CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 79, 10 July 1852, Page 10

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

ol e fKin, poSsession of CaPe »ews to the 25th of March.

Mr. Darling, appointed to be Lieutenant(xovernor of the colony had arrived. His commission, however, was iv the hands of General Oatncart, who had not arrived. The Lieut.Wernor was to reside at Cape Town, with authority to carry on the civil Government,

under the directions of the Governor, while the latter was on the Frontier, or otherwise engaged. The office is to be permanent^ as, should the Governor, after the termination of the war, reside at Cape Town, the services of the Lieut.Governor would be required in the Eastern Division. Until the new Parliament were called together, the Lieutenant-Governor would be a member of the Legislative Council." We subjoin some extracts, showing the state of affairs on the Frontier at our latest dates. " Camp, Haddon, 7th March. "We had a most disastrous affair on the 4th instant. We moved on patrol about halfpast one, a.m., on that day, about 450 strong, being 300 of the 91st, and 120 of the ?4th, •with 50 of the C.M.R.. We went about three miles to the right of the old Canteen at Bush Neck, where we burned some 150 Kaffir huts, capturing about 50 cattle and 30 horses. When, however, we were about to retire with the booty vie were suddenly set upon by 2,000 or 3,000 Kaffirs and Hottentots. We fought our way desperately to the canteen, and made a determined stand, and brought up our wounded. We had killed—Three privates, 91st regiment; one Serjeant (Laing), 91st, missing; one private, 74th. "Wounded—Three Serjeants, eleven privates, 91st; four privates, 74th; two officers, (Colonel Yarborough and Ensign Hibbert,) 91st ; one officer, (Captain Bramley,) C. M. Rifles. " Most of the men are badly wounded. It was hard work for our men to bring away the^ wounded. We have been beaten. The dead bodies with one exception had to be left behind. Every one is greatly cast down about this casuality. Colonel Yarborough is severely wounded through the thigh. Head quarter Camp, Blinkwater, 12th March, 1852. The troops under the Commander-in-Chief, ■were placed on the 9th inst., on their respective basis of operation, for the purpose of dislodging the rebels under Macomo from Fuller's Hock, and,the Hottentots and Tambookies of Quesha, occupying the Waterkloof. The right column under Lieut.-Col. Eyre, at the Blinkwater Post, the centre column under Lieut.-Col. Michel, at Blakeway's Farm, and the left column under Lieut.-Col. Napier, at Nel's Farm, moved at daylight on the 10th instant, upon the rebels in their densely wooded kloofs and fastnesses. These operations continued for three successive days. The troops under Lieut.-Col. Eyre were vigorously resisted. Two howitzers were got up tlie very face of the mountain, and aided by rockets, were of great use, in shelling the enemy's kloofs. On the first day all the villages on the summits of the heights and many huts within the bush were burnt. A detachment of the 43rd Light Infantry, and 73rd regiment under Captain Campbell, carried on this day in a very gallant style a most formidable pass, the enemy shouting, dancing their war dance, and daring him to come on, which he did to their total overthrow and route. On the following day, Colonel Eyre made a very judicious movement, so as to envelope and surprise the den of Macomo, regarded by the Kaffirs as inaccessible. It was carried by Colonel Eyre in person, 13© women and children being taken, including the great and favourite wife of Macomo, three of his other wives, and two of his children —all stowed away under precipitous krantzes and in deep caves. Some ammunition and a quantity of lead were found, together with stores of provisions and blankets, and plundered clothes and two watches ; this being the very lurking place of Macomo and his pakati. The Fuller's Hock was also penetrated in various other directions. During these two > days' operations, numbers of the enemy were slain, eleven being found in one place, killed by the fire of cannon, and many others in different directions. On the third day, the enemy seemed completely bewildered, scarcely showing himself anywhere, and offered no resistance. Lieut.-Col. Michel's operations have been conducted with every energy. Great opposition was expected, as the Waterkloof, and moie especially the rugged bushy pass at its head, had on former occasions been stoutly occupied by numerous Hottentots. The troops, however, encountered few, and the resistance of these was feeble.. By great exertion, Colonel Michel succeeded iw getting his guns upon the heights, which had been previously considered impracti-

cable. On the second day, in conjunction with Lieut.-Col. Napier, he swept the whole of Waterkloof, destroying the locations of the enemy in the valley, and penetrtaing the dense and intricate kloofs on either side. Lieut.-Col. Napier moved on the 10th up the Waterkloof valley. On entering the narrow and difficult ground towards its head, it was cvi* dent that the enemy meditated an attack upon the rear, and Colonel Napier accordingly placed the 9ist regiment, under Major Forbes, in a position to resist it. This was most effectually done after a sharp fight, and Colonel Napier gained and maintained his position. The enemy fought, however, most determinedly, and Colonel Napier's column was hotly pressed; yet the skill of that officer carried him safely out of his difficult position. From private sources we learn that an engagement had occurred subsequent to the date of the official reports above referred to, and that the troops had suffered the loss of a very promising officer, the Honourable H. Wrottesley, of the 42nd regiment, one private, 91st regiment, and one levy man killed, and ten men of the 91st wounded. The soldiers put one in mind of Falstaff's ragged regiment—the only thing most of them retain of their military appearance being their red jackets, and they are torn and look very shabby. Poor fellows! they have sadly suffered during the I present war. i