historic event on
the cape west coast
THE BATTLE OF BLAAUWBERG - JANUARY 1806
The following is our understanding of the course of events that led up to the battle, and the battle itself, which resulted in the second British occupation of the Cape.Feb 1, 1793:
Britain declares war on France
March 27, 1802:
Peace agreement was signed at Amiens, France, by Britain, France, Spain, and the Batavian Republic (The Netherlands). By the treaty, France and its allies recovered most of their colonies. Among others, Britain gave up the Cape Colony to the Batavian Republic.
May 20, 1803:
Napoleon declares war on Britain.
March 1805:
French Admiral Villeneuve, on the orders of Napoleon, slipped out of Toulon and set sail for the West Indies. Lord Nelson was given the order to find the Frenchman and destroy him. Whilst Nelson was chasing Villeneuve, another fleet of 66 ships under the command of Admiral Sir Home Popham carrying an army of 7,000 men under the command of Lieutenant General Sir David Baird sailed for the Cape. Baird's orders were simple and quite clear: He was to take the Cape and on its capitulation assume office of Lieutenant Governor – "....until His Majesties pleasure be known"
December 25, 1805:
Lieutenant General J W Janssens, Dutch Governor of the Cape, had received news of the approaching British fleet from an American ship calling in at Table Bay for fresh provisions.
January 1, 1806:
A Proclamation was issued for a general call up of all able bodied men to defend the Cape.
January 4, 1806:
The British fleet was sighted. Janssens had begun preparations for the defence of the Cape. He was able to rally about 2 000 men, amongst which were:
Batavian Marines and an assortment of citizen (burgher) cavalry, gunners and dragoons
5th Waldeck Battalion (German and Hungarian mercenaries)
French sailors and marines from 2 French vessels anchored in Table Bay
Hottentot Regiment (KhoiSan)
Javanese Artillery (nicknamed the Mardykers)
Slaves from Angola and Mozambique
January 5 1806:
Janssens moved his troops northwards to the V. O. C. outpost Rietvlei (Rietvallei). Baird sent two ships with troops under the command of General Beresford to Saldanha with orders to seize the government post there.
January 6, 1806:
Janssens made an attempt to seize the strategic Blaauwberg Heights overlooking Losperds Bay (now Melkbosstrand). When the Highland Brigade under General Ferguson did land at Losperds Bay, they were met with token resistance from a couple of Dutch snipers. One man was shot through the head and three others were wounded. The heaviest casualties occurred when a boatload of heavily armed Highlanders capsized in the raging surf (36 men drowned).
January 7, 1806:
The remainder of the British troops, armaments, horses and necessary provisions were landed at Losperds Bay and preparations made for the advance to Cape Town . Janssens moved his troops out of their camp at Rietvlei and by afternoon had taken up position at Bloubergsvlei farm on the plains east of Blouberg Hill. His forces bestraddled the wagon trail to Cape Town which the advancing British troops would have to use. British warships started bombardment of the camp at Rietvlei not knowing that the enemy had already moved out.
January 8 1806:
Units of the British forces clambered up to the Blaauwberg, dragging their cannon behind them. From their position, they saw the Dutch troops lined up in battle formation on the plain below. The battle was fast and furious, with both sides giving good account of themselves. Battle action was apparently begun by grenadiers of the 24th regiment. The cannon began firing when the armies were 1800 paces apart. Owing to a misunderstanding, firing orders were given before the enemy was within reach. To overcome this error, a fixed bayonet charge was ordered. The mounted burghers, the French sailors and Malay gunners stood their ground giving fire with muskets and artillery. When the conscripted Mardykers broke, panic set in and soon Janssens' men were in full retreat. The battle was over. At Rietvlei, Janssens managed to rally his men. Then, joined by men of his Simon's Town command, he marched into the Hottentots Holland mountains, prepared to carry out protracted guerrilla warfare.
January 9, 1806:
Baird marched on Cape Town . When they reached Salt River, they were met by a flag of truce carried on behalf of the acting Commandant of Cape Town, Colonel von Prophalov. Von Prophalov had realised that his position was hopeless and accepted Baird's surrender conditions.
January 10, 1806:
The provisional Articles of Capitulation were signed at Papendorp, (now Woodstock). The Treaty tree in Spring Street just off Albert Road in Woodstock is now preserved as a national monument.
January 18, 1806:
Janssens surrenders under favourable terms for his troops, the citizens of the Cape and himself, with all existing rights and privileges being retained.
March 5, 1806
General Janssens with 573 officers and men, together with the French marines who had fought with him, left Table Bay in 7 ships bound for Holland.
British losses in the battle were 51 dead and 180 wounded and Dutch losses were 337 (killed, wounded, and deserted).
