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when the artillery went to the front and began to send in round shot and 
shrapnel with tremendous effect: they were supported by two regiments of 
cavalry and we brought up the rear. * * * The enemy could not 
stand our spherical cases, or, as our soldiers pronounced the word spiritual 
cases, and to see the panic they created, it was not a bad name for them. 
Our cavalry and artillery followed them up for twelve miles,” &c. 
Letter, “ Morning Chronicle,” April 26, 1849. “ In this battle 25,000 
British defeated 60,000 Sikhs. Our loss was only 5 officers, 52 rank and 
file killed, and 23 officers, and 682 rank and file wounded. 
Shrapnel at the Cape again. 
The Kaffir war. Colonel Mackinnon, C.B. in reporting the relief of Ports 
Cox and White, states, “King William's Tower, Eeb. 1, 1851. * * * 
Shortly afterwards large bodies of the enemy appeared on our left, evidently 
bent on contesting our march across the Debe Neck. Two shells directed 
with great precision by Major Wilmot of the Koyal Artillery,* (from one 6-pr. 
gun) were thrown into the midst of a large group and did great execution. 
* * * Whilst the troops were at the post (Port Cox) a large body 
of Kaffirs appeared upon the brow of the hill which overlooked Keiskamma, 
apparently in the expectation that we intended proceeding to that post. Two 
shells were again accurately directed by Major Wilmot, and caused them 
considerable loss,” &c. 
Major Kowley, K.A. writes, “ On the day on which Macomas Den was 
captured I kept up a sharp fire of shrapnels into the Den under cover of 
which the infantry advanced, and stormed the position, which was very strong, 
with little loss. The late Sir William Eyre who commanded attributed this 
to the fire of the guns, which had proved very effective as numbers were 
found killed.” 
Again, “ On one occasion, towards the close of a skirmish in which the 
Bifle Brigade were engaged, and in which Sir George Buller commanded, 
I remember, the Caffres (thinking that they were out of range) getting 
into clumps, I laid a gun (6-pr.) myself, at about 1900 yards with a shrapnel 
shell, it burst close to the group, and we saw that some of them were down; 
they immediately fled, &c. The shrapnel shells were common old pattern 
ones, into which the bursting charge had to be shaken amongst the bullets.” 
On the 2nd June, 1852. The Select Committee report that they see no 
objection to the spherical case shot being named Shrapnel . 
Some notices of the application of shrapnel at the siege of Sebastopol,— 
“4th November, 1854. A large working party of the enemy shewed 
themselves at a new work in front of the Tower. They were driven away 
by 24-pr shrapnel shells fired from the right attack. 
“ 12th February. Captain Campbell, K.A., this day on duty in the right 
attack, seeing a large working party of the Russians under the Malakoff, 
dispersed them with two 24-pr. shrapnel shells; the enemy replied with 
53 rounds. 
“ 21st March. The 9-prs. opened on the rifle pits, at about 900 yards 
range, making very excellent practice with round shot and spherical case. 
* Brother of Colonel F. Eardley-Wilmot, E.A., Commandant, Shoeburyness. 
