The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-05-13

of his majeRy's principal fecretaries of fate,
from major-genera Sir David Baird =
Cape Tosvn, Jan. le, 1906.
MY LORD have the honour to an
nounce to your Lordfhip the capitulation of
the Cape OF Good Hope to his Majeny's arms.
In my dispatches of the gath November aft,
from St. Salvador, had the honour to apprize
your LordfhiP of the meafures adopted to re-
treih the force under my command aud having
with much difficulty, procured about fixty or
feventy horfes for the cavalry, and the lick be-
ing recruited, the expedition failed on the 26th
OF that month and we had the good fortune to
reach Table Bay on the 4th inf.
1t had been intended to difembark the army
Immediately, and with a view of covering our
dehgn, before entering the Bay, the oath reg-
ment, commanded by the Hon Lieut.. Col.
Mcdonald, was detached, uader charge of the
Leda frigate, to make decentralization of land
ing in Campo Bay, bat the wind having failed,
the heet did not arrive at its anchorage until
the day was too far advanced to attempt land
ing.
On the morning of the sth the firt brigade.
under the orders of Brigader- General Berref-
ford, was embarked in boats, and proceeded to-
wards the only accefiible part of the lhore, in
| fInall Bay, 6 miles to the northward of Cape
Town, where 1t appeared practicable to effect
comfortably, that, combined with the local diff
fcultics of the fpot, it was found necenary to
abandon the attempt.
The rett of the day was devoted to careful
examination of the whole fhore, from Lofpard's
Bay to within gun fhot of the batteries at Cape
Town, but which produced only the diftreffine
concuiion that the chance of effe6ting landing
| depended upon contingencies, very unlikely to
| be realized but in a perfect calm.
| In conieqnence of this inference, in order TO
obviate the disadvantages of delay, in the adop-
ton OF reiosutlon which apprehended would
| at laft be necefiarily mpofed on me, directed
Brig General Berresford to proceed with
the 3sth regiment, and the goth light dragons.
efcorted by his maefty's ihip Dionede, to Sal
danha Bay, where the Decentralization could be
| accomplished with facility, and profoect was
| afforded us of procuring horfes and cattle and
I purpofed following with the main body of the
| army in the event of the beach being impra6fi-
| cable the enfuing morning.
| The turf along the fhore of Lofpard's Bav
having coniiderably abated the eniuing morn
| ing, j determined, with the concurrence of
Commodore Sir Home Popham, to make IN ef.
fort to get the troops on illorc, and accordingly
the Highland brigade, competed of the I'm.
| 72d, 9sd regiments effected that object, under
the command of Brigadier Gen. Furgufon.
| The thore had been previoully very clofely
| infpe6ted by the Brigadier, and by his fpirited
exertions and example, our efforts were crown.
ed with fucceis; although confined and iutri-
cate channel TO the Alors, which had been ac-
curateIy pointed out by beacoHs laid down by
the diligence and activity of the boats ofhis ma
jefy's fhip Dadem, and atremendous turf. op-
pofed the paGaee ofthe troops.
The enemy had tcattered party of hao.
fhooter over the contiguous heights, and com
manded the landing, but the cafualties of this
fervice aroie principally from natural difficult
ties, and it is with the deepeft concern I have
the honor to inform your Lordibp that we loft
thirty five rank and file of the 9sd regiment, bv
the overfettng of one of the boats notwith
Handing every pofibIe effort to refcue thofe uu-
! fortunate men.
The remainder of the troops could only he
| brought on fhore on the fucceeding day, when
the extraordinary obRacles to all intercour(e
with the fleet, which nothing but the courage
and perseverance, of Britifh feamen could fur
mount, barely enabled as TO obtain the ndifpen-
fable fupplies Of water and proyhons for irnme.
diate fubfltence.
On the morning of the 9Th, the army, con-
fitting of the gath, 59th, 7If, 72d, Esd, and esd
regiments, about four thoufand ftrong, was
formed into two brigades, with two howfzcrs,
and fix light field pieces, and moved off towards
| the road which leads to Cape Town and, hav-
tbe diIChOSN TIC VI inc DIaW Berg,
Blue Mountains, and diflodged the eneny's
light troops, difcovered their main body drawn
up in two lines, prepared to- receive us, and even
| in motion to anticipate our approach.
The enemy's force apparently confifed of A.
bout live thouf7nd men, the greater proportion
of which was cavalry, AID 90 pieces of cannon,
yoked to- horics, the difpoition Of which, and
the natare of the ground occupied by the enc
my's troops, made it evident that they intended
to refufe their right wing, and with their left at
tempt to turn our right flank but, to fruRrate
their dehgn, formed the army into two CO.
lumns, the frcond brigade under Brgadier- Cen
era Ferguf0n keeping the road, whiift the fri
aruck to the right, and took the dcdIe of the
mountains. Having acc ompIiGhed my purpofe,
our line was formed with equal CELEBRITY and or
der and the left wing, competed Of the High.
land brigade, was thrown forward, and advance
ed with the Resdiet rep, urder very heavy
FIRE of round fhot, grape and mufquetry. Mo-
thing could furpsfs or refif the determined bra.
very Of the troops, headed by their gallant lea
der, Brigadier- General Fersufon, and the num-
Der ofthe enemy, who fwarmed the plain, fery-
ed only 10 augment their ardour, and confirm
their dhcipline. The enemy received our fire
and maintained his petition ultimately, but in
the moment of charging, the valour of Britifh
frooDs bore dCyuu all f,r,voGfiOn f,re =.