Fort Armstrong was constructed in 1836 to protect the Kat rivers
valuable source of water. It was named after Captain Armstrong who
fought in the area along side the Cape Mounted Rifles during the
6th war of land dispossession.
Because of its relative isolation, the fort was designed to
operate independently if need be. It had wattle and daub barracks
that could accommodate up to 30 mounted men with ordnance stores, a
powder magazine, officers quarters, kitchen stables and cells. A
few meters away was a cattle kraal.
The forts first test came when forces led by Maqoma and Kona
took possession of it for about a month. On 22 February 1851,
Major-General Henry Somerset, son of the Governor of the Cape,
Charles Somerset, reclaimed it – killing 46 people and taking 560
prisoners including 400 women and children. Six male settlers were
killed and 25 sustained injuries.
During the 8th war of land dispossession of 1853, William
Uithaalder a Khoi who had served in the Cape Corps, led an attack
on and took over control of the Fort. Colonial forces consisting of
200 British soldiers, 400 Burghers, 200 Fingoes and volunteers from
Grahamstown under Commandant Currie regrouped and launched two
howitzer attacks against the fort, partially destroying what they
built to protect themselves in order to oust Uithaalder.
Before or after finding the 1 litre cache container, a full self
guide tour can be done quite easily including a climb to the
top.