On the following night, in the Lords, the Earl of Ripon moved an address to her majesty in answer to her message. On that occasion the Earl of Clanricarde eloquently eulogised both the gallant generals whose exploits in the Punjaub had added fresh wreaths to the chaplets of their fame.
The civil affairs of India were occasionally the subject of discussion in the British press throughout this year: the Indian railway projects, the high price of money at Calcutta and Bombay, and the fluctuations of commerce in our Eastern territories, demanded the attention of economists and politicians.
On the 9th of November, an extensive list of brevet promotions in the Indian army was announced in the Gazette, which comprised thirty-four major-generals, twenty lieutenant-colonels, and two bunded and forty-one captains. This gave great satisfaction to the profession and the public.
An interesting occurrence in connection with India took place in the earlier part of the year. Lieutenant Waghorn, whose enterprising genius led him to prosecute the problem of an overland route to India, saw his labours at last crowned with success. The government resolved, with certain modifications, to adopt the basis of his scheme.
STATE OF AFFAIRS AT THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.—SUCCESSES OF THE CAFFRES.—VICTORY OVER THE TRIBES OF STOCK AND PATO BY COLONEL SOMERSET.
Among the many eventful matters of 1846 was a Caffre war. The tribes bordering the British territory were brave, restless, and predatory. Almost the only property which they valued was cattle, and they were tempted by the large flocks of the colonists to make border raids. The force at the disposal of the settlers was not sufficient to preserve their property, nor check these incursions, much less to punish them. The various tribes could precipitate nearly thirty thousand, and, on occasions, forty thousand men at once upon the colony; resolute, robust, wild men, physically superior to the Fingoes and Hottentots within the territory of her majesty, and equal in that respect to the Boers or British. The marauders were also mentally superior to the black races within the colony, and altogether more interesting savages, braver in battle, and capable of a higher civilisation. One of these tribes, numbering about ten thousand, was in alliance with the British, but the whole population of the Cape able to bear arms, and the troops, taken together, did not reach twenty thousand men. The nature of the country favoured the action of savage assailants, especially such as were intellectually so well capable of taking advantage of it as the Caffres. For disciplined troops it was unfavourable, where there was such an enemy to encounter. During the early part of the year the Caffres moved simultaneously on various points, capturing cattle, and slaying or driving the settlers into every post upon which they might fall back for safety. It was not war, for the Caffres literally hunted the borders, striking terror into the hearts of the colonists, and carrying off their property. As the year advanced the settlers assumed a well-organised attitude; the Fingoes and Hottentots were armed, and showed some courage in defence of the colony and the harassed troops; by dint of courage and exertion they appeared in various directions intime to keep the enemy at bay, and preserve the lives and habitations of the Dutch and English settlers. This was the state of matters when, on the 26th of April, the Caffres came down in great numbers and swept away the cattle of the colonists, driving them through the Fish River. In carrying away this booty they passed, with great hardihood, close to the fortified post called “Trompetter’s Drift.” The guns of the position opened with grape and canister, at point-blank range, and accomplished a dreadful slaughter, but none of the booty was recaptured; the enemy even earned away all his wounded and slain.
On May the 5th a formidable force came upon the neighbourhood of Fort Beaufort. The colonists stood to their defence, and a sharp action ensued, in which three of the settlers were killed and many wounded. A much larger number of the marauders were put hors de combat, but the victory, on the whole, was with the Caffres, who brought away seven horses, three hundred and thirty head of cattle, and seventeen thousand sheep. At this juncture Colonel Somerset, of the 7th Dragoon Guards (then quartered at the Cape, and mounted as light cavalry), displayed an enterprise and courage which entitled him to much honour. He was wise in council, energetic in business, indomitable in resolution, and heroic in battle. To these qualities of a man’s sterner nature, he added those of a humane and amiable heart. The colonel was on the watch for an opportunity to strike a severe blow against these freebooters, and on the 8th of June opportunity was afforded. On the previous evening a party of burghers and Fingoes scoured the Fish River bush, and performed this duty efficiently, the Fingoes showing spirit, and generosity to the enemy. Colonel Somerset formed a junction with this force on the morning of the 8th. The colonel had under his command the Cape Mounted Rifles, a detachment of the 7th Dragoon Guards, and two heavy guns. Early in the day the united detachments encountered a very large force, under the command of the notorious marauding chief, Stock. The Caffres, confident in their numbers and in their recent successes, challenged the British to come on, and, in fact, commenced the action, throwing out skirmishers with something of the practice of regular troops; they afterwards made some furious charges with the assigai. The measures taken by Colonel Somerset were marked by his usual ability and promptitude, and the enemy suffered a most sanguinary defeat. When Stock perceived that the day was going against him, notwithstanding a protracted combat, he sent off several mounted men express for Pato, another chief. The latter sent a chief named Umhala, who advanced at the head of his tribe, but having no conception that his friends had experienced defeat, and supposing that he was only about to aid in taking a spoil, he was astonished to find himself suddenly in front of the fine force of Colonel Somerset. Meanwhile, Lieutenant-colonel Lindsay, who commanded in Fort Peddie, perceiving that the firing of cannon and musketry was heavy and protracted, sent out Captain Hogg, with a troop of the 7th Dragoon Guards and a gun, who came upon the rear of Umhala’s party just as Colonel Somerset met them. The Caffres, placed between two fires, their retreat cut off, numerous although they were, lost confidence and broke. They were charged fiercely, and cut to pieces. Estimates were given of their loss, varying from three hundred to twice that number. The British loss was slight; about seven troopers fell, and several officers were very severely wounded, in close combat, by the assigai, a formidable weapon in the hands of a South African. Among the officers hurt were Sir Harry Darell, who was wounded in the thigh and arm severely; Cornet Bunbury also received several wounds. Captain Walpole, of the Engineers, was shot in the thigh, and a blow from an assigai upon the neck laid bare the windpipe. Those officers, Lieutenant O’Reilly, and others, displayed much personal prowess, cutting down the Caffres with their swords in close, desperate, and successful conflict.
The following letter gives a good description of the scene presented to the reinforcement sent out by Lieutenant-colonel Lindsay:—
“Colonel Somerset has been out to-day in the direction of Stock’s Kraal. About an hour after he left we heard heavy firing, which lasted for two or three hours. It appears that they were challenged by a lot of Caffres in the bush; they went in after them and gave them a regular mauling, shot a great number of them, and coming out on the flat when they had polished these gentlemen off, they fell in with a body of about five hundred to six hundred, whom they also charged, and shot like so many dogs. I believe, at the lowest computation, three hundred and fifty were left dead on the field. This last body that they fell in with were Pato’s Caffres, who heard the firing at Stock’s Kraal, and were hastening to his assistance, when, luckily for us, they were caught upon the open flat, and the 7th Dragoons and Cape Corps charged them, and literally rode over them. I trust that this affair, coupled with the attack on Peddie, will cool their courage considerably. One corporal of the Cape Mounted Rifles was shot dead, and Sir Harry Darell, Captain Walpole, Royal Engineers, and Bunbury, together with some men of the 7th, are slightly wounded: I think four of them slightly, and one very dangerously. Colonel Somerset seems the only man that can bring them to their senses. They were all going down to attack supply waggons that were to come up from Trompetter’s to-morrow morning, but I fancy, after to-day, they will not attempt it. I must now give you an account of the slaughter that took place shortly after. We were all very tired, having been on our legs from nine o’clock last night to midday to-day, with hardly any refreshment; we therefore hastened to the camp; however, we were disappointed in having refreshment. We saw the colonel’s division a mile or two ahead, marching quietly on. Presently we saw a party ride ahead, and soon after a race. Then firing commenced. I rode up as fast as I could to the ridge; a spectacle was then presented to my view which I shall not forget. A large party of Caffres had collected near the Kieskamma, intending to move to-day towards the Fish River to intercept the waggons, and stop the communication. This party heard the firing and thought that the waggons were attacked. They hastened to help, but what was their astonishment when they found a large force in front of them. Fortunately, there was no bush to shelter them; they fired one volley and dismounted from their horses—about three hundred mounted and seven hundred foot. The Dragoons then charged them, and killed many; a panic seized them—they ran off, and were shot like sheep—dragoons, Cape Corps, Boers, all firing at them, following them up full six miles. They became completely exhausted—they could not run. The slaughter was awful! They were followed up to near the Kieskamma. The slaughter was on the Gwanga, near Mr. Tainton’s late place. The lowest estimate is, I believe, three hundred killed; very few were seen to get away. We took three prisoners—one at Hmpa-kati, belonging to Creili. He said the intention of the Caffres was to drive the Umlunguinto the sea. We asked how it was to-day. He said it was all finished to-day. Pato has crossed the Kieskamma. Umhala and Seyolo were with this command. How they fared we cannot tell. It is supposed that Stock was this day killed.”