Battle of Berea

Part of the Kaffir Wars

Date	20-21 December 1852
Location	Berea, Basutoland 29°19′0″S 27°36′0″E / 29.31667°S 27.60000°E / -29.31667; 27.60000Coordinates: 29°19′0″S 27°36′0″E / 29.31667°S 27.60000°E / -29.31667; 27.60000
Result	Inconclusive

Belligerents

British Empire

Sotho people

Commanders and leaders

Major-General Sir George Cathcart

King Moshoeshoe I

Strength

Approx. 1000 British Army troops

Unknown

Casualties and losses

38 British killed

c.50 Sotho killed

The Battle of Berea took place on 20 December 1852 during the Kaffir Wars in what was then Basutoland (now Lesotho). The confrontation was between an ill-planned English punitive expedition led by Major-General Sir George Cathcart and the native forces of the Sotho chief Moshoeshoe and resulted in the English forces being repulsed.

Following the defeat of an ill-armed and inadequate punitive force at Viervoet the previous year by the Sotho tribe of Basutoland under their leader Moshoeshoe, the British Major-General Cathcart gathered together at Platberg in the Free State an overpowering force of over 2,000 men. The force consisted of infantry detachments of the 2nd (The Queen's Royal) Regiment of Foot, the 43rd (Monmouthshire) Regiment of Foot, the 73rd (Highland) Regiment of Foot Regiment, the 74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot and the 1st Battalion, The Rifle Brigade supported by cavalry and artillery.

Believing that such a force would totally overawe the Sotho tribe, Cathcart demanded reprisals of 10,000 cattle and 1000 horses within 3 days, threatening to march into Moshoeshoe's heartland and collect any unpaid debt by force. Only 3000 cattle were delivered in the time allowed and Cathcart therefore organised the threatened invasion. He opted to take only half his available strength, about 1000 men, leaving behind the 2nd Foot, most of the 74th Foot, some of his cavalry and his smaller artillery. No spare ammunition for the infantry would be taken.

Moshoeshoe had established his headquarters on the steep-sided Berea plateau at Thaba Bosiu in the Phutiastana valley. Cathcart's tactics were to advance on Thaba Bosiu in three widely separated columns and link up at midday in front of the stronghold. Any available cattle were to be rounded up and driven back to base.

The left column of 233 cavalry under Lieutenant-Colonel G.T.C. Napier of the Cape Mounted Rifles, made up of elements of the 12th Royal Lancers and the Cape Mounted Rifles, were to circumnavigate the Berea plateau to the east. The main column under Sir William Eyre were to cross the reamohetse sello′s plateau and the right column under Cathcart would skirt the plateau to the west.

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Wikipedia