PROGRESS OF THE WAR.—GREAT SLAUGHTER AND AT0CITIES. June 28.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2603, 21 November 1865, Page 6

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.— GREAT SLAUGHTER AND ATOCITIES. June 28.

In a postscript to last Friday a paper we announced — on the authority of the Fauresinith post-iider, whose report was immediately thereafter confirmed by ft private letter fiom Reduoisbuig to a reEident here — that the Basutos bad, in veiy considerable numbers, euteied the State, and hnd ponetiated even so far as the tract of country lying between Reddersburt,' and Hethulie, had perpptialed several murders, set flip to farm-houses, and had finally succeeded in carrying off some 40,000 sheep, it is now our painful duty to record that the above sad intelligence proved to be only too true — in fact, ouly half the truth. Our savage foe, the Bisutos, had availed themselves of the open and defenceless state of that part of the border to make a raid light into the State, nearly ds far as Biaapaal, on the Bethuhe side of the Smithrield road, and winch feat they accomplished with almost incredible success. It is now known for certain that the live* of twelve Dutch fiiuners havo been sacrificed — not in fair fight, but after being overpowered by nmnbeis and selling tteir lives as dearly as possible, they were finally compelled to succumb to the enemy. In addition to these twelve, we have further to record, with deep regret, the murder iv cold blood by the Basutos of a respectable youug man, only a few months resideut in tins State. June 29. — A report has been received fiom Lombard's lager, near Doornspruit to the effect thnt the Basutos had passed down the Modder Kiver, in the direction of Furstenburg and Hendiik Venter's farms, had killed sixteen Bastards at lliet Spruit, also a trader named Sybiandt, with his two Hottentot servants, and it is said a Dutch farmer know n as Ryk Botes with, his family. They had also stripped a white woman of her clothing, and had afterwards permitted her to escape, which she had done to the camp of the surviving Bastards at Kietspiuifc, Great numbers of stock have also been taken by the enemy. Two gentlemen, Messis Chapman and Owen, have returned from the commando on leave, this clay, and report that no engagement has taken place since our last i<-sue, but that, in accordance with instructions, a force of COO men, under Commandant General Fick, had moved down as far as Rietpoort, en roulc for Paulsinitsberg, and that the remainder of the force under Assistant-Comtnaudant-General De Villiershad removed to the old camp at Leeuwkop. We believe the force will in future be divided, and, though acting iv concert, will attack the enemy at separate points. The following is an evttact from a letter dated July 3, 1865 :— " You will see by the Friend that one entire fieldcornetcy has been swept clear of its stock, some twelve men killed, and many houses burnt. Of coure it has entailed great poverty and misery ou some hundreds of unfortunates. Since then, emboldened by their success, some 2,500 natives tried the same game in the Bloemfontein district, actually passing Bloemfontein, but they made a mistiike. Commandant Wesselo, with 200 men, who had started in pursuit, met them on their return, with large quantities of stock, completely routed them, re-took all the stock, and it is flaid nearly exterminated the whole body. I can almost believe it, for the Boers, being such excellent shots, well mounted, and pursuing a panic-stricken foe on flats muny miles in length, without a hill or bush for shelter, something serious might reasonably be anticipated. Letters have been leceived by the authorities from the Superintendent of Natives, stating that tlu Bisutos admit they have suffered very 'much, havt lost their best men, and are very much dispnited. Matters, ou the whole, look much better than they did last week. The following i« on the same subject, alleging that 1,200 Basutoa and forty burghers had been killed ;— The Graaff-Reinct Herald says that Mr. Gert G. Gouws, who arrived there from Hanover, had brought Inter news of the Free State war. He states that a farmer had airived from Burghersdorp, with the news given below, which was communicated by a Widow in the Free State, whose husband had fallen iv the attack, and who had addressed her relatives in Burghersdorp, requesting assistance. The commando was belore Thaba Boiigo on Wednesday, the 2Gth, waiting for Commandant Wippeuaar to come up. The same day the Kafirs diallenged the Boors to come up the inouut«in, saying they had plenty of fat oxen up there. Many of the Boers became awfully " funky" an the hour of danger drew nigh ; and the Commandants resolved to call for volunteers for the assault on Thursday. Between six and seven hundred came forward, and the attacking columns were covered by the Whitworth. and Armstrong guns, which were very serviceable and prevented a larger loss of life to the Boers, who it is said, had forty of their number killed. 'Ihe loss to the Basutos is said to be 1,200 ; but both these numbers are probably inconect. From other quarters, p. report has reached vi that Moshesh has made his escape, and sought refuge near Aliw*i North, within the boundary of the colony. (To be continued, )