formidable force came upon the neighbourhood of Fort
Beaufort. The colonists stood to their defence, and a sharp action
ensued, in which three of the settlers were killed and many wounded. A
much larger number of the marauders were put _hors de combat_, but the
victory, on the whole, was with the Caffres, who brought away seven
horses, three hundred and thirty head of cattle, and seventeen thousand
sheep. At this juncture Colonel Somerset, of the 7th Dragoon Guards
(then quartered at the Cape, and mounted as light cavalry), displayed an
enterprise and courage which entitled him to much honour. He was wise in
council, energetic in business, indomitable in resolution, and heroic in
battle. To these qualities of a man's sterner nature, he added those
of a humane and amiable heart. The colonel was on the watch for an
opportunity to strike a severe blow against these freebooters, and on
the 8th of June opportunity was afforded. On the previous evening a
party of burghers and Fingoes scoured the Fish River bush, and performed
this duty efficiently, the Fingoes showing spirit, and generosity to the
enemy. Colonel Somerset formed a junction with this force on the morning
of the 8th. The colonel had under his command the Cape Mounted Rifles,
a detachment of the 7th Dragoon Guards, and two heavy guns. Early in
the day the united detachments encountered a very large force, under the
command of the notorious marauding chief, Stock. The Caffres, confident
in their numbers and in their recent successes, challenged the British
to come on, and, in fact, commenced the action, throwing out skirmishers
with something of the practice of regular troops; they afterwards made
some furious charges with the assigai. The measures taken by Colonel
Somerset were marked by his usual ability and promptitude, and the enemy
suffered a most sanguinary defeat. When Stock perceived that the day
was going against him, notwithstanding a protracted combat, he sent off
several mounted men express for Pato, another chief. The latter sent a
chief named Umhala, who advanced at the head of his tribe, but having no
conception that his friends had experienced defeat, and supposing that
he was only about to aid in taking a spoil, he was astonished to
find himself suddenly in front of the fine force of Colonel Somerset.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant-colonel Lindsay, who commanded in Fort Peddie,
perceiving that the firing of cannon and musketry was heavy and
protracted, sent