Morosi's Mountain

Morosi's Mountain was the name given to a fortified mountain in the Drakensberg mountain range on the banks of the Orange River in southern Basutoland (modern Lesotho). It was the site of a siege during the Gun War, also known as the Basuto War. It acquired the name Morosi's Mountain after the Chief of a local tribe, who, after committing acts deemed to hostile to the Cape Colonial administration, fortified himself on the mountain. A Royal Engineer who was posted to the mountain after the siege began stated that: "Morosi's Mountain is an isolated kopje, rising steeply on the south bank of the Orange River, about 1 500 feet, and connected with the range on the south by a low narrow nek."[1]

For actions during the siege three Victoria Crosses were awarded to British troops: Peter Brown, Edmund Hartley and Robert Scott.[2]

References

  1. ^ Hulme, J. J.. "Morosi's Mountain 1879; A Royal Engineer's Report". Journal Vol8 No 3. South African Military History Society. http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol083jh.html. 
  2. ^ Tylden, Geoffrey (1936). "The capture of Morosi's Mountain, 1879". Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research 15 (208–15).