This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2007) |
Battle of Congella | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Great Trek | |||||||
Congella battlefield memorials | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Natalia Republic | British Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Andries Pretorius | Captain Thomas Charlton Smith | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
unknown | 134[1] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
unknown |
19 killed29 wounded 1 missing[2] |
The Battle of Congella, beginning 23 May 1842, was between the British of the Cape colony and Voortrekkers or the Boer forces of the Natalia Republic. The Republic of Natalia sought an independent port of entry, free from British control and thus sought to conquer the Port Natal trading settlement which had been settled by mostly British merchants in modern-day KwaZulu-Natal. The battle ended in a British victory due to the heroic ride of Dick King for reinforcements.