On the 11th Lord Alexander Russell’s, Woodford’s and Hardinge’s companies started at 4 in the morning in the direction of Bushneck; not proceeding by the usual road, but directly across country, up and down hills, some of them extremely steep, with large projecting rocks, which the men had to climb, and to slide down on the other side. Part of the march also was over the burnt grass, the dust from which was extremely annoying, and at times almost prevented their seeing anything. They marched fully 18 miles, not even halting for breakfast. They came on traces of Kaffirs, who as usual disappeared, unless surrounded before daylight.
On July 3 a patrol of Captain Somerset’s company started at 5 A.M. and examined the valleys in the neighbourhood of the Waterkloof in search of cattle; but the sun rose before they had found them, and rendered their efforts unsuccessful.
An escort marched towards the Blinkwater on July 5 to deliver the guns to a party of the 91st and some of Lakeman’s volunteers. As they were returning they saw some Kaffirs driving off a cow. The officer in charge would not allow the company to go, but gave permission for ten volunteers to attack them; who immediately doubled to cover. The Kaffirs observing the company did not see the detached party, who cut them off from the bush. There were three men and two women; who seemed so destitute and starved that it was not worth while to make them prisoners.
At midnight on the 6th a patrol left the camp, and after marching a considerable distance, were halted, divided into watches, and ordered to conceal themselves. The object was to intercept cattle, supposed to be on the move. But after lying down in concealment during a very cold morning, at sunrise they returned to camp without having effected their object.
On the 7th the camp at Bear’s farm was struck, and the tents and baggage placed in the farm-yard under the charge of Captain Woodford’s company. The remainder paraded a little before midnight, with coats and blankets and three days’ rations, which the men were recommended to cook before starting. Soon after they moved off; and marching, in a cold sleet, by the southern heights of the Waterkloof, were joined by another division under General Cathcart.[211] They then proceeded to the ridge separating the Waterkloof valley from Fuller’s Hoek, and after firing shell, shot, and rockets into the bush, bivouacked on the night of the 8th at the head of the pass, after having been fourteen successive hours on the move. They had seen many Kaffirs, who kept close in cover, occasionally firing on our skirmishers. In this affair one Rifleman was killed, shot through the brain while taking aim over a rock. The weather during the time the Battalion was engaged on this reconnaissance was extremely inclement, rain, sleet and snow falling almost incessantly.
During the absence of the Battalion the Kaffirs rushed out of the Kloof, and drove off seven oxen feeding near Bear’s farm. The company there immediately stood to their arms; but could not leave their position, as the Kaffirs appeared in number on the neighbouring hills. The waggoners were despatched to secure the oxen; and the Kaffirs at first retired. But seeing that they were only waggoners not soldiers, they returned and made off with their prize.
The Battalion returned about noon on the 9th and found the tents pitched and everything made ready for them by their comrades in charge. They were accompanied by two 12-pounders, with the men and horses.
On the morning of the 14th the Battalion finally left its camping-ground at Bear’s farm, and proceeded to Mount-Misery, marching by the edge of the Waterkloof into which shells were occasionally dropped. The Riflemen had scarcely reached their position, when a waggoner came running in and informed them that his span[212] of oxen had been seized by the Kaffirs. The cattle-guard which was in the act of mounting, set off at the double; the best runners taking the lead, and soon came up with the cattle, which they recovered, shooting one Kaffir.
Here a standing camp was formed, and two redoubts were built, as a base from whence General Cathcart operated in the final attacks on the Kaffirs. On the morning of the 15th the outlying picket at the head of Fuller’s Hoek had just lit their cooking fire at daybreak, when the fuel was knocked about by a ball from the bush. Several more shots were fired; but no mischief done. And some men of the picquet, crawling into the bush, shot one Kaffir and took three horses.
The Riflemen were engaged till the 23rd in assisting in building the redoubts, and strengthening the camp; which was placed on the ridge commanding and cutting the communication between Fuller’s Hoek and the head of the Waterkloof.