Chapter I: Preface

The following pages make no pretension to a detailed history of the military operations of the Kaffir War. Written during leisure hours, in a lonely fort, or by the camp fire after the fatigues of the day, and mainly embracing the movements of one Division only--often of a Single Brigade or Corps--they attempt merely to convey a general idea of the country, and of the scenes and passing events of the Campaign. Should any comrade who shared its dangers and hardships peruse this account, it is hoped he will also share the feeling which first prompted the Author to record them in the Field and now to present the narrative to the public--

"Hæc olim meminisse juvabit."

_Largs, November, 1853._

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

PAGE
Ordered to the Cape--Voyage Out--Bay of Biscay--Simon's Bay 1

CHAPTER II.

State of the Country on Arrival--Causes of War--Commencement of
Hostilities by Kaffirs--Defection of Hottentots--Outrages on
Settlers 7

CHAPTER III.

Landing--March up the Country--Coega River--Addo Bush--Quagga
Flats--Assegai Bush--Grahams Town--Insurrection at
Theopolis--Night March--Destruction of Rebel Camp--Route for
Kaffirland--Ecca Pass--Fort Brown--Waggon Driving--Fort Hare--Preparation
for the Field 18

CHAPTER IV.

Advance into Kaffirland--Camp at the Amatolas--Attack on the
Amatolas--Fort Beaufort--Yellow-Woods--Return to Fort Hare--Clu
Clu--Camp on the Koonap River--Waggon Escort--Sand
Storm 44

CHAPTER V.

Reit Fontein--March to Somerset--Klip Fontein--Night March to
Attack the Kromme--Bivouac on Kromme Heights--Standing
Camp--Escorting Commissariat Supplies--Action on the Kromme
Heights--Torture of Prisoners by Kaffirs--Witch Doctors--Return
to Fort Beaufort--Sickness among the Troops--The Route--Band
and Mess--Fingo Levies 75

CHAPTER VI.

Attack on the Waterkloof--Night Ascent of the Kromme--Engagement
on the Waterkloof Heights--Bivouac after the Fight--Descent
into Waterkloof Valley--Operations on the Heights--Halt
for Supplies 103

CHAPTER VII.

Fourth Attack on Waterkloof--Eve of the Attack--Advance of Colonel
Fordyce's Brigade--Burning Village--Difficulties of Ground--Advantages
of the Kaffirs--Fall of Lieut.-Col. Fordyce and Lieut.
Carey--Carrying Position--Kaffir Skirmishers--Bivouac on Mount
Misery--Transport of Wounded--The Funeral--Hospital--Death
of Lieuts. Gordon and Ricketts--Clearance of Waterkloof--Descent
from the Heights--General Orders--Sunday at Beaufort 142

CHAPTER VIII.

Cattle Lifting--Fingoes Feasting--Kaffir Habits and Religious
Notions--Language, Customs, Dress, Ornaments, Food, Weapons, &c. 161

CHAPTER IX.

Night Attack on Camp--Disposition of Troops on Frontier--Ride into
Beaufort--Ambuscade--Post Retief--Movements of General
Somerset--Sunday--Life at the Post--Visit to Dutch
Laagers--Patrols--Skirmish with Kaffirs under Macomo--Ruined
Settler--Deserted Farms--Dutch Hospitality--Vintage--Kaffir Night
Signals--Cobra Capello--Riding on the Veldt 173

CHAPTER X.

Kaffir Hiding-place--Bushman Paintings--Cattle
Stealing--Pursuit--Locusts--Fingo "Post Party"--Maize
Thrashing--Burning Plains--Success of Trans-Kei Expedition--Patrol
of Koonap District--Narrow Escape--Return to Fort 195

CHAPTER XI.

Destruction of Kaffir Crops--News from Head-Quarters--Reinforcements
from England--Wreck of the "Birkenhead"--Arrival of
Tylden's Detachment at Post--Preparations for Attack on
Waterkloof--Disposition of Troops--March--Skirmishing--Rifle
Shooting--Operations in Waterkloof--Taking of Macomo's
Stronghold--Dispersion of the Enemy--Visit from a friendly
Chief--Farewell of Sir H. Smith--Shelling the Kloofs--Chase after
Kaffirs--Porcupines--Blinkwater Camp--Bushneck Pass--Covering Rifle
Brigade--Public Funerals of Officers of 74th--Bivouac in
ruined House--Snakes--Escape from Kaffirs--Rifle Brigade
Camp--Attack on Captain Moody's Escort--Grahams Town--Lakeman's
Volunteers 208

CHAPTER XII.

Sixth Attack on Waterkloof--Movement of Troops--Peep into Kaffir
Village--Rainy Season--Fort Fordyce--Gallop after stolen Cattle--Quarters
at Beaufort--Movement against Kreli--Forelaying
Kaffir Pass--Ruins of Auckland--General Uithaalder and Staff--False
Alarm--Young Locusts--Deaths in Hospital--Return of
Kei Expedition 241

CHAPTER XIII.

Final Attack on Waterkloof--Ascent of Pass--Operations--Kaffir
Prisoners--Fingo Notions of Warfare--Bush Manoeuvres--Return
to respective Camps--Pig Stalking--Baboons--Reconnaissance
of the Ground of the Kromme Operations--Night Bivouac
on the top of the Kromme--Lieuwe Fontein and Life at a Frontier
Post--Cattle Raid--Puff Adder--Young Locusts--Fingo Fight 260

CHAPTER XIV.

Expedition across the Great Orange River against the Basuto Chief,
Moshesh--Object of Expedition--Preparations for the March--Fort
Armstrong--Elands Post--Tambookie Herdsmen--Kamastone--Twa
Taffel Berg--Vast Plains--Dutch Farm-house--Stormberg--Intense
Cold on the Mountains--Burghersdorp--Camp by Night--First
Sight of the Orange River--English Mail--Fishing in the
Caledon River--Herds of Wild Game--Wildebeest Hunt--Immense
Frogs--Return of a missing Officer--Dung Beetles--Platberg--Barolong
Chiefs--Interview with Moshesh--Ride
through Basuto Villages--Jerboas--Arrival of part of fine of
Cattle--Basutos--Action at Berea--Moshesh's Letter to the
Governor--Distribution of captured Cattle--Return of the Force 280

CHAPTER XV.

March down the Country--Christmas Day--Flocks of migratory
Storks--Herds of Game--Flood in the Orange River--Narrow
Escape in crossing--Return to the Colony--Fort Beaufort--Termination
of the War--Homeward Bound 321

LIST OF PLATES.

CAMP UNDER THE AMATOLAS _Frontispiece_
STORMING THE AMATOLAS p. 49
DEATH OF LIEUT.-COL. FORDYCE 146
BLINKWATER AND WATERKLOOF HEIGHTS 224
CROSSING THE ORANGE RIVER 295

CAMPAIGNING IN KAFFIRLAND.