FOOTNOTES:
[178] ‘Despatches and Correspondence,’ i. 126.
[179] ‘Annual Register,’ lxii. 98.
[180] ‘Record’ 1st Battalion.
[181] ‘Despatches, Correspondence, and Memorandums,’ i. 154. The Regiment had already been authorised to bear the word Waterloo on their appointments, in compliance with a memorandum of the Duke of Wellington, dated Head-quarters, Paris, November 7, 1815.’ ‘Supplementary Despatches,’ Appendix, xiv. 600.
[182] ‘Annual Register,’ lxiv. 67.
[183] ‘Annual Register,’ lxiv. 15.
[184] ‘Annual Register,’ lxiv. 19.
[185] ‘Annual Register,’ lxviii. 105.
[186] The Duke of Clarence had also reviewed the two Depôts on a previous visit to Plymouth on December 21 preceding.
[187] ‘Personal Narrative of Military Travel and Adventure in Turkey and Persia,’ by Robert Macdonald, pp. 22-25. The writer, a sergeant in the 1st Battalion, was selected with his brother Peter Macdonald to proceed to Persia in 1836. See [p. 234].
[188] Now Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Wilbraham, K.C.B.
[189] ‘Personal Narrative of Military Travel and Adventure,’ pp. 286-7.
[190] Lieutenant-Colonel Irton died June 9, 1847.
[191] Colonel Buller (now General Sir George Buller, G.C.B.) had left Corfu for England before the order to embark arrived.
[192] Lieutenant-General Sir Alfred H. Horsford, G.C.B.
[CHAPTER VIII.]
On August 31, 1846, transports having arrived from England for the conveyance of the 1st Battalion to the Cape, they re-embarked; Head-quarters on board the ‘Equestrian’ transport, consisting of Captains Macdonell’s, Rooper’s, and Stewart’s companies, with Staff and band; and the left wing consisting of Captains Horsford’s, Murray’s, and Gibson’s companies, on board the ‘Fairlie’ under Captain Horsford.
The latter vessel arrived first, reaching Table-bay on October 30. Here an order was at once given to land the women and children; and to take in supplies and camp-equipments. This being done the left wing sailed on November 4, for Algoa bay, where they arrived on the 12th and anchored opposite the town of Port Elizabeth.
On the day following their departure the ‘Equestrian’ arrived at Table-bay, and having in like manner landed heavy baggage, women and children, and taken in stores and camp-necessaries, proceeded to Algoa bay on the 11th and arrived there about November 20.
On the 14th the ‘Fairlie’ having drawn as near the shore as possible, surf-boats came alongside, and were soon filled and rowed to the shore until they took the ground. Then Fingoes carried the Riflemen pick-a-back to the dry sand. As soon as all were landed, they marched through the town of Port Elizabeth, and piled arms and encamped about half-a-mile beyond it to the left of the Graham’s-town road. The necessary supplies and equipments having been procured, not without difficulty which Horsford’s energy and perseverance surmounted, this wing began its march under a burning sun for Kaffirland. They reached Graham’s-town, a distance of about 100 miles, on the 23rd.
They halted here on the 24th and on the following day moved to Manley flats; on the 26th to Cawood’s post; and on the 27th reached Waterloo-bay. The next day, after receiving a field ration of rice, salt, sugar, and green coffee (these troops being thus supplied with that valuable but unusable berry in its natural state, as they were afterwards in the Crimea) they marched to Newton Dale; on the 29th to Fort Peddie; on the 30th to the Chalumna river; and on December 1 joined the 2nd Division of the army, which was commanded by Colonel Henry Somerset of the Cape Mounted Rifles. In this march the men suffered severely from the sun; their faces being almost skinned as their forage-caps had no peaks; and their shakos had been given into store at Graham’s-town, and were never returned to them.
The Head-quarter wing disembarked at Port Elizabeth, on November 25; commenced their march, by the same route, on the 24th, and joined the 2nd Division of the army, then encamped on the Buffalo river, on December 12.
On December 21 the Battalion marched, and on the 25th encamped near the great Kei river, and during the rest of the month furnished frequent patrols on both banks. One Rifleman was killed, and one wounded by the Kaffirs on December 31 in the performance of these duties.
The Depôt companies embarked on January 28, 1846, at the North Wall, Dublin, in the steamer ‘Albert’ for Liverpool, where they landed on the following day; and proceeded by rail-road to London, and thence to Dover, which they reached on the following day, and were quartered in the Castle; furnishing a subaltern’s detachment to Sandgate Castle.
On May 18 they marched to Chatham; and after a short stay there proceeded in a steamer to Sheerness on June 1.
The 2nd Battalion left Halifax, in H.M.S. ‘Belleisle’ on August 1, and arrived at Montreal on the 22nd and were there quartered during the remainder of the year.
The Service companies of the 1st Battalion with the exception of Captain Gibson’s company which was left on the other side of the Kei river not having returned from a previous expedition, marched on January 2, 1847, at three P.M., with the Division commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Peregrine Maitland, for the Kei river, and arrived within about two miles of it at seven in the evening, and halted for the night. The march had been a very hot one; but soon after sunset a tremendous storm of thunder, lightning and hail came on; this was followed by a deluging rain, which drenched the men to the skin in a few minutes. They had no tents; no fires; not even pipes were allowed to be lighted, nor was a word permitted to be spoken above a whisper. For the Kaffirs were near them; and had they known exactly where the troops were bivouacked would have attacked. But the night was very dark, and they remained unmolested.
On the 3rd the Riflemen in advance forded the Kei river, here about 350 yards wide, and knee deep, and waited on the other bank for the Division. After breakfast, rifles were fired off and cleaned from the effects of the last night’s rain, and they marched towards Butterworth. On reaching a hill, afterwards well known to Riflemen by the name of Mount-Misery, they halted and bivouacked for the night. On the next morning at daylight they resumed their march, and arrived at the Missionary Station of Butterworth at six in the evening: a distance of nearly thirty miles. The Missionary’s house and the church were in ruins, having been burnt down; but every wall and corner which remained was occupied by the weary soldiers, glad of even such insufficient shelter. For scarcely had the outlying picquets been posted, when heavy and continuous rain came on, and lasted throughout the night.
On the 5th Captain Gibson’s company rejoined. The rain still continuing the men suffered much. They were glad to gather stones on which to lie, to keep them off the streaming ground; and even these were sometimes washed away by the rills formed in paths and tracks. This rain continued during the whole of the 6th and until the afternoon of the 7th; nearly seventy hours of incessant rain.
On the 6th five days’ ration of biscuit, which had from December 29 been reduced to six ounces a day, was served out to the men; but hunger takes no account of Commissariat measurement, and long before the expiration of the five days, the Riflemen were picking gum off the trees, and eating it to assuage their need.
At this time Sir Peregrine Maitland being recalled, left the army; and the command of the division again devolved on Colonel Somerset.
Fine weather having at last come on, the men wrung out and rinsed their wet shirts and dried them in the sun. In the evening the rifles were inspected and the ammunition examined; for much of it had been damaged by the wet. On the 8th at six in the morning, they marched for Spring-Flats where they arrived at eleven. After a halt of three hours, during which the weakly men and those who had sore feet fell out of the ranks and were marched to the Kei under an officer of another regiment, they resumed their march for Kreili’s Corner, and halting at six o’clock, bivouacked for the night.
At dawn on the 9th, intelligence having come in of a quantity of cattle, said to be a few miles ahead, they marched towards Kreili’s Corner; and with a halt of one hour for breakfast, and two for dinner, continued their march till eight in the evening, when they bivouacked.
Next day at daylight they moved on in the hope of coming up with the cattle; but nothing being seen of them, the cavalry pushed on at ten o’clock; while the infantry continued their march till two in the afternoon. At four the cavalry appeared with 12,000 cattle which they had captured at Kreili’s Corner; and 100 men of the Battalion were detailed as a cattle guard. Rain now began again; and the ration consisted of fresh beef only, the biscuit being all consumed, and that without salt to season it. Firewood too was scarce; and there were no tents.
On the 11th the Riflemen halted in bivouack, rain still continuing; and on the 12th marched for Spring-Flats under a burning sun. Many Kaffirs were on the surrounding hills; but few ventured within range. One however was shot by one of the cattle guard, when attempting to steal cattle. On the 13th a company of the Rifle Brigade and one of another regiment were sent to the Kei river with the captured cattle; but on their arrival the river was found to be unfordable, and the current running at a rapid rate. They had therefore to return; and on their arrival at the second hill (Mount-Misery) an order reached them to send out a patrol in search of Captain Gibson, for whom great fears were entertained. This officer, and Assistant-Surgeon Howell, had accompanied the party of weakly and disabled men which had marched from this place on the 8th. While this party were halted on January 11 near the ford of the Kei, waiting for the fall of the river to enable them to cross, some cattle were observed grazing on the hills about three miles off. Captain Fraser, of the 6th Foot, who was in command of these invalids, directed all the men who were able to march to proceed, under Captain Gibson, to endeavour to capture these cattle, which were beyond the bank which reached from the river half way up the hills.
After the party, which was accompanied by Assistant-Surgeon Howell and by Lieutenant the Honourable W. J. G. Chetwynd of the 73rd Regiment, had marched about an hour by a rather wide path through the bank, they arrived at a bend in the path. Unhappily the officers, unsuspicious of any attack, were marching ahead of their men, between seventy and 100 yards from the leading files. When therefore they took the bend in the road, they were entirely hidden from them. At this moment the Kaffir Chief, Pato, observing their defenceless position, rushed upon them with about 200 of his followers, and before the detachment could come up, killed all three officers.
The little detachment under a sergeant of the 6th Foot, made good its retreat, gradually retiring, and whenever the Kaffirs attacked, turning round and firing a volley.
The patrol sent out to recover the remains of these officers, after marching about three hours through thick bush, came upon their bodies which they brought into the bivouack at Spring-Flats, where they arrived about nine in the evening. They were interred by the officers and men of the Battalion on the next day at a place called Shaw’s fontein; bushes being burnt over the graves, to prevent the Kaffirs discovering the place of their interment, and exhuming and desecrating their remains.
The Riflemen who had acted as this patrol marched again on the 14th for the Kei river, it having been reported that it was fordable; but this proved to be a mistake, at least as far as infantry was concerned; though the cavalry had forded; not, however, without some loss. Again, therefore the Riflemen had to return and bivouack on Mount-Misery. And the rest of the Battalion was moved up to the same place.
They remained here during the next three days, suffering great privations. For the swollen state of the river did not admit of supplies being brought over. In consequence, too, of a soldier of another regiment who had gone out for water having been found killed and stripped, a stringent order was issued that no men were to go for water, except in armed parties of thirty, under an officer, and accompanied by two non-commissioned officers. This water duty was exceedingly fatiguing; as the men had to go down two very steep hills into a kloof,[193] about a mile distant, and to reascend them loaded with water. Want and exposure too began to tell heavily on the men; and the seeds of much subsequent disease were to be traced to this bivouack. At last on the 18th the Riflemen marched at ten o’clock from this hill and bivouacked near the banks of the river. It had fallen sufficiently for the Commissariat to get over some stores; and the famished Riflemen on reaching their bivouack found coffee, sugar, salt, and a ration of biscuit awaiting them; and what they welcomed almost as much, tobacco; which for many days they had not had, and the want of which they had vainly tried to supply by smoking leaves of the Kaffir tea-tree dried in the sun. On the 19th the cattle were driven through the river by fifties at a time; and at two o’clock the Battalion began to ford it. The water was still deep, and the current running six or seven miles an hour. A stout rope was made fast to each bank, and reeved through three waggons placed at equal distances in the bed of the river. This made a good hand-rail for the men. But the leading files having difficulty in stemming the current, and the succeeding files crowding on them, a sort of animated dam was formed which had the effect of sending the current boiling between them; and the water, which was but little above the hips on the lower side, was dammed up nearly to the armpits on the upper. However all got over in safety except one man (Private James King) who, letting go the rope, was swept off by the current with arms and accoutrements, and never afterwards seen or heard of. The succeeding companies, not crowding so much, got over with less difficulty. After fording the river the Battalion marched about six miles, and then bivouacked near the Commissariat waggons. Yet this short march took them about four hours to accomplish: so much were they weakened by their late privations.
On the 20th they halted to rest; and to clean arms and accoutrements. In the afternoon there was a general parade; but it was of a motley crew. The clothing was some of it in rags; some patched with leather; some men had no shoes; some wore sandals made of raw hide and fastened with thongs. And those who had seen the smart Battalion three months before could scarcely have recognised it in the gaunt, unshaven, and ragged warriors on this parade.
On the 21st they marched about fourteen miles and joined the division in the general camp.
On the 25th the Battalion marched to King William’s-town and arrived there on the following day.
On the 31st two companies, Captain Horsford’s and (late) Gibson’s, commanded by Lieutenant Hardinge,[194] crossed the Buffalo river and marched for Fort Peddie, being ordered to join the camp of the 6th Foot, to form a force under Lieutenant-Colonel Michel; the Head-quarters and remaining four companies of the Battalion continuing at King William’s-town.
On February 4 the two detached companies marched to Tamaka; and on the next day, crossing the Keiskamma river at the Line drift, proceeded to Buckraal.
On the 6th they started about four in the morning, and marched to the Fish river bush, a few miles to the right of Fort Peddie, where they arrived about ten and halted for breakfast. But just as the Riflemen were lighting their fires, an order was issued that the two companies were to skirmish through the bush; and if no enemy opposed them to skirmish on to Trumpeter’s drift.[195] Leaving their untasted breakfasts, they dashed into the bush and made their way through it in extended order, until two in the afternoon, when they halted and breakfasted. And at three, falling in again, proceeded through the bush till they emerged from it on the Graham’s-town road about a mile from the great Fish river; to which they advanced, and forded it, the water reaching to the middle, just at sun-set. After this hard day’s work they marched into the barrack built on the bank of the river; and were hospitably received by a detachment of the 91st which then occupied it.
A private, who had been missing when they fell in after breakfast, made his appearance here about eleven at night; and his arrival unharmed was a sufficient proof that no Kaffirs were lurking in the bush. On February 7 these two companies marched to Fort Peddie.
On February 1 the Head-quarters consisting of four companies had marched from the Kei river to King William’s-town, where they encamped on the 3rd, forming part of the 2nd Division, of which Lieutenant-Colonel George Buller, who had arrived from England, assumed the command. But the Battalion was broken up into numerous detachments on the frontier for the purposes of patrols and escorts.
On the 9th one of the companies at Fort Peddie under the command of Lieutenant Hardinge marched to Newton Dale (leaving Horsford’s company at Fort Peddie). A few days after their arrival there an officer of the Cape Town volunteers applied for a patrol to pursue Kaffirs, who, eluding the vigilance of the troops on the frontier, had driven off almost all the cattle to within a few miles of Graham’s-town. He stated that he had tracked them to the Fish river, where he had left his men, who were utterly unable to follow them further. A patrol of 2 sergeants and 40 men under Lieutenant Oxenden[196] was immediately turned out; and after a quick march of three hours came up with the Kaffirs in the bush. They were about seventy in number, and were broiling the flesh of one of the cattle, which they had just killed, over their fires; some were sitting on the ground smoking; and all had their wallets, or leathern bags, taken off and laid on the ground; while the stolen cattle were feeding in the dell. The Riflemen, creeping up, poured in a volley which killed seven and wounded eleven; the rest running into the bush escaped. The patrol, recapturing the cattle, marched back with them to Newton Dale, where they arrived about eleven at night, bringing with them the assegais and leathern bags of the Kaffirs. This was the first occasion on which the Riflemen and the Kaffirs were in such close quarters.
This company was employed until June 18 escorting supplies to the frontier as far as Fort Peddie. It then proceeded to Line drift, where it had the duty of escorting supplies from that place to King William’s-town. On September 9 it rejoined the Battalion.
On February 10 two companies under Captain Rooper marched for the river Temacha, where they arrived on the same day; and on March 20 proceeded to Fort Peddie.
On March 24 Horsford’s company removed from Fort Peddie to the Goolah heights, where it was employed on patrol duty, until June 17 when it rejoined Head-quarters.
On the 25th Rooper’s company left Fort Peddie for Wesleyville arriving there on the 29th, on April 7 proceeded to Chalumna post, and on June 14 marched for Head-quarters at King William’s-town where they rejoined on the following day.
On April 5 Macdonell’s[197] company left Head-quarters at King William’s-town for Mount Coke, arriving there on the same day; and returned to Head-quarters on September 14. On the 6th Murray’s company marched from Fort Peddie on escort duty, and arrived at the Goolah heights on the Keiskamma on the 19th, whence it rejoined Head-quarters on September 14.
During the time these companies were employed on patrol duty, a private belonging to a party sent out in search of cattle, having lost his way in the bush, came near a kloof, in which he heard the voices of Kaffirs. Lying concealed he watched their movements. Some Kaffirs arrived with arms, which they handed to their companions, who concealed them in a ravine. The Rifleman, still contriving to escape observation, watched his opportunity and made his way back to the camp, and, on his report of what he had seen, a party of Cape Mounted Rifles were sent out to search for the concealed arms.
An attack on the Amatola mountains having been decided on, supplies of all kinds were collected at King William’s-town. On August 2, during a hurricane, a fire broke out which for some time threatened the destruction of the place and of the stores there collected. But by the exertions of the Battalion, the fire was got under and the greater part of the stores and ammunition saved from destruction. On this occasion Lieutenant-General Sir George Berkeley issued a General Order commending ‘the coolness and judgment displayed by Lieutenant-Colonel Buller,’ and ‘the discipline and energy of the troops, by which a great calamity was averted;’ and conveying to them ‘his best thanks for their exertions.’
On September 17 the detached companies having all rejoined, the Battalion under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Buller marched from King William’s-town towards the Amatola mountains, halting on that night on the Deba Flats, and on the 18th near Fort White. On the 20th the Battalion (with about 300 of the Burgher force) accompanied by fifty mules carrying provisions for six days and ammunition, marched to Fort Cox, situated on a high projection over the Keiskamma river, which winds round its base; and arriving there at eight o’clock in the evening, bivouacked for the night.
Before daybreak on the 21st the Battalion marched; and after fording the Keiskamma, without opposition or loss, though not without difficulty, advanced through a dense wood to the valley of the Amatola, and encamped at the head of the valley. During this march no attack was made by the Kaffirs, who retreated as the Riflemen approached; and their huts were burned by the troops, the flames lighting up the valley on every side.
On this evening Colonel Buller’s force was joined by another column under Colonel Campbell.
On the morning of the 22nd at dawn the Battalion, as well as the other troops, marched to the Amatolas, and crossing their lofty and precipitous ridge, forded the Wolf river, a tributary of the Keiskamma, and ascended another ridge, where a third column under Colonel Somerset joined them. From this point Colonel Buller detached the Burgher force; and advanced with his Battalion to a valley on the Goolah river, where they encamped for the night, with the other two columns.
On the 23rd the troops under Colonel Campbell having returned to the rear, those under Colonel Somerset and the Riflemen under Colonel Buller moved into the Keiskamma basin; and Colonel Somerset’s division having soon afterwards marched to the great Kei river, the Battalion remained in the Keiskamma basin, constantly engaged in active pursuit of the Kaffirs who were starved out and everywhere driven out.
The nature of the ground Sandilli and his people occupied, a deep valley near Wolf river, rendered it unapproachable by cavalry, but was exactly suited to the operations of Riflemen. And by their constant patrols, acting from camps well stored with provisions, Sandilli was completely foiled; his cattle destroyed or scattered; his followers driven away; and he himself hunted from place to place. And the result of these operations[198] was that Sandilli the Gaika chief, the principal leader of the Kaffirs, surrendered himself, with ten of his principal men, on October 19 to Colonel Buller. After his capture Sandilli stated that on October 12 he had been nearly made a prisoner by a patrol of the Regiment. They lost their way in skirmishing in the bush, and by this chance he escaped. He admitted that he must otherwise have been taken or killed.
This terminated that campaign, and the four companies, Head-quarters of the Battalion, were afterwards kept unoccupied in the Keiskamma basin, though perfectly efficient for the field. While on the Great Kei river, where operations were still going on, their presence and assistance would have been of great consequence. However the arrival of Sir Harry Smith soon changed the face of affairs, and brought the war to a termination.
On November 14 Captain Murray’s company marched from Fort Stokes to the Kei river and was employed in active operations against the Kaffirs.
On December 4 part of the Battalion under Colonel Buller left the Amatola mountains for King William’s-town, and arrived the same day.
And on the 25th the remainder, under command of Captain Horsford, followed them to King William’s-town.
From hence the Battalion was again broken up into detachments; and a company under Lieutenant Cartwright marching from King William’s-town on the 29th for Mount Coke, arrived there the same day and occupied it as a post.
On December 23 Sir Harry Smith was received at King William’s-town, the band of the Battalion playing ‘God save the Queen,’ and ‘See the Conquering Hero comes.’ When the cheers of the assembled concourse subsided, Sir Harry rode up to the Battalion and complimented Colonel Buller on having the command of such a body of men, and the Riflemen on their advantage in having such a commander; and he noticed ‘that bravery and endurance which they had displayed during the long and harassing warfare through which they had struggled.’[199]
The Depôt companies remained at Sheerness during the early part of this year, detaching one company to Canterbury on March 26.
On July 13 and 14 the Depôt companies, in two divisions removed from Sheerness to Bristol; the detachment from Canterbury joining them on the way at Maidstone; and arriving on the 15th and 16th they were quartered at Bristol during the remainder of the year.
The 2nd Battalion continued at Montreal till August 1847; on the 10th of which month the Head-quarter division marched to Lachine; and there embarking proceeded to Toronto. The left wing under Captain Wilkins on the 17th embarked at Lachine and proceeded to Kingston.
Sir D. L. Gilmour, Colonel Commandant, having died at Rome on March 22, Major-General Sir Harry Smith, Bart., G.C.B., succeeded him as Colonel Commandant of the 2nd Battalion, April 16, 1847.
The 1st Battalion were stationed at King William’s-town, with one company detached at Fort Murray and another at Fort Waterloo; and no changes, beyond the occasional relief of these detachments, took place during the first half of the year 1848.
But scarcely had the war with the Kaffirs been brought to a successful conclusion, when the Dutch Boers, not only within the colony but beyond the Orange river and in Natal, who, during the months of June and July had exhibited unmistakable symptoms of disaffection, broke out into open rebellion; and being headed by one Pretorius, a Dutch colonist of some influence and of considerable ability, assembled in great force beyond the Orange river.
Sir Harry Smith at once took energetic measures to attack them. A force consisting of two companies, Captains Murray’s and Hardinge’s, of the 1st Battalion, two of the 45th, two of the 91st and two squadrons of the Cape Mounted Rifles, with two six-pounders, was ordered to proceed at once to Colesberg. Colonel Buller was in command of the whole force and Major Beckwith of the infantry. The two companies of Riflemen were made up to a strength of eighty rank and file each; each man carried sixty rounds of ammunition, and all were in light marching order, carrying their great coats or blankets, but not their knapsacks.
On August 4 the Riflemen marched; and, though delayed by the state of the river Buffalo, which was swollen by the rains, and which they passed by india-rubber pontoons, arrived on the 21st at Colesberg, within about twenty-one miles of the Orange river.
On the next morning they continued their march and halted on the high-ground on the left bank of the Orange river, there between 250 and 300 yards broad, and then unfordable.
Several attempts were made unsuccessfully to construct a raft; but, at last, a hawser was thrown across and fastened to a tree on the opposite bank, and then a lighter rope was passed over, by which the india-rubber pontoon, which had been brought up by the Riflemen from King William’s-town, was worked backwards and forwards. On the 23rd Captain Murray’s company was carried over. And on the three following days the remainder, and the baggage were taken across; not without difficulty, on account of the steepness of the banks leading to the place of embarkation, and the rapidity of the current. The embarkation was superintended by Colonel Buller; the disembarkation by Major Beckwith. However by sunset on the 26th the whole force was conveyed across, and encamped on the right bank of the river.
On the 27th the troops marched at daylight, the Riflemen leading the infantry (the Cape Corps being in advance), and after a march of about twenty miles, encamped on the plains near Phillipolis, at Benlois Hoek.[200]
On the 28th, marching at daybreak, the Riflemen encountered swarms of grey locusts which actually obscured the light of the sun. They proceeded past Phillipolis, a village of the Griqua Kaffirs, and after a march of about twenty miles encamped for the night.
On the 29th they continued their march at dawn; and after proceeding about ten miles, halted at some deserted farm-houses to breakfast. These were situated on the slope of a hill overlooking an extensive plain, called the Boemplaats, which extending about twelve miles was terminated by a range of low, rocky hills, rising one above another in height. Those on the right projected into the plain. Through these hills the road or track wound; and on them the Boers, estimated at about 2,500 or 3,000 in number, had taken up their position, adding to its natural strength a kind of breastwork of piled stones. Had it been defended by disciplined troops, under a competent leader, it would have been if not impregnable, at least not to be forced without most serious loss. While the Riflemen were at breakfast the tidings reached them that they were soon to meet their enemy; and when breakfast was over, rifles were looked to, and packets of cartridges loosened. As soon as they fell in, Sir Harry Smith addressed them. No one could do so, on such an occasion, with more authority and experience; for he had fought in their ranks (or, while on the Staff, at their side) from Monte Video to Waterloo, in the Peninsula, in America, in Holland, in Belgium. He reminded them of the glorious deeds there done, ending an inspiriting address by declaring that he would drive the arch-rebel Pretorius and his followers like rats from those hills. He was answered by such a cheer as Riflemen can give to an old Rifleman who leads them into the fight.
Resuming their advance about eleven o’clock they arrived at the foot of the hills between one and two P.M. Colonel Buller then ordered the Cape Corps to advance and to endeavour to turn the position in front and by both its flanks. But the Boers receiving them with a heavy fire, and some mistake having occurred in executing the order, they retired, and cleared the front for the Riflemen, who in extended order advanced and drove the enemy at the point of the sword from the first, and through the second range of heights; and kept up a galling fire on them, as they retreated to the third and highest crest. Here they rallied their whole force, and delivered a telling fire, under which men and officers fell fast. But nothing could stand the dash of the Riflemen; this last position was carried; and at the end of two hours’ hard fighting, the Boers fled after a short attempt at resistance behind the walls of a kraal.[201]
Then the troops were formed at quarter distance behind the guns, which opened with grape and shrapnel, on the flying enemy; delivering their fire; limbering up and advancing to the front; then firing again. Thus the pursuit was continued for about eleven miles; until from sheer inability to proceed further the troops halted at Culverfontein for the night.
The loss of the Riflemen in this action was severe. Colonel Buller was severely wounded, and his horse was killed under him; Captain Murray and 6 rank and file were killed or died of their wounds; Captain Hardinge and 8 rank and file were wounded, and Lieutenant and Adjutant Julius Glyn[202] had his horse killed under him.
Murray was leading his company when he was hit in the shoulder and his arm was shattered. Glyn, who was near him, ordered some men to take him to the rear; but before he could dismount, another shot struck him, which passed through the body and injured the spine. He lived till about midnight; and was buried under a peach-tree at Boemplaats. Sir Harry Smith in communicating his death to his father, Major-General the Honourable Sir Henry Murray, says that ‘he proved himself a most gallant officer; his loss deeply regretted by the men of his company.’
In this letter Sir Harry Smith observes that ‘this outburst of rebels has cost as smart an affair as I ever witnessed.’ Yet he had witnessed many; and some of them very smart affairs. ‘Your son,’ he continues, ‘led an attack as bold as it was successful, under a storm of fire, in a difficult position, but fell an honour to his father and to his country.’[203]
The wounded were left at Boemplaats, except Colonel Buller, who was conveyed with the troops.
About ten o’clock at night the tents arrived and the Battalion encamped. It had marched more than twenty-six miles; had fought a sharp action; and followed the enemy with a most active pursuit.
But they were not long to rest. They paraded at one o’clock on the morning of the 30th and by two o’clock leaving blankets, tents and all that could impede rapidity of march behind them, were again following up the Boers. Both the companies of Riflemen were now commanded by 2nd Lieutenants, the Hon. Henry Clifford[204] and W. W. Knight, and they led the column as an advanced guard.
About daylight they arrived at a place called Welman’s Pass, where it was thought that the enemy might make a stand. Accordingly the Riflemen were extended, and skirmished over the hills on each side, which commanded the defile. However nothing was seen of the Boers, who were in fact utterly disorganised and demoralised by their defeat at Boemplaats, and who never attempted to rally.
The Riflemen continued their march and halted for the night at a Dutch farm-house, named Bethany.
Pursuing their march they arrived at Bloem-fontein on September 2; and halted there until the 4th. During this time a General Court Martial was held to try some rebel Boers, and an English deserter from the 45th, who had acted as a leader of the revolted Dutch, and they were sentenced to death. On the 4th (the sentence having been executed) the Riflemen marched at daybreak for Weinberg, a settlement on the Vial river, and arrived there on the 7th. Here Sir Harry Smith received the unconditional submission of the rebellious Dutch; and fell back to Bloem-fontein on September 14. The Governor having directed a field-work to be erected here the Riflemen worked at it, until its completion, when it was garrisoned by the 45th and 91st detachments; and the Riflemen marched for King William’s-town on October 16.
In the expedition thus concluded, the Riflemen had marched between 1,100 and 1,200 miles; had crossed several difficult rivers with insufficient means of transit, had worn their clothing to shreds and their shoes off their feet. General Orders highly laudatory of the conduct of the officers and men were issued by Sir Harry Smith, both on August 30, immediately after the fight at Boemplaats, and also on his leaving the troops at Bloem-fontein on September 15. Colonel Buller was appointed Companion of the Bath, and Major Beckwith received the brevet rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
During the time the Battalion was near King William’s-town the men were employed in building. ‘They built a town, they built barracks, they built houses for their officers, some of “wattle-and-daub,” some of bricks, and roofed with various materials. They also made an aqueduct some three or four miles long to supply the camp with water, and for the purpose of irrigation. When we left they had more than half built permanent barracks of stone. That was all done by one battalion, without neglecting any of its military duties.... We had a daily parade, inspected arms, &c., and saw that the men were in proper order, and then dismissed them to their working parties.’[205]
The Service companies being reunited at King William’s town furnished a detachment on October 18, to Fort Murray; and another, of a company, on November 3, to Forts Grey and Glamorgan.
The Depôt companies continued at Bristol during the whole of this year; the only change being that a subaltern’s detachment proceeded to Trowbridge on May 10 and rejoined the Depôt at Bristol on July 6.
No change took place in the quarters of the 2nd Battalion during the year 1848, which remained with one wing, Head-quarters, at Toronto, and the other at Kingston: the Reserve Battalion companies being still at Quebec.
The 1st Battalion continued in 1849 at King William’s-town, without other change than the occasional relief of its detachments.
The Depôt companies were during the whole year stationary at Bristol. And on September 27 they furnished a guard of honour, consisting of a captain, 3 subalterns, 5 sergeants, 2 buglers, and 100 rank and file, to attend Her Majesty Queen Victoria, at the Gloucester Railway Station, on her return from Scotland.
No event worth recording occurred in the 2nd Battalion, which continued at Toronto and Kingston with its Reserve at Quebec, until November 20; when a detachment consisting of 1 subaltern, 3 sergeants, 2 buglers, and 80 rank and file proceeded from Toronto for Mina bay, under the command of Captain Cooper, with the object of quelling disturbances at the Bruce mines.
The eventful history of this detachment cannot better be given than in the words of a letter addressed by Captain Cooper (now Sir Astley Paston Cooper, Bart.) to the Assistant-Adjutant-General at Kingston:—
‘Sault Ste. Marie, Hudson’s bay Company’s Fort,
‘December 16, 1849.
‘Sir,—I have the honour to report for the information of the Major-General commanding, that bad weather and the lateness of the season, combined with various accidents and delays, having frustrated our efforts to make Mina bay, we have been obliged to return to the Sault Ste. Marie, where we have now been obliged to go into quarters for the winter. Our failure is however the less to be regretted as the ring-leaders in the affair have been captured, and all the Indians, to the best of my knowledge and belief, have left Mina bay, and returned to their homes for the winter.
‘I stated in my last communication that the captain of the “Propeller” had engaged to be ready to start from the Sault river on the evening of Thursday, the 4th inst.; but about four o’clock that afternoon a gale commenced that rendered it impossible for the boats to continue to take the freight on board, and eventually swamped a scow that we had engaged for the purpose. The wind did not abate sufficiently to allow us to assume our operations till the Friday following; and we completed the embarkation of men and stores on that day. Just however as we were about to start, a fresh delay occurred, arising from a dispute between the captain of the vessel and the engineer, who being the only one left at the Sault, felt himself at liberty to make his own terms, and who refused to go at all unless he got 237 dollars for his trip, paid in advance. The captain refused to give it him, and at one time it seemed very doubtful whether we should not be obliged to return again to the Hudson’s bay Company’s Fort. This settled, we started about seven P.M. to a place about seven miles up the river, called Wood Dock, where we were to take in more wood, it having been found impossible to provide a sufficient quantity at the Sault. On arriving there we found that the ice had collected in such quantities in the bay that it was impossible to approach the “Propeller” to the wharf. After making a variety of attempts to cut through the ice, carry the boats on &c. to no purpose we were obliged to give it up for that night.
‘The following morning we managed to land nearly the whole of the troops, by pulling them round the ice to a place where the wind and current had broken it up sufficiently to allow us to get through. Carrying the wood from the wharf to the boats and thence to the ship occupied about eight hours; and we did not get under weigh again until about four P.M.
‘During the whole of the time we had been thus delayed, the weather had been perfectly fair; but we had scarcely started when a wind sprang up, which gradually increased to such a height, that the funnel was bent, one of the stays gave way, the stove and everything else in the cabin was overturned, and the binnacle and compass upset and rolled about the deck.
‘Not being able, from the rolling of the vessel, to put back the compass properly in its place, the helmsman was steering partly by guesswork, and we drifted about five points out of our course. At half-past eleven P.M. the ship struck hard on a point of land on the American shore, called White Fish point, the bottom happening fortunately to be sandy, and the sea right on, the captain got the foresail on her and allowed her to drive up into the shallow so far as she would, to obviate the heavy bumpings, to prevent her broaching to, receiving the seas on her broadside. The conduct of the men, when the ship struck, was most admirable, inasmuch as the general rocky nature of the coast along the shore of the Lake Superior was well known to everyone on board. No one knew where we were; and White Fish point was perhaps the only place on Lake Superior where such an accident could have occurred without the vessel being instantaneously broken up. Had the men not obeyed the command to stand still, but had they rushed on deck, as the captain of the ship afterwards told me he fully expected they would have done, at least one half of them would have been washed overboard and drowned; as the deck was as slippery as ice could make it, and there was no bulwark round it other than a slight open railing, scarcely a foot high. Both the captain and subordinate officers of the vessel afterwards expressed their astonishment at the coolness and discipline the soldiers displayed. We remained at White Fish point till about half-past three P.M. Monday without any apparent possibility of getting the ship off, occupying ourselves in the meantime with landing the freight for the purpose of lightening the vessel, and making what arrangement we could for passing the winter where we were. About that hour, however, by working the vessel back with all the steam the engine would bear, and rigging a derrick, they got us off again; and about ten A.M. Tuesday, we again proceeded towards Mina Bay and had arrived to within eight miles of the place, when the wind shifted to the SW. and commenced blowing again with such violence, that they were obliged to put about and return to White Fish point for shelter. After remaining there till noon, Wednesday, and the weather not at all improving, the captain represented to me the impossibility of reaching the bay this fall.
‘I then wrote to him requesting his opinion in writing; his answer to which I enclose. We anchored in the Sault river on Wednesday evening, and I am now getting the men settled in quarters in the store-houses of the Hudson’s bay Company’s Fort; and I trust that in a few days they will be made tolerably comfortable for the winter. From the time the men left Toronto till we returned to the Sault, they had never slept in a bed, or taken off their clothes; yet in despite of that, and of the cold and wet they have daily endured, we have no sickness whatever. I am also happy to be able to inform you that the conduct of the detachment continues to be exemplary.
‘I have the honour to be,
&c. &c. &c.,
‘A. P. Cooper.
‘Capt. Commanding detachment.’
On December 3, the left wing of the Battalion removed from Kingston and joined Head-quarters at Toronto.
In March 1850, the 1st Battalion being ordered home, were relieved on the frontier by the 6th Foot; and on April 2, three companies marched from King William’s-town to Fort Glamorgan, there to await the arrival of H.M. steam-vessel ‘Hermes’ for conveyance to Table-bay.
And on May 20 the remaining three companies, with Head-quarters, marched from King William’s-town to Fort Glamorgan, and arrived there on the next day.
On the departure of the Battalion from the frontier, a very complimentary District Order was issued by Colonel Mackinnon, commanding at King William’s-town, thanking the officers, non-commissioned officers and men for their excellent conduct while under his command.
Free discharges having been offered to such of the men as desired to settle in South Africa, 165 non-commissioned officers and men availed themselves of them; and being paraded on April 30, were there and then handed their discharges by Lieutenant-Colonel Beckwith.
On May 25 the Head-quarters, with three companies, embarked at Fort Glamorgan, in surf-boats, and were conveyed on board the ‘Hermes,’ which started for Table-bay, at which place they disembarked on the 29th.
On the 31st they were inspected at Cape Town by Sir Harry Smith, previous to their embarkation for home, who took leave of his old Corps in the following characteristic General Order:
‘Head-quarters, Cape Town, May 31, 1850.
‘The 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade will be held in readiness to embark for England on board the ship, “Duchess of Northumberland,” having completed a colonial tour of ten years’ service, throughout which it has maintained the character for discipline, bravery and interior economy which distinguished it during the eventful period of the Peninsular War, under His Grace the Duke of Wellington.
‘At the Cape of Good Hope in the Kaffir War and in a rapid, long, and harassing march over the Orange river, for the suppression of rebellion, the Riflemen were ever as distinguished for good fellowship among their comrades of other regiments, as they were formidable to their foes. Colonel Mackinnon the Commandant of Kaffraria, thus reports of the Regiment:
‘“Nothing can have been more satisfactory than the conduct of the Battalion ever since it has been in this district, and it has been most ably commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Beckwith.”
‘In 1805 the Commander-in-Chief Sir H. Smith, joined this Battalion then commanded by a Colonel Sidney Beckwith, (the uncle of the present,) an officer of great military renown.
‘He has served with it during the most eventful period of its career, and has never worn the Regimental uniform of any other corps. The veteran and truly commendable affection, which is thus created, leads His Excellency therefore fervently to hope for the future welfare and honour of the Regiment.
‘“The true test of real excellence is not immediate success, but durable fame;” and Sir Harry Smith trusts, with all his heart, that this may ever be applicable to his old comrades of the Rifle Brigade.’
On June 6 the Head-quarter division embarked at Cape Town in the ‘Duchess of Northumberland,’ and sailed the same day; and after touching at St. Helena for water on the 19th, proceeded for England.
But the other division of 8 officers and 100 men of other ranks were still at East London; where they embarked in surf boats on June 10 and 11, and were conveyed on board the ‘Hermes.’ They disembarked at Falk bay on the 17th, and proceeded to Cape Town, where they were quartered until July 11.
On that day they embarked on board the ‘Himalaya,’[206] and sailed on the 12th for England.
We must now return to the movements of the Depôt companies which left Bristol in two divisions on April 8 and 11, and arrived at Brecon on the 9th and 11th.
They removed in three divisions from Brecon on June 17, 18 and 19, and proceeded to Canterbury, where they arrived on the 19th, 20th and 21st, and were there stationed until the arrival of the Service companies.
The first division of these disembarked at Gravesend on Sunday, August 11, and proceeded by railroad to Rochester, and marched into Brompton Barracks Chatham; and on the 13th marched to Canterbury, where they arrived the next day.
The second division did not reach Gravesend till September 23, when they disembarked, and marched to Canterbury, where they arrived on the 26th. Thus the whole Battalion was reunited; but owing to the free discharges given in Africa it was greatly below its strength; and recruiting was actively carried on and the staff and parties at the principal stations in England, and at Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Newry were directed, by order from the Horse Guards, to raise 160 men at once for the Battalion; yet up to the end of the year it had only succeeded in obtaining 114 recruits.
On December 30 and 31 the Battalion marched in two divisions from Canterbury to Dover, where they were quartered; Head-quarters with five companies in the Western heights, and five companies in the Castle.
By an order from the Horse Guards dated February 6, 1850, the Reserve Battalion of the 2nd Battalion was to be done away; and the 2nd Battalion and Reserve, of six companies each, were from April 1 to be absorbed into one Battalion of ten companies. The officers (1 Lieutenant-Colonel, 2 Captains, 2 First Lieutenants, 2 Second Lieutenants and an Adjutant), who thus became supernumerary, were retained en second, until vacancies occurred. Pursuant to this arrangement the six companies which formed the Reserve Battalion left Quebec, where they had been stationed since their formation in August 1846, and proceeded to Kingston in two divisions; the first, consisting of three companies under Major Norcott, leaving Quebec on May 1, and arriving at Kingston on the 3rd; the remaining three companies leaving on the 8th, and arriving on the 11th.
The 2nd Battalion itself left Toronto, where it had been quartered since August 1847, in two divisions on May 22 and 24, arriving at Kingston on the following days respectively. Thus the Battalion and its Reserve were amalgamated; and at Kingston reunited into one Battalion.