78 
SPORT AND WAR. 
CHAP. XI. 
CHAPTER XI. 
THE PASSAGE OF THE FISH RIVER. 
During the early part of the Kafir War of 1846-7 
Port Peddie was besieged by the enemy, and it became 
necessary to send a column of troops with a convoy 
of supplies to its relief. This force consisted of Cape 
Mounted Riflemen, under General Somerset ; 7th 
Dragoon Guards, under Colonel Richardson; and detach¬ 
ments of Infantry, native Levies, Fingoes, &c. They 
marched from Graham’s Town, and halted the first 
night at Commetty’s Drift, on the Fish River. 
From Commetty’s Drift to Breakfast Vley the road 
wound up the bush-covered heights of the Fish River. 
The troops marched early, and were allowed to proceed 
for some distance unmolested. There was a large 
convoy of wagons, which extended for some miles 
along this narrow road in the bush, and as the head of 
the column commenced to ascend the steep hill towards 
the first 4 open ’ in the direction of Breakfast Vley, 
the advance-guard was attacked by a strong party of 
Kafirs, who held a ledge of rock in the bush, on the 
