Harry Smith's Last Throw-The Eight Frontier War 1850-1853

Harry Smith's Last Throw- The Eight Frontier War 1850-1853, by Keith Smith with a Foreword by Ian Knight.

This important new book tells the harrowing story of the Eight Frontier War against the Xhosa people of the Eastern Cape, often from the viewpoint of those actually doing the fighting. It was the longest of those wars and it was to be followed by the Ninth, and last, in 1877-1878. By that time there remained little of the Xhosa lands which they once called their own, the extent of which had been eroded after almost every war.

This desperate struggle for land invoked an increasingly brutal style of warfare. The Xhosa had previously fought with some chivalry, refusing to make war on women and children, just as they had in their own interncine wars. The Eight War changed all that and vicious killings were perpetrated by both sides- black and white.

The 'Harry Smith' of the title is the famous 19th century British soldier, SirHenry george Wakelyn Smith, who served at the Cape of Good Hope on two occasions. The first was inn the years 1828-1835, during which he was second in command to Sir Benjamin D'Urban. This ended with Smith departing the Cape under a cloud after his involvement in the murder of the Xhosa paramount chief Hintsa. His second period of service, between 1847 and 1853, was as Sir Harry Smith, baronet, the hero of Aliwal. His appointment then was as Governor and High Commissioner. Although Smith claimed to have ended the Seventh Frontier War in 1847, shortly after hsi arrival, his greater claim to fame was his management of the Eight War, which he himself did much to foster.

Hardback with unclipped dustcover-Foreward by Ian Knight/ xxv includes Genealogical Tables. 310 pages text with supporting maps and photographs. As New.