Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-17

as near as:they dared:the Fort, they concealed
themselves, and presently succeeded in cap
turing Kafir woman who was out collect
ing sticks. One of the troop knew little
of the language, and from her they learned
that the greater part of the soldiers had
marched away on the previous morning, and
also gathered the direction they had taken.
Keeping up vigilant lookout, they rode in
that direction, and presently met detach-
ment of the Ninety-first and their own
troop OF the Rifles marching back to Fort
Cox.
The force was under the command of
Colonel Somerset, the Colonel of the Cape
Mounted Rifles. Captain Twentyman, to
whom Ronald reported himself, rode for
ward at once to the Colonel with the news
that Fort Cox was invested by the enemy.
Ronald was sent for, and questioned as to
the strength of the Kafirs. He said that
owing to the position from which he had
seen them, he only commanded view OF
portion OF the ground. There appeared to
him to be 700 or 800 men so far as he could
see, but, of course, there might have been
double that force on the other side.
"WelI, think we ought to push forward
at once" the Colonel said to the officer COM
manding the infantry. "The Governor is
in the Fort, and the force Tor its defense is
very small one. At any rate We must try to
relieve him."
The troops we're halted for half an hour,
and as the news soon spread that the
Kafirs were beleaguring Fort Cox, and that
they would probably have to hight their
way through, they formed up with alacrity
as soon as the order was given. The Cape
Mounted Rifles went out in skirmishing
order, ahead OF the infantry, keeping a vigi-
liant lookout for lurking foes. The men had
learned from Ronald's party of the massacre
at the border settlements, and were burning
with inpatience to get at the enemy.
After marching two miles, the column
came upon a spot where broad belt of
wood extended across the country. As the
mounted men approached this several as
segais were hurled from the bushes. The
cavalry replied with their rifles, and then
fell back upon the infantry, who advanced
with cheer against the wood. Half the
cavalry were dismounted, and handing their
horses to their comrades, advanced on foot.
Ronald was one OF those who remained be-
hind. Keeping up heavy fire at their In
visible ioe, the Ninety-frst advanced into
the wood. The troopers with the horses lis
tened anIiously to the sound of the fray
the rattle OF musketry, the loud reports of
the Kafir rifles and their shrill yells, amid
which British cheer could be occasionally
heard
''It's hot work in there, corporal" Lieu
tenant Daniels said. ''Too hot TO be pleas
ant, should say. Judging by the yelling,
the wood must be full of Kaffirs'
Il should think so too, sir" Ronald
agreed. 81 fancy each Ksfir is capable of
doing an immense amount of yelling; but
still, as you say, the wood must be iull of
them to make such a terrific noise as that"
A quarter of an hour passed and then the
Rifles emerged from the wood. Those with
horses at once galloped forward to meet
them, and soon all were in the saddle.
Ronald heard Captain Twentymsn, who had
led the dismounted party, say to the Lieu
tenant:
sThere are too many of them, Daniels;
the wood is crowded with them. Take half
the troop and draw off to the right, and 1
will take the other half to the left. The
Ninety-frst will fall back directly. As they
come out, prepare to charge the Kafirs in
flank if they pursue them"
Now the red coats began to appear at the
edge of the wood. They were in pairs, and
every two men were carrying wounded
comrade. Presently the main body came
out in regular order with their faces to the
enemy. With yells OF triumph the Kafirs
poured out from the wood. The Rifles
fdgetted in their saddles for the order to
charge, but Lieutenant Daniels had his eye
upon the other wing of the troop. and Cap
tain Twentyman did not give the order to
advance until he saw that the Kafirs were
so far out upon the plains that they could
not get back to the woods before he would
be upon them. Then he gave the order to
charge, and as his men got;into motion,
Lieutenant Daniels gave the same order.
As he saw the cavalry sweeping down,
Colonel Somerset gave the word and the
NInatv-fIrgt
into the Kaffrs, and q moment later the |
two bodies of cavalry swept down on their |
fanks. With yell of fear the Kafirs ran |
for the wood, but numbers of them were cut |
down before they could gain shelter. Then |
the cavalry fell back and Joined the intan-
try. 1t was found there had been desper- |
ate hand to hand struggle, bayonets against |
assegais. Two officers and 20 privates had |
been killed and q great many of the men |
They afterwards learned that the |!
Kafir loss in killed had exceeded 200.
The party then fell back and rejoined \
Colonel Mackinnon. There was now an |
anxious consultation, when it was decided |
that as Fort Cox could certainly resist all |
attacks of the enemy, it would De better not |
to attempt an advance to its relief until a
junction had been effected with the other |
columns which were now at considerable
distance away. On the 31st the news
reached them that that morning the Gov
ernor, with small body of Cape Mounted
Rifles, had made dash right through the
enemy. and had ridden to King Williams
town, II miles away. where he had at once
issued a proclamation calling upon the
Colonists to rise en- masse to assist the
troops to expef the Gaikas from the Anna
tolas, while force of Fingoes was at once
ordered to be raised.
In the meantime the Kaffirs were plunder-
ing and destroying all over the country.
The settlers entirely abandoned their farms;
and the roads to Williamstown, Grahams-
own and Beaufort were blocked with the
great herds of cattle driven in. The news
came that the Gsikas bad been Joined BY
.he T'Slsmbies and Tambookies, number
ing not less than 10, 900 men; and it was re-
ported that an influential chief-Kreli-
who could put 10, 600 men in the field, was
to make common cause with the
rebels. The Hottentots of the London mis-
'ionary station at Kat river, who had for
years been fed and clothed by the Govern
nent, and put into free possession of beau
,ifuI and fertile district, Joined the Kafirs,
md tooka leading part in their attacks on
he settlers. Their example was speedily
followed by the so-called Christian Hotten.-
,ots at the missionary settlements of Shiloh
Ind Theopolis. '-'-
Against such overpowering forces as were
low leagued against him, the Governor
,ould do nothing with the small body of
roops at his disposal, and was forced to re-
main inactive at Williamstown until rein
orcements could arrive. He contented him
Ielf, therefore, with throwing supplies into
Forts Cox, White and Hare, this being
accomplished only after severe contests with
he natives. Bodies of Kafirs had now COM
,letelv overrun the colonv rendovinc ar.x |