Battle of Boomplaats

Battle of Boomplaats
Battle of Boomplaats
Date 29 August 1848 Location near the Orange River Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Boers
Commanders and leaders
Sir Harry Smith	Andries Pretorius
Strength
1200	300-500
Casualties and losses
22	7

The Battle of Boomplaas (also referred to as the Battle of Boomplaats) was fought near Jagersfontein at 29°50′53.47″S 25°38′56.54″E / 29.8481861°S 25.6490389°E / -29.8481861; 25.6490389Coordinates: 29°50′53.47″S 25°38′56.54″E / 29.8481861°S 25.6490389°E / -29.8481861; 25.6490389 on 29 August 1848 between the British and the Voortrekkers. The British were led by Sir Harry Smith, while the Boers were led by Andries Pretorius. The British were victorious after one Boer opened fire too early and betrayed their position.

Sir Harry Smith assumed the role of Governor of the Cape in 1847 and begun to unravel the work of the previous governor Sir Peregrine Maitland, who had reached agreements with the Basotho and the Griqua leaders which would help maintain British control of the region between the Vaal and Orange Rivers. Smith declared to the Griqua leader Adam Kok that all rent of their land to colonists would be given to the British Crown as opposed to the Griqua leaders getting half of it while at the meeting with Basotho King Moshoeshoe, he declared while the white farmers would remain on the land in the area, the hereditary land rights of the native chiefs in the area would be maintained after a proclamation of the proposed Orange River Sovereignty.

...
Wikipedia