force of
Burghers, a troop of the 7th Dragoon Guards, under Captain
Pipet], and a troop of the Cape Mounted Rifles, under
Captain Donovan, to capture them, 'and he secured about

1,800 head.
Whilst this was in progress, accompanied by Lieut.-Col.
Richardson, 7th Dragoon Guards, Captain Brown, Royal
Artillery, with his gun, the Cape Mounted Riflemen under
Major Armstrong, and the Burghers under Field Cornet
Norton, I moved on to the support of Major Campbell, who
found himself opposed to a body of about 2,000 Kaffirs, all
armed with guns. Major Campbell's men were greatly ex-
hausted. Capt. Brown immediately opened his gun upon
the enemy with effect.
I advanced the skirmishers of the C. M. Rifles and the
Hottentot Burgher Force, who kept up a well-directed fire
upon the Kaffirs, who still maintained a continued fire until
silenced by the well• directed fire of Captain Brown's gun.
Observing that Captain Sutton had secured the cattle,
having united all the forces, and it becoming late; I moved
down the bill in order to cover the cattle, the men being
very much pressed by the Kaffirs, Lieutenant-Colonel Ri-
chardson moved into position the gun under Lieutenant Hill,
Royal Artillery, who was able to open on them with good
effect, and to check their advance. Having collected the
cattle, I formed a camp on the flat under the Amatola about
sunset.

I regret to say this duty has not been performed without
some loss on our side, three men of the 91st Regimen'
having been killed, and three men severely wounded; two
men of the Cape Mounted Rifles wounded on the hill
with me, also one Hottentot Burgher shot through the body,
who, I regret to say, died this morning. I feel exceedingly
indebted to Lieutenant-Colonel Richardson for the able sup-
port and assistance he has afforded during the whole of these
eperations.
Major Campbell informs me that the conduct of the men
of the 91st, in forcing their way through an overwhelming
face is beyond all praise.
In conclusion I have only to observe that the steadiness
and conduct of the troops, have been everything I could
wish. These operations have been carried on in a thickly-
wooded country and the deep vallies of Amatola. It is im-
possible to form anything like a correct estimate of the loss
on the side of the Kaffirs, though we have reason to believe
it has been severe, as they had been seen to carry to their
rear numbers of their killed and wounded.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) H. SOMERSET, Lieut.-Colonel,
C. M. Rifles, Commanding Troops in Kaffirland.
His Honour Colonel Hare, C.B. and K.H.,
Commanding Troops.
Burnsbill, Thursday Night, April 16.
Sir,—l have the honour to acquaint you, that this after-
noon, about three o'clock, I heard severe firing on the oppo-
site side of the river, and immediately put the troops under
arms. It was shortly after reported to me that some 10
Kaffirs had made a dash upon some cattle that had been
feeding a short distance down the river side. I immediately
ordered out the few duty men of the Cape Corps, together
with Captain Bambrick's troop of the 7th Dragoon Guards,
and marched them to the top of the hill, overlooking San-
dilla's Drift. I then ordered Captain Bambrick to proceed
with Ensign Boys, of the Cape corps, to the Drift, and if be
saw the spoor he might proceed a short distance in pursuit
of them. His sergeant came to ask me if he was to go
far, when I said to him that Captain Bambrick was by no
means to proceed to any distance. He unfortunately,
however, led the troops, of which by my order he
had taken a division, into a very thick bush, and I
deeply deplore to say, that just as he was returning out of it,
after a shower of balls had been discharged at his party, he
was unfortunately killed. I had taken Lieut. Gregory with
one gun, and Capt. Rawatorne's company of the 91st Regi-
ment in support,—and on Capt. Bambrick's death being re-
ported to me, I marched the company of the 91st' Regiment
to the vicinity of the spot, and taking a detour myself to a
rising ground exactly opposite, with Lieut. Gregory's six-
pounder, and, after firing two rounds into the bush, the in-
fantry advanced and exchanged several shots with a large
body of Kaffirs, without any casualty on our side. Captain
Rawstorne, seeing that the Kaffirs were so daring, and that
they were approaching him in large numbers, and fearing
that he might be surrounded, retired slowly to Burnshill.
Seeing a large mass of Kaffirs congregated in the same
direction the 91st had left, I caused two shells to be ex-
ploded, which fell and burst exactly among them. I then
returned home.
This night, about seven o'clock, and just as I had dimi-
nished the size of my camp, we were attacked by a consider-
able body of Kaffirs, whom we beat off in about six or seven
minutes—l am sorry to say with the loss of four men killed of
the 91st, and four men wounded.
The Kaffirs appeared to be in great numbers around us, and
I consider it to be very dangerous our attempting to move
with so large an amount of ammunition and baggage in the
present excited state of this neighbourhood, especially as we
are so completely surrounded by them, as we observe their
fires and hear their cries in every direction. I would, there-
fore, most respectfully request you will join me here, or send
me a strong reinforcement, as you are aware of the immense
quantity of baggage and stores I have under my charge.
I have, &c.
JOHN HOPE GIBSON,
Major 7th Dragoon Guards, commanding
at Bumshill.
Colonel Somerset, commanding troops, Kaffirland.
Tyumie Camp, April 18th, 1846.
Sir,—l have the honour to acquaint you, that in compliance
with your instructions, I moved from Surnshill yesterday
morning, at about half-past ten o'clock. I formed an advance
guard, consisting of some men of the Cape Corps, one division
of the 7th Dragoon Guards, under the command of Lieutenant
Butler of that regiment; one company of the 91st Regiment,
under the command of Captain Wright of that regiment;
and a gun under Lieut. Gregory, of the Royal Artillery. The
baggage waggons I placed between the advance and rear-
guard, and they were 125 in number, including ammunition
waggons. The rear-guard was composed of the remaining
division of the troop of the 7th D. G., Capt. Rawstorne's com-
pany of the 91st Regiment; one gun of the Royal Artillery,
which I placed under Lieutenant Stokes, of the Royal En-
gineers. From the number of the waggons, and the neces-
sity of giving adequate support to the guns, I was obliged
to make this disposition of a front and rear guard, and
was unable to detach any men along the line of waggons.
In about an hour after the advance guard had started, the
rear guard (under my immediate command) moved off its
ground, having the ammunition waggons of my division
immediately in front of it. After proceeding for about one
mile, I observed a stoppage in the line of waggons, and
hearing several shots proceeding from a gully by the side of
the road, Lieutenant Stokes marched the gun up to a point
some 300 yards in advance, which he raked with shell. I
shortly afterwards understood that the Kaffirs, when one-half
of the line of waggons had passed, made a dash upon one of
them, firing at the drivers and some officers' servants that
were attached to them, who were obliged to fly ; that they
then took out the oxen, and wheeled the waggon across the
road. I found myself now attacked on every side by an over-
powering force of Kaffirs, who rushed down the hills in every
direction, and who kept up an incessant fire on my men : the
fire was returned by my men with great spirit, as well as by
the company of the 91st Regiment, and the gun was served
with much skill ; bat I found all unavailing, and that it was
absolutely necessary, to prevent the men from being com-
pletely cut off, to return to Burnshill, where I again put
the troops in position. A short time afterwards I saw a
company of the 91st Regiment advancing, and keeping up
a heavy fire in skirmishing order, along the brow of the
hill, to which the road diverged at about two miles and a
half from Burnshill. Seeing that the waggons had com-
pletely blocked up my road, and of course prevented me
advancing along it, I made a detour by the left of it, and
after considerable difficulty, succeeded in getting the ammu-
nition waggons into the proper line of road, but found it
quite impossible to save the baggage waggons, from the
Kaffirs having driven away the oxen. About this time one
of the ammunition waggons broke down, but the ammuni-
tion was removed to another waggon. Major Campbell also
came up with a reinforcement some time afterwards, and we
had to keep up a considerable fire all the way, especially on
our nearer approach to our present camp. I beg also to re-
port, that one man had his arm severely fractured, he be-
longs to the 7th D.G., and one man of the 91st was killed.—
I have, &c.
JOHN HOPE GIBSON, Major 7th D. Guards.
To Colonel Somerset, K.H., Commanding
the Troops, Kaffirland.
No. 4.] Chumie, 18th April, 1846.
Sir,—l have the honour to inclose two reports from Major
Gibson, 7th Dragoon Guards, who was left in charge of the
camp on the 16th inst. during oar operations.
Upon the receipt of Major Gibson's first report, I imme-
diately proceeded with 200 infantry, under Major Campbell ;
the Cape Mounted Rifles, under Major Armstrong, and one
gun, under Lieut. Hill, Royal Artillery, to Major Gibson's
support. On arriving at the Keiskama Drift, about two miles
from the encampment, I found the brigade waggons of the Ist
division in the act of passing the drift. Remaining there-
fore with 60 men, Cape Mounted Rifles, and the gun, to de-
fend the drift, I dispatched Major Campbell with 175 men of
the 91st Regiment to the assistance of Major Gibson, but I
regret to say, before Major Campbell had joined, the enemy
were in possession of the waggon oxen, which renderedth;
removal of the waggons impracticable, although tketinie
reinforcement enabled Major Gibson to secure and bring
off
his ammunition waggons.
I propose moving upon Block Drift tdhidsrmivoernr
At dusk last evening the leader an One of the
y into the bush, and
gun ammunition waggons ran
abandoned the oxen. The guar4aria.ni obliged to leave it. I
am going to send for it this mo
I feel greatly
I requested to be. inliform drWhat I am to do with the
d Ceaptain Sutton, who is perfectly
captured cattle.
acquainted with whomotlrsoeperdatzieeanlsc,masnsdervtoices.
indebted for his active an
I beg to add that I have only two days' forage corn, and
t roops._ practicable
i
one day's biscuit.
I shall return to ifßlockDriftthe
have,;if not I shal
&c.,
proceed to Chumie st with
(Signed) H. SOMERSET,
Colonel Commanding.
His Jlonour Col. Hare, CB. and K.H.,
/4014A9T011194