Battle of Muizenberg

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Muizenberg
partof=


caption=
date=1795
place=South Africa
casus=
territory=British gain control of Cape Colony
result=British Victory
combatant1=flagicon|Netherlands|pri Dutch Republic
combatant2=
commander1=Johan Gerhard Cloete
commander2=James Henry Craig
strength1=300 Men
strength2=1,800 Men
casualties1=6 Killed
casualties2=35 Killed
notes=

The Battle of Muizenberg was a small but significant military engagement which took place near Muizenberg, South Africa in 1795; it led to the capture of the Cape Colony by Kingdom of Great Britain.

Background

In 1795 the Dutch East India Company controlled the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. They had been in possession of the area since 1652, over 140 years. The once-mighty company was now failing. Bankrupt, confused, beset by powerful nations competing for the same resources, the VOC had not long to live.

Great Britain sent a fleet of seven Royal Navy ships to the Cape under Vice-Admiral Elphinstone. Five were third-rate ships of the line: "Monarch" (74 guns), "Victorious" (74), "Arrogant" (74), "America" (64) and "Stately" (64); two were 16-gun sloops: "Echo" and "Rattlesnake". The fleet left England March 1, and in early June 1795, anchored in Simon's Bay. just east of the Cape. Elphinstone suggested to the Dutch governor that he place the Cape Colony under British protection - in effect, that he hand the colony over to Britain - which was refused. On June 14, 350 Royal Marines and 450 men of the 78th Highlanders occupied Simon's Town before the defenders could burn the town.

However, the Dutch still held the surrounding area, with a force of militia at Muizenberg. From there, they could harass the British forces with artillery fire. Accordingly, the British resolved to make an infantry assault on the militia position. In addition to the 800 infantry already landed under the command of Major-General Craig, 1,000 sailors were disembarked from the fleet. These were formed into two battalions of five hundred men each, commanded by Commander Temple Hardy, captain of "Echo", and Commander John William Spranger, captain of "Rattlesnake". This made a total strength of about 1,800 men. Carronades were mounted in the ships' launches, to serve as close artillery.

Engagement

At noon on 7th August 1795, the "America", "Stately", "Echo" and "Rattlesnake" set sail, drawing slowly along the coast towards Muizenberg, with the launches in attendance. They fired on two guard posts, forcing their abandonment; arriving at the main Dutch camp shortly afterwards, they began a highly effective barrage. Losses were light for the British - "America" lost a gun, with two men dead and four wounded, and the "Stately" took one injury - whilst the Dutch were forced to abandon the camp before the infantry, who had been following the ships, could even arrive.

The Dutch fell back to a nearby ridge, which they were driven from that evening by a force of the 78th, who took one injury. Reinforcements were brought up from Cape Town overnight, and on the 8th a counterattack with artillery support was made in an attempt to recapture the camp; however, after a brief skirmish in which the battalions of seamen held firm, the attack was repelled.

Following skirmishes on the 1st and 2nd of September, a final general attempt to recapture the camp was prepared by the Dutch for the 3rd, but at this point the British reinforcements arrived and the Dutch withdrew. A British advance on Cape Town, with the new reinforcements, began on the 14th; on the 16th, the colony capitulated.

Few men died during the campaign on either side. The British dead are well documented, the Dutch less so. Of the 35 British dead only 8 died of wounds received in action; the balance were deaths due to disease.

Long-term effects

The British assumed control of the Cape of Good Hope for the next seven years. The Cape was returned to the restored Dutch government (known as the Batavian Government) in 1804. In 1806 the British returned and after again defeating the Dutch at the Battle of Blaauwberg, stayed in control for 100 years.

English became the language of the Cape. This was Britain's second African colony, after Sierra Leone. Ownership of this territory proved crucial during the First and Second World Wars, when mastery of the Cape had significant strategic importance to the Allied war effort. In addition the Cape became the springboard for British colonial expansion into Africa. Certainly current-day Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi all owe their current form to the battle.

ee also

*Military history of South Africa

References

* [http://www.cabarfeidh.com/1778.htm The 78th Highlanders or Ross-Shire Buffs]
*"Naval History of Great Britain, Vol. I", [http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval_History/Vol_I/P_300.html p. 300] , [http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval_History/Vol_I/P_301.html p. 301] and [http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval_History/Vol_I/P_302.html p. 302]