Campaigning in Kaffirland; Or, Scenes and Adventures in the Kaffir War of 1851-52King, William Ross
History
Campaigning in Kaffirland; Or, Scenes and Adventures in the Kaffir War of 1851-52
King, William Ross
South Africa -- History -- Frontier Wars, 1811-1878
They had cleared the whole of the Waterkloof Range, the 12th, 74th,
91st, and Levies, having succeeded in driving the enemy from the
forest, with the exception of a few small scattered parties (doubtless
in attendance on the wounded), who played at hide and seek with the
wearied troops, and baffled all attempts to dislodge them. They had,
however, suffered very severely; twenty bodies were found, and a much
greater number must have fallen in the thick bush from the admirable
practice of the howitzers. On our side, Captain Davenish, of the
Levies, was mortally wounded, and seven men of different regiments more
or less severely.
The road down the hill was almost impassable after the heavy rain;
tremendous gullies, in many places four feet deep, constantly
threatened to overturn the waggons, and it was several hours before
we reached our old camp in the Blinkwater valley. It had been held in
the interim by detachments of the 2nd and 6th regiments, which now
marched out on one side for Fort Beaufort, as we entered at another. We
were rejoiced to find ourselves once more under canvas. In the evening
the following Division Order, on the death of our late Colonel, was
published in camp:--
"_Camp Blinkwater, November 9, 1851._
"It is with the deepest regret that Major-General Somerset announces
to the Division the death of Lieut.-Col. Fordyce, commanding the 74th
Highlanders.
"Lieut.-Col. Fordyce fell, mortally wounded, in action with the enemy,
on the morning of the 6th, and died on the field.
"From the period of the 74th Highlanders having joined the 1st
Division, their high state of discipline and efficiency at once showed
to the Major-General the value of Lieut.-Col. Fordyce as a commanding
officer; the subsequent period, during which the Major-General had
been in daily intercourse with Lieut.-Col. Fordyce, so constantly
engaged against the enemy in the field, had tended to increase, in
the highest degree, the opinion which the Major-General had formed of
Lieut.-Col. Fordyce as a commander of the highest order, and as one of
her Majesty's ablest officers, whom he now so deeply laments (while he
truly sympathizes with the 74th Highlanders in their irreparable loss)
as an esteemed brother soldier. * * * *
"By command,
"C. H. BELL,
"Lieutenant, Field Adjutant, 1st Division."
This was followed a few days afterwards by the subjoined General
Order:--
GENERAL ORDER, No. 197.
"_November 13, 1851._
"The Commander-in-chief has this day received the report from
Major-General Somerset that the gallant and enterprising Lieut.-Col.
Fordyce, 74th Highlanders, has fallen in action with the enemy on the
6th instant. His loss to her Majesty's service is a severe one, and
his Excellency conceives he cannot express his regret in terms more
applicable, than in the Division Order of Major-General Somerset,
which is herewith published.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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