NAM.1971-02-33-172-1

The Capture of Fort Armstrong, Kaffir Land - February 22nd 1851 by the Royal Artillery the Cape Mounted Rifles, the Fort Beaufort Burghers and the Fingo Corps, under the command of Major General H Somerset, CB. Coloured aquatint by J Harris, after Henry Martens (d 1860), after a sketch by Capt George Carey (1822-1872), Cape Mounted Riflemen. No 3 in the series 'Kaffir Wars', published by R Ackerman, 1852. Carey was commissioned into the Cape Mounted Riflemen as an ensign in 1845. According to the regimental pay lists he was on active service 'In the Field' from December 1850 to December 1852, when he went on leave. Fort Armstrong was occupied by Khoikhoi ('Hottentots') of the Kat River region when they joined the Xhosa in rebellion in 1850. Maj Gen Henry Somerset attacked on 22 Feb 1851 with a force of Cape mounted Riflemen, European Volunteers and Mfengu allies. Somerset stormed the fort, killing more than 90 Khoikhoi and taking 160 prisoners, most of whom were emlisted by the British and served throughout the remainder of the War.

Fort Armstrong, Siege of, 1851 (8th Cape Frontier War 1850-1853)