Battle of Muizenberg

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

1 Background
2 Engagement
3 Long-term effects
4 See also
5 References

[edit] Background

In 1795 the Dutch East India Company controlled the southern tip of Africa. They had been in possession of the area since 1652, almost 150 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.

A fleet of seven Royal Navy ships - five third-rates, Monarch (74), Victorious (74), Arrogant (74), America (64) and Stately (64), with the 16-gun sloops Echo and Rattlesnake - under Vice-Admiral Elphinstone anchored in Simon's Bay at the Cape of Good Hope in June 1795, having left England on March 1st. Their commander suggested to the Dutch governor that he place the Cape Colony under the protection of the British monarch - in effect, that he hand the colony over to Britain - which was refused; Simon's Town was occupied on June 14th by a force of 350 Royal Marines and 450 men of the 78th Highlanders, before the defenders could burn the town.

However, the Dutch were still in possession of the surrounding area, and a force of militia had taken up positions at Muizenberg, from where they could harass the British forces with occasional cannonfire; accordingly, the British resolved to make an infantry assault on the militia positions. In addition to the force of infantry already landed under the command of Major-General Craig, a large force of sailors were disembarked from the fleet; these were formed into two battalions each of five hundred men, commanded by Temple Hardy of the Echo and John William Spranger of the Rattlesnake. With the Marines already on shore, this made a total strength of about 1800 men; the launches from the ships were equipped with carronades, to act as close artillery.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.