Notes |
- http://www.eggsa.org/newspapers/index.php/grahamstown-journal/99-gj-1851-jan-mar
Grahamstown Journal 1851 - 1 - January to March
Saturday 29 March 1851
THE ALLEDGED DESERTION IN THE KAT RIVER
Cradock, 3rd February 1851
To the Editor: Sir, In justification of myself and my companions I beg of you to publish the enclosed affidavit
I have &c &c
Charles KIRKMAN
I, Charles KIRKMAN of Graham's Town, do solemnly and sincerely declare that I belonged to Walter CURRIE Esq's Burghers, and that on the 21st Feb last we left Post Retief, with a number of Mr. RYNEVELD's Burghers, to go to Kat River: that we went through the mountains, and in sight of Balfour we were compelled to go in single file, and so soon we got on level ground we were each engaged actively with the enemy. On the western side of Balfour, near the kraal and among the thorn bushes, John NILAND was shot through the head – he was about 6 yards from me. I got off my horse and knelt over him and said "Niland, where are you shot?" He was lying on his back, he made no answer to me, he merely gasped. Wm. NOBLE, who was next to NILAND, said "oh have YOU got it?" and then shot the Kaffir who had shot NILAND.
The commando mustered about 800 men, they were mixed, and Mr. RYNEVELD, a Commandant whom we knew, ordered and led us to scour a part of the bush. J.THORPE. EDWARDS, NOBLE and NOAH and some Dutch Burghers were in front; we saw a number of Kaffirs and Hottentots on the right calling out to cut us off – our party was about 100.
The body of the Bughers were engaged at Balfour, and when the cry got up the bulk of our hundred, led by RYNEVELD, fled back towards Balfour, so we were entirely cut off and could not return to our command. We then had no alternative, we rode on to Post Retief. I had 55 rounds of ball cartridge in my pouch when I started, I had only 7 when I arrived at the Post.
Next day THORPE, EDWARDS, NOBLE and NOAH joined the command. My horse was knocked up, I tried to buy a horse to join them, but could not, which the Commandant of the post can prove – I was compelled to remain there. When Thomas NILAND came to enquire about the death of his brother he lent me a horse. On my arrival here I learned that a scandalous report of the foregoing transaction had been published in the Graham's Town Journal, and I lost no time to contradict it.
All this, in the plain and ordinary meaning of the words, I declare to be the truth, and nothing but the truth.
Charles KIRKMAN
Declared and signed before me at Cradock this 4th Day of March 1851
W.T. GILFILLAN JP
Settlers killed in the Frontier Wars
John Niland Killed 22.2.1851 At Fort Armstrong
Mentions Thomas as a brother. [2]
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