Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of abbreviations
- List of sources
- Terminology
- Preface
- Introduction
- PART ONE The incorporation of the Khoesan into the colonial body politic
- Chapter 1 From the earlier history
- Chapter 2 In the aftermath of Ordinance
- Chapter 3 The beginnings of the Kat River Settlement
- Chapter 4 The politics of vagrancy
- Chapter 5 Stoffels in London
- Chapter 6 The Interbellum
- Chapter 7 The War of the Axe
- Chapter 8 The business of life
- Chapter 9 The Kat River Settlement under strain
- Chapter 10 Madolo and his people
- Chapter 11 Freeman and the church
- PART TWO Colonial crisis and the establishment of a new order, 1848–1853
- PART THREE Post-rebellion politics
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
Chapter 7 - The War of the Axe
from PART ONE - The incorporation of the Khoesan into the colonial body politic
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 April 2018
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of abbreviations
- List of sources
- Terminology
- Preface
- Introduction
- PART ONE The incorporation of the Khoesan into the colonial body politic
- Chapter 1 From the earlier history
- Chapter 2 In the aftermath of Ordinance
- Chapter 3 The beginnings of the Kat River Settlement
- Chapter 4 The politics of vagrancy
- Chapter 5 Stoffels in London
- Chapter 6 The Interbellum
- Chapter 7 The War of the Axe
- Chapter 8 The business of life
- Chapter 9 The Kat River Settlement under strain
- Chapter 10 Madolo and his people
- Chapter 11 Freeman and the church
- PART TWO Colonial crisis and the establishment of a new order, 1848–1853
- PART THREE Post-rebellion politics
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
These two documents show that the Khoekhoe were concerned to maintain their autonomy in military matters. In general, the light cavalry of the Kat River militia and of the burgher (citizen) forces was seen as the most effective soldiery on the Cape's eastern frontier. Many of the men in these forces had previously served in the Cape Corps or its successor, the Cape Mounted Rifles, and a number, including all the signatories of Document 34, had been non-commissioned officers in those forces. In the war of 1835, they had always been led by their own field commandant (generally Commandant Christiaan Groepe) and field cornets. There can be no doubt that they resented being placed under regular British officers, who were less experienced in the ways of frontier warfare, and who probably treated the Khoekhoe under their command with a degree of racist disdain.
Document 34: Field cornets as leaders of Khoekhoe forces
Ludovick Peffer, Andries Pretorius, David Jantjie, Cobus Fourie, Fieldcornets, to Colonel William Sutton, 18 May 1846
Eland's river Post
Sir,
Your having kindly allowed us respectfully to represent to His Excellency through yourself our wishes as to the way in which we may be allowed to serve Her Majesty during the present war, we humbly beg leave to state as follows:
1st That we are anxious to serve the government cheerfully and to the utmost of our power as burghers in the same manner as the Boers who serve under Sir Stockenström.
2nd That we do not wish for pay for doing as good subjects, but trust that the government will be mercifully pleased to give food to all who are now or may hereafter become destitute in consequence of the war being prolonged, as also some sort of clothing to those who are naked or nearly so and have not the means of purchasing it
Should it be in His Excellency's power to grant us any indulgence in any way he may think proper as a reward for any service we may be fortunate enough to perform, it will be thankfully received when the war is concluded.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- These Oppressions Won't CeaseAn Anthology of the Political Thought of the Cape Khoesan, 1777–1879, pp. 85 - 88Publisher: Wits University PressPrint publication year: 2017