Battle of Grahamstown

The Battle of Grahamstown took place on 22 April 1819, during the Fifth Xhosa War (1818-1819), at the frontier settlement of Grahamstown in what is now the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The confrontation involved the defence of the town by the British garrison, aided by a group of Khoekhoe marksmen, from an attack by a large force of attacking Xhosa warriors.[1]

Battle of Grahamstown
Part of the Fifth Xhosa War

This painting depicts the nine Xhosa Wars between the Xhosa and European settlers (1779-1)
Date22 April 1819
Location
Makhanda, Eastern Cape, South Africa
33°18′36″S 26°31′36″E
Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom British Empire Xhosa Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Willshire

Nxele

Mdushane ka Ndlambe
Strength
Approx. 350 British Army troops plus 130 KhoiKhoi 6,000+
Casualties and losses
3 British killed c.1000 Xhosa killed

Background

When a British-led force commanded by Colonel Thomas Brereton seized 23,000 head of cattle from the AmaNdlambe, Makhanda, a Xhosa prophet, urged all the Xhosa to unite to try to drive British forces out of Xhosaland once and for all. Makhanda advised Ndlambe that the gods would be on their side if they chose to attack the British garrison in the settlement of Grahamstown, and promised that the British "bullets would turn to water".

Battle

On 22 April 1819, a force of about 6,000 men (some sources say 10,000), under the command of Dushane, Ndlambe's warrior son, and led by Makhanda, launched a daylight attack against Grahamstown. They were accompanied by women and children, prepared to occupy Grahamstown after the battle.

The Xhosa had warned Colonel Willshire, the commanding officer, of their planned attack on the settlement.[2]

During the course of the battle, the British were running low on ammunition. The Xhosas, however, were unable to overcome superior British firepower with their tactics, against the garrison of some 350 men. A Khoekhoe group, led by Jan Boesak, helped the garrison to repulse Mahkanda, who suffered the loss of 1,000 Xhosa.

Aftermath

The war continued for several months thereafter, where the Xhosa's suffered heavy losses. Makhanda was highly sought after and pursued by the British forces who they saw as being the leading protagonist in causing the war. Makhanda later surrendered, under the belief it would bring an immediate end to the conflict, and was taken captive.

The battle site continues to be called "Egazini" ("Place of Blood"), and a monument was erected there for the fallen Xhosa in 2001.[lower-alpha 1]

Notes
  1. As of 2016, the Egazini monument has been vandalised and is in a bad state[3]

References
  1. "The fifth Frontier War: Sangoma Makana attacks Grahamstown under the patronage of Xhosa Chief Ndlambe, and is defeated". South African History Online. Archived from the original on 24 May 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  2. Couzens, Tim (2004). Battles of South Africa. New Africa Books. pp. 71–. ISBN 978-0-86486-621-9.
  3. Are heritage sites under threat in Makana? on YouTube
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