History of the Cape Mounted Riflemen: With a Brief Account of the Colony of the Cape of Good HopeCannon, Richard
History
History of the Cape Mounted Riflemen: With a Brief Account of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope
Cannon, Richard
Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) -- History; Great Britain. Army. Cape Mounted Riflemen -- History
In 1799, the Cape Corps was again stationed at Hout’s Bay, with
detachments at Graaff Reinett and Algoa Bay; and, in 1800, this
body of men was formed into a regiment under Lieut.-Colonel King,
with Major Donald Campbell second in command; the head-quarters
were established at Groen Kloof, near Cape Town, under Major
Campbell, Lieut.-Colonel King not having joined.
[Sidenote: 1801]
In 1801, the Cape Regiment, except the mounted men, was sent to the
frontiers, where it was employed during the year 1802.
[Sidenote: 1802]
At the peace of Amiens, the Cape of Good Hope was restored to
the United Provinces, which had taken the name of the Batavian
Republic.
[Sidenote: 1803]
When the Dutch governor arrived, in the early part of 1803,
with an armament, to take possession, the Cape Regiment was at
head-quarters; it was left in the colony, and nearly every man was
retained in the Dutch service.
A few months of respite from war followed the Treaty of Amiens,
and, in 1803, the contest was renewed with a violence which, in
a few years, shook the basis of every state in Europe. During
the first three years of the war, the attention of the British
Government was directed to measures rendered necessary by the
threatened invasion of England by Buonaparte; but in the latter
months of 1805, an armament, consisting of about five thousand men,
under the orders of Major-General Sir David Baird[1], proceeded
to recapture the settlement of the Cape of Good Hope, with its
dependencies, then in possession of the Batavian Government, and
commanded by Lieut.-General Janssens.
[Sidenote: 1806]
After surmounting considerable difficulties, a landing was effected
at Lospard’s Bay, on the 6th of January, 1806; on the morning of
the 8th, the army moved in two brigades towards the road leading
to Cape Town, and attacked the enemy’s force, consisting of five
thousand men, and twenty-three pieces of cannon, advantageously
posted at Blaw Berg, or Blue Mountains: the Dutch stood the fire
of the invading army with firmness, and maintained their position
obstinately; but the charge of the British troops with bayonets
proved irresistible, and the enemy was forced to a precipitate
retreat.
A negotiation ensued between the two commanders, which was carried
on by Brigadier-General (now Lord) Beresford: and the colony was
finally surrendered on the 18th January.
In the articles of capitulation it was stipulated, that the
battalion of Hottentot Light Infantry should march to Simon’s
Town, with the other Batavian troops, after which they should be
allowed to return to their own country, or to engage in the British
Service, as they might feel inclined. A number of them tendering
their services, they were formed into a corps at Wynberg, under the
command of Lieut.-Colonel Graham, and stationed at that village;
a detachment of about fifty men was sent to Fort Frederick, Algoa
Bay.
[Sidenote: 1808]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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