24 
1506.] 
there, which had been accurately pointed out 
by beacons laid down by the diligence and ac»: 
tivity of the boats ef his Majefty’s thip Dia- 
dem, anda tremendous furf, oppdfed™ the 
paflage of the troops. “The enemy had {cat- 
tered a party of tharp-fhooters over the ‘con- 
tiguous heights, and commanded the landing, 
but ‘the cafualties of this fervice arofe prin- 
cipally from natural difficulties, aud it is with 
the deepeft concern I have the honour to in-* 
form your lordfhip that we loft thirty-five 
rank and file of the 93d regiment by the over- 
fetting of one of the beats, notwithftanding 
every poffible effort to refcue thofe unfortu- 
nate men. The remainder of the troops 
could only be brought on fhore on the fucceed- 
ing day, when the:extraerdinary obftacles to 
allintercourfe with the fleet, which nothing . 
but the courage and perfeverance of Britith 
feamen could furmount, barely enabled us to 
obtain the indifpenfable fupplies of wacer and 
provifions for immediate fubfiitence, 
On the morning of the 8th, the army, 
confifting of the aqth, sgth, 71ft, 72d, 83d, 
and 93d regiments, about 4,000 ftrong, was 
formed into two brigades, with two howitzers, 
and fix light field-pieces, moved off towards 
the road- which leads. to Cape Town; and, 
having afcended the fummit of the Blaw- 
Berg, or Blue Mountains, and diflodged the 
enemy’s light troops, I diicovered their main™ 
body, drawn up in two lines, prepared to re- 
feive us, and even in motion to anticipate our 
approach. The enemy’s force apparently 
confifted of about 5,0c0o men, the greater 
proportion of which was cavalry, and 23 
pieces of cannon, yoked to horfes, the difpo- 
fition of which, and the nature of the ground 
occupied by the enemy’s troops, made it evi- - 
dent that they intended to refufe their right 
wing, and with their left attempt to turn our 
right flank ; but, to fruftrate their defigns, I 
formed the army into two columns, the fecond 
brigade under Brigadier-General Fergufon 
keeping the road, whilt’ the firft ftruck to 
the right, and took the defile of the moun- 
tains. Having accomplifhed my purpofe, our 
line was ‘formed with equal celerity and or- 
der; and the lett ‘wing, compofed of the 
Highland brigade, was thrawn-forward, and 
advanced with the fteadiett ftep, under a very 
heavy fire of round fhot, grape, and mul: 
ketry. Nothing could furpafs or refit the 
determined bravery of the troops, headed by 
their gallant Jeader, Brigadier-General Fer- 
$ufon, and the number? of the enemy, who 
Iwarmed -the plain, ferved- only to augment 
their ardour, and confirm their difcipline. 
‘he enemy received our fire, and maintained 
his pofition obftinately ; but in the moment 
ef charging, the valour of the British troops: 
bore down all oppofition, and forced him toa 
precipitate retreat. The firft» brigade, com- 
pofed of the aqth, seth, and 83d regiments,: 
and commanded, in the abfence of Brigadier- 
General Beresford, by Lieutenant Colonel 
Baird, was unavoidably precluded, by their 
&ituatier, frem any confiderable paiticipation 
° 
State of Public Affairs in March, 1808. 
: portunity 
“from the heights on our right flank. 
Q67 
in the triumph of the Britith arms, thoug's 
the fiank companies of the 24th had an ep- 
of -diftinguifhing themfelves, im 
: difledging a number of horfe and riflemen 
This , 
brilliant achievement, however, was clouded 
by the lofs of Captain Forfter, of the grena- 
diers, whofe gallantry is bet recorded in the 
bofoms of his brother foldiers, and the ynie 
verfal regret of the army. It is utterly, ime 
poflible to convey to your lordihip an adequate 
-idea of the obftacles which oppoied the ad- 
vance, and retarded the fuccefs of our army 5 
but it is my duty tv in‘orm your lord{hip, 
that the nature of the country—a deep, heavy, 
.and arid. land, covered with fhirubs, fcarcely 
pervious to light bodies of infantry; and, 
above all, the total privation of~water, uader 
the effeéts of a burning fun, had nearly ex- 
haufted our gallant fellows, in the moment 
of victory, and with the utmof difficulty 
were we able to reach the Reit Valley, where 
we took our pofition for the night. A confie 
- derable portion of the provifions and necefla- 
ries with which we ftarted, had been loft 
during the action, and we occupied our ground 
under an apprehenfion that even the great 
exertions of Sir Home Popharh and the 
navy could not relieve us from ftarvation. 
On every occafion, where it has beea found 
neceflary to call for the co-operation of Britith 
feamen in land enterprifes, their valour has 
been fo confpicugus,: and their fpirit of labour 
and perfeverance fo unconguerable, that no 
tribute of my applaufe canadd a luftre to their 
character; but I difcharge a mot agrecable 
portion of my duty, inaffuring your lordthipy 
that on the recent employment of their fer- 
vices they have maintained their reputation : 
and in this place it behoves me to inform yeur 
lordthip, that the uniform good conduct of 
-thofe zallant fellows, andthe zeal of Captain 
G. Byng, who commanded them, together 
with that of every fubordinate officer, have 
merited my fulleft approbation. ‘The lois of 
the enemy in this engagement is. reputed to 
exeeed 700 men in killed and wounded ; and 
it is with the moft fenfible-gratification that 
I contraft it with the inclofed return of our 
cafualties. Your lordfhip will perceive the 
name of ~Lieutenant-Colonel Grant among 
the wounded, but the hervig fpirie of. this 
officer was not fubdued by his misiortune, 
and he continued to lead his men to glory, as 
long as-an enemy was oppofed to his Majefty’s 
72d reziment. I have the cordial fatisfaction 
to add, that his wound, theugh veryfevere, 
is not pronounced dangerous; and I indnige 
the hope ant expectation of his early reco- 
very, and redumptionof command. ._ 
On the morning of the oth, recruited by 
fuch fupplies as the unwearied. diligence and 
eifoxts of the navy could throw on fhore, the 
“§gth regiment, however, being almoit com- 
pletely defitute. of food, we profecuted’ our 
march towards Cape-Town, and took up a 
pofitionfouth of Salt River, which we truft- 
“ed might preferve a free communication with 
tig 
