"The Battle of Graham's Town 22 April 1819" Topic

"April 22, 2019 is the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Graham's Town, then a small hamlet of probably no more than 30 simple buildings. In the major encounter of the Fifth Frontier War, a small British force defended itself against an army of the amaNdlambe clan and some minor allies, eighteen times its size. This was arguably one of the most decisive battles in South African history, along with Blaauwberg and Blood River/Ncome, as it altered the course of events and the political geography during the nineteenth century.

Two major factors impinge on any description and understanding of this battle: Firstly, the paucity of reliable source material, particularly primary sources; and, secondly, the considerable amount of writing (over 40 publications) which constitutes the secondary sources available. Much of the latter is contradictory, over-imaginative, or very close to fiction. This account of the battle has accordingly drawn only on primary or substantiated secondary sources. Strictly-speaking, there are only two primary sources on the battle itself, both written by the British commanding officer, Lt Col Thomas Willshire: viz. his 1819 despatch to the Governor, Lord Charles Somerset, and his 1846 article in the Graham's Town Journal, which are virtually identical. The much quoted 1876 article by C L Stretch is neither a primary source nor always reliable. Stretch relied on the hearsay of others, some of which was false information. He was neither present at the battle nor ever personally claimed he was, although he was in Graham's Town a few days later. This article accordingly places the greatest value on Willshire's account, backed-up by that of Major George Fraser in a letter to Col John Graham the day after the battle, a hybrid source. All quotations are from Willshire's 1846 article, p 2, unless stated otherwise…"
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A splendid action – a challenge to refight?

Glad you enjoyed it my friend!

I think it would be a very interesting wargame….

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