STATE OF THE COUNTRY ON ARRIVAL.
On arriving in Simon's Bay our first anxiety, of course, was to
learn the latest tidings from the seat of war, which fully confirmed
the unfavourable intelligence that had led to our sudden change of
destination. The natives were in open rebellion, plundering the
frontier farms, attacking post after post, and committing the most
deliberate outrages and murders; and all the efforts of Sir Harry
Smith to check them were comparatively ineffectual without fresh
reinforcements, which he was now anxiously expecting.
It was at last but too evident, even to the most sanguine advocates
of peace, that all hopes of such a desirable consummation being
permanently effected in the colony were at end, so far as depended on
any promises or treaties of the faithless Kaffirs. The experiment had
been fairly tried again and again, and had as often failed. Never had
there been such encouragement to hope for ultimate success as in the
decided improvement and progress effected during the few years which
had elapsed since the last war, after the conferences of December 24,
1847, and January 7, 1848, at King William's Town.
At the conclusion of that war it was found absolutely necessary, for
the future safety and peace of the colony, to extend the frontier
line of our possessions to the Great Kei River, including the large
district named British Kaffraria, which, with the lately "Ceded
Territory," were declared to be forfeited by the vanquished Kaffirs, as
the penalty of their rebellion. In point of fact, however, they were
left in possession of the country, each tribe, with their respective
chiefs, being assigned to different districts, the whole under a system
of government by local magistrates or commissioners, who were again
subordinate to Colonel Mackinnon, the Commandant and Chief Commissioner
at King William's Town. The condition on which they were allowed to
retain occupation of these districts was that of declaring allegiance
to the Crown, with which both Chiefs and people at once complied; and,
in addition to this, and in accordance with their own laws, each Chief
was made responsible for any cattle or other robberies, the spoor of
which could be traced to his kraal, he having to pay the full value,
and follow up the spoor as best he could. The result was, that as
there could thus be no receivers, there were soon few thieves, and
property became comparatively secure, order being further enforced
and preserved by a body of 400 Kaffir police, regularly drilled and
equipped. The blessings of order and an equitable administration of
justice inspired a confidence which was gradually felt by the people to
be far preferable to the arbitrary and capricious rule of their chiefs,
supported as it was by the grossest superstitions and impostures; and,
besides this, efforts were made to improve their moral condition, every
encouragement being given to missionary exertions, and the opening of
schools and places of worship, with abundant success.
Admirable however as was Sir H. Smith's system, and also its
working,--for, as was remarked, nothing could be more promising
than the state of the country up to the autumn of 1850,--an element
was at work, the importance of which had not been duly estimated,
and to which may undoubtedly be traced the origin of the subsequent
war. The chiefs found their power and influence melting daily before
the advance of civilization, the settled habits of peace, and the
irresistible superiority of a just and duly administered government.
Naturally jealous of their hereditary power, they felt it would soon be
superseded; and Sandilli, their Paramount Chief, and an accomplished
Kaffir diplomatist, availing himself of this state of feeling, visited
all the several chiefs, and urged on them the necessity of a last
struggle for their waning independence, instigating them to use every
means to spread disaffection among their people. To further his views
he enlisted the services of Umlanjeni, one of their _Witch-doctors_ and
prophets, in whose predictions, the most absurd and preposterous, the
Kaffirs placed superstitious faith. His influence was extraordinary,
and spread like wildfire among them, and the spirit of disaffection
was once more deeply at work. Secret and active emissaries were sent
far and wide to the Kaffirs located on the different farms in the
service of colonists, with orders to desert their employers, which they
promptly obeyed, absconding without warning, and in many instances
leaving their property and wages behind.
At length, in spite of the reluctance of the authorities to believe
in any hostile intentions on the part of the enemy, the truth of such
suspicions became so apparent, that intelligence of the unsettled state
of affairs, and an expected movement, was despatched to Sir Harry
Smith at Cape Town. He suddenly appeared on the spot, and immediately
commenced personal inquiries, and the now thoroughly alarmed colonists
presented an address urging the real remedy for the apprehended
disturbances,--viz., the complete deposition of the chiefs from power,
by depriving them of all independent authority. In absence, however, of
any "direct evidence" that they were engaged in plotting an attack, and
persuaded by their specious promises and affected submission, Sir H.
Smith, in his reply of October 24, 1850, said, "that reports throughout
British Kaffraria were most satisfactory, the chiefs were astounded at
his sudden arrival, and he hoped to arrest some of the Kaffirs who had
spread the alarming reports."
His prompt and energetic appearance, though without any troops
whatever, alone averted an immediate outbreak, and at a great assembly
of the Chiefs at King William's Town they swore allegiance to the
government, ratifying it by kissing the "stick of peace." The crafty
Sandilli however refused to attend, and for his contumacy was shortly
after deposed by proclamation, and on the 18th of November the
Governor, after endeavouring to reassure the frontier settlers, and
induce them to return to their farms, departed for Cape Town in the
hopes that all would remain tranquil.
But a Commission appointed by the Governor to proceed to the country
of Hermanus to investigate the numerous complaints of depredations,
forwarded to Cape Town such an alarming account of the critical state
of affairs that his Excellency immediately started in the "Hermes,"
and within less than a month from his leaving it, was again on the
Frontier, landing at Buffalo mouth with the 73rd regiment and a
detachment of artillery. A proclamation was at once issued for the
establishment of a police, and the enrolment of a corps of volunteers
for self-defence, so as to leave the whole of the military at liberty
for operations.
The Kaffirs at this time, according to returns, possessed upwards of
3000 stand of arms, six million rounds of ball cartridge, and half a
million assegais, with ample means of supply; a trade in gunpowder and
arms having long been carried on openly and almost without restriction.
Their fanatical prophet, Umlanjeni, now issued the command to "Slay and
eat," which, as the usual food of the Kaffirs in time of peace is corn,
roots, and sour milk, is the conventional mode with them of commencing
a war, the stimulus of animal food being only resorted to, to excite
their energies on such occasions; their warlike passions fairly
aroused, farms were attacked in every direction, houses plundered
and burned, and the police effectually resisted in their attempts to
enforce the restitution of stolen cattle.
A panic spread along the Frontier, and the farmers abandoned their
lands in numbers, moving with all their flocks and herds into the
interior, their losses being greatly aggravated by the swarms of
locusts which devoured everything before them, leaving the cattle
to perish for want of pasture. Those who had the courage, or were
compelled by necessity to remain, formed themselves into _laagers_
of ten or twelve families, regularly fortifying and provisioning
themselves within some of the more tenable homesteads, round which they
collected their flocks.
The Commander-in-chief, on the 16th December, marched all the troops
in Albany and British Kaffraria to the Amatola mountains, the object
of which was to make such a demonstration as might overawe the Gaikas,
without resorting to force, which was to be carefully avoided. The
troops consisted of the 6th, 73rd, and 91st regiments, and the Cape
Mounted Rifles, together, about 1500 strong, with the two divisions
of Kaffir police. The right wing, under Lieut.-Col. Eyre, 73rd, was
posted on the Kabousie Neck, accompanied by the Chief Toise; the centre
column, under Col. Mackinnon, held Fort Cox, the head-quarters of his
Excellency; and Col. Somerset, in command of the left wing, moved on
Fort Hare.
On the 19th a great meeting of all the Gaika tribes and chiefs was
held at Fort Cox, when above 3000 assembled, and were addressed by
the Governor on the conduct of Sandilli, who, with his half-brother
Anta, was outlawed, and large rewards offered for their apprehension.
His Excellency impressed on them his determination to preserve order,
and, if needful, to enforce it by the troops; but they had, no doubt,
already fully resolved on war, and must have felt pretty confident in
the strength of their position and forces, for on his threatening them
that, in case of necessity, he could bring ships full of troops to the
Buffalo mouth, he was significantly asked, "If he had any ships that
could sail up the Amatolas?"
A few days later their hostile intentions were put beyond a doubt. A
patrol of 580 strong, under Colonel Mackinnon, had been ordered out to
the Keiskamma Hoek, where Sandilli was supposed to be concealed, in
the expectation that he would surrender or fly, as the Governor was
led to believe. They marched from Fort Cox on the 24th, with orders
to molest no one, and were treated in the most friendly manner by the
Kaffirs until they had reached a narrow, rocky gorge of the Keiskamma,
where they could only proceed in single file, when a fire was suddenly
opened on the column of infantry, after the Kaffir Police and Cape
Mounted Rifles had been suffered to pass. The fire was most resolutely
maintained for some time, and the ground was so well chosen for the
attack, that the troops could not dislodge the Kaffirs until they had
suffered a considerable loss, the mounted police and Cape corps being
unavailable. Assistant-Surgeon Stuart, and eleven men, were killed,
with two officers and seven privates wounded. The loss of the enemy was
considerable.
There is no doubt that the troops were purposely led into this
ambuscade by the Kaffir police, as they were themselves not only
allowed to pass unmolested during the whole affair, but the next day
a body of 365 deserted to the enemy, taking their wives, cattle,
equipments, and ammunition, and, what was more annoying, the discipline
and knowledge of our military manoeuvres, both infantry and cavalry,
which they had acquired from a long course of active training, at an
expense, to the colony alone, of £11,000 annually. Their defection was
speedily followed by that of others. This day (Christmas day) seems
to have been agreed on as the commencement of a general outbreak.
Martial law had been proclaimed by the governor, in consequence of the
events of the day before. A party of the 45th regiment, while escorting
waggons to King William's Town, was surprised on the Debe Neck, and
overpowered, before they could form for defence, by a large body of
Kaffirs, who barbarously murdered the whole party, a sergeant and
fourteen privates, leaving their bodies on the ground, where they were
found by Colonel Mackinnon's patrol, with their throats cut from ear to
ear, and horribly mutilated, which was afterwards discovered to have
been perpetrated before death. This party had formed a portion of the
handful of troops at Fort White, and the Kaffirs at once proceeded to
attack the weakened garrison, but were gallantly repulsed with loss.
Simultaneously with these attacks they consummated their cowardly
treachery by a general and concerted massacre at all the military
villages, under circumstances of the most atrocious and cold-blooded
ferocity. These military settlers were discharged soldiers, who had
grants of land assigned to them, with assistance from government on a
liberal scale to start them in their farms, the condition of tenure
being, that they should be ready at any time to turn out for the
defence of the country, receiving good pay and allowances while on
service. A number of prosperous little villages thus sprang up, and
the settlers lived on the most friendly terms with the neighbouring
Kaffirs, constantly entertaining them as their guests, and employing
many on their farms. Of their hospitality the Kaffirs treacherously
availed themselves to the full, to allay suspicion and prepare the
way for the intended massacre. Hurried orders to prepare themselves
for the worst had but just arrived in consequence of the attack at
Keiskamma Hoek, on the previous day, when the Kaffirs rose at a signal,
and massacred the inhabitants, whose guests many of them had just
been sharing their Christmas dinner. The women were stripped, and
escaped with difficulty, and the houses were burned to the ground.
Johannesberg, Woburn, and Auckland, among others, were thus entirely
destroyed, every man at the latter being killed.
The Governor himself was next hemmed in by the enemy at Fort Cox; a
gallant attempt to open a communication with him was made by Colonel
Somerset, with a party of the 91st regiment and Cape Mounted Rifles,
but they were compelled to abandon it, being surrounded by overwhelming
numbers of the enemy; and, in a most desperate hand-to-hand fight, two
gallant officers, and twenty privates, of the 91st, were killed, and
many wounded. Their loss, however, was amply avenged, some 200 of the
enemy being left dead on the field.
On the 31st, Sir H. Smith, with a party of Cape corps, sallied from
Fort Cox, and after dashing through the enemy for twelve miles,
succeeded in reaching King William's Town. He immediately issued a
proclamation, calling on the colonists to rise _en masse_, and assist
the troops to expel and exterminate the Gaikas from the Amatolas, at
all hazards.
The prospects of the new year opened gloomily enough; the attacks and
depredations of the enemy became daily more general and audacious.
The farmers entirely abandoned the country, and the roads were almost
impassable from the quantity of stock which was driven in. The Gaikas
were joined by the T'slambies and Tambookies, mustering not less
than 15,000 strong; and Kreli, the most influential chief, was under
suspicion, and his defection greatly dreaded, as he could bring a force
of at least 10,000 men into the field.
At this conjuncture the ill-concealed spirit of disaffection, which
had long been at work, broke out among the Hottentots of the London
Missionary Station, at the Kat River, for years a hotbed of discontent
and rebellion; though actually fed and clothed at an enormous expense
by the government, and put in free possession of a most beautiful and
fertile district, taken by us from the Kaffirs, and given to them
unconditionally, yet these people were taught to believe themselves
injured, robbed, and oppressed by those to whom they owed everything;
and now leagued themselves with Sandilli and his followers.
The missionary settlements of Shiloh and Theopolis quickly followed
their example, and the so-called Christianized Hottentots were soon
among the foremost of the rebels. At Shiloh they actually garrisoned
and held their chapel for some time against their Burgher forces,
though they had but shortly before received the sacrament and sworn
solemn allegiance. Afterwards, being joined by a party of Tambookies
and Kat River rebels, they made a daring attack on Whittlesea.
As soon as Sir H. Smith reached King William's Town, he despatched an
urgent demand to Cape Town for all available troops, and another appeal
was made to the Burghers.
While the Governor was awaiting the collection of these reinforcements,
the Kaffirs, emboldened by the delay, sent an audacious challenge to
our troops to fight, backed by a body of 500 men, who, however, were
signally worsted by a party of Cape corps, and Fingoes.
As soon as the Commander-in-chief had somewhat organized his forces,
Colonel Mackinnon was despatched, on the 30th of January, to throw
supplies into Fort Cox and Fort White, and, on the 13th of February,
marched with a patrol to the relief of Fort Hare, in all of which he
was successful, though after severe conflicts with the enemy.
By this time the Kaffirs had overrun the whole country, down even as
far as Graham's Town and the Addo Bush, and, in every direction, were
perpetrating the most violent outrages on life and property, to the
utter dismay and consternation of the inhabitants; and Sir H. Smith, at
the request of the English and Dutch churches, proclaimed a solemn day
of humiliation on the 7th February, which was religiously observed.
Fort Armstrong, which the rebels had seized, was stormed on the 23rd of
February, and taken by Major-General Somerset; and other engagements
took place with the same success, especially during patrols of a force
under Colonel Mackinnon.
In the beginning of March the Cape Mounted Rifles followed the example
of the Kat River rebels, a party of them deserting from head-quarters,
with all their arms and accoutrements; and further desertions were only
checked by the promptness of the Governor, who at once paraded the
regiment, and disarmed the coloured men.
On the 18th the Commander-in-chief took the field in person, and
marched to Fort Hare, which was in imminent danger of an attack for
the rescue of prisoners and the plunder of ammunition. By a masterly
movement this was frustrated, and the enemy utterly routed with
considerable loss. After this his Excellency pushed on with a rapidity
which astonished the Kaffirs, and marched on Forts Cox and White;
during which another spirited engagement took place, the enemy being
again defeated, numbers of them killed, and above 1000 head of stolen
cattle retaken.
In consequence of an atrocious case of roasting three men alive at
the notorious Kat River, General Somerset, with a strong patrol,
marched to the Mancazana River, where they were attacked by the enemy,
who were completely defeated. Major Wilmot, R.A., also on a patrol
into the Chief Seyolo's country, encountered and defeated them;
inflicting severe loss, driving Seyolo out, and destroying their
kraals and stores. Colonel Mackinnon and Captain Tylden had, by the
latest intelligence, successfully opposed the enemy in other parts
of the country, and Marassa's people; but the troops were evidently
inadequate, in point of numbers, to the emergency, and the vast extent
of the line of operations; and the greatest anxiety was felt, which
was increased by the intelligence of Kreli's having engaged in actual
hostilities, in conjunction with the Tambookies and Basutas.
Such, briefly, was the state of affairs when we left Simon's Bay;
and it was with feelings of some excitement that we looked forward
to joining the gallant little army, which as anxiously expected our
arrival.