The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-06-15
Tv,-,,r Cav, 18Th Anr;l ,sAs

instrucuou6.
yesterday morning. at about halfpast 10 o'clock.
for med advance guard consisting of some men Of
the Cape Corps division Of the It'll Dragon Guards
under the command Of Lieut. Butler Of that Regiment
one company of the 9ls Regiment under the command
OF Capt Wright Of that Regiment and a gun under
wagons placed between the advance and rear guard
and they were hundred and twenty-five in number
composed Of the remaining division Of the troop Of the
It'll D. g., Capt Rawstorne's company Of the sls Regt
enc gun Of the Royal Artillery, which placed
under Lieutenant Stokes IF the Royal Engineers
From the number Of the wagons and the necessity Of
giving adequate support to the guns was obliged to
unable to deach any men along the line of wagons. In
about hour after the advance guard had started the
ground having the ammunition wagons of my division
Immediately in front of H. After proceeding for about
ons mile observed .tOppags in the Line Of wagon.
road Lieutenant Stokes marched the gun up to- point
some 200 yards in advance which he raked with she'll
shortly afterwards understood that the Kafhrs when
one half Of the line of wagons had passed made dash
upon one Of them, firing at the drivers and officers
servants |hat were attached to them who obliged
TO fly that they then took out the oxen and wheeled
the wagon across the road found myself now at
tackled every side by overpower ny force Of KAT
frs, who rushed down the hills IN every direction and
who kept an incessant lire on my the fire
turned BY my men with great spirit as well by the
company Of the DIST Regiment and the gun served
with murh skill but found all unavang, and that il
was absolutely necessary to prevent the from be-
ing completely cut of, to return to Burnsh where
again put the troops in position short time afterw ards
saw company of the 9lst Regiment advancing and
keeping heavy diminishing order, along the
brow Of the HILL which the road verged at about two
miles and half from Burnshil Seeing that the wagons
had completely blocked up my road and of pre-
vented me advancing along i'll made deour by the left Of
it. and after considerable difficulty succeeded in getting
the ammunition wagons into the proper line Of road but
found il quito impractcuble to the baggage wagons
from the CATERS having driven AWAY the oxen About
this time one OF the ammunition wagons broke down.
Major Campbell also came up With a reinforcement
SEINE times afterwards, and had to keep up consid
cradle fro all the way especially our nearer ap-
rap hnn oIr trr that
one man had his severely fractured he belongs to
the It'll d. G., and one Of the 9lst was killed.
Join HOPE GIBSON,
To Col SOMERSET, X. II. Command
ing the Troops Canerand
CHuMrE April Is, 1886.
S,R,-I have the honor to enclose two reports from
Major Gibson, It'll Dragon Guards who was left in
charge of the camp the 10th inst dvring
items.
Upon the receipt of Major Gibson's first report i'm
medately proceeded with 200 infantry, under Major
strong and one gun under Lieut. Hill ROYAL Artillery
to Major Gibsons support On arriving at the Keisba-
ma Drift about two miles from the encampment, found
the brigade Of wagons of the lst division in the act Of
passing the drift Remaining therefore, with 60 men,
Cape Mounted Rifles, and the gun to defend the drift
Regiment to the assistance Of Major Gibson, but
greet to before Major Camp bell had joined the enemy
the Of he wagons %neH
timely reinforcement enabled Major Gibson to secure
and bring on his ammunition wagons.
propose moving upon Block Drift this morning.
At dusk last evening the leader and driver OF of
the gun ammunon wagons ran away into the bush, and
abandoned the oxen The guard obliged to leave it.
am going to send for it this morning
request to be informed what | am to dc with the
captured cattle send Captain Sutton who is perfectly
acquainted with all operations and to whom feel
greatly indebted for his active and jealous services
Ibeg to add that haze only two days forage and
shall return to 4sck Drift if practicable il not
shall proceed to Chunde Post with the troops.
Ihopa 6~
(signed) H. SOMERSET.
Colonel Commanding.
His Honor Col HARE, C. B. and K H.,
Lieutenant Governor
BLOCK DRIFT, April 10, ls46
SfR-Fnding myself much encountered with 800
head Of cattle captured from the enemy the 10th
decided return this place this morning and obser
heights above me, made the following disposition and
order of movement copy Of which have the honor to
enclose.
The arrangements were admirably carried into effect
by the troops in the face of overwhelming force OF
the enemy of upwards Of 5000 men, who from tie time
that we left the ground made their disposition for at
Lieut. Col Richardson was good enough to make the
the OF the troops while proceeded with the
body Of the troops to make the arrangements along the
general line of march 0apt Sutton, with the Hottenot
burghers commanding the advance guard with the cat
tie On arriving at the Chumie posted strong party
Of the mounted rides across the drift the enemy pressing
us every point then passed again under Lieut.
Hill and fortunately got the gun into position that
commanded the ford This gun made excellent practice
into the dense bush along the river the enemy pressing
and opening severe FIRE advance. directed
Lieut. Armstrong to scour the bush along the river with
aparty Of the Cape mounted rifles which checked their
ADVANCE The fankng parties of the slst regiment kept
up strong hre upon the enemy, they pressed upon
the wagons which the CATERS returned necessarily TAX
ing shelter in the bush.
In the mean time. the enemy pressed ourrcar with
immense force, bringing up their forces both TANKS
Campbell to these dispositions Of the enemy sup
porting the in The most able and gallant with
LeutCol Richardson speaks Of in the highest terms
was able to observe these dispositions from every point
and nothing afforded greater satisfaction than the
way in which saw them carried out Major Campbell
held the drift with The 9lst, while the wagods passed,
Capt Browns guns taking up an admirable position and
doing great with the guns although constantly
These dispositions enabled me to bring of the wagons
and the ammunition, having to pass a difficult
drift under heavy FIRE from very superior force en-.
numbered with 800 head Of cattle, for distance Of
miles and am happy to say have established the camp
ut this post having given the enemy a beating
with very severe loss to themselves.
The loss side has been officer Lieut. Coch.
9lst Regiment, killed, and three 7th Dragon
Guards, severely wounded regret also to report that
brought the dispatches to this morning. shot by
the enemy this morning.
trust his Exceency will feel satisfied with the move
ments Of the troops this morning. which most gra-
tfying TO witness. am greatly indebted to LieutCol
Richardson for his able assistance and support every
Mounted Rifles, Major Campbell, commanding 9ist re.
giment, Capt Brown, commanding Regal Artillery, and
all the officers and troops this occasion.
Captain Sutton directed the Kat River Burghers, who
brouSh of the cattle in the face Of large force.
transmit this despatch his excellency by Capt sutton
who having been present give his exceency every
information upon all the movements Of the troops
have, &c,
(signed,) II. SOMERSET Colonel
Lieut. Col CLorTE, X. IL, Or. Mr.. General
-
ArvRAr.-on the Sd inst, an ARRAY occurred in War.
rem county, Kentucky, between Valentine W. Peyton
I'm vantrees his stcPson, and W. Hughes broher.in.