12 



Beresford's brigade made an attempt to land ; but on ap- 

 proaching the shore, the sea was found to break with such 

 violence, that it was thought prudent to desist. As that 

 part of the coast was known to be subject to a heavy surge, 

 and the situation of the fleet was such as forbade any unne- 

 cessary delays, the Diomede, with the transports carrying the 

 38th regiment and General Beresford, was despatched to 

 Saldanha Bay, and the whole fleet would have followed next 

 day, had not the Highland brigade been fortunate enough to 

 effect a landing about six miles farther to the Southward, in 

 Sospiras Bay. The enemy's riflemen appeared lurking 

 among the bushes, and showed a disposition to annoy us; 

 but they were speedily dislodged by a few shots from the gun 

 brigs that covered our approach. The only serious accident 

 that occurred was the loss of one of our boats, having on 

 board about forty men of the 93d regiment, which was over- 

 set on a bank of shore-weed, and every soul lost. 



" The 7th of January was employed in disembarking the 

 remainder of the troops and the field artillery. Five hundred 

 volunteers from the ships of war and Indiamen were also 

 landed, for the purpose of dragging the guns, a service which 

 they performed with their accustomed enthusiasm. At four 

 o'clock, on the morning of the 8th, we moved from the sand 

 hills along the road that leads over the shoulder of the Blue- 

 berg. When we arrived on the crest of the hill, we per- 

 ceived the enemy drawn up on the other side. Our disposi- 

 tion was soon made. We were formed in echellons of bri- 

 gades ; the left, or Highland brigade, being about two hun- 

 dred yards in advance of the other. In this relative position 

 we advanced, sometimes in line, at others in file from the 

 heads of companies, according to the nature of the ground. 

 We no sooner arrived within range of the enemy's artillery, 

 than he opened his fire on us from twenty field-pieces, which 

 were advanced considerably in front of his line.* The 



* Capt. Carmichael's account of this action is that of a soldier : a peaceful 

 missionary, the Rev. Henry Martyn, who witnessed it from the fleet, thus 

 notices it in his interesting Journal: — 



