- Piet Uys
Petrus Lafras Uys (more commonly known as "Piet Uys") (1797 - 1838) was a
Voortrekker leader during theGreat Trek .He was born in
Swellendam , the third son (of six) of Jacobus Johannes Uys (nicknamed "Koos Bybel" (Bible ) because of his religious beliefs). In 1823 Piet Uys moved to a farm in theHumansdorp area nearUitenhage together with his father.Uys married a cousin, Alida Maria Uys, in 1815. The couple had three sons. He was described as a "well-spoken, intelligent man" with a wide circle of friends, including the
Governor of theCape Colony , SirBenjamin d'Urban andColonel Harry Smith . His conduct during the Cape Frontier wars led him to assume a leadership role at the relatively young age of 37. As a result of this, Uys was chosen to lead the "Commission Trek" to Natal in 1834, where he visitedPort Natal and may also have metDingane .After this successful scouting expedition, the party returned to Uitenhage in February 1835. The subsequent favourable reports of the Commission Treks resulted in many farmers leaving their farms and
trek king into the interior of Southern Africa, in what later became known as the Great Trek. Uys sold his own farm in December 1836 and left the Uitenhage area with his party of 100 Voortrekkers (as they became known) in April 1837.On 29 June of the same year, the Uys Trek arrived at the combined Voortrekker
laager at theSand River where, unbeknownst to them,Piet Retief had been elected Governor and aconstitution drafted. Uys refused to accept either and insisted that, once they had reached Natal, democratic elections should be held. He also proposed a constitution based on that of theUnited States of America .Uys then received a request by
Andries Potgieter to help him against theMatabele s and their leader,Mzilikazi , who had recently defeated him. Acommando led by Uys responded, and their combined forces eventually drove the Matabeles into what is now the country ofZimbabwe , opening up theHighveld area for future settlement.On their return to the laager, the men found that Retief had already left for Natal. Uys and Potgieter subsequently travelled with a scouting party to Natal to visit Retief, but left for what later became known as the
Orange Free State after being made to feel unwelcome.However, after the massacare of Retief and his men by Dingane and the subsequent Zulu attacks on the Voortrekker laagers in Natal, commandos led by Uys and Potgieter rode to their aid. During the subsequent
Battle of Italeni both Uys and his second son, Dirkie, were killed. Uys was to be the only Voortrekker leader to be killed in battle during the Great Trek.References
* [http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol036iu.html South African Military History Society]
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