followed in quick
succession. A small patrol of military was cut off to a man. The greater
part of the Kaffir police deserted, many of them carrying off their arms
and accoutrements. Emboldened by success, the enemy in immense force
surrounded and attacked Fort Cox, where the governor was stationed with
an inconsiderable force. More than one unsuccessful attempt was made to
relieve Sir Harry; but his dauntless spirit was equal to the occasion.
At the head of 150 mounted riflemen, accompanied by Colonel Mackinnon,
he dashed out of the fort, and, through a heavy fire of the enemy, rode
to King William's Town--a distance of 12 m. Meantime, a new enemy
appeared. Some 900 of the Kat river Hottentots, who had in former wars
been firm allies of the British, threw in their lot with their
hereditary enemies--the Kaffirs. They were not without excuses. They
complained that while doing burgher duty in former wars--the Cape
Mounted Rifles consisted largely of Hottentot levies--they had not
received the same treatment as others serving in defence of the colony,
that they got no compensation for the losses they had sustained, and
that they were in various ways made to feel they were a wronged and
injured race. A secret combination was formed with the Kaffirs to take
up arms to sweep the Europeans away and establish a Hottentot republic.
Within a fortnight of the attack on Colonel Mackinnon the Kat river
Hottentots were also in arms. Their revolt was followed by that of the
Hottentots at other missionary stations; and part of the Hottentots of
the Cape Mounted Rifles followed their example, including the very men
who had escorted the governor from Fort Cox. But numbers of Hottentots
remained loyal and the Fingo Kaffirs likewise sided with the British.

After the confusion caused by the sudden outbreak had subsided, and
preparations had been made, Sir Harry Smith and his gallant force turned
the tide of war against the Kaffirs. The Amatola mountains were stormed;
and the paramount chief Kreli, who all along covertly assisted the
Gaikas, was severely punished. In April 1852 Sir Harry Smith was
recalled by Earl Grey, who accused him--unjustly, in the opinion of the
duke of Wellington--of a want of energy and judgment in conducting the
war, and he was succeeded by Lieutenant-General Cathcart. Kreli was
again attacked and reduced to submission. The Amatolas were finally
cleared of the Kaffirs, and small forts erected among them to prevent