Books

FIRST ATTACK ON GAMASEP, LANGBERG MOUNTAIN, 6TH APRIL, 1897

Camp Ryan’s,
10th April, 1897.

To the Secretary for Defence.

Sir,—I have the honour to report that between 6 and 7 p.m. on the evening of the 5th April, the following corps, comprising a portion of the Bechuanaland Field Force, moved out of this camp for the attack on the Langberg, which is about 16 miles away, viz.:—

(1) The Northern Column, under Captain Woon, C.M.R., composed as follows:—72 C.M.R., 69 1st City, under Captain Marshall, and 4 Native Contingent; Dr. Knapp, and stretcher party.

(2) The Southern Column, under Captain Johnson, Duke’s Mounted, composed as follows:—110 Duke’s Mounted and 35 Native Contingent, under Sub-Inspector McGregor, Cape Police ; 25 Gordonia Contingent; Dr. Cox, and stretcher bearers.

(3) The North-West Column, under Commandant Wessels, with 134 Vryburg Volunteers ; Dr. Fraser and Lieutenant Richmond, C.M.R.

(4) The Main Column,under my own command, composed as follows:—

114 D.E.O.V.R., under Colonel Spence.
58 Cape Town Highlanders, under Captain Searle.
22 P.A.V. Guard, under Lieutenant Murrell.
40 P.A.O.C. Artillery, under Major Inglesby, with three 12-pounders.
12 D.F. Artillery, under Lieutenant Ray den, with one 7-pounder.
2 Maxims.
50 Gordonia Contingent as horse holders.
Surgeon Lieut.-Colonel Hartley, and stretcher bearers.

The following transport accompanied the Main Column, viz :—

8 Wagons.
1 Scotch cart.
9 Water carts and
3 Ambulances.

At about 1.30 a.m. the Main Column arrived at the spot (about three miles from Gamasep) where the Northern and Southern Columns had left their horses in charge of the balance of the Gordonia Contingent, and waited there until the first streak of dawn. The Column then advanced, four or five shots being fired from the direction of Gamasep shortly after we moved off. At about 6.30 a.m. the Column arrived in front of the entrance to the Gamasep Valley, and I at once looked for the Northern and Southern Columns, which had preceded us dismounted, with the idea of ascending in the dark with guides the spurs of the mountain which flank either side of the Gamaeep Valley, so as to cover from these heights the advance of the Main Column.

After waiting till past seven I could see nothing of either Column and therefore decided to attack Luka Jantje’s staadt. Captain Fuller, with some scouts who were in advance, were fired on from the sohanzes on the right as they moved down towards Gamasep, and this being reported by Capt. Lukin, I told him to go on with the Maxims to check the firing. When the guns and Column arrived, after putting a couple of shells from the 12-pounders into the kraal, one of which went through Pearce’s store, the D.E.O.V.R. under Colonel Spence were extended and rushed the village. A heavy fire was at once opened by the enemy from the hills both to the right and left, but more particularly from the right where the rebels must have been very well armed, as some of their bullets came close up to the wagon laager and horses, which were nearly 1,500 yards away. Just at this time my attention was called to a man who was advancing towards our laager from our right front, and on riding up I found him to be Lieutenant Sims of the 1st City, belonging to the Northern Column, who told me that he had been sent by Captain Woon to say that he was in a deep donga to our right front at the foot of the hill from whence the rebels were firing ; that he had been unable to proceed any further with his Column, and asking permission to bring in his men to join the Main Column. This I told Lieutenant Sims they could do, and the Northern Column retired from the donga and fell back on the Main Column. At this time the two Maxims were on either flank of the extended D.E.O.V.R. and were trying to keep down the fire of the rebels who were making excellent shooting from the right front especially, but the rebels were schanzed so admirably that it was found impossible to effectually silence their fire, and I sent the 7-pounder under Lieutenant Rayden to try and silence the kopje on the left at the end of the spur, in which he was successful; while Sergeant Court (in charge of Maxims) had his horse killed and he was slightly wounded.

A fresh lot of rebels were now apparently coming over from the Gamaluse Valley, and the fire was increasing on the right, I sent the Highlanders and P.A.V.G. to hold a long ridge about 600 yards to our right, as I thought it probable that the rebels might come across the donga and occupy the ridge. Captain Searle accordingly occupied the ridge with his men extended and his left resting on the right of the D.E.O.V.R. About this time several casualties occurred on the right and right front. Lieutenant Harris and Surgeon Lt.-Colonel Hartley being amongst the number, and the rebels’ fire was so heavy that I told Major Inglesby to get a 12-pounder into action to stop the fire from the schanzes. This was done, and excellent practice^was made, and after four or five rounds were fired the rebels’ fire slackened.

Just at this time my attention was called to a number of mounted rebels who were moving from our left rear to attack the laager. I immediately rode round there and found that about 80 or 100 of the rebels had dismounted, and leaving their horses, were moving quickly under cover to attack our left rear, so I extended the 1st City and some of the Gordonia Contingent along a ridge about 30 yards from the laager, and Major Inglesby slewing round one of the 12-pounders gave them a round of oase; on which they retired.

Just before this attack occurred, I sent an order to Colonel Spence that with the left company of the D.E.O.V.R. and the Cape Mounted Riflemen covered by one 12-pounder, one 7-pounder and a Maxim, I wished him to attack the kopje at the end of the spur to his left, and I ordered Captain Woon to take his men down to Colonel Spence and report himself for that purpose. Captain Woon moved off with the C.M.R., but when I returned from repelling the attack on our left rear, already mentioned, I found that Captain Woon had marched his men back to the wagons again, and on asking for his reason he told me that as the rebels appeared to be advancing in considerable strength from our left rear he thought it better to fall back to support. The firing then slackened all round, and the stretcher parties succeeded in bringing the wounded in to the ambulance.

It was now about 1 p.m., and as I could find or see no trace of Captain Johnson and the Southern Column, although the top and sides of the mountain on the Southern side were repeatedly traversed by the heliograph; (Captain Johnson having, I knew, an instrument with his column) I decided to form fresh laager on some rising ground about 800 yards to my right rear and having an isolated stony kopje about 600 yards to our right rear.

I moved the wagons and guns on to the new position and gave the order for the men to retire covered by the Maxims. Directly the move commenced the rebels re-opened a heavy fire which was kept up until the new laager was formed and occupied. As the horses and cattle had had a heavy day’s work, and had now been 24 hours without water, I decided to drive all horses and cattle back to Ryan’s for water under an escort of the Gordonia Contingent with orders to bring them back next day.

They started accordingly, and when about one and a half miles on the road to Ryan’s the escort were attacked by about 50 of the enemy, who were, however, driven off, and on their attempting to get past the stony kopje, already mentioned, back to Gamaluse they were fired on by the Maxim and lost several men and horses.

Just before sunset, we saw a light on the heights at the end of Twaai’s Kloof, about four miles away, and on answering I found that Captain Johnson had reached his point, having been unable to communicate his whereabouts before owing to his having become separated from the man carrying the heliograph. Captain Johnson reported his column as suffering from want of water and general fatigue, but said that he could hold on until the morning. The light then failed. At 3.15 a.m. the Captain of the day stated that when visiting the piquets they reported that they could hear the rebels moving about near them. I accordingly turned out the men and stood to our arms until daylight.

At 7 a.m. on the morning of the 7th, I again got a light on from Captain Johnson’s Column and found that during the night he had moved about five miles along the top of the mountain in a south-easterly direction, and was now directly to the left of our laager. He flashed that his men were very weak and footsore, and were suffering terribly from thirst. He also reported that the rebels were closing on his rear and left front with a view of cutting him off. I at once flashed to him to move down towards our laager by the most direct route that was practicable, and that I would move out to his assistance. At about 10.30 a.m. I got his signal that he was moving, and I then detailed the D.E.O.V.R and 30 of the 1st City with a Maxim under Colonel Spence to move down to the left to try and meet Captain Johnson’s Column at the foot of the mountain. At about 11 a.m. Lieutenant De Havilland and Private Barry of the Duke’s Mounted, who had been with the Southern Column, staggered into Camp, and the former reported that in an attempt to obtain water for his party on the previous night he had been cut off, and had then made for our laager. He had been twice hit, once in the arm, and in the second instance the bullet had gone through his water bottle. Both wounds were, however, slight, and he was soon none the worse. He reported the party as being in a bad way and suffering terribly from thirst.

At about 12.30 p.m., a man came in to report that the Gordonia Contingent were close by with our horses and cattle, and directly they came in I sent the Gordonia men mounted down to assist Colonel Spence and to give their horses to the men of the Southern Column, who were in the worst condition, to bring them up to the laager. In the meantime, while Captain Johnson was moving slowly down the mountain, Colonel Spence had extended his men and had burned Twaai’s kraal, which was on the flat at the foot of the mountain, with very little resistance being offered, and on Captain Johnson’s men reaching the foot of the mountain they were met by Colonel Spence’s force, and were brought up to laager by about 2 p.m.

The whole party were in a very bad plight, and had they been obliged to fight their way out, would, I fear, have suffered severely. Captain Johnson reported the loss of one Basuto named Thomas, who was shot through the head. On the morning of the 7th, as soon as the Southern Column had reached the laager all right, I sent off a party of 60 of the Gordonia contingent covered by the Cape Town Highlanders and one Maxim, into the Gamaluse Valley to bum the stadt of Ancfries Gasibone, consisting of about 50 or 60 huts, and this was very satisfactorily performed by the Gordonia contingent. I then took another party, consisting of two 12-pounders with about 60 C.M.R. and a Maxim to the entrance to Twaai’s Kloof, and put six shells into Twaai’s laager, which was about 4,200 yards up the Kloof, the rebels keeping up a steady fire on the guns from the kopje at the end of the spur to the right front. I then moved back to laager again.

On the morning of the 8th, after burying Lieutenant Harris, who died during the night, I moved the Infantry with one 12-pounder, one 7-pounder, one Maxim, and 10 mounted Basutos, 245 in all, under command of Colonel Spence, to a strong position on the stony kopje, before mentioned, to the right of the laager, leaving him a supply of water in the water carts and sufficient rations; the supply of both being kept up by convoys from this station, and moved the mounted men with all transport into Ryan’s for water, reaching this place at about 2 p.m. Both horses and cattle suffered severely at Gamasiep, both from thirst and hunger, as there is absolutely nothing whatever for them to eat at the Langberg; and it will be some days before they are fit to move again.

The casualties during the operations on the 6 th and 7th were as follows:—

On the 6th. Dangerously wounded: Lieutenant Harris, D.E.O.V.R. (died on the 7th); and Private McPhail, Cape Town Highlanders. Severely wounded: Private Smith, 1st City; Private Yan Reenen, D.E.O.V.R.; Private Timmins, Cape Town Highlanders. Slightly wounded : Private A. Nicholas, Cape Town Highlanders; 8urgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Hartley, V.C.; and Sergeant Court, C.M.R.

On the 7th. Killed: Thomas (Basuto), and slightly wounded, Lieutenant De Havilland, Duke’s Mounted.

All the Corps engaged behaved excellently, and should specially mention the Southern Column under Captain Johnson, who reached the top of the mountain under most arduous conditions, and I extremely regret that his inability to communicate his position to mo until the night of the 6th, made it impossible for the Main Column to co-operate with the Southern one.

The D.E.O.V.R., under Colonel Spence, the Cape Town Highlanders under Captain Searle, the P.A.V.G., under Lieutenant Murrell, and the Gordonia Contingent, under tub-inspector Coombs, worked both steadily and well. Major Inglesby rendered great assistance by the
accuracy of his fire, and the Maxims were admirably worked by Captain Lukin, in addition to his other duties.

I consider the Langberg to be the strongest position I have ever seen ; the mountain itself being about 30 miles long by 8 miles across; the only water supply in the mountain, being in 3 or 4 narrow deep kloofs running two or three miles into the mountain, are completely commanded on each side by hills varying in height from 800 to 1,200 feet, and can only be reached by moving up the spurs of the mountain, which are very strongly schanzed. Beyond the water in these kloofs, there is none nearer than the wells at Ryan’s, 16 miles away, and the supply there is not sufficient for the transport animals.

It is, however, my intention as soon as the horses and cattle have recovered a little to move back again with the mounted men to make another attempt.

I have the honour further to report that our transport oxen are dying of Rinderpest at present at the rate of 30 to 40 per diem.

It is impossible to estimate anything approaching correctly the loss suffered by the rebels; but from reports that have since come in from natives they must have suffered severely, and Toto’s son “Robinyani” is reported to have been amongst those killed.

I have, &c.,
(Sgd.) E. H. DALGETY,
Lieut.-Col., C.M.R.,
Commanding B. F. Force.

I attach reports from the Officers Commanding Northern, Southern and North Western Columns, which are marked A., B. and C. respectively.

[A]

From Captain H. Woon, C.M.R., to Field-Adjutant, B. F. F.
Ryan’s,
10. 4. 97.

Sir,—I have the honour to report for the information of the Officer Commanding B. F. F., that in accordance with Brigade orders of the 5th inst., 1 proceeded in command of the column detailed to attack the Langberg. 

The Column left Ryan’s camp at 7 p.m. and marched till k reached within about three miles of the kopjes on the left, the column then halted and linked horses. I then left Lieut. Curtis of my Squadron behind, as he was unable to do the march owing to illness. The column then proceeded on foot in the direction of the Berg. On arriving within about two and a half miles from the mountain, Captain Johnson with the Southern column turned off to my left, and I marched quietly in the direction of the ridge between Gamaluse and Gamasep. I reached a donga at foot of the mountain at about 4 a.m., and after a brief halt advanced on the position. The head of the column had advanced about twenty yards from the donga when a shot was fired at about fifty yards on our front from a hut which was not there on my previous patrol. I ordered the men to lie down, and immediately shots were fired from both flanks. I retired on the donga, and placed the men consisting of the C. M. R. and 1st City in skirmishing order along tho ridge, and returned the fire. I then ordered Lieut. Ward with his troop to attack the ridge. He advanced in skirmishing order and reached the foot of the hill, when he was heavily fired on and had to remain in his position till the column retired. The firing continued till daybreak, when the Maxim gun opened fire over our heads at the rebels who were in position above us. I then sent Lieut. 8ims of the First City, who volunteered for the duty, to the Officer Commanding B. F. F. for orders whether to attack or retire. I was ordered to retire, and Pte. Smith, 1st City, was then wounded.

Had I not been intercepted, I would have easily been in the position I was ordered to take by daylight.

On parting with the Northern Column, I informed Captain Johnson that I expected to be attacked on arriving at the foot of the mountain, as I felt certain from my previous knowledge of the country that the rebels would be in that position, viz., Galishwe on my right flank, and Luka Jantje on my left, and which proved correct, as the whole mountain was occupied, and further, that if he heard my column being attacked to come to my assistance.

I wish to bring to the notice of the O.C. the cool behaviour of Captain Marshall, Lieutenants Grant and Sims and men of the 1st City, who when unexpectedly fired upon in the dark were very steady and thoroughly obeyed orders.

(Sgd.) H. WOON, Captain,
Commdg. E. Squadron, C.M.R.

[B]

BECHTUANALAND FIELD FORCE.
Lieut.-Colonel Dalgety,
Comdg. B.F. Force.

Sir,—I have the honour to report that in accordance with orders, I left this Camp at 6'50 p.m. on Monday, 5th April, in command of the 
following details which composed the Southern Column in the attack on Gamasep, viz.:—

D.E.O.V.R. Mounted Company. 110 all ranks. 111 horses

Gordonia Mounted Volunteers. 26 all ranks. 26 horses

Cape Police. 3 all ranks. 3 horses

Basuto Contingent. 32 all ranks. 32 horses

Medical Staff. 11 all ranks. 3 horses

Water Carriers. 12 all ranks. No horses

Captain Coombs, with two troops of the Gordonia Mounted Volunteers, also accompanied me to take charge of the horses of both Northern and Southern Columns when the Langberg was reached.

The combined columns proceeded under the command of Captain Woon, C.M.R., and at 11.35 p.m. halted four miles from Gamasep and linked horses which were handed over to Captain Coombs.

Having filled the men’s water bottles from the accompanying water cart, at 12.50 a.m. the columns moved forward along the road, and at 2.10 a.m. I left the Northern column and, turning half left, made for the narrow opening between the eastern point of the Langberg near Twaai’s Kraal and the western end of the range of the detached kopjes.

Although all haste was made the progress of the column was necessarily slow owing to the number of well made “hak-doorn” hedges surrounding the rebels’ lands, through which passages had to be forced without tools and in the utmost silence, and at 2.40 a.m. fearing we should not have time before daylight to go through the “poort” and come up the mountain from the southward, I abandoned the original plan, turned half right, skirted Twaai’s Kraal, and made for the highest point of the mountain visible.

At 2.55 the head of the column commenced the ascent which was made in single file in the following order :—

O.C. and 2 Cape Police.
No. 1 Division Duke’s Mounted.
1 Stretcher Party.
Basuto Contingent.
Gordonia Mounted Volunteers.
2 Stretchers.
Water Carriers.
No. 2 Division Duke’s Mouuted.
No. 3 Division Duke’s Mounted.

It is difficult—in fact impossible—to describe the labour of ascending in the dark an extremely steep, pathless mountain, whose sides are covered with large loose boulders and thorn bush, and fearing lest we might be caught by daylight before reaching the top, at 4.10 a.m., I passed the older to the rear to “go as you please,” with the result that many of the Gordonia men and rear divisions of the Dukes pushed to the front and with a portion of No. 1 Division reached the summit of the mountain at 4.45 a.m.

At 4.50 a.m. five shots were heard below in the valley in the direction taken by the Northern column.

At 5.10 I sent on Lieutenant De Havilland with 25 men to occupy a nek on the mountain connecting Pudnhusche with Gamasep, and, nearly the whole of the column having arrived, at 5.25 a.m. I detailed Sub-Inspector MacGregor, Cape Police, to remain there, with 25 men to cover Twaai’s Kraal; which was immediately below us, and with over 100 men pushed on to carry out my orders and take up a position at the extreme west end of Twaai’s main kloof.

On passing the nek previously referred to, I relieved Lieutenant De Havilland’s party by 12 Basutos under Mr. McCarthy. This nek is at the head of the first kloof to the south after passing Twaai’s Kraal and although very deep is quite dry.

Progress was very slow owing to the krantzes and enormous boulders which had to be got over, but at 6.20 we reached the second kloof, and were immediately fired on by a party of the enemy from a bushy kopje a little below us. The fire was at once returned at a range of about 500 yards, and four or five of the enemy having been killed, they retired. Seeing water below, I sent Lieutenant De Haviland with 16 men to hold a position on the ridge covering the water.

At this time the main column had commenced the attack on the hills at the mouth of Twaai’s and Luka Jantje’s Kloof, and as I could see all the natives driving their herds, flocks and horses in great haste up the former, I redoubled my efforts to arrive at the head of the kloof, which appeared to be no more than 2 miles distant, in time to cut them off.

All this time men were dropping out from sheer exhaustion, caused principally by the want of water, and after 8 a.m. it was impossible to procred more than a few hundred yards without giving the men a rest.

On leaving Lieutenant de Havilland I had to make a detour of about 3 miles to get round the head of the kloof, aud when we appeared to be within a mile of our objective point, I found the way barred by another kloof, which necessitated a further round of about 5 miles over very rough ground, and we only arrived at the allotted position, at the head of the main kloof at 10.15 a.m.

At this time the men with me had thinned down to 26, and having built a rough schanz, I sent a party of volunteers down the kloof to bring up water, for the want of which men were beginning to suffer very severely in the hot sun.

Up to this time, owing to having to work round the heads of the kloofs, I had been unable to see anything of the movements of the column, but had heard heavy tiring, which, gradually slackening, ceased at about noon, aud I could then make out the column laagered about one mile from the entrance to the kloof.

Unfortunately, the native carrying the heliograph dropped behind before daylight, and, although I tried continuously, we were unable to communicate our whereabouts to the Main Column with flags.

At noon our western piquet was fired on by a small party of rebels, but the piquet, having been reinforced, the enemy were driven off, two being killed and one taken prisoner.

During the afternoon a number of men who had dropped out during the morning straggled into camp, and by 4 p.m. my party had increased to 64, viz :—23 Duke’s Mounted, 19 Gordonia Volunteers, 20 Basutos, 2 Medical Staff Corps, Sergeant Bruce, C.P., and Rev, King.

Having selected the best possible position a rough stone fort was built with 3- feet walls, and stone breastworks were thrown up on 4 sides at 50 yards distance as cover for the piquets.

At 4.15 a party was sent out and succeeded in cutting off 8 oxen, which were being driven over the mountain, westwards, and one was at once killed for food, and another party volunteered to go down the kloof for more water.

At 4.45 the native with the helio arrived; a light was at once got on the main column and immediately answered.

I reported my position to you, and stated that I could not concentrate the column in any position before 10 a.m. next day. In reply I received a message that orders would be sent me in the morning.

At 5.15, as the night piquets were being posted, they were fired on by a body of the enemy who had crept up on our right to within 100 yards of the fort. The western piquet had to fall back, and firing became very heavy on our left and rear and continued for about 15 minutes, when I took a party and cleared the ridge on our left, 80 yards away, which although a little lower afforded the enemy excellent cover amongst large masses of rock.

The enemy retired down a hollow, but resumed a dropping fire from a ridge 300 yards away, which they kept up till dark. Owing to the darkness and rocks it was impossible to say if the enemy suffered much or any damage.

At this time it was reported that a considerable body of the enemy were working up the kloof to our right, with the evident intention not only of preventing us again getting at the water, but, by occupying the higher hills on our rear, of cutting off our retreat.

Under these circumstances I had no other sound alternative but to retire during the night, and picking up the rest of the column endeavour to get it sufficiently far east by daylight as to enable you to assist in covering its retreat.

Accordingly, at 7.5 p.m. we left the fort, and keeping on the ridges made for the highest point on the Langberg above Puduhusche, and moving continuously over most trying rocky country reached it at 1.20 a m., the meu being too exhausted to build a schanz. I let them lie down behind rocks till 4 a.m. when we stood to arms.

At 4.55 a.m. the piquet in front fired on a party of natives who were creeping up; there was not sufficient light to see the party clearly, and I regret to say one woman was shot and 5 others captured, whilst the men with them escaped amongst the rocks.

At 5.15 I despatched parties down to the North and East to bring in Lieut. De Havilland’s detachment and to look for stragglers. Shortly after Captain Hickson-Mahony signalled by flags from a peak about one mile to eastwards, that he was there with Sub-Inspector McGregor’s detachment and others, 60 in all, suffering much from want of water, and asking for orders.

At 5.35 heliographic communication was established with the main column, and having reported the reasons for having changed my position during the night, I received orders from you to fall back on the laager as quickly as possible by the safest way. I signalled to Captain Hickson- Mahony to move down and at once proceeded to make my way there also.

Small parties of the enemy now appeared on my rear and right, and firing between them and the Rear Guard was almost continuous, until we reached the rendezvous two hours later. During the skirmishing that took place at this time I regret to report that Thomas, one of the best of the Cape Police Basutos, was shot dead at close quarters. Several of the enemy 4 were also killed at the same place.

At 9 a.m., all detached parties having come in, the Column was all present, with the exception of Lieutenant De Havilland and Private Barry, Duke’s Mounted, who were reported to have descended earlier in search of water for their party, and to have been cut off.

I found it was impossible to descend the way we had come up, the men being much too weak to go down such a precipitous place; besides, at this time, I noticed a number of the enemy moving through Twaai’s Kraal, and taking up position amongst the rocks in the hill to our right, close under which we had passed on our way up.

At 9.30 a.m. I signalled to you, via Gamaluse Kopje, that I was going to move down the ridge on our left front and through Twaai’s Kraal, and asking that, as enemy were pressing our rear, and in possession of hill to the right, and men being utterly exhausted, that water, a gun, and strong escort be sent to meet us. We then commenced the descent, which was extremely slow, owing to several men fainting from exhaustion, and the necessity of continually halting to cover the retirement of the Rear Guard. At 1130 a.m., when within about 400 feet from the foot of the mountain, I observed a number of the enemy running towards us from the kopje between Twaai’s and Luka’s Kloofs, with the evident intention of getting on the high ridge commanding our left. Six volleys were fired at 1,200 yards at them by the Advance Guard and Gordonia men, and three of the enemy were observed to fall, whereupon the remainder fell back on the kopje.

By this time Ihe D.E.O.V. Rifles and a Maxim gun sent out by you to meet us had reached the eastern part of Twaai’s Kraal, and the enemy gave us no further trouble.

At 12.20 p.m., having reached the foot of the mountain, I formed a square and moved through Twaai’s Kraal, which was completely destroyed, and shortly after we came up with the D.E.O.V.R., 1st City, Medical Staff, and Gordonia Yolunteers, who had been sent out to meet us. At 1.45 p.m. I arrived at the laager and found Lieutenant De Havilland and Private Barry had arrived a few hours previously, the former slightly wounded.

With the exception of the 64 men with me, who had a little water on the afternoon of the 6th instant, the remainder of the Column had been without water for over 30 hours, the steepness of the ascent having caused all the water-carriers to spill the contents of their bags.

I would point out that operations on the Langberg can only be conducted in the face of almost insuperable difficulties, for apart from the impossibility of obtaining water, the fatigue caused by clambering over loose sharp rocks, the splendid cover afforded by the large boulders and long grass, places the party that has to take the initiative and keep moving, at a tremendous disadvantage, no matter whether the advance be up or down hill; of level ground there is none, and above all it would be physically impossible to carry away wounded men.

The behaviour and steadiness of all ranks, under peculiarly trying circumstances, was everything that could be desired, the Gordonia Volunteers submitting to discipline, to which they are probably unaccustomed, most cheerfully; and I cannot close the Report without mentioning the behaviour of Privates Miller and Morris of the Medical Staff Corps, who struggled on to the farthest point reached by me, carrying a stretcher and weighed down with medical haversacks.

The following ammunition was expended:—

Duke’s Mounted - 1054 rounds.
Basutos - 902 rounds.
Gordonia (about) - 400 rounds

and at least 20 of the enemy are known to have been killed.

The prisoners I handed over to Mr. Bell.

I have, &c.,
(Sgd.) F. JOHNSON,
Capt. S.O., B.F.F.

[C]

Vryburg Mounted Volunteers,
Camp Ryan’s,
9th April, 1897.

Sir,—I have the honour to report for your information as follows:—

The Vryburg Mounted Volunteers under my command, consisting of 138 Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and men, together with the Medical Staff, left Bisliopswood, Monday evening the 6th, to proceed in a W.N.W. direction to the northern point of the Langberg, Magamasimyani. The whole of the march was made through the veldt, the country presenting no obstacles, the Column moving at the rate of fully four miles per hour. At 10 o’clock we halted about four miles from Magamasimyani and resumed our march at 3 o’clook, arriving at the stad Magamasimyani just at sunrise; no natives were seen, only some cattle, about 200 head, and one horse were grazing about the huts at the entrance of the ravine. The huts wete examined and found empty; while the cattle were being collected, the huts were burnt. The Column then proceeded to Gamahole as it was more accessible than Gamasimayani, the ravine being entirely clear of bush, but unfortunately, owing to the severe drought the country experienced the last years, there was no water to be found. After an hour's rest I proceeded with 30 men further south to Diekaking. Here also we found the huts deserted and not a sign of a native; water was obtained at 12 o’clock for about 50 horses at the very top of the ravine, so we off-saddled for an hour. On our return some natives were seen in the mountain when we were just opposite them, in fact we had almost gone past.

As soon as we got off our horses they opened fire and we returned their fire: it is impossible to estimate either what numbers there were or how many were killed. I did not pursue them up the mountain, as I was anxious to join the column at Gamahole, not knowing what might have happened there.

The huts in this vicinity were likewise destroyed; on reaching the column I found that they had also been attacked from the northern side of the mountain. The following is an account of what happened during my absence from Gamahole until my return. About midday some 40 Kaffirs suddenly appeared in extended order on the top of the hill at the left end of the range, and immediately commenced firing into where the troops were off-saddled. The men under command of Captains Beaumont and O’Donoghue immediately returned the fire and retired into a sluit from where the firing was kept up at the rebels. Captain Beaumont with a few men proceeded to where the horses were grazing and succeeded in killing four of the enemy who had got within 100 yards of the horses, the others, who were making for the horses, then retired up the hill; in the meantime Captain O’Donoghue with Sergeant Blauw advanced across the open under fire and gained the bottom of the mountain where they were afterwards followed by five men, and on getting half way up the mountain they opened fire on the natives, who retired, then they looked around, and on reaching the top of the mountain, the rebels retired and advanced several times, but after losing about 12 men they disappeared and were not seen again. On the return down the mountain two rebels who were hiding amongst the stones were also despatched. I am glad to report there were no casualties on our side. The whole column then moved back to find water at Gamasimayani, here we succeeded in finding some water, but also an insufficient supply, and only after going about 100 yards up into the ravine, here we found a strong evidence of rinderpest, dead cattle lying all about the water-course. In consequence of this and the late hour I did not bring any cattle along, only the one horse above mentioned.

Any further information you may require I shall be happy to furnish.

I have, &c.,
(Sgd.) J. WESSELS, Commandant.
The Officer Commanding
Bechuanaland Field Force,
Ryan’s Camp.