Having accomplished my purpose, our line was formed with equal celerity and order; and the left wing, composed of the Highland brigade, was thrown forward, and advanced with the steadiest step, (accompanied by the seamen, field-pieces, and howitzer,) under a heavy fire of round shot, grape and musketry. Nothing could surpass or resist the determined bravery of the troops, headed by their gallant leader, Brigadier-General Ferguson, and the number of the enemy, who swarmed the plain, served only to augment their ardour and confirm their discipline. The enemy received our fire, and maintained his position obstinately; but in the moment of charging, the valour of British troops bore down all opposition, and forced him to a precipitate retreat.
“The first brigade, composed of the 24th, 59th, and 83d regiments, and commanded in the absence of Brigadier-General Beresford, by Lieutenant-Colonel Baird, was unavoidably precluded, by their situation, from any considerable participation in the triumph of the British arms, though the flank companies of the 24th had an opportunity of distinguishing themselves in dislodging a number of horse and riflemen from the heights on our right flank. This brilliant achievement however was clouded by the loss of Captain Foster, of the grenadiers, whose gallantry is best recorded in the bosoms of his brother soldiers, and the universal regret of the army.[1]
“It is utterly impossible to convey an adequate idea of the obstacles which opposed the advance, and retarded the success of our army; but it is my duty to state, that the nature of the country – a deep, heavy, and arid land, covered with shrubs, scarcely pervious to light bodies of infantry; and above all, the total privation of water under the effects of a burning sun, had nearly exhausted our gallant fellows in the moment of victory, and with the utmost difficulty were we able to reach the Reit Valley, where we took our position for the night. A considerable portion of the provisions and necessaries with which we started, had been lost during the action, and we occupied our ground under an apprehension that even the great exertions of Sir Home Popham and the navy could not relieve us from starvation.
“On every occasion where it has been found necessary to call for the co-operation of British seamen in land enterprises, their valour has been so conspicuous, and their spirit of labour and perseverance so unconquerable, that no tribute of my applause can add a lustre to their character; but I discharge a most agreeable portion of my duty in reporting that on- ↑ The enemy’s riflemen were all Hottentots, but very excellent soldiers. One of these men shot Captain Foster, and was afterwards in the British Hottentot corps. On the surrender of Cape Town, the grenadiers of the 24th regiment marched into the place with their arms reversed, as a mark of respect to the memory of their late gallant leader.
