The Frontier War Journal of Major John Crealock 1878

A Narrative of the Ninth Frontier War by the Assistant Military Secretary to Lieutenant General Thesiger

Edited And Introduced By Chris Hummel Dr Hans Christoph Hummel studied at Rhodes University, and at Oxford, the Wilhelms University, Münster and the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. At the time of publication he was Senior Lecturer in the Department of History at Rhodes University. Lieutenant-Colonel J. North Crealock, C.B.

Major John North Crealock (1837-1895) fought in a number of colonial wars, including the Indian Mutiny and the Anglo-Zulu War. This volume is a detailed account of the warfare conducted against the Xhosa in the last phases of the frontier war of 1877-1878. Opinionated and inefficient, Crealock nevertheless gives a sober account of the military situation.

Chapter 5

RENEWED OFFENSIVE

Planning for an attack on 5 April, arrival of Transkei Mfengu, general lectures them, the eve of operations; ‘dinner’, a long uninteresting day, Transkei Mfengu waste their ammunition, a disappointing operation, rebels converging on and concentrating in the Ntaba ka Ndoda, new orders to surround this new rebel stronghold, Lonsdale — a legendary figure, Brabant and Transkei Mfengu dally, Transkei Mfengu repulsed, Captain Webster falls, British led troops go into the attack, failing light, mission unaccomplished, rebels slip past Mfengu patrols during the night, 24th regiment leaders also found wanting, an uncomfortable night in the field

April 3

Instructions for the attack on April 5 were sent to all commanders, and arrangements made for the disposal of the various troops after it was over. As the various corps were to be disbanded, a continuance of operations for a time was impossible. Riding down to Isidengi we met Mr Ayliff and his 1000 or 1200 Fingoes arriving, a wild looking crew — somewhat picturesque. They had a great opinion of themselves. The general inspected them later in the day in a hollow square and at Mr Ayliff’s request roundly (be]rated them. They looked surprised as they had been used to words of praise hitherto on very slender grounds. ‘Their duty to their Queen’ was a duty they had never heard of before evidently. That night after sunset the various corps moved from their camps to lay down in the positions whence they were to advance at daybreak the next morning.

April 4

It appears Lonsedale’s raid to the Intaba had resulted in our losing 1 killed and I wounded, and 8 of the rebels killed and 3 wounded. Our dinner party at Isidengi (where we moved on our way to Haine’s Mill for the attack) was small, the two A.D.C.’s having been permitted by the general to go with C[om]m[andan]t Streatfield’s Fingoes to get a taste of the Bush.

April 5

Left Isidengi at daylight riding down the Gwengwe valley round to Haine’s Mill. All the patrols seemed on the alert. It was as lovely a ride in the early morning as we had found it 3 weeks before in the evening. Our packhorses were to follow for there was no road for a wagon. As we meant to ride on to K[ing] W[illiam’s] Town after the day’s work was over, the packhorses were hardly necessary but I remembered of old, how thriftless the General always was as regarded (sic) his own comfort and I remembered how seldom we had been enabled to carry out any plan as to our own movements and it was lucky I did as we did not see our baggage again, and bad to live on what our packhorses carried for several days after. The day was a long, uninteresting one. We could not detect what was happening in the vast forest before us. Now and again a sharp burst of musketry made us hope the Caffres had been found and were standing (sic) [?surrendering.] Little did we know then that it was the Transkei Fingoes (and others too until changed by a better [unit]) [who] fir[ed] wild volleys before they came to a thick bit of bush so as to warn the Caffres, and again they never failed to fire off 100 rounds at every Bush Buck they saw. At 5.30 they began to emerge, firing volleys of valuable ammunition into the air! and singing the most magnificent war songs! No Caffres hardly had been found; the 1200 Transkei [Fingoes] claimed to have killed 8 Caffres with the loss of one of their own men. Streatfield’s [men] had killed 3, and had one man wounded; more had endeavoured to pass by the paths where the Europeans were waylaying. Now we know the ways of these Transkei Fingoes and the fastnesses of the Caffres, we know how easily a 1000 Caffres may have lain perdu.⁹’ Sandilli himself never left his hiding place, we believe, under the krantz now called after him.

Thus ended our big beat of the Buffalo Poort to our disappointment — but who comes here but an orderly with a despatch from Capt[ain] Warren R.E. commanding the Diamond Field[s] Horse who has been patrolling out in the Green River and Debe Nek direction. Seyolo⁹² had ‘gone out’ and in making for the Intaba across the open had been attacked and severely mauled by his [Warren’s] men;⁹³ 1200 men had made for the Intaba and had joined the fugitives from the Perie. Down sat the Mil[itary] Sec[retary] and wrote many a hasty order from the ready tongue of the General; no more ideas of rest and rations for anyone. Lonsdale on being applied to said his men could press an additional 3 or 4 hours march that evening. Wood was already on the move