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+Project Gutenberg's My Reminiscences of the Anglo-Boer War, by Ben Viljoen
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: My Reminiscences of the Anglo-Boer War
+
+Author: Ben Viljoen
+
+Illustrator: P. Van Breda
+
+Release Date: April 11, 2008 [EBook #25049]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANGLO-BOER WAR ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Christine P. Travers and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+[Transcriber's note: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected, all
+other inconsistencies are as in the original. The author's spelling
+has been maintained.
+
+Page 453: The sentence "which [missing word] consider it as still
+improper to disclose." has been changed to "which I consider as still
+improper to disclose."
+
+Bolded text is marked with =.]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: General Ben Viljoen and his Secretary (Mr. J.
+Visser).]
+
+
+
+
+               MY REMINISCENCES OF THE ANGLO-BOER WAR
+
+
+                                 BY
+
+                         GENERAL BEN VILJOEN
+
+
+   (ASSISTANT COMMANDANT-GENERAL OF THE TRANSVAAL BURGHER FORCES
+      AND MEMBER FOR JOHANNESBURG IN THE TRANSVAAL VOLKSRAAD)
+
+
+                  Maps from Drawings by P. Van Breda
+
+
+
+
+                               LONDON:
+                       HOOD, DOUGLAS, & HOWARD,
+                       11, CLIFFORD'S INN, E.C.
+                                1902.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+General Ben Viljoen, while engaged on this work, requested me to write
+a short introduction to it. This request I gladly comply with.
+
+General Viljoen was a prisoner-of-war at Broadbottom Camp, St. Helena,
+where, after two years' service in South Africa, I was stationed with
+my regiment. It was at the General's further request that I conveyed
+this work to Europe for publication.
+
+The qualities which particularly endeared this brave and justly-famous
+Boer officer to us were his straightforwardness and unostentatious
+manner, his truthfulness, and the utter absence of affectation that
+distinguishes him. I am certain that he has written his simple
+narrative with candour and impartiality, and I feel equally certain,
+from what I know of him, that this most popular of our late opponents
+has reviewed the exciting episodes of the War with an honesty, an
+intelligence, and a humour which many previous publications on the War
+have lacked.
+
+During his stay at St. Helena I became deeply attached to General
+Viljoen; and in conclusion I trust that this work, which entailed many
+hours of labour, will yield him a handsome recompense.
+
+                         THEODORE BRINCKMAN, C.B.
+                                 _Colonel Commanding_,
+                          _3rd, The Buffs (East Kent Regt.)_
+
+  Tarbert,
+    Loch Fyne,
+      Scotland.
+                                       _September, 1902_
+
+
+
+
+INDEX TO CONTENTS.
+
+
+                                                         Page
+    PREFACE BY COL. THEODORE BRINCKMAN, C.B.                5
+
+    THE AUTHOR TO THE READER                                9
+
+    CHAPTER
+
+          I. THE WAR CLOUDS GATHER                         19
+
+         II. AND THE WAR STORM BREAKS                      24
+
+        III. THE INVASION OF NATAL                         30
+
+         IV. DEFEATED AT ELANDSLAAGTE                      40
+
+          V. PURSUED BY THE LANCERS                        44
+
+         VI. RISKING JOUBERT'S ANGER                       59
+
+        VII. THE BOER GENERAL'S SUPERSTITIONS              68
+
+       VIII. "GREAT POWERS" TO INTERVENE                   72
+
+         IX. COLENSO AND SPION KOP FIGHTS                  78
+
+          X. THE BATTLE OF VAALKRANTZ                      88
+
+         XI. THE TURN OF THE TIDE                         100
+
+        XII. THE GREAT BOER RETREAT                       110
+
+       XIII. DRIVEN FROM THE BIGGARSBERGEN                124
+
+        XIV. DISPIRITED AND DEMORALISED                   133
+
+         XV. OCCUPATION OF PRETORIA                       145
+
+        XVI. BATTLE OF DONKERHOEK ("DIAMOND HILL")        150
+
+       XVII. I BECOME A GENERAL                           161
+
+      XVIII. OUR CAMP BURNED OUT                          175
+
+        XIX. BATTLE OF BERGENDAL (MACHADODORP)            181
+
+         XX. TWO THOUSAND BRITISH PRISONERS RELEASED      185
+
+        XXI. A GOVERNMENT IN FLIGHT                       193
+
+       XXII. AN IGNOMINIOUS DISPERSAL                     204
+
+      XXIII. A DREARY TREK THROUGH FEVERLAND              212
+
+        XIV. PAINS AND PLEASURES OF COMMANDEERING         237
+
+        XXV. PUNISHING THE PRO-BRITISH                    246
+
+       XXVI. BATTLE OF RHENOSTERKOP                       258
+
+      XXVII. THE SECOND CHRISTMAS AT WAR                  278
+
+     XXVIII. CAPTURE OF "LADY ROBERTS"                    285
+
+       XXIX. A DISMAL "HAPPY NEW YEAR"                    302
+
+        XXX. GENERAL ATTACK ON BRITISH FORTS              307
+
+       XXXI. A "BLUFF" AND A BATTLE                       322
+
+      XXXII. EXECUTION OF A TRAITOR                       333
+
+     XXXIII. IN A TIGHT CORNER                            339
+
+      XXXIV. ELUDING THE BRITISH CORDON                   348
+
+       XXXV. BOER GOVERNMENT'S NARROW ESCAPE              358
+
+      XXXVI. A GOVERNMENT ON HORSEBACK                    377
+
+     XXXVII. BLOWING UP AN ARMOURED TRAIN                 382
+
+    XXXVIII. TRAPPING PRO-BRITISH BOERS                   388
+
+      XXXIX. BRUTAL KAFFIRS' MURDER TRAIL                 402
+
+         XL. CAPTURING A FREEBOOTER'S LAIR                411
+
+        XLI. AMBUSHING THE HUSSARS                        416
+
+       XLII. I TALK WITH GENERAL BLOOD                    421
+
+      XLIII. MRS. BOTHA'S BABY AND THE "TOMMY"            425
+
+       XLIV. THE LAST CHRISTMAS OF THE WAR                435
+
+        XLV. MY LAST DAYS ON THE VELDT                    442
+
+       XLVI. I AM AMBUSHED AND CAPTURED                   449
+
+      XLVII. SHIPPED TO ST. HELENA                        462
+
+     XLVIII. LIFE IN BONAPARTE'S PRISON                   471
+
+       XLIX. HOW WE BLEW UP AND CAPTURED TRAINS           485
+
+          L. HOW WE FED AND CLOTHED COMMANDOS             496
+
+         LI. OUR FRIEND THE ENEMY                         506
+
+        LII. THE FIGHTING BOER AND HIS OFFICER            515
+
+             APPENDIX                                     523
+
+
+
+
+THE AUTHOR TO THE READER.
+
+
+In offering my readers my reminiscences of the late War, I feel that
+it is necessary to ask their indulgence and to plead extenuating
+circumstances for many obvious shortcomings.
+
+It should be pointed out that the preparation of this work was
+attended with many difficulties and disabilities, of which the
+following were only a few:--
+
+     (1) This is my first attempt at writing a book, and as a
+     simple Afrikander I lay no claim to any literary ability.
+
+     (2) When captured by the British forces I was deprived of
+     all my notes, and have been compelled to consult and depend
+     largely upon my memory for my facts and data. I would wish
+     to add, however, that the notes and minutiæ they took from
+     me referred only to events and incidents covering six months
+     of the War. Twice before my capture, various diaries I had
+     compiled fell into British hands; and on a third occasion,
+     when our camp at Dalmanutha was burned out by a
+     "grass-fire," other notes were destroyed.
+
+     (3) I wrote this book while a prisoner-of-war, fettered, as
+     it were, by the strong chains with which a British "parole"
+     is circumscribed. I was, so to say, bound hand and foot, and
+     always made to feel sensibly the humiliating position to
+     which we, as prisoners-of-war on this island, were reduced.
+     Our unhappy lot was rendered unnecessarily unpleasant by the
+     insulting treatment offered us by Colonel Price, who
+     appeared to me an excellent prototype of Napoleon's
+     custodian, Sir Hudson Lowe. One has only to read Lord
+     Rosebery's work, "The Last Phase of Napoleon," to realise
+     the insults and indignities Sir Hudson Lowe heaped upon a
+     gallant enemy.
+
+We Boers experienced similar treatment from our custodian, Colonel
+Price, who appeared to be possessed with the very demon of distrust
+and who conjured up about us the same fantastic and mythical plans of
+escape as Sir Hudson Lowe attributed to Napoleon. It is to his absurd
+suspicions about our safe custody that I trace the bitterly offensive
+regulations enforced on us.
+
+While engaged upon this work, Colonel Price could have pounced down
+upon me at any moment, and, having discovered the manuscript, would
+certainly have promptly pronounced the writing of it in conflict with
+the terms of my "parole."
+
+I have striven as far as possible to refrain from criticism, except
+when compelled to do so, and to give a coherent story, so that the
+reader may easily follow the episodes I have sketched. I have also
+endeavoured to be impartial, or, at least, so impartial as an erring
+human being can be who has just quitted the bloody battlefields of a
+bitter struggle.
+
+But the sword is still wet, and the wound is not yet healed.
+
+I would assure my readers that it has not been without hesitation that
+I launch this work upon the world. There have been many amateur and
+professional writers who have preceded me in overloading the reading
+public with what purport to be "true histories" of the War. But having
+been approached by friends to add my little effort to the ponderous
+tomes of War literature, I have written down that which I saw with my
+own eyes, and that which I personally experienced. If seeing is
+believing, the reader may lend credence to my recital of every
+incident I have herein recounted.
+
+During the last stages of the struggle, when we were isolated from the
+outside world, we read in newspapers and other printed matter captured
+from the British so many romantic and fabulous stories about
+ourselves, that we were sometimes in doubt whether people in Europe
+and elsewhere would really believe that we were ordinary human beings
+and not legendary monsters. On these occasions I read circumstantial
+reports of my death, and once a long, and by no means flattering,
+obituary (extending over several columns of a newspaper) in which I
+was compared to Garibaldi, "Jack the Ripper," and Aguinaldo. On
+another occasion I learned from British newspapers of my capture,
+conviction, and execution in the Cape Colony for wearing the insignia
+of the Red Cross. I read that I had been brought before a military
+court at De Aar and sentenced to be shot, and what was worse, the
+sentence was duly confirmed and carried out. A very lurid picture was
+drawn of the execution. Bound to a chair, and placed near my open
+grave, I had met my doom with "rare stoicism and fortitude." "At
+last," concluded my amiable biographer, "this scoundrel, robber, and
+guerilla leader, Viljoen, has been safely removed, and will trouble
+the British Army no longer." I also learned with mingled feelings of
+amazement and pride that, being imprisoned at Mafeking at the
+commencement of hostilities, General Baden-Powell had kindly
+exchanged me for Lady Sarah Wilson.
+
+To be honest, none of the above-mentioned reports were strictly
+accurate. I can assure the reader that I was never killed in action or
+executed at De Aar, I was never in Mafeking or any other prison in my
+life (save here at St. Helena), nor was I in the Cape Colony during
+the War. I never masqueraded with a Red Cross, and I was never
+exchanged for Lady Sarah Wilson. Her ladyship's friends would have
+found me a very poor exchange.
+
+It is also quite inaccurate and unfair to describe me as a "thief" and
+"a scoundrel". It was, indeed, not an heroic thing to do, seeing that
+the chivalrous gentlemen of the South African Press who employed the
+epithets were safely beyond my view and reach, and I had no chance of
+correcting their quite erroneous impressions. I could neither refute
+nor defend myself against their infamous libels, and for the rest, my
+friend "Mr. Atkins" kept us all exceedingly busy.
+
+That which is left of Ben Viljoen after the several "coups de grace"
+in the field and the tragic execution at De Aar, still "pans" out at a
+fairly robust young person--quite an ordinary young fellow, indeed,
+thirty-four years of age, of middle height and build. Somewhere in the
+Marais Quartier of Paris--where the French Huguenots came from--there
+was an ancestral Viljoen from whom I am descended. In the War just
+concluded I played no great part of my own seeking. I met many
+compatriots who were better soldiers than myself; but on occasions I
+was happily of some small service to my Cause and to my people.
+
+The chapters I append are, like myself, simple in form. If I have
+become notorious it is not my fault; it is the fault of the newspaper
+paragraphist, the snap-shooter, and the autograph fiend; and in these
+pages I have endeavoured, as far as possible, to leave the stage to
+more prominent actors, merely offering myself as guide to the many
+battlefields on which we have waged our unhappy struggle.
+
+I shall not disappoint the reader by promising him sensational or
+thrilling episodes. He will find none such in these pages; he will
+find only a naked and unembellished story.
+
+                         BEN J. VILJOEN.
+                    (_Assistant Commandant-General
+                      of the Republican Forces._)
+
+  St. Helena,
+                                   _June, 1902_
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: 8 Maps of Nicholsons Nek & Modderspruit, Monte Christo,
+Colenso, Spioen Kop, Vaalkrantz, Pieter's Hill, Stromberg and
+Abramskraal.]
+
+
+
+
+MY REMINISCENCES
+
+OF THE
+
+ANGLO-BOER WAR
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+THE WAR CLOUDS GATHER.
+
+
+In 1895 the political clouds gathered thickly and grew threatening.
+They were unmistakable in their portent. War was meant, and we heard
+the martial thunder rumbling over our heads.
+
+The storm broke in the shape of an invasion from Rhodesia on our
+Western frontiers, a raid planned by soldiers of a friendly power.
+
+However one may endeavour to argue the chief cause of the South
+African war to other issues, it remains an irrebuttable fact that the
+Jameson Raid was primarily responsible for the hostilities which
+eventually took place between Great Britain and the Boer Republics.
+
+Mr. Rhodes, the sponsor and _deus ex machinâ_ of the Raid, could not
+agree with Mr. Paul Kruger, and had failed in his efforts to establish
+friendly relations with him. Mr. Kruger, quite as stubborn and
+ambitious as Mr. Rhodes, placed no faith in the latter's amiable
+proposals, and the result was that fierce hatred was engendered
+between the two Gideons, a racial rancour spreading to fanatical
+lengths.
+
+Dr. Jameson's stupid raid is now a matter of history; but from that
+fateful New Year's Day of 1896 we Boers date the terrible trials and
+sufferings to which our poor country has been exposed. To that
+mischievous incident, indeed, we directly trace the struggle now
+terminated.
+
+This invasion, which was synchronous with an armed rebellion at
+Johannesburg, was followed by the arrest and imprisonment of the
+so-called gold magnates of the Witwatersrand. Whether these
+exceedingly wealthy but extremely degenerate sons of Albion and
+Germania deserved the death sentence pronounced upon their leaders at
+Pretoria for high treason it is not for me to judge.
+
+I do recall, however, what an appeal for mercy there went up, how
+piteously the Transvaal Government was petitioned and supplicated, and
+finally moved "to forgive and forget." The same faction who now press
+so obdurately for "no mercy" upon the Colonial Afrikanders who joined
+us, then supplicated all the Boer gods for forgiveness.
+
+Meantime the Republic was plagued by the rinderpest scourge, which
+wrought untold havoc throughout the country. This scourge was preceded
+by the dynamite disaster at Vrededorp (near Johannesburg) and the
+railway disaster at Glencoe in Natal. It was succeeded by a smallpox
+epidemic, which, in spite of medical efforts, grew from sporadic to
+epidemic and visited all classes of the Rand, exacting victims
+wherever it travelled. During the same period difficulties occurred in
+Swaziland necessitating the despatch of a strong commando to the
+disaffected district and the maintenance of a garrison at Bremersdorp.
+The following year hostilities were commenced against the Magato
+tribe in the north of the Republic.
+
+After an expensive expedition, lasting six months, the rebellion was
+quelled. There was little doubt that the administration of unfaithful
+native commissioners was in part responsible for the difficulties, but
+there is less doubt that external influences also contributed to the
+rebellion. This is not the time, however, to tear open old wounds.
+
+Mr. Rhodes has disappeared from the stage for ever; he died as he had
+lived. His relentless enemy Mr. Kruger, who was pulling the strings at
+the other end, is still alive. Perhaps the old man may be spared to
+see the end of the bloody drama; it was undoubtedly he and Mr. Rhodes
+who played the leading parts in the prologue.
+
+Which of these two "Big Men" took the greatest share in bringing about
+the Disaster which has drenched South Africa with blood and draped it
+in mourning, it would be improper for me at this period to suggest.
+Mr. Rhodes has been summoned before a Higher Tribunal; Mr. Kruger has
+still to come up for judgment before the people whose fate, and very
+existence as a nation, are, at the time of writing, wavering in the
+balance.
+
+We have been at one another's throats, and for this we have to thank
+our "statesmen." It is to be hoped that our leaders of the future will
+attach more value to human lives, and that Boer and Briton will be
+enabled to live amicably side by side.
+
+A calm and statesmanlike government by men free from ambition and
+racial rancour, by men of unblemished reputation, will be the only
+means of pacifying South Africa and keeping South Africa pacified.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+AND THE WAR STORM BREAKS.
+
+
+It was during a desultory discussion of an ordinary sessions of the
+Second Volksraad, in which I represented Johannesburg, that one day in
+September, 1899--to be precise, the afternoon of the 28th--the
+messenger of the House came to me with a note, and whispered, "A
+message from General Joubert, Sir; it is urgent, and the General says
+it requires your immediate attention."
+
+I broke the seal of the envelope with some trepidation. I guessed its
+contents, and a few of my colleagues in the Chamber hung over me
+almost speechless with excitement, whispering curiously, "Jong, is dit
+fout?"--"Is this correct. Is it war?"
+
+Everybody knew, of course, that we were in for a supreme crisis, that
+the relations between Great Britain and our Republic were strained to
+the bursting point, that bitter diplomatic notes had been exchanged
+between the governments of the two countries for months past, and that
+a collision, an armed collision, was sooner or later inevitable.
+
+Being "Fighting-Commandant" of the Witwatersrand goldfields, and,
+therefore, an officer of the Transvaal army, my movements on that day
+excited great interest among my colleagues in the Chamber. After
+reading General Joubert's note I said, as calmly as possible: "Yes,
+the die is cast; I am leaving for the Natal frontier. Good-bye. I must
+now quit the house. Who knows, perhaps for ever!"
+
+General Joubert's mandate was couched as follows:--
+
+     "You are hereby ordered to proceed with the Johannesburg
+     commando to Volksrust to-morrow, Friday evening, at 8
+     o'clock. Your field cornets have already received
+     instructions to commandeer the required number of burghers
+     and the necessary horses, waggons, and equipment.
+     Instructions have also been given for the necessary railway
+     conveyances to be held ready. Further instructions will
+     reach you."
+
+Previous to my departure next morning I made a hurried call at
+Commandant-General Joubert's offices. The ante-chamber leading to the
+Generalissimo's "sanctum-sanctorum" was crowded with brilliantly-uniformed
+officers of our State Artillery, and it was only by dint of using my
+elbows very vigorously that I gained admission to my chief-in-command.
+
+The old General seemed to feel keenly the gravity of the situation. He
+looked careworn and troubled: "Good-morning, Commandant," he said;
+"aren't you away yet?"
+
+I explained that I was on my way to the railway station, but I thought
+before I left I'd like to see him about one or two things.
+
+"Well, go on, what is it?" General Joubert enquired, petulantly.
+
+"I want to know, General Joubert," I said, "whether England has
+declared war against us, or whether we are taking the lead. And
+another thing, what sort of general have I to report myself to at
+Volksrust?"
+
+The old warrior, without looking up or immediately answering me, drew
+various cryptic and hieroglyphic pothooks and figures on the paper
+before him. Then he suddenly lifted his eyes and pierced me with a
+look, at which I quailed and trembled.
+
+He said very slowly: "Look here; there is as yet no declaration of
+war, and hostilities have not yet commenced. You and my other officers
+should understand that very clearly, because possibly the differences
+between ourselves and Great Britain may still be settled. We are only
+going to occupy our frontiers because England's attitude is extremely
+provocative, and if England see that we are fully prepared and that we
+do not fear her threats, she will perhaps be wise in time and
+reconsider the situation. We also want to place ourselves in a
+position to prevent and quell a repetition of the Jameson Raid with
+more force than we exerted in 1896."
+
+An hour afterwards I was on board a train travelling to Johannesburg
+in the company of General Piet Cronje and his faithful wife. General
+Cronje told me that he was proceeding to the western districts of the
+Republic to take up the command of the Potchefstroom and Lichtenburg
+burghers. His instructions, he said, were to protect the Western
+frontier.
+
+I left General Cronje at Johannesburg on the 29th September, 1899, and
+never saw him again until I met him at St. Helena nearly two and a
+half years afterwards, on the 25th March, 1902. When I last saw him we
+greeted each other as free men, as free and independent legislators
+and officers of a free Republic. We fought for our rights to live as a
+nation.
+
+Now I meet the veteran Cronje a broken old man, captive like myself,
+far away from our homes and our country.
+
+Then and Now!
+
+Then we went abroad free and freedom-loving men, burning with
+patriotism. Our wives and our women-folk watched us go; full of sorrow
+and anxiety, but satisfied that we were going abroad in our country's
+cause.
+
+And Now!
+
+Two promising and prosperous Republics wrecked, their fair homesteads
+destroyed, their people in mourning, and thousands of innocent women
+and children the victims of a cruel war.
+
+There is scarcely an Afrikander family without an unhealable wound.
+Everywhere the traces of the bloody struggle; and, alas, most poignant
+and distressing fact of all, burghers who fought side by side with us
+in the earlier stages of the struggle are now to be found in the ranks
+of the enemy.
+
+These wretched men, ignoring their solemn duty, left their companions
+in the lurch without sense of shame or respect for the braves who fell
+fighting for their land and people.
+
+Oh, day of judgment! The Afrikander nation will yet avenge your
+treachery.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+THE INVASION OF NATAL.
+
+
+After taking leave of my friend Cronje at Johannesburg Station, my
+first duty was to visit my various field cornets. About four o'clock
+that afternoon I found my commando was as nearly ready as could be
+expected. When I say ready, I mean ready on paper only, as later
+experience showed. My three field cornets were required to equip 900
+mounted men with waggons and provisions, and of course they had _carte
+blanche_ to commandeer. Only fully enfranchised burghers of the South
+African Republic were liable to be commandeered, and in Johannesburg
+town there was an extraordinary conglomeration of cosmopolitans
+amenable to this gentle process of enlistment.
+
+It would take up too much time to adequately describe the excitement
+of Johannesburg on this memorable day. Thousands of Uitlanders were
+flying from their homes, contenting themselves, in their hurry to get
+away, to stand in Kaffir or coal trucks and to expose themselves
+cheerfully to the fierce sun, and other elements. The streets were
+palpitating with burghers ready to proceed to the frontier that night,
+and with refugees speeding to the stations. Everybody was in a state
+of intense feeling. One was half-hearted, another cheerful, and a
+third thirsting for blood, while many of my men were under the
+influence of alcohol.
+
+When it was known that I had arrived in the town my room in the North
+Western Hotel was besieged. I was approached by all sorts of people
+pleading exemption from commando duty. One Boer said he knew that his
+solemn duty was to fight for his country and his freedom, but he would
+rather decline. Another declared that he could not desert his family;
+while yet another came forward with a story that of his four horses,
+three had been commandeered, and that these horses were his only means
+of subsistence. A fourth complained that his waggons and mules had
+been clandestinely (although officially) removed. Many malingerers
+suddenly discovered acute symptoms of heart disease and brought
+easily-obtained doctor's certificates, assuring me that tragic
+consequences would attend their exposure in the field. Ladies came to
+me pleading exemption for their husbands, sisters for brothers,
+mothers for sons, all offering plausible reasons why their loved ones
+should be exempted from commando duty. It was very difficult to deal
+with all these clamorous visitors. I was much in the position of King
+Solomon, though lacking his wisdom. But I would venture to say that
+his ancient majesty himself would have been perplexed had he been in
+my place. It is necessary that the reader should know that the main
+part of the population was composed of all nationalities and lacked
+every element of Boer discipline.
+
+On the evening of the 29th of September, I left with the Johannesburg
+commando in two trains. Two-thirds of my men had no personal
+acquaintance with me, and at the departure there was some difficulty
+because of this. One burgher came into my private compartment
+uninvited. He evidently forgot his proper place, and when I suggested
+to him that the compartment was private and reserved for officers, he
+told me to go to the devil, and I was compelled to remove him somewhat
+precipitately from the carriage. This same man was afterwards one of
+my most trustworthy scouts.
+
+The following afternoon we reached Standerton, where I received
+telegraphic instructions from General Joubert to join my commando to
+that of Captain Schiel, who was in charge of the German Corps, and to
+place myself under the supreme command of Jan Kock, a member of the
+Executive Council, who had been appointed a general by the Government.
+
+We soon discovered that quite one-third of the horses we had taken
+with us were untrained for the serious business of fighting, and also
+that many of the new burghers of foreign nationality had not the
+slightest idea how to ride. Our first parade, or "Wapenschouwing"
+gave food for much hilarity. Here one saw horses waltzing and jumping,
+while over there a rider was biting the sand, and towards evening the
+doctors had several patients. It may be stated that although not
+perfectly equipped in the matter of ambulances, we had three
+physicians with us, Doctors Visser, Marais, and Shaw. Our spiritual
+welfare was being looked after by the Reverends Nel and Martins, but
+not for long, as both these gentlemen quickly found that commando life
+was unpleasant and left us spiritually to ourselves, even as the
+European Powers left us politically. But I venture to state that no
+member of my commando really felt acutely the loss of the theological
+gentlemen who primarily accompanied us.
+
+[Illustration: The Capture of the Train at Elandslaagte.]
+
+On the following day General Kock and a large staff arrived at the
+laager, and, together with the German Corps, we trekked to Paardekop
+and Klip River, in the Orange Free State, where we were to occupy
+Botha's Pass. My convoy comprised about a hundred carts, mostly drawn
+by mules, and it was amusing to see the variety of provisions my
+worthy field-cornets had gathered together. There were three full
+waggons of lime-juice and other unnecessary articles which I caused to
+be unloaded at the first halting-place to make room for more
+serviceable provisions. It should be mentioned that of my three
+field-cornets only one, the late Piet Joubert of Jeppestown, actually
+accompanied my commando. The others sent substitutes, perhaps because
+they did not like to expose themselves to the change of air. We rested
+some days at the Klip River, in the Orange Free State, and from thence
+I was sent with a small escort of burghers by our General to
+Harrismith to meet a number of Free State officers. After travelling
+two days I came upon Chief Free State Commandant Prinsloo, who
+afterwards deserted, and other officers. The object of my mission was
+to organise communications with these officers. On the 11th of
+October, having returned to my commando, we received a report that our
+Government had despatched the Ultimatum to England, and that the time
+specified for the reply to that document had elapsed. Hostilities had
+begun.
+
+We received orders to invade Natal, and crossed the frontier that very
+evening. I, with a patrol of 50 men, had not crossed the frontier very
+far when one of my scouts rode up with the report that a large British
+force was in sight on the other side of the River Ingogo. I said to
+myself at the time: "If this be true the British have rushed up fairly
+quickly, and the fat will be in the fire very soon."
+
+We then broke into scattered formation and carefully proceeded into
+Natal. After much reconnoitring and concealment, however, we soon
+discovered that the "large English force" was only a herd of cattle
+belonging to friendly Boers, and that the camp consisted of two tents
+occupied by some Englishmen and Kaffirs who were mending a defective
+bridge. We also came across a cart drawn by four bullocks belonging to
+a Natal farmer, and I believe this was the first plunder we captured
+in Natal. The Englishman, who said he knew nothing about any war,
+received a pass to proceed with his servants to the English lines,
+and he left with the admonition to in future read the newspapers and
+learn when war was imminent. Next day our entire commando was well
+into Natal. The continuous rain and cold of the Drakenbergen rendered
+our first experience of veldt life, if not unbearable, very
+discouraging. We numbered a fairly large commando, as Commandant J.
+Lombard, commanding the Hollander corps, had also joined us. Close by
+Newcastle we encountered a large number of commandos, and a general
+council of war was held under the presidency of Commandant General
+Joubert. It was here decided that Generals Lukas Meyer and Dijl
+Erasmus should take Dundee, which an English garrison held, while our
+commandos under General Kock were instructed to occupy the Biggarburg
+Pass. Preceded by scouts we wound our way in that direction, leaving
+all our unnecessary baggage in the shape of provisions and ammunition
+waggons at Newcastle.
+
+One of my acting field-cornets and the field-cornets of the German
+commando, prompted by goodness knows what, pressed forward south,
+actually reaching the railway station at Elandslaagte. A goods train
+was just steaming into the station, and it was captured by these
+foolhardy young Moltkes. I was much dissatisfied with this action, and
+sent a messenger ordering them to retire after having destroyed the
+railway. On the same night I received instructions from General Kock
+to proceed with two hundred men and a cannon to Elandslaagte, and I
+also learned that Captain Schiel and his German Corps had left in the
+same direction.
+
+Imagine, we had gone further than had actually been decided at the
+council of war, and we pressed forward still further without any
+attempt being made to keep in touch with the other commandos on our
+left and right. Seeing the inexpediency of this move, I went to the
+General in command and expressed my objections to it. But General Kock
+was firmly decided on the point, and said, "Go along, my boy." We
+reached Elandslaagte at midnight; it was raining very heavily. After
+scrambling for positions in the darkness, although I had already
+sufficiently seen that the lie of the land suggested no strategic
+operations, we retired to rest. Two days later occurred the fateful
+battle.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+DEFEATED AT ELANDSLAAGTE.
+
+
+In the grey dawn of the 21st of October a number of scouts I had
+despatched overnight in the direction of Ladysmith returned with the
+tidings that "the khakis were coming." "Where are they, and how many
+are there of them?" I asked. "Commandant," the chief scout replied, "I
+don't know much about these things, but I should think that the
+English number quite a thousand mounted men, and they have guns, and
+they have already passed Modderspruit." To us amateur soldiers this
+report was by no means reassuring, and I confess I hoped fervently
+that the English might stay away for some little time longer.
+
+It was at sunrise that the first shot I heard in this war was fired.
+Presently the men we dreaded were visible on the ridges of hills south
+of the little red railway station at Elandslaagte. Some of my men
+hailed the coming fight with delight; others, more experienced in the
+art of war, turned deadly pale. That is how the Boers felt in their
+first battle. The awkward way in which many of my men sought cover,
+demonstrated at once how inexperienced in warfare we youngsters were.
+We started with our guns and tried a little experimental shooting. The
+second and third shots appeared to be effective; at any rate, as far
+as we could judge, they seemed to disturb the equanimity of the
+advancing troops. I saw an ammunition cart deprived of its team and
+generally smashed.
+
+The British guns appeared to be of very small calibre indeed.
+Certainly they failed to reach us, and all the harm they did was to
+send a shell through a Boer ambulance within the range of fire. This
+shot was, I afterwards ascertained, purely accidental. When the
+British found that we too, strange to say, had guns, and, what is
+more, knew how to use them, they retired towards Ladysmith. But this
+was merely a ruse; they had gone back to fetch more. Still, though it
+was a ruse, we were cleverly deceived by it, and while we were
+off-saddling and preparing the mid-day meal they were arranging a new
+and more formidable attack. From the Modderspruit siding they were
+pouring troops brought down by rail, and although we had a splendid
+chance of shelling the newcomers from the high kopje we occupied,
+General Kock, who was in supreme command of our corps, for some reason
+which has never been explained, refused to permit us to fire upon
+them. I went to General Kock and pleaded with him, but he was adamant.
+This was a bitter disappointment to me, but I consoled myself with the
+thought that the General was much older than myself, and had been
+fighting since he was a baby. I therefore presumed he knew better.
+Possibly if we younger commanders had had more authority in the
+earlier stages of the war, and had had less to deal with arrogant and
+stupid old men, we should have reached Durban and Cape Town.
+
+I must here again confess that none of my men displayed any of the
+martial determination with which they had so buoyantly proceeded from
+Johannesburg. To put it bluntly, some of them were "footing" it and
+the English cavalry, taking advantage of this, were rapidly
+outflanking them. The British tactics were plain enough. General
+French had placed his infantry in the centre with three field
+batteries (fifteen pounders), while his cavalry, with Maxims,
+encompassed our right and left. He was forming a crescent, with the
+obvious purpose of turning our position with his right and left wing.
+When charging at the close of the attack the cavalry, which consisted
+mainly of lancers, were on both our flanks, and completely prevented
+our retreat. It was not easy to estimate the number of our assailant's
+forces. Judging roughly, I calculated they numbered between 5,000 and
+6,000, while we were 800 all told, and our artillery consisted merely
+of two Nordenfeldt guns with shell, and no grape shot.
+
+The British certainly meant business that day. It was the baptismal
+fire of the Imperial Light Horse, a corps principally composed of
+Johannesburgers, who were politically and racially our bitter enemies.
+And what was more unfortunate, our guns were so much exposed that
+they were soon silenced. For a long time we did our best to keep our
+opponents at bay, but they came in crushing numbers, and speedily dead
+and maimed burghers covered the veldt. Then the Gordon Highlanders and
+the other infantry detachments commenced to storm our positions. We
+got them well within the range of our rifle fire, and made our
+presence felt; but they kept pushing on with splendid determination
+and indomitable pluck, though their ranks were being decimated before
+our very eyes.
+
+This was the first, as it was the last time in the War that I heard a
+British band playing to cheer attacking "Tommies." I believe it used
+to be a British war custom to rouse martial instincts with lively
+music, but something must have gone wrong with the works in this War,
+there must have occurred a rift in the lute, for ever after this first
+battle of Elandslaagte the British abandoned flags, banners, and bands
+and other quite unnecessary furniture.
+
+About half an hour before sunset, the enemy had come up close to our
+positions and on all sides a terrible battle raged. To keep them back
+was now completely out of the question. They had forced their way
+between a kloof, and while rushing up with my men towards them, my
+rifle was smashed by a bullet. A wounded burgher handed me his and I
+joined Field-Cornet Peter Joubert who, with seven other burghers, was
+defending the kloof. We poured a heavy fire into the British, but they
+were not to be shaken off. Again and again they rushed up in
+irresistible strength, gallantly encouraged by their brave officers.
+Poor Field-Cornet Joubert perished at this point.
+
+When the sun had set and the awful scene was enveloped in darkness
+there was a dreadful spectacle of maimed Germans, Hollanders,
+Frenchmen, Irishmen, Americans, and Boers lying on the veldt. The
+groans of the wounded were heartrending; the dead could no longer
+speak. Another charge, and the British, encouraged by their success,
+had taken our last position, guns and all. My only resource now was to
+flee, and the battle of Elandslaagte was a thing of the past.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+PURSUED BY THE LANCERS.
+
+
+Another last look at the bloody scene. It was very hard to have to
+beat an ignominious retreat, but it was harder still to have to go
+without being able to attend to one's wounded comrades, who were
+piteously crying aloud for help. To have to leave them in the hands of
+the enemy was exceedingly distressing to me. But there was no other
+course open, and fleeing, I hoped I might "live to fight another day."
+I got away, accompanied by Fourie and my Kaffir servant. "Let us go,"
+I said, "perhaps we shall be able to fall in with some more burghers
+round here and have another shot at them." Behind us the British
+lancers were shouting "Stop, stop, halt you ---- Boers!" They fired
+briskly at us, but our little ponies responded gamely to the spur and,
+aided by the darkness, we rode on safely. Still the lancers did not
+abandon the chase, and followed us for a long distance. From time to
+time we could hear the pitiful cries and entreaties of burghers who
+were being "finished off," but we could see nothing. My man and I had
+fleet horses in good condition, those of the pursuing lancers were big
+and clumsy.
+
+My adjutant, Piet Fourie, however, was not so fortunate as myself. He
+was overtaken and made a prisoner. Revolvers were being promiscuously
+fired at us, and at times the distance between us and our pursuers
+grew smaller. We could plainly hear them shouting "Stop, or I'll shoot
+you," or "Halt, you damned Boer, or I'll run my lance through your
+blessed body."
+
+We really had no time to take much notice of these pretty compliments.
+It was a race for life and freedom. Looking round furtively once more
+I could distinguish my pursuers; I could see their long assegais; I
+could hear the snorting of their unwieldy horses, the clattering of
+their swords. These unpleasant combinations were enough to strike
+terror into the heart of any ordinary man.
+
+Everything now depended upon the fleetness and staying power of my
+sturdy little Boer pony, Blesman. He remained my faithful friend long
+after he had got me out of this scrape; he was shot, poor little chap,
+the day when they made me a prisoner. Poor Blesman, to you I owe my
+life! Blesman was plainly in league against all that was British; from
+the first he displayed Anglophobia of a most acute character. He has
+served me in good stead, and now lies buried, faithful little heart,
+in a Lydenburg ditch.
+
+In my retreat Sunday River had to be crossed. It was deep, but deep or
+not, we had to get through it. We were going at such a pace that we
+nearly tumbled down the banks. The precipice must have been very
+steep; all I remember is finding myself in the water with Blesman by
+my side. The poor chap had got stuck with his four legs in the drift
+sand. I managed to liberate him, and after a lot of scrambling and
+struggling and wading through the four foot stream, I got to the other
+side. On the opposite bank the British were still firing. I therefore
+decided to lie low in the water, hoping to delude them into thinking I
+was killed or drowned. My stratagem was successful. I heard one of my
+pursuers say, "We've finished him," and with a few more pyrotechnic
+farewells they retraced their steps towards Ladysmith.
+
+On the other side, however, more horsemen came in pursuit.
+Unquestionably the British, fired by their splendid success, were
+following up their victory with great vigour, and again I was
+compelled to hide in the long grass into which my native servant, with
+Ethiopian instinct, had already crept. While I was travelling along on
+foot my man had rescued my horse from the muddy banks of the river.
+
+When all was said and done I had escaped with a good wetting. Now for
+Newcastle. I had still my rifle, revolver, and cartridges left to me;
+my field-glass I had lost, probably in the river. Water there was
+plenty, but food I had none. The track to Newcastle to a stranger,
+such as I was in that part of the country, was difficult to discover.
+To add to my perplexities I did not know what had happened at Dundee,
+where I had been told a strong British garrison was in occupation.
+Therefore, in straying in that direction I ran the risk of being
+captured.
+
+Finally, however, I came upon a kaffir kraal. I was curtly hailed in
+the kaffir language, and upon my asking my swarthy friends to show me
+the road, half a dozen natives, armed with assegais, appeared on the
+scene. I clasped my revolver, as their attitude seemed suspicious.
+After they had inspected me closely, one of the elders of the
+community said: "You is one of dem Boers vat runs avay? We look on and
+you got dum dum to-day. Now we hold you, we take you English
+magistrate near Ladysmith." But I know my kaffir, and I sized up this
+black Englishman instantly. "The fact is," I said, "I'm trekking with
+a commando of 500 men, and we are doing a bit of scouting round your
+kraal. If you will show me the way to the Biggersbergen I will give
+you 5s. on account." My amiable and dusky friend insisted on 7s. 6d.,
+but after I had intimated that if he did not accept 5s. I should
+certainly burn his entire outfit, slaughter all his women and kill all
+his cattle, he acquiesced. A young Zulu was deputed as my guide, but I
+had to use my fists and make pretty play with my revolver, and
+generally hint at a sudden death, or he would have left me in the
+lurch. He muttered to himself for some time, and suddenly terminated
+his soliloquy by turning on his heels and disappearing in the
+darkness.
+
+The light of a lantern presently showed a railway station, which I
+rightly guessed to be Waschbank. Here two Englishmen, probably railway
+officials, came up to me, accompanied by my treacherous guide. The
+latter had obviously been good enough to warn the officials at the
+station of my approach, but luckily they were unarmed. One of them
+said, "You've lost your way, it appears," to which I replied, "Oh, no,
+indeed; I'm on the right track I think." "But," he persisted, "you
+won't find any of your people here now; you've been cut to pieces at
+Elandslaagte and Lukas Meyer's and Erasmus's forces round Dundee have
+been crushed. You had better come along with me to Ladysmith. I
+promise you decent treatment." I took care not to get in between them,
+and, remaining at a little distance, said, revolver in hand, "Thanks
+very much, it's awfully good of you. I have no business to transact in
+Ladysmith for the moment and will now continue my journey.
+Good-night." "No, no, no, wait a minute," returned the man who had
+spoken first, "you know you can't pass here." "We shall see about
+that," I said. They rushed upon me, but ere they could overpower me I
+had levelled my revolver. The first speaker tried to disarm me, but I
+shook him off and shot him. He fell, and as far I know, or could see,
+was not fatally wounded. The other man, thinking discretion the better
+part of valour, disappeared in the darkness, and my unfaithful guide
+had edged away as soon as he saw the glint of my gun.
+
+My adventures on that terrible night were, however, not to end with
+this mild diversion. About an hour after daybreak, I came upon a barn
+upon which the legend "Post Office Savings Bank" was inscribed. A big
+Newfoundland dog lay on the threshold, and although he wagged his tail
+in a not unfriendly manner, he did not seem disposed to take any
+special notice of me. There was a passage between the barn and some
+stables at the back and I went down to prospect the latter. What luck
+if there had been a horse for me there! Of course I should only have
+wanted to borrow it, but there was a big iron padlock on the door,
+though inside the stables I heard the movements of an animal. A horse
+meant to me just then considerably more than three kingdoms to King
+Richard. For the first time in my life I did some delicate burglary
+and housebreaking to boot. But the English declare that all is fair in
+love and war, and they ought to know.
+
+I discovered an iron bar, which enabled me to wrench off the lock from
+the stable door, and, having got so far with my burglarious
+performance, I entered cautiously, and I may say nervously. Creeping
+up to the manger I fumbled about till I caught hold of a strap to
+which the animal was tied, cut the strap through and led the horse
+away. I was wondering why it went so slowly and that I had almost to
+drag the poor creature along. Once outside I found to my utter disgust
+that my spoil was a venerable and decrepit donkey. Disappointed and
+disheartened, I abandoned my booty, leaving that ancient mule brooding
+meditatively outside the stable door and clearly wondering why he had
+been selected for a midnight excursion. But there was no time to
+explain or apologise, and as the mule clearly could not carry me as
+fast as my own legs, I left him to his meditations.
+
+At dawn, when the first rays of the sun lit up the Biggersbergen in
+all their grotesque beauty, I realised for the first time where I was,
+and found that I was considerably more than 12 miles from
+Elandslaagte, the fateful scene of yesterday. Tired out, half-starved
+and as disconsolate as the donkey in the stable, I sat myself on an
+anthill. For 24 hours I had been foodless, and was now quite
+exhausted. I fell into a reverie; all the past day's adventures passed
+graphically before my eyes as in a kaleidoscope; all the horrors and
+carnage of the battle, the misery of my maimed comrades, who only
+yesterday had answered the battle-cry full of vigour and youth, the
+pathos of the dead who, cut down in the prime of their life and
+buoyant health, lay yonder on the veldt, far away from wives and
+daughters and friends for ever more.
+
+While in a brown study on this anthill, 30 men on horseback suddenly
+dashed up towards me from the direction of Elandslaagte. I threw myself
+flat on my face, seeking the anthill as cover, prepared to sell my life
+dearly should they prove to be Englishmen. As soon as they observed me
+they halted, and sent one of their number up to me. Evidently they knew
+not whether I was friend or foe, for they reconnoitred my prostrate form
+behind the anthill with great circumspection and caution; but I speedily
+recognised comrades-in-arms. I think the long tail which is peculiar to
+the Basuto pony enabled me to identify them as such, and one friend, who
+was their outpost, brought me a reserve horse, and what was even better,
+had extracted from his saddle-bag a tin of welcome bully beef to stay
+my gnawing hunger. But they brought sad tidings, these good friends.
+Slain on the battlefield lay Assistant-Commandant J. C. Bodenstein and
+Major Hall, of the Johannesburg Town Council, two of my bravest
+officers, whose loss I still regret.
+
+We rode on slowly, and all along the road we fell in with groups of
+burghers. There was no question that our ranks were demoralised and
+heartsick. Commandant-General Joubert had made Dannhauser Station his
+headquarters and thither we wended our way. But though we approached
+our general with hearts weighed down with sorrow, so strange and
+complex a character is the Boers', that by the time we reached him we
+had gathered together 120 stragglers, and had recovered our spirits
+and our courage. I enjoyed a most refreshing rest on an unoccupied
+farm and sent a messenger to Joubert asking him for an appointment for
+the following morning to hand in my report of the ill-fated battle.
+The messenger, however, brought back a verbal answer that the General
+was exceedingly angry and had sent no reply. On retiring that night I
+found my left leg injured in several places by splinters of shell and
+stone. My garments had to be soaked in water to remove them, but after
+I had carefully cleaned my wounds they very soon healed.
+
+The next morning I waited on the Commandant-General. He received me
+very coldly, and before I could venture a word said reproachfully:
+"Why didn't you obey orders and stop this side of the Biggarsbergen,
+as the Council of War decided you should do?" He followed up the
+reproach with a series of questions: "Where's your general?" "How many
+men have you lost?" "How many English have you killed?" I said
+deferentially: "Well, General, you know I am not to be bullied like
+this. You know you placed me in a subordinate position under the
+command of General Kock, and now you lay all the blame for yesterday's
+disaster on my shoulders. However, I am sorry to say General Kock is
+wounded and in British hands. I don't know how many men we have lost;
+I suppose about 30 or 40 killed and approximately 100 wounded. The
+British must have lost considerably more, but I am not making any
+estimate."
+
+The grey-bearded generalissimo cooled a little and spoke more kindly,
+although he gave me to understand he did not think much of the
+Johannesburg commando. I replied that they had been fighting very
+pluckily, and that by retiring they hoped to retrieve their fortunes
+some other day. "H'm," returned the General, "some of your burghers
+have made so masterly a retreat that they have already got to
+Newcastle, and I have just wired Field-Cornet Pienaar, who is in
+charge, that I should suggest to him to wait a little there, as I
+propose sending him some railway carriages to enable him to retreat
+still further. As for those Germans and Hollanders with you, they may
+go to Johannesburg; I won't have them here any more."
+
+"General," I protested, "this is not quite fair. These people have
+volunteered to fight for, and with us; we cannot blame them in this
+matter. It is most unfortunate that Elandslaagte should have been
+lost, but as far as I can see there was no help for it." The old
+General appeared lost in thought; he seemed to take but little notice
+of what I said. Finally he looked up and fixed his small glittering
+eyes upon me as if he wished to read my most inmost thoughts.
+
+"Yes," he said, "I know all about that. At Dundee things have gone
+just as badly. Lukas Meyer made a feeble attack, and Erasmus left him
+in the lurch. The two were to charge simultaneously, but Erasmus
+failed him at a critical moment, which means a loss of 130 men killed
+and wounded, and Lukas Meyer in retreat across the Buffalo River. And
+now Elandslaagte on the top of all! All this owing to the disobedience
+and negligence of my chief officers."
+
+The old man spoke in this strain for some time, until I grew tired and
+left. But just as I was on the point of proceeding from his tent, he
+said: "Look here, Commandant, reorganise your commando as quickly as
+you can, and report to me as soon as you are ready." He also gave me
+permission to incorporate in the reorganised commando various
+Hollander and German stragglers who were loafing round about, although
+he seemed to entertain an irradicable prejudice against the Dutch and
+German corps.
+
+The Commandant of the Hollander corps, Volksraad Member Lombard, came
+out of the battle unscathed; his captain, Mr. B. J. Verselewel de Witt
+Hamer, had been made a prisoner; the Commandant of the German corps,
+Captain A. Schiel, fell wounded into British hands, while among the
+officers who were killed in action I should mention Dr. H. J. Coster,
+the bravest Hollander the Transvaal ever saw, the most brilliant
+member of the Pretoria Bar, who laid down his life because in a stupid
+moment Kruger had taunted him and his compatriots with cowardice.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+RISKING JOUBERT'S ANGER.
+
+
+After the above unpleasant but fairly successful interview with our
+Commander-in-Chief, I left the men I had gathered round me in charge
+of a field-cornet, and proceeded by train to Newcastle to collect the
+scattered remnants of my burghers, and to obtain mules and waggons for
+my convoy. For, as I have previously stated, it was at Newcastle we
+had left all our commissariat-waggons and draught cattle under a
+strong escort. On arrival I summoned the burghers together, and
+addressing them in a few words, pointed out that we should, so soon as
+possible, resume the march, in order to reach the fighting line
+without delay, and there retrieve the pride and honour of our
+commando.
+
+"Our beloved country," I said, "as well as our dead, wounded and
+missing comrades, require us not to lose courage at this first
+reverse, but to continue the righteous struggle even against
+overwhelming odds," and so on, in this strain.
+
+I honestly cannot understand why we should have been charged with
+cowardice at the battle of Elandslaagte, although many of us seemed to
+apprehend that this would be the case. We had made a good fight of it,
+but overwhelmed by an organised force of disciplined men, eight or ten
+times our number, we had been vanquished, and the British were the
+first to admit that we had manfully and honourably defended our
+positions. To put a wrong construction on our defeat was a libel on
+all who had bravely fought the fight, and I resented it. There are
+such things as the fortunes of war, and as only one side can win, it
+cannot always be the same. However, I soon discovered that a small
+number of our burghers did not seem inclined to join in the
+prolongation of the struggle. To have forced them to rejoin us would
+have served no purpose, so I thought the best policy would be to send
+them home on furlough until they had recovered their spirits and
+their courage. No doubt the scorn and derision to which they would be
+subjected by their wives and sisters would soon induce them to take up
+arms again and to fulfil the duties their country required. I
+therefore requested those who had neither the courage nor the
+inclination to return to the front to fall out, and about thirty men
+fell back, bowing their heads in shame. They were jeered at and
+chaffed by their fellows, the majority of whom had elected to proceed.
+But the shock of Elandslaagte had been too much for the weaker
+brethren, who seemed deaf to every argument, and only wanted to go
+home. I gave each of these a pass to proceed by rail to Johannesburg,
+which read as follows:--
+
+     "Permit..................................... to go to
+     Johannesburg on account of cowardice, at Government's
+     expense."
+
+They put the permit in their pockets without suspecting its contents,
+and departed with their kit to the station to catch the first
+available train.
+
+The reader will now have formed an idea of the disastrous moral effect
+of this defeat, and the subsequent difficulty of getting a commando up
+to its original fighting strength. But in spite of this I am proud to
+say that by far the greater number of the Johannesburgers were
+gathered round me and prepared to march to meet the enemy once more.
+
+My trap and all its contents had been captured by the enemy at
+Elandslaagte, and I found it necessary to obtain new outfits, &c., at
+Newcastle. This was no easy matter, as some of the storekeepers had
+moved the greater part of their goods to a safer place, while some
+commandos had appropriated most of the remainder. What was left had
+been commandeered by Mr. J. Moodie, a favourite of General Joubert,
+who was posing there as Resident Justice of the Peace; and he did not
+feel inclined to let any of these goods out of his possession. By
+alternately buying and looting, or in other words stealing, I managed
+to get an outfit by the next morning, and at break of day we left for
+Dannhauser Station, arriving there the same evening without further
+noteworthy incident.
+
+Next day, when the Johannesburg corps turned out, we numbered 485
+mounted men, all fully equipped. On arrival at Glencoe Station I
+received a telegram from General Joubert informing me that he had
+defeated the enemy at Nicholson's Nek near Ladysmith that day (October
+30, 1899) taking 1,300 prisoners, who would arrive at Glencoe the
+following morning. He desired me to conduct them to Pretoria under a
+strong escort. What a flattering order! To conduct prisoners-of-war,
+taken by other burghers! Were we then fit for nothing but police duty?
+
+However, orders have to be obeyed, so I sent one of my officers with
+40 men to take the prisoners to Pretoria, and reported to the
+Commandant-General by telegram that his order had been executed, also
+asking for instructions as to where I was to proceed with my commando.
+The reply I received was as follows:--
+
+"Pitch your camp near Dundee, and maintain law and order in the
+Province, also aid the Justice of the Peace in forwarding captured
+goods, ammunition, provisions, etc., to Pretoria, and see that you are
+not attacked a second time."
+
+This was more than flesh and blood could bear; more than a "white man"
+could stand. It was not less than a personal insult, which I deeply
+resented. Evidently my chief had resolved to keep us in the
+background; he would not trust our commando in the fighting line. In
+short, he would not keep his word and give us another chance to recoup
+our losses.
+
+I had, however, made up my mind, and ordered the commando to march to
+Ladysmith. If the General would not have me at the front I should
+cease to be an officer. And, although I had no friends of influence
+who could help me I resolved to take the bull by the horns, and leave
+the rest to fate.
+
+On the 1st November, 1899, we reached the main army near Ladysmith,
+and I went at once to tell General Joubert in person that my men
+wanted to fight, and not to play policemen in the rear of the army.
+Having given the order to dismount I proceeded to Joubert's tent,
+walked in with as much boldness as I could muster, and saluted the
+General, who was fortunately alone. I at once opened my case, telling
+him how unfair it was to keep us in the rear, and that the burghers
+were loudly protesting against such treatment. This plea was generally
+used throughout the campaign when an officer required something to be
+granted him. At first the old General was very wrathful. He said I had
+disobeyed his orders and that he had a mind to have me shot for breach
+of discipline. However, after much storming in his fine bass voice, he
+grew calmer, and in stentorian tones ordered me for the time being to
+join General Schalk Burger, who was operating near Lombard's Kop in
+the siege of Ladysmith.
+
+That same evening I arrived there with my commando and reported myself
+to Lieut-General Burger. One of his adjutants, Mr. Joachim Fourie, who
+distinguished himself afterwards on repeated occasions and was killed
+in action near his house in the Carolina district, showed me a place
+to laager in. We pitched our tents on the same spot where a few days
+before Generals White and French had been defeated, and there awaited
+developments.
+
+At this place the British, during the battle of Nicholson's Nek, had
+hidden a large quantity of rifle and gun ammunition in a hole in the
+ground, covering it up with grass, which gave it the appearance of a
+heap of rubbish. One of the burghers who feared this would be
+injurious to the health of our men in camp, set the grass on fire, and
+this soon penetrated to the ammunition. A tremendous explosion
+occurred, and it seemed as if there were a real battle in progress.
+From all sides burghers dashed up on horseback to learn where the
+fighting was taking place. General Joubert sent an adjutant to enquire
+whether the Johannesburgers were now killing each other for a change,
+and why I could not keep my men under better control. I asked this
+gentleman to be kind enough to see for himself what was taking place,
+and to tell the Commandant-General that I could manage well enough to
+keep my men in order, but could not be aware of the exact spot where
+the enemy had chosen to hide their ammunition.
+
+Meanwhile, it became daily more evident to me how greatly Joubert
+depreciated my commando, and that we would have to behave very well
+and fight very bravely to regain his favour. Other commandos also
+seemed to have no better opinion, and spoke of us as the laager which
+had to run at Elandslaagte, forgetting how even General Meyer's huge
+commando had been obliged to retreat in the greatest confusion at
+Dundee. If all the details of this Dundee engagement were published it
+would be discovered that it was a Boer disaster only second to that of
+Elandslaagte.
+
+We were now, however, at any rate at the front. I sent out my outposts
+and fixed my positions, which were very far from good; but I decided
+to make no complaints. We had resolved to do our very best to
+vindicate our honour, and to prove that our accusers had no reason to
+call us either cowards or good-for-nothings.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+THE BOER GENERAL'S SUPERSTITIONS.
+
+
+A few days after we had arrived before Ladysmith we joined an
+expedition to reconnoitre the British entrenchments, and my commando
+was ordered near some forts on the north-westerly side of the town.
+Both small and large artillery were being fired from each side. We
+approached within 800 paces of a fort; it was broad daylight and the
+enemy could therefore see us distinctly, knew the exact range, and
+received us with a perfect hailstorm of fire. Our only chance was to
+seek cover behind kopjes and in ditches, for on any Boer showing his
+head the bullets whistled round his ears. Here two of my burghers were
+severely wounded, and we had some considerable trouble to get them
+through the firing line to our ambulance. At last, late in the
+afternoon, came the order to retire, and we retired after having
+achieved nothing.
+
+I fail to this day to see the use of this reconnoitring, but at
+Ladysmith everything was equally mysterious and perplexing. It was
+perhaps that my knowledge of military matters was too limited to
+understand the subtle manoeuvres of those days. But I have made up my
+mind not to criticise our leader's military strategy, though I must
+say at this juncture that the whole siege of Ladysmith and the manner
+in which the besieged garrison was ineffectually pounded at with our
+big guns for several months, seem to me an unfathomable mystery,
+which, owing to Joubert's untimely death, will never be explained
+satisfactorily. But I venture to describe Joubert's policy outside
+Ladysmith as stupid and primitive, and in another chapter I shall
+again refer to it.
+
+After another fortnight or so, we were ordered away to guard another
+position to the south-west of Ladysmith, as the Free State commando
+under Commandant Nel, and, unless I am mistaken, under Field-Cornet
+Christian de Wet (afterwards the world-famous chief Commander of the
+Orange Free State, and of whom all Afrikanders are justly proud), had
+to go to Cape Colony.
+
+Here I was under the command of Dijl Erasmus, who was then General and
+a favourite of General Joubert. We had plenty of work given us.
+Trenches had to be dug and forts had to be constructed and remodelled.
+At this time an expedition ventured to Estcourt, under General Louis
+Botha, who replaced General L. Meyer, sent home on sick leave. My
+commando joined the expedition under Field-Cornet J. Kock, who
+afterwards caused me a lot of trouble.
+
+I can say but little of this expedition to Estcourt, save that the
+Commander-in-Chief accompanied it. But for his being with us, I am
+convinced that General Botha would have pushed on at least as far as
+Pietermaritzburg, for the English were at that time quite unable to
+stop our progress. But after we got to Estcourt, practically
+unopposed, Joubert, though our burghers had been victorious in battle
+after battle, ordered us to retreat. The only explanation General
+Joubert ever vouchsafed about the recall of this expedition was that
+in a heavy thunderstorm which had been raging for two nights near
+Estcourt, two Boers had been struck by lightning, which, according to
+his doctrine, was an infallible sign from the Almighty that the
+commandos were to proceed no further. It seems incredible that in
+these enlightened days we should find such a man in command of an
+army; it is, nevertheless, a fact that the loss of two burghers
+induced our Commandant-General to recall victorious commandos who were
+carrying all before them. The English at Pietermaritzburg, and even at
+Durban, were trembling lest we should push forward to the coast,
+knowing full well that in no wise could they have arrested our
+progress. And what an improvement in our position this would have
+meant! As it was, our retirement encouraged the British to push
+forward their fighting line so far as Chieveley Station, near the
+Tugela river, and the commandos had to take up a position in the
+"randjes," on the westerly banks of the Tugela.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+THE "GREAT POWERS" TO INTERVENE.
+
+
+During the retreat of our army to the frontier of the Transvaal
+Republic nothing of importance occurred. Here again confusion reigned
+supreme, and none of the commandos were over-anxious to form
+rearguards. Our Hollander Railway Company made a point of placing a
+respectful distance between her rolling-stock and the enemy, and,
+anxious to lose as few carriages as possible, raised innumerable
+difficulties when asked to transport our men, provisions and
+ammunition. Our generals had meantime proceeded to Laing's Nek by rail
+to seek new positions, and there was no one to maintain order and
+discipline.
+
+About 150 Natal Afrikanders who had joined our commandos when these
+under the late General Joubert occupied the districts about Newcastle
+and Ladysmith, now found themselves in an awkward position. They
+elected to come with us, accompanied by their families and live stock,
+and they offered a most heartrending spectacle. Long rows of carts and
+wagons wended their way wearily along the road to Laing's Nek. Women
+in tears, with their children and infants in arms, cast reproachful
+glances at us as being the cause of their misery. Others occupied
+themselves more usefully in driving their cattle. Altogether it was a
+scene the like of which I hope never to see again.
+
+The Natal kaffirs now had an opportunity of displaying their hatred
+towards the Boers. As soon as we had left a farm and its male
+inhabitants had gone, they swooped down on the place and wrought havoc
+and ruin, plundering and looting to their utmost carrying capacity.
+Some even assaulted women and children, and the most awful atrocities
+were committed. I attach more blame to the whites who encouraged these
+plundering bands, especially some of the Imperial troops and Natal
+men in military service. Not understanding the bestial nature of the
+kaffirs, they used them to help carry out their work of destruction,
+and although they gave them no actual orders to molest the people,
+they took no proper steps of preventing this.
+
+When our commando passed through Newcastle, we found the place almost
+entirely deserted, excepting for a few British subjects who had taken
+an oath of neutrality to the Boers.
+
+I regret to have to state that during our retreat a number of
+irresponsible persons set fire to the Government buildings in that
+town. It is said that an Italian officer burned a public hall on no
+reasonable pretext; certainly he never received orders to that effect.
+As may be expected of an invading army, some of our burgher patrols
+and other isolated bodies of troops looted and destroyed a number of
+houses which had been temporarily deserted. But with the exception of
+these few cases, I can state that no outrages were committed by us in
+Natal, and no property was needlessly destroyed.
+
+On our arrival at Laing's Nek a Council of War was immediately held to
+decide our future plans.
+
+We now found ourselves once more on the old battlefields of 1880 and
+1881, where Boer and Briton had met 20 years before to decide by trial
+of arms who should be master of the S. A. Republic. Traces of that
+desperate struggle were still plainly visible, and the historic height
+of Majuba stood there, an isolated sentinel, recalling to us the
+battle in which the unfortunate Colley lost both the day and his life.
+
+I was told off to take up a position in the Nek where the wagon-road
+runs to the east across the railway-tunnel, and here we made
+preparations for digging trenches and placing our guns. Soon after we
+had completed our entrenchments we once more saw the enemy. They were
+lying at Schuinshoogte on the Ingogo, and had sent a mounted corps
+with two guns to the Nek. Although we had no idea of the enemy's
+strength, we were fully prepared to meet the attack; the Pretoria,
+Lydenburg and other laagers were posted to the left on the summit of
+Majuba Hill, and other commandos held good positions on the east. But
+the enemy evidently thought that we had fled all the way back to
+Pretoria, and not expecting to find the Nek occupied, advanced quite
+unconcerned. We fired a few volleys at them, which caused them to halt
+in considerable surprise, and, replying with a little artillery fire,
+they quickly returned to Schuinshoogte. We had, however, to be on our
+guard both day and night. It was bitterly cold at the time and a
+strong easterly wind was blowing.
+
+Next day something occurred which afforded a change to the monotony of
+our situation, namely, the arrival from Pretoria of Mr. John Lombaard,
+member of the First Volksraad for Bethel. He asked permission to
+address us and informed us that we need only hold out another
+fortnight, for news from Europe had reached them to the effect that
+the Great Powers had decided to put an end to the War. This
+communication emanating from such a semi-official source was believed
+by a certain number of our men, but I think it did very little to
+brighten up the spirits of the majority, or arouse them from the
+lethargy into which they seemed to have fallen. A fortnight passed,
+and a month, without us hearing anything further of this expected
+intervention, and I have never been able to discover on whose
+authority and by whose orders Mr. Lombaard made to us that remarkable
+communication.
+
+Meantime, General Buller did not seem at all anxious to attack us,
+perhaps fearing a repetition of the "accidents" on the Tugela; or
+possibly he thought that our position was too strong. For some reason,
+therefore, Laing's Nek was never attacked, and Buller afterwards,
+having made a huge "detour," broke through Botha's Pass. Meanwhile,
+Lord Roberts and his forces were marching without opposition through
+the Orange Free State, and I was ordered to proceed to Vereeniging
+with my commando. We left Laing's Nek on the 19th of May, and
+proceeded to the Free State frontier by rail.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+COLENSO AND SPION KOP FIGHTS.
+
+
+Eight days after my commando had been stationed in my new position
+under General Erasmus, I received instructions to march to
+Potgietersdrift, on the Upper Tugela, near Spion Kop, and there to put
+myself at Andries Cronje's disposal. This gentleman was then a general
+in the Orange Free State Army, and although a very venerable looking
+person, was not very successful as a commander. Up to the 14th of
+December, 1899, no noteworthy incident took place, and nothing was
+done but a little desultory scouting along the Tugela, and the digging
+of trenches.
+
+At last came the welcome order summoning us to action; and we were
+bidden to march on Colenso Heights with 200 men to fill up the ranks,
+as a fight was imminent. We left under General Cronje and arrived the
+next morning at daybreak, and a few hours after began the battle now
+known to the world as the Battle of Colenso (15th December, 1899).
+
+I afterwards heard that the commandos under General Cronje were to
+cross the river and attack the enemy's left flank. This did not
+happen, as the greatest confusion prevailed owing to the various
+contradictory orders given by the generals. For instance, I myself
+received four contradictory orders from four generals within the space
+of ten minutes. I, however, took the initiative in moving my men up to
+the river to attempt the capture of a battery of guns on the enemy's
+left flank which had been left unprotected, as was the case with the
+ten guns which fell into our hands later in the day. I had approached
+within 1,400 paces of the enemy, and my burghers were following close
+behind me when an adjutant from General Botha (accompanied by a
+gentleman named C. Fourie, who was then also parading as a general)
+galloped up to us and ordered us at once to join the Ermelo commando,
+which was said to be too weak to resist the attacks of the enemy. We
+hurried thither as quickly as we could round the rear of the fighting
+line, where we were obliged to off-saddle and walk up to the position
+of the Ermelo burghers. This was no easy task; the battle was now in
+full swing, and the enemy's shells were bursting in dozens around us,
+and in the burning sun we had to run some miles.
+
+When we arrived at our destination Mr. Fourie (the pseudo general) and
+his adjutant could nowhere be found. As to the Ermelo burghers, they
+said they were quite comfortable, and had asked for no assistance.
+
+Not a single shell had reached them, for a clump of aloe trees stood a
+hundred yards away, which the English presumably had taken for Boers,
+judging by the terrific bombardment these trees were being subjected
+to.
+
+[Illustration: Along the Tugela--Coming suddenly upon an English
+Outpost.]
+
+By this time the attack was repulsed, and General Buller was in full
+retreat to Chieveley, though our commando had been unable to take an
+active part in the fighting, at which we were greatly disappointed.
+It is much to be regretted that the retreat of the enemy was not
+followed up at once. Had this been done, the campaign in Natal would
+have taken an entirely different aspect, and very probably would have
+been attended by a more favourable conclusion. I consider myself far
+from a prophet, but this I know; and if we had then and on subsequent
+occasions followed up our successes, the result of the Campaign would
+have been far more satisfactory to us.
+
+After I had assisted in bringing away through the river the guns we
+had taken, and seen to other matters which required my immediate
+attention, I was ordered to remain with the Ermelo commando at
+Colenso, near Toomdrift, and to await there further instructions.
+
+A few weeks of inactivity followed, the English sending us each day a
+few samples of their shells from their 4·7 Naval guns. Unfortunately,
+our guns were of much smaller calibre, and we could send them no
+suitable reply. As a rule we would lie in the trenches, and a burgher
+would be on the look-out. So soon as he saw the flash of an English
+gun, he would cry out; "There's a shell," and we then sought cover, so
+that the enemy seldom succeeded in harming us.
+
+One day one of these big shells fell amongst a group of fourteen
+burghers who were at dinner. The shell struck a sharp rock, which it
+splintered into fragments, and was emitting its yellow lyddite; but,
+fortunately, the fuse refused to burn, and the shell did not explode,
+so we had a narrow escape that day from a small catastrophe.
+
+My laager had been at Potgietersdrift all this time, and for the time
+being we were deprived of our tents. We were not sorry, therefore,
+when we were ordered to leave Colenso and to return to our camp.
+
+A few days after we were told off to take up a position at the
+junction of the Little and the Big Tugela, between Spion Kop and
+Colenso. Here we celebrated our first Christmas in the field; our
+friends at Johannesburg had sent us a quantity of presents by means of
+a friend, Attorney Raaff, comprising cakes, cigars, cigarettes,
+tobacco and other luxuries. Along this part of the Tugela we found a
+fair quantity of vegetables, and poultry, and as their respective
+owners had fled we were unable to pay for what we had. We were
+obliged, therefore, to "borrow" all these things for the banquet
+befitting to the occasion.
+
+But General Buller had not quite finished with us yet. He marched on
+Spion Kop, but with the exception of a feint attack nothing of
+importance happened then. One day I went across the river with a
+patrol to discover what the enemy was doing, when we suddenly came
+across nine English spies, who fled as soon as they saw us. We
+galloped after them, trying to cut them off from the main body, which
+was at a little distance away from us, and would no doubt have
+overtaken them, but, riding at a breakneck speed over a mountain
+ridge, we found ourselves suddenly confronted with a strong English
+mounted corps, apparently engaged in drilling. We were only 500 paces
+away from them, and we jumped off our horses, and opened fire. But
+there were only a dozen of us, and the enemy soon began sending us a
+few shells, and prepared to attack us with their whole force. About a
+hundred mounted men, with horses in the best of condition, set off to
+pursue us.
+
+We were obliged to ride back by the same path we had come by, which
+was fortunate for us, as we knew the way and could ride through
+crevices and dongas without any hesitation. In this way we soon gave
+our pursuers the slip.
+
+Buller's forces seemed at first to have the intention of forcing their
+way through near Potgietersdrift, and they took possession of all the
+"randts" on their side of the river, causing us to strengthen the
+position on our side. We thus had to shift our commando again to
+Potgietersdrift, where we soon had the enemy's Naval guns playing on
+our positions. This continued day and night for a whole week.
+
+It seemed as if General Buller were determined to annihilate all the
+Boers with his lyddite shells, so as to enable the soldiers to walk at
+their leisure to the release of Ladysmith. Certainly we suffered
+considerably from lyddite fumes.
+
+The British next made a feint attack near Potgietersdrift, advancing
+with a great clamour till they had come within 2,000 paces of us,
+where they occupied various "randts" and kopjes, always under cover of
+their artillery. Once they came a little too close to our positions,
+and we suddenly opened fire on them. The result was that their
+ambulance waggons were seen to become very busy driving backwards and
+forwards.
+
+This "feint," however, was only made in order to divert our attention,
+while Buller was concentrating his troops and guns on Spion Kop. The
+ruse succeeded to a large extent, and on the 21st January the
+memorable battle of Spion Kop (near the Upper Tugela) began.
+
+General Warren, who, I believe, was in command here, had ordered
+another "feint" attack from the extreme right wing. General Cronje and
+the Free Staters had taken up a position at Spion Kop, assisted by the
+commandos of General Erasmus and Schalk Burger.
+
+The fight lasted the whole of that day and the next, and became more
+and more fierce. Luckily General Botha appeared on the scene in time,
+and re-arranged matters so well and with so much energy that the enemy
+found itself well employed, and was kept in check at all points.
+
+I had been ordered to defend the position at Potgietersdrift, but the
+fighting round Spion Kop became so serious that I was obliged to send
+up a field cornet with his men as a reinforcement, which was soon
+followed by a second contingent, making altogether 200 Johannesburgers
+in the fight, of whom nine were killed and 18 wounded. The enemy had
+reached the top of the "kop" on the evening of the second day of the
+fight, not, however, without having sustained considerable losses. At
+this juncture one of our generals felt so disheartened that he sent
+away his carts, and himself left the battlefield.
+
+But General Botha kept his ground like a man, surrounded by the
+faithful little band who had already borne the brunt of this important
+battle. And one can imagine our delight when next morning we found
+that the English had retreated, leaving that immense battlefield,
+strewn with hundreds of dead and wounded, in our hands.
+
+"What made them leave so suddenly last night," was the question we
+asked each other then, and which remains unanswered to this day.
+
+General Warren has stated that the cause of his departure was the want
+of water, but I can hardly credit that statement, as water could be
+obtained all the way to the top of Spion Kop; and even had it been
+wanting it is not likely that after a sacrifice of 1,200 to 1,300
+lives the position would have been abandoned on this account alone.
+Our victory was undoubtedly a fluke.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+THE BATTLE OF VAALKRANTZ.
+
+
+Soon after his defeat at Spion Kop, General Buller, moved by the
+earnest entreaties for help from Ladysmith, and pressed by Lord
+Roberts, attempted a third time to break through our lines. This time
+my position had to bear the onslaught of his whole forces. For some
+days it had been clear to me what the enemy intended to do, but I
+wired in vain to the Commander-in-Chief to send me reinforcements, and
+I was left to defend a front, one and a half miles in length, with
+about 400 men. After many requests I at last moved General Joubert to
+send me one of the guns known as "Long Toms," which was placed at the
+rear of our position, and enabled us to command the Vaalkrantz, or, as
+we called it, "Pontdrift" kopjes. But instead of the required
+reinforcements, the Commander sent a telegram to General Meyer to
+Colenso, telling him to come and speak to me, and to put some heart
+into me, for it seemed, he said, "as if I had lost faith."
+
+General Meyer came, and I explained to him how matters stood, and that
+I should not be able to check the enormous attacking force with my
+commando alone. The British were at this time only 7,000 paces away
+from us. The required assistance, however, never came, although I told
+the General that a faith strong enough to move Majuba Hill would be of
+no avail without a sufficient number of men.
+
+Early in the morning of the 5th February, 1900, my position was
+heavily bombarded, and before the sun had risen four of my burghers
+had been put _hors de combat_. The enemy had placed their naval guns
+on the outskirts of the wood known as "Zwartkop" so as to be able to
+command our position from an elevation of about 400 feet. I happened
+to be on the right flank with ninety-five burghers and a pom-pom; my
+assistant, Commandant Jaapie du Preez, commanding the left flank.
+
+The assailants threw two pontoon bridges across the river and troops
+kept pouring over from 10 o'clock in the morning. The whole of the
+guns' fire was now concentrated on my position; and although we
+answered with a well-directed fire, they charged time after time.
+
+The number of my fighting men was rapidly diminishing. I may say this
+was the heaviest bombardment I witnessed during the whole of the
+campaign. It seemed to me as if all the guns of the British army were
+being fired at us.
+
+Their big lyddite guns sent over huge shells, which mowed down all the
+trees on the kopje, while about fifty field pieces were incessantly
+barking away from a shorter range. Conan Doyle, in his book, "The
+Great Boer War," states that the British had concentrated no less than
+seventy-three guns on that kopje. In vain I implored the nearest
+Generals for reinforcements and requested our artillery in Heaven's
+name to aim at the enemy's guns. At last, however, "Long Tom"
+commenced operations, but the artillerymen in charge had omitted to
+put the powder in a safe place and it was soon struck by a lyddite
+shell which set the whole of it on fire. This compelled us to send to
+the head laager near Ladysmith for a fresh supply of powder.
+
+On looking about me to see how my burghers were getting on I found
+that many around me had been killed and others were wounded. The
+clothes of the latter were burnt and they cried out for help in great
+agony.
+
+Our pom-pom had long since been silenced by the enemy, and thirty of
+my burghers had been put out of the fight. The enemy's infantry was
+advancing nearer and nearer and there was not much time left to think.
+I knelt down behind a kopje, along with some of the men, and we kept
+firing away at 400 paces, but although we sent a good many to eternal
+rest, the fire of the few burghers who were left was too weak to stem
+the onslaught of those overwhelming numbers.
+
+A lyddite shell suddenly burst over our very heads. Four burghers with
+me were blown to pieces and my rifle was smashed. It seemed to me as
+if a huge cauldron of boiling fat had burst over us and for some
+minutes I must have lost consciousness. A mouthful of brandy and water
+(which I always carried with me) was given me and restored me
+somewhat, and when I opened my eyes I saw the enemy climbing the kopje
+on three sides of us, some of them only a hundred paces away from me.
+
+I ordered my men to fall back and took charge of the pom-pom, and we
+then retired under a heavy rifle and gun fire. Some English writers
+have made much ado about the way in which our pom-pom was saved, but
+it was nothing out of the ordinary. Of the 95 burghers with me 29 had
+been killed, 24 wounded.
+
+When I had a few minutes rest I felt a piercing pain in my head, and
+the blood began to pour from my nose and ears.
+
+We had taken up another position at 1,700 paces, and fired our pom-pom
+at the enemy, who now occupied our position of a few minutes before.
+Our other guns were being fired as well, which gave the British an
+exciting quarter of an hour. On the right and left of the positions
+taken by them our burghers were still in possession of the "randten";
+to the right Jaapie du Preez, with the loss of only four wounded, kept
+his ground with the rest of my commando.
+
+The next morning the fight was renewed, and our "Long Tom" now took
+the lead in the cannon-concert, and seemed to make himself very
+unpleasant to the enemy.
+
+The whole day was mainly a battle of big guns. My headache grew
+unbearable, and I was very feverish. General Botha had meanwhile
+arrived with reinforcements, and towards evening things took a better
+turn.
+
+But I was temporarily done for, and again lost consciousness, and was
+taken to the ambulance. Dr. Shaw did his best, I hear, for me; but I
+was unconscious for several days, and when I revived the doctor told
+me I had a slight fracture of the skull caused by the bursting of a
+shell. The injuries, however, could not have been very serious for ten
+days after I was able to leave my bed. I then heard that the night I
+had been taken to the hospital, the British had once more been forced
+to retire across the Tugela, and early in the morning of the 7th of
+February our burghers were again in possession of the kopje
+"Vaalkrantz," round which such a fierce fight had waged and for the
+possession of which so much blood had been spilled.
+
+So far as I could gather from the English official reports they lost
+about 400 men, while our dead and wounded numbered only sixty-two.
+
+Taking into consideration the determination with which General Buller
+had attacked us, and how dearly he had paid for this third abortive
+attempt, the retreat of his troops remains as much of a mystery to me
+as that at Spion Kop.
+
+Our "Long Tom" was a decided success, and had proved itself to be
+exceedingly useful.
+
+The Battle of "Vaalkrantz" kopje was to me and to the Johannesburg
+commando undoubtedly the most important and the fiercest fight in this
+war, and although one point in our positions was taken, I think that
+on the whole I may be proud of our defence. About two-thirds of its
+defenders were killed or wounded before the enemy took that spot, and
+all who afterwards visited the kopje where our struggle had taken
+place had to admit that unmistakable evidence showed it to be one of
+the hottest fights of the Natal campaign. All the trees were torn up
+or smashed by shells, great blocks of rock had been splintered and
+were stained yellow by the lyddite; mutilated bodies were lying
+everywhere--Briton and Boer side by side; for during the short time
+"Vaalkrantz" had been in their possession the English had not had an
+opportunity of burying the bodies of friends or foe.
+
+I think I may quote a few paragraphs of what Dr. Doyle says in his
+book about this engagement:--
+
+     "The artillery-fire (the "Zwartkop" guns and other
+     batteries) was then hurriedly aimed at the isolated
+     "Vaalkrantz" (the real object of the attack), and had a
+     terrific effect. It is doubtful whether ever before a
+     position has been exposed to such an awful bombardment. The
+     weight of the ammunition fired by some of the cannon was
+     greater than that of an entire German battery during the
+     Franco-Prussian war."
+
+Prince Kraft describes the 4 and 6-pounders as mere toys compared with
+machine Howitzer and 4·7 guns.
+
+Dr. Doyle, however, is not sure about the effect of these powerful
+guns, for he says:--
+
+     "Although the rims of the kopje were being pounded by
+     lyddite and other bombs it is doubtful whether this terrific
+     fire did much damage among the enemy, as seven English
+     officers and 70 men were lying dead on the kopje against
+     only a few Boers, who were found to have been wounded."
+
+Of the pom-pom, which I succeeded in saving from the enemy's hands,
+the same writer says:--
+
+     "It was during this attack that something happened of a more
+     picturesque and romantic nature than is usually the case in
+     modern warfare; here it was not a question of combatants and
+     guns being invisible or the destruction of a great mass of
+     people. In this case it concerns a Boer gun, cut off by the
+     British troops, which all of a sudden came out of its
+     hiding-place and scampered away like a frightened hare from
+     his lair. It fled from the danger as fast as the mules' legs
+     would take it, nearly overturning, and jolting and knocking
+     against the rocks, while the driver bent forward as far as
+     he could to protect himself from the shower of bullets which
+     were whistling round his ears in all directions. British
+     shells to the right of him, shells to the left of him
+     bursting and spluttering, lyddite shrapnel fuming and
+     fizzing and making the splinters fly. But over the "randtje"
+     the gun disappeared, and in a few minutes after it was in
+     position again, and dealing death and destruction amongst
+     the British assailants."
+
+While I was under treatment in Dr. Shaw's ambulance I was honoured by
+a visit from General Joubert, who came to compliment me on what he
+called the splendid defence of Vaalkrantz, and to express his regret
+at the heavy loss sustained by our commando. I heard from Dr. Shaw
+that after the battle the groans and cries of the wounded burghers
+could be heard in the immediate neighbourhood of the English outposts.
+Some burghers volunteered to go, under cover of the darkness, to see
+if they could save these wounded men. They cautiously crept up to the
+foot of the kopjes, from where they could plainly see the English
+sentinels, and a little further down found in a ditch two of our
+wounded, named Brand and Liebenberg; the first had an arm and a leg
+smashed, the latter had a bullet in his thigh.
+
+One can imagine what a terrible plight they were in after laying there
+for two nights and a day, exposed to the night's severe cold and the
+day's scorching sun. Their wounds were already decomposing, and the
+odour was most objectionable.
+
+The two unfortunate men were at once carried to the laager and
+attended to with greatest care. Poor Liebenberg died of his wounds
+soon after. Brand, the youngest son of the late President Brand, of
+the Orange Free State, soon recovered, if I remember rightly.
+
+At the risk of incurring the displeasure of a great number of people
+by adding the following statement to my description of the battle of
+Vaalkrantz, I feel bound to state that Commandant-General Joubert,
+after our successes at Colenso, Spion Kop, and Vaalkrantz, asked the
+two State Presidents, Kruger and Steyn, to consider the urgency of
+making peace overtures to the English Government. He pointed out that
+the Republics had no doubt reached the summit of their glory in the
+War. The proposal read as follows: That the Republican troops should
+at once evacuate British territory, compensation to be given for the
+damage to property, etc., inflicted by our commandos, against which
+the British Government was to guarantee that the Republics should be
+spared from any further incursions or attacks from British troops, and
+to waive its claim of Suzerainty; and that the British Government
+should undertake not to interfere with the internal affairs and legal
+procedure of the two Republics, and grant general amnesty to the
+colonial rebels.
+
+Commander-in-Chief Joubert defended these proposals by pointing out
+that England was at that moment in difficulties, and had suffered
+repeated serious defeats. The opportunity should be taken, urged the
+General.
+
+He was supported by several officers, but other Boer leaders contended
+that Natal, originally Boer territory, should never again be ceded to
+the enemy. As we heard nothing more of these proposals, I suppose the
+two State Presidents rejected them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+THE TURN OF THE TIDE.
+
+
+After the English forces had retreated from Vaalkrantz across the
+Tugela, a patrol of my commando under my faithful adjutant, J. Du
+Preez, who had taken my place for the time being, succeeded in
+surprising a troop of fifty Lancers, of the 17th regiment, I believe,
+near Zwartkop, east of the Tugela, and making them prisoners after a
+short skirmish. Among these men, who were afterwards sent to Pretoria,
+was a certain Lieutenant Thurlington. It was a strange sight to see
+our patrol coming back with their victims, each Boer brandishing a
+captured lance.
+
+Being still in the hospital in feeble health without any prospect of a
+speedy recovery, I took the doctor's advice and went home to
+Rondepoort, near Krugersdorp, where my family was staying at the
+time, and there, thanks to the careful treatment of my kind doctor and
+the tender care of my wife I soon recovered my strength.
+
+On the 25th of February I received a communication from my commando to
+the effect that General Buller had once more concentrated his forces
+on Colenso and that heavy fighting was going on. The same evening I
+also had a telegram from President Kruger, urging me to rejoin my
+commando so soon as health would allow, for affairs seemed to have
+taken a critical turn. The enemy appeared to mean business this time,
+and our commando had already been compelled to evacuate some very
+important positions, one of which was Pieter's Heights.
+
+Then the news came from Cape Colony that General Piet Cronje had been
+surrounded at Paardeberg, and that as he stubbornly refused to abandon
+his convoy and retreat, he would soon be compelled by a superior force
+to surrender.
+
+The next morning I was in a fast train to Natal, accompanied by my
+faithful adjutant, Rokzak. My other adjutant, Du Preez, had meantime
+been ordered to take a reinforcement of 150 men to Pieter's Heights,
+and was soon engaged in a desperate struggle in the locality situated
+between the Krugersdorpers' and the Middleburgers' positions. The
+situation was generally considered very serious when I arrived near
+the head laager at Modderspruit late in the evening of the 27th of
+February, unaware of the unfavourable turn things had taken during the
+day at Paardeberg, in the Cape Colony, and on the Tugela. We rode on
+that night to my laager at Potgietersdrift, but having to go by a
+roundabout way it took us till early next morning before we reached
+our destination. The first thing I saw on my arrival was a cart
+containing ten wounded men, who had just been brought in from the
+fighting line, all yellow with lyddite.
+
+Field-cornet P. van der Byl, who came fresh from the fight near
+Pieter's Heights, told me that these burghers had been wounded there.
+I asked them what had happened and how matters stood. "Ah,
+Commandant," he replied, "things are in a very bad way! Commandant Du
+Preez and myself were called to Pieter's Heights three days ago, as
+the enemy wanted to force their way through. We were in a very awkward
+position, the enemy storming us again and again; but we held our own,
+and fired on the soldiers at 50 paces. The English, however, directed
+an uninterrupted gun fire at our commandos, and wrought great havoc.
+Early Sunday morning the other side asked for a truce to enable them
+to bury their dead who were lying too close to our positions to be got
+at during the fighting. Many of their wounded were lying there as
+well, and the air was rent during 24 hours with their agonised groans,
+which were awful to hear. We, therefore, granted an armistice till 6
+o'clock in the evening." (This curiously coincided in time with Lord
+Roberts' refusal to General Piet Cronje at Paardeberg to bury his
+dead).
+
+"The enemy," continued the field-cornet, "broke through several
+positions, and while we were being fired at by the troops which were
+advancing on us, we were attacked on our left flank and in the rear.
+Assistant-Commandant Du Preez, and Field-Cornet Mostert, were both
+severely wounded, but are now in safe hands. Besides these, 42 of our
+burghers were killed, wounded, or taken prisoners; we could only bring
+16 of our wounded with us. The Krugersdorpers, too, have suffered
+severely. The enemy has pushed through, and I suppose my burghers are
+now taking up a position in the "randten" near Onderbroekspruit."
+
+Here was a nice state of things! When I had left my commando 15 days
+previously, we had had heavy losses in the battle of Vaalkrantz, and
+now again my burghers had been badly cut up. We had lost over 100 men
+in one month.
+
+But there was no time to lose in lamenting over these matters, for I
+had just received information that General P. Cronje had been taken
+prisoner with 4,000 men. The next report was to the effect that the
+enemy was breaking through near Onderbroekspruit, and that some
+burghers were retiring past Ladysmith. I was still in telegraphic
+communication with the head laager, and at once wired to the
+Commandant-General for instructions. The answer was:--
+
+     "Send your carts back to Modderspruit (our headquarters) and
+     hold the position with your mounted commandos."
+
+The position indicated was on the Upper Tugela, on a line with
+Colenso. My laager was about 20 miles away from the head laager; the
+enemy had passed through Onderbroekspruit, and was pushing on with all
+possible speed to relieve Ladysmith, so that I now stood in an oblique
+line with the enemy's rear. I sent out my carts to the south-west,
+going round Ladysmith in the direction of Modderspruit. One of my
+scouts reported to me that the Free State commandos which had been
+besieging Ladysmith to the south, had all gone in the direction of Van
+Reenen's Pass; another brought the information that the enemy had been
+seen to approach the village, and that a great force of cavalry was
+making straight for us.
+
+General Joubert's instructions were therefore inexplicable to me, and
+if I had carried them out I would probably have been cut off by the
+enemy. My burghers were also getting restless, and asked me why, while
+all the other commandos were retiring, we did not move. Cronje's
+surrender had had a most disheartening effect on them; there was, in
+fact, quite a panic among them. I mounted a high kopje from which I
+could see the whole Orange Free State army, followed by a long line of
+quite 500 carts and a lot of cattle, in full retreat, and enveloped in
+great clouds of red dust. To the right of Ladysmith I also noticed a
+similar melancholy procession. On turning round, I saw the English in
+vast numbers approaching very cautiously, so slowly, in fact, that it
+would take some time before they could reach us. Another and great
+force was rushing up behind them, also in the direction of Ladysmith.
+
+It must have been a race for the Distinguished Service Order or the
+Victoria Cross to be won by the one who was first to enter Ladysmith.
+We knew that the British infantry, aided by the artillery, had paved
+the way for relief, and I noticed the Irish Fusiliers on this
+occasion, as always, in the van. But Lord Dundonald rushed in and was
+proclaimed the hero of the occasion.
+
+Before concluding this chapter I should like to refer to a few
+incidents which happened during the Siege of Ladysmith. It is
+unnecessary to give a detailed description of the destruction of "Long
+Tom" at Lombardskop or the blowing up of another gun west of
+Ladysmith, belonging to the Pretoria Commando. The other side have
+written enough about this, and made enough capital out of them; and
+many a D.S.O. and V.C. has been awarded on account of them.
+
+Alas, I can put forward nothing to lessen our dishonour. As regards
+the "Long Tom" which was blown up, this was a piece of pure treachery,
+and a shocking piece of neglect, Commandant Weilbach, who ought to
+have defended this gun with the whole of his Heidelberg Commando, was
+unfaithful to his charge. The Heidelbergers, however, under a better
+officer, subsequently proved themselves excellent soldiers. A certain
+Major Erasmus was also to blame. He was continually under the
+influence of some beverage which could not be described as "aqua
+pura"; and we, therefore, expected little from him. But although the
+planning and the execution of the scheme to blow up "Long Tom" was a
+clever piece of work, the British wasted time and opportunity amusing
+themselves in cutting out on the gun the letters "R.A." (Royal
+Artillery), and the effect of the explosion was only to injure part of
+the barrel. After a little operation in the workshops of the
+Netherlands South African Railway Company at Pretoria under the
+direction of Mr. Uggla, our gun-doctor, "Long Tom's" mouth was healed
+and he could spit fire again as well as before. As to the blowing up
+of the howitzer shortly after, I will say the incident reflected no
+credit on General Erasmus, as he ought to have been warned by what
+happened near Lombardskop, and to have taken proper precautions not to
+give a group of starving and suffering soldiers an opportunity of
+penetrating his lines and advancing right up to his guns.
+
+Both incidents will be an ugly blot on the history of this war, and I
+am sorry to say the two Boer officers have never received condign
+punishment. They should, at any rate, have been called before the
+Commandant-General to explain their conduct.
+
+The storming of Platrand (Cæsar's Camp), south-east of Ladysmith, on
+the 6th of January, 1900, also turned out badly for many reasons. The
+attack was not properly conducted owing to a jealousy amongst some of
+the generals, and there was not proper co-operation.
+
+The burghers who took part in the assault and captured several forts
+did some splendid work, which they might well be proud of, but they
+were not seconded as they should have been. The enemy knew that if
+they lost Platrand, Ladysmith would have to surrender; they therefore
+defended every inch of ground, with the result that our men were
+finally compelled to give way. And, for our pains, we sustained an
+enormous loss in men, which did not improve in any way the broken
+spirit of our burghers.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+THE GREAT BOER RETREAT.
+
+
+There was clearly no help for it, we had to retreat. I gave orders to
+saddle up and to follow the example of the other commandos, reporting
+the fact to the Commandant-General. An answer came--not from
+Modderspruit this time, but from the station beyond Elandslaagte--that
+a general retreat had been ordered, most of the commandos having
+already passed Ladysmith, and that General Joubert had gone in advance
+to Glencoe. At dusk I left the Tugela positions which we had so
+successfully held for a considerable time, where we had arrested the
+enemy from marching to the relief of Ladysmith, and where so many
+comrades had sacrificed their lives for their country and their
+people.
+
+It was a sad sight to see the commandos retreating in utter chaos and
+disorder in all directions. I asked many officers what instructions
+they had received, but nobody seemed to know what the orders actually
+were; their only idea seemed to be to get away as quickly as possible.
+
+Finally, at 9 o'clock in the evening we reached Klip River, where a
+strange scene was taking place. The banks were crowded with hundreds
+of mounted men, carts and cattle mingled in utter confusion amongst
+the guns, all awaiting their turn to cross. With an infinite amount of
+trouble the carts were all got over one at a time. After a few
+minutes' rest I decided on consulting my officers, that we should
+cross the river with our men by another drift further up the stream,
+our example being followed by a number of other commandos.
+
+I should point out here that in retreating we were going to the left,
+and therefore in perilous proximity to Ladysmith. The commandos which
+had been investing the town were all gone; and Buller's troops had
+already reached it from the eastern side, and there was really
+nothing to prevent the enemy from turning our rear, which had perforce
+to pass Ladysmith on its way from the Tugela. When we had finally got
+through the drift late that evening, a rumour reached us that the
+British were in possession of Modderspruit, and so far as that road
+was concerned, our retreat was effectually cut off.
+
+Shortly before the War, however, the English had made a new road which
+followed the course of the Klip River up to the Drakensbergen, and
+then led through the Biggarsbergen to Newcastle. This road was, I
+believe, made for military purposes; but it was very useful to us, and
+our wagons were safely got away by it.
+
+Commandant D. Joubert, of the Carolina Commando, then sent a message
+asking for reinforcements for the Pretoria laager, situated to the
+north-west of Ladysmith. It was a dark night and the rain was pouring
+down in torrents, which rendered it very difficult to get the
+necessary burghers together for this purpose.
+
+I managed, however, to induce a sufficient number of men to come
+together, and we rode back; but on nearing the Pretoria Laager, I
+found to my dismay that there were only 22 of us left. What was to be
+done? This handful of men was of very little use; yet to return would
+have been cowardly, and besides, in the meantime our laager would have
+gone on, and would now be several hours' riding ahead of us. I sent
+some burghers in advance to see what was happening to the Pretoria
+Laager. It seemed strange to me that the place should still be in the
+hands of our men, seeing that all the other commandos had long since
+retired. After waiting fully an hour, our scouts came back with the
+information that the laager was full of English soldiers, and that
+they had been able to hear them quarrelling about the booty left
+behind by the burghers.
+
+It was now two o'clock in the morning. Our Pretoria comrades were
+apparently safe, and considerably relieved we decided to ride to
+Elandslaagte which my men would by that time have surely reached. Our
+carts were sooner or later bound to arrive there, inasmuch as they
+were in charge of a field-cornet known to us as one of our best
+"retreat officers." I think it was splendid policy under the
+circumstances to appoint such a gentleman to such a task; I felt sure
+that the enemy would never overtake him and capture his carts. We
+followed the main road, which was fortunately not held by the enemy,
+as had been reported to us. On the way we encountered several carts
+and waggons which had been cast away by the owners for fear of being
+caught up by the pursuing troops. Of course the rumour that this road
+was in possession of the English was false, but it increased the panic
+among the burghers. Not only carts had been left behind, but, as we
+found in places, sacks of flour, tins of coffee, mattresses and other
+jettison, thrown out of the carts to lighten their burden.
+
+On nearing Elandslaagte we caught up the rear of the fleeing
+commandos. Here we learned that Generals Botha and Meyer were still
+behind us with their commandos, near Lombardsdorp. We off-saddled,
+exhausted and half starving. Luckily, some of the provisions of our
+commissariat, which had been stored here during the Ladysmith
+investment, had not been carried away. But, to our disgust, we found
+that the Commissariat-Commissioner had set fire to the whole of it, so
+we had to appease our hunger by picking half-burned potatoes out of a
+fire.
+
+At 7 o'clock next morning General Botha and his men arrived at
+Elandslaagte and off-saddled in hopes of getting something to eat.
+They were also doomed to disappointment. Such wanton destruction of
+God's bounty was loudly condemned, and had Mr. Pretorius, the
+Commissioner of Stores, not been discreet enough to make himself
+scarce, he would no doubt have been subjected to a severe
+"sjamboking." Later in the day a council of war was held, and it was
+decided that we should all stay there for the day, in order to stop
+the enemy if they should pursue us. Meantime we would allow the
+convoys an opportunity of getting to the other side of the Sunday
+River.
+
+The British must have been so overjoyed at the relief of Ladysmith
+that Generals Buller and White did not think it necessary to pursue
+us, at any rate for some time, a consideration for which we were
+profoundly grateful. Methinks General Buller must have felt that he
+had paid a big price for the relief of Ladysmith, for it must have
+cost him many more lives than he had relieved. But in that place were
+a few Jingos (Natal Jingos) who had to be released, I suppose, at any
+costs.
+
+My burghers and I had neither cooking utensils nor food, and were
+anxious to push forward and find our convoys; for we had not as yet
+learned to live without carts and commissariat. At dusk the
+generals--I have no idea who they were--ordered us to hold the
+"randjes" south of the Sunday River till the following day, and that
+no burghers were to cross the river. This order did not seem to please
+the majority, but the Generals had put a guard near the bridge, with
+instructions to shoot any burghers and their horses should they try to
+get to the other side; so they had perforce, to remain where they
+were. Now I had only 22 men under my command, and I did not think
+these would make an appreciable difference to our fighting force, so I
+said to myself: "To-night we shall have a little game with the
+generals for once."
+
+We rode towards the bridge, and of course the guard there threatened
+to fire on us if we did not go back immediately. My adjutant, however,
+rode up and said: "Stand back, you ----! This is Commandant Viljoen,
+who has been ordered to hurry up a patrol at ----" (mentioning some
+place a few miles away) "which is in imminent danger of being
+captured."
+
+The guards, quite satisfied, stepped back and favoured us with a
+military salute as we rode by. When we had been riding a little way I
+heard someone ask them what "people" they were who had passed over the
+bridge, and I caught the words: "Now you will see that they will all
+want to cross."
+
+I do not contend I was quite right in acting in this insubordinate
+manner, but we strongly objected to being put under the guard of other
+commandos by some one irresponsible general. I went on that night
+till we reached the Biggarsbergen, and next day sent out scouts in the
+direction of the Drakensbergen to inquire for the scattered remains of
+my commando. The mountains were covered with cattle from the laagers
+about Glencoe Station. The Boers there were cooking food, shoeing
+their horses, or repairing their clothes; in fact, they were very
+comfortable and very busy. They remarked: "There are many more
+burghers yonder with the General; we are quite sure of that." ... "The
+Commandant-General is near Glencoe and will stop the retreating men."
+
+In short, as was continually happening in the War, everything was left
+to chance and the Almighty. Luckily General Botha had deemed it his
+duty to form a rearguard and cover our retreat; otherwise the English
+would have captured a large number of laagers, and many burghers whose
+horses were done up. But, whereas we had too little discipline, the
+English had evidently too much. It is not for me to say why General
+Buller did not have us followed up; but it seems that the British
+lost a splendid chance.
+
+Some days went by without anything of note happening. My scouts
+returned on the third day and reported that my commando and its laager
+had safely got through, and could be expected the next day. Meanwhile
+I had procured some provisions at Glencoe, and for the time being we
+had nothing to complain about.
+
+I was very much amused next day to receive by despatch-rider a copy of
+a telegram from Glencoe sent by General Joubert to General Prinsloo at
+Harrismith (Orange Free State) asking for information regarding
+several missing commandos and officers, amongst whom my name appeared,
+while the telegram also contained the startling news that my commando
+had been reported cut up at Klip River and that I had been killed in
+action! This was the second time that I was killed, but one eventually
+gets used to that sort of thing.
+
+I sent, by the despatch-rider, this reply:--
+
+"I and my commando are very much alive!" Adding: "Tell the General we
+want four slaughter oxen."
+
+The following day I received orders to attend a council of war which
+was to be held at Glencoe Station. The principal object of this
+gathering was to discuss further plans of operation, to decide as to
+where our next positions were to be taken, and where the new fighting
+line would be formed.
+
+[Illustration: General Joubert opening a Council of War with Prayer.]
+
+We all met at the appointed time in a big unoccupied hall near Glencoe
+Station, where General Joubert opened the last council that he was to
+conduct in this world. Over 50 officers were present and the interest
+was very keen for several reasons. In the first place we all desired
+some official information about the fate of General Cronje and his
+burghers at Paardeburg, and in the second place some expected to hear
+something definite about the intervention of which so much had been
+said and written of late. In fact many thought that Russia, France,
+Germany or the United States of America would surely intervene so soon
+as the fortunes of war began to turn against us. My personal opinion
+was stated just before the war at a public meeting, held in
+Johannesburg, where I said: "If we are driven to war we must not rely
+for deliverance on foreign powers, but on God and the Mauser."
+
+Some officers thought we ought to retire to our frontiers as far as
+Laing's Nek, and it was generally believed that this proposal would be
+adopted. According to our custom General Joubert opened the council
+with an address, in which he described the situation in its details.
+It was evident that our Commandant-General was very low-spirited and
+melancholy, and was suffering greatly from that painful internal
+complaint which was so soon to put an end to his career.
+
+No less than eleven assisting commandants and fighting generals were
+present, and yet not one could say who was next in command to General
+Joubert. I spoke to some friends about the irregularities which
+occurred during our retreat from Ladysmith: how all the generals were
+absent except Botha and Meyer, while the latter was on far from good
+terms with General Joubert since the unfortunate attack on Platrand.
+This was undoubtedly due to the want of co-operation on the part of
+the various generals, and I resolved if possible, to bring our army
+into a closer union. I therefore proposed a motion:--
+
+     "That all the generals be asked to resign, with the
+     exception of one assistant commandant-general and one
+     fighting general."
+
+Commandant Engelbrecht had promised to second my proposal, but when it
+was read out his courage failed him. The motion, moreover, was not
+very well received, and when it was put to the vote I found that I
+stood alone, even my seconder having forsaken me. As soon as an
+opportunity presented itself I asked General Joubert who was to be
+second in command. My question was not answered directly, but egged on
+by my colleagues, I asked whether General Botha would be next in
+command. To this he replied: "Yes, that is what I understand--."
+
+And if I am not mistaken, this was the first announcement of the
+important fact that Botha was to lead us in future.
+
+Much more was said and much arranged; some of the commandos were to go
+to Cape Colony and attempt to check the progress of Lord Roberts, who
+was marching steadily north after Cronje's surrender. Finally each
+officer had some position assigned to him in the mountain-chain we
+call the Biggarsbergen. I was placed under General Meyer at
+Vantondersnek, near Pomeroy, and we left at once for our destination.
+From this place a pass leads through the Biggarsbergen, about 18 miles
+from Glencoe Station.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+DRIVEN FROM THE BIGGARSBERGEN.
+
+
+We spent the next few weeks in entrenching and fortifying our new
+positions. General Botha had left with some men for the Orange Free
+State which Lord Roberts, having relieved Kimberley, was marching
+through. General Joubert died about this time at Pretoria, having been
+twenty-one years Commandant-General of the South African Republic. He
+was without doubt one of the most prominent figures in the South
+African drama.
+
+General Botha now took up the chief command and soon proved himself to
+be worthy of holding the reins. He enjoyed the confidence and esteem
+of our whole army, a very important advantage under our trying
+circumstances.
+
+Assisted by De Wet he was soon engaged in organizing the commandos in
+the Orange Free State, and in attempting to make some sort of a stand
+against the British, who were now marching through the country in
+overwhelming numbers. In this Republic the burghers had been under the
+command of the aged General Prinsloo, who now, however, had become so
+downhearted that the supreme command was taken from him and given to
+General De Wet. Prinsloo surrendered soon after, in doing which he did
+his people his greatest service; it was, however, unfortunate that he
+should have succeeded in leading with him 900 burghers into the hands
+of the enemy.
+
+In the Biggarsbergen we had nothing to do but to sleep and eat and
+drink. On two separate occasions, however, we were ordered to join
+others in attacking the enemy's camp at Elandslaagte. This was done
+with much ado, but I would rather say nothing about the way in which
+the attacks were directed. It suffices to say that both failed
+miserably, and we were forced to retire considerably quicker than we
+had come.
+
+Our generals, meantime, were very busy issuing innumerable circulars
+to the different commandos. It is impossible for me to remember the
+contents of all these curious manifestos, but one read as follows:--
+
+     "A roll-call of all burghers is to be taken daily; weekly
+     reports are to be sent to headquarters of each separate
+     commando, and the minimum number of burghers making up a
+     field-cornetship is therein to be stated. Every 15 men
+     forming a field-cornetship are to be under a corporal; and
+     these corporals are to hold a roll-call every day, and to
+     send in weekly detailed reports of their men to the
+     Field-Cornet and Commandant, who in his turn must report to
+     the General."
+
+Another lengthy circular had full instructions and regulations for the
+granting of "leave" to burghers, an intricate arrangement which gave
+officers a considerable amount of trouble. The scheme was known as the
+"furlough system," and was an effort to introduce a show of
+organisation into the weighty matter of granting leave of absence. It
+failed, however, completely to have its desired effect. It provided
+that one-tenth of each commando should be granted furlough for a
+fortnight, and then return to allow another tenth part to go in its
+turn. In a case of sick leave, a doctor's certificate was required,
+which had to bear the counter-signature of the field-cornet; its
+possessor was then allowed to go home instead of to the hospital.
+Further, a percentage of the farmers were allowed from time to time to
+go home and attend to pressing matters of their farms, such as
+harvesting, shearing sheep, etc. Men were chosen by the farmers to go
+and attend to matters not only for themselves but for other farmers in
+their districts as well. The net result of all this was that when
+everybody who could on some pretext or other obtain furlough had done
+so, about a third of each commando was missing. My burghers who were
+mostly men from the Witwatersrand Goldfields, could of course obtain
+no leave for farming purposes; and great dissatisfaction prevailed. I
+was inundated with complaints about their unfair treatment in this
+respect and only settled matters with considerable trouble.
+
+I agree that this matter had to be regulated somehow, and I do not
+blame the authorities for their inability to cope with the
+difficulty. It seemed a great pity, however, that the commandos should
+be weakened so much and that the fighting spirit should be destroyed
+in this fashion. Of course it was our first big war and our
+arrangements were naturally of a very primitive character.
+
+It was the beginning of May before our friends the enemy at Ladysmith
+and Elandslaagte began to show some signs of activity. We discovered
+unmistakable signs that some big forward movement was in progress, but
+we could not discover on which point the attack was to be directed.
+Buller and his men were marching on the road along Vantondersnek, and
+I scented heavy fighting for us again. I gathered a strong patrol and
+started out to reconnoitre the position. We found that the enemy had
+pitched their camp past Waschbank in great force, and were sending out
+detachments in an easterly direction. From this I concluded that they
+did not propose going through Vantondersnek, but that they intended to
+attack our left flank at Helpmakaar. This seemed to me, at any rate,
+to be General Buller's safest plan.
+
+Helpmakaar was east of my position; it is a little village elbowed in
+a pass in the Biggarsbergen. By taking this point one could hold the
+key to our entire extended line of defence, as was subsequently only
+too clearly shown. I pointed this out to some of our generals, but a
+commandant's opinion did not weigh much just then; nor was any notice
+taken of a similar warning from Commandant Christian Botha, who held a
+position close to mine with the Swaziland burghers.
+
+We had repeated skirmishes with the English outposts during our
+scouting expeditions, and on one occasion we suddenly encountered a
+score of men of the South African Light Horse.
+
+We noticed them in a "donk" (a hollow place) thickly covered with
+trees and bushes, but not before we were right amongst them. It
+appears they mistook us for Englishmen, while we thought at first they
+were members of Colonel Blake's Irish Brigade. Many of them shook
+hands with us, and a burgher named Vivian Cogell asked them in Dutch:
+"How are you, boys?"
+
+To which an Englishman, who understood a little Dutch, answered: "Oh,
+all right; where do you come from?"
+
+Vivian replied: "From Viljoen's commando; we are scouting."
+
+Then the Englishman discovered who we were, but Vivian gave the man no
+time for reflection. Riding up to him, he asked: "What regiment do you
+belong to?"
+
+"To the South African Light Horse," answered the Englishman.
+
+"Hands up!" retorted Vivian, and the English-Afrikander threw down his
+gun and put up his hands.
+
+"Hands up! Hands up!" was the cry now universally heard, and although
+a few escaped, the majority were disarmed and made prisoners. It had
+been made a rule that when a burgher captured a British soldier he
+should be allowed to conduct him to Pretoria, where he could then
+obtain a few days' leave to visit his family. This did much to
+encourage our burghers to make prisoners, although many lost their
+lives in attempting to do so.
+
+The next day, General Buller marched on Helpmakaar, passing close to
+our position. We fired a few shots from our Creusot gun, and had
+several light skirmishes. The enemy, however, concentrated the fire of
+a few batteries on us, and our guns were soon silenced.
+
+General L. Meyer had arrived with some reinforcements close to
+Helpmakaar, but the position had never been strengthened, and the sole
+defending force consisted of the Piet Retief burghers, known as the
+"Piet Retreaters," together with a small German corps. The result was
+easy to predict. The attack was made, and we lost the position without
+seriously attempting to defend it. Buller was now, therefore, in
+possession of the key to the Boer position in Natal, a position which
+we had occupied for two months--and could therefore, have fortified to
+perfection--and whose strategic importance should have been known in
+its smallest details. I think our generals, who had a sufficient force
+at their disposal, of which the mobility has become world-famed,
+should have been able to prevent such a fiasco as our occupation of
+the splendid line of defence in the Biggarsbergen turned out to be.
+
+Here, for the first time in the war, General Buller utilised his
+success, and followed up our men as they were retreating on Dundee. He
+descended by the main waggon track from Helpmakaar, and drove the
+commandos like sheep before him. I myself was obliged to move away in
+hot haste and join the general retreat. Once or twice our men
+attempted to make a stand, but with little success.
+
+When we reached Dundee the enemy gradually slackened off pursuit, and
+at dark we were clear of them. Satisfied with their previous day's
+success, and sadly hampered by their enormous convoys, the English now
+allowed us to move on at our leisure.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+DISPIRITED AND DEMORALISED.
+
+
+Our first intention was to proceed to Vereeniging, there to join
+General Botha's forces. At Klip River Station, that preceding
+Vereeniging, I was ordered, however, to leave my carts behind and
+proceed with my men to Vaalbank, as the enemy were advancing with
+forced marches, and had compelled all the other commandos to fall back
+on Vereeniging.
+
+On our way we met groups of retreating burghers, each of whom gave us
+a different version of the position. Some said that the enemy had
+already swept past Vereeniging, others that they could not now be
+stopped until they reached Johannesburg. Further on, we had the good
+fortune to encounter General Botha and his staff. The General ordered
+me to take up a position at the Gatsrand, near the Nek at
+Pharaohsfontein, as the British, having split their forces up into two
+parts, would send one portion to cross the Vaal River at Lindeque's
+Drift, whilst the other detachments would follow the railway past
+Vereeniging. Generals Lemmer and Grobler were already posted at the
+Gatsrand to obstruct the enemy's progress.
+
+I asked General Botha how we stood. He sighed, and answered: "If only
+the burghers would fight we could stop them easily enough; but I
+cannot get a single burgher to start fighting. I hope their running
+mood will soon change into a fighting mood. You keep your spirits up,
+and let us do our duty."
+
+"All right, General," I answered, and we shook hands heartily.
+
+We rode on through the evening and at midnight halted at a farm to
+give our horses rest and fodder. The owner of the farm was absent on
+duty, and his family had been left behind. On our approach the
+women-folk, mistaking us for Englishmen, were terrified out of their
+wits. Remembering the atrocities and horrors committed in Natal on the
+advance of the Imperial troops, they awaited the coming of the
+English with the greatest terror. On the approach of the enemy many
+women and children forsook their homes and wandered about in caves and
+woods for days, exposed to every privation and inclemency of the
+weather, and to the attacks of wandering bands of plundering kaffirs.
+
+Mrs. van der Merwe, whom we met here, was exceedingly kind to us, and
+gave us plenty of fodder for our horses. We purchased some sheep, and
+slaughtered them and enjoyed a good meal before sunrise; and each one
+of us bore away a good-sized piece of mutton as provisions for the
+future.
+
+Our scouts, whom we had despatched over night, informed us that
+Generals Lemmer and Grobler had taken up their stand to the right of
+Pharaohsfontein in the Gatsrand, and that the English were approaching
+in enormous force.
+
+By nine in the morning we had taken up our positions, and at noon the
+enemy came in sight. Our commando had been considerably reduced, as
+many burghers, finding themselves near their homes, had applied for
+twenty-four hours' leave, which had been granted in order to allow
+them to arrange matters before the advance of the English on their
+farms made it impossible. A few also had deserted for the time being,
+unable to resist the temptation of visiting their families in the
+neighbourhood.
+
+Some old burghers approached us and hailed us with the usual "Morning,
+boys! Which commando do you belong to?"
+
+"Viljoen's."
+
+"We would like to see your Commandant," they answered.
+
+Presenting myself, I asked: "Who are you, and where do you come from,
+and where are you going to?"
+
+They answered: "We are scouts of General Lemmer and we came to see who
+is holding this position."
+
+"But surely General Lemmer knows that I am here?"
+
+[Illustration: A Surprise.--Coyell Meeting the Imperial Light Horse.]
+
+"Very probably," they replied, "but we wanted to know for ourselves;
+we thought we might find some of our friends amongst you. You come
+from Natal, don't you?"
+
+"Yes," I answered sadly. "We have come to reinforce the others, but I
+fear we can be of little use. It seems to me that it will be here as
+it was in Natal; all running and no fighting."
+
+"Alas!" they said, "the Free Staters will not remain in one position,
+and we must admit the Transvaalers are also very disheartened.
+However, if the British once cross our frontiers you will find that
+the burghers will fight to the bitter end."
+
+Consoled by this pretty promise we made up our minds to do our best,
+but our outposts presently brought word that the British were bearing
+to the right and nearing General Grobler's position, and had passed
+round that of General Lemmer. Whilst they attacked General Grobler's
+we attacked their flank, but we could not do much damage, as we were
+without guns. Soon after the enemy directed a heavy artillery fire on
+us, to which we, being on flat ground, found ourselves dangerously
+exposed.
+
+Towards evening the enemy were in possession of General Grobler's
+position, and were passing over the Gatsrand, leaving us behind. I
+ordered my commando to fall back on Klipriversberg, while I rode away
+with some adjutants to attempt to put myself in communication with the
+other commandos.
+
+The night was dark and cloudy, which rendered it somewhat difficult
+for us to move about in safety. We occasionally fell into ditches and
+trenches, and had much trouble with barbed wire. However, we finally
+fell in with General Lemmer's rearguard, who informed us that the
+enemy, after having overcome the feeble resistance of General Grobler,
+had proceeded north, and all the burghers were retreating in haste
+before them.
+
+We rode on past the enemy to find General Grobler and what his plans
+were. We rode quite close to the English camp, as we knew that they
+seldom posted sentries far from their tents. On this occasion,
+however, they had placed a guard in an old "klipkraal," for them a
+prodigious distance from their camp, and a "Tommy" hailed us from the
+darkness.--
+
+"Halt, who goes there?"
+
+I replied "Friend," whereupon the guileless soldier answered:
+
+"Pass, friend, all's well."
+
+I had my doubts, however. He might be a Boer outpost anxious to
+ascertain if we were Englishmen. Afraid to ride into ambush of my own
+men, I called out in Dutch:
+
+"Whose men are you?"
+
+The Tommy lost his temper at being kept awake so long and retorted
+testily, "I can't understand your beastly Dutch; come here and be
+recognized." But we did not wait for identification, and I rode off
+shouting back "Thanks, my compliments to General French, and tell him
+that his outposts are asleep."
+
+This was too much for the "Tommy" and his friends, who answered with a
+volley of rifle fire, which was taken up by the whole line of British
+outposts. No harm was done, however, and we soon rode out of range. I
+gave up looking for General Grobler, and on the following morning
+rejoined my men at Klipriversberg.
+
+It was by no means easy to find out the exact position of affairs.
+Our scouts reported that the enemy's left wing, having broken through
+General Grobler's position, were now marching along Van Wijk's Rust. I
+could, however, obtain no definite information regarding the right
+wing, nor could I discover the General under whose orders I was to
+place myself. General Lemmer, moreover, was suffering from an acute
+disease of the kidneys, which had compelled him to hand over his
+command to Commandant Gravett, who had proved himself an excellent
+officer.
+
+General Grobler had lost the majority of his men, or what was more
+likely the case, they had lost him. He declared that he was unaware of
+General Botha's or Mr. Kruger's plans, and that it was absurd to keep
+running away, but he clearly did not feel equal to any more fighting,
+although he had not the moral courage to openly say so. From this
+point this gentleman did no further service to his country, and was
+shortly afterwards dismissed. The reader will now gather an idea of
+the enormous change which had come over our troops. Six months before
+they had been cheerful and gay, confident of the ultimate success of
+their cause; now they were downhearted and in the lowest of spirits. I
+must admit that in this our officers were no exception.
+
+Those were dark days for us. Now began the real fighting, and this
+under the most difficult and distressing circumstances; and I think
+that if our leaders could have had a glimpse of the difficulties and
+hardships that were before us, they would not have had the courage to
+proceed any further in the struggle.
+
+Early next morning (the 29th May, 1900) we reached Klipspruit, and
+found there several other commandos placed in extended order all the
+way up to Doornkop.
+
+Amongst them was that of General De la Rey, who had come from the
+Western frontier of our Republic, and that of General Snyman, whom I
+regard as the real defender and reliever of Mafeking, for he was
+afraid to attack a garrison of 1,000 men with twice that number of
+burghers.
+
+Before having had time to properly fortify our position we were
+attacked on the right flank by General French's cavalry, while the
+left flank had to resist a strong opposing force of cavalry. Both
+attacks were successfully repulsed, as well as a third in the centre
+of our fighting line.
+
+The British now marched on Doornkop, their real object of attack being
+our extreme right wing, but they made a feint on our left. Our line of
+defence was very extended and weakened by the removal of a body of men
+who had been sent to Natal Spruit to stop the other body of the enemy
+from forcing its way along the railway line and cutting off our
+retreat to Pretoria.
+
+The battle lasted till sunset, and was especially fierce on our right,
+where the Krugersdorpers stood. Early in the evening our right wing
+had to yield to an overwhelming force, and during the night all the
+commandos had to fall back. My commando, which should have consisted
+of about 450 men, only numbered 65 during this engagement; our losses
+were two men killed. I was also slightly wounded in the thigh by a
+piece of shell, but I had no time to attend such matters, as we had
+to retire in haste, and the wound soon healed.
+
+The next day our forces were again in full retreat to Pretoria, where
+I understood we were to make a desperate stand. About seven o'clock we
+passed through Fordsburg, a suburb of Johannesburg.
+
+We had been warned not to enter Johannesburg, as Dr. Krause, who had
+taken from me the command of the town, had already surrendered it to
+Lord Roberts, who might shell it if he found commandos were there. Our
+larger commissariat had proceeded to Pretoria, but we wanted several
+articles of food, and strange to say the commissariat official at
+Johannesburg would not give us anything for fear of incurring Lord
+Roberts' displeasure!
+
+I was very angry; the enemy were not actually in possession of the
+town, and I therefore should have been consulted in the matter; but
+these irresponsible officials even refused to grant us the necessaries
+of life!
+
+At this time there was a strong movement on foot to blow up the
+principal mines about Johannesburg, and an irresponsible young person
+named Antonie Kock had placed himself at the head of a confederacy
+with this object in view. But thanks to the explicit orders of General
+L. Botha, which were faithfully carried out by Dr. Krause, Kock's plan
+was fortunately frustrated, and I fully agree with Botha that it would
+have been most impolitic to have allowed this destruction. I often
+wished afterwards, however, that the British military authorities had
+shown as much consideration for our property.
+
+We had to have food in any case, and as the official hesitated to
+supply us we helped ourselves from the Government Stores, and
+proceeded to the capital. The roads to Pretoria were crowded with men,
+guns, and vehicles of every description, and despondency and despair
+were plainly visible on every human face.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+OCCUPATION OF PRETORIA.
+
+
+The enemy naturally profited by our confusion to pursue us more
+closely than before. The prospect before us was a sad one, and we
+asked ourselves, "What is to be the end of all this, and what is to
+become of our poor people? Shall we be able to prolong the struggle,
+and for how long?"
+
+But no prolongation of the struggle appeared to have entered into our
+enemy's minds, who evidently thought that the War had now come upon
+its last stage, and they were as elated as we were downhearted. They
+made certain that the Boer was completely vanquished, and his
+resistance effectually put an end to. At this juncture Conan Doyle,
+after pointing out what glorious liberty and progress would fall to
+the Boers' lot under the British flag, wrote:--
+
+     "When that is learned it may happen that they will come to
+     date a happier life and a wider liberty from that 5th of
+     June which saw the symbol of their nation pass for ever from
+     the ensigns of the world."
+
+Thus, not only did Lord Roberts announce to the world that "the War
+was now practically over," but Conan Doyle did not hesitate to say the
+same in more eloquent style.
+
+How England utterly under-estimated the determination of the Boers,
+subsequent events have plainly proved. It is equally plain that we
+ourselves did not know the strength of our resolution, when one takes
+into account the pessimism and despair that weighed us down in those
+dark days; and as the Union Jack was flying over our Government
+buildings we might have exclaimed:--"England, we do not know our
+strength, but you know it still less!"
+
+Nearly all the commandos were now in the neighbourhood of Pretoria,
+General Botha forming a rearguard, and we determined to defend the
+capital as well as we could. But at this juncture some Boer officer
+was said to have received a communication from the Government,
+informing us that they had decided not to defend the town. A cyclist
+was taking this communication round to the different commandos, but
+the Commandant-General did not seem to be aware of it, and we tried in
+vain to find him so as to discover what his plans were. The greatest
+confusion naturally prevailed, and as all the generals gave different
+orders, no one knew what was going to be done. I believe General Botha
+intended to concentrate the troops round Pretoria, and there offer
+some sort of resistance to the triumphant forces of the enemy, and we
+had all understood that the capital would be defended to the last; but
+this communication altered the position considerably. Shortly
+afterwards all the Boer officers met at Irene Estate, near Pretoria,
+in a council of war, and were there informed that the Government had
+already forsaken the town, leaving a few "feather-bed patriots" to
+formally surrender the town to the English.
+
+I thought this decision of easy surrender ridiculous and
+inexplicable, and many officers joined me in loud condemnation of it.
+I do not remember exactly all that happened at the time, but I know a
+telegram arrived from the Commandant-General saying that a crowd had
+broken open the Commissariat Buildings in Pretoria and were looting
+them. An adjutant was sent into Pretoria to spread an alarm that the
+English were entering the town, and this had the effect of driving all
+the looters out of it. Some of my own men were engaged in these
+predatory operations, and I did not see them again until three days
+after.
+
+The English approached Pretoria very cautiously, and directed some big
+naval guns on our forts built round the town, to which we replied for
+some time with our guns from the "randten," south-west of the town;
+but our officers were unable to offer any organised resistance, and
+thus on the 5th of June, 1900, the capital of the South African
+Republic fell with little ado into the enemy's hands. Bloemfontein,
+the capital of the Orange Free State, had months before suffered the
+same fate, and thousands of Free Staters had surrendered to the
+English as they marched from Bloemfontein to the Transvaal. Happily,
+however, in the Free State President Steyn and General De Wet were
+still wide awake and Lord Roberts very soon discovered that his long
+lines of communication were a source of great trouble and anxiety to
+him. The commandos, meanwhile, were reorganised; the buried Mausers
+and ammunition were once more resurrected, and soon it became clear
+that the Orange Free State was far from conquered.
+
+The fall of Pretoria, indeed, was but a sham victory for the enemy. A
+number of officials of the Government remained behind there and
+surrendered, together with a number of burghers, amongst these
+faint-hearted brethren being even members of the Volksraad and men who
+had played a prominent part in the Republic's history; while to the
+everlasting shame of them and their race, a number of other Boers
+entered at once into the English service and henceforth used their
+rifles to shoot at and maim their own fellow-countrymen.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+BATTLE OF DONKERHOEK ("DIAMOND HILL").
+
+
+Our first and best positions were now obviously the kopjes which
+stretched from Donkerhoek past Waterval and Wonderboompoort. This
+chain of mountains runs for about 12 miles E. and N.E. of Pretoria,
+and our positions here would cut off all the roads of any importance
+to Pietersburg, Middelburg, as well as the Delagoa Bay railway. We
+therefore posted ourselves along this range, General De la Rey forming
+the right flank, some of our other fighting generals occupying the
+centre, whilst Commandant-General Botha himself took command of the
+left flank.
+
+On the 11th of June, 1900, Lord Roberts approached with a force of
+28,000 to 30,000 men and about 100 guns, in order, as the official
+despatches had it, "to clear the Boers from the neighbourhood of
+Pretoria." Their right and left flanks were composed of cavalry,
+whilst the centre was formed of infantry regiments; their big guns
+were placed in good positions and their field pieces were evenly
+distributed amongst the different army divisions.
+
+Towards sunset they began booming away at our whole 13 miles of
+defence. Our artillery answered their fire from all points with
+excellent results, and when night fell the enemy retired a little with
+considerable losses.
+
+The battle was renewed again next day, the enemy attempting to turn
+our right with a strong flanking movement, but was completely
+repulsed. Meanwhile I at Donkerpoort proper had the privilege of being
+left unmolested for several hours. The object of this soon became
+apparent. A little cart drawn by two horses and bearing a white flag
+came down the road from Pretoria. From it descended two persons,
+Messrs. Koos Smit, our Railway Commissioner and Mr. J. F. de Beer,
+Chief Inspector of Offices, both high officials of the South African
+Republic. I called out to them from a distance.
+
+"Halt, you cannot pass. What do you want?"
+
+Smit said, "I want to see Botha and President Kruger. Dr. Scholtz is
+also with us. We are sent by Lord Roberts."
+
+I answered Mr. Smit that traitors were not admitted on our premises,
+and that he would have to stay where he was. Turning to some burghers
+who were standing near I gave instructions that the fellows were to be
+detained.
+
+Mr. Smit now began to "sing small," and turning deadly pale, asked in
+a tremulous voice if there were any chance of seeing Botha.
+
+"Your request," I replied, "will be forwarded." Which was done.
+
+An hour passed before General Botha sent word that he was coming.
+Meanwhile the battle continued raging fiercely, and a good many
+lyddite bombs were straying our way. The "white-flaggists" appeared to
+be very anxious to know if the General would be long in coming, and if
+their flag could not be hoisted in a more conspicuous place. The
+burghers guarding them pointed out, however, that the bombs came from
+their own British friends.
+
+After a while General Botha rode up. He offered a far from cordial
+welcome to the deputation.
+
+Dr. Scholtz produced a piece of paper and said Lord Roberts had sent
+him to enquire why Botha insisted on more unnecessary bloodshed, and
+why he did not come in to make peace, and that sort of thing.
+
+Botha asked if Scholtz held an authoritative letter or document from
+the English general, to which the Doctor replied in the negative.
+
+Smit now suggested that he should be allowed to see Mr. Kruger, but
+Botha declared, with considerable emphasis, "Look here, your conduct
+is nothing less than execrable, and I shall not allow you to see Mr.
+Kruger. You are a couple of contemptible scoundrels, and as for Dr.
+Scholtz, his certificate looks rather dubious. You will go back and
+give the following message to Lord Roberts:--
+
+     "That this is not the first time messages of this
+     description are sent to me in an unofficial manner; that
+     these overtures have also sometimes been made in an
+     insulting form, but always equally unofficially. I have to
+     express my surprise at such tactics on the part of a man in
+     Lord Roberts' position. His Lordship may think that our
+     country is lost to us, but I shall do my duty towards it all
+     the same. They can shoot me for it or imprison me, or banish
+     me, but my principles and my character they cannot assail."
+
+One could plainly see that the conscience-stricken messengers winced
+under the reproach. Not another word was said, and the noble trio
+turned on their heels and took their white flag back to Pretoria.
+
+Whether Botha was right in allowing these "hands-uppers" to return, is
+a question I do not care to discuss, but many burghers had their own
+opinion about it. Still, if they had been detained by us and shot for
+high treason, what would not have been said by those who did not
+hesitate to send our own unfaithful burghers to us to induce us to
+surrender.
+
+I cannot say whether Lord Roberts was personally responsible for the
+sending of these messengers, but that such action was extremely
+improper no one can deny. It was a specially stupendous piece of
+impudence on the part of these men, J. S. Smit and J. F. de Beer,
+burghers both, and highly placed officials of the S. A. Republic. They
+had thrown down their arms and sworn allegiance to an enemy, thereby
+committing high treason in the fullest sense of the word. They now
+came through the fighting lines of their former comrades to ascertain
+from the commanders of the republican army why the whole nation did
+not follow their example, why they would not surrender their liberty
+and very existence as a people and commit the most despicable act
+known to mankind.
+
+"Pretoria was in British hands!" As if, forsooth, the existence of our
+nationality began and ended in Pretoria! Pretoria was after all only a
+village where "patriots" of the Smit and de Beer stamp had for years
+been fattening on State funds, and, having filled their pockets by
+means of questionable practices, had helped to damage the reputation
+of a young and virile nation.
+
+Not only had they enjoyed the spoils of high office in the State
+Service offices, to which a fabulous remuneration was attached, but
+they belonged to the Boer aristocracy, members of honourable families
+whose high birth and qualities had secured for them preference over
+thousands of other men and the unlimited confidence of the Head of
+State. Little wonder these gentlemen regarded the fall of Pretoria as
+the end of the war!
+
+The battle continued the whole day; it was fiercest on our left flank,
+where General French and his cavalry charged the positions of the
+Ermelo and Bethel burghers again and again, each time to be repulsed
+with heavy losses. Once the lancers attacked so valiantly that a
+hand-to-hand fight ensued. The commandant of the Bethel burghers
+afterwards told me that during the charge his kaffir servant got among
+the lancers and called upon them to "Hands up!" The unsophisticated
+native had heard so much about "hands up," and "hands-uppers," that he
+thought the entire English language consisted of those two simple
+words, and when one lancer shouted to him "Hands up," he echoed "Hands
+up." The British cavalryman thrust his lance through the nigger's
+arm, still shouting "Hands up," the black man retreating, also
+vociferously shrieking "Hands up, boss; hands up!"
+
+When his master asked him why he had shouted "Hands up" so
+persistently though he was running away, he answered: "Ah, boss, me
+hear every day people say, 'Hands up;' now me think this means kaffir
+'Soebat' (to beg). I thought it mean, 'Leave off, please,' but the
+more I shouted 'Hands up' English boss prod me with his assegai all
+the same."
+
+On our right General De la Rey had an equally awkward position; the
+British here also made several determined attempts to turn his flank,
+but were repulsed each time. Once during an attack on our right, their
+convoy came so close to our position that our artillery and our
+Mausers were enabled to pour such a fire into them that the mules
+drawing the carts careered about the veldt at random, and the greatest
+confusion ensued. British mules were "pro-Boer" throughout the War.
+The ground, however, was not favourable for our operations, and we
+failed to avail ourselves of the general chaos. Towards the evening of
+the second day General Tobias Smuts made an unpardonable blunder in
+falling back with his commandos. There was no necessity for the
+retreat; but it served to show the British that there was a weak point
+in our armoury. Indeed, the following day the attack in force was made
+upon this point. The British had meantime continued pouring in
+reinforcements, men as well as guns.
+
+About two o clock in the afternoon Smuts applied urgently for
+reinforcements, and I was ordered by the Commandant-General to go to
+his position. A ride of a mile and a half brought us near Smuts; our
+horses were put behind a "randje," the enemy's bullets and shells
+meantime flying over their heads without doing much harm. We then
+hurried up on foot to the fighting line, but before we could reach the
+position General Smuts and his burghers had left it. At first I was
+rather in the dark as to what it all meant until we discovered that
+the British had won Smuts' position, and from it were firing upon us.
+We fell down flat behind the nearest "klips" and returned the fire,
+but were at a disadvantage, since the British were above us. I never
+heard where General Smuts and his burghers finally got to. On our left
+we had Commandant Kemp with the Krugersdorpers; on the right
+Field-Cornet Koen Brits. The British tried alternately to get through
+between one of my neighbours and myself, but we succeeded,
+notwithstanding their fierce onslaught, in turning them back each
+time. All we could do, however, was to hold our own till dark. Then
+orders were given to "inspan" all our carts and other conveyances as
+the commandos would all have to retire.
+
+I do not know the extent of the British losses in that engagement. My
+friend Conan Doyle wisely says nothing about them, but we knew they
+had suffered very severely indeed. Our losses were not heavy; but we
+had to regret the death of brave Field-Cornet Roelf Jansen and some
+other plucky burghers. Dr. Doyle, referring to the engagement, says:
+
+"'The two days' prolonged struggle (Diamond Hill) showed that there
+was still plenty of fight in the burghers. Lord Roberts had not routed
+them," etc.
+
+Thus ended the battle of Donkerhoek, and next day our commandos were
+falling back to the north.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+I BECOME A GENERAL.
+
+
+In our retreat northwards the English did not pursue us. They
+contented themselves by fortifying the position we had evacuated
+between Donkerhoek and Wonderboompoort. Meantime our commandos
+proceeded along the Delagoa Bay Railway until we reached Balmoral
+Station, while other little divisions of ours were at Rhenosterkop,
+north of Bronkhorst Spruit.
+
+I may state that this general retreat knocked the spirit out of some
+of our weaker brethren. Hundreds of Boers rode into Pretoria with the
+white flag suspended from their Mauser barrels. In Pretoria there were
+many prominent burghers who had readily accepted the new conditions,
+and these were employed by the British to induce other Boers within
+reach, by manner of all sorts of specious promises, to lay down their
+arms. Many more western district Boers quietly returned to their
+homes. Luckily, the Boer loves his Mauser too well to part with it,
+except on compulsion, and although the majority of these western Boers
+handed in their weapons, some retained them.
+
+They retained their weapons by burying them, pacifying the confiding
+British officer in charge of the district by handing in rusty and
+obsolete Martini-Henris or a venerable blunderbuss which nobody had
+used since ancestral Boer shot lions with it in the mediæval days of
+the first great trek. The buried Mausers came in very useful
+afterwards.
+
+About this time General Buller entered the Republic from the Natal
+side, and marched with his force through the southern districts of
+Wakkerstroom, Standerton, and Ermelo. Hundreds of burghers remained on
+their farms and handed their weapons to the British. In some
+districts, for instance, at Standerton, the commandant and two out of
+his three field-cornets surrendered. Thus, not only were some
+commandos without officers, but others entirely disappeared from our
+army. Still, at the psychological moment a Joshua would appear, and
+save the situation, as, for instance, in the Standerton district,
+where Assistant-Field-Cornet Brits led a forlorn hope and saved a
+whole commando from extinction. The greatest mischief was done by many
+of our landdrosts, who, after having surrendered, sent out
+communications to officers and burghers exhorting them to come in.
+
+The majority of our Boer officers, however, remained faithful to their
+vow, though since the country was partly occupied by the British it
+was difficult to get in touch with the Commandant-General or the
+Government, and the general demoralisation prevented many officers
+from asserting their authority.
+
+Generals Sarel Oosthuizen and H. L. Lemmer, both now deceased, were
+sent to the north of Pretoria, to collect the burghers from the
+western districts, and to generally rehabilitate their commandos. They
+were followed by Assistant-Commandant General J. H. De la Rey and
+State Attorney Smuts (our legal adviser). It was at this point,
+indeed, that the supreme command of the western districts was assumed
+by General De la Rey, who, on his way to the north, attacked and
+defeated an English garrison at Selatsnek.
+
+The "reorganisation" of our depleted commandos proceeded very well;
+about 95 per cent. of the fighting Boers rejoined, and speedily the
+commandos in the western districts had grown to about 7,000 men.
+
+But just a few weeks after his arrival in the West Krugersdorp
+district, poor, plucky Sarel Oosthuizen was severely wounded in the
+battle of Dwarsvlei, and died of his wounds some time after.
+
+General H. Lemmer, a promising soldier, whom we could ill spare, was
+killed soon after while storming Lichtenburg under General De la Rey,
+an engagement in which we did not succeed. We had much trouble in
+replacing these two brave generals, whose names will live for all time
+in the history of the Boer Republics.
+
+It is hardly necessary to dwell on the splendid work done by
+Assistant-Commandant-General De la Rey in the western districts.
+Commandant-General Botha was also hard worked at this stage, and was
+severely taxed reorganising his commandos and filling up the
+lamentable vacancies caused by the deaths of Lemmer and Oosthuizen.
+
+I have already pointed out that General De la Rey had taken with him
+the remainder of the burghers from the western districts. The
+following commandos were now left to us:--Krugersdorp and Germiston,
+respectively, under the then Commandants J. Kemp and C. Gravett, and
+the Johannesburg police, with some smaller commandos under the four
+fighting generals, Douthwaith, Snyman (of Mafeking fame), Liebenberg,
+and Du Toit. The last four generals were "sent home" and their
+burghers with those of Krugersdorp, Germiston, Johannesburg, Boksburg
+and the Mounted Police, were placed under my command, while I myself
+was promoted to the rank of General. I had now under me 1,200 men, all
+told--a very fair force.
+
+I can hardly describe my feelings on hearing of my promotion to such a
+responsible position. For the first time during the War I felt a sort
+of trepidation. I had all sorts of misgivings; how should I be able
+to properly guard the interests of such a great commando? Had I a
+right to do so? Would the burghers be satisfied? It was all very well
+to say that they would have to be satisfied, but if they had shown
+signs of dissatisfaction I should have felt bound to resign. I am not
+in the habit of blinking at facts; they are stern things. What was to
+become of me if I had to tender my resignation? I was eager and rash,
+like most young officers, for although the prospects of our cause were
+not brilliant and our army had suffered some serious reverses, I still
+had implicit faith in the future, and above all, in the justice of the
+cause for which we were fighting. And I knew, moreover, that the
+burghers we now had left with us were determined and firm.
+
+There was only one way open to me: to take the bull by the horns. I
+thought it my duty to go the round of all the commandos, call the
+burghers together, tell them I had been appointed, ask them their
+opinion on the appointment, and give them some particulars of the new
+organisation.
+
+I went to the Krugersdorp Commando first. All went well, and the
+burghers comprising the force received me very cordially. There was a
+lot of questioning and explanations; one of the commandants was so
+moved by my address that he requested those who were present to
+conclude the meeting by singing Psalm 134, verse 3, after which he
+exhorted his fellow burghers in an impassioned speech to be obedient
+and determined.
+
+The worst of it was that he asked me to wind up by offering a prayer.
+I felt as if I would gladly have welcomed the earth opening beneath
+me. I had never been in such a predicament before. To refuse, to have
+pleaded exoneration from this solemn duty, would have been fatal, for
+a Boer general is expected, amongst other things, to conduct all
+proceedings of a religious character. And not only Boer generals are
+required to do this thing, but all subordinate officers, and an
+officer who cannot offer a suitable prayer generally receives a hint
+that he is not worthy of his position. In these matters the burghers
+are backed up by the parsons.
+
+There was, therefore, no help for it; I felt like a stranger in
+Jerusalem, and resolved to mumble a bit of a prayer as well as I
+could. I need not say it was short, but I doubt very much whether it
+was appropriate, for all sorts of thoughts passed through my head, and
+I felt as if all the bees in this world were buzzing about my ears. Of
+course I had to shut my eyes; I knew that. But I had, moreover, to
+screw them up, for I knew that everybody was watching me. I closed my
+eyes very tightly, and presently there came a welcome "Amen."
+
+My old commando was now obliged to find a new commandant and I had to
+take leave of them in that capacity. I was pleased to find the
+officers and men were sorry to lose me as their commandant, but they
+said they were proud of the distinction that had been conferred upon
+me. Commandant F. Pienaar, who took my place, had soon to resign on
+account of some rather serious irregularities. My younger brother, W.
+J. Viljoen, who, at the time of writing, is, I believe, still in this
+position, replaced him.
+
+At the end of June my commandos marched from Balmoral to near
+Donkerhoek in order to get in touch with the British. Only a few
+outpost skirmishes took place.
+
+My burghers captured half a score of Australians near Van der Merwe
+Station, and three days afterwards three Johannesburgers were
+surprised near Pienaarspoort. As far as our information went the
+Donkerhoek Kopjes were in possession of General Pole-Carew, and on our
+left General Hutton, with a strong mounted force, was operating near
+Zwavelpoort and Tigerspoort. We had some sharp fighting with this
+force for a couple of days, and had to call in reinforcements from the
+Middelburg and Boksburg commandos.
+
+The fighting line by this time had widely extended and was at least
+sixty miles in length; on my right I had General D. Erasmus with the
+Pretoria commando, and farther still to the right, nearer the
+Pietersburg railway, the Waterberg and Zoutpansberg commandos were
+positioned. General Pole-Carew tried to rush us several times with his
+cavalry, but had to retire each time. Commandant-General Botha finally
+directed us to attack General Hutton's position, and I realised what
+this involved. It would be the first fight I had to direct as a
+fighting general. Much would depend on the issue, and I fully
+understood that my influence with, and my prestige among, the burghers
+in the future was absolutely at stake.
+
+General Hutton's main force was encamped in a "donk" at the very top
+of the randt, almost equidistant from Tigerspoort, Zwavelpoort and
+Bapsfontein. Encircling his laager was another chain of "randten"
+entirely occupied and fortified, and we soon realised what a large and
+entrenched stretch of ground it was. The Commandant-General,
+accompanied by the French, Dutch, American and Russian attachés, would
+follow the attack from a high point and keep in touch with me by means
+of a heliograph, thus enabling Botha to keep well posted about the
+course of the battle, and to send instructions if required.
+
+During the night of the 13th of July we marched in the following
+order: On the right were the Johannesburg and Germiston commandos; in
+the centre the Krugersdorp and the Johannesburg Police; and on the
+left the Boksburg and Middelburg commandos. At daybreak I ordered a
+general storming of the enemy's entrenchments. I placed a Krupp gun
+and a Creusot on the left flank, another Krupp and some pom-poms to
+the right, while I had an English 15-pounder (an Armstrong) mounted in
+the centre. Several positions were taken by storm with little or no
+fighting. It was my right flank which met with the only stubborn
+resistance from a strongly fortified point occupied by a company of
+Australians.
+
+Soon after this position was in our possession, and we had taken 32
+prisoners, with a captain and a lieutenant. When Commandant Gravett
+had taken the first trenches we were stubbornly opposed in a position
+defended by the Irish Fusiliers, who were fighting with great
+determination. Our burghers charged right into the trenches; and a
+hand-to-hand combat ensued. The butt-ends of the guns were freely
+used, and lumps of rock were thrown about. We made a few prisoners and
+took a pom-pom, which, to my deep regret, on reinforcements with guns
+coming up to the enemy, we had to abandon, with a loss of five men.
+Meanwhile, the Krugersdorpers and Johannesburg Police had succeeded in
+occupying other positions and making several prisoners, while half a
+dozen dead and wounded were left on the field.
+
+The ground was so exposed that my left wing could not storm the
+enemy's main force, especially as his outposts had noticed our march
+before sunrise and had brought up a battery of guns, and in this flat
+field a charge would have cost too many lives.
+
+We landed several shells into the enemy's laager, and if we had been
+able to get nearer he would certainly have been compelled to run.
+
+When darkness supervened we retired to our base with a loss of two
+killed and seven wounded; whereas 45 prisoners and 20 horses with
+saddles and accoutrements were evidence that we had inflicted a severe
+loss upon the enemy. So far as I know, the Commandant-General was
+satisfied with my work. On the day after the fight I met an attaché.
+He spoke in French, of which language I know nothing. My Gallic
+friend then tried to get on in English, and congratulated me in the
+following terms with the result of the fight: "I congratuly very much
+you, le Général; we think you good man of war." It was the first time
+I had bulked in anyone's opinion as largely as a battleship; but I
+suppose his intentions were good enough.
+
+A few days afterwards Lord Roberts sent a hundred women and children
+down the line to Van der Merwe Station, despite Botha's vehement
+protests. It fell to my lot to receive these unfortunates, and to send
+them on by rail to Barberton, where they could find a home. I shall
+not go into a question which is still _sub judice_; nor is it my
+present purpose to discuss the fairness and unfairness of the war
+methods employed against us. I leave that to abler men. I shall only
+add that these waifs were in a pitiful position, as they had been
+driven from their homes and stripped of pretty nearly everything they
+possessed.
+
+Towards the end of July Carrington marched his force to Rustenburg,
+and thence past Wonderboompoort, while another force proceeded from
+Olifantsfontein in the direction of Witbank Station. We were,
+therefore, threatened on both sides and obliged to fall back on
+Machadodorp.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+OUR CAMP BURNED OUT.
+
+
+The beginning of August saw my commandos falling back on Machadodorp.
+Those of Erasmus and Grobler remained where they were for the time
+being, until the latter was discharged for some reason or other and
+replaced by Attorney Beyers. General Erasmus suffered rather worse,
+for he was deprived of his rank as a general and reduced to the level
+of a commandant on account of want of activity.
+
+Our retreat to Machadodorp was very much like previous experiences of
+the kind; we were continually expecting to be cut off from the railway
+by flanking movements and this we had to prevent because we had placed
+one of our big guns on the rails in an armour-clad railway carriage.
+The enemy took care to keep out of rifle range, and the big gun was
+an element of strength we could ill afford to lose. Besides, our
+Government were now moving about on the railway line near Machadodorp,
+and we had to check the enemy at all hazards from stealing a march on
+us. Both at Witbank Station and near Middelburg and Pan Stations we
+had skirmishes, but not important enough to describe in detail.
+
+After several unsuccessful attempts, the Boer Artillery at last
+managed to fire the big gun without a platform. It was tedious work,
+however, as "Long Tom" was exceedingly heavy, and it usually took
+twenty men to serve it. The mouth was raised from the "kastion" by
+means of a pulley, and the former taken away; then and not till then
+could the gunner properly get the range. The carriage vacuum sucking
+apparatus had to be well fixed in hard ground to prevent recoil.
+
+The enemy repeatedly sent a mounted squad to try and take this gun,
+and then there was hard fighting.
+
+[Illustration: Fight With General Hutton at Olifantsfontein.]
+
+One day while we were manoeuvring with the "Long Tom," the veldt burst
+into flames, and the wind swept them along in our direction like
+lightning. Near the gun were some loads of shells and gunpowder, and
+we had to set all hands at work to save them. While we were doing this
+the enemy fired two pom-poms at us from about 3,000 yards, vastly to
+our inconvenience.
+
+As my commando formed a sort of centre for the remainder,
+Commandant-General Botha was, as a rule, in our immediate
+neighbourhood, which made my task much easier, our generalissimo
+taking the command in person on several occasions, if required, and
+assisting in every possible way.
+
+The enemy pursued us right up to Wonderfontein Station (the first
+station south-west of Belfast), about 15 miles from Dalmanutha or
+Bergendal, and waited there for Buller's army to arrive from the Natal
+frontier.
+
+We occupied the "randten" between Belfast and Machadodorp, and waited
+events. While we were resting there Lord Roberts sent us 250 families
+from Pretoria and Johannesburg in open trucks, notwithstanding the
+bitterly cold weather and the continual gusts of wind and snow. One
+can picture to oneself the deplorable condition we found these women
+and children in.
+
+But, with all this misery, we still found them full of enthusiasm,
+especially when the trucks in which they had to be sent on down the
+line were covered with Transvaal and Free State flags. They sang our
+National Anthem as if they had not a care in the world.
+
+Many burghers found their families amongst these exiles, and some
+heartrending scenes were witnessed. Luckily the railway to Barberton
+was still in our possession, and at Belfast the families were taken
+over from the British authorities, to be sent to Barberton direct.
+While this was being done near Belfast under my direction, the
+unpleasant news came that our camp was entirely destroyed by a grass
+fire.
+
+The Commandant-General and myself had set up our camp near Dalmanutha
+Station. It consisted of twelve tents and six carts. This was Botha's
+headquarters, as well as of his staff and mine. When we came to the
+spot that night we found everything burned save the iron tyres of the
+waggon wheels, so that the clothes we had on were all we had left us.
+All my notes had perished, as well as other documents of value. I was
+thus deprived of the few indispensable things which had remained to
+me, for at Elandslaagte my "kit" had also fallen into the hands of the
+British. The grass had been set on fire by a kaffir to the windward of
+the camp. The wind had turned everything into a sea of fire in less
+than no time, and the attempts at stamping out the flames had been of
+no avail. One man gave us a cart, another a tent; and the harbour at
+Delagoa Bay being still open (although the Portuguese had become far
+from friendly towards us after the recent British victories) we
+managed to get the more urgent things we wanted. Within a few days we
+had established a sort of small camp near to headquarters.
+
+We had plenty to do at this time--building fortresses and digging
+trenches for the guns. This of course ought to have been done when we
+were still at Donkerhoek by officers the Commandant-General had sent
+to Machadodorp for the purpose. We had made forts for our "Long Toms,"
+which were so well hidden from view behind a rand that the enemy had
+not discovered them, although a tunnel would have been necessary in
+order to enable us to use them in shelling the enemy. We were
+therefore obliged to set to work again, and the old trenches were
+abandoned. The holes may surprise our posterity, by the way, as a
+display of the splendid architectural abilities of their ancestors.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+BATTLE OF BERGENDAL (MACHADODORP).
+
+
+Let us pass on to the 21st of August, 1900. Buller's army had by this
+time effected a junction with that of Lord Roberts' between
+Wonderfontein and Komati River. The commandos under Generals Piet
+Viljoen and Joachim Fourie had now joined us, and taken up a position
+on our left, from Rooikraal to Komati Bridge. The enemy's numbers were
+estimated at 60,000, with about 130 guns, including twelve 4·7 naval
+guns, in addition to the necessary Maxims.
+
+We had about 4,000 men at the most with six Maxims and about thirteen
+guns of various sizes. Our extreme left was first attacked by the
+enemy while they took possession of Belfast and Monument Hill, a
+little eastward, thereby threatening the whole of our fighting lines.
+My commandos were stationed to the right and left of the railway and
+partly round Monument Hill. Fighting had been going on at intervals
+all day long, between my burghers and the enemy's outposts. The
+fighting on our left wing lasted till late in the afternoon, when the
+enemy was repulsed with heavy losses; while a company of infantry
+which had pushed on too far during the fighting, through some
+misunderstanding or something of that sort, were cut off and captured
+by the Bethel burghers.
+
+The attack was renewed the next morning, several positions being
+assailed in turn, while an uninterrupted gunfire was kept up. General
+Duller was commanding the enemy's right flank and General French was
+in charge of the left. We were able to resist all attacks and the
+battle went on for six days without a decisive result. The enemy had
+tried to break through nearly every weak point in our fighting line
+and found out that the key to all our positions existed in a prominent
+"randje" to the right of the railway. This point was being defended by
+our brave Johannesburg police, while on the right were the
+Krugersdorpers and Johannesburgers and to the left the burghers from
+Germiston. Thus we had another "Spion Kop" fight for six long days.
+The Boers held their ground with determination, and many charges were
+repulsed by the burghers with great bravery. But the English were not
+to be discouraged by the loss of many valiant soldiers and any failure
+to dislodge the Boers from the "klip-kopjes." They were admirably
+resolute; but then they were backed up by a superior force of soldiers
+and artillery.
+
+On the morning of the 27th of August the enemy were obviously bent on
+concentrating their main force on this "randje." There were naval guns
+shelling it from different directions, while batteries of field-pieces
+pounded away incessantly. The "randje" was enveloped by a cloud of
+smoke and dust. The British Infantry charged under cover of the guns,
+but the Police and burghers made a brave resistance. The booming of
+cannon went on without intermission, and the storming was repeated by
+regiment upon regiment. Our gallant Lieutenant Pohlman was killed in
+this action, and Commandant Philip Oosthuizen was wounded while
+fighting manfully against overwhelming odds at the head of his
+burghers. An hour before sunset the position fell into the hands of
+the enemy. Our loss was heavy--two officers, 18 men killed or wounded,
+and 20 missing.
+
+Thus ended one of the fiercest fights of the war. With the exception
+of the battle of Vaalkrantz (on the Tugela) our commandos had been
+exposed to the heaviest and most persistent bombardment they had yet
+experienced. It was by directing an uninterrupted rifle fire from all
+sides on the lost "randje" that we kept the enemy employed and
+prevented them from pushing on any farther that evening.
+
+At last came the final order for all to retire via Machadodorp.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+TWO THOUSAND BRITISH PRISONERS RELEASED.
+
+
+After the battle of Bergendal there was another retreat. Our
+Government, which had fled from Machadodorp to Waterval Station, had
+now reached Nelspruit, three stations further down the line, still
+"attended," shall I say, by a group of Boer officials and members of
+the Volksraad, who preferred the shelter of Mr. Kruger's fugitive
+skirts to any active fighting. There were also hovering about this
+party half a dozen Hebraic persons of extremely questionable
+character, one of whom had secured a contract for smuggling in clothes
+from Delagoa Bay; and another one to supply coffee and sugar to the
+commandos. As a rule, some official or other made a nice little
+commission out of these transactions, and many burghers and officers
+expressed their displeasure and disgust at these matters; but so it
+was, and so it remained. That same night we marched from Machadodorp
+to Helvetia, where we halted while a commando was appointed to guard
+the railway at Waterval Boven.
+
+The next morning a big cloud of dust arose. "_De Engelse kom_" (the
+English are coming) was the cry. And come they did, in overwhelming
+numbers. We fired our cannon at their advance guard, which had already
+passed Machadodorp: but the British main force stayed there for the
+day, and a little outpost skirmishing of no consequence occurred.
+
+A portion of the British forces appeared to go from Belfast via
+Dullstroom to Lydenburg, these operations being only feebly resisted.
+Our commandos were now parcelled out by the Commandant-General, who
+followed a path over the Crocodile River bridge with his own section,
+which was pursued by a strong force of Buller's.
+
+I was ordered to go down the mountain in charge of a number of
+Helvetia burghers to try and reach the railway, which I was to defend
+at all hazards. General Smuts, with the remnant of our men went
+further south towards the road leading to Barberton. Early the next
+morning we were attacked and again obliged to fall back. That night we
+stayed at Nooitgedacht.
+
+The Boer position at and near Nooitgedacht was unique. Here was a
+great camp in which 2,000 English prisoners-of-war were confined, but
+in the confusion the majority of their Boer guards had fled to
+Nelspruit. I found only 15 burghers armed with Martini-Henry rifles
+left to look after 2,000 prisoners. Save for "Tommy" being such a
+helpless individual when he has nobody to give him orders and to think
+for him, these 2,000 men might have become a great source of danger to
+us had they had the sense to disarm their fifteen custodians (and what
+was there to prevent them doing so?) and to destroy the railway, they
+would have been able not only to have deprived my commando of
+provisions and ammunition, but also to have captured a "Long Tom."
+There was, moreover, a large quantity of victuals, rifles, and
+ammunition lying about the station, of which nobody appeared to take
+any notice. Of the crowd of officials who stuck so very faithfully to
+the fugitive Government there was not one who took the trouble to look
+after these stores and munitions.
+
+On arrival I telegraphed to the Government to enquire what was to be
+done with the British prisoners-of-war. The answer was: "You had
+better let them be where they are until the enemy force you to
+evacuate, when you will leave them plenty of food."
+
+This meant that there would be more D.S.O's or V.C's handed out, for
+the first "Tommies" to arrive at the prisoners' camp would be hailed
+as deliverers, and half of them would be certain of distinctions.
+
+I was also extremely dissatisfied with the way the prisoners had been
+lodged, and so would any officer in our fighting line have been had he
+seen their condition and accommodation. But those who have never been
+in a fight and who had only performed the "heroic" duty of _guarding_
+prisoners-of-war, did not know what humanity meant to an enemy who had
+fallen into their hands.
+
+So what was I to do?
+
+To disobey the Government's orders was impossible. I accordingly
+resolved to notify the prisoners that, "for military reasons," it
+would be impossible to keep them in confinement any longer.
+
+The next morning I mustered them outside the camp, and they were told
+that they had ceased to be prisoners-of-war, at which they seemed to
+be very much amazed. I was obliged to go and speak formally to some of
+them; they could scarcely credit that they were free men and could go
+back to their own people. It was really pleasant to hear them cheer,
+and to see how pleased they were. A great crowd of them positively
+mobbed me to shake hands with them, crying, "Thank you, sir; God bless
+you, sir." One of their senior officers was ordered to take charge of
+them, while a white-flag message was sent to General Pole-Carew to
+send for these fine fellows restored to freedom, and to despatch an
+ambulance for the sick and wounded. My messenger, however, did not
+succeed in delivering the letter, as the scouts of the British
+advance-guard were exceedingly drunk, and shot at him; so that the
+prisoners-of-war had to go out and introduce themselves. I believe
+they were compelled to overpower their own scouts.
+
+Ten days afterwards an English doctor and a lieutenant of the 17th
+Lancers came to us, bringing a mule laden with medical appliances and
+food. The English medico, Dr. Ailward, succeeded, moreover, in getting
+through our lines without my express permission.
+
+Next morning I accompanied an ambulance train to transport the wounded
+British to the charge of the British agent at Delagoa Bay. Outside
+Nooitgedacht I found four military doctors with a field ambulance.
+
+"Does this officer belong to the Red Cross?" I asked.
+
+"No," was the answer, "he is only with us quite unofficially as a
+sympathetic friend."
+
+"I regret," said I, "that I cannot allow this thing; you have come
+through our lines without my permission; this officer no doubt is a
+spy."
+
+I wired at once for instructions, which, when received read: "That as
+a protest against the action of the English officers who stopped three
+of our ambulances, and since this officer has passed through our lines
+without permission, you are to stop the ambulance and dispatch the
+doctors and their staff, as well as the wounded to Lourenco Marques."
+
+The doctors were very angry and protested vehemently against the
+order, which, however, was irrevocable. And thus the whole party,
+including the Lancers' doctor, were sent to Lourenco Marques that very
+day. The nearest English General was informed of the whole incident,
+and he sent a very unpleasant message the next day, of which I
+remember the following phrases:--
+
+"The action which you have taken in this matter is contrary to the
+rules of civilised warfare, and will alter entirely the conditions
+upon which the War was carried on up to the present," etc.
+
+After I had sent my first note we found, on inspection, some
+Lee-Metford cartridges and an unexploded bomb in the ambulance vans.
+This fact alone would have justified the retention of the ambulance.
+
+This was intimated again in our reply to General Pole-Carew, and I
+wrote, _inter alia_: "_Re_ the threat contained in your letter of the
+... I may say I am sorry to find such a remark coming from your side,
+and I can assure you that whatever may happen my Government,
+commandants, and burghers are firmly resolved to continue the War on
+our side in the same civilised and humane manner as it has hitherto
+been conducted."
+
+This was the end of our correspondence in regard to this subject, and
+nothing further happened, save that the English very shortly
+afterwards recovered five out of the eight ambulances we had retained.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+A GOVERNMENT IN FLIGHT.
+
+
+About this time President Steyn arrived from the Orange Free State and
+had joined President Kruger, and the plan of campaign for the future
+was schemed. It was also decided that Mr. Schalk Burger should assume
+the acting Presidentship, since Mr. Kruger's advanced age and feeble
+health did not permit his risking the hardships attendant on a warlike
+life on the veldt.
+
+It was decided Mr. Kruger should go to Europe and Messrs. Steyn and
+Burger should move about with their respective commandos. They were
+younger men and the railway, would soon have to be abandoned.
+
+We spent the first weeks of September at Godwan River and Nooitgedacht
+Station, near the Delagoa Bay railway, and had a fairly quiet time of
+it. General Buller had meanwhile pushed on with his forces via
+Lydenburg in the direction of Spitskop and the Sabi, on which General
+Botha had been compelled to concentrate himself after falling back,
+fighting steadily, while General French threatened Barberton.
+
+I had expected Pole-Carew to force me off the railway line along which
+we held some rather strong positions, and I intended to offer a stout
+resistance. But the English general left me severely alone, went over
+Dwaalheuvel by an abandoned wagon-track, and crossed the plateau of
+the mountains, probably to try and cut us off through the pass near
+Duivelskantoor. I tried hard, with the aid of 150 burghers, to thwart
+his plans and we had some fighting. But the locality was against us,
+and the enemy with their great force of infantry and with the help of
+their guns forced us to retire.
+
+About the 11th of September I was ordered to fall back along the
+railway, via Duivelskantoor and Nelspruit Station, since General
+Buller was threatening Nelspruit in the direction of Spitskop, while
+General French, with a great force, was nearing Barberton. It appeared
+extremely likely that we should be surrounded very soon. We marched
+through the Godwan River and over the colossal mountain near
+Duivelskantoor, destroying the railway bridges behind us. The road we
+followed was swamped by the heavy rains and nearly impassable. Carts
+were continually being upset, breakdowns were frequent, and our guns
+often stuck in the swampy ground. To make matters worse, a burgher on
+horseback arrived about midnight to tell us that Buller's column had
+taken Nelspruit Station, and cut off our means of retreat. Yet we had
+to pass Nelspruit; there was no help for it. I gave instructions for
+the waggons and carts (numbering over a hundred), to push on as
+quickly as possible, and sent out a strong mounted advance guard to
+escort them.
+
+I myself went out scouting with some burghers, for I wanted to find
+out before daybreak whether Nelspruit was really in the hands of the
+enemy or not. In that case our carts and guns would have to be
+destroyed or hidden, while the commando would have to escape along
+the footpaths. We crept up to the station, and just at dawn, when we
+were only a hundred paces away from it, a great fire burst out,
+accompanied by occasional loud reports. This somewhat reassured me. I
+soon found our own people to be in possession burning things, and the
+detonations were obviously not caused by the bursting of shells fired
+from field-pieces. On sending two of my adjutants--Rokzak and Koos
+Nel--to the station to obtain further details, they soon came back to
+report that there was nobody there except a nervous old Dutchman. The
+burgher, who had told me Nelspruit was in the hands of the enemy, must
+have dreamt it.
+
+The conflagration I found was caused by a quantity of "kastions" and
+ammunition-waggons which had been set afire on the previous day, while
+the explosions emanated from the shells which had been left among
+their contents.
+
+The enemy's advance guard had pushed on to Shamoham and Sapthorpe,
+about 12 miles from the railway, enabling the whole of my commando to
+pass. We arrived at Nelspruit by eight o'clock. That day we rested and
+discussed future operations, feeling that our prospects seemed to grow
+worse every day.
+
+The station presented a sad spectacle. Many trucks loaded with
+victuals, engines, and burst gun-carriages--everything had been left
+behind at the mercy of the first-comer, while a large number of
+kaffirs were plundering and stealing. Only the day before the
+Government had had its seat there, and how desolate and distressing
+the sight was now! The traces of a fugitive Government were
+unmistakable. Whatever might have been our optimism before, however
+little inclination the burghers might have felt to surrender, however
+great the firmness of the officers, and their resolve to keep the
+beloved "Vierkleur" flying, scenes like those at Nooitgedacht, and
+again at Nelspruit, were enough to make even the strongest and most
+energetic lose all courage. Many men could not keep back their tears
+at the disastrous spectacle, as they thought of the future of our
+country and of those who had been true to her to the last.
+
+Kaffirs, as I said, had been making sad havoc among the provisions,
+clothes and ammunition, and I ordered them to be driven away. Amongst
+the many railway-waggons I found some loaded with clothes the fighting
+burghers had in vain and incessantly been asking for, also cannon and
+cases of rifle ammunition. We also came across a great quantity of
+things belonging to our famous medical commission, sweets, beverages,
+etc. The suspicion which had existed for some considerable time
+against this commission was, therefore, justified. There was even a
+carriage which had been used by some of its members, beautifully
+decorated, with every possible comfort and luxury, one compartment
+being filled with bottles of champagne and valuable wines. My
+officers, who were no saints, saw that our men were well provided for
+out of these. The remainder of the good things was shifted on to a
+siding, where about twenty engines were kept. By great good luck the
+Government commissariat stock, consisting of some thousands of sheep,
+and even some horses, had also been left behind. But we were not
+cheered.
+
+Among the many questions asked regarding this sad state of affairs was
+one put by an old burger:
+
+"Dat is nou die plan, want zooals zaken hier lyk, dan heeft die boel
+in wanhoop gevlug." ("Is that the plan, then? For from what I can see
+of it, they have all fled in despair.")
+
+I answered, "Perhaps they were frightened away, Oom."
+
+"Ja," he said, "but look, General, it seems to me as if our members of
+the Government do not intend to continue the war. You can see this by
+the way they have now left everything behind for the second time."
+
+"No, old Oom," I replied, "we should not take any notice of this. Our
+people are wrestling among the waves of a stormy ocean; the gale is
+strong, and the little boat seems upon the point of capsizing, but, it
+has not gone down as yet. Now and then the boat is dashed against the
+rocks and the splinters fly, but the faithful sailors never lose
+heart. If they were to do that the dinghy would soon go under, and the
+crew would disappear for ever. It would be the last page of their
+history, and their children would be strangers in their own country.
+You understand, Oom?"
+
+"Yes, General, but I shall not forget to settle up, for I myself and
+others with me have had enough of this, and the War has opened our
+eyes."
+
+"All right, old man." I rejoined, "nobody can prevent you
+surrendering, but I have now plenty of work to do; so get along."
+
+[Illustration: My Talk with Erasmus (Non-Combatant).]
+
+Burghers of different commandos who had strayed--some on
+purpose--passed us here in groups of two or ten or more. Some of them
+were going to their own districts, right through the English lines,
+others were looking for their cattle, which they had allowed to stray
+in order to evade the enemy. I could only tell them that the veldt
+between Nelspruit and Barberton up to Avoca, was, so far as I had been
+able to discover, full of cattle and waggons belonging to farmers
+who now had no chance of escaping. Everybody wanted some information
+from the General.
+
+About half a score of burghers with bridle horses then came up. There
+was one old burgher among them with a long beard, a great veldt hat,
+and armed with a Mauser which seemed hardly to have been used. He
+carried two belts with a good stock of cartridges, a revolver, and a
+_tamaai_ (long sjambok). This veteran strode up in grand martial style
+to where I was sitting having something to eat. As he approached he
+looked brave enough to rout the whole British army.
+
+"Dag!" (Good morning.) "Are you the General?" asked the old man.
+
+"Yes, I have the honour of being called so. Are you a field-marshal, a
+Texas Jack, or what?"
+
+"My name is Erasmus, from the Pretoria district," he replied, "and my
+nine comrades and myself, with my family and cattle, have gone into
+the bush. I saw them all running away, the Government and all. You are
+close to the Portuguese border, and my mates and I want to know what
+your plans are."
+
+"Well," Mr. Erasmus, I returned, "what you say is almost true; but as
+you say you and your comrades have been hiding in the bush with your
+cattle and your wives, I should like to know if you have ever tried to
+oppose the enemy yet, and also what is your right to speak like this."
+
+"Well, I had to flee with my cattle, for you have to live on that as
+well as I."
+
+"Right," said I; "what do you want, for I do not feel inclined to talk
+any longer."
+
+"I want to know," he replied, "if you intend to retire, and if there
+is any chance of making peace. If not, we will go straight away to
+Buller, and 'hands-up,' then we shall save all our property."
+
+"Well, my friend," I remarked, "our Government and the
+Commandant-General are the people who have to conclude peace, and it
+is not for you or me, when our family and cattle are in danger, to
+surrender to the enemy, which means turning traitor to your own
+people."
+
+"Well, yes; good-bye, General, we are moving on now."
+
+I sent a message to our outposts to watch these fellows, and to see if
+they really were going over to the enemy. And, as it happened, that
+same night my Boers came to camp with the Mausers and horses Erasmus
+and his party had abandoned. They had gone over to Buller.
+
+The above is but an instance illustrating what often came under my
+notice during the latter period of my command. This sort of burgher,
+it turned out, invariably belonged to a class that never meant to
+fight. In many cases we could do better without them, for it was
+always these people who wanted to know exactly what was "on the
+cards," and whenever things turned out unpleasantly, they only misled
+and discouraged others. Obviously, we were better off without them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+AN IGNOMINIOUS DISPERSAL.
+
+
+Commandant-General Botha, who was then invalided at Hector's Spruit
+Station, now sent word that we were to join him there without delay.
+He said I could send part of the commando by train, but the railway
+arrangements were now all disturbed, and everything was in a muddle.
+As nothing could be relied on in the way of transport, the greater
+number of the men and most of the draught beasts had to "trek."
+
+At Crocodile Gat Station the situation was no better than at
+Nelspruit, and the same might be said of Kaapmuiden. Many of the
+engine drivers, and many of the burghers even, who were helping in
+destroying the barrels of spirits at the stations, were so excited (as
+they put it) through the fumes of the drink, that the strangest
+things were happening. Heavily-laden trains were going at the rate of
+40 miles an hour. A terrible collision had happened between two trains
+going in different directions, several burghers and animals being
+killed. Striplings were shooting from the trains at whatever game they
+saw, or fancied they saw, along the line, and many mishaps resulted.
+These things did not tend to improve matters.
+
+It was not so much that the officers had lost control over their men.
+It seemed as if the Evil Spirit had been let loose and was doing his
+very best to encourage the people to riotous enjoyment.
+
+Hector's Spruit is the last station but one before you come to the
+Portuguese frontier, and about seventeen miles from Ressano Garcia.
+Here every commando stopped intending of course to push on to the
+north and then to cross the mountains near Lydenburg in a westerly
+direction. The day when I arrived at Hector's Spruit, President Steyn,
+attended by an escort of 100 men, went away by the same route.
+Meanwhile General Buller was encamped at Glyn's mines near Spitskop
+and the Sabi River, which enabled him to command the mountain pass
+near Mac Mac and Belvedere without the slightest trouble, and to block
+the roads along which we meant to proceed. Although the late
+Commandant (afterwards fighting General) Gravett occupied one of the
+passes with a small commando, he was himself in constant danger of
+being cut off from Lydenburg by a flank movement. On the 16th of
+September, 1900, an incident occurred which is difficult to describe
+adequately. Hector Spruit is one of the many unattractive stations
+along the Delegoa Bay railway situated between the great Crocodile
+river and dreary black "kopjes" or "randjes" with branches of the Cape
+mountains intervening and the "Low Veldts," better known as the
+"Boschveldt." This is a locality almost filled with black holly
+bushes, where you can only see the sky overhead and the spot of ground
+you are standing on. In September the "boschveldt" is usually dry and
+withered and the scorching heat makes the surroundings seem more
+lugubrious and inhospitable than ever.
+
+The station was crowded with railway carriages loaded up with all
+sorts of goods, and innumerable passenger carriages, and the platform
+and adjoining places filled with agitated people. Some were packing
+up, others unpacking, and some, again, were looting. The majority
+were, however, wandering about aimlessly. They did not know what was
+happening; what ought to be done or would be done; and the only
+exceptions were the officers, who were busily engaged in providing
+themselves and their burghers with provisions and ammunition.
+
+I now had to perform one of the most unpleasant duties I have ever
+known: that of calling the burghers together and telling them that
+those who had no horses were to go by train to Komati Poort, there to
+join General Jan Coetser. Those who had horses were to report
+themselves to me the next morning, and get away with me through the
+low fields.
+
+Some burghers exclaimed: "We are now thrown over, left in the 'lurch,'
+because we have not got horses; that is not fair."
+
+Others said they would be satisfied if I went with them, for they did
+not know General Coetser.
+
+Commandant-General Botha did not see his way to let me go to Komati
+Poort, as he could not spare me and the other commandos. Those of the
+men who had to walk the distance complained very bitterly, and their
+complaints were well-founded. I did my best to persuade and pacify
+them all, and some of them were crying like babies when we parted.
+
+Komati Poort was, of course, the last station, and if the enemy were
+to drive them any further they would have to cross the Portuguese
+border, and to surrender to the Portuguese; or they could try to
+escape through Swaziland (as several hundreds did afterwards) or along
+the Lebombo mountains, via Leydsdorp. But if they took the latter
+route then they might just as well have stayed with me in the first
+place. It was along this road that General Coetser afterwards fled
+with a small body of burghers, when the enemy, according to
+expectations, marched on Komati Poort, and met with no resistance,
+though there were over 1800 there of our men with guns.
+
+A certain Pienaar, who arrogated unto himself the rank of a general on
+Portuguese territory, fled with 800 men over the frontier. These,
+however, were disarmed and sent to Lisbon.
+
+The end of the struggle was ignominious, as many a burgher had feared;
+and to this day I pity the men who, at Hector's Spruit, had to go to
+Komati Poort much against their will.
+
+Fortunately they had the time and presence of mind to blow up the
+"Long Tom" and other guns before going; but a tremendous lot of
+provisions and ammunition must have fallen into the hands of the
+enemy.
+
+At Hector's Spruit half a score of cannon of different calibre had
+been blown up, and many things buried which may be found some day by
+our progeny. Our carts were all ready loaded, and we were prepared to
+march next morning into the desert and take leave of our stores. How
+would we get on now? Where would we get our food, cut off as we were
+from the railway, and, consequently, from all imports and supplies?
+These questions and many others crossed our minds, but nobody could
+answer them.
+
+Our convoys were ready waiting, and the following morning we trekked
+into the Hinterland Desert, saying farewell to commissariats and
+stores.
+
+The prospect was melancholy enough. By leaving Hector's Spruit we were
+isolating ourselves from the outer world, which meant that Europe and
+civilisation generally could only be informed of our doings through
+English channels.
+
+Once again our hopes were centred in our God and our Mausers.
+
+Dr. Conan Doyle says about this stage of the war:--
+
+     "The most incredulous must have recognised as he looked at
+     the heap of splintered and shattered gunmetal (at Hector's
+     Spruit) that the long War was at last drawing to a close."
+
+And here I am, writing these pages seventeen months later, and the War
+is not over yet. But Dr. Doyle is not a prophet, and cannot be
+reproached for a miscalculation of this character, for if I, and many
+with me, had been asked at the time what we thought of the future, we
+might have been as wide of the mark as Dr. Doyle himself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+A DREARY TREK THROUGH FEVERLAND.
+
+
+The 18th of September, 1900, found us trekking along an old disused
+road in a northerly direction. We made a curious procession, an
+endless retinue of carts, waggons, guns, mounted men, "voetgangers"
+nearly three miles long. The Boers walking comprised 150 burghers
+without horses, who refused to surrender to the Portuguese, and who
+had now joined the trek on foot. Of the 1,500 mounted Boers 500
+possessed horses which were in such a parlous condition that they
+could not be ridden. The draught cattle were mostly poor and weak, and
+the waggons carrying provisions and ammunition, as also those
+conveying the guns, could only be urged along with great difficulty.
+In the last few months our cattle and horses had been worked hard
+nearly every day, and had to be kept close to our positions.
+
+During the season the veldt in the Transvaal is in the very worst
+condition, and the animals are then poorer than at any other period.
+We had, moreover, the very worst of luck, kept as we were in the
+coldest parts of the country from June till September, and the rains
+had fallen later than usual. There was, therefore, scarcely any food
+for the poor creatures, and hardly any grass. The bushveldt through
+which we were now trekking was scorched by an intolerable heat,
+aggravated by drought, and the temperature in the daytime was so
+unbearable that we could only trek during the night.
+
+Water was very scarce, and most of the wells which, according to old
+hunters with us, yielded splendid supplies, were found to be dried up.
+The veldt being burned out there was not a blade of grass to be seen,
+and we had great trouble in keeping our animals alive. From time to
+time we came across itinerant kaffir tribes from whom we obtained
+handfuls of salt or sugar, or a pailful of mealies, and by these
+means we managed to save our cattle and horses.
+
+When we had got through the Crocodile River the trek was arranged in a
+sort of military formation enabling us to defend ourselves, had we
+been attacked. The British were already in possession of the railway
+up to Kaapmuiden and we had to be prepared for pursuit; and really
+pursuit by the British seemed feasible and probable from along the
+Ohrigstad River towards Olifant's Nek and thence along the Olifant's
+River.
+
+Our original plan was to cross the Sabi, along the Meritsjani River,
+over the mountains near Mac Mac, through Erasmus or Gowyn's Pass and
+across Pilgrim's Rest, where we might speedily have reached healthier
+veldt and better climatic conditions. President Steyn had passed there
+three days previously, but when our advance guard reached the foot of
+the high mountains, near Mac Mac, the late General Gravett sent word
+that General Buller with his force was marching from Spitskop along
+the mountain plateau and that it would be difficult for us to get
+ahead of him and into the mountains. The road, which was washed away,
+was very steep and difficult and contained abrupt deviations so that
+we could only proceed at a snail's pace.
+
+Commandant-General Botha then sent instructions to me to take my
+commando along the foot of the mountains, via Leydsdorp, while he with
+his staff and the members of the Government would proceed across the
+mountains near Mac Mac. General Gravett was detailed to keep Buller's
+advance guard busy, and he succeeded admirably.
+
+I think it was here that the British lost a fine chance of making a
+big haul. General Buller could have blocked us at any of the mountain
+roads near Mac Mac, and could also have swooped down upon us near
+Gowyn's Pass and Belvedere. At the time of which I write Buller was
+lying not 14 miles away at Spitskop. Two days after he actually
+occupied the passes, but just too late to turn the two Governments and
+the Commandant-General. It might be said that they could in any case
+have, like myself, escaped along the foot of the mountains via
+Leydsdorp to Tabina and Pietersburg, but had the way out been blocked
+to them near Mac Mac, our Government and generalissimo would have been
+compelled to trek for at least three weeks in the low veldt before
+they could have reached Pietersburg, during which time all the other
+commandos would have been out of touch with the chief Boer military
+strategists and commanders, and would not have known what had become
+of their military leaders or of their Government. This would have been
+a very undesirable state of affairs, and would very likely have borne
+the most serious consequences to us. The British, moreover, could have
+occupied Pietersburg without much trouble by cutting off our progress
+in the low veldt, and barring our way across the Sabini and at Agatha.
+This coup could indeed have been effected by a small British force. In
+the mountains they would, moreover, have found a healthy climate,
+while we should have been left in the sickly districts of the low
+veldt. And had we been compelled to stay there for two months we would
+have been forced to surrender, for about the middle of October the
+disease among our horses increased and so serious was the epidemic
+that none but salted horses survived. The enteric fever would also
+have wrought havoc amongst us.
+
+Another problem was whether all this would not have put an end to the
+war; we still had generals left, and strong commandos, and it was, of
+course, very likely that a great number of Boers driven to desperation
+would have broken through, although two-thirds of our horses were not
+fit for a bold dash. Perhaps fifteen hundred out of the two thousand
+Boers would have made good their escape, but in any case large numbers
+of wagons, guns, etc. would have fallen into the British hands and our
+leaders might have been captured as well. The moral effect would have
+caused many other burghers from the other commandos to have lost heart
+and this at a moment, too, when they already required much
+encouragement.
+
+This was my view of the situation, and I think Lord Roberts, or
+whoever was responsible, lost a splendid opportunity.
+
+As regards my commando at the foot of the Mauch Mountains we turned
+right about and I took temporary leave of Louis Botha. It was a very
+affecting parting; Botha pressed my hand, saying, "Farewell, brother;
+I hope we shall get through all right. God bless you. Let me hear from
+you soon and frequently."
+
+That night we encamped at Boschbokrand, where we found a store
+unoccupied, and a house probably belonging to English refugees, for
+shop and dwelling had been burgled and looted. After our big laager
+had been arranged, Boer fashion, and the camp fire threw its lurid
+light against the weird dark outline of the woods, the Boers grouped
+themselves over the veldt. Some who had walked twenty miles that day
+fell down exhausted.
+
+I made the round of the laager, and I am bound to say that in spite of
+the trying circumstances, my burghers were in fairly cheerful spirits.
+
+I discussed the immediate prospects with the officers, and arranged
+for a different commando to be placed in the advance guard each day
+and a different field-cornet in the rear. Boers conversant with the
+locality were detailed to ride ahead and to scout and reconnoitre for
+water.
+
+When I returned that night to my waggon the evening meal was ready,
+but for the first time in my life I could eat nothing. I felt too
+dejected. My cook, Jan Smith, and my messmates were curious to know
+the reason I did not "wade in," for they always admired my ferocious
+appetite.
+
+It had been a tiring day, and I pretended I was not well; and soon
+afterwards I lay down to rest.
+
+I had been sitting up the previous evening till late in the night, and
+was therefore in hopes of dropping off to sleep. But whatever I
+tried--counting the stars, closing my eyes and doing my best to think
+of nothing--it was all in vain.
+
+Insurmountable difficulties presented themselves to me. I had ventured
+into an unhealthy, deserted, and worst of all, unknown part of the
+country with only 2,000 men. I was told we should have to cover 300
+miles of this enteric-stricken country.
+
+The burghers without horses were suffering terribly from the killing
+heat, and many were attacked by typhoid and malarial fever through
+having to drink a lot of bad water; these enemies would soon decimate
+our commando and reduce its strength to a minimum. And for four or
+five weeks we should be isolated from the Commandant-General and from
+all white men.
+
+Was I a coward, then, to lie there, dejected and even frightened? I
+asked myself. Surely, to think nothing of taking part in a fierce
+battle, to be able to see blood being shed like water, to play with
+life and death, one could not be without some courage? And yet I did
+not seem to have any pluck left in me here where there did not seem to
+be much danger.
+
+These and many similar thoughts came into my head while I was trying
+to force myself to sleep, and I told myself not to waver, to keep a
+cool head and a stout heart, and to manfully go on to the end in order
+to reach the goal we had so long kept in view.
+
+Ah, well, do not let anybody expect a general to be a hero, and
+nothing else, at all times; let us remember that "A man's a man for a'
+that," and even a fighting man may have his moments of weakness and
+fear.
+
+The next morning, about four o'clock, our little force woke up again.
+The cool morning air made it bearable for man and beast to trek. This,
+however, only lasted till seven o'clock, when the sun was already
+scorching, without the slightest sign of a breeze. It became most
+oppressive, and we were scarcely able to breathe.
+
+The road had not been used for twenty or thirty years, and big trees
+were growing in our path, and had to be cut down at times. The dry
+ground, now cut up by the horses' hoofs, was turned into dust by the
+many wheels, great clouds flying all round us, high up in the air,
+covering everything and everybody with a thick layer of ashy-grey
+powder.
+
+About nine o'clock we reached Zand River, where we found some good
+water, and stayed till dusk. We exchanged some mealies against salt
+and other necessaries with some kaffirs who were living near by the
+water. Their diminutive, deformed stature was another proof of the
+miserable climate obtaining there.
+
+There was much big game here; wild beasts, "hartebeest," "rooiboks"
+(sometimes in groups of from five to twenty at a time), and at night
+we heard the roaring of lions and the howling of wolves. Even by day
+lions were encountered. Now, one of the weakest points, perhaps the
+weakest, of an Afrikander is his being unable to refrain from shooting
+when he sees game, whether such be prohibited or not. From every
+commando burghers had been sent out to do shooting for our
+commissariat, but a good many had slipped away, so that hundreds of
+them were soon hunting about in the thickly-grown woods. The
+consequence was that, whenever a group of them discovered game, it
+seemed as if a real battle were going on, several persons often being
+wounded, and many cattle killed. We made rules and regulations, and
+even inflicted punishments which did some good, but could not check
+the wild hunting instincts altogether, it being difficult to find out
+in the dark bush who had been the culprits.
+
+Meanwhile the trek went on very slowly. On the seventh day we reached
+Blyde River, where we had one of the loveliest views of the whole
+"boschveldt." The river, which has its source near Pilgrim's Rest and
+runs into the great Olifant's River near the Lomboba, owes its name to
+trekker pioneers, who, being out hunting in the good old times, had
+been looking for water for days, and when nearly perishing from
+thirst, had suddenly discovered this river, and called it Blyde (or
+"Glad") River. The stream at the spot we crossed is about 40 feet
+wide, and the water as pure as crystal. The even bed is covered with
+white gravel, and along both banks are splendid high trees. The whole
+laager could outspan under their shade, and it was a delightful,
+refreshing sensation to find oneself protected from the burning sun.
+We all drank of the delicious water, which we had seldom found in such
+abundance, and we also availed ourselves of it to bathe and wash our
+clothes.
+
+In the afternoon a burgher, whose name I had better not mention, came
+running up to us with his clothes torn to tatters, and his hat and gun
+gone. He presented a curious picture. I heard the burghers jeer and
+chaff him as he approached, and called out to him: "What on earth have
+you been up to? It looks as if you had seen old Nick with a mask on."
+
+The affrighted Boer's dishevelled hair stood on end and he shook with
+fear.
+
+He gasped: "Goodness gracious, General, I am nearly dead. I had gone
+for a stroll to do a bit of hunting like, and had shot a lion who ran
+away into some brushwood. I knew the animal had received a mortal
+wound, and ran after it. But I could only see a yard or so ahead
+through the thick undergrowth, and was following the bloodstained
+track. Seeing the animal I put down my gun and was stepping over the
+trunk of an old tree; but just as I put my foot down, lo! I saw a
+terrible monster standing with one paw on the beast's chest. Oh, my
+eye! I thought my last hour had come, for the lion looked so hard at
+me, and he roared so awfully. By jove, General, if this had been an
+Englishman I should just have "hands-upped," you bet! But I veered
+round and went down bang on my nose. My rifle, my hat, my all, I
+abandoned in that battle, and for all the riches of England, I would
+not go back. General, you may punish me for losing my rifle, but I
+won't go back to that place for anything or anybody."
+
+I asked him what the lion had done then, but he knew nothing more.
+Another burgher who stood by, remarked: "I think it was a dog this
+chap saw. He came running up to me so terrified that he would not have
+known his own mother. If I had asked him at that moment he would not
+have been able to remember his own name."
+
+The poor fellow was roused to indignation, and offered to go with the
+whole commando and show them the lion's trail. But there was no time
+for that, and the hero had a bad time of it, for everybody was teasing
+and chaffing him, and henceforth he was called the "Terror of the
+Vaal."
+
+We should have liked to have lingered a few days near that splendid
+and wholesome stream. We wanted a rest badly enough, but it was not
+advisable on account of the fever, which is almost invariably the
+penalty for sleeping near a river in the low veldt. One of the
+regulations of our commando forbade the officers and men to spend the
+night by the side of any water or low spot. It would also have been
+fatal to the horses, for sickness amongst them and fever always
+coincide. But they did not always keep to the letter of these
+instructions. The burghers, especially those who had been walking, or
+arriving at a river, would always quickly undress and jump into the
+water, after which some of them would fall asleep on the banks or have
+a rest under the trees. Both were unhealthy and dangerous luxuries.
+Many burghers who had been out hunting or had been sent out
+provisioning, stayed by the riverside till the morning, since they
+could dispense with their kit in this warm climate. They often were
+without food for twenty-four hours, unless we happened to trek along
+the spot where they were resting. To pass the night in these
+treacherous parts on an empty stomach was enough to give anybody the
+fever.
+
+When we moved on from Blyde River many draught beasts were exhausted
+through want of food, and we were obliged to leave half a dozen carts
+behind. This caused a lot of trouble as we had to transfer all the
+things to other vehicles, and field-cornets did not like to take up
+the goods belonging to other field-cornets' burghers, the cattle being
+in such a weak condition that it made every man think of his own
+division. No doubt the burghers were very kind to their animals, but
+they sometimes carried it too far, and the superior officers had often
+to interfere.
+
+The distance from Blyde River to the next stopping place could not be
+covered in one day, and we should have no water the next; not a very
+pleasant prospect. The great clouds of dust through which we were
+marching overnight and the scorching heat in the daytime made us all
+long for water to drink and to clean ourselves. So when the order
+came from the laager commandants: "Outspan! No water to-day, my boys,
+you will have to be careful with the water on the carts. We shall be
+near some stream to-morrow evening," they were bitterly disappointed.
+
+When we got near the water the following day eight burghers were
+reported to be suffering badly from the typhoid fever, five of them
+belonging to the men who were walking. We had a very insufficient
+supply of ambulance waggons. I had omitted to procure a great number
+of these indispensable vehicles on leaving Hector's Spruit, for there
+had been so many things to look after. We were lucky to have with us
+brave Dr. Manning, of the Russian Ambulance, who rendered us such
+excellent assistance, and we have every reason to be thankful to H.M.
+the Czarina of Russia for sending him out. Dr. Manning had the
+patients placed in waggons, which had been put at his disposal for
+this purpose, but notwithstanding his skilled and careful treatment,
+one of my men died the following day, while the number of those who
+were seriously ill rose to fifteen. The symptoms of this fatal illness
+are: headache and a numb feeling in all the limbs, accompanied by an
+unusually high temperature very often rising to 104 and 106 degrees
+during the first 24 hours, with the blood running from the patient's
+nose and ears, which is an ominous sign. At other times the first
+symptom is what is commonly called "cold shivers."
+
+We proceeded slowly until we came to the Nagout River, where the
+monotony and dreariness of a trek through the "boschveldt" were
+somewhat relieved by the spectacle of a wide stream of good water,
+with a luxurious vegetation along the banks. It was a most pleasant
+and refreshing sight to behold. For some distance along the banks some
+grass was found, to which the half-starved animals were soon devoting
+their attention. It was the sort of sweet grass the hunters call
+"buffalo-grass," and which is considered splendid food for cattle. We
+pitched our camp on a hill about one mile from the river, and as our
+draught-beasts were in want of a thorough rest we remained there for a
+few days. We had been obliged to drive along some hundreds of oxen,
+mules, and horses, as they had been unfit to be harnessed for days,
+and had several times been obliged to leave those behind that were
+emaciated and exhausted.
+
+From the Nagout River we had to go right up to the Olifant's River, a
+distance of about 20 miles, which took us three days. The track led
+all along through the immense bush-plain which extends from the high
+Mauch Mountains in the west to the Lebombo Mountains in the east; and
+yet one could only see a few paces ahead during all these days, and
+the only thing we could discern was the summit of some mountain on the
+westerly or easterly horizon, and even the tops of the Mauch and
+Lebombo Mountains one could only see by standing on the top of a
+loaded waggon, and with the aid of a field-glass. This thickly-wooded
+region included nearly one-third of the Transvaal, and is uninhabited,
+the white men fearing the unhealthy climate, while only some miserable
+little kaffir tribes were found about there, the bulk being the
+undisputed territory of the wild animals.
+
+The Olifant's River, which we had to cross, is over 100 feet wide. The
+old track leading down to it, was so thickly covered with trees and
+undergrowth that we had to cut a path through it. The banks of the
+river were not very high, thus enabling us to make a drift without
+much trouble. The bed was rocky, and the water pretty shallow, and
+towards the afternoon the whole commando had crossed. Here again we
+were obliged to rest our cattle for a few days, during which we had to
+fulfil the melancholy duty of burying two of our burghers who had died
+of fever. It was a very sad loss and we were very much affected,
+especially as one left a young wife and two little children, living at
+Barberton. The other one was a young colonial Afrikander who had left
+his parents in the Cradock district (Cape Colony) to fight for our
+cause. We could not help thinking how intensely sad it was to lose
+one's life on the banks of this river, far from one's home, from
+relatives and friends, without a last grasp of the hand of those who
+were nearest and dearest.
+
+The Transvaaler's last words were:--
+
+     "Be sure to tell my wife I am dying cheerfully, with a
+     clear conscience; that I have given my life for the welfare
+     of my Fatherland."
+
+We had now to leave some draught cattle and horses behind every day,
+and the number of those who were obliged to walk was continually
+increasing, till there were several hundred.
+
+Near Sabini, the first river we came to after leaving Leydsdorp we
+secured twenty-four mules which were of very great use to us under the
+circumstances. But the difficulty was how to distribute them amongst
+the field-cornets. The men all said they wanted them very urgently,
+and at once found the cattle belonging to each cart to be too thin and
+too weak to move. Yet the twenty-four could only be put into two
+carts, and I had to solve the difficulty by asserting my authority.
+
+It was no easy task to get over the Agatha Mountains and we had to
+rest for the day near the big Letaba, especially as we had to give the
+whole file of carts, guns, etc., a chance of forming up again. Here we
+succeeded in buying some loads of mealies, which were a real God-send
+to our half-starved horses. I also managed to hire some teams of oxen
+from Boers who had taken up a position with their cattle along the
+Letaba, which enabled us to get our carts out of the Hartbosch
+Mountains as far as practicable. The task would have been too
+fatiguing for our cattle. It took us two days before we were out of
+these mountains, when we camped out on the splendid "plateau" of the
+Koutboschbergen, where the climate was wholesome and pleasant.
+
+Here, after having passed a whole month in the wilderness of the low
+veldt, with its destructive climate, it was as though we began a new
+life, as if we had come back to civilisation. We again saw white men's
+dwellings, cultivated green fields, flocks of grazing sheep, and herds
+of sleek cows.
+
+The inhabitants of the country were not a little surprised, not to say
+alarmed, to find, early one Sunday morning, a big laager occupying the
+plateau. A Boer laager always looks twice as large as it really is
+when seen from a little distance. Some Boer lads presently came up to
+ask us whether we were friends or enemies, for in these distant parts
+people were not kept informed of what happened elsewhere.
+
+"A general," said a woman, who paid us a visit in a trap, "is a thing
+we have all been longing to see. I have called to hear some news, and
+whether you would like to buy some oats; but I tell you straight I am
+not going to take "blue-backs" (Government notes), and if you people
+buy my oats you will have to pay in gold."
+
+A burgher answered her: "There is the General, under that cart;
+'tante' had better go to him."
+
+Of course I had heard the whole conversation, but thought the woman
+had been joking. The good lady came up to my cart, putting her cap a
+little on one side, probably to favour us with a peep at her beauty.
+
+"Good morning. Where is that General Viljoen; they say he is here?"
+
+I thought to myself: "I wonder what this charming Delilah of fifty
+summers wants," and got up and shook hands with her, saying: "I am
+that General. What can I do for 'tante'?"
+
+"No, but I never! Are you the General? You don't look a bit like one;
+I thought a General looked 'baing' (much) different from what you are
+like."
+
+Much amused by all this I asked: "What's the matter with me, then,
+'tante'?"
+
+"Nay, but cousin (meaning myself) looks like a youngster. I have heard
+so much of you, I expected to see an old man with a long beard."
+
+I had had enough of this comedy, and not feeling inclined to waste any
+more civilities on this innocent daughter of Mother Eve, I asked her
+about the oats.
+
+I sent an adjutant to have a look at her stock and to buy what we
+wanted, and the prim dame spared me the rest of her criticism.
+
+We now heard that Pietersburg and Warmbad were still held by the
+Boers, and the road was therefore clear. We marched from here via
+Haenertsburg, a little village on the Houtboschbergrand, and the seat
+of some officials of the Boer Mining Department, for in this
+neighbourhood gold mines existed, which in time of peace give
+employment to hundreds of miners.
+
+Luckily, there was also a hospital at Haenertsburg, where we could
+leave half a dozen fever patients, under the careful treatment of an
+Irish doctor named Kavanagh, assisted by the tender care of a daughter
+of the local justice of the peace, whose name, I am sorry to say, I
+have forgotten.
+
+About the 19th of October, 1900, we arrived at Pietersburg, our place
+of destination.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+PAINS AND PLEASURES OF COMMANDEERING.
+
+
+We found Pietersburg to be quite republican, all the officials, from
+high to low, in their proper places in the offices, and the
+"Vierkleur" flying from the Government buildings. The railway to
+Warmbad was also in Boer hands. At Warmbad were General Beyers and his
+burghers and those of the Waterberg district. Although we had no coals
+left, this did not prevent us from running a train with a sufficient
+number of carriages from Pietersburg to Warmbad twice a week. We used
+wood instead, this being found in great quantities in this part of the
+country.
+
+Of course, it took some time to get steam up, and we had to put in
+more wood all the time, while the boilers continually threatened to
+run dry. We only had two engines, one of which was mostly laid up for
+repairs. The other one served to keep the commandos at Warmbad
+provided with food, etc.
+
+The Pietersburgers also had kept up telegraphic communication, and we
+were delighted to hear that clothes and boots could be got in the
+town, as we had to replace our own, which had got dreadfully torn and
+worn out on the "trek" through the "boschveldt." Each commandant did
+his best to get the necessary things together for his burghers, and my
+quarters were the centre of great activity from the early morning to
+late in the evening, persons who had had their goods commandeered
+applying to the General and lodging complaints.
+
+After we had been at Pietersburg for eight days, a delay which seemed
+so many months to me, I had really had too much of it. The complaints
+were generally introduced by remarks about how much the complainants'
+ancestors had done for the country at Boomplaats, Majuba, etc., etc.,
+and how unfairly they were now being treated by having their only
+horses, or mules, or their carriages, or saddles commandeered.
+
+The worst of it was, that they all had to be coaxed, either with a
+long sermon, pointing out to them what an honour and distinction it
+was to be thus selected to do their duty to their country and their
+people, or by giving them money if no appeal to their generous
+feelings would avail; sometimes by using strong language to the timid
+ones, telling them it would have to be, whether they liked it or not.
+
+Anyhow we got a hundred fine horses together at the cost of a good
+many imprecations. The complainants may be divided into the following
+categories:--
+
+1st. Those who really believed they had some cause of complaint.
+
+2nd. Those who did not feel inclined to part with anything without
+receiving the full value in cash--whose patriotism began and ended
+with money.
+
+3rd. Those who had Anglophile tendencies and thought it an abomination
+to part with anything to a commando (these were the worst to deal
+with, for they wore a mask, and we often did not know whether we had
+got hold of the Evil One's tail or an angel's pinions), and
+
+4th. Those who were complaining without reason. These were, as a rule,
+burghers who did not care to fight, and who remained at home under all
+sorts of pretexts.
+
+The complaints from females consisted of three classes:--
+
+1st. The patriotic ones who did all they could--sensible ladies as
+they were--to help us and to encourage our burghers, but who wanted
+the things we had commandeered for their own use.
+
+2nd. The women without any national sympathy--a tiresome species, who
+forget their sex, and burst into vituperation if they could not get
+their way; and
+
+3rd. The women with English sympathies, carefully hidden behind a mask
+of pro-Boer expressions.
+
+The pity of it was that you could not see it written on their
+foreheads which category they belonged to, and although one could soon
+find out what their ideas were, one had to be careful in expressing a
+decided opinion about them, as there was a risk of being prosecuted
+for libel.
+
+I myself always preferred an outspoken complaint. I could always cut
+up roughly refer him to martial law, and gruffly answer, "It will have
+to be like this, or you will have to do it!" And if that did not
+satisfy him I had him sent away. But the most difficult case was when
+the complaint was stammered under a copious flood of tears, although
+not supported by any arguments worth listening to.
+
+There were a good many foreign subjects at Pietersburg but they were
+mostly British, and these persons, who also had some of their horses,
+etc., commandeered, were a great source of trouble, for many Boer
+officers and burghers treated them without any ceremony, simply taking
+away what they wanted for their commandos. I did not at all agree with
+this way of doing things, for so long as a foreign subject, though an
+Englishman, is allowed to remain within the fighting lines, he has a
+right to protection and fairness, and no difference ought to be made
+between him and the burghers who stay at home, when there is any
+fighting to be done.
+
+From Pietersburg we went to Nylstroom, a village on the railway to
+which I had been summoned by telegram by the Commandant-General, who
+had arrived there on his way to the westerly districts, this being the
+first I had heard of him after we had parted at the foot of the
+Mauchberg, near Mac Mac.
+
+I travelled by rail, accompanied by one of my commandants. The way
+they managed to keep up steam was delightfully primitive. We did not,
+indeed, fly along the rails, yet we very often went at the rate of
+nine miles an hour!
+
+When our supply of wood got exhausted, we would just stop the train,
+or the train would stop itself, and the passengers were politely
+requested to get out and take a hand at cutting down trees and
+carrying wood. This had a delicious flavour of the old time stage
+coach about it, when first, second, and third class passengers
+travelled in the same compartment, although the prices of the
+different classes varied considerably. When a coach came to the foot
+of a mountain the travellers would, however, soon find out where the
+difference between the classes lay, for the driver would order all
+first-class passengers to keep their seats, second-class passengers to
+get out and walk, and third-class passengers to get out and push.
+
+We got to our destination, however, although the chances seemed to
+have been against it. I myself had laid any odds against ever arriving
+alive.
+
+At Nylstroom we found President Steyn and suite, who had just arrived,
+causing a great stir in this sleepy little village, which had now
+become a frontier village of the territory in which we still held
+sway.
+
+A great popular meeting was held, which President Steyn opened with a
+manly speech, followed by a no less stirring one from our
+Commandant-General, both exhorting the burghers to do their duty
+towards their country and towards themselves by remaining faithful to
+the Cause, as the very existence of our nation depended on it.
+
+In the afternoon the officers met in an empty hall of the hotel at
+Nylstroom to hold a Council of War, under the direction of the
+Commandant-General.
+
+Plans were discussed and arrangements made for the future. I was to
+march at once from Pietersburg to the north-westerly part of the
+Pretoria district, and on to Witnek, which would bring us back to our
+old battle-grounds. The state of the commandos, I was told, in those
+parts was very sad. The commandant of the Boksburg Commando had
+mysteriously fallen into the enemy's hands, and with his treacherous
+assistance nearly the whole commando had been captured as well. The
+Pretoria Commando had nearly shared this melancholy fate.
+
+That same night we travelled to Pietersburg. After we had passed
+Yzerberg the train seemed to be going more and more slowly, till we
+came to a dead stop. The engine had broken down, and all we could do
+was to get out and walk the rest of the way. In a few hours' time, to
+our great joy, the second, and the only other train from Pietersburg
+there was, came up.
+
+After having convinced the engine-driver that he had to obey the
+General's orders, he complied with our request to take us to
+Pietersburg, and at last, after a lot of trouble, we arrived the
+following day. Our cattle and horses were now sufficiently rested and
+in good condition. The commandos have been provided with the things
+they most urgently needed, and ordered to be ready within two days.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+PUNISHING THE PRO-BRITISH.
+
+
+During the first days of November, 1900, we went from Pietersburg to
+Witnek, about nineteen miles north of Bronkhorst Spruit, in the
+Pretoria district. We had enjoyed a fortnight's rest, which had
+especially benefited our horses, and our circumstances were much more
+favourable in every respect when we left Pietersburg than when we had
+entered it.
+
+The Krugersdorp Commando had been sent to its own district, from
+Pietersburg via Warmbad and Rustenburg, under Commandant Jan Kemp, in
+order to be placed under General De la Rey's command. Most of the
+burghers preferred being always in their own districts, even though
+the villages scattered about were in the enemy's hands, the greater
+part of the homesteads burnt down and the farms destroyed, and nearly
+all the families had been placed in British Concentration Camps; and
+if the commanding officers would not allow the burghers to go to their
+own districts they would simply desert, one after the other, to join
+the commando nearest their districts.
+
+I do not think there is another nation so fondly attached to their
+home and its neighbourhood, even though the houses be in ruins and the
+farms destroyed. Still the Boer feels attracted to it, and when he has
+at last succeeded in reaching it, you will often find him sit down
+disconsolately among the ruins or wandering about in the vicinity.
+
+It was better, therefore, to keep our men somewhere near their
+districts, for even from a strategical point of view they were better
+there, knowing every nook and cranny, which enabled them to find
+exactly where to hide in case of danger. Even in the dark they were
+able to tell, after scouting, which way the enemy would be coming.
+This especially gave a commando the necessary self-reliance, which is
+of such great importance in battle. It has also been found during the
+latter part of the War to be easier for a burgher to get provisions in
+his own district than in others, notwithstanding the destruction
+caused by the enemy.
+
+Commandant Muller, of the Boksburg Commando, one of those who were
+lucky enough to escape the danger of being caught through the
+half-heartedness of the previous commandant (Dirksen), and had taken
+his place, arrived at Warmbad almost the same moment. He proceeded via
+Yzerberg and joined us at Klipplaatdrift near Zebedelestad.
+
+I had allowed a field-cornet's company, consisting of Colonial
+Afrikanders, to accompany President Steyn to the Orange Free State,
+which meant a reduction of my force of 350 men, including the
+Krugersdorpers. But the junction with the Boksburg burghers, numbering
+about 200 men, somewhat made up for it.
+
+We went along the Olifant's River, by Israelskop and Crocodile Hill,
+to the spot where the Eland's River runs into the Olifant's River, and
+thence direct to Witnek through Giftspruit.
+
+The grass, after the heavy rains, was in good condition and yielded
+plenty of food for our quadrupeds. Strange to say, nothing worth
+recording occurred during this "trek" of about 95 miles. About the
+middle of November we camped near the "Albert" silver mines, south of
+Witnek.
+
+Commandant Erasmus was still in this part of the country with the
+remainder of the Pretoria Commando. Divided into three or four smaller
+groups, they watched in the neighbourhood of the railway, from
+Donkerhoek till close to Wilgeriver Station, and whenever the enemy
+moved out, the men on watch gave warning and all fled with their
+families and cattle into the "boschveldt" along Witnek.
+
+It was these tactics which enabled the British Press to state that the
+Generals Plumer and Paget had a brilliant victory over Erasmus the
+previous month; for, with the exception of a few abandoned carts at
+Zusterhoek, they could certainly not have seen anything of Erasmus and
+his commando except a cloud of dust on the road from Witnek to the
+"boschveldt."
+
+I had instructions to reorganise the commandos in these regions and to
+see that law and order were maintained. The reorganisation was a
+difficult work, for the burghers were divided amongst themselves.
+
+Some wanted a different commando, while others wanted to keep to
+Erasmus, who was formerly general and who had been my superior, round
+Ladysmith. He, one of the wealthiest and most influential burghers in
+the Pretoria district, did not seem inclined to carry out my
+instructions, and altogether he could not get accustomed to the
+altered conditions. I did all I could in the matter, but, so far as
+the Pretoria Commando was concerned, the result of my efforts was not
+very satisfactory. Nor did the generals who tried the same thing after
+me get on with the reorganisation while Erasmus remained in control as
+an officer. A dangerous element, which he and his clique tolerated,
+was formed by some families (Schalkwyk and others) who, after having
+surrendered to the enemy, were allowed to remain on their holdings,
+with their cattle, and to go on farming as if nothing had happened.
+They generally lived near the railway between our sentry stations and
+those of the enemy. These "voluntarily disarmed ones," as we called
+them, had got passes from the enemy, allowing them free access to the
+British camps, and in accordance with one of Lord Roberts'
+proclamations, their duty, on seeing any Boers or commandos, was, to
+notify this at once to the nearest English picket, and also to
+communicate all information received about the Boers. All this was on
+penalty of having their houses burnt down and their cattle and
+property confiscated. Sometimes a brother or other relative of these
+"hands-uppers" would call on them. The son of one of them was adjutant
+to Commandant Erasmus, and shared his tent with him, while the
+adjutant often visited his parents during the night and sometimes by
+day; the consequence being that the English always knew exactly what
+was going on in our district. This situation could not be allowed to
+go on, and I instructed one of my officers to have all these suspected
+families placed behind our commandos. Any male persons who had
+surrendered to the enemy out of cowardice were arrested.
+
+Most of them were court-martialled for high treason and desertion, and
+giving up their arms, and fifteen were imprisoned in a school building
+at Rhenosterkop, which had been turned into a gaol for the purpose.
+The court consisted of a presiding officer selected from the
+commandants by the General, and of four members, two of whom had been
+chosen by the General and the President, and two by the burghers.
+
+In the absence of our "Staats-procureur," a lawyer was appointed
+public prosecutor.
+
+Before the trial commenced the President was sworn by the General and
+the other four members by the President. The usual criminal procedure
+was followed, and each sentence was submitted for the General's
+ratification.
+
+The court could decree capital punishment, in which case there could
+be an appeal to the Government.
+
+There were other courts, constituted by the latter, but as they were
+moving about almost every day, they were not always available, and
+recourse had then to be taken to the court-martial.
+
+The fifteen prisoners were tried in Rhenosterkop churchyard. The trial
+lasted several days, and I do not remember all the particulars of the
+various sentences, which differed from two and a half to five years'
+imprisonment, I believe with the option of a fine. The only prison we
+could send them to was at Pietersburg, and there they went.
+
+The arresting and punishing of these people caused a great sensation
+in the different commandos.
+
+It seems incredible, but it is a fact that many members of these
+traitors' families were very indignant about my action in the matter,
+even sending me anonymous letters in which they threatened to shoot
+me.
+
+Although there was less treason after the conviction of these fifteen
+worthies had taken place, there always remained an easy channel in the
+shape of correspondence between burghers from the commandos and their
+relatives within the English fighting lines, carried by kaffir
+runners. This could not be stopped so easily.
+
+On the 19th of November, 1900, I attacked the enemy on the railway
+simultaneously at Balmoral and Wilgeriver, and soon found that the
+British had heard of our plan beforehand.
+
+Commandant Muller, who was cautiously creeping up to the enemy at
+Wilgeriver with some of his burghers, and a Krupp gun, met with a
+determined resistance early in the morning. He succeeded, indeed, in
+taking a few small forts, but the station was too strongly fortified,
+and the enemy used two 15-pounders in one of the forts with such
+precision as to soon hit our Krupp gun, which had to be cleared out of
+the fighting line.
+
+The burghers, who had taken the small forts in the early morning, were
+obliged to stop there till they could get away under protection of the
+darkness, with three men wounded. We did not find out the enemy's
+losses.
+
+We were equally unfortunate near Balmoral Station, where I personally
+led the attack.
+
+At daybreak I ordered a fortress to be stormed, expecting to capture a
+gun, which would enable us to fire on the station from there, and
+then storm it. In fact we occupied the fort with little trouble,
+taking a captain and 32 men prisoners, besides inflicting a loss of
+several killed and wounded, while a score more escaped. These all
+belonged to the "Buffs," the same regiment which now takes part in
+watching us at St. Helena. But, on the whole, we were disappointed,
+not finding a gun in the fort, which was situated to the west of the
+station. Two divisions of burghers with a 15-pounder and a pom-pom
+were approaching the station from north and east, while a commando,
+under Field-Cornet Duvenhage, which had been called upon to strengthen
+the attack, was to occupy an important position in the south before
+the enemy could take it up, for during the night it was still
+unoccupied.
+
+Our 15-pounder, one of the guns we had captured from the English,
+fired six shells on the enemy at the station, when it burst, while the
+pom-pom after having sent some bombs through the station buildings,
+also jammed. We tried to storm over the bare ground between our
+position and the strongly barricaded and fortified station, and the
+enemy would no doubt have been forced to surrender if they had not
+realised that something had gone wrong with us, our guns being silent,
+and Field-Cornet Duvenhage and his burghers not turning up from the
+south. The British, who had taken an important position from which
+they could cover us with their fire, sent us some lyddite shells from
+a howitzer in the station fort. Although there was a good shower of
+them, yet the lyddite-squirt sent the shells at such a slow pace, that
+we could quietly watch them coming and get under cover in time and
+therefore they did very little harm.
+
+At eight o'clock we were forced to fall back, for although we had
+destroyed the railway and telegraphic communications in several places
+over night, the latter were repaired in the afternoon, and the enemy's
+reinforcements poured in from Pretoria as well as from Middelburg. I
+observed all this through my glass from the position I had taken up on
+a high point near the Douglas coal mines.
+
+Amongst the prisoners we had made in the morning was a captain of the
+"Buffs," whose collar stars had been stripped off for some reason, the
+marks showing they had only recently been removed. At that time there
+were no orders to keep officers as prisoners-of-war, and this captain
+was therefore sent back to Balmoral with the other "Tommies," after we
+had relieved them of their weapons and other things which we were in
+want of. I read afterwards, in an English newspaper, that this captain
+had taken the stars off in order to save himself from the "cruelties
+of the Boers."
+
+This, I considered, an unjust and undeserved libel.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+BATTLE OF RHENOSTERKOP.
+
+
+On the 27th of November, 1900, our scouts reported that a force of the
+enemy was marching from the direction of Pretoria, and proceeding
+along Zustershoek. I sent out Commandant Muller with a strong patrol,
+while I placed the laager in a safe position, in the ridge of kopjes
+running from Rhenosterkop some miles to the north. This is the place,
+about 15 miles to the north-east of Bronkhorst Spruit, where Colonel
+Anstruther with the 94th regiment was attacked in 1881 by the Boers
+and thoroughly defeated. Rhenosterkop is a splendid position, rising
+several hundred feet above the neighbouring heights, and can be seen
+from a great distance. Towards the south and south-east this kopje is
+cut off from the Kliprandts (known by the name of Suikerboschplaats)
+by a deep circular cleft called Rhenosterpoort.
+
+On the opposite side of this cleft the so-called "banks" form a
+"plateau" about the same height as the Rhenosterkop, with some smaller
+plateaux, at a lesser altitude, towards the Wilge River. These
+plateaux form a crescent running from south-east to north of the
+Rhenosterkop. Only one road leading out of the "bank" near Blackwood
+Camp and crossing them near Goun, gives access to this crescent. On
+the west side is a great gap up to Zustershoek, only interrupted by
+some "randjes," or ridges, near the Albert silver mines and the row of
+kopjes on which I had now taken up a position.
+
+The enemy's force had been estimated at 5,000 men, mostly mounted,
+who, quite against their usual tactics, charged us so soon as they
+noticed us. Muller had to fall back again and again. The enemy under
+General Paget, pursued us as if we were a lot of game, and it soon
+became apparent that they had made up their mind to catch us this
+time. I sent our carts into the forest along Poortjesnek to
+Roodelaager, and made a stand in the kopjes near Rhenosterkop.
+
+On the 28th--the next day--General Paget pitched his camp near our
+positions, shelling us with some batteries of field guns till dusk.
+The same evening I received information that a force under General
+Lyttelton had marched from Middelburg and arrived near Blackwood Camp.
+This meant that our way near Gourjsberg had been cut off. All we could
+do was to keep the road along Poortjesnek well defended, for if the
+enemy were to succeed in blocking that as well, we would be in a trap
+and be entirely cut up.
+
+There was General Paget against us to the west, to the south there was
+Rhenosterkop with no way out, and General Lyttelton to the east, while
+to the north there was only one road, running between high chains and
+deep clefts. If General Paget were to make a flanking movement
+threatening the road to the north, I should have been obliged to
+retire in hot haste, but we were in hopes the General would not think
+of this. General Lyttelton only needed to advance another mile, right
+up to the first "randts" of the mountain near Blackwood Camp, for his
+guns to command our whole position, and to make it impossible for us
+to hold it. I had, however, a field-cornet's company between him and
+my burghers, with instructions to resist as long as possible, and to
+prevent our being attacked from behind, which plan succeeded, as luck
+would have it. My Krupp and pom-pom guns had been repaired, or rather,
+patched up, though the former had only been fired fourteen times when
+it was done up.
+
+I placed the Johannesburgers on the left, the Police in the centre,
+and the Boksburgers on the right. As I have already pointed out, these
+positions were situated in a row of small kopjes strewn with big
+"klips," while the assailant would have to charge over a bare "bult,"
+and we should not be able to see each other before they were at 60 to
+150 paces distant.
+
+Next morning, when the day dawned, the watchmen gave the alarm, the
+warning we knew so well, "The Khakis are coming!" The horses were all
+put out of range of the bullets behind the "randts." I rode about
+with my officers in front of our positions, thus being able to
+overlook the whole ground, just at daybreak.
+
+It gave me a turn when I suddenly saw the gigantic army of "Khakis"
+right in front of us, slowly approaching, in grand formation, regiment
+upon regiment, deploying systematically, in proper fighting order, and
+my anxiety was mingled with admiration at the splendid discipline of
+the adversary. This, then, was the first act in the bloody drama which
+would be played for the next fifteen hours. The enemy came straight up
+to us, and had obviously been carefully reconnoitring our positions.
+
+General Paget seemed to have been spoiling for a fight, for it did not
+look as if he simply meant to threaten our only outlet. His heavy
+ordnance was in position near his camp, behind the soldiers, and was
+firing at us over their heads, while some 15-pounders were divided
+amongst the different regiments. The thought of being involved in such
+an unequal struggle weighed heavily on my mind. Facing me were from
+four to five thousand soldiers, well equipped, well disciplined,
+backed up by a strong artillery; just behind me my men, 500 at the
+outside, with some patched-up guns, almost too shaky for firing
+purposes.
+
+But I could rely on at least 90 per cent. of my burghers being
+splendid shots, each man knowing how to economise his store of
+ammunition, while their hearts beat warmly for the Cause they were
+fighting.
+
+The battle was opened by our Krupp gun, from which they had orders to
+fire the fourteen shells we had at our disposal, and then "run." The
+enemy's heavy guns soon answered from the second ridge. When it was
+broad daylight the enemy tried his first charge on the Johannesburg
+position, over which my brother had the command, and approached in
+skirmishing order. They charged right up to seventy paces, when our
+men fired for the first time, so that we could not very well have
+missed our aim at so short a distance, in addition to which the
+assailants' outline was just showing against the sky-line as he was
+going over the last ridge. Only two volleys and all the Khakis were
+flat on the ground, some dead, others wounded, while those who had not
+been hit were obliged to lie down as flat as a pancake.
+
+The enemy's field-pieces were out of our sight behind the ridge which
+the enemy had to pass in charging, and they went on firing without any
+intermission. Half an hour later the position of the Johannesburg
+Police, under the late Lieutenant D. Smith, was stormed again, this
+time the British being assisted by two field-pieces which they had
+brought up with them in the ranks and which were to be used as soon as
+the soldiers were under fire. They came to within a hundred paces. One
+of these guns, I think, I saw put up, but before they could get the
+range it had to be removed into safety, for the attacking soldiers
+fared equally badly here as on our left flank.
+
+Then, after a little hesitation, they tried the attack on our right
+flank again, when Commandant Muller and the Boksburgers and some
+Pretoria burghers, under Field-Cornet Opperman held the position, but
+with the same fatal result to the attackers. Our fifteen-pounder,
+after having been fired a few times, had given out, while our pom-pom
+could only be used from time to time after the artilleryman had
+righted it.
+
+I had a heliograph post near the left-hand position, one near the
+centre and the one belonging to my staff on our extreme right. I
+remained near this, expecting a flank movement by General Paget after
+his front attacks had failed. From this coign of vantage I was able to
+overlook the whole of the fighting ground, besides which I was in
+constant touch with my officers, and could tell them all the enemy's
+movements.
+
+About 10 o'clock they charged again, and so far as I could see with a
+fresh regiment. We allowed them to come up very closely again and once
+more our deadly Mauser fire mowed them down, compelling those who went
+scot-free to go down flat on the ground, while during this charge some
+who had been obliged to drop down, now jumped up and ran away. If I
+remember rightly, it was during this charge that a brave officer, who
+had one of his legs smashed, leant on a gun or his sword, and kept on
+giving his orders, cheering the soldiers and telling them to charge
+on. While in this position, a second bullet struck him, and he fell
+mortally wounded. We afterwards heard it was a certain Colonel Lloyd
+of the West Riding Regiment. A few months after, on passing over this
+same battlefield, we laid a wreath of flowers on his grave, with a
+card, bearing the inscription: "In honour of a brave enemy."
+
+General Paget seemed resolved to take our positions, whatever the
+sacrifice of human lives might be. If he succeeded at last, at this
+rate, he might find half a score of wounded burghers and, if his
+cavalry hurried up, perhaps a number of burghers with horses in bad
+condition, but nothing more.
+
+Whereas, if he had made a flanking movement, he might have attained
+his end, perhaps without losing a single man.
+
+Pride or stupidity must have induced him not to change his tactics.
+Nothing daunted by the repeated failures in the morning, our
+assailant charged again, now one position and then another, trying to
+get their field-pieces in position, but each time without success. At
+their wits' end, the enemy tried another dodge, bringing his guns
+right up to our position under cover of some Red Cross waggons. The
+officer who perceived this, reported to me by heliograph, asking for
+instructions. I answered: 'If a Red Cross waggon enters the fighting
+lines during the battle, it is there on its own responsibility.'
+Besides, General Paget, under protection of the white flag, might have
+asked any moment or an hour, or longer, to carry away his many
+unfortunate wounded, who were lying between two fires in the burning
+sun.
+
+When the Red Cross waggon was found to be in the line of fire, it was
+put right-about face, while some guns remained behind to fire shrapnel
+at us from a short distance. They could only fire one or two shots,
+for our burghers soon put out of action the artillerists who were
+serving them. Towards the afternoon some of my burghers began to run
+short of ammunition, I had a field-cornet's force in reserve, from
+which five to ten men were sent to the position from time to time, and
+this cheered the burghers up again.
+
+The same attacking tactics were persisted in by General Paget all day
+long, although they were a complete failure. When the sun disappeared
+behind the Magaliesbergs, the enemy made a final, in fact, a desperate
+effort to take our positions, the guns booming along while we were
+enveloped by clouds of dust thrown up by the shells.
+
+The soldiers charged, brave as lions, and crept closer to our
+positions than they had done during the day.
+
+But it seemed as if Fate were favouring us, for our 15-pounder had
+just got ready, sending his shells into the enemy's lines in rapid
+succession, and finding the range most beautifully. The pom-pom
+too--which we could only get to fire one or two shells all day long,
+owing to the gunner having to potter about for two or three hours
+after each shot to try and repair it--to our great surprise suddenly
+commenced booming away, and the two pieces--I was going to say the
+"mysterious" pieces--poured a stream of murderous steel into the
+assailants, which made them waver and then retire, leaving many
+comrades behind.
+
+On our side only two burghers were killed, while 22 were wounded. The
+exact loss of the enemy was difficult to estimate. It must, however,
+have amounted to some hundreds.
+
+Again night spread a dark veil over one of the most bloody dramas of
+this war. After the cessation of hostilities, I called my officers
+together and considered our position. We had not lost an inch of
+ground that day, while the enemy had gained nothing. On the contrary,
+they had suffered a serious repulse at our hands. But our ammunition
+was getting scarce, our waggons, with provisions, were 18 miles away.
+All we had in our positions was mealies and raw meat, and the burghers
+had no chance of cooking them. We therefore decided, as we had no
+particular interest in keeping these positions, to fall back that
+night on Poortjesnek, which was a "half-way house" between the place
+we were leaving and our carts, from which we should be able to draw
+our provisions and reserve ammunition.
+
+We therefore allowed General Paget to occupy these positions without
+more ado.
+
+I have tried to describe this battle as minutely as possible in order
+to show that incompetence of generals was not always on our side only.
+
+I have seen from the report of the British Commander-in-Chief,
+published in the newspapers, that this battle had been a most
+successful and brilliant victory, gained by General Paget. People will
+say, perhaps, that it was silly on my part to evacuate the positions,
+and that I should have gone on defending them the next day. Well, in
+the old days this would have been done by European generals, but no
+doubt they were fighting under different circumstances. They were not
+faced by a force ten times their own strength; not restricted to a
+limited quantity of ammunition; nor were they in want of proper food
+or reinforcements. The nearest Boer commando was at Warmbad, about 60
+miles distant. Besides, there was no necessity, either for military
+or strategical reasons, for us to cling to these positions. It had
+already become our policy to fight whenever we could, and to retire
+when we could not hold on any longer. The Government had decided that
+the War should be continued and it was the duty of every general to
+manoeuvre so as to prolong it. We had no reserve troops, so my motto
+was: "Kill as many of the enemy as you possibly can, but see you do
+not expose your own men, for we cannot spare a single one."
+
+On the 30th of November, the day after the fight, I was with a patrol
+on the first "randts," north-east of Rhenosterkop, just as the sun
+rose, and had a splendid view of the whole battlefield of the previous
+day. I saw the enemy's scouts, cautiously approaching the evacuated
+positions, and concluded from the precautions they were taking that
+they did not know we had left overnight. Indeed, very shortly after I
+saw the Khakis storming and occupying the kopjes. How great must have
+been their astonishment and disappointment on finding those positions
+deserted, for the possession of which they had shed so much blood. A
+number of ambulance waggons were brought up and were moving backwards
+and forwards on the battlefield, taking the wounded to the hospital
+camp, which must have assumed colossal proportions. Ditches were seen
+to be dug, in which the killed soldiers were buried. A troop of
+kaffirs carried the bodies, as far as I could distinguish, and I could
+distinctly see some heaps of khaki-coloured forms near the graves.
+
+[Illustration: Battle of Rhenosterkop--How Colonel Lloyd died.]
+
+As the battlefield looked now, it was a sad spectacle. Death and
+mutilation, sorrow and misery, were the traces yesterday's fight had
+left behind. How sad, I thought, that civilised nations should thus
+try to annihilate one another. The repeated brave charges made by
+General Paget's soldiers, notwithstanding our deadly fire, had won our
+greatest admiration for the enemy, and many a burgher sighed even
+during the battle. What a pity such plucky fellows should have to be
+led on to destruction like so many sheep to the butcher's block!
+
+Meanwhile, General Lyttelton's columns had not got any nearer, and it
+appeared to us that he had only made a display to confuse us, and with
+the object of inducing us to flee in face of their overwhelming
+strength.
+
+On the 1st of December General Paget sent a strong mounted force to
+meet us, and we had a short, sharp fight, without very great loss on
+either side.
+
+This column camped at Langkloof, near our positions, compelling us to
+graze and water our horses at the bottom of the "neck" in the woods,
+where horse-sickness was prevalent. We were, therefore, very soon
+obliged to move.
+
+About this time I received a report to the effect that a number of
+women and children were wandering about near Rhenosterkop along the
+Wilge River. Their houses had been burnt by order of General Paget,
+and we were asked to protect these unfortunate people.
+
+Some burghers offered to ride out at night time to try and find them,
+and the next morning they brought several families into our camp. The
+husbands of these poor sufferers were on duty in the neighbourhood, so
+that they were now enabled to do the needful for their wives and
+children. I put some questions to some of the women, from which it
+appeared that although they had besought the English not to burn their
+clothes and food, yet this had been done. Some Australians and
+Canadians, who had been present, had done their best to save some of
+the food and clothes, and these Colonials had shown them much
+consideration in every respect, but, the women added, a gang of
+kaffirs, who were ordered to cause this destruction, were behaving in
+the most barbarous and cruel manner, and were under no control by the
+British soldiers.
+
+I felt bound to protest against these scandalous acts of vandalism,
+and sent two of my adjutants to the English camp next day with a note
+of about the following tenour:--
+
+     "To GENERAL PAGET, _commanding H.M's. forces at
+     Rhenosterkop_.
+
+     "It is my painful duty to bring under your Honour's notice
+     the cruel way in which the troops under your command are
+     acting in ill-treating defenceless women and children. Not
+     only their homes, but also their food and clothes, are being
+     burnt. These poor creatures were left in the open veldt, at
+     the mercy of the kaffirs, and would have died of starvation
+     and exhaustion but for our assistance. This way of treating
+     these unfortunate people is undoubtedly against the rules of
+     civilised warfare, and I beg to emphasise that the
+     responsibility for this cruelty will be entirely yours. You
+     may rest assured that a similar treatment of our families
+     will not shorten the duration of the War, but that, on the
+     contrary, such barbarities will force the burghers to
+     prolong the struggle and to fight on with more bitterness
+     and determination than ever."
+
+The two despatch carriers whom I sent to the British General under a
+white flag were taken for spies, and however much they tried to
+establish their identity, General Paget was not to be convinced, and
+had them arrested, detaining them for three days. Their horses were
+used every day by the English officers, which I consider far from
+gentlemanly. On the third day my two adjutants were again taken before
+the general, and cross-examined, but no evidence could be found
+against their being bona-fide messengers. Paget told them that my
+despatch was all nonsense, and did not give them the right to enter
+his lines under the white flag, adding, while he handed them a letter
+addressed to me:
+
+"You can go now; tell your General that if he likes to fight I shall
+be pleased to meet him at any time in the open. You have killed some
+of my Red Cross people, but I know it was done by those 'damned'
+unscrupulous Johannesburgers. Tell them I shall pay them for this!"
+
+Before my adjutants left, a certain Captain ---- said to one of them:
+
+"I say, what do your people think of the fight?"
+
+"Which fight do you mean?" asked the adjutant.
+
+"The fight here," returned the captain.
+
+"Oh," remarked the adjutant, "we think it was rather a mismanagement."
+To which the captain replied: "By Jove! you are not the only people
+who think so."
+
+The contents of General Paget's letter were short and rough; "The
+responsibility for the suffering of women and children rests on the
+shoulders of those who blindly continue the helpless struggle," etc.,
+etc.
+
+I may say here that this was the first time in this War the English
+officers treated my despatch riders under the white flag in such a
+manner, giving me at the same time such a discourteous answer.
+
+No doubt we have had generals acting like this on our side, and I
+admit that we did not always stand on etiquette.
+
+As already stated, part of the enemy's forces were camping out near
+Poortjesnek, so close by that we had to shift our laager and commando
+to a more healthy part on account of the horse-sickness. The enemy
+installed a permanent occupation at Rhenosterkop, and we moved into
+the Lydenberg district, where we knew we should find some wholesome
+"veldt" on the Steenkamps Mountains. We went through the forest near
+Maleemskop via Roodekraal, to the foot of Bothasberg, where we had a
+few weeks' rest.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+THE SECOND CHRISTMAS AT WAR.
+
+
+The veldt was in splendid condition at the foot of Bothasberg, where
+we had pitched our camp. We found mealies and cattle left everywhere.
+The enemy did not know where we really were, and could not, therefore,
+bother us for the time being. Our Government was at Tautesberg, about
+12 miles north of Bothasberg, and we received a visit from
+Acting-President Burger, who brought with him the latest news from
+Europe, and the reports from the other commandos. Mr. Burger said he
+was sorry we had to leave the Pretoria district, but he could
+understand our horses would have all been killed by the sickness if we
+had stopped at Poortjesnek. As regards the Battle of Rhenosterkop, he
+expressed the Government's satisfaction with the result.
+
+On the 16th of December we celebrated Dingaan's Day in a solemn
+manner. Pastor J. Louw, who had faithfully accompanied us during these
+fatiguing months of retreats and adversity, delivered a most
+impressive address, describing our position. Several officers also
+spoke, and I myself had a go at it, although I kept to politics. In
+the afternoon the burghers had sports, consisting of races on foot and
+on horseback. The prizes were got together by means of small
+contributions from the officers. All went well, without any mishaps,
+and it was unanimously voted to have been very entertaining.
+
+It was a peculiar sight--taking into consideration the
+circumstances--to see these people on the "veldt" feasting and of good
+cheer, each trying to amuse the other, under the fluttering
+"Vierkleur"--the only one we possessed--but the look of which
+gladdened the hearts of many assisting at this celebration in the
+wilderness. How could we have been in a truly festive mood without
+the sight of that beloved banner, which it had cost so many
+sacrifices to protect, and to save which so much Afrikander blood had
+been shed.
+
+And in many of us the thought suggested itself: "O, Vierkleur of our
+Transvaal, how much longer shall we be allowed to see you unfurled?
+How long, O Lord, will a stream of tears and blood have to flow before
+we are again the undisputed masters of our little Republic, scarcely
+visible on the world's map? For how long will our adored Vierkleur be
+allowed to remain floating over the heads of our persecuted nation,
+whose blood has stained and soaked your colours for some generations?
+We hope and trust that so sure as the sun shall rise in the east and
+set in the west, so surely may this our flag, now wrapped in sorry
+mourning, soon flutter aloft again in all its glory, over the country
+on which Nature lavishes her most wondrous treasures."
+
+The Afrikander character may be called peculiar in many respects. In
+moments of reverse, when the future seems dark, one can easily trace
+its pessimistic tendencies. But once his comrades buried, the wounded
+attended to, and a moment's rest left him by the enemy, the cheerful
+part of the Boer nature prevails, and he is full of fun and sport. If
+anybody, in a sermon or in a speech, try to impress on him the
+seriousness of the situation, pointing out how our ancestors have
+suffered and how we have to follow in their steps, our hero of
+yesterday, the jolly lad who was laughing boisterously and joking a
+minute ago, is seen to melt, and the tears start in his eyes. I am now
+referring to the true Afrikander. Of course, there are many calling
+themselves Afrikanders who during this War have proved themselves to
+be the scum of the nation. I wish to keep them distinguished from the
+true, from the noble men belonging to this nationality of whom I shall
+be proud as long as I live, no matter what the result of the War may
+be.
+
+Our laagers were not in a very satisfactory position, more as regards
+our safety than the question of health, sickness being expected to
+make itself felt only later in the year.
+
+We therefore decided to "trek" another 10 miles, to the east of
+Witpoort, through Korfsnek, to the Steenkampsbergen, in order to pitch
+or camp at Windhoek. Windhoek (wind-corner) was an appropriate name,
+the breezes blowing there at times with unrelenting fury.
+
+Here we celebrated Christmas of 1900, but we sorely missed the many
+presents our friends and lady acquaintances sent us from Johannesburg
+on the previous festival, and which had made last year's Christmas on
+the Tugela such a success.
+
+No flour, sugar or coffee, no spirits or cigars to brighten up our
+festive board. This sort of thing belonged to the luxuries which had
+long ceased to come our way, and we had to look pleasant on
+mealie-porridge and meat, varied by meat and mealie-porridge.
+
+Yet many groups of burghers were seen to be amusing themselves at all
+sorts of games; or you found a pastor leading divine service and
+exhorting the burghers. Thus we kept our second Christmas in the
+field.
+
+About this time the commandos from the Lydenburg district (where we
+now were) as well as those from the northern part of Middelburg, were
+placed under my command, and I was occupied for several days in
+reorganising the new arrivals. The fact of the railway being almost
+incessantly in the hands of the enemy, and the road from Machadodorp
+to Lydenburg also blocked by them (the latter being occupied in
+several places by large or small garrisons) compelled us to place a
+great number of outposts to guard against continual attacks and to
+report whenever some of the columns, which were always moving about,
+were approaching.
+
+The spot where our laagers were now situated was only 13 miles from
+Belfast and Bergendal, between which two places General
+Smith-Dorrien's strong force was posted; while a little distance
+behind Lydenburg was General Walter Kitchener with an equally strong
+garrison. We were, therefore, obliged to be continually on the alert,
+not relaxing our watchfulness for one single moment. One or two
+burghers were still deserting from time to time, aggravating their
+shameful behaviour by informing the enemy of our movements, which
+often caused a well-arranged plan to fail. We knew this was simply
+owing to these very dangerous traitors.
+
+The State Artillerymen, who had now been deprived of their guns, were
+transformed into a mounted corps of 85 men, under Majors Wolmarans and
+Pretorius, and placed under my command for the time being.
+
+It was now time we should assume the offensive, before the enemy
+attacked us. I therefore went out scouting for some days, with several
+of my officers, in order to ascertain the enemy's positions and to find
+out their weakest spot. My task was getting too arduous, and I decided
+to promote Commandant Muller to the rank of a fighting-general. He
+turned out to be an active and reliable assistant.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+CAPTURE OF "LADY ROBERTS."
+
+
+After I had carefully reconnoitred the enemy's positions, I resolved,
+after consulting my fighting-general, Muller, to attack the Helvetia
+garrison, one of the enemy's fortifications or camps between Lydenburg
+and Machadodorp. Those fortifications served to protect the railway
+road from Machadodorp Station to Lydenburg, along which their convoys
+went twice a week to provision Lydenburg village. Helvetia is situated
+three miles east of Machadodorp, four miles west of Watervalboven
+Station, where a garrison was stationed, and about three miles south
+of a camp near Zwartkoppies. It was only protected on the north side.
+Although it was difficult to approach this side on account of a
+mountainous rand through which the Crocodile River runs, yet this was
+the only road to take. It led across Witrand or Bakenkop; the
+commandos were therefore obliged to follow it, and had to do this at
+night time, for if they had passed the Bakenkop by day they would have
+exposed themselves to the enemy's artillery fire from the Machadodorp
+and Zwartkoppies garrisons.
+
+During the night of the 28th of December 1900, we marched from
+Windhoek, past Dullstroom, up to the neighbourhood of Bakenkop, where
+we halted and divided the commandos for the attack, which was to be
+made in about the following order:--
+
+Fighting-General Muller was to trek with 150 men along the convoy-road
+between Helvetia and Zwartkoppies up to Watervalboven, keeping his
+movements concealed from the adversary. Commandant W. Viljoen (my
+brother), would approach the northerly and southerly parts of Helvetia
+within a few hundred paces, with part of the Johannesburgers and
+Johannesburg Police. This commando numbered 200 men.
+
+In order to be able to storm the different forts almost
+simultaneously we were all to move at 3.30 a.m., and I gave the men a
+password, in order to prevent confusion and the possibility of our
+hitting one another in the general charge. There being several forts
+and trenches to take the burghers were to shout "Hurrah!" as loudly as
+they could in taking each fort, which would show us it was captured,
+and at the same time encourage the others. Two of our most valiant
+field-cornets, P. Myburgh and J. Cevonia, an Italian Afrikander, were
+sent to the left, past Helvetia, with 120 men, to attack Zwartkoppies
+the moment we were to storm Helvetia, while I kept in reserve the
+State Artillerists and a field-cornet's posse of Lydenburgers to the
+right of the latter place, near Machadodorp, which would enable me to
+stop any reinforcements sent to the other side from that place or from
+Belfast. For if the British were to send any cavalry from there they
+would be able to turn our rear, and by marching up as soon as they
+heard the first report of firing at Helvetia, they would be in a
+position to cut me up with the whole of my commando. I only suggest
+the possibility of it, and cannot make out why it was not attempted. I
+can only be thankful to the British officers for omitting to do this.
+
+I had taken up a position, with some of my adjutants, between the
+commandos as arranged, and stood waiting, watch in hand, for the
+moment the first shot should be fired. My men all knew their places
+and their duties, but unfortunately a heavy fog rose at about 2
+o'clock, which made the two field-cornets who were to attack the
+Zwartkoppies lose their way and the chance of reaching their
+destination before daybreak.
+
+I received the news of this failure at 3.20, _i.e._, ten minutes
+before the appointed time of action. A bad beginning, I thought, and
+these last ten minutes seemed many hours to me.
+
+I struck a match every moment, under cover of my macintosh, to see if
+it were yet half past three. Another minute and it would soon be
+decided whether I should be the vanquished or the victor. How many
+burghers, who were now marching so eagerly to charge the enemy in his
+trenches, would be missed from our ranks to-morrow? It is these
+moments of tension which make an officer's hair turn grey. The
+relation between our burgher and his officers is so entirely different
+from that which exists between the British officer and his men or
+between these ranks perhaps in any other standing army. We are all
+friends. The life of each individual burgher in our army is highly
+valued by his officer and is only sacrificed at the very highest
+price. We regret the loss of a simple burgher as much as that of the
+highest in rank. And it was the distress and worry of seeing these
+lives lost, which made me ponder before the battle.
+
+Suddenly one of my adjutants called out: "I hear some shouting. What
+may this be?"
+
+I threw my waterproof over my head and struck a match, then cried: "It
+is time, my lads!" And in a few seconds a chain of fire flamed up
+round the forts, immediately followed by the rattling and crackling of
+the burghers' Mausers. The enemy was not slow in returning our fire.
+
+It is not easy to adequately render the impression a battle in the
+dark makes. Each time a shot is fired you see a flash of fire several
+yards long, and where about 500 or 600 rifles are being fired at a
+short distance from you, it makes one think of a gigantic display of
+fireworks.
+
+Although it was still dusk, I could easily follow the course of the
+fight. The defenders' firing slackened in several places, to subside
+entirely in others, while from the direction of the other reports and
+flashes, our men were obviously closing up, drawing tighter the ring
+round the enemy.
+
+So far, according to my scouts, no stir had been made from Belfast,
+which encouraged me to inform the officers that we were not being cut
+off. At daybreak only a few shots were falling, and when the fog
+cleared up I found Helvetia to be in our hands.
+
+General Muller reported that his part of the attack had been
+successfully accomplished, and that a 4·7 naval gun had been found in
+the great fortress. I gave orders to fetch this gun out of the fort
+without delay, to take away the prisoners we had made and as much of
+the commissariat as we could manage to carry, and to burn the
+remainder.
+
+Towards the evening we were fired at by two guns at Zwartkoppies,
+making it very difficult for us to get the provisions away.
+
+A great quantity of rum and other spirits was found among the enemy's
+commissariat, and as soon as the British soldiers made prisoners were
+disarmed, they ran up to it, filled their flasks, and drank so freely
+that about thirty of them were soon unable to walk. Their bad example
+was followed by several burghers, and many a man who had not been
+given to drinking used this opportunity to imbibe a good quantity,
+making it very difficult for us to keep things in order.
+
+About 60 men of the garrison had been killed or wounded, and their
+commanding officer had received some injuries, but fortunately there
+was a doctor there who at once attended to these cases. On our side we
+had five men killed and seven wounded--the brave Lieutenant Nortje and
+Corporal J. Coetzee being amongst them.
+
+A small fort, situated between the others, had been overlooked,
+through a misunderstanding, and a score of soldiers who were
+garrisoning it had been forgotten and omitted to be disarmed.
+
+An undisciplined commando is not easily managed at times. It takes all
+the officers' tact and shrewdness to get all the captured goods--like
+arms, ammunition, provisions, &c.--transported, especially when drink
+is found in a captured camp.
+
+When we discussed the victory afterwards, it became quite clear that
+our tactics in storming the enemy's positions on the east and south
+sides had been pregnant of excellent results, for the English were not
+at all prepared at these points, though they had been on their guard
+to the north. In fact it had been very trying work to force them to
+surrender there. The officer in command, who was subsequently
+discharged from the British Army, had done his best, but he was
+wounded in the head at the beginning of the fight, and so far as I
+could ascertain there had been nobody to take his place. Three
+lieutenants were surprised in their beds and made prisoners-of-war.
+In the big fort where we found the naval gun, a captain of the
+garrison's artillery was in command. This fortress had been stormed,
+as already stated, from the side on which the attack had not been
+expected and the captain had not had an opportunity of firing many
+shots from his revolver, when he was wounded in the arm and compelled
+to surrender to the burghers who rushed up. Two hundred and fifty
+prisoners, including four officers, were made, the majority belonging
+to the Liverpool regiment and the 18th regiment of Hussars. They were
+all taken to our laager.
+
+We succeeded in bringing away the captured gun in perfect order, also
+some waggons. Unfortunately the cart with the projectiles or shell,
+stuck in the morass and had to be left behind.
+
+I gave orders to have a gun which we had left with the reserve
+burghers at Bakenkop, brought up, to open fire on the two pieces which
+were firing at us from Zwartkoppies, and to cover our movements while
+we were taking away the prisoners-of-war and the captured stores. I
+was in hopes of getting an opportunity of releasing the carts which
+stuck. But Fate was against us. A heavy hailstorm accompanied by
+thunder and lightning, fiercer than I have ever witnessed in South
+Africa before, broke over our heads. Several times the lightning
+struck the ground around us, and the weather became so alarming that
+the drunken "Tommies" began to talk about their souls, and further
+efforts to save the carts had to be abandoned.
+
+Whoever may have been the officer in command at Zwartkoppies he really
+deserved a D.S.O., which he obtained, too.
+
+What that order really means I wot not, but I know that an English
+soldier is quite prepared to risk his life to deserve one, and as the
+decoration itself cannot be very expensive, it pays the British
+Government to be very liberal with it. A Boer would be satisfied with
+nothing less than promotion as a reward for heroism.
+
+When the storm subsided we went on. It was a remarkable sight--a long
+procession of "Tommies," burghers, carts, and the naval gun, 18 feet
+long, an elephantine one when compared with our small guns.
+
+It struck me again on this occasion what little bad feeling there was
+really between Boer and Briton, and how they both fight simply to do
+their duty as soldiers. As I rode along the stream of men I noticed
+several groups of burghers and soldiers sitting together along the
+road, eating from one tin of jam and dividing their loaf between them,
+and drinking out of the same field flask.
+
+I remember some snatches of conversation I overheard:--
+
+     TOMMY: By Jove, but you fellows gave us jip. If you had come
+     a little later you wouldn't have got us so easy, you know.
+
+     BURGHER: Never mind, Tommy, we got you. I suppose next time
+     you will get us. Fortunes of war, you know. Have some more,
+     old boy. Oh, I say, here is the general coming.
+
+     TOMMY: Who's he? Du Wyte or Viljohn?
+
+And then as I passed them the whole group would salute very civilly.
+
+We stopped at Dullstroom that night, where we found some lodgings for
+the captured British officers. We were sorry one of the Englishmen
+had not been given time to dress himself properly, for we had a very
+scanty stock of clothes, and it was difficult to find him some.
+
+The next morning I found half a dozen prisoners-of-war had sustained
+slight flesh wounds during the fight, and I sent them on a trolley to
+Belfast with a dispatch to General Smith-Dorrien, informing him that
+four of his officers and 250 men were in our hands, that they would be
+well looked after, and that I now sent back the slightly wounded who
+had been taken away by mistake.
+
+I will try to give the concluding sentence of my communication as far
+as I remember it, and also the reply to it. I may add that the words
+"The Lady Roberts" had been chiselled on the naval gun, and that many
+persons had just been expelled from Pretoria and other places as being
+considered "undesirables."
+
+My letter wound up as follows:--
+
+     "I have been obliged to expel "The Lady Roberts" from
+     Helvetia, this lady being an "undesirable" inhabitant of
+     that place. I am glad to inform you that she seems quite at
+     home in her new surroundings, and pleased with the change of
+     company."
+
+To which General Smith-Dorrien replied:
+
+     "As the lady you refer to is not accustomed to sleep in the
+     open air, I would recommend you to try flannel next to the
+     skin."
+
+I had been instructed to keep the officers we had taken prisoners
+until further orders, and these four were therefore lodged in an empty
+building near Roos Senekal under a guard. The Boers had christened
+this place "Ceylon," but the officers dubbed it "the house beautiful"
+on account of its utter want of attractiveness.
+
+They were allowed to write to their relatives and friends, to receive
+letters, and food and clothes, which were usually sent through our
+lines under the white flag. The company was soon augmented by the
+arrivals of many other British officers who were taken prisoners from
+time to time.
+
+The 250 captured rank and file were given up to the British
+authorities at Middelburg some days after, for military reasons.
+
+"The Lady Roberts" was the first and so far the last big gun taken
+from the English, and we are proud to say that never during this War,
+notwithstanding all our vicissitudes and reverses, have the British
+succeeded in taking one of our big guns.
+
+One might call this bragging, but that is not my intention and I do
+not think I am given to boasting. We only relate it as one of the most
+remarkable incidents of the War, and as a fact which we may recall
+with satisfaction.
+
+As already related, the cart with the shells for "The Lady Roberts"
+had to be left behind after the battle. Nothing would have given us
+greater pleasure than to send some shells from "Her Ladyship" into the
+Belfast camp on the last day of 1900, with the "Compliments of the
+Season." Not of course, in order to cause any destruction, but simply
+as a New Year's greeting. We would have sent them close by like the
+Americans in Mark Twain's book: "Not right in it, you know, but close
+by or near it." Only the shells were wanting, for with the gun were 50
+charged "hulzen" and a case of cordite "schokbuizen."
+
+We tried to make a shell from an empty "Long Tom" one, by cutting the
+latter down, for the "Long Toms" shells were of greater calibre, and
+after having it filled with four pom-pom bullets, some cordite etc.,
+we made it tight with copper wire, and soldered the whole together.
+
+But when the shell was fired it burst a few steps away from the mouth
+of the cannon, and we had to abandon all hope of ever hearing a shout
+from the distinguished "Lady's" throat.
+
+It was stowed away safely in the neighbourhood of Tautesberg and
+guarded by a group of cattle-farmers, or rather "bush-lancers," as
+they were afterwards called, in case we should get hold of the proper
+shells some day or other.
+
+In connection with the attack on Helvetia I should like to quote the
+following lines, written by one of our poetasters, State-Secretary Mr.
+F. W. Reitz, in the field, although the translation will hardly give
+an adequate idea of the peculiar treatment of the subject:--
+
+    "Hurrah for General Muller, hurrah for Ben Viljoen,
+    They went for 'Lady Roberts' and caught her very soon.
+    They caught her at Helvetia, great was Helvetia's fall!
+    Come up and see 'The Lady,' you Ooms and Tantes all.
+
+    It was a Christmas present (they made a splendid haul),
+    And sent 'The Lady Roberts,' a present to Oom Paul.
+    It cheered the poor Bush-lancers, it cheered the 'trek boers' all,
+    It made them gladly answer to freedom's battle call.
+
+    Lord Roberts gave up fighting, he did not care a rap,
+    But left his dear old 'Lady,' who's fond of mealie-pap.
+    Of our dear wives and children he burned the happy homes,
+    He likes to worry Tantes but fears the sturdy Ooms.
+
+    But his old 'Lady Roberts' (the lyddite-spitting gun),
+    He sent her to Helvetia to cheer the garrison;
+    He thought she would be safe there, in old Smith-Dorrien's care;
+    To leave the kopjes' shelter the Boers would never dare.
+
+    Well done, Johannesburgers, Boksburgers, and police,
+    Don't give them any quarter, don't give them any peace;
+    Before the sleepy "Tommies" could get their stockings on,
+    The forts were stormed and taken, and all the burghers gone.
+
+    We took 300 soldiers, provisions, and their guns,
+    And of their ammunition we captured many tons.
+    'This is guerilla warfare,' says Mr. Chamberlain,
+    But those we have bowled over will never fight again.
+
+    Let Roberts of Kandahar, and Kitchener of Khartoum,
+    Let Buller of Colenso make all their cannon boom.
+    They may mow down the kaffirs, with shield and assegai,
+    But on his trusty Mauser the burgher can rely.
+
+    For now the white man's fighting, these heroes dare not stay,
+    Lord Kitchener's in Pretoria, the others ran away.
+    Lord Roberts _can't_ beat burghers, although he _Can_dahar,
+    The Lords are at a distance, the Generals few and far!
+
+    They may annex and conquer, have conquered and annexed,
+    Yet when the Mauser rattles the British are perplexed.
+    Stand firm then, Afrikanders, prolong the glorious fight,
+    Unfurl the good old 'Vierkleur.' Stand firm, for right is might!
+
+    What though the sky be clouded, what though the light be gone;
+    The day will dawn to-morrow, the sun will shine anon;
+    And though in evil moments a hero's hand may fail,
+    The strong will be confounded and right will yet prevail!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+A DISMAL "HAPPY NEW YEAR."
+
+
+This is the 31st of December, 1900, two days after the victory gained
+by our burghers over the English troops at Helvetia, at the same time
+the last day of the year, or, as they call it, "New Year's Eve"; which
+is celebrated in our country with great enjoyment. The members of each
+family used to meet on that day, sometimes coming from all parts of
+the country. If this could not be done they would invite their most
+intimate friends to come and see the Old Year out--to "ring out the
+old, and ring in the new," for "Auld Lang Syne." This was one of the
+most festive days for everybody in South Africa. On the 31st of
+December, 1899, we had had to give up our time-honoured custom, there
+being no chance of joining in the friendly gathering at home, most of
+us having been at the front since the beginning of October, 1899,
+while our commandos were still in the very centre of Natal or in the
+northern part of Cape Colony; Ladysmith, Kimberley, and Mafeking were
+still besieged, and on the 15th of December the great victory of
+Colenso over the English Army had been won.
+
+It is true that even then we were far from our beloved friends, but
+those who had not been made prisoners were still in direct
+communication with those who were near and dear to them. And although
+we were unable to pass the great day in the family circle, yet we
+could send our best wishes by letter or by wire. We had then hoped it
+would be the last time we should have to spend the last day of the
+year under such distressing circumstances, trusting the war would soon
+be over.
+
+Now 365 days had gone by--long, dreary, weary days of incessant
+struggle; and again our expectations had not been realised, and our
+hopes were deferred. We were not to have the privilege of celebrating
+"the Old and the New" with our people as we had so fervently wished
+the previous year on the Tugela.
+
+The day would pass under far more depressing circumstances. In many
+homes the members of the family we left behind would be prevented from
+being in a festive mood, thinking as they were of the country's
+position, while mourning the dead, and pre-occupied with the fate of the
+wounded, of those who were missing, or known to be prisoners-of-war.
+
+It was night-time, and everybody was under the depression of the
+present serious situation. Is it necessary to say that we were all
+absorbed in our thoughts, reviewing the incidents of the past year?
+Need we say that everyone of us was thinking with sadness of our many
+defeats, of the misery suffered on the battlefields, of our dead and
+wounded and imprisoned comrades; how we had been compelled to give up
+Ladysmith, Kimberley, and Mafeking, and how the principal towns of our
+Republics, Bloemfontein and Pretoria, where our beloved flag had been
+flying for so many long years, over an independent people, were now in
+the hands of the enemy? Need we say we were thinking that night more
+than ever of our many relatives who had sacrificed their blood and
+treasure in this melancholy War for the good Cause; of our wives and
+children, who did not know what had become of us, and whom most of us
+had not seen for the last eight months. Were they still alive? Should
+we ever see them alive? Such were the terrible thoughts passing
+through our minds as we silently sat round the fires that evening.
+
+Nor did anything tend to relieve the sombre monotony. This time we
+should not have a chance of receiving some little things to cheer us
+up and remind us that our dearest friends had thought of us. Our fare
+would that day be the eternal meat and mealies--mealies and meat.
+
+But why call to mind all these sombre memories of the past? Sufficient
+unto the day it seems was the evil thereof. Why sum up the misery of a
+whole year's struggles? And thus we "celebrated" New Year's Eve of
+1900, till we found our consolation in that greatest of blessings to a
+tired-out man--a refreshing sleep.
+
+But no sooner had we risen next morning than the cheerful
+compliments: "A Happy New Year!" or "My best wishes for the New Year"
+rang in our ears. We were all obviously trying to lay stress on the
+possible blessings of the future, so as to make each other forget the
+past, but I am afraid we did not expect the fulfilment of half of what
+we wished.
+
+For well we knew how bad things were all round, how many dark clouds
+were hanging over our heads, and how very few bright spots were
+visible on the political horizon.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+GENERAL ATTACK ON BRITISH FORTS.
+
+
+My presence was requested on the 3rd of January, 1901, by the
+Commandant-General at a Council of War, which was to be held two days
+after at Hoetspruit, some miles east of Middelburg. General Botha
+would be there with his staff, and a small escort would take him from
+Ermelo over the railway through the enemy's lines. My commandos were
+to hold themselves in readiness. There was no doubt in my mind as to
+there being some great schemes on the cards, and that the next day we
+should have plenty to do, for the Commandant-General would not come
+all that way unless something important was on. And why should my
+commandos have to keep themselves in readiness?
+
+On the morning of the 5th I went to the place of destination, which
+we reached at 11 o'clock, to find the Commandant-General and suite had
+already arrived. General Botha had been riding all night long in order
+to get through the enemy's lines, and had been resting in the shadow
+of a tree at Hoetspruit. The meeting of his adjutants and mine was
+rather boisterous, and woke him up, whereupon he rose immediately and
+came up to me with his usual genial smile. We had often been together
+for many months in the War, and the relations between us had been very
+cordial. I therefore do not hesitate to call him a bosom-friend, with
+due respect to his Honour as my chief.
+
+"Hullo, old brother, how are you?" was Botha's welcome.
+
+"Good morning, General, thank you, how are you?" I replied.
+
+My high appreciation of, and respect for his position, made me refrain
+from calling him Louis, although we did not differ much in age, and
+were on intimate terms.
+
+"I must congratulate you upon your successful attack on Helvetia. You
+made a nice job of it," he said. "I hope you had a pleasant New
+Year's Eve. But," he went on, "I am sorry in one way, for the enemy
+will be on his guard now, and we may not succeed in the execution of
+the plans we are going to discuss to-day, and which concern those very
+districts."
+
+"I am sorry, General," I replied, "but of course I know nothing of
+those plans."
+
+"Well," rejoined the Commandant-General, "we will try anyhow, and hope
+for the best."
+
+An hour later we met in council. Louis Botha briefly explained how he
+had gone with General Christian Botha and Tobias Smuts, with 1,200
+men, to Komatiboven, between Carolina and Belfast, where they had left
+the commandos to cross the line in order to meet the officers who were
+to the north of it with the object of going into the details of a
+combined attack on the enemy's camps.
+
+All were agreed and so it was decided that the attack would be made
+during the night of the 7th of January, at midnight, the enemy's
+positions being stormed simultaneously.
+
+The attack was to be made in the following way: The Commandant-General
+and General C. Botha along with F. Smuts, would attack on the southern
+side of the garrisons, in the following places: Pan Station,
+Wonderfontein Station, Belfast Camp and Station, Dalmanutha and
+Machadodorp, while I was to attack these places from the north. The
+commandos would be divided so as to have a field-cornet's force charge
+at each place.
+
+I must say that I had considerable difficulty in trying to make a
+little go a long way in dividing my small force along such a long line
+of camps, but the majority were in favour of this "frittering-away"
+policy, and so it had to be done.
+
+The enemy's strength in different places was not easy to ascertain. I
+knew the strongest garrison at Belfast numbered over 2,500 men, and
+this place was to be made the chief point of attack, although the
+Machadodorp garrison was pretty strong too. The distance along which
+the simultaneous attack was to be made was about 22 miles and there
+were at least seven points to be stormed, viz., Pan Station,
+Wonderfontein, Belfast Village, Monument Hill (near Belfast), the coal
+mines (near Belfast), Dalmanutha Station and Machadodorp. A big
+programme, no doubt.
+
+I can only, of course, give a description of the incidents on my side
+of the railway line, for the blockhouses and the forts provided with
+guns, which had been built along the railway, separated us entirely
+from the commandos to the south. The communication between both sides
+of the railway could be only kept up at night time and with a great
+amount of trouble, by means of despatch-carriers. We, therefore, did
+not even know how the attacking-parties on the southern side had been
+distributed. All we knew was, that any place which was to be attacked
+from the north would also be stormed from the south at the same time,
+except the coal mine west of Belfast, occupied by Lieutenant Marshall
+with half a section of the Gloucester Regiment, which we were to
+attack separately, as it was situated some distance north of the
+railway line.
+
+I arranged my plans as follows: Commandant Trichardt, with two
+field-cornets posses of Middelburgers and one of Germiston burghers,
+were to attack Pan and Wonderfontein; the State Artillery would go for
+the coal mine; the Lydenburgers look after Dalmanutha and Machadodorp;
+while General Muller with the Johannesburgers and Boksburgers would
+devote their attention to Monument Hill.
+
+I should personally attack Belfast Village, with a detachment of
+police, passing between the coal mine and Monument Hill. My attack
+could only, of course, be commenced after that on the latter two
+places had turned out successfully, as otherwise I should most likely
+have my retreat cut off.
+
+[Illustration: Gen. Viljoen meeting Gen. Botha at Hoedspruit, near
+Middleburg.]
+
+In the evening of the 7th of January all the commandos marched, for
+the enemy would have been able to see us from a distance on this flat
+ground if we had started in the daytime, and would have fired at us
+with their 4·7 guns, one of which we knew to be at Belfast. We had to
+cover a distance of 15 miles between dusk and midnight. There was
+therefore no time to be lost, for a commando moves very slowly at
+night time if there is any danger in front. If the danger comes
+from the rear, things very often move quicker than is good for the
+horses. Then the men have to be kept together, and the guides are
+followed up closely, for if any burghers were to lag behind and the
+chain be broken, 20 or 30 of them might stray which would deprive us
+of their services.
+
+It was one of those nights, known in the Steenkamp Mountains as "dirty
+nights," very dark, with a piercing easterly wind, which blew an
+incessant, fine, misty rain into our faces. About nine o'clock the
+mist changed into heavy rains, and we were soon drenched to the skin,
+for very few of us wore rainproof cloaks.
+
+At ten the rain left off, but a thick fog prevented us from seeing
+anything in front of us, while the cold easterly wind had numbed our
+limbs, almost making them stiff. Some of the burghers had therefore to
+be taken up by the ambulance in order to have their circulation
+restored by means of some medicine or artificial treatment. The
+impenetrable darkness made it very difficult to get on, as we were
+obliged to keep contact by means of despatch-riders; for, as already
+stated, I had to wait with the police for the result of the attack on
+the two positions to the right and left of me.
+
+Exactly at midnight all had arrived at the place of destination.
+Unfortunately the wind was roaring so loudly as to prevent any firing
+being heard even at a hundred paces distant.
+
+The positions near Monument Hill and the coal mine were attacked
+simultaneously, but unfortunately our artillerymen could not
+distinctly see the trenches on account of the darkness, and they
+charged right past them, and had to turn back when they became aware
+of the fact, by which time the enemy had found out what was up, and
+allowed their assailants to come close up to them (it was a round fort
+about five feet high with a trench round it), and received them with a
+tremendous volley. The artillerymen, however, charged away pluckily,
+and before they had reached the wall four were killed and nine
+wounded. The enemy shot fiercely and aimed well.
+
+Our brave boys stormed away, and soon some of them jumped over the
+wall and a hand-to-hand combat ensued. The commanding officer of the
+fortress, Lieutenant Marshall, was severely wounded in the leg, which
+fact must have had a great influence on the course of the fight, for
+he surrendered soon after. Some soldiers managed to escape, some were
+killed, about 10 wounded, and 25 were taken prisoners. No less than
+five artillerymen were killed and 13 wounded, amongst the latter being
+the valiant Lieutenant Coetsee who afterwards was cruelly murdered by
+kaffirs near Roos Senekal. The defenders as well as the assailants had
+behaved excellently.
+
+Near Monument Hill, at some distance from the position, the burghers'
+horses were left behind, and the men marched up in scattered order, in
+the shape of a crescent. When we arrived at the enemy's outposts they
+had formed up at 100 paces from the forts, but in the dark the
+soldiers did not see us till we almost ran into them. There was no
+time to waste words. Fortunately, they surrendered without making any
+defence, which made our task much lighter, for if one shot had been
+fired, the garrison of the forts would have been informed of our
+approach. Only at 20 paces distance from the forts near the Monument
+(there were four of them), we were greeted with the usual "Halt, who
+goes there." After this had been repeated three times without our
+taking any notice, and as we kept coming closer, the soldiers fired
+from all the forts. Only now could we see how they were situated. We
+found them to be surrounded by a barbed wire fence which was so strong
+and thick that some burghers were soon entangled in it, but most of
+them got over it.
+
+The first fort was taken after a short but sharp defence, the usual
+"hurrah" of the burghers jumping into the fort was, like a whisper of
+hope in the dark, an encouragement to the remainder of the storming
+burghers, who now soon took the other forts, not without having met
+with a stout resistance. Many burghers were killed, amongst whom the
+brave Field-Cornet John Ceronie, and many were wounded.
+
+It had looked at first as if the enemy did not mean to give in, but
+we could not go back, and "onward" was the watchword. In several
+instances there was a struggle at a few paces' distance, only the wall
+of the fort intervening between the burghers and the soldiers. The
+burghers cried: "Hands up, you devils," but the soldiers replied: "Hy
+kona," a kaffir expression which means "shan't."
+
+"Jump over the walls, my men!" shouted my officers, and at last they
+were in the forts: not, of course, without the loss of many valuable
+lives. A "melée" now followed; the English struck about with their
+guns and with their fists, and several burghers lay on the ground
+wrestling with the soldiers. One "Tommy" wanted to thrust a bayonet
+through a Boer, but was caught from behind by one of the latter's
+comrades, and knocked down and a general hand-to-hand fight ensued, a
+rolling over and over, till one of the parties was exhausted,
+disarmed, wounded, or killed. One of the English captains (Vosburry)
+and 40 soldiers were found dead or wounded, several having been
+pierced by their own bayonets.
+
+Some burghers had been knocked senseless with the butt-end of a rifle
+in the struggle with the enemy.
+
+This carnage had lasted for twenty minutes, during which the result
+had been decided in our favour, and a "hurrah," full of glory and
+thankfulness, came from the throats of some hundreds of burghers. We
+had won the day, and 81 prisoners-of-war had been made, including two
+officers--Captain Milner and Lieutenant Dease--both brave defenders of
+England's flag.
+
+They belonged to the Royal Irish Regiment, of which all Britons should
+be proud.
+
+In the captured forts we found a Maxim, in perfect order, 20 boxes of
+ammunition, and other things, besides provisions, also a quantity of
+spirits, which was, however, at once destroyed, to the disappointment
+of many burghers.
+
+We now pushed on to Belfast village, but found every cliff and ditch
+occupied. All efforts to get in touch with the commandos which meant
+to attack the village from the south were without avail. Besides, we
+did not hear a single shot fired, and did not know what had become of
+the attack from the south. In intense darkness we were firing at each
+other from time to time, so that it was not advisable to continue our
+operations under the circumstances, and at daybreak I told all my
+commandos to desist.
+
+The attacks on Wonderfontein, Pan Station, Dalmanutha, and Machadodorp
+had failed.
+
+I afterwards received a report from the commandos on the other side of
+the line, that, owing to the dark night, their attacks, although they
+were made with deliberation and great bravery, had all been
+unsuccessful. They had repeatedly missed the forts and had shot at one
+another.
+
+General Christian Botha had succeeded in capturing some of the enemy's
+outposts, and in pushing on had come across a detachment of Gordon
+Highlanders and been obliged to retire with a loss of 40 killed and
+wounded.
+
+We found, therefore, these forts in the hands of the soldiers, who, in
+my opinion, belonged to the best regiments of the English army.
+
+The guests of our Government, at "the house beautiful" near Roos
+Senekal were thus added to by two gentlemen, Captain Milner and
+Lieutenant Dease, and they were my prisoners-of-war for four months,
+during which time I found Captain Milner one of the most worthy
+British officers whom it had been my privilege to meet in this War.
+Not only in his manly appearance, but especially by his noble
+character he stood head and shoulders above his fellow-officers.
+
+Lieutenant Dease bore a very good character but was young and
+inexperienced. For several reasons I am pleased to be able to make
+publicly these statements.
+
+The soldiers we had made prisoners during this fight, as well as those
+we took at Helvetia, were given up to the British officers a few days
+afterwards, as we were not in a position to feed them properly, and it
+would not be humane or fair to keep the soldiers who had the
+misfortune of falling into our hands without proper food. This, of
+course, was a very unsatisfactory state of affairs, for we had to
+fight fiercely, valuable lives had to be sacrificed, every nerve had
+to be strained to force the enemy to surrender, and to take his
+positions; and then, when we had captured them, the soldiers were
+merely disarmed and sent back to the English lines after a little
+while, only to find them fighting against us once more in a few days.
+
+The Boers asked, "Why are not these "Tommies" required to take the
+oath before being liberated not to fight against us again?" I believe
+this would have been against the rules of civilised warfare, and we
+did not think it chivalrous to ask a man who was a prisoner to take an
+oath in return for his release.
+
+A prisoner-of-war has no freedom of action, and might have promised
+under the circumstances what he would not have done if he had been a
+free man.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+A "BLUFF" AND A BATTLE.
+
+
+The last days of February, 1901, were very trying for our commandos on
+the "Hoogeveld," south of the railway. General French, assisted by
+half a dozen other generals, with a force of 60,000 men, crossed the
+"Hoogeveld," between the Natal border and the Delagoa Railway, driving
+all the burghers and cattle before him, continually closer to the
+Swazi frontier, in order to strike a "final blow" there.
+
+These operations the English called "The Great Sweep of February,
+1901."
+
+Commandant-General Botha sent word that he was in a bad plight on the
+"Hoogeveld," the enemy having concentrated all his available troops
+upon him. I was asked to divert their attention as much as possible by
+repeated attacks on the railway line, and to worry them everywhere.
+
+To attack the fortified entrenchments in these parts, where we had
+only just been taking the offensive, causing the enemy to be on his
+guard, would not have been advisable. I therefore decided to make a
+feint attack on Belfast.
+
+One night we moved with all the burghers who had horses, about 15
+carts, waggons, and other vehicles, guns and pom-pom, to a high
+"bult," near the "Pannetjes." When the sun rose the next morning we
+were in full sight of the enemy at Belfast, from which we were about
+ten miles away.
+
+Here our commando was split into two parts, and the mounted men spread
+about in groups of fifty men each, with carts scattered everywhere
+among the ranks. We slowly approached Belfast in this order. Our
+commando numbered about 800 men, and considering the way we were
+distributed, this would look three times as many. We halted several
+times, and the heliographers, who were posted everywhere in sight of
+the enemy, made as much fuss as possible. Scouts were riding about
+everywhere, making a great display by dashing about all over the
+place, from one group of burghers to another. After we had waited
+again for some little time we moved on, and thus the comedy lasted
+till sunset; in fact, we had got within range of the enemy's guns. We
+had received information from Belfast to the effect that General
+French had taken all the guns with him to Belfast, leaving only a few
+of small calibre, which could not reach us until we were at about
+4,000 yards from the fort. Our pom-pom and our 15-pounder were divided
+between the two divisions, and the officers had orders to fire a few
+shots on Belfast at sunset. We could see all day long how the English
+near Monument Hill were making ditches round the village and putting
+up barbed wire fences.
+
+Trains were running backwards and forwards between Belfast and the
+nearest stations, probably to bring up reinforcements.
+
+At twilight we were still marching, and by the light of the last rays
+of the sun we fired our two valuable field-pieces simultaneously, as
+arranged. I could not see where the shells were falling, but we heard
+them bursting, and consoled ourselves with the idea that they must
+have struck in near the enemy. Each piece sent half a dozen shells,
+and some volleys were fired from a few rifles at intervals. We thought
+the enemy would be sure to take this last movement for a general
+attack. What he really did think, there is no saying. As the burghers
+put it, "We are trying to make them frightened, but the thing to know
+is, did they get frightened?" For this concluded our programme for the
+day, and we retired for the night, leaving the enemy in doubt as to
+whether we meant to give him any further trouble, yet without any
+apology for having disturbed his rest.
+
+The result of this bloodless fight was _nil_ in wounded and killed on
+both sides.
+
+On the 12th of February, 1901, the first death-sentence on a traitor
+on our side was about to be carried out, when suddenly our outposts
+round Belfast were attacked by a strong British column under General
+Walter Kitchener. When the report was brought to our laager, all the
+burghers went to the rescue, in order to keep the enemy as far from
+the laager as possible, and beat them back. Meanwhile the outposts
+retired fighting all the while. We took up the most favourable
+positions we could and waited. The enemy did not come up close to us
+that evening, but camped out on a round hill between Dullstroom and
+Belfast and we could distinctly see how the soldiers were all busy
+digging ditches and trenches round the camp and putting up barbed wire
+enclosures. They were very likely afraid of a night attack and did not
+forget the old saying about being "wise in time."
+
+Near the spot where their camp was situated were several roads leading
+in different directions which left us in doubt as to which way they
+intended to go, and whether they wanted to attack us, or were on their
+way to Witpoort-Lydenburg.
+
+The next morning, at sunset, the enemy broke up his camp and made a
+stir. First came a dense mass of mounted men, who after having gone
+about a few hundred paces, split up into two divisions. One portion
+moved in a westerly direction, the other to the north, slowly
+followed by a long file, or as they say in Afrikander "gedermte" (gut)
+of waggons and carts which, of course, formed the convoy. Companies of
+infantry, with guns, marched between the vehicles.
+
+I came to the conclusion that they intended to attack from two sides,
+and therefore ordered the ranks to scatter. General Muller, with part
+of the burghers, went in advance of the enemy's left flank and, as the
+English spread out their ranks, we did the same.
+
+At about 9 a.m. our outposts near the right flank of the English were
+already in touch with the enemy, and rifle-fire was heard at
+intervals.
+
+I still had the old 15-pounder, but the stock of ammunition had gone
+down considerably and the same may be said of the pom-pom of
+Rhenosterkop fame. We fired some shots from the 15-pounder at a
+division of cavalry at the foot of a kopje. Our worthy artillery
+sergeant swore he had hit them right in the centre, but even with my
+strong spy-glass I could not see the shells burst, although I admit
+the enemy showed a little respect for them, which may be concluded
+from the fact that they at once mounted their horses and looked for
+cover.
+
+A British soldier is much more in awe of a shell than a Boer is, and
+the enemy's movements are therefore not always a criterion of our
+getting the range. We had, moreover, only some ordinary grenades left,
+some of which would not burst, as the "schokbuizen" were defective,
+and we could not be sure of their doing any harm.
+
+The other side had some howitzers, which began to spit about lyddite
+indiscriminately. They also had some quick-firing guns of a small
+calibre, which, however, did not carry particularly far. But they were
+a great nuisance, as they would go for isolated burghers without being
+at all economical with their ammunition.
+
+Meanwhile, the enemy's left reached right up to Schoonpoort, where
+some burghers, who held good positions, were able to fight them. This
+caused continual collisions with our outposts. Here, also, the
+assailants had two 15-pounder Armstrong's, which fired at any moving
+target, and hardly ever desisted, now on one or two burghers who
+showed themselves, then on a tree, or an anthill, or a protruding
+rock. They thus succeeded in keeping up a deafening cannonade, which
+would have made one think there was a terrific fight going on, instead
+of which it was a very harmless bombardment.
+
+It did no more harm than at the English manoeuvres, although it was no
+doubt a brilliant demonstration, a sort of performance to show the
+British Lion's prowess. I could not see the practical use of it,
+though.
+
+It was only on the enemy's right wing that we got near enough to feel
+some of the effect of the artillery's gigantic efforts, which here
+forced us to some sharp but innocent little fights between the
+outposts. At about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the British cavalry
+stormed our left, which was in command of General Muller. We soon
+repulsed them, however. Half an hour after we saw the enemy's carts go
+back.
+
+I sent a heliographic message to General Muller, with whom I had kept
+in close contact, to the effect that they were moving away their carts
+and that we ought to try and charge them on all points as well as we
+could.
+
+"All right," he answered; "shall we start at once?" I flashed back
+"Yes," and ordered a general charge.
+
+The burghers now appeared all along the extended fighting line.
+
+The enemy's guns, which were just ready to be moved, were again placed
+in position and opened fire, but our men charged everywhere, a sort of
+action which General Kitchener did not seem to like, for his soldiers
+began to flee with their guns, and a general confusion ensued. Some of
+these guns were still being fired at the Boers but the latter stormed
+away determinedly. The British lost many killed and wounded.
+
+The cavalry fled in such a hurry as to leave the infantry as the only
+protection of the guns, and although these men also beat a retreat
+they, at least, did it while fighting.
+
+I do not think I overstate the case by declaring that General Walter
+Kitchener owed it to the stubborn defence of his infantry that his
+carts were not captured by us that day.
+
+Their ambulance, in charge of Dr. Mathews and four assistants, and
+some wounded fell into our hands, and were afterwards sent back.
+
+We pursued the enemy as well as we could, but about nine miles from
+Belfast, towards which the retreating enemy was marching, the forts
+opened fire on us from a 4·7 naval gun and they got the range so well
+that lyddite shells were soon bursting about our ears.
+
+We were now in the open, quite exposed and in sight of the Belfast
+forts. Two of our burghers were wounded here.
+
+Field-Cornet Jaapie Kriege, who was afterwards killed, with about 35
+burghers, was trying to cut off the enemy from a "spruit"-drift; the
+attack was a very brave one, but our men ventured too far, and would
+all have been captured had not the other side been so much in a hurry
+to get away from us. Luckily, too, another field-cornet realised the
+situation, and kept the enemy well under fire, thus attracting
+Kriege's attention, who now got out of this scrape.
+
+When night fell we left the enemy alone, and went back to our laager.
+The next morning the outposts reported that the would-be assailants
+were all gone.
+
+How much this farce had cost General Kitchener we could not tell with
+certainty. An English officer told me afterwards he had been in the
+fight, and that their loss there had been 52 dead and wounded,
+including some officers. He also informed me that their object that
+day had been to dislodge us. If that is so, I pity the soldiers who
+were told to do this work.
+
+Our losses were two burghers wounded, as already stated.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+EXECUTION OF A TRAITOR.
+
+
+As briefly referred to in the last chapter, there occurred in the
+early part of February, 1901, what I always regard as one of the most
+unpleasant incidents of the whole Campaign, and which even now I
+cannot record without awakening the most painful recollections. I
+refer to the summary execution of a traitor in our ranks, and inasmuch
+as a great deal has been written of this tragic episode, I venture to
+state the particulars of it in full. The facts of the case are as
+follows:--
+
+At this period of the War, as well as subsequently, much harm was done
+to our cause by various burghers who surrendered to the enemy, and
+who, actuated by the most sordid motives, assisted the British in
+every possible way against us. Some of these treacherous Boers
+occasionally fell into our hands, and were tried by court martial for
+high treason; but however damning the evidence brought against them
+they usually managed to escape with some light punishment. On some
+occasions sentence of death was passed on them, but it was invariably
+commuted to imprisonment for life, and as we had great difficulty in
+keeping such prisoners, they generally succeeded, sooner or later, in
+making their escape. This mistaken leniency was the cause of much
+dissatisfaction in our ranks, which deeply resented that these
+betrayers of their country should escape scot-free.
+
+About this time a society was formed at Pretoria, chiefly composed of
+surrendered burghers, called the "Peace Committee," but better known
+to us as the "Hands-uppers." Its members surreptitiously circulated
+pamphlets and circulars amongst our troops, advising them to surrender
+and join the enemy. The impartial reader will doubtless agree that
+such a state of things was not to be tolerated. Imagine, for example,
+that English officers and soldiers circulated similar communications
+amongst the Imperial troops! Would such proceedings have been
+tolerated?
+
+The chairman of this society was a man by the name of Meyer De Kock,
+who had belonged to a Steenkampsberg field-cornet's force and had
+deserted to the enemy. He was the man who first suggested to the
+British authorities the scheme of placing the Boer women and children
+in Concentration Camps--a system which resulted in so much misery and
+suffering--and he maintained that this would be the most effective way
+of forcing the Boers to surrender, arguing that no burgher would
+continue to fight when once his family was in British hands.
+
+One day a kaffir, bearing a white flag, brought a letter from this
+person's wife addressed to one of my field-cornets, informing him that
+her husband, Mr. De Kock, wished to meet him and discuss with him the
+advisability of surrendering with his men to the enemy. My
+field-cornet, however, was sufficiently sensible and loyal to send no
+reply.
+
+And so it occurred that one morning Mr. De Kock, doubtlessly thinking
+that he would escape punishment as easily as others had before him,
+had the audacity to ride coolly into our outposts. He was promptly
+arrested and incarcerated in Roos Senekal Gaol, this village being at
+the time in our possession. Soon afterwards he was tried by
+court-martial, and on the face of the most damning evidence, and on
+perusal of a host of incriminating documents found in his possession,
+was condemned to death.
+
+[Illustration: Execution of a Traitor.]
+
+About a fortnight later a waggon drove up to our laager at Windhoek,
+carrying Lieutenant De Hart, accompanied by a member of President
+Burger's bodyguard, some armed burghers, and the condemned man De
+Kock. They halted at my tent, and the officer handed me an order from
+our Government, bearing the President's ratification of the sentence
+of death, and instructing me to carry it out within 24 hours. Needless
+to say I was much grieved to receive this order, but as it had to be
+obeyed I thought the sooner it was done the better for all concerned.
+So then and there on the veldt I approached the condemned man, and
+said:--
+
+"Mr. De Kock, the Government has confirmed the sentence of death
+passed on you, and it is my painful duty to inform you that this
+sentence will be carried out to-morrow evening. If you have any
+request to make or if you wish to write to your family you will now
+have an opportunity of doing so."
+
+At this he turned deadly pale, and some minutes passed before he had
+recovered from his emotion. He then expressed a wish to write to his
+family, and was conducted, under escort, to a tent, where writing
+materials were placed before him. He wrote a long communication to his
+wife, which we sent to the nearest British officers to forward to its
+destination. He also wrote me a letter thanking me for my "kind
+treatment," and requested me to forward the letter to his wife. Later
+on spiritual consolation was offered and administered to him by our
+pastor.
+
+Next day, as related in the previous chapter, we were attacked by a
+detachment of General Kitchener's force from Belfast. This kept me
+busy all day, and I delegated two of my subaltern officers to carry
+out the execution. At dusk the condemned man was blindfolded and
+conducted to the side of an open grave, where twelve burghers fired a
+volley, and death was instantaneous. I am told that De Kock met his
+fate with considerable fortitude.
+
+So far as I am aware, this was the first Boer "execution" in our
+history. I afterwards read accounts of it in the English press, in
+which it was described as murder, but I emphatically repudiate this
+description of a wholly justifiable act. The crime was a serious one,
+and the punishment was well deserved, and I have no doubt that the
+same fate would have awaited any English soldier guilty of a similar
+offence. It seems a great pity, however, that no war can take place
+without these melancholy incidents.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+IN A TIGHT CORNER.
+
+
+It was now March, 1901. For some time our burghers had been
+complaining of inactivity, and the weary and monotonous existence was
+gradually beginning to pall on them. But it became evident that April
+would be an eventful month, as the enemy had determined not to suffer
+our presence in these parts any longer. A huge movement, therefore,
+was being set on foot to surround us and capture the whole commando
+_en bloc_.
+
+It began with a night attack on a field-cornet's force posted at
+Kruger's Post, north of Lydenburg, and here the enemy succeeded in
+capturing 35 men and a quantity of "impedimenta;" the field-cornet in
+question, although warned in time, having taken no proper
+precautions. By the middle of April the enemy's forward movement was
+in full swing. General Plumer came from Pietersburg, General Walter
+Kitchener from Lydenburg, and General Barber from Middelburg. They
+approached us in six different directions, altogether a force of
+25,000 men, and the whole under the supreme command of General Sir
+Bindon Blood.
+
+No escape was available for us through Secoekuniland on the north, as
+the natives here, since the British had occupied their territory, were
+avowedly hostile to us. To escape, therefore, we would have to break
+through the enemy's lines and also to cross the railway, which was
+closely guarded.
+
+The enemy were advancing slowly from various directions. All our roads
+were carefully guarded, and the cordon was gradually tightening around
+us. We were repeatedly attacked, now on this side, now on that, the
+British being clearly anxious to discover our position and our
+strength. In a sharp skirmish with a column from Lydenburg my faithful
+Fighting-General Muller was severely wounded in his shoulder, and a
+commando of Lydenburgers had been isolated from me and driven by the
+enemy along Waterfal River up to Steelpoort, where they encountered
+hostile tribes of kaffirs. The commandant of the corps after a short
+defence was obliged to destroy his guns, forsake his baggage, and
+escape with his burghers in small groups into the mountains.
+
+Our position was growing more critical, but I resolved to make a stand
+before abandoning our carts and waggons, although there seemed little
+hope of being able to save anything. In fact the situation was
+extremely perilous. As far as I could see we were entirely hemmed in,
+all the roads were blocked, my best officer wounded, I had barely 900
+men with me, and our stock of ammunition was very limited.
+
+I have omitted to mention that early in April, when we first got an
+inkling of this move I had liberated all the British officers whom I
+had kept as prisoners at Middelburg, and thus saved the British
+authorities many a D.S.O. which would otherwise have been claimed by
+their rescuers.
+
+The British around us were now posted as follows: At Diepkloof on the
+Tautesberg to the north-west of us; at Roodekraal, between Tautesberg
+and Bothasberg, to the west of us; at Koebold, under Roodehoogte; at
+Windhoek, to the east of us; at Oshoek, to the north-east; and to the
+north of us between Magneetshoogte and Klip Spruit. We were positioned
+on Mapochsberg near Roos Senekal, about midway between Tautesberg and
+Steenkampsberg. We had carts, waggons, two field-pieces, and a
+Colt-Maxim.
+
+We speedily discovered that we should have to leave our baggage and
+guns, and rely mainly on our horses and rifles. We had placed our
+hospitals as well as we could, one in an empty school-building at
+Mapochsberg with 10 wounded, under the care of Dr. Manning; the other,
+our only field-hospital, at Schoonpoort, under the supervision of Dr.
+H. Neethling. Whether these poor wounded Boers would have to be
+abandoned to the enemy, was a question which perplexed us
+considerably. If so, we should have been reduced to only one
+physician, Dr. Leitz, a young German who might get through with a
+pack-horse. Many officers and men, however, had lost all hope of
+escape.
+
+It was about the 20th of April when the British approached so close
+that we had to fight all day to maintain our positions. I gave orders
+that same night that we should burn our waggons, destroy our guns with
+dynamite, and make a dash through the enemy's lines, those burghers
+who had no horses to mount the mules of the convoy. Hereupon about 100
+burghers and an officer coolly informed me that they had had enough
+fighting, and preferred to surrender. I was at that time powerless to
+prevent them doing so, so I took away all their horses and ammunition,
+at which they did not seem very pleased. Before dusk our camp was a
+scene of wild confusion. Waggons and carts were burning fiercely,
+dynamite was being exploded, and horseless burghers were attempting to
+break in the mules which were to serve them as mounts. Meanwhile a
+skirmish was going on between our outposts and those of the enemy.
+
+It was a strange procession that left Mapochsberg that night in our
+dash through the British lines. Many Boers rode mules, whilst many
+more had no saddles, and no small number were trudging along on foot,
+carrying their rifles and blankets on their shoulders. My scouts had
+reported that the best way to get through was on the southern side
+along Steelpoort, about a quarter of a mile from the enemy's camp at
+Bothasberg. But even should we succeed in breaking through the cordon
+around us, we still had to cross the line at Wondersfontein before
+daybreak, so as not to get caught between the enemy's troops and the
+blockhouses.
+
+About 100 scouts, who formed our advance-guard, soon encountered the
+enemy's sentries. They turned to the right, then turned to the left;
+but everywhere the inquisitive "Tommies" kept asking: "Who goes
+there?" Not being over anxious to satisfy their curiosity, they sent
+round word at once for us to lie low, and we started very carefully
+exploring the neighbourhood. But there seemed no way out of the mess.
+We might have attacked some weak point and thus forced our way
+through, but it was still four or five hours' ride to the railway
+line, and with our poor mounts we should have been caught and
+captured. Besides which the enemy might have warned the blockhouse
+garrisons, in which case we should have been caught between two fires.
+
+No; we wanted to get through without being discovered, and seeing that
+this was that night hopeless, I consulted my officers and decided to
+return to our deserted camp, where we could take up our original
+positions without the enemy being aware of our nocturnal excursion.
+
+Next morning the rising sun found us back in our old positions. We
+despatched scouts in all directions as usual, so as to make the enemy
+believe that we intended to remain there permanently, and we put
+ourselves on our guard, ready to repel an attack at any point on the
+shortest notice.
+
+But the enemy were much too cautious, and evidently thought they had
+us safely in their hands. They amused themselves by destroying every
+living thing, and burned the houses and the crops. The whole veldt
+all round was black, everything seemed in mourning, the only relief
+from this dull monotony of colour being that afforded by the
+innumerable specks of khaki all around us. I believe I said there were
+25,000 men there, but it now seemed to me as if there were almost
+double that number.
+
+We had to wait until darkness set in before making a second attempt at
+escape. The day seemed interminable. Many burghers were loudly
+grumbling, and even some officers were openly declaring that all this
+had been done on purpose. Of course, these offensive remarks were
+pointed at me. At last the situation became too serious. I could only
+gather together a few officers to oppose an attack from the enemy on
+the eastern side, and something had to be done to prevent a general
+mutiny. I therefore ordered a burgher who seemed loudest in his
+complaints to receive 15 lashes with a sjambok, and I placed a
+field-cornet under arrest. After this the grumblers remained sullenly
+silent.
+
+The only loophole in the enemy's lines seemed to be in the direction
+of Pietersburg on the portion held by General Plumer, who seemed far
+too busy capturing cattle and sheep from the "bush-lancers" to
+surround us closely. We therefore decided to take our chance there and
+move away as quickly as possible in that direction, and then to bear
+to the left, where we expected to find the enemy least watchful.
+Shortly before sunset I despatched 100 mounted men to ride openly in
+the opposite direction to that which we intended to take, so as to
+divert the enemy's attention from our scene of operations, and sat
+down to wait for darkness.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+ELUDING THE BRITISH CORDON.
+
+
+"The shades of eve were falling fast" as we moved cautiously away from
+Mapochsberg and proceeded through Landdrift, Steelpoort, and the
+Tautesberg. At 3 o'clock in the morning we halted in a hollow place
+where we would not be observed, yet we were still a mile and a half
+from the enemy's cordon. Our position was now more critical than ever;
+for should the enemy discover our departure, and General Plumer hurry
+up towards us that morning, we should have little chance of escape.
+
+During the day I was obliged to call all the burghers together, and to
+earnestly address them concerning the happenings of the previous day.
+I told them to tell me candidly if they had lost faith in me, or if
+they had any reason not to trust me implicitly, as I would not
+tolerate the way in which they had behaved the day before. I added:--
+
+"If you cannot see your way clear to obey implicitly my commands, to
+be true to me, and to believe that I am true to you, I shall at once
+leave you, and you can appoint someone else to look after you. We are
+by no means out of the wood yet, and it is now more than ever
+necessary that we should be able to trust one another to the fullest
+extent. Therefore, I ask those who have lost confidence in me, or have
+any objection to my leading them, to stand out."
+
+No one stirred. Other officers and burghers next rose and spoke,
+assuring me that all the rebels had deserted the previous night, and
+that all the men with me would be true and faithful. Then Pastor J.
+Louw addressed the burghers very earnestly, pointing out to them the
+offensive way in which some of them had spoken of their superior
+officers, and that in the present difficult circumstances it was
+absolutely necessary that there should be no disintegration and
+discord amongst ourselves. I think all these perorations had a very
+salutary effect. But such were the difficulties that we officers had
+to contend with at the hands of undisciplined men who held exaggerated
+notions of freedom of action and of speech, and I was not the only
+Boer officer who suffered in this respect.
+
+About two in the afternoon I gave the order to saddle up, as it was
+necessary to start before sunset in order to be able to cross the
+Olifant's River before daybreak, so that the enemy should not overtake
+us should they notice us. We dismounted and led our horses, for we had
+discovered that the English could not distinguish between a body of
+men leading their horses and a troop of cattle, so long as the horses
+were all kept close together. All the hills around us were covered
+with cattle captured from our "bush-lancers," and therefore our
+passage was unnoticed.
+
+We followed an old waggon track along the Buffelskloof, where a road
+leads from Tautesberg to Blood River. The stream runs between Botha's
+and Tautesbergen, and flows into the Olifant's River near Mazeppa
+Drift. It is called Blood River on account of the horrible massacre
+which took place there many years before, when the Swazi kaffirs
+murdered a whole kaffir tribe without distinction of age or sex,
+literally turning the river red with blood.
+
+Towards evening we reached the foot of the mountains, and moved in a
+north-westerly direction past Makleerewskop. We got through the
+English lines without any difficulty along some footpaths, but our
+progress was very slow, as we had to proceed in Indian file, and we
+had to stop frequently to see that no one was left behind. The country
+was thickly wooded, and frequently the baggage on the pack-horses
+became entangled with branches of trees, and had to be disentangled
+and pulled off the horses' backs, which also caused considerable
+delay.
+
+It was 3 o'clock in the morning before we reached the Olifant's River,
+at a spot which was once a footpath drift, but was now washed away and
+overgrown with trees and shrubs, making it very difficult to find the
+right spot to cross. Our only guide who knew the way had not been
+there for 15 years, but recognised the place by some high trees which
+rose above the others. We had considerable difficulty in crossing, the
+water reaching to our horses' saddles, and the banks being very steep.
+By the time we had all forded the sun had risen. All the other drifts
+on the river were occupied by the enemy, our scouts reporting that
+Mazeppa Drift, three miles down stream, was entrenched by a strong
+English force, as was the case with Kalkfontein Drift, a little higher
+up. I suppose this drift was not known to them, and thus had been left
+unguarded.
+
+[Illustration: Crossing Railway Line Northward (Between Balmoral and
+Brugspruit Stations).]
+
+Having got through we rode in a northerly direction until about 9
+o'clock in the morning, and not until then were we sure of being clear
+of the enemy's clutches. But there was a danger that the English had
+noticed our absence and had followed us up. I therefore sent out
+scouts on the high kopjes in the neighbourhood, and not until these
+had reported all clear did we take the risk of off-saddling. You can
+imagine how thankful we were after having been in the saddle for over
+19 hours, and I believe our poor animals were no less thankful for
+a rest.
+
+We had not slept for three consecutive nights, and soon the whole
+commando, with the exception of the sentries, were fast asleep. Few of
+us thought of food, for our fatigue and drowsiness were greater than
+our hunger. But we could only sleep for two hours, for we were much
+too close to the enemy, and we wished to make them lose scent of us
+entirely.
+
+The burghers grumbled a good deal at being awakened and ordered to
+saddle up, but we moved on nevertheless. I sent some men to enquire at
+a kaffir kraal for the way to Pietersburg, and although I had no
+intention of going in that direction, I knew that the kaffirs, so soon
+as we had gone, would report to the nearest British camp that they had
+met a commando of Boers going there. Kaffirs would do this with the
+hope of reward, which they often received in the shape of spirituous
+liquor. We proceeded all that day in the direction of Pietersburg
+until just before sunset we came to a small stream. Here we stopped
+for an hour and then went on again, this time, however, to the left
+in a southerly direction through the bush to Poortjesnek near
+Rhenosterkop, where a little time before the fight with General
+Paget's force had taken place. We had to hurry through the bush, as
+horse-sickness was prevalent here and we still had a long way before
+us. It was midnight before we reached the foot of the Poortjesnek.
+
+Here my officers informed me that two young burghers had become insane
+through fatigue and want of sleep, and that several, while asleep in
+their saddles had been pulled off their horses by low branches and
+severely injured. Yet we had to get through the Nek and get to the
+plateau before I could allow any rest. I went and had a look at the
+demented men. They looked as if intoxicated and were very violent. All
+our men and horses were utterly exhausted, but we pushed on and at
+last reached the plateau, where, to everybody's great delight, we
+rested for the whole day. The demented men would not sleep, but I had
+luckily some opium pills with me and I gave each man one of them, so
+that they got calmer, and, dropping off to sleep, afterwards
+recovered.
+
+My scouts reported next day that a strong English patrol had followed
+us up, but that otherwise it was "all serene." We pushed on through
+Langkloof over our old fighting ground near Rhenosterkop, then through
+the Wilge River near Gousdenberg up to Blackwood Camp, about nine
+miles north of Balmoral Station. Here we stayed a few days to allow
+our animals to rest and recover from their hardships, and then moved
+on across the railway to the Bethel and Ermelo districts. Here the
+enemy was much less active, and we should have an opportunity of being
+left undisturbed for a little time. But we lost 40 of our horses, who
+had caught the dreaded horse-sickness whilst passing through the bush
+country.
+
+On the second day of our stay at Blackwood Camp I sent 150 men under
+Commandants Groenwald and Viljoen through the Banks, via Staghoek, to
+attack the enemy's camp near Wagendrift on the Olifant's River. This
+was a detachment of the force which had been surrounding us. We
+discovered that they were still trying to find us, and that the patrol
+which had followed us were not aware of our having got away. It
+appears that they only discovered this several days afterwards, and
+great must have been the good general's surprise when they found that
+the birds had flown and their great laid schemes had failed.
+
+My 150 men approached the enemy's camp early in the morning, and when
+at a short range began pouring in a deadly rifle fire on the western
+side. The British soldiers, who were not dreaming of an attack, ran to
+and fro in wild disorder. Our burghers, however, ceased firing when
+they saw that there were many women and children in the camp, but the
+enemy began soon to pour out a rifle and gun fire, and our men were
+obliged to carry on the fight.
+
+After a few days' absence they returned to our camp and reported to me
+that "they had frightened the English out of their wits, for they
+thought we were to the east at Roos Senekal, whereas we turned up from
+the west."
+
+Of course the British speedily discovered where we were, and came
+marching up from Poortjesnek in great force. But we sent out a patrol
+to meet them, and the latter by passing them west of Rhenosterkop
+effectually misled them, and we were left undisturbed at Blackwood
+Camp.
+
+This left us time to prepare for crossing the railway; so I despatched
+scouts south to see how matters stood, and bade them return the next
+day. We knew that a number of small commandos were located on the
+south side of the railway, but to effect a junction was a difficult
+matter, and we would risk getting trapped between the columns if we
+moved at random. The railway and all the roads were closely guarded,
+and great care was being taken to prevent any communication between
+the burghers on either side of the line.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+BOER GOVERNMENT'S NARROW ESCAPE.
+
+
+During the first week of May, 1901, we split up into two sections, and
+left Blackwood Camp early in the evening. General Muller took one
+section over the railway line near Brugspruit, whilst I took the other
+section across near Balmoral Station. We naturally kept as far from
+the blockhouses as possible, quietly cut the barbed-wire fences
+stretched all along the line, and succeeded in crossing it without a
+shot being fired. To split up into two sections was a necessary
+precaution, first because it would have taken the whole commando too
+long to cross the line at one point, and secondly, we made more sure
+of getting at least one section across. Further, had the enemy
+encountered one of the sections they would probably have concluded
+that that was our whole force.
+
+We halted about six miles from the railway-line, as it was now 2
+o'clock in the morning. I ordered a general dismount, and we were at
+last able to light up our pipes, which we had been afraid of doing in
+the neighbourhood of the railway for fear of the lights being seen by
+the enemy. The men sat round in groups, and smoked and chatted
+cheerfully. We passed the rest of the night here, and with the
+exception of the sentinels on duty, all were able to enjoy a
+refreshing sleep, lying down, however, with their unsaddled horses by
+their side, and the bridles in their hands--a most necessary and
+useful precaution. Together with my adjutant, Nel, I made the round of
+the sentries, sitting a few moments with each to cheer them up and
+keep them awake; for there is nothing to which I object more than to
+be surprised by the enemy, when asleep.
+
+The few hours of rest afforded us passed very quickly, and at the
+first glimmer of dawn I ordered the men to be called. This is simply
+done by the officers calling "Opzâal, opzâal" (saddle-up) in loud
+tones. When it was light enough to look round us we had the
+satisfaction of seeing that all was quiet and that no troops were in
+the immediate neighbourhood. We made for a place called Kroomdraai,
+about halfway between Heidelberg and Middelburg, where we knew there
+were some mealies left; and although we should be between the enemy's
+camps there, I felt there would be no danger of being disturbed or
+surprised.
+
+I also sent a report to the Commandant-General, who was at that time
+with the Government near Ermelo, and described to him all that had
+happened. I received a reply some days later, requesting me to leave
+my commando at Kroomdraai and proceed to see him, as an important
+Council of War was to be held between the various generals and the
+Government.
+
+Four days later I arrived at Begin der Lijn ("beginning of the line")
+on the Vaal River, south-east of Ermelo, accompanied by three of my
+adjutants, and reported myself to the Commandant-General.
+
+Simultaneously with my arrival there came two British columns,
+commanded by our old friend Colonel Bullock, whose acquaintance we had
+previously made at Colenso. They came apparently with the idea of
+chasing us, possibly thinking to catch us. This was far from pleasant
+for me. I had been riding post-haste for four days, and I and my horse
+were very tired and worn out. However, there was no help for it. I had
+barely time to salute the members of the Government, and to exchange a
+few words with General Botha, when we had to "quit." For eight days we
+wandered round with Colonel Bullock at our heels, always remaining,
+however, in the same neighbourhood. This officer's tactics in trying
+to capture us were childishly simple. During the day there would be
+skirmishes between the enemy and General Botha's men, but each evening
+the former would, by retiring, attempt to lull us into a sense of
+security. But as soon as the sun had set, they would turn right about
+face, return full speed to where they had left us, and there would
+surround us carefully during the night, gallantly attacking us in the
+morning and fully expecting to capture the whole Boer Government and
+at least half a dozen generals. This was a distinct nuisance, but the
+tactics of this worthy officer were so simple that we very soon
+discovered them. Accordingly, every evening we would make a fine
+pretence of pitching our camp for the night; but so soon as darkness
+had set in, we would take the precaution of moving some 10 or 15 miles
+further on. Next morning Colonel Bullock, who had been carefully
+"surrounding" us all night, would find that we were unaccountably
+absent. Much annoyed at this, he would then send his "flying" columns
+running after us. This went on for several days, until finally, as we
+expected, his horses were tired out, and I believe he was then removed
+to some other garrison, having been considered a failure as a
+"Boer-stalker." No doubt he did his best, but he nevertheless managed
+his business very clumsily.
+
+Not until nine days after my arrival at this perambulating seat of
+Government did we have an opportunity of snatching a few hours' rest.
+We were now at a spot called Immegratie, between Ermelo and
+Wakkerstroom. Here a meeting was held by the Executive Council, and
+attended by the Commandant-General, General Jan Smuts, General C.
+Botha, and myself. General T. Smuts could not be present, as he was
+busy keeping Colonel Bullock amused.
+
+At this meeting we discussed the general situation, and decided to
+send a letter to President Steyn, but our communication afterwards
+fell into the enemy's hands. In accordance with this letter, President
+Steyn and Generals De Wet and De la Rey joined our Government, and a
+meeting was held later on.
+
+The day after this meeting at Immegratie I took leave of my friends
+and began the journey in a more leisurely fashion back to my commando
+at Kroomdraai, via Ermelo and Bethel. The Acting-President had made me
+a present of a cart and four mules, as they pitied us for having had
+to burn all our vehicles in escaping from Roos Senekal. We were thus
+once more seated in a cart, which added considerably to the dignity
+of our staff. How long I should continue to be possessed of this means
+of transport depended, of course, entirely on the enemy. My old
+coloured groom "Mooiroos," who followed behind leading my horse,
+evidently thought the same, for he remarked naïvely: "Baas, the
+English will soon fix us in another corner; had we not better throw
+the cart away?"
+
+We drove into Ermelo that afternoon. The dread east wind was blowing
+hard and raising great clouds of dust around us. The village had been
+occupied about half a dozen times by the enemy and each time looted,
+plundered, and evacuated, and was now again in our possession. At
+least, the English had left it the day before, and a Landdrost had
+placed himself in charge; a little Hollander with a pointed nose and
+small, glittering eyes, who between each sentence that he spoke rolled
+round those little eyes of his, carefully scanning the neighbouring
+hills for any sign of the English. The only other person of importance
+in the town was a worthy predicant, who evidently had not had his hair
+cut since the commencement of the War, and who had great difficulty
+in keeping his little black wide-awake on his head. He seemed very
+proud of his abundant locks.
+
+There were also a few families in the place belonging to the Red Cross
+staff and in charge of the local hospitals. One of my adjutants was
+seriously indisposed, and it was whilst hunting for a chemist in order
+to obtain medicine that I came into contact with the town's sparse
+population. I found the dispensary closed, the proprietor having
+departed with the English, and the Landdrost, fearing to get himself
+into trouble, was not inclined to open it. He grew very excited when
+we liberally helped ourselves to the medicines, and made himself
+unpleasant. So we gave him clearly to understand that his presence was
+not required in that immediate neighbourhood.
+
+Our cart was standing waiting for us in the High Street, and during
+our absence a lady had appeared on the verandah of a house and had
+sent a servant to enquire who we were. When we reappeared laden with
+our booty she graciously invited us to come in. She was a Mrs. P. de
+Jager and belonged to the Red Cross Society. She asked us to stay and
+have some dinner, which was then being prepared. Imagine what a luxury
+for us to be once more in a house, to be addressed by a lady and to be
+served with a bountiful repast! Our clothes were in a ragged and
+dilapidated condition and we presented a very unkempt appearance,
+which did not make us feel quite at our ease. Still the good lady with
+great tact soon put us quite at home.
+
+We partook of a delicious meal, which we shall not easily forget. I
+cannot remember what the menu was, and I am not quite sure whether it
+would compare favourably with a first-class café dinner, but I never
+enjoyed a meal more in my existence, and possibly never shall.
+
+After dinner the lady related to us how on the previous day, when the
+British entered the village, there were in her house three
+convalescent burghers, who could, however, neither ride nor walk. With
+tears in her eyes she told us how an English doctor and an officer
+had come there, and kicking open the doors of her neatly-kept house,
+had entered it, followed by a crowd of soldiers, who had helped
+themselves to most of the knives, forks, and other utensils. She tried
+to explain to the doctor that she had wounded men in the house, but he
+was too conceited and arrogant to listen to her protestations.
+Fortunately for them the men were not discovered, for the English, on
+leaving the village, took with them all our wounded, and even our
+doctor. With a proud smile she now produced this trio, who, not
+knowing whether we were friend or foe, were at first very much
+frightened.
+
+I sympathised with the lady with respect to the harsh treatment she
+had received the previous day, and thanking her for her great
+kindness, warned her not to keep armed burghers in her house, as this
+was against the Geneva Convention.
+
+We told her what great pleasure it was for us to meet a lady, as all
+our women having been placed in Concentration Camps, we had only had
+the society of our fellow-burghers. Before leaving she grasped our
+hands, and with tears in her eyes wished us God speed:--"Good-bye, my
+friends! May God reward your efforts on behalf of your country.
+General, be of good cheer; for however dark the future may seem, be
+sure that the Almighty will provide for you!" I can scarcely be dubbed
+sentimental, yet the genuine expressions of this good lady, coupled
+perhaps with her excellent dinner, did much to put us into better
+spirits, and somehow the future did not seem now quite so dark and
+terrible as we were previously inclined to believe.
+
+We soon resumed our journey, and that night arrived at a farm
+belonging to a certain Venter. We knew that here some houses had
+escaped the general destruction and we found that a dwelling house was
+still standing and that the Venter family were occupying it. It was
+not our practice to pass the night near inhabited houses, as that
+might have got the people in trouble with the enemy, but having
+off-saddled, I sent up an adjutant to the house to see if he could
+purchase a few eggs and milk for our sick companions. He speedily
+returned followed by the lady of the house in a very excited
+condition:--
+
+"Are you the General?" she asked.
+
+"I have that honour," I replied. "What is the matter?"
+
+"There is much the matter," she retorted loudly. "I will have nothing
+to do with you or your people. You are nothing but a band of brigands
+and scoundrels, and you must leave my farm immediately. All
+respectable people have long since surrendered, and it is only such
+people as you who continue the War, while you personally are one of
+the ringleaders of these rebels."
+
+"Tut, tut," I said, "where is your husband?"
+
+"My husband is where all respectable people ought to be; with the
+English, of course."
+
+"'Hands-uppers,' is that it?" answered my men in chorus, even Mooiroos
+the native joining in. "You deserve the D.S.O.," I said, "and if we
+meet the English we will mention it to them. Now go back to your house
+before these rebels and brigands give you your deserts."
+
+She continued to pour out a flood of insults and imprecations on
+myself, the other generals, and the Government, and finally went away
+still muttering to herself. I could scarcely help comparing this
+patriotic lady to the one in Ermelo who had treated us so kindly. I
+encountered many more such incidents, and only mention these two in
+order to show the different views held at that time by our women on
+these matters, but in justice to our women-folk I should add that this
+kind were only a small minority.
+
+It was a bitterly cold night. Our blankets were very thin, and the
+wind continually scattered our fire and gave us little opportunity of
+warming ourselves. There was no food for the horses except the grass.
+We haltered them close together, and each of us took it in turn to
+keep a watch, as we ran the risk at any moment of being surprised by
+the enemy, and as many in that district had turned traitors, we had to
+redouble our precautions. During the whole cold night I slept but
+little, and I fervently wished for the day to come, and felt
+exceedingly thankful when the sun arose and it got a little warmer.
+
+Proceeding, we crossed the ridges east of Bethel, and as this village
+came in sight my groom Mooiroos exclaimed: "There are a lot of Khakis
+there, Baas."
+
+I halted, and with my field-glasses could see distinctly the enemy's
+force, which was coming from Bethel in our direction, their scouts
+being visible everywhere to the right and left of the ridges. While we
+were still discussing what to do, the field-cornet of the district, a
+certain Jan Davel, dashed up with a score of burghers between us and
+the British. He informed me that the enemy's forces were coming from
+Brugspruit, and that he had scattered his burghers in all directions
+to prevent them organizing any resistance. The enemy's guns were now
+firing at us, and although the range was a long one the ridges in
+which we found ourselves were quite bare, and afforded us no cover.
+
+We were therefore obliged to wheel to our right, and, proceeding to
+Klein Spionkop, we passed round the enemy along Vaalkop and
+Wilmansrust.
+
+At Steenkoolspruit I met some burghers, who told me that the enemy had
+marched from Springs, near Boksburg, and were making straight for our
+commando at Kroomdraai. We managed to reach that place in the evening
+just in time to warn our men and be off. I left a section of my men
+behind to obstruct the advance of the enemy, whom they met the
+following day, but finding the force too strong were obliged to
+retire, and I do not know exactly where they got to. At this time
+there were no less than nine of the enemy's columns in that district,
+and they all tried their level best to catch the Boers, but as the
+Boers also tried their best not to get caught, I am afraid the English
+were often disappointed. Here the reader will, perhaps, remark that it
+was not very brave to run away in this fashion, but one should also
+take our circumstances into consideration.
+
+No sooner did we attack one column than we were attacked in our turn
+by a couple more, and had then considerable difficulty in effecting
+our escape. The enemy, moreover, had every advantage of us. They had
+plenty of guns, and could cut our ranks to pieces before we could
+approach sufficiently near to do any damage with our rifles; they far
+surpassed us in numerical strength; they had a constant supply of
+fresh horses--some of us had no horses at all; they had continual
+reinforcements; their troops were well fed, better equipped, and
+altogether in better condition. Small wonder, therefore, that the War
+had become a one-sided affair.
+
+On the 20th of May, 1901, I seized an opportunity of attacking General
+Plumer on his way from Bethel to Standerton.
+
+We had effected a junction with Commandant Mears and charged the
+enemy, and but for their having with them a number of Boer families we
+would have succeeded in capturing their whole laager. We had already
+succeeded in driving their infantry away from the waggons containing
+these families, when their infantry rushed in between and opened fire
+on us at 200 paces. We could do nothing else but return this fire,
+although it was quite possible that in doing so we wounded one or two
+of our own women and children. These kept waving their handkerchiefs
+to warn us not to fire, but it was impossible to resist the infantry's
+volleys without shooting. Meanwhile the cavalry replaced their guns
+behind the women's waggons and fired on us from that coign of vantage.
+
+Here we took 25 prisoners, 4,000 sheep and 10 horses. Our losses were
+two killed and nine wounded. The enemy left several dead and wounded
+on the field, as well as two doctors and an ambulance belonging to the
+Queensland Imperial Bushmen, which we sent back together with the
+prisoners we had taken.
+
+On this occasion the English were spared a great defeat by having
+women and children in their laager, and no doubt for the sake of
+safety they kept these with them as long as possible. I do not
+insinuate that this was generally the case, and I am sure that Lord
+Kitchener or any other responsible commanding officer would loudly
+have condemned such tactics; but the fact remains that these
+unpleasant incidents occasionally took place.
+
+About the beginning of June, 1901 (I find it difficult to be accurate
+without the aid of my notes) another violent effort was made to
+capture the members of the Government and the Commandant-General.
+Colonel Benson now appeared as the new "Boer-stalker," and after
+making several unsuccessful attempts to surround them almost captured
+the Government in the mountains between Piet Retief and Spitskop. Just
+as Colonel Benson thought he had them safe and was slowly but surely
+weaving his net around them--I believe this was at Halhangapase--the
+members of the Government left their carriages, and packing the most
+necessary articles and documents on their horses escaped in the night
+along a footpath which the enemy had kindly left unguarded and passed
+right through the British lines in the direction of Ermelo. On the
+following day the English, on closing their cordon, found, as they
+usually did, naught but the burned remains of some vehicles and a few
+lame mules.
+
+Together with the late General Spruit, who happened to be in that
+neighbourhood, I had been asked to march with a small commando to the
+assistance of the Government and the Commandant-General and we had
+started at once, only hearing when well on our way that they had
+succeeded in escaping.
+
+We proceeded as far as the Bankop, not knowing where to find them, and
+it was no easy matter to look for them amongst the British columns.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+A GOVERNMENT ON HORSEBACK.
+
+
+For ten days we searched the neighbourhood, and finally met one of the
+Commandant-General's despatch-riders, who informed me of their
+whereabouts, which they were obliged to keep secret for fear of
+treachery. We met the whole party on William Smeet's farm near the
+Vaal River, every man on horseback or on a mule, without a solitary
+cart or waggon. It was a very strange sight to see the whole Transvaal
+Government on horseback. Some had not yet got used to this method of
+governing, and they had great trouble with their luggage, which was
+continually being dropped on the road.
+
+General Spruit and myself undertook to escort the Executive Council
+through the Ermelo district, past Bethel to Standerton, where they
+were to meet the members of the Orange Free State Government. I had
+now with me only 100 men, under Field-Cornet R. D. Young; the
+remainder I had left behind near Bethel in charge of General Muller
+and Commandants Viljoen and Groenwald, with instructions to keep on
+the alert and to fall on any column that ventured a little ahead of
+the others.
+
+It was whilst on my way back to them that a burgher brought me a
+report from General Muller, informing me that the previous night,
+assisted by Commandants W. Viljoen and Groenwald, he had with 130 men
+stormed one of the enemy's camps at Wilmansrust, capturing the whole
+after a short resistance on the enemy's part, but sustaining a loss of
+six killed and some wounded. The camp had been under the command of
+Colonel Morris, and its garrison numbered 450 men belonging to the 5th
+Victorian Mounted Rifles. About 60 of these were killed and wounded,
+and the remainder were disarmed and released. Our haul consisted of
+two pom-poms, carts and waggons with teams in harness, and about 300
+horses, the most miserable collection of animals I have ever seen.
+Here we also captured a well-known burgher, whose name, I believe, was
+Trotsky, and who was fighting with the enemy against us. He was
+brought before a court-martial, tried for high treason, and sentenced
+to death, which sentence was afterwards carried out.
+
+Our Government received about this time a communication from General
+Brits, that the members of the Orange Free State Government had
+reached Blankop, north of Standerton, and would await us at Waterval.
+We hurried thither, and reached it in the evening of the 20th of June,
+1901. Here we found President Steyn and Generals De Wet, De la Rey,
+and Hertzog, with an escort of 150 men. It was very pleasant to meet
+these great leaders again, and still more pleasing was the cordiality
+with which they received us. We sat round our fires all that night
+relating to each other our various adventures. Some which caused great
+fun and amusement, and some which brought tears even to the eyes of
+the hardened warrior. General De Wet was then suffering acutely from
+rheumatism, but he showed scarcely any trace of his complaint, and was
+as cheerful as the rest of us.
+
+Next day we parted, each going separately on our way. We had decided
+what each of us was to do, and under this agreement I was to return to
+the Lydenburg and Middelburg districts, where we had already had such
+a narrow escape. I confess I did not care much about this, but we had
+to obey the Commandant-General, and there was an end of it. Meanwhile,
+reports came in that on the other side of the railway the burghers who
+had been left behind were surrendering day by day, and that a
+field-cornet was engaged in negotiations with the enemy about a
+general laying down of arms. I at once despatched General Muller there
+to put an end to this.
+
+We now prepared once more to cross the railway line, which was guarded
+more carefully than ever, and no one dared to cross with a conveyance
+of any description. We had, however, become possessed of a laager--a
+score of waggons and two pom-poms--and I determined to take these
+carts and guns across with me, for my men valued them all the more for
+having been captured. They were, in fact, as sweet to us as stolen
+kisses, although I have had no very large experience of the latter
+commodity.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+BLOWING UP AN ARMOURED TRAIN.
+
+
+We approached the line between Balmoral and Brugspruit, coming as
+close to it as was possible with regard to safety, and we stopped in a
+"dunk" (hollow place) intending to remain there until dusk before
+attempting to cross. The blockhouses were only 1,000 yards distant
+from each other, and in order to take our waggons across there was but
+one thing to be done, namely, to storm two blockhouses, overpower
+their garrisons, and take our convoy across between these two.
+Fortunately there were no obstacles here in the shape of embankments
+or excavations, the line being level with the veldt. We moved on in
+the evening (the 27th of June), the moon shining brightly, which was
+very unfortunate for us, as the enemy would see us and hear us long
+before we came within range. I had arranged that Commandant Groenwald
+was to storm the blockhouse on the right, and Commandant W. Viljoen
+that to the left, each with 75 men. We halted about 1,000 paces from
+the line, and here the sections left their horses behind and marched
+in scattered order towards the blockhouses. The enemy had been warned
+by telephone that morning of our vicinity, and all the pickets and
+outposts along the line were on the "qui vive." When 150 yards from
+the blockhouses the garrison opened fire on our men, and a hail of
+Lee-Metford bullets spread over a distance of about four miles, the
+British soldiers firing from within the blockhouses and from behind
+mounds of earth. The blockhouse attacked by Commandant Viljoen offered
+the most determined resistance for about twenty minutes, but our men
+thrust their rifles through the loopholes of the blockhouses and fired
+within, calling out "hands-up" all the time, whilst the "Tommies"
+within retorted, "You haven't V.M.R.'s to deal with this time!"
+However, we soon made it too hot for them and their boasting was
+exchanged into cries of mercy, but not before three of our men had
+been killed and several wounded. The "Tommies" now shouted: "We
+surrender, Sir; for God's sake stop firing." My brave field-cornet, G.
+Mybergh, who was closest to the blockhouses, answered: "All right
+then, come out." The "Tommies" answered: "Right, we are coming," and
+we ceased firing.
+
+Field-Cornet Mybergh now stepped up to the entrance of the fort, but
+when he reached it a shot was fired from the inside and he fell
+mortally wounded in the stomach. At the same time the soldiers ran out
+holding up their hands. Our burghers were enraged beyond measure at
+this act of treachery, but the sergeant and the men swore by all that
+was sacred that it had been an accident, and that a gun had gone off
+spontaneously whilst being thrown down. The soldier who admitted
+firing the fatal shot was crying like a baby and kissing the hands of
+his victim. We held a short consultation amongst the officers and
+decided to accept his explanation of the affair. I was much upset,
+however, by this loss of one of the bravest officers I have ever
+known.
+
+Meanwhile the fight at the other blockhouse continued. Commandant
+Groenwald afterwards informed me that he had approached the blockhouse
+and found it built of rock; it was, in fact, a fortified ganger's
+house built by the Netherlands South Africa Railway Company. He did
+not see any way of taking the place; many of his men had fallen, and
+an armoured train with a search-light was approaching from Brugspruit.
+On the other side of the blockhouse we found a ditch about three feet
+deep and two feet wide. Hastily filling this up we let the carts go
+over. As the fifth one had got across and the sixth was standing on
+the lines, the armoured train came dashing at full speed in our midst.
+We had had no dynamite to blow up the line, and although we fired on
+the train, it steamed right up to where we were crossing, smashing a
+team of mules and splitting us up into two sections. Turning the
+search-light on us, the enemy opened fire on us with rifles, Maxims
+and guns firing grape-shot. Commandant Groenwald had to retire along
+the unconquered blockhouse, and managed somehow to get through. The
+majority of the burghers had already crossed and fled, whilst the
+remainder hurried back with a pom-pom and the other carts. I did not
+expect that the train would come so close to us, and was seated on my
+horse close to the surrendered blockhouse when it pulled up abruptly
+not four paces from me. The search-light made the surroundings as
+light as day, and revealed the strange spectacle of the burghers, on
+foot and on horseback, fleeing in all directions and accompanied by
+cattle and waggons, whilst many dead lay on the veldt. However, we
+saved everything with the exception of a waggon and two carts, one of
+which unfortunately was my own. Thus for the fourth time in the war I
+lost all my worldly belongings, my clothes, my rugs, my food, my
+money.
+
+My two commandants were now south of the line with half the men,
+whilst I was north of it with the other half. We buried our dead next
+morning and that evening I sent a message to the remainder of the
+commandos, telling them to cross the line at Uitkijk Station,
+south-west of Middelburg, whilst Captain Hindon was to lay a mine
+under the line near the station to blow up any armoured train coming
+down. Here we managed to get the rest of our laager over without much
+trouble. The "Tommies" fired furiously from the blockhouses and our
+friend the armoured train was seen approaching from Middelburg,
+whistling a friendly warning to us. It came full speed as before, but
+only got to the spot where the mine had been laid for it. There was a
+loud explosion; something went up in the air and then the shrill
+whistle stopped and all was silent.
+
+The next morning we were all once more camped together at Rooihoogte.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+TRAPPING PRO-BRITISH BOERS.
+
+
+In the month of July, 1901, we found ourselves once more on the scene
+of our former struggles, and were joined here by General Muller, who
+had completed his mission south of the railway. This district having
+been scoured for three weeks by thirty thousand English soldiers, who
+had carefully removed and destroyed everything living or dead, one can
+imagine the conditions under which we had to exist. No doubt from a
+strategical point of view the enemy could not be expected to do
+otherwise than devastate the country, but what grieved us most was the
+great amount of suffering this entailed to our women and children.
+Often the waggons in which these were being carried to imprisonment
+in the Concentration Camps were upset by the unskilful driving of the
+soldiers or their kaffir servants, and many women and children were
+injured in this way.
+
+Moreover, a certain Mrs. Lindeque was killed by an English bullet near
+Roos Senekal, the soldiers saying that she had passed through the
+outposts against instructions. Small wonder, therefore, that many of
+our women-folk fled with their children at the enemy's approach,
+leaving all their worldly possessions behind to fall a prey to the
+general destruction. We often came across such families in the
+greatest distress, some having taken shelter in caves, and others
+living in huts roughly constructed of half-burnt corrugated iron
+amongst the charred ruins of their former happy homes. The sufferings
+of our half-clad and hungry burghers were small compared to the misery
+and privations of these poor creatures. Their husbands and other
+relations, however, made provision for them to the best of their
+ability, and these families were, in spite of all, comparatively
+happy, so long as they were able to remain amongst their own people.
+
+Our commandos were now fairly exhausted, and our horses needed a rest
+very badly, the wanderings of the previous few weeks having reduced
+them to a miserable condition. I therefore left General Muller near
+the cobalt mines on the Upper Olifant's River, just by the waggon
+drift, whilst I departed with 100 men and a pom-pom to Witpoort and
+Windhoek, there to collect my scattered burghers and reorganise my
+diminished commando, as well as to look after our food supplies. At
+Witpoort the burghers who had been under the late Field-Cornet Kruge,
+and had escaped the enemy's sweeping movements, had repaired the mill
+which the English had blown up, and this was now working as well as
+before. A good stock of mealies had been buried there, and had
+remained undiscovered, and we were very thankful to the "bush-lancers"
+for this bounty.
+
+Still, things were not altogether "honey." Matters were rather in a
+critical state, as treachery was rampant, and many burghers were
+riding to and fro to the enemy and arranging to surrender, the
+faithful division being powerless to prevent them. We had to act with
+great firmness and determination to put a stop to these tendencies and
+within a week of our arrival half a dozen persons had been
+incarcerated in Roos Senekal gaol under a charge of high treason.
+Moreover we effected a radical change in leadership, discharging old
+and war-sick officers and placing younger and more energetic men in
+command.
+
+Several families here were causing considerable trouble. When first
+the enemy had passed through their district they had had no
+opportunity of surrendering with their cattle. But when the English
+returned, they had attempted to go to the enemy's camp at Belfast,
+taking all their cattle and moveables with them. At this the loyal
+burghers were furious and threatened to confiscate all their cattle
+and goods. Seeing this, these families, whom I shall call the
+Steenkamps, had desisted from their attempt to go over to the enemy
+and had taken up their abode in a church at Dullstroom, the only
+building which had not been destroyed, although the windows, doors
+and pulpit had long disappeared. Here they quietly awaited an
+opportunity of surrendering to the enemy, whose camp at Belfast was
+only 10 or 12 miles distant. We were very anxious that their cattle
+and sheep, of which they had a large number, should not go to the
+enemy, but we could bring no charge of treachery home to them, as they
+were very smooth-tongued scoundrels and always swore fealty to us.
+
+I have mentioned this as an example of the dangerous elements with
+which we had to contend amongst our own people, and to show how low a
+Boer may sink when once he has decided to forego his most sacred
+duties and turn against his own countrymen the weapon he had lately
+used in their defence. Such men were luckily in the minority. Yet I
+often came across cases where fathers fought against their own sons,
+and brother against brother. I cannot help considering that it was far
+from noble on the part of our enemy to employ such traitors to their
+country and to form such bodies of scoundrels as the National Scouts.
+
+Amongst all this worry of reorganising our commandos and weeding out
+the traitors we were allowed little rest by the enemy, and once we
+suddenly found them marching up from Helvetia in our direction. A
+smart body of men, chiefly composed of Lydenburg and Middelburg men,
+and under the command of a newly-appointed officer, Captain Du Toit,
+went to meet the enemy between Bakendorp and Dullstroom. Here ensued a
+fierce fight, where we lost some men, but succeeded in arresting the
+enemy's progress. The fight, however, was renewed the next day, and
+the British having received strong reinforcements our burghers were
+forced to retire, the enemy remaining at a place near the "Pannetjes,"
+three miles from Dullstroom.
+
+The English camp was now close to our friends, the Steenkamps, who
+were anxiously waiting an opportunity to become "hands-uppers." They
+had, of course, left off fighting long ago, one complaining that he
+had a disease of the kidneys, another that he suffered from some other
+complaint. They would sit on the kopjes and watch the fighting and the
+various manoeuvres, congratulating each other when the enemy
+approached a little nearer to them.
+
+I will now ask the reader's indulgence to describe one of our little
+practical jokes enacted at Dullstroom Church, which was characteristic
+of many other similar incidents in the Campaign. It will be seen how
+these would-be "hands-uppers" were caught in a little trap prepared by
+some officers of my staff.
+
+My three adjutants, Bester, Redelinghuisen, and J. Viljoen, carefully
+dressed in as much "khaki" as they could collect, and parading
+respectively as Colonels Bullock, "Jack," and "Cooper," all of His
+Majesty's forces, proceeded one fine evening to Dullstroom Church, to
+ascertain if the Steenkamps would agree to surrender and fight under
+the British flag. They arrived there about 9 p.m., and finding that
+the inmates had all gone to sleep, loudly knocked at the door. This
+was opened by a certain youthful Mr. Van der Nest, who was staying in
+the church for the night with his brother. J. Viljoen, alias "Cooper,"
+and acting as interpreter between the pseudo-English and the renegade
+Boers, addressed the young man in this fashion:--
+
+"Good evening! Is Mr. Steenkamp in? Here is a British officer who
+wishes to see him and his brother-in-law."
+
+Van der Nest turned pale, and hurried inside, and stammering, "Oom
+Jan, there are some people at the door," woke up his brother and both
+decamped out of the back door. Steenkamp's brother-in-law, however,
+whom I will call Roux, soon made his appearance and bowing cringingly,
+said with a smile:--
+
+"Good evening, gentlemen; good evening."
+
+The self-styled Colonel Bullock, addressing "Cooper," the interpreter,
+said: "Tell Mr. Roux that we have information that he and his brother
+wish to surrender."
+
+As soon as "Cooper" began to interpret, Roux answered in broken
+English, "Yes, sir, you are quite right; myself and my brother-in-law
+have been waiting twelve months for an opportunity to surrender, and
+we are so thankful now that we are able to do so."
+
+"Colonel Bullock": "Very well, then; call your people out!"
+
+Roux bowed low, and ran back into the church, presently issuing with
+three comrades, who all threw down their arms and made abeyance.
+
+_The "Colonel":_ "Are these men able to speak English?"
+
+_Roux:_ "No, sir."
+
+_The "Colonel":_ "Ask them if they are willing to surrender
+voluntarily to His Majesty the King of Great Britain?"
+
+The burghers, in chorus: "Yes, sir; thank you very much. We are so
+pleased that you have come at last. We have wished to surrender for a
+long time, but the Boers would not let us get through. We have not
+fought against you, sir."
+
+_The "Colonel":_ "Very well; now deliver up all your arms."
+
+And whilst the pseudo-colonel pretended to be busy making notes the
+burghers brought out their Mausers and cartridge-belts, handing them
+over to the masquerading "Tommies."
+
+Roux next said to the "Colonel": "Please, sir, may I keep this
+revolver? There are a few Hollanders in the hut yonder who said they
+would shoot me if I surrendered; and you know, sir, that it is these
+Hollanders who urge the Boers to fight and prolong the War. Why don't
+you go and catch them? I will show you where they are."
+
+Resisting an impulse to put a bullet through the traitor's head, the
+"Colonel" answered briefly: "Very well, keep your revolver. I will
+catch the Hollanders early to-morrow."
+
+_Roux:_ "Be careful, sir; Ben Viljoen is over there with a commando
+and a pom-pom."
+
+_The "Colonel"_ (haughtily): "Be at ease; my column will soon be round
+him and he will not escape this time."
+
+The women-folk now came out to join the party. They clapped their
+hands in joy and invited the "Colonel" and his men to come in and have
+some coffee.
+
+The "Colonel" graciously returned thanks. Meanwhile a woman had
+whispered to Roux: "I hope these are not Ben Viljoen's people making
+fools of us."
+
+"Nonsense," he answered, "Can't you see that this is a very superior
+British officer?" Whereat the whole company further expressed their
+delight at seeing them.
+
+The "Colonel" now spoke: "Mr. Roux, we will take your cattle and sheep
+with us for safety. Kindly lend us a servant to help drive them along.
+Will you show us to-morrow where the Boers are?"
+
+_Mr. Roux:_ "Certainly, sir, but you must not take me into dangerous
+places, please."
+
+_The "Colonel":_ "Very well; I will send the waggons to fetch your
+women-folk in the morning."
+
+Roux gathered together his cattle and said: "I hope you and I shall
+have a whiskey together in your camp to-morrow."
+
+The "Colonel" answered: "I shall be pleased to see you," and asked
+them if they had any money or valuables they wished taken care of. But
+the Boers, true to the saying, "Touch a Boer's heart rather than his
+purse," answered in chorus: "Thank you, but we have put all that
+carefully away where no Boer will find it."
+
+They all bid the "Colonel" good-bye, the "Tommies" exchanging some
+familiarities with the women till these screamed with laughter, and
+then the "Colonel" and his commando of two men remounted their big
+clumsy English horses and rode proudly away. But pride comes before a
+fall, and they had not proceeded many yards when the "Colonel's"
+horse, stumbling over a bundle of barbed wire, fell, and threw his
+rider to the ground. Just as he had nearly exhausted the Dutch
+vocabulary of imprecations, the Steenkamps, who fortunately had not
+heard him, came to his assistance and with many expressions of
+sympathy helped him on his horse, Roux carefully wiping his leggings
+clean with his handkerchief. After proceeding a little further the
+"Tommies" asked their "Colonel" what he meant by that acrobatic
+performance. Whereat the "Colonel" answered: "That was a very
+fortunate accident; the Steenkamps are now convinced that we are
+English by the clumsy manner I rode."
+
+The next morning my three adjutants arrived in camp carrying four new
+Mausers and 100 cartridges each, and driving about 300 sheep and a
+nice pony. The same morning I sent Field-Cornet Young to arrest the
+brave quartette of burghers. He found everything packed in readiness
+to depart to the English camp, and they were anxiously awaiting
+Colonel Bullock's promised waggons.
+
+It was, of course, a fine "tableau" when the curtain rose on the
+farce, disclosing in the place of the expected English rescuers a
+burgher officer with a broad smile on his face. They were, of course,
+profuse in their apologies and excuses. They declared that they had
+been surrounded by hundreds of the enemy who had placed their rifles
+to their breasts, forcing them to surrender. One of them was now in so
+pitiable a condition of fear that he showed the field-cornet a score
+of certificates from doctors and quacks of all sorts, declaring him to
+be suffering from every imaginable disease, and the field-cornet was
+moved to leave him behind. The other three were placed under arrest,
+court-martialled and sentenced to three months' hard labour, and to
+have all their goods confiscated.
+
+Two days later the English occupied Dullstroom, and the pseudo-invalid
+and the women, minus their belongings, were taken care of by the
+enemy, as they had wished.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIX.
+
+BRUTAL KAFFIRS' MURDER TRAIL.
+
+
+At Windhoek we were again attacked by an English column. The reader
+will probably be getting weary of these continual attacks, and I
+hasten to assure him that we were far more weary than he can ever
+grow. On the first day of the fight we succeeded in forcing back the
+enemy, but on the second day, the fortunes of war were changed and
+after a fierce fight, in which I had the misfortune to lose a brave
+young burgher named Botha, we gave up arguing the matter with our foes
+and retired.
+
+The enemy followed us up very closely, and although I used the sjambok
+freely amongst my men I could not persuade them, not even by this
+ungentle method, to make a stand against their foes, and as we passed
+Witpoort the enemy's cavalry with two guns was close at our heels.
+
+Not until the burghers had reached Maagschuur, between the Bothas and
+Tautesbergen, would they condescend to make a stand and check the
+enemy's advance. Here after a short but sharp engagement, we forced
+them to return to Witpoort, where they pitched camp.
+
+Our mill, which I have previously mentioned as being an important
+source of our food supply, was again burned to the ground.
+
+Our commandos returned to Olifant's River and at the cobalt mine near
+there joined those who had remained behind under General Muller. The
+enemy, however, who seemed determined, if possible, to obliterate us
+from the earth's surface, discovered our whereabouts about the middle
+of July, and attacked us in overwhelming numbers. We had taken up a
+position on the "Randts," and offered as much resistance as we could.
+The enemy poured into us a heavy shell fire from their howitzers and
+15-pounders, while their infantry charged both our extreme flanks.
+After losing many men, a battalion of Highlanders succeeded in
+turning our left flank, and once having gained this advantage, and
+aided by their superior numbers, the enemy were able to take up
+position after position, and finally rendered it impossible to offer
+any further resistance. Late in the afternoon, with a loss of five
+wounded and one man killed--an Irish-American, named Wilson--we
+retired through the Olifant's River, near Mazeppa Drift, the enemy
+staying the night at Wagendrift, about three miles further up the
+stream. The following morning they forded the river, and proceeded
+through Poortjesnek and Donkerhoek, to Pretoria, thus allowing us a
+little breathing space. I now despatched some reliable burghers to
+report our various movements to the Commandant-General, and to bring
+news of the other commandos. It was three weeks before these men
+returned, for they had on several occasions been prevented from
+crossing the railway line, and they finally only succeeded in doing so
+under great difficulties. They reported that the English on the high
+veldt were very active and numerous.
+
+About the middle of July I left General Muller to take a rest with the
+commando, and accompanied by half a score of adjutants and despatch
+riders, proceeded to Pilgrimsrust in the Lydenburg district to visit
+the commandos there, and allay as much as I could the dissatisfaction
+caused by my reorganisation.
+
+At Zwagerhoek, a kloof some 12 miles south of Lydenburg, through which
+the waggon track leads from Lydenburg to Dullstroom, I found a
+field-cornet with about 57 men. Having discussed the situation with
+them and explained matters, they were all satisfied.
+
+Here I appointed as field-cornet a young man of 23 years of age, a
+certain J. S. Schoenman, who distinguished himself subsequently by his
+gallant behaviour.
+
+We had barely completed our arrangements when we were again attacked
+by one of the enemy's columns from Lydenburg. At first we successfully
+defended ourselves, but at last were compelled to give way.
+
+I do not believe we caused the enemy any considerable losses, but we
+had no casualties. The same night we proceeded through the enemy's
+line to Houtboschloop, five miles east of Lydenburg, where a small
+commando was situated, and having to proceed a very roundabout way, we
+covered that night no less than 40 miles.
+
+Another meeting of all burghers north of Lydenburg was now convened,
+to be held at a ruined hotel some 12 miles west of Nelspruit Station,
+which might have been considered the centre of all the commandos in
+that district. I found that these were divided into two parties, one
+of which was dissatisfied with the new order of things I had arranged
+and desired to re-instate their old officers, while the other was
+quite pleased with my arrangements. The latter party was commanded by
+Mr. Piet Moll, whom I had appointed commandant instead of Mr. D.
+Schoeman, who formerly used to occupy that position. At the gathering
+I explained matters to them and tried to persuade the burghers to be
+content with their new commandants. It was evident, however, that many
+were not to be satisfied and that they were not to be expected to work
+harmoniously together. I therefore decided to let both commandants
+keep their positions and to let the men follow whichever one they
+chose, and I took the first opportunity of making an attack on the
+enemy so as to test the efficiency of these two bodies.
+
+Taking the two commandos with their respective two commandants in an
+easterly direction to Wit River, we camped there for a few days and
+scouted for the enemy on the Delagoa Bay Railway, so as to find out
+the best spot to attack. We had just decided to attack Crocodilpoort
+Station in the evening of the 1st August, when our scouts reported
+that the English, who had held the fort at M'pisana's Stad, between
+our laager in Wit River and Leydsdorp, were moving in the direction of
+Komati Poort with a great quantity of captured cattle.
+
+Our first plan was therefore abandoned and I ordered 50 burghers of
+each commando to attack this column at M'pisana's fort at once, as
+they had done far too much harm to be allowed to get away unmolested.
+They were a group of men called "Steinacker's Horse," a corps formed
+of all the desperadoes and vagabonds to be scraped together from
+isolated places in the north, including kaffir storekeepers,
+smugglers, spies, and scoundrels of every description, the whole
+commanded by a character of the name of ----. Who or what this
+gentleman was I have never been able to discover, but judging by his
+work and by the men under him, he must have been a second Musolino.
+This corps had its headquarters at Komati Poort, under Major
+Steinacker, to whom was probably entrusted the task of guarding the
+Portuguese frontier, and he must have been given _carte blanche_ as
+regards his mode of operation.
+
+From all accounts the primary occupation of this corps appeared to be
+looting, and the kaffirs attached to it were used for scouting,
+fighting, and worse. Many families in the northern part of Lydenburg
+had been attacked in lonely spots, and on one occasion the white men
+on one of these marauding expeditions had allowed the kaffirs to
+murder ten defenceless people with their assegais and hatchets,
+capturing their cattle and other property. In like manner were
+massacred the relatives of Commandants Lombard, Vermaak, Rudolf and
+Stoltz, and doubtless many others who were not reported to me. The
+reader will now understand my anxiety to put some check on these
+lawless brigands. The instructions to the commando which I had sent
+out, and which would reach M'pisana's in two days, were briefly to
+take the fort and afterwards do as circumstances dictated. If my men
+failed they would have the desperadoes pursue them on their swift
+horses, and all the kaffir tribes would conspire against us, so that
+none would escape on our side. A kaffir was generally understood to be
+a neutral person in this War, and unless found armed within our lines,
+with no reasonable excuse for his presence, we generally left him
+alone. They were, however, largely used as spies against us, keeping
+to their kraals in the daytime and issuing forth at night to ascertain
+our position and strength. They also made good guides for the English
+troops, who often had not the faintest idea of the country in which
+they were. It must not be forgotten that when a kaffir is given a
+rifle he at once falls a prey to his brutal instincts, and his only
+amusement henceforth becomes to kill without distinction of age,
+colour, or sex. Several hundreds of such natives, led by white men,
+were roaming about in this district, and all that was captured,
+plundered or stolen was equally divided among them, 25 per cent. being
+first deducted for the British Government.
+
+I have indulged in this digression in order to describe another phase
+with which we had to contend in our struggle for existence. I have
+reason to believe, however, that the British Commander-in-Chief, for
+whom I have always had the greatest respect, was not at that time
+aware of the remarkable character of these operations, carried on as
+they were in the most remote parts of the country; and there is no
+doubt that had he been aware of their true character he would have
+speedily brought these miscreants to justice.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XL.
+
+CAPTURING A FREEBOOTER'S LAIR.
+
+
+Early in the morning of the 6th of August, as the breaking dawn was
+tinting the tops of the Lebombo Mountains with its purple dye and the
+first rays of the rising sun shed its golden rays over the sombre
+bushveldt, the commando under Commandants Moll and Schoeman were
+slowly approaching the dreaded M'pisana's fort. When within a few
+hundred paces of it they left the horses behind and slowly crept up to
+it in scattered order; for as none of us knew the arrangement or
+construction of the place, it had been arranged to advance very
+cautiously and to charge suddenly on the blowing of a whistle. Nothing
+was stirring in the fort as we approached, and we began to think that
+the garrison had departed; but when barely 70 yards from it the
+officers noticed some forms moving about in the trenches, which
+encompassed it. The whistle was blown and the burghers charged, a
+cheer rising from a hundred throats. Volley after volley was
+discharged from the trenches, but our burghers rushed steadily on,
+jumped into the trenches themselves and drove the defenders into the
+fort through secret passages. The English now began firing on us
+through loopholes in the walls and several of our men had fallen, when
+Commandant Moll shouted, "Jump over the wall!" A group of burghers
+rushed at the 12-foot wall, and attempted to scale it; but a heavy
+fire was directed on them and seven burghers, including the valiant
+Commandant Moll, fell severely wounded. Nothing daunted, Captain
+Malan, who was next in command of the division, urged his men to go
+on, and most of them succeeded in jumping into the fort, where, after
+a desperate resistance, in which Captain ----, their leader, fell
+mortally wounded, the whole band surrendered to us. Our losses were
+six burghers killed, whilst Commandant Moll and 12 others were
+severely wounded. The burghers found one white man killed in the
+fort, and two wounded, whilst a score of kaffirs lay wounded and dead.
+We took 24 white prisoners and about 50 kaffirs. I repeat that the
+whites were the lowest specimens of humanity that one can possibly
+imagine.
+
+Hardly was the fight over and our prisoners disarmed when a sentry we
+had posted on the wall called out:
+
+"Look out, there is a kaffir commando coming!"
+
+It was, in fact, a strong kaffir commando, headed by the chief
+M'pisana himself, who had come to the rescue of his friends of
+Steinacker's Horse. They opened fire on us at about 100 yards, and the
+burghers promptly returned their greeting, bowling over a fair number
+of them, at which the remainder retired.
+
+Alongside the fort were about 20 small huts, in which we found a
+number of kaffir girls. On being asked who they were, they repeated
+that they were the "missuses" of the white soldiers. Inside the
+captured fort we found many useful articles, and the official books
+of this band. They contained systematic entries of what had been
+plundered, looted and stolen on their marauding expeditions and showed
+how they had been divided amongst themselves, deducting 25 per cent.
+for the British Government.
+
+A long and extensive correspondence now took place about this matter
+between myself and Lord Kitchener. I wished first to know whether the
+gang was a recognised part of the British Army, as otherwise I should
+have to treat them as ordinary brigands. After some delay Lord
+Kitchener answered that they were a part of His Majesty's Army. I then
+wished to know if he would undertake to try the men for their
+misdeeds, but this was refused. This correspondence ultimately led to
+a meeting between General Bindon Blood and myself, which was held at
+Lydenburg on the 27th August, 1901.
+
+The captured kaffirs were tried by court-martial and each punished
+according to his deserts. The 24 Englishmen were handed over to the
+enemy, after having given their word of honour not to return to their
+barbarous life. How far this promise was kept I do not know; but from
+the impression they made upon me I do not think they had much idea of
+what honour meant. The captured cattle which we had hoped to find at
+the fort had been sent away to Komati Poort a few days before our
+attack and according to their "books" it must have numbered about
+4,000 heads. Another section of this notorious corps met with a like
+fate about this time at Bremersdorp in Swaziland. They did not there
+offer such a determined resistance, and the Ermelo burghers captured
+two good Colt-Maxims and two loads of ammunition probably intended for
+Swaziland natives.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLI.
+
+AMBUSHING THE HUSSARS.
+
+
+On August 10th, shortly after our arrival with the prisoners-of-war at
+Sabi, and while I was still discussing with Lord Kitchener the
+incident related in the previous chapter, General Muller sent word to
+me from Olifant's River, where I had left him with my men, that he had
+been attacked by General W. Kitchener three days after I had left him.
+It appears that his sentries were surprised and cut off from the
+commandos, these being divided into different camps.
+
+The burghers who were farthest away, the Middelburg and Johannesburg
+men, had, contrary to my instructions, pitched camp on the Blood
+River, near Rooikraal, and were suddenly and unexpectedly attacked by
+the enemy at about two o'clock in the afternoon, whilst their horses
+were grazing in the veldt. Some horses were caught in time and some
+burghers offered a little resistance, firing at a short range, several
+men being killed on both sides. The confusion, however, was
+indescribable, horses, cattle, burghers and soldiers being all mixed
+up together. A pom-pom, together with its team of mules and harness,
+and most of the carts and saddles, were captured by the enemy. Our
+officers could not induce the men to make a determined stand until
+they had retired to the Mazeppa Drift, on the Olifant's River. Here
+General Muller arrived in the night with some reinforcements and
+awaited the enemy, who duly appeared next morning with a division of
+the 18th and 19th Hussars, and, encouraged by the previous day's
+success, charged our men with a well-directed fire which wrought havoc
+in their ranks. The gallant Hussars were repulsed in one place, and,
+at another, Major Davies (or Davis) and 20 men were made prisoners. At
+last some guns and reinforcements reached the enemy, and our burghers
+wisely retired, going as far as Eland's River, near the "Double
+Drifts," where they rested.
+
+On the third day General W. Kitchener had discovered our whereabouts,
+and our sentries gave us warning that the enemy was approaching
+through the bushes, raising great clouds of dust. While the waggons
+were being got ready the burghers marched out, and awaited the English
+in a convenient spot between two kopjes. The latter rode on
+unsuspectingly two by two, and when about 100 had been allowed to
+pass, our men rushed out, calling, "Hands up!" and, catching hold of
+their horses' bridles, disarmed about 30 men. This caused an immediate
+panic, and most of the Hussars fled (closely pursued by our burghers,
+who shot 10 or 12 of them). The Hussars left behind a Colt-Maxim and a
+heliograph for our usage. The ground was overgrown here with a
+prickly, thorny bush, which made it difficult for our foes to escape,
+and about 20 more were overtaken and caught, several having been
+dragged from their horses by protruding branches, and with their face
+and hands badly injured by thorns, whilst their clothes were half
+torn off their bodies.
+
+Meanwhile the enemy continued to fire on us whilst retreating, and
+thus succeeded in wounding several of their own people. This running
+fight lasted until late in the evening, when the burghers slackened
+off their pursuit and returned, their losses being only one killed,
+Lieut. D. Smit, of the Johannesburg Police. The enemy's losses were
+considerable, although one could not estimate the exact number, as the
+dead were scattered over a large tract of ground and hidden amongst
+the bushes, rendering it difficult to find them. Weeks afterwards,
+when we returned over the same ground, we still found some bodies
+lying about the bush, and gave them decent burial.
+
+Our burghers were now once more in possession of 100 fresh horses and
+saddles, whilst their pom-pom was replaced by a Colt-Maxim. General W.
+Kitchener now left us alone for a while, for which relief we were very
+thankful, and fell back on the railway line. The respite, however, was
+short-lived; soon fresh columns were seen coming up from Middelburg
+and Pretoria, and we were again attacked, some fighting taking place
+mostly on our old battlefields. General Muller repeatedly succeeded in
+tearing up the railway line and destroying trains with provisions,
+whilst I had the good fortune of capturing a commissariat train, near
+Modelane, on the Delagoa Bay line; but, as I could not remove the
+goods, I was forced to burn the whole lot. A train, apparently with
+reinforcements, was also blown up, the engine and carriages going up
+in the air with fine effect.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLII.
+
+I TALK WITH GENERAL BLOOD.
+
+
+About the end of August, 1901, I met General Sir Bindon Blood at
+Lydenburg by appointment. We had arranged to discuss several momentous
+questions there, as we made little progress by correspondence. In the
+first place, we accused the English of employing barbarous kaffir
+tribes against us; in the second place, of abusing the usage of the
+white flag by repeatedly sending officers through our lines with
+seditious proclamations which we would not recognise, and we could
+only obey our own Government and not theirs; in the third place, we
+complained of their sending our women with similar proclamations to us
+from the Concentration Camps and making them solemnly promise to do
+all that they could to induce their husbands to surrender and thus
+regain their liberty. This we considered was a rather mean device on
+the part of our powerful enemy. There was also other minor questions
+to discuss with regard to the Red Cross.
+
+I went into the English line accompanied by my adjutants, Nel and
+Bedeluighuis, and my secretary, Lieutenant W. Malan. At Potloodspruit,
+four miles from Lydenburg, I met General Blood's chief staff officer,
+who conducted us to him. At the entrance of the village a guard of
+honour had been placed and received us with military honours. I could
+not understand the meaning of all this fuss, especially as the streets
+through which we passed were lined with all sorts of spectators, and
+to my great discomfort I found myself the chief object of this
+interest. On every side I heard the question asked, "Which is
+Viljoen?" and, on my being pointed out, I often caught the
+disappointed answer, "Is that him?" "By Jove, he looks just like other
+people." They had evidently expected to see a new specimen of mankind.
+
+In the middle of the village we halted before a small, neat house,
+which I was told was General Blood's headquarters. The General himself
+met us on the threshold; a well-proportioned, kindly-looking man about
+50 years of age, evidently a genuine soldier and an Irishman, as I
+soon detected by his speech. He received us very courteously, and as I
+had little time at my disposal, we at once entered into our
+discussion. It would serve little purpose to set down all the details
+of our interview, especially as nothing final was decided, since
+whatever the General said was subject to Lord Kitchener's approval,
+whilst I myself had to submit everything to my Commandant-General.
+General Blood promised, however, to stop sending out the women with
+their proclamations, and also the officers on similar missions, and
+the Red Cross question was also satisfactorily settled. The kaffir
+question, however, was left unsettled, although General Blood promised
+to warn the kaffir tribes round Lydenburg not to interfere in the War
+and not to leave the immediate vicinity of their kraals. (Only the
+night before two burghers named Swart had been murdered at Doornkoek
+by some kaffirs, who pretended to have done this by order of the
+English). The interview lasted about an hour, and besides us two,
+Colonel Curran and my secretary, Lieutenant Malan, were present.
+General Blood and his staff conducted us as far as Potloodspruit,
+where we took leave. The white flag was replaced by the rifle, and we
+returned to our respective duties.
+
+[Illustration: Going in under the White Flag to a Conference with
+General Blood at Lydenburg.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIII.
+
+MRS. BOTHA'S BABY AND THE "TOMMY."
+
+
+In September, 1901, after having organized the commandos north of
+Lydenburg, I went back with my suite to join my burghers at Olifant's
+River, which I reached at the beginning of September. The enemy had
+left General Muller alone after the affair with the Hussars. Reports
+were coming in from across the railway informing us that much fighting
+was going on in the Orange Free State and Cape Colony, and that the
+burghers were holding their own. This was very satisfactory news to
+us, especially as we had not received any tidings for over a month. I
+again sent in a report to our Commandant-General relating my
+adventures.
+
+We had much difficulty in getting the necessary food for the
+commandos, the enemy having repeatedly crossed the country between
+Roos Senekal, Middelburg, and Rhenosterkop, destroying and ravaging
+everything. I therefore resolved to split up my forces, the corps
+known by the name of the "Rond Commando" taking one portion through
+the enemy's lines to Pilgrimsrust, North of Lydenburg, where food was
+still abundant. Fighting-General Muller was left behind with the
+Boksburg Police and the Middelburg Commando, the Johannesburg corps
+going with me to Pilgrim's Rest, where I had my temporary
+headquarters. We had plenty of mealies in this district and also
+enough cattle to kill, so that we could manage to subsist on these
+provisions. We had long since dispensed with tents, but the rains in
+the mountain regions of Pilgrim's Rest and the Sabi had compelled us
+to find the burghers shelter. At the alluvial diggings at Pilgrim's
+Rest we found a great quantity of galvanized iron plates and deals,
+which, when cut into smaller pieces, could be used for building. We
+found a convenient spot in the mountains between Pilgrim's Rest and
+Kruger's Post, where some hundreds of iron or zinc huts were soon
+erected, affording excellent cover for the burghers.
+
+Patrols were continually sent out round Lydenburg, and whenever
+possible we attacked the enemy, keeping him well occupied. We
+succeeded in getting near his outposts from time to time and
+occasionally capturing some cattle. This seemed to be very galling to
+the English, and towards the end of September we found they were
+receiving reinforcements at Lydenburg. This had soon become a
+considerable force, in fact in November they crossed the Spekboom
+River in great numbers, and at Kruger's Post came upon our outposts,
+when there was some fighting. The enemy did not go any further that
+night. The following day we had to leave these positions and the other
+side took them and camped there. Next day they moved along Ohrigstad
+River with a strong mounted force and a good many empty waggons,
+evidently to collect the women-folk in that place. I had to proceed by
+a circuitous route in order to get ahead of the enemy. The road led
+across a steep mountain and through thickly grown kloofs, which
+prevented us from reaching the enemy until they had burnt all the
+houses, destroyed the seed plants, and loaded the families on their
+carts, after which they withdrew to the camp at Kruger's Post. We at
+once charged the enemy's rearguard, and a heavy fight followed, which,
+however, was of short duration. The English fled, leaving some dead
+and wounded behind, also some dozens of helmets and "putties" which
+had got entangled in the trees. We also captured a waggon loaded with
+provisions and things that had been looted, such as women's clothes
+and rugs, a case of Lee-Metford ammunition and a number of uniforms.
+Some days after the enemy tried to get through to Pilgrim's Rest, but
+had to retire before our rifle fire. They managed, however, to get to
+Roosenkrans, where a fight of only some minutes ensued, when they
+retired to Kruger's Post. They only stopped there for a few days,
+marching back to Lydenburg at night time just when we had carefully
+planned a night attack. We destroyed the Spekboom River bridge shortly
+after, thus preventing the enemy's return from Lydenburg to Kruger's
+Post in a single night. Although there is a drift through the river
+it cannot be passed in the dark without danger, especially with guns
+and carts, without which no English column will march. Every fortnight
+I personally proceeded with my adjutants through the enemy's lines
+near Lydenburg to see how the commando in the South were getting on
+and to arrange matters.
+
+The month of November, 1901, passed without any remarkable incidents.
+We organized some expeditions to the Delagoa Bay Railway, but without
+much success, and during one of these the burghers succeeded in laying
+a mine near Hector's Spruit Station during the night. They were lying
+in ambush next day waiting for a train to come along when a "Tommy"
+went down the line and noticed some traces of the ground having been
+disturbed which roused his suspicions. He saw the mine and took the
+dynamite out. Two burghers who were lying in the long grass shouted
+"Hands up." Tommy threw his rifle down and with his hands up in the
+air ran up to the burghers saying, before they could speak, "I say,
+did you hear the news that Mrs. Botha gave birth to a son in Europe?"
+
+They could not help laughing, and the "Tommy," looking very innocent,
+answered:
+
+"I am not telling you a fib."
+
+One of the burghers coaxed him by telling him they did not doubt his
+word, only the family news had come so prematurely.
+
+"Well," returned "Tommy," "Oi thought you blokes would be interested
+in your boss's family, that's why I spoke."
+
+The courteous soldier was sent back with instructions to get some
+better clothes, for those he had on his back were all torn and dirty
+and they were not worth taking.
+
+The expedition was now a failure, for the enemy had been warned and
+the sentries were doubled along the line.
+
+In December, 1901, we tried an attack on a British convoy between
+Lydenburg and Machadodorp. I took a mounted commando and arrived at
+Schvemones Cleft after four days' marching through the Sabinek via
+Cham Sham, an arduous task, as we had to go over the mountains and
+through some rivers. Some of my officers went out scouting in order
+to find the best place for an attack on the convoy. The enemy's
+blockhouses were found to be so close together on the road along which
+the convoy had to pass as to make it very difficult to get at it. But
+having come such a long way nobody liked to go back without having at
+least made an effort. We therefore marched during the night and found
+some hiding places along the road where we waited, ready to charge
+anything coming along. At dawn next day I found the locality to be
+very little suitable for the purpose we had in view, but if we were
+now to move the enemy would notice our presence from the blockhouses.
+We would, therefore, either have to lie low till dusk or make an
+attack after all. We had already captured several of the enemy's
+spies, whom we kept prisoners so as not to be betrayed. Towards the
+afternoon the convoy came by and we charged on horseback. The English,
+who must have seen us coming, were ready to receive our charge and
+poured a heavy fire into us from ditches and trenches and holes in the
+ground. We managed to dislodge the enemy's outerflanks and to make
+several prisoners, but could not reach the carts on account of the
+heavy fire from a regiment of infantry escorting the waggons. I
+thought the taking of the convoy would cost more lives than it was
+worth, and gave orders to cease firing. We lost my brave adjutant,
+Jaapie Oliver, while Captain Giel Joubert and another burgher were
+wounded. On the other side Captain Merriman and ten men were wounded.
+I do not know how many killed he had.
+
+We went back to Schoeman's Kloof the same day, where we buried our
+comrades and attended to the wounded. The blockhouses and garrisons
+along the convoy road were now fortified with entrenchments and guns,
+and we had to abandon our plan of further attacks. It was raining fast
+all the time we were out on this expedition, which caused us serious
+discomfort. We had very few waterproofs, and, all the houses in the
+district having been burnt down, there was no shelter for man or
+beast. We slowly retired on Pilgrim's Rest, having to cross several
+swollen rivers.
+
+On our arrival at Sabi I received the sad tidings that four burghers
+named Stoltz had been cruelly murdered by kaffirs at Witriver.
+Commandant Du Toit had gone there with a patrol and found the bodies
+in a shocking condition, plundered and cut to pieces with assegais,
+and, according to the trace, the murderers had come from Nelspruit
+Station.
+
+Another report came from General Muller at Steenkampsberg. He informed
+me that he had stormed a camp during the night of the 16th December,
+but had been forced to retire after a fierce fight, losing 25 killed
+and wounded, amongst whom was the valiant Field-Cornet J. J. Kriege.
+The enemy's losses were also very heavy, being 31 killed and wounded,
+including Major Hudson.
+
+It should not be imagined that we had to put up with very primitive
+arrangements in every respect. Where we were now stationed, to the
+north of Lydenburg, we even had telephonic communication between
+Spitskop and Doornhoek, with call-offices at Sabi and Pilgrim's Rest.
+The latter place is in the centre of the diggers' population here,
+and a moderate-sized village. There are a few hundred houses in it,
+and it is situated 30 miles north-east of Lydenburg. Here are the
+oldest goldfields known in South Africa, having been discovered in
+1876. This village had so far been permanently in our possession.
+General Buller had been there with his force in 1900 but had not
+caused any damage, and the enemy had not returned since. The mines and
+big stamp-batteries were protected by us and kept in order by neutral
+persons under the management of Mr. Alex. Marshall. We established a
+hospital there under the supervision of Dr. A. Neethling. About forty
+families were still in residence and there was enough food, although
+it was only simple fare and not of great variety. Yet people seemed to
+be very happy and contented so long as they were allowed to live among
+their own people.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIV.
+
+THE LAST CHRISTMAS OF THE WAR.
+
+
+December, 1901, passed without any important incident. We only had a
+few insignificant outpost skirmishes with the British garrison at
+Witklip to the south of Lydenburg. Both belligerents in this district
+attempted to annoy each other as much as possible by blowing up each
+other's mills and storehouses. Two of the more adventurous spirits
+amongst my scouts, by name Jordaan and Mellema, succeeded in blowing
+up a mill in the Lydenburg district used by the British for grinding
+corn, and the enemy very soon retaliated by blowing up one of our
+mills at Pilgrim's Rest. As the Germans say, "_Alle gute dingen sind
+drei_." Several such experiences and the occasional capture of small
+droves of British cattle were all the incidents worth mentioning. It
+was in this comparatively quiet manner that the third year of our
+campaign came to a termination. The War was still raging and our lot
+was hard, but we did not murmur. We decided rather to extract as much
+pleasure and amusement out of the Christmas festivities as the
+extraordinary circumstances in which we found ourselves rendered
+possible.
+
+The British for the time being desisted from troubling us, and our
+stock and horses being in excellent condition, we arranged to hold a
+sort of gymkhana on Christmas Day. In the sportive festivities of the
+day many interesting events took place. Perhaps the most noteworthy of
+these were a mule race, for which nine competitors entered, and a
+ladies' race, in which six fair pedestrians took part. The spectacle
+of nine burly, bearded Boers urging their asinine steeds to top speed
+by shout and spur provoked quite as much honest laughter as any
+theatrical farce ever excited. We on the grand stand were but a shaggy
+and shabby audience, but we were in excellent spirits and cheered with
+tremendous gusto the enterprising jockey who won this remarkable
+"Derby." Shabby as we were, we subscribed £115 in prizes. After the
+sports I have just described the company retired to a little tin
+church at Pilgrim's Rest, and there made merry by singing hymns and
+songs round a little Christmas tree.
+
+Later in the evening a magic-lantern, which we had captured from the
+British, was brought into play, and with this we regaled 90 of our
+juvenile guests. The building was crowded and the utmost enthusiasm
+reigned. The ceremony was opened by the singing of hymns and the
+making of speeches, a harmonium adding largely to the enjoyment of the
+evening. I felt somewhat nervous when called upon to address the
+gathering, for the children were accompanied by their mothers, and
+these stared at me with expectant eyes as if they would say, "See, the
+General is about to speak; his words are sure to be full of wisdom." I
+endeavoured to display great coolness, and I do not think I failed
+very markedly as an extemporaneous orator. I was helped very
+considerably in the speechmaking part of the programme by my good
+friends the Rev. Neethling and Mr. W. Barter, of Lydenburg. I have not
+now the slightest idea of what I spoke about except that I
+congratulated the little ones and their mothers on being preserved
+from the Concentration Camps, where so many of their friends were
+confined.
+
+I have mentioned that there were young ladies with us who participated
+in the races. These were some whom the British had kindly omitted to
+place in the Concentration Camps, and it was remarkable to see how
+soon certain youthful and handsome burghers entered into amorous
+relations with these young ladies, and matters developed so quickly
+that I was soon confronted with a very curious problem. We had no
+marriage officers handy, and I, as General, had not been armed with
+any special authority to act as such. Two blushing heroes came to me
+one morning accompanied by clinging, timorous young ladies, and
+declared that they had decided that since I was their General I had
+full authority to marry them. I was taken aback by this request, and
+asked, "Don't you think, young fellows, that under the circumstances
+you had better wait a little till after the termination of the war?"
+"Yes," they admitted, "perhaps it would be more prudent, General, but
+we have been waiting three years already!"
+
+In General De la Rey's Commando, which comprised burghers from eight
+large districts, it had been found necessary to appoint marriage
+officers, and quite a large number of marriages were contracted. I
+mention this to show how diversified are the duties of the Boer
+general in war-time, and what sort of strange offices he is sometimes
+called upon to perform.
+
+It will be seen from what I have said that occasionally the dark
+horizon of our veldt life was lit up by the bright sunshine of the
+lighter elements of life. At most times our outlook was gloomy enough,
+and our hearts were heavily weighed down by cares. I often found my
+thoughts involuntarily turning to those who had so long and so
+faithfully stood shoulder to shoulder with me through all the
+vicissitudes of war, fighting for what we regarded as our holy right,
+to obtain which we were prepared to sacrifice our lives and our all.
+Unconsciously I recalled on this Christmas Day the words of General
+Joubert addressed to us outside Ladysmith in 1899: "Happy the
+Africander who shall not survive the termination of this War." Time
+will show, if it have not already shown, the wisdom of General
+Joubert's words.
+
+Just about this time rumours of various kinds were spread abroad. From
+several sources we heard daily that the War was about to end, that the
+English had evacuated the country because their funds were exhausted,
+that Russia and France had intervened, and that Lord Kitchener had
+been captured by De Wet and liberated on condition that he and his
+troops left South Africa immediately. It was even said that General
+Botha had received an invitation from the British Government to come
+and arrange a Peace on "independence" lines.
+
+Nobody will doubt that we on the veldt were desperately anxious to
+hear the glad tidings of Peace. We were weary of the fierce struggle,
+and we impatiently awaited the time when the Commandant-General and
+the Government should order us to sheathe the sword.
+
+But the night of the Old Year left us engaged in the fierce conflict
+of hostilities, and the dawn of the New Year found us still enveloped
+in the clouds of war--clouds whose blackness was relieved by no silver
+lining.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLV.
+
+MY LAST DAYS ON THE VELDT.
+
+
+The first month of 1902 found the storm of death and destruction still
+unabated, and the prospect appeared as dark as at the commencement of
+the previous year. Our hand, however, was on the plough, and there was
+no looking back. My instructions were, "Go forward and persevere."
+
+To the south of Lydenburg, where a section of my commando under
+General Muller was operating, the enemy kept us very busy, for they
+had one or more columns engaged. We, to the north of Lydenburg, had a
+much calmer time of it than our brethren to the south of that place,
+for there the British were pursuing their policy of exhausting our
+people with unsparing hand. I attribute the fact that we in the north
+were left comparatively undisturbed to the mountainous nature of the
+country. It would have been impossible for the British to have
+captured us or to have invaded our mountain recesses successfully
+without a tremendous force, and, obviously, the British had no such
+force at their disposal. Probably also the British had some respect
+for the prowess of my commando. An English officer afterwards told me
+in all seriousness that the British Intelligence Department had
+information that I was prowling round to the north of Lydenburg with
+4,000 men and two cannons, and that my men were so splendidly
+fortified that our position was unconquerable. Of course, it was not
+in my interest to enlighten him upon the point. I was a
+prisoner-of-war when this amusing information was given me, and I
+simply answered: "Yes, your intelligence officers are very smart
+fellows." The officer then inquired, with an assumption of candour and
+innocence, whether it was really a fact that we had still cannon in
+the field. To this I retorted: "What would you think if I put a
+similar question to a British officer who had fallen into my hands?"
+At this he bit his thumb and stammered: "I beg your pardon; I did not
+mean to--er--insult you." He was quite a young chap this, a conceited
+puppy, affecting the "haw-haw," which seems to be epidemic in the
+British Army. His hair was parted down the centre, in the manner so
+popular among certain British officers, and this style of
+hair-dressing came to be described by the Boers as "middel-paadje"
+(middle-path). As a matter of fact, my men only numbered as many
+hundreds as the thousands attributed to me by the British. As for
+cannons, they simply existed in the imagination of the British
+Intelligence Department.
+
+Affairs were daily growing more critical. Since the beginning of the
+year we had made several attempts at destroying the Delagoa Bay
+Railway, but the British had constructed so formidable a network of
+barbed wire, and their blockhouses were so close together and strongly
+garrisoned, that hitherto our attempts had been abortive. The line
+was also protected by a large number of armoured trains.
+
+In consequence of our ill-success in this enterprise, we turned our
+attention to other directions. We reconnoitred the British garrisons
+in the Lydenburg district with the object of striking at their weakest
+point. A number of my officers and men proceeded under cover of
+darkness right through the British outposts, and gained the Lydenburg
+village by crawling on their hands and knees. On their return journey
+they were challenged and fired on several times, and managed only with
+difficulty to return to camp unhurt. The object of the reconnaissance
+was, however, accomplished. They reported to me that the village was
+encompassed with barbed wire, and that a number of blockhouses had
+been built round it, and also that various large houses of the village
+had been barricaded and were strongly occupied. My two professional
+scouts, Jordaan and Mellema, had also reconnoitred the village from
+another direction, and had brought back confirmatory information and
+the news that Lydenburg was occupied by about 2,000 British soldiers,
+consisting of the Manchester Regiment and the First Royal Irish,
+together with a corps of "hands-uppers" under the notorious Harber.
+Three other Boer spies scouting about the forts on the Crocodile
+Heights also brought in discouraging reports.
+
+At the Council of War which then took place, and over which I
+presided, these reports were discussed, and we agreed to attack the
+two blockhouses nearest the village, and thereafter to storm the
+village itself. I should mention that it was necessary for us to
+capture the blockhouses before attempting to take the village itself,
+for had we left them intact we should have run the danger of having
+our retreat cut off.
+
+The attack was to take place next night, and as we approached the
+British lines on horseback, between Spekboom River and Potloodspruit,
+we dismounted, and proceeded cautiously on foot. One of the objective
+blockhouses was on the waggon path to the north of the village, and
+the other was 1,000 yards to the east of Potloodspruit. Field-Cornet
+Young, accompanied by Jordaan and Mellema, crept up to within 10 feet
+of one of these blockhouses, and brought me a report that the barbed
+wire network which surrounded it rendered an assault an impossible
+task in the darkness. Separating my commando of 150 men into two
+bodies, I placed them on either side of the blockhouse, sending, in
+the meanwhile, four men to cut down the wire fences. These men had
+instructions to give us a signal when they had achieved this object,
+so that we could then proceed to storm the fort. It would have been
+sacrificing many in vain to have attempted to proceed without
+effecting the preliminary operation of fence cutting, since, if we had
+stormed a blockhouse without first removing the wire, we should have
+become entangled in the fences and have offered splendid targets to
+the enemy at a very short range, and our losses would, without doubt,
+have been considerable.
+
+My fence-cutters stuck doggedly to their task despite the fact that
+they were being fired upon by the sentries on guard. It was a long
+and weary business, but we patiently waited, lying on the ground.
+Towards 2 o'clock in the morning the officer in command of the
+wire-cutters returned to us, stating that they had accomplished their
+object in cutting the first wire barrier, but had come across another
+which it would require several hours to cut through. The sentries had,
+in the meantime, grown unpleasantly vigilant, and were now frequently
+firing on our men. They were often so close that at one time, in the
+darkness, they might have knocked up against the Boers who were
+cutting their fences.
+
+It being very nearly 3 o'clock, it appeared to me that the attempt
+would be ineffectual owing to the approach of daylight, and we were
+forced to retire before the rays of the rising sun lit the heavens and
+exposed us to the well-aimed fire of the British. I therefore
+resolved, after consulting my officers, to retire quietly, and to
+renew my attempt a week later at another point. We returned to camp
+much disappointed, but consoled ourselves with the hope that success
+would attend our next efforts.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVI.
+
+I AM AMBUSHED AND CAPTURED.
+
+
+I may say that the barbed wire fences by which the blockhouses were
+encompassed, constituted very formidable obstacles to our attacks. Our
+men were comparatively few, and we could not afford to lose any of
+them in futile attempts to capture strongly garrisoned British forts.
+Moreover, there were many other ways of inflicting damage on the enemy
+that did not lay us open to so much danger.
+
+Heavy and continuous rains had been experienced for some time, and the
+rivers and spruits were greatly swollen. The whole of the Lydenburg
+district, in which we were operating, was besides enveloped in a thick
+mist, and both these causes rendered reconnoitring very difficult and
+perilous, as we never knew how near the enemy's patrols might be.
+
+About the 15th of January, 1902, I obtained information that our
+Government were being chased all over the country, and had now
+encamped at Windhoek near Dullstroom, to the south of Lydenburg. At
+the same time I received an order from Acting-President Schalk Burger,
+stating that he wished to see me. This latter intelligence was very
+acceptable, for I was anxious to renew acquaintance with the
+President, and with a personal friend of mine, Mr. J. C. Krojk, who
+was attached to the Field Government. Therefore, on receiving this
+instruction, I set out from Pilgrim's Rest accompanied by Adjutants
+Nel, Coetzee, Bester, and Potgieter, for the place where the
+Government were encamped. I little expected as I rode along that this
+would be my last and most fateful expedition.
+
+I calculated that I should be away eight days, and, wishing to be
+present at any active operations that might be conducted, I
+instructed my brother, whom I left in charge of my forces, to make no
+attack during my absence. After leaving Pilgrim's Rest, I and my
+companions rode briskly forth along the path past Dornbock, Roodekrans
+and Kruger's Post. We encamped at the latter place at night-fall. Next
+day we again set out, and having succeeded in passing the British
+forts and blockhouses to the north of Lydenburg, we came upon the
+Spekboom River. This river was so swollen by the recent rains that no
+fording was possible, and we were only able to cross by making our
+horses swim. At one o'clock we reached Koodekraus, and off-saddled
+there. This place is about 15 miles to the west of Lydenburg. At dawn
+the next day, after having reconnoitred the country in the
+neighbourhood, we proceeded cautiously in the direction of
+Steenkampsberg until we were meet by messengers, who told us precisely
+where our Government was to be found. That evening we found our
+locomotive Administration encamped at Mopochsburgen, to which place
+they had retreated before a hostile column, which was operating from
+Belfast.
+
+The greetings that were exchanged were of the heartiest character, and
+we sat chatting round the camp fires far into the night. That we had
+much to talk about and many stories to relate of the vicissitudes of
+war needs no saying. I personally received the very lamentable tidings
+that my sister, her husband, and three of their children had died in
+the Concentration Camp at Pietersburg.
+
+Two days after we arrived, the Government received a report from
+General Muller stating that two hostile columns were approaching. We
+had not long to wait. The enemy attacked us in the afternoon, but did
+not succeed in driving us from our position. We were not, however, in
+a position to sustain a long battle, owing to scarcity of ammunition.
+Many of our burghers had only five cartridges left and some had not
+even one. Therefore, that same night--I think it was the 21st of
+January although I had lost count of dates--the Government, whom I
+accompanied, departed and proceeded to the Kloof Oshoek, between
+Dullstroom and Lydenburg. The weather was very unpropitious, rain
+falling in torrents, and as may be understood, we were in a sad
+plight. We were protected by nothing except our mackintoshes, and
+greatly envied a member of the party who was the proud possessor of a
+small piece of canvas.
+
+It had been decided that the Government should proceed on the 25th of
+January from Oshoek to Pilgrim's Rest, but the information that the
+British were not pressing their pursuit, caused them to give up this
+project, for it was thought advisable to await the enemy's next move.
+I should here mention that the further the Government were chased, the
+more difficult they found it to keep up communications with the
+Commandant-General and the Orange Free State Government. With the
+latter, however, despatches were being exchanged concerning very
+important matters which I consider as still improper to disclose. The
+Government having determined not to proceed, I decided to bid
+farewell, and to proceed with my attendants on the way to Pilgrim's
+Rest.
+
+Accordingly, on the 25th of January, we left the Government at Oshoek
+and rode along to Zwagerhoek, where we remained till sundown. We were
+now nearing the enemy's country, and so, having carefully reconnoitred
+the ground, we set forth cautiously at dusk. Two young Boers, who were
+also on the road to Pilgrim's Rest, had meanwhile joined us, and,
+including my kaffir servant, our party comprised eight persons. We
+soon passed the fateful spot where Commandant Schoenman had been
+captured in the early part of the War, and forded the Spekboom River.
+
+I am not superstitious, but I must confess that somehow or other I
+experienced considerable disquietude about this time, and felt cold
+shivers running down my back. We were just approaching Bloomplaats,
+which is about two and half miles to the west of Lydenburg, when we
+observed something moving. A deadly silence enveloped the country,
+and the brightly-shining moon gave a weird appearance to the moving
+objects in the distance which had attracted our attention. Our
+suspicions were aroused and we went in pursuit, but soon lost sight of
+the object of our quest. We discovered afterwards that our suspicions
+were well-founded, and that the moving objects were kaffir spies, who
+returned to the British lines and reported our approach. Having failed
+in this enterprise we returned to the road, I riding in advance with
+Adjutant Bester, the others following. Presently we approached a deep
+spruit, and having dismounted, we were cautiously leading our horses
+down the steep bank, when suddenly we found ourselves the centre of a
+perfect storm of bullets. We were completely taken by surprise, and
+almost before we realised what had happened, we found ourselves
+confronted by two rows of British soldiery, who shouted "Hands up,"
+and fired simultaneously. Bullets whistled in every direction. The
+first volley laid my horse low, and I found myself on the ground half
+stunned. When I recovered somewhat and lifted my head, I discovered
+myself surrounded, but the dust and the flash of firing prevented me
+from seeing much of what occurred. It seemed hopeless to attempt
+escape, and I cried excitedly that I was ready to surrender. So loud,
+however, was the noise of shouting that my cries were drowned. One
+soldier viciously pressed his gun against my breast as if about to
+shoot me, but thrusting the barrel away, I said in English that I saw
+no chance of escape, that I did not defend myself, and there was no
+reason therefore why he should kill me. While I was talking he again
+drove his rifle against me, and I, having grasped it firmly, a very
+animated argument took place, for he strongly resented my grasping his
+gun. Outstretching my hand I asked "Tommy" to help me up, and this he
+did. I afterwards learned that the name of my assailant was Patrick,
+and that he belonged to the Irish Rifles.
+
+[Illustration: My Capture.]
+
+Four or five soldiers now took charge of me, and at my request
+consented to conduct me to an officer. Just as they were about to
+lead me away, however, they all fell flat upon their chests, and
+directed their fire at an object, which turned out later to be a bush.
+I very soon discovered that the "Tommies" were not very circumspect in
+their fire, and I sought safety by lying on the ground. Having
+discovered the innocent nature of their target, my guards conducted me
+before one of their officers, a young man named Walsh, who seemed to
+belong to the British Intelligence Department. This officer enquired,
+"Well, what is it?" I answered him in his own language, "My name is
+Viljoen, and not wishing to be plundered by your soldiers, I desire to
+place myself under the protection of an officer." He was quite a minor
+officer this Mr. Walsh, but he said kindly, "All right, it is rather a
+lucky haul, sir; you look quite cool, are you hurt?" I replied that I
+was not hurt, though it was a miracle that I was still alive, for a
+bullet had struck my chest, and would have penetrated had my
+pocket-book not stopped it. The fact was, that my pocket-book had
+served the providential service of the proverbial bible or pack of
+cards. Bester was with me, and not seeing my other adjutants, I
+enquired what had become of them. Walsh did not reply at once, and one
+of the "Tommies" standing close by said, "Both killed, sor." This
+information was a terrible blow to me.
+
+Major Orr, of the Royal Irish Regiment, was in charge of the force
+that had captured me, and presently I was taken before him. He greeted
+me most courteously and said, "I believe we are old friends, General
+Viljoen; at least you captured some of my comrades in that regrettable
+affair at Belfast." I was greatly touched by Major Orr's kindness, and
+asked that I might see those of my men who had been killed. He
+immediately consented, and led me a few paces aside. My gaze was soon
+arrested by a heartrending spectacle. There on the ground lay the two
+lifeless forms of my brave and faithful adjutants, Jacobus Nel and L.
+Jordaan. As I bent over their prostrate bodies my eyes grew dim with
+the sad tears of my great bereavement. Major Orr stood uncovered by
+my side, touched by my deep emotion and paying homage to the brave
+dead. "These men were heroes," I said to him with broken voice. "They
+followed me because they loved me, and they fearlessly risked their
+lives for me several times." The good Major was full of sympathy, and
+made provision for the decent burial of my poor comrades at Lydenburg.
+
+Bester and I were now conducted under an escort of 150 soldiers with
+fixed bayonets to the village, which was two and a half miles off. We
+reached Lydenburg very wet and gloomy, after having waded through a
+drift whose waters reached up to our armpits. Major Orr did his best
+to console us both with refreshment and kind words.
+
+Our procession was presently joined by an officer of the British
+Intelligence Department, and this gentleman told me that he knew of
+the approach of my party, and that the chief object of the British in
+attacking us was to capture our itinerant Government, who they
+learned were to accompany us. He was very anxious to know where the
+Government was, and whether it was intended that they should pass that
+way. But I answered his queries by telling him that it was quite
+unworthy of a gentleman to put such questions to me, and to attempt to
+exploit my most unfortunate position.
+
+Arriving at the village, I was treated with great courtesy, and was
+introduced by Major Orr to Colonel Guinness, the commanding officer.
+Colonel Guinness declared that he regarded it as an honour to have a
+man of my rank as a prisoner-of-war, and that we had fought so
+frequently that we were quite old friends. I thanked him for his
+compliment, expressing, however, my regret that we had renewed
+acquaintance under such unfortunate circumstances.
+
+"That is the fortune of war," said the Colonel. "You have nothing to
+be ashamed of, General." We were treated very well by our captors, and
+were given accommodation in the apartments of my old friend Captain
+Milner, who now filled the office of Provost-Marshal. My meeting with
+this gentleman was very cordial, and we sat up till nearly daybreak
+relating our different adventures since we had last met at Roos
+Senekal, where the worthy Captain was made prisoner by me. He assured
+me that his regiment entertained the highest respect for me and my
+burghers, and that they appreciated the fact that we had fought fairly
+and gallantly and had well-treated our prisoners-of-war. Bester and I
+remained under Milner's care throughout our stay at Lydenburg, and I
+shall always remember with gratitude the kindness extended me by the
+officers of the Royal Irish Regiment.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVII.
+
+SHIPPED TO ST. HELENA.
+
+
+We were kept at Lydenburg until about the 30th of January, 1902, and
+during our stay there I obtained leave to write a letter to my
+burghers. In this I acquainted them and my brother with what had
+occurred, and exhorted them to keep up their hearts and persevere.
+Although kindly treated at Lydenberg, I cannot adequately describe the
+feeling of disappointment and sorrow which my enforced inaction caused
+me. I would have given anything to have been able to return to my
+commando, and felt that I would rather have been killed than have
+fallen into the enemy's hands. Being thus rendered impotent I could
+but curse my fate.
+
+Friendships which are formed on the veldt are strong indeed, and the
+men who have lived together through all the vicissitudes of war for
+twenty-eight months--through sunshine and rain, happiness and sorrow,
+prosperity and adversity--become attached one to another with lasting
+affections. My sufferings hit me very keenly. Besides the sadness
+which separation from my companions caused me, I acutely felt my
+position as, having been before in the habit of commanding and of
+being obeyed by others, I was now subject to the humiliation of having
+to obey the orders of British privates.
+
+We prisoners were conveyed from Lydenburg to Machadodorp under the
+charge of Colonel Urenston, of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders,
+with an escort of 2,000 men. I was at a loss to know why so large a
+force should have been sent to guard me, but this seemingly
+exaggerated precaution was soon explained when I was told that Lord
+Kitchener had given special orders that great care was to be taken to
+prevent my commando from rescuing me. I must say that there was not
+much chance of that occurring. Colonel Urenston was a very courteous
+soldier, and treated me as well as could be expected.
+
+Reaching Machadodorp four days later, I was handed over at Dalmanutha
+Station to Captain Pearson, a staff officer, who subsequently
+conducted me and my fellow prisoners to Pretoria. Some days after my
+arrival there I was taken before Lord Kitchener, and was received very
+courteously by him at his office. My interview with this great General
+lasted about half an hour. The Commander-in-Chief of the British Army
+in South Africa impressed me as being a real soldier, a man possessed
+of a strong will not marred by arrogance.
+
+I did not know what the British military authorities proposed to do
+with me, and felt quite indifferent as to the matter. At dawn on the
+third day after my arrival I was awakened by a soldier and informed
+that I was to be taken to the station. The train was in readiness when
+I arrived, and the officer in charge invited me to take a seat in his
+compartment. I was then told that we were to proceed to Durban, but no
+information was given me as to my ultimate destination.
+
+On the train we prisoners were treated with great courtesy, but on
+reaching Durban a different experience awaited us. Here I was placed
+under the charge of Colonel Ellet, a very irascible person. This
+Colonel greeted me with the information that he was quite delighted
+that I had been captured. He repeated this gratuitous insult three
+times, and, my patience being exhausted, I asked him to be kind enough
+to tell me where he was instructed to convey me, and not to cause me
+unnecessary pain by his taunts. He apologised lamely and told me that
+I was to proceed on board ship. This very much surprised me, and I
+remarked that I had already been taken from home and hearth 500 miles.
+This ill-tempered creature then lent back arrogantly in his armchair,
+puffing at his cigar, and said: "Well, ah, you are banished, don't you
+know. You are to be sent to St. Helena, or as we call it, 'The Rock.'
+You will shortly embark. It is a large ship you are going in; it is
+called--ah, let me see, oh, yes, the _Britannica_. I will proceed to
+the station and order your kit, and in the meantime you must sign this
+parole and report yourself forthwith at the docks." I said in Dutch,
+which the Colonel did not understand, "Lord deliver me from this evil
+person."
+
+On arriving on board ship I found several other Boer prisoners-of-war,
+amongst them my old friend Erasmus, who masqueraded as a general in
+the early stages of the War. Never having been before upon the sea I
+was soon in the throes of _mal de mer_, and the prospect was certainly
+not encouraging. There was no help for it, however. Colonel Curtis, of
+the Royal Artillery, who was in charge of the troops on board, was a
+very polite and pleasant person, and very welcome after that
+extraordinary creature, Ellet. We were provided with good cabins and
+the food was excellent. Before leaving the Bay General Lyttelton
+visited me and showed himself very friendly. I soon found out that
+Mrs. Lyttelton was proceeding on the same boat to England. My company
+must have been rather unattractive, seeing that I was only well for
+one day during the whole voyage.
+
+The steamer was ordered to call at Cape Town, and when we neared this
+port the guard kept over us was strengthened. An officer remained with
+us continually and counted us every two hours to make sure that none
+of us had escaped. One day two young Boers conspired to make a fool
+of the officer, and concealed themselves in the lavatory. Their
+absence was discovered the next time we were counted, and the officer
+in charge, in a great state of perturbation, demanded of us what had
+become of them. We took up the joke at once, and replied that they had
+gone on shore to be shaved and would return at 7 o'clock. This
+entirely took his breath away. But the absurdity of the situation so
+got the better of us that we burst out into ironical laughter, and
+finally set our custodian at ease by producing the two fugitives. We
+were punished for our little joke, however, by having our paroles
+withdrawn.
+
+On the 19th of February the ship, with its sorrowful freight, steamed
+away from Cape Town. We prisoners, assembled on the upper deck, bade a
+very sorrowful farewell to the shores of our dear Fatherland. Long and
+sadly did we gaze upon the fast receding land from which we expected
+to be alienated for ever. Notwithstanding our depressing
+circumstances, however, we attempted pluckily to keep up our spirits,
+and with laughter and frivolity to cheer each other. Most of us had
+never been on a ship before, and only one of our number had ever
+voyaged away from South Africa. Ours was a very cheerless prospect,
+for, although we did not know our exact fate, banishment for life
+loomed over us. The ship's officers were urbanity itself, and did
+everything in their power for our comfort. I shall always remember
+their kindness, but it would have required much more than human effort
+to have made our voyage enjoyable owing to the fact that we suffered
+so intensely from sea-sickness.
+
+After a very cheerless and discomforting voyage, we dropped anchor on
+the 24th of February in St. Helena Harbour. "The Rock" rose out of the
+ocean, bare and rugged, and imprisonment upon it offered a gloomy
+prospect. No animal was visible, and foliage was wanting, I never saw
+a less attractive place than Jamestown, the port at which we landed.
+The houses seemed to be tumbling over one another in a "kloof." We
+were all gloomily impressed, and somebody near me said, "This will be
+our living graves." I answered, "No wonder that Napoleon broke his
+heart upon this God-forsaken rock." I must confess that the feeling
+grew upon us that we were to be treated as ordinary criminals, since
+only murderers and dangerous people are banished to such places to be
+forgotten by mankind.
+
+An English officer came to me and asked what I thought of the Island.
+My feelings got the better of me, and I replied--"It seems a suitable
+place for England's felons, but it is very spiteful of England to
+deport here men whose only crime has been to fight for their country.
+It would have been much more merciful to have killed us at once than
+to make us drag out an existence in a manner so dreary."
+
+We were soon taken ashore by boats to Jamestown, and there learned to
+our great disgust that we were all to be put in quarantine for bubonic
+plague, and to be isolated at Lemon Valley, a valley in which I
+afterwards found that lemons were conspicuous by their absence. No
+greenery was to be seen in this desolate place. While our debarkation
+was proceeding one of the boats capsized, but, happily, everybody
+escaped with nothing worse than a ducking.
+
+Quarantine regulations were enforced for six days at Lemon Valley. The
+accommodation was very inadequate, and our culinary utensils, though
+not primitive, were very bad, the food being such as might have been
+the portion of criminals.
+
+Luckily for us a British Censor named Baron von Ahlenfeldt, and a
+doctor named Casey had accompanied us, and owing to their
+instrumentality we were allowed better food and treatment. At the end
+of our detention in the quarantine camp some of our number were
+removed to Broadbottom Camp, while the others were quartered at
+Deadwood Camp. Lieutenant Bathurst, who now assumed the position of
+our custodian, was a good prototype of friend Ellet at Durban, and he
+was at pains to treat us as felons rather than as prisoners-of-war.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVIII.
+
+LIFE IN BONAPARTE'S PRISON.
+
+
+In order to reach Broadbottom Camp we had to ascend a remarkably rocky
+cliff named "Jacob's Ladder," the face of which was cut into a
+multitudinous series of steps. Having reached the summit we found a
+pleasing view of the Island opened before us. We now discovered that
+St. Helena was not the totally-barren rock we had at first been led to
+suppose. Patches of trees and greenery met our gaze, and in the midst
+of a carefully-cultivated plantation we espied a beautiful house, the
+habitation of the Governor of the Island. On our way we encountered a
+party of our fellow-prisoners, who, having been guilty of
+insubordination, were being taken to the dreary fort at High Knoll for
+punishment. Amongst these unfortunates we recognised several friends,
+but were not permitted to talk to them.
+
+At sundown our destination was reached at Broadbottom Camp, which is
+situated under High Peak. Before us stretched a large space enclosed
+by four encirclements of barbed wire containing the tents and houses
+which formed the temporary homes of the prisoners-of-war. Sentries
+were posted at every hundred paces. There were 2,000 prisoners
+stationed here, and as they wandered aimlessly round they forcibly
+reminded me of the Israelites in exile.
+
+On entering the camp I was received by the commandant, Colonel Wright,
+a typical Briton, who made no pleasant impression upon me. I shall not
+be querulous, although the Colonel very bluntly notified to me that he
+had no instructions but to treat me in the same manner as the ordinary
+prisoners, and added that as my name had appeared in the list of Boer
+officers who were sentenced to banishment, he doubted whether I was
+entitled even to the treatment accorded to the ordinary
+prisoners-of-war. However, a tent was erected for me, and I and my
+companions in adversity were given beds and culinary utensils. My bed
+consisted of two khaki blankets and a waterproof sheet, and my kitchen
+utensils comprised a pot, a washing basin, a pail, two enamelled
+plates, two large mugs, and a spoon. This is a complete inventory of
+the articles with which I was provided. I and the prisoners who had
+accompanied me had not tasted food throughout the whole day, and we
+would have gone supperless to bed had it not been that some
+compassionate brother prisoners ministered to our inner needs by
+providing us with some bully beef and bread, which, though but a
+frugal meal, was very welcome to us.
+
+Camp life of the kind I now experienced was wearisome indeed. There
+was nothing to do, and we tried to while away the time by singing
+psalms and songs. At night the camp and its environments were rendered
+almost as bright as day by the glaring light of huge naphtha flares
+and by large search-lights which played round, making attempts at
+escape hopeless. It appeared to me that the search-lights were
+continually being turned in my direction, and I can assure you that I
+wished these glaring abominations at Hades. The buzzing and roaring
+noise given forth by the naphtha lamps, the monotonous chanting of the
+prisoners, the perpetual "All's well" of the sentries, and the
+intermingling notes of the bugle calls suffused the air with their
+distracting sounds and made me feel as if my head were in a maëlstrom.
+The bugler was so amiable a person that he always made it a point of
+standing close to my tent when launching forth to the world his
+shrieking calls. Happily I became acclimatised to my distasteful
+surroundings, or I fear I should have soon graduated as a patient for
+a lunatic asylum.
+
+I unhappily became at an early date acquainted with Colonel Price,
+commanding the troops on the Island. I shall never forget his
+demeanour towards me, for from the first his attitude was arrogant,
+cruel, and generally unbearable. He refused me parole, and declined to
+give me a pass beyond the confines of the camp. The unreasonableness
+of this hard treatment will be seen when it is remembered that not the
+slightest possibility of escape from the Island existed. The close
+confinement began to play havoc with my health, and I was in the fair
+way to the hospital, when a friendly doctor intervened and restored me
+to health once more. The rigid discipline and the stern regulations
+that were enforced can only be likened to what is experienced in
+monastic life. The "red-tape" curse prevailed everywhere.
+
+Subsequently Colonel Price modified his tone towards me and allowed me
+parole. He was also gracious enough to permit me and some companions
+to occupy a little house 400 paces from the camp. This was a very
+agreeable change, for now we were no longer subjected to the harsh
+treatment of the "Tommies." Our little residence rejoiced in the
+pleasantly-floral name of the "Myrtle Grove," and was rented by us
+from an old coloured lady who vigorously insisted upon the punctual
+payment of the rent, and drew our special attention to the fact that
+plucking pears in the garden was strictly prohibited.
+
+We had been told that the "Myrtle Grove" was haunted by ghosts, but
+the ghosts, if any there were, must have been pro-Boers, since they
+never disturbed us. But though we had no ghostly visitors we certainly
+had some of another kind. The house was perfectly infested by
+particularly large and bold rats. These thieving rodents, not
+satisfied with robbing our larder, had the audacity to sup off our
+fingers and ears while we were asleep. We waged vigorous war against
+the vermin, and after considerable difficulty managed to get the
+residence exclusively to ourselves. With the addition of some
+furniture, with which Colonel Wright was good enough to provide us, we
+made our house so comfortable that we felt ourselves almost in a
+position to invite the Governor to dinner.
+
+Our landlady, Mrs. Joshua, was the proud possessor of several donkeys,
+which were turned loose in our garden, and a large number of fowls. I
+may say that Mrs. Joshua was very ill-advised in keeping her fowls so
+near our house, for our cook, who had been trained in commando, was
+unable to resist the temptation of appropriating eggs. It did not,
+however, take our landlady long to find out what was happening, and we
+were informed that it was very much more Christianlike to purchase
+eggs. We took the hint, and adopted as far as we could Christianlike
+methods, though we found it extremely difficult to subscribe to all
+the principles of Christianity practised by the Islanders.
+
+We whiled away the time by taking daily walks, and, by making
+excursions to the house at Longwood tenanted by Napoleon Bonaparte for
+six and a half years, and to the grave where his remains were interred
+for 19 years. I noticed that both places were being preserved and kept
+in order by the French Government. We used to sit by the little
+fountain, where the great French warrior so frequently sat, and read.
+We were permitted to drink a glass of water from this historical
+spring.
+
+At Deadwood Camp 4,000 of my compatriots were confined. Some had been
+there for over two years, and I could not help admiring their
+discipline. It is not for me to criticise the entirely unnecessary
+restrictions to which these unfortunate prisoners were subjected, but
+I will point out that the severity practised towards helpless
+prisoners by armed soldiers created feelings of great bitterness. It
+was a stupid policy to pursue and perhaps fateful.
+
+The military authorities were entirely unacquainted with the character
+and mannerisms of the Boers, and were advised in this connection by
+so-called "Cape" or "English" Afrikanders, who bear an ineradicable
+hatred to the Boers, and who always did their utmost to cause the
+prisoners to be treated with humiliation and contempt. Happily a
+number of English officers whom I met on the Island saw that we were
+not so black as we had been painted. Most of the officers who acted as
+our custodians here had come direct from England and knew nothing of
+South Africa. One of these gentlemen confessed to me that when he
+left London for St. Helena he had a sort of idea that he was to be
+placed in charge of a troop of wild barbarians, and that he had been
+quite agreeably disappointed. He declared, indeed, that he had found
+that the Afrikander in some respects was superior to men of his own
+nation.
+
+It was undoubtedly a sad error for England to send officers to look
+after us, who, not having had any experience of South African warfare,
+were entirely ignorant of our idiosyncrasies and manners. The result
+of placing these inexperienced men as our guards was that one
+misunderstanding followed upon another, and that unnecessarily
+rigorous regulations were promulgated to preserve discipline and
+order. This treatment had the effect of nourishing within our bosoms
+hatred and bitterness.
+
+Not being desirous of having to undergo incarceration with my
+insubordinate fellow-prisoners at High Knoll Fort, I carefully
+refrained from being unruly, and practised an orderly and amiable
+demeanour.
+
+On one occasion I ventured to approach Colonel Price with a view to
+obtaining some amelioration in our treatment, and some remission of
+the rigorous regulations meted out to us. After keeping me waiting
+half an hour he came out of his office to meet me, but instead of
+extending a greeting he stared at me with ill-concealed amazement,
+probably expecting that I should jump up and salute him. I, however,
+merely rose and nodded, and enquired if I had the honour of addressing
+Colonel Price. He answered stiffly, "Yes, what do you want?" It was
+greatly disconcerting to be thus unceremoniously and discourteously
+greeted, and having explained my mission, I withdrew and took care to
+fight shy of this arrogant soldier in future.
+
+I may say that our little party at "Myrtle Grove" was a few weeks
+later augmented by the arrival of Vaal Piet Uys and Landdrost T.
+Kelly.
+
+We had in the meantime improved our acquaintance with Colonel Wright,
+who always treated us with cordiality and kindness, and allowed us
+frequently the privilege of spending pleasant afternoons at his house.
+Mrs. Wright was a charming hostess, and did everything in her power to
+lessen the feeling of humiliation with which we regarded our sad
+plight.
+
+I should perhaps mention that St. Helena boasts of some elegant
+society. A few years before our confinement the Zulu chief, Dinizulu,
+was banished within the rocky bounds of this island prison. This son
+of Cain had during his detention here been invited to all the
+fashionable parties and dances, and had been honoured with an
+invitation to the Governor's house. He was fêted at dinners and public
+festivities--but of course it must be remembered that Dinizulu was a
+kaffir and we were only Boers. Fancy, my Afrikander brothers, a
+self-respecting English young lady consenting to dance with this
+uncivilised kaffir! Imagine, they allowed him to dine at the same
+table, and to drive in the same carriage with them! I do not know how
+this information strikes my readers, but I must say that when the
+Governor of the Island, an elderly gentleman named Sterndale, with 35
+years of the Indian Civil Service behind him, informed me that such
+had been the case, I was rendered speechless.
+
+I would not have it supposed, however, that we prisoners had any
+special ambition to attend balls and dinners, for we were not in the
+mood for festivities, and even had we desired we could hardly with
+propriety have appeared at these elegant boards and gatherings dressed
+in our shabby apparel.
+
+A number of the prisoners received permission from the authorities to
+pursue the various crafts and employments with which they were
+conversant, at the small daily wage of between sixpence and a
+shilling. This pay was a ridiculously small remuneration for the large
+amount of work which the men executed. A great diversity of trades
+were represented by us prisoners. One was a mason, another a farmer, a
+third an apothecary, while a fourth was a goldsmith, and so far did we
+go that one man was appointed caterer for the St. Helena Club.
+
+Months had now passed since I had been first brought a captive to this
+island prison, and it approached the middle of May. Persistent though
+rather vague reports about Peace continually reached us, but owing to
+the strictness of the censors, who had an exaggerated idea of their
+duties, any news from outside came to our anxious ears in very small
+pieces, and gave us a very meagre idea of what was happening in South
+Africa and other places outside. That we were all praying earnestly
+for Peace needs no telling, especially if I may mention that some of
+my comrades had been incarcerated on the island for two years and
+eight months. I cannot adequately tell how wearisome their long exile
+was to them.
+
+Just before I was liberated from confinement, our old antagonists, the
+3rd Battalion of "Buffs," under Colonel Brinckman, were detailed to
+the Island. This regiment had seen two years of active service in
+South Africa, and they were, therefore, soldiers who did not hold
+their enemies in contempt.
+
+I do not feel at this time, in view of the present tension of affairs,
+able to pursue my account further; but if encouraged by a sympathetic
+public to supplement this effort by a more detailed description of my
+imprisonment at St. Helena, I may in the near future again seek their
+indulgence.
+
+Meanwhile, I take what I hope will prove but a temporary leave of my
+readers, with the following explanatory details and critical comments
+on the general characteristics of the War.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIX.
+
+HOW WE BLEW UP AND CAPTURED TRAINS.
+
+
+Looking at the matter superficially it seems a very barbarous thing to
+derail and destroy trains with dynamite, but this was the only course
+left open to us, since large military stores were being continually
+brought in by the British from the coast. We honestly regretted that,
+owing to the derailment and destruction of trains, drivers, stokers,
+and often innocent passengers were launched into eternity. War is at
+best a cruel and illogical way of settling disputes, and the measures
+which the belligerent parties are sometimes compelled to take are of
+such a character that sentimentality does not enter into any of the
+calculations of the contending parties.
+
+It should not be necessary to assure my readers that we acted entirely
+within our rights in derailing and destroying trains. This was the
+only means we had of breaking the British lines of communication and
+of interrupting the conveyance of British troops and food.
+
+Moreover, we were more than justified in any act of train-derailment
+that we committed, by the instructions of Lord Wolseley as expressed
+in his handbook. In that well-known publication this distinguished
+soldier actually prescribes the use of dynamite, and even suggests the
+manner in which it may be employed to the best advantage. But although
+this train-wrecking was in every degree justifiable, I can assure the
+reader that we regarded it as a very unpalatable duty. I remember that
+when Lord Kitchener complained to me about the destruction of a
+certain train, I sent him a reply to the following effect:--
+
+     "That the blowing up and destroying of trains was as
+     distasteful to me as I hoped the burning of our houses was
+     to his Excellency; and that when we derailed trains we
+     entered upon the task with hearts quite as heavy as those
+     which I presumed weighed down his troops when they deported
+     our women and children from their homes to the Concentration
+     Camps."
+
+I shall now describe how we went to work in the matter of capturing
+trains. That this is not so easy a task as appears to be supposed I
+shall endeavour to show. Perhaps the best way to exemplify our method
+of procedure would be to describe a particular instance which occurred
+in March, 1901, between Belfast and Wonderfontein on the Delagoa Bay
+Railway. The two stations are approximately 12 miles apart. At either
+station a garrison had been established, and these were provided with
+two or three cannons and two armoured trains, which latter were held
+in readiness to proceed to any place within their immediate sphere of
+action when anything irregular occurred on the line. They were used
+besides to carry reinforcements and stores when needed. The armoured
+train was indeed a very important factor in the British military
+tactics, and one we had to take fully into account. The railway
+between these two stations was also guarded by blockhouses. Every
+morning the British soldiers carefully inspected their particular
+section of the railway before trains were despatched in any direction.
+The peril of running trains at night was speedily recognised, and of
+those that attempted the journey very few indeed escaped capture. On
+the particular occasion when the incident I am about to relate took
+place, we were encamped at Steenkampsbergen, enjoying a little
+remission from the arduous work in which we had been engaged. But we
+were not idle, and a field-cornetcy of approximately a hundred men was
+detailed to attempt the capture of a train. I personally reconnoitred
+the line, and sent a field-cornet with instructions to lay a mine at
+the most favourable spot for the distasteful operation we were about
+to perform.
+
+Our _modus operandi_ was to take a Martini-Henri rifle and saw off
+four inches before and behind the magazine, and then to so file the
+trigger guard that the trigger was left exposed. Two of the most
+intelligent burghers were despatched over night with this mutilated
+rifle and a packet of dynamite to the spot chosen for the mine, while
+two other burghers kept guard.
+
+Special precautions were taken to prevent footmarks being traced by
+the British patrols, the burghers walking for a considerable distance
+on the rails. The mine was prepared by carefully removing the stones
+from underneath the rails and as cautiously replacing them to again
+fill up the hole after the instruments of destruction had been
+adjusted. The trigger was placed in contact with the dynamite, and
+just enough above ground to be affected by the weight of the
+locomotive, but so little exposed as to be passed unnoticed. All
+surplus stones were carried off in a bag and great care was taken to
+conceal all traces of the mine. Gingerly and cautiously and without
+leaving any trace of their visit, the burghers now returned to their
+field-cornet and reported that all was in order. The field-cornetcy
+took up its position behind a small hill about a mile from the
+railway, and the men concealed themselves and their horses so
+ingeniously that their presence was not even suspected by the
+occupants of the blockhouse close by. According to our information the
+first train that was to pass next morning was the mail train carrying
+the European mails, and the prospect of capturing some newspapers and
+thus obtaining news of the outside world, from which we had been
+isolated for several months, filled us with pleasant expectation. I
+especially instructed the field-cornet to obtain newspapers, and to
+capture as much food and clothing as possible. It being the custom of
+the British garrisons to send scouts along the railway each day to
+examine the line, the next morning the track was as usual
+microscopically inspected, but the scouts failed to discover the trap
+which we had laid.
+
+Two outpost burghers lay at the top of the hill in the grass, and from
+their coign of vantage they had a clear view of the railway line.
+
+Ten o'clock in the morning arriving without a train appearing, my men
+began to grumble. In the excitement of this adventure they had omitted
+to prepare any food, and they were not now allowed to make fires,
+because the smoke evolved in culinary operations would have been
+immediately noticed by the enemy's outpost. We had therefore to remain
+hungry, or our well-laid plans would have been frustrated. Time passed
+on, and at 2 o'clock in the afternoon there were still no traces of
+the expected train. Our horses were saddled up and had been without
+food since the previous afternoon, and the poor animals also began to
+show their displeasure by whinnying and stamping their hoofs on the
+ground. The enemy's scouts had already inspected the line three or
+four times either by going over it on foot or by using a trolley.
+
+The afternoon was well advanced, and fears were growing in our minds
+that the mine had been discovered. I should say that it was Sunday
+afternoon, and that the mine had been laid on Saturday night. This
+train-wrecking scheme of ours was contrary to the practices of our
+nation, who regard all such acts on Sunday as a desecration of the
+Sabbath, but here I will again apply an English precept, "The better
+the day the better the deed."
+
+About four o'clock my outposts notified to me the approach of smoke,
+and shortly afterwards we beheld a train coming along. Every man of us
+mounted his horse, and we sat calmly in the saddle to observe the
+execution of our plan. We held our breaths. Perhaps the British had
+detected the mine and removed it, with the result that all our travail
+would be in vain; or they might possibly have sent a large force of
+soldiers with cannon on the train to give us a "good hiding" to boot.
+We watched breathlessly the progress of the train as it rapidly
+approached the fatal spot, and our hearts thumped wildly as we waited
+to see the success or failure of our enterprise. We had not long to
+wait, for with a tremendous shock the mine exploded, overturning the
+engine, and bringing the train to a standstill.
+
+We now proceeded to storm the train, but I saw the danger of advancing
+in a mass and shouted to my men to go carefully and spread out. When
+we were about 500 feet from the train the British fired a volley at
+us, but in so doing they merely displayed by their firing that there
+were not many riflemen on the train, and that those that there were
+shot badly and at random. Thus shown the weakness of the enemy, we
+stormed with renewed vigour, and on arriving at about a hundred yards
+distance we dismounted. The defenders did not face our fire long
+before displaying the white flag. I stopped fire at once and the
+train was ours.
+
+It was Lieutenant Crossby, of the Remount Department, who waved the
+white flag, and he now surrendered with about 20 "Tommies."
+
+Among the occupants of the train was an old major, and on his saying
+that he was very sick, and was on his way to the hospital, we
+immediately apologised for having disturbed him and for the delay
+which our little operation had caused him. There were eight sacks of
+European mail in the train and these we seized. We liberated the
+"Tommies" after disarming them. The Lieutenant in charge was the sole
+person detained as a prisoner-of-war, and he was added to six other
+British officers who were vegetating under our charge. Only a part of
+the train could be destroyed by us, as one section was occupied by
+women and children who were being transported to the Concentration
+Camps.
+
+On the following morning the field-cornet brought me the papers and
+said with a smile, "You see I have brought you what you required,
+General." I was overjoyed to obtain tidings from the outside world.
+The letters were distributed about the laager, and there was abundance
+of reading matter. I felt rather sorry for the "Tommies" who were
+being thus mercilessly robbed of their letters, but I consoled myself
+with the thought that our plight was quite as bad as theirs, for we
+Boers had had no communication from any members of our families for
+twelve months, and we felt justified in making the "Tommies" share our
+misfortune. The Boers did not, however, get much satisfaction out of
+other men's epistles, and even those who could read English gave up
+the operation after having perused one or two, and threw away the
+sackfuls of letters with disappointed faces.
+
+The capture of this train was our second success. Shortly before we
+had seized a train near Pan Station and had obtained a splendid haul.
+This particular train was carrying Christmas presents for the British
+soldiers, and we found a miscellaneous assortment of cakes, puddings
+and other delicacies. It was very amusing that we should be
+celebrating Christmas with cakes and puddings which had been intended
+for our opponents.
+
+A few weeks after we had captured the train carrying the European
+mails we made another attempt at train wrecking, this time at
+Wonderfontein Station. All, too, went well on this occasion until we
+charged, and the British opened fire upon us with cannon. We were not
+favoured this time by any sort of cover, but had to attack over open
+ground, exposing ourselves to the heavy fire of the guns and the
+fusillade of a hundred British riflemen. We had chanced this time upon
+an armoured train, and the trucks which bore the cannon had remained
+uninjured. The nut was rather too hard for us to crack, and failing to
+take the train by storm, we were compelled to retire, after having
+sustained the loss of three men, of whom one was my brave adjutant,
+Vivian Cogell. From what I have said I think my readers will agree
+that the capturing of a train is not always a "cake and ale"
+operation.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER L.
+
+HOW WE FED AND CLOTHED COMMANDOS.
+
+
+As early as March, 1901, we experienced the difficulty of adequately
+providing our commandos with the necessities of life. So far back as
+September, 1900, we had said good-bye at Hector's Spruit to our
+commissariat, and thence, no organized supplies existing, it may very
+well be imagined that the task of feeding the Boers was one of the
+most serious, and I may say disquieting, questions with which we had
+to deal. We were cut off from the world, and there was no means of
+importing stores. Of course the men who had been previously engaged on
+commissariat duty were enlisted in the fighting ranks so soon as they
+became available. From this date we had to feed ourselves on quite a
+different system. Each commandant looked after his own men and
+appointed two or three Boers whose special duty it was to ride round
+for provisions. It must not be supposed that we commandeered stores
+without signing receipts, and the storekeeper who supplied us was
+provided with an acknowledgment, countersigned by field-cornet,
+commandant, and general. On producing this document to our Government
+the holder received probably one-third of the amount in cash and the
+balance in Government notes, better known as "blue-backs." By this
+time a large portion of the Republic had been occupied by the British,
+all food-stuffs had been removed or destroyed, and most of the cattle
+had been captured. In consequence, everything in the shape of food
+became very scarce. Flour, coffee, sugar, &c., were now regarded as
+delicacies remembered from the far-away past. The salt supplies were
+especially low, and we feared that without salt we would not be able
+to live, or if we did manage to exist, that we might bring upon
+ourselves an epidemic of disease. Our fears in this respect were
+increased by the opinions expressed by our doctors, and we viewed our
+situation with considerable disquietude. Happily, as experience
+proved, our apprehensions were not in the least justified, for during
+the ten months that preceded my capture my burghers lived entirely
+without salt, and were at the time that I fell into the hands of the
+British as healthy as could be desired.
+
+Existing as we did solely on mealies and meat, potatoes and other
+vegetables which we might chance upon were regarded as luxuries
+indeed. Though it may appear strange it is nevertheless a fact that we
+were always fortunate enough to obtain adequate supplies of mealies
+and meat. We ground our mealies in coffee mills if no other mills were
+available. Mealie pap is cooked in a simple fashion, and occasionally
+boiling hot pots of it have fallen into the hands of the British. The
+British soldiers were not much better off than we were, for they were
+limited to bully-beef and "clinkers," though they frequently
+supplemented their larder by stores from Boer farms, such as fowls,
+pigs, &c., and had salt, sugar, and coffee in abundance. Their
+culinary utensils were not nearly so primitive as circumstances had
+reduced ours to.
+
+Many Boers did nothing but roam round with their cattle, and I confess
+that on many occasions they excited my admiration by the "slim" manner
+in which they evaded capture. Boers of this description were dubbed
+"bush-lancers," because they always sought the thickest bushes for
+sanctuary. These "bush-lancers" were of three kinds: There were some
+who sought by running away with their cattle to escape commando duty,
+others who hoped by retaining their cattle to obtain a large profit on
+them after the War was over, while others were so attached to their
+cattle that they would as lief have lost their own lives as have
+suffered their cattle to be taken. All three classes of "bush-lancers"
+contrived to supply us with adequate stores of food. Often, however,
+it was a difficult task to get the supplies out of them. When we asked
+them to sell us cattle we were frequently met by the reply that we had
+already taken their best cattle, that the British had taken some, and
+that the little they had left they could not do without. Of course
+we were not hindered in our purpose of obtaining food by such a reply,
+and we had sometimes to resort to force. We frequently gave these
+"bush-lancers" notice when danger threatened, but in most instances
+they were the first to discover danger, and gave us information as to
+the movements of the British.
+
+Everybody knows that it is a sore trial for the Boer to live without
+coffee, but this national beverage disappeared entirely from our menu,
+and its loss was only partly replaced by the "mealie coffee" which we
+set about preparing. The process was a very simple one. As soon as we
+off-saddled a hundred coffee mills were set to work. The mealie was
+roasted over a fire and afterwards treated in a similar manner to that
+by which the coffee bean is prepared. This "mealie coffee" made a very
+palatable drink, especially as we were frequently able to obtain milk
+to mix with it.
+
+We generally roasted our meat on the coals, as we found that without
+salt meat was most palatable when treated in this way. This is
+explained by the fact that the ashes of the fire contain a certain
+saline quality. We obtained mealies in all sorts of extraordinary
+ways. Sometimes we harvested it ourselves, but more often we found
+quantities hidden in caves or kraals. Mealies were also purchased from
+the natives. Every general did all that was possible to sow in the
+district in which he was operating, for the soil is very fruitful. We
+very seldom lacked mealies, although the British frequently destroyed
+the crops we had been growing. There can be no doubt that when an
+Afrikander feels hungry he will find something to eat.
+
+I have already mentioned that sometimes when the British swooped down
+upon us they carried away our culinary utensils, and a question may
+arise in the minds of my readers as to how we obtained others to
+replace them. Well, we were not particular in this connection. We
+found empty tea cans and empty bully-beef tins, and by manipulating
+barbed wire we speedily converted these crude materials into
+serviceable culinary implements. We preferred the tar cans because
+the beef tins often came to pieces after the solder with which they
+are fastened had been subjected to the heat of the fire. I remember
+that one day our parson gave as much as five shillings for an empty
+tar can.
+
+Several British convoys fell into our hands, but the food we found on
+them consisted usually of bully-beef and "clinkers," things which only
+dire necessity drove us Boers to eat. Sometimes to our great chagrin
+we discovered that all our fighting to capture a convoy was only
+rewarded by the sight of empty trucks or ones loaded with hay and
+fodder. If perchance we were fortunate enough to capture a camp or a
+fort we contented ourselves with removing such coffee and sugar as we
+could carry away on our pack mules.
+
+The clothing question was very perplexing. Whenever we were able to
+obtain it we bought canvas and converted it into trousers. Sheep skins
+we tanned and employed either for the purpose of making clothes or for
+patching. The hides of cattle and of horses that had died of disease
+were also tanned and employed for the making of boots. I may point out
+that no horse was specially slaughtered for this purpose or for the
+purpose of food. It was only General Baden-Powell and General White
+who slaughtered their horses to make sausages. Our best clothing
+supply, however, came from the British Army. Forgive me for saying so;
+I do not intend to be sarcastic. When we captured a convoy or a fort
+we always obtained a supply of clothes. At the beginning of the War we
+Boers had a strong prejudice against any garment which even faintly
+resembled khaki, but afterwards we grew indifferent and accepted khaki
+quite as readily as any other material. We generally compelled our
+prisoners to exchange clothes with us, and often derived much
+amusement from the disgusted look of the sensitive Briton as he walked
+away in the clothes of a ragged Boer. Imagine the spectacle! A dandy
+English soldier, clean shaven, with a monocle adorning one eye, his
+head covered with an old war-worn slouch hat of broad brim, and his
+body with ragged jacket and trousers patched with sheep-skin or yarn.
+
+I may say that none of this systematic plundering occurred in my
+presence. But such things were certainly done, and, after all, who can
+blame a ragged burgher for resorting to this means, however much to be
+deprecated, of clothing himself. Remember that the poor Boers were
+prepared to pay double the value of a suit of clothes, and were, so to
+speak, cut off from the world, while the British soldier had simply to
+go back to camp to obtain a new outfit. "Necessity knows no law."
+
+In concluding this chapter I must mention that the lack of matches was
+very sensibly felt. And when our stock of matches was exhausted we had
+to resort to the old-fashioned tinder-box and flint and steel. We
+found this expedient a very poor substitute for the lucifer match, but
+it was certainly better than nothing at all. Personally I experienced
+the greatest difficulty in getting fire from a flint and steel, and to
+do it generally took me quite twice as long as it took anybody else,
+and I bruised my hands considerably. This latter, however, is an
+experience to which every amateur is liable, and I was never much more
+than an amateur at anything.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LI.
+
+OUR FRIEND THE ENEMY.
+
+
+In venturing on a judgment of the British soldier, from a military
+point of view, I may be told that only the man who has had a military
+training is competent to express an opinion upon the individual
+capacity of a soldier, be he Boer or Briton. That may be true, as long
+as people only go theoretically to work; but after my two and a half
+years of practical experience, my military friends may be gracious
+enough to allow me to express my simple opinion concerning this
+important factor, which is undoubtedly fundamental to the efficiency
+of any army. At the same time I promise to be as impartial in my
+judgment of the Boer as of the Briton as a fighter, or, at least, as
+impartial as can be expected from a fallible Boer.
+
+As an officer in the Boer army I encountered the British soldier in
+many capacities and in many circumstances. The officer of the regular
+British troops was always prepared to notify that he had no high
+opinion of the officers of the irregular troops. At the same time the
+volunteer officer was equally ready to heartily reciprocate the
+compliment when it was passed upon him by the regular. To be honest, I
+must say that I specifically give preference to the regular officer,
+whom I regard as having more initiative, and as being more practical
+and less artificial than his colleague, the irregular Imperial
+officer. As regards courage I saw little to choose between them. I
+certainly can draw no great distinction, since I have never been in a
+position to fight on the same side as they.
+
+Generally speaking, I consider the British officer a very brave man,
+though I do think he sometimes is guilty of excess in that
+respect--that is to say, that he goes impractically to work, and, the
+young officer especially, is driven by ambition to do desperate and
+stupid things. To this foolhardiness may be largely attributed the
+heavy losses in officers suffered by the British Army in the War.
+
+Since I fell into British hands I have found the officers to whom I
+had been opposed on the battlefield treat me with the utmost
+magnanimity. After having been in personal contact with a considerable
+number of officers of various regiments I must plainly say that the
+British officer is to be encountered in only two species: He is either
+a gentleman or--the other. The officer of the first species is
+prepared to be charitable to his antagonists, and generally assumes an
+attitude of dignity and humanity; whereas the latter possesses all the
+attributes of the idiot, and is not only detestable in the eyes of his
+antagonists, but is also despised by his own _entourage_.
+
+There have been unfortunate British officers in this War, and there
+have been occasions when a disaster to the British has been
+immediately attributed to the acts or the tactics of the commanding
+officer. In this connection I will cite the regrettable instance of
+General Gatacre at Stormberg. I do not think this reverse is to be
+attributable to stupidity, or indiscretion, or cowardice.
+
+There is a great deal of luck attached to any adventure in the field,
+and ill-luck had pursued General Gatacre persistently. But undoubtedly
+where bad luck pursues a commander on more than one occasion it is not
+only expedient but necessary to dismiss such an officer, because his
+troops lose confidence in him, and their spirit is undermined. It has
+occurred in this War that incapable officers with good men and much
+luck have performed wonders.
+
+The British soldier, or "Tommy," who draws a very poor daily pay, for
+which he has to perform a tremendous lot of work, is, if not the most
+capable fighter, the most willing in all circumstances to offer
+himself as a sacrifice at the altar of duty, or of what he considers
+his duty, to his country. But if "Tommy" by any accident be asked to
+deviate from the usual routine in which he has been trained, he is a
+thoroughly helpless creature. This helplessness, in my opinion, is
+caused by exaggerated discipline, and by the system under which
+"Tommy" is not allowed to think for himself or to take care of
+himself, and this individual helplessness has undoubtedly been one of
+the shortcomings of the British soldier during the War. As regards the
+fortitude of the ordinary British soldier, I must repeat what I have
+already said--that he is a courageous, willing and faithful warrior,
+and that it is to his fidelity and patriotism that the British Army
+may attribute its success. I believe this to be a truism which will
+defy even criticism.
+
+There are, of course, exceptions to the courageous "Tommy." If I were
+to draw any comparison between the nationalities, I would say that of
+the soldiers with whom I was brought into contact on the battlefield,
+the Irishmen and the Scotsmen were better fighting men than the
+others. In regard to British soldiers generally, I would remark that,
+if they could add good shooting and ability to judge distances to
+their courage, then they would be perhaps perfect soldiers, and
+certainly be doubly dangerous to their foes.
+
+Taken as a whole "Tommy" is a very warm-hearted fellow, though as
+regards humanity some distinction must be drawn between the regular
+soldier and the enlisted volunteer, for the latter is less humane than
+the former. This was too clearly shown by his conduct in the
+transporting of women and children and in the plundering of
+prisoners-of-war. But nevertheless "Tommy," generally speaking,
+whether regular or irregular, was sympathetic with regard to our
+wounded, and showed great kindness of heart to a maimed opponent.
+
+I consider that the British infantry bore the brunt of the fighting of
+this War, especially in its earlier stages. Where the cavalryman
+failed to break through our lines the infantryman stepped in and paved
+the way for him. We found we could always better stand an attack from
+cavalry than from infantry, for this latter, advancing as it did in
+scattered formation, was much less visible to our marksmen. When
+advancing to the attack the British foot soldiers were wont to crawl
+along on their faces, seeking cover whenever that was available; thus
+advancing, and especially when they were supported by artillery, these
+men proved very difficult indeed to repulse. In my opinion a
+cavalryman has no chance against a good marksman when this latter
+occupies a good position and is able to await attack. The British
+cavalry horses are such stupendous creatures that given a good rifle
+and a keen eye it is difficult for one to miss them. They certainly
+make most excellent targets. It is my firm opinion that for usefulness
+the cavalryman cannot be compared to the mounted infantryman. Indeed,
+my experience during the last 14 months of my active participation in
+the War taught me that the British mounted infantry was a very hard
+nut to crack. Of course everything depended upon the quality of the
+man and the horse. A good rifleman and a horseman, especially if he
+were able to fire when mounted, was a very formidable foe. As for
+horses, I may say that I do not wonder that the great unwieldy horses
+for which the British cavalrymen have such a predilection cannot be
+compared to the Basuto ponies with which we went to work. The African
+pony has, in fact proved itself to be the only useful horse during the
+campaign. The British cavalryman might have used elephants with almost
+as much advantage as their colossal horses. Further, in my opinion,
+the cavalrymen might just as well be discontinued as a branch of an
+army, for there can be no doubt that the infantry, artillery, and
+mounted infantry will be the only really useful and, indeed,
+practicable soldiers of the future.
+
+While I was writing the above a book was placed in my hand written by
+Count Sternberg, with an introduction from the pen of Lieut-Colonel
+Henderson. I doubt very much whether Colonel Henderson read the
+manuscript of the Count's book before penning his introduction, for I
+cannot suppose that he holds such small-minded and fantastic ideas
+regarding South Africa as the Count expresses. In this memorable work
+some extraordinary tales are told of the galloping and trotting feats
+of the Basuto ponies. The confession that the Count makes that he did
+not care upon which side he fought so long as he fought is indeed
+extraordinary. That he ever fought at all the Boer officers who knew
+him strongly doubt, and none of them will wonder that the Count's
+bitterest experience in South Africa was that on one occasion some
+naughty German ambulance people deprived him of a box of lager-beer.
+This and other amateurs have already overwhelmed the reading public
+with so much so-called criticism about this War, that I venture upon
+delicate ground in offering my opinion. I will confine myself to
+commenting upon what I saw and I know personally, for I know nothing
+about the topography of Europe and I am not acquainted either with the
+composition of the European armies or with their manner of fighting.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LII.
+
+THE FIGHTING BOER AND HIS OFFICER.
+
+
+There is great difference between the relations of a Boer officer to
+his following and the relation of a European officer to his men, for
+while in the former case no social distinction between the two exists,
+in the latter the officers and men are drawn from two distinct
+branches of society. The Boers in their normal state are independent
+farmers differing only in wealth. One Boer might be the possessor of
+perhaps ten farms and be worth a quarter of a million, while another
+might be but a poor "bywoner" and not worth a hundred pence, yet the
+two men would occupy the same rank in time of war.
+
+Immediately martial law is promulgated the entire Boer adult male
+population is amenable for military service. In the ranks of a
+commando one finds men of every profession, from the advocate and
+doctor to the blacksmith and plumber. From these ranks the officers
+are chosen, and a man who one day is but an ordinary soldier might be
+the next promoted to the rank of field-cornet or commandant, and might
+possibly in a few days attain the position of a General.
+
+The officer and the men that follow him have in most cases been drawn
+from the same district, and they know one another personally. If,
+therefore, a Boer falls in battle, whatever be his rank, his loss is
+keenly felt by his comrades in arms, for they, having known him of
+old, lose a personal friend by his death.
+
+The Boer officers can be divided into two classes--the brave and the
+cowardly. The brave officer fights whenever he gets the chance,
+whereas his chicken-hearted brother always waits for orders and makes
+elaborate plans to escape fighting. It is quite easy in the Boer Army
+to succeed in the course adopted by the latter class, and it not
+infrequently occurred that the Boers preferred this class of officer
+to his more reckless comrade, for they argued--"We like to serve
+under him because he will keep us out of danger." And just as the
+officers could be divided so could the men.
+
+In this campaign it was noticeable that during the last stages of the
+struggle the younger officers replaced the older ones. Many of these
+latter got tired of the War and surrendered to the British, others
+were removed from their commands as being too old-fashioned in their
+methods and incapable of adapting themselves to the altered
+circumstances. Moreover, we found that the younger officers were more
+industrious, more mischievous, and more reckless. Of course, when I
+speak of the young Boer officers I do not intend to convey the idea of
+children of seventeen to twenty years of age, such as I have sometimes
+encountered among the junior officers of the British Army.
+
+The life training of the burghers in horsemanship and musketry stood
+them in good stead. I may say that a Boer even early in life is a good
+horseman and marksman. He does not shoot without purpose for he can
+generally estimate at a glance the distance at which he is shooting,
+and he has been taught economy in the use of ammunition. The burgher
+knows perfectly well how valuable to him is his horse, and he is thus
+constrained to use his knowledge in carefully tending it; moreover,
+considerable affection exists, in many instances, between the master
+and his beast.
+
+Taken all round the Boer is a brave man, but his attitude on the
+battlefield is influenced very largely by the character of his
+officer. And being brave, the Boer is, in the main, sympathetic
+towards prisoners-of-war, and especially towards such as are wounded.
+Possessing bravery and humanity the Boer has besides what the British
+"Tommy Atkins" lacks, the power of initiative. The death of an officer
+does not throw the ranks of a Boer commando into chaos, for everybody
+knows how to proceed. It must not be supposed, however, that the death
+of an officer does not exercise a certain amount of demoralising
+influence. What I wish to impress is that the members of a commando
+can act independently of the officer and can exercise their own
+judgment.
+
+As regards the fortitude of the Boers, I can best illustrate it by
+pointing to the fact that it frequently happened that having been
+repulsed with loss one day we attacked our conqueror with better
+success the next. We often assumed the aggressive when a favourable
+opportunity offered itself, and did not always wait to be shot at.
+Frequently we held out for hours notwithstanding severe punishment.
+
+I think even the bitterest of our enemies will allow that the Boers
+who remained faithful to their country to the last were animated with
+noble principles. Were it not that so many of my compatriots lacked
+that which is so largely characteristic of the British soldier, the
+quality of patriotism and the intense desire to uphold the traditions
+of his nationality, I would ask what people in the world would have
+been able to conquer the Afrikander? I say this with great
+deliberation, and I do not believe that any impartial compatriot will
+attempt to deny the truth of the statement.
+
+The question suggests itself how would the English have fared had
+they been placed in a plight similar to that to which we found
+ourselves reduced? Supposing that we Boers had taken London and other
+large towns, and had driven the English people before us and compelled
+them to hide in the mountains with nothing upon which to subsist but
+mealie pap and meat without salt, with only worn and rent clothes as a
+covering, their houses burnt, and their women and children placed in
+Concentration Camps in the hands of the enemy. How would the English
+have acted under such circumstances? Would they not have surrendered
+to the conqueror? However that may be, one thing is certain, that the
+patriotism of a nation is only to be learned when put to such a severe
+test as this.
+
+In his book, "The Great Boer War," Dr. Conan Doyle has, on the whole,
+gained the admiration of the Afrikanders by his moderate language. But
+here and there, where he has been carried away by his English
+sympathies to use bitter and libellous language with respect to the
+Boers, that admiration has been changed into contempt. Dr. Conan Doyle
+attempts to defend the British Army by abusing the Boers. Abuse is
+not argument. To prove that Van der Merwe is a thief does not
+exonerate Brown from the crime of theft if he have been stealing.
+
+The author describes the shooting of Lieutenant Neumeyer, for refusing
+to surrender and for attempting to escape from his captors as murder,
+and the shooting of kaffir spies it also glibly described as murder;
+whereas, the incident at Frederickstad, where a number of Boers were
+shot dead by the British because they continued firing after hoisting
+the white flag, is justified by him. Of course, the execution of
+Scheepers is also justified by the author. I object to such things
+appearing in a book, because they must tend to sow anew the seeds of
+dissension, hate and bitterness, and these have been planted
+sufficiently deep without being nurtured by Dr. Conan Doyle. Neither
+Boer nor Briton can speak impartially on this question, and both would
+be better employed in attempting to find out the virtues rather than
+the vices in one another's characters.
+
+Whoever in the future governs South Africa, the two races must live
+together, and when the day of Peace arrives and the sword is sheathed,
+let us hold out our hands to each other like men, forgetting the past
+and remembering the motto--
+
+  ="Both Nations have Done their Duty."=
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+_Some Correspondence between the British and Boer Military Officials._
+
+
+                                   Lyndenburg,
+                                       _20th August, 1901_.
+
+ASSISTANT COMMANDANT-GENERAL B. J. VILJOEN.
+
+SIR,
+
+I have the honour to enclose herewith a copy of a communication
+received from Lord Kitchener. _Begins_:--With reference to your letter
+of the 10th August on the subject of employment of natives, I have the
+honour to inform you, as I have already informed Commandant-General
+Botha, that natives are employed by me as scouts and as police in
+native districts, especially in the low country, where white men, if
+not by long residence inured to the climate, suffer much from fever.
+
+I would point out to you that in numerous cases armed natives have
+been employed by the burgher forces, particularly in the commando of
+General Beyers, and that armed natives have frequently been found in
+the commandos fighting against us. I do not wish to bring the native
+population of the country into this quarrel between British and Boers.
+
+I have invariably told the natives that, although I could not forbid
+their defending themselves if attacked by burghers, they were on no
+account to attack. I am convinced that but for the strict orders which
+I have issued on this subject, the hatred engendered by the wholesale
+slaughter of unarmed natives by the burghers during this War would
+have led to a native rising, with deplorable results to the Boer race.
+
+It must also be within your knowledge that most of the rifles in
+possession of M'pisana's natives were sold to them by men of your own
+commando when moving from Hector's Spruit to Pietersburg last year.
+
+In answer to your questions regarding the British prisoners now in
+your hands, the persons named are enlisted soldiers in His Majesty's
+Army, and have been acting under my orders. They should be treated as
+prisoners-of-war.--_Ends._
+
+  I have the honour to be, Sir,
+         Your obedient servant,
+                           A. CURRAN,
+                        _Lieutenant-Colonel
+                      Commanding Lydenburg_.
+
+
+                                        _23rd July, 1901._
+
+TO HIS EXCELLENCY LORD KITCHENER,
+  _Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's Troops in South Africa, Pretoria._
+
+YOUR EXCELLENCY,
+
+I am compelled to emphatically protest against the methods of your
+officers. Last April your Excellency's brother, General W. Kitchener,
+took our ambulance veldt-hospital, near Roos Senekal, and only after
+much trouble were a number of the vehicles restored to us. On that
+occasion, General W. Kitchener refused to return to me the slaughter
+oxen belonging to the field-hospital, saying that we could steal such
+oxen from the kaffirs. In consequence of those acts, my wounded were
+rendered without food, and robbed of means of transportation.
+
+Now, again, a column of your troops, which was proceeding on the 9th
+or 10th inst. from Machadodorp across Witpoort, attacked a Red Cross
+hospital occupied by sick women and children, notwithstanding the
+patients were in charge of a certificated nurse, named Mrs. W. Botha.
+One of your officers, misled by a former burgher, who is now
+treacherously fighting against his own people, declared that the Red
+Cross was not genuine, and burned all the buildings and food found
+therein, placed the patients on open trucks, and removed them.
+
+The first night of their deportation the sick patients and nurses
+slept in a camp at Steelpoortdrift, under the trolley waggons and in
+the bitter cold, and although the women and children were lamenting
+and weeping the entire night, their complaints were not listened to. I
+have declarations testifying to the most inhuman, heartless, and cruel
+maltreatment committed towards helpless women and children on this
+occasion.
+
+Probably, your Excellency knows nothing about these incidents, and as
+regards the _bona-fides_ of our ambulances, I wish to point out to you
+that British officers depend largely on the assertions of kaffirs, and
+especially on the allegations of traitors, and on the slightest
+provocation ignore the rights of the Red Cross.
+
+The column referred to also burned, and plundered and destroyed many
+houses at Steenkampsberg, Witpoort and many other places, without
+there being one single shot fired in the neighbourhood by our
+burghers. And all this was allowed to occur in spite of your
+Excellency's promises at the meeting of the Commandant-General Botha
+at Middelburg.
+
+Latterly, it has often occurred that British ambulances have fallen
+into my hands. At Bethel, three doctors and an ambulance attached to
+General Plumer's force fell into my hands. Near Vaalkop, Major
+Morris's ambulance, and near Belfast an ambulance, attached to your
+brother's forces, were in my power, but I always regarded and treated
+ambulances flying the Red Cross as neutral and humane institutions,
+and I even liberated the soldiers employed to attend your wounded.
+
+And not a single one of these doctors or attendants was provided with
+a certificate, and I have invariably accepted their word that they
+were legally attached to the Red Cross. But what is the attitude of
+the British officers towards us?
+
+I trust your Excellency will give me a satisfactory reply to these
+complaints, and issue orders to remedy them.
+
+  I am,
+
+      Your Excellency's most obedient servant,
+
+                                          B. J. VILJOEN.
+
+                               _Assistant Commandant-General._
+
+
+                                   District Lydenburg,
+                                        _8th September, 1901_.
+
+TO HIS EXCELLENCY, LORD KITCHENER,
+  _Commanding the British Troops in South Africa, Pretoria_.
+
+YOUR EXCELLENCY,
+
+I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's letter
+to General Blood, dated Pretoria, 31st of August, from which I
+understand that your Excellency essays to justify the use of the white
+flag for the dissemination of proclamations through our lines, in
+connection with which your Excellency offers arguments which I do not
+hesitate to say are utterly untenable.
+
+Firstly, it is asserted by your Excellency that the sending of these
+documents addressed to individuals is justified under the white flag;
+secondly, that your Excellency considers it your Excellency's duty to
+render us conversant with the contents of your Excellency's
+proclamations in order that we shall be informed what our fate shall
+be after the 15th September next, &c., &c., &c.
+
+With regard to the first argument introduced, I regret that I must
+dispute your Excellency's contention that this is legal, and I am
+assured that an impartial court would declare it as illegal. I enclose
+herewith the copy of a letter from General W. Kitchener, dated 1st
+September last, in answer to a complaint of my _locum tenens_,
+"Fighting"-General Muller, with respect to the taking and removing by
+the said General W. Kitchener's troops of our ambulance and hospital
+attendants, from which letter it will appear that General Kitchener
+considers the sending of a white flag despatch concerning important
+and serious irregularities as "trivial communications." How am I to
+understand British officers?
+
+Your Excellency thinks that it is permissible to employ the white flag
+to send pernicious and misleading proclamations within our lines,
+whereas General W. Kitchener warns us not to employ the white flag
+when we are compelled to complain concerning the British Army where
+the latter removes and robs us of our ambulances, as occurred in
+connection with the ambulance of Dr. Neethling, which was removed to
+Middelburg, and after being relieved of food, medical instruments, a
+number of vehicles, eight mules, and 10 oxen, was sent back.
+
+With regard to the second matter, your Excellency, I should say,
+appears to display as keen an interest in our ultimate fate as
+Messrs. Dillon and Labouchere, and, if I possessed any prophetic
+faculty, I should probably be better able to appreciate your
+Excellency's interest in ourselves.
+
+In the letter referred to above, your Excellency mentions a letter
+sent to his Honour, Commandant-General Botha, in which your Excellency
+asserts that certain murders committed by us filled the British public
+with horror, and that these murders provoked Mr. Chamberlain's remark
+"that the acts of the Boers justified the description of marauding
+ruffianisms." I cannot believe such acts have been committed by us or
+ours with the knowledge of our officers, or that any such acts will be
+committed. It is, of course, impossible for me to discuss this matter
+further, as I am ignorant of the circumstances.
+
+With reference to your Excellency's contention that the destruction of
+our enemy's railway lines is unjustifiable, I can only say that such
+action is not only regarded as legal by all military authorities, but
+that in a handbook published by Sir Garnet Wolseley circumstantial
+instructions are given in this connection for interrupting hostile
+supplies. As your Excellency rightly remarks, we, as soldiers, must
+take the rough with the smooth, and not complain petulantly when in
+certain cases a less gentle treatment is dealt out. Military
+operations, such as the blowing up of railway lines, are as unpleasant
+to us as I hope the destruction of our houses, the burning of our
+food, and the deportation of our families may be to your Excellency.
+
+  I have the honour to be,
+               Your Excellency's obedient servant,
+                                            B. J. VILJOEN,
+
+                                   _Assistant Commandant-General,
+                                     Transvaal Burgher Forces._
+
+
+                                   District Lydenburg,
+                                        _21st September, 1901_.
+
+TO HIS HONOUR GENERAL SIR BINDON BLOOD, _Middelburg_.
+
+YOUR HONOUR,
+
+I am compelled to protest against the methods of one of your columns,
+which during the past week has been operating round about Roos
+Senekal, and which has burnt and destroyed the food of a number of
+families which it did not deport. This is surely a most inhuman
+action, inasmuch that the families mentioned are now in a destitute
+position. The families in question are those of Mr. Hans Grobler of
+Klip River, and others at Tondeldoos. I should also like to know why
+Dr. Manning and his ambulance and wounded have been removed from
+Tondeldoos, notwithstanding former assurances that the Red Cross
+should be regarded as neutral and left unmolested.
+
+  I have the honour to be,
+              Your Honour's obedient servant,
+
+                                    B. J. VILJOEN.
+                           _Assistant Commandant-General._
+
+
+                                   Head Quarters, Pretoria,
+                                        _26th October, 1901_.
+
+TO GENERAL BEN VILJOEN.
+
+SIR,
+
+I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 8th of
+October, in which you complain of attacks upon your burghers, and the
+families and the property of your burghers, by kaffirs. You specify
+two particular incidents in your letter:--
+
+     (_a_) The incident at Wit River on the 22nd September, 1901.
+
+     (_b_) The burning and plundering of homesteads at Ohrigstad.
+
+I have investigated both cases and find that the facts are as
+follows:--
+
+     (_a_) In the first case a small body of mounted troops in
+     charge of an officer attempted to capture a number of Boer
+     waggons near Wit River on the 22nd September. A fight took
+     place, and during the battle a band of kaffirs, of whose
+     proximity His Majesty's troops had no knowledge, approached
+     from another direction and commenced shooting on the
+     burghers. This being observed, His Majesty's troops were
+     withdrawn in order to avert any appearance of co-operation
+     with the kaffirs, and a report in connection with the
+     incident was immediately sent in.
+
+     (_b_) In the second case Colonel Parke, the commanding
+     officer of His Majesty's troops in the district named,
+     reports that there is no foundation for the report supplied
+     to you. On the 3rd of September all families in Ohrigstad
+     district were removed by him. Harber's burgher commando was
+     present, but took no part in the operation. On this occasion
+     it was reported by a Boer woman that a number of kaffirs had
+     appeared there the day previous and had plundered the
+     village of Ohrigstad, but the kaffirs were acting
+     independently of His Majesty's troops, and no further
+     information as regards the matter is available except the
+     report as stated above.
+
+In conclusion, I think that it is not improbable that kaffirs have
+made attacks in the districts named by you, but I can only attribute
+these attacks to the action of your own burghers, _i.e._, to the
+shooting and robbing of kaffirs, and the enmity thereby awakened among
+the kaffirs by such maltreatment. While at the same time they (the
+burghers) have supplied the kaffirs, by manner of sale, of weapons and
+ammunition wherewith the attacks were made concerning which you
+complain. I emphatically deny that they (the kaffirs) were armed or
+incited by His Majesty's troops.
+
+  I have the honour to be,
+                 Your obedient servant,
+
+                                        KITCHENER,
+                                 _Commander-in-Chief in
+                                      South Africa_.
+
+
+                                   District Lydenburg,
+                                        _6th November, 1901._
+
+TO HIS EXCELLENCY LORD KITCHENER,
+  _Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's Forces in South Africa._
+
+YOUR EXCELLENCY,--
+
+I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's
+letter of the 26th October, containing a denial of certain acts
+committed by armed kaffirs in the neighbourhood of Wit River and
+Ohrigstad.
+
+With respect to the first incident, _i.e._, that at Wit River, I can
+only say that it appeared to us not only strange, but even improbable
+that a band of armed kaffirs could attack simultaneously, and in
+evident harmony with His Majesty's troops, and that neither party
+should have any cognisance of the other's presence.
+
+If it were the first occasion that His Majesty's troops had acted in
+conjunction and with the assistance of kaffirs to make raids on the
+burghers, then His Excellency's explanation would be feasible.
+
+But, alas, our bitter experience in this War is otherwise. I shall,
+therefore, be causing your Excellency no surprise if I contend that
+your Excellency's explanation is untenable. As to what occurred at
+Ohrigstad, I adhere to what I said, and to my letter of the 8th of
+October, and I regret to observe that Colonel Parke misled your
+Excellency by giving you an inaccurate account of the true facts.
+
+To assist Colonel Parke's memory I may state that the same night he
+left Lydenburg on his way to Kruger's Post, the Boer, Harber, with his
+band of traitors, proceeded through Klipkloof and across
+Joubertshoogte, accompanied by 100 armed kaffirs, and passed
+Field-Cornet Zwart's farm at Uitkomst, where the plundering of Boer
+families and homesteads was commenced. This was done at the explicit
+instructions and in the presence of the said Harber.
+
+The same afternoon Harber was met by the forces under Colonel Parke,
+at Rustplaats, whence they conjointly withdrew to Kruger's Post Nek.
+
+The next morning Colonel Parke once more proceeded to Ohrigstad, where
+our families were again plundered and deported, and the homesteads
+raided and burned.
+
+Accordingly, only the last paragraph of Colonel Parke's report is
+correct; and if your Excellency would take the trouble to question
+and examine the families now in your hands--as requested in my former
+letter--your Excellency would easily ascertain the true facts.
+
+Since I construe from your Excellency's letter that Harber and his
+corps are recognised as attached to His Majesty's forces, His
+Majesty's officers must be held responsible for the acts of the said
+Harber and his kaffir hordes.
+
+It is not to be assumed that Harber and his corps, all armed, and
+attired in khaki, only accompanied His Majesty's Army as spectators or
+military attachés.
+
+In conclusion, I observe that your Excellency repeats the allegation
+that kaffirs are promiscuously shot, robbed, and maltreated by our
+burghers, and that arms have been sold to the kaffirs by our burghers;
+and that you trace the hostile attitude of the kaffirs towards us to
+these causes.
+
+As regards the hostile attitude of the kaffir races I can refer your
+Excellency to a letter from his Honour, General Louis Botha, on the
+same subject, wherein it is notified, _inter alia_, that prior to the
+arrival of British troops in these districts, and in Swaziland, the
+kaffir races, without exception, maintained a pacific attitude, a fact
+which speaks for itself.
+
+I must again repeat that the allegation that burghers sold arms to
+the kaffirs is, so far as I know, untrue, and that this is merely one
+of the many baseless accusations which have emanated from traitors and
+unscrupulous individuals, and are offered by them as "important
+information" to the British officers.
+
+That kaffirs were provided by His Majesty's officers with arms can be
+proved by intercepted documents, and I enclose herewith an extract
+from the diary of Sergeant Buchanan, of Steinacker's Horse, from which
+your Excellency will perceive that Lieutenant Gray, an officer of His
+Majesty's Army, did personally supply kaffirs with arms and
+ammunition.
+
+  I have the honour to be,
+                 Your Excellency's obedient servant,
+                                            B. J. VILJOEN.
+                                  _Assistant Commandant-General._
+
+
+                                   District of Lydenburg,
+                                        _7th November, 1901._
+
+THE OFFICER COMMANDING LYDENBURG,
+
+DEAR SIR,--
+
+I shall be obliged by your bringing the following to the attention of
+Lord Kitchener, namely, that on 29th October last the residence of a
+certain D. Coetzee, on the Vrischgewaard Farm, in this district, was
+surrounded during the night of that day, or approximately at that
+time, by His Majesty's troops, assisted by a number of kaffirs and
+traitors, and that only the youth Abraham Coetzee, occupied the house,
+and that this youth, while attempting to escape, was shot through the
+stomach. Coetzee was, furthermore, left in a shed, and robbed of all
+his personal goods, and even his clothes.
+
+The following day I found him still alive, but he died shortly after.
+He declared that in the presence of white British troops he had been
+robbed, knocked about, and kicked by armed kaffirs. I know beforehand
+that the officer responsible for this noble and civilised act will
+attempt to pervert the truth, because I am assured that His Excellency
+cannot sanction this method of warfare. But this case is personally
+known to me, and in my opinion, the declaration of a dying man is
+worthy of credit.
+
+  I have the honour to be,
+
+               Your very obedient servant,
+
+                                       B. J. VILJOEN.
+
+
+                                   On the Veldt,
+                                        _11th November, 1901._
+
+TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE MARQUIS OF SALISBURY,
+  _Prime Minister of His British Majesty's Government_.
+
+YOUR EXCELLENCY,
+
+Whereas His Honour the Commandant-General, and other commanding
+officers, have already more than once, without any result, protested
+to the Commanding Officer of your Forces in South Africa against the
+employment of savage aborigines in this War, and notwithstanding that
+we have repeatedly assured your military authorities here that on our
+side every effort is being made to keep kaffirs entirely outside this
+War, this Government is of opinion that it is its duty to earnestly
+and solemnly protest to your Government, as we hereby do, and at the
+same time to point out and direct its attention to the horrible and
+cruel consequences of this manner of warfare.
+
+Former protests sent in to your military authorities here in this
+connection have met with the reply that such kaffirs were only
+employed as unarmed scouts, though we have proof that they actually
+fight against us, and pursue their destructive methods while in the
+ranks of your forces, and as isolated commandos directed by British
+officers.
+
+These kaffirs, being ignorant of the rules of civilised warfare, have
+not hesitated on various occasions and even in the presence of your
+troops, to kill prisoners-of-war in a barbarous fashion. This is only
+one of the evil consequences resulting from the employment of
+barbarians in war, because it has also occurred that defenceless women
+and children have been made prisoners by these wild ruffians, and
+removed to kaffir kraals for detention until they were handed over to
+the British military authorities.
+
+This Government is prepared, in case the above allegations are denied,
+to send your Excellency a large number of sworn declarations
+confirming the facts.
+
+  We have the honour to be,
+              Your Excellency's most obedient servants,
+
+                                   S. W. BURGER
+                           (_Acting State President_).
+
+                                   F. W. REITZ
+                           (_Acting State Secretary_).
+
+
+                              Army Headquarters, Pretoria, South Africa.
+                                        _1st December, 1901._
+
+SIR,
+
+I observe from a communication which his Honour Schalk Burger has
+requested me to forward to Lord Salisbury, and which I have so
+forwarded, that his Government complains of the treatment of the women
+and children in the camps which we have established for their
+reception.
+
+Everything has been done which the conditions of a state of war
+allowed to provide for the well-being of the women and children; but
+as you complain of that treatment and must, therefore, be in a
+position to provide for them, I have the honour to inform you that all
+women and children at present in our camps who are willing to leave
+will be sent to your care, and I shall be happy to be informed where
+you desire that they should be handed over to you.
+
+I have addressed a reply to His Honour Schalk Burger in the above
+sense.
+
+  I have the honour to be, Sir,
+                      Your obedient servant,
+
+                                        KITCHENER,
+                             _General Commanding-in-Chief,
+                                      South Africa_.
+
+
+
+
+TO GENERAL C. DE WET.
+
+
+
+
+MESSRS. HOOD, DOUGLAS & HOWARD'S ANNOUNCEMENTS.
+
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+
+Famous Fighting Regiments.
+
+By GEORGE HOOD
+
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+
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+MEE. Illustrated, 2s. 6d.
+
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+     it is concise, and his sketch and appreciation of the life
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+
+
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+Romantic Career. By DAVID CAMPBELL. Illustrated, 1s. 6d.
+
+     _The Bookman:_ "A sympathetic and appreciative sketch of the
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+
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+
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+
+
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+by His Excellency Baron Hayashi, Japanese Minister in London, 1s. 6d.
+
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+     and the characteristics of the country and its people are
+     set forth in a very concise and lucid way."
+
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+
+
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+
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+
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+
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+principal leaders in the War. By BEN VILJOEN. _Price Three Shillings
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+
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+
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+Fully Illustrated. 1s.
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+"DR. JOHNSON PRESS," FLEET LANE, LONDON, E.C.
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+<title>The Project Gutenberg e-Book of My Reminiscences of the Anglo-Boer War; Author: Ben Viljoen.</title>
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+
+Project Gutenberg's My Reminiscences of the Anglo-Boer War, by Ben Viljoen
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: My Reminiscences of the Anglo-Boer War
+
+Author: Ben Viljoen
+
+Illustrator: P. Van Breda
+
+Release Date: April 11, 2008 [EBook #25049]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANGLO-BOER WAR ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Christine P. Travers and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<p class="tn">Transcriber's note: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected, all
+other inconsistencies are as in the original. The author's spelling has
+been maintained.</p>
+
+<p class="tn">Page 453: The sentence "which [missing word] consider it as still
+improper to disclose." has been changed to "which I consider as still
+improper to disclose."</p>
+
+<a id="img001" name="img001"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img001.jpg" width="400" height="543" alt="" title="">
+<p class="smcap">General Ben Viljoen and his Secretary (Mr. J. Visser).</p>
+</div>
+
+
+<h1>MY REMINISCENCES OF THE ANGLO-BOER WAR</h1>
+
+<p class="center p4 noindent">BY</p>
+
+<h2>GENERAL BEN VILJOEN</h2>
+
+<p class="center smaller">(ASSISTANT COMMANDANT-GENERAL OF THE TRANSVAAL BURGHER FORCES AND MEMBER
+FOR JOHANNESBURG IN THE TRANSVAAL VOLKSRAAD)</p>
+
+<p class="smcap p4 center">Maps from Drawings by P. Van Breda</p>
+
+<p class="noindent p4 center smaller">LONDON:<br>
+  HOOD, DOUGLAS, &amp; HOWARD,<br>
+  11, CLIFFORD'S INN, E.C.<br>
+  1902.</p>
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a id="page005" name="page005"></a>(p. 005)</span> PREFACE.</h2>
+
+
+<p>General Ben Viljoen, while engaged on this work, requested me to write a
+short introduction to it. This request I gladly comply with.</p>
+
+<p>General Viljoen was a prisoner-of-war at Broadbottom Camp, St. Helena,
+where, after two years' service in South Africa, I was stationed with my
+regiment. It was at the General's further request that I conveyed this
+work to Europe for publication.</p>
+
+<p>The qualities which particularly endeared this brave and justly-famous
+Boer officer to us were his straightforwardness and unostentatious
+manner, his truthfulness, and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page006" name="page006"></a>(p. 006)</span> the utter absence of
+affectation that distinguishes him. I am certain that he has written his
+simple narrative with candour and impartiality, and I feel equally
+certain, from what I know of him, that this most popular of our late
+opponents has reviewed the exciting episodes of the War with an honesty,
+an intelligence, and a humour which many previous publications on the
+War have lacked.</p>
+
+<p>During his stay at St. Helena I became deeply attached to General
+Viljoen; and in conclusion I trust that this work, which entailed many
+hours of labour, will yield him a handsome recompense.</p>
+
+<p><span class="left30">THEODORE BRINCKMAN, C.B.</span><br>
+<span class="italic left50">Colonel Commanding</span>,<br>
+<span class="italic left40">3rd, The Buffs (East Kent Regt.)</span></p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Tarbert,</span><br>
+<span class="smcap add2em">Loch Fyne,</span><br>
+<span class="smcap add4em">Scotland.</span><br>
+<span class="add6em italic">September, 1902</span></p>
+
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a id="page007" name="page007"></a>(p. 007)</span> INDEX TO CONTENTS.</h2>
+
+<div class="toc"><a id="toc" name="toc"></a>
+<p>&nbsp;<span class="ralign">Page</span></p>
+<p>PREFACE BY COL. THEODORE BRINCKMAN, C.B. <span class="ralign"><a href="#page005">5</a></span></p>
+
+<p>THE AUTHOR TO THE READER <span class="ralign"><a href="#page009">9</a></span></p>
+
+<p>CHAPTER</p>
+<ul class="smcap">
+<li>the war clouds gather <span class="ralign"><a href="#page019">19</a></span></li>
+<li>and the war storm breaks <span class="ralign"><a href="#page024">24</a></span></li>
+<li>the invasion of natal <span class="ralign"><a href="#page030">30</a></span></li>
+<li>defeated at elandslaagte <span class="ralign"><a href="#page040">40</a></span></li>
+<li>pursued by the lancers <span class="ralign"><a href="#page044">44</a></span></li>
+<li>risking joubert's anger <span class="ralign"><a href="#page059">59</a></span></li>
+<li>the boer general's superstitions <span class="ralign"><a href="#page068">68</a></span></li>
+<li>"great powers" to intervene <span class="ralign"><a href="#page072">72</a></span></li>
+<li>colenso and spion kop fights <span class="ralign"><a href="#page078">78</a></span></li>
+<li>the battle of vaalkrantz <span class="ralign"><a href="#page088">88</a></span></li>
+<li>the turn of the tide <span class="ralign"><a href="#page100">100</a></span></li>
+<li>the great boer retreat <span class="ralign"><a href="#page110">110</a></span></li>
+<li>driven from the biggarsbergen <span class="ralign"><a href="#page124">124</a></span></li>
+<li>dispirited and demoralised <span class="ralign"><a href="#page133">133</a></span></li>
+<li>occupation of pretoria <span class="ralign"><a href="#page145">145</a></span></li>
+<li>battle of donkerhoek ("diamond hill") <span class="ralign"><a href="#page150">150</a></span></li>
+<li>i become a general <span class="ralign"><a href="#page161">161</a></span></li>
+<li>our camp burned out  <span class="ralign"><a href="#page175">175</a></span></li>
+<li>battle of bergendal (machadodorp) <span class="ralign"><a href="#page181">181</a></span></li>
+<li>two thousand british prisoners released <span class="ralign"><a href="#page185">185</a></span></li>
+<li>a government in flight <span class="ralign"><a href="#page193">193</a></span></li>
+<li><span class="pagenum"><a id="page008" name="page008"></a>(p. 008)</span> an ignominious dispersal <span class="ralign"><a href="#page204">204</a></span></li>
+<li>a dreary trek through feverland <span class="ralign"><a href="#page212">212</a></span></li>
+<li>pains and pleasures of commandeering <span class="ralign"><a href="#page237">237</a></span></li>
+<li>punishing the pro-british <span class="ralign"><a href="#page246">246</a></span></li>
+<li>battle of rhenosterkop <span class="ralign"><a href="#page258">258</a></span></li>
+<li>the second christmas at war <span class="ralign"><a href="#page278">278</a></span></li>
+<li>capture of "lady roberts" <span class="ralign"><a href="#page285">285</a></span></li>
+<li>a dismal "happy new year" <span class="ralign"><a href="#page302">302</a></span></li>
+<li>general attack on british forts <span class="ralign"><a href="#page307">307</a></span></li>
+<li>a "bluff" and a battle <span class="ralign"><a href="#page322">322</a></span></li>
+<li>execution of a traitor <span class="ralign"><a href="#page333">333</a></span></li>
+<li>in a tight corner <span class="ralign"><a href="#page339">339</a></span></li>
+<li>eluding the british cordon <span class="ralign"><a href="#page348">348</a></span></li>
+<li>boer government's narrow escape <span class="ralign"><a href="#page358">358</a></span></li>
+<li>a government on horseback <span class="ralign"><a href="#page377">377</a></span></li>
+<li>blowing up an armoured train <span class="ralign"><a href="#page382">382</a></span></li>
+<li>trapping pro-british boers <span class="ralign"><a href="#page388">388</a></span></li>
+<li>brutal kaffirs' murder trail <span class="ralign"><a href="#page402">402</a></span></li>
+<li>capturing a freebooter's lair <span class="ralign"><a href="#page411">411</a></span></li>
+<li>ambushing the hussars <span class="ralign"><a href="#page416">416</a></span></li>
+<li>i talk with general blood <span class="ralign"><a href="#page421">421</a></span></li>
+<li>mrs. botha's baby and the "tommy" <span class="ralign"><a href="#page425">425</a></span></li>
+<li>the last christmas of the war <span class="ralign"><a href="#page435">435</a></span></li>
+<li>my last days on the veldt <span class="ralign"><a href="#page442">442</a></span></li>
+<li>i am ambushed and captured <span class="ralign"><a href="#page449">449</a></span></li>
+<li>shipped to st. helena <span class="ralign"><a href="#page462">462</a></span></li>
+<li>life in bonaparte's prison <span class="ralign"><a href="#page471">471</a></span></li>
+<li>how we blew up and captured trains <span class="ralign"><a href="#page485">485</a></span></li>
+<li>how we fed and clothed commandos <span class="ralign"><a href="#page496">496</a></span></li>
+<li>our friend the enemy <span class="ralign"><a href="#page506">506</a></span></li>
+<li>the fighting boer and his officer <span class="ralign"><a href="#page515">515</a></span></li>
+</ul>
+
+<p>APPENDIX  <span class="ralign"><a href="#page523">523</a></span></p>
+</div>
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a id="page009" name="page009"></a>(p. 009)</span> THE AUTHOR TO THE READER.</h2>
+
+
+<p>In offering my readers my reminiscences of the late War, I feel that it
+is necessary to ask their indulgence and to plead extenuating
+circumstances for many obvious shortcomings.</p>
+
+<p>It should be pointed out that the preparation of this work was attended
+with many difficulties and disabilities, of which the following were
+only a few:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="quote">
+<p>(1) This is my first attempt at writing a book, and as a
+     simple Afrikander I lay no claim to any literary ability.</p>
+
+<p>(2) When captured by the British forces I was deprived of
+     all my notes, and have been compelled to consult and depend
+     largely upon my memory for my facts and data. I would wish
+     to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page010" name="page010"></a>(p. 010)</span> add, however, that the notes and minutiæ they
+     took from me referred only to events and incidents covering
+     six months of the War. Twice before my capture, various
+     diaries I had compiled fell into British hands; and on a
+     third occasion, when our camp at Dalmanutha was burned out
+     by a "grass-fire," other notes were destroyed.</p>
+
+<p>(3) I wrote this book while a prisoner-of-war, fettered, as
+     it were, by the strong chains with which a British "parole"
+     is circumscribed. I was, so to say, bound hand and foot, and
+     always made to feel sensibly the humiliating position to
+     which we, as prisoners-of-war on this island, were reduced.
+     Our unhappy lot was rendered unnecessarily unpleasant by the
+     insulting treatment offered us by Colonel Price, who
+     appeared to me an excellent prototype of Napoleon's
+     custodian, Sir Hudson Lowe. One has only to read Lord
+     Rosebery's work, "The Last Phase of Napoleon," to realise
+     the insults and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page011" name="page011"></a>(p. 011)</span> indignities Sir Hudson Lowe heaped
+     upon a gallant enemy.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>We Boers experienced similar treatment from our custodian, Colonel
+Price, who appeared to be possessed with the very demon of distrust and
+who conjured up about us the same fantastic and mythical plans of escape
+as Sir Hudson Lowe attributed to Napoleon. It is to his absurd
+suspicions about our safe custody that I trace the bitterly offensive
+regulations enforced on us.</p>
+
+<p>While engaged upon this work, Colonel Price could have pounced down upon
+me at any moment, and, having discovered the manuscript, would certainly
+have promptly pronounced the writing of it in conflict with the terms of
+my "parole."</p>
+
+<p>I have striven as far as possible to refrain from criticism, except when
+compelled to do so, and to give a coherent story, so that the reader may
+easily follow the episodes I have sketched. I have also endeavoured to
+be impartial, or, at least, so impartial as an erring human being can be
+who has just <span class="pagenum"><a id="page012" name="page012"></a>(p. 012)</span> quitted the bloody battlefields of a bitter
+struggle.</p>
+
+<p>But the sword is still wet, and the wound is not yet healed.</p>
+
+<p>I would assure my readers that it has not been without hesitation that I
+launch this work upon the world. There have been many amateur and
+professional writers who have preceded me in overloading the reading
+public with what purport to be "true histories" of the War. But having
+been approached by friends to add my little effort to the ponderous
+tomes of War literature, I have written down that which I saw with my
+own eyes, and that which I personally experienced. If seeing is
+believing, the reader may lend credence to my recital of every incident
+I have herein recounted.</p>
+
+<p>During the last stages of the struggle, when we were isolated from the
+outside world, we read in newspapers and other printed matter captured
+from the British so many romantic and fabulous stories about ourselves,
+that we were sometimes in doubt whether people in Europe and elsewhere
+would really <span class="pagenum"><a id="page013" name="page013"></a>(p. 013)</span> believe that we were ordinary human beings and
+not legendary monsters. On these occasions I read circumstantial reports
+of my death, and once a long, and by no means flattering, obituary
+(extending over several columns of a newspaper) in which I was compared
+to Garibaldi, "Jack the Ripper," and Aguinaldo. On another occasion I
+learned from British newspapers of my capture, conviction, and execution
+in the Cape Colony for wearing the insignia of the Red Cross. I read
+that I had been brought before a military court at De Aar and sentenced
+to be shot, and what was worse, the sentence was duly confirmed and
+carried out. A very lurid picture was drawn of the execution. Bound to a
+chair, and placed near my open grave, I had met my doom with "rare
+stoicism and fortitude." "At last," concluded my amiable biographer,
+"this scoundrel, robber, and guerilla leader, Viljoen, has been safely
+removed, and will trouble the British Army no longer." I also learned
+with mingled feelings of amazement and pride that, being imprisoned at
+Mafeking at the commencement of hostilities, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page014" name="page014"></a>(p. 014)</span> General
+Baden-Powell had kindly exchanged me for Lady Sarah Wilson.</p>
+
+<p>To be honest, none of the above-mentioned reports were strictly
+accurate. I can assure the reader that I was never killed in action or
+executed at De Aar, I was never in Mafeking or any other prison in my
+life (save here at St. Helena), nor was I in the Cape Colony during the
+War. I never masqueraded with a Red Cross, and I was never exchanged for
+Lady Sarah Wilson. Her ladyship's friends would have found me a very
+poor exchange.</p>
+
+<p>It is also quite inaccurate and unfair to describe me as a "thief" and
+"a scoundrel". It was, indeed, not an heroic thing to do, seeing that
+the chivalrous gentlemen of the South African Press who employed the
+epithets were safely beyond my view and reach, and I had no chance of
+correcting their quite erroneous impressions. I could neither refute nor
+defend myself against their infamous libels, and for the rest, my friend
+"Mr. Atkins" kept us all exceedingly busy.</p>
+
+<p>That which is left of Ben Viljoen after
+the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page015" name="page015"></a>(p. 015)</span> several <span lang="fr">"coups de
+grace"</span> in the field and the tragic execution at De Aar, still "pans" out
+at a fairly robust young person&mdash;quite an ordinary young fellow, indeed,
+thirty-four years of age, of middle height and build. Somewhere in the
+<span lang="fr">Marais Quartier</span> of Paris&mdash;where the French Huguenots came from&mdash;there
+was an ancestral Viljoen from whom I am descended. In the War just
+concluded I played no great part of my own seeking. I met many
+compatriots who were better soldiers than myself; but on occasions I was
+happily of some small service to my Cause and to my people.</p>
+
+<p>The chapters I append are, like myself, simple in form. If I have become
+notorious it is not my fault; it is the fault of the newspaper
+paragraphist, the snap-shooter, and the autograph fiend; and in these
+pages I have endeavoured, as far as possible, to leave the stage to more
+prominent actors, merely offering myself as guide to the many
+battlefields on which we have waged our unhappy struggle.</p>
+
+<p>I shall not disappoint the reader by promising <span class="pagenum"><a id="page016" name="page016"></a>(p. 016)</span> him sensational
+or thrilling episodes. He will find none such in these pages; he will
+find only a naked and unembellished story.</p>
+
+<p><span class="left50">BEN J. VILJOEN.</span><br>
+<span class="left30">(<span class="italic">Assistant Commandant-General
+  of the Republican Forces.</span>)</span></p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">St. Helena</span>,<br>
+  <span class="add2em italic">June, 1902</span><a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+<a id="img002a" name="img002a"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img002a.jpg" width="400" height="618" alt="Map of Nicholsons Nek &amp; Modderspruit." title="">
+</div>
+
+<a id="img002b" name="img002b"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img002b.jpg" width="400" height="623" alt="Map of Monte Christo." title="">
+</div>
+
+<a id="img002c" name="img002c"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img002c.jpg" width="600" height="385" alt="Map of Colenso." title="">
+</div>
+
+<a id="img002d" name="img002d"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img002d.jpg" width="600" height="389" alt="Map of Spioen Kop." title="">
+</div>
+
+<a id="img002e" name="img002e"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img002e.jpg" width="600" height="385" alt="Map of Vaalkrantz." title="">
+</div>
+
+<a id="img002f" name="img002f"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img002f.jpg" width="600" height="386" alt="Map of Pieter's Hill." title="">
+</div>
+
+<a id="img002g" name="img002g"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img002g.jpg" width="600" height="387" alt="Map of Stromberg." title="">
+</div>
+
+<a id="img002h" name="img002h"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img002h.jpg" width="400" height="620" alt="Map of Abramskraal." title="">
+</div>
+
+<h1><span class="pagenum"><a id="page017" name="page017"></a>(p. 017)</span> MY REMINISCENCES
+
+OF THE
+
+ANGLO-BOER WAR</h1>
+
+
+<h3>CHAPTER <abbr title="1">I.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">THE WAR CLOUDS GATHER.</p>
+
+
+<p>In 1895 the political clouds gathered thickly and grew threatening. They
+were unmistakable in their portent. War was meant, and we heard the
+martial thunder rumbling over our heads.</p>
+
+<p>The storm broke in the shape of an invasion from Rhodesia on our Western
+frontiers, a raid planned by soldiers of a friendly power.</p>
+
+<p>However one may endeavour to argue the chief cause of the South African
+war to other issues, it remains an irrebuttable fact that the Jameson
+Raid was primarily responsible for <span class="pagenum"><a id="page018" name="page018"></a>(p. 018)</span> the hostilities which
+eventually took place between Great Britain and the Boer Republics.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Rhodes, the sponsor and <span class="italic">deus ex machinâ</span> of the Raid, could not
+agree with Mr. Paul Kruger, and had failed in his efforts to establish
+friendly relations with him. Mr. Kruger, quite as stubborn and ambitious
+as Mr. Rhodes, placed no faith in the latter's amiable proposals, and
+the result was that fierce hatred was engendered between the two
+Gideons, a racial rancour spreading to fanatical lengths.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Jameson's stupid raid is now a matter of history; but from that
+fateful New Year's Day of 1896 we Boers date the terrible trials and
+sufferings to which our poor country has been exposed. To that
+mischievous incident, indeed, we directly trace the struggle now
+terminated.</p>
+
+<p>This invasion, which was synchronous with an armed rebellion at
+Johannesburg, was followed by the arrest and imprisonment of the
+so-called gold magnates of the Witwatersrand. Whether these exceedingly
+wealthy but extremely degenerate sons of Albion and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page019" name="page019"></a>(p. 019)</span> Germania
+deserved the death sentence pronounced upon their leaders at Pretoria
+for high treason it is not for me to judge.</p>
+
+<p>I do recall, however, what an appeal for mercy there went up, how
+piteously the Transvaal Government was petitioned and supplicated, and
+finally moved "to forgive and forget." The same faction who now press so
+obdurately for "no mercy" upon the Colonial Afrikanders who joined us,
+then supplicated all the Boer gods for forgiveness.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime the Republic was plagued by the rinderpest scourge, which
+wrought untold havoc throughout the country. This scourge was preceded
+by the dynamite disaster at Vrededorp (near Johannesburg) and the
+railway disaster at Glencoe in Natal. It was succeeded by a smallpox
+epidemic, which, in spite of medical efforts, grew from sporadic to
+epidemic and visited all classes of the Rand, exacting victims wherever
+it travelled. During the same period difficulties occurred in Swaziland
+necessitating the despatch of a strong commando to the disaffected
+district and the maintenance of a garrison at Bremersdorp. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page020" name="page020"></a>(p. 020)</span> The
+following year hostilities were commenced against the Magato tribe in
+the north of the Republic.</p>
+
+<p>After an expensive expedition, lasting six months, the rebellion was
+quelled. There was little doubt that the administration of unfaithful
+native commissioners was in part responsible for the difficulties, but
+there is less doubt that external influences also contributed to the
+rebellion. This is not the time, however, to tear open old wounds.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Rhodes has disappeared from the stage for ever; he died as he had
+lived. His relentless enemy Mr. Kruger, who was pulling the strings at
+the other end, is still alive. Perhaps the old man may be spared to see
+the end of the bloody drama; it was undoubtedly he and Mr. Rhodes who
+played the leading parts in the prologue.</p>
+
+<p>Which of these two "Big Men" took the greatest share in bringing about
+the Disaster which has drenched South Africa with blood and draped it in
+mourning, it would be improper for me at this period to suggest. Mr.
+Rhodes has been summoned before a <span class="pagenum"><a id="page021" name="page021"></a>(p. 021)</span> Higher Tribunal; Mr. Kruger
+has still to come up for judgment before the people whose fate, and very
+existence as a nation, are, at the time of writing, wavering in the
+balance.</p>
+
+<p>We have been at one another's throats, and for this we have to thank our
+"statesmen." It is to be hoped that our leaders of the future will
+attach more value to human lives, and that Boer and Briton will be
+enabled to live amicably side by side.</p>
+
+<p>A calm and statesmanlike government by men free from ambition and racial
+rancour, by men of unblemished reputation, will be the only means of
+pacifying South Africa and keeping South Africa pacified.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page022" name="page022"></a>(p. 022)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="2">II.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">AND THE WAR STORM BREAKS.</p>
+
+
+<p>It was during a desultory discussion of an ordinary sessions of the
+Second Volksraad, in which I represented Johannesburg, that one day in
+September, 1899&mdash;to be precise, the afternoon of the 28th&mdash;the messenger
+of the House came to me with a note, and whispered, "A message from
+General Joubert, Sir; it is urgent, and the General says it requires
+your immediate attention."</p>
+
+<p>I broke the seal of the envelope with some trepidation. I guessed its
+contents, and a few of my colleagues in the Chamber hung over me almost
+speechless with excitement, whispering curiously, "Jong, is dit
+fout?"&mdash;"Is this correct. Is it war?"</p>
+
+<p>Everybody knew, of course, that we were in for a supreme crisis, that
+the relations between Great Britain and our Republic were strained
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page023" name="page023"></a>(p. 023)</span> to the bursting point, that bitter diplomatic notes had been
+exchanged between the governments of the two countries for months past,
+and that a collision, an armed collision, was sooner or later
+inevitable.</p>
+
+<p>Being "Fighting-Commandant" of the Witwatersrand goldfields, and,
+therefore, an officer of the Transvaal army, my movements on that day
+excited great interest among my colleagues in the Chamber. After reading
+General Joubert's note I said, as calmly as possible: "Yes, the die is
+cast; I am leaving for the Natal frontier. Good-bye. I must now quit the
+house. Who knows, perhaps for ever!"</p>
+
+<p>General Joubert's mandate was couched as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p class="quote">
+     "You are hereby ordered to proceed with the Johannesburg
+     commando to Volksrust to-morrow, Friday evening, at 8
+     o'clock. Your field cornets have already received
+     instructions to commandeer the required number of burghers
+     and the necessary horses, waggons, and equipment.
+     Instructions have also been given for the necessary railway
+     conveyances to be held ready. Further instructions will
+     reach you."</p>
+
+<p>Previous to my departure next morning <span class="pagenum"><a id="page024" name="page024"></a>(p. 024)</span> I made a hurried call at
+Commandant-General Joubert's offices. The ante-chamber leading to the
+Generalissimo's "sanctum-sanctorum" was crowded with brilliantly-uniformed
+officers of our State Artillery, and it was only by dint of using my
+elbows very vigorously that I gained admission to my chief-in-command.</p>
+
+<p>The old General seemed to feel keenly the gravity of the situation. He
+looked careworn and troubled: "Good-morning, Commandant," he said;
+"aren't you away yet?"</p>
+
+<p>I explained that I was on my way to the railway station, but I thought
+before I left I'd like to see him about one or two things.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, go on, what is it?" General Joubert enquired, petulantly.</p>
+
+<p>"I want to know, General Joubert," I said, "whether England has declared
+war against us, or whether we are taking the lead. And another thing,
+what sort of general have I to report myself to at Volksrust?"</p>
+
+<p>The old warrior, without looking up or immediately answering me, drew
+various cryptic and hieroglyphic pothooks and figures <span class="pagenum"><a id="page025" name="page025"></a>(p. 025)</span> on the
+paper before him. Then he suddenly lifted his eyes and pierced me with a
+look, at which I quailed and trembled.</p>
+
+<p>He said very slowly: "Look here; there is as yet no declaration of war,
+and hostilities have not yet commenced. You and my other officers should
+understand that very clearly, because possibly the differences between
+ourselves and Great Britain may still be settled. We are only going to
+occupy our frontiers because England's attitude is extremely
+provocative, and if England see that we are fully prepared and that we
+do not fear her threats, she will perhaps be wise in time and reconsider
+the situation. We also want to place ourselves in a position to prevent
+and quell a repetition of the Jameson Raid with more force than we
+exerted in 1896."</p>
+
+<p>An hour afterwards I was on board a train travelling to Johannesburg in
+the company of General Piet Cronje and his faithful wife. General Cronje
+told me that he was proceeding to the western districts of the Republic
+to take up the command of the Potchefstroom and Lichtenburg burghers.
+His instructions, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page026" name="page026"></a>(p. 026)</span> he said, were to protect the Western
+frontier.</p>
+
+<p>I left General Cronje at Johannesburg on the 29th September, 1899, and
+never saw him again until I met him at St. Helena nearly two and a half
+years afterwards, on the 25th March, 1902. When I last saw him we
+greeted each other as free men, as free and independent legislators and
+officers of a free Republic. We fought for our rights to live as a
+nation.</p>
+
+<p>Now I meet the veteran Cronje a broken old man, captive like myself, far
+away from our homes and our country.</p>
+
+<p>Then and Now!</p>
+
+<p>Then we went abroad free and freedom-loving men, burning with
+patriotism. Our wives and our women-folk watched us go; full of sorrow
+and anxiety, but satisfied that we were going abroad in our country's
+cause.</p>
+
+<p>And Now!</p>
+
+<p>Two promising and prosperous Republics wrecked, their fair homesteads
+destroyed, their people in mourning, and thousands of innocent <span class="pagenum"><a id="page027" name="page027"></a>(p. 027)</span>
+women and children the victims of a cruel war.</p>
+
+<p>There is scarcely an Afrikander family without an unhealable wound.
+Everywhere the traces of the bloody struggle; and, alas, most poignant
+and distressing fact of all, burghers who fought side by side with us in
+the earlier stages of the struggle are now to be found in the ranks of
+the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>These wretched men, ignoring their solemn duty, left their companions in
+the lurch without sense of shame or respect for the braves who fell
+fighting for their land and people.</p>
+
+<p>Oh, day of judgment! The Afrikander nation will yet avenge your
+treachery.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page028" name="page028"></a>(p. 028)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="3">III.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">THE INVASION OF NATAL.</p>
+
+
+<p>After taking leave of my friend Cronje at Johannesburg Station, my first
+duty was to visit my various field cornets. About four o'clock that
+afternoon I found my commando was as nearly ready as could be expected.
+When I say ready, I mean ready on paper only, as later experience
+showed. My three field cornets were required to equip 900 mounted men
+with waggons and provisions, and of course they had <span class="italic" lang="fr">carte blanche</span> to
+commandeer. Only fully enfranchised burghers of the South African
+Republic were liable to be commandeered, and in Johannesburg town there
+was an extraordinary conglomeration of cosmopolitans amenable to this
+gentle process of enlistment.</p>
+
+<p>It would take up too much time to adequately describe the excitement of
+Johannesburg on this memorable day. Thousands <span class="pagenum"><a id="page029" name="page029"></a>(p. 029)</span> of Uitlanders
+were flying from their homes, contenting themselves, in their hurry to
+get away, to stand in Kaffir or coal trucks and to expose themselves
+cheerfully to the fierce sun, and other elements. The streets were
+palpitating with burghers ready to proceed to the frontier that night,
+and with refugees speeding to the stations. Everybody was in a state of
+intense feeling. One was half-hearted, another cheerful, and a third
+thirsting for blood, while many of my men were under the influence of
+alcohol.</p>
+
+<p>When it was known that I had arrived in the town my room in the North
+Western Hotel was besieged. I was approached by all sorts of people
+pleading exemption from commando duty. One Boer said he knew that his
+solemn duty was to fight for his country and his freedom, but he would
+rather decline. Another declared that he could not desert his family;
+while yet another came forward with a story that of his four horses,
+three had been commandeered, and that these horses were his only means
+of subsistence. A fourth complained that his waggons and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page030" name="page030"></a>(p. 030)</span> mules
+had been clandestinely (although officially) removed. Many malingerers
+suddenly discovered acute symptoms of heart disease and brought
+easily-obtained doctor's certificates, assuring me that tragic
+consequences would attend their exposure in the field. Ladies came to me
+pleading exemption for their husbands, sisters for brothers, mothers for
+sons, all offering plausible reasons why their loved ones should be
+exempted from commando duty. It was very difficult to deal with all
+these clamorous visitors. I was much in the position of King Solomon,
+though lacking his wisdom. But I would venture to say that his ancient
+majesty himself would have been perplexed had he been in my place. It is
+necessary that the reader should know that the main part of the
+population was composed of all nationalities and lacked every element of
+Boer discipline.</p>
+
+<p>On the evening of the 29th of September, I left with the Johannesburg
+commando in two trains. Two-thirds of my men had no personal
+acquaintance with me, and at the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page031" name="page031"></a>(p. 031)</span> departure there was some
+difficulty because of this. One burgher came into my private compartment
+uninvited. He evidently forgot his proper place, and when I suggested to
+him that the compartment was private and reserved for officers, he told
+me to go to the devil, and I was compelled to remove him somewhat
+precipitately from the carriage. This same man was afterwards one of my
+most trustworthy scouts.</p>
+
+<p>The following afternoon we reached Standerton, where I received
+telegraphic instructions from General Joubert to join my commando to
+that of Captain Schiel, who was in charge of the German Corps, and to
+place myself under the supreme command of Jan Kock, a member of the
+Executive Council, who had been appointed a general by the Government.</p>
+
+<p>We soon discovered that quite one-third of the horses we had taken with
+us were untrained for the serious business of fighting, and also that
+many of the new burghers of foreign nationality had not the slightest
+idea how to ride. Our first parade, or <span class="pagenum"><a id="page032" name="page032"></a>(p. 032)</span> "Wapenschouwing" gave
+food for much hilarity. Here one saw horses waltzing and jumping, while
+over there a rider was biting the sand, and towards evening the doctors
+had several patients. It may be stated that although not perfectly
+equipped in the matter of ambulances, we had three physicians with us,
+Doctors Visser, Marais, and Shaw. Our spiritual welfare was being looked
+after by the Reverends Nel and Martins, but not for long, as both these
+gentlemen quickly found that commando life was unpleasant and left us
+spiritually to ourselves, even as the European Powers left us
+politically. But I venture to state that no member of my commando really
+felt acutely the loss of the theological gentlemen who primarily
+accompanied us.</p>
+
+<a id="img003" name="img003"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img003.jpg" width="400" height="580" alt="" title="">
+<p class="smcap">The Capture of the Train at Elandslaagte.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>On the following day General Kock and a large staff arrived at the
+laager, and, together with the German Corps, we trekked to Paardakop and
+Klip River, in the Orange Free State, where we were to occupy Botha's
+Pass. My convoy comprised about a hundred carts, mostly drawn by mules,
+and it was amusing <span class="pagenum"><a id="page033" name="page033"></a>(p. 033)</span> to see the variety of provisions my
+worthy field-cornets had gathered together. There were three full
+waggons of lime-juice and other unnecessary articles which I caused to
+be unloaded at the first halting-place to make room for more serviceable
+provisions. It should be mentioned that of my three field-cornets only
+one, the late Piet Joubert of Jeppestown, actually accompanied my
+commando. The others sent substitutes, perhaps because they did not like
+to expose themselves to the change of air. We rested some days at the
+Klip River, in the Orange Free State, and from thence I was sent with a
+small escort of burghers by our General to Harrismith to meet a number
+of Free State officers. After travelling two days I came upon Chief Free
+State Commandant Prinsloo, who afterwards deserted, and other officers.
+The object of my mission was to organise communications with these
+officers. On the 11th of October, having returned to my commando, we
+received a report that our Government had despatched the Ultimatum to
+England, and that the time specified for <span class="pagenum"><a id="page034" name="page034"></a>(p. 034)</span> the reply to that
+document had elapsed. Hostilities had begun.</p>
+
+<p>We received orders to invade Natal, and crossed the frontier that very
+evening. I, with a patrol of 50 men, had not crossed the frontier very
+far when one of my scouts rode up with the report that a large British
+force was in sight on the other side of the River Ingogo. I said to
+myself at the time: "If this be true the British have rushed up fairly
+quickly, and the fat will be in the fire very soon."</p>
+
+<p>We then broke into scattered formation and carefully proceeded into
+Natal. After much reconnoitring and concealment, however, we soon
+discovered that the "large English force" was only a herd of cattle
+belonging to friendly Boers, and that the camp consisted of two tents
+occupied by some Englishmen and Kaffirs who were mending a defective
+bridge. We also came across a cart drawn by four bullocks belonging to a
+Natal farmer, and I believe this was the first plunder we captured in
+Natal. The Englishman, who said he knew nothing about any war, received
+a pass to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page035" name="page035"></a>(p. 035)</span> proceed with his servants to the English lines, and
+he left with the admonition to in future read the newspapers and learn
+when war was imminent. Next day our entire commando was well into Natal.
+The continuous rain and cold of the Drakenbergen rendered our first
+experience of veldt life, if not unbearable, very discouraging. We
+numbered a fairly large commando, as Commandant J. Lombard, commanding
+the Hollander corps, had also joined us. Close by Newcastle we
+encountered a large number of commandos, and a general council of war
+was held under the presidency of Commandant General Joubert. It was here
+decided that Generals Lukas Meyer and Dijl Erasmus should take Dundee,
+which an English garrison held, while our commandos under General Kock
+were instructed to occupy the Biggarburg Pass. Preceded by scouts we
+wound our way in that direction, leaving all our unnecessary baggage in
+the shape of provisions and ammunition waggons at Newcastle.</p>
+
+<p>One of my acting field-cornets and the field-cornets of the German
+commando, prompted by goodness knows what, pressed <span class="pagenum"><a id="page036" name="page036"></a>(p. 036)</span> forward
+south, actually reaching the railway station at Elandslaagte. A goods
+train was just steaming into the station, and it was captured by these
+foolhardy young Moltkes. I was much dissatisfied with this action, and
+sent a messenger ordering them to retire after having destroyed the
+railway. On the same night I received instructions from General Kock to
+proceed with two hundred men and a cannon to Elandslaagte, and I also
+learned that Captain Schiel and his German Corps had left in the same
+direction.</p>
+
+<p>Imagine, we had gone further than had actually been decided at the
+council of war, and we pressed forward still further without any attempt
+being made to keep in touch with the other commandos on our left and
+right. Seeing the inexpediency of this move, I went to the General in
+command and expressed my objections to it. But General Kock was firmly
+decided on the point, and said, "Go along, my boy." We reached
+Elandslaagte at midnight; it was raining very heavily. After scrambling
+for positions in <span class="pagenum"><a id="page037" name="page037"></a>(p. 037)</span> the darkness, although I had already
+sufficiently seen that the lie of the land suggested no strategic
+operations, we retired to rest. Two days later occurred the fateful
+battle.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page038" name="page038"></a>(p. 038)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="4">IV.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">DEFEATED AT ELANDSLAAGTE.</p>
+
+
+<p>In the grey dawn of the 21st of October a number of scouts I had
+despatched overnight in the direction of Ladysmith returned with the
+tidings that "the khakis were coming." "Where are they, and how many are
+there of them?" I asked. "Commandant," the chief scout replied, "I don't
+know much about these things, but I should think that the English number
+quite a thousand mounted men, and they have guns, and they have already
+passed Modderspruit." To us amateur soldiers this report was by no means
+reassuring, and I confess I hoped fervently that the English might stay
+away for some little time longer.</p>
+
+<p>It was at sunrise that the first shot I heard in this war was fired.
+Presently the men we dreaded were visible on the ridges of hills south
+of the little red railway station at <span class="pagenum"><a id="page039" name="page039"></a>(p. 039)</span> Elandslaagte. Some of my
+men hailed the coming fight with delight; others, more experienced in
+the art of war, turned deadly pale. That is how the Boers felt in their
+first battle. The awkward way in which many of my men sought cover,
+demonstrated at once how inexperienced in warfare we youngsters were. We
+started with our guns and tried a little experimental shooting. The
+second and third shots appeared to be effective; at any rate, as far as
+we could judge, they seemed to disturb the equanimity of the advancing
+troops. I saw an ammunition cart deprived of its team and generally
+smashed.</p>
+
+<p>The British guns appeared to be of very small calibre indeed. Certainly
+they failed to reach us, and all the harm they did was to send a shell
+through a Boer ambulance within the range of fire. This shot was, I
+afterwards ascertained, purely accidental. When the British found that
+we too, strange to say, had guns, and, what is more, knew how to use
+them, they retired towards Ladysmith. But this was merely a ruse; they
+had gone back to fetch more. Still, though it was a ruse, we <span class="pagenum"><a id="page040" name="page040"></a>(p. 040)</span>
+were cleverly deceived by it, and while we were off-saddling and
+preparing the mid-day meal they were arranging a new and more formidable
+attack. From the Modderspruit siding they were pouring troops brought
+down by rail, and although we had a splendid chance of shelling the
+newcomers from the high kopje we occupied, General Kock, who was in
+supreme command of our corps, for some reason which has never been
+explained, refused to permit us to fire upon them. I went to General
+Kock and pleaded with him, but he was adamant. This was a bitter
+disappointment to me, but I consoled myself with the thought that the
+General was much older than myself, and had been fighting since he was a
+baby. I therefore presumed he knew better. Possibly if we younger
+commanders had had more authority in the earlier stages of the war, and
+had had less to deal with arrogant and stupid old men, we should have
+reached Durban and Cape Town.</p>
+
+<p>I must here again confess that none of my men displayed any of the
+martial determination with which they had so buoyantly proceeded
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page041" name="page041"></a>(p. 041)</span> from Johannesburg. To put it bluntly, some of them were
+"footing" it and the English cavalry, taking advantage of this, were
+rapidly outflanking them. The British tactics were plain enough. General
+French had placed his infantry in the centre with three field batteries
+(fifteen pounders), while his cavalry, with Maxims, encompassed our
+right and left. He was forming a crescent, with the obvious purpose of
+turning our position with his right and left wing. When charging at the
+close of the attack the cavalry, which consisted mainly of lancers, were
+on both our flanks, and completely prevented our retreat. It was not
+easy to estimate the number of our assailant's forces. Judging roughly,
+I calculated they numbered between 5,000 and 6,000, while we were 800
+all told, and our artillery consisted merely of two Nordenfeldt guns
+with shell, and no grape shot.</p>
+
+<p>The British certainly meant business that day. It was the baptismal fire
+of the Imperial Light Horse, a corps principally composed of
+Johannesburgers, who were politically and racially our bitter enemies.
+And what was <span class="pagenum"><a id="page042" name="page042"></a>(p. 042)</span> more unfortunate, our guns were so much exposed
+that they were soon silenced. For a long time we did our best to keep
+our opponents at bay, but they came in crushing numbers, and speedily
+dead and maimed burghers covered the veldt. Then the Gordon Highlanders
+and the other infantry detachments commenced to storm our positions. We
+got them well within the range of our rifle fire, and made our presence
+felt; but they kept pushing on with splendid determination and
+indomitable pluck, though their ranks were being decimated before our
+very eyes.</p>
+
+<p>This was the first, as it was the last time in the War that I heard a
+British band playing to cheer attacking "Tommies." I believe it used to
+be a British war custom to rouse martial instincts with lively music,
+but something must have gone wrong with the works in this War, there
+must have occurred a rift in the lute, for ever after this first battle
+of Elandslaagte the British abandoned flags, banners, and bands and
+other quite unnecessary furniture.</p>
+
+<p>About half an hour before sunset, the enemy had come up close to our
+positions and on all <span class="pagenum"><a id="page043" name="page043"></a>(p. 043)</span> sides a terrible battle raged. To keep
+them back was now completely out of the question. They had forced their
+way between a kloof, and while rushing up with my men towards them, my
+rifle was smashed by a bullet. A wounded burgher handed me his and I
+joined Field-Cornet Peter Joubert who, with seven other burghers, was
+defending the kloof. We poured a heavy fire into the British, but they
+were not to be shaken off. Again and again they rushed up in
+irresistible strength, gallantly encouraged by their brave officers.
+Poor Field-Cornet Joubert perished at this point.</p>
+
+<p>When the sun had set and the awful scene was enveloped in darkness there
+was a dreadful spectacle of maimed Germans, Hollanders, Frenchmen,
+Irishmen, Americans, and Boers lying on the veldt. The groans of the
+wounded were heartrending; the dead could no longer speak. Another
+charge, and the British, encouraged by their success, had taken our last
+position, guns and all. My only resource now was to flee, and the battle
+of Elandslaagte was a thing of the past.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page044" name="page044"></a>(p. 044)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="5">V.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">PURSUED BY THE LANCERS.</p>
+
+
+<p>Another last look at the bloody scene. It was very hard to have to beat
+an ignominious retreat, but it was harder still to have to go without
+being able to attend to one's wounded comrades, who were piteously
+crying aloud for help. To have to leave them in the hands of the enemy
+was exceedingly distressing to me. But there was no other course open,
+and fleeing, I hoped I might "live to fight another day." I got away,
+accompanied by Fourie and my Kaffir servant. "Let us go," I said,
+"perhaps we shall be able to fall in with some more burghers round here
+and have another shot at them." Behind us the British lancers were
+shouting "Stop, stop, halt you &mdash;&mdash; Boers!" They fired briskly at us, but
+our little ponies responded gamely to the spur and, aided by the
+darkness, we rode on safely. Still the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page045" name="page045"></a>(p. 045)</span> lancers did not abandon
+the chase, and followed us for a long distance. From time to time we
+could hear the pitiful cries and entreaties of burghers who were being
+"finished off," but we could see nothing. My man and I had fleet horses
+in good condition, those of the pursuing lancers were big and clumsy.</p>
+
+<p>My adjutant, Piet Fourie, however, was not so fortunate as myself. He
+was overtaken and made a prisoner. Revolvers were being promiscuously
+fired at us, and at times the distance between us and our pursuers grew
+smaller. We could plainly hear them shouting "Stop, or I'll shoot you,"
+or "Halt, you damned Boer, or I'll run my lance through your blessed
+body."</p>
+
+<p>We really had no time to take much notice of these pretty compliments.
+It was a race for life and freedom. Looking round furtively once more I
+could distinguish my pursuers; I could see their long assegais; I could
+hear the snorting of their unwieldy horses, the clattering of their
+swords. These unpleasant combinations were enough to strike terror into
+the heart of any ordinary man.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page046" name="page046"></a>(p. 046)</span> Everything now depended upon the fleetness and staying power of
+my sturdy little Boer pony, Blesman. He remained my faithful friend long
+after he had got me out of this scrape; he was shot, poor little chap,
+the day when they made me a prisoner. Poor Blesman, to you I owe my
+life! Blesman was plainly in league against all that was British; from
+the first he displayed Anglophobia of a most acute character. He has
+served me in good stead, and now lies buried, faithful little heart, in
+a Lydenburg ditch.</p>
+
+<p>In my retreat Sunday River had to be crossed. It was deep, but deep or
+not, we had to get through it. We were going at such a pace that we
+nearly tumbled down the banks. The precipice must have been very steep;
+all I remember is finding myself in the water with Blesman by my side.
+The poor chap had got stuck with his four legs in the drift sand. I
+managed to liberate him, and after a lot of scrambling and struggling
+and wading through the four foot stream, I got to the other side. On the
+opposite bank the British were still firing. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page047" name="page047"></a>(p. 047)</span> I therefore
+decided to lie low in the water, hoping to delude them into thinking I
+was killed or drowned. My stratagem was successful. I heard one of my
+pursuers say, "We've finished him," and with a few more pyrotechnic
+farewells they retraced their steps towards Ladysmith.</p>
+
+<p>On the other side, however, more horsemen came in pursuit.
+Unquestionably the British, fired by their splendid success, were
+following up their victory with great vigour, and again I was compelled
+to hide in the long grass into which my native servant, with Ethiopian
+instinct, had already crept. While I was travelling along on foot my man
+had rescued my horse from the muddy banks of the river.</p>
+
+<p>When all was said and done I had escaped with a good wetting. Now for
+Newcastle. I had still my rifle, revolver, and cartridges left to me; my
+field-glass I had lost, probably in the river. Water there was plenty,
+but food I had none. The track to Newcastle to a stranger, such as I was
+in that part of the country, was difficult <span class="pagenum"><a id="page048" name="page048"></a>(p. 048)</span> to discover. To add
+to my perplexities I did not know what had happened at Dundee, where I
+had been told a strong British garrison was in occupation. Therefore, in
+straying in that direction I ran the risk of being captured.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, however, I came upon a kaffir kraal. I was curtly hailed in the
+kaffir language, and upon my asking my swarthy friends to show me the
+road, half a dozen natives, armed with assegais, appeared on the scene.
+I clasped my revolver, as their attitude seemed suspicious. After they
+had inspected me closely, one of the elders of the community said: "You
+is one of dem Boers vat runs avay? We look on and you got dum dum
+to-day. Now we hold you, we take you English magistrate near Ladysmith."
+But I know my kaffir, and I sized up this black Englishman instantly.
+"The fact is," I said, "I'm trekking with a commando of 500 men, and we
+are doing a bit of scouting round your kraal. If you will show me the
+way to the Biggersbergen I will give you 5<abbr title="shillings">s.</abbr> on account." My amiable and
+dusky friend insisted on <span class="pagenum"><a id="page049" name="page049"></a>(p. 049)</span> 7s. 6d., but after I had intimated
+that if he did not accept 5s. I should certainly burn his entire outfit,
+slaughter all his women and kill all his cattle, he acquiesced. A young
+Zulu was deputed as my guide, but I had to use my fists and make pretty
+play with my revolver, and generally hint at a sudden death, or he would
+have left me in the lurch. He muttered to himself for some time, and
+suddenly terminated his soliloquy by turning on his heels and
+disappearing in the darkness.</p>
+
+<p>The light of a lantern presently showed a railway station, which I
+rightly guessed to be Waschbank. Here two Englishmen, probably railway
+officials, came up to me, accompanied by my treacherous guide. The
+latter had obviously been good enough to warn the officials at the
+station of my approach, but luckily they were unarmed. One of them said,
+"You've lost your way, it appears," to which I replied, "Oh, no, indeed;
+I'm on the right track I think." "But," he persisted, "you won't find
+any of your people here now; you've been cut to pieces at Elandslaagte
+and Lukas Meyer's and Erasmus's forces round <span class="pagenum"><a id="page050" name="page050"></a>(p. 050)</span> Dundee have been
+crushed. You had better come along with me to Ladysmith. I promise you
+decent treatment." I took care not to get in between them, and,
+remaining at a little distance, said, revolver in hand, "Thanks very
+much, it's awfully good of you. I have no business to transact in
+Ladysmith for the moment and will now continue my journey. Good-night."
+"No, no, no, wait a minute," returned the man who had spoken first, "you
+know you can't pass here." "We shall see about that," I said. They
+rushed upon me, but ere they could overpower me I had levelled my
+revolver. The first speaker tried to disarm me, but I shook him off and
+shot him. He fell, and as far I know, or could see, was not fatally
+wounded. The other man, thinking discretion the better part of valour,
+disappeared in the darkness, and my unfaithful guide had edged away as
+soon as he saw the glint of my gun.</p>
+
+<p>My adventures on that terrible night were, however, not to end with this
+mild diversion. About an hour after daybreak, I came upon a barn upon
+which the legend "Post Office <span class="pagenum"><a id="page051" name="page051"></a>(p. 051)</span> Savings Bank" was inscribed. A
+big Newfoundland dog lay on the threshold, and although he wagged his
+tail in a not unfriendly manner, he did not seem disposed to take any
+special notice of me. There was a passage between the barn and some
+stables at the back and I went down to prospect the latter. What luck if
+there had been a horse for me there! Of course I should only have wanted
+to borrow it, but there was a big iron padlock on the door, though
+inside the stables I heard the movements of an animal. A horse meant to
+me just then considerably more than three kingdoms to King Richard. For
+the first time in my life I did some delicate burglary and housebreaking
+to boot. But the English declare that all is fair in love and war, and
+they ought to know.</p>
+
+<p>I discovered an iron bar, which enabled me to wrench off the lock from
+the stable door, and, having got so far with my burglarious performance,
+I entered cautiously, and I may say nervously. Creeping up to the manger
+I fumbled about till I caught hold of a strap to which the animal was
+tied, cut the strap <span class="pagenum"><a id="page052" name="page052"></a>(p. 052)</span> through and led the horse away. I was
+wondering why it went so slowly and that I had almost to drag the poor
+creature along. Once outside I found to my utter disgust that my spoil
+was a venerable and decrepit donkey. Disappointed and disheartened, I
+abandoned my booty, leaving that ancient mule brooding meditatively
+outside the stable door and clearly wondering why he had been selected
+for a midnight excursion. But there was no time to explain or apologise,
+and as the mule clearly could not carry me as fast as my own legs, I
+left him to his meditations.</p>
+
+<p>At dawn, when the first rays of the sun lit up the Biggersbergen in all
+their grotesque beauty, I realised for the first time where I was, and
+found that I was considerably more than 12 miles from Elandslaagte, the
+fateful scene of yesterday. Tired out, half-starved and as disconsolate
+as the donkey in the stable, I sat myself on an anthill. For 24 hours I
+had been foodless, and was now quite exhausted. I fell into a reverie;
+all the past day's adventures passed graphically before my eyes as in a
+kaleidoscope; all the horrors and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page053" name="page053"></a>(p. 053)</span> carnage of the battle, the
+misery of my maimed comrades, who only yesterday had answered the
+battle-cry full of vigour and youth, the pathos of the dead who, cut
+down in the prime of their life and buoyant health, lay yonder on the
+veldt, far away from wives and daughters and friends for ever more.</p>
+
+<p>While in a brown study on this anthill, 30 men on horseback suddenly
+dashed up towards me from the direction of Elandslaagte. I threw myself
+flat on my face, seeking the anthill as cover, prepared to sell my life
+dearly should they prove to be Englishmen. As soon as they observed me
+they halted, and sent one of their number up to me. Evidently they knew
+not whether I was friend or foe, for they reconnoitred my prostrate form
+behind the anthill with great circumspection and caution; but I speedily
+recognised comrades-in-arms. I think the long tail which is peculiar to
+the Basuto pony enabled me to identify them as such, and one friend, who
+was their outpost, brought me a reserve horse, and what was even better,
+had extracted from his saddle-bag a tin of welcome bully beef to
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page054" name="page054"></a>(p. 054)</span> stay my gnawing hunger. But they brought sad tidings, these
+good friends. Slain on the battlefield lay Assistant-Commandant J. C.
+Bodenstein and Major Hall, of the Johannesburg Town Council, two of my
+bravest officers, whose loss I still regret.</p>
+
+<p>We rode on slowly, and all along the road we fell in with groups of
+burghers. There was no question that our ranks were demoralised and
+heartsick. Commandant-General Joubert had made Dannhauser Station his
+headquarters and thither we wended our way. But though we approached our
+general with hearts weighed down with sorrow, so strange and complex a
+character is the Boers', that by the time we reached him we had gathered
+together 120 stragglers, and had recovered our spirits and our courage.
+I enjoyed a most refreshing rest on an unoccupied farm and sent a
+messenger to Joubert asking him for an appointment for the following
+morning to hand in my report of the ill-fated battle. The messenger,
+however, brought back a verbal answer that the General was exceedingly
+angry and had sent no reply. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page055" name="page055"></a>(p. 055)</span> On retiring that night I found my
+left leg injured in several places by splinters of shell and stone. My
+garments had to be soaked in water to remove them, but after I had
+carefully cleaned my wounds they very soon healed.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning I waited on the Commandant-General. He received me very
+coldly, and before I could venture a word said reproachfully: "Why
+didn't you obey orders and stop this side of the Biggarsbergen, as the
+Council of War decided you should do?" He followed up the reproach with
+a series of questions: "Where's your general?" "How many men have you
+lost?" "How many English have you killed?" I said deferentially: "Well,
+General, you know I am not to be bullied like this. You know you placed
+me in a subordinate position under the command of General Kock, and now
+you lay all the blame for yesterday's disaster on my shoulders. However,
+I am sorry to say General Kock is wounded and in British hands. I don't
+know how many men we have lost; I suppose about 30 or 40 killed and
+approximately <span class="pagenum"><a id="page056" name="page056"></a>(p. 056)</span> 100 wounded. The British must have lost
+considerably more, but I am not making any estimate."</p>
+
+<p>The grey-bearded generalissimo cooled a little and spoke more kindly,
+although he gave me to understand he did not think much of the
+Johannesburg commando. I replied that they had been fighting very
+pluckily, and that by retiring they hoped to retrieve their fortunes
+some other day. "H'm," returned the General, "some of your burghers have
+made so masterly a retreat that they have already got to Newcastle, and
+I have just wired Field-Cornet Pienaar, who is in charge, that I should
+suggest to him to wait a little there, as I propose sending him some
+railway carriages to enable him to retreat still further. As for those
+Germans and Hollanders with you, they may go to Johannesburg; I won't
+have them here any more."</p>
+
+<p>"General," I protested, "this is not quite fair. These people have
+volunteered to fight for, and with us; we cannot blame them in this
+matter. It is most unfortunate that Elandslaagte should have been lost,
+but as <span class="pagenum"><a id="page057" name="page057"></a>(p. 057)</span> far as I can see there was no help for it." The old
+General appeared lost in thought; he seemed to take but little notice of
+what I said. Finally he looked up and fixed his small glittering eyes
+upon me as if he wished to read my most inmost thoughts.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," he said, "I know all about that. At Dundee things have gone just
+as badly. Lukas Meyer made a feeble attack, and Erasmus left him in the
+lurch. The two were to charge simultaneously, but Erasmus failed him at
+a critical moment, which means a loss of 130 men killed and wounded, and
+Lukas Meyer in retreat across the Buffalo River. And now Elandslaagte on
+the top of all! All this owing to the disobedience and negligence of my
+chief officers."</p>
+
+<p>The old man spoke in this strain for some time, until I grew tired and
+left. But just as I was on the point of proceeding from his tent, he
+said: "Look here, Commandant, reorganise your commando as quickly as you
+can, and report to me as soon as you are ready." He also gave me
+permission to incorporate in the reorganised commando <span class="pagenum"><a id="page058" name="page058"></a>(p. 058)</span> various
+Hollander and German stragglers who were loafing round about, although
+he seemed to entertain an irradicable prejudice against the Dutch and
+German corps.</p>
+
+<p>The Commandant of the Hollander corps, Volksraad Member Lombard, came
+out of the battle unscathed; his captain, Mr. B. J. Verselewel de Witt
+Hamer, had been made a prisoner; the Commandant of the German corps,
+Captain A. Schiel, fell wounded into British hands, while among the
+officers who were killed in action I should mention Dr. H. J. Coster,
+the bravest Hollander the Transvaal ever saw, the most brilliant member
+of the Pretoria Bar, who laid down his life because in a stupid moment
+Kruger had taunted him and his compatriots with cowardice.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page059" name="page059"></a>(p. 059)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="6">VI.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">RISKING JOUBERT'S ANGER.</p>
+
+
+<p>After the above unpleasant but fairly successful interview with our
+Commander-in-Chief, I left the men I had gathered round me in charge of
+a field-cornet, and proceeded by train to Newcastle to collect the
+scattered remnants of my burghers, and to obtain mules and waggons for
+my convoy. For, as I have previously stated, it was at Newcastle we had
+left all our commissariat-waggons and draught cattle under a strong
+escort. On arrival I summoned the burghers together, and addressing them
+in a few words, pointed out that we should, so soon as possible, resume
+the march, in order to reach the fighting line without delay, and there
+retrieve the pride and honour of our commando.</p>
+
+<p>"Our beloved country," I said, "as well as our dead, wounded and missing
+comrades, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page060" name="page060"></a>(p. 060)</span> require us not to lose courage at this first
+reverse, but to continue the righteous struggle even against
+overwhelming odds," and so on, in this strain.</p>
+
+<p>I honestly cannot understand why we should have been charged with
+cowardice at the battle of Elandslaagte, although many of us seemed to
+apprehend that this would be the case. We had made a good fight of it,
+but overwhelmed by an organised force of disciplined men, eight or ten
+times our number, we had been vanquished, and the British were the first
+to admit that we had manfully and honourably defended our positions. To
+put a wrong construction on our defeat was a libel on all who had
+bravely fought the fight, and I resented it. There are such things as
+the fortunes of war, and as only one side can win, it cannot always be
+the same. However, I soon discovered that a small number of our burghers
+did not seem inclined to join in the prolongation of the struggle. To
+have forced them to rejoin us would have served no purpose, so I thought
+the best policy would be to send them home on furlough <span class="pagenum"><a id="page061" name="page061"></a>(p. 061)</span> until
+they had recovered their spirits and their courage. No doubt the scorn
+and derision to which they would be subjected by their wives and sisters
+would soon induce them to take up arms again and to fulfil the duties
+their country required. I therefore requested those who had neither the
+courage nor the inclination to return to the front to fall out, and
+about thirty men fell back, bowing their heads in shame. They were
+jeered at and chaffed by their fellows, the majority of whom had elected
+to proceed. But the shock of Elandslaagte had been too much for the
+weaker brethren, who seemed deaf to every argument, and only wanted to
+go home. I gave each of these a pass to proceed by rail to Johannesburg,
+which read as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p class="quote">
+     "Permit..................................... to go to
+     Johannesburg on account of cowardice, at Government's
+     expense."
+</p>
+
+<p>They put the permit in their pockets without suspecting its contents,
+and departed with their kit to the station to catch the first available
+train.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page062" name="page062"></a>(p. 062)</span> The reader will now have formed an idea of the disastrous moral
+effect of this defeat, and the subsequent difficulty of getting a
+commando up to its original fighting strength. But in spite of this I am
+proud to say that by far the greater number of the Johannesburgers were
+gathered round me and prepared to march to meet the enemy once more.</p>
+
+<p>My trap and all its contents had been captured by the enemy at
+Elandslaagte, and I found it necessary to obtain new outfits, &amp;c., at
+Newcastle. This was no easy matter, as some of the storekeepers had
+moved the greater part of their goods to a safer place, while some
+commandos had appropriated most of the remainder. What was left had been
+commandeered by Mr. J. Moodie, a favourite of General Joubert, who was
+posing there as Resident Justice of the Peace; and he did not feel
+inclined to let any of these goods out of his possession. By alternately
+buying and looting, or in other words stealing, I managed to get an
+outfit by the next morning, and at break of day we left for Dannhauser
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page063" name="page063"></a>(p. 063)</span> Station, arriving there the same evening without further
+noteworthy incident.</p>
+
+<p>Next day, when the Johannesburg corps turned out, we numbered 485
+mounted men, all fully equipped. On arrival at Glencoe Station I
+received a telegram from General Joubert informing me that he had
+defeated the enemy at Nicholson's Nek near Ladysmith that day (October
+30, 1899) taking 1,300 prisoners, who would arrive at Glencoe the
+following morning. He desired me to conduct them to Pretoria under a
+strong escort. What a flattering order! To conduct prisoners-of-war,
+taken by other burghers! Were we then fit for nothing but police duty?</p>
+
+<p>However, orders have to be obeyed, so I sent one of my officers with 40
+men to take the prisoners to Pretoria, and reported to the
+Commandant-General by telegram that his order had been executed, also
+asking for instructions as to where I was to proceed with my commando.
+The reply I received was as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Pitch your camp near Dundee, and maintain law and order in
+the Province, also aid <span class="pagenum"><a id="page064" name="page064"></a>(p. 064)</span> the Justice of the Peace in forwarding
+captured goods, ammunition, provisions, etc., to Pretoria, and see that
+you are not attacked a second time."</p>
+
+<p>This was more than flesh and blood could bear; more than a "white man"
+could stand. It was not less than a personal insult, which I deeply
+resented. Evidently my chief had resolved to keep us in the background;
+he would not trust our commando in the fighting line. In short, he would
+not keep his word and give us another chance to recoup our losses.</p>
+
+<p>I had, however, made up my mind, and ordered the commando to march to
+Ladysmith. If the General would not have me at the front I should cease
+to be an officer. And, although I had no friends of influence who could
+help me I resolved to take the bull by the horns, and leave the rest to
+fate.</p>
+
+<p>On the 1st November, 1899, we reached the main army near Ladysmith, and
+I went at once to tell General Joubert in person that my men wanted to
+fight, and not to play policemen in the rear of the army. Having given
+the order to dismount I proceeded <span class="pagenum"><a id="page065" name="page065"></a>(p. 065)</span> to Joubert's tent, walked in
+with as much boldness as I could muster, and saluted the General, who
+was fortunately alone. I at once opened my case, telling him how unfair
+it was to keep us in the rear, and that the burghers were loudly
+protesting against such treatment. This plea was generally used
+throughout the campaign when an officer required something to be granted
+him. At first the old General was very wrathful. He said I had disobeyed
+his orders and that he had a mind to have me shot for breach of
+discipline. However, after much storming in his fine bass voice, he grew
+calmer, and in stentorian tones ordered me for the time being to join
+General Schalk Burger, who was operating near Lombard's Kop in the siege
+of Ladysmith.</p>
+
+<p>That same evening I arrived there with my commando and reported myself
+to Lieut-General Burger. One of his adjutants, Mr. Joachim Fourie, who
+distinguished himself afterwards on repeated occasions and was killed in
+action near his house in the Carolina district, showed me a place to
+laager in. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page066" name="page066"></a>(p. 066)</span> We pitched our tents on the same spot where a few
+days before Generals White and French had been defeated, and there
+awaited developments.</p>
+
+<p>At this place the British, during the battle of Nicholson's Nek, had
+hidden a large quantity of rifle and gun ammunition in a hole in the
+ground, covering it up with grass, which gave it the appearance of a
+heap of rubbish. One of the burghers who feared this would be injurious
+to the health of our men in camp, set the grass on fire, and this soon
+penetrated to the ammunition. A tremendous explosion occurred, and it
+seemed as if there were a real battle in progress. From all sides
+burghers dashed up on horseback to learn where the fighting was taking
+place. General Joubert sent an adjutant to enquire whether the
+Johannesburgers were now killing each other for a change, and why I
+could not keep my men under better control. I asked this gentleman to be
+kind enough to see for himself what was taking place, and to tell the
+Commandant-General that I could manage well enough to keep my men in
+order, but <span class="pagenum"><a id="page067" name="page067"></a>(p. 067)</span> could not be aware of the exact spot where the
+enemy had chosen to hide their ammunition.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, it became daily more evident to me how greatly Joubert
+depreciated my commando, and that we would have to behave very well and
+fight very bravely to regain his favour. Other commandos also seemed to
+have no better opinion, and spoke of us as the laager which had to run
+at Elandslaagte, forgetting how even General Meyer's huge commando had
+been obliged to retreat in the greatest confusion at Dundee. If all the
+details of this Dundee engagement were published it would be discovered
+that it was a Boer disaster only second to that of Elandslaagte.</p>
+
+<p>We were now, however, at any rate at the front. I sent out my outposts
+and fixed my positions, which were very far from good; but I decided to
+make no complaints. We had resolved to do our very best to vindicate our
+honour, and to prove that our accusers had no reason to call us either
+cowards or good-for-nothings.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page068" name="page068"></a>(p. 068)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="7">VII.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">THE BOER GENERAL'S SUPERSTITIONS.</p>
+
+<p>A few days after we had arrived before Ladysmith we joined an expedition
+to reconnoitre the British entrenchments, and my commando was ordered
+near some forts on the north-westerly side of the town. Both small and
+large artillery were being fired from each side. We approached within
+800 paces of a fort; it was broad daylight and the enemy could therefore
+see us distinctly, knew the exact range, and received us with a perfect
+hailstorm of fire. Our only chance was to seek cover behind kopjes and
+in ditches, for on any Boer showing his head the bullets whistled round
+his ears. Here two of my burghers were severely wounded, and we had some
+considerable trouble to get them through the firing line to our
+ambulance. At last, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page069" name="page069"></a>(p. 069)</span> late in the afternoon, came the order to
+retire, and we retired after having achieved nothing.</p>
+
+<p>I fail to this day to see the use of this reconnoitring, but at
+Ladysmith everything was equally mysterious and perplexing. It was
+perhaps that my knowledge of military matters was too limited to
+understand the subtle man&oelig;uvres of those days. But I have made up my
+mind not to criticise our leader's military strategy, though I must say
+at this juncture that the whole siege of Ladysmith and the manner in
+which the besieged garrison was ineffectually pounded at with our big
+guns for several months, seem to me an unfathomable mystery, which,
+owing to Joubert's untimely death, will never be explained
+satisfactorily. But I venture to describe Joubert's policy outside
+Ladysmith as stupid and primitive, and in another chapter I shall again
+refer to it.</p>
+
+<p>After another fortnight or so, we were ordered away to guard another
+position to the south-west of Ladysmith, as the Free State commando
+under Commandant Nel, and, unless I am mistaken, under Field-Cornet
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page070" name="page070"></a>(p. 070)</span> Christian de Wet (afterwards the world-famous chief Commander
+of the Orange Free State, and of whom all Afrikanders are justly proud),
+had to go to Cape Colony.</p>
+
+<p>Here I was under the command of Dijl Erasmus, who was then General and a
+favourite of General Joubert. We had plenty of work given us. Trenches
+had to be dug and forts had to be constructed and remodelled. At this
+time an expedition ventured to Estcourt, under General Louis Botha, who
+replaced General L. Meyer, sent home on sick leave. My commando joined
+the expedition under Field-Cornet J. Kock, who afterwards caused me a
+lot of trouble.</p>
+
+<p>I can say but little of this expedition to Estcourt, save that the
+Commander-in-Chief accompanied it. But for his being with us, I am
+convinced that General Botha would have pushed on at least as far as
+Pietermaritzburg, for the English were at that time quite unable to stop
+our progress. But after we got to Estcourt, practically unopposed,
+Joubert, though our burghers had been victorious in battle after battle,
+ordered us to retreat. The <span class="pagenum"><a id="page071" name="page071"></a>(p. 071)</span> only explanation General Joubert
+ever vouchsafed about the recall of this expedition was that in a heavy
+thunderstorm which had been raging for two nights near Estcourt, two
+Boers had been struck by lightning, which, according to his doctrine,
+was an infallible sign from the Almighty that the commandos were to
+proceed no further. It seems incredible that in these enlightened days
+we should find such a man in command of an army; it is, nevertheless, a
+fact that the loss of two burghers induced our Commandant-General to
+recall victorious commandos who were carrying all before them. The
+English at Pietermaritzburg, and even at Durban, were trembling lest we
+should push forward to the coast, knowing full well that in no wise
+could they have arrested our progress. And what an improvement in our
+position this would have meant! As it was, our retirement encouraged the
+British to push forward their fighting line so far as Chieveley Station,
+near the Tugela river, and the commandos had to take up a position in
+the "randjes," on the westerly banks of the Tugela.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page072" name="page072"></a>(p. 072)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="8">VIII.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">THE "GREAT POWERS" TO INTERVENE.</p>
+
+
+<p>During the retreat of our army to the frontier of the Transvaal Republic
+nothing of importance occurred. Here again confusion reigned supreme,
+and none of the commandos were over-anxious to form rearguards. Our
+Hollander Railway Company made a point of placing a respectful distance
+between her rolling-stock and the enemy, and, anxious to lose as few
+carriages as possible, raised innumerable difficulties when asked to
+transport our men, provisions and ammunition. Our generals had meantime
+proceeded to Laing's Nek by rail to seek new positions, and there was no
+one to maintain order and discipline.</p>
+
+<p>About 150 Natal Afrikanders who had joined our commandos when these
+under <span class="pagenum"><a id="page073" name="page073"></a>(p. 073)</span> the late General Joubert occupied the districts about
+Newcastle and Ladysmith, now found themselves in an awkward position.
+They elected to come with us, accompanied by their families and live
+stock, and they offered a most heartrending spectacle. Long rows of
+carts and wagons wended their way wearily along the road to Laing's Nek.
+Women in tears, with their children and infants in arms, cast
+reproachful glances at us as being the cause of their misery. Others
+occupied themselves more usefully in driving their cattle. Altogether it
+was a scene the like of which I hope never to see again.</p>
+
+<p>The Natal kaffirs now had an opportunity of displaying their hatred
+towards the Boers. As soon as we had left a farm and its male
+inhabitants had gone, they swooped down on the place and wrought havoc
+and ruin, plundering and looting to their utmost carrying capacity. Some
+even assaulted women and children, and the most awful atrocities were
+committed. I attach more blame to the whites who encouraged these
+plundering bands, especially some of the Imperial troops <span class="pagenum"><a id="page074" name="page074"></a>(p. 074)</span> and
+Natal men in military service. Not understanding the bestial nature of
+the kaffirs, they used them to help carry out their work of destruction,
+and although they gave them no actual orders to molest the people, they
+took no proper steps of preventing this.</p>
+
+<p>When our commando passed through Newcastle, we found the place almost
+entirely deserted, excepting for a few British subjects who had taken an
+oath of neutrality to the Boers.</p>
+
+<p>I regret to have to state that during our retreat a number of
+irresponsible persons set fire to the Government buildings in that town.
+It is said that an Italian officer burned a public hall on no reasonable
+pretext; certainly he never received orders to that effect. As may be
+expected of an invading army, some of our burgher patrols and other
+isolated bodies of troops looted and destroyed a number of houses which
+had been temporarily deserted. But with the exception of these few
+cases, I can state that no outrages were committed by us in Natal, and
+no property was needlessly destroyed.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page075" name="page075"></a>(p. 075)</span> On our arrival at Laing's Nek a Council of War was immediately
+held to decide our future plans.</p>
+
+<p>We now found ourselves once more on the old battlefields of 1880 and
+1881, where Boer and Briton had met 20 years before to decide by trial
+of arms who should be master of the S. A. Republic. Traces of that
+desperate struggle were still plainly visible, and the historic height
+of Majuba stood there, an isolated sentinel, recalling to us the battle
+in which the unfortunate Colley lost both the day and his life.</p>
+
+<p>I was told off to take up a position in the Nek where the wagon-road
+runs to the east across the railway-tunnel, and here we made
+preparations for digging trenches and placing our guns. Soon after we
+had completed our entrenchments we once more saw the enemy. They were
+lying at Schuinshoogte on the Ingogo, and had sent a mounted corps with
+two guns to the Nek. Although we had no idea of the enemy's strength, we
+were fully prepared to meet the attack; the Pretoria, Lydenburg and
+other laagers were posted to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page076" name="page076"></a>(p. 076)</span> the left on the summit of Majuba
+Hill, and other commandos held good positions on the east. But the enemy
+evidently thought that we had fled all the way back to Pretoria, and not
+expecting to find the Nek occupied, advanced quite unconcerned. We fired
+a few volleys at them, which caused them to halt in considerable
+surprise, and, replying with a little artillery fire, they quickly
+returned to Schuinshoogte. We had, however, to be on our guard both day
+and night. It was bitterly cold at the time and a strong easterly wind
+was blowing.</p>
+
+<p>Next day something occurred which afforded a change to the monotony of
+our situation, namely, the arrival from Pretoria of Mr. John Lombaard,
+member of the First Volksraad for Bethel. He asked permission to address
+us and informed us that we need only hold out another fortnight, for
+news from Europe had reached them to the effect that the Great Powers
+had decided to put an end to the War. This communication emanating from
+such a semi-official source was believed by a certain number of our men,
+but I think <span class="pagenum"><a id="page077" name="page077"></a>(p. 077)</span> it did very little to brighten up the spirits of
+the majority, or arouse them from the lethargy into which they seemed to
+have fallen. A fortnight passed, and a month, without us hearing
+anything further of this expected intervention, and I have never been
+able to discover on whose authority and by whose orders Mr. Lombaard
+made to us that remarkable communication.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, General Buller did not seem at all anxious to attack us,
+perhaps fearing a repetition of the "accidents" on the Tugela; or
+possibly he thought that our position was too strong. For some reason,
+therefore, Laing's Nek was never attacked, and Buller afterwards, having
+made a huge "detour," broke through Botha's Pass. Meanwhile, Lord
+Roberts and his forces were marching without opposition through the
+Orange Free State, and I was ordered to proceed to Vereeniging with my
+commando. We left Laing's Nek on the 19th of May, and proceeded to the
+Free State frontier by rail.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page078" name="page078"></a>(p. 078)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="9">IX.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">COLENSO AND SPION KOP FIGHTS.</p>
+
+
+<p>Eight days after my commando had been stationed in my new position under
+General Erasmus, I received instructions to march to Potgietersdrift, on
+the Upper Tugela, near Spion Kop, and there to put myself at Andries
+Cronje's disposal. This gentleman was then a general in the Orange Free
+State Army, and although a very venerable looking person, was not very
+successful as a commander. Up to the 14th of December, 1899, no
+noteworthy incident took place, and nothing was done but a little
+desultory scouting along the Tugela, and the digging of trenches.</p>
+
+<p>At last came the welcome order summoning us to action; and we were
+bidden to march on Colenso Heights with 200 men to fill up the ranks, as
+a fight was imminent. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page079" name="page079"></a>(p. 079)</span> We left under General Cronje and arrived
+the next morning at daybreak, and a few hours after began the battle now
+known to the world as the Battle of Colenso (15th December, 1899).</p>
+
+<p>I afterwards heard that the commandos under General Cronje were to cross
+the river and attack the enemy's left flank. This did not happen, as the
+greatest confusion prevailed owing to the various contradictory orders
+given by the generals. For instance, I myself received four
+contradictory orders from four generals within the space of ten minutes.
+I, however, took the initiative in moving my men up to the river to
+attempt the capture of a battery of guns on the enemy's left flank which
+had been left unprotected, as was the case with the ten guns which fell
+into our hands later in the day. I had approached within 1,400 paces of
+the enemy, and my burghers were following close behind me when an
+adjutant from General Botha (accompanied by a gentleman named C. Fourie,
+who was then also parading as a general) galloped up <span class="pagenum"><a id="page080" name="page080"></a>(p. 080)</span> to us and
+ordered us at once to join the Ermelo commando, which was said to be too
+weak to resist the attacks of the enemy. We hurried thither as quickly
+as we could round the rear of the fighting line, where we were obliged
+to off-saddle and walk up to the position of the Ermelo burghers. This
+was no easy task; the battle was now in full swing, and the enemy's
+shells were bursting in dozens around us, and in the burning sun we had
+to run some miles.</p>
+
+<p>When we arrived at our destination Mr. Fourie (the pseudo general) and
+his adjutant could nowhere be found. As to the Ermelo burghers, they
+said they were quite comfortable, and had asked for no assistance.</p>
+
+<p>Not a single shell had reached them, for a clump of aloe trees stood a
+hundred yards away, which the English presumably had taken for Boers,
+judging by the terrific bombardment these trees were being subjected to.</p>
+
+<a id="img004" name="img004"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img004.jpg" width="400" height="578" alt="" title="">
+<p class="smcap">Along the Tugela&mdash;Coming suddenly upon an English
+Outpost.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>By this time the attack was repulsed, and General Buller was in full
+retreat to Chieveley, though our commando had been unable to take an
+active part in the fighting, at which <span class="pagenum"><a id="page081" name="page081"></a>(p. 081)</span> we were greatly
+disappointed. It is much to be regretted that the retreat of the enemy
+was not followed up at once. Had this been done, the campaign in Natal
+would have taken an entirely different aspect, and very probably would
+have been attended by a more favourable conclusion. I consider myself
+far from a prophet, but this I know; and if we had then and on
+subsequent occasions followed up our successes, the result of the
+Campaign would have been far more satisfactory to us.</p>
+
+<p>After I had assisted in bringing away through the river the guns we had
+taken, and seen to other matters which required my immediate attention,
+I was ordered to remain with the Ermelo commando at Colenso, near
+Toomdrift, and to await there further instructions.</p>
+
+<p>A few weeks of inactivity followed, the English sending us each day a
+few samples of their shells from their 4·7 Naval guns. Unfortunately,
+our guns were of much smaller calibre, and we could send them no
+suitable reply. As a rule we would lie in the trenches, and a burgher
+would be on the look-out. So <span class="pagenum"><a id="page082" name="page082"></a>(p. 082)</span> soon as he saw the flash of an
+English gun, he would cry out; "There's a shell," and we then sought
+cover, so that the enemy seldom succeeded in harming us.</p>
+
+<p>One day one of these big shells fell amongst a group of fourteen
+burghers who were at dinner. The shell struck a sharp rock, which it
+splintered into fragments, and was emitting its yellow lyddite; but,
+fortunately, the fuse refused to burn, and the shell did not explode, so
+we had a narrow escape that day from a small catastrophe.</p>
+
+<p>My laager had been at Potgietersdrift all this time, and for the time
+being we were deprived of our tents. We were not sorry, therefore, when
+we were ordered to leave Colenso and to return to our camp.</p>
+
+<p>A few days after we were told off to take up a position at the junction
+of the Little and the Big Tugela, between Spion Kop and Colenso. Here we
+celebrated our first Christmas in the field; our friends at Johannesburg
+had sent us a quantity of presents by means of a friend, Attorney Raaff,
+comprising cakes, cigars, cigarettes, tobacco and other luxuries. Along
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page083" name="page083"></a>(p. 083)</span> this part of the Tugela we found a fair quantity of
+vegetables, and poultry, and as their respective owners had fled we were
+unable to pay for what we had. We were obliged, therefore, to "borrow"
+all these things for the banquet befitting to the occasion.</p>
+
+<p>But General Buller had not quite finished with us yet. He marched on
+Spion Kop, but with the exception of a feint attack nothing of
+importance happened then. One day I went across the river with a patrol
+to discover what the enemy was doing, when we suddenly came across nine
+English spies, who fled as soon as they saw us. We galloped after them,
+trying to cut them off from the main body, which was at a little
+distance away from us, and would no doubt have overtaken them, but,
+riding at a breakneck speed over a mountain ridge, we found ourselves
+suddenly confronted with a strong English mounted corps, apparently
+engaged in drilling. We were only 500 paces away from them, and we
+jumped off our horses, and opened fire. But there were only a dozen of
+us, and the enemy soon began sending us a few shells, and prepared to
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page084" name="page084"></a>(p. 084)</span> attack us with their whole force. About a hundred mounted men,
+with horses in the best of condition, set off to pursue us.</p>
+
+<p>We were obliged to ride back by the same path we had come by, which was
+fortunate for us, as we knew the way and could ride through crevices and
+dongas without any hesitation. In this way we soon gave our pursuers the
+slip.</p>
+
+<p>Buller's forces seemed at first to have the intention of forcing their
+way through near Potgietersdrift, and they took possession of all the
+"randts" on their side of the river, causing us to strengthen the
+position on our side. We thus had to shift our commando again to
+Potgietersdrift, where we soon had the enemy's Naval guns playing on our
+positions. This continued day and night for a whole week.</p>
+
+<p>It seemed as if General Buller were determined to annihilate all the
+Boers with his lyddite shells, so as to enable the soldiers to walk at
+their leisure to the release of Ladysmith. Certainly we suffered
+considerably from lyddite fumes.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page085" name="page085"></a>(p. 085)</span> The British next made a feint attack near Potgietersdrift,
+advancing with a great clamour till they had come within 2,000 paces of
+us, where they occupied various "randts" and kopjes, always under cover
+of their artillery. Once they came a little too close to our positions,
+and we suddenly opened fire on them. The result was that their ambulance
+waggons were seen to become very busy driving backwards and forwards.</p>
+
+<p>This "feint," however, was only made in order to divert our attention,
+while Buller was concentrating his troops and guns on Spion Kop. The
+ruse succeeded to a large extent, and on the 21st January the memorable
+battle of Spion Kop (near the Upper Tugela) began.</p>
+
+<p>General Warren, who, I believe, was in command here, had ordered another
+"feint" attack from the extreme right wing. General Cronje and the Free
+Staters had taken up a position at Spion Kop, assisted by the commandos
+of General Erasmus and Schalk Burger.</p>
+
+<p>The fight lasted the whole of that day and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page086" name="page086"></a>(p. 086)</span> the next, and
+became more and more fierce. Luckily General Botha appeared on the scene
+in time, and re-arranged matters so well and with so much energy that
+the enemy found itself well employed, and was kept in check at all
+points.</p>
+
+<p>I had been ordered to defend the position at Potgietersdrift, but the
+fighting round Spion Kop became so serious that I was obliged to send up
+a field cornet with his men as a reinforcement, which was soon followed
+by a second contingent, making altogether 200 Johannesburgers in the
+fight, of whom nine were killed and 18 wounded. The enemy had reached
+the top of the "kop" on the evening of the second day of the fight, not,
+however, without having sustained considerable losses. At this juncture
+one of our generals felt so disheartened that he sent away his carts,
+and himself left the battlefield.</p>
+
+<p>But General Botha kept his ground like a man, surrounded by the faithful
+little band who had already borne the brunt of this important battle.
+And one can imagine our delight when next morning we found that
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page087" name="page087"></a>(p. 087)</span> the English had retreated, leaving that immense battlefield,
+strewn with hundreds of dead and wounded, in our hands.</p>
+
+<p>"What made them leave so suddenly last night," was the question we asked
+each other then, and which remains unanswered to this day.</p>
+
+<p>General Warren has stated that the cause of his departure was the want
+of water, but I can hardly credit that statement, as water could be
+obtained all the way to the top of Spion Kop; and even had it been
+wanting it is not likely that after a sacrifice of 1,200 to 1,300 lives
+the position would have been abandoned on this account alone. Our
+victory was undoubtedly a fluke.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page088" name="page088"></a>(p. 088)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="10">X.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">THE BATTLE OF VAALKRANTZ.</p>
+
+
+<p>Soon after his defeat at Spion Kop, General Buller, moved by the earnest
+entreaties for help from Ladysmith, and pressed by Lord Roberts,
+attempted a third time to break through our lines. This time my position
+had to bear the onslaught of his whole forces. For some days it had been
+clear to me what the enemy intended to do, but I wired in vain to the
+Commander-in-Chief to send me reinforcements, and I was left to defend a
+front, one and a half miles in length, with about 400 men. After many
+requests I at last moved General Joubert to send me one of the guns
+known as "Long Toms," which was placed at the rear of our position, and
+enabled us to command the Vaalkrantz, or, as we called it, "Pontdrift"
+kopjes. But instead of the required reinforcements, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page089" name="page089"></a>(p. 089)</span> the
+Commander sent a telegram to General Meyer to Colenso, telling him to
+come and speak to me, and to put some heart into me, for it seemed, he
+said, "as if I had lost faith."</p>
+
+<p>General Meyer came, and I explained to him how matters stood, and that I
+should not be able to check the enormous attacking force with my
+commando alone. The British were at this time only 7,000 paces away from
+us. The required assistance, however, never came, although I told the
+General that a faith strong enough to move Majuba Hill would be of no
+avail without a sufficient number of men.</p>
+
+<p>Early in the morning of the 5th February, 1900, my position was heavily
+bombarded, and before the sun had risen four of my burghers had been put
+<span class="italic" lang="fr">hors de combat</span>. The enemy had placed their naval guns on the outskirts
+of the wood known as "Zwartkop" so as to be able to command our position
+from an elevation of about 400 feet. I happened to be on the right flank
+with ninety-five burghers and a pom-pom; my assistant, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page090" name="page090"></a>(p. 090)</span>
+Commandant Jaapie du Preez, commanding the left flank.</p>
+
+<p>The assailants threw two pontoon bridges across the river and troops
+kept pouring over from 10 o'clock in the morning. The whole of the guns'
+fire was now concentrated on my position; and although we answered with
+a well-directed fire, they charged time after time.</p>
+
+<p>The number of my fighting men was rapidly diminishing. I may say this
+was the heaviest bombardment I witnessed during the whole of the
+campaign. It seemed to me as if all the guns of the British army were
+being fired at us.</p>
+
+<p>Their big lyddite guns sent over huge shells, which mowed down all the
+trees on the kopje, while about fifty field pieces were incessantly
+barking away from a shorter range. Conan Doyle, in his book, "The Great
+Boer War," states that the British had concentrated no less than
+seventy-three guns on that kopje. In vain I implored the nearest
+Generals for reinforcements and requested our artillery in Heaven's name
+to aim at the enemy's guns. At last, however, "Long Tom" commenced
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page091" name="page091"></a>(p. 091)</span> operations, but the artillerymen in charge had omitted to put
+the powder in a safe place and it was soon struck by a lyddite shell
+which set the whole of it on fire. This compelled us to send to the head
+laager near Ladysmith for a fresh supply of powder.</p>
+
+<p>On looking about me to see how my burghers were getting on I found that
+many around me had been killed and others were wounded. The clothes of
+the latter were burnt and they cried out for help in great agony.</p>
+
+<p>Our pom-pom had long since been silenced by the enemy, and thirty of my
+burghers had been put out of the fight. The enemy's infantry was
+advancing nearer and nearer and there was not much time left to think. I
+knelt down behind a kopje, along with some of the men, and we kept
+firing away at 400 paces, but although we sent a good many to eternal
+rest, the fire of the few burghers who were left was too weak to stem
+the onslaught of those overwhelming numbers.</p>
+
+<p>A lyddite shell suddenly burst over our very heads. Four burghers with
+me were blown to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page092" name="page092"></a>(p. 092)</span> pieces and my rifle was smashed. It seemed to
+me as if a huge cauldron of boiling fat had burst over us and for some
+minutes I must have lost consciousness. A mouthful of brandy and water
+(which I always carried with me) was given me and restored me somewhat,
+and when I opened my eyes I saw the enemy climbing the kopje on three
+sides of us, some of them only a hundred paces away from me.</p>
+
+<p>I ordered my men to fall back and took charge of the pom-pom, and we
+then retired under a heavy rifle and gun fire. Some English writers have
+made much ado about the way in which our pom-pom was saved, but it was
+nothing out of the ordinary. Of the 95 burghers with me 29 had been
+killed, 24 wounded.</p>
+
+<p>When I had a few minutes rest I felt a piercing pain in my head, and the
+blood began to pour from my nose and ears.</p>
+
+<p>We had taken up another position at 1,700 paces, and fired our pom-pom
+at the enemy, who now occupied our position of a few minutes before. Our
+other guns were being fired as well, which gave the British an <span class="pagenum"><a id="page093" name="page093"></a>(p. 093)</span>
+exciting quarter of an hour. On the right and left of the positions
+taken by them our burghers were still in possession of the "randten"; to
+the right Jaapie du Preez, with the loss of only four wounded, kept his
+ground with the rest of my commando.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning the fight was renewed, and our "Long Tom" now took the
+lead in the cannon-concert, and seemed to make himself very unpleasant
+to the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>The whole day was mainly a battle of big guns. My headache grew
+unbearable, and I was very feverish. General Botha had meanwhile arrived
+with reinforcements, and towards evening things took a better turn.</p>
+
+<p>But I was temporarily done for, and again lost consciousness, and was
+taken to the ambulance. Dr. Shaw did his best, I hear, for me; but I was
+unconscious for several days, and when I revived the doctor told me I
+had a slight fracture of the skull caused by the bursting of a shell.
+The injuries, however, could not have been very serious for ten days
+after I was able to leave my bed. I then heard that the night I had
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page094" name="page094"></a>(p. 094)</span> been taken to the hospital, the British had once more been
+forced to retire across the Tugela, and early in the morning of the 7th
+of February our burghers were again in possession of the kopje
+"Vaalkrantz," round which such a fierce fight had waged and for the
+possession of which so much blood had been spilled.</p>
+
+<p>So far as I could gather from the English official reports they lost
+about 400 men, while our dead and wounded numbered only sixty-two.</p>
+
+<p>Taking into consideration the determination with which General Buller
+had attacked us, and how dearly he had paid for this third abortive
+attempt, the retreat of his troops remains as much of a mystery to me as
+that at Spion Kop.</p>
+
+<p>Our "Long Tom" was a decided success, and had proved itself to be
+exceedingly useful.</p>
+
+<p>The Battle of "Vaalkrantz" kopje was to me and to the Johannesburg
+commando undoubtedly the most important and the fiercest fight in this
+war, and although one point in <span class="pagenum"><a id="page095" name="page095"></a>(p. 095)</span> our positions was taken, I
+think that on the whole I may be proud of our defence. About two-thirds
+of its defenders were killed or wounded before the enemy took that spot,
+and all who afterwards visited the kopje where our struggle had taken
+place had to admit that unmistakable evidence showed it to be one of the
+hottest fights of the Natal campaign. All the trees were torn up or
+smashed by shells, great blocks of rock had been splintered and were
+stained yellow by the lyddite; mutilated bodies were lying
+everywhere&mdash;Briton and Boer side by side; for during the short time
+"Vaalkrantz" had been in their possession the English had not had an
+opportunity of burying the bodies of friends or foe.</p>
+
+<p>I think I may quote a few paragraphs of what Dr. Doyle says in his book
+about this engagement:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p class="quote">"The artillery-fire (the "Zwartkop" guns and other
+     batteries) was then hurriedly aimed at the isolated
+     "Vaalkrantz" (the real object of the attack), and had a
+     terrific effect. It is doubtful whether ever before a
+     position has been exposed to such an awful bombardment. The
+     weight of the ammunition fired by some of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page096" name="page096"></a>(p. 096)</span> the
+     cannon was greater than that of an entire German battery
+     during the Franco-Prussian war."</p>
+
+<p>Prince Kraft describes the 4 and 6-pounders as mere toys compared with
+machine Howitzer and 4·7 guns.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Doyle, however, is not sure about the effect of these powerful guns,
+for he says:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p class="quote">"Although the rims of the kopje were being pounded by
+     lyddite and other bombs it is doubtful whether this terrific
+     fire did much damage among the enemy, as seven English
+     officers and 70 men were lying dead on the kopje against
+     only a few Boers, who were found to have been wounded."</p>
+
+<p>Of the pom-pom, which I succeeded in saving from the enemy's hands, the
+same writer says:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p class="quote">"It was during this attack that something happened of a more
+     picturesque and romantic nature than is usually the case in
+     modern warfare; here it was not a question of combatants and
+     guns being invisible or the destruction of a great mass of
+     people. In this case it concerns a Boer gun, cut off by the
+     British troops, which all of a sudden came out of its
+     hiding-place and scampered away like a frightened hare from
+     his lair. It fled from the danger as fast as the mules' legs
+     would take it, nearly overturning, and jolting and knocking
+     against the rocks, while the driver bent forward as far as
+     he could to protect himself from the shower of bullets which
+     were whistling round <span class="pagenum"><a id="page097" name="page097"></a>(p. 097)</span> his ears in all directions.
+     British shells to the right of him, shells to the left of
+     him bursting and spluttering, lyddite shrapnel fuming and
+     fizzing and making the splinters fly. But over the "randtje"
+     the gun disappeared, and in a few minutes after it was in
+     position again, and dealing death and destruction amongst
+     the British assailants."</p>
+
+<p>While I was under treatment in Dr. Shaw's ambulance I was honoured by a
+visit from General Joubert, who came to compliment me on what he called
+the splendid defence of Vaalkrantz, and to express his regret at the
+heavy loss sustained by our commando. I heard from Dr. Shaw that after
+the battle the groans and cries of the wounded burghers could be heard
+in the immediate neighbourhood of the English outposts. Some burghers
+volunteered to go, under cover of the darkness, to see if they could
+save these wounded men. They cautiously crept up to the foot of the
+kopjes, from where they could plainly see the English sentinels, and a
+little further down found in a ditch two of our wounded, named Brand and
+Liebenberg; the first had an arm and a leg smashed, the latter had a
+bullet in his thigh.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page098" name="page098"></a>(p. 098)</span> One can imagine what a terrible plight they were in after
+laying there for two nights and a day, exposed to the night's severe
+cold and the day's scorching sun. Their wounds were already decomposing,
+and the odour was most objectionable.</p>
+
+<p>The two unfortunate men were at once carried to the laager and attended
+to with greatest care. Poor Liebenberg died of his wounds soon after.
+Brand, the youngest son of the late President Brand, of the Orange Free
+State, soon recovered, if I remember rightly.</p>
+
+<p>At the risk of incurring the displeasure of a great number of people by
+adding the following statement to my description of the battle of
+Vaalkrantz, I feel bound to state that Commandant-General Joubert, after
+our successes at Colenso, Spion Kop, and Vaalkrantz, asked the two State
+Presidents, Kruger and Steyn, to consider the urgency of making peace
+overtures to the English Government. He pointed out that the Republics
+had no doubt reached the summit of their glory in the War. The proposal
+read as follows: <span class="pagenum"><a id="page099" name="page099"></a>(p. 099)</span> That the Republican troops should at once
+evacuate British territory, compensation to be given for the damage to
+property, etc., inflicted by our commandos, against which the British
+Government was to guarantee that the Republics should be spared from any
+further incursions or attacks from British troops, and to waive its
+claim of Suzerainty; and that the British Government should undertake
+not to interfere with the internal affairs and legal procedure of the
+two Republics, and grant general amnesty to the colonial rebels.</p>
+
+<p>Commander-in-Chief Joubert defended these proposals by pointing out that
+England was at that moment in difficulties, and had suffered repeated
+serious defeats. The opportunity should be taken, urged the General.</p>
+
+<p>He was supported by several officers, but other Boer leaders contended
+that Natal, originally Boer territory, should never again be ceded to
+the enemy. As we heard nothing more of these proposals, I suppose the
+two State Presidents rejected them.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page100" name="page100"></a>(p. 100)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="11">XI.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">THE TURN OF THE TIDE.</p>
+
+
+<p>After the English forces had retreated from Vaalkrantz across the
+Tugela, a patrol of my commando under my faithful adjutant, J. Du Preez,
+who had taken my place for the time being, succeeded in surprising a
+troop of fifty Lancers, of the 17th regiment, I believe, near Zwartkop,
+east of the Tugela, and making them prisoners after a short skirmish.
+Among these men, who were afterwards sent to Pretoria, was a certain
+Lieutenant Thurlington. It was a strange sight to see our patrol coming
+back with their victims, each Boer brandishing a captured lance.</p>
+
+<p>Being still in the hospital in feeble health without any prospect of a
+speedy recovery, I took the doctor's advice and went home to Rondepoort,
+near Krugersdorp, where my <span class="pagenum"><a id="page101" name="page101"></a>(p. 101)</span> family was staying at the time, and
+there, thanks to the careful treatment of my kind doctor and the tender
+care of my wife I soon recovered my strength.</p>
+
+<p>On the 25th of February I received a communication from my commando to
+the effect that General Buller had once more concentrated his forces on
+Colenso and that heavy fighting was going on. The same evening I also
+had a telegram from President Kruger, urging me to rejoin my commando so
+soon as health would allow, for affairs seemed to have taken a critical
+turn. The enemy appeared to mean business this time, and our commando
+had already been compelled to evacuate some very important positions,
+one of which was Pieter's Heights.</p>
+
+<p>Then the news came from Cape Colony that General Piet Cronje had been
+surrounded at Paardeberg, and that as he stubbornly refused to abandon
+his convoy and retreat, he would soon be compelled by a superior force
+to surrender.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning I was in a fast train to Natal, accompanied by my
+faithful adjutant. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page102" name="page102"></a>(p. 102)</span> Rokzak. My other adjutant, Du Preez, had
+meantime been ordered to take a reinforcement of 150 men to Pieter's
+Heights, and was soon engaged in a desperate struggle in the locality
+situated between the Krugersdorpers' and the Middleburgers' positions.
+The situation was generally considered very serious when I arrived near
+the head laager at Modderspruit late in the evening of the 27th of
+February, unaware of the unfavourable turn things had taken during the
+day at Paardeberg, in the Cape Colony, and on the Tugela. We rode on
+that night to my laager at Potgietersdrift, but having to go by a
+roundabout way it took us till early next morning before we reached our
+destination. The first thing I saw on my arrival was a cart containing
+ten wounded men, who had just been brought in from the fighting line,
+all yellow with lyddite.</p>
+
+<p>Field-cornet P. van der Byl, who came fresh from the fight near Pieter's
+Heights, told me that these burghers had been wounded there. I asked
+them what had happened and how matters stood. "Ah, Commandant," he
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page103" name="page103"></a>(p. 103)</span> replied, "things are in a very bad way! Commandant Du Preez
+and myself were called to Pieter's Heights three days ago, as the enemy
+wanted to force their way through. We were in a very awkward position,
+the enemy storming us again and again; but we held our own, and fired on
+the soldiers at 50 paces. The English, however, directed an
+uninterrupted gun fire at our commandos, and wrought great havoc. Early
+Sunday morning the other side asked for a truce to enable them to bury
+their dead who were lying too close to our positions to be got at during
+the fighting. Many of their wounded were lying there as well, and the
+air was rent during 24 hours with their agonised groans, which were
+awful to hear. We, therefore, granted an armistice till 6 o'clock in the
+evening." (This curiously coincided in time with Lord Roberts' refusal
+to General Piet Cronje at Paardeberg to bury his dead).</p>
+
+<p>"The enemy," continued the field-cornet, "broke through several
+positions, and while we were being fired at by the troops which were
+advancing on us, we were attacked <span class="pagenum"><a id="page104" name="page104"></a>(p. 104)</span> on our left flank and in the
+rear. Assistant-Commandant Du Preez, and Field-Cornet Mostert, were both
+severely wounded, but are now in safe hands. Besides these, 42 of our
+burghers were killed, wounded, or taken prisoners; we could only bring
+16 of our wounded with us. The Krugersdorpers, too, have suffered
+severely. The enemy has pushed through, and I suppose my burghers are
+now taking up a position in the "randten" near Onderbroekspruit."</p>
+
+<p>Here was a nice state of things! When I had left my commando 15 days
+previously, we had had heavy losses in the battle of Vaalkrantz, and now
+again my burghers had been badly cut up. We had lost over 100 men in one
+month.</p>
+
+<p>But there was no time to lose in lamenting over these matters, for I had
+just received information that General P. Cronje had been taken prisoner
+with 4,000 men. The next report was to the effect that the enemy was
+breaking through near Onderbroekspruit, and that some burghers were
+retiring past Ladysmith. I was still in telegraphic communication
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page105" name="page105"></a>(p. 105)</span> with the head laager, and at once wired to the
+Commandant-General for instructions. The answer was:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p class="quote">"Send your carts back to Modderspruit (our headquarters) and
+     hold the position with your mounted commandos."</p>
+
+<p>The position indicated was on the Upper Tugela, on a line with Colenso.
+My laager was about 20 miles away from the head laager; the enemy had
+passed through Onderbroekspruit, and was pushing on with all possible
+speed to relieve Ladysmith, so that I now stood in an oblique line with
+the enemy's rear. I sent out my carts to the south-west, going round
+Ladysmith in the direction of Modderspruit. One of my scouts reported to
+me that the Free State commandos which had been besieging Ladysmith to
+the south, had all gone in the direction of Van Reenen's Pass; another
+brought the information that the enemy had been seen to approach the
+village, and that a great force of cavalry was making straight for us.</p>
+
+<p>General Joubert's instructions were therefore inexplicable to me, and if
+I had carried <span class="pagenum"><a id="page106" name="page106"></a>(p. 106)</span> them out I would probably have been cut off by
+the enemy. My burghers were also getting restless, and asked me why,
+while all the other commandos were retiring, we did not move. Cronje's
+surrender had had a most disheartening effect on them; there was, in
+fact, quite a panic among them. I mounted a high kopje from which I
+could see the whole Orange Free State army, followed by a long line of
+quite 500 carts and a lot of cattle, in full retreat, and enveloped in
+great clouds of red dust. To the right of Ladysmith I also noticed a
+similar melancholy procession. On turning round, I saw the English in
+vast numbers approaching very cautiously, so slowly, in fact, that it
+would take some time before they could reach us. Another and great force
+was rushing up behind them, also in the direction of Ladysmith.</p>
+
+<p>It must have been a race for the Distinguished Service Order or the
+Victoria Cross to be won by the one who was first to enter Ladysmith. We
+knew that the British infantry, aided by the artillery, had paved the
+way for relief, and I noticed the Irish Fusiliers <span class="pagenum"><a id="page107" name="page107"></a>(p. 107)</span> on this
+occasion, as always, in the van. But Lord Dundonald rushed in and was
+proclaimed the hero of the occasion.</p>
+
+<p>Before concluding this chapter I should like to refer to a few incidents
+which happened during the Siege of Ladysmith. It is unnecessary to give
+a detailed description of the destruction of "Long Tom" at Lombardskop
+or the blowing up of another gun west of Ladysmith, belonging to the
+Pretoria Commando. The other side have written enough about this, and
+made enough capital out of them; and many a D.S.O. and V.C. has been
+awarded on account of them.</p>
+
+<p>Alas, I can put forward nothing to lessen our dishonour. As regards the
+"Long Tom" which was blown up, this was a piece of pure treachery, and a
+shocking piece of neglect, Commandant Weilbach, who ought to have
+defended this gun with the whole of his Heidelberg Commando, was
+unfaithful to his charge. The Heidelbergers, however, under a better
+officer, subsequently proved themselves excellent soldiers. A certain
+Major Erasmus was also to blame. He was continually <span class="pagenum"><a id="page108" name="page108"></a>(p. 108)</span> under the
+influence of some beverage which could not be described as "aqua pura";
+and we, therefore, expected little from him. But although the planning
+and the execution of the scheme to blow up "Long Tom" was a clever piece
+of work, the British wasted time and opportunity amusing themselves in
+cutting out on the gun the letters "R.A." (Royal Artillery), and the
+effect of the explosion was only to injure part of the barrel. After a
+little operation in the workshops of the Netherlands South African
+Railway Company at Pretoria under the direction of Mr. Uggla, our
+gun-doctor, "Long Tom's" mouth was healed and he could spit fire again
+as well as before. As to the blowing up of the howitzer shortly after, I
+will say the incident reflected no credit on General Erasmus, as he
+ought to have been warned by what happened near Lombardskop, and to have
+taken proper precautions not to give a group of starving and suffering
+soldiers an opportunity of penetrating his lines and advancing right up
+to his guns.</p>
+
+<p>Both incidents will be an ugly blot on the history of this war, and I am
+sorry to say the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page109" name="page109"></a>(p. 109)</span> two Boer officers have never received condign
+punishment. They should, at any rate, have been called before the
+Commandant-General to explain their conduct.</p>
+
+<p>The storming of Platrand (Cæsar's Camp), south-east of Ladysmith, on the
+6th of January, 1900, also turned out badly for many reasons. The attack
+was not properly conducted owing to a jealousy amongst some of the
+generals, and there was not proper co-operation.</p>
+
+<p>The burghers who took part in the assault and captured several forts did
+some splendid work, which they might well be proud of, but they were not
+seconded as they should have been. The enemy knew that if they lost
+Platrand, Ladysmith would have to surrender; they therefore defended
+every inch of ground, with the result that our men were finally
+compelled to give way. And, for our pains, we sustained an enormous loss
+in men, which did not improve in any way the broken spirit of our
+burghers.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page110" name="page110"></a>(p. 110)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="12">XII.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">THE GREAT BOER RETREAT.</p>
+
+
+<p>There was clearly no help for it, we had to retreat. I gave orders to
+saddle up and to follow the example of the other commandos, reporting
+the fact to the Commandant-General. An answer came&mdash;not from
+Modderspruit this time, but from the station beyond Elandslaagte&mdash;that a
+general retreat had been ordered, most of the commandos having already
+passed Ladysmith, and that General Joubert had gone in advance to
+Glencoe. At dusk I left the Tugela positions which we had so
+successfully held for a considerable time, where we had arrested the
+enemy from marching to the relief of Ladysmith, and where so many
+comrades had sacrificed their lives for their country and their people.</p>
+
+<p>It was a sad sight to see the commandos <span class="pagenum"><a id="page111" name="page111"></a>(p. 111)</span> retreating in utter
+chaos and disorder in all directions. I asked many officers what
+instructions they had received, but nobody seemed to know what the
+orders actually were; their only idea seemed to be to get away as
+quickly as possible.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, at 9 o'clock in the evening we reached Klip River, where a
+strange scene was taking place. The banks were crowded with hundreds of
+mounted men, carts and cattle mingled in utter confusion amongst the
+guns, all awaiting their turn to cross. With an infinite amount of
+trouble the carts were all got over one at a time. After a few minutes'
+rest I decided on consulting my officers, that we should cross the river
+with our men by another drift further up the stream, our example being
+followed by a number of other commandos.</p>
+
+<p>I should point out here that in retreating we were going to the left,
+and therefore in perilous proximity to Ladysmith. The commandos which
+had been investing the town were all gone; and Buller's troops had
+already reached it from the eastern side, and there <span class="pagenum"><a id="page112" name="page112"></a>(p. 112)</span> was really
+nothing to prevent the enemy from turning our rear, which had perforce
+to pass Ladysmith on its way from the Tugela. When we had finally got
+through the drift late that evening, a rumour reached us that the
+British were in possession of Modderspruit, and so far as that road was
+concerned, our retreat was effectually cut off.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly before the War, however, the English had made a new road which
+followed the course of the Klip River up to the Drakensbergen, and then
+led through the Biggarsbergen to Newcastle. This road was, I believe,
+made for military purposes; but it was very useful to us, and our wagons
+were safely got away by it.</p>
+
+<p>Commandant D. Joubert, of the Carolina Commando, then sent a message
+asking for reinforcements for the Pretoria laager, situated to the
+north-west of Ladysmith. It was a dark night and the rain was pouring
+down in torrents, which rendered it very difficult to get the necessary
+burghers together for this purpose.</p>
+
+<p>I managed, however, to induce a sufficient <span class="pagenum"><a id="page113" name="page113"></a>(p. 113)</span> number of men to
+come together, and we rode back; but on nearing the Pretoria Laager, I
+found to my dismay that there were only 22 of us left. What was to be
+done? This handful of men was of very little use; yet to return would
+have been cowardly, and besides, in the meantime our laager would have
+gone on, and would now be several hours' riding ahead of us. I sent some
+burghers in advance to see what was happening to the Pretoria Laager. It
+seemed strange to me that the place should still be in the hands of our
+men, seeing that all the other commandos had long since retired. After
+waiting fully an hour, our scouts came back with the information that
+the laager was full of English soldiers, and that they had been able to
+hear them quarrelling about the booty left behind by the burghers.</p>
+
+<p>It was now two o'clock in the morning. Our Pretoria comrades were
+apparently safe, and considerably relieved we decided to ride to
+Elandslaagte which my men would by that time have surely reached. Our
+carts <span class="pagenum"><a id="page114" name="page114"></a>(p. 114)</span> were sooner or later bound to arrive there, inasmuch as
+they were in charge of a field-cornet known to us as one of our best
+"retreat officers." I think it was splendid policy under the
+circumstances to appoint such a gentleman to such a task; I felt sure
+that the enemy would never overtake him and capture his carts. We
+followed the main road, which was fortunately not held by the enemy, as
+had been reported to us. On the way we encountered several carts and
+waggons which had been cast away by the owners for fear of being caught
+up by the pursuing troops. Of course the rumour that this road was in
+possession of the English was false, but it increased the panic among
+the burghers. Not only carts had been left behind, but, as we found in
+places, sacks of flour, tins of coffee, mattresses and other jettison,
+thrown out of the carts to lighten their burden.</p>
+
+<p>On nearing Elandslaagte we caught up the rear of the fleeing
+commandos. Here we learned that Generals Botha and Meyer were still
+behind us with their commandos, near <span class="pagenum"><a id="page115" name="page115"></a>(p. 115)</span> Lombardsdorp. We
+off-saddled, exhausted and half starving. Luckily, some of the
+provisions of our commissariat, which had been stored here during the
+Ladysmith investment, had not been carried away. But, to our disgust,
+we found that the Commissariat-Commissioner had set fire to the whole
+of it, so we had to appease our hunger by picking half-burned potatoes
+out of a fire.</p>
+
+<p>At 7 o'clock next morning General Botha and his men arrived at
+Elandslaagte and off-saddled in hopes of getting something to eat. They
+were also doomed to disappointment. Such wanton destruction of God's
+bounty was loudly condemned, and had Mr. Pretorius, the Commissioner of
+Stores, not been discreet enough to make himself scarce, he would no
+doubt have been subjected to a severe "sjamboking." Later in the day a
+council of war was held, and it was decided that we should all stay
+there for the day, in order to stop the enemy if they should pursue us.
+Meantime we would allow the convoys an opportunity of getting to the
+other side of the Sunday River.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page116" name="page116"></a>(p. 116)</span> The British must have been so overjoyed at the relief of
+Ladysmith that Generals Buller and White did not think it necessary to
+pursue us, at any rate for some time, a consideration for which we were
+profoundly grateful. Methinks General Buller must have felt that he had
+paid a big price for the relief of Ladysmith, for it must have cost him
+many more lives than he had relieved. But in that place were a few
+Jingos (Natal Jingos) who had to be released, I suppose, at any costs.</p>
+
+<p>My burghers and I had neither cooking utensils nor food, and were
+anxious to push forward and find our convoys; for we had not as yet
+learned to live without carts and commissariat. At dusk the generals&mdash;I
+have no idea who they were&mdash;ordered us to hold the "randjes" south of
+the Sunday River till the following day, and that no burghers were to
+cross the river. This order did not seem to please the majority, but the
+Generals had put a guard near the bridge, with instructions to shoot any
+burghers and their horses should they try to get to the other side; so
+they had perforce, to remain where they were. Now I had <span class="pagenum"><a id="page117" name="page117"></a>(p. 117)</span> only
+22 men under my command, and I did not think these would make an
+appreciable difference to our fighting force, so I said to myself:
+"To-night we shall have a little game with the generals for once."</p>
+
+<p>We rode towards the bridge, and of course the guard there threatened to
+fire on us if we did not go back immediately. My adjutant, however, rode
+up and said: "Stand back, you &mdash;&mdash;! This is Commandant Viljoen, who has
+been ordered to hurry up a patrol at &mdash;&mdash;" (mentioning some place a few
+miles away) "which is in imminent danger of being captured."</p>
+
+<p>The guards, quite satisfied, stepped back and favoured us with a
+military salute as we rode by. When we had been riding a little way I
+heard someone ask them what "people" they were who had passed over the
+bridge, and I caught the words: "Now you will see that they will all
+want to cross."</p>
+
+<p>I do not contend I was quite right in acting in this insubordinate
+manner, but we strongly objected to being put under the guard of other
+commandos by some one <span class="pagenum"><a id="page118" name="page118"></a>(p. 118)</span> irresponsible general. I went on that
+night till we reached the Biggarsbergen, and next day sent out scouts in
+the direction of the Drakensbergen to inquire for the scattered remains
+of my commando. The mountains were covered with cattle from the laagers
+about Glencoe Station. The Boers there were cooking food, shoeing their
+horses, or repairing their clothes; in fact, they were very comfortable
+and very busy. They remarked: "There are many more burghers yonder with
+the General; we are quite sure of that."... "The Commandant-General is
+near Glencoe and will stop the retreating men."</p>
+
+<p>In short, as was continually happening in the War, everything was left
+to chance and the Almighty. Luckily General Botha had deemed it his duty
+to form a rearguard and cover our retreat; otherwise the English would
+have captured a large number of laagers, and many burghers whose horses
+were done up. But, whereas we had too little discipline, the English had
+evidently too much. It is not for me to say why General Buller did not
+have <span class="pagenum"><a id="page119" name="page119"></a>(p. 119)</span> us followed up; but it seems that the British lost a
+splendid chance.</p>
+
+<p>Some days went by without anything of note happening. My scouts returned
+on the third day and reported that my commando and its laager had safely
+got through, and could be expected the next day. Meanwhile I had
+procured some provisions at Glencoe, and for the time being we had
+nothing to complain about.</p>
+
+<p>I was very much amused next day to receive by despatch-rider a copy of a
+telegram from Glencoe sent by General Joubert to General Prinsloo at
+Harrismith (Orange Free State) asking for information regarding several
+missing commandos and officers, amongst whom my name appeared, while the
+telegram also contained the startling news that my commando had been
+reported cut up at Klip River and that I had been killed in action! This
+was the second time that I was killed, but one eventually gets used to
+that sort of thing.</p>
+
+<p>I sent, by the despatch-rider, this reply:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I and my commando are very much <span class="pagenum"><a id="page120" name="page120"></a>(p. 120)</span> alive!" Adding: "Tell the
+General we want four slaughter oxen."</p>
+
+<p>The following day I received orders to attend a council of war which was
+to be held at Glencoe Station. The principal object of this gathering
+was to discuss further plans of operation, to decide as to where our
+next positions were to be taken, and where the new fighting line would
+be formed.</p>
+
+<a id="img005" name="img005"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img005.jpg" width="400" height="580" alt="" title="">
+<p class="smcap">General Joubert opening a Council of War with Prayer.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>We all met at the appointed time in a big unoccupied hall near Glencoe
+Station, where General Joubert opened the last council that he was to
+conduct in this world. Over 50 officers were present and the interest
+was very keen for several reasons. In the first place we all desired
+some official information about the fate of General Cronje and his
+burghers at Paardeburg, and in the second place some expected to hear
+something definite about the intervention of which so much had been said
+and written of late. In fact many thought that Russia, France, Germany
+or the United States of America would surely intervene so soon as the
+fortunes of war began to turn against us. My personal opinion was
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page121" name="page121"></a>(p. 121)</span> stated just before the war at a public meeting, held in
+Johannesburg, where I said: "If we are driven to war we must not rely
+for deliverance on foreign powers, but on God and the Mauser."</p>
+
+<p>Some officers thought we ought to retire to our frontiers as far as
+Laing's Nek, and it was generally believed that this proposal would be
+adopted. According to our custom General Joubert opened the council with
+an address, in which he described the situation in its details. It was
+evident that our Commandant-General was very low-spirited and
+melancholy, and was suffering greatly from that painful internal
+complaint which was so soon to put an end to his career.</p>
+
+<p>No less than eleven assisting commandants and fighting generals were
+present, and yet not one could say who was next in command to General
+Joubert. I spoke to some friends about the irregularities which occurred
+during our retreat from Ladysmith: how all the generals were absent
+except Botha and Meyer, while the latter was on far from good terms with
+General Joubert since the unfortunate <span class="pagenum"><a id="page122" name="page122"></a>(p. 122)</span> attack on Platrand. This
+was undoubtedly due to the want of co-operation on the part of the
+various generals, and I resolved if possible, to bring our army into a
+closer union. I therefore proposed a motion:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p class="quote">"That all the generals be asked to resign, with the
+     exception of one assistant commandant-general and one
+     fighting general."</p>
+
+<p>Commandant Engelbrecht had promised to second my proposal, but when it
+was read out his courage failed him. The motion, moreover, was not very
+well received, and when it was put to the vote I found that I stood
+alone, even my seconder having forsaken me. As soon as an opportunity
+presented itself I asked General Joubert who was to be second in
+command. My question was not answered directly, but egged on by my
+colleagues, I asked whether General Botha would be next in command. To
+this he replied: "Yes, that is what I understand&mdash;."</p>
+
+<p>And if I am not mistaken, this was the first announcement of the
+important fact that Botha was to lead us in future.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page123" name="page123"></a>(p. 123)</span> Much more was said and much arranged; some of the commandos
+were to go to Cape Colony and attempt to check the progress of Lord
+Roberts, who was marching steadily north after Cronje's surrender.
+Finally each officer had some position assigned to him in the
+mountain-chain we call the Biggarsbergen. I was placed under General
+Meyer at Vantondersnek, near Pomeroy, and we left at once for our
+destination. From this place a pass leads through the Biggarsbergen,
+about 18 miles from Glencoe Station.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page124" name="page124"></a>(p. 124)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="13">XIII.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">DRIVEN FROM THE BIGGARSBERGEN.</p>
+
+
+<p>We spent the next few weeks in entrenching and fortifying our new
+positions. General Botha had left with some men for the Orange Free
+State which Lord Roberts, having relieved Kimberley, was marching
+through. General Joubert died about this time at Pretoria, having been
+twenty-one years Commandant-General of the South African Republic. He
+was without doubt one of the most prominent figures in the South African
+drama.</p>
+
+<p>General Botha now took up the chief command and soon proved himself to
+be worthy of holding the reins. He enjoyed the confidence and esteem of
+our whole army, a very important advantage under our trying
+circumstances.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page125" name="page125"></a>(p. 125)</span> Assisted by De Wet he was soon engaged in organizing the
+commandos in the Orange Free State, and in attempting to make some sort
+of a stand against the British, who were now marching through the
+country in overwhelming numbers. In this Republic the burghers had been
+under the command of the aged General Prinsloo, who now, however, had
+become so downhearted that the supreme command was taken from him and
+given to General De Wet. Prinsloo surrendered soon after, in doing which
+he did his people his greatest service; it was, however, unfortunate
+that he should have succeeded in leading with him 900 burghers into the
+hands of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>In the Biggarsbergen we had nothing to do but to sleep and eat and
+drink. On two separate occasions, however, we were ordered to join
+others in attacking the enemy's camp at Elandslaagte. This was done with
+much ado, but I would rather say nothing about the way in which the
+attacks were directed. It suffices to say that both failed miserably,
+and we were forced to retire considerably quicker than we had come.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page126" name="page126"></a>(p. 126)</span> Our generals, meantime, were very busy issuing innumerable
+circulars to the different commandos. It is impossible for me to
+remember the contents of all these curious manifestos, but one read as
+follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p class="quote">"A roll-call of all burghers is to be taken daily; weekly
+     reports are to be sent to headquarters of each separate
+     commando, and the minimum number of burghers making up a
+     field-cornetship is therein to be stated. Every 15 men
+     forming a field-cornetship are to be under a corporal; and
+     these corporals are to hold a roll-call every day, and to
+     send in weekly detailed reports of their men to the
+     Field-Cornet and Commandant, who in his turn must report to
+     the General."</p>
+
+<p>Another lengthy circular had full instructions and regulations for the
+granting of "leave" to burghers, an intricate arrangement which gave
+officers a considerable amount of trouble. The scheme was known as the
+"furlough system," and was an effort to introduce a show of organisation
+into the weighty matter of granting leave of absence. It failed,
+however, completely to have its desired effect. It provided that
+one-tenth of each commando should be granted furlough for a fortnight,
+and then <span class="pagenum"><a id="page127" name="page127"></a>(p. 127)</span> return to allow another tenth part to go in its turn.
+In a case of sick leave, a doctor's certificate was required, which had
+to bear the counter-signature of the field-cornet; its possessor was
+then allowed to go home instead of to the hospital. Further, a
+percentage of the farmers were allowed from time to time to go home and
+attend to pressing matters of their farms, such as harvesting, shearing
+sheep, etc. Men were chosen by the farmers to go and attend to matters
+not only for themselves but for other farmers in their districts as
+well. The net result of all this was that when everybody who could on
+some pretext or other obtain furlough had done so, about a third of each
+commando was missing. My burghers who were mostly men from the
+Witwatersrand Goldfields, could of course obtain no leave for farming
+purposes; and great dissatisfaction prevailed. I was inundated with
+complaints about their unfair treatment in this respect and only settled
+matters with considerable trouble.</p>
+
+<p>I agree that this matter had to be regulated somehow, and I do not blame
+the authorities <span class="pagenum"><a id="page128" name="page128"></a>(p. 128)</span> for their inability to cope with the
+difficulty. It seemed a great pity, however, that the commandos should
+be weakened so much and that the fighting spirit should be destroyed in
+this fashion. Of course it was our first big war and our arrangements
+were naturally of a very primitive character.</p>
+
+<p>It was the beginning of May before our friends the enemy at Ladysmith
+and Elandslaagte began to show some signs of activity. We discovered
+unmistakable signs that some big forward movement was in progress, but
+we could not discover on which point the attack was to be directed.
+Buller and his men were marching on the road along Vantondersnek, and I
+scented heavy fighting for us again. I gathered a strong patrol and
+started out to reconnoitre the position. We found that the enemy had
+pitched their camp past Waschbank in great force, and were sending out
+detachments in an easterly direction. From this I concluded that they
+did not propose going through Vantondersnek, but that they intended to
+attack our left flank at Helpmakaar. This seemed to me, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page129" name="page129"></a>(p. 129)</span> at any
+rate, to be General Buller's safest plan.</p>
+
+<p>Helpmakaar was east of my position; it is a little village elbowed in a
+pass in the Biggarsbergen. By taking this point one could hold the key
+to our entire extended line of defence, as was subsequently only too
+clearly shown. I pointed this out to some of our generals, but a
+commandant's opinion did not weigh much just then; nor was any notice
+taken of a similar warning from Commandant Christian Botha, who held a
+position close to mine with the Swaziland burghers.</p>
+
+<p>We had repeated skirmishes with the English outposts during our scouting
+expeditions, and on one occasion we suddenly encountered a score of men
+of the South African Light Horse.</p>
+
+<p>We noticed them in a "donk" (a hollow place) thickly covered with trees
+and bushes, but not before we were right amongst them. It appears they
+mistook us for Englishmen, while we thought at first they were members
+of Colonel Blake's Irish Brigade. Many of them shook hands with us, and
+a burgher named <span class="pagenum"><a id="page130" name="page130"></a>(p. 130)</span> Vivian Cogell asked them in Dutch: "How are
+you, boys?"</p>
+
+<p>To which an Englishman, who understood a little Dutch, answered: "Oh,
+all right; where do you come from?"</p>
+
+<p>Vivian replied: "From Viljoen's commando; we are scouting."</p>
+
+<p>Then the Englishman discovered who we were, but Vivian gave the man no
+time for reflection. Riding up to him, he asked: "What regiment do you
+belong to?"</p>
+
+<p>"To the South African Light Horse," answered the Englishman.</p>
+
+<p>"Hands up!" retorted Vivian, and the English-Afrikander threw down his
+gun and put up his hands.</p>
+
+<p>"Hands up! Hands up!" was the cry now universally heard, and although a
+few escaped, the majority were disarmed and made prisoners. It had been
+made a rule that when a burgher captured a British soldier he should be
+allowed to conduct him to Pretoria, where he could then obtain a few
+days' leave to visit his family. This did much to encourage our burghers
+to make prisoners, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page131" name="page131"></a>(p. 131)</span> although many lost their lives in
+attempting to do so.</p>
+
+<p>The next day, General Buller marched on Helpmakaar, passing close to our
+position. We fired a few shots from our Creusot gun, and had several
+light skirmishes. The enemy, however, concentrated the fire of a few
+batteries on us, and our guns were soon silenced.</p>
+
+<p>General L. Meyer had arrived with some reinforcements close to
+Helpmakaar, but the position had never been strengthened, and the sole
+defending force consisted of the Piet Retief burghers, known as the
+"Piet Retreaters," together with a small German corps. The result was
+easy to predict. The attack was made, and we lost the position without
+seriously attempting to defend it. Buller was now, therefore, in
+possession of the key to the Boer position in Natal, a position which we
+had occupied for two months&mdash;and could therefore, have fortified to
+perfection&mdash;and whose strategic importance should have been known in its
+smallest details. I think our generals, who had a sufficient force at
+their <span class="pagenum"><a id="page132" name="page132"></a>(p. 132)</span> disposal, of which the mobility has become world-famed,
+should have been able to prevent such a fiasco as our occupation of the
+splendid line of defence in the Biggarsbergen turned out to be.</p>
+
+<p>Here, for the first time in the war, General Buller utilised his
+success, and followed up our men as they were retreating on Dundee. He
+descended by the main waggon track from Helpmakaar, and drove the
+commandos like sheep before him. I myself was obliged to move away in
+hot haste and join the general retreat. Once or twice our men attempted
+to make a stand, but with little success.</p>
+
+<p>When we reached Dundee the enemy gradually slackened off pursuit, and at
+dark we were clear of them. Satisfied with their previous day's success,
+and sadly hampered by their enormous convoys, the English now allowed us
+to move on at our leisure.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page133" name="page133"></a>(p. 133)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="14">XIV.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">DISPIRITED AND DEMORALISED.</p>
+
+
+<p>Our first intention was to proceed to Vereeniging, there to join General
+Botha's forces. At Klip River Station, that preceding Vereeniging, I was
+ordered, however, to leave my carts behind and proceed with my men to
+Vaalbank, as the enemy were advancing with forced marches, and had
+compelled all the other commandos to fall back on Vereeniging.</p>
+
+<p>On our way we met groups of retreating burghers, each of whom gave us a
+different version of the position. Some said that the enemy had already
+swept past Vereeniging, others that they could not now be stopped until
+they reached Johannesburg. Further on, we had the good fortune to
+encounter General Botha and his staff. The General ordered me to take up
+a position at the Gatsrand, near the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page134" name="page134"></a>(p. 134)</span> Nek at Pharaohsfontein,
+as the British, having split their forces up into two parts, would send
+one portion to cross the Vaal River at Lindeque's Drift, whilst the
+other detachments would follow the railway past Vereeniging. Generals
+Lemmer and Grobler were already posted at the Gatsrand to obstruct the
+enemy's progress.</p>
+
+<p>I asked General Botha how we stood. He sighed, and answered: "If only
+the burghers would fight we could stop them easily enough; but I cannot
+get a single burgher to start fighting. I hope their running mood will
+soon change into a fighting mood. You keep your spirits up, and let us
+do our duty."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, General," I answered, and we shook hands heartily.</p>
+
+<p>We rode on through the evening and at midnight halted at a farm to give
+our horses rest and fodder. The owner of the farm was absent on duty,
+and his family had been left behind. On our approach the women-folk,
+mistaking us for Englishmen, were terrified out of their wits.
+Remembering the atrocities and horrors committed in Natal on the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page135" name="page135"></a>(p. 135)</span> advance of the Imperial troops, they awaited the coming of the
+English with the greatest terror. On the approach of the enemy many
+women and children forsook their homes and wandered about in caves and
+woods for days, exposed to every privation and inclemency of the
+weather, and to the attacks of wandering bands of plundering kaffirs.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. van der Merwe, whom we met here, was exceedingly kind to us, and
+gave us plenty of fodder for our horses. We purchased some sheep, and
+slaughtered them and enjoyed a good meal before sunrise; and each one of
+us bore away a good-sized piece of mutton as provisions for the future.</p>
+
+<p>Our scouts, whom we had despatched over night, informed us that Generals
+Lemmer and Grobler had taken up their stand to the right of
+Pharaohsfontein in the Gatsrand, and that the English were approaching
+in enormous force.</p>
+
+<p>By nine in the morning we had taken up our positions, and at noon the
+enemy came in sight. Our commando had been considerably reduced, as many
+burghers, finding themselves <span class="pagenum"><a id="page136" name="page136"></a>(p. 136)</span> near their homes, had applied for
+twenty-four hours' leave, which had been granted in order to allow them
+to arrange matters before the advance of the English on their farms made
+it impossible. A few also had deserted for the time being, unable to
+resist the temptation of visiting their families in the neighbourhood.</p>
+
+<p>Some old burghers approached us and hailed us with the usual "Morning,
+boys! Which commando do you belong to?"</p>
+
+<p>"Viljoen's."</p>
+
+<p>"We would like to see your Commandant," they answered.</p>
+
+<p>Presenting myself, I asked: "Who are you, and where do you come from,
+and where are you going to?"</p>
+
+<p>They answered: "We are scouts of General Lemmer and we came to see who
+is holding this position."</p>
+
+<p>"But surely General Lemmer knows that I am here?"</p>
+
+<a id="img006" name="img006"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img006.jpg" width="400" height="583" alt="" title="">
+<p class="smcap">A Surprise.&mdash;Coyell Meeting the Imperial Light Horse.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Very probably," they replied, "but we wanted to know for ourselves; we
+thought we might find some of our friends <span class="pagenum"><a id="page137" name="page137"></a>(p. 137)</span> amongst you. You
+come from Natal, don't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," I answered sadly. "We have come to reinforce the others, but I
+fear we can be of little use. It seems to me that it will be here as it
+was in Natal; all running and no fighting."</p>
+
+<p>"Alas!" they said, "the Free Staters will not remain in one position,
+and we must admit the Transvaalers are also very disheartened. However,
+if the British once cross our frontiers you will find that the burghers
+will fight to the bitter end."</p>
+
+<p>Consoled by this pretty promise we made up our minds to do our best, but
+our outposts presently brought word that the British were bearing to the
+right and nearing General Grobler's position, and had passed round that
+of General Lemmer. Whilst they attacked General Grobler's we attacked
+their flank, but we could not do much damage, as we were without guns.
+Soon after the enemy directed a heavy artillery fire on us, to which we,
+being on flat ground, found ourselves dangerously exposed.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page138" name="page138"></a>(p. 138)</span> Towards evening the enemy were in possession of General
+Grobler's position, and were passing over the Gatsrand, leaving us
+behind. I ordered my commando to fall back on Klipriversberg, while I
+rode away with some adjutants to attempt to put myself in communication
+with the other commandos.</p>
+
+<p>The night was dark and cloudy, which rendered it somewhat difficult for
+us to move about in safety. We occasionally fell into ditches and
+trenches, and had much trouble with barbed wire. However, we finally
+fell in with General Lemmer's rearguard, who informed us that the enemy,
+after having overcome the feeble resistance of General Grobler, had
+proceeded north, and all the burghers were retreating in haste before
+them.</p>
+
+<p>We rode on past the enemy to find General Grobler and what his plans
+were. We rode quite close to the English camp, as we knew that they
+seldom posted sentries far from their tents. On this occasion, however,
+they had placed a guard in an old "klipkraal," for them a prodigious
+distance from their camp, and a "Tommy" hailed us from the darkness.&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page139" name="page139"></a>(p. 139)</span> "Halt, who goes there?"</p>
+
+<p>I replied "Friend," whereupon the guileless soldier answered:</p>
+
+<p>"Pass, friend, all's well."</p>
+
+<p>I had my doubts, however. He might be a Boer outpost anxious to
+ascertain if we were Englishmen. Afraid to ride into ambush of my own
+men, I called out in Dutch:</p>
+
+<p>"Whose men are you?"</p>
+
+<p>The Tommy lost his temper at being kept awake so long and retorted
+testily, "I can't understand your beastly Dutch; come here and be
+recognized." But we did not wait for identification, and I rode off
+shouting back "Thanks, my compliments to General French, and tell him
+that his outposts are asleep."</p>
+
+<p>This was too much for the "Tommy" and his friends, who answered with a
+volley of rifle fire, which was taken up by the whole line of British
+outposts. No harm was done, however, and we soon rode out of range. I
+gave up looking for General Grobler, and on the following morning
+rejoined my men at Klipriversberg.</p>
+
+<p>It was by no means easy to find out the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page140" name="page140"></a>(p. 140)</span> exact position of
+affairs. Our scouts reported that the enemy's left wing, having broken
+through General Grobler's position, were now marching along Van Wijk's
+Rust. I could, however, obtain no definite information regarding the
+right wing, nor could I discover the General under whose orders I was to
+place myself. General Lemmer, moreover, was suffering from an acute
+disease of the kidneys, which had compelled him to hand over his command
+to Commandant Gravett, who had proved himself an excellent officer.</p>
+
+<p>General Grobler had lost the majority of his men, or what was more
+likely the case, they had lost him. He declared that he was unaware of
+General Botha's or Mr. Kruger's plans, and that it was absurd to keep
+running away, but he clearly did not feel equal to any more fighting,
+although he had not the moral courage to openly say so. From this point
+this gentleman did no further service to his country, and was shortly
+afterwards dismissed. The reader will now gather an idea of the enormous
+change which had come over our troops. Six months before <span class="pagenum"><a id="page141" name="page141"></a>(p. 141)</span> they
+had been cheerful and gay, confident of the ultimate success of their
+cause; now they were downhearted and in the lowest of spirits. I must
+admit that in this our officers were no exception.</p>
+
+<p>Those were dark days for us. Now began the real fighting, and this under
+the most difficult and distressing circumstances; and I think that if
+our leaders could have had a glimpse of the difficulties and hardships
+that were before us, they would not have had the courage to proceed any
+further in the struggle.</p>
+
+<p>Early next morning (the 29th May, 1900) we reached Klipspruit, and found
+there several other commandos placed in extended order all the way up to
+Doornkop.</p>
+
+<p>Amongst them was that of General De la Rey, who had come from the
+Western frontier of our Republic, and that of General Snyman, whom I
+regard as the real defender and reliever of Mafeking, for he was afraid
+to attack a garrison of 1,000 men with twice that number of burghers.</p>
+
+<p>Before having had time to properly fortify <span class="pagenum"><a id="page142" name="page142"></a>(p. 142)</span> our position we
+were attacked on the right flank by General French's cavalry, while the
+left flank had to resist a strong opposing force of cavalry. Both
+attacks were successfully repulsed, as well as a third in the centre of
+our fighting line.</p>
+
+<p>The British now marched on Doornkop, their real object of attack being
+our extreme right wing, but they made a feint on our left. Our line of
+defence was very extended and weakened by the removal of a body of men
+who had been sent to Natal Spruit to stop the other body of the enemy
+from forcing its way along the railway line and cutting off our retreat
+to Pretoria.</p>
+
+<p>The battle lasted till sunset, and was especially fierce on our right,
+where the Krugersdorpers stood. Early in the evening our right wing had
+to yield to an overwhelming force, and during the night all the
+commandos had to fall back. My commando, which should have consisted of
+about 450 men, only numbered 65 during this engagement; our losses were
+two men killed. I was also slightly wounded in the thigh by a piece of
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page143" name="page143"></a>(p. 143)</span> shell, but I had no time to attend such matters, as we had to
+retire in haste, and the wound soon healed.</p>
+
+<p>The next day our forces were again in full retreat to Pretoria, where I
+understood we were to make a desperate stand. About seven o'clock we
+passed through Fordsburg, a suburb of Johannesburg.</p>
+
+<p>We had been warned not to enter Johannesburg, as Dr. Krause, who had
+taken from me the command of the town, had already surrendered it to
+Lord Roberts, who might shell it if he found commandos were there. Our
+larger commissariat had proceeded to Pretoria, but we wanted several
+articles of food, and strange to say the commissariat official at
+Johannesburg would not give us anything for fear of incurring Lord
+Roberts' displeasure!</p>
+
+<p>I was very angry; the enemy were not actually in possession of the town,
+and I therefore should have been consulted in the matter; but these
+irresponsible officials even refused to grant us the necessaries of
+life!</p>
+
+<p>At this time there was a strong movement <span class="pagenum"><a id="page144" name="page144"></a>(p. 144)</span> on foot to blow up
+the principal mines about Johannesburg, and an irresponsible young
+person named Antonie Kock had placed himself at the head of a
+confederacy with this object in view. But thanks to the explicit orders
+of General L. Botha, which were faithfully carried out by Dr. Krause,
+Kock's plan was fortunately frustrated, and I fully agree with Botha
+that it would have been most impolitic to have allowed this destruction.
+I often wished afterwards, however, that the British military
+authorities had shown as much consideration for our property.</p>
+
+<p>We had to have food in any case, and as the official hesitated to supply
+us we helped ourselves from the Government Stores, and proceeded to the
+capital. The roads to Pretoria were crowded with men, guns, and vehicles
+of every description, and despondency and despair were plainly visible
+on every human face.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page145" name="page145"></a>(p. 145)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="15">XV.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">OCCUPATION OF PRETORIA.</p>
+
+
+<p>The enemy naturally profited by our confusion to pursue us more closely
+than before. The prospect before us was a sad one, and we asked
+ourselves, "What is to be the end of all this, and what is to become of
+our poor people? Shall we be able to prolong the struggle, and for how
+long?"</p>
+
+<p>But no prolongation of the struggle appeared to have entered into our
+enemy's minds, who evidently thought that the War had now come upon its
+last stage, and they were as elated as we were downhearted. They made
+certain that the Boer was completely vanquished, and his resistance
+effectually put an end to. At this juncture Conan Doyle, after pointing
+out what glorious liberty <span class="pagenum"><a id="page146" name="page146"></a>(p. 146)</span> and progress would fall to the
+Boers' lot under the British flag, wrote:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p class="quote">"When that is learned it may happen that they will come to
+     date a happier life and a wider liberty from that 5th of
+     June which saw the symbol of their nation pass for ever from
+     the ensigns of the world."</p>
+
+<p>Thus, not only did Lord Roberts announce to the world that "the War was
+now practically over," but Conan Doyle did not hesitate to say the same
+in more eloquent style.</p>
+
+<p>How England utterly under-estimated the determination of the Boers,
+subsequent events have plainly proved. It is equally plain that we
+ourselves did not know the strength of our resolution, when one takes
+into account the pessimism and despair that weighed us down in those
+dark days; and as the Union Jack was flying over our Government
+buildings we might have exclaimed:&mdash;"England, we do not know our
+strength, but you know it still less!"</p>
+
+<p>Nearly all the commandos were now in the neighbourhood of Pretoria,
+General Botha forming a rearguard, and we determined to defend the
+capital as well as we could. But <span class="pagenum"><a id="page147" name="page147"></a>(p. 147)</span> at this juncture some Boer
+officer was said to have received a communication from the Government,
+informing us that they had decided not to defend the town. A cyclist was
+taking this communication round to the different commandos, but the
+Commandant-General did not seem to be aware of it, and we tried in vain
+to find him so as to discover what his plans were. The greatest
+confusion naturally prevailed, and as all the generals gave different
+orders, no one knew what was going to be done. I believe General Botha
+intended to concentrate the troops round Pretoria, and there offer some
+sort of resistance to the triumphant forces of the enemy, and we had all
+understood that the capital would be defended to the last; but this
+communication altered the position considerably. Shortly afterwards all
+the Boer officers met at Irene Estate, near Pretoria, in a council of
+war, and were there informed that the Government had already forsaken
+the town, leaving a few "feather-bed patriots" to formally surrender the
+town to the English.</p>
+
+<p>I thought this decision of easy surrender <span class="pagenum"><a id="page148" name="page148"></a>(p. 148)</span> ridiculous and
+inexplicable, and many officers joined me in loud condemnation of it. I
+do not remember exactly all that happened at the time, but I know a
+telegram arrived from the Commandant-General saying that a crowd had
+broken open the Commissariat Buildings in Pretoria and were looting
+them. An adjutant was sent into Pretoria to spread an alarm that the
+English were entering the town, and this had the effect of driving all
+the looters out of it. Some of my own men were engaged in these
+predatory operations, and I did not see them again until three days
+after.</p>
+
+<p>The English approached Pretoria very cautiously, and directed some big
+naval guns on our forts built round the town, to which we replied for
+some time with our guns from the "randten," south-west of the town; but
+our officers were unable to offer any organised resistance, and thus on
+the 5th of June, 1900, the capital of the South African Republic fell
+with little ado into the enemy's hands. Bloemfontein, the capital of the
+Orange Free State, had months before suffered the same fate, and
+thousands of Free Staters had surrendered <span class="pagenum"><a id="page149" name="page149"></a>(p. 149)</span> to the English as
+they marched from Bloemfontein to the Transvaal. Happily, however, in
+the Free State President Steyn and General De Wet were still wide awake
+and Lord Roberts very soon discovered that his long lines of
+communication were a source of great trouble and anxiety to him. The
+commandos, meanwhile, were reorganised; the buried Mausers and
+ammunition were once more resurrected, and soon it became clear that the
+Orange Free State was far from conquered.</p>
+
+<p>The fall of Pretoria, indeed, was but a sham victory for the enemy. A
+number of officials of the Government remained behind there and
+surrendered, together with a number of burghers, amongst these
+faint-hearted brethren being even members of the Volksraad and men who
+had played a prominent part in the Republic's history; while to the
+everlasting shame of them and their race, a number of other Boers
+entered at once into the English service and henceforth used their
+rifles to shoot at and maim their own fellow-countrymen.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page150" name="page150"></a>(p. 150)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="16">XVI.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">BATTLE OF DONKERHOEK ("DIAMOND HILL").</p>
+
+
+<p>Our first and best positions were now obviously the kopjes which
+stretched from Donkerhoek past Waterval and Wonderboompoort. This chain
+of mountains runs for about 12 miles <abbr title="east">E.</abbr> and <abbr title="north east">N.E.</abbr> of Pretoria, and our
+positions here would cut off all the roads of any importance to
+Pietersburg, Middelburg, as well as the Delagoa Bay railway. We
+therefore posted ourselves along this range, General De la Rey forming
+the right flank, some of our other fighting generals occupying the
+centre, whilst Commandant-General Botha himself took command of the left
+flank.</p>
+
+<p>On the 11th of June, 1900, Lord Roberts approached with a force of
+28,000 to 30,000 men and about 100 guns, in order, as the official
+despatches had it, "to clear the Boers from the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page151" name="page151"></a>(p. 151)</span> neighbourhood
+of Pretoria." Their right and left flanks were composed of cavalry,
+whilst the centre was formed of infantry regiments; their big guns were
+placed in good positions and their field pieces were evenly distributed
+amongst the different army divisions.</p>
+
+<p>Towards sunset they began booming away at our whole 13 miles of defence.
+Our artillery answered their fire from all points with excellent
+results, and when night fell the enemy retired a little with
+considerable losses.</p>
+
+<p>The battle was renewed again next day, the enemy attempting to turn our
+right with a strong flanking movement, but was completely repulsed.
+Meanwhile I at Donkerpoort proper had the privilege of being left
+unmolested for several hours. The object of this soon became apparent. A
+little cart drawn by two horses and bearing a white flag came down the
+road from Pretoria. From it descended two persons, Messrs. Koos Smit,
+our Railway Commissioner and Mr. J. F. de Beer, Chief Inspector of
+Offices, both high officials of the South African Republic. I called out
+to them from a distance.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page152" name="page152"></a>(p. 152)</span> "Halt, you cannot pass. What do you want?"</p>
+
+<p>Smit said, "I want to see Botha and President Kruger. Dr. Scholtz is
+also with us. We are sent by Lord Roberts."</p>
+
+<p>I answered Mr. Smit that traitors were not admitted on our premises, and
+that he would have to stay where he was. Turning to some burghers who
+were standing near I gave instructions that the fellows were to be
+detained.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Smit now began to "sing small," and turning deadly pale, asked in a
+tremulous voice if there were any chance of seeing Botha.</p>
+
+<p>"Your request," I replied, "will be forwarded." Which was done.</p>
+
+<p>An hour passed before General Botha sent word that he was coming.
+Meanwhile the battle continued raging fiercely, and a good many lyddite
+bombs were straying our way. The "white-flaggists" appeared to be very
+anxious to know if the General would be long in coming, and if their
+flag could not be hoisted in a more conspicuous place. The <span class="pagenum"><a id="page153" name="page153"></a>(p. 153)</span>
+burghers guarding them pointed out, however, that the bombs came from
+their own British friends.</p>
+
+<p>After a while General Botha rode up. He offered a far from cordial
+welcome to the deputation.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Scholtz produced a piece of paper and said Lord Roberts had sent him
+to enquire why Botha insisted on more unnecessary bloodshed, and why he
+did not come in to make peace, and that sort of thing.</p>
+
+<p>Botha asked if Scholtz held an authoritative letter or document from the
+English general, to which the Doctor replied in the negative.</p>
+
+<p>Smit now suggested that he should be allowed to see Mr. Kruger, but
+Botha declared, with considerable emphasis, "Look here, your conduct is
+nothing less than execrable, and I shall not allow you to see Mr.
+Kruger. You are a couple of contemptible scoundrels, and as for Dr.
+Scholtz, his certificate looks rather dubious. You will go back and give
+the following message to Lord Roberts:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p class="quote">"That this is not the first time messages of this <span class="pagenum"><a id="page154" name="page154"></a>(p. 154)</span>
+     description are sent to me in an unofficial manner; that
+     these overtures have also sometimes been made in an
+     insulting form, but always equally unofficially. I have to
+     express my surprise at such tactics on the part of a man in
+     Lord Roberts' position. His Lordship may think that our
+     country is lost to us, but I shall do my duty towards it all
+     the same. They can shoot me for it or imprison me, or banish
+     me, but my principles and my character they cannot assail."</p>
+
+<p>One could plainly see that the conscience-stricken messengers winced
+under the reproach. Not another word was said, and the noble trio turned
+on their heels and took their white flag back to Pretoria.</p>
+
+<p>Whether Botha was right in allowing these "hands-uppers" to return, is a
+question I do not care to discuss, but many burghers had their own
+opinion about it. Still, if they had been detained by us and shot for
+high treason, what would not have been said by those who did not
+hesitate to send our own unfaithful burghers to us to induce us to
+surrender.</p>
+
+<p>I cannot say whether Lord Roberts was personally responsible for the
+sending of these messengers, but that such action was <span class="pagenum"><a id="page155" name="page155"></a>(p. 155)</span>
+extremely improper no one can deny. It was a specially stupendous piece
+of impudence on the part of these men, J. S. Smit and J. F. de Beer,
+burghers both, and highly placed officials of the S. A. Republic. They
+had thrown down their arms and sworn allegiance to an enemy, thereby
+committing high treason in the fullest sense of the word. They now came
+through the fighting lines of their former comrades to ascertain from
+the commanders of the republican army why the whole nation did not
+follow their example, why they would not surrender their liberty and
+very existence as a people and commit the most despicable act known to
+mankind.</p>
+
+<p>"Pretoria was in British hands!" As if, forsooth, the existence of our
+nationality began and ended in Pretoria! Pretoria was after all only a
+village where "patriots" of the Smit and de Beer stamp had for years
+been fattening on State funds, and, having filled their pockets by means
+of questionable practices, had helped to damage the reputation of a
+young and virile nation.</p>
+
+<p>Not only had they enjoyed the spoils of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page156" name="page156"></a>(p. 156)</span> high office in the
+State Service offices, to which a fabulous remuneration was attached,
+but they belonged to the Boer aristocracy, members of honourable
+families whose high birth and qualities had secured for them preference
+over thousands of other men and the unlimited confidence of the Head of
+State. Little wonder these gentlemen regarded the fall of Pretoria as
+the end of the war!</p>
+
+<p>The battle continued the whole day; it was fiercest on our left flank,
+where General French and his cavalry charged the positions of the Ermelo
+and Bethel burghers again and again, each time to be repulsed with heavy
+losses. Once the lancers attacked so valiantly that a hand-to-hand fight
+ensued. The commandant of the Bethel burghers afterwards told me that
+during the charge his kaffir servant got among the lancers and called
+upon them to "Hands up!" The unsophisticated native had heard so much
+about "hands up," and "hands-uppers," that he thought the entire English
+language consisted of those two simple words, and when one lancer
+shouted to him "Hands up," he echoed "Hands up." <span class="pagenum"><a id="page157" name="page157"></a>(p. 157)</span> The British
+cavalryman thrust his lance through the nigger's arm, still shouting
+"Hands up," the black man retreating, also vociferously shrieking "Hands
+up, boss; hands up!"</p>
+
+<p>When his master asked him why he had shouted "Hands up" so persistently
+though he was running away, he answered: "Ah, boss, me hear every day
+people say, 'Hands up;' now me think this means kaffir 'Soebat' (to
+beg). I thought it mean, 'Leave off, please,' but the more I shouted
+'Hands up' English boss prod me with his assegai all the same."</p>
+
+<p>On our right General De la Rey had an equally awkward position; the
+British here also made several determined attempts to turn his flank,
+but were repulsed each time. Once during an attack on our right, their
+convoy came so close to our position that our artillery and our Mausers
+were enabled to pour such a fire into them that the mules drawing the
+carts careered about the veldt at random, and the greatest confusion
+ensued. British mules were "pro-Boer" throughout the War. The ground,
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page158" name="page158"></a>(p. 158)</span> however, was not favourable for our operations, and we failed
+to avail ourselves of the general chaos. Towards the evening of the
+second day General Tobias Smuts made an unpardonable blunder in falling
+back with his commandos. There was no necessity for the retreat; but it
+served to show the British that there was a weak point in our armoury.
+Indeed, the following day the attack in force was made upon this point.
+The British had meantime continued pouring in reinforcements, men as
+well as guns.</p>
+
+<p>About two o clock in the afternoon Smuts applied urgently for
+reinforcements, and I was ordered by the Commandant-General to go to his
+position. A ride of a mile and a half brought us near Smuts; our horses
+were put behind a "randje," the enemy's bullets and shells meantime
+flying over their heads without doing much harm. We then hurried up on
+foot to the fighting line, but before we could reach the position
+General Smuts and his burghers had left it. At first I was rather in the
+dark as to what it all meant until we discovered that the British had
+won Smuts' <span class="pagenum"><a id="page159" name="page159"></a>(p. 159)</span> position, and from it were firing upon us. We fell
+down flat behind the nearest "klips" and returned the fire, but were at
+a disadvantage, since the British were above us. I never heard where
+General Smuts and his burghers finally got to. On our left we had
+Commandant Kemp with the Krugersdorpers; on the right Field-Cornet Koen
+Brits. The British tried alternately to get through between one of my
+neighbours and myself, but we succeeded, notwithstanding their fierce
+onslaught, in turning them back each time. All we could do, however, was
+to hold our own till dark. Then orders were given to "inspan" all our
+carts and other conveyances as the commandos would all have to retire.</p>
+
+<p>I do not know the extent of the British losses in that engagement. My
+friend Conan Doyle wisely says nothing about them, but we knew they had
+suffered very severely indeed. Our losses were not heavy; but we had to
+regret the death of brave Field-Cornet Roelf Jansen and some other
+plucky burghers. Dr. Doyle, referring to the engagement, says:</p>
+
+<p>"'The two days' prolonged struggle <span class="pagenum"><a id="page160" name="page160"></a>(p. 160)</span> (Diamond Hill) showed that
+there was still plenty of fight in the burghers. Lord Roberts had not
+routed them," etc.</p>
+
+<p>Thus ended the battle of Donkerhoek, and next day our commandos were
+falling back to the north.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page161" name="page161"></a>(p. 161)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="17">XVII.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">I BECOME A GENERAL.</p>
+
+
+<p>In our retreat northwards the English did not pursue us. They contented
+themselves by fortifying the position we had evacuated between
+Donkerhoek and Wonderboompoort. Meantime our commandos proceeded along
+the Delagoa Bay Railway until we reached Balmoral Station, while other
+little divisions of ours were at Rhenosterkop, north of Bronkhorst
+Spruit.</p>
+
+<p>I may state that this general retreat knocked the spirit out of some of
+our weaker brethren. Hundreds of Boers rode into Pretoria with the white
+flag suspended from their Mauser barrels. In Pretoria there were many
+prominent burghers who had readily accepted the new conditions, and
+these were employed by the British to induce other Boers within reach,
+by manner of all sorts of specious promises, to lay down their arms.
+Many more western <span class="pagenum"><a id="page162" name="page162"></a>(p. 162)</span> district Boers quietly returned to their
+homes. Luckily, the Boer loves his Mauser too well to part with it,
+except on compulsion, and although the majority of these western Boers
+handed in their weapons, some retained them.</p>
+
+<p>They retained their weapons by burying them, pacifying the confiding
+British officer in charge of the district by handing in rusty and
+obsolete Martini-Henris or a venerable blunderbuss which nobody had used
+since ancestral Boer shot lions with it in the mediæval days of the
+first great trek. The buried Mausers came in very useful afterwards.</p>
+
+<p>About this time General Buller entered the Republic from the Natal side,
+and marched with his force through the southern districts of
+Wakkerstroom, Standerton, and Ermelo. Hundreds of burghers remained on
+their farms and handed their weapons to the British. In some districts,
+for instance, at Standerton, the commandant and two out of his three
+field-cornets surrendered. Thus, not only were some commandos without
+officers, but others entirely disappeared from our army. Still, at the
+psychological moment a Joshua <span class="pagenum"><a id="page163" name="page163"></a>(p. 163)</span> would appear, and save the
+situation, as, for instance, in the Standerton district, where
+Assistant-Field-Cornet Brits led a forlorn hope and saved a whole
+commando from extinction. The greatest mischief was done by many of our
+landdrosts, who, after having surrendered, sent out communications to
+officers and burghers exhorting them to come in.</p>
+
+<p>The majority of our Boer officers, however, remained faithful to their
+vow, though since the country was partly occupied by the British it was
+difficult to get in touch with the Commandant-General or the Government,
+and the general demoralisation prevented many officers from asserting
+their authority.</p>
+
+<p>Generals Sarel Oosthuizen and H. L. Lemmer, both now deceased, were sent
+to the north of Pretoria, to collect the burghers from the western
+districts, and to generally rehabilitate their commandos. They were
+followed by Assistant-Commandant General J. H. De la Rey and State
+Attorney Smuts (our legal adviser). It was at this point, indeed, that
+the supreme command of the western <span class="pagenum"><a id="page164" name="page164"></a>(p. 164)</span> districts was assumed by
+General De la Rey, who, on his way to the north, attacked and defeated
+an English garrison at Selatsnek.</p>
+
+<p>The "reorganisation" of our depleted commandos proceeded very well;
+about 95 per cent. of the fighting Boers rejoined, and speedily the
+commandos in the western districts had grown to about 7,000 men.</p>
+
+<p>But just a few weeks after his arrival in the West Krugersdorp district,
+poor, plucky Sarel Oosthuizen was severely wounded in the battle of
+Dwarsvlei, and died of his wounds some time after.</p>
+
+<p>General H. Lemmer, a promising soldier, whom we could ill spare, was
+killed soon after while storming Lichtenburg under General De la Rey, an
+engagement in which we did not succeed. We had much trouble in replacing
+these two brave generals, whose names will live for all time in the
+history of the Boer Republics.</p>
+
+<p>It is hardly necessary to dwell on the splendid work done by
+Assistant-Commandant-General De la Rey in the western districts.
+Commandant-General Botha was also hard <span class="pagenum"><a id="page165" name="page165"></a>(p. 165)</span> worked at this stage,
+and was severely taxed reorganising his commandos and filling up the
+lamentable vacancies caused by the deaths of Lemmer and Oosthuizen.</p>
+
+<p>I have already pointed out that General De la Rey had taken with him the
+remainder of the burghers from the western districts. The following
+commandos were now left to us:&mdash;Krugersdorp and Germiston, respectively,
+under the then Commandants J. Kemp and C. Gravett, and the Johannesburg
+police, with some smaller commandos under the four fighting generals,
+Douthwaith, Snyman (of Mafeking fame), Liebenberg, and Du Toit. The last
+four generals were "sent home" and their burghers with those of
+Krugersdorp, Germiston, Johannesburg, Boksburg and the Mounted Police,
+were placed under my command, while I myself was promoted to the rank of
+General. I had now under me 1,200 men, all told&mdash;a very fair force.</p>
+
+<p>I can hardly describe my feelings on hearing of my promotion to such a
+responsible position. For the first time during the War I felt a sort of
+trepidation. I had all sorts of misgivings; <span class="pagenum"><a id="page166" name="page166"></a>(p. 166)</span> how should I be
+able to properly guard the interests of such a great commando? Had I a
+right to do so? Would the burghers be satisfied? It was all very well to
+say that they would have to be satisfied, but if they had shown signs of
+dissatisfaction I should have felt bound to resign. I am not in the
+habit of blinking at facts; they are stern things. What was to become of
+me if I had to tender my resignation? I was eager and rash, like most
+young officers, for although the prospects of our cause were not
+brilliant and our army had suffered some serious reverses, I still had
+implicit faith in the future, and above all, in the justice of the cause
+for which we were fighting. And I knew, moreover, that the burghers we
+now had left with us were determined and firm.</p>
+
+<p>There was only one way open to me: to take the bull by the horns. I
+thought it my duty to go the round of all the commandos, call the
+burghers together, tell them I had been appointed, ask them their
+opinion on the appointment, and give them some particulars of the new
+organisation.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page167" name="page167"></a>(p. 167)</span> I went to the Krugersdorp Commando first. All went well, and
+the burghers comprising the force received me very cordially. There was
+a lot of questioning and explanations; one of the commandants was so
+moved by my address that he requested those who were present to conclude
+the meeting by singing Psalm 134, verse 3, after which he exhorted his
+fellow burghers in an impassioned speech to be obedient and determined.</p>
+
+<p>The worst of it was that he asked me to wind up by offering a prayer. I
+felt as if I would gladly have welcomed the earth opening beneath me. I
+had never been in such a predicament before. To refuse, to have pleaded
+exoneration from this solemn duty, would have been fatal, for a Boer
+general is expected, amongst other things, to conduct all proceedings of
+a religious character. And not only Boer generals are required to do
+this thing, but all subordinate officers, and an officer who cannot
+offer a suitable prayer generally receives a hint that he is not worthy
+of his position. In these matters the burghers are backed up by the
+parsons.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page168" name="page168"></a>(p. 168)</span> There was, therefore, no help for it; I felt like a stranger in
+Jerusalem, and resolved to mumble a bit of a prayer as well as I could.
+I need not say it was short, but I doubt very much whether it was
+appropriate, for all sorts of thoughts passed through my head, and I
+felt as if all the bees in this world were buzzing about my ears. Of
+course I had to shut my eyes; I knew that. But I had, moreover, to screw
+them up, for I knew that everybody was watching me. I closed my eyes
+very tightly, and presently there came a welcome "Amen."</p>
+
+<p>My old commando was now obliged to find a new commandant and I had to
+take leave of them in that capacity. I was pleased to find the officers
+and men were sorry to lose me as their commandant, but they said they
+were proud of the distinction that had been conferred upon me.
+Commandant F. Pienaar, who took my place, had soon to resign on account
+of some rather serious irregularities. My younger brother, W. J.
+Viljoen, who, at the time of writing, is, I believe, still in this
+position, replaced him.</p>
+
+<p>At the end of June my commandos marched <span class="pagenum"><a id="page169" name="page169"></a>(p. 169)</span> from Balmoral to near
+Donkerhoek in order to get in touch with the British. Only a few outpost
+skirmishes took place.</p>
+
+<p>My burghers captured half a score of Australians near Van der Merwe
+Station, and three days afterwards three Johannesburgers were surprised
+near Pienaarspoort. As far as our information went the Donkerhoek Kopjes
+were in possession of General Pole-Carew, and on our left General
+Hutton, with a strong mounted force, was operating near Zwavelpoort and
+Tigerspoort. We had some sharp fighting with this force for a couple of
+days, and had to call in reinforcements from the Middelburg and Boksburg
+commandos.</p>
+
+<p>The fighting line by this time had widely extended and was at least
+sixty miles in length; on my right I had General D. Erasmus with the
+Pretoria commando, and farther still to the right, nearer the
+Pietersburg railway, the Waterberg and Zoutpansberg commandos were
+positioned. General Pole-Carew tried to rush us several times with his
+cavalry, but had to retire each time. Commandant-General Botha finally
+directed us to attack General Hutton's <span class="pagenum"><a id="page170" name="page170"></a>(p. 170)</span> position, and I
+realised what this involved. It would be the first fight I had to direct
+as a fighting general. Much would depend on the issue, and I fully
+understood that my influence with, and my prestige among, the burghers
+in the future was absolutely at stake.</p>
+
+<p>General Hutton's main force was encamped in a "donk" at the very top of
+the randt, almost equidistant from Tigerspoort, Zwavelpoort and
+Bapsfontein. Encircling his laager was another chain of "randten"
+entirely occupied and fortified, and we soon realised what a large and
+entrenched stretch of ground it was. The Commandant-General, accompanied
+by the French, Dutch, American and Russian attachés, would follow the
+attack from a high point and keep in touch with me by means of a
+heliograph, thus enabling Botha to keep well posted about the course of
+the battle, and to send instructions if required.</p>
+
+<p>During the night of the 13th of July we marched in the following order:
+On the right were the Johannesburg and Germiston commandos; in the
+centre the Krugersdorp and the Johannesburg Police; and on the left
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page171" name="page171"></a>(p. 171)</span> the Boksburg and Middelburg commandos. At daybreak I ordered a
+general storming of the enemy's entrenchments. I placed a Krupp gun and
+a Creusot on the left flank, another Krupp and some pom-poms to the
+right, while I had an English 15-pounder (an Armstrong) mounted in the
+centre. Several positions were taken by storm with little or no
+fighting. It was my right flank which met with the only stubborn
+resistance from a strongly fortified point occupied by a company of
+Australians.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after this position was in our possession, and we had taken 32
+prisoners, with a captain and a lieutenant. When Commandant Gravett had
+taken the first trenches we were stubbornly opposed in a position
+defended by the Irish Fusiliers, who were fighting with great
+determination. Our burghers charged right into the trenches; and a
+hand-to-hand combat ensued. The butt-ends of the guns were freely used,
+and lumps of rock were thrown about. We made a few prisoners and took a
+pom-pom, which, to my deep regret, on reinforcements with <span class="pagenum"><a id="page172" name="page172"></a>(p. 172)</span> guns
+coming up to the enemy, we had to abandon, with a loss of five men.
+Meanwhile, the Krugersdorpers and Johannesburg Police had succeeded in
+occupying other positions and making several prisoners, while half a
+dozen dead and wounded were left on the field.</p>
+
+<p>The ground was so exposed that my left wing could not storm the enemy's
+main force, especially as his outposts had noticed our march before
+sunrise and had brought up a battery of guns, and in this flat field a
+charge would have cost too many lives.</p>
+
+<p>We landed several shells into the enemy's laager, and if we had been
+able to get nearer he would certainly have been compelled to run.</p>
+
+<p>When darkness supervened we retired to our base with a loss of two
+killed and seven wounded; whereas 45 prisoners and 20 horses with
+saddles and accoutrements were evidence that we had inflicted a severe
+loss upon the enemy. So far as I know, the Commandant-General was
+satisfied with my work. On the day after the fight I met an attaché. He
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page173" name="page173"></a>(p. 173)</span> spoke in French, of which language I know nothing. My Gallic
+friend then tried to get on in English, and congratulated me in the
+following terms with the result of the fight: "I congratuly very much
+you, <span lang="fr">le Général</span>; we think you good man of war." It was the first time I
+had bulked in anyone's opinion as largely as a battleship; but I suppose
+his intentions were good enough.</p>
+
+<p>A few days afterwards Lord Roberts sent a hundred women and children
+down the line to Van der Merwe Station, despite Botha's vehement
+protests. It fell to my lot to receive these unfortunates, and to send
+them on by rail to Barberton, where they could find a home. I shall not
+go into a question which is still <span class="italic">sub judice</span>; nor is it my present
+purpose to discuss the fairness and unfairness of the war methods
+employed against us. I leave that to abler men. I shall only add that
+these waifs were in a pitiful position, as they had been driven from
+their homes and stripped of pretty nearly everything they possessed.</p>
+
+<p>Towards the end of July Carrington marched his force to Rustenburg, and
+thence past <span class="pagenum"><a id="page174" name="page174"></a>(p. 174)</span> Wonderboompoort, while another force proceeded
+from Olifantsfontein in the direction of Witbank Station. We were,
+therefore, threatened on both sides and obliged to fall back on
+Machadodorp.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page175" name="page175"></a>(p. 175)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="18">XVIII.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">OUR CAMP BURNED OUT.</p>
+
+
+<p>The beginning of August saw my commandos falling back on Machadodorp.
+Those of Erasmus and Grobler remained where they were for the time
+being, until the latter was discharged for some reason or other and
+replaced by Attorney Beyers. General Erasmus suffered rather worse, for
+he was deprived of his rank as a general and reduced to the level of a
+commandant on account of want of activity.</p>
+
+<p>Our retreat to Machadodorp was very much like previous experiences of
+the kind; we were continually expecting to be cut off from the railway
+by flanking movements and this we had to prevent because we had placed
+one of our big guns on the rails in an armour-clad railway carriage. The
+enemy took care to keep out of rifle range, and the big gun <span class="pagenum"><a id="page176" name="page176"></a>(p. 176)</span>
+was an element of strength we could ill afford to lose. Besides, our
+Government were now moving about on the railway line near Machadodorp,
+and we had to check the enemy at all hazards from stealing a march on
+us. Both at Witbank Station and near Middelburg and Pan Stations we had
+skirmishes, but not important enough to describe in detail.</p>
+
+<p>After several unsuccessful attempts, the Boer Artillery at last managed
+to fire the big gun without a platform. It was tedious work, however, as
+"Long Tom" was exceedingly heavy, and it usually took twenty men to
+serve it. The mouth was raised from the "kastion" by means of a pulley,
+and the former taken away; then and not till then could the gunner
+properly get the range. The carriage vacuum sucking apparatus had to be
+well fixed in hard ground to prevent recoil.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy repeatedly sent a mounted squad to try and take this gun, and
+then there was hard fighting.</p>
+
+<a id="img007" name="img007"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img007.jpg" width="400" height="581" alt="" title="">
+<p class="smcap">Fight With General Hutton at Olifantsfontein.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>One day while we were man&oelig;uvring with the "Long Tom," the veldt burst
+into flames, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page177" name="page177"></a>(p. 177)</span> and the wind swept them along in our direction
+like lightning. Near the gun were some loads of shells and gunpowder,
+and we had to set all hands at work to save them. While we were doing
+this the enemy fired two pom-poms at us from about 3,000 yards, vastly
+to our inconvenience.</p>
+
+<p>As my commando formed a sort of centre for the remainder,
+Commandant-General Botha was, as a rule, in our immediate neighbourhood,
+which made my task much easier, our generalissimo taking the command in
+person on several occasions, if required, and assisting in every
+possible way.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy pursued us right up to Wonderfontein Station (the first
+station south-west of Belfast), about 15 miles from Dalmanutha or
+Bergendal, and waited there for Buller's army to arrive from the Natal
+frontier.</p>
+
+<p>We occupied the "randten" between Belfast and Machadodorp, and waited
+events. While we were resting there Lord Roberts sent us 250 families
+from Pretoria and Johannesburg in open trucks, notwithstanding the
+bitterly cold weather and the continual gusts of wind <span class="pagenum"><a id="page178" name="page178"></a>(p. 178)</span> and
+snow. One can picture to oneself the deplorable condition we found these
+women and children in.</p>
+
+<p>But, with all this misery, we still found them full of enthusiasm,
+especially when the trucks in which they had to be sent on down the line
+were covered with Transvaal and Free State flags. They sang our National
+Anthem as if they had not a care in the world.</p>
+
+<p>Many burghers found their families amongst these exiles, and some
+heartrending scenes were witnessed. Luckily the railway to Barberton was
+still in our possession, and at Belfast the families were taken over
+from the British authorities, to be sent to Barberton direct. While this
+was being done near Belfast under my direction, the unpleasant news came
+that our camp was entirely destroyed by a grass fire.</p>
+
+<p>The Commandant-General and myself had set up our camp near Dalmanutha
+Station. It consisted of twelve tents and six carts. This was Botha's
+headquarters, as well as of his staff and mine. When we came to the spot
+that night we found everything burned save <span class="pagenum"><a id="page179" name="page179"></a>(p. 179)</span> the iron tyres of
+the waggon wheels, so that the clothes we had on were all we had left
+us. All my notes had perished, as well as other documents of value. I
+was thus deprived of the few indispensable things which had remained to
+me, for at Elandslaagte my "kit" had also fallen into the hands of the
+British. The grass had been set on fire by a kaffir to the windward of
+the camp. The wind had turned everything into a sea of fire in less than
+no time, and the attempts at stamping out the flames had been of no
+avail. One man gave us a cart, another a tent; and the harbour at
+Delagoa Bay being still open (although the Portuguese had become far
+from friendly towards us after the recent British victories) we managed
+to get the more urgent things we wanted. Within a few days we had
+established a sort of small camp near to headquarters.</p>
+
+<p>We had plenty to do at this time&mdash;building fortresses and digging
+trenches for the guns. This of course ought to have been done when we
+were still at Donkerhoek by officers the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page180" name="page180"></a>(p. 180)</span> Commandant-General
+had sent to Machadodorp for the purpose. We had made forts for our "Long
+Toms," which were so well hidden from view behind a rand that the enemy
+had not discovered them, although a tunnel would have been necessary in
+order to enable us to use them in shelling the enemy. We were therefore
+obliged to set to work again, and the old trenches were abandoned. The
+holes may surprise our posterity, by the way, as a display of the
+splendid architectural abilities of their ancestors.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page181" name="page181"></a>(p. 181)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="19">XIX.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">BATTLE OF BERGENDAL (MACHADODORP).</p>
+
+
+<p>Let us pass on to the 21st of August, 1900. Buller's army had by this
+time effected a junction with that of Lord Roberts' between
+Wonderfontein and Komati River. The commandos under Generals Piet
+Viljoen and Joachim Fourie had now joined us, and taken up a position on
+our left, from Rooikraal to Komati Bridge. The enemy's numbers were
+estimated at 60,000, with about 130 guns, including twelve 4·7 naval
+guns, in addition to the necessary Maxims.</p>
+
+<p>We had about 4,000 men at the most with six Maxims and about thirteen
+guns of various sizes. Our extreme left was first attacked by the enemy
+while they took possession of Belfast and Monument Hill, a little
+eastward, thereby threatening the whole of our fighting <span class="pagenum"><a id="page182" name="page182"></a>(p. 182)</span> lines.
+My commandos were stationed to the right and left of the railway and
+partly round Monument Hill. Fighting had been going on at intervals all
+day long, between my burghers and the enemy's outposts. The fighting on
+our left wing lasted till late in the afternoon, when the enemy was
+repulsed with heavy losses; while a company of infantry which had pushed
+on too far during the fighting, through some misunderstanding or
+something of that sort, were cut off and captured by the Bethel
+burghers.</p>
+
+<p>The attack was renewed the next morning, several positions being
+assailed in turn, while an uninterrupted gunfire was kept up. General
+Duller was commanding the enemy's right flank and General French was in
+charge of the left. We were able to resist all attacks and the battle
+went on for six days without a decisive result. The enemy had tried to
+break through nearly every weak point in our fighting line and found out
+that the key to all our positions existed in a prominent "randje" to the
+right of the railway. This point was being defended by our brave
+Johannesburg <span class="pagenum"><a id="page183" name="page183"></a>(p. 183)</span> police, while on the right were the
+Krugersdorpers and Johannesburgers and to the left the burghers from
+Germiston. Thus we had another "Spion Kop" fight for six long days. The
+Boers held their ground with determination, and many charges were
+repulsed by the burghers with great bravery. But the English were not to
+be discouraged by the loss of many valiant soldiers and any failure to
+dislodge the Boers from the "klip-kopjes." They were admirably resolute;
+but then they were backed up by a superior force of soldiers and
+artillery.</p>
+
+<p>On the morning of the 27th of August the enemy were obviously bent on
+concentrating their main force on this "randje." There were naval guns
+shelling it from different directions, while batteries of field-pieces
+pounded away incessantly. The "randje" was enveloped by a cloud of smoke
+and dust. The British Infantry charged under cover of the guns, but the
+Police and burghers made a brave resistance. The booming of cannon went
+on without intermission, and the storming was repeated by regiment upon
+regiment. Our <span class="pagenum"><a id="page184" name="page184"></a>(p. 184)</span> gallant Lieutenant Pohlman was killed in this
+action, and Commandant Philip Oosthuizen was wounded while fighting
+manfully against overwhelming odds at the head of his burghers. An hour
+before sunset the position fell into the hands of the enemy. Our loss
+was heavy&mdash;two officers, 18 men killed or wounded, and 20 missing.</p>
+
+<p>Thus ended one of the fiercest fights of the war. With the exception of
+the battle of Vaalkrantz (on the Tugela) our commandos had been exposed
+to the heaviest and most persistent bombardment they had yet
+experienced. It was by directing an uninterrupted rifle fire from all
+sides on the lost "randje" that we kept the enemy employed and prevented
+them from pushing on any farther that evening.</p>
+
+<p>At last came the final order for all to retire via Machadodorp.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page185" name="page185"></a>(p. 185)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="20">XX.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">TWO THOUSAND BRITISH PRISONERS RELEASED.</p>
+
+
+<p>After the battle of Bergendal there was another retreat. Our Government,
+which had fled from Machadodorp to Waterval Station, had now reached
+Nelspruit, three stations further down the line, still "attended," shall
+I say, by a group of Boer officials and members of the Volksraad, who
+preferred the shelter of Mr. Kruger's fugitive skirts to any active
+fighting. There were also hovering about this party half a dozen Hebraic
+persons of extremely questionable character, one of whom had secured a
+contract for smuggling in clothes from Delagoa Bay; and another one to
+supply coffee and sugar to the commandos. As a rule, some official or
+other made a nice little commission out of these transactions, and many
+burghers and officers expressed their displeasure and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page186" name="page186"></a>(p. 186)</span> disgust
+at these matters; but so it was, and so it remained. That same night we
+marched from Machadodorp to Helvetia, where we halted while a commando
+was appointed to guard the railway at Waterval Boven.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning a big cloud of dust arose. "<span class="italic">De Engelse kom</span>" (the
+English are coming) was the cry. And come they did, in overwhelming
+numbers. We fired our cannon at their advance guard, which had already
+passed Machadodorp: but the British main force stayed there for the day,
+and a little outpost skirmishing of no consequence occurred.</p>
+
+<p>A portion of the British forces appeared to go from Belfast via
+Dullstroom to Lydenburg, these operations being only feebly resisted.
+Our commandos were now parcelled out by the Commandant-General, who
+followed a path over the Crocodile River bridge with his own section,
+which was pursued by a strong force of Buller's.</p>
+
+<p>I was ordered to go down the mountain in charge of a number of Helvetia
+burghers to try and reach the railway, which I was to defend at all
+hazards. General Smuts, with <span class="pagenum"><a id="page187" name="page187"></a>(p. 187)</span> the remnant of our men went
+further south towards the road leading to Barberton. Early the next
+morning we were attacked and again obliged to fall back. That night we
+stayed at Nooitgedacht.</p>
+
+<p>The Boer position at and near Nooitgedacht was unique. Here was a great
+camp in which 2,000 English prisoners-of-war were confined, but in the
+confusion the majority of their Boer guards had fled to Nelspruit. I
+found only 15 burghers armed with Martini-Henry rifles left to look
+after 2,000 prisoners. Save for "Tommy" being such a helpless individual
+when he has nobody to give him orders and to think for him, these 2,000
+men might have become a great source of danger to us had they had the
+sense to disarm their fifteen custodians (and what was there to prevent
+them doing so?) and to destroy the railway, they would have been able
+not only to have deprived my commando of provisions and ammunition, but
+also to have captured a "Long Tom." There was, moreover, a large
+quantity of victuals, rifles, and ammunition lying about the station, of
+which nobody <span class="pagenum"><a id="page188" name="page188"></a>(p. 188)</span> appeared to take any notice. Of the crowd of
+officials who stuck so very faithfully to the fugitive Government there
+was not one who took the trouble to look after these stores and
+munitions.</p>
+
+<p>On arrival I telegraphed to the Government to enquire what was to be
+done with the British prisoners-of-war. The answer was: "You had better
+let them be where they are until the enemy force you to evacuate, when
+you will leave them plenty of food."</p>
+
+<p>This meant that there would be more D.S.O's or V.C's handed out, for the
+first "Tommies" to arrive at the prisoners' camp would be hailed as
+deliverers, and half of them would be certain of distinctions.</p>
+
+<p>I was also extremely dissatisfied with the way the prisoners had been
+lodged, and so would any officer in our fighting line have been had he
+seen their condition and accommodation. But those who have never been in
+a fight and who had only performed the "heroic" duty of <span class="italic">guarding</span>
+prisoners-of-war, did not know what humanity meant to an enemy who had
+fallen into their hands.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page189" name="page189"></a>(p. 189)</span> So what was I to do?</p>
+
+<p>To disobey the Government's orders was impossible. I accordingly
+resolved to notify the prisoners that, "for military reasons," it would
+be impossible to keep them in confinement any longer.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning I mustered them outside the camp, and they were told
+that they had ceased to be prisoners-of-war, at which they seemed to be
+very much amazed. I was obliged to go and speak formally to some of
+them; they could scarcely credit that they were free men and could go
+back to their own people. It was really pleasant to hear them cheer, and
+to see how pleased they were. A great crowd of them positively mobbed me
+to shake hands with them, crying, "Thank you, sir; God bless you, sir."
+One of their senior officers was ordered to take charge of them, while a
+white-flag message was sent to General Pole-Carew to send for these fine
+fellows restored to freedom, and to despatch an ambulance for the sick
+and wounded. My messenger, however, did not succeed in delivering the
+letter, as the scouts of the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page190" name="page190"></a>(p. 190)</span> British advance-guard were
+exceedingly drunk, and shot at him; so that the prisoners-of-war had to
+go out and introduce themselves. I believe they were compelled to
+overpower their own scouts.</p>
+
+<p>Ten days afterwards an English doctor and a lieutenant of the 17th
+Lancers came to us, bringing a mule laden with medical appliances and
+food. The English medico, Dr. Ailward, succeeded, moreover, in getting
+through our lines without my express permission.</p>
+
+<p>Next morning I accompanied an ambulance train to transport the wounded
+British to the charge of the British agent at Delagoa Bay. Outside
+Nooitgedacht I found four military doctors with a field ambulance.</p>
+
+<p>"Does this officer belong to the Red Cross?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"No," was the answer, "he is only with us quite unofficially as a
+sympathetic friend."</p>
+
+<p>"I regret," said I, "that I cannot allow this thing; you have come
+through our lines without my permission; this officer no doubt is a
+spy."</p>
+
+<p>I wired at once for instructions, which, when <span class="pagenum"><a id="page191" name="page191"></a>(p. 191)</span> received read:
+"That as a protest against the action of the English officers who
+stopped three of our ambulances, and since this officer has passed
+through our lines without permission, you are to stop the ambulance and
+dispatch the doctors and their staff, as well as the wounded to Lourenco
+Marques."</p>
+
+<p>The doctors were very angry and protested vehemently against the order,
+which, however, was irrevocable. And thus the whole party, including the
+Lancers' doctor, were sent to Lourenco Marques that very day. The
+nearest English General was informed of the whole incident, and he sent
+a very unpleasant message the next day, of which I remember the
+following phrases:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"The action which you have taken in this matter is contrary to the rules
+of civilised warfare, and will alter entirely the conditions upon which
+the War was carried on up to the present," etc.</p>
+
+<p>After I had sent my first note we found, on inspection, some Lee-Metford
+cartridges and an unexploded bomb in the ambulance <span class="pagenum"><a id="page192" name="page192"></a>(p. 192)</span> vans. This
+fact alone would have justified the retention of the ambulance.</p>
+
+<p>This was intimated again in our reply to General Pole-Carew, and I
+wrote, <span class="italic">inter alia</span>: "<span class="italic">Re</span> the threat contained in your letter of the
+... I may say I am sorry to find such a remark coming from your side,
+and I can assure you that whatever may happen my Government,
+commandants, and burghers are firmly resolved to continue the War on our
+side in the same civilised and humane manner as it has hitherto been
+conducted."</p>
+
+<p>This was the end of our correspondence in regard to this subject, and
+nothing further happened, save that the English very shortly afterwards
+recovered five out of the eight ambulances we had retained.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page193" name="page193"></a>(p. 193)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="21">XXI.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">A GOVERNMENT IN FLIGHT.</p>
+
+
+<p>About this time President Steyn arrived from the Orange Free State and
+had joined President Kruger, and the plan of campaign for the future was
+schemed. It was also decided that Mr. Schalk Burger should assume the
+acting Presidentship, since Mr. Kruger's advanced age and feeble health
+did not permit his risking the hardships attendant on a warlike life on
+the veldt.</p>
+
+<p>It was decided Mr. Kruger should go to Europe and Messrs. Steyn and
+Burger should move about with their respective commandos. They were
+younger men and the railway, would soon have to be abandoned.</p>
+
+<p>We spent the first weeks of September at Godwan River and Nooitgedacht
+Station, near the Delagoa Bay railway, and had a fairly <span class="pagenum"><a id="page194" name="page194"></a>(p. 194)</span> quiet
+time of it. General Buller had meanwhile pushed on with his forces via
+Lydenburg in the direction of Spitskop and the Sabi, on which General
+Botha had been compelled to concentrate himself after falling back,
+fighting steadily, while General French threatened Barberton.</p>
+
+<p>I had expected Pole-Carew to force me off the railway line along which
+we held some rather strong positions, and I intended to offer a stout
+resistance. But the English general left me severely alone, went over
+Dwaalheuvel by an abandoned wagon-track, and crossed the plateau of the
+mountains, probably to try and cut us off through the pass near
+Duivelskantoor. I tried hard, with the aid of 150 burghers, to thwart
+his plans and we had some fighting. But the locality was against us, and
+the enemy with their great force of infantry and with the help of their
+guns forced us to retire.</p>
+
+<p>About the 11th of September I was ordered to fall back along the
+railway, via Duivelskantoor and Nelspruit Station, since General Buller
+was threatening Nelspruit in the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page195" name="page195"></a>(p. 195)</span> direction of Spitskop, while
+General French, with a great force, was nearing Barberton. It appeared
+extremely likely that we should be surrounded very soon. We marched
+through the Godwan River and over the colossal mountain near
+Duivelskantoor, destroying the railway bridges behind us. The road we
+followed was swamped by the heavy rains and nearly impassable. Carts
+were continually being upset, breakdowns were frequent, and our guns
+often stuck in the swampy ground. To make matters worse, a burgher on
+horseback arrived about midnight to tell us that Buller's column had
+taken Nelspruit Station, and cut off our means of retreat. Yet we had to
+pass Nelspruit; there was no help for it. I gave instructions for the
+waggons and carts (numbering over a hundred), to push on as quickly as
+possible, and sent out a strong mounted advance guard to escort them.</p>
+
+<p>I myself went out scouting with some burghers, for I wanted to find out
+before daybreak whether Nelspruit was really in the hands of the enemy
+or not. In that case our carts and guns would have to be destroyed or
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page196" name="page196"></a>(p. 196)</span> hidden, while the commando would have to escape along the
+footpaths. We crept up to the station, and just at dawn, when we were
+only a hundred paces away from it, a great fire burst out, accompanied
+by occasional loud reports. This somewhat reassured me. I soon found our
+own people to be in possession burning things, and the detonations were
+obviously not caused by the bursting of shells fired from field-pieces.
+On sending two of my adjutants&mdash;Rokzak and Koos Nel&mdash;to the station to
+obtain further details, they soon came back to report that there was
+nobody there except a nervous old Dutchman. The burgher, who had told me
+Nelspruit was in the hands of the enemy, must have dreamt it.</p>
+
+<p>The conflagration I found was caused by a quantity of "kastions" and
+ammunition-waggons which had been set afire on the previous day, while
+the explosions emanated from the shells which had been left among their
+contents.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy's advance guard had pushed on to Shamoham and Sapthorpe, about
+12 miles from the railway, enabling the whole <span class="pagenum"><a id="page197" name="page197"></a>(p. 197)</span> of my commando
+to pass. We arrived at Nelspruit by eight o'clock. That day we rested
+and discussed future operations, feeling that our prospects seemed to
+grow worse every day.</p>
+
+<p>The station presented a sad spectacle. Many trucks loaded with victuals,
+engines, and burst gun-carriages&mdash;everything had been left behind at the
+mercy of the first-comer, while a large number of kaffirs were
+plundering and stealing. Only the day before the Government had had its
+seat there, and how desolate and distressing the sight was now! The
+traces of a fugitive Government were unmistakable. Whatever might have
+been our optimism before, however little inclination the burghers might
+have felt to surrender, however great the firmness of the officers, and
+their resolve to keep the beloved "Vierkleur" flying, scenes like those
+at Nooitgedacht, and again at Nelspruit, were enough to make even the
+strongest and most energetic lose all courage. Many men could not keep
+back their tears at the disastrous spectacle, as they thought of the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page198" name="page198"></a>(p. 198)</span> future of our country and of those who had been true to her to
+the last.</p>
+
+<p>Kaffirs, as I said, had been making sad havoc among the provisions,
+clothes and ammunition, and I ordered them to be driven away. Amongst
+the many railway-waggons I found some loaded with clothes the fighting
+burghers had in vain and incessantly been asking for, also cannon and
+cases of rifle ammunition. We also came across a great quantity of
+things belonging to our famous medical commission, sweets, beverages,
+etc. The suspicion which had existed for some considerable time against
+this commission was, therefore, justified. There was even a carriage
+which had been used by some of its members, beautifully decorated, with
+every possible comfort and luxury, one compartment being filled with
+bottles of champagne and valuable wines. My officers, who were no
+saints, saw that our men were well provided for out of these. The
+remainder of the good things was shifted on to a siding, where about
+twenty engines were kept. By great good <span class="pagenum"><a id="page199" name="page199"></a>(p. 199)</span> luck the Government
+commissariat stock, consisting of some thousands of sheep, and even some
+horses, had also been left behind. But we were not cheered.</p>
+
+<p>Among the many questions asked regarding this sad state of affairs was
+one put by an old burger:</p>
+
+<p><span lang="nl">"Dat is nou die plan, want zooals zaken hier lyk, dan heeft die boel in
+wanhoop gevlug."</span> ("Is that the plan, then? For from what I can see of
+it, they have all fled in despair.")</p>
+
+<p>I answered, "Perhaps they were frightened away, Oom."</p>
+
+<p>"Ja," he said, "but look, General, it seems to me as if our members of
+the Government do not intend to continue the war. You can see this by
+the way they have now left everything behind for the second time."</p>
+
+<p>"No, old Oom," I replied, "we should not take any notice of this. Our
+people are wrestling among the waves of a stormy ocean; the gale is
+strong, and the little boat seems upon the point of capsizing, but, it
+has not gone down as yet. Now and then the boat is <span class="pagenum"><a id="page200" name="page200"></a>(p. 200)</span> dashed
+against the rocks and the splinters fly, but the faithful sailors never
+lose heart. If they were to do that the dinghy would soon go under, and
+the crew would disappear for ever. It would be the last page of their
+history, and their children would be strangers in their own country. You
+understand, Oom?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, General, but I shall not forget to settle up, for I myself and
+others with me have had enough of this, and the War has opened our
+eyes."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, old man." I rejoined, "nobody can prevent you surrendering,
+but I have now plenty of work to do; so get along."</p>
+
+<a id="img008" name="img008"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img008.jpg" width="400" height="578" alt="" title="">
+<p class="smcap">My Talk with Erasmus (Non-Combatant).</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Burghers of different commandos who had strayed&mdash;some on purpose&mdash;passed
+us here in groups of two or ten or more. Some of them were going to
+their own districts, right through the English lines, others were
+looking for their cattle, which they had allowed to stray in order to
+evade the enemy. I could only tell them that the veldt between Nelspruit
+and Barberton up to Avoca, was, so far as I had been able to discover,
+full of cattle and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page201" name="page201"></a>(p. 201)</span> waggons belonging to farmers who now had
+no chance of escaping. Everybody wanted some information from the
+General.</p>
+
+<p>About half a score of burghers with bridle horses then came up. There
+was one old burgher among them with a long beard, a great veldt hat, and
+armed with a Mauser which seemed hardly to have been used. He carried
+two belts with a good stock of cartridges, a revolver, and a <span class="italic">tamaai</span>
+(long sjambok). This veteran strode up in grand martial style to where I
+was sitting having something to eat. As he approached he looked brave
+enough to rout the whole British army.</p>
+
+<p>"Dag!" (Good morning.) "Are you the General?" asked the old man.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I have the honour of being called so. Are you a field-marshal, a
+Texas Jack, or what?"</p>
+
+<p>"My name is Erasmus, from the Pretoria district," he replied, "and my
+nine comrades and myself, with my family and cattle, have gone into the
+bush. I saw them all running away, the Government and all. You are close
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page202" name="page202"></a>(p. 202)</span> to the Portuguese border, and my mates and I want to know what
+your plans are."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," Mr. Erasmus, I returned, "what you say is almost true; but as
+you say you and your comrades have been hiding in the bush with your
+cattle and your wives, I should like to know if you have ever tried to
+oppose the enemy yet, and also what is your right to speak like this."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I had to flee with my cattle, for you have to live on that as
+well as I."</p>
+
+<p>"Right," said I; "what do you want, for I do not feel inclined to talk
+any longer."</p>
+
+<p>"I want to know," he replied, "if you intend to retire, and if there is
+any chance of making peace. If not, we will go straight away to Buller,
+and 'hands-up,' then we shall save all our property."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, my friend," I remarked, "our Government and the
+Commandant-General are the people who have to conclude peace, and it is
+not for you or me, when our family and cattle are in danger, to
+surrender to the enemy, which means turning traitor to your own people."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page203" name="page203"></a>(p. 203)</span> "Well, yes; good-bye, General, we are moving on now."</p>
+
+<p>I sent a message to our outposts to watch these fellows, and to see if
+they really were going over to the enemy. And, as it happened, that same
+night my Boers came to camp with the Mausers and horses Erasmus and his
+party had abandoned. They had gone over to Buller.</p>
+
+<p>The above is but an instance illustrating what often came under my
+notice during the latter period of my command. This sort of burgher, it
+turned out, invariably belonged to a class that never meant to fight. In
+many cases we could do better without them, for it was always these
+people who wanted to know exactly what was "on the cards," and whenever
+things turned out unpleasantly, they only misled and discouraged others.
+Obviously, we were better off without them.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page204" name="page204"></a>(p. 204)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="22">XXII.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">AN IGNOMINIOUS DISPERSAL.</p>
+
+
+<p>Commandant-General Botha, who was then invalided at Hector's Spruit
+Station, now sent word that we were to join him there without delay. He
+said I could send part of the commando by train, but the railway
+arrangements were now all disturbed, and everything was in a muddle. As
+nothing could be relied on in the way of transport, the greater number
+of the men and most of the draught beasts had to "trek."</p>
+
+<p>At Crocodile Gat Station the situation was no better than at Nelspruit,
+and the same might be said of Kaapmuiden. Many of the engine drivers,
+and many of the burghers even, who were helping in destroying the
+barrels of spirits at the stations, were so excited (as they put it)
+through the fumes of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page205" name="page205"></a>(p. 205)</span> the drink, that the strangest things were
+happening. Heavily-laden trains were going at the rate of 40 miles an
+hour. A terrible collision had happened between two trains going in
+different directions, several burghers and animals being killed.
+Striplings were shooting from the trains at whatever game they saw, or
+fancied they saw, along the line, and many mishaps resulted. These
+things did not tend to improve matters.</p>
+
+<p>It was not so much that the officers had lost control over their men. It
+seemed as if the Evil Spirit had been let loose and was doing his very
+best to encourage the people to riotous enjoyment.</p>
+
+<p>Hector's Spruit is the last station but one before you come to the
+Portuguese frontier, and about seventeen miles from Ressano Garcia. Here
+every commando stopped intending of course to push on to the north and
+then to cross the mountains near Lydenburg in a westerly direction. The
+day when I arrived at Hector's Spruit, President Steyn, attended by an
+escort of 100 men, went away by the same route. Meanwhile General Buller
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page206" name="page206"></a>(p. 206)</span> was encamped at Glyn's mines near Spitskop and the Sabi River,
+which enabled him to command the mountain pass near Mac Mac and
+Belvedere without the slightest trouble, and to block the roads along
+which we meant to proceed. Although the late Commandant (afterwards
+fighting General) Gravett occupied one of the passes with a small
+commando, he was himself in constant danger of being cut off from
+Lydenburg by a flank movement. On the 16th of September, 1900, an
+incident occurred which is difficult to describe adequately. Hector
+Spruit is one of the many unattractive stations along the Delegoa Bay
+railway situated between the great Crocodile river and dreary black
+"kopjes" or "randjes" with branches of the Cape mountains intervening
+and the "Low Veldts," better known as the "Boschveldt." This is a
+locality almost filled with black holly bushes, where you can only see
+the sky overhead and the spot of ground you are standing on. In
+September the "boschveldt" is usually dry and withered and the scorching
+heat makes the surroundings seem more lugubrious and inhospitable than
+ever.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page207" name="page207"></a>(p. 207)</span> The station was crowded with railway carriages loaded up with
+all sorts of goods, and innumerable passenger carriages, and the
+platform and adjoining places filled with agitated people. Some were
+packing up, others unpacking, and some, again, were looting. The
+majority were, however, wandering about aimlessly. They did not know
+what was happening; what ought to be done or would be done; and the only
+exceptions were the officers, who were busily engaged in providing
+themselves and their burghers with provisions and ammunition.</p>
+
+<p>I now had to perform one of the most unpleasant duties I have ever
+known: that of calling the burghers together and telling them that those
+who had no horses were to go by train to Komati Poort, there to join
+General Jan Coetser. Those who had horses were to report themselves to
+me the next morning, and get away with me through the low fields.</p>
+
+<p>Some burghers exclaimed: "We are now thrown over, left in the 'lurch,'
+because we have not got horses; that is not fair."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page208" name="page208"></a>(p. 208)</span> Others said they would be satisfied if I went with them, for
+they did not know General Coetser.</p>
+
+<p>Commandant-General Botha did not see his way to let me go to Komati
+Poort, as he could not spare me and the other commandos. Those of the
+men who had to walk the distance complained very bitterly, and their
+complaints were well-founded. I did my best to persuade and pacify them
+all, and some of them were crying like babies when we parted.</p>
+
+<p>Komati Poort was, of course, the last station, and if the enemy were to
+drive them any further they would have to cross the Portuguese border,
+and to surrender to the Portuguese; or they could try to escape through
+Swaziland (as several hundreds did afterwards) or along the Lebombo
+mountains, via Leydsdorp. But if they took the latter route then they
+might just as well have stayed with me in the first place. It was along
+this road that General Coetser afterwards fled with a small body of
+burghers, when the enemy, according to expectations, marched <span class="pagenum"><a id="page209" name="page209"></a>(p. 209)</span>
+on Komati Poort, and met with no resistance, though there were over 1800
+there of our men with guns.</p>
+
+<p>A certain Pienaar, who arrogated unto himself the rank of a general on
+Portuguese territory, fled with 800 men over the frontier. These,
+however, were disarmed and sent to Lisbon.</p>
+
+<p>The end of the struggle was ignominious, as many a burgher had feared;
+and to this day I pity the men who, at Hector's Spruit, had to go to
+Komati Poort much against their will.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately they had the time and presence of mind to blow up the "Long
+Tom" and other guns before going; but a tremendous lot of provisions and
+ammunition must have fallen into the hands of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>At Hector's Spruit half a score of cannon of different calibre had been
+blown up, and many things buried which may be found some day by our
+progeny. Our carts were all ready loaded, and we were prepared to march
+next morning into the desert and take leave of our stores. How would we
+get on now? <span class="pagenum"><a id="page210" name="page210"></a>(p. 210)</span> Where would we get our food, cut off as we were
+from the railway, and, consequently, from all imports and supplies?
+These questions and many others crossed our minds, but nobody could
+answer them.</p>
+
+<p>Our convoys were ready waiting, and the following morning we trekked
+into the Hinterland Desert, saying farewell to commissariats and stores.</p>
+
+<p>The prospect was melancholy enough. By leaving Hector's Spruit we were
+isolating ourselves from the outer world, which meant that Europe and
+civilisation generally could only be informed of our doings through
+English channels.</p>
+
+<p>Once again our hopes were centred in our God and our Mausers.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Conan Doyle says about this stage of the war:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p class="quote">"The most incredulous must have recognised as he looked at
+     the heap of splintered and shattered gunmetal (at Hector's
+     Spruit) that the long War was at last drawing to a close."</p>
+
+<p>And here I am, writing these pages seventeen months later, and the War
+is not over <span class="pagenum"><a id="page211" name="page211"></a>(p. 211)</span> yet. But Dr. Doyle is not a prophet, and cannot be
+reproached for a miscalculation of this character, for if I, and many
+with me, had been asked at the time what we thought of the future, we
+might have been as wide of the mark as Dr. Doyle himself.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page212" name="page212"></a>(p. 212)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="23">XXIII.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">A DREARY TREK THROUGH FEVERLAND.</p>
+
+
+<p>The 18th of September, 1900, found us trekking along an old disused road
+in a northerly direction. We made a curious procession, an endless
+retinue of carts, waggons, guns, mounted men, "voetgangers" nearly three
+miles long. The Boers walking comprised 150 burghers without horses, who
+refused to surrender to the Portuguese, and who had now joined the trek
+on foot. Of the 1,500 mounted Boers 500 possessed horses which were in
+such a parlous condition that they could not be ridden. The draught
+cattle were mostly poor and weak, and the waggons carrying provisions
+and ammunition, as also those conveying the guns, could only be urged
+along with great difficulty. In the last few months our cattle and
+horses had <span class="pagenum"><a id="page213" name="page213"></a>(p. 213)</span> been worked hard nearly every day, and had to be
+kept close to our positions.</p>
+
+<p>During the season the veldt in the Transvaal is in the very worst
+condition, and the animals are then poorer than at any other period. We
+had, moreover, the very worst of luck, kept as we were in the coldest
+parts of the country from June till September, and the rains had fallen
+later than usual. There was, therefore, scarcely any food for the poor
+creatures, and hardly any grass. The bushveldt through which we were now
+trekking was scorched by an intolerable heat, aggravated by drought, and
+the temperature in the daytime was so unbearable that we could only trek
+during the night.</p>
+
+<p>Water was very scarce, and most of the wells which, according to old
+hunters with us, yielded splendid supplies, were found to be dried up.
+The veldt being burned out there was not a blade of grass to be seen,
+and we had great trouble in keeping our animals alive. From time to time
+we came across itinerant kaffir tribes from whom we obtained handfuls of
+salt or sugar, or a pailful <span class="pagenum"><a id="page214" name="page214"></a>(p. 214)</span> of mealies, and by these means we
+managed to save our cattle and horses.</p>
+
+<p>When we had got through the Crocodile River the trek was arranged in a
+sort of military formation enabling us to defend ourselves, had we been
+attacked. The British were already in possession of the railway up to
+Kaapmuiden and we had to be prepared for pursuit; and really pursuit by
+the British seemed feasible and probable from along the Ohrigstad River
+towards Olifant's Nek and thence along the Olifant's River.</p>
+
+<p>Our original plan was to cross the Sabi, along the Meritsjani River,
+over the mountains near Mac Mac, through Erasmus or Gowyn's Pass and
+across Pilgrim's Rest, where we might speedily have reached healthier
+veldt and better climatic conditions. President Steyn had passed there
+three days previously, but when our advance guard reached the foot of
+the high mountains, near Mac Mac, the late General Gravett sent word
+that General Buller with his force was marching from Spitskop along the
+mountain plateau and that it would be difficult for us to get ahead of
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page215" name="page215"></a>(p. 215)</span> him and into the mountains. The road, which was washed away,
+was very steep and difficult and contained abrupt deviations so that we
+could only proceed at a snail's pace.</p>
+
+<p>Commandant-General Botha then sent instructions to me to take my
+commando along the foot of the mountains, via Leydsdorp, while he with
+his staff and the members of the Government would proceed across the
+mountains near Mac Mac. General Gravett was detailed to keep Buller's
+advance guard busy, and he succeeded admirably.</p>
+
+<p>I think it was here that the British lost a fine chance of making a
+big haul. General Buller could have blocked us at any of the mountain
+roads near Mac Mac, and could also have swooped down upon us near
+Gowyn's Pass and Belvedere. At the time of which I write Buller was
+lying not 14 miles away at Spitskop. Two days after he actually
+occupied the passes, but just too late to turn the two Governments and
+the Commandant-General. It might be said that they could in any case
+have, like myself, escaped along the foot of the mountains <span class="pagenum"><a id="page216" name="page216"></a>(p. 216)</span>
+via Leydsdorp to Tabina and Pietersburg, but had the way out been
+blocked to them near Mac Mac, our Government and generalissimo would
+have been compelled to trek for at least three weeks in the low veldt
+before they could have reached Pietersburg, during which time all the
+other commandos would have been out of touch with the chief Boer
+military strategists and commanders, and would not have known what had
+become of their military leaders or of their Government. This would
+have been a very undesirable state of affairs, and would very likely
+have borne the most serious consequences to us. The British, moreover,
+could have occupied Pietersburg without much trouble by cutting off
+our progress in the low veldt, and barring our way across the Sabini
+and at Agatha. This coup could indeed have been effected by a small
+British force. In the mountains they would, moreover, have found a
+healthy climate, while we should have been left in the sickly
+districts of the low veldt. And had we been compelled to stay there
+for two months we would have <span class="pagenum"><a id="page217" name="page217"></a>(p. 217)</span> been forced to surrender, for
+about the middle of October the disease among our horses increased and
+so serious was the epidemic that none but salted horses survived. The
+enteric fever would also have wrought havoc amongst us.</p>
+
+<p>Another problem was whether all this would not have put an end to the
+war; we still had generals left, and strong commandos, and it was, of
+course, very likely that a great number of Boers driven to desperation
+would have broken through, although two-thirds of our horses were not
+fit for a bold dash. Perhaps fifteen hundred out of the two thousand
+Boers would have made good their escape, but in any case large numbers
+of wagons, guns, etc. would have fallen into the British hands and our
+leaders might have been captured as well. The moral effect would have
+caused many other burghers from the other commandos to have lost heart
+and this at a moment, too, when they already required much
+encouragement.</p>
+
+<p>This was my view of the situation, and I think Lord Roberts, or whoever
+was responsible, lost a splendid opportunity.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page218" name="page218"></a>(p. 218)</span> As regards my commando at the foot of the Mauch Mountains we
+turned right about and I took temporary leave of Louis Botha. It was a
+very affecting parting; Botha pressed my hand, saying, "Farewell,
+brother; I hope we shall get through all right. God bless you. Let me
+hear from you soon and frequently."</p>
+
+<p>That night we encamped at Boschbokrand, where we found a store
+unoccupied, and a house probably belonging to English refugees, for shop
+and dwelling had been burgled and looted. After our big laager had been
+arranged, Boer fashion, and the camp fire threw its lurid light against
+the weird dark outline of the woods, the Boers grouped themselves over
+the veldt. Some who had walked twenty miles that day fell down
+exhausted.</p>
+
+<p>I made the round of the laager, and I am bound to say that in spite of
+the trying circumstances, my burghers were in fairly cheerful spirits.</p>
+
+<p>I discussed the immediate prospects with the officers, and arranged for
+a different commando to be placed in the advance guard each day and a
+different field-cornet in the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page219" name="page219"></a>(p. 219)</span> rear. Boers conversant with the
+locality were detailed to ride ahead and to scout and reconnoitre for
+water.</p>
+
+<p>When I returned that night to my waggon the evening meal was ready, but
+for the first time in my life I could eat nothing. I felt too dejected.
+My cook, Jan Smith, and my messmates were curious to know the reason I
+did not "wade in," for they always admired my ferocious appetite.</p>
+
+<p>It had been a tiring day, and I pretended I was not well; and soon
+afterwards I lay down to rest.</p>
+
+<p>I had been sitting up the previous evening till late in the night, and
+was therefore in hopes of dropping off to sleep. But whatever I
+tried&mdash;counting the stars, closing my eyes and doing my best to think of
+nothing&mdash;it was all in vain.</p>
+
+<p>Insurmountable difficulties presented themselves to me. I had ventured
+into an unhealthy, deserted, and worst of all, unknown part of the
+country with only 2,000 men. I was told we should have to cover 300
+miles of this enteric-stricken country.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page220" name="page220"></a>(p. 220)</span> The burghers without horses were suffering terribly from the
+killing heat, and many were attacked by typhoid and malarial fever
+through having to drink a lot of bad water; these enemies would soon
+decimate our commando and reduce its strength to a minimum. And for four
+or five weeks we should be isolated from the Commandant-General and from
+all white men.</p>
+
+<p>Was I a coward, then, to lie there, dejected and even frightened? I
+asked myself. Surely, to think nothing of taking part in a fierce
+battle, to be able to see blood being shed like water, to play with life
+and death, one could not be without some courage? And yet I did not seem
+to have any pluck left in me here where there did not seem to be much
+danger.</p>
+
+<p>These and many similar thoughts came into my head while I was trying to
+force myself to sleep, and I told myself not to waver, to keep a cool
+head and a stout heart, and to manfully go on to the end in order to
+reach the goal we had so long kept in view.</p>
+
+<p>Ah, well, do not let anybody expect a <span class="pagenum"><a id="page221" name="page221"></a>(p. 221)</span> general to be a hero,
+and nothing else, at all times; let us remember that "A man's a man for
+a' that," and even a fighting man may have his moments of weakness and
+fear.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning, about four o'clock, our little force woke up again.
+The cool morning air made it bearable for man and beast to trek. This,
+however, only lasted till seven o'clock, when the sun was already
+scorching, without the slightest sign of a breeze. It became most
+oppressive, and we were scarcely able to breathe.</p>
+
+<p>The road had not been used for twenty or thirty years, and big trees
+were growing in our path, and had to be cut down at times. The dry
+ground, now cut up by the horses' hoofs, was turned into dust by the
+many wheels, great clouds flying all round us, high up in the air,
+covering everything and everybody with a thick layer of ashy-grey
+powder.</p>
+
+<p>About nine o'clock we reached Zand River, where we found some good
+water, and stayed till dusk. We exchanged some mealies against salt and
+other necessaries with some kaffirs <span class="pagenum"><a id="page222" name="page222"></a>(p. 222)</span> who were living near by
+the water. Their diminutive, deformed stature was another proof of the
+miserable climate obtaining there.</p>
+
+<p>There was much big game here; wild beasts, "hartebeest," "rooiboks"
+(sometimes in groups of from five to twenty at a time), and at night we
+heard the roaring of lions and the howling of wolves. Even by day lions
+were encountered. Now, one of the weakest points, perhaps the weakest,
+of an Afrikander is his being unable to refrain from shooting when he
+sees game, whether such be prohibited or not. From every commando
+burghers had been sent out to do shooting for our commissariat, but a
+good many had slipped away, so that hundreds of them were soon hunting
+about in the thickly-grown woods. The consequence was that, whenever a
+group of them discovered game, it seemed as if a real battle were going
+on, several persons often being wounded, and many cattle killed. We made
+rules and regulations, and even inflicted punishments which did some
+good, but could not check the wild hunting instincts altogether, it
+being <span class="pagenum"><a id="page223" name="page223"></a>(p. 223)</span> difficult to find out in the dark bush who had been the
+culprits.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the trek went on very slowly. On the seventh day we reached
+Blyde River, where we had one of the loveliest views of the whole
+"boschveldt." The river, which has its source near Pilgrim's Rest and
+runs into the great Olifant's River near the Lomboba, owes its name to
+trekker pioneers, who, being out hunting in the good old times, had been
+looking for water for days, and when nearly perishing from thirst, had
+suddenly discovered this river, and called it Blyde (or "Glad") River.
+The stream at the spot we crossed is about 40 feet wide, and the water
+as pure as crystal. The even bed is covered with white gravel, and along
+both banks are splendid high trees. The whole laager could outspan under
+their shade, and it was a delightful, refreshing sensation to find
+oneself protected from the burning sun. We all drank of the delicious
+water, which we had seldom found in such abundance, and we also availed
+ourselves of it to bathe and wash our clothes.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page224" name="page224"></a>(p. 224)</span> In the afternoon a burgher, whose name I had better not
+mention, came running up to us with his clothes torn to tatters, and his
+hat and gun gone. He presented a curious picture. I heard the burghers
+jeer and chaff him as he approached, and called out to him: "What on
+earth have you been up to? It looks as if you had seen old Nick with a
+mask on."</p>
+
+<p>The affrighted Boer's dishevelled hair stood on end and he shook with
+fear.</p>
+
+<p>He gasped: "Goodness gracious, General, I am nearly dead. I had gone for
+a stroll to do a bit of hunting like, and had shot a lion who ran away
+into some brushwood. I knew the animal had received a mortal wound, and
+ran after it. But I could only see a yard or so ahead through the thick
+undergrowth, and was following the bloodstained track. Seeing the animal
+I put down my gun and was stepping over the trunk of an old tree; but
+just as I put my foot down, lo! I saw a terrible monster standing with
+one paw on the beast's chest. Oh, my eye! I thought my last hour had
+come, for the lion looked <span class="pagenum"><a id="page225" name="page225"></a>(p. 225)</span> so hard at me, and he roared so
+awfully. By jove, General, if this had been an Englishman I should just
+have "hands-upped," you bet! But I veered round and went down bang on my
+nose. My rifle, my hat, my all, I abandoned in that battle, and for all
+the riches of England, I would not go back. General, you may punish me
+for losing my rifle, but I won't go back to that place for anything or
+anybody."</p>
+
+<p>I asked him what the lion had done then, but he knew nothing more.
+Another burgher who stood by, remarked: "I think it was a dog this chap
+saw. He came running up to me so terrified that he would not have known
+his own mother. If I had asked him at that moment he would not have been
+able to remember his own name."</p>
+
+<p>The poor fellow was roused to indignation, and offered to go with the
+whole commando and show them the lion's trail. But there was no time for
+that, and the hero had a bad time of it, for everybody was teasing and
+chaffing him, and henceforth he was called the "Terror of the Vaal."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page226" name="page226"></a>(p. 226)</span> We should have liked to have lingered a few days near that
+splendid and wholesome stream. We wanted a rest badly enough, but it was
+not advisable on account of the fever, which is almost invariably the
+penalty for sleeping near a river in the low veldt. One of the
+regulations of our commando forbade the officers and men to spend the
+night by the side of any water or low spot. It would also have been
+fatal to the horses, for sickness amongst them and fever always
+coincide. But they did not always keep to the letter of these
+instructions. The burghers, especially those who had been walking, or
+arriving at a river, would always quickly undress and jump into the
+water, after which some of them would fall asleep on the banks or have a
+rest under the trees. Both were unhealthy and dangerous luxuries. Many
+burghers who had been out hunting or had been sent out provisioning,
+stayed by the riverside till the morning, since they could dispense with
+their kit in this warm climate. They often were without food for
+twenty-four hours, unless we happened to trek along the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page227" name="page227"></a>(p. 227)</span> spot
+where they were resting. To pass the night in these treacherous parts on
+an empty stomach was enough to give anybody the fever.</p>
+
+<p>When we moved on from Blyde River many draught beasts were exhausted
+through want of food, and we were obliged to leave half a dozen carts
+behind. This caused a lot of trouble as we had to transfer all the
+things to other vehicles, and field-cornets did not like to take up the
+goods belonging to other field-cornets' burghers, the cattle being in
+such a weak condition that it made every man think of his own division.
+No doubt the burghers were very kind to their animals, but they
+sometimes carried it too far, and the superior officers had often to
+interfere.</p>
+
+<p>The distance from Blyde River to the next stopping place could not be
+covered in one day, and we should have no water the next; not a very
+pleasant prospect. The great clouds of dust through which we were
+marching overnight and the scorching heat in the daytime made us all
+long for water to drink and to clean ourselves. So when the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page228" name="page228"></a>(p. 228)</span>
+order came from the laager commandants: "Outspan! No water to-day, my
+boys, you will have to be careful with the water on the carts. We shall
+be near some stream to-morrow evening," they were bitterly disappointed.</p>
+
+<p>When we got near the water the following day eight burghers were
+reported to be suffering badly from the typhoid fever, five of them
+belonging to the men who were walking. We had a very insufficient supply
+of ambulance waggons. I had omitted to procure a great number of these
+indispensable vehicles on leaving Hector's Spruit, for there had been so
+many things to look after. We were lucky to have with us brave Dr.
+Manning, of the Russian Ambulance, who rendered us such excellent
+assistance, and we have every reason to be thankful to H.M. the Czarina
+of Russia for sending him out. Dr. Manning had the patients placed in
+waggons, which had been put at his disposal for this purpose, but
+notwithstanding his skilled and careful treatment, one of my men died
+the following day, while the number of those who were seriously ill rose
+to fifteen. The symptoms of this fatal illness are: <span class="pagenum"><a id="page229" name="page229"></a>(p. 229)</span> headache
+and a numb feeling in all the limbs, accompanied by an unusually high
+temperature very often rising to 104 and 106 degrees during the first 24
+hours, with the blood running from the patient's nose and ears, which is
+an ominous sign. At other times the first symptom is what is commonly
+called "cold shivers."</p>
+
+<p>We proceeded slowly until we came to the Nagout River, where the
+monotony and dreariness of a trek through the "boschveldt" were somewhat
+relieved by the spectacle of a wide stream of good water, with a
+luxurious vegetation along the banks. It was a most pleasant and
+refreshing sight to behold. For some distance along the banks some grass
+was found, to which the half-starved animals were soon devoting their
+attention. It was the sort of sweet grass the hunters call
+"buffalo-grass," and which is considered splendid food for cattle. We
+pitched our camp on a hill about one mile from the river, and as our
+draught-beasts were in want of a thorough rest we remained there for a
+few days. We had been obliged to drive along some hundreds of oxen,
+mules, and horses, as they had been unfit to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page230" name="page230"></a>(p. 230)</span> be harnessed for
+days, and had several times been obliged to leave those behind that were
+emaciated and exhausted.</p>
+
+<p>From the Nagout River we had to go right up to the Olifant's River, a
+distance of about 20 miles, which took us three days. The track led all
+along through the immense bush-plain which extends from the high Mauch
+Mountains in the west to the Lebombo Mountains in the east; and yet one
+could only see a few paces ahead during all these days, and the only
+thing we could discern was the summit of some mountain on the westerly
+or easterly horizon, and even the tops of the Mauch and Lebombo
+Mountains one could only see by standing on the top of a loaded waggon,
+and with the aid of a field-glass. This thickly-wooded region included
+nearly one-third of the Transvaal, and is uninhabited, the white men
+fearing the unhealthy climate, while only some miserable little kaffir
+tribes were found about there, the bulk being the undisputed territory
+of the wild animals.</p>
+
+<p>The Olifant's River, which we had to cross, is over 100 feet wide. The
+old track leading <span class="pagenum"><a id="page231" name="page231"></a>(p. 231)</span> down to it, was so thickly covered with
+trees and undergrowth that we had to cut a path through it. The banks of
+the river were not very high, thus enabling us to make a drift without
+much trouble. The bed was rocky, and the water pretty shallow, and
+towards the afternoon the whole commando had crossed. Here again we were
+obliged to rest our cattle for a few days, during which we had to fulfil
+the melancholy duty of burying two of our burghers who had died of
+fever. It was a very sad loss and we were very much affected, especially
+as one left a young wife and two little children, living at Barberton.
+The other one was a young colonial Afrikander who had left his parents
+in the Cradock district (Cape Colony) to fight for our cause. We could
+not help thinking how intensely sad it was to lose one's life on the
+banks of this river, far from one's home, from relatives and friends,
+without a last grasp of the hand of those who were nearest and dearest.</p>
+
+<p>The Transvaaler's last words were:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p class="quote">"Be sure to tell my wife I am dying cheerfully, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page232" name="page232"></a>(p. 232)</span>
+     with a clear conscience; that I have given my life for the
+     welfare of my Fatherland."</p>
+
+<p>We had now to leave some draught cattle and horses behind every day, and
+the number of those who were obliged to walk was continually increasing,
+till there were several hundred.</p>
+
+<p>Near Sabini, the first river we came to after leaving Leydsdorp we
+secured twenty-four mules which were of very great use to us under the
+circumstances. But the difficulty was how to distribute them amongst the
+field-cornets. The men all said they wanted them very urgently, and at
+once found the cattle belonging to each cart to be too thin and too weak
+to move. Yet the twenty-four could only be put into two carts, and I had
+to solve the difficulty by asserting my authority.</p>
+
+<p>It was no easy task to get over the Agatha Mountains and we had to rest
+for the day near the big Letaba, especially as we had to give the whole
+file of carts, guns, etc., a chance of forming up again. Here we
+succeeded in buying some loads of mealies, which were a <span class="pagenum"><a id="page233" name="page233"></a>(p. 233)</span> real
+God-send to our half-starved horses. I also managed to hire some teams
+of oxen from Boers who had taken up a position with their cattle along
+the Letaba, which enabled us to get our carts out of the Hartbosch
+Mountains as far as practicable. The task would have been too fatiguing
+for our cattle. It took us two days before we were out of these
+mountains, when we camped out on the splendid "plateau" of the
+Koutboschbergen, where the climate was wholesome and pleasant.</p>
+
+<p>Here, after having passed a whole month in the wilderness of the low
+veldt, with its destructive climate, it was as though we began a new
+life, as if we had come back to civilisation. We again saw white men's
+dwellings, cultivated green fields, flocks of grazing sheep, and herds
+of sleek cows.</p>
+
+<p>The inhabitants of the country were not a little surprised, not to say
+alarmed, to find, early one Sunday morning, a big laager occupying the
+plateau. A Boer laager always looks twice as large as it really is when
+seen from a little distance. Some Boer lads presently <span class="pagenum"><a id="page234" name="page234"></a>(p. 234)</span> came up
+to ask us whether we were friends or enemies, for in these distant parts
+people were not kept informed of what happened elsewhere.</p>
+
+<p>"A general," said a woman, who paid us a visit in a trap, "is a thing we
+have all been longing to see. I have called to hear some news, and
+whether you would like to buy some oats; but I tell you straight I am
+not going to take "blue-backs" (Government notes), and if you people buy
+my oats you will have to pay in gold."</p>
+
+<p>A burgher answered her: "There is the General, under that cart; 'tante'
+had better go to him."</p>
+
+<p>Of course I had heard the whole conversation, but thought the woman had
+been joking. The good lady came up to my cart, putting her cap a little
+on one side, probably to favour us with a peep at her beauty.</p>
+
+<p>"Good morning. Where is that General Viljoen; they say he is here?"</p>
+
+<p>I thought to myself: "I wonder what this charming Delilah of fifty
+summers wants," and got up and shook hands with her, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page235" name="page235"></a>(p. 235)</span> saying:
+"I am that General. What can I do for 'tante'?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, but I never! Are you the General? You don't look a bit like one; I
+thought a General looked 'baing' (much) different from what you are
+like."</p>
+
+<p>Much amused by all this I asked: "What's the matter with me, then,
+'tante'?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nay, but cousin (meaning myself) looks like a youngster. I have heard
+so much of you, I expected to see an old man with a long beard."</p>
+
+<p>I had had enough of this comedy, and not feeling inclined to waste any
+more civilities on this innocent daughter of Mother Eve, I asked her
+about the oats.</p>
+
+<p>I sent an adjutant to have a look at her stock and to buy what we
+wanted, and the prim dame spared me the rest of her criticism.</p>
+
+<p>We now heard that Pietersburg and Warmbad were still held by the Boers,
+and the road was therefore clear. We marched from here via Haenertsburg,
+a little village on the Houtboschbergrand, and the seat of some
+officials of the Boer Mining Department, for <span class="pagenum"><a id="page236" name="page236"></a>(p. 236)</span> in this
+neighbourhood gold mines existed, which in time of peace give employment
+to hundreds of miners.</p>
+
+<p>Luckily, there was also a hospital at Haenertsburg, where we could leave
+half a dozen fever patients, under the careful treatment of an Irish
+doctor named Kavanagh, assisted by the tender care of a daughter of the
+local justice of the peace, whose name, I am sorry to say, I have
+forgotten.</p>
+
+<p>About the 19th of October, 1900, we arrived at Pietersburg, our place of
+destination.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page237" name="page237"></a>(p. 237)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="24">XXIV.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">PAINS AND PLEASURES OF COMMANDEERING.</p>
+
+
+<p>We found Pietersburg to be quite republican, all the officials, from
+high to low, in their proper places in the offices, and the "Vierkleur"
+flying from the Government buildings. The railway to Warmbad was also in
+Boer hands. At Warmbad were General Beyers and his burghers and those of
+the Waterberg district. Although we had no coals left, this did not
+prevent us from running a train with a sufficient number of carriages
+from Pietersburg to Warmbad twice a week. We used wood instead, this
+being found in great quantities in this part of the country.</p>
+
+<p>Of course, it took some time to get steam up, and we had to put in more
+wood all the time, while the boilers continually threatened <span class="pagenum"><a id="page238" name="page238"></a>(p. 238)</span> to
+run dry. We only had two engines, one of which was mostly laid up for
+repairs. The other one served to keep the commandos at Warmbad provided
+with food, etc.</p>
+
+<p>The Pietersburgers also had kept up telegraphic communication, and we
+were delighted to hear that clothes and boots could be got in the town,
+as we had to replace our own, which had got dreadfully torn and worn out
+on the "trek" through the "boschveldt." Each commandant did his best to
+get the necessary things together for his burghers, and my quarters were
+the centre of great activity from the early morning to late in the
+evening, persons who had had their goods commandeered applying to the
+General and lodging complaints.</p>
+
+<p>After we had been at Pietersburg for eight days, a delay which seemed so
+many months to me, I had really had too much of it. The complaints were
+generally introduced by remarks about how much the complainants'
+ancestors had done for the country at Boomplaats, Majuba, etc., etc.,
+and how unfairly they were now being treated by having their only
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page239" name="page239"></a>(p. 239)</span> horses, or mules, or their carriages, or saddles commandeered.</p>
+
+<p>The worst of it was, that they all had to be coaxed, either with a long
+sermon, pointing out to them what an honour and distinction it was to be
+thus selected to do their duty to their country and their people, or by
+giving them money if no appeal to their generous feelings would avail;
+sometimes by using strong language to the timid ones, telling them it
+would have to be, whether they liked it or not.</p>
+
+<p>Anyhow we got a hundred fine horses together at the cost of a good many
+imprecations. The complainants may be divided into the following
+categories:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>1st. Those who really believed they had some cause of complaint.</p>
+
+<p>2nd. Those who did not feel inclined to part with anything without
+receiving the full value in cash&mdash;whose patriotism began and ended with
+money.</p>
+
+<p>3rd. Those who had Anglophile tendencies and thought it an abomination
+to part with anything to a commando (these were the worst to deal with,
+for they wore a mask, and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page240" name="page240"></a>(p. 240)</span> we often did not know whether we had
+got hold of the Evil One's tail or an angel's pinions), and</p>
+
+<p>4th. Those who were complaining without reason. These were, as a rule,
+burghers who did not care to fight, and who remained at home under all
+sorts of pretexts.</p>
+
+<p>The complaints from females consisted of three classes:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>1st. The patriotic ones who did all they could&mdash;sensible ladies as they
+were&mdash;to help us and to encourage our burghers, but who wanted the
+things we had commandeered for their own use.</p>
+
+<p>2nd. The women without any national sympathy&mdash;a tiresome species, who
+forget their sex, and burst into vituperation if they could not get
+their way; and</p>
+
+<p>3rd. The women with English sympathies, carefully hidden behind a mask
+of pro-Boer expressions.</p>
+
+<p>The pity of it was that you could not see it written on their foreheads
+which category they belonged to, and although one could soon find out
+what their ideas were, one had to be <span class="pagenum"><a id="page241" name="page241"></a>(p. 241)</span> careful in expressing a
+decided opinion about them, as there was a risk of being prosecuted for
+libel.</p>
+
+<p>I myself always preferred an outspoken complaint. I could always cut up
+roughly refer him to martial law, and gruffly answer, "It will have to
+be like this, or you will have to do it!" And if that did not satisfy
+him I had him sent away. But the most difficult case was when the
+complaint was stammered under a copious flood of tears, although not
+supported by any arguments worth listening to.</p>
+
+<p>There were a good many foreign subjects at Pietersburg but they were
+mostly British, and these persons, who also had some of their horses,
+etc., commandeered, were a great source of trouble, for many Boer
+officers and burghers treated them without any ceremony, simply taking
+away what they wanted for their commandos. I did not at all agree with
+this way of doing things, for so long as a foreign subject, though an
+Englishman, is allowed to remain within the fighting lines, he has a
+right to protection and fairness, and no difference ought to be made
+between him <span class="pagenum"><a id="page242" name="page242"></a>(p. 242)</span> and the burghers who stay at home, when there is
+any fighting to be done.</p>
+
+<p>From Pietersburg we went to Nylstroom, a village on the railway to which
+I had been summoned by telegram by the Commandant-General, who had
+arrived there on his way to the westerly districts, this being the first
+I had heard of him after we had parted at the foot of the Mauchberg,
+near Mac Mac.</p>
+
+<p>I travelled by rail, accompanied by one of my commandants. The way they
+managed to keep up steam was delightfully primitive. We did not, indeed,
+fly along the rails, yet we very often went at the rate of nine miles an
+hour!</p>
+
+<p>When our supply of wood got exhausted, we would just stop the train, or
+the train would stop itself, and the passengers were politely requested
+to get out and take a hand at cutting down trees and carrying wood. This
+had a delicious flavour of the old time stage coach about it, when
+first, second, and third class passengers travelled in the same
+compartment, although the prices <span class="pagenum"><a id="page243" name="page243"></a>(p. 243)</span> of the different classes
+varied considerably. When a coach came to the foot of a mountain the
+travellers would, however, soon find out where the difference between
+the classes lay, for the driver would order all first-class passengers
+to keep their seats, second-class passengers to get out and walk, and
+third-class passengers to get out and push.</p>
+
+<p>We got to our destination, however, although the chances seemed to have
+been against it. I myself had laid any odds against ever arriving alive.</p>
+
+<p>At Nylstroom we found President Steyn and suite, who had just arrived,
+causing a great stir in this sleepy little village, which had now become
+a frontier village of the territory in which we still held sway.</p>
+
+<p>A great popular meeting was held, which President Steyn opened with a
+manly speech, followed by a no less stirring one from our
+Commandant-General, both exhorting the burghers to do their duty towards
+their country and towards themselves by remaining faithful to the Cause,
+as the very existence of our nation depended on it.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page244" name="page244"></a>(p. 244)</span> In the afternoon the officers met in an empty hall of the hotel
+at Nylstroom to hold a Council of War, under the direction of the
+Commandant-General.</p>
+
+<p>Plans were discussed and arrangements made for the future. I was to
+march at once from Pietersburg to the north-westerly part of the
+Pretoria district, and on to Witnek, which would bring us back to our
+old battle-grounds. The state of the commandos, I was told, in those
+parts was very sad. The commandant of the Boksburg Commando had
+mysteriously fallen into the enemy's hands, and with his treacherous
+assistance nearly the whole commando had been captured as well. The
+Pretoria Commando had nearly shared this melancholy fate.</p>
+
+<p>That same night we travelled to Pietersburg. After we had passed
+Yzerberg the train seemed to be going more and more slowly, till we came
+to a dead stop. The engine had broken down, and all we could do was to
+get out and walk the rest of the way. In a few hours' time, to our great
+joy, the second, and the only other train from Pietersburg there was,
+came up.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page245" name="page245"></a>(p. 245)</span> After having convinced the engine-driver that he had to obey
+the General's orders, he complied with our request to take us to
+Pietersburg, and at last, after a lot of trouble, we arrived the
+following day. Our cattle and horses were now sufficiently rested and in
+good condition. The commandos have been provided with the things they
+most urgently needed, and ordered to be ready within two days.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page246" name="page246"></a>(p. 246)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="25">XXV.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">PUNISHING THE PRO-BRITISH.</p>
+
+
+<p>During the first days of November, 1900, we went from Pietersburg to
+Witnek, about nineteen miles north of Bronkhorst Spruit, in the Pretoria
+district. We had enjoyed a fortnight's rest, which had especially
+benefited our horses, and our circumstances were much more favourable in
+every respect when we left Pietersburg than when we had entered it.</p>
+
+<p>The Krugersdorp Commando had been sent to its own district, from
+Pietersburg via Warmbad and Rustenburg, under Commandant Jan Kemp, in
+order to be placed under General De la Rey's command. Most of the
+burghers preferred being always in their own districts, even though the
+villages scattered about were in the enemy's hands, the greater
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page247" name="page247"></a>(p. 247)</span> part of the homesteads burnt down and the farms destroyed, and
+nearly all the families had been placed in British Concentration Camps;
+and if the commanding officers would not allow the burghers to go to
+their own districts they would simply desert, one after the other, to
+join the commando nearest their districts.</p>
+
+<p>I do not think there is another nation so fondly attached to their home
+and its neighbourhood, even though the houses be in ruins and the farms
+destroyed. Still the Boer feels attracted to it, and when he has at last
+succeeded in reaching it, you will often find him sit down
+disconsolately among the ruins or wandering about in the vicinity.</p>
+
+<p>It was better, therefore, to keep our men somewhere near their
+districts, for even from a strategical point of view they were better
+there, knowing every nook and cranny, which enabled them to find exactly
+where to hide in case of danger. Even in the dark they were able to
+tell, after scouting, which way the enemy would be coming. This
+especially gave a commando the necessary self-reliance, which is of such
+great importance in <span class="pagenum"><a id="page248" name="page248"></a>(p. 248)</span> battle. It has also been found during the
+latter part of the War to be easier for a burgher to get provisions in
+his own district than in others, notwithstanding the destruction caused
+by the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>Commandant Muller, of the Boksburg Commando, one of those who were lucky
+enough to escape the danger of being caught through the half-heartedness
+of the previous commandant (Dirksen), and had taken his place, arrived
+at Warmbad almost the same moment. He proceeded via Yzerberg and joined
+us at Klipplaatdrift near Zebedelestad.</p>
+
+<p>I had allowed a field-cornet's company, consisting of Colonial
+Afrikanders, to accompany President Steyn to the Orange Free State,
+which meant a reduction of my force of 350 men, including the
+Krugersdorpers. But the junction with the Boksburg burghers, numbering
+about 200 men, somewhat made up for it.</p>
+
+<p>We went along the Olifant's River, by Israelskop and Crocodile Hill, to
+the spot where the Eland's River runs into the Olifant's River, and
+thence direct to Witnek through Giftspruit.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page249" name="page249"></a>(p. 249)</span> The grass, after the heavy rains, was in good condition and
+yielded plenty of food for our quadrupeds. Strange to say, nothing worth
+recording occurred during this "trek" of about 95 miles. About the
+middle of November we camped near the "Albert" silver mines, south of
+Witnek.</p>
+
+<p>Commandant Erasmus was still in this part of the country with the
+remainder of the Pretoria Commando. Divided into three or four smaller
+groups, they watched in the neighbourhood of the railway, from
+Donkerhoek till close to Wilgeriver Station, and whenever the enemy
+moved out, the men on watch gave warning and all fled with their
+families and cattle into the "boschveldt" along Witnek.</p>
+
+<p>It was these tactics which enabled the British Press to state that the
+Generals Plumer and Paget had a brilliant victory over Erasmus the
+previous month; for, with the exception of a few abandoned carts at
+Zusterhoek, they could certainly not have seen anything of Erasmus and
+his commando except a cloud of dust on the road from Witnek to the
+"boschveldt."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page250" name="page250"></a>(p. 250)</span> I had instructions to reorganise the commandos in these regions
+and to see that law and order were maintained. The reorganisation was a
+difficult work, for the burghers were divided amongst themselves.</p>
+
+<p>Some wanted a different commando, while others wanted to keep to
+Erasmus, who was formerly general and who had been my superior, round
+Ladysmith. He, one of the wealthiest and most influential burghers in
+the Pretoria district, did not seem inclined to carry out my
+instructions, and altogether he could not get accustomed to the altered
+conditions. I did all I could in the matter, but, so far as the Pretoria
+Commando was concerned, the result of my efforts was not very
+satisfactory. Nor did the generals who tried the same thing after me get
+on with the reorganisation while Erasmus remained in control as an
+officer. A dangerous element, which he and his clique tolerated, was
+formed by some families (Schalkwyk and others) who, after having
+surrendered to the enemy, were allowed to remain on their holdings, with
+their cattle, and to go on farming as if nothing had happened. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page251" name="page251"></a>(p. 251)</span>
+They generally lived near the railway between our sentry stations and
+those of the enemy. These "voluntarily disarmed ones," as we called
+them, had got passes from the enemy, allowing them free access to the
+British camps, and in accordance with one of Lord Roberts'
+proclamations, their duty, on seeing any Boers or commandos, was, to
+notify this at once to the nearest English picket, and also to
+communicate all information received about the Boers. All this was on
+penalty of having their houses burnt down and their cattle and property
+confiscated. Sometimes a brother or other relative of these
+"hands-uppers" would call on them. The son of one of them was adjutant
+to Commandant Erasmus, and shared his tent with him, while the adjutant
+often visited his parents during the night and sometimes by day; the
+consequence being that the English always knew exactly what was going on
+in our district. This situation could not be allowed to go on, and I
+instructed one of my officers to have all these suspected families
+placed behind our commandos. Any male persons who had <span class="pagenum"><a id="page252" name="page252"></a>(p. 252)</span>
+surrendered to the enemy out of cowardice were arrested.</p>
+
+<p>Most of them were court-martialled for high treason and desertion, and
+giving up their arms, and fifteen were imprisoned in a school building
+at Rhenosterkop, which had been turned into a gaol for the purpose. The
+court consisted of a presiding officer selected from the commandants by
+the General, and of four members, two of whom had been chosen by the
+General and the President, and two by the burghers.</p>
+
+<p>In the absence of our "Staats-procureur," a lawyer was appointed public
+prosecutor.</p>
+
+<p>Before the trial commenced the President was sworn by the General and
+the other four members by the President. The usual criminal procedure
+was followed, and each sentence was submitted for the General's
+ratification.</p>
+
+<p>The court could decree capital punishment, in which case there could be
+an appeal to the Government.</p>
+
+<p>There were other courts, constituted by the latter, but as they were
+moving about <span class="pagenum"><a id="page253" name="page253"></a>(p. 253)</span> almost every day, they were not always available,
+and recourse had then to be taken to the court-martial.</p>
+
+<p>The fifteen prisoners were tried in Rhenosterkop churchyard. The trial
+lasted several days, and I do not remember all the particulars of the
+various sentences, which differed from two and a half to five years'
+imprisonment, I believe with the option of a fine. The only prison we
+could send them to was at Pietersburg, and there they went.</p>
+
+<p>The arresting and punishing of these people caused a great sensation in
+the different commandos.</p>
+
+<p>It seems incredible, but it is a fact that many members of these
+traitors' families were very indignant about my action in the matter,
+even sending me anonymous letters in which they threatened to shoot me.</p>
+
+<p>Although there was less treason after the conviction of these fifteen
+worthies had taken place, there always remained an easy channel in the
+shape of correspondence between burghers from the commandos and their
+relatives within the English fighting lines, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page254" name="page254"></a>(p. 254)</span> carried by kaffir
+runners. This could not be stopped so easily.</p>
+
+<p>On the 19th of November, 1900, I attacked the enemy on the railway
+simultaneously at Balmoral and Wilgeriver, and soon found that the
+British had heard of our plan beforehand.</p>
+
+<p>Commandant Muller, who was cautiously creeping up to the enemy at
+Wilgeriver with some of his burghers, and a Krupp gun, met with a
+determined resistance early in the morning. He succeeded, indeed, in
+taking a few small forts, but the station was too strongly fortified,
+and the enemy used two 15-pounders in one of the forts with such
+precision as to soon hit our Krupp gun, which had to be cleared out of
+the fighting line.</p>
+
+<p>The burghers, who had taken the small forts in the early morning, were
+obliged to stop there till they could get away under protection of the
+darkness, with three men wounded. We did not find out the enemy's
+losses.</p>
+
+<p>We were equally unfortunate near Balmoral Station, where I personally
+led the attack.</p>
+
+<p>At daybreak I ordered a fortress to be stormed, expecting to capture a
+gun, which <span class="pagenum"><a id="page255" name="page255"></a>(p. 255)</span> would enable us to fire on the station from there,
+and then storm it. In fact we occupied the fort with little trouble,
+taking a captain and 32 men prisoners, besides inflicting a loss of
+several killed and wounded, while a score more escaped. These all
+belonged to the "Buffs," the same regiment which now takes part in
+watching us at St. Helena. But, on the whole, we were disappointed, not
+finding a gun in the fort, which was situated to the west of the
+station. Two divisions of burghers with a 15-pounder and a pom-pom were
+approaching the station from north and east, while a commando, under
+Field-Cornet Duvenhage, which had been called upon to strengthen the
+attack, was to occupy an important position in the south before the
+enemy could take it up, for during the night it was still unoccupied.</p>
+
+<p>Our 15-pounder, one of the guns we had captured from the English, fired
+six shells on the enemy at the station, when it burst, while the pom-pom
+after having sent some bombs through the station buildings, also jammed.
+We tried to storm over the bare <span class="pagenum"><a id="page256" name="page256"></a>(p. 256)</span> ground between our position
+and the strongly barricaded and fortified station, and the enemy would
+no doubt have been forced to surrender if they had not realised that
+something had gone wrong with us, our guns being silent, and
+Field-Cornet Duvenhage and his burghers not turning up from the south.
+The British, who had taken an important position from which they could
+cover us with their fire, sent us some lyddite shells from a howitzer in
+the station fort. Although there was a good shower of them, yet the
+lyddite-squirt sent the shells at such a slow pace, that we could
+quietly watch them coming and get under cover in time and therefore they
+did very little harm.</p>
+
+<p>At eight o'clock we were forced to fall back, for although we had
+destroyed the railway and telegraphic communications in several places
+over night, the latter were repaired in the afternoon, and the enemy's
+reinforcements poured in from Pretoria as well as from Middelburg. I
+observed all this through my glass from the position I had taken up on a
+high point near the Douglas coal mines.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page257" name="page257"></a>(p. 257)</span> Amongst the prisoners we had made in the morning was a captain
+of the "Buffs," whose collar stars had been stripped off for some
+reason, the marks showing they had only recently been removed. At that
+time there were no orders to keep officers as prisoners-of-war, and this
+captain was therefore sent back to Balmoral with the other "Tommies,"
+after we had relieved them of their weapons and other things which we
+were in want of. I read afterwards, in an English newspaper, that this
+captain had taken the stars off in order to save himself from the
+"cruelties of the Boers."</p>
+
+<p>This, I considered, an unjust and undeserved libel.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page258" name="page258"></a>(p. 258)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="26">XXVI.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">BATTLE OF RHENOSTERKOP.</p>
+
+
+<p>On the 27th of November, 1900, our scouts reported that a force of the
+enemy was marching from the direction of Pretoria, and proceeding along
+Zustershoek. I sent out Commandant Muller with a strong patrol, while I
+placed the laager in a safe position, in the ridge of kopjes running
+from Rhenosterkop some miles to the north. This is the place, about 15
+miles to the north-east of Bronkhorst Spruit, where Colonel Anstruther
+with the 94th regiment was attacked in 1881 by the Boers and thoroughly
+defeated. Rhenosterkop is a splendid position, rising several hundred
+feet above the neighbouring heights, and can be seen from a great
+distance. Towards the south and south-east this kopje is cut off from
+the Kliprandts <span class="pagenum"><a id="page259" name="page259"></a>(p. 259)</span> (known by the name of Suikerboschplaats) by a
+deep circular cleft called Rhenosterpoort.</p>
+
+<p>On the opposite side of this cleft the so-called "banks" form a
+<span lang="fr">"plateau"</span> about the same height as the Rhenosterkop, with some smaller
+<span lang="fr">plateaux</span>, at a lesser altitude, towards the Wilge River. These <span lang="fr">plateaux</span>
+form a crescent running from south-east to north of the Rhenosterkop.
+Only one road leading out of the "bank" near Blackwood Camp and crossing
+them near Goun, gives access to this crescent. On the west side is a
+great gap up to Zustershoek, only interrupted by some "randjes," or
+ridges, near the Albert silver mines and the row of kopjes on which I
+had now taken up a position.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy's force had been estimated at 5,000 men, mostly mounted, who,
+quite against their usual tactics, charged us so soon as they noticed
+us. Muller had to fall back again and again. The enemy under General
+Paget, pursued us as if we were a lot of game, and it soon became
+apparent that they had made up their mind to catch us this time. I sent
+our carts into the forest along Poortjesnek to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page260" name="page260"></a>(p. 260)</span> Roodelaager,
+and made a stand in the kopjes near Rhenosterkop.</p>
+
+<p>On the 28th&mdash;the next day&mdash;General Paget pitched his camp near our
+positions, shelling us with some batteries of field guns till dusk. The
+same evening I received information that a force under General Lyttelton
+had marched from Middelburg and arrived near Blackwood Camp. This meant
+that our way near Gourjsberg had been cut off. All we could do was to
+keep the road along Poortjesnek well defended, for if the enemy were to
+succeed in blocking that as well, we would be in a trap and be entirely
+cut up.</p>
+
+<p>There was General Paget against us to the west, to the south there was
+Rhenosterkop with no way out, and General Lyttelton to the east, while
+to the north there was only one road, running between high chains and
+deep clefts. If General Paget were to make a flanking movement
+threatening the road to the north, I should have been obliged to retire
+in hot haste, but we were in hopes the General would not think of this.
+General Lyttelton only needed to advance another mile, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page261" name="page261"></a>(p. 261)</span> right
+up to the first "randts" of the mountain near Blackwood Camp, for his
+guns to command our whole position, and to make it impossible for us to
+hold it. I had, however, a field-cornet's company between him and my
+burghers, with instructions to resist as long as possible, and to
+prevent our being attacked from behind, which plan succeeded, as luck
+would have it. My Krupp and pom-pom guns had been repaired, or rather,
+patched up, though the former had only been fired fourteen times when it
+was done up.</p>
+
+<p>I placed the Johannesburgers on the left, the Police in the centre, and
+the Boksburgers on the right. As I have already pointed out, these
+positions were situated in a row of small kopjes strewn with big
+"klips," while the assailant would have to charge over a bare "bult,"
+and we should not be able to see each other before they were at 60 to
+150 paces distant.</p>
+
+<p>Next morning, when the day dawned, the watchmen gave the alarm, the
+warning we knew so well, "The Khakis are coming!" The horses were all
+put out of range of the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page262" name="page262"></a>(p. 262)</span> bullets behind the "randts." I rode
+about with my officers in front of our positions, thus being able to
+overlook the whole ground, just at daybreak.</p>
+
+<p>It gave me a turn when I suddenly saw the gigantic army of "Khakis"
+right in front of us, slowly approaching, in grand formation, regiment
+upon regiment, deploying systematically, in proper fighting order, and
+my anxiety was mingled with admiration at the splendid discipline of the
+adversary. This, then, was the first act in the bloody drama which would
+be played for the next fifteen hours. The enemy came straight up to us,
+and had obviously been carefully reconnoitring our positions.</p>
+
+<p>General Paget seemed to have been spoiling for a fight, for it did not
+look as if he simply meant to threaten our only outlet. His heavy
+ordnance was in position near his camp, behind the soldiers, and was
+firing at us over their heads, while some 15-pounders were divided
+amongst the different regiments. The thought of being involved in such
+an unequal struggle weighed heavily on my mind. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page263" name="page263"></a>(p. 263)</span> Facing me were
+from four to five thousand soldiers, well equipped, well disciplined,
+backed up by a strong artillery; just behind me my men, 500 at the
+outside, with some patched-up guns, almost too shaky for firing
+purposes.</p>
+
+<p>But I could rely on at least 90 per cent. of my burghers being splendid
+shots, each man knowing how to economise his store of ammunition, while
+their hearts beat warmly for the Cause they were fighting.</p>
+
+<p>The battle was opened by our Krupp gun, from which they had orders to
+fire the fourteen shells we had at our disposal, and then "run." The
+enemy's heavy guns soon answered from the second ridge. When it was
+broad daylight the enemy tried his first charge on the Johannesburg
+position, over which my brother had the command, and approached in
+skirmishing order. They charged right up to seventy paces, when our men
+fired for the first time, so that we could not very well have missed our
+aim at so short a distance, in addition to which the assailants' outline
+was just showing against <span class="pagenum"><a id="page264" name="page264"></a>(p. 264)</span> the sky-line as he was going over the
+last ridge. Only two volleys and all the Khakis were flat on the ground,
+some dead, others wounded, while those who had not been hit were obliged
+to lie down as flat as a pancake.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy's field-pieces were out of our sight behind the ridge which
+the enemy had to pass in charging, and they went on firing without any
+intermission. Half an hour later the position of the Johannesburg
+Police, under the late Lieutenant D. Smith, was stormed again, this time
+the British being assisted by two field-pieces which they had brought up
+with them in the ranks and which were to be used as soon as the soldiers
+were under fire. They came to within a hundred paces. One of these guns,
+I think, I saw put up, but before they could get the range it had to be
+removed into safety, for the attacking soldiers fared equally badly here
+as on our left flank.</p>
+
+<p>Then, after a little hesitation, they tried the attack on our right
+flank again, when Commandant Muller and the Boksburgers and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page265" name="page265"></a>(p. 265)</span>
+some Pretoria burghers, under Field-Cornet Opperman held the position,
+but with the same fatal result to the attackers. Our fifteen-pounder,
+after having been fired a few times, had given out, while our pom-pom
+could only be used from time to time after the artilleryman had righted
+it.</p>
+
+<p>I had a heliograph post near the left-hand position, one near the centre
+and the one belonging to my staff on our extreme right. I remained near
+this, expecting a flank movement by General Paget after his front
+attacks had failed. From this coign of vantage I was able to overlook
+the whole of the fighting ground, besides which I was in constant touch
+with my officers, and could tell them all the enemy's movements.</p>
+
+<p>About 10 o'clock they charged again, and so far as I could see with a
+fresh regiment. We allowed them to come up very closely again and once
+more our deadly Mauser fire mowed them down, compelling those who went
+scot-free to go down flat on the ground, while during this charge some
+who had been obliged to drop down, now jumped up and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page266" name="page266"></a>(p. 266)</span> ran away.
+If I remember rightly, it was during this charge that a brave officer,
+who had one of his legs smashed, leant on a gun or his sword, and kept
+on giving his orders, cheering the soldiers and telling them to charge
+on. While in this position, a second bullet struck him, and he fell
+mortally wounded. We afterwards heard it was a certain Colonel Lloyd of
+the West Riding Regiment. A few months after, on passing over this same
+battlefield, we laid a wreath of flowers on his grave, with a card,
+bearing the inscription: "In honour of a brave enemy."</p>
+
+<p>General Paget seemed resolved to take our positions, whatever the
+sacrifice of human lives might be. If he succeeded at last, at this
+rate, he might find half a score of wounded burghers and, if his cavalry
+hurried up, perhaps a number of burghers with horses in bad condition,
+but nothing more.</p>
+
+<p>Whereas, if he had made a flanking movement, he might have attained his
+end, perhaps without losing a single man.</p>
+
+<p>Pride or stupidity must have induced him not to change his tactics.
+Nothing daunted by <span class="pagenum"><a id="page267" name="page267"></a>(p. 267)</span> the repeated failures in the morning, our
+assailant charged again, now one position and then another, trying to
+get their field-pieces in position, but each time without success. At
+their wits' end, the enemy tried another dodge, bringing his guns right
+up to our position under cover of some Red Cross waggons. The officer
+who perceived this, reported to me by heliograph, asking for
+instructions. I answered: 'If a Red Cross waggon enters the fighting
+lines during the battle, it is there on its own responsibility.'
+Besides, General Paget, under protection of the white flag, might have
+asked any moment or an hour, or longer, to carry away his many
+unfortunate wounded, who were lying between two fires in the burning
+sun.</p>
+
+<p>When the Red Cross waggon was found to be in the line of fire, it was
+put right-about face, while some guns remained behind to fire shrapnel
+at us from a short distance. They could only fire one or two shots, for
+our burghers soon put out of action the artillerists who were serving
+them. Towards the afternoon some of my burghers began to run <span class="pagenum"><a id="page268" name="page268"></a>(p. 268)</span>
+short of ammunition, I had a field-cornet's force in reserve, from which
+five to ten men were sent to the position from time to time, and this
+cheered the burghers up again.</p>
+
+<p>The same attacking tactics were persisted in by General Paget all day
+long, although they were a complete failure. When the sun disappeared
+behind the Magaliesbergs, the enemy made a final, in fact, a desperate
+effort to take our positions, the guns booming along while we were
+enveloped by clouds of dust thrown up by the shells.</p>
+
+<p>The soldiers charged, brave as lions, and crept closer to our positions
+than they had done during the day.</p>
+
+<p>But it seemed as if Fate were favouring us, for our 15-pounder had just
+got ready, sending his shells into the enemy's lines in rapid
+succession, and finding the range most beautifully. The pom-pom
+too&mdash;which we could only get to fire one or two shells all day long,
+owing to the gunner having to potter about for two or three hours after
+each shot to try and repair it&mdash;to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page269" name="page269"></a>(p. 269)</span> our great surprise suddenly
+commenced booming away, and the two pieces&mdash;I was going to say the
+"mysterious" pieces&mdash;poured a stream of murderous steel into the
+assailants, which made them waver and then retire, leaving many comrades
+behind.</p>
+
+<p>On our side only two burghers were killed, while 22 were wounded. The
+exact loss of the enemy was difficult to estimate. It must, however,
+have amounted to some hundreds.</p>
+
+<p>Again night spread a dark veil over one of the most bloody dramas of
+this war. After the cessation of hostilities, I called my officers
+together and considered our position. We had not lost an inch of ground
+that day, while the enemy had gained nothing. On the contrary, they had
+suffered a serious repulse at our hands. But our ammunition was getting
+scarce, our waggons, with provisions, were 18 miles away. All we had in
+our positions was mealies and raw meat, and the burghers had no chance
+of cooking them. We therefore decided, as we had no particular interest
+in keeping these positions, to fall back that night on Poortjesnek,
+which was a "half-way house" <span class="pagenum"><a id="page270" name="page270"></a>(p. 270)</span> between the place we were leaving
+and our carts, from which we should be able to draw our provisions and
+reserve ammunition.</p>
+
+<p>We therefore allowed General Paget to occupy these positions without
+more ado.</p>
+
+<p>I have tried to describe this battle as minutely as possible in order to
+show that incompetence of generals was not always on our side only.</p>
+
+<p>I have seen from the report of the British Commander-in-Chief, published
+in the newspapers, that this battle had been a most successful and
+brilliant victory, gained by General Paget. People will say, perhaps,
+that it was silly on my part to evacuate the positions, and that I
+should have gone on defending them the next day. Well, in the old days
+this would have been done by European generals, but no doubt they were
+fighting under different circumstances. They were not faced by a force
+ten times their own strength; not restricted to a limited quantity of
+ammunition; nor were they in want of proper food or reinforcements. The
+nearest Boer commando was at Warmbad, about 60 <span class="pagenum"><a id="page271" name="page271"></a>(p. 271)</span> miles distant.
+Besides, there was no necessity, either for military or strategical
+reasons, for us to cling to these positions. It had already become our
+policy to fight whenever we could, and to retire when we could not hold
+on any longer. The Government had decided that the War should be
+continued and it was the duty of every general to man&oelig;uvre so as to
+prolong it. We had no reserve troops, so my motto was: "Kill as many of
+the enemy as you possibly can, but see you do not expose your own men,
+for we cannot spare a single one."</p>
+
+<p>On the 30th of November, the day after the fight, I was with a patrol on
+the first "randts," north-east of Rhenosterkop, just as the sun rose,
+and had a splendid view of the whole battlefield of the previous day. I
+saw the enemy's scouts, cautiously approaching the evacuated positions,
+and concluded from the precautions they were taking that they did not
+know we had left overnight. Indeed, very shortly after I saw the Khakis
+storming and occupying the kopjes. How great must have been their
+astonishment <span class="pagenum"><a id="page272" name="page272"></a>(p. 272)</span> and disappointment on finding those positions
+deserted, for the possession of which they had shed so much blood. A
+number of ambulance waggons were brought up and were moving backwards
+and forwards on the battlefield, taking the wounded to the hospital
+camp, which must have assumed colossal proportions. Ditches were seen to
+be dug, in which the killed soldiers were buried. A troop of kaffirs
+carried the bodies, as far as I could distinguish, and I could
+distinctly see some heaps of khaki-coloured forms near the graves.</p>
+
+<a id="img009" name="img009"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img009.jpg" width="400" height="581" alt="" title="">
+<p class="smcap">Battle of Rhenosterkop&mdash;How Colonel Lloyd died.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>As the battlefield looked now, it was a sad spectacle. Death and
+mutilation, sorrow and misery, were the traces yesterday's fight had
+left behind. How sad, I thought, that civilised nations should thus try
+to annihilate one another. The repeated brave charges made by General
+Paget's soldiers, notwithstanding our deadly fire, had won our greatest
+admiration for the enemy, and many a burgher sighed even during the
+battle. What a pity such plucky fellows should have to be led
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page273" name="page273"></a>(p. 273)</span> on to destruction like so many sheep to the butcher's block!</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, General Lyttelton's columns had not got any nearer, and it
+appeared to us that he had only made a display to confuse us, and with
+the object of inducing us to flee in face of their overwhelming
+strength.</p>
+
+<p>On the 1st of December General Paget sent a strong mounted force to meet
+us, and we had a short, sharp fight, without very great loss on either
+side.</p>
+
+<p>This column camped at Langkloof, near our positions, compelling us to
+graze and water our horses at the bottom of the "neck" in the woods,
+where horse-sickness was prevalent. We were, therefore, very soon
+obliged to move.</p>
+
+<p>About this time I received a report to the effect that a number of women
+and children were wandering about near Rhenosterkop along the Wilge
+River. Their houses had been burnt by order of General Paget, and we
+were asked to protect these unfortunate people.</p>
+
+<p>Some burghers offered to ride out at night <span class="pagenum"><a id="page274" name="page274"></a>(p. 274)</span> time to try and
+find them, and the next morning they brought several families into our
+camp. The husbands of these poor sufferers were on duty in the
+neighbourhood, so that they were now enabled to do the needful for their
+wives and children. I put some questions to some of the women, from
+which it appeared that although they had besought the English not to
+burn their clothes and food, yet this had been done. Some Australians
+and Canadians, who had been present, had done their best to save some of
+the food and clothes, and these Colonials had shown them much
+consideration in every respect, but, the women added, a gang of kaffirs,
+who were ordered to cause this destruction, were behaving in the most
+barbarous and cruel manner, and were under no control by the British
+soldiers.</p>
+
+<p>I felt bound to protest against these scandalous acts of vandalism, and
+sent two of my adjutants to the English camp next day with a note of
+about the following tenour:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="quote">
+<p>"To <span class="smcap">General Paget</span>, <span class="italic">commanding H.M's. forces at
+     Rhenosterkop</span>.</p>
+
+<p>"It is my painful duty to bring under your Honour's
+     <span class="pagenum"><a id="page275" name="page275"></a>(p. 275)</span> notice the cruel way in which the troops under
+     your command are acting in ill-treating defenceless women
+     and children. Not only their homes, but also their food and
+     clothes, are being burnt. These poor creatures were left in
+     the open veldt, at the mercy of the kaffirs, and would have
+     died of starvation and exhaustion but for our assistance.
+     This way of treating these unfortunate people is undoubtedly
+     against the rules of civilised warfare, and I beg to
+     emphasise that the responsibility for this cruelty will be
+     entirely yours. You may rest assured that a similar
+     treatment of our families will not shorten the duration of
+     the War, but that, on the contrary, such barbarities will
+     force the burghers to prolong the struggle and to fight on
+     with more bitterness and determination than ever."</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The two despatch carriers whom I sent to the British General under a
+white flag were taken for spies, and however much they tried to
+establish their identity, General Paget was not to be convinced, and had
+them arrested, detaining them for three days. Their horses were used
+every day by the English officers, which I consider far from
+gentlemanly. On the third day my two adjutants were again taken before
+the general, and cross-examined, but no evidence could be found against
+their being bona-fide messengers. Paget told them <span class="pagenum"><a id="page276" name="page276"></a>(p. 276)</span> that my
+despatch was all nonsense, and did not give them the right to enter his
+lines under the white flag, adding, while he handed them a letter
+addressed to me:</p>
+
+<p>"You can go now; tell your General that if he likes to fight I shall be
+pleased to meet him at any time in the open. You have killed some of my
+Red Cross people, but I know it was done by those 'damned' unscrupulous
+Johannesburgers. Tell them I shall pay them for this!"</p>
+
+<p>Before my adjutants left, a certain Captain &mdash;&mdash; said to one of them:</p>
+
+<p>"I say, what do your people think of the fight?"</p>
+
+<p>"Which fight do you mean?" asked the adjutant.</p>
+
+<p>"The fight here," returned the captain.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," remarked the adjutant, "we think it was rather a mismanagement."
+To which the captain replied: "By Jove! you are not the only people who
+think so."</p>
+
+<p>The contents of General Paget's letter were short and rough; "The
+responsibility for the suffering of women and children rests on the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page277" name="page277"></a>(p. 277)</span> shoulders of those who blindly continue the helpless
+struggle," etc., etc.</p>
+
+<p>I may say here that this was the first time in this War the English
+officers treated my despatch riders under the white flag in such a
+manner, giving me at the same time such a discourteous answer.</p>
+
+<p>No doubt we have had generals acting like this on our side, and I admit
+that we did not always stand on etiquette.</p>
+
+<p>As already stated, part of the enemy's forces were camping out near
+Poortjesnek, so close by that we had to shift our laager and commando to
+a more healthy part on account of the horse-sickness. The enemy
+installed a permanent occupation at Rhenosterkop, and we moved into the
+Lydenberg district, where we knew we should find some wholesome "veldt"
+on the Steenkamps Mountains. We went through the forest near Maleemskop
+via Roodekraal, to the foot of Bothasberg, where we had a few weeks'
+rest.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page278" name="page278"></a>(p. 278)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="27">XXVII.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">THE SECOND CHRISTMAS AT WAR.</p>
+
+
+<p>The veldt was in splendid condition at the foot of Bothasberg, where we
+had pitched our camp. We found mealies and cattle left everywhere. The
+enemy did not know where we really were, and could not, therefore,
+bother us for the time being. Our Government was at Tautesberg, about 12
+miles north of Bothasberg, and we received a visit from Acting-President
+Burger, who brought with him the latest news from Europe, and the
+reports from the other commandos. Mr. Burger said he was sorry we had to
+leave the Pretoria district, but he could understand our horses would
+have all been killed by the sickness if we had stopped at Poortjesnek.
+As regards the Battle of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page279" name="page279"></a>(p. 279)</span> Rhenosterkop, he expressed the
+Government's satisfaction with the result.</p>
+
+<p>On the 16th of December we celebrated Dingaan's Day in a solemn manner.
+Pastor J. Louw, who had faithfully accompanied us during these fatiguing
+months of retreats and adversity, delivered a most impressive address,
+describing our position. Several officers also spoke, and I myself had a
+go at it, although I kept to politics. In the afternoon the burghers had
+sports, consisting of races on foot and on horseback. The prizes were
+got together by means of small contributions from the officers. All went
+well, without any mishaps, and it was unanimously voted to have been
+very entertaining.</p>
+
+<p>It was a peculiar sight&mdash;taking into consideration the circumstances&mdash;to
+see these people on the "veldt" feasting and of good cheer, each trying
+to amuse the other, under the fluttering "Vierkleur"&mdash;the only one we
+possessed&mdash;but the look of which gladdened the hearts of many assisting
+at this celebration in the wilderness. How could we have been in a truly
+festive mood without <span class="pagenum"><a id="page280" name="page280"></a>(p. 280)</span> the sight of that beloved banner, which
+it had cost so many sacrifices to protect, and to save which so much
+Afrikander blood had been shed.</p>
+
+<p>And in many of us the thought suggested itself: "O, Vierkleur of our
+Transvaal, how much longer shall we be allowed to see you unfurled? How
+long, O Lord, will a stream of tears and blood have to flow before we
+are again the undisputed masters of our little Republic, scarcely
+visible on the world's map? For how long will our adored Vierkleur be
+allowed to remain floating over the heads of our persecuted nation,
+whose blood has stained and soaked your colours for some generations? We
+hope and trust that so sure as the sun shall rise in the east and set in
+the west, so surely may this our flag, now wrapped in sorry mourning,
+soon flutter aloft again in all its glory, over the country on which
+Nature lavishes her most wondrous treasures."</p>
+
+<p>The Afrikander character may be called peculiar in many respects. In
+moments of reverse, when the future seems dark, one can <span class="pagenum"><a id="page281" name="page281"></a>(p. 281)</span> easily
+trace its pessimistic tendencies. But once his comrades buried, the
+wounded attended to, and a moment's rest left him by the enemy, the
+cheerful part of the Boer nature prevails, and he is full of fun and
+sport. If anybody, in a sermon or in a speech, try to impress on him the
+seriousness of the situation, pointing out how our ancestors have
+suffered and how we have to follow in their steps, our hero of
+yesterday, the jolly lad who was laughing boisterously and joking a
+minute ago, is seen to melt, and the tears start in his eyes. I am now
+referring to the true Afrikander. Of course, there are many calling
+themselves Afrikanders who during this War have proved themselves to be
+the scum of the nation. I wish to keep them distinguished from the true,
+from the noble men belonging to this nationality of whom I shall be
+proud as long as I live, no matter what the result of the War may be.</p>
+
+<p>Our laagers were not in a very satisfactory position, more as regards
+our safety than the question of health, sickness being expected to make
+itself felt only later in the year.</p>
+
+<p>We therefore decided to "trek" another 10 <span class="pagenum"><a id="page282" name="page282"></a>(p. 282)</span> miles, to the east
+of Witpoort, through Korfsnek, to the Steenkampsbergen, in order to
+pitch or camp at Windhoek. Windhoek (wind-corner) was an appropriate
+name, the breezes blowing there at times with unrelenting fury.</p>
+
+<p>Here we celebrated Christmas of 1900, but we sorely missed the many
+presents our friends and lady acquaintances sent us from Johannesburg on
+the previous festival, and which had made last year's Christmas on the
+Tugela such a success.</p>
+
+<p>No flour, sugar or coffee, no spirits or cigars to brighten up our
+festive board. This sort of thing belonged to the luxuries which had
+long ceased to come our way, and we had to look pleasant on
+mealie-porridge and meat, varied by meat and mealie-porridge.</p>
+
+<p>Yet many groups of burghers were seen to be amusing themselves at all
+sorts of games; or you found a pastor leading divine service and
+exhorting the burghers. Thus we kept our second Christmas in the field.</p>
+
+<p>About this time the commandos from the Lydenburg district (where we now
+were) as <span class="pagenum"><a id="page283" name="page283"></a>(p. 283)</span> well as those from the northern part of Middelburg,
+were placed under my command, and I was occupied for several days in
+reorganising the new arrivals. The fact of the railway being almost
+incessantly in the hands of the enemy, and the road from Machadodorp to
+Lydenburg also blocked by them (the latter being occupied in several
+places by large or small garrisons) compelled us to place a great number
+of outposts to guard against continual attacks and to report whenever
+some of the columns, which were always moving about, were approaching.</p>
+
+<p>The spot where our laagers were now situated was only 13 miles from
+Belfast and Bergendal, between which two places General Smith-Dorrien's
+strong force was posted; while a little distance behind Lydenburg was
+General Walter Kitchener with an equally strong garrison. We were,
+therefore, obliged to be continually on the alert, not relaxing our
+watchfulness for one single moment. One or two burghers were still
+deserting from time to time, aggravating their shameful behaviour by
+informing the enemy of our movements, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page284" name="page284"></a>(p. 284)</span> which often caused a
+well-arranged plan to fail. We knew this was simply owing to these very
+dangerous traitors.</p>
+
+<p>The State Artillerymen, who had now been deprived of their guns, were
+transformed into a mounted corps of 85 men, under Majors Wolmarans and
+Pretorius, and placed under my command for the time being.</p>
+
+<p>It was now time we should assume the offensive, before the enemy
+attacked us. I therefore went out scouting for some days, with several
+of my officers, in order to ascertain the enemy's positions and to find
+out their weakest spot. My task was getting too arduous, and I decided
+to promote Commandant Muller to the rank of a fighting-general. He
+turned out to be an active and reliable assistant.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page285" name="page285"></a>(p. 285)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="28">XXVIII.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">CAPTURE OF "LADY ROBERTS."</p>
+
+
+<p>After I had carefully reconnoitred the enemy's positions, I resolved,
+after consulting my fighting-general, Muller, to attack the Helvetia
+garrison, one of the enemy's fortifications or camps between Lydenburg
+and Machadodorp. Those fortifications served to protect the railway road
+from Machadodorp Station to Lydenburg, along which their convoys went
+twice a week to provision Lydenburg village. Helvetia is situated three
+miles east of Machadodorp, four miles west of Watervalboven Station,
+where a garrison was stationed, and about three miles south of a camp
+near Zwartkoppies. It was only protected on the north side. Although it
+was difficult to approach this side on account of a mountainous rand
+through which the Crocodile <span class="pagenum"><a id="page286" name="page286"></a>(p. 286)</span> River runs, yet this was the only
+road to take. It led across Witrand or Bakenkop; the commandos were
+therefore obliged to follow it, and had to do this at night time, for if
+they had passed the Bakenkop by day they would have exposed themselves
+to the enemy's artillery fire from the Machadodorp and Zwartkoppies
+garrisons.</p>
+
+<p>During the night of the 28th of December 1900, we marched from Windhoek,
+past Dullstroom, up to the neighbourhood of Bakenkop, where we halted
+and divided the commandos for the attack, which was to be made in about
+the following order:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>Fighting-General Muller was to trek with 150 men along the convoy-road
+between Helvetia and Zwartkoppies up to Watervalboven, keeping his
+movements concealed from the adversary. Commandant W. Viljoen (my
+brother), would approach the northerly and southerly parts of Helvetia
+within a few hundred paces, with part of the Johannesburgers and
+Johannesburg Police. This commando numbered 200 men.</p>
+
+<p>In order to be able to storm the different <span class="pagenum"><a id="page287" name="page287"></a>(p. 287)</span> forts almost
+simultaneously we were all to move at 3.30 a.m., and I gave the men a
+password, in order to prevent confusion and the possibility of our
+hitting one another in the general charge. There being several forts and
+trenches to take the burghers were to shout "Hurrah!" as loudly as they
+could in taking each fort, which would show us it was captured, and at
+the same time encourage the others. Two of our most valiant
+field-cornets, P. Myburgh and J. Cevonia, an Italian Afrikander, were
+sent to the left, past Helvetia, with 120 men, to attack Zwartkoppies
+the moment we were to storm Helvetia, while I kept in reserve the State
+Artillerists and a field-cornet's posse of Lydenburgers to the right of
+the latter place, near Machadodorp, which would enable me to stop any
+reinforcements sent to the other side from that place or from Belfast.
+For if the British were to send any cavalry from there they would be
+able to turn our rear, and by marching up as soon as they heard the
+first report of firing at Helvetia, they would be in a position to cut
+me up with the whole of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page288" name="page288"></a>(p. 288)</span> my commando. I only suggest the
+possibility of it, and cannot make out why it was not attempted. I can
+only be thankful to the British officers for omitting to do this.</p>
+
+<p>I had taken up a position, with some of my adjutants, between the
+commandos as arranged, and stood waiting, watch in hand, for the moment
+the first shot should be fired. My men all knew their places and their
+duties, but unfortunately a heavy fog rose at about 2 o'clock, which
+made the two field-cornets who were to attack the Zwartkoppies lose
+their way and the chance of reaching their destination before daybreak.</p>
+
+<p>I received the news of this failure at 3.20, <span class="italic">i.e.</span>, ten minutes before
+the appointed time of action. A bad beginning, I thought, and these last
+ten minutes seemed many hours to me.</p>
+
+<p>I struck a match every moment, under cover of my macintosh, to see if it
+were yet half past three. Another minute and it would soon be decided
+whether I should be the vanquished or the victor. How many burghers, who
+were now marching so <span class="pagenum"><a id="page289" name="page289"></a>(p. 289)</span> eagerly to charge the enemy in his
+trenches, would be missed from our ranks to-morrow? It is these moments
+of tension which make an officer's hair turn grey. The relation between
+our burgher and his officers is so entirely different from that which
+exists between the British officer and his men or between these ranks
+perhaps in any other standing army. We are all friends. The life of each
+individual burgher in our army is highly valued by his officer and is
+only sacrificed at the very highest price. We regret the loss of a
+simple burgher as much as that of the highest in rank. And it was the
+distress and worry of seeing these lives lost, which made me ponder
+before the battle.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly one of my adjutants called out: "I hear some shouting. What may
+this be?"</p>
+
+<p>I threw my waterproof over my head and struck a match, then cried: "It
+is time, my lads!" And in a few seconds a chain of fire flamed up round
+the forts, immediately followed by the rattling and crackling of the
+burghers' Mausers. The enemy was not slow in returning our fire.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page290" name="page290"></a>(p. 290)</span> It is not easy to adequately render the impression a battle in
+the dark makes. Each time a shot is fired you see a flash of fire
+several yards long, and where about 500 or 600 rifles are being fired at
+a short distance from you, it makes one think of a gigantic display of
+fireworks.</p>
+
+<p>Although it was still dusk, I could easily follow the course of the
+fight. The defenders' firing slackened in several places, to subside
+entirely in others, while from the direction of the other reports and
+flashes, our men were obviously closing up, drawing tighter the ring
+round the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>So far, according to my scouts, no stir had been made from Belfast,
+which encouraged me to inform the officers that we were not being cut
+off. At daybreak only a few shots were falling, and when the fog cleared
+up I found Helvetia to be in our hands.</p>
+
+<p>General Muller reported that his part of the attack had been
+successfully accomplished, and that a 4·7 naval gun had been found in
+the great fortress. I gave orders to fetch this gun out of the fort
+without delay, to take <span class="pagenum"><a id="page291" name="page291"></a>(p. 291)</span> away the prisoners we had made and as
+much of the commissariat as we could manage to carry, and to burn the
+remainder.</p>
+
+<p>Towards the evening we were fired at by two guns at Zwartkoppies, making
+it very difficult for us to get the provisions away.</p>
+
+<p>A great quantity of rum and other spirits was found among the enemy's
+commissariat, and as soon as the British soldiers made prisoners were
+disarmed, they ran up to it, filled their flasks, and drank so freely
+that about thirty of them were soon unable to walk. Their bad example
+was followed by several burghers, and many a man who had not been given
+to drinking used this opportunity to imbibe a good quantity, making it
+very difficult for us to keep things in order.</p>
+
+<p>About 60 men of the garrison had been killed or wounded, and their
+commanding officer had received some injuries, but fortunately there was
+a doctor there who at once attended to these cases. On our side we had
+five men killed and seven wounded&mdash;the brave Lieutenant Nortje and
+Corporal J. Coetzee being amongst them.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page292" name="page292"></a>(p. 292)</span> A small fort, situated between the others, had been overlooked,
+through a misunderstanding, and a score of soldiers who were garrisoning
+it had been forgotten and omitted to be disarmed.</p>
+
+<p>An undisciplined commando is not easily managed at times. It takes all
+the officers' tact and shrewdness to get all the captured goods&mdash;like
+arms, ammunition, provisions, &amp;c.&mdash;transported, especially when drink is
+found in a captured camp.</p>
+
+<p>When we discussed the victory afterwards, it became quite clear that our
+tactics in storming the enemy's positions on the east and south sides
+had been pregnant of excellent results, for the English were not at all
+prepared at these points, though they had been on their guard to the
+north. In fact it had been very trying work to force them to surrender
+there. The officer in command, who was subsequently discharged from the
+British Army, had done his best, but he was wounded in the head at the
+beginning of the fight, and so far as I could ascertain there had been
+nobody to take his place. Three <span class="pagenum"><a id="page293" name="page293"></a>(p. 293)</span> lieutenants were surprised in
+their beds and made prisoners-of-war. In the big fort where we found the
+naval gun, a captain of the garrison's artillery was in command. This
+fortress had been stormed, as already stated, from the side on which the
+attack had not been expected and the captain had not had an opportunity
+of firing many shots from his revolver, when he was wounded in the arm
+and compelled to surrender to the burghers who rushed up. Two hundred
+and fifty prisoners, including four officers, were made, the majority
+belonging to the Liverpool regiment and the 18th regiment of Hussars.
+They were all taken to our laager.</p>
+
+<p>We succeeded in bringing away the captured gun in perfect order, also
+some waggons. Unfortunately the cart with the projectiles or shell,
+stuck in the morass and had to be left behind.</p>
+
+<p>I gave orders to have a gun which we had left with the reserve burghers
+at Bakenkop, brought up, to open fire on the two pieces which were
+firing at us from Zwartkoppies, and to cover our movements while we were
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page294" name="page294"></a>(p. 294)</span> taking away the prisoners-of-war and the captured stores. I
+was in hopes of getting an opportunity of releasing the carts which
+stuck. But Fate was against us. A heavy hailstorm accompanied by thunder
+and lightning, fiercer than I have ever witnessed in South Africa
+before, broke over our heads. Several times the lightning struck the
+ground around us, and the weather became so alarming that the drunken
+"Tommies" began to talk about their souls, and further efforts to save
+the carts had to be abandoned.</p>
+
+<p>Whoever may have been the officer in command at Zwartkoppies he really
+deserved a D.S.O., which he obtained, too.</p>
+
+<p>What that order really means I wot not, but I know that an English
+soldier is quite prepared to risk his life to deserve one, and as the
+decoration itself cannot be very expensive, it pays the British
+Government to be very liberal with it. A Boer would be satisfied with
+nothing less than promotion as a reward for heroism.</p>
+
+<p>When the storm subsided we went on. It was a remarkable sight&mdash;a long
+procession of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page295" name="page295"></a>(p. 295)</span> "Tommies," burghers, carts, and the naval gun,
+18 feet long, an elephantine one when compared with our small guns.</p>
+
+<p>It struck me again on this occasion what little bad feeling there was
+really between Boer and Briton, and how they both fight simply to do
+their duty as soldiers. As I rode along the stream of men I noticed
+several groups of burghers and soldiers sitting together along the road,
+eating from one tin of jam and dividing their loaf between them, and
+drinking out of the same field flask.</p>
+
+<p>I remember some snatches of conversation I overheard:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="quote">
+<p><span class="smcap">Tommy:</span> By Jove, but you fellows gave us jip. If you had come
+     a little later you wouldn't have got us so easy, you know.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Burgher:</span> Never mind, Tommy, we got you. I suppose next time
+     you will get us. Fortunes of war, you know. Have some more,
+     old boy. Oh, I say, here is the general coming.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Tommy:</span> Who's he? Du Wyte or Viljohn?</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>And then as I passed them the whole group would salute very civilly.</p>
+
+<p>We stopped at Dullstroom that night, where we found some lodgings for
+the captured <span class="pagenum"><a id="page296" name="page296"></a>(p. 296)</span> British officers. We were sorry one of the
+Englishmen had not been given time to dress himself properly, for we had
+a very scanty stock of clothes, and it was difficult to find him some.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning I found half a dozen prisoners-of-war had sustained
+slight flesh wounds during the fight, and I sent them on a trolley to
+Belfast with a dispatch to General Smith-Dorrien, informing him that
+four of his officers and 250 men were in our hands, that they would be
+well looked after, and that I now sent back the slightly wounded who had
+been taken away by mistake.</p>
+
+<p>I will try to give the concluding sentence of my communication as far as
+I remember it, and also the reply to it. I may add that the words "The
+Lady Roberts" had been chiselled on the naval gun, and that many persons
+had just been expelled from Pretoria and other places as being
+considered "undesirables."</p>
+
+<p>My letter wound up as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p class="quote">"I have been obliged to expel "The Lady Roberts" from
+     Helvetia, this lady being an "undesirable" inhabitant
+     <span class="pagenum"><a id="page297" name="page297"></a>(p. 297)</span> of that place. I am glad to inform you that she
+     seems quite at home in her new surroundings, and pleased
+     with the change of company."</p>
+
+<p>To which General Smith-Dorrien replied:</p>
+
+<p class="quote">"As the lady you refer to is not accustomed to sleep in the
+     open air, I would recommend you to try flannel next to the
+     skin."</p>
+
+<p>I had been instructed to keep the officers we had taken prisoners until
+further orders, and these four were therefore lodged in an empty
+building near Roos Senekal under a guard. The Boers had christened this
+place "Ceylon," but the officers dubbed it "the house beautiful" on
+account of its utter want of attractiveness.</p>
+
+<p>They were allowed to write to their relatives and friends, to receive
+letters, and food and clothes, which were usually sent through our lines
+under the white flag. The company was soon augmented by the arrivals of
+many other British officers who were taken prisoners from time to time.</p>
+
+<p>The 250 captured rank and file were given up to the British authorities
+at Middelburg some days after, for military reasons.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page298" name="page298"></a>(p. 298)</span> "The Lady Roberts" was the first and so far the last big gun
+taken from the English, and we are proud to say that never during this
+War, notwithstanding all our vicissitudes and reverses, have the British
+succeeded in taking one of our big guns.</p>
+
+<p>One might call this bragging, but that is not my intention and I do not
+think I am given to boasting. We only relate it as one of the most
+remarkable incidents of the War, and as a fact which we may recall with
+satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>As already related, the cart with the shells for "The Lady Roberts" had
+to be left behind after the battle. Nothing would have given us greater
+pleasure than to send some shells from "Her Ladyship" into the Belfast
+camp on the last day of 1900, with the "Compliments of the Season." Not
+of course, in order to cause any destruction, but simply as a New Year's
+greeting. We would have sent them close by like the Americans in Mark
+Twain's book: "Not right in it, you know, but close by or near it." Only
+the shells were wanting, for with the gun were 50 charged "hulzen" and a
+case of cordite "schokbuizen."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page299" name="page299"></a>(p. 299)</span> We tried to make a shell from an empty "Long Tom" one, by
+cutting the latter down, for the "Long Toms" shells were of greater
+calibre, and after having it filled with four pom-pom bullets, some
+cordite etc., we made it tight with copper wire, and soldered the whole
+together.</p>
+
+<p>But when the shell was fired it burst a few steps away from the mouth of
+the cannon, and we had to abandon all hope of ever hearing a shout from
+the distinguished "Lady's" throat.</p>
+
+<p>It was stowed away safely in the neighbourhood of Tautesberg and guarded
+by a group of cattle-farmers, or rather "bush-lancers," as they were
+afterwards called, in case we should get hold of the proper shells some
+day or other.</p>
+
+<p>In connection with the attack on Helvetia I should like to quote the
+following lines, written by one of our poetasters, State-Secretary Mr.
+F. W. Reitz, in the field, although the translation will hardly give an
+adequate idea of the peculiar treatment of the subject:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem">
+<p class="noindent">"Hurrah for General Muller, hurrah for Ben Viljoen,
+  They went for 'Lady Roberts' and caught her very soon.
+  <span class="pagenum"><a id="page300" name="page300"></a>(p. 300)</span> They caught her at Helvetia, great was Helvetia's fall!
+  Come up and see 'The Lady,' you Ooms and Tantes all.</p>
+
+<p class="noindent">It was a Christmas present (they made a splendid haul),
+  And sent 'The Lady Roberts,' a present to Oom Paul.
+  It cheered the poor Bush-lancers, it cheered the 'trek boers' all,
+  It made them gladly answer to freedom's battle call.</p>
+
+<p class="noindent">Lord Roberts gave up fighting, he did not care a rap,
+  But left his dear old 'Lady,' who's fond of mealie-pap.
+  Of our dear wives and children he burned the happy homes,
+  He likes to worry Tantes but fears the sturdy Ooms.</p>
+
+<p class="noindent">But his old 'Lady Roberts' (the lyddite-spitting gun),
+  He sent her to Helvetia to cheer the garrison;
+  He thought she would be safe there, in old Smith-Dorrien's care;
+  To leave the kopjes' shelter the Boers would never dare.</p>
+
+<p class="noindent">Well done, Johannesburgers, Boksburgers, and police,
+  Don't give them any quarter, don't give them any peace;
+  Before the sleepy "Tommies" could get their stockings on,
+  The forts were stormed and taken, and all the burghers gone.</p>
+
+<p class="noindent">We took 300 soldiers, provisions, and their guns,
+  And of their ammunition we captured many tons.
+  'This is guerilla warfare,' says Mr. Chamberlain,
+  But those we have bowled over will never fight again.</p>
+
+<p class="noindent"><span class="pagenum"><a id="page301" name="page301"></a>(p. 301)</span> Let Roberts of Kandahar, and Kitchener of Khartoum,
+  Let Buller of Colenso make all their cannon boom.
+  They may mow down the kaffirs, with shield and assegai,
+  But on his trusty Mauser the burgher can rely.</p>
+
+<p class="noindent">For now the white man's fighting, these heroes dare not stay,
+  Lord Kitchener's in Pretoria, the others ran away.
+  Lord Roberts <span class="italic">can't</span> beat burghers, although he <span class="italic">Can</span>dahar,
+  The Lords are at a distance, the Generals few and far!</p>
+
+<p class="noindent">They may annex and conquer, have conquered and annexed,
+  Yet when the Mauser rattles the British are perplexed.
+  Stand firm then, Afrikanders, prolong the glorious fight,
+  Unfurl the good old 'Vierkleur.' Stand firm, for right is might!</p>
+
+<p class="noindent">What though the sky be clouded, what though the light be gone;
+  The day will dawn to-morrow, the sun will shine anon;
+  And though in evil moments a hero's hand may fail,
+  The strong will be confounded and right will yet prevail!"<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page302" name="page302"></a>(p. 302)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="29">XXIX.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">A DISMAL "HAPPY NEW YEAR."</p>
+
+
+<p>This is the 31st of December, 1900, two days after the victory gained by
+our burghers over the English troops at Helvetia, at the same time the
+last day of the year, or, as they call it, "New Year's Eve"; which is
+celebrated in our country with great enjoyment. The members of each
+family used to meet on that day, sometimes coming from all parts of the
+country. If this could not be done they would invite their most intimate
+friends to come and see the Old Year out&mdash;to "ring out the old, and ring
+in the new," for "Auld Lang Syne." This was one of the most festive days
+for everybody in South Africa. On the 31st of December, 1899, we had had
+to give up our time-honoured custom, there being no chance of joining in
+the friendly gathering at home, most of us having been <span class="pagenum"><a id="page303" name="page303"></a>(p. 303)</span> at the
+front since the beginning of October, 1899, while our commandos were
+still in the very centre of Natal or in the northern part of Cape
+Colony; Ladysmith, Kimberley, and Mafeking were still besieged, and on
+the 15th of December the great victory of Colenso over the English Army
+had been won.</p>
+
+<p>It is true that even then we were far from our beloved friends, but
+those who had not been made prisoners were still in direct communication
+with those who were near and dear to them. And although we were unable
+to pass the great day in the family circle, yet we could send our best
+wishes by letter or by wire. We had then hoped it would be the last time
+we should have to spend the last day of the year under such distressing
+circumstances, trusting the war would soon be over.</p>
+
+<p>Now 365 days had gone by&mdash;long, dreary, weary days of incessant
+struggle; and again our expectations had not been realised, and our
+hopes were deferred. We were not to have the privilege of celebrating
+"the Old and the New" with our people as we had so fervently wished the
+previous year on the Tugela.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page304" name="page304"></a>(p. 304)</span> The day would pass under far more depressing circumstances. In
+many homes the members of the family we left behind would be prevented
+from being in a festive mood, thinking as they were of the country's
+position, while mourning the dead, and pre-occupied with the fate of the
+wounded, of those who were missing, or known to be prisoners-of-war.</p>
+
+<p>It was night-time, and everybody was under the depression of the present
+serious situation. Is it necessary to say that we were all absorbed in
+our thoughts, reviewing the incidents of the past year? Need we say that
+everyone of us was thinking with sadness of our many defeats, of the
+misery suffered on the battlefields, of our dead and wounded and
+imprisoned comrades; how we had been compelled to give up Ladysmith,
+Kimberley, and Mafeking, and how the principal towns of our Republics,
+Bloemfontein and Pretoria, where our beloved flag had been flying for so
+many long years, over an independent people, were now in the hands of
+the enemy? Need we say we were thinking that night more than ever of our
+many relatives who had sacrificed their blood <span class="pagenum"><a id="page305" name="page305"></a>(p. 305)</span> and treasure in
+this melancholy War for the good Cause; of our wives and children, who
+did not know what had become of us, and whom most of us had not seen for
+the last eight months. Were they still alive? Should we ever see them
+alive? Such were the terrible thoughts passing through our minds as we
+silently sat round the fires that evening.</p>
+
+<p>Nor did anything tend to relieve the sombre monotony. This time we
+should not have a chance of receiving some little things to cheer us up
+and remind us that our dearest friends had thought of us. Our fare would
+that day be the eternal meat and mealies&mdash;mealies and meat.</p>
+
+<p>But why call to mind all these sombre memories of the past? Sufficient
+unto the day it seems was the evil thereof. Why sum up the misery of a
+whole year's struggles? And thus we "celebrated" New Year's Eve of 1900,
+till we found our consolation in that greatest of blessings to a
+tired-out man&mdash;a refreshing sleep.</p>
+
+<p>But no sooner had we risen next morning <span class="pagenum"><a id="page306" name="page306"></a>(p. 306)</span> than the cheerful
+compliments: "A Happy New Year!" or "My best wishes for the New Year"
+rang in our ears. We were all obviously trying to lay stress on the
+possible blessings of the future, so as to make each other forget the
+past, but I am afraid we did not expect the fulfilment of half of what
+we wished.</p>
+
+<p>For well we knew how bad things were all round, how many dark clouds
+were hanging over our heads, and how very few bright spots were visible
+on the political horizon.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page307" name="page307"></a>(p. 307)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="30">XXX.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">GENERAL ATTACK ON BRITISH FORTS.</p>
+
+
+<p>My presence was requested on the 3rd of January, 1901, by the
+Commandant-General at a Council of War, which was to be held two days
+after at Hoetspruit, some miles east of Middelburg. General Botha would
+be there with his staff, and a small escort would take him from Ermelo
+over the railway through the enemy's lines. My commandos were to hold
+themselves in readiness. There was no doubt in my mind as to there being
+some great schemes on the cards, and that the next day we should have
+plenty to do, for the Commandant-General would not come all that way
+unless something important was on. And why should my commandos have to
+keep themselves in readiness?</p>
+
+<p>On the morning of the 5th I went to the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page308" name="page308"></a>(p. 308)</span> place of destination,
+which we reached at 11 o'clock, to find the Commandant-General and suite
+had already arrived. General Botha had been riding all night long in
+order to get through the enemy's lines, and had been resting in the
+shadow of a tree at Hoetspruit. The meeting of his adjutants and mine
+was rather boisterous, and woke him up, whereupon he rose immediately
+and came up to me with his usual genial smile. We had often been
+together for many months in the War, and the relations between us had
+been very cordial. I therefore do not hesitate to call him a
+bosom-friend, with due respect to his Honour as my chief.</p>
+
+<p>"Hullo, old brother, how are you?" was Botha's welcome.</p>
+
+<p>"Good morning, General, thank you, how are you?" I replied.</p>
+
+<p>My high appreciation of, and respect for his position, made me refrain
+from calling him Louis, although we did not differ much in age, and were
+on intimate terms.</p>
+
+<p>"I must congratulate you upon your successful attack on Helvetia. You
+made a <span class="pagenum"><a id="page309" name="page309"></a>(p. 309)</span> nice job of it," he said. "I hope you had a pleasant
+New Year's Eve. But," he went on, "I am sorry in one way, for the enemy
+will be on his guard now, and we may not succeed in the execution of the
+plans we are going to discuss to-day, and which concern those very
+districts."</p>
+
+<p>"I am sorry, General," I replied, "but of course I know nothing of those
+plans."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," rejoined the Commandant-General, "we will try anyhow, and hope
+for the best."</p>
+
+<p>An hour later we met in council. Louis Botha briefly explained how he
+had gone with General Christian Botha and Tobias Smuts, with 1,200 men,
+to Komatiboven, between Carolina and Belfast, where they had left the
+commandos to cross the line in order to meet the officers who were to
+the north of it with the object of going into the details of a combined
+attack on the enemy's camps.</p>
+
+<p>All were agreed and so it was decided that the attack would be made
+during the night of the 7th of January, at midnight, the enemy's
+positions being stormed simultaneously.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page310" name="page310"></a>(p. 310)</span> The attack was to be made in the following way: The
+Commandant-General and General C. Botha along with F. Smuts, would
+attack on the southern side of the garrisons, in the following places:
+Pan Station, Wonderfontein Station, Belfast Camp and Station, Dalmanutha
+and Machadodorp, while I was to attack these places from the north. The
+commandos would be divided so as to have a field-cornet's force charge
+at each place.</p>
+
+<p>I must say that I had considerable difficulty in trying to make a little
+go a long way in dividing my small force along such a long line of
+camps, but the majority were in favour of this "frittering-away" policy,
+and so it had to be done.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy's strength in different places was not easy to ascertain. I
+knew the strongest garrison at Belfast numbered over 2,500 men, and this
+place was to be made the chief point of attack, although the Machadodorp
+garrison was pretty strong too. The distance along which the
+simultaneous attack was to be made was about 22 miles and there were at
+least seven points to be stormed, viz., <span class="pagenum"><a id="page311" name="page311"></a>(p. 311)</span> Pan Station,
+Wonderfontein, Belfast Village, Monument Hill (near Belfast), the coal
+mines (near Belfast), Dalmanutha Station and Machadodorp. A big
+programme, no doubt.</p>
+
+<p>I can only, of course, give a description of the incidents on my side of
+the railway line, for the blockhouses and the forts provided with guns,
+which had been built along the railway, separated us entirely from the
+commandos to the south. The communication between both sides of the
+railway could be only kept up at night time and with a great amount of
+trouble, by means of despatch-carriers. We, therefore, did not even know
+how the attacking-parties on the southern side had been distributed. All
+we knew was, that any place which was to be attacked from the north
+would also be stormed from the south at the same time, except the coal
+mine west of Belfast, occupied by Lieutenant Marshall with half a
+section of the Gloucester Regiment, which we were to attack separately,
+as it was situated some distance north of the railway line.</p>
+
+<p>I arranged my plans as follows: Commandant Trichardt, with two
+field-cornets <span class="pagenum"><a id="page312" name="page312"></a>(p. 312)</span> posses of Middelburgers and one of Germiston
+burghers, were to attack Pan and Wonderfontein; the State Artillery
+would go for the coal mine; the Lydenburgers look after Dalmanutha and
+Machadodorp; while General Muller with the Johannesburgers and
+Boksburgers would devote their attention to Monument Hill.</p>
+
+<p>I should personally attack Belfast Village, with a detachment of police,
+passing between the coal mine and Monument Hill. My attack could only,
+of course, be commenced after that on the latter two places had turned
+out successfully, as otherwise I should most likely have my retreat cut
+off.</p>
+
+<a id="img010" name="img010"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img010.jpg" width="400" height="575" alt="" title="">
+<p class="smcap">Gen. Viljoen meeting Gen. Botha<br>
+at Hoedspruit, near Middleburg.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>In the evening of the 7th of January all the commandos marched, for the
+enemy would have been able to see us from a distance on this flat ground
+if we had started in the daytime, and would have fired at us with their
+4·7 guns, one of which we knew to be at Belfast. We had to cover a
+distance of 15 miles between dusk and midnight. There was therefore no
+time to be lost, for a commando moves very slowly at night time if
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page313" name="page313"></a>(p. 313)</span> there is any danger in front. If the danger comes from the
+rear, things very often move quicker than is good for the horses. Then
+the men have to be kept together, and the guides are followed up
+closely, for if any burghers were to lag behind and the chain be broken,
+20 or 30 of them might stray which would deprive us of their services.</p>
+
+<p>It was one of those nights, known in the Steenkamp Mountains as "dirty
+nights," very dark, with a piercing easterly wind, which blew an
+incessant, fine, misty rain into our faces. About nine o'clock the mist
+changed into heavy rains, and we were soon drenched to the skin, for
+very few of us wore rainproof cloaks.</p>
+
+<p>At ten the rain left off, but a thick fog prevented us from seeing
+anything in front of us, while the cold easterly wind had numbed our
+limbs, almost making them stiff. Some of the burghers had therefore to
+be taken up by the ambulance in order to have their circulation restored
+by means of some medicine or artificial treatment. The impenetrable
+darkness made it very difficult to get on, as we <span class="pagenum"><a id="page314" name="page314"></a>(p. 314)</span> were obliged
+to keep contact by means of despatch-riders; for, as already stated, I
+had to wait with the police for the result of the attack on the two
+positions to the right and left of me.</p>
+
+<p>Exactly at midnight all had arrived at the place of destination.
+Unfortunately the wind was roaring so loudly as to prevent any firing
+being heard even at a hundred paces distant.</p>
+
+<p>The positions near Monument Hill and the coal mine were attacked
+simultaneously, but unfortunately our artillerymen could not distinctly
+see the trenches on account of the darkness, and they charged right past
+them, and had to turn back when they became aware of the fact, by which
+time the enemy had found out what was up, and allowed their assailants
+to come close up to them (it was a round fort about five feet high with
+a trench round it), and received them with a tremendous volley. The
+artillerymen, however, charged away pluckily, and before they had
+reached the wall four were killed and nine wounded. The enemy shot
+fiercely and aimed well.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page315" name="page315"></a>(p. 315)</span> Our brave boys stormed away, and soon some of them jumped over
+the wall and a hand-to-hand combat ensued. The commanding officer of the
+fortress, Lieutenant Marshall, was severely wounded in the leg, which
+fact must have had a great influence on the course of the fight, for he
+surrendered soon after. Some soldiers managed to escape, some were
+killed, about 10 wounded, and 25 were taken prisoners. No less than five
+artillerymen were killed and 13 wounded, amongst the latter being the
+valiant Lieutenant Coetsee who afterwards was cruelly murdered by
+kaffirs near Roos Senekal. The defenders as well as the assailants had
+behaved excellently.</p>
+
+<p>Near Monument Hill, at some distance from the position, the burghers'
+horses were left behind, and the men marched up in scattered order, in
+the shape of a crescent. When we arrived at the enemy's outposts they
+had formed up at 100 paces from the forts, but in the dark the soldiers
+did not see us till we almost ran into them. There was no time to waste
+words. Fortunately, they surrendered without making any defence, which
+made our <span class="pagenum"><a id="page316" name="page316"></a>(p. 316)</span> task much lighter, for if one shot had been fired,
+the garrison of the forts would have been informed of our approach. Only
+at 20 paces distance from the forts near the Monument (there were four
+of them), we were greeted with the usual "Halt, who goes there." After
+this had been repeated three times without our taking any notice, and as
+we kept coming closer, the soldiers fired from all the forts. Only now
+could we see how they were situated. We found them to be surrounded by a
+barbed wire fence which was so strong and thick that some burghers were
+soon entangled in it, but most of them got over it.</p>
+
+<p>The first fort was taken after a short but sharp defence, the usual
+"hurrah" of the burghers jumping into the fort was, like a whisper of
+hope in the dark, an encouragement to the remainder of the storming
+burghers, who now soon took the other forts, not without having met with
+a stout resistance. Many burghers were killed, amongst whom the brave
+Field-Cornet John Ceronie, and many were wounded.</p>
+
+<p>It had looked at first as if the enemy did not <span class="pagenum"><a id="page317" name="page317"></a>(p. 317)</span> mean to give
+in, but we could not go back, and "onward" was the watchword. In several
+instances there was a struggle at a few paces' distance, only the wall
+of the fort intervening between the burghers and the soldiers. The
+burghers cried: "Hands up, you devils," but the soldiers replied: "Hy
+kona," a kaffir expression which means "shan't."</p>
+
+<p>"Jump over the walls, my men!" shouted my officers, and at last they
+were in the forts: not, of course, without the loss of many valuable
+lives. A "melée" now followed; the English struck about with their guns
+and with their fists, and several burghers lay on the ground wrestling
+with the soldiers. One "Tommy" wanted to thrust a bayonet through a
+Boer, but was caught from behind by one of the latter's comrades, and
+knocked down and a general hand-to-hand fight ensued, a rolling over and
+over, till one of the parties was exhausted, disarmed, wounded, or
+killed. One of the English captains (Vosburry) and 40 soldiers were
+found dead or wounded, several having been pierced by their own
+bayonets.</p>
+
+<p>Some burghers had been knocked senseless <span class="pagenum"><a id="page318" name="page318"></a>(p. 318)</span> with the butt-end of
+a rifle in the struggle with the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>This carnage had lasted for twenty minutes, during which the result had
+been decided in our favour, and a "hurrah," full of glory and
+thankfulness, came from the throats of some hundreds of burghers. We had
+won the day, and 81 prisoners-of-war had been made, including two
+officers&mdash;Captain Milner and Lieutenant Dease&mdash;both brave defenders of
+England's flag.</p>
+
+<p>They belonged to the Royal Irish Regiment, of which all Britons should
+be proud.</p>
+
+<p>In the captured forts we found a Maxim, in perfect order, 20 boxes of
+ammunition, and other things, besides provisions, also a quantity of
+spirits, which was, however, at once destroyed, to the disappointment of
+many burghers.</p>
+
+<p>We now pushed on to Belfast village, but found every cliff and ditch
+occupied. All efforts to get in touch with the commandos which meant to
+attack the village from the south were without avail. Besides, we did
+not hear a single shot fired, and did <span class="pagenum"><a id="page319" name="page319"></a>(p. 319)</span> not know what had become
+of the attack from the south. In intense darkness we were firing at each
+other from time to time, so that it was not advisable to continue our
+operations under the circumstances, and at daybreak I told all my
+commandos to desist.</p>
+
+<p>The attacks on Wonderfontein, Pan Station, Dalmanutha, and Machadodorp
+had failed.</p>
+
+<p>I afterwards received a report from the commandos on the other side of
+the line, that, owing to the dark night, their attacks, although they
+were made with deliberation and great bravery, had all been
+unsuccessful. They had repeatedly missed the forts and had shot at one
+another.</p>
+
+<p>General Christian Botha had succeeded in capturing some of the enemy's
+outposts, and in pushing on had come across a detachment of Gordon
+Highlanders and been obliged to retire with a loss of 40 killed and
+wounded.</p>
+
+<p>We found, therefore, these forts in the hands of the soldiers, who, in
+my opinion, belonged to the best regiments of the English army.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page320" name="page320"></a>(p. 320)</span> The guests of our Government, at "the house beautiful" near
+Roos Senekal were thus added to by two gentlemen, Captain Milner and
+Lieutenant Dease, and they were my prisoners-of-war for four months,
+during which time I found Captain Milner one of the most worthy British
+officers whom it had been my privilege to meet in this War. Not only in
+his manly appearance, but especially by his noble character he stood
+head and shoulders above his fellow-officers.</p>
+
+<p>Lieutenant Dease bore a very good character but was young and
+inexperienced. For several reasons I am pleased to be able to make
+publicly these statements.</p>
+
+<p>The soldiers we had made prisoners during this fight, as well as those
+we took at Helvetia, were given up to the British officers a few days
+afterwards, as we were not in a position to feed them properly, and it
+would not be humane or fair to keep the soldiers who had the misfortune
+of falling into our hands without proper food. This, of course, was a
+very unsatisfactory state of affairs, for we had to fight fiercely,
+valuable lives had to be sacrificed, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page321" name="page321"></a>(p. 321)</span> every nerve had to be
+strained to force the enemy to surrender, and to take his positions; and
+then, when we had captured them, the soldiers were merely disarmed and
+sent back to the English lines after a little while, only to find them
+fighting against us once more in a few days.</p>
+
+<p>The Boers asked, "Why are not these "Tommies" required to take the oath
+before being liberated not to fight against us again?" I believe this
+would have been against the rules of civilised warfare, and we did not
+think it chivalrous to ask a man who was a prisoner to take an oath in
+return for his release.</p>
+
+<p>A prisoner-of-war has no freedom of action, and might have promised
+under the circumstances what he would not have done if he had been a
+free man.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page322" name="page322"></a>(p. 322)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="31">XXXI.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">A "BLUFF" AND A BATTLE.</p>
+
+
+<p>The last days of February, 1901, were very trying for our commandos on
+the "Hoogeveld," south of the railway. General French, assisted by half
+a dozen other generals, with a force of 60,000 men, crossed the
+"Hoogeveld," between the Natal border and the Delagoa Railway, driving
+all the burghers and cattle before him, continually closer to the Swazi
+frontier, in order to strike a "final blow" there.</p>
+
+<p>These operations the English called "The Great Sweep of February, 1901."</p>
+
+<p>Commandant-General Botha sent word that he was in a bad plight on the
+"Hoogeveld," the enemy having concentrated all his available troops upon
+him. I was asked to divert their attention as much as possible by
+repeated <span class="pagenum"><a id="page323" name="page323"></a>(p. 323)</span> attacks on the railway line, and to worry them
+everywhere.</p>
+
+<p>To attack the fortified entrenchments in these parts, where we had only
+just been taking the offensive, causing the enemy to be on his guard,
+would not have been advisable. I therefore decided to make a feint
+attack on Belfast.</p>
+
+<p>One night we moved with all the burghers who had horses, about 15 carts,
+waggons, and other vehicles, guns and pom-pom, to a high "bult," near
+the "Pannetjes." When the sun rose the next morning we were in full
+sight of the enemy at Belfast, from which we were about ten miles away.</p>
+
+<p>Here our commando was split into two parts, and the mounted men spread
+about in groups of fifty men each, with carts scattered everywhere among
+the ranks. We slowly approached Belfast in this order. Our commando
+numbered about 800 men, and considering the way we were distributed,
+this would look three times as many. We halted several times, and the
+heliographers, who were posted everywhere in sight of the enemy,
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page324" name="page324"></a>(p. 324)</span> made as much fuss as possible. Scouts were riding about
+everywhere, making a great display by dashing about all over the place,
+from one group of burghers to another. After we had waited again for
+some little time we moved on, and thus the comedy lasted till sunset; in
+fact, we had got within range of the enemy's guns. We had received
+information from Belfast to the effect that General French had taken all
+the guns with him to Belfast, leaving only a few of small calibre, which
+could not reach us until we were at about 4,000 yards from the fort. Our
+pom-pom and our 15-pounder were divided between the two divisions, and
+the officers had orders to fire a few shots on Belfast at sunset. We
+could see all day long how the English near Monument Hill were making
+ditches round the village and putting up barbed wire fences.</p>
+
+<p>Trains were running backwards and forwards between Belfast and the
+nearest stations, probably to bring up reinforcements.</p>
+
+<p>At twilight we were still marching, and by the light of the last rays of
+the sun we fired our two valuable field-pieces simultaneously, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page325" name="page325"></a>(p. 325)</span>
+as arranged. I could not see where the shells were falling, but we heard
+them bursting, and consoled ourselves with the idea that they must have
+struck in near the enemy. Each piece sent half a dozen shells, and some
+volleys were fired from a few rifles at intervals. We thought the enemy
+would be sure to take this last movement for a general attack. What he
+really did think, there is no saying. As the burghers put it, "We are
+trying to make them frightened, but the thing to know is, did they get
+frightened?" For this concluded our programme for the day, and we
+retired for the night, leaving the enemy in doubt as to whether we meant
+to give him any further trouble, yet without any apology for having
+disturbed his rest.</p>
+
+<p>The result of this bloodless fight was <span class="italic">nil</span> in wounded and killed on
+both sides.</p>
+
+<p>On the 12th of February, 1901, the first death-sentence on a traitor on
+our side was about to be carried out, when suddenly our outposts round
+Belfast were attacked by a strong British column under General Walter
+Kitchener. When the report was brought to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page326" name="page326"></a>(p. 326)</span> our laager, all the
+burghers went to the rescue, in order to keep the enemy as far from the
+laager as possible, and beat them back. Meanwhile the outposts retired
+fighting all the while. We took up the most favourable positions we
+could and waited. The enemy did not come up close to us that evening,
+but camped out on a round hill between Dullstroom and Belfast and we
+could distinctly see how the soldiers were all busy digging ditches and
+trenches round the camp and putting up barbed wire enclosures. They were
+very likely afraid of a night attack and did not forget the old saying
+about being "wise in time."</p>
+
+<p>Near the spot where their camp was situated were several roads leading
+in different directions which left us in doubt as to which way they
+intended to go, and whether they wanted to attack us, or were on their
+way to Witpoort-Lydenburg.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning, at sunset, the enemy broke up his camp and made a
+stir. First came a dense mass of mounted men, who after having gone
+about a few hundred paces, split up into two divisions. One portion
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page327" name="page327"></a>(p. 327)</span> moved in a westerly direction, the other to the north, slowly
+followed by a long file, or as they say in Afrikander "gedermte" (gut)
+of waggons and carts which, of course, formed the convoy. Companies of
+infantry, with guns, marched between the vehicles.</p>
+
+<p>I came to the conclusion that they intended to attack from two sides,
+and therefore ordered the ranks to scatter. General Muller, with part of
+the burghers, went in advance of the enemy's left flank and, as the
+English spread out their ranks, we did the same.</p>
+
+<p>At about 9 a.m. our outposts near the right flank of the English were
+already in touch with the enemy, and rifle-fire was heard at intervals.</p>
+
+<p>I still had the old 15-pounder, but the stock of ammunition had gone
+down considerably and the same may be said of the pom-pom of
+Rhenosterkop fame. We fired some shots from the 15-pounder at a division
+of cavalry at the foot of a kopje. Our worthy artillery sergeant swore
+he had hit them right in the centre, but even with my <span class="pagenum"><a id="page328" name="page328"></a>(p. 328)</span> strong
+spy-glass I could not see the shells burst, although I admit the enemy
+showed a little respect for them, which may be concluded from the fact
+that they at once mounted their horses and looked for cover.</p>
+
+<p>A British soldier is much more in awe of a shell than a Boer is, and the
+enemy's movements are therefore not always a criterion of our getting
+the range. We had, moreover, only some ordinary grenades left, some of
+which would not burst, as the "schokbuizen" were defective, and we could
+not be sure of their doing any harm.</p>
+
+<p>The other side had some howitzers, which began to spit about lyddite
+indiscriminately. They also had some quick-firing guns of a small
+calibre, which, however, did not carry particularly far. But they were a
+great nuisance, as they would go for isolated burghers without being at
+all economical with their ammunition.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, the enemy's left reached right up to Schoonpoort, where some
+burghers, who held good positions, were able to fight them. This caused
+continual collisions with our outposts. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page329" name="page329"></a>(p. 329)</span> Here, also, the
+assailants had two 15-pounder Armstrong's, which fired at any moving
+target, and hardly ever desisted, now on one or two burghers who showed
+themselves, then on a tree, or an anthill, or a protruding rock. They
+thus succeeded in keeping up a deafening cannonade, which would have
+made one think there was a terrific fight going on, instead of which it
+was a very harmless bombardment.</p>
+
+<p>It did no more harm than at the English man&oelig;uvres, although it was no
+doubt a brilliant demonstration, a sort of performance to show the
+British Lion's prowess. I could not see the practical use of it, though.</p>
+
+<p>It was only on the enemy's right wing that we got near enough to feel
+some of the effect of the artillery's gigantic efforts, which here
+forced us to some sharp but innocent little fights between the outposts.
+At about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the British cavalry stormed our
+left, which was in command of General Muller. We soon repulsed them,
+however. Half an hour after we saw the enemy's carts go back.</p>
+
+<p>I sent a heliographic message to General <span class="pagenum"><a id="page330" name="page330"></a>(p. 330)</span> Muller, with whom I
+had kept in close contact, to the effect that they were moving away
+their carts and that we ought to try and charge them on all points as
+well as we could.</p>
+
+<p>"All right," he answered; "shall we start at once?" I flashed back
+"Yes," and ordered a general charge.</p>
+
+<p>The burghers now appeared all along the extended fighting line.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy's guns, which were just ready to be moved, were again placed
+in position and opened fire, but our men charged everywhere, a sort of
+action which General Kitchener did not seem to like, for his soldiers
+began to flee with their guns, and a general confusion ensued. Some of
+these guns were still being fired at the Boers but the latter stormed
+away determinedly. The British lost many killed and wounded.</p>
+
+<p>The cavalry fled in such a hurry as to leave the infantry as the only
+protection of the guns, and although these men also beat a retreat they,
+at least, did it while fighting.</p>
+
+<p>I do not think I overstate the case by declaring that General Walter
+Kitchener owed it to the stubborn defence of his infantry <span class="pagenum"><a id="page331" name="page331"></a>(p. 331)</span> that
+his carts were not captured by us that day.</p>
+
+<p>Their ambulance, in charge of Dr. Mathews and four assistants, and some
+wounded fell into our hands, and were afterwards sent back.</p>
+
+<p>We pursued the enemy as well as we could, but about nine miles from
+Belfast, towards which the retreating enemy was marching, the forts
+opened fire on us from a 4·7 naval gun and they got the range so well
+that lyddite shells were soon bursting about our ears.</p>
+
+<p>We were now in the open, quite exposed and in sight of the Belfast
+forts. Two of our burghers were wounded here.</p>
+
+<p>Field-Cornet Jaapie Kriege, who was afterwards killed, with about 35
+burghers, was trying to cut off the enemy from a "spruit"-drift; the
+attack was a very brave one, but our men ventured too far, and would all
+have been captured had not the other side been so much in a hurry to get
+away from us. Luckily, too, another field-cornet realised the situation,
+and kept the enemy well under fire, thus attracting Kriege's attention,
+who now got out of this scrape.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page332" name="page332"></a>(p. 332)</span> When night fell we left the enemy alone, and went back to our
+laager. The next morning the outposts reported that the would-be
+assailants were all gone.</p>
+
+<p>How much this farce had cost General Kitchener we could not tell with
+certainty. An English officer told me afterwards he had been in the
+fight, and that their loss there had been 52 dead and wounded, including
+some officers. He also informed me that their object that day had been
+to dislodge us. If that is so, I pity the soldiers who were told to do
+this work.</p>
+
+<p>Our losses were two burghers wounded, as already stated.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page333" name="page333"></a>(p. 333)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="32">XXXII.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">EXECUTION OF A TRAITOR.</p>
+
+
+<p>As briefly referred to in the last chapter, there occurred in the early
+part of February, 1901, what I always regard as one of the most
+unpleasant incidents of the whole Campaign, and which even now I cannot
+record without awakening the most painful recollections. I refer to the
+summary execution of a traitor in our ranks, and inasmuch as a great
+deal has been written of this tragic episode, I venture to state the
+particulars of it in full. The facts of the case are as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>At this period of the War, as well as subsequently, much harm was done
+to our cause by various burghers who surrendered to the enemy, and who,
+actuated by the most sordid motives, assisted the British in every
+possible way against us. Some of these treacherous <span class="pagenum"><a id="page334" name="page334"></a>(p. 334)</span> Boers
+occasionally fell into our hands, and were tried by court martial for
+high treason; but however damning the evidence brought against them they
+usually managed to escape with some light punishment. On some occasions
+sentence of death was passed on them, but it was invariably commuted to
+imprisonment for life, and as we had great difficulty in keeping such
+prisoners, they generally succeeded, sooner or later, in making their
+escape. This mistaken leniency was the cause of much dissatisfaction in
+our ranks, which deeply resented that these betrayers of their country
+should escape scot-free.</p>
+
+<p>About this time a society was formed at Pretoria, chiefly composed of
+surrendered burghers, called the "Peace Committee," but better known to
+us as the "Hands-uppers." Its members surreptitiously circulated
+pamphlets and circulars amongst our troops, advising them to surrender
+and join the enemy. The impartial reader will doubtless agree that such
+a state of things was not to be tolerated. Imagine, for example, that
+English officers and soldiers circulated similar communications
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page335" name="page335"></a>(p. 335)</span> amongst the Imperial troops! Would such proceedings have been
+tolerated?</p>
+
+<p>The chairman of this society was a man by the name of Meyer De Kock, who
+had belonged to a Steenkampsberg field-cornet's force and had deserted
+to the enemy. He was the man who first suggested to the British
+authorities the scheme of placing the Boer women and children in
+Concentration Camps&mdash;a system which resulted in so much misery and
+suffering&mdash;and he maintained that this would be the most effective way
+of forcing the Boers to surrender, arguing that no burgher would
+continue to fight when once his family was in British hands.</p>
+
+<p>One day a kaffir, bearing a white flag, brought a letter from this
+person's wife addressed to one of my field-cornets, informing him that
+her husband, Mr. De Kock, wished to meet him and discuss with him the
+advisability of surrendering with his men to the enemy. My field-cornet,
+however, was sufficiently sensible and loyal to send no reply.</p>
+
+<p>And so it occurred that one morning Mr. De Kock, doubtlessly thinking
+that he would <span class="pagenum"><a id="page336" name="page336"></a>(p. 336)</span> escape punishment as easily as others had before
+him, had the audacity to ride coolly into our outposts. He was promptly
+arrested and incarcerated in Roos Senekal Gaol, this village being at
+the time in our possession. Soon afterwards he was tried by
+court-martial, and on the face of the most damning evidence, and on
+perusal of a host of incriminating documents found in his possession,
+was condemned to death.</p>
+
+<a id="img011" name="img011"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img011.jpg" width="400" height="580" alt="" title="">
+<p class="smcap">Execution of a Traitor.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>About a fortnight later a waggon drove up to our laager at Windhoek,
+carrying Lieutenant De Hart, accompanied by a member of President
+Burger's bodyguard, some armed burghers, and the condemned man De Kock.
+They halted at my tent, and the officer handed me an order from our
+Government, bearing the President's ratification of the sentence of
+death, and instructing me to carry it out within 24 hours. Needless to
+say I was much grieved to receive this order, but as it had to be obeyed
+I thought the sooner it was done the better for all concerned. So then
+and there on the veldt I approached the condemned man, and said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page337" name="page337"></a>(p. 337)</span> "Mr. De Kock, the Government has confirmed the sentence of
+death passed on you, and it is my painful duty to inform you that this
+sentence will be carried out to-morrow evening. If you have any request
+to make or if you wish to write to your family you will now have an
+opportunity of doing so."</p>
+
+<p>At this he turned deadly pale, and some minutes passed before he had
+recovered from his emotion. He then expressed a wish to write to his
+family, and was conducted, under escort, to a tent, where writing
+materials were placed before him. He wrote a long communication to his
+wife, which we sent to the nearest British officers to forward to its
+destination. He also wrote me a letter thanking me for my "kind
+treatment," and requested me to forward the letter to his wife. Later on
+spiritual consolation was offered and administered to him by our pastor.</p>
+
+<p>Next day, as related in the previous chapter, we were attacked by a
+detachment of General Kitchener's force from Belfast. This kept me busy
+all day, and I delegated two of my subaltern officers to carry out the
+execution. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page338" name="page338"></a>(p. 338)</span> At dusk the condemned man was blindfolded and
+conducted to the side of an open grave, where twelve burghers fired a
+volley, and death was instantaneous. I am told that De Kock met his fate
+with considerable fortitude.</p>
+
+<p>So far as I am aware, this was the first Boer "execution" in our
+history. I afterwards read accounts of it in the English press, in which
+it was described as murder, but I emphatically repudiate this
+description of a wholly justifiable act. The crime was a serious one,
+and the punishment was well deserved, and I have no doubt that the same
+fate would have awaited any English soldier guilty of a similar offence.
+It seems a great pity, however, that no war can take place without these
+melancholy incidents.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page339" name="page339"></a>(p. 339)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="33">XXXIII.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">IN A TIGHT CORNER.</p>
+
+
+<p>It was now March, 1901. For some time our burghers had been complaining
+of inactivity, and the weary and monotonous existence was gradually
+beginning to pall on them. But it became evident that April would be an
+eventful month, as the enemy had determined not to suffer our presence
+in these parts any longer. A huge movement, therefore, was being set on
+foot to surround us and capture the whole commando <span class="italic">en bloc</span>.</p>
+
+<p>It began with a night attack on a field-cornet's force posted at
+Kruger's Post, north of Lydenburg, and here the enemy succeeded in
+capturing 35 men and a quantity of "impedimenta;" the field-cornet in
+question, although warned in time, having taken no <span class="pagenum"><a id="page340" name="page340"></a>(p. 340)</span> proper
+precautions. By the middle of April the enemy's forward movement was in
+full swing. General Plumer came from Pietersburg, General Walter
+Kitchener from Lydenburg, and General Barber from Middelburg. They
+approached us in six different directions, altogether a force of 25,000
+men, and the whole under the supreme command of General Sir Bindon
+Blood.</p>
+
+<p>No escape was available for us through Secoekuniland on the north, as
+the natives here, since the British had occupied their territory, were
+avowedly hostile to us. To escape, therefore, we would have to break
+through the enemy's lines and also to cross the railway, which was
+closely guarded.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy were advancing slowly from various directions. All our roads
+were carefully guarded, and the cordon was gradually tightening around
+us. We were repeatedly attacked, now on this side, now on that, the
+British being clearly anxious to discover our position and our strength.
+In a sharp skirmish with a column from Lydenburg my faithful
+Fighting-General Muller was severely wounded in his <span class="pagenum"><a id="page341" name="page341"></a>(p. 341)</span> shoulder,
+and a commando of Lydenburgers had been isolated from me and driven by
+the enemy along Waterfal River up to Steelpoort, where they encountered
+hostile tribes of kaffirs. The commandant of the corps after a short
+defence was obliged to destroy his guns, forsake his baggage, and escape
+with his burghers in small groups into the mountains.</p>
+
+<p>Our position was growing more critical, but I resolved to make a stand
+before abandoning our carts and waggons, although there seemed little
+hope of being able to save anything. In fact the situation was extremely
+perilous. As far as I could see we were entirely hemmed in, all the
+roads were blocked, my best officer wounded, I had barely 900 men with
+me, and our stock of ammunition was very limited.</p>
+
+<p>I have omitted to mention that early in April, when we first got an
+inkling of this move I had liberated all the British officers whom I had
+kept as prisoners at Middelburg, and thus saved the British authorities
+many a D.S.O. which would otherwise have been claimed by their rescuers.</p>
+
+<p>The British around us were now posted as <span class="pagenum"><a id="page342" name="page342"></a>(p. 342)</span> follows: At Diepkloof
+on the Tautesberg to the north-west of us; at Roodekraal, between
+Tautesberg and Bothasberg, to the west of us; at Koebold, under
+Roodehoogte; at Windhoek, to the east of us; at Oshoek, to the
+north-east; and to the north of us between Magneetshoogte and Klip
+Spruit. We were positioned on Mapochsberg near Roos Senekal, about
+midway between Tautesberg and Steenkampsberg. We had carts, waggons, two
+field-pieces, and a Colt-Maxim.</p>
+
+<p>We speedily discovered that we should have to leave our baggage and
+guns, and rely mainly on our horses and rifles. We had placed our
+hospitals as well as we could, one in an empty school-building at
+Mapochsberg with 10 wounded, under the care of Dr. Manning; the other,
+our only field-hospital, at Schoonpoort, under the supervision of Dr. H.
+Neethling. Whether these poor wounded Boers would have to be abandoned
+to the enemy, was a question which perplexed us considerably. If so, we
+should have been reduced to only one physician, Dr. Leitz, a young
+German who might get through with <span class="pagenum"><a id="page343" name="page343"></a>(p. 343)</span> a pack-horse. Many officers
+and men, however, had lost all hope of escape.</p>
+
+<p>It was about the 20th of April when the British approached so close that
+we had to fight all day to maintain our positions. I gave orders that
+same night that we should burn our waggons, destroy our guns with
+dynamite, and make a dash through the enemy's lines, those burghers who
+had no horses to mount the mules of the convoy. Hereupon about 100
+burghers and an officer coolly informed me that they had had enough
+fighting, and preferred to surrender. I was at that time powerless to
+prevent them doing so, so I took away all their horses and ammunition,
+at which they did not seem very pleased. Before dusk our camp was a
+scene of wild confusion. Waggons and carts were burning fiercely,
+dynamite was being exploded, and horseless burghers were attempting to
+break in the mules which were to serve them as mounts. Meanwhile a
+skirmish was going on between our outposts and those of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>It was a strange procession that left <span class="pagenum"><a id="page344" name="page344"></a>(p. 344)</span> Mapochsberg that night
+in our dash through the British lines. Many Boers rode mules, whilst
+many more had no saddles, and no small number were trudging along on
+foot, carrying their rifles and blankets on their shoulders. My scouts
+had reported that the best way to get through was on the southern side
+along Steelpoort, about a quarter of a mile from the enemy's camp at
+Bothasberg. But even should we succeed in breaking through the cordon
+around us, we still had to cross the line at Wondersfontein before
+daybreak, so as not to get caught between the enemy's troops and the
+blockhouses.</p>
+
+<p>About 100 scouts, who formed our advance-guard, soon encountered the
+enemy's sentries. They turned to the right, then turned to the left; but
+everywhere the inquisitive "Tommies" kept asking: "Who goes there?" Not
+being over anxious to satisfy their curiosity, they sent round word at
+once for us to lie low, and we started very carefully exploring the
+neighbourhood. But there seemed no way out of the mess. We might have
+attacked some weak point and thus <span class="pagenum"><a id="page345" name="page345"></a>(p. 345)</span> forced our way through, but
+it was still four or five hours' ride to the railway line, and with our
+poor mounts we should have been caught and captured. Besides which the
+enemy might have warned the blockhouse garrisons, in which case we
+should have been caught between two fires.</p>
+
+<p>No; we wanted to get through without being discovered, and seeing that
+this was that night hopeless, I consulted my officers and decided to
+return to our deserted camp, where we could take up our original
+positions without the enemy being aware of our nocturnal excursion.</p>
+
+<p>Next morning the rising sun found us back in our old positions. We
+despatched scouts in all directions as usual, so as to make the enemy
+believe that we intended to remain there permanently, and we put
+ourselves on our guard, ready to repel an attack at any point on the
+shortest notice.</p>
+
+<p>But the enemy were much too cautious, and evidently thought they had us
+safely in their hands. They amused themselves by destroying every living
+thing, and burned the houses <span class="pagenum"><a id="page346" name="page346"></a>(p. 346)</span> and the crops. The whole veldt
+all round was black, everything seemed in mourning, the only relief from
+this dull monotony of colour being that afforded by the innumerable
+specks of khaki all around us. I believe I said there were 25,000 men
+there, but it now seemed to me as if there were almost double that
+number.</p>
+
+<p>We had to wait until darkness set in before making a second attempt at
+escape. The day seemed interminable. Many burghers were loudly
+grumbling, and even some officers were openly declaring that all this
+had been done on purpose. Of course, these offensive remarks were
+pointed at me. At last the situation became too serious. I could only
+gather together a few officers to oppose an attack from the enemy on the
+eastern side, and something had to be done to prevent a general mutiny.
+I therefore ordered a burgher who seemed loudest in his complaints to
+receive 15 lashes with a sjambok, and I placed a field-cornet under
+arrest. After this the grumblers remained sullenly silent.</p>
+
+<p>The only loophole in the enemy's lines seemed to be in the direction of
+Pietersburg <span class="pagenum"><a id="page347" name="page347"></a>(p. 347)</span> on the portion held by General Plumer, who seemed
+far too busy capturing cattle and sheep from the "bush-lancers" to
+surround us closely. We therefore decided to take our chance there and
+move away as quickly as possible in that direction, and then to bear to
+the left, where we expected to find the enemy least watchful. Shortly
+before sunset I despatched 100 mounted men to ride openly in the
+opposite direction to that which we intended to take, so as to divert
+the enemy's attention from our scene of operations, and sat down to wait
+for darkness.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page348" name="page348"></a>(p. 348)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="34">XXXIV.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">ELUDING THE BRITISH CORDON.</p>
+
+
+<p>"The shades of eve were falling fast" as we moved cautiously away from
+Mapochsberg and proceeded through Landdrift, Steelpoort, and the
+Tautesberg. At 3 o'clock in the morning we halted in a hollow place
+where we would not be observed, yet we were still a mile and a half from
+the enemy's cordon. Our position was now more critical than ever; for
+should the enemy discover our departure, and General Plumer hurry up
+towards us that morning, we should have little chance of escape.</p>
+
+<p>During the day I was obliged to call all the burghers together, and to
+earnestly address them concerning the happenings of the previous day. I
+told them to tell me candidly if they had lost faith in me, or if they
+had any <span class="pagenum"><a id="page349" name="page349"></a>(p. 349)</span> reason not to trust me implicitly, as I would not
+tolerate the way in which they had behaved the day before. I added:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"If you cannot see your way clear to obey implicitly my commands, to be
+true to me, and to believe that I am true to you, I shall at once leave
+you, and you can appoint someone else to look after you. We are by no
+means out of the wood yet, and it is now more than ever necessary that
+we should be able to trust one another to the fullest extent. Therefore,
+I ask those who have lost confidence in me, or have any objection to my
+leading them, to stand out."</p>
+
+<p>No one stirred. Other officers and burghers next rose and spoke,
+assuring me that all the rebels had deserted the previous night, and
+that all the men with me would be true and faithful. Then Pastor J. Louw
+addressed the burghers very earnestly, pointing out to them the
+offensive way in which some of them had spoken of their superior
+officers, and that in the present difficult circumstances it was
+absolutely necessary that there should be no disintegration and discord
+amongst ourselves. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page350" name="page350"></a>(p. 350)</span> I think all these perorations had a very
+salutary effect. But such were the difficulties that we officers had to
+contend with at the hands of undisciplined men who held exaggerated
+notions of freedom of action and of speech, and I was not the only Boer
+officer who suffered in this respect.</p>
+
+<p>About two in the afternoon I gave the order to saddle up, as it was
+necessary to start before sunset in order to be able to cross the
+Olifant's River before daybreak, so that the enemy should not overtake
+us should they notice us. We dismounted and led our horses, for we had
+discovered that the English could not distinguish between a body of men
+leading their horses and a troop of cattle, so long as the horses were
+all kept close together. All the hills around us were covered with
+cattle captured from our "bush-lancers," and therefore our passage was
+unnoticed.</p>
+
+<p>We followed an old waggon track along the Buffelskloof, where a road
+leads from Tautesberg to Blood River. The stream runs between Botha's
+and Tautesbergen, and flows into the Olifant's River near Mazeppa Drift.
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page351" name="page351"></a>(p. 351)</span> It is called Blood River on account of the horrible massacre
+which took place there many years before, when the Swazi kaffirs
+murdered a whole kaffir tribe without distinction of age or sex,
+literally turning the river red with blood.</p>
+
+<p>Towards evening we reached the foot of the mountains, and moved in a
+north-westerly direction past Makleerewskop. We got through the English
+lines without any difficulty along some footpaths, but our progress was
+very slow, as we had to proceed in Indian file, and we had to stop
+frequently to see that no one was left behind. The country was thickly
+wooded, and frequently the baggage on the pack-horses became entangled
+with branches of trees, and had to be disentangled and pulled off the
+horses' backs, which also caused considerable delay.</p>
+
+<p>It was 3 o'clock in the morning before we reached the Olifant's River,
+at a spot which was once a footpath drift, but was now washed away and
+overgrown with trees and shrubs, making it very difficult to find the
+right spot to cross. Our only guide who <span class="pagenum"><a id="page352" name="page352"></a>(p. 352)</span> knew the way had not
+been there for 15 years, but recognised the place by some high trees
+which rose above the others. We had considerable difficulty in crossing,
+the water reaching to our horses' saddles, and the banks being very
+steep. By the time we had all forded the sun had risen. All the other
+drifts on the river were occupied by the enemy, our scouts reporting
+that Mazeppa Drift, three miles down stream, was entrenched by a strong
+English force, as was the case with Kalkfontein Drift, a little higher
+up. I suppose this drift was not known to them, and thus had been left
+unguarded.</p>
+
+<a id="img012" name="img012"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img012.jpg" width="400" height="580" alt="" title="">
+<p class="smcap">Crossing Railway Line Northward<br> (Between Balmoral and
+Brugspruit Stations).</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Having got through we rode in a northerly direction until about 9
+o'clock in the morning, and not until then were we sure of being clear
+of the enemy's clutches. But there was a danger that the English had
+noticed our absence and had followed us up. I therefore sent out scouts
+on the high kopjes in the neighbourhood, and not until these had
+reported all clear did we take the risk of off-saddling. You can imagine
+how thankful we were after having been in the saddle for over 19 hours,
+and I <span class="pagenum"><a id="page353" name="page353"></a>(p. 353)</span> believe our poor animals were no less thankful for a
+rest.</p>
+
+<p>We had not slept for three consecutive nights, and soon the whole
+commando, with the exception of the sentries, were fast asleep. Few of
+us thought of food, for our fatigue and drowsiness were greater than our
+hunger. But we could only sleep for two hours, for we were much too
+close to the enemy, and we wished to make them lose scent of us
+entirely.</p>
+
+<p>The burghers grumbled a good deal at being awakened and ordered to
+saddle up, but we moved on nevertheless. I sent some men to enquire at a
+kaffir kraal for the way to Pietersburg, and although I had no intention
+of going in that direction, I knew that the kaffirs, so soon as we had
+gone, would report to the nearest British camp that they had met a
+commando of Boers going there. Kaffirs would do this with the hope of
+reward, which they often received in the shape of spirituous liquor. We
+proceeded all that day in the direction of Pietersburg until just before
+sunset we came to a small stream. Here we stopped for an hour and then
+went on again, this time, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page354" name="page354"></a>(p. 354)</span> however, to the left in a southerly
+direction through the bush to Poortjesnek near Rhenosterkop, where a
+little time before the fight with General Paget's force had taken place.
+We had to hurry through the bush, as horse-sickness was prevalent here
+and we still had a long way before us. It was midnight before we reached
+the foot of the Poortjesnek.</p>
+
+<p>Here my officers informed me that two young burghers had become insane
+through fatigue and want of sleep, and that several, while asleep in
+their saddles had been pulled off their horses by low branches and
+severely injured. Yet we had to get through the Nek and get to the
+plateau before I could allow any rest. I went and had a look at the
+demented men. They looked as if intoxicated and were very violent. All
+our men and horses were utterly exhausted, but we pushed on and at last
+reached the plateau, where, to everybody's great delight, we rested for
+the whole day. The demented men would not sleep, but I had luckily some
+opium pills with me and I gave each man one of them, so that <span class="pagenum"><a id="page355" name="page355"></a>(p. 355)</span>
+they got calmer, and, dropping off to sleep, afterwards recovered.</p>
+
+<p>My scouts reported next day that a strong English patrol had followed us
+up, but that otherwise it was "all serene." We pushed on through
+Langkloof over our old fighting ground near Rhenosterkop, then through
+the Wilge River near Gousdenberg up to Blackwood Camp, about nine miles
+north of Balmoral Station. Here we stayed a few days to allow our
+animals to rest and recover from their hardships, and then moved on
+across the railway to the Bethel and Ermelo districts. Here the enemy
+was much less active, and we should have an opportunity of being left
+undisturbed for a little time. But we lost 40 of our horses, who had
+caught the dreaded horse-sickness whilst passing through the bush
+country.</p>
+
+<p>On the second day of our stay at Blackwood Camp I sent 150 men under
+Commandants Groenwald and Viljoen through the Banks, via Staghoek, to
+attack the enemy's camp near Wagendrift on the Olifant's River. This was
+a detachment of the force which <span class="pagenum"><a id="page356" name="page356"></a>(p. 356)</span> had been surrounding us. We
+discovered that they were still trying to find us, and that the patrol
+which had followed us were not aware of our having got away. It appears
+that they only discovered this several days afterwards, and great must
+have been the good general's surprise when they found that the birds had
+flown and their great laid schemes had failed.</p>
+
+<p>My 150 men approached the enemy's camp early in the morning, and when at
+a short range began pouring in a deadly rifle fire on the western side.
+The British soldiers, who were not dreaming of an attack, ran to and fro
+in wild disorder. Our burghers, however, ceased firing when they saw
+that there were many women and children in the camp, but the enemy began
+soon to pour out a rifle and gun fire, and our men were obliged to carry
+on the fight.</p>
+
+<p>After a few days' absence they returned to our camp and reported to me
+that "they had frightened the English out of their wits, for they
+thought we were to the east at Roos Senekal, whereas we turned up from
+the west."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page357" name="page357"></a>(p. 357)</span> Of course the British speedily discovered where we were, and
+came marching up from Poortjesnek in great force. But we sent out a
+patrol to meet them, and the latter by passing them west of Rhenosterkop
+effectually misled them, and we were left undisturbed at Blackwood Camp.</p>
+
+<p>This left us time to prepare for crossing the railway; so I despatched
+scouts south to see how matters stood, and bade them return the next
+day. We knew that a number of small commandos were located on the south
+side of the railway, but to effect a junction was a difficult matter,
+and we would risk getting trapped between the columns if we moved at
+random. The railway and all the roads were closely guarded, and great
+care was being taken to prevent any communication between the burghers
+on either side of the line.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page358" name="page358"></a>(p. 358)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="35">XXXV.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">BOER GOVERNMENT'S NARROW ESCAPE.</p>
+
+
+<p>During the first week of May, 1901, we split up into two sections, and
+left Blackwood Camp early in the evening. General Muller took one
+section over the railway line near Brugspruit, whilst I took the other
+section across near Balmoral Station. We naturally kept as far from the
+blockhouses as possible, quietly cut the barbed-wire fences stretched
+all along the line, and succeeded in crossing it without a shot being
+fired. To split up into two sections was a necessary precaution, first
+because it would have taken the whole commando too long to cross the
+line at one point, and secondly, we made more sure of getting at least
+one section across. Further, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page359" name="page359"></a>(p. 359)</span> had the enemy encountered one of
+the sections they would probably have concluded that that was our whole
+force.</p>
+
+<p>We halted about six miles from the railway-line, as it was now 2 o'clock
+in the morning. I ordered a general dismount, and we were at last able
+to light up our pipes, which we had been afraid of doing in the
+neighbourhood of the railway for fear of the lights being seen by the
+enemy. The men sat round in groups, and smoked and chatted cheerfully.
+We passed the rest of the night here, and with the exception of the
+sentinels on duty, all were able to enjoy a refreshing sleep, lying
+down, however, with their unsaddled horses by their side, and the
+bridles in their hands&mdash;a most necessary and useful precaution. Together
+with my adjutant, Nel, I made the round of the sentries, sitting a few
+moments with each to cheer them up and keep them awake; for there is
+nothing to which I object more than to be surprised by the enemy, when
+asleep.</p>
+
+<p>The few hours of rest afforded us passed very quickly, and at the first
+glimmer of dawn <span class="pagenum"><a id="page360" name="page360"></a>(p. 360)</span> I ordered the men to be called. This is simply
+done by the officers calling "Opzâal, opzâal" (saddle-up) in loud tones.
+When it was light enough to look round us we had the satisfaction of
+seeing that all was quiet and that no troops were in the immediate
+neighbourhood. We made for a place called Kroomdraai, about halfway
+between Heidelberg and Middelburg, where we knew there were some mealies
+left; and although we should be between the enemy's camps there, I felt
+there would be no danger of being disturbed or surprised.</p>
+
+<p>I also sent a report to the Commandant-General, who was at that time
+with the Government near Ermelo, and described to him all that had
+happened. I received a reply some days later, requesting me to leave my
+commando at Kroomdraai and proceed to see him, as an important Council
+of War was to be held between the various generals and the Government.</p>
+
+<p>Four days later I arrived at Begin der Lijn ("beginning of the line") on
+the Vaal River, south-east of Ermelo, accompanied by three <span class="pagenum"><a id="page361" name="page361"></a>(p. 361)</span> of
+my adjutants, and reported myself to the Commandant-General.</p>
+
+<p>Simultaneously with my arrival there came two British columns, commanded
+by our old friend Colonel Bullock, whose acquaintance we had previously
+made at Colenso. They came apparently with the idea of chasing us,
+possibly thinking to catch us. This was far from pleasant for me. I had
+been riding post-haste for four days, and I and my horse were very tired
+and worn out. However, there was no help for it. I had barely time to
+salute the members of the Government, and to exchange a few words with
+General Botha, when we had to "quit." For eight days we wandered round
+with Colonel Bullock at our heels, always remaining, however, in the
+same neighbourhood. This officer's tactics in trying to capture us were
+childishly simple. During the day there would be skirmishes between the
+enemy and General Botha's men, but each evening the former would, by
+retiring, attempt to lull us into a sense of security. But as soon as
+the sun had set, they would turn right about face, return full speed to
+where <span class="pagenum"><a id="page362" name="page362"></a>(p. 362)</span> they had left us, and there would surround us carefully
+during the night, gallantly attacking us in the morning and fully
+expecting to capture the whole Boer Government and at least half a dozen
+generals. This was a distinct nuisance, but the tactics of this worthy
+officer were so simple that we very soon discovered them. Accordingly,
+every evening we would make a fine pretence of pitching our camp for the
+night; but so soon as darkness had set in, we would take the precaution
+of moving some 10 or 15 miles further on. Next morning Colonel Bullock,
+who had been carefully "surrounding" us all night, would find that we
+were unaccountably absent. Much annoyed at this, he would then send his
+"flying" columns running after us. This went on for several days, until
+finally, as we expected, his horses were tired out, and I believe he was
+then removed to some other garrison, having been considered a failure as
+a "Boer-stalker." No doubt he did his best, but he nevertheless managed
+his business very clumsily.</p>
+
+<p>Not until nine days after my arrival at this perambulating seat of
+Government did we <span class="pagenum"><a id="page363" name="page363"></a>(p. 363)</span> have an opportunity of snatching a few
+hours' rest. We were now at a spot called Immegratie, between Ermelo and
+Wakkerstroom. Here a meeting was held by the Executive Council, and
+attended by the Commandant-General, General Jan Smuts, General C. Botha,
+and myself. General T. Smuts could not be present, as he was busy
+keeping Colonel Bullock amused.</p>
+
+<p>At this meeting we discussed the general situation, and decided to send
+a letter to President Steyn, but our communication afterwards fell into
+the enemy's hands. In accordance with this letter, President Steyn and
+Generals De Wet and De la Rey joined our Government, and a meeting was
+held later on.</p>
+
+<p>The day after this meeting at Immegratie I took leave of my friends and
+began the journey in a more leisurely fashion back to my commando at
+Kroomdraai, via Ermelo and Bethel. The Acting-President had made me a
+present of a cart and four mules, as they pitied us for having had to
+burn all our vehicles in escaping from Roos Senekal. We were thus once
+more seated in a cart, which added <span class="pagenum"><a id="page364" name="page364"></a>(p. 364)</span> considerably to the dignity
+of our staff. How long I should continue to be possessed of this means
+of transport depended, of course, entirely on the enemy. My old coloured
+groom "Mooiroos," who followed behind leading my horse, evidently
+thought the same, for he remarked naïvely: "Baas, the English will soon
+fix us in another corner; had we not better throw the cart away?"</p>
+
+<p>We drove into Ermelo that afternoon. The dread east wind was blowing
+hard and raising great clouds of dust around us. The village had been
+occupied about half a dozen times by the enemy and each time looted,
+plundered, and evacuated, and was now again in our possession. At least,
+the English had left it the day before, and a Landdrost had placed
+himself in charge; a little Hollander with a pointed nose and small,
+glittering eyes, who between each sentence that he spoke rolled round
+those little eyes of his, carefully scanning the neighbouring hills for
+any sign of the English. The only other person of importance in the town
+was a worthy predicant, who evidently had not had his hair cut since the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page365" name="page365"></a>(p. 365)</span> commencement of the War, and who had great difficulty in
+keeping his little black wide-awake on his head. He seemed very proud of
+his abundant locks.</p>
+
+<p>There were also a few families in the place belonging to the Red Cross
+staff and in charge of the local hospitals. One of my adjutants was
+seriously indisposed, and it was whilst hunting for a chemist in order
+to obtain medicine that I came into contact with the town's sparse
+population. I found the dispensary closed, the proprietor having
+departed with the English, and the Landdrost, fearing to get himself
+into trouble, was not inclined to open it. He grew very excited when we
+liberally helped ourselves to the medicines, and made himself
+unpleasant. So we gave him clearly to understand that his presence was
+not required in that immediate neighbourhood.</p>
+
+<p>Our cart was standing waiting for us in the High Street, and during our
+absence a lady had appeared on the verandah of a house and had sent a
+servant to enquire who we were. When we reappeared laden with our booty
+she <span class="pagenum"><a id="page366" name="page366"></a>(p. 366)</span> graciously invited us to come in. She was a Mrs. P. de
+Jager and belonged to the Red Cross Society. She asked us to stay and
+have some dinner, which was then being prepared. Imagine what a luxury
+for us to be once more in a house, to be addressed by a lady and to be
+served with a bountiful repast! Our clothes were in a ragged and
+dilapidated condition and we presented a very unkempt appearance, which
+did not make us feel quite at our ease. Still the good lady with great
+tact soon put us quite at home.</p>
+
+<p>We partook of a delicious meal, which we shall not easily forget. I
+cannot remember what the menu was, and I am not quite sure whether it
+would compare favourably with a first-class café dinner, but I never
+enjoyed a meal more in my existence, and possibly never shall.</p>
+
+<p>After dinner the lady related to us how on the previous day, when the
+British entered the village, there were in her house three convalescent
+burghers, who could, however, neither ride nor walk. With tears in her
+eyes she told us how an English doctor and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page367" name="page367"></a>(p. 367)</span> an officer had come
+there, and kicking open the doors of her neatly-kept house, had entered
+it, followed by a crowd of soldiers, who had helped themselves to most
+of the knives, forks, and other utensils. She tried to explain to the
+doctor that she had wounded men in the house, but he was too conceited
+and arrogant to listen to her protestations. Fortunately for them the
+men were not discovered, for the English, on leaving the village, took
+with them all our wounded, and even our doctor. With a proud smile she
+now produced this trio, who, not knowing whether we were friend or foe,
+were at first very much frightened.</p>
+
+<p>I sympathised with the lady with respect to the harsh treatment she had
+received the previous day, and thanking her for her great kindness,
+warned her not to keep armed burghers in her house, as this was against
+the Geneva Convention.</p>
+
+<p>We told her what great pleasure it was for us to meet a lady, as all our
+women having been placed in Concentration Camps, we had only had the
+society of our fellow-burghers. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page368" name="page368"></a>(p. 368)</span> Before leaving she grasped our
+hands, and with tears in her eyes wished us God speed:&mdash;"Good-bye, my
+friends! May God reward your efforts on behalf of your country. General,
+be of good cheer; for however dark the future may seem, be sure that the
+Almighty will provide for you!" I can scarcely be dubbed sentimental,
+yet the genuine expressions of this good lady, coupled perhaps with her
+excellent dinner, did much to put us into better spirits, and somehow
+the future did not seem now quite so dark and terrible as we were
+previously inclined to believe.</p>
+
+<p>We soon resumed our journey, and that night arrived at a farm belonging
+to a certain Venter. We knew that here some houses had escaped the
+general destruction and we found that a dwelling house was still
+standing and that the Venter family were occupying it. It was not our
+practice to pass the night near inhabited houses, as that might have got
+the people in trouble with the enemy, but having off-saddled, I sent up
+an adjutant to the house to see if he could purchase a few eggs and milk
+for our sick companions. He speedily returned <span class="pagenum"><a id="page369" name="page369"></a>(p. 369)</span> followed by the
+lady of the house in a very excited condition:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Are you the General?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"I have that honour," I replied. "What is the matter?"</p>
+
+<p>"There is much the matter," she retorted loudly. "I will have nothing to
+do with you or your people. You are nothing but a band of brigands and
+scoundrels, and you must leave my farm immediately. All respectable
+people have long since surrendered, and it is only such people as you
+who continue the War, while you personally are one of the ringleaders of
+these rebels."</p>
+
+<p>"Tut, tut," I said, "where is your husband?"</p>
+
+<p>"My husband is where all respectable people ought to be; with the
+English, of course."</p>
+
+<p>"'Hands-uppers,' is that it?" answered my men in chorus, even Mooiroos
+the native joining in. "You deserve the D.S.O.," I said, "and if we meet
+the English we will mention it to them. Now go back to your house before
+these rebels and brigands give you your deserts."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page370" name="page370"></a>(p. 370)</span> She continued to pour out a flood of insults and imprecations
+on myself, the other generals, and the Government, and finally went away
+still muttering to herself. I could scarcely help comparing this
+patriotic lady to the one in Ermelo who had treated us so kindly. I
+encountered many more such incidents, and only mention these two in
+order to show the different views held at that time by our women on
+these matters, but in justice to our women-folk I should add that this
+kind were only a small minority.</p>
+
+<p>It was a bitterly cold night. Our blankets were very thin, and the wind
+continually scattered our fire and gave us little opportunity of warming
+ourselves. There was no food for the horses except the grass. We
+haltered them close together, and each of us took it in turn to keep a
+watch, as we ran the risk at any moment of being surprised by the enemy,
+and as many in that district had turned traitors, we had to redouble our
+precautions. During the whole cold night I slept but little, and I
+fervently wished for the day to come, and felt exceedingly thankful
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page371" name="page371"></a>(p. 371)</span> when the sun arose and it got a little warmer.</p>
+
+<p>Proceeding, we crossed the ridges east of Bethel, and as this village
+came in sight my groom Mooiroos exclaimed: "There are a lot of Khakis
+there, Baas."</p>
+
+<p>I halted, and with my field-glasses could see distinctly the enemy's
+force, which was coming from Bethel in our direction, their scouts being
+visible everywhere to the right and left of the ridges. While we were
+still discussing what to do, the field-cornet of the district, a certain
+Jan Davel, dashed up with a score of burghers between us and the
+British. He informed me that the enemy's forces were coming from
+Brugspruit, and that he had scattered his burghers in all directions to
+prevent them organizing any resistance. The enemy's guns were now firing
+at us, and although the range was a long one the ridges in which we
+found ourselves were quite bare, and afforded us no cover.</p>
+
+<p>We were therefore obliged to wheel to our right, and, proceeding to
+Klein Spionkop, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page372" name="page372"></a>(p. 372)</span> we passed round the enemy along Vaalkop and
+Wilmansrust.</p>
+
+<p>At Steenkoolspruit I met some burghers, who told me that the enemy had
+marched from Springs, near Boksburg, and were making straight for our
+commando at Kroomdraai. We managed to reach that place in the evening
+just in time to warn our men and be off. I left a section of my men
+behind to obstruct the advance of the enemy, whom they met the following
+day, but finding the force too strong were obliged to retire, and I do
+not know exactly where they got to. At this time there were no less than
+nine of the enemy's columns in that district, and they all tried their
+level best to catch the Boers, but as the Boers also tried their best
+not to get caught, I am afraid the English were often disappointed. Here
+the reader will, perhaps, remark that it was not very brave to run away
+in this fashion, but one should also take our circumstances into
+consideration.</p>
+
+<p>No sooner did we attack one column than we were attacked in our turn by
+a couple more, and had then considerable difficulty in <span class="pagenum"><a id="page373" name="page373"></a>(p. 373)</span>
+effecting our escape. The enemy, moreover, had every advantage of us.
+They had plenty of guns, and could cut our ranks to pieces before we
+could approach sufficiently near to do any damage with our rifles; they
+far surpassed us in numerical strength; they had a constant supply of
+fresh horses&mdash;some of us had no horses at all; they had continual
+reinforcements; their troops were well fed, better equipped, and
+altogether in better condition. Small wonder, therefore, that the War
+had become a one-sided affair.</p>
+
+<p>On the 20th of May, 1901, I seized an opportunity of attacking General
+Plumer on his way from Bethel to Standerton.</p>
+
+<p>We had effected a junction with Commandant Mears and charged the enemy,
+and but for their having with them a number of Boer families we would
+have succeeded in capturing their whole laager. We had already succeeded
+in driving their infantry away from the waggons containing these
+families, when their infantry rushed in between and opened fire on us at
+200 paces. We could do nothing else but return this fire, although it
+was quite <span class="pagenum"><a id="page374" name="page374"></a>(p. 374)</span> possible that in doing so we wounded one or two of
+our own women and children. These kept waving their handkerchiefs to
+warn us not to fire, but it was impossible to resist the infantry's
+volleys without shooting. Meanwhile the cavalry replaced their guns
+behind the women's waggons and fired on us from that coign of vantage.</p>
+
+<p>Here we took 25 prisoners, 4,000 sheep and 10 horses. Our losses were
+two killed and nine wounded. The enemy left several dead and wounded on
+the field, as well as two doctors and an ambulance belonging to the
+Queensland Imperial Bushmen, which we sent back together with the
+prisoners we had taken.</p>
+
+<p>On this occasion the English were spared a great defeat by having women
+and children in their laager, and no doubt for the sake of safety they
+kept these with them as long as possible. I do not insinuate that this
+was generally the case, and I am sure that Lord Kitchener or any other
+responsible commanding officer would loudly have condemned such tactics;
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page375" name="page375"></a>(p. 375)</span> but the fact remains that these unpleasant incidents
+occasionally took place.</p>
+
+<p>About the beginning of June, 1901 (I find it difficult to be accurate
+without the aid of my notes) another violent effort was made to capture
+the members of the Government and the Commandant-General. Colonel Benson
+now appeared as the new "Boer-stalker," and after making several
+unsuccessful attempts to surround them almost captured the Government in
+the mountains between Piet Retief and Spitskop. Just as Colonel Benson
+thought he had them safe and was slowly but surely weaving his net
+around them&mdash;I believe this was at Halhangapase&mdash;the members of the
+Government left their carriages, and packing the most necessary articles
+and documents on their horses escaped in the night along a footpath
+which the enemy had kindly left unguarded and passed right through the
+British lines in the direction of Ermelo. On the following day the
+English, on closing their cordon, found, as they usually did, naught but
+the burned remains of some vehicles and a few lame mules.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page376" name="page376"></a>(p. 376)</span> Together with the late General Spruit, who happened to be in
+that neighbourhood, I had been asked to march with a small commando to
+the assistance of the Government and the Commandant-General and we had
+started at once, only hearing when well on our way that they had
+succeeded in escaping.</p>
+
+<p>We proceeded as far as the Bankop, not knowing where to find them, and
+it was no easy matter to look for them amongst the British columns.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page377" name="page377"></a>(p. 377)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="36">XXXVI.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">A GOVERNMENT ON HORSEBACK.</p>
+
+
+<p>For ten days we searched the neighbourhood, and finally met one of the
+Commandant-General's despatch-riders, who informed me of their
+whereabouts, which they were obliged to keep secret for fear of
+treachery. We met the whole party on William Smeet's farm near the Vaal
+River, every man on horseback or on a mule, without a solitary cart or
+waggon. It was a very strange sight to see the whole Transvaal
+Government on horseback. Some had not yet got used to this method of
+governing, and they had great trouble with their luggage, which was
+continually being dropped on the road.</p>
+
+<p>General Spruit and myself undertook to escort the Executive Council
+through the Ermelo district, past Bethel to Standerton, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page378" name="page378"></a>(p. 378)</span> where
+they were to meet the members of the Orange Free State Government. I had
+now with me only 100 men, under Field-Cornet R. D. Young; the remainder
+I had left behind near Bethel in charge of General Muller and
+Commandants Viljoen and Groenwald, with instructions to keep on the
+alert and to fall on any column that ventured a little ahead of the
+others.</p>
+
+<p>It was whilst on my way back to them that a burgher brought me a report
+from General Muller, informing me that the previous night, assisted by
+Commandants W. Viljoen and Groenwald, he had with 130 men stormed one of
+the enemy's camps at Wilmansrust, capturing the whole after a short
+resistance on the enemy's part, but sustaining a loss of six killed and
+some wounded. The camp had been under the command of Colonel Morris, and
+its garrison numbered 450 men belonging to the 5th Victorian Mounted
+Rifles. About 60 of these were killed and wounded, and the remainder
+were disarmed and released. Our haul consisted of two pom-poms, carts
+and waggons with teams in harness, and about <span class="pagenum"><a id="page379" name="page379"></a>(p. 379)</span> 300 horses, the
+most miserable collection of animals I have ever seen. Here we also
+captured a well-known burgher, whose name, I believe, was Trotsky, and
+who was fighting with the enemy against us. He was brought before a
+court-martial, tried for high treason, and sentenced to death, which
+sentence was afterwards carried out.</p>
+
+<p>Our Government received about this time a communication from General
+Brits, that the members of the Orange Free State Government had reached
+Blankop, north of Standerton, and would await us at Waterval. We hurried
+thither, and reached it in the evening of the 20th of June, 1901. Here
+we found President Steyn and Generals De Wet, De la Rey, and Hertzog,
+with an escort of 150 men. It was very pleasant to meet these great
+leaders again, and still more pleasing was the cordiality with which
+they received us. We sat round our fires all that night relating to each
+other our various adventures. Some which caused great fun and amusement,
+and some which brought tears even to the eyes of the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page380" name="page380"></a>(p. 380)</span> hardened
+warrior. General De Wet was then suffering acutely from rheumatism, but
+he showed scarcely any trace of his complaint, and was as cheerful as
+the rest of us.</p>
+
+<p>Next day we parted, each going separately on our way. We had decided
+what each of us was to do, and under this agreement I was to return to
+the Lydenburg and Middelburg districts, where we had already had such a
+narrow escape. I confess I did not care much about this, but we had to
+obey the Commandant-General, and there was an end of it. Meanwhile,
+reports came in that on the other side of the railway the burghers who
+had been left behind were surrendering day by day, and that a
+field-cornet was engaged in negotiations with the enemy about a general
+laying down of arms. I at once despatched General Muller there to put an
+end to this.</p>
+
+<p>We now prepared once more to cross the railway line, which was guarded
+more carefully than ever, and no one dared to cross with a conveyance of
+any description. We had, however, become possessed of a laager&mdash;a score
+of waggons and two pom-poms&mdash;and I <span class="pagenum"><a id="page381" name="page381"></a>(p. 381)</span> determined to take these
+carts and guns across with me, for my men valued them all the more for
+having been captured. They were, in fact, as sweet to us as stolen
+kisses, although I have had no very large experience of the latter
+commodity.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page382" name="page382"></a>(p. 382)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="37">XXXVII.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">BLOWING UP AN ARMOURED TRAIN.</p>
+
+
+<p>We approached the line between Balmoral and Brugspruit, coming as close
+to it as was possible with regard to safety, and we stopped in a "dunk"
+(hollow place) intending to remain there until dusk before attempting to
+cross. The blockhouses were only 1,000 yards distant from each other,
+and in order to take our waggons across there was but one thing to be
+done, namely, to storm two blockhouses, overpower their garrisons, and
+take our convoy across between these two. Fortunately there were no
+obstacles here in the shape of embankments or excavations, the line
+being level with the veldt. We moved on in the evening (the 27th of
+June), the moon shining brightly, which was very unfortunate for us, as
+the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page383" name="page383"></a>(p. 383)</span> enemy would see us and hear us long before we came within
+range. I had arranged that Commandant Groenwald was to storm the
+blockhouse on the right, and Commandant W. Viljoen that to the left,
+each with 75 men. We halted about 1,000 paces from the line, and here
+the sections left their horses behind and marched in scattered order
+towards the blockhouses. The enemy had been warned by telephone that
+morning of our vicinity, and all the pickets and outposts along the line
+were on the <span lang="fr">"qui vive."</span> When 150 yards from the blockhouses the garrison
+opened fire on our men, and a hail of Lee-Metford bullets spread over a
+distance of about four miles, the British soldiers firing from within
+the blockhouses and from behind mounds of earth. The blockhouse attacked
+by Commandant Viljoen offered the most determined resistance for about
+twenty minutes, but our men thrust their rifles through the loopholes of
+the blockhouses and fired within, calling out "hands-up" all the time,
+whilst the "Tommies" within retorted, "You haven't V.M.R.'s to deal with
+this time!" However, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page384" name="page384"></a>(p. 384)</span> we soon made it too hot for them and
+their boasting was exchanged into cries of mercy, but not before three
+of our men had been killed and several wounded. The "Tommies" now
+shouted: "We surrender, Sir; for God's sake stop firing." My brave
+field-cornet, G. Mybergh, who was closest to the blockhouses, answered:
+"All right then, come out." The "Tommies" answered: "Right, we are
+coming," and we ceased firing.</p>
+
+<p>Field-Cornet Mybergh now stepped up to the entrance of the fort, but
+when he reached it a shot was fired from the inside and he fell mortally
+wounded in the stomach. At the same time the soldiers ran out holding up
+their hands. Our burghers were enraged beyond measure at this act of
+treachery, but the sergeant and the men swore by all that was sacred
+that it had been an accident, and that a gun had gone off spontaneously
+whilst being thrown down. The soldier who admitted firing the fatal shot
+was crying like a baby and kissing the hands of his victim. We held a
+short consultation amongst the officers and decided to accept his
+explanation <span class="pagenum"><a id="page385" name="page385"></a>(p. 385)</span> of the affair. I was much upset, however, by this
+loss of one of the bravest officers I have ever known.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the fight at the other blockhouse continued. Commandant
+Groenwald afterwards informed me that he had approached the blockhouse
+and found it built of rock; it was, in fact, a fortified ganger's house
+built by the Netherlands South Africa Railway Company. He did not see
+any way of taking the place; many of his men had fallen, and an armoured
+train with a search-light was approaching from Brugspruit. On the other
+side of the blockhouse we found a ditch about three feet deep and two
+feet wide. Hastily filling this up we let the carts go over. As the
+fifth one had got across and the sixth was standing on the lines, the
+armoured train came dashing at full speed in our midst. We had had no
+dynamite to blow up the line, and although we fired on the train, it
+steamed right up to where we were crossing, smashing a team of mules and
+splitting us up into two sections. Turning the search-light on us, the
+enemy opened fire on us with rifles, Maxims <span class="pagenum"><a id="page386" name="page386"></a>(p. 386)</span> and guns firing
+grape-shot. Commandant Groenwald had to retire along the unconquered
+blockhouse, and managed somehow to get through. The majority of the
+burghers had already crossed and fled, whilst the remainder hurried back
+with a pom-pom and the other carts. I did not expect that the train
+would come so close to us, and was seated on my horse close to the
+surrendered blockhouse when it pulled up abruptly not four paces from
+me. The search-light made the surroundings as light as day, and revealed
+the strange spectacle of the burghers, on foot and on horseback, fleeing
+in all directions and accompanied by cattle and waggons, whilst many
+dead lay on the veldt. However, we saved everything with the exception
+of a waggon and two carts, one of which unfortunately was my own. Thus
+for the fourth time in the war I lost all my worldly belongings, my
+clothes, my rugs, my food, my money.</p>
+
+<p>My two commandants were now south of the line with half the men, whilst
+I was north of it with the other half. We buried our dead <span class="pagenum"><a id="page387" name="page387"></a>(p. 387)</span> next
+morning and that evening I sent a message to the remainder of the
+commandos, telling them to cross the line at Uitkijk Station, south-west
+of Middelburg, whilst Captain Hindon was to lay a mine under the line
+near the station to blow up any armoured train coming down. Here we
+managed to get the rest of our laager over without much trouble. The
+"Tommies" fired furiously from the blockhouses and our friend the
+armoured train was seen approaching from Middelburg, whistling a
+friendly warning to us. It came full speed as before, but only got to
+the spot where the mine had been laid for it. There was a loud
+explosion; something went up in the air and then the shrill whistle
+stopped and all was silent.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning we were all once more camped together at Rooihoogte.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page388" name="page388"></a>(p. 388)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="38">XXXVIII.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">TRAPPING PRO-BRITISH BOERS.</p>
+
+
+<p>In the month of July, 1901, we found ourselves once more on the scene of
+our former struggles, and were joined here by General Muller, who had
+completed his mission south of the railway. This district having been
+scoured for three weeks by thirty thousand English soldiers, who had
+carefully removed and destroyed everything living or dead, one can
+imagine the conditions under which we had to exist. No doubt from a
+strategical point of view the enemy could not be expected to do
+otherwise than devastate the country, but what grieved us most was the
+great amount of suffering this entailed to our women and children. Often
+the waggons in which these <span class="pagenum"><a id="page389" name="page389"></a>(p. 389)</span> were being carried to imprisonment
+in the Concentration Camps were upset by the unskilful driving of the
+soldiers or their kaffir servants, and many women and children were
+injured in this way.</p>
+
+<p>Moreover, a certain Mrs. Lindeque was killed by an English bullet near
+Roos Senekal, the soldiers saying that she had passed through the
+outposts against instructions. Small wonder, therefore, that many of our
+women-folk fled with their children at the enemy's approach, leaving all
+their worldly possessions behind to fall a prey to the general
+destruction. We often came across such families in the greatest
+distress, some having taken shelter in caves, and others living in huts
+roughly constructed of half-burnt corrugated iron amongst the charred
+ruins of their former happy homes. The sufferings of our half-clad and
+hungry burghers were small compared to the misery and privations of
+these poor creatures. Their husbands and other relations, however, made
+provision for them to the best of their ability, and these families
+were, in spite of all, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page390" name="page390"></a>(p. 390)</span> comparatively happy, so long as they
+were able to remain amongst their own people.</p>
+
+<p>Our commandos were now fairly exhausted, and our horses needed a rest
+very badly, the wanderings of the previous few weeks having reduced them
+to a miserable condition. I therefore left General Muller near the
+cobalt mines on the Upper Olifant's River, just by the waggon drift,
+whilst I departed with 100 men and a pom-pom to Witpoort and Windhoek,
+there to collect my scattered burghers and reorganise my diminished
+commando, as well as to look after our food supplies. At Witpoort the
+burghers who had been under the late Field-Cornet Kruge, and had escaped
+the enemy's sweeping movements, had repaired the mill which the English
+had blown up, and this was now working as well as before. A good stock
+of mealies had been buried there, and had remained undiscovered, and we
+were very thankful to the "bush-lancers" for this bounty.</p>
+
+<p>Still, things were not altogether "honey." Matters were rather in a
+critical state, as treachery was rampant, and many burghers <span class="pagenum"><a id="page391" name="page391"></a>(p. 391)</span>
+were riding to and fro to the enemy and arranging to surrender, the
+faithful division being powerless to prevent them. We had to act with
+great firmness and determination to put a stop to these tendencies and
+within a week of our arrival half a dozen persons had been incarcerated
+in Roos Senekal gaol under a charge of high treason. Moreover we
+effected a radical change in leadership, discharging old and war-sick
+officers and placing younger and more energetic men in command.</p>
+
+<p>Several families here were causing considerable trouble. When first the
+enemy had passed through their district they had had no opportunity of
+surrendering with their cattle. But when the English returned, they had
+attempted to go to the enemy's camp at Belfast, taking all their cattle
+and moveables with them. At this the loyal burghers were furious and
+threatened to confiscate all their cattle and goods. Seeing this, these
+families, whom I shall call the Steenkamps, had desisted from their
+attempt to go over to the enemy and had taken up their abode in a church
+at Dullstroom, the only building which had not <span class="pagenum"><a id="page392" name="page392"></a>(p. 392)</span> been destroyed,
+although the windows, doors and pulpit had long disappeared. Here they
+quietly awaited an opportunity of surrendering to the enemy, whose camp
+at Belfast was only 10 or 12 miles distant. We were very anxious that
+their cattle and sheep, of which they had a large number, should not go
+to the enemy, but we could bring no charge of treachery home to them, as
+they were very smooth-tongued scoundrels and always swore fealty to us.</p>
+
+<p>I have mentioned this as an example of the dangerous elements with which
+we had to contend amongst our own people, and to show how low a Boer may
+sink when once he has decided to forego his most sacred duties and turn
+against his own countrymen the weapon he had lately used in their
+defence. Such men were luckily in the minority. Yet I often came across
+cases where fathers fought against their own sons, and brother against
+brother. I cannot help considering that it was far from noble on the
+part of our enemy to employ such traitors to their country and to form
+such bodies of scoundrels as the National Scouts.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page393" name="page393"></a>(p. 393)</span> Amongst all this worry of reorganising our commandos and
+weeding out the traitors we were allowed little rest by the enemy, and
+once we suddenly found them marching up from Helvetia in our direction.
+A smart body of men, chiefly composed of Lydenburg and Middelburg men,
+and under the command of a newly-appointed officer, Captain Du Toit,
+went to meet the enemy between Bakendorp and Dullstroom. Here ensued a
+fierce fight, where we lost some men, but succeeded in arresting the
+enemy's progress. The fight, however, was renewed the next day, and the
+British having received strong reinforcements our burghers were forced
+to retire, the enemy remaining at a place near the "Pannetjes," three
+miles from Dullstroom.</p>
+
+<p>The English camp was now close to our friends, the Steenkamps, who were
+anxiously waiting an opportunity to become "hands-uppers." They had, of
+course, left off fighting long ago, one complaining that he had a
+disease of the kidneys, another that he suffered from some other
+complaint. They would sit on the kopjes and watch the fighting and the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page394" name="page394"></a>(p. 394)</span> various man&oelig;uvres, congratulating each other when the enemy
+approached a little nearer to them.</p>
+
+<p>I will now ask the reader's indulgence to describe one of our little
+practical jokes enacted at Dullstroom Church, which was characteristic
+of many other similar incidents in the Campaign. It will be seen how
+these would-be "hands-uppers" were caught in a little trap prepared by
+some officers of my staff.</p>
+
+<p>My three adjutants, Bester, Redelinghuisen, and J. Viljoen, carefully
+dressed in as much "khaki" as they could collect, and parading
+respectively as Colonels Bullock, "Jack," and "Cooper," all of His
+Majesty's forces, proceeded one fine evening to Dullstroom Church, to
+ascertain if the Steenkamps would agree to surrender and fight under the
+British flag. They arrived there about 9 p.m., and finding that the
+inmates had all gone to sleep, loudly knocked at the door. This was
+opened by a certain youthful Mr. Van der Nest, who was staying in the
+church for the night with his brother. J. Viljoen, alias "Cooper," and
+acting as interpreter between the pseudo-English <span class="pagenum"><a id="page395" name="page395"></a>(p. 395)</span> and the
+renegade Boers, addressed the young man in this fashion:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Good evening! Is Mr. Steenkamp in? Here is a British officer who wishes
+to see him and his brother-in-law."</p>
+
+<p>Van der Nest turned pale, and hurried inside, and stammering, "Oom Jan,
+there are some people at the door," woke up his brother and both
+decamped out of the back door. Steenkamp's brother-in-law, however, whom
+I will call Roux, soon made his appearance and bowing cringingly, said
+with a smile:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Good evening, gentlemen; good evening."</p>
+
+<p>The self-styled Colonel Bullock, addressing "Cooper," the interpreter,
+said: "Tell Mr. Roux that we have information that he and his brother
+wish to surrender."</p>
+
+<p>As soon as "Cooper" began to interpret, Roux answered in broken English,
+"Yes, sir, you are quite right; myself and my brother-in-law have been
+waiting twelve months for an opportunity to surrender, and we are so
+thankful now that we are able to do so."</p>
+
+<p>"Colonel Bullock": "Very well, then; call your people out!"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page396" name="page396"></a>(p. 396)</span> Roux bowed low, and ran back into the church, presently issuing
+with three comrades, who all threw down their arms and made abeyance.</p>
+
+<p><span class="italic">The "Colonel":</span> "Are these men able to speak English?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="italic">Roux:</span> "No, sir."</p>
+
+<p><span class="italic">The "Colonel":</span> "Ask them if they are willing to surrender voluntarily
+to His Majesty the King of Great Britain?"</p>
+
+<p>The burghers, in chorus: "Yes, sir; thank you very much. We are so
+pleased that you have come at last. We have wished to surrender for a
+long time, but the Boers would not let us get through. We have not
+fought against you, sir."</p>
+
+<p><span class="italic">The "Colonel":</span> "Very well; now deliver up all your arms."</p>
+
+<p>And whilst the pseudo-colonel pretended to be busy making notes the
+burghers brought out their Mausers and cartridge-belts, handing them
+over to the masquerading "Tommies."</p>
+
+<p>Roux next said to the "Colonel": "Please, sir, may I keep this revolver?
+There are a few Hollanders in the hut yonder who said <span class="pagenum"><a id="page397" name="page397"></a>(p. 397)</span> they
+would shoot me if I surrendered; and you know, sir, that it is these
+Hollanders who urge the Boers to fight and prolong the War. Why don't
+you go and catch them? I will show you where they are."</p>
+
+<p>Resisting an impulse to put a bullet through the traitor's head, the
+"Colonel" answered briefly: "Very well, keep your revolver. I will catch
+the Hollanders early to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p><span class="italic">Roux:</span> "Be careful, sir; Ben Viljoen is over there with a commando and
+a pom-pom."</p>
+
+<p><span class="italic">The "Colonel"</span> (haughtily): "Be at ease; my column will soon be round
+him and he will not escape this time."</p>
+
+<p>The women-folk now came out to join the party. They clapped their hands
+in joy and invited the "Colonel" and his men to come in and have some
+coffee.</p>
+
+<p>The "Colonel" graciously returned thanks. Meanwhile a woman had
+whispered to Roux: "I hope these are not Ben Viljoen's people making
+fools of us."</p>
+
+<p>"Nonsense," he answered, "Can't you see that this is a very superior
+British officer?" <span class="pagenum"><a id="page398" name="page398"></a>(p. 398)</span> Whereat the whole company further expressed
+their delight at seeing them.</p>
+
+<p>The "Colonel" now spoke: "Mr. Roux, we will take your cattle and sheep
+with us for safety. Kindly lend us a servant to help drive them along.
+Will you show us to-morrow where the Boers are?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="italic">Mr. Roux:</span> "Certainly, sir, but you must not take me into dangerous
+places, please."</p>
+
+<p><span class="italic">The "Colonel":</span> "Very well; I will send the waggons to fetch your
+women-folk in the morning."</p>
+
+<p>Roux gathered together his cattle and said: "I hope you and I shall have
+a whiskey together in your camp to-morrow."</p>
+
+<p>The "Colonel" answered: "I shall be pleased to see you," and asked them
+if they had any money or valuables they wished taken care of. But the
+Boers, true to the saying, "Touch a Boer's heart rather than his purse,"
+answered in chorus: "Thank you, but we have put all that carefully away
+where no Boer will find it."</p>
+
+<p>They all bid the "Colonel" good-bye, the "Tommies" exchanging some
+familiarities <span class="pagenum"><a id="page399" name="page399"></a>(p. 399)</span> with the women till these screamed with
+laughter, and then the "Colonel" and his commando of two men remounted
+their big clumsy English horses and rode proudly away. But pride comes
+before a fall, and they had not proceeded many yards when the
+"Colonel's" horse, stumbling over a bundle of barbed wire, fell, and
+threw his rider to the ground. Just as he had nearly exhausted the Dutch
+vocabulary of imprecations, the Steenkamps, who fortunately had not
+heard him, came to his assistance and with many expressions of sympathy
+helped him on his horse, Roux carefully wiping his leggings clean with
+his handkerchief. After proceeding a little further the "Tommies" asked
+their "Colonel" what he meant by that acrobatic performance. Whereat the
+"Colonel" answered: "That was a very fortunate accident; the Steenkamps
+are now convinced that we are English by the clumsy manner I rode."</p>
+
+<p>The next morning my three adjutants arrived in camp carrying four new
+Mausers and 100 cartridges each, and driving about <span class="pagenum"><a id="page400" name="page400"></a>(p. 400)</span> 300 sheep
+and a nice pony. The same morning I sent Field-Cornet Young to arrest
+the brave quartette of burghers. He found everything packed in readiness
+to depart to the English camp, and they were anxiously awaiting Colonel
+Bullock's promised waggons.</p>
+
+<p>It was, of course, a fine "tableau" when the curtain rose on the farce,
+disclosing in the place of the expected English rescuers a burgher
+officer with a broad smile on his face. They were, of course, profuse in
+their apologies and excuses. They declared that they had been surrounded
+by hundreds of the enemy who had placed their rifles to their breasts,
+forcing them to surrender. One of them was now in so pitiable a
+condition of fear that he showed the field-cornet a score of
+certificates from doctors and quacks of all sorts, declaring him to be
+suffering from every imaginable disease, and the field-cornet was moved
+to leave him behind. The other three were placed under arrest,
+court-martialled and sentenced to three months' hard labour, and to have
+all their goods confiscated.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page401" name="page401"></a>(p. 401)</span> Two days later the English occupied Dullstroom, and the
+pseudo-invalid and the women, minus their belongings, were taken care of
+by the enemy, as they had wished.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page402" name="page402"></a>(p. 402)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="39">XXXIX.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">BRUTAL KAFFIRS' MURDER TRAIL.</p>
+
+
+<p>At Windhoek we were again attacked by an English column. The reader will
+probably be getting weary of these continual attacks, and I hasten to
+assure him that we were far more weary than he can ever grow. On the
+first day of the fight we succeeded in forcing back the enemy, but on
+the second day, the fortunes of war were changed and after a fierce
+fight, in which I had the misfortune to lose a brave young burgher named
+Botha, we gave up arguing the matter with our foes and retired.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy followed us up very closely, and although I used the sjambok
+freely amongst my men I could not persuade them, not even by this
+ungentle method, to make a stand against their foes, and as we passed
+Witpoort <span class="pagenum"><a id="page403" name="page403"></a>(p. 403)</span> the enemy's cavalry with two guns was close at our
+heels.</p>
+
+<p>Not until the burghers had reached Maagschuur, between the Bothas and
+Tautesbergen, would they condescend to make a stand and check the
+enemy's advance. Here after a short but sharp engagement, we forced them
+to return to Witpoort, where they pitched camp.</p>
+
+<p>Our mill, which I have previously mentioned as being an important source
+of our food supply, was again burned to the ground.</p>
+
+<p>Our commandos returned to Olifant's River and at the cobalt mine near
+there joined those who had remained behind under General Muller. The
+enemy, however, who seemed determined, if possible, to obliterate us
+from the earth's surface, discovered our whereabouts about the middle of
+July, and attacked us in overwhelming numbers. We had taken up a
+position on the "Randts," and offered as much resistance as we could.
+The enemy poured into us a heavy shell fire from their howitzers and
+15-pounders, while their infantry charged both our extreme flanks. After
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page404" name="page404"></a>(p. 404)</span> losing many men, a battalion of Highlanders succeeded in
+turning our left flank, and once having gained this advantage, and aided
+by their superior numbers, the enemy were able to take up position after
+position, and finally rendered it impossible to offer any further
+resistance. Late in the afternoon, with a loss of five wounded and one
+man killed&mdash;an Irish-American, named Wilson&mdash;we retired through the
+Olifant's River, near Mazeppa Drift, the enemy staying the night at
+Wagendrift, about three miles further up the stream. The following
+morning they forded the river, and proceeded through Poortjesnek and
+Donkerhoek, to Pretoria, thus allowing us a little breathing space. I
+now despatched some reliable burghers to report our various movements to
+the Commandant-General, and to bring news of the other commandos. It was
+three weeks before these men returned, for they had on several occasions
+been prevented from crossing the railway line, and they finally only
+succeeded in doing so under great difficulties. They reported that the
+English on the high veldt were very active and numerous.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page405" name="page405"></a>(p. 405)</span> About the middle of July I left General Muller to take a rest
+with the commando, and accompanied by half a score of adjutants and
+despatch riders, proceeded to Pilgrimsrust in the Lydenburg district to
+visit the commandos there, and allay as much as I could the
+dissatisfaction caused by my reorganisation.</p>
+
+<p>At Zwagerhoek, a kloof some 12 miles south of Lydenburg, through which
+the waggon track leads from Lydenburg to Dullstroom, I found a
+field-cornet with about 57 men. Having discussed the situation with them
+and explained matters, they were all satisfied.</p>
+
+<p>Here I appointed as field-cornet a young man of 23 years of age, a
+certain J. S. Schoenman, who distinguished himself subsequently by his
+gallant behaviour.</p>
+
+<p>We had barely completed our arrangements when we were again attacked by
+one of the enemy's columns from Lydenburg. At first we successfully
+defended ourselves, but at last were compelled to give way.</p>
+
+<p>I do not believe we caused the enemy any considerable losses, but we had
+no casualties. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page406" name="page406"></a>(p. 406)</span> The same night we proceeded through the enemy's
+line to Houtboschloop, five miles east of Lydenburg, where a small
+commando was situated, and having to proceed a very roundabout way, we
+covered that night no less than 40 miles.</p>
+
+<p>Another meeting of all burghers north of Lydenburg was now convened, to
+be held at a ruined hotel some 12 miles west of Nelspruit Station, which
+might have been considered the centre of all the commandos in that
+district. I found that these were divided into two parties, one of which
+was dissatisfied with the new order of things I had arranged and desired
+to re-instate their old officers, while the other was quite pleased with
+my arrangements. The latter party was commanded by Mr. Piet Moll, whom I
+had appointed commandant instead of Mr. D. Schoeman, who formerly used
+to occupy that position. At the gathering I explained matters to them
+and tried to persuade the burghers to be content with their new
+commandants. It was evident, however, that many were not to be satisfied
+and that they were not to be expected to work harmoniously together.
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page407" name="page407"></a>(p. 407)</span> I therefore decided to let both commandants keep their
+positions and to let the men follow whichever one they chose, and I took
+the first opportunity of making an attack on the enemy so as to test the
+efficiency of these two bodies.</p>
+
+<p>Taking the two commandos with their respective two commandants in an
+easterly direction to Wit River, we camped there for a few days and
+scouted for the enemy on the Delagoa Bay Railway, so as to find out the
+best spot to attack. We had just decided to attack Crocodilpoort Station
+in the evening of the 1st August, when our scouts reported that the
+English, who had held the fort at M'pisana's Stad, between our laager in
+Wit River and Leydsdorp, were moving in the direction of Komati Poort
+with a great quantity of captured cattle.</p>
+
+<p>Our first plan was therefore abandoned and I ordered 50 burghers of each
+commando to attack this column at M'pisana's fort at once, as they had
+done far too much harm to be allowed to get away unmolested. They were a
+group of men called "Steinacker's <span class="pagenum"><a id="page408" name="page408"></a>(p. 408)</span> Horse," a corps formed of
+all the desperadoes and vagabonds to be scraped together from isolated
+places in the north, including kaffir storekeepers, smugglers, spies,
+and scoundrels of every description, the whole commanded by a character
+of the name of &mdash;&mdash;. Who or what this gentleman was I have never been
+able to discover, but judging by his work and by the men under him, he
+must have been a second Musolino. This corps had its headquarters at
+Komati Poort, under Major Steinacker, to whom was probably entrusted the
+task of guarding the Portuguese frontier, and he must have been given
+<span class="italic" lang="fr">carte blanche</span> as regards his mode of operation.</p>
+
+<p>From all accounts the primary occupation of this corps appeared to be
+looting, and the kaffirs attached to it were used for scouting,
+fighting, and worse. Many families in the northern part of Lydenburg had
+been attacked in lonely spots, and on one occasion the white men on one
+of these marauding expeditions had allowed the kaffirs to murder ten
+defenceless people with their <span class="pagenum"><a id="page409" name="page409"></a>(p. 409)</span> assegais and hatchets, capturing
+their cattle and other property. In like manner were massacred the
+relatives of Commandants Lombard, Vermaak, Rudolf and Stoltz, and
+doubtless many others who were not reported to me. The reader will now
+understand my anxiety to put some check on these lawless brigands. The
+instructions to the commando which I had sent out, and which would reach
+M'pisana's in two days, were briefly to take the fort and afterwards do
+as circumstances dictated. If my men failed they would have the
+desperadoes pursue them on their swift horses, and all the kaffir tribes
+would conspire against us, so that none would escape on our side. A
+kaffir was generally understood to be a neutral person in this War, and
+unless found armed within our lines, with no reasonable excuse for his
+presence, we generally left him alone. They were, however, largely used
+as spies against us, keeping to their kraals in the daytime and issuing
+forth at night to ascertain our position and strength. They also made
+good guides for the English troops, who often had not the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page410" name="page410"></a>(p. 410)</span>
+faintest idea of the country in which they were. It must not be
+forgotten that when a kaffir is given a rifle he at once falls a prey to
+his brutal instincts, and his only amusement henceforth becomes to kill
+without distinction of age, colour, or sex. Several hundreds of such
+natives, led by white men, were roaming about in this district, and all
+that was captured, plundered or stolen was equally divided among them,
+25 per cent. being first deducted for the British Government.</p>
+
+<p>I have indulged in this digression in order to describe another phase
+with which we had to contend in our struggle for existence. I have
+reason to believe, however, that the British Commander-in-Chief, for
+whom I have always had the greatest respect, was not at that time aware
+of the remarkable character of these operations, carried on as they were
+in the most remote parts of the country; and there is no doubt that had
+he been aware of their true character he would have speedily brought
+these miscreants to justice.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page411" name="page411"></a>(p. 411)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="40">XL.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">CAPTURING A FREEBOOTER'S LAIR.</p>
+
+
+<p>Early in the morning of the 6th of August, as the breaking dawn was
+tinting the tops of the Lebombo Mountains with its purple dye and the
+first rays of the rising sun shed its golden rays over the sombre
+bushveldt, the commando under Commandants Moll and Schoeman were slowly
+approaching the dreaded M'pisana's fort. When within a few hundred paces
+of it they left the horses behind and slowly crept up to it in scattered
+order; for as none of us knew the arrangement or construction of the
+place, it had been arranged to advance very cautiously and to charge
+suddenly on the blowing of a whistle. Nothing was stirring in the fort
+as we approached, and we began to think that the garrison had departed;
+but when barely <span class="pagenum"><a id="page412" name="page412"></a>(p. 412)</span> 70 yards from it the officers noticed some
+forms moving about in the trenches, which encompassed it. The whistle
+was blown and the burghers charged, a cheer rising from a hundred
+throats. Volley after volley was discharged from the trenches, but our
+burghers rushed steadily on, jumped into the trenches themselves and
+drove the defenders into the fort through secret passages. The English
+now began firing on us through loopholes in the walls and several of our
+men had fallen, when Commandant Moll shouted, "Jump over the wall!" A
+group of burghers rushed at the 12-foot wall, and attempted to scale it;
+but a heavy fire was directed on them and seven burghers, including the
+valiant Commandant Moll, fell severely wounded. Nothing daunted, Captain
+Malan, who was next in command of the division, urged his men to go on,
+and most of them succeeded in jumping into the fort, where, after a
+desperate resistance, in which Captain &mdash;&mdash;, their leader, fell mortally
+wounded, the whole band surrendered to us. Our losses were six burghers
+killed, whilst Commandant Moll and 12 others were <span class="pagenum"><a id="page413" name="page413"></a>(p. 413)</span> severely
+wounded. The burghers found one white man killed in the fort, and two
+wounded, whilst a score of kaffirs lay wounded and dead. We took 24
+white prisoners and about 50 kaffirs. I repeat that the whites were the
+lowest specimens of humanity that one can possibly imagine.</p>
+
+<p>Hardly was the fight over and our prisoners disarmed when a sentry we
+had posted on the wall called out:</p>
+
+<p>"Look out, there is a kaffir commando coming!"</p>
+
+<p>It was, in fact, a strong kaffir commando, headed by the chief M'pisana
+himself, who had come to the rescue of his friends of Steinacker's
+Horse. They opened fire on us at about 100 yards, and the burghers
+promptly returned their greeting, bowling over a fair number of them, at
+which the remainder retired.</p>
+
+<p>Alongside the fort were about 20 small huts, in which we found a number
+of kaffir girls. On being asked who they were, they repeated that they
+were the "missuses" of the white soldiers. Inside the captured fort we
+found <span class="pagenum"><a id="page414" name="page414"></a>(p. 414)</span> many useful articles, and the official books of this
+band. They contained systematic entries of what had been plundered,
+looted and stolen on their marauding expeditions and showed how they had
+been divided amongst themselves, deducting 25 per cent. for the British
+Government.</p>
+
+<p>A long and extensive correspondence now took place about this matter
+between myself and Lord Kitchener. I wished first to know whether the
+gang was a recognised part of the British Army, as otherwise I should
+have to treat them as ordinary brigands. After some delay Lord Kitchener
+answered that they were a part of His Majesty's Army. I then wished to
+know if he would undertake to try the men for their misdeeds, but this
+was refused. This correspondence ultimately led to a meeting between
+General Bindon Blood and myself, which was held at Lydenburg on the 27th
+August, 1901.</p>
+
+<p>The captured kaffirs were tried by court-martial and each punished
+according to his deserts. The 24 Englishmen were handed over to the
+enemy, after having given their <span class="pagenum"><a id="page415" name="page415"></a>(p. 415)</span> word of honour not to return
+to their barbarous life. How far this promise was kept I do not know;
+but from the impression they made upon me I do not think they had much
+idea of what honour meant. The captured cattle which we had hoped to
+find at the fort had been sent away to Komati Poort a few days before
+our attack and according to their "books" it must have numbered about
+4,000 heads. Another section of this notorious corps met with a like
+fate about this time at Bremersdorp in Swaziland. They did not there
+offer such a determined resistance, and the Ermelo burghers captured two
+good Colt-Maxims and two loads of ammunition probably intended for
+Swaziland natives.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page416" name="page416"></a>(p. 416)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="41">XLI.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">AMBUSHING THE HUSSARS.</p>
+
+
+<p>On August 10th, shortly after our arrival with the prisoners-of-war at
+Sabi, and while I was still discussing with Lord Kitchener the incident
+related in the previous chapter, General Muller sent word to me from
+Olifant's River, where I had left him with my men, that he had been
+attacked by General W. Kitchener three days after I had left him. It
+appears that his sentries were surprised and cut off from the commandos,
+these being divided into different camps.</p>
+
+<p>The burghers who were farthest away, the Middelburg and Johannesburg
+men, had, contrary to my instructions, pitched camp on the Blood River,
+near Rooikraal, and were suddenly and unexpectedly attacked by the
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page417" name="page417"></a>(p. 417)</span> enemy at about two o'clock in the afternoon, whilst their
+horses were grazing in the veldt. Some horses were caught in time and
+some burghers offered a little resistance, firing at a short range,
+several men being killed on both sides. The confusion, however, was
+indescribable, horses, cattle, burghers and soldiers being all mixed up
+together. A pom-pom, together with its team of mules and harness, and
+most of the carts and saddles, were captured by the enemy. Our officers
+could not induce the men to make a determined stand until they had
+retired to the Mazeppa Drift, on the Olifant's River. Here General
+Muller arrived in the night with some reinforcements and awaited the
+enemy, who duly appeared next morning with a division of the 18th and
+19th Hussars, and, encouraged by the previous day's success, charged our
+men with a well-directed fire which wrought havoc in their ranks. The
+gallant Hussars were repulsed in one place, and, at another, Major
+Davies (or Davis) and 20 men were made prisoners. At last some guns and
+reinforcements reached the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page418" name="page418"></a>(p. 418)</span> enemy, and our burghers wisely
+retired, going as far as Eland's River, near the "Double Drifts," where
+they rested.</p>
+
+<p>On the third day General W. Kitchener had discovered our whereabouts,
+and our sentries gave us warning that the enemy was approaching through
+the bushes, raising great clouds of dust. While the waggons were being
+got ready the burghers marched out, and awaited the English in a
+convenient spot between two kopjes. The latter rode on unsuspectingly
+two by two, and when about 100 had been allowed to pass, our men rushed
+out, calling, "Hands up!" and, catching hold of their horses' bridles,
+disarmed about 30 men. This caused an immediate panic, and most of the
+Hussars fled (closely pursued by our burghers, who shot 10 or 12 of
+them). The Hussars left behind a Colt-Maxim and a heliograph for our
+usage. The ground was overgrown here with a prickly, thorny bush, which
+made it difficult for our foes to escape, and about 20 more were
+overtaken and caught, several having been dragged from their horses by
+protruding branches, and with their face and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page419" name="page419"></a>(p. 419)</span> hands badly
+injured by thorns, whilst their clothes were half torn off their bodies.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the enemy continued to fire on us whilst retreating, and thus
+succeeded in wounding several of their own people. This running fight
+lasted until late in the evening, when the burghers slackened off their
+pursuit and returned, their losses being only one killed, Lieut. D.
+Smit, of the Johannesburg Police. The enemy's losses were considerable,
+although one could not estimate the exact number, as the dead were
+scattered over a large tract of ground and hidden amongst the bushes,
+rendering it difficult to find them. Weeks afterwards, when we returned
+over the same ground, we still found some bodies lying about the bush,
+and gave them decent burial.</p>
+
+<p>Our burghers were now once more in possession of 100 fresh horses and
+saddles, whilst their pom-pom was replaced by a Colt-Maxim. General W.
+Kitchener now left us alone for a while, for which relief we were very
+thankful, and fell back on the railway line. The respite, however, was
+short-lived; <span class="pagenum"><a id="page420" name="page420"></a>(p. 420)</span> soon fresh columns were seen coming up from
+Middelburg and Pretoria, and we were again attacked, some fighting
+taking place mostly on our old battlefields. General Muller repeatedly
+succeeded in tearing up the railway line and destroying trains with
+provisions, whilst I had the good fortune of capturing a commissariat
+train, near Modelane, on the Delagoa Bay line; but, as I could not
+remove the goods, I was forced to burn the whole lot. A train,
+apparently with reinforcements, was also blown up, the engine and
+carriages going up in the air with fine effect.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page421" name="page421"></a>(p. 421)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="42">XLII.</abbr></h3>
+<p class="title">
+I TALK WITH GENERAL BLOOD.</p>
+
+
+<p>About the end of August, 1901, I met General Sir Bindon Blood at
+Lydenburg by appointment. We had arranged to discuss several momentous
+questions there, as we made little progress by correspondence. In the
+first place, we accused the English of employing barbarous kaffir tribes
+against us; in the second place, of abusing the usage of the white flag
+by repeatedly sending officers through our lines with seditious
+proclamations which we would not recognise, and we could only obey our
+own Government and not theirs; in the third place, we complained of
+their sending our women with similar proclamations to us from the
+Concentration Camps and making them solemnly promise to do all that they
+could to induce their husbands to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page422" name="page422"></a>(p. 422)</span> surrender and thus regain
+their liberty. This we considered was a rather mean device on the part
+of our powerful enemy. There was also other minor questions to discuss
+with regard to the Red Cross.</p>
+
+<p>I went into the English line accompanied by my adjutants, Nel and
+Bedeluighuis, and my secretary, Lieutenant W. Malan. At Potloodspruit,
+four miles from Lydenburg, I met General Blood's chief staff officer,
+who conducted us to him. At the entrance of the village a guard of
+honour had been placed and received us with military honours. I could
+not understand the meaning of all this fuss, especially as the streets
+through which we passed were lined with all sorts of spectators, and to
+my great discomfort I found myself the chief object of this interest. On
+every side I heard the question asked, "Which is Viljoen?" and, on my
+being pointed out, I often caught the disappointed answer, "Is that
+him?" "By Jove, he looks just like other people." They had evidently
+expected to see a new specimen of mankind.</p>
+
+<p>In the middle of the village we halted before <span class="pagenum"><a id="page423" name="page423"></a>(p. 423)</span> a small, neat
+house, which I was told was General Blood's headquarters. The General
+himself met us on the threshold; a well-proportioned, kindly-looking man
+about 50 years of age, evidently a genuine soldier and an Irishman, as I
+soon detected by his speech. He received us very courteously, and as I
+had little time at my disposal, we at once entered into our discussion.
+It would serve little purpose to set down all the details of our
+interview, especially as nothing final was decided, since whatever the
+General said was subject to Lord Kitchener's approval, whilst I myself
+had to submit everything to my Commandant-General. General Blood
+promised, however, to stop sending out the women with their
+proclamations, and also the officers on similar missions, and the Red
+Cross question was also satisfactorily settled. The kaffir question,
+however, was left unsettled, although General Blood promised to warn the
+kaffir tribes round Lydenburg not to interfere in the War and not to
+leave the immediate vicinity of their kraals. (Only the night before two
+burghers named Swart had <span class="pagenum"><a id="page424" name="page424"></a>(p. 424)</span> been murdered at Doorukoek by some
+kaffirs, who pretended to have done this by order of the English). The
+interview lasted about an hour, and besides us two, Colonel Curran and
+my secretary, Lieutenant Malan, were present. General Blood and his
+staff conducted us as far as Potloodspruit, where we took leave. The
+white flag was replaced by the rifle, and we returned to our respective
+duties.</p>
+
+<a id="img013" name="img013"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img013.jpg" width="400" height="581" alt="" title="">
+<p class="smcap">Going in under the White Flag to a Conference with
+General Blood at Lydenburg.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+</div>
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page425" name="page425"></a>(p. 425)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="43">XLIII.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">MRS. BOTHA'S BABY AND THE "TOMMY."</p>
+
+
+<p>In September, 1901, after having organized the commandos north of
+Lydenburg, I went back with my suite to join my burghers at Olifant's
+River, which I reached at the beginning of September. The enemy had left
+General Muller alone after the affair with the Hussars. Reports were
+coming in from across the railway informing us that much fighting was
+going on in the Orange Free State and Cape Colony, and that the burghers
+were holding their own. This was very satisfactory news to us,
+especially as we had not received any tidings for over a month. I again
+sent in a report to our Commandant-General relating my adventures.</p>
+
+<p>We had much difficulty in getting the necessary food for the commandos,
+the enemy <span class="pagenum"><a id="page426" name="page426"></a>(p. 426)</span> having repeatedly crossed the country between Roos
+Senekal, Middelburg, and Rhenosterkop, destroying and ravaging
+everything. I therefore resolved to split up my forces, the corps known
+by the name of the "Rond Commando" taking one portion through the
+enemy's lines to Pilgrimsrust, North of Lydenburg, where food was still
+abundant. Fighting-General Muller was left behind with the Boksburg
+Police and the Middelburg Commando, the Johannesburg corps going with me
+to Pilgrim's Rest, where I had my temporary headquarters. We had plenty
+of mealies in this district and also enough cattle to kill, so that we
+could manage to subsist on these provisions. We had long since dispensed
+with tents, but the rains in the mountain regions of Pilgrim's Rest and
+the Sabi had compelled us to find the burghers shelter. At the alluvial
+diggings at Pilgrim's Rest we found a great quantity of galvanized iron
+plates and deals, which, when cut into smaller pieces, could be used for
+building. We found a convenient spot in the mountains between Pilgrim's
+Rest and Kruger's Post, where some hundreds of iron or zinc <span class="pagenum"><a id="page427" name="page427"></a>(p. 427)</span>
+huts were soon erected, affording excellent cover for the burghers.</p>
+
+<p>Patrols were continually sent out round Lydenburg, and whenever possible
+we attacked the enemy, keeping him well occupied. We succeeded in
+getting near his outposts from time to time and occasionally capturing
+some cattle. This seemed to be very galling to the English, and towards
+the end of September we found they were receiving reinforcements at
+Lydenburg. This had soon become a considerable force, in fact in
+November they crossed the Spekboom River in great numbers, and at
+Kruger's Post came upon our outposts, when there was some fighting. The
+enemy did not go any further that night. The following day we had to
+leave these positions and the other side took them and camped there.
+Next day they moved along Ohrigstad River with a strong mounted force
+and a good many empty waggons, evidently to collect the women-folk in
+that place. I had to proceed by a circuitous route in order to get ahead
+of the enemy. The road led across a steep mountain and through thickly
+grown kloofs, which prevented <span class="pagenum"><a id="page428" name="page428"></a>(p. 428)</span> us from reaching the enemy until
+they had burnt all the houses, destroyed the seed plants, and loaded the
+families on their carts, after which they withdrew to the camp at
+Kruger's Post. We at once charged the enemy's rearguard, and a heavy
+fight followed, which, however, was of short duration. The English fled,
+leaving some dead and wounded behind, also some dozens of helmets and
+"putties" which had got entangled in the trees. We also captured a
+waggon loaded with provisions and things that had been looted, such as
+women's clothes and rugs, a case of Lee-Metford ammunition and a number
+of uniforms. Some days after the enemy tried to get through to Pilgrim's
+Rest, but had to retire before our rifle fire. They managed, however, to
+get to Roosenkrans, where a fight of only some minutes ensued, when they
+retired to Kruger's Post. They only stopped there for a few days,
+marching back to Lydenburg at night time just when we had carefully
+planned a night attack. We destroyed the Spekboom River bridge shortly
+after, thus preventing the enemy's return from Lydenburg to Kruger's
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page429" name="page429"></a>(p. 429)</span> Post in a single night. Although there is a drift through the
+river it cannot be passed in the dark without danger, especially with
+guns and carts, without which no English column will march. Every
+fortnight I personally proceeded with my adjutants through the enemy's
+lines near Lydenburg to see how the commando in the South were getting
+on and to arrange matters.</p>
+
+<p>The month of November, 1901, passed without any remarkable incidents. We
+organized some expeditions to the Delagoa Bay Railway, but without much
+success, and during one of these the burghers succeeded in laying a mine
+near Hector's Spruit Station during the night. They were lying in ambush
+next day waiting for a train to come along when a "Tommy" went down the
+line and noticed some traces of the ground having been disturbed which
+roused his suspicions. He saw the mine and took the dynamite out. Two
+burghers who were lying in the long grass shouted "Hands up." Tommy
+threw his rifle down and with his hands up in the air ran up to the
+burghers saying, before they could speak, "I say, did <span class="pagenum"><a id="page430" name="page430"></a>(p. 430)</span> you hear
+the news that Mrs. Botha gave birth to a son in Europe?"</p>
+
+<p>They could not help laughing, and the "Tommy," looking very innocent,
+answered:</p>
+
+<p>"I am not telling you a fib."</p>
+
+<p>One of the burghers coaxed him by telling him they did not doubt his
+word, only the family news had come so prematurely.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," returned "Tommy," "Oi thought you blokes would be interested in
+your boss's family, that's why I spoke."</p>
+
+<p>The courteous soldier was sent back with instructions to get some better
+clothes, for those he had on his back were all torn and dirty and they
+were not worth taking.</p>
+
+<p>The expedition was now a failure, for the enemy had been warned and the
+sentries were doubled along the line.</p>
+
+<p>In December, 1901, we tried an attack on a British convoy between
+Lydenburg and Machadodorp. I took a mounted commando and arrived at
+Schvemones Cleft after four days' marching through the Sabinek via Cham
+Sham, an arduous task, as we had to go over the mountains and through
+some rivers. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page431" name="page431"></a>(p. 431)</span> Some of my officers went out scouting in order to
+find the best place for an attack on the convoy. The enemy's blockhouses
+were found to be so close together on the road along which the convoy
+had to pass as to make it very difficult to get at it. But having come
+such a long way nobody liked to go back without having at least made an
+effort. We therefore marched during the night and found some hiding
+places along the road where we waited, ready to charge anything coming
+along. At dawn next day I found the locality to be very little suitable
+for the purpose we had in view, but if we were now to move the enemy
+would notice our presence from the blockhouses. We would, therefore,
+either have to lie low till dusk or make an attack after all. We had
+already captured several of the enemy's spies, whom we kept prisoners so
+as not to be betrayed. Towards the afternoon the convoy came by and we
+charged on horseback. The English, who must have seen us coming, were
+ready to receive our charge and poured a heavy fire into us from ditches
+and trenches and holes in the ground. We managed to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page432" name="page432"></a>(p. 432)</span> dislodge
+the enemy's outerflanks and to make several prisoners, but could not
+reach the carts on account of the heavy fire from a regiment of infantry
+escorting the waggons. I thought the taking of the convoy would cost
+more lives than it was worth, and gave orders to cease firing. We lost
+my brave adjutant, Jaapie Oliver, while Captain Giel Joubert and another
+burgher were wounded. On the other side Captain Merriman and ten men
+were wounded. I do not know how many killed he had.</p>
+
+<p>We went back to Schoeman's Kloof the same day, where we buried our
+comrades and attended to the wounded. The blockhouses and garrisons
+along the convoy road were now fortified with entrenchments and guns,
+and we had to abandon our plan of further attacks. It was raining fast
+all the time we were out on this expedition, which caused us serious
+discomfort. We had very few waterproofs, and, all the houses in the
+district having been burnt down, there was no shelter for man or beast.
+We slowly retired on Pilgrim's Rest, having to cross several swollen
+rivers.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page433" name="page433"></a>(p. 433)</span> On our arrival at Sabi I received the sad tidings that four
+burghers named Stoltz had been cruelly murdered by kaffirs at Witriver.
+Commandant Du Toit had gone there with a patrol and found the bodies in
+a shocking condition, plundered and cut to pieces with assegais, and,
+according to the trace, the murderers had come from Nelspruit Station.</p>
+
+<p>Another report came from General Muller at Steenkampsberg. He informed
+me that he had stormed a camp during the night of the 16th December, but
+had been forced to retire after a fierce fight, losing 25 killed and
+wounded, amongst whom was the valiant Field-Cornet J. J. Kriege. The
+enemy's losses were also very heavy, being 31 killed and wounded,
+including Major Hudson.</p>
+
+<p>It should not be imagined that we had to put up with very primitive
+arrangements in every respect. Where we were now stationed, to the north
+of Lydenburg, we even had telephonic communication between Spitskop and
+Doornhoek, with call-offices at Sabi and Pilgrim's Rest. The latter
+place is in the centre of the diggers' population here, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page434" name="page434"></a>(p. 434)</span> and a
+moderate-sized village. There are a few hundred houses in it, and it is
+situated 30 miles north-east of Lydenburg. Here are the oldest
+goldfields known in South Africa, having been discovered in 1876. This
+village had so far been permanently in our possession. General Buller
+had been there with his force in 1900 but had not caused any damage, and
+the enemy had not returned since. The mines and big stamp-batteries were
+protected by us and kept in order by neutral persons under the
+management of Mr. Alex. Marshall. We established a hospital there under
+the supervision of Dr. A. Neethling. About forty families were still in
+residence and there was enough food, although it was only simple fare
+and not of great variety. Yet people seemed to be very happy and
+contented so long as they were allowed to live among their own people.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page435" name="page435"></a>(p. 435)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="44">XLIV.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">THE LAST CHRISTMAS OF THE WAR.</p>
+
+
+<p>December, 1901, passed without any important incident. We only had a few
+insignificant outpost skirmishes with the British garrison at Witklip to
+the south of Lydenburg. Both belligerents in this district attempted to
+annoy each other as much as possible by blowing up each other's mills
+and storehouses. Two of the more adventurous spirits amongst my scouts,
+by name Jordaan and Mellema, succeeded in blowing up a mill in the
+Lydenburg district used by the British for grinding corn, and the enemy
+very soon retaliated by blowing up one of our mills at Pilgrim's Rest.
+As the Germans say, "<span class="italic" lang="de">Alle gute dingen sind drei</span>." Several such
+experiences and the occasional capture of small droves of British cattle
+were all the incidents <span class="pagenum"><a id="page436" name="page436"></a>(p. 436)</span> worth mentioning. It was in this
+comparatively quiet manner that the third year of our campaign came to a
+termination. The War was still raging and our lot was hard, but we did
+not murmur. We decided rather to extract as much pleasure and amusement
+out of the Christmas festivities as the extraordinary circumstances in
+which we found ourselves rendered possible.</p>
+
+<p>The British for the time being desisted from troubling us, and our stock
+and horses being in excellent condition, we arranged to hold a sort of
+gymkhana on Christmas Day. In the sportive festivities of the day many
+interesting events took place. Perhaps the most noteworthy of these were
+a mule race, for which nine competitors entered, and a ladies' race, in
+which six fair pedestrians took part. The spectacle of nine burly,
+bearded Boers urging their asinine steeds to top speed by shout and spur
+provoked quite as much honest laughter as any theatrical farce ever
+excited. We on the grand stand were but a shaggy and shabby audience,
+but we were in excellent spirits and cheered with tremendous gusto
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page437" name="page437"></a>(p. 437)</span> the enterprising jockey who won this remarkable "Derby."
+Shabby as we were, we subscribed £115 in prizes. After the sports I have
+just described the company retired to a little tin church at Pilgrim's
+Rest, and there made merry by singing hymns and songs round a little
+Christmas tree.</p>
+
+<p>Later in the evening a magic-lantern, which we had captured from the
+British, was brought into play, and with this we regaled 90 of our
+juvenile guests. The building was crowded and the utmost enthusiasm
+reigned. The ceremony was opened by the singing of hymns and the making
+of speeches, a harmonium adding largely to the enjoyment of the evening.
+I felt somewhat nervous when called upon to address the gathering, for
+the children were accompanied by their mothers, and these stared at me
+with expectant eyes as if they would say, "See, the General is about to
+speak; his words are sure to be full of wisdom." I endeavoured to
+display great coolness, and I do not think I failed very markedly as an
+extemporaneous orator. I was helped very considerably in the
+speechmaking <span class="pagenum"><a id="page438" name="page438"></a>(p. 438)</span> part of the programme by my good friends the Rev.
+Neethling and Mr. W. Barter, of Lydenburg. I have not now the slightest
+idea of what I spoke about except that I congratulated the little ones
+and their mothers on being preserved from the Concentration Camps, where
+so many of their friends were confined.</p>
+
+<p>I have mentioned that there were young ladies with us who participated
+in the races. These were some whom the British had kindly omitted to
+place in the Concentration Camps, and it was remarkable to see how soon
+certain youthful and handsome burghers entered into amorous relations
+with these young ladies, and matters developed so quickly that I was
+soon confronted with a very curious problem. We had no marriage officers
+handy, and I, as General, had not been armed with any special authority
+to act as such. Two blushing heroes came to me one morning accompanied
+by clinging, timorous young ladies, and declared that they had decided
+that since I was their General I had full authority to marry them. I was
+taken <span class="pagenum"><a id="page439" name="page439"></a>(p. 439)</span> aback by this request, and asked, "Don't you think,
+young fellows, that under the circumstances you had better wait a little
+till after the termination of the war?" "Yes," they admitted, "perhaps
+it would be more prudent, General, but we have been waiting three years
+already!"</p>
+
+<p>In General De la Rey's Commando, which comprised burghers from eight
+large districts, it had been found necessary to appoint marriage
+officers, and quite a large number of marriages were contracted. I
+mention this to show how diversified are the duties of the Boer general
+in war-time, and what sort of strange offices he is sometimes called
+upon to perform.</p>
+
+<p>It will be seen from what I have said that occasionally the dark horizon
+of our veldt life was lit up by the bright sunshine of the lighter
+elements of life. At most times our outlook was gloomy enough, and our
+hearts were heavily weighed down by cares. I often found my thoughts
+involuntarily turning to those who had so long and so faithfully stood
+shoulder to shoulder with me through all the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page440" name="page440"></a>(p. 440)</span> vicissitudes of
+war, fighting for what we regarded as our holy right, to obtain which we
+were prepared to sacrifice our lives and our all. Unconsciously I
+recalled on this Christmas Day the words of General Joubert addressed to
+us outside Ladysmith in 1899: "Happy the Africander who shall not
+survive the termination of this War." Time will show, if it have not
+already shown, the wisdom of General Joubert's words.</p>
+
+<p>Just about this time rumours of various kinds were spread abroad. From
+several sources we heard daily that the War was about to end, that the
+English had evacuated the country because their funds were exhausted,
+that Russia and France had intervened, and that Lord Kitchener had been
+captured by De Wet and liberated on condition that he and his troops
+left South Africa immediately. It was even said that General Botha had
+received an invitation from the British Government to come and arrange a
+Peace on "independence" lines.</p>
+
+<p>Nobody will doubt that we on the veldt were desperately anxious to
+hear the glad <span class="pagenum"><a id="page441" name="page441"></a>(p. 441)</span> tidings of Peace. We were weary of the
+fierce struggle, and we impatiently awaited the time when the
+Commandant-General and the Government should order us to sheathe the
+sword.</p>
+
+<p>But the night of the Old Year left us engaged in the fierce conflict of
+hostilities, and the dawn of the New Year found us still enveloped in
+the clouds of war&mdash;clouds whose blackness was relieved by no silver
+lining.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page442" name="page442"></a>(p. 442)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="45">XLV.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">MY LAST DAYS ON THE VELDT.</p>
+
+
+<p>The first month of 1902 found the storm of death and destruction still
+unabated, and the prospect appeared as dark as at the commencement of
+the previous year. Our hand, however, was on the plough, and there was
+no looking back. My instructions were, "Go forward and persevere."</p>
+
+<p>To the south of Lydenburg, where a section of my commando under General
+Muller was operating, the enemy kept us very busy, for they had one or
+more columns engaged. We, to the north of Lydenburg, had a much calmer
+time of it than our brethren to the south of that place, for there the
+British were pursuing their policy of exhausting our people with
+unsparing hand. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page443" name="page443"></a>(p. 443)</span> I attribute the fact that we in the north were
+left comparatively undisturbed to the mountainous nature of the country.
+It would have been impossible for the British to have captured us or to
+have invaded our mountain recesses successfully without a tremendous
+force, and, obviously, the British had no such force at their disposal.
+Probably also the British had some respect for the prowess of my
+commando. An English officer afterwards told me in all seriousness that
+the British Intelligence Department had information that I was prowling
+round to the north of Lydenburg with 4,000 men and two cannons, and that
+my men were so splendidly fortified that our position was unconquerable.
+Of course, it was not in my interest to enlighten him upon the point. I
+was a prisoner-of-war when this amusing information was given me, and I
+simply answered: "Yes, your intelligence officers are very smart
+fellows." The officer then inquired, with an assumption of candour and
+innocence, whether it was really a fact that we had still cannon in the
+field. To this I <span class="pagenum"><a id="page444" name="page444"></a>(p. 444)</span> retorted: "What would you think if I put a
+similar question to a British officer who had fallen into my hands?" At
+this he bit his thumb and stammered: "I beg your pardon; I did not mean
+to&mdash;er&mdash;insult you." He was quite a young chap this, a conceited puppy,
+affecting the "haw-haw," which seems to be epidemic in the British Army.
+His hair was parted down the centre, in the manner so popular among
+certain British officers, and this style of hair-dressing came to be
+described by the Boers as "middel-paadje" (middle-path). As a matter of
+fact, my men only numbered as many hundreds as the thousands attributed
+to me by the British. As for cannons, they simply existed in the
+imagination of the British Intelligence Department.</p>
+
+<p>Affairs were daily growing more critical. Since the beginning of the
+year we had made several attempts at destroying the Delagoa Bay Railway,
+but the British had constructed so formidable a network of barbed wire,
+and their blockhouses were so close together and strongly garrisoned,
+that hitherto <span class="pagenum"><a id="page445" name="page445"></a>(p. 445)</span> our attempts had been abortive. The line was
+also protected by a large number of armoured trains.</p>
+
+<p>In consequence of our ill-success in this enterprise, we turned our
+attention to other directions. We reconnoitred the British garrisons in
+the Lydenburg district with the object of striking at their weakest
+point. A number of my officers and men proceeded under cover of darkness
+right through the British outposts, and gained the Lydenburg village by
+crawling on their hands and knees. On their return journey they were
+challenged and fired on several times, and managed only with difficulty
+to return to camp unhurt. The object of the reconnaissance was, however,
+accomplished. They reported to me that the village was encompassed with
+barbed wire, and that a number of blockhouses had been built round it,
+and also that various large houses of the village had been barricaded
+and were strongly occupied. My two professional scouts, Jordaan and
+Mellema, had also reconnoitred the village from another direction, and
+had brought back confirmatory information <span class="pagenum"><a id="page446" name="page446"></a>(p. 446)</span> and the news that
+Lydenburg was occupied by about 2,000 British soldiers, consisting of
+the Manchester Regiment and the First Royal Irish, together with a corps
+of "hands-uppers" under the notorious Harber. Three other Boer spies
+scouting about the forts on the Crocodile Heights also brought in
+discouraging reports.</p>
+
+<p>At the Council of War which then took place, and over which I presided,
+these reports were discussed, and we agreed to attack the two
+blockhouses nearest the village, and thereafter to storm the village
+itself. I should mention that it was necessary for us to capture the
+blockhouses before attempting to take the village itself, for had we
+left them intact we should have run the danger of having our retreat cut
+off.</p>
+
+<p>The attack was to take place next night, and as we approached the
+British lines on horseback, between Spekboom River and Potloodspruit, we
+dismounted, and proceeded cautiously on foot. One of the objective
+blockhouses was on the waggon path to the north of the village, and the
+other was 1,000 <span class="pagenum"><a id="page447" name="page447"></a>(p. 447)</span> yards to the east of Potloodspruit.
+Field-Cornet Young, accompanied by Jordaan and Mellema, crept up to
+within 10 feet of one of these blockhouses, and brought me a report that
+the barbed wire network which surrounded it rendered an assault an
+impossible task in the darkness. Separating my commando of 150 men into
+two bodies, I placed them on either side of the blockhouse, sending, in
+the meanwhile, four men to cut down the wire fences. These men had
+instructions to give us a signal when they had achieved this object, so
+that we could then proceed to storm the fort. It would have been
+sacrificing many in vain to have attempted to proceed without effecting
+the preliminary operation of fence cutting, since, if we had stormed a
+blockhouse without first removing the wire, we should have become
+entangled in the fences and have offered splendid targets to the enemy
+at a very short range, and our losses would, without doubt, have been
+considerable.</p>
+
+<p>My fence-cutters stuck doggedly to their task despite the fact that they
+were being fired <span class="pagenum"><a id="page448" name="page448"></a>(p. 448)</span> upon by the sentries on guard. It was a long
+and weary business, but we patiently waited, lying on the ground.
+Towards 2 o'clock in the morning the officer in command of the
+wire-cutters returned to us, stating that they had accomplished their
+object in cutting the first wire barrier, but had come across another
+which it would require several hours to cut through. The sentries had,
+in the meantime, grown unpleasantly vigilant, and were now frequently
+firing on our men. They were often so close that at one time, in the
+darkness, they might have knocked up against the Boers who were cutting
+their fences.</p>
+
+<p>It being very nearly 3 o'clock, it appeared to me that the attempt would
+be ineffectual owing to the approach of daylight, and we were forced to
+retire before the rays of the rising sun lit the heavens and exposed us
+to the well-aimed fire of the British. I therefore resolved, after
+consulting my officers, to retire quietly, and to renew my attempt a
+week later at another point. We returned to camp much disappointed, but
+consoled ourselves with the hope that success would attend our next
+efforts.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page449" name="page449"></a>(p. 449)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="46">XLVI.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">I AM AMBUSHED AND CAPTURED.</p>
+
+
+<p>I may say that the barbed wire fences by which the blockhouses were
+encompassed, constituted very formidable obstacles to our attacks. Our
+men were comparatively few, and we could not afford to lose any of them
+in futile attempts to capture strongly garrisoned British forts.
+Moreover, there were many other ways of inflicting damage on the enemy
+that did not lay us open to so much danger.</p>
+
+<p>Heavy and continuous rains had been experienced for some time, and the
+rivers and spruits were greatly swollen. The whole of the Lydenburg
+district, in which we were operating, was besides enveloped in a thick
+mist, and both these causes rendered reconnoitring <span class="pagenum"><a id="page450" name="page450"></a>(p. 450)</span> very
+difficult and perilous, as we never knew how near the enemy's patrols
+might be.</p>
+
+<p>About the 15th of January, 1902, I obtained information that our
+Government were being chased all over the country, and had now encamped
+at Windhoek near Dullstroom, to the south of Lydenburg. At the same time
+I received an order from Acting-President Schalk Burger, stating that he
+wished to see me. This latter intelligence was very acceptable, for I
+was anxious to renew acquaintance with the President, and with a
+personal friend of mine, Mr. J. C. Krojk, who was attached to the Field
+Government. Therefore, on receiving this instruction, I set out from
+Pilgrim's Rest accompanied by Adjutants Nel, Coetzee, Bester, and
+Potgieter, for the place where the Government were encamped. I little
+expected as I rode along that this would be my last and most fateful
+expedition.</p>
+
+<p>I calculated that I should be away eight days, and, wishing to be
+present at any active operations that might be conducted, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page451" name="page451"></a>(p. 451)</span> I
+instructed my brother, whom I left in charge of my forces, to make no
+attack during my absence. After leaving Pilgrim's Rest, I and my
+companions rode briskly forth along the path past Dornbock, Roodekrans
+and Kruger's Post. We encamped at the latter place at night-fall. Next
+day we again set out, and having succeeded in passing the British forts
+and blockhouses to the north of Lydenburg, we came upon the Spekboom
+River. This river was so swollen by the recent rains that no fording was
+possible, and we were only able to cross by making our horses swim. At
+one o'clock we reached Koodekraus, and off-saddled there. This place is
+about 15 miles to the west of Lydenburg. At dawn the next day, after
+having reconnoitred the country in the neighbourhood, we proceeded
+cautiously in the direction of Steenkampsberg until we were meet by
+messengers, who told us precisely where our Government was to be found.
+That evening we found our locomotive Administration encamped at
+Mopochsburgen, to which place they had retreated <span class="pagenum"><a id="page452" name="page452"></a>(p. 452)</span> before a
+hostile column, which was operating from Belfast.</p>
+
+<p>The greetings that were exchanged were of the heartiest character, and
+we sat chatting round the camp fires far into the night. That we had
+much to talk about and many stories to relate of the vicissitudes of war
+needs no saying. I personally received the very lamentable tidings that
+my sister, her husband, and three of their children had died in the
+Concentration Camp at Pietersburg.</p>
+
+<p>Two days after we arrived, the Government received a report from General
+Muller stating that two hostile columns were approaching. We had not
+long to wait. The enemy attacked us in the afternoon, but did not
+succeed in driving us from our position. We were not, however, in a
+position to sustain a long battle, owing to scarcity of ammunition. Many
+of our burghers had only five cartridges left and some had not even one.
+Therefore, that same night&mdash;I think it was the 21st of January although
+I had lost count of dates&mdash;the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page453" name="page453"></a>(p. 453)</span> Government, whom I accompanied,
+departed and proceeded to the Kloof Oshoek, between Dullstroom and
+Lydenburg. The weather was very unpropitious, rain falling in torrents,
+and as may be understood, we were in a sad plight. We were protected by
+nothing except our mackintoshes, and greatly envied a member of the
+party who was the proud possessor of a small piece of canvas.</p>
+
+<p>It had been decided that the Government should proceed on the 25th of
+January from Oshoek to Pilgrim's Rest, but the information that the
+British were not pressing their pursuit, caused them to give up this
+project, for it was thought advisable to await the enemy's next move. I
+should here mention that the further the Government were chased, the
+more difficult they found it to keep up communications with the
+Commandant-General and the Orange Free State Government. With the
+latter, however, despatches were being exchanged concerning very
+important matters which I consider as still improper to disclose. The
+Government having determined not to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page454" name="page454"></a>(p. 454)</span> proceed, I decided to bid
+farewell, and to proceed with my attendants on the way to Pilgrim's
+Rest.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, on the 25th of January, we left the Government at Oshoek
+and rode along to Zwagerhoek, where we remained till sundown. We were
+now nearing the enemy's country, and so, having carefully reconnoitred
+the ground, we set forth cautiously at dusk. Two young Boers, who were
+also on the road to Pilgrim's Rest, had meanwhile joined us, and,
+including my kaffir servant, our party comprised eight persons. We soon
+passed the fateful spot where Commandant Schoenman had been captured in
+the early part of the War, and forded the Spekboom River.</p>
+
+<p>I am not superstitious, but I must confess that somehow or other I
+experienced considerable disquietude about this time, and felt cold
+shivers running down my back. We were just approaching Bloomplaats,
+which is about two and half miles to the west of Lydenburg, when we
+observed something moving. A deadly silence <span class="pagenum"><a id="page455" name="page455"></a>(p. 455)</span> enveloped the
+country, and the brightly-shining moon gave a weird appearance to the
+moving objects in the distance which had attracted our attention. Our
+suspicions were aroused and we went in pursuit, but soon lost sight of
+the object of our quest. We discovered afterwards that our suspicions
+were well-founded, and that the moving objects were kaffir spies, who
+returned to the British lines and reported our approach. Having failed
+in this enterprise we returned to the road, I riding in advance with
+Adjutant Bester, the others following. Presently we approached a deep
+spruit, and having dismounted, we were cautiously leading our horses
+down the steep bank, when suddenly we found ourselves the centre of a
+perfect storm of bullets. We were completely taken by surprise, and
+almost before we realised what had happened, we found ourselves
+confronted by two rows of British soldiery, who shouted "Hands up," and
+fired simultaneously. Bullets whistled in every direction. The first
+volley laid my horse low, and I found myself on the ground half
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page456" name="page456"></a>(p. 456)</span> stunned. When I recovered somewhat and lifted my head, I
+discovered myself surrounded, but the dust and the flash of firing
+prevented me from seeing much of what occurred. It seemed hopeless to
+attempt escape, and I cried excitedly that I was ready to surrender. So
+loud, however, was the noise of shouting that my cries were drowned. One
+soldier viciously pressed his gun against my breast as if about to shoot
+me, but thrusting the barrel away, I said in English that I saw no
+chance of escape, that I did not defend myself, and there was no reason
+therefore why he should kill me. While I was talking he again drove his
+rifle against me, and I, having grasped it firmly, a very animated
+argument took place, for he strongly resented my grasping his gun.
+Outstretching my hand I asked "Tommy" to help me up, and this he did. I
+afterwards learned that the name of my assailant was Patrick, and that
+he belonged to the Irish Rifles.</p>
+
+<a id="img014" name="img014"></a>
+<div class="figcenter">
+<img src="images/img014.jpg" width="400" height="581" alt="" title="">
+<p class="smcap">My Capture.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>Four or five soldiers now took charge of me, and at my request consented
+to conduct <span class="pagenum"><a id="page457" name="page457"></a>(p. 457)</span> me to an officer. Just as they were about to lead
+me away, however, they all fell flat upon their chests, and directed
+their fire at an object, which turned out later to be a bush. I very
+soon discovered that the "Tommies" were not very circumspect in their
+fire, and I sought safety by lying on the ground. Having discovered the
+innocent nature of their target, my guards conducted me before one of
+their officers, a young man named Walsh, who seemed to belong to the
+British Intelligence Department. This officer enquired, "Well, what is
+it?" I answered him in his own language, "My name is Viljoen, and not
+wishing to be plundered by your soldiers, I desire to place myself under
+the protection of an officer." He was quite a minor officer this Mr.
+Walsh, but he said kindly, "All right, it is rather a lucky haul, sir;
+you look quite cool, are you hurt?" I replied that I was not hurt,
+though it was a miracle that I was still alive, for a bullet had struck
+my chest, and would have penetrated had my pocket-book not stopped it.
+The fact was, that my <span class="pagenum"><a id="page458" name="page458"></a>(p. 458)</span> pocket-book had served the providential
+service of the proverbial bible or pack of cards. Bester was with me,
+and not seeing my other adjutants, I enquired what had become of them.
+Walsh did not reply at once, and one of the "Tommies" standing close by
+said, "Both killed, sor." This information was a terrible blow to me.</p>
+
+<p>Major Orr, of the Royal Irish Regiment, was in charge of the force that
+had captured me, and presently I was taken before him. He greeted me
+most courteously and said, "I believe we are old friends, General
+Viljoen; at least you captured some of my comrades in that regrettable
+affair at Belfast." I was greatly touched by Major Orr's kindness, and
+asked that I might see those of my men who had been killed. He
+immediately consented, and led me a few paces aside. My gaze was soon
+arrested by a heartrending spectacle. There on the ground lay the two
+lifeless forms of my brave and faithful adjutants, Jacobus Nel and L.
+Jordaan. As I bent over their prostrate bodies my eyes grew dim with
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page459" name="page459"></a>(p. 459)</span> the sad tears of my great bereavement. Major Orr stood
+uncovered by my side, touched by my deep emotion and paying homage to
+the brave dead. "These men were heroes," I said to him with broken
+voice. "They followed me because they loved me, and they fearlessly
+risked their lives for me several times." The good Major was full of
+sympathy, and made provision for the decent burial of my poor comrades
+at Lydenburg.</p>
+
+<p>Bester and I were now conducted under an escort of 150 soldiers with
+fixed bayonets to the village, which was two and a half miles off. We
+reached Lydenburg very wet and gloomy, after having waded through a
+drift whose waters reached up to our armpits. Major Orr did his best to
+console us both with refreshment and kind words.</p>
+
+<p>Our procession was presently joined by an officer of the British
+Intelligence Department, and this gentleman told me that he knew of the
+approach of my party, and that the chief object of the British in
+attacking us was to capture our itinerant Government, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page460" name="page460"></a>(p. 460)</span> who they
+learned were to accompany us. He was very anxious to know where the
+Government was, and whether it was intended that they should pass that
+way. But I answered his queries by telling him that it was quite
+unworthy of a gentleman to put such questions to me, and to attempt to
+exploit my most unfortunate position.</p>
+
+<p>Arriving at the village, I was treated with great courtesy, and was
+introduced by Major Orr to Colonel Guinness, the commanding officer.
+Colonel Guinness declared that he regarded it as an honour to have a man
+of my rank as a prisoner-of-war, and that we had fought so frequently
+that we were quite old friends. I thanked him for his compliment,
+expressing, however, my regret that we had renewed acquaintance under
+such unfortunate circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>"That is the fortune of war," said the Colonel. "You have nothing to be
+ashamed of, General." We were treated very well by our captors, and were
+given accommodation in the apartments of my old friend Captain Milner,
+who now filled the office of Provost-Marshal. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page461" name="page461"></a>(p. 461)</span> My meeting with
+this gentleman was very cordial, and we sat up till nearly daybreak
+relating our different adventures since we had last met at Roos Senekal,
+where the worthy Captain was made prisoner by me. He assured me that his
+regiment entertained the highest respect for me and my burghers, and
+that they appreciated the fact that we had fought fairly and gallantly
+and had well-treated our prisoners-of-war. Bester and I remained under
+Milner's care throughout our stay at Lydenburg, and I shall always
+remember with gratitude the kindness extended me by the officers of the
+Royal Irish Regiment.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page462" name="page462"></a>(p. 462)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="47">XLVII.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">SHIPPED TO ST. HELENA.</p>
+
+
+<p>We were kept at Lydenburg until about the 30th of January, 1902, and
+during our stay there I obtained leave to write a letter to my burghers.
+In this I acquainted them and my brother with what had occurred, and
+exhorted them to keep up their hearts and persevere. Although kindly
+treated at Lydenberg, I cannot adequately describe the feeling of
+disappointment and sorrow which my enforced inaction caused me. I would
+have given anything to have been able to return to my commando, and felt
+that I would rather have been killed than have fallen into the enemy's
+hands. Being thus rendered impotent I could but curse my fate.</p>
+
+<p>Friendships which are formed on the veldt are strong indeed, and the men
+who have lived together through all the vicissitudes of war for
+twenty-eight months&mdash;through sunshine and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page463" name="page463"></a>(p. 463)</span> rain, happiness and
+sorrow, prosperity and adversity&mdash;become attached one to another with
+lasting affections. My sufferings hit me very keenly. Besides the
+sadness which separation from my companions caused me, I acutely felt my
+position as, having been before in the habit of commanding and of being
+obeyed by others, I was now subject to the humiliation of having to obey
+the orders of British privates.</p>
+
+<p>We prisoners were conveyed from Lydenburg to Machadodorp under the
+charge of Colonel Urenston, of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders,
+with an escort of 2,000 men. I was at a loss to know why so large a
+force should have been sent to guard me, but this seemingly exaggerated
+precaution was soon explained when I was told that Lord Kitchener had
+given special orders that great care was to be taken to prevent my
+commando from rescuing me. I must say that there was not much chance of
+that occurring. Colonel Urenston was a very courteous soldier, and
+treated me as well as could be expected.</p>
+
+<p>Reaching Machadodorp four days later, I was handed over at Dalmanutha
+Station to <span class="pagenum"><a id="page464" name="page464"></a>(p. 464)</span> Captain Pearson, a staff officer, who subsequently
+conducted me and my fellow prisoners to Pretoria. Some days after my
+arrival there I was taken before Lord Kitchener, and was received very
+courteously by him at his office. My interview with this great General
+lasted about half an hour. The Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in
+South Africa impressed me as being a real soldier, a man possessed of a
+strong will not marred by arrogance.</p>
+
+<p>I did not know what the British military authorities proposed to do with
+me, and felt quite indifferent as to the matter. At dawn on the third
+day after my arrival I was awakened by a soldier and informed that I was
+to be taken to the station. The train was in readiness when I arrived,
+and the officer in charge invited me to take a seat in his compartment.
+I was then told that we were to proceed to Durban, but no information
+was given me as to my ultimate destination.</p>
+
+<p>On the train we prisoners were treated with great courtesy, but on
+reaching Durban a different experience awaited us. Here I was placed
+under the charge of Colonel Ellet, a <span class="pagenum"><a id="page465" name="page465"></a>(p. 465)</span> very irascible person.
+This Colonel greeted me with the information that he was quite delighted
+that I had been captured. He repeated this gratuitous insult three
+times, and, my patience being exhausted, I asked him to be kind enough
+to tell me where he was instructed to convey me, and not to cause me
+unnecessary pain by his taunts. He apologised lamely and told me that I
+was to proceed on board ship. This very much surprised me, and I
+remarked that I had already been taken from home and hearth 500 miles.
+This ill-tempered creature then lent back arrogantly in his armchair,
+puffing at his cigar, and said: "Well, ah, you are banished, don't you
+know. You are to be sent to St. Helena, or as we call it, 'The Rock.'
+You will shortly embark. It is a large ship you are going in; it is
+called&mdash;ah, let me see, oh, yes, the <span class="italic">Britannica</span>. I will proceed to the
+station and order your kit, and in the meantime you must sign this
+parole and report yourself forthwith at the docks." I said in Dutch,
+which the Colonel did not understand, "Lord deliver me from this evil
+person."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page466" name="page466"></a>(p. 466)</span> On arriving on board ship I found several other Boer
+prisoners-of-war, amongst them my old friend Erasmus, who masqueraded as
+a general in the early stages of the War. Never having been before upon
+the sea I was soon in the throes of <span class="italic" lang="fr">mal de mer</span>, and the prospect was
+certainly not encouraging. There was no help for it, however. Colonel
+Curtis, of the Royal Artillery, who was in charge of the troops on
+board, was a very polite and pleasant person, and very welcome after
+that extraordinary creature, Ellet. We were provided with good cabins
+and the food was excellent. Before leaving the Bay General Lyttelton
+visited me and showed himself very friendly. I soon found out that Mrs.
+Lyttelton was proceeding on the same boat to England. My company must
+have been rather unattractive, seeing that I was only well for one day
+during the whole voyage.</p>
+
+<p>The steamer was ordered to call at Cape Town, and when we neared this
+port the guard kept over us was strengthened. An officer remained with
+us continually and counted us every two hours to make sure that none of
+us <span class="pagenum"><a id="page467" name="page467"></a>(p. 467)</span> had escaped. One day two young Boers conspired to make a
+fool of the officer, and concealed themselves in the lavatory. Their
+absence was discovered the next time we were counted, and the officer in
+charge, in a great state of perturbation, demanded of us what had become
+of them. We took up the joke at once, and replied that they had gone on
+shore to be shaved and would return at 7 o'clock. This entirely took his
+breath away. But the absurdity of the situation so got the better of us
+that we burst out into ironical laughter, and finally set our custodian
+at ease by producing the two fugitives. We were punished for our little
+joke, however, by having our paroles withdrawn.</p>
+
+<p>On the 19th of February the ship, with its sorrowful freight, steamed
+away from Cape Town. We prisoners, assembled on the upper deck, bade a
+very sorrowful farewell to the shores of our dear Fatherland. Long and
+sadly did we gaze upon the fast receding land from which we expected to
+be alienated for ever. Notwithstanding our depressing circumstances,
+however, we attempted pluckily to keep up our <span class="pagenum"><a id="page468" name="page468"></a>(p. 468)</span> spirits, and
+with laughter and frivolity to cheer each other. Most of us had never
+been on a ship before, and only one of our number had ever voyaged away
+from South Africa. Ours was a very cheerless prospect, for, although we
+did not know our exact fate, banishment for life loomed over us. The
+ship's officers were urbanity itself, and did everything in their power
+for our comfort. I shall always remember their kindness, but it would
+have required much more than human effort to have made our voyage
+enjoyable owing to the fact that we suffered so intensely from
+sea-sickness.</p>
+
+<p>After a very cheerless and discomforting voyage, we dropped anchor on
+the 24th of February in St. Helena Harbour. "The Rock" rose out of the
+ocean, bare and rugged, and imprisonment upon it offered a gloomy
+prospect. No animal was visible, and foliage was wanting, I never saw a
+less attractive place than Jamestown, the port at which we landed. The
+houses seemed to be tumbling over one another in a "kloof." We were all
+gloomily impressed, and somebody near me said, "This will be our living
+graves." I <span class="pagenum"><a id="page469" name="page469"></a>(p. 469)</span> answered, "No wonder that Napoleon broke his heart
+upon this God-forsaken rock." I must confess that the feeling grew upon
+us that we were to be treated as ordinary criminals, since only
+murderers and dangerous people are banished to such places to be
+forgotten by mankind.</p>
+
+<p>An English officer came to me and asked what I thought of the Island. My
+feelings got the better of me, and I replied&mdash;"It seems a suitable place
+for England's felons, but it is very spiteful of England to deport here
+men whose only crime has been to fight for their country. It would have
+been much more merciful to have killed us at once than to make us drag
+out an existence in a manner so dreary."</p>
+
+<p>We were soon taken ashore by boats to Jamestown, and there learned to
+our great disgust that we were all to be put in quarantine for bubonic
+plague, and to be isolated at Lemon Valley, a valley in which I
+afterwards found that lemons were conspicuous by their absence. No
+greenery was to be seen in this desolate place. While our debarkation
+was <span class="pagenum"><a id="page470" name="page470"></a>(p. 470)</span> proceeding one of the boats capsized, but, happily,
+everybody escaped with nothing worse than a ducking.</p>
+
+<p>Quarantine regulations were enforced for six days at Lemon Valley. The
+accommodation was very inadequate, and our culinary utensils, though not
+primitive, were very bad, the food being such as might have been the
+portion of criminals.</p>
+
+<p>Luckily for us a British Censor named Baron von Ahlenfeldt, and a doctor
+named Casey had accompanied us, and owing to their instrumentality we
+were allowed better food and treatment. At the end of our detention in
+the quarantine camp some of our number were removed to Broadbottom Camp,
+while the others were quartered at Deadwood Camp. Lieutenant Bathurst,
+who now assumed the position of our custodian, was a good prototype of
+friend Ellet at Durban, and he was at pains to treat us as felons rather
+than as prisoners-of-war.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page471" name="page471"></a>(p. 471)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="48">XLVIII.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">LIFE IN BONAPARTE'S PRISON.</p>
+
+
+<p>In order to reach Broadbottom Camp we had to ascend a remarkably rocky
+cliff named "Jacob's Ladder," the face of which was cut into a
+multitudinous series of steps. Having reached the summit we found a
+pleasing view of the Island opened before us. We now discovered that St.
+Helena was not the totally-barren rock we had at first been led to
+suppose. Patches of trees and greenery met our gaze, and in the midst of
+a carefully-cultivated plantation we espied a beautiful house, the
+habitation of the Governor of the Island. On our way we encountered a
+party of our fellow-prisoners, who, having been guilty of
+insubordination, were being taken to the dreary fort at High Knoll for
+punishment. Amongst these unfortunates <span class="pagenum"><a id="page472" name="page472"></a>(p. 472)</span> we recognised several
+friends, but were not permitted to talk to them.</p>
+
+<p>At sundown our destination was reached at Broadbottom Camp, which is
+situated under High Peak. Before us stretched a large space enclosed by
+four encirclements of barbed wire containing the tents and houses which
+formed the temporary homes of the prisoners-of-war. Sentries were posted
+at every hundred paces. There were 2,000 prisoners stationed here, and
+as they wandered aimlessly round they forcibly reminded me of the
+Israelites in exile.</p>
+
+<p>On entering the camp I was received by the commandant, Colonel Wright, a
+typical Briton, who made no pleasant impression upon me. I shall not be
+querulous, although the Colonel very bluntly notified to me that he had
+no instructions but to treat me in the same manner as the ordinary
+prisoners, and added that as my name had appeared in the list of Boer
+officers who were sentenced to banishment, he doubted whether I was
+entitled even to the treatment accorded to the ordinary
+prisoners-of-war. However, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page473" name="page473"></a>(p. 473)</span> a tent was erected for me, and I
+and my companions in adversity were given beds and culinary utensils. My
+bed consisted of two khaki blankets and a waterproof sheet, and my
+kitchen utensils comprised a pot, a washing basin, a pail, two enamelled
+plates, two large mugs, and a spoon. This is a complete inventory of the
+articles with which I was provided. I and the prisoners who had
+accompanied me had not tasted food throughout the whole day, and we
+would have gone supperless to bed had it not been that some
+compassionate brother prisoners ministered to our inner needs by
+providing us with some bully beef and bread, which, though but a frugal
+meal, was very welcome to us.</p>
+
+<p>Camp life of the kind I now experienced was wearisome indeed. There was
+nothing to do, and we tried to while away the time by singing psalms and
+songs. At night the camp and its environments were rendered almost as
+bright as day by the glaring light of huge naphtha flares and by large
+search-lights which played round, making attempts <span class="pagenum"><a id="page474" name="page474"></a>(p. 474)</span> at escape
+hopeless. It appeared to me that the search-lights were continually
+being turned in my direction, and I can assure you that I wished these
+glaring abominations at Hades. The buzzing and roaring noise given forth
+by the naphtha lamps, the monotonous chanting of the prisoners, the
+perpetual "All's well" of the sentries, and the intermingling notes of
+the bugle calls suffused the air with their distracting sounds and made
+me feel as if my head were in a maëlstrom. The bugler was so amiable a
+person that he always made it a point of standing close to my tent when
+launching forth to the world his shrieking calls. Happily I became
+acclimatised to my distasteful surroundings, or I fear I should have
+soon graduated as a patient for a lunatic asylum.</p>
+
+<p>I unhappily became at an early date acquainted with Colonel Price,
+commanding the troops on the Island. I shall never forget his demeanour
+towards me, for from the first his attitude was arrogant, cruel, and
+generally unbearable. He refused me parole, and declined to give me a
+pass beyond the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page475" name="page475"></a>(p. 475)</span> confines of the camp. The unreasonableness of
+this hard treatment will be seen when it is remembered that not the
+slightest possibility of escape from the Island existed. The close
+confinement began to play havoc with my health, and I was in the fair
+way to the hospital, when a friendly doctor intervened and restored me
+to health once more. The rigid discipline and the stern regulations that
+were enforced can only be likened to what is experienced in monastic
+life. The "red-tape" curse prevailed everywhere.</p>
+
+<p>Subsequently Colonel Price modified his tone towards me and allowed me
+parole. He was also gracious enough to permit me and some companions to
+occupy a little house 400 paces from the camp. This was a very agreeable
+change, for now we were no longer subjected to the harsh treatment of
+the "Tommies." Our little residence rejoiced in the pleasantly-floral
+name of the "Myrtle Grove," and was rented by us from an old coloured
+lady who vigorously insisted upon the punctual payment of the rent, and
+drew our special attention to the fact that <span class="pagenum"><a id="page476" name="page476"></a>(p. 476)</span> plucking pears in
+the garden was strictly prohibited.</p>
+
+<p>We had been told that the "Myrtle Grove" was haunted by ghosts, but the
+ghosts, if any there were, must have been pro-Boers, since they never
+disturbed us. But though we had no ghostly visitors we certainly had
+some of another kind. The house was perfectly infested by particularly
+large and bold rats. These thieving rodents, not satisfied with robbing
+our larder, had the audacity to sup off our fingers and ears while we
+were asleep. We waged vigorous war against the vermin, and after
+considerable difficulty managed to get the residence exclusively to
+ourselves. With the addition of some furniture, with which Colonel
+Wright was good enough to provide us, we made our house so comfortable
+that we felt ourselves almost in a position to invite the Governor to
+dinner.</p>
+
+<p>Our landlady, Mrs. Joshua, was the proud possessor of several donkeys,
+which were turned loose in our garden, and a large number of fowls. I
+may say that Mrs. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page477" name="page477"></a>(p. 477)</span> Joshua was very ill-advised in keeping her
+fowls so near our house, for our cook, who had been trained in commando,
+was unable to resist the temptation of appropriating eggs. It did not,
+however, take our landlady long to find out what was happening, and we
+were informed that it was very much more Christianlike to purchase eggs.
+We took the hint, and adopted as far as we could Christianlike methods,
+though we found it extremely difficult to subscribe to all the
+principles of Christianity practised by the Islanders.</p>
+
+<p>We whiled away the time by taking daily walks, and, by making excursions
+to the house at Longwood tenanted by Napoleon Bonaparte for six and a
+half years, and to the grave where his remains were interred for 19
+years. I noticed that both places were being preserved and kept in order
+by the French Government. We used to sit by the little fountain, where
+the great French warrior so frequently sat, and read. We were permitted
+to drink a glass of water from this historical spring.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page478" name="page478"></a>(p. 478)</span> At Deadwood Camp 4,000 of my compatriots were confined. Some
+had been there for over two years, and I could not help admiring their
+discipline. It is not for me to criticise the entirely unnecessary
+restrictions to which these unfortunate prisoners were subjected, but I
+will point out that the severity practised towards helpless prisoners by
+armed soldiers created feelings of great bitterness. It was a stupid
+policy to pursue and perhaps fateful.</p>
+
+<p>The military authorities were entirely unacquainted with the character
+and mannerisms of the Boers, and were advised in this connection by
+so-called "Cape" or "English" Afrikanders, who bear an ineradicable
+hatred to the Boers, and who always did their utmost to cause the
+prisoners to be treated with humiliation and contempt. Happily a number
+of English officers whom I met on the Island saw that we were not so
+black as we had been painted. Most of the officers who acted as our
+custodians here had come direct from England and knew nothing of South
+Africa. One of these gentlemen confessed <span class="pagenum"><a id="page479" name="page479"></a>(p. 479)</span> to me that when he
+left London for St. Helena he had a sort of idea that he was to be
+placed in charge of a troop of wild barbarians, and that he had been
+quite agreeably disappointed. He declared, indeed, that he had found
+that the Afrikander in some respects was superior to men of his own
+nation.</p>
+
+<p>It was undoubtedly a sad error for England to send officers to look
+after us, who, not having had any experience of South African warfare,
+were entirely ignorant of our idiosyncrasies and manners. The result of
+placing these inexperienced men as our guards was that one
+misunderstanding followed upon another, and that unnecessarily rigorous
+regulations were promulgated to preserve discipline and order. This
+treatment had the effect of nourishing within our bosoms hatred and
+bitterness.</p>
+
+<p>Not being desirous of having to undergo incarceration with my
+insubordinate fellow-prisoners at High Knoll Fort, I carefully refrained
+from being unruly, and practised an orderly and amiable demeanour.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page480" name="page480"></a>(p. 480)</span> On one occasion I ventured to approach Colonel Price with a
+view to obtaining some amelioration in our treatment, and some remission
+of the rigorous regulations meted out to us. After keeping me waiting
+half an hour he came out of his office to meet me, but instead of
+extending a greeting he stared at me with ill-concealed amazement,
+probably expecting that I should jump up and salute him. I, however,
+merely rose and nodded, and enquired if I had the honour of addressing
+Colonel Price. He answered stiffly, "Yes, what do you want?" It was
+greatly disconcerting to be thus unceremoniously and discourteously
+greeted, and having explained my mission, I withdrew and took care to
+fight shy of this arrogant soldier in future.</p>
+
+<p>I may say that our little party at "Myrtle Grove" was a few weeks later
+augmented by the arrival of Vaal Piet Uys and Landdrost T. Kelly.</p>
+
+<p>We had in the meantime improved our acquaintance with Colonel Wright,
+who always treated us with cordiality and kindness, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page481" name="page481"></a>(p. 481)</span> and
+allowed us frequently the privilege of spending pleasant afternoons at
+his house. Mrs. Wright was a charming hostess, and did everything in her
+power to lessen the feeling of humiliation with which we regarded our
+sad plight.</p>
+
+<p>I should perhaps mention that St. Helena boasts of some elegant society.
+A few years before our confinement the Zulu chief, Dinizulu, was
+banished within the rocky bounds of this island prison. This son of Cain
+had during his detention here been invited to all the fashionable
+parties and dances, and had been honoured with an invitation to the
+Governor's house. He was fêted at dinners and public festivities&mdash;but of
+course it must be remembered that Dinizulu was a kaffir and we were only
+Boers. Fancy, my Afrikander brothers, a self-respecting English young
+lady consenting to dance with this uncivilised kaffir! Imagine, they
+allowed him to dine at the same table, and to drive in the same carriage
+with them! I do not know how this information strikes my readers, but I
+must say that when the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page482" name="page482"></a>(p. 482)</span> Governor of the Island, an elderly
+gentleman named Sterndale, with 35 years of the Indian Civil Service
+behind him, informed me that such had been the case, I was rendered
+speechless.</p>
+
+<p>I would not have it supposed, however, that we prisoners had any special
+ambition to attend balls and dinners, for we were not in the mood for
+festivities, and even had we desired we could hardly with propriety have
+appeared at these elegant boards and gatherings dressed in our shabby
+apparel.</p>
+
+<p>A number of the prisoners received permission from the authorities to
+pursue the various crafts and employments with which they were
+conversant, at the small daily wage of between sixpence and a shilling.
+This pay was a ridiculously small remuneration for the large amount of
+work which the men executed. A great diversity of trades were
+represented by us prisoners. One was a mason, another a farmer, a third
+an apothecary, while a fourth was a goldsmith, and so far did we go that
+one man was appointed caterer for the St. Helena Club.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page483" name="page483"></a>(p. 483)</span> Months had now passed since I had been first brought a captive
+to this island prison, and it approached the middle of May. Persistent
+though rather vague reports about Peace continually reached us, but
+owing to the strictness of the censors, who had an exaggerated idea of
+their duties, any news from outside came to our anxious ears in very
+small pieces, and gave us a very meagre idea of what was happening in
+South Africa and other places outside. That we were all praying
+earnestly for Peace needs no telling, especially if I may mention that
+some of my comrades had been incarcerated on the island for two years
+and eight months. I cannot adequately tell how wearisome their long
+exile was to them.</p>
+
+<p>Just before I was liberated from confinement, our old antagonists, the
+3rd Battalion of "Buffs," under Colonel Brinckman, were detailed to the
+Island. This regiment had seen two years of active service in South
+Africa, and they were, therefore, soldiers who did not hold their
+enemies in contempt.</p>
+
+<p>I do not feel at this time, in view of the present tension of affairs,
+able to pursue my <span class="pagenum"><a id="page484" name="page484"></a>(p. 484)</span> account further; but if encouraged by a
+sympathetic public to supplement this effort by a more detailed
+description of my imprisonment at St. Helena, I may in the near future
+again seek their indulgence.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, I take what I hope will prove but a temporary leave of my
+readers, with the following explanatory details and critical comments on
+the general characteristics of the War.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page485" name="page485"></a>(p. 485)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="49">XLIX.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">HOW WE BLEW UP AND CAPTURED TRAINS.</p>
+
+
+<p>Looking at the matter superficially it seems a very barbarous thing to
+derail and destroy trains with dynamite, but this was the only course
+left open to us, since large military stores were being continually
+brought in by the British from the coast. We honestly regretted that,
+owing to the derailment and destruction of trains, drivers, stokers, and
+often innocent passengers were launched into eternity. War is at best a
+cruel and illogical way of settling disputes, and the measures which the
+belligerent parties are sometimes compelled to take are of such a
+character that sentimentality does not enter into any of the
+calculations of the contending parties.</p>
+
+<p>It should not be necessary to assure my readers that we acted entirely
+within our rights <span class="pagenum"><a id="page486" name="page486"></a>(p. 486)</span> in derailing and destroying trains. This was
+the only means we had of breaking the British lines of communication and
+of interrupting the conveyance of British troops and food.</p>
+
+<p>Moreover, we were more than justified in any act of train-derailment
+that we committed, by the instructions of Lord Wolseley as expressed in
+his handbook. In that well-known publication this distinguished soldier
+actually prescribes the use of dynamite, and even suggests the manner in
+which it may be employed to the best advantage. But although this
+train-wrecking was in every degree justifiable, I can assure the reader
+that we regarded it as a very unpalatable duty. I remember that when
+Lord Kitchener complained to me about the destruction of a certain
+train, I sent him a reply to the following effect:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p class="quote">"That the blowing up and destroying of trains was as
+     distasteful to me as I hoped the burning of our houses was
+     to his Excellency; and that when we derailed trains we
+     entered upon the task with hearts quite as heavy as those
+     which I presumed weighed down his troops when they deported
+     our women and children from their homes to the Concentration
+     Camps."</p>
+
+<p>I shall now describe how we went to work in <span class="pagenum"><a id="page487" name="page487"></a>(p. 487)</span> the matter of
+capturing trains. That this is not so easy a task as appears to be
+supposed I shall endeavour to show. Perhaps the best way to exemplify
+our method of procedure would be to describe a particular instance which
+occurred in March, 1901, between Belfast and Wonderfontein on the
+Delagoa Bay Railway. The two stations are approximately 12 miles apart.
+At either station a garrison had been established, and these were
+provided with two or three cannons and two armoured trains, which latter
+were held in readiness to proceed to any place within their immediate
+sphere of action when anything irregular occurred on the line. They were
+used besides to carry reinforcements and stores when needed. The
+armoured train was indeed a very important factor in the British
+military tactics, and one we had to take fully into account. The railway
+between these two stations was also guarded by blockhouses. Every
+morning the British soldiers carefully inspected their particular
+section of the railway before trains were despatched in any direction.
+The peril of running trains at <span class="pagenum"><a id="page488" name="page488"></a>(p. 488)</span> night was speedily recognised,
+and of those that attempted the journey very few indeed escaped capture.
+On the particular occasion when the incident I am about to relate took
+place, we were encamped at Steenkampsbergen, enjoying a little remission
+from the arduous work in which we had been engaged. But we were not
+idle, and a field-cornetcy of approximately a hundred men was detailed
+to attempt the capture of a train. I personally reconnoitred the line,
+and sent a field-cornet with instructions to lay a mine at the most
+favourable spot for the distasteful operation we were about to perform.</p>
+
+<p>Our <span class="italic">modus operandi</span> was to take a Martini-Henri rifle and saw off four
+inches before and behind the magazine, and then to so file the trigger
+guard that the trigger was left exposed. Two of the most intelligent
+burghers were despatched over night with this mutilated rifle and a
+packet of dynamite to the spot chosen for the mine, while two other
+burghers kept guard.</p>
+
+<p>Special precautions were taken to prevent footmarks being traced by the
+British patrols, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page489" name="page489"></a>(p. 489)</span> the burghers walking for a considerable
+distance on the rails. The mine was prepared by carefully removing the
+stones from underneath the rails and as cautiously replacing them to
+again fill up the hole after the instruments of destruction had been
+adjusted. The trigger was placed in contact with the dynamite, and just
+enough above ground to be affected by the weight of the locomotive, but
+so little exposed as to be passed unnoticed. All surplus stones were
+carried off in a bag and great care was taken to conceal all traces of
+the mine. Gingerly and cautiously and without leaving any trace of their
+visit, the burghers now returned to their field-cornet and reported that
+all was in order. The field-cornetcy took up its position behind a small
+hill about a mile from the railway, and the men concealed themselves and
+their horses so ingeniously that their presence was not even suspected
+by the occupants of the blockhouse close by. According to our
+information the first train that was to pass next morning was the mail
+train carrying the European mails, and the prospect of capturing some
+newspapers and thus obtaining <span class="pagenum"><a id="page490" name="page490"></a>(p. 490)</span> news of the outside world, from
+which we had been isolated for several months, filled us with pleasant
+expectation. I especially instructed the field-cornet to obtain
+newspapers, and to capture as much food and clothing as possible. It
+being the custom of the British garrisons to send scouts along the
+railway each day to examine the line, the next morning the track was as
+usual microscopically inspected, but the scouts failed to discover the
+trap which we had laid.</p>
+
+<p>Two outpost burghers lay at the top of the hill in the grass, and from
+their coign of vantage they had a clear view of the railway line.</p>
+
+<p>Ten o'clock in the morning arriving without a train appearing, my men
+began to grumble. In the excitement of this adventure they had omitted
+to prepare any food, and they were not now allowed to make fires,
+because the smoke evolved in culinary operations would have been
+immediately noticed by the enemy's outpost. We had therefore to remain
+hungry, or our well-laid plans would have been frustrated. Time passed
+on, and at 2 o'clock in the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page491" name="page491"></a>(p. 491)</span> afternoon there were still no
+traces of the expected train. Our horses were saddled up and had been
+without food since the previous afternoon, and the poor animals also
+began to show their displeasure by whinnying and stamping their hoofs on
+the ground. The enemy's scouts had already inspected the line three or
+four times either by going over it on foot or by using a trolley.</p>
+
+<p>The afternoon was well advanced, and fears were growing in our minds
+that the mine had been discovered. I should say that it was Sunday
+afternoon, and that the mine had been laid on Saturday night. This
+train-wrecking scheme of ours was contrary to the practices of our
+nation, who regard all such acts on Sunday as a desecration of the
+Sabbath, but here I will again apply an English precept, "The better the
+day the better the deed."</p>
+
+<p>About four o'clock my outposts notified to me the approach of smoke, and
+shortly afterwards we beheld a train coming along. Every man of us
+mounted his horse, and we sat calmly in the saddle to observe the
+execution of our plan. We held our breaths. Perhaps <span class="pagenum"><a id="page492" name="page492"></a>(p. 492)</span> the
+British had detected the mine and removed it, with the result that all
+our travail would be in vain; or they might possibly have sent a large
+force of soldiers with cannon on the train to give us a "good hiding" to
+boot. We watched breathlessly the progress of the train as it rapidly
+approached the fatal spot, and our hearts thumped wildly as we waited to
+see the success or failure of our enterprise. We had not long to wait,
+for with a tremendous shock the mine exploded, overturning the engine,
+and bringing the train to a standstill.</p>
+
+<p>We now proceeded to storm the train, but I saw the danger of advancing
+in a mass and shouted to my men to go carefully and spread out. When we
+were about 500 feet from the train the British fired a volley at us, but
+in so doing they merely displayed by their firing that there were not
+many riflemen on the train, and that those that there were shot badly
+and at random. Thus shown the weakness of the enemy, we stormed with
+renewed vigour, and on arriving at about a hundred yards distance we
+dismounted. The defenders did not face our fire long before displaying
+the white <span class="pagenum"><a id="page493" name="page493"></a>(p. 493)</span> flag. I stopped fire at once and the train was ours.</p>
+
+<p>It was Lieutenant Crossby, of the Remount Department, who waved the
+white flag, and he now surrendered with about 20 "Tommies."</p>
+
+<p>Among the occupants of the train was an old major, and on his saying
+that he was very sick, and was on his way to the hospital, we
+immediately apologised for having disturbed him and for the delay which
+our little operation had caused him. There were eight sacks of European
+mail in the train and these we seized. We liberated the "Tommies" after
+disarming them. The Lieutenant in charge was the sole person detained as
+a prisoner-of-war, and he was added to six other British officers who
+were vegetating under our charge. Only a part of the train could be
+destroyed by us, as one section was occupied by women and children who
+were being transported to the Concentration Camps.</p>
+
+<p>On the following morning the field-cornet brought me the papers and said
+with a smile, "You see I have brought you what you required, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page494" name="page494"></a>(p. 494)</span>
+General." I was overjoyed to obtain tidings from the outside world. The
+letters were distributed about the laager, and there was abundance of
+reading matter. I felt rather sorry for the "Tommies" who were being
+thus mercilessly robbed of their letters, but I consoled myself with the
+thought that our plight was quite as bad as theirs, for we Boers had had
+no communication from any members of our families for twelve months, and
+we felt justified in making the "Tommies" share our misfortune. The
+Boers did not, however, get much satisfaction out of other men's
+epistles, and even those who could read English gave up the operation
+after having perused one or two, and threw away the sackfuls of letters
+with disappointed faces.</p>
+
+<p>The capture of this train was our second success. Shortly before we had
+seized a train near Pan Station and had obtained a splendid haul. This
+particular train was carrying Christmas presents for the British
+soldiers, and we found a miscellaneous assortment of cakes, puddings and
+other delicacies. It was very amusing that we should be celebrating
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page495" name="page495"></a>(p. 495)</span> Christmas with cakes and puddings which had been intended for
+our opponents.</p>
+
+<p>A few weeks after we had captured the train carrying the European mails
+we made another attempt at train wrecking, this time at Wonderfontein
+Station. All, too, went well on this occasion until we charged, and the
+British opened fire upon us with cannon. We were not favoured this time
+by any sort of cover, but had to attack over open ground, exposing
+ourselves to the heavy fire of the guns and the fusillade of a hundred
+British riflemen. We had chanced this time upon an armoured train, and
+the trucks which bore the cannon had remained uninjured. The nut was
+rather too hard for us to crack, and failing to take the train by storm,
+we were compelled to retire, after having sustained the loss of three
+men, of whom one was my brave adjutant, Vivian Cogell. From what I have
+said I think my readers will agree that the capturing of a train is not
+always a "cake and ale" operation.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page496" name="page496"></a>(p. 496)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="50">L.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">HOW WE FED AND CLOTHED COMMANDOS.</p>
+
+
+<p>As early as March, 1901, we experienced the difficulty of adequately
+providing our commandos with the necessities of life. So far back as
+September, 1900, we had said good-bye at Hector's Spruit to our
+commissariat, and thence, no organized supplies existing, it may very
+well be imagined that the task of feeding the Boers was one of the most
+serious, and I may say disquieting, questions with which we had to deal.
+We were cut off from the world, and there was no means of importing
+stores. Of course the men who had been previously engaged on
+commissariat duty were enlisted in the fighting ranks so soon as they
+became available. From this date we had to feed ourselves on quite a
+different system. Each commandant looked <span class="pagenum"><a id="page497" name="page497"></a>(p. 497)</span> after his own men and
+appointed two or three Boers whose special duty it was to ride round for
+provisions. It must not be supposed that we commandeered stores without
+signing receipts, and the storekeeper who supplied us was provided with
+an acknowledgment, countersigned by field-cornet, commandant, and
+general. On producing this document to our Government the holder
+received probably one-third of the amount in cash and the balance in
+Government notes, better known as "blue-backs." By this time a large
+portion of the Republic had been occupied by the British, all
+food-stuffs had been removed or destroyed, and most of the cattle had
+been captured. In consequence, everything in the shape of food became
+very scarce. Flour, coffee, sugar, &amp;c., were now regarded as delicacies
+remembered from the far-away past. The salt supplies were especially
+low, and we feared that without salt we would not be able to live, or if
+we did manage to exist, that we might bring upon ourselves an epidemic
+of disease. Our fears in this respect were increased by the opinions
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page498" name="page498"></a>(p. 498)</span> expressed by our doctors, and we viewed our situation with
+considerable disquietude. Happily, as experience proved, our
+apprehensions were not in the least justified, for during the ten months
+that preceded my capture my burghers lived entirely without salt, and
+were at the time that I fell into the hands of the British as healthy as
+could be desired.</p>
+
+<p>Existing as we did solely on mealies and meat, potatoes and other
+vegetables which we might chance upon were regarded as luxuries indeed.
+Though it may appear strange it is nevertheless a fact that we were
+always fortunate enough to obtain adequate supplies of mealies and meat.
+We ground our mealies in coffee mills if no other mills were available.
+Mealie pap is cooked in a simple fashion, and occasionally boiling hot
+pots of it have fallen into the hands of the British. The British
+soldiers were not much better off than we were, for they were limited to
+bully-beef and "clinkers," though they frequently supplemented their
+larder by stores from Boer farms, such as fowls, pigs, &amp;c., and had
+salt, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page499" name="page499"></a>(p. 499)</span> sugar, and coffee in abundance. Their culinary utensils
+were not nearly so primitive as circumstances had reduced ours to.</p>
+
+<p>Many Boers did nothing but roam round with their cattle, and I confess
+that on many occasions they excited my admiration by the "slim" manner
+in which they evaded capture. Boers of this description were dubbed
+"bush-lancers," because they always sought the thickest bushes for
+sanctuary. These "bush-lancers" were of three kinds: There were some who
+sought by running away with their cattle to escape commando duty, others
+who hoped by retaining their cattle to obtain a large profit on them
+after the War was over, while others were so attached to their cattle
+that they would as lief have lost their own lives as have suffered their
+cattle to be taken. All three classes of "bush-lancers" contrived to
+supply us with adequate stores of food. Often, however, it was a
+difficult task to get the supplies out of them. When we asked them to
+sell us cattle we were frequently met by the reply that we had already
+taken their best cattle, that the British had taken some, and <span class="pagenum"><a id="page500" name="page500"></a>(p. 500)</span>
+that the little they had left they could not do without. Of course we
+were not hindered in our purpose of obtaining food by such a reply, and
+we had sometimes to resort to force. We frequently gave these
+"bush-lancers" notice when danger threatened, but in most instances they
+were the first to discover danger, and gave us information as to the
+movements of the British.</p>
+
+<p>Everybody knows that it is a sore trial for the Boer to live without
+coffee, but this national beverage disappeared entirely from our menu,
+and its loss was only partly replaced by the "mealie coffee" which we
+set about preparing. The process was a very simple one. As soon as we
+off-saddled a hundred coffee mills were set to work. The mealie was
+roasted over a fire and afterwards treated in a similar manner to that
+by which the coffee bean is prepared. This "mealie coffee" made a very
+palatable drink, especially as we were frequently able to obtain milk to
+mix with it.</p>
+
+<p>We generally roasted our meat on the coals, as we found that without
+salt meat was most <span class="pagenum"><a id="page501" name="page501"></a>(p. 501)</span> palatable when treated in this way. This is
+explained by the fact that the ashes of the fire contain a certain
+saline quality. We obtained mealies in all sorts of extraordinary ways.
+Sometimes we harvested it ourselves, but more often we found quantities
+hidden in caves or kraals. Mealies were also purchased from the natives.
+Every general did all that was possible to sow in the district in which
+he was operating, for the soil is very fruitful. We very seldom lacked
+mealies, although the British frequently destroyed the crops we had been
+growing. There can be no doubt that when an Afrikander feels hungry he
+will find something to eat.</p>
+
+<p>I have already mentioned that sometimes when the British swooped down
+upon us they carried away our culinary utensils, and a question may
+arise in the minds of my readers as to how we obtained others to replace
+them. Well, we were not particular in this connection. We found empty
+tea cans and empty bully-beef tins, and by manipulating barbed wire we
+speedily converted these crude materials into serviceable culinary
+implements. <span class="pagenum"><a id="page502" name="page502"></a>(p. 502)</span> We preferred the tar cans because the beef tins
+often came to pieces after the solder with which they are fastened had
+been subjected to the heat of the fire. I remember that one day our
+parson gave as much as five shillings for an empty tar can.</p>
+
+<p>Several British convoys fell into our hands, but the food we found on
+them consisted usually of bully-beef and "clinkers," things which only
+dire necessity drove us Boers to eat. Sometimes to our great chagrin we
+discovered that all our fighting to capture a convoy was only rewarded
+by the sight of empty trucks or ones loaded with hay and fodder. If
+perchance we were fortunate enough to capture a camp or a fort we
+contented ourselves with removing such coffee and sugar as we could
+carry away on our pack mules.</p>
+
+<p>The clothing question was very perplexing. Whenever we were able to
+obtain it we bought canvas and converted it into trousers. Sheep skins
+we tanned and employed either for the purpose of making clothes or for
+patching. The hides of cattle and of horses <span class="pagenum"><a id="page503" name="page503"></a>(p. 503)</span> that had died of
+disease were also tanned and employed for the making of boots. I may
+point out that no horse was specially slaughtered for this purpose or
+for the purpose of food. It was only General Baden-Powell and General
+White who slaughtered their horses to make sausages. Our best clothing
+supply, however, came from the British Army. Forgive me for saying so; I
+do not intend to be sarcastic. When we captured a convoy or a fort we
+always obtained a supply of clothes. At the beginning of the War we
+Boers had a strong prejudice against any garment which even faintly
+resembled khaki, but afterwards we grew indifferent and accepted khaki
+quite as readily as any other material. We generally compelled our
+prisoners to exchange clothes with us, and often derived much amusement
+from the disgusted look of the sensitive Briton as he walked away in the
+clothes of a ragged Boer. Imagine the spectacle! A dandy English
+soldier, clean shaven, with a monocle adorning one eye, his head covered
+with an old war-worn slouch hat of broad brim, and his body with ragged
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page504" name="page504"></a>(p. 504)</span> jacket and trousers patched with sheep-skin or yarn.</p>
+
+<p>I may say that none of this systematic plundering occurred in my
+presence. But such things were certainly done, and, after all, who can
+blame a ragged burgher for resorting to this means, however much to be
+deprecated, of clothing himself. Remember that the poor Boers were
+prepared to pay double the value of a suit of clothes, and were, so to
+speak, cut off from the world, while the British soldier had simply to
+go back to camp to obtain a new outfit. "Necessity knows no law."</p>
+
+<p>In concluding this chapter I must mention that the lack of matches was
+very sensibly felt. And when our stock of matches was exhausted we had
+to resort to the old-fashioned tinder-box and flint and steel. We found
+this expedient a very poor substitute for the lucifer match, but it was
+certainly better than nothing at all. Personally I experienced the
+greatest difficulty in getting fire from a flint and steel, and to do it
+generally took me quite twice as long as it <span class="pagenum"><a id="page505" name="page505"></a>(p. 505)</span> took anybody else,
+and I bruised my hands considerably. This latter, however, is an
+experience to which every amateur is liable, and I was never much more
+than an amateur at anything.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page506" name="page506"></a>(p. 506)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="51">LI.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">OUR FRIEND THE ENEMY.</p>
+
+
+<p>In venturing on a judgment of the British soldier, from a military point
+of view, I may be told that only the man who has had a military training
+is competent to express an opinion upon the individual capacity of a
+soldier, be he Boer or Briton. That may be true, as long as people only
+go theoretically to work; but after my two and a half years of practical
+experience, my military friends may be gracious enough to allow me to
+express my simple opinion concerning this important factor, which is
+undoubtedly fundamental to the efficiency of any army. At the same time
+I promise to be as impartial in my judgment of the Boer as of the Briton
+as a fighter, or, at least, as impartial as can be expected from a
+fallible Boer.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page507" name="page507"></a>(p. 507)</span> As an officer in the Boer army I encountered the British
+soldier in many capacities and in many circumstances. The officer of the
+regular British troops was always prepared to notify that he had no high
+opinion of the officers of the irregular troops. At the same time the
+volunteer officer was equally ready to heartily reciprocate the
+compliment when it was passed upon him by the regular. To be honest, I
+must say that I specifically give preference to the regular officer,
+whom I regard as having more initiative, and as being more practical and
+less artificial than his colleague, the irregular Imperial officer. As
+regards courage I saw little to choose between them. I certainly can
+draw no great distinction, since I have never been in a position to
+fight on the same side as they.</p>
+
+<p>Generally speaking, I consider the British officer a very brave man,
+though I do think he sometimes is guilty of excess in that respect&mdash;that
+is to say, that he goes impractically to work, and, the young officer
+especially, is driven by ambition to do desperate and stupid things. To
+this foolhardiness <span class="pagenum"><a id="page508" name="page508"></a>(p. 508)</span> may be largely attributed the heavy losses
+in officers suffered by the British Army in the War.</p>
+
+<p>Since I fell into British hands I have found the officers to whom I had
+been opposed on the battlefield treat me with the utmost magnanimity.
+After having been in personal contact with a considerable number of
+officers of various regiments I must plainly say that the British
+officer is to be encountered in only two species: He is either a
+gentleman or&mdash;the other. The officer of the first species is prepared to
+be charitable to his antagonists, and generally assumes an attitude of
+dignity and humanity; whereas the latter possesses all the attributes of
+the idiot, and is not only detestable in the eyes of his antagonists,
+but is also despised by his own <span class="italic">entourage</span>.</p>
+
+<p>There have been unfortunate British officers in this War, and there have
+been occasions when a disaster to the British has been immediately
+attributed to the acts or the tactics of the commanding officer. In this
+connection I will cite the regrettable instance of General Gatacre at
+Stormberg. I do not <span class="pagenum"><a id="page509" name="page509"></a>(p. 509)</span> think this reverse is to be attributable
+to stupidity, or indiscretion, or cowardice.</p>
+
+<p>There is a great deal of luck attached to any adventure in the field,
+and ill-luck had pursued General Gatacre persistently. But undoubtedly
+where bad luck pursues a commander on more than one occasion it is not
+only expedient but necessary to dismiss such an officer, because his
+troops lose confidence in him, and their spirit is undermined. It has
+occurred in this War that incapable officers with good men and much luck
+have performed wonders.</p>
+
+<p>The British soldier, or "Tommy," who draws a very poor daily pay, for
+which he has to perform a tremendous lot of work, is, if not the most
+capable fighter, the most willing in all circumstances to offer himself
+as a sacrifice at the altar of duty, or of what he considers his duty,
+to his country. But if "Tommy" by any accident be asked to deviate from
+the usual routine in which he has been trained, he is a thoroughly
+helpless creature. This helplessness, in my opinion, is caused by
+exaggerated discipline, and by the system under <span class="pagenum"><a id="page510" name="page510"></a>(p. 510)</span> which "Tommy"
+is not allowed to think for himself or to take care of himself, and this
+individual helplessness has undoubtedly been one of the shortcomings of
+the British soldier during the War. As regards the fortitude of the
+ordinary British soldier, I must repeat what I have already said&mdash;that
+he is a courageous, willing and faithful warrior, and that it is to his
+fidelity and patriotism that the British Army may attribute its success.
+I believe this to be a truism which will defy even criticism.</p>
+
+<p>There are, of course, exceptions to the courageous "Tommy." If I were to
+draw any comparison between the nationalities, I would say that of the
+soldiers with whom I was brought into contact on the battlefield, the
+Irishmen and the Scotsmen were better fighting men than the others. In
+regard to British soldiers generally, I would remark that, if they could
+add good shooting and ability to judge distances to their courage, then
+they would be perhaps perfect soldiers, and certainly be doubly
+dangerous to their foes.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page511" name="page511"></a>(p. 511)</span> Taken as a whole "Tommy" is a very warm-hearted fellow, though
+as regards humanity some distinction must be drawn between the regular
+soldier and the enlisted volunteer, for the latter is less humane than
+the former. This was too clearly shown by his conduct in the
+transporting of women and children and in the plundering of
+prisoners-of-war. But nevertheless "Tommy," generally speaking, whether
+regular or irregular, was sympathetic with regard to our wounded, and
+showed great kindness of heart to a maimed opponent.</p>
+
+<p>I consider that the British infantry bore the brunt of the fighting of
+this War, especially in its earlier stages. Where the cavalryman failed
+to break through our lines the infantryman stepped in and paved the way
+for him. We found we could always better stand an attack from cavalry
+than from infantry, for this latter, advancing as it did in scattered
+formation, was much less visible to our marksmen. When advancing to the
+attack the British foot soldiers were wont to crawl along on their
+faces, seeking cover whenever that was <span class="pagenum"><a id="page512" name="page512"></a>(p. 512)</span> available; thus
+advancing, and especially when they were supported by artillery, these
+men proved very difficult indeed to repulse. In my opinion a cavalryman
+has no chance against a good marksman when this latter occupies a good
+position and is able to await attack. The British cavalry horses are
+such stupendous creatures that given a good rifle and a keen eye it is
+difficult for one to miss them. They certainly make most excellent
+targets. It is my firm opinion that for usefulness the cavalryman cannot
+be compared to the mounted infantryman. Indeed, my experience during the
+last 14 months of my active participation in the War taught me that the
+British mounted infantry was a very hard nut to crack. Of course
+everything depended upon the quality of the man and the horse. A good
+rifleman and a horseman, especially if he were able to fire when
+mounted, was a very formidable foe. As for horses, I may say that I do
+not wonder that the great unwieldy horses for which the British
+cavalrymen have such a predilection cannot be compared to the Basuto
+ponies with which we <span class="pagenum"><a id="page513" name="page513"></a>(p. 513)</span> went to work. The African pony has, in
+fact proved itself to be the only useful horse during the campaign. The
+British cavalryman might have used elephants with almost as much
+advantage as their colossal horses. Further, in my opinion, the
+cavalrymen might just as well be discontinued as a branch of an army,
+for there can be no doubt that the infantry, artillery, and mounted
+infantry will be the only really useful and, indeed, practicable
+soldiers of the future.</p>
+
+<p>While I was writing the above a book was placed in my hand written by
+Count Sternberg, with an introduction from the pen of Lieut-Colonel
+Henderson. I doubt very much whether Colonel Henderson read the
+manuscript of the Count's book before penning his introduction, for I
+cannot suppose that he holds such small-minded and fantastic ideas
+regarding South Africa as the Count expresses. In this memorable work
+some extraordinary tales are told of the galloping and trotting feats of
+the Basuto ponies. The confession that the Count makes that he did not
+care upon which side he fought so long as he <span class="pagenum"><a id="page514" name="page514"></a>(p. 514)</span> fought is indeed
+extraordinary. That he ever fought at all the Boer officers who knew him
+strongly doubt, and none of them will wonder that the Count's bitterest
+experience in South Africa was that on one occasion some naughty German
+ambulance people deprived him of a box of lager-beer. This and other
+amateurs have already overwhelmed the reading public with so much
+so-called criticism about this War, that I venture upon delicate ground
+in offering my opinion. I will confine myself to commenting upon what I
+saw and I know personally, for I know nothing about the topography of
+Europe and I am not acquainted either with the composition of the
+European armies or with their manner of fighting.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page515" name="page515"></a>(p. 515)</span> CHAPTER <abbr title="52">LII.</abbr></h3>
+
+<p class="title">THE FIGHTING BOER AND HIS OFFICER.</p>
+
+
+<p>There is great difference between the relations of a Boer officer to his
+following and the relation of a European officer to his men, for while
+in the former case no social distinction between the two exists, in the
+latter the officers and men are drawn from two distinct branches of
+society. The Boers in their normal state are independent farmers
+differing only in wealth. One Boer might be the possessor of perhaps ten
+farms and be worth a quarter of a million, while another might be but a
+poor "bywoner" and not worth a hundred pence, yet the two men would
+occupy the same rank in time of war.</p>
+
+<p>Immediately martial law is promulgated the entire Boer adult male
+population is amenable for military service. In the ranks of a commando
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page516" name="page516"></a>(p. 516)</span> one finds men of every profession, from the advocate and
+doctor to the blacksmith and plumber. From these ranks the officers are
+chosen, and a man who one day is but an ordinary soldier might be the
+next promoted to the rank of field-cornet or commandant, and might
+possibly in a few days attain the position of a General.</p>
+
+<p>The officer and the men that follow him have in most cases been drawn
+from the same district, and they know one another personally. If,
+therefore, a Boer falls in battle, whatever be his rank, his loss is
+keenly felt by his comrades in arms, for they, having known him of old,
+lose a personal friend by his death.</p>
+
+<p>The Boer officers can be divided into two classes&mdash;the brave and the
+cowardly. The brave officer fights whenever he gets the chance, whereas
+his chicken-hearted brother always waits for orders and makes elaborate
+plans to escape fighting. It is quite easy in the Boer Army to succeed
+in the course adopted by the latter class, and it not infrequently
+occurred that the Boers preferred this class of officer to his more
+reckless comrade, for they <span class="pagenum"><a id="page517" name="page517"></a>(p. 517)</span> argued&mdash;"We like to serve under him
+because he will keep us out of danger." And just as the officers could
+be divided so could the men.</p>
+
+<p>In this campaign it was noticeable that during the last stages of the
+struggle the younger officers replaced the older ones. Many of these
+latter got tired of the War and surrendered to the British, others were
+removed from their commands as being too old-fashioned in their methods
+and incapable of adapting themselves to the altered circumstances.
+Moreover, we found that the younger officers were more industrious, more
+mischievous, and more reckless. Of course, when I speak of the young
+Boer officers I do not intend to convey the idea of children of
+seventeen to twenty years of age, such as I have sometimes encountered
+among the junior officers of the British Army.</p>
+
+<p>The life training of the burghers in horsemanship and musketry stood
+them in good stead. I may say that a Boer even early in life is a good
+horseman and marksman. He does not shoot without purpose for he can
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page518" name="page518"></a>(p. 518)</span> generally estimate at a glance the distance at which he is
+shooting, and he has been taught economy in the use of ammunition. The
+burgher knows perfectly well how valuable to him is his horse, and he is
+thus constrained to use his knowledge in carefully tending it; moreover,
+considerable affection exists, in many instances, between the master and
+his beast.</p>
+
+<p>Taken all round the Boer is a brave man, but his attitude on the
+battlefield is influenced very largely by the character of his officer.
+And being brave, the Boer is, in the main, sympathetic towards
+prisoners-of-war, and especially towards such as are wounded. Possessing
+bravery and humanity the Boer has besides what the British "Tommy
+Atkins" lacks, the power of initiative. The death of an officer does not
+throw the ranks of a Boer commando into chaos, for everybody knows how
+to proceed. It must not be supposed, however, that the death of an
+officer does not exercise a certain amount of demoralising influence.
+What I wish to impress is that the members of a commando can act
+independently <span class="pagenum"><a id="page519" name="page519"></a>(p. 519)</span> of the officer and can exercise their own
+judgment.</p>
+
+<p>As regards the fortitude of the Boers, I can best illustrate it by
+pointing to the fact that it frequently happened that having been
+repulsed with loss one day we attacked our conqueror with better success
+the next. We often assumed the aggressive when a favourable opportunity
+offered itself, and did not always wait to be shot at. Frequently we
+held out for hours notwithstanding severe punishment.</p>
+
+<p>I think even the bitterest of our enemies will allow that the Boers who
+remained faithful to their country to the last were animated with noble
+principles. Were it not that so many of my compatriots lacked that which
+is so largely characteristic of the British soldier, the quality of
+patriotism and the intense desire to uphold the traditions of his
+nationality, I would ask what people in the world would have been able
+to conquer the Afrikander? I say this with great deliberation, and I do
+not believe that any impartial compatriot will attempt to deny the truth
+of the statement.</p>
+
+<p>The question suggests itself how would the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page520" name="page520"></a>(p. 520)</span> English have fared
+had they been placed in a plight similar to that to which we found
+ourselves reduced? Supposing that we Boers had taken London and other
+large towns, and had driven the English people before us and compelled
+them to hide in the mountains with nothing upon which to subsist but
+mealie pap and meat without salt, with only worn and rent clothes as a
+covering, their houses burnt, and their women and children placed in
+Concentration Camps in the hands of the enemy. How would the English
+have acted under such circumstances? Would they not have surrendered to
+the conqueror? However that may be, one thing is certain, that the
+patriotism of a nation is only to be learned when put to such a severe
+test as this.</p>
+
+<p>In his book, "The Great Boer War," Dr. Conan Doyle has, on the whole,
+gained the admiration of the Afrikanders by his moderate language. But
+here and there, where he has been carried away by his English sympathies
+to use bitter and libellous language with respect to the Boers, that
+admiration has been changed into contempt. Dr. Conan Doyle <span class="pagenum"><a id="page521" name="page521"></a>(p. 521)</span>
+attempts to defend the British Army by abusing the Boers. Abuse is not
+argument. To prove that Van der Merwe is a thief does not exonerate
+Brown from the crime of theft if he have been stealing.</p>
+
+<p>The author describes the shooting of Lieutenant Neumeyer, for refusing
+to surrender and for attempting to escape from his captors as murder,
+and the shooting of kaffir spies it also glibly described as murder;
+whereas, the incident at Frederickstad, where a number of Boers were
+shot dead by the British because they continued firing after hoisting
+the white flag, is justified by him. Of course, the execution of
+Scheepers is also justified by the author. I object to such things
+appearing in a book, because they must tend to sow anew the seeds of
+dissension, hate and bitterness, and these have been planted
+sufficiently deep without being nurtured by Dr. Conan Doyle. Neither
+Boer nor Briton can speak impartially on this question, and both would
+be better employed in attempting to find out the virtues rather than the
+vices in one another's characters.</p>
+
+<p>Whoever in the future governs South Africa, <span class="pagenum"><a id="page522" name="page522"></a>(p. 522)</span> the two races must
+live together, and when the day of Peace arrives and the sword is
+sheathed, let us hold out our hands to each other like men, forgetting
+the past and remembering the motto&mdash;</p>
+
+<p class="center smcap big110"><strong>"Both Nations have Done their Duty."</strong></p>
+
+
+<h3><span class="pagenum"><a id="page523" name="page523"></a>(p. 523)</span> APPENDIX.</h3>
+
+<p class="title"><span class="italic">Some Correspondence between the British and Boer Military Officials.</span></p>
+
+
+<p><span class="left50 smcap">Lyndenburg,</span><br>
+<span class="left60 italic">20th August, 1901</span>.</p>
+
+<p class="smcap">Assistant Commandant-General
+  B. J. Viljoen.</p>
+
+<p class="smcap">Sir,</p>
+
+<p>I have the honour to enclose herewith a copy of a communication received
+from Lord Kitchener. <span class="italic">Begins</span>:&mdash;With reference to your letter of the
+10th August on the subject of employment of natives, I have the honour
+to inform you, as I have already informed Commandant-General Botha, that
+natives are employed by me as scouts and as police in native districts,
+especially in the low country, where white men, if not by long residence
+inured to the climate, suffer much from fever.</p>
+
+<p>I would point out to you that in numerous cases armed natives have been
+employed by the burgher forces, particularly in the commando of General
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page524" name="page524"></a>(p. 524)</span> Beyers, and that armed natives have frequently been found in
+the commandos fighting against us. I do not wish to bring the native
+population of the country into this quarrel between British and Boers.</p>
+
+<p>I have invariably told the natives that, although I could not forbid
+their defending themselves if attacked by burghers, they were on no
+account to attack. I am convinced that but for the strict orders which I
+have issued on this subject, the hatred engendered by the wholesale
+slaughter of unarmed natives by the burghers during this War would have
+led to a native rising, with deplorable results to the Boer race.</p>
+
+<p>It must also be within your knowledge that most of the rifles in
+possession of M'pisana's natives were sold to them by men of your own
+commando when moving from Hector's Spruit to Pietersburg last year.</p>
+
+<p>In answer to your questions regarding the British prisoners now in your
+hands, the persons named are enlisted soldiers in His Majesty's Army,
+and have been acting under my orders. They should be treated as
+prisoners-of-war.&mdash;<span class="italic">Ends.</span></p>
+
+<p>I have the honour to be, Sir,<br>
+<span class="add6em">Your obedient servant,</span><br>
+<span class="left60">A. CURRAN,</span><br>
+<span class="left50 italic">Lieutenant-Colonel</span><br>
+<span class="left50 italic">Commanding Lydenburg</span>.</p>
+
+
+<p class="p3">
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page525" name="page525"></a>(p. 525)</span>
+<span class="left50 italic">23rd July, 1901.</span></p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">To His Excellency Lord Kitchener</span>,<br>
+<span class="italic">Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's Troops in
+  South Africa, Pretoria.</span></p>
+
+<p class="smcap">Your Excellency,</p>
+
+<p>I am compelled to emphatically protest against the methods of your
+officers. Last April your Excellency's brother, General W. Kitchener,
+took our ambulance veldt-hospital, near Roos Senekal, and only after
+much trouble were a number of the vehicles restored to us. On that
+occasion, General W. Kitchener refused to return to me the slaughter
+oxen belonging to the field-hospital, saying that we could steal such
+oxen from the kaffirs. In consequence of those acts, my wounded were
+rendered without food, and robbed of means of transportation.</p>
+
+<p>Now, again, a column of your troops, which was proceeding on the 9th or
+10th inst. from Machadodorp across Witpoort, attacked a Red Cross
+hospital occupied by sick women and children, notwithstanding the
+patients were in charge of a certificated nurse, named Mrs. W. Botha.
+One of <span class="pagenum"><a id="page526" name="page526"></a>(p. 526)</span> your officers, misled by a former burgher, who is now
+treacherously fighting against his own people, declared that the Red
+Cross was not genuine, and burned all the buildings and food found
+therein, placed the patients on open trucks, and removed them.</p>
+
+<p>The first night of their deportation the sick patients and nurses slept
+in a camp at Steelpoortdrift, under the trolley waggons and in the
+bitter cold, and although the women and children were lamenting and
+weeping the entire night, their complaints were not listened to. I have
+declarations testifying to the most inhuman, heartless, and cruel
+maltreatment committed towards helpless women and children on this
+occasion.</p>
+
+<p>Probably, your Excellency knows nothing about these incidents, and as
+regards the <span class="italic">bona-fides</span> of our ambulances, I wish to point out to you
+that British officers depend largely on the assertions of kaffirs, and
+especially on the allegations of traitors, and on the slightest
+provocation ignore the rights of the Red Cross.</p>
+
+<p>The column referred to also burned, and plundered and destroyed many
+houses at Steenkampsberg, Witpoort and many other places, without there
+being one single shot fired in the neighbourhood by our burghers. And
+all this was allowed to occur in spite of your Excellency's promises at
+the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page527" name="page527"></a>(p. 527)</span> meeting of the Commandant-General Botha at Middelburg.</p>
+
+<p>Latterly, it has often occurred that British ambulances have fallen into
+my hands. At Bethel, three doctors and an ambulance attached to General
+Plumer's force fell into my hands. Near Vaalkop, Major Morris's
+ambulance, and near Belfast an ambulance, attached to your brother's
+forces, were in my power, but I always regarded and treated ambulances
+flying the Red Cross as neutral and humane institutions, and I even
+liberated the soldiers employed to attend your wounded.</p>
+
+<p>And not a single one of these doctors or attendants was provided with a
+certificate, and I have invariably accepted their word that they were
+legally attached to the Red Cross. But what is the attitude of the
+British officers towards us?</p>
+
+<p>I trust your Excellency will give me a satisfactory reply to these
+complaints, and issue orders to remedy them.</p>
+
+<p><span class="left30">I am,</span><br>
+<span class="left40">Your Excellency's most obedient servant,</span><br>
+<span class="left50">B. J. VILJOEN.</span><br>
+<span class="left40 italic">Assistant Commandant-General.</span></p>
+
+
+<p class="p3"><span class="pagenum"><a id="page528" name="page528"></a>(p. 528)</span>
+<span class="left50 smcap">District Lydenburg</span>,<br>
+<span class="left60 italic">8th September, 1901</span>.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">To His Excellency, Lord Kitchener</span>, <span class="italic">Commanding
+the British Troops in South Africa, Pretoria</span>.</p>
+
+<p class="smcap">Your Excellency,</p>
+
+<p>I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's letter to
+General Blood, dated Pretoria, 31st of August, from which I understand
+that your Excellency essays to justify the use of the white flag for the
+dissemination of proclamations through our lines, in connection with
+which your Excellency offers arguments which I do not hesitate to say
+are utterly untenable.</p>
+
+<p>Firstly, it is asserted by your Excellency that the sending of these
+documents addressed to individuals is justified under the white flag;
+secondly, that your Excellency considers it your Excellency's duty to
+render us conversant with the contents of your Excellency's
+proclamations in order that we shall be informed what our fate shall be
+after the 15th September next, &amp;c., &amp;c., &amp;c.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page529" name="page529"></a>(p. 529)</span> With regard to the first argument introduced, I regret that I
+must dispute your Excellency's contention that this is legal, and I am
+assured that an impartial court would declare it as illegal. I enclose
+herewith the copy of a letter from General W. Kitchener, dated 1st
+September last, in answer to a complaint of my <span class="italic">locum tenens</span>,
+"Fighting"-General Muller, with respect to the taking and removing by
+the said General W. Kitchener's troops of our ambulance and hospital
+attendants, from which letter it will appear that General Kitchener
+considers the sending of a white flag despatch concerning important and
+serious irregularities as "trivial communications." How am I to
+understand British officers?</p>
+
+<p>Your Excellency thinks that it is permissible to employ the white flag
+to send pernicious and misleading proclamations within our lines,
+whereas General W. Kitchener warns us not to employ the white flag when
+we are compelled to complain concerning the British Army where the
+latter removes and robs us of our ambulances, as occurred in connection
+with the ambulance of Dr. Neethling, which was removed to Middelburg,
+and after being relieved of food, medical instruments, a number of
+vehicles, eight mules, and 10 oxen, was sent back.</p>
+
+<p>With regard to the second matter, your Excellency, I should say, appears
+to display as keen an <span class="pagenum"><a id="page530" name="page530"></a>(p. 530)</span> interest in our ultimate fate as Messrs.
+Dillon and Labouchere, and, if I possessed any prophetic faculty, I
+should probably be better able to appreciate your Excellency's interest
+in ourselves.</p>
+
+<p>In the letter referred to above, your Excellency mentions a letter sent
+to his Honour, Commandant-General Botha, in which your Excellency
+asserts that certain murders committed by us filled the British public
+with horror, and that these murders provoked Mr. Chamberlain's remark
+"that the acts of the Boers justified the description of marauding
+ruffianisms." I cannot believe such acts have been committed by us or
+ours with the knowledge of our officers, or that any such acts will be
+committed. It is, of course, impossible for me to discuss this matter
+further, as I am ignorant of the circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>With reference to your Excellency's contention that the destruction of
+our enemy's railway lines is unjustifiable, I can only say that such
+action is not only regarded as legal by all military authorities, but
+that in a handbook published by Sir Garnet Wolseley circumstantial
+instructions are given in this connection for interrupting hostile
+supplies. As your Excellency rightly remarks, we, as soldiers, must take
+the rough with the smooth, and not complain petulantly when in certain
+cases a less gentle treatment is dealt out. Military operations, such as
+the blowing up of railway lines, are as unpleasant to us <span class="pagenum"><a id="page531" name="page531"></a>(p. 531)</span> as I
+hope the destruction of our houses, the burning of our food, and the
+deportation of our families may be to your Excellency.</p>
+
+<p><span class="left20">I have the honour to be,</span><br>
+<span class="left30">Your Excellency's obedient servant,</span><br>
+<span class="left50">B. J. VILJOEN,</span><br>
+<span class="left40 italic">Assistant Commandant-General,</span><br>
+<span class="left40 italic">Transvaal Burgher Forces.</span></p>
+
+
+<p class="p3"><span class="left50 smcap">District Lydenburg</span>,<br>
+<span class="left60 italic">21st September, 1901</span>.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">To His Honour General Sir Bindon Blood</span>,<br>
+  <span class="italic">Middelburg</span>.</p>
+
+<p class="smcap">Your Honour,</p>
+
+<p>I am compelled to protest against the methods of one of your columns,
+which during the past week has been operating round about Roos Senekal,
+and which has burnt and destroyed the food of a number of families which
+it did not deport. This is surely a most inhuman action, inasmuch that
+the families mentioned are now in <span class="pagenum"><a id="page532" name="page532"></a>(p. 532)</span> a destitute position. The
+families in question are those of Mr. Hans Grobler of Klip River, and
+others at Tondeldoos. I should also like to know why Dr. Manning and his
+ambulance and wounded have been removed from Tondeldoos, notwithstanding
+former assurances that the Red Cross should be regarded as neutral and
+left unmolested.</p>
+
+<p><span class="left30">I have the honour to be,</span><br>
+<span class="left40">Your Honour's obedient servant,</span><br>
+<span class="left50">B. J. VILJOEN.</span><br>
+<span class="left40 italic">Assistant Commandant-General.</span></p>
+
+
+<p class="p3"><span class="left50 smcap">Head Quarters, Pretoria</span>,<br>
+<span class="left60 italic">26th October, 1901</span>.</p>
+
+<p class="smcap">To General Ben Viljoen.</p>
+<p class="smcap">Sir,</p>
+
+<p>I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 8th of
+October, in which you complain of attacks upon your burghers, and the
+families and the property of your burghers, by kaffirs. You specify two
+particular incidents in your letter:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="quote">
+<p>(<span class="italic">a</span>) The incident at Wit River on the 22nd September, 1901.</p>
+
+<p>(<span class="italic">b</span>) The burning and plundering of homesteads at Ohrigstad.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page533" name="page533"></a>(p. 533)</span> I have investigated both cases and find that the facts are as
+follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="quote">
+<p>(<span class="italic">a</span>) In the first case a small body of mounted troops in
+     charge of an officer attempted to capture a number of Boer
+     waggons near Wit River on the 22nd September. A fight took
+     place, and during the battle a band of kaffirs, of whose
+     proximity His Majesty's troops had no knowledge, approached
+     from another direction and commenced shooting on the
+     burghers. This being observed, His Majesty's troops were
+     withdrawn in order to avert any appearance of co-operation
+     with the kaffirs, and a report in connection with the
+     incident was immediately sent in.</p>
+
+<p>(<span class="italic">b</span>) In the second case Colonel Parke, the commanding
+     officer of His Majesty's troops in the district named,
+     reports that there is no foundation for the report supplied
+     to you. On the 3rd of September all families in Ohrigstad
+     district were removed by him. Harber's burgher commando was
+     present, but took no part in the operation. On this occasion
+     it was reported by a Boer woman that a number of kaffirs had
+     appeared there the day previous and had plundered the
+     village of Ohrigstad, but the kaffirs were acting
+     independently of His Majesty's troops, and no further
+     information <span class="pagenum"><a id="page534" name="page534"></a>(p. 534)</span> as regards the matter is available
+     except the report as stated above.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p>In conclusion, I think that it is not improbable that kaffirs have made
+attacks in the districts named by you, but I can only attribute these
+attacks to the action of your own burghers, <span class="italic">i.e.</span>, to the shooting and
+robbing of kaffirs, and the enmity thereby awakened among the kaffirs by
+such maltreatment. While at the same time they (the burghers) have
+supplied the kaffirs, by manner of sale, of weapons and ammunition
+wherewith the attacks were made concerning which you complain. I
+emphatically deny that they (the kaffirs) were armed or incited by His
+Majesty's troops.</p>
+
+<p><span class="left30">I have the honour to be,</span><br>
+<span class="left40">Your obedient servant,</span><br>
+<span class="left50">KITCHENER,</span><br>
+<span class="left30 italic">Commander-in-Chief in
+South Africa</span>.</p>
+
+
+<p class="p3">
+  <span class="pagenum"><a id="page535" name="page535"></a>(p. 535)</span>
+<span class="left50 smcap">District Lydenburg</span>,<br>
+<span class="left60 italic">6th November, 1901.</span></p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">To His Excellency Lord Kitchener</span>,<br>
+<span class="italic">Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's Forces in South Africa.</span></p>
+
+<p class="smcap">Your Excellency,&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter
+of the 26th October, containing a denial of certain acts committed by
+armed kaffirs in the neighbourhood of Wit River and Ohrigstad.</p>
+
+<p>With respect to the first incident, <span class="italic">i.e.</span>, that at Wit River, I can
+only say that it appeared to us not only strange, but even improbable
+that a band of armed kaffirs could attack simultaneously, and in evident
+harmony with His Majesty's troops, and that neither party should have
+any cognisance of the other's presence.</p>
+
+<p>If it were the first occasion that His Majesty's troops had acted in
+conjunction and with the assistance of kaffirs to make raids on the
+burghers, then His Excellency's explanation would be feasible.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="page536" name="page536"></a>(p. 536)</span> But, alas, our bitter experience in this War is otherwise. I
+shall, therefore, be causing your Excellency no surprise if I contend
+that your Excellency's explanation is untenable. As to what occurred at
+Ohrigstad, I adhere to what I said, and to my letter of the 8th of
+October, and I regret to observe that Colonel Parke misled your
+Excellency by giving you an inaccurate account of the true facts.</p>
+
+<p>To assist Colonel Parke's memory I may state that the same night he left
+Lydenburg on his way to Kruger's Post, the Boer, Harber, with his band
+of traitors, proceeded through Klipkloof and across Joubertshoogte,
+accompanied by 100 armed kaffirs, and passed Field-Cornet Zwart's farm
+at Uitkomst, where the plundering of Boer families and homesteads was
+commenced. This was done at the explicit instructions and in the
+presence of the said Harber.</p>
+
+<p>The same afternoon Harber was met by the forces under Colonel Parke, at
+Rustplaats, whence they conjointly withdrew to Kruger's Post Nek.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning Colonel Parke once more proceeded to Ohrigstad, where
+our families were again plundered and deported, and the homesteads
+raided and burned.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, only the last paragraph of Colonel Parke's report is
+correct; and if your Excellency <span class="pagenum"><a id="page537" name="page537"></a>(p. 537)</span> would take the trouble to
+question and examine the families now in your hands&mdash;as requested in my
+former letter&mdash;your Excellency would easily ascertain the true facts.</p>
+
+<p>Since I construe from your Excellency's letter that Harber and his corps
+are recognised as attached to His Majesty's forces, His Majesty's
+officers must be held responsible for the acts of the said Harber and
+his kaffir hordes.</p>
+
+<p>It is not to be assumed that Harber and his corps, all armed, and
+attired in khaki, only accompanied His Majesty's Army as spectators or
+military attachés.</p>
+
+<p>In conclusion, I observe that your Excellency repeats the allegation
+that kaffirs are promiscuously shot, robbed, and maltreated by our
+burghers, and that arms have been sold to the kaffirs by our burghers;
+and that you trace the hostile attitude of the kaffirs towards us to
+these causes.</p>
+
+<p>As regards the hostile attitude of the kaffir races I can refer your
+Excellency to a letter from his Honour, General Louis Botha, on the same
+subject, wherein it is notified, <span class="italic">inter alia</span>, that prior to the arrival
+of British troops in these districts, and in Swaziland, the kaffir
+races, without exception, maintained a pacific attitude, a fact which
+speaks for itself.</p>
+
+<p>I must again repeat that the allegation that <span class="pagenum"><a id="page538" name="page538"></a>(p. 538)</span> burghers sold
+arms to the kaffirs is, so far as I know, untrue, and that this is
+merely one of the many baseless accusations which have emanated from
+traitors and unscrupulous individuals, and are offered by them as
+"important information" to the British officers.</p>
+
+<p>That kaffirs were provided by His Majesty's officers with arms can be
+proved by intercepted documents, and I enclose herewith an extract from
+the diary of Sergeant Buchanan, of Steinacker's Horse, from which your
+Excellency will perceive that Lieutenant Gray, an officer of His
+Majesty's Army, did personally supply kaffirs with arms and ammunition.</p>
+
+<p><span class="left30">I have the honour to be,</span><br>
+<span class="left40">Your Excellency's obedient servant,</span><br>
+<span class="left50">B. J. VILJOEN.</span><br>
+<span class="left40 italic">Assistant Commandant-General.</span></p>
+
+
+<p class="p3"><span class="left50 smcap">District of Lydenburg,</span><br>
+<span class="left60 italic">7th November, 1901.</span></p>
+
+<p class="center smcap">The Officer Commanding Lydenburg,</p>
+
+<p class="smcap">Dear Sir,&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>I shall be obliged by your bringing the following to the attention of
+Lord Kitchener, namely, that on 29th October last the residence of
+<span class="pagenum"><a id="page539" name="page539"></a>(p. 539)</span> a certain D. Coetzee, on the Vrischgewaard Farm, in this
+district, was surrounded during the night of that day, or approximately
+at that time, by His Majesty's troops, assisted by a number of kaffirs
+and traitors, and that only the youth Abraham Coetzee, occupied the
+house, and that this youth, while attempting to escape, was shot through
+the stomach. Coetzee was, furthermore, left in a shed, and robbed of all
+his personal goods, and even his clothes.</p>
+
+<p>The following day I found him still alive, but he died shortly after. He
+declared that in the presence of white British troops he had been
+robbed, knocked about, and kicked by armed kaffirs. I know beforehand
+that the officer responsible for this noble and civilised act will
+attempt to pervert the truth, because I am assured that His Excellency
+cannot sanction this method of warfare. But this case is personally
+known to me, and in my opinion, the declaration of a dying man is worthy
+of credit.</p>
+
+<p><span class="left30">I have the honour to be,</span><br>
+<span class="left40">Your very obedient servant,</span><br>
+<span class="left50">B. J. VILJOEN.</span></p>
+
+
+<p class="p3"><span class="pagenum"><a id="page540" name="page540"></a>(p. 540)</span>
+<span class="left50 smcap">On the Veldt,</span><br>
+<span class="left60 italic">11th November, 1901.</span></p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">To His Excellency The Marquis of Salisbury</span>,<br>
+  <span class="italic">Prime Minister of His British Majesty's
+  Government</span>.</p>
+
+<p class="smcap">Your Excellency,</p>
+
+<p>Whereas His Honour the Commandant-General, and other commanding
+officers, have already more than once, without any result, protested to
+the Commanding Officer of your Forces in South Africa against the
+employment of savage aborigines in this War, and notwithstanding that we
+have repeatedly assured your military authorities here that on our side
+every effort is being made to keep kaffirs entirely outside this War,
+this Government is of opinion that it is its duty to earnestly and
+solemnly protest to your Government, as we hereby do, and at the same
+time to point out and direct its attention to the horrible and cruel
+consequences of this manner of warfare.</p>
+
+<p>Former protests sent in to your military authorities <span class="pagenum"><a id="page541" name="page541"></a>(p. 541)</span> here in
+this connection have met with the reply that such kaffirs were only
+employed as unarmed scouts, though we have proof that they actually
+fight against us, and pursue their destructive methods while in the
+ranks of your forces, and as isolated commandos directed by British
+officers.</p>
+
+<p>These kaffirs, being ignorant of the rules of civilised warfare, have
+not hesitated on various occasions and even in the presence of your
+troops, to kill prisoners-of-war in a barbarous fashion. This is only
+one of the evil consequences resulting from the employment of barbarians
+in war, because it has also occurred that defenceless women and children
+have been made prisoners by these wild ruffians, and removed to kaffir
+kraals for detention until they were handed over to the British military
+authorities.</p>
+
+<p>This Government is prepared, in case the above allegations are denied,
+to send your Excellency a large number of sworn declarations confirming
+the facts.</p>
+
+<p><span class="left20">We have the honour to be,</span><br>
+<span class="left30">Your Excellency's most obedient servants,</span><br>
+
+<span class="left50">S. W. BURGER</span><br>
+<span class="left40">(<span class="italic">Acting State President</span>).</span><br>
+
+<span class="left50">F. W. REITZ</span><br>
+<span class="left40">(<span class="italic">Acting State Secretary</span>).</span></p>
+
+
+<p class="p3"><span class="pagenum"><a id="page542" name="page542"></a>(p. 542)</span>
+<span class="left30 smcap">Army Headquarters, Pretoria,
+  South Africa.</span><br>
+<span class="left60 italic">1st December, 1901.</span></p>
+
+<p class="smcap">Sir,</p>
+
+<p>I observe from a communication which his Honour Schalk Burger has
+requested me to forward to Lord Salisbury, and which I have so
+forwarded, that his Government complains of the treatment of the women
+and children in the camps which we have established for their reception.</p>
+
+<p>Everything has been done which the conditions of a state of war allowed
+to provide for the well-being of the women and children; but as you
+complain of that treatment and must, therefore, be in a position to
+provide for them, I have the honour to inform you that all women and
+children at present in our camps who are willing to leave will be sent
+to your care, and I shall be happy to be informed where you desire that
+they should be handed over to you.</p>
+
+<p>I have addressed a reply to His Honour Schalk Burger in the above sense.</p>
+
+<p>
+<span class="left30">I have the honour to be, Sir,</span><br>
+<span class="left40">Your obedient servant,</span><br>
+<span class="left50">KITCHENER,</span><br>
+<span class="left30 italic">General Commanding-in-Chief,
+  South Africa</span>.<a href="#toc"><span class="small">[Back to Table of Contents]</span></a></p>
+
+<p class="smcap">To General C. De Wet.</p>
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a id="page543" name="page543"></a>(p. 543)</span> MESSRS. HOOD, DOUGLAS &amp; HOWARD'S
+  ANNOUNCEMENTS.</h2>
+
+<hr>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="big150">Famous Fighting Regiments.</span><br>
+  By GEORGE HOOD</p>
+
+<p class="center smcap">price one shilling and sixpence.</p>
+
+<hr>
+
+<p class="noindent"><strong>Lord Salisbury.</strong> The Record Premiership of Modern Times. By <span class="smcap">Arthur Mee</span>.
+Illustrated, 2s. 6d.</p>
+
+<p class="quote noindent"><span class="italic">The Globe:</span> "Mr. Mee wields a style as bright and clear as
+     it is concise, and his sketch and appreciation of the life
+     of the Prime Minister will be read with interest even by
+     those who may not accept all the views put forward."</p>
+
+<p class="p2 noindent"><strong>General Sir Hector Macdonald,</strong> K.C.B., D.S.O., A.D.C. The Story of a
+Romantic Career. By <span class="smcap">David Campbell</span>. Illustrated, 1s. 6d.</p>
+
+<div class="quote">
+<p class="noindent"><span class="italic">The Bookman:</span> "A sympathetic and appreciative sketch of the
+     Scottish hero. The story of his well-deserved success is
+     told in a clear and interesting manner, and gives many
+     details hitherto unpublished."</p>
+
+<p class="noindent"><span class="italic">The Western Morning News:</span> "This is an admirable work. It
+     is a soul-stirring narrative&mdash;one that cannot be read
+     without the quickening of the pulse and glow of pride at the
+     thought that in the British nation, whenever a man has been
+     wanted, that man has always been at hand. The life story of
+     General Macdonald is well told, and the book being a marvel
+     of cheapness, should command an extensive circle of
+     readers."</p>
+
+<p class="noindent"><span class="italic">The Queen:</span> "This simply-told biography of the man who
+     started with the power to make his own opportunities and use
+     them should be bought by every Englishman for his sons and
+     his sons' sons."</p>
+</div>
+
+<p class="p2 noindent"><strong>China and Her Mysteries,</strong> By <span class="smcap">Alfred Stead</span>, F.R.C.I. An Introduction by
+His Excellency Baron Hayashi, Japanese Minister in London, 1s. 6d.</p>
+
+<div class="quote">
+<p class="noindent"><span class="italic">Aberdeen Free Press:</span> "The main features of Chinese history
+     and the characteristics of the country and its people are
+     set forth in a very concise and lucid way."</p>
+
+<p class="noindent"><span class="italic">Glasgow Herald:</span> "The author sets forth lucidly all the
+     prominent features of Chinese life."</p>
+</div>
+
+
+<p class="p2 noindent"><strong>His Only Son.</strong> A Story of the War. By <span class="smcap">Cyril Darrah</span>. Price 1s.</p>
+
+<div class="quote">
+<p class="noindent"><span class="italic">Scotsman:</span> "Workmanlike and interesting, makes capital
+     railway reading."</p>
+
+<p class="noindent"><span class="italic">Onlooker:</span> "A well-written, wholesome story telling of the
+     Imperialism of deed as distinct from words."</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr>
+
+<p class="center big150"><strong>Scottish Art &amp; Letters:</strong></p>
+
+<p class="center big110"><strong>A Quarterly Review of Literature and the Liberal Arts.</strong></p>
+
+<p class="center">Fully Illustrated with Coloured and Photogravure Plates.</p>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="italic">The following are a few of the distinguished Patrons of</span><br>
+<span class="smcap">Scottish Art and Letters:&mdash;</span></p>
+
+<ul class="left30 none">
+<li>The Duke of Fife, K.T., K.G.</li>
+<li>The Duke of Hamilton.</li>
+<li>The Marquis of Tweeddale.</li>
+<li>The Earl of Aberdeen.</li>
+<li>The Earl of Buchan.</li>
+<li>The Earl of Eglington.</li>
+<li>The Earl of Galloway.</li>
+<li>The Earl of Haddington.</li>
+<li>The Earl of Kinnoull.</li>
+<li>The Earl of Mansfield.</li>
+<li>The Earl of Strathmore.</li>
+<li>The Countess Dowager of Seafield.</li>
+<li>The Viscountess Melville.</li>
+<li>Lord Balfour of Burleigh.</li>
+<li>Lord Herries.</li>
+<li>Lord Kelvin.</li>
+<li>Lord Malcolm of Poltallock.</li>
+<li>Lord Overtoun.</li>
+<li>Lord Ruthven.</li>
+<li>Lord Strathcona &amp; Mount Royal.</li>
+<li>&amp;c., &amp;c., &amp;c.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p class="center">Price 2<abbr title="shillings">s.</abbr> 6<abbr title="pences">d.</abbr> per copy (postage extra), or 10<abbr title="shillings">s.</abbr> per annum post free.</p>
+
+<hr>
+
+<p class="noindent"><strong>IN PREPARATION</strong>.</p>
+
+<p class="noindent"><strong>The Boer Leaders</strong>. A Book of Portraits and Biographies of the principal
+leaders in the War. By <span class="smcap">Ben Viljoen</span>. <span class="italic">Price Three Shillings and
+Sixpence.</span></p>
+
+<hr>
+
+<p class="noindent"><strong>The Gainsborough Duchess.</strong> The Romantic History of a Famous Painting.
+Fully Illustrated. 1s.</p>
+
+<div class="quote">
+<p class="noindent"><span class="italic">The Aberdeen Free Press:</span> "A finely printed Brochure with
+     excellent reproduction of the portrait."</p>
+
+<p class="noindent"><span class="italic">The Glasgow Herald:</span> "Several capital illustrations."</p>
+</div>
+
+<hr>
+
+<p class="ralign smaller">"DR. JOHNSON PRESS," FLEET LANE, LONDON, E.C.</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of My Reminiscences of the Anglo-Boer War, by 
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+</body>
+</html>
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+Project Gutenberg's My Reminiscences of the Anglo-Boer War, by Ben Viljoen
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: My Reminiscences of the Anglo-Boer War
+
+Author: Ben Viljoen
+
+Illustrator: P. Van Breda
+
+Release Date: April 11, 2008 [EBook #25049]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ANGLO-BOER WAR ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Christine P. Travers and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+[Transcriber's note: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected, all
+other inconsistencies are as in the original. The author's spelling
+has been maintained.
+
+Page 453: The sentence "which [missing word] consider it as still
+improper to disclose." has been changed to "which I consider as still
+improper to disclose."
+
+Bolded text is marked with =.]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: General Ben Viljoen and his Secretary (Mr. J.
+Visser).]
+
+
+
+
+               MY REMINISCENCES OF THE ANGLO-BOER WAR
+
+
+                                 BY
+
+                         GENERAL BEN VILJOEN
+
+
+   (ASSISTANT COMMANDANT-GENERAL OF THE TRANSVAAL BURGHER FORCES
+      AND MEMBER FOR JOHANNESBURG IN THE TRANSVAAL VOLKSRAAD)
+
+
+                  Maps from Drawings by P. Van Breda
+
+
+
+
+                               LONDON:
+                       HOOD, DOUGLAS, & HOWARD,
+                       11, CLIFFORD'S INN, E.C.
+                                1902.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+General Ben Viljoen, while engaged on this work, requested me to write
+a short introduction to it. This request I gladly comply with.
+
+General Viljoen was a prisoner-of-war at Broadbottom Camp, St. Helena,
+where, after two years' service in South Africa, I was stationed with
+my regiment. It was at the General's further request that I conveyed
+this work to Europe for publication.
+
+The qualities which particularly endeared this brave and justly-famous
+Boer officer to us were his straightforwardness and unostentatious
+manner, his truthfulness, and the utter absence of affectation that
+distinguishes him. I am certain that he has written his simple
+narrative with candour and impartiality, and I feel equally certain,
+from what I know of him, that this most popular of our late opponents
+has reviewed the exciting episodes of the War with an honesty, an
+intelligence, and a humour which many previous publications on the War
+have lacked.
+
+During his stay at St. Helena I became deeply attached to General
+Viljoen; and in conclusion I trust that this work, which entailed many
+hours of labour, will yield him a handsome recompense.
+
+                         THEODORE BRINCKMAN, C.B.
+                                 _Colonel Commanding_,
+                          _3rd, The Buffs (East Kent Regt.)_
+
+  Tarbert,
+    Loch Fyne,
+      Scotland.
+                                       _September, 1902_
+
+
+
+
+INDEX TO CONTENTS.
+
+
+                                                         Page
+    PREFACE BY COL. THEODORE BRINCKMAN, C.B.                5
+
+    THE AUTHOR TO THE READER                                9
+
+    CHAPTER
+
+          I. THE WAR CLOUDS GATHER                         19
+
+         II. AND THE WAR STORM BREAKS                      24
+
+        III. THE INVASION OF NATAL                         30
+
+         IV. DEFEATED AT ELANDSLAAGTE                      40
+
+          V. PURSUED BY THE LANCERS                        44
+
+         VI. RISKING JOUBERT'S ANGER                       59
+
+        VII. THE BOER GENERAL'S SUPERSTITIONS              68
+
+       VIII. "GREAT POWERS" TO INTERVENE                   72
+
+         IX. COLENSO AND SPION KOP FIGHTS                  78
+
+          X. THE BATTLE OF VAALKRANTZ                      88
+
+         XI. THE TURN OF THE TIDE                         100
+
+        XII. THE GREAT BOER RETREAT                       110
+
+       XIII. DRIVEN FROM THE BIGGARSBERGEN                124
+
+        XIV. DISPIRITED AND DEMORALISED                   133
+
+         XV. OCCUPATION OF PRETORIA                       145
+
+        XVI. BATTLE OF DONKERHOEK ("DIAMOND HILL")        150
+
+       XVII. I BECOME A GENERAL                           161
+
+      XVIII. OUR CAMP BURNED OUT                          175
+
+        XIX. BATTLE OF BERGENDAL (MACHADODORP)            181
+
+         XX. TWO THOUSAND BRITISH PRISONERS RELEASED      185
+
+        XXI. A GOVERNMENT IN FLIGHT                       193
+
+       XXII. AN IGNOMINIOUS DISPERSAL                     204
+
+      XXIII. A DREARY TREK THROUGH FEVERLAND              212
+
+        XIV. PAINS AND PLEASURES OF COMMANDEERING         237
+
+        XXV. PUNISHING THE PRO-BRITISH                    246
+
+       XXVI. BATTLE OF RHENOSTERKOP                       258
+
+      XXVII. THE SECOND CHRISTMAS AT WAR                  278
+
+     XXVIII. CAPTURE OF "LADY ROBERTS"                    285
+
+       XXIX. A DISMAL "HAPPY NEW YEAR"                    302
+
+        XXX. GENERAL ATTACK ON BRITISH FORTS              307
+
+       XXXI. A "BLUFF" AND A BATTLE                       322
+
+      XXXII. EXECUTION OF A TRAITOR                       333
+
+     XXXIII. IN A TIGHT CORNER                            339
+
+      XXXIV. ELUDING THE BRITISH CORDON                   348
+
+       XXXV. BOER GOVERNMENT'S NARROW ESCAPE              358
+
+      XXXVI. A GOVERNMENT ON HORSEBACK                    377
+
+     XXXVII. BLOWING UP AN ARMOURED TRAIN                 382
+
+    XXXVIII. TRAPPING PRO-BRITISH BOERS                   388
+
+      XXXIX. BRUTAL KAFFIRS' MURDER TRAIL                 402
+
+         XL. CAPTURING A FREEBOOTER'S LAIR                411
+
+        XLI. AMBUSHING THE HUSSARS                        416
+
+       XLII. I TALK WITH GENERAL BLOOD                    421
+
+      XLIII. MRS. BOTHA'S BABY AND THE "TOMMY"            425
+
+       XLIV. THE LAST CHRISTMAS OF THE WAR                435
+
+        XLV. MY LAST DAYS ON THE VELDT                    442
+
+       XLVI. I AM AMBUSHED AND CAPTURED                   449
+
+      XLVII. SHIPPED TO ST. HELENA                        462
+
+     XLVIII. LIFE IN BONAPARTE'S PRISON                   471
+
+       XLIX. HOW WE BLEW UP AND CAPTURED TRAINS           485
+
+          L. HOW WE FED AND CLOTHED COMMANDOS             496
+
+         LI. OUR FRIEND THE ENEMY                         506
+
+        LII. THE FIGHTING BOER AND HIS OFFICER            515
+
+             APPENDIX                                     523
+
+
+
+
+THE AUTHOR TO THE READER.
+
+
+In offering my readers my reminiscences of the late War, I feel that
+it is necessary to ask their indulgence and to plead extenuating
+circumstances for many obvious shortcomings.
+
+It should be pointed out that the preparation of this work was
+attended with many difficulties and disabilities, of which the
+following were only a few:--
+
+     (1) This is my first attempt at writing a book, and as a
+     simple Afrikander I lay no claim to any literary ability.
+
+     (2) When captured by the British forces I was deprived of
+     all my notes, and have been compelled to consult and depend
+     largely upon my memory for my facts and data. I would wish
+     to add, however, that the notes and minutiae they took from
+     me referred only to events and incidents covering six months
+     of the War. Twice before my capture, various diaries I had
+     compiled fell into British hands; and on a third occasion,
+     when our camp at Dalmanutha was burned out by a
+     "grass-fire," other notes were destroyed.
+
+     (3) I wrote this book while a prisoner-of-war, fettered, as
+     it were, by the strong chains with which a British "parole"
+     is circumscribed. I was, so to say, bound hand and foot, and
+     always made to feel sensibly the humiliating position to
+     which we, as prisoners-of-war on this island, were reduced.
+     Our unhappy lot was rendered unnecessarily unpleasant by the
+     insulting treatment offered us by Colonel Price, who
+     appeared to me an excellent prototype of Napoleon's
+     custodian, Sir Hudson Lowe. One has only to read Lord
+     Rosebery's work, "The Last Phase of Napoleon," to realise
+     the insults and indignities Sir Hudson Lowe heaped upon a
+     gallant enemy.
+
+We Boers experienced similar treatment from our custodian, Colonel
+Price, who appeared to be possessed with the very demon of distrust
+and who conjured up about us the same fantastic and mythical plans of
+escape as Sir Hudson Lowe attributed to Napoleon. It is to his absurd
+suspicions about our safe custody that I trace the bitterly offensive
+regulations enforced on us.
+
+While engaged upon this work, Colonel Price could have pounced down
+upon me at any moment, and, having discovered the manuscript, would
+certainly have promptly pronounced the writing of it in conflict with
+the terms of my "parole."
+
+I have striven as far as possible to refrain from criticism, except
+when compelled to do so, and to give a coherent story, so that the
+reader may easily follow the episodes I have sketched. I have also
+endeavoured to be impartial, or, at least, so impartial as an erring
+human being can be who has just quitted the bloody battlefields of a
+bitter struggle.
+
+But the sword is still wet, and the wound is not yet healed.
+
+I would assure my readers that it has not been without hesitation that
+I launch this work upon the world. There have been many amateur and
+professional writers who have preceded me in overloading the reading
+public with what purport to be "true histories" of the War. But having
+been approached by friends to add my little effort to the ponderous
+tomes of War literature, I have written down that which I saw with my
+own eyes, and that which I personally experienced. If seeing is
+believing, the reader may lend credence to my recital of every
+incident I have herein recounted.
+
+During the last stages of the struggle, when we were isolated from the
+outside world, we read in newspapers and other printed matter captured
+from the British so many romantic and fabulous stories about
+ourselves, that we were sometimes in doubt whether people in Europe
+and elsewhere would really believe that we were ordinary human beings
+and not legendary monsters. On these occasions I read circumstantial
+reports of my death, and once a long, and by no means flattering,
+obituary (extending over several columns of a newspaper) in which I
+was compared to Garibaldi, "Jack the Ripper," and Aguinaldo. On
+another occasion I learned from British newspapers of my capture,
+conviction, and execution in the Cape Colony for wearing the insignia
+of the Red Cross. I read that I had been brought before a military
+court at De Aar and sentenced to be shot, and what was worse, the
+sentence was duly confirmed and carried out. A very lurid picture was
+drawn of the execution. Bound to a chair, and placed near my open
+grave, I had met my doom with "rare stoicism and fortitude." "At
+last," concluded my amiable biographer, "this scoundrel, robber, and
+guerilla leader, Viljoen, has been safely removed, and will trouble
+the British Army no longer." I also learned with mingled feelings of
+amazement and pride that, being imprisoned at Mafeking at the
+commencement of hostilities, General Baden-Powell had kindly
+exchanged me for Lady Sarah Wilson.
+
+To be honest, none of the above-mentioned reports were strictly
+accurate. I can assure the reader that I was never killed in action or
+executed at De Aar, I was never in Mafeking or any other prison in my
+life (save here at St. Helena), nor was I in the Cape Colony during
+the War. I never masqueraded with a Red Cross, and I was never
+exchanged for Lady Sarah Wilson. Her ladyship's friends would have
+found me a very poor exchange.
+
+It is also quite inaccurate and unfair to describe me as a "thief" and
+"a scoundrel". It was, indeed, not an heroic thing to do, seeing that
+the chivalrous gentlemen of the South African Press who employed the
+epithets were safely beyond my view and reach, and I had no chance of
+correcting their quite erroneous impressions. I could neither refute
+nor defend myself against their infamous libels, and for the rest, my
+friend "Mr. Atkins" kept us all exceedingly busy.
+
+That which is left of Ben Viljoen after the several "coups de grace"
+in the field and the tragic execution at De Aar, still "pans" out at a
+fairly robust young person--quite an ordinary young fellow, indeed,
+thirty-four years of age, of middle height and build. Somewhere in the
+Marais Quartier of Paris--where the French Huguenots came from--there
+was an ancestral Viljoen from whom I am descended. In the War just
+concluded I played no great part of my own seeking. I met many
+compatriots who were better soldiers than myself; but on occasions I
+was happily of some small service to my Cause and to my people.
+
+The chapters I append are, like myself, simple in form. If I have
+become notorious it is not my fault; it is the fault of the newspaper
+paragraphist, the snap-shooter, and the autograph fiend; and in these
+pages I have endeavoured, as far as possible, to leave the stage to
+more prominent actors, merely offering myself as guide to the many
+battlefields on which we have waged our unhappy struggle.
+
+I shall not disappoint the reader by promising him sensational or
+thrilling episodes. He will find none such in these pages; he will
+find only a naked and unembellished story.
+
+                         BEN J. VILJOEN.
+                    (_Assistant Commandant-General
+                      of the Republican Forces._)
+
+  St. Helena,
+                                   _June, 1902_
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: 8 Maps of Nicholsons Nek & Modderspruit, Monte Christo,
+Colenso, Spioen Kop, Vaalkrantz, Pieter's Hill, Stromberg and
+Abramskraal.]
+
+
+
+
+MY REMINISCENCES
+
+OF THE
+
+ANGLO-BOER WAR
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+THE WAR CLOUDS GATHER.
+
+
+In 1895 the political clouds gathered thickly and grew threatening.
+They were unmistakable in their portent. War was meant, and we heard
+the martial thunder rumbling over our heads.
+
+The storm broke in the shape of an invasion from Rhodesia on our
+Western frontiers, a raid planned by soldiers of a friendly power.
+
+However one may endeavour to argue the chief cause of the South
+African war to other issues, it remains an irrebuttable fact that the
+Jameson Raid was primarily responsible for the hostilities which
+eventually took place between Great Britain and the Boer Republics.
+
+Mr. Rhodes, the sponsor and _deus ex machina_ of the Raid, could not
+agree with Mr. Paul Kruger, and had failed in his efforts to establish
+friendly relations with him. Mr. Kruger, quite as stubborn and
+ambitious as Mr. Rhodes, placed no faith in the latter's amiable
+proposals, and the result was that fierce hatred was engendered
+between the two Gideons, a racial rancour spreading to fanatical
+lengths.
+
+Dr. Jameson's stupid raid is now a matter of history; but from that
+fateful New Year's Day of 1896 we Boers date the terrible trials and
+sufferings to which our poor country has been exposed. To that
+mischievous incident, indeed, we directly trace the struggle now
+terminated.
+
+This invasion, which was synchronous with an armed rebellion at
+Johannesburg, was followed by the arrest and imprisonment of the
+so-called gold magnates of the Witwatersrand. Whether these
+exceedingly wealthy but extremely degenerate sons of Albion and
+Germania deserved the death sentence pronounced upon their leaders at
+Pretoria for high treason it is not for me to judge.
+
+I do recall, however, what an appeal for mercy there went up, how
+piteously the Transvaal Government was petitioned and supplicated, and
+finally moved "to forgive and forget." The same faction who now press
+so obdurately for "no mercy" upon the Colonial Afrikanders who joined
+us, then supplicated all the Boer gods for forgiveness.
+
+Meantime the Republic was plagued by the rinderpest scourge, which
+wrought untold havoc throughout the country. This scourge was preceded
+by the dynamite disaster at Vrededorp (near Johannesburg) and the
+railway disaster at Glencoe in Natal. It was succeeded by a smallpox
+epidemic, which, in spite of medical efforts, grew from sporadic to
+epidemic and visited all classes of the Rand, exacting victims
+wherever it travelled. During the same period difficulties occurred in
+Swaziland necessitating the despatch of a strong commando to the
+disaffected district and the maintenance of a garrison at Bremersdorp.
+The following year hostilities were commenced against the Magato
+tribe in the north of the Republic.
+
+After an expensive expedition, lasting six months, the rebellion was
+quelled. There was little doubt that the administration of unfaithful
+native commissioners was in part responsible for the difficulties, but
+there is less doubt that external influences also contributed to the
+rebellion. This is not the time, however, to tear open old wounds.
+
+Mr. Rhodes has disappeared from the stage for ever; he died as he had
+lived. His relentless enemy Mr. Kruger, who was pulling the strings at
+the other end, is still alive. Perhaps the old man may be spared to
+see the end of the bloody drama; it was undoubtedly he and Mr. Rhodes
+who played the leading parts in the prologue.
+
+Which of these two "Big Men" took the greatest share in bringing about
+the Disaster which has drenched South Africa with blood and draped it
+in mourning, it would be improper for me at this period to suggest.
+Mr. Rhodes has been summoned before a Higher Tribunal; Mr. Kruger has
+still to come up for judgment before the people whose fate, and very
+existence as a nation, are, at the time of writing, wavering in the
+balance.
+
+We have been at one another's throats, and for this we have to thank
+our "statesmen." It is to be hoped that our leaders of the future will
+attach more value to human lives, and that Boer and Briton will be
+enabled to live amicably side by side.
+
+A calm and statesmanlike government by men free from ambition and
+racial rancour, by men of unblemished reputation, will be the only
+means of pacifying South Africa and keeping South Africa pacified.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+AND THE WAR STORM BREAKS.
+
+
+It was during a desultory discussion of an ordinary sessions of the
+Second Volksraad, in which I represented Johannesburg, that one day in
+September, 1899--to be precise, the afternoon of the 28th--the
+messenger of the House came to me with a note, and whispered, "A
+message from General Joubert, Sir; it is urgent, and the General says
+it requires your immediate attention."
+
+I broke the seal of the envelope with some trepidation. I guessed its
+contents, and a few of my colleagues in the Chamber hung over me
+almost speechless with excitement, whispering curiously, "Jong, is dit
+fout?"--"Is this correct. Is it war?"
+
+Everybody knew, of course, that we were in for a supreme crisis, that
+the relations between Great Britain and our Republic were strained to
+the bursting point, that bitter diplomatic notes had been exchanged
+between the governments of the two countries for months past, and that
+a collision, an armed collision, was sooner or later inevitable.
+
+Being "Fighting-Commandant" of the Witwatersrand goldfields, and,
+therefore, an officer of the Transvaal army, my movements on that day
+excited great interest among my colleagues in the Chamber. After
+reading General Joubert's note I said, as calmly as possible: "Yes,
+the die is cast; I am leaving for the Natal frontier. Good-bye. I must
+now quit the house. Who knows, perhaps for ever!"
+
+General Joubert's mandate was couched as follows:--
+
+     "You are hereby ordered to proceed with the Johannesburg
+     commando to Volksrust to-morrow, Friday evening, at 8
+     o'clock. Your field cornets have already received
+     instructions to commandeer the required number of burghers
+     and the necessary horses, waggons, and equipment.
+     Instructions have also been given for the necessary railway
+     conveyances to be held ready. Further instructions will
+     reach you."
+
+Previous to my departure next morning I made a hurried call at
+Commandant-General Joubert's offices. The ante-chamber leading to the
+Generalissimo's "sanctum-sanctorum" was crowded with brilliantly-uniformed
+officers of our State Artillery, and it was only by dint of using my
+elbows very vigorously that I gained admission to my chief-in-command.
+
+The old General seemed to feel keenly the gravity of the situation. He
+looked careworn and troubled: "Good-morning, Commandant," he said;
+"aren't you away yet?"
+
+I explained that I was on my way to the railway station, but I thought
+before I left I'd like to see him about one or two things.
+
+"Well, go on, what is it?" General Joubert enquired, petulantly.
+
+"I want to know, General Joubert," I said, "whether England has
+declared war against us, or whether we are taking the lead. And
+another thing, what sort of general have I to report myself to at
+Volksrust?"
+
+The old warrior, without looking up or immediately answering me, drew
+various cryptic and hieroglyphic pothooks and figures on the paper
+before him. Then he suddenly lifted his eyes and pierced me with a
+look, at which I quailed and trembled.
+
+He said very slowly: "Look here; there is as yet no declaration of
+war, and hostilities have not yet commenced. You and my other officers
+should understand that very clearly, because possibly the differences
+between ourselves and Great Britain may still be settled. We are only
+going to occupy our frontiers because England's attitude is extremely
+provocative, and if England see that we are fully prepared and that we
+do not fear her threats, she will perhaps be wise in time and
+reconsider the situation. We also want to place ourselves in a
+position to prevent and quell a repetition of the Jameson Raid with
+more force than we exerted in 1896."
+
+An hour afterwards I was on board a train travelling to Johannesburg
+in the company of General Piet Cronje and his faithful wife. General
+Cronje told me that he was proceeding to the western districts of the
+Republic to take up the command of the Potchefstroom and Lichtenburg
+burghers. His instructions, he said, were to protect the Western
+frontier.
+
+I left General Cronje at Johannesburg on the 29th September, 1899, and
+never saw him again until I met him at St. Helena nearly two and a
+half years afterwards, on the 25th March, 1902. When I last saw him we
+greeted each other as free men, as free and independent legislators
+and officers of a free Republic. We fought for our rights to live as a
+nation.
+
+Now I meet the veteran Cronje a broken old man, captive like myself,
+far away from our homes and our country.
+
+Then and Now!
+
+Then we went abroad free and freedom-loving men, burning with
+patriotism. Our wives and our women-folk watched us go; full of sorrow
+and anxiety, but satisfied that we were going abroad in our country's
+cause.
+
+And Now!
+
+Two promising and prosperous Republics wrecked, their fair homesteads
+destroyed, their people in mourning, and thousands of innocent women
+and children the victims of a cruel war.
+
+There is scarcely an Afrikander family without an unhealable wound.
+Everywhere the traces of the bloody struggle; and, alas, most poignant
+and distressing fact of all, burghers who fought side by side with us
+in the earlier stages of the struggle are now to be found in the ranks
+of the enemy.
+
+These wretched men, ignoring their solemn duty, left their companions
+in the lurch without sense of shame or respect for the braves who fell
+fighting for their land and people.
+
+Oh, day of judgment! The Afrikander nation will yet avenge your
+treachery.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+THE INVASION OF NATAL.
+
+
+After taking leave of my friend Cronje at Johannesburg Station, my
+first duty was to visit my various field cornets. About four o'clock
+that afternoon I found my commando was as nearly ready as could be
+expected. When I say ready, I mean ready on paper only, as later
+experience showed. My three field cornets were required to equip 900
+mounted men with waggons and provisions, and of course they had _carte
+blanche_ to commandeer. Only fully enfranchised burghers of the South
+African Republic were liable to be commandeered, and in Johannesburg
+town there was an extraordinary conglomeration of cosmopolitans
+amenable to this gentle process of enlistment.
+
+It would take up too much time to adequately describe the excitement
+of Johannesburg on this memorable day. Thousands of Uitlanders were
+flying from their homes, contenting themselves, in their hurry to get
+away, to stand in Kaffir or coal trucks and to expose themselves
+cheerfully to the fierce sun, and other elements. The streets were
+palpitating with burghers ready to proceed to the frontier that night,
+and with refugees speeding to the stations. Everybody was in a state
+of intense feeling. One was half-hearted, another cheerful, and a
+third thirsting for blood, while many of my men were under the
+influence of alcohol.
+
+When it was known that I had arrived in the town my room in the North
+Western Hotel was besieged. I was approached by all sorts of people
+pleading exemption from commando duty. One Boer said he knew that his
+solemn duty was to fight for his country and his freedom, but he would
+rather decline. Another declared that he could not desert his family;
+while yet another came forward with a story that of his four horses,
+three had been commandeered, and that these horses were his only means
+of subsistence. A fourth complained that his waggons and mules had
+been clandestinely (although officially) removed. Many malingerers
+suddenly discovered acute symptoms of heart disease and brought
+easily-obtained doctor's certificates, assuring me that tragic
+consequences would attend their exposure in the field. Ladies came to
+me pleading exemption for their husbands, sisters for brothers,
+mothers for sons, all offering plausible reasons why their loved ones
+should be exempted from commando duty. It was very difficult to deal
+with all these clamorous visitors. I was much in the position of King
+Solomon, though lacking his wisdom. But I would venture to say that
+his ancient majesty himself would have been perplexed had he been in
+my place. It is necessary that the reader should know that the main
+part of the population was composed of all nationalities and lacked
+every element of Boer discipline.
+
+On the evening of the 29th of September, I left with the Johannesburg
+commando in two trains. Two-thirds of my men had no personal
+acquaintance with me, and at the departure there was some difficulty
+because of this. One burgher came into my private compartment
+uninvited. He evidently forgot his proper place, and when I suggested
+to him that the compartment was private and reserved for officers, he
+told me to go to the devil, and I was compelled to remove him somewhat
+precipitately from the carriage. This same man was afterwards one of
+my most trustworthy scouts.
+
+The following afternoon we reached Standerton, where I received
+telegraphic instructions from General Joubert to join my commando to
+that of Captain Schiel, who was in charge of the German Corps, and to
+place myself under the supreme command of Jan Kock, a member of the
+Executive Council, who had been appointed a general by the Government.
+
+We soon discovered that quite one-third of the horses we had taken
+with us were untrained for the serious business of fighting, and also
+that many of the new burghers of foreign nationality had not the
+slightest idea how to ride. Our first parade, or "Wapenschouwing"
+gave food for much hilarity. Here one saw horses waltzing and jumping,
+while over there a rider was biting the sand, and towards evening the
+doctors had several patients. It may be stated that although not
+perfectly equipped in the matter of ambulances, we had three
+physicians with us, Doctors Visser, Marais, and Shaw. Our spiritual
+welfare was being looked after by the Reverends Nel and Martins, but
+not for long, as both these gentlemen quickly found that commando life
+was unpleasant and left us spiritually to ourselves, even as the
+European Powers left us politically. But I venture to state that no
+member of my commando really felt acutely the loss of the theological
+gentlemen who primarily accompanied us.
+
+[Illustration: The Capture of the Train at Elandslaagte.]
+
+On the following day General Kock and a large staff arrived at the
+laager, and, together with the German Corps, we trekked to Paardekop
+and Klip River, in the Orange Free State, where we were to occupy
+Botha's Pass. My convoy comprised about a hundred carts, mostly drawn
+by mules, and it was amusing to see the variety of provisions my
+worthy field-cornets had gathered together. There were three full
+waggons of lime-juice and other unnecessary articles which I caused to
+be unloaded at the first halting-place to make room for more
+serviceable provisions. It should be mentioned that of my three
+field-cornets only one, the late Piet Joubert of Jeppestown, actually
+accompanied my commando. The others sent substitutes, perhaps because
+they did not like to expose themselves to the change of air. We rested
+some days at the Klip River, in the Orange Free State, and from thence
+I was sent with a small escort of burghers by our General to
+Harrismith to meet a number of Free State officers. After travelling
+two days I came upon Chief Free State Commandant Prinsloo, who
+afterwards deserted, and other officers. The object of my mission was
+to organise communications with these officers. On the 11th of
+October, having returned to my commando, we received a report that our
+Government had despatched the Ultimatum to England, and that the time
+specified for the reply to that document had elapsed. Hostilities had
+begun.
+
+We received orders to invade Natal, and crossed the frontier that very
+evening. I, with a patrol of 50 men, had not crossed the frontier very
+far when one of my scouts rode up with the report that a large British
+force was in sight on the other side of the River Ingogo. I said to
+myself at the time: "If this be true the British have rushed up fairly
+quickly, and the fat will be in the fire very soon."
+
+We then broke into scattered formation and carefully proceeded into
+Natal. After much reconnoitring and concealment, however, we soon
+discovered that the "large English force" was only a herd of cattle
+belonging to friendly Boers, and that the camp consisted of two tents
+occupied by some Englishmen and Kaffirs who were mending a defective
+bridge. We also came across a cart drawn by four bullocks belonging to
+a Natal farmer, and I believe this was the first plunder we captured
+in Natal. The Englishman, who said he knew nothing about any war,
+received a pass to proceed with his servants to the English lines,
+and he left with the admonition to in future read the newspapers and
+learn when war was imminent. Next day our entire commando was well
+into Natal. The continuous rain and cold of the Drakenbergen rendered
+our first experience of veldt life, if not unbearable, very
+discouraging. We numbered a fairly large commando, as Commandant J.
+Lombard, commanding the Hollander corps, had also joined us. Close by
+Newcastle we encountered a large number of commandos, and a general
+council of war was held under the presidency of Commandant General
+Joubert. It was here decided that Generals Lukas Meyer and Dijl
+Erasmus should take Dundee, which an English garrison held, while our
+commandos under General Kock were instructed to occupy the Biggarburg
+Pass. Preceded by scouts we wound our way in that direction, leaving
+all our unnecessary baggage in the shape of provisions and ammunition
+waggons at Newcastle.
+
+One of my acting field-cornets and the field-cornets of the German
+commando, prompted by goodness knows what, pressed forward south,
+actually reaching the railway station at Elandslaagte. A goods train
+was just steaming into the station, and it was captured by these
+foolhardy young Moltkes. I was much dissatisfied with this action, and
+sent a messenger ordering them to retire after having destroyed the
+railway. On the same night I received instructions from General Kock
+to proceed with two hundred men and a cannon to Elandslaagte, and I
+also learned that Captain Schiel and his German Corps had left in the
+same direction.
+
+Imagine, we had gone further than had actually been decided at the
+council of war, and we pressed forward still further without any
+attempt being made to keep in touch with the other commandos on our
+left and right. Seeing the inexpediency of this move, I went to the
+General in command and expressed my objections to it. But General Kock
+was firmly decided on the point, and said, "Go along, my boy." We
+reached Elandslaagte at midnight; it was raining very heavily. After
+scrambling for positions in the darkness, although I had already
+sufficiently seen that the lie of the land suggested no strategic
+operations, we retired to rest. Two days later occurred the fateful
+battle.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+DEFEATED AT ELANDSLAAGTE.
+
+
+In the grey dawn of the 21st of October a number of scouts I had
+despatched overnight in the direction of Ladysmith returned with the
+tidings that "the khakis were coming." "Where are they, and how many
+are there of them?" I asked. "Commandant," the chief scout replied, "I
+don't know much about these things, but I should think that the
+English number quite a thousand mounted men, and they have guns, and
+they have already passed Modderspruit." To us amateur soldiers this
+report was by no means reassuring, and I confess I hoped fervently
+that the English might stay away for some little time longer.
+
+It was at sunrise that the first shot I heard in this war was fired.
+Presently the men we dreaded were visible on the ridges of hills south
+of the little red railway station at Elandslaagte. Some of my men
+hailed the coming fight with delight; others, more experienced in the
+art of war, turned deadly pale. That is how the Boers felt in their
+first battle. The awkward way in which many of my men sought cover,
+demonstrated at once how inexperienced in warfare we youngsters were.
+We started with our guns and tried a little experimental shooting. The
+second and third shots appeared to be effective; at any rate, as far
+as we could judge, they seemed to disturb the equanimity of the
+advancing troops. I saw an ammunition cart deprived of its team and
+generally smashed.
+
+The British guns appeared to be of very small calibre indeed.
+Certainly they failed to reach us, and all the harm they did was to
+send a shell through a Boer ambulance within the range of fire. This
+shot was, I afterwards ascertained, purely accidental. When the
+British found that we too, strange to say, had guns, and, what is
+more, knew how to use them, they retired towards Ladysmith. But this
+was merely a ruse; they had gone back to fetch more. Still, though it
+was a ruse, we were cleverly deceived by it, and while we were
+off-saddling and preparing the mid-day meal they were arranging a new
+and more formidable attack. From the Modderspruit siding they were
+pouring troops brought down by rail, and although we had a splendid
+chance of shelling the newcomers from the high kopje we occupied,
+General Kock, who was in supreme command of our corps, for some reason
+which has never been explained, refused to permit us to fire upon
+them. I went to General Kock and pleaded with him, but he was adamant.
+This was a bitter disappointment to me, but I consoled myself with the
+thought that the General was much older than myself, and had been
+fighting since he was a baby. I therefore presumed he knew better.
+Possibly if we younger commanders had had more authority in the
+earlier stages of the war, and had had less to deal with arrogant and
+stupid old men, we should have reached Durban and Cape Town.
+
+I must here again confess that none of my men displayed any of the
+martial determination with which they had so buoyantly proceeded from
+Johannesburg. To put it bluntly, some of them were "footing" it and
+the English cavalry, taking advantage of this, were rapidly
+outflanking them. The British tactics were plain enough. General
+French had placed his infantry in the centre with three field
+batteries (fifteen pounders), while his cavalry, with Maxims,
+encompassed our right and left. He was forming a crescent, with the
+obvious purpose of turning our position with his right and left wing.
+When charging at the close of the attack the cavalry, which consisted
+mainly of lancers, were on both our flanks, and completely prevented
+our retreat. It was not easy to estimate the number of our assailant's
+forces. Judging roughly, I calculated they numbered between 5,000 and
+6,000, while we were 800 all told, and our artillery consisted merely
+of two Nordenfeldt guns with shell, and no grape shot.
+
+The British certainly meant business that day. It was the baptismal
+fire of the Imperial Light Horse, a corps principally composed of
+Johannesburgers, who were politically and racially our bitter enemies.
+And what was more unfortunate, our guns were so much exposed that
+they were soon silenced. For a long time we did our best to keep our
+opponents at bay, but they came in crushing numbers, and speedily dead
+and maimed burghers covered the veldt. Then the Gordon Highlanders and
+the other infantry detachments commenced to storm our positions. We
+got them well within the range of our rifle fire, and made our
+presence felt; but they kept pushing on with splendid determination
+and indomitable pluck, though their ranks were being decimated before
+our very eyes.
+
+This was the first, as it was the last time in the War that I heard a
+British band playing to cheer attacking "Tommies." I believe it used
+to be a British war custom to rouse martial instincts with lively
+music, but something must have gone wrong with the works in this War,
+there must have occurred a rift in the lute, for ever after this first
+battle of Elandslaagte the British abandoned flags, banners, and bands
+and other quite unnecessary furniture.
+
+About half an hour before sunset, the enemy had come up close to our
+positions and on all sides a terrible battle raged. To keep them back
+was now completely out of the question. They had forced their way
+between a kloof, and while rushing up with my men towards them, my
+rifle was smashed by a bullet. A wounded burgher handed me his and I
+joined Field-Cornet Peter Joubert who, with seven other burghers, was
+defending the kloof. We poured a heavy fire into the British, but they
+were not to be shaken off. Again and again they rushed up in
+irresistible strength, gallantly encouraged by their brave officers.
+Poor Field-Cornet Joubert perished at this point.
+
+When the sun had set and the awful scene was enveloped in darkness
+there was a dreadful spectacle of maimed Germans, Hollanders,
+Frenchmen, Irishmen, Americans, and Boers lying on the veldt. The
+groans of the wounded were heartrending; the dead could no longer
+speak. Another charge, and the British, encouraged by their success,
+had taken our last position, guns and all. My only resource now was to
+flee, and the battle of Elandslaagte was a thing of the past.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+PURSUED BY THE LANCERS.
+
+
+Another last look at the bloody scene. It was very hard to have to
+beat an ignominious retreat, but it was harder still to have to go
+without being able to attend to one's wounded comrades, who were
+piteously crying aloud for help. To have to leave them in the hands of
+the enemy was exceedingly distressing to me. But there was no other
+course open, and fleeing, I hoped I might "live to fight another day."
+I got away, accompanied by Fourie and my Kaffir servant. "Let us go,"
+I said, "perhaps we shall be able to fall in with some more burghers
+round here and have another shot at them." Behind us the British
+lancers were shouting "Stop, stop, halt you ---- Boers!" They fired
+briskly at us, but our little ponies responded gamely to the spur and,
+aided by the darkness, we rode on safely. Still the lancers did not
+abandon the chase, and followed us for a long distance. From time to
+time we could hear the pitiful cries and entreaties of burghers who
+were being "finished off," but we could see nothing. My man and I had
+fleet horses in good condition, those of the pursuing lancers were big
+and clumsy.
+
+My adjutant, Piet Fourie, however, was not so fortunate as myself. He
+was overtaken and made a prisoner. Revolvers were being promiscuously
+fired at us, and at times the distance between us and our pursuers
+grew smaller. We could plainly hear them shouting "Stop, or I'll shoot
+you," or "Halt, you damned Boer, or I'll run my lance through your
+blessed body."
+
+We really had no time to take much notice of these pretty compliments.
+It was a race for life and freedom. Looking round furtively once more
+I could distinguish my pursuers; I could see their long assegais; I
+could hear the snorting of their unwieldy horses, the clattering of
+their swords. These unpleasant combinations were enough to strike
+terror into the heart of any ordinary man.
+
+Everything now depended upon the fleetness and staying power of my
+sturdy little Boer pony, Blesman. He remained my faithful friend long
+after he had got me out of this scrape; he was shot, poor little chap,
+the day when they made me a prisoner. Poor Blesman, to you I owe my
+life! Blesman was plainly in league against all that was British; from
+the first he displayed Anglophobia of a most acute character. He has
+served me in good stead, and now lies buried, faithful little heart,
+in a Lydenburg ditch.
+
+In my retreat Sunday River had to be crossed. It was deep, but deep or
+not, we had to get through it. We were going at such a pace that we
+nearly tumbled down the banks. The precipice must have been very
+steep; all I remember is finding myself in the water with Blesman by
+my side. The poor chap had got stuck with his four legs in the drift
+sand. I managed to liberate him, and after a lot of scrambling and
+struggling and wading through the four foot stream, I got to the other
+side. On the opposite bank the British were still firing. I therefore
+decided to lie low in the water, hoping to delude them into thinking I
+was killed or drowned. My stratagem was successful. I heard one of my
+pursuers say, "We've finished him," and with a few more pyrotechnic
+farewells they retraced their steps towards Ladysmith.
+
+On the other side, however, more horsemen came in pursuit.
+Unquestionably the British, fired by their splendid success, were
+following up their victory with great vigour, and again I was
+compelled to hide in the long grass into which my native servant, with
+Ethiopian instinct, had already crept. While I was travelling along on
+foot my man had rescued my horse from the muddy banks of the river.
+
+When all was said and done I had escaped with a good wetting. Now for
+Newcastle. I had still my rifle, revolver, and cartridges left to me;
+my field-glass I had lost, probably in the river. Water there was
+plenty, but food I had none. The track to Newcastle to a stranger,
+such as I was in that part of the country, was difficult to discover.
+To add to my perplexities I did not know what had happened at Dundee,
+where I had been told a strong British garrison was in occupation.
+Therefore, in straying in that direction I ran the risk of being
+captured.
+
+Finally, however, I came upon a kaffir kraal. I was curtly hailed in
+the kaffir language, and upon my asking my swarthy friends to show me
+the road, half a dozen natives, armed with assegais, appeared on the
+scene. I clasped my revolver, as their attitude seemed suspicious.
+After they had inspected me closely, one of the elders of the
+community said: "You is one of dem Boers vat runs avay? We look on and
+you got dum dum to-day. Now we hold you, we take you English
+magistrate near Ladysmith." But I know my kaffir, and I sized up this
+black Englishman instantly. "The fact is," I said, "I'm trekking with
+a commando of 500 men, and we are doing a bit of scouting round your
+kraal. If you will show me the way to the Biggersbergen I will give
+you 5s. on account." My amiable and dusky friend insisted on 7s. 6d.,
+but after I had intimated that if he did not accept 5s. I should
+certainly burn his entire outfit, slaughter all his women and kill all
+his cattle, he acquiesced. A young Zulu was deputed as my guide, but I
+had to use my fists and make pretty play with my revolver, and
+generally hint at a sudden death, or he would have left me in the
+lurch. He muttered to himself for some time, and suddenly terminated
+his soliloquy by turning on his heels and disappearing in the
+darkness.
+
+The light of a lantern presently showed a railway station, which I
+rightly guessed to be Waschbank. Here two Englishmen, probably railway
+officials, came up to me, accompanied by my treacherous guide. The
+latter had obviously been good enough to warn the officials at the
+station of my approach, but luckily they were unarmed. One of them
+said, "You've lost your way, it appears," to which I replied, "Oh, no,
+indeed; I'm on the right track I think." "But," he persisted, "you
+won't find any of your people here now; you've been cut to pieces at
+Elandslaagte and Lukas Meyer's and Erasmus's forces round Dundee have
+been crushed. You had better come along with me to Ladysmith. I
+promise you decent treatment." I took care not to get in between them,
+and, remaining at a little distance, said, revolver in hand, "Thanks
+very much, it's awfully good of you. I have no business to transact in
+Ladysmith for the moment and will now continue my journey.
+Good-night." "No, no, no, wait a minute," returned the man who had
+spoken first, "you know you can't pass here." "We shall see about
+that," I said. They rushed upon me, but ere they could overpower me I
+had levelled my revolver. The first speaker tried to disarm me, but I
+shook him off and shot him. He fell, and as far I know, or could see,
+was not fatally wounded. The other man, thinking discretion the better
+part of valour, disappeared in the darkness, and my unfaithful guide
+had edged away as soon as he saw the glint of my gun.
+
+My adventures on that terrible night were, however, not to end with
+this mild diversion. About an hour after daybreak, I came upon a barn
+upon which the legend "Post Office Savings Bank" was inscribed. A big
+Newfoundland dog lay on the threshold, and although he wagged his tail
+in a not unfriendly manner, he did not seem disposed to take any
+special notice of me. There was a passage between the barn and some
+stables at the back and I went down to prospect the latter. What luck
+if there had been a horse for me there! Of course I should only have
+wanted to borrow it, but there was a big iron padlock on the door,
+though inside the stables I heard the movements of an animal. A horse
+meant to me just then considerably more than three kingdoms to King
+Richard. For the first time in my life I did some delicate burglary
+and housebreaking to boot. But the English declare that all is fair in
+love and war, and they ought to know.
+
+I discovered an iron bar, which enabled me to wrench off the lock from
+the stable door, and, having got so far with my burglarious
+performance, I entered cautiously, and I may say nervously. Creeping
+up to the manger I fumbled about till I caught hold of a strap to
+which the animal was tied, cut the strap through and led the horse
+away. I was wondering why it went so slowly and that I had almost to
+drag the poor creature along. Once outside I found to my utter disgust
+that my spoil was a venerable and decrepit donkey. Disappointed and
+disheartened, I abandoned my booty, leaving that ancient mule brooding
+meditatively outside the stable door and clearly wondering why he had
+been selected for a midnight excursion. But there was no time to
+explain or apologise, and as the mule clearly could not carry me as
+fast as my own legs, I left him to his meditations.
+
+At dawn, when the first rays of the sun lit up the Biggersbergen in
+all their grotesque beauty, I realised for the first time where I was,
+and found that I was considerably more than 12 miles from
+Elandslaagte, the fateful scene of yesterday. Tired out, half-starved
+and as disconsolate as the donkey in the stable, I sat myself on an
+anthill. For 24 hours I had been foodless, and was now quite
+exhausted. I fell into a reverie; all the past day's adventures passed
+graphically before my eyes as in a kaleidoscope; all the horrors and
+carnage of the battle, the misery of my maimed comrades, who only
+yesterday had answered the battle-cry full of vigour and youth, the
+pathos of the dead who, cut down in the prime of their life and
+buoyant health, lay yonder on the veldt, far away from wives and
+daughters and friends for ever more.
+
+While in a brown study on this anthill, 30 men on horseback suddenly
+dashed up towards me from the direction of Elandslaagte. I threw myself
+flat on my face, seeking the anthill as cover, prepared to sell my life
+dearly should they prove to be Englishmen. As soon as they observed me
+they halted, and sent one of their number up to me. Evidently they knew
+not whether I was friend or foe, for they reconnoitred my prostrate form
+behind the anthill with great circumspection and caution; but I speedily
+recognised comrades-in-arms. I think the long tail which is peculiar to
+the Basuto pony enabled me to identify them as such, and one friend, who
+was their outpost, brought me a reserve horse, and what was even better,
+had extracted from his saddle-bag a tin of welcome bully beef to stay
+my gnawing hunger. But they brought sad tidings, these good friends.
+Slain on the battlefield lay Assistant-Commandant J. C. Bodenstein and
+Major Hall, of the Johannesburg Town Council, two of my bravest
+officers, whose loss I still regret.
+
+We rode on slowly, and all along the road we fell in with groups of
+burghers. There was no question that our ranks were demoralised and
+heartsick. Commandant-General Joubert had made Dannhauser Station his
+headquarters and thither we wended our way. But though we approached
+our general with hearts weighed down with sorrow, so strange and
+complex a character is the Boers', that by the time we reached him we
+had gathered together 120 stragglers, and had recovered our spirits
+and our courage. I enjoyed a most refreshing rest on an unoccupied
+farm and sent a messenger to Joubert asking him for an appointment for
+the following morning to hand in my report of the ill-fated battle.
+The messenger, however, brought back a verbal answer that the General
+was exceedingly angry and had sent no reply. On retiring that night I
+found my left leg injured in several places by splinters of shell and
+stone. My garments had to be soaked in water to remove them, but after
+I had carefully cleaned my wounds they very soon healed.
+
+The next morning I waited on the Commandant-General. He received me
+very coldly, and before I could venture a word said reproachfully:
+"Why didn't you obey orders and stop this side of the Biggarsbergen,
+as the Council of War decided you should do?" He followed up the
+reproach with a series of questions: "Where's your general?" "How many
+men have you lost?" "How many English have you killed?" I said
+deferentially: "Well, General, you know I am not to be bullied like
+this. You know you placed me in a subordinate position under the
+command of General Kock, and now you lay all the blame for yesterday's
+disaster on my shoulders. However, I am sorry to say General Kock is
+wounded and in British hands. I don't know how many men we have lost;
+I suppose about 30 or 40 killed and approximately 100 wounded. The
+British must have lost considerably more, but I am not making any
+estimate."
+
+The grey-bearded generalissimo cooled a little and spoke more kindly,
+although he gave me to understand he did not think much of the
+Johannesburg commando. I replied that they had been fighting very
+pluckily, and that by retiring they hoped to retrieve their fortunes
+some other day. "H'm," returned the General, "some of your burghers
+have made so masterly a retreat that they have already got to
+Newcastle, and I have just wired Field-Cornet Pienaar, who is in
+charge, that I should suggest to him to wait a little there, as I
+propose sending him some railway carriages to enable him to retreat
+still further. As for those Germans and Hollanders with you, they may
+go to Johannesburg; I won't have them here any more."
+
+"General," I protested, "this is not quite fair. These people have
+volunteered to fight for, and with us; we cannot blame them in this
+matter. It is most unfortunate that Elandslaagte should have been
+lost, but as far as I can see there was no help for it." The old
+General appeared lost in thought; he seemed to take but little notice
+of what I said. Finally he looked up and fixed his small glittering
+eyes upon me as if he wished to read my most inmost thoughts.
+
+"Yes," he said, "I know all about that. At Dundee things have gone
+just as badly. Lukas Meyer made a feeble attack, and Erasmus left him
+in the lurch. The two were to charge simultaneously, but Erasmus
+failed him at a critical moment, which means a loss of 130 men killed
+and wounded, and Lukas Meyer in retreat across the Buffalo River. And
+now Elandslaagte on the top of all! All this owing to the disobedience
+and negligence of my chief officers."
+
+The old man spoke in this strain for some time, until I grew tired and
+left. But just as I was on the point of proceeding from his tent, he
+said: "Look here, Commandant, reorganise your commando as quickly as
+you can, and report to me as soon as you are ready." He also gave me
+permission to incorporate in the reorganised commando various
+Hollander and German stragglers who were loafing round about, although
+he seemed to entertain an irradicable prejudice against the Dutch and
+German corps.
+
+The Commandant of the Hollander corps, Volksraad Member Lombard, came
+out of the battle unscathed; his captain, Mr. B. J. Verselewel de Witt
+Hamer, had been made a prisoner; the Commandant of the German corps,
+Captain A. Schiel, fell wounded into British hands, while among the
+officers who were killed in action I should mention Dr. H. J. Coster,
+the bravest Hollander the Transvaal ever saw, the most brilliant
+member of the Pretoria Bar, who laid down his life because in a stupid
+moment Kruger had taunted him and his compatriots with cowardice.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+RISKING JOUBERT'S ANGER.
+
+
+After the above unpleasant but fairly successful interview with our
+Commander-in-Chief, I left the men I had gathered round me in charge
+of a field-cornet, and proceeded by train to Newcastle to collect the
+scattered remnants of my burghers, and to obtain mules and waggons for
+my convoy. For, as I have previously stated, it was at Newcastle we
+had left all our commissariat-waggons and draught cattle under a
+strong escort. On arrival I summoned the burghers together, and
+addressing them in a few words, pointed out that we should, so soon as
+possible, resume the march, in order to reach the fighting line
+without delay, and there retrieve the pride and honour of our
+commando.
+
+"Our beloved country," I said, "as well as our dead, wounded and
+missing comrades, require us not to lose courage at this first
+reverse, but to continue the righteous struggle even against
+overwhelming odds," and so on, in this strain.
+
+I honestly cannot understand why we should have been charged with
+cowardice at the battle of Elandslaagte, although many of us seemed to
+apprehend that this would be the case. We had made a good fight of it,
+but overwhelmed by an organised force of disciplined men, eight or ten
+times our number, we had been vanquished, and the British were the
+first to admit that we had manfully and honourably defended our
+positions. To put a wrong construction on our defeat was a libel on
+all who had bravely fought the fight, and I resented it. There are
+such things as the fortunes of war, and as only one side can win, it
+cannot always be the same. However, I soon discovered that a small
+number of our burghers did not seem inclined to join in the
+prolongation of the struggle. To have forced them to rejoin us would
+have served no purpose, so I thought the best policy would be to send
+them home on furlough until they had recovered their spirits and
+their courage. No doubt the scorn and derision to which they would be
+subjected by their wives and sisters would soon induce them to take up
+arms again and to fulfil the duties their country required. I
+therefore requested those who had neither the courage nor the
+inclination to return to the front to fall out, and about thirty men
+fell back, bowing their heads in shame. They were jeered at and
+chaffed by their fellows, the majority of whom had elected to proceed.
+But the shock of Elandslaagte had been too much for the weaker
+brethren, who seemed deaf to every argument, and only wanted to go
+home. I gave each of these a pass to proceed by rail to Johannesburg,
+which read as follows:--
+
+     "Permit..................................... to go to
+     Johannesburg on account of cowardice, at Government's
+     expense."
+
+They put the permit in their pockets without suspecting its contents,
+and departed with their kit to the station to catch the first
+available train.
+
+The reader will now have formed an idea of the disastrous moral effect
+of this defeat, and the subsequent difficulty of getting a commando up
+to its original fighting strength. But in spite of this I am proud to
+say that by far the greater number of the Johannesburgers were
+gathered round me and prepared to march to meet the enemy once more.
+
+My trap and all its contents had been captured by the enemy at
+Elandslaagte, and I found it necessary to obtain new outfits, &c., at
+Newcastle. This was no easy matter, as some of the storekeepers had
+moved the greater part of their goods to a safer place, while some
+commandos had appropriated most of the remainder. What was left had
+been commandeered by Mr. J. Moodie, a favourite of General Joubert,
+who was posing there as Resident Justice of the Peace; and he did not
+feel inclined to let any of these goods out of his possession. By
+alternately buying and looting, or in other words stealing, I managed
+to get an outfit by the next morning, and at break of day we left for
+Dannhauser Station, arriving there the same evening without further
+noteworthy incident.
+
+Next day, when the Johannesburg corps turned out, we numbered 485
+mounted men, all fully equipped. On arrival at Glencoe Station I
+received a telegram from General Joubert informing me that he had
+defeated the enemy at Nicholson's Nek near Ladysmith that day (October
+30, 1899) taking 1,300 prisoners, who would arrive at Glencoe the
+following morning. He desired me to conduct them to Pretoria under a
+strong escort. What a flattering order! To conduct prisoners-of-war,
+taken by other burghers! Were we then fit for nothing but police duty?
+
+However, orders have to be obeyed, so I sent one of my officers with
+40 men to take the prisoners to Pretoria, and reported to the
+Commandant-General by telegram that his order had been executed, also
+asking for instructions as to where I was to proceed with my commando.
+The reply I received was as follows:--
+
+"Pitch your camp near Dundee, and maintain law and order in the
+Province, also aid the Justice of the Peace in forwarding captured
+goods, ammunition, provisions, etc., to Pretoria, and see that you are
+not attacked a second time."
+
+This was more than flesh and blood could bear; more than a "white man"
+could stand. It was not less than a personal insult, which I deeply
+resented. Evidently my chief had resolved to keep us in the
+background; he would not trust our commando in the fighting line. In
+short, he would not keep his word and give us another chance to recoup
+our losses.
+
+I had, however, made up my mind, and ordered the commando to march to
+Ladysmith. If the General would not have me at the front I should
+cease to be an officer. And, although I had no friends of influence
+who could help me I resolved to take the bull by the horns, and leave
+the rest to fate.
+
+On the 1st November, 1899, we reached the main army near Ladysmith,
+and I went at once to tell General Joubert in person that my men
+wanted to fight, and not to play policemen in the rear of the army.
+Having given the order to dismount I proceeded to Joubert's tent,
+walked in with as much boldness as I could muster, and saluted the
+General, who was fortunately alone. I at once opened my case, telling
+him how unfair it was to keep us in the rear, and that the burghers
+were loudly protesting against such treatment. This plea was generally
+used throughout the campaign when an officer required something to be
+granted him. At first the old General was very wrathful. He said I had
+disobeyed his orders and that he had a mind to have me shot for breach
+of discipline. However, after much storming in his fine bass voice, he
+grew calmer, and in stentorian tones ordered me for the time being to
+join General Schalk Burger, who was operating near Lombard's Kop in
+the siege of Ladysmith.
+
+That same evening I arrived there with my commando and reported myself
+to Lieut-General Burger. One of his adjutants, Mr. Joachim Fourie, who
+distinguished himself afterwards on repeated occasions and was killed
+in action near his house in the Carolina district, showed me a place
+to laager in. We pitched our tents on the same spot where a few days
+before Generals White and French had been defeated, and there awaited
+developments.
+
+At this place the British, during the battle of Nicholson's Nek, had
+hidden a large quantity of rifle and gun ammunition in a hole in the
+ground, covering it up with grass, which gave it the appearance of a
+heap of rubbish. One of the burghers who feared this would be
+injurious to the health of our men in camp, set the grass on fire, and
+this soon penetrated to the ammunition. A tremendous explosion
+occurred, and it seemed as if there were a real battle in progress.
+From all sides burghers dashed up on horseback to learn where the
+fighting was taking place. General Joubert sent an adjutant to enquire
+whether the Johannesburgers were now killing each other for a change,
+and why I could not keep my men under better control. I asked this
+gentleman to be kind enough to see for himself what was taking place,
+and to tell the Commandant-General that I could manage well enough to
+keep my men in order, but could not be aware of the exact spot where
+the enemy had chosen to hide their ammunition.
+
+Meanwhile, it became daily more evident to me how greatly Joubert
+depreciated my commando, and that we would have to behave very well
+and fight very bravely to regain his favour. Other commandos also
+seemed to have no better opinion, and spoke of us as the laager which
+had to run at Elandslaagte, forgetting how even General Meyer's huge
+commando had been obliged to retreat in the greatest confusion at
+Dundee. If all the details of this Dundee engagement were published it
+would be discovered that it was a Boer disaster only second to that of
+Elandslaagte.
+
+We were now, however, at any rate at the front. I sent out my outposts
+and fixed my positions, which were very far from good; but I decided
+to make no complaints. We had resolved to do our very best to
+vindicate our honour, and to prove that our accusers had no reason to
+call us either cowards or good-for-nothings.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+THE BOER GENERAL'S SUPERSTITIONS.
+
+
+A few days after we had arrived before Ladysmith we joined an
+expedition to reconnoitre the British entrenchments, and my commando
+was ordered near some forts on the north-westerly side of the town.
+Both small and large artillery were being fired from each side. We
+approached within 800 paces of a fort; it was broad daylight and the
+enemy could therefore see us distinctly, knew the exact range, and
+received us with a perfect hailstorm of fire. Our only chance was to
+seek cover behind kopjes and in ditches, for on any Boer showing his
+head the bullets whistled round his ears. Here two of my burghers were
+severely wounded, and we had some considerable trouble to get them
+through the firing line to our ambulance. At last, late in the
+afternoon, came the order to retire, and we retired after having
+achieved nothing.
+
+I fail to this day to see the use of this reconnoitring, but at
+Ladysmith everything was equally mysterious and perplexing. It was
+perhaps that my knowledge of military matters was too limited to
+understand the subtle manoeuvres of those days. But I have made up my
+mind not to criticise our leader's military strategy, though I must
+say at this juncture that the whole siege of Ladysmith and the manner
+in which the besieged garrison was ineffectually pounded at with our
+big guns for several months, seem to me an unfathomable mystery,
+which, owing to Joubert's untimely death, will never be explained
+satisfactorily. But I venture to describe Joubert's policy outside
+Ladysmith as stupid and primitive, and in another chapter I shall
+again refer to it.
+
+After another fortnight or so, we were ordered away to guard another
+position to the south-west of Ladysmith, as the Free State commando
+under Commandant Nel, and, unless I am mistaken, under Field-Cornet
+Christian de Wet (afterwards the world-famous chief Commander of the
+Orange Free State, and of whom all Afrikanders are justly proud), had
+to go to Cape Colony.
+
+Here I was under the command of Dijl Erasmus, who was then General and
+a favourite of General Joubert. We had plenty of work given us.
+Trenches had to be dug and forts had to be constructed and remodelled.
+At this time an expedition ventured to Estcourt, under General Louis
+Botha, who replaced General L. Meyer, sent home on sick leave. My
+commando joined the expedition under Field-Cornet J. Kock, who
+afterwards caused me a lot of trouble.
+
+I can say but little of this expedition to Estcourt, save that the
+Commander-in-Chief accompanied it. But for his being with us, I am
+convinced that General Botha would have pushed on at least as far as
+Pietermaritzburg, for the English were at that time quite unable to
+stop our progress. But after we got to Estcourt, practically
+unopposed, Joubert, though our burghers had been victorious in battle
+after battle, ordered us to retreat. The only explanation General
+Joubert ever vouchsafed about the recall of this expedition was that
+in a heavy thunderstorm which had been raging for two nights near
+Estcourt, two Boers had been struck by lightning, which, according to
+his doctrine, was an infallible sign from the Almighty that the
+commandos were to proceed no further. It seems incredible that in
+these enlightened days we should find such a man in command of an
+army; it is, nevertheless, a fact that the loss of two burghers
+induced our Commandant-General to recall victorious commandos who were
+carrying all before them. The English at Pietermaritzburg, and even at
+Durban, were trembling lest we should push forward to the coast,
+knowing full well that in no wise could they have arrested our
+progress. And what an improvement in our position this would have
+meant! As it was, our retirement encouraged the British to push
+forward their fighting line so far as Chieveley Station, near the
+Tugela river, and the commandos had to take up a position in the
+"randjes," on the westerly banks of the Tugela.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+THE "GREAT POWERS" TO INTERVENE.
+
+
+During the retreat of our army to the frontier of the Transvaal
+Republic nothing of importance occurred. Here again confusion reigned
+supreme, and none of the commandos were over-anxious to form
+rearguards. Our Hollander Railway Company made a point of placing a
+respectful distance between her rolling-stock and the enemy, and,
+anxious to lose as few carriages as possible, raised innumerable
+difficulties when asked to transport our men, provisions and
+ammunition. Our generals had meantime proceeded to Laing's Nek by rail
+to seek new positions, and there was no one to maintain order and
+discipline.
+
+About 150 Natal Afrikanders who had joined our commandos when these
+under the late General Joubert occupied the districts about Newcastle
+and Ladysmith, now found themselves in an awkward position. They
+elected to come with us, accompanied by their families and live stock,
+and they offered a most heartrending spectacle. Long rows of carts and
+wagons wended their way wearily along the road to Laing's Nek. Women
+in tears, with their children and infants in arms, cast reproachful
+glances at us as being the cause of their misery. Others occupied
+themselves more usefully in driving their cattle. Altogether it was a
+scene the like of which I hope never to see again.
+
+The Natal kaffirs now had an opportunity of displaying their hatred
+towards the Boers. As soon as we had left a farm and its male
+inhabitants had gone, they swooped down on the place and wrought havoc
+and ruin, plundering and looting to their utmost carrying capacity.
+Some even assaulted women and children, and the most awful atrocities
+were committed. I attach more blame to the whites who encouraged these
+plundering bands, especially some of the Imperial troops and Natal
+men in military service. Not understanding the bestial nature of the
+kaffirs, they used them to help carry out their work of destruction,
+and although they gave them no actual orders to molest the people,
+they took no proper steps of preventing this.
+
+When our commando passed through Newcastle, we found the place almost
+entirely deserted, excepting for a few British subjects who had taken
+an oath of neutrality to the Boers.
+
+I regret to have to state that during our retreat a number of
+irresponsible persons set fire to the Government buildings in that
+town. It is said that an Italian officer burned a public hall on no
+reasonable pretext; certainly he never received orders to that effect.
+As may be expected of an invading army, some of our burgher patrols
+and other isolated bodies of troops looted and destroyed a number of
+houses which had been temporarily deserted. But with the exception of
+these few cases, I can state that no outrages were committed by us in
+Natal, and no property was needlessly destroyed.
+
+On our arrival at Laing's Nek a Council of War was immediately held to
+decide our future plans.
+
+We now found ourselves once more on the old battlefields of 1880 and
+1881, where Boer and Briton had met 20 years before to decide by trial
+of arms who should be master of the S. A. Republic. Traces of that
+desperate struggle were still plainly visible, and the historic height
+of Majuba stood there, an isolated sentinel, recalling to us the
+battle in which the unfortunate Colley lost both the day and his life.
+
+I was told off to take up a position in the Nek where the wagon-road
+runs to the east across the railway-tunnel, and here we made
+preparations for digging trenches and placing our guns. Soon after we
+had completed our entrenchments we once more saw the enemy. They were
+lying at Schuinshoogte on the Ingogo, and had sent a mounted corps
+with two guns to the Nek. Although we had no idea of the enemy's
+strength, we were fully prepared to meet the attack; the Pretoria,
+Lydenburg and other laagers were posted to the left on the summit of
+Majuba Hill, and other commandos held good positions on the east. But
+the enemy evidently thought that we had fled all the way back to
+Pretoria, and not expecting to find the Nek occupied, advanced quite
+unconcerned. We fired a few volleys at them, which caused them to halt
+in considerable surprise, and, replying with a little artillery fire,
+they quickly returned to Schuinshoogte. We had, however, to be on our
+guard both day and night. It was bitterly cold at the time and a
+strong easterly wind was blowing.
+
+Next day something occurred which afforded a change to the monotony of
+our situation, namely, the arrival from Pretoria of Mr. John Lombaard,
+member of the First Volksraad for Bethel. He asked permission to
+address us and informed us that we need only hold out another
+fortnight, for news from Europe had reached them to the effect that
+the Great Powers had decided to put an end to the War. This
+communication emanating from such a semi-official source was believed
+by a certain number of our men, but I think it did very little to
+brighten up the spirits of the majority, or arouse them from the
+lethargy into which they seemed to have fallen. A fortnight passed,
+and a month, without us hearing anything further of this expected
+intervention, and I have never been able to discover on whose
+authority and by whose orders Mr. Lombaard made to us that remarkable
+communication.
+
+Meantime, General Buller did not seem at all anxious to attack us,
+perhaps fearing a repetition of the "accidents" on the Tugela; or
+possibly he thought that our position was too strong. For some reason,
+therefore, Laing's Nek was never attacked, and Buller afterwards,
+having made a huge "detour," broke through Botha's Pass. Meanwhile,
+Lord Roberts and his forces were marching without opposition through
+the Orange Free State, and I was ordered to proceed to Vereeniging
+with my commando. We left Laing's Nek on the 19th of May, and
+proceeded to the Free State frontier by rail.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+COLENSO AND SPION KOP FIGHTS.
+
+
+Eight days after my commando had been stationed in my new position
+under General Erasmus, I received instructions to march to
+Potgietersdrift, on the Upper Tugela, near Spion Kop, and there to put
+myself at Andries Cronje's disposal. This gentleman was then a general
+in the Orange Free State Army, and although a very venerable looking
+person, was not very successful as a commander. Up to the 14th of
+December, 1899, no noteworthy incident took place, and nothing was
+done but a little desultory scouting along the Tugela, and the digging
+of trenches.
+
+At last came the welcome order summoning us to action; and we were
+bidden to march on Colenso Heights with 200 men to fill up the ranks,
+as a fight was imminent. We left under General Cronje and arrived the
+next morning at daybreak, and a few hours after began the battle now
+known to the world as the Battle of Colenso (15th December, 1899).
+
+I afterwards heard that the commandos under General Cronje were to
+cross the river and attack the enemy's left flank. This did not
+happen, as the greatest confusion prevailed owing to the various
+contradictory orders given by the generals. For instance, I myself
+received four contradictory orders from four generals within the space
+of ten minutes. I, however, took the initiative in moving my men up to
+the river to attempt the capture of a battery of guns on the enemy's
+left flank which had been left unprotected, as was the case with the
+ten guns which fell into our hands later in the day. I had approached
+within 1,400 paces of the enemy, and my burghers were following close
+behind me when an adjutant from General Botha (accompanied by a
+gentleman named C. Fourie, who was then also parading as a general)
+galloped up to us and ordered us at once to join the Ermelo commando,
+which was said to be too weak to resist the attacks of the enemy. We
+hurried thither as quickly as we could round the rear of the fighting
+line, where we were obliged to off-saddle and walk up to the position
+of the Ermelo burghers. This was no easy task; the battle was now in
+full swing, and the enemy's shells were bursting in dozens around us,
+and in the burning sun we had to run some miles.
+
+When we arrived at our destination Mr. Fourie (the pseudo general) and
+his adjutant could nowhere be found. As to the Ermelo burghers, they
+said they were quite comfortable, and had asked for no assistance.
+
+Not a single shell had reached them, for a clump of aloe trees stood a
+hundred yards away, which the English presumably had taken for Boers,
+judging by the terrific bombardment these trees were being subjected
+to.
+
+[Illustration: Along the Tugela--Coming suddenly upon an English
+Outpost.]
+
+By this time the attack was repulsed, and General Buller was in full
+retreat to Chieveley, though our commando had been unable to take an
+active part in the fighting, at which we were greatly disappointed.
+It is much to be regretted that the retreat of the enemy was not
+followed up at once. Had this been done, the campaign in Natal would
+have taken an entirely different aspect, and very probably would have
+been attended by a more favourable conclusion. I consider myself far
+from a prophet, but this I know; and if we had then and on subsequent
+occasions followed up our successes, the result of the Campaign would
+have been far more satisfactory to us.
+
+After I had assisted in bringing away through the river the guns we
+had taken, and seen to other matters which required my immediate
+attention, I was ordered to remain with the Ermelo commando at
+Colenso, near Toomdrift, and to await there further instructions.
+
+A few weeks of inactivity followed, the English sending us each day a
+few samples of their shells from their 4.7 Naval guns. Unfortunately,
+our guns were of much smaller calibre, and we could send them no
+suitable reply. As a rule we would lie in the trenches, and a burgher
+would be on the look-out. So soon as he saw the flash of an English
+gun, he would cry out; "There's a shell," and we then sought cover, so
+that the enemy seldom succeeded in harming us.
+
+One day one of these big shells fell amongst a group of fourteen
+burghers who were at dinner. The shell struck a sharp rock, which it
+splintered into fragments, and was emitting its yellow lyddite; but,
+fortunately, the fuse refused to burn, and the shell did not explode,
+so we had a narrow escape that day from a small catastrophe.
+
+My laager had been at Potgietersdrift all this time, and for the time
+being we were deprived of our tents. We were not sorry, therefore,
+when we were ordered to leave Colenso and to return to our camp.
+
+A few days after we were told off to take up a position at the
+junction of the Little and the Big Tugela, between Spion Kop and
+Colenso. Here we celebrated our first Christmas in the field; our
+friends at Johannesburg had sent us a quantity of presents by means of
+a friend, Attorney Raaff, comprising cakes, cigars, cigarettes,
+tobacco and other luxuries. Along this part of the Tugela we found a
+fair quantity of vegetables, and poultry, and as their respective
+owners had fled we were unable to pay for what we had. We were
+obliged, therefore, to "borrow" all these things for the banquet
+befitting to the occasion.
+
+But General Buller had not quite finished with us yet. He marched on
+Spion Kop, but with the exception of a feint attack nothing of
+importance happened then. One day I went across the river with a
+patrol to discover what the enemy was doing, when we suddenly came
+across nine English spies, who fled as soon as they saw us. We
+galloped after them, trying to cut them off from the main body, which
+was at a little distance away from us, and would no doubt have
+overtaken them, but, riding at a breakneck speed over a mountain
+ridge, we found ourselves suddenly confronted with a strong English
+mounted corps, apparently engaged in drilling. We were only 500 paces
+away from them, and we jumped off our horses, and opened fire. But
+there were only a dozen of us, and the enemy soon began sending us a
+few shells, and prepared to attack us with their whole force. About a
+hundred mounted men, with horses in the best of condition, set off to
+pursue us.
+
+We were obliged to ride back by the same path we had come by, which
+was fortunate for us, as we knew the way and could ride through
+crevices and dongas without any hesitation. In this way we soon gave
+our pursuers the slip.
+
+Buller's forces seemed at first to have the intention of forcing their
+way through near Potgietersdrift, and they took possession of all the
+"randts" on their side of the river, causing us to strengthen the
+position on our side. We thus had to shift our commando again to
+Potgietersdrift, where we soon had the enemy's Naval guns playing on
+our positions. This continued day and night for a whole week.
+
+It seemed as if General Buller were determined to annihilate all the
+Boers with his lyddite shells, so as to enable the soldiers to walk at
+their leisure to the release of Ladysmith. Certainly we suffered
+considerably from lyddite fumes.
+
+The British next made a feint attack near Potgietersdrift, advancing
+with a great clamour till they had come within 2,000 paces of us,
+where they occupied various "randts" and kopjes, always under cover of
+their artillery. Once they came a little too close to our positions,
+and we suddenly opened fire on them. The result was that their
+ambulance waggons were seen to become very busy driving backwards and
+forwards.
+
+This "feint," however, was only made in order to divert our attention,
+while Buller was concentrating his troops and guns on Spion Kop. The
+ruse succeeded to a large extent, and on the 21st January the
+memorable battle of Spion Kop (near the Upper Tugela) began.
+
+General Warren, who, I believe, was in command here, had ordered
+another "feint" attack from the extreme right wing. General Cronje and
+the Free Staters had taken up a position at Spion Kop, assisted by the
+commandos of General Erasmus and Schalk Burger.
+
+The fight lasted the whole of that day and the next, and became more
+and more fierce. Luckily General Botha appeared on the scene in time,
+and re-arranged matters so well and with so much energy that the enemy
+found itself well employed, and was kept in check at all points.
+
+I had been ordered to defend the position at Potgietersdrift, but the
+fighting round Spion Kop became so serious that I was obliged to send
+up a field cornet with his men as a reinforcement, which was soon
+followed by a second contingent, making altogether 200 Johannesburgers
+in the fight, of whom nine were killed and 18 wounded. The enemy had
+reached the top of the "kop" on the evening of the second day of the
+fight, not, however, without having sustained considerable losses. At
+this juncture one of our generals felt so disheartened that he sent
+away his carts, and himself left the battlefield.
+
+But General Botha kept his ground like a man, surrounded by the
+faithful little band who had already borne the brunt of this important
+battle. And one can imagine our delight when next morning we found
+that the English had retreated, leaving that immense battlefield,
+strewn with hundreds of dead and wounded, in our hands.
+
+"What made them leave so suddenly last night," was the question we
+asked each other then, and which remains unanswered to this day.
+
+General Warren has stated that the cause of his departure was the want
+of water, but I can hardly credit that statement, as water could be
+obtained all the way to the top of Spion Kop; and even had it been
+wanting it is not likely that after a sacrifice of 1,200 to 1,300
+lives the position would have been abandoned on this account alone.
+Our victory was undoubtedly a fluke.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+THE BATTLE OF VAALKRANTZ.
+
+
+Soon after his defeat at Spion Kop, General Buller, moved by the
+earnest entreaties for help from Ladysmith, and pressed by Lord
+Roberts, attempted a third time to break through our lines. This time
+my position had to bear the onslaught of his whole forces. For some
+days it had been clear to me what the enemy intended to do, but I
+wired in vain to the Commander-in-Chief to send me reinforcements, and
+I was left to defend a front, one and a half miles in length, with
+about 400 men. After many requests I at last moved General Joubert to
+send me one of the guns known as "Long Toms," which was placed at the
+rear of our position, and enabled us to command the Vaalkrantz, or, as
+we called it, "Pontdrift" kopjes. But instead of the required
+reinforcements, the Commander sent a telegram to General Meyer to
+Colenso, telling him to come and speak to me, and to put some heart
+into me, for it seemed, he said, "as if I had lost faith."
+
+General Meyer came, and I explained to him how matters stood, and that
+I should not be able to check the enormous attacking force with my
+commando alone. The British were at this time only 7,000 paces away
+from us. The required assistance, however, never came, although I told
+the General that a faith strong enough to move Majuba Hill would be of
+no avail without a sufficient number of men.
+
+Early in the morning of the 5th February, 1900, my position was
+heavily bombarded, and before the sun had risen four of my burghers
+had been put _hors de combat_. The enemy had placed their naval guns
+on the outskirts of the wood known as "Zwartkop" so as to be able to
+command our position from an elevation of about 400 feet. I happened
+to be on the right flank with ninety-five burghers and a pom-pom; my
+assistant, Commandant Jaapie du Preez, commanding the left flank.
+
+The assailants threw two pontoon bridges across the river and troops
+kept pouring over from 10 o'clock in the morning. The whole of the
+guns' fire was now concentrated on my position; and although we
+answered with a well-directed fire, they charged time after time.
+
+The number of my fighting men was rapidly diminishing. I may say this
+was the heaviest bombardment I witnessed during the whole of the
+campaign. It seemed to me as if all the guns of the British army were
+being fired at us.
+
+Their big lyddite guns sent over huge shells, which mowed down all the
+trees on the kopje, while about fifty field pieces were incessantly
+barking away from a shorter range. Conan Doyle, in his book, "The
+Great Boer War," states that the British had concentrated no less than
+seventy-three guns on that kopje. In vain I implored the nearest
+Generals for reinforcements and requested our artillery in Heaven's
+name to aim at the enemy's guns. At last, however, "Long Tom"
+commenced operations, but the artillerymen in charge had omitted to
+put the powder in a safe place and it was soon struck by a lyddite
+shell which set the whole of it on fire. This compelled us to send to
+the head laager near Ladysmith for a fresh supply of powder.
+
+On looking about me to see how my burghers were getting on I found
+that many around me had been killed and others were wounded. The
+clothes of the latter were burnt and they cried out for help in great
+agony.
+
+Our pom-pom had long since been silenced by the enemy, and thirty of
+my burghers had been put out of the fight. The enemy's infantry was
+advancing nearer and nearer and there was not much time left to think.
+I knelt down behind a kopje, along with some of the men, and we kept
+firing away at 400 paces, but although we sent a good many to eternal
+rest, the fire of the few burghers who were left was too weak to stem
+the onslaught of those overwhelming numbers.
+
+A lyddite shell suddenly burst over our very heads. Four burghers with
+me were blown to pieces and my rifle was smashed. It seemed to me as
+if a huge cauldron of boiling fat had burst over us and for some
+minutes I must have lost consciousness. A mouthful of brandy and water
+(which I always carried with me) was given me and restored me
+somewhat, and when I opened my eyes I saw the enemy climbing the kopje
+on three sides of us, some of them only a hundred paces away from me.
+
+I ordered my men to fall back and took charge of the pom-pom, and we
+then retired under a heavy rifle and gun fire. Some English writers
+have made much ado about the way in which our pom-pom was saved, but
+it was nothing out of the ordinary. Of the 95 burghers with me 29 had
+been killed, 24 wounded.
+
+When I had a few minutes rest I felt a piercing pain in my head, and
+the blood began to pour from my nose and ears.
+
+We had taken up another position at 1,700 paces, and fired our pom-pom
+at the enemy, who now occupied our position of a few minutes before.
+Our other guns were being fired as well, which gave the British an
+exciting quarter of an hour. On the right and left of the positions
+taken by them our burghers were still in possession of the "randten";
+to the right Jaapie du Preez, with the loss of only four wounded, kept
+his ground with the rest of my commando.
+
+The next morning the fight was renewed, and our "Long Tom" now took
+the lead in the cannon-concert, and seemed to make himself very
+unpleasant to the enemy.
+
+The whole day was mainly a battle of big guns. My headache grew
+unbearable, and I was very feverish. General Botha had meanwhile
+arrived with reinforcements, and towards evening things took a better
+turn.
+
+But I was temporarily done for, and again lost consciousness, and was
+taken to the ambulance. Dr. Shaw did his best, I hear, for me; but I
+was unconscious for several days, and when I revived the doctor told
+me I had a slight fracture of the skull caused by the bursting of a
+shell. The injuries, however, could not have been very serious for ten
+days after I was able to leave my bed. I then heard that the night I
+had been taken to the hospital, the British had once more been forced
+to retire across the Tugela, and early in the morning of the 7th of
+February our burghers were again in possession of the kopje
+"Vaalkrantz," round which such a fierce fight had waged and for the
+possession of which so much blood had been spilled.
+
+So far as I could gather from the English official reports they lost
+about 400 men, while our dead and wounded numbered only sixty-two.
+
+Taking into consideration the determination with which General Buller
+had attacked us, and how dearly he had paid for this third abortive
+attempt, the retreat of his troops remains as much of a mystery to me
+as that at Spion Kop.
+
+Our "Long Tom" was a decided success, and had proved itself to be
+exceedingly useful.
+
+The Battle of "Vaalkrantz" kopje was to me and to the Johannesburg
+commando undoubtedly the most important and the fiercest fight in this
+war, and although one point in our positions was taken, I think that
+on the whole I may be proud of our defence. About two-thirds of its
+defenders were killed or wounded before the enemy took that spot, and
+all who afterwards visited the kopje where our struggle had taken
+place had to admit that unmistakable evidence showed it to be one of
+the hottest fights of the Natal campaign. All the trees were torn up
+or smashed by shells, great blocks of rock had been splintered and
+were stained yellow by the lyddite; mutilated bodies were lying
+everywhere--Briton and Boer side by side; for during the short time
+"Vaalkrantz" had been in their possession the English had not had an
+opportunity of burying the bodies of friends or foe.
+
+I think I may quote a few paragraphs of what Dr. Doyle says in his
+book about this engagement:--
+
+     "The artillery-fire (the "Zwartkop" guns and other
+     batteries) was then hurriedly aimed at the isolated
+     "Vaalkrantz" (the real object of the attack), and had a
+     terrific effect. It is doubtful whether ever before a
+     position has been exposed to such an awful bombardment. The
+     weight of the ammunition fired by some of the cannon was
+     greater than that of an entire German battery during the
+     Franco-Prussian war."
+
+Prince Kraft describes the 4 and 6-pounders as mere toys compared with
+machine Howitzer and 4.7 guns.
+
+Dr. Doyle, however, is not sure about the effect of these powerful
+guns, for he says:--
+
+     "Although the rims of the kopje were being pounded by
+     lyddite and other bombs it is doubtful whether this terrific
+     fire did much damage among the enemy, as seven English
+     officers and 70 men were lying dead on the kopje against
+     only a few Boers, who were found to have been wounded."
+
+Of the pom-pom, which I succeeded in saving from the enemy's hands,
+the same writer says:--
+
+     "It was during this attack that something happened of a more
+     picturesque and romantic nature than is usually the case in
+     modern warfare; here it was not a question of combatants and
+     guns being invisible or the destruction of a great mass of
+     people. In this case it concerns a Boer gun, cut off by the
+     British troops, which all of a sudden came out of its
+     hiding-place and scampered away like a frightened hare from
+     his lair. It fled from the danger as fast as the mules' legs
+     would take it, nearly overturning, and jolting and knocking
+     against the rocks, while the driver bent forward as far as
+     he could to protect himself from the shower of bullets which
+     were whistling round his ears in all directions. British
+     shells to the right of him, shells to the left of him
+     bursting and spluttering, lyddite shrapnel fuming and
+     fizzing and making the splinters fly. But over the "randtje"
+     the gun disappeared, and in a few minutes after it was in
+     position again, and dealing death and destruction amongst
+     the British assailants."
+
+While I was under treatment in Dr. Shaw's ambulance I was honoured by
+a visit from General Joubert, who came to compliment me on what he
+called the splendid defence of Vaalkrantz, and to express his regret
+at the heavy loss sustained by our commando. I heard from Dr. Shaw
+that after the battle the groans and cries of the wounded burghers
+could be heard in the immediate neighbourhood of the English outposts.
+Some burghers volunteered to go, under cover of the darkness, to see
+if they could save these wounded men. They cautiously crept up to the
+foot of the kopjes, from where they could plainly see the English
+sentinels, and a little further down found in a ditch two of our
+wounded, named Brand and Liebenberg; the first had an arm and a leg
+smashed, the latter had a bullet in his thigh.
+
+One can imagine what a terrible plight they were in after laying there
+for two nights and a day, exposed to the night's severe cold and the
+day's scorching sun. Their wounds were already decomposing, and the
+odour was most objectionable.
+
+The two unfortunate men were at once carried to the laager and
+attended to with greatest care. Poor Liebenberg died of his wounds
+soon after. Brand, the youngest son of the late President Brand, of
+the Orange Free State, soon recovered, if I remember rightly.
+
+At the risk of incurring the displeasure of a great number of people
+by adding the following statement to my description of the battle of
+Vaalkrantz, I feel bound to state that Commandant-General Joubert,
+after our successes at Colenso, Spion Kop, and Vaalkrantz, asked the
+two State Presidents, Kruger and Steyn, to consider the urgency of
+making peace overtures to the English Government. He pointed out that
+the Republics had no doubt reached the summit of their glory in the
+War. The proposal read as follows: That the Republican troops should
+at once evacuate British territory, compensation to be given for the
+damage to property, etc., inflicted by our commandos, against which
+the British Government was to guarantee that the Republics should be
+spared from any further incursions or attacks from British troops, and
+to waive its claim of Suzerainty; and that the British Government
+should undertake not to interfere with the internal affairs and legal
+procedure of the two Republics, and grant general amnesty to the
+colonial rebels.
+
+Commander-in-Chief Joubert defended these proposals by pointing out
+that England was at that moment in difficulties, and had suffered
+repeated serious defeats. The opportunity should be taken, urged the
+General.
+
+He was supported by several officers, but other Boer leaders contended
+that Natal, originally Boer territory, should never again be ceded to
+the enemy. As we heard nothing more of these proposals, I suppose the
+two State Presidents rejected them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+THE TURN OF THE TIDE.
+
+
+After the English forces had retreated from Vaalkrantz across the
+Tugela, a patrol of my commando under my faithful adjutant, J. Du
+Preez, who had taken my place for the time being, succeeded in
+surprising a troop of fifty Lancers, of the 17th regiment, I believe,
+near Zwartkop, east of the Tugela, and making them prisoners after a
+short skirmish. Among these men, who were afterwards sent to Pretoria,
+was a certain Lieutenant Thurlington. It was a strange sight to see
+our patrol coming back with their victims, each Boer brandishing a
+captured lance.
+
+Being still in the hospital in feeble health without any prospect of a
+speedy recovery, I took the doctor's advice and went home to
+Rondepoort, near Krugersdorp, where my family was staying at the
+time, and there, thanks to the careful treatment of my kind doctor and
+the tender care of my wife I soon recovered my strength.
+
+On the 25th of February I received a communication from my commando to
+the effect that General Buller had once more concentrated his forces
+on Colenso and that heavy fighting was going on. The same evening I
+also had a telegram from President Kruger, urging me to rejoin my
+commando so soon as health would allow, for affairs seemed to have
+taken a critical turn. The enemy appeared to mean business this time,
+and our commando had already been compelled to evacuate some very
+important positions, one of which was Pieter's Heights.
+
+Then the news came from Cape Colony that General Piet Cronje had been
+surrounded at Paardeberg, and that as he stubbornly refused to abandon
+his convoy and retreat, he would soon be compelled by a superior force
+to surrender.
+
+The next morning I was in a fast train to Natal, accompanied by my
+faithful adjutant, Rokzak. My other adjutant, Du Preez, had meantime
+been ordered to take a reinforcement of 150 men to Pieter's Heights,
+and was soon engaged in a desperate struggle in the locality situated
+between the Krugersdorpers' and the Middleburgers' positions. The
+situation was generally considered very serious when I arrived near
+the head laager at Modderspruit late in the evening of the 27th of
+February, unaware of the unfavourable turn things had taken during the
+day at Paardeberg, in the Cape Colony, and on the Tugela. We rode on
+that night to my laager at Potgietersdrift, but having to go by a
+roundabout way it took us till early next morning before we reached
+our destination. The first thing I saw on my arrival was a cart
+containing ten wounded men, who had just been brought in from the
+fighting line, all yellow with lyddite.
+
+Field-cornet P. van der Byl, who came fresh from the fight near
+Pieter's Heights, told me that these burghers had been wounded there.
+I asked them what had happened and how matters stood. "Ah,
+Commandant," he replied, "things are in a very bad way! Commandant Du
+Preez and myself were called to Pieter's Heights three days ago, as
+the enemy wanted to force their way through. We were in a very awkward
+position, the enemy storming us again and again; but we held our own,
+and fired on the soldiers at 50 paces. The English, however, directed
+an uninterrupted gun fire at our commandos, and wrought great havoc.
+Early Sunday morning the other side asked for a truce to enable them
+to bury their dead who were lying too close to our positions to be got
+at during the fighting. Many of their wounded were lying there as
+well, and the air was rent during 24 hours with their agonised groans,
+which were awful to hear. We, therefore, granted an armistice till 6
+o'clock in the evening." (This curiously coincided in time with Lord
+Roberts' refusal to General Piet Cronje at Paardeberg to bury his
+dead).
+
+"The enemy," continued the field-cornet, "broke through several
+positions, and while we were being fired at by the troops which were
+advancing on us, we were attacked on our left flank and in the rear.
+Assistant-Commandant Du Preez, and Field-Cornet Mostert, were both
+severely wounded, but are now in safe hands. Besides these, 42 of our
+burghers were killed, wounded, or taken prisoners; we could only bring
+16 of our wounded with us. The Krugersdorpers, too, have suffered
+severely. The enemy has pushed through, and I suppose my burghers are
+now taking up a position in the "randten" near Onderbroekspruit."
+
+Here was a nice state of things! When I had left my commando 15 days
+previously, we had had heavy losses in the battle of Vaalkrantz, and
+now again my burghers had been badly cut up. We had lost over 100 men
+in one month.
+
+But there was no time to lose in lamenting over these matters, for I
+had just received information that General P. Cronje had been taken
+prisoner with 4,000 men. The next report was to the effect that the
+enemy was breaking through near Onderbroekspruit, and that some
+burghers were retiring past Ladysmith. I was still in telegraphic
+communication with the head laager, and at once wired to the
+Commandant-General for instructions. The answer was:--
+
+     "Send your carts back to Modderspruit (our headquarters) and
+     hold the position with your mounted commandos."
+
+The position indicated was on the Upper Tugela, on a line with
+Colenso. My laager was about 20 miles away from the head laager; the
+enemy had passed through Onderbroekspruit, and was pushing on with all
+possible speed to relieve Ladysmith, so that I now stood in an oblique
+line with the enemy's rear. I sent out my carts to the south-west,
+going round Ladysmith in the direction of Modderspruit. One of my
+scouts reported to me that the Free State commandos which had been
+besieging Ladysmith to the south, had all gone in the direction of Van
+Reenen's Pass; another brought the information that the enemy had been
+seen to approach the village, and that a great force of cavalry was
+making straight for us.
+
+General Joubert's instructions were therefore inexplicable to me, and
+if I had carried them out I would probably have been cut off by the
+enemy. My burghers were also getting restless, and asked me why, while
+all the other commandos were retiring, we did not move. Cronje's
+surrender had had a most disheartening effect on them; there was, in
+fact, quite a panic among them. I mounted a high kopje from which I
+could see the whole Orange Free State army, followed by a long line of
+quite 500 carts and a lot of cattle, in full retreat, and enveloped in
+great clouds of red dust. To the right of Ladysmith I also noticed a
+similar melancholy procession. On turning round, I saw the English in
+vast numbers approaching very cautiously, so slowly, in fact, that it
+would take some time before they could reach us. Another and great
+force was rushing up behind them, also in the direction of Ladysmith.
+
+It must have been a race for the Distinguished Service Order or the
+Victoria Cross to be won by the one who was first to enter Ladysmith.
+We knew that the British infantry, aided by the artillery, had paved
+the way for relief, and I noticed the Irish Fusiliers on this
+occasion, as always, in the van. But Lord Dundonald rushed in and was
+proclaimed the hero of the occasion.
+
+Before concluding this chapter I should like to refer to a few
+incidents which happened during the Siege of Ladysmith. It is
+unnecessary to give a detailed description of the destruction of "Long
+Tom" at Lombardskop or the blowing up of another gun west of
+Ladysmith, belonging to the Pretoria Commando. The other side have
+written enough about this, and made enough capital out of them; and
+many a D.S.O. and V.C. has been awarded on account of them.
+
+Alas, I can put forward nothing to lessen our dishonour. As regards
+the "Long Tom" which was blown up, this was a piece of pure treachery,
+and a shocking piece of neglect, Commandant Weilbach, who ought to
+have defended this gun with the whole of his Heidelberg Commando, was
+unfaithful to his charge. The Heidelbergers, however, under a better
+officer, subsequently proved themselves excellent soldiers. A certain
+Major Erasmus was also to blame. He was continually under the
+influence of some beverage which could not be described as "aqua
+pura"; and we, therefore, expected little from him. But although the
+planning and the execution of the scheme to blow up "Long Tom" was a
+clever piece of work, the British wasted time and opportunity amusing
+themselves in cutting out on the gun the letters "R.A." (Royal
+Artillery), and the effect of the explosion was only to injure part of
+the barrel. After a little operation in the workshops of the
+Netherlands South African Railway Company at Pretoria under the
+direction of Mr. Uggla, our gun-doctor, "Long Tom's" mouth was healed
+and he could spit fire again as well as before. As to the blowing up
+of the howitzer shortly after, I will say the incident reflected no
+credit on General Erasmus, as he ought to have been warned by what
+happened near Lombardskop, and to have taken proper precautions not to
+give a group of starving and suffering soldiers an opportunity of
+penetrating his lines and advancing right up to his guns.
+
+Both incidents will be an ugly blot on the history of this war, and I
+am sorry to say the two Boer officers have never received condign
+punishment. They should, at any rate, have been called before the
+Commandant-General to explain their conduct.
+
+The storming of Platrand (Caesar's Camp), south-east of Ladysmith, on
+the 6th of January, 1900, also turned out badly for many reasons. The
+attack was not properly conducted owing to a jealousy amongst some of
+the generals, and there was not proper co-operation.
+
+The burghers who took part in the assault and captured several forts
+did some splendid work, which they might well be proud of, but they
+were not seconded as they should have been. The enemy knew that if
+they lost Platrand, Ladysmith would have to surrender; they therefore
+defended every inch of ground, with the result that our men were
+finally compelled to give way. And, for our pains, we sustained an
+enormous loss in men, which did not improve in any way the broken
+spirit of our burghers.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+THE GREAT BOER RETREAT.
+
+
+There was clearly no help for it, we had to retreat. I gave orders to
+saddle up and to follow the example of the other commandos, reporting
+the fact to the Commandant-General. An answer came--not from
+Modderspruit this time, but from the station beyond Elandslaagte--that
+a general retreat had been ordered, most of the commandos having
+already passed Ladysmith, and that General Joubert had gone in advance
+to Glencoe. At dusk I left the Tugela positions which we had so
+successfully held for a considerable time, where we had arrested the
+enemy from marching to the relief of Ladysmith, and where so many
+comrades had sacrificed their lives for their country and their
+people.
+
+It was a sad sight to see the commandos retreating in utter chaos and
+disorder in all directions. I asked many officers what instructions
+they had received, but nobody seemed to know what the orders actually
+were; their only idea seemed to be to get away as quickly as possible.
+
+Finally, at 9 o'clock in the evening we reached Klip River, where a
+strange scene was taking place. The banks were crowded with hundreds
+of mounted men, carts and cattle mingled in utter confusion amongst
+the guns, all awaiting their turn to cross. With an infinite amount of
+trouble the carts were all got over one at a time. After a few
+minutes' rest I decided on consulting my officers, that we should
+cross the river with our men by another drift further up the stream,
+our example being followed by a number of other commandos.
+
+I should point out here that in retreating we were going to the left,
+and therefore in perilous proximity to Ladysmith. The commandos which
+had been investing the town were all gone; and Buller's troops had
+already reached it from the eastern side, and there was really
+nothing to prevent the enemy from turning our rear, which had perforce
+to pass Ladysmith on its way from the Tugela. When we had finally got
+through the drift late that evening, a rumour reached us that the
+British were in possession of Modderspruit, and so far as that road
+was concerned, our retreat was effectually cut off.
+
+Shortly before the War, however, the English had made a new road which
+followed the course of the Klip River up to the Drakensbergen, and
+then led through the Biggarsbergen to Newcastle. This road was, I
+believe, made for military purposes; but it was very useful to us, and
+our wagons were safely got away by it.
+
+Commandant D. Joubert, of the Carolina Commando, then sent a message
+asking for reinforcements for the Pretoria laager, situated to the
+north-west of Ladysmith. It was a dark night and the rain was pouring
+down in torrents, which rendered it very difficult to get the
+necessary burghers together for this purpose.
+
+I managed, however, to induce a sufficient number of men to come
+together, and we rode back; but on nearing the Pretoria Laager, I
+found to my dismay that there were only 22 of us left. What was to be
+done? This handful of men was of very little use; yet to return would
+have been cowardly, and besides, in the meantime our laager would have
+gone on, and would now be several hours' riding ahead of us. I sent
+some burghers in advance to see what was happening to the Pretoria
+Laager. It seemed strange to me that the place should still be in the
+hands of our men, seeing that all the other commandos had long since
+retired. After waiting fully an hour, our scouts came back with the
+information that the laager was full of English soldiers, and that
+they had been able to hear them quarrelling about the booty left
+behind by the burghers.
+
+It was now two o'clock in the morning. Our Pretoria comrades were
+apparently safe, and considerably relieved we decided to ride to
+Elandslaagte which my men would by that time have surely reached. Our
+carts were sooner or later bound to arrive there, inasmuch as they
+were in charge of a field-cornet known to us as one of our best
+"retreat officers." I think it was splendid policy under the
+circumstances to appoint such a gentleman to such a task; I felt sure
+that the enemy would never overtake him and capture his carts. We
+followed the main road, which was fortunately not held by the enemy,
+as had been reported to us. On the way we encountered several carts
+and waggons which had been cast away by the owners for fear of being
+caught up by the pursuing troops. Of course the rumour that this road
+was in possession of the English was false, but it increased the panic
+among the burghers. Not only carts had been left behind, but, as we
+found in places, sacks of flour, tins of coffee, mattresses and other
+jettison, thrown out of the carts to lighten their burden.
+
+On nearing Elandslaagte we caught up the rear of the fleeing
+commandos. Here we learned that Generals Botha and Meyer were still
+behind us with their commandos, near Lombardsdorp. We off-saddled,
+exhausted and half starving. Luckily, some of the provisions of our
+commissariat, which had been stored here during the Ladysmith
+investment, had not been carried away. But, to our disgust, we found
+that the Commissariat-Commissioner had set fire to the whole of it, so
+we had to appease our hunger by picking half-burned potatoes out of a
+fire.
+
+At 7 o'clock next morning General Botha and his men arrived at
+Elandslaagte and off-saddled in hopes of getting something to eat.
+They were also doomed to disappointment. Such wanton destruction of
+God's bounty was loudly condemned, and had Mr. Pretorius, the
+Commissioner of Stores, not been discreet enough to make himself
+scarce, he would no doubt have been subjected to a severe
+"sjamboking." Later in the day a council of war was held, and it was
+decided that we should all stay there for the day, in order to stop
+the enemy if they should pursue us. Meantime we would allow the
+convoys an opportunity of getting to the other side of the Sunday
+River.
+
+The British must have been so overjoyed at the relief of Ladysmith
+that Generals Buller and White did not think it necessary to pursue
+us, at any rate for some time, a consideration for which we were
+profoundly grateful. Methinks General Buller must have felt that he
+had paid a big price for the relief of Ladysmith, for it must have
+cost him many more lives than he had relieved. But in that place were
+a few Jingos (Natal Jingos) who had to be released, I suppose, at any
+costs.
+
+My burghers and I had neither cooking utensils nor food, and were
+anxious to push forward and find our convoys; for we had not as yet
+learned to live without carts and commissariat. At dusk the
+generals--I have no idea who they were--ordered us to hold the
+"randjes" south of the Sunday River till the following day, and that
+no burghers were to cross the river. This order did not seem to please
+the majority, but the Generals had put a guard near the bridge, with
+instructions to shoot any burghers and their horses should they try to
+get to the other side; so they had perforce, to remain where they
+were. Now I had only 22 men under my command, and I did not think
+these would make an appreciable difference to our fighting force, so I
+said to myself: "To-night we shall have a little game with the
+generals for once."
+
+We rode towards the bridge, and of course the guard there threatened
+to fire on us if we did not go back immediately. My adjutant, however,
+rode up and said: "Stand back, you ----! This is Commandant Viljoen,
+who has been ordered to hurry up a patrol at ----" (mentioning some
+place a few miles away) "which is in imminent danger of being
+captured."
+
+The guards, quite satisfied, stepped back and favoured us with a
+military salute as we rode by. When we had been riding a little way I
+heard someone ask them what "people" they were who had passed over the
+bridge, and I caught the words: "Now you will see that they will all
+want to cross."
+
+I do not contend I was quite right in acting in this insubordinate
+manner, but we strongly objected to being put under the guard of other
+commandos by some one irresponsible general. I went on that night
+till we reached the Biggarsbergen, and next day sent out scouts in the
+direction of the Drakensbergen to inquire for the scattered remains of
+my commando. The mountains were covered with cattle from the laagers
+about Glencoe Station. The Boers there were cooking food, shoeing
+their horses, or repairing their clothes; in fact, they were very
+comfortable and very busy. They remarked: "There are many more
+burghers yonder with the General; we are quite sure of that." ... "The
+Commandant-General is near Glencoe and will stop the retreating men."
+
+In short, as was continually happening in the War, everything was left
+to chance and the Almighty. Luckily General Botha had deemed it his
+duty to form a rearguard and cover our retreat; otherwise the English
+would have captured a large number of laagers, and many burghers whose
+horses were done up. But, whereas we had too little discipline, the
+English had evidently too much. It is not for me to say why General
+Buller did not have us followed up; but it seems that the British
+lost a splendid chance.
+
+Some days went by without anything of note happening. My scouts
+returned on the third day and reported that my commando and its laager
+had safely got through, and could be expected the next day. Meanwhile
+I had procured some provisions at Glencoe, and for the time being we
+had nothing to complain about.
+
+I was very much amused next day to receive by despatch-rider a copy of
+a telegram from Glencoe sent by General Joubert to General Prinsloo at
+Harrismith (Orange Free State) asking for information regarding
+several missing commandos and officers, amongst whom my name appeared,
+while the telegram also contained the startling news that my commando
+had been reported cut up at Klip River and that I had been killed in
+action! This was the second time that I was killed, but one eventually
+gets used to that sort of thing.
+
+I sent, by the despatch-rider, this reply:--
+
+"I and my commando are very much alive!" Adding: "Tell the General we
+want four slaughter oxen."
+
+The following day I received orders to attend a council of war which
+was to be held at Glencoe Station. The principal object of this
+gathering was to discuss further plans of operation, to decide as to
+where our next positions were to be taken, and where the new fighting
+line would be formed.
+
+[Illustration: General Joubert opening a Council of War with Prayer.]
+
+We all met at the appointed time in a big unoccupied hall near Glencoe
+Station, where General Joubert opened the last council that he was to
+conduct in this world. Over 50 officers were present and the interest
+was very keen for several reasons. In the first place we all desired
+some official information about the fate of General Cronje and his
+burghers at Paardeburg, and in the second place some expected to hear
+something definite about the intervention of which so much had been
+said and written of late. In fact many thought that Russia, France,
+Germany or the United States of America would surely intervene so soon
+as the fortunes of war began to turn against us. My personal opinion
+was stated just before the war at a public meeting, held in
+Johannesburg, where I said: "If we are driven to war we must not rely
+for deliverance on foreign powers, but on God and the Mauser."
+
+Some officers thought we ought to retire to our frontiers as far as
+Laing's Nek, and it was generally believed that this proposal would be
+adopted. According to our custom General Joubert opened the council
+with an address, in which he described the situation in its details.
+It was evident that our Commandant-General was very low-spirited and
+melancholy, and was suffering greatly from that painful internal
+complaint which was so soon to put an end to his career.
+
+No less than eleven assisting commandants and fighting generals were
+present, and yet not one could say who was next in command to General
+Joubert. I spoke to some friends about the irregularities which
+occurred during our retreat from Ladysmith: how all the generals were
+absent except Botha and Meyer, while the latter was on far from good
+terms with General Joubert since the unfortunate attack on Platrand.
+This was undoubtedly due to the want of co-operation on the part of
+the various generals, and I resolved if possible, to bring our army
+into a closer union. I therefore proposed a motion:--
+
+     "That all the generals be asked to resign, with the
+     exception of one assistant commandant-general and one
+     fighting general."
+
+Commandant Engelbrecht had promised to second my proposal, but when it
+was read out his courage failed him. The motion, moreover, was not
+very well received, and when it was put to the vote I found that I
+stood alone, even my seconder having forsaken me. As soon as an
+opportunity presented itself I asked General Joubert who was to be
+second in command. My question was not answered directly, but egged on
+by my colleagues, I asked whether General Botha would be next in
+command. To this he replied: "Yes, that is what I understand--."
+
+And if I am not mistaken, this was the first announcement of the
+important fact that Botha was to lead us in future.
+
+Much more was said and much arranged; some of the commandos were to go
+to Cape Colony and attempt to check the progress of Lord Roberts, who
+was marching steadily north after Cronje's surrender. Finally each
+officer had some position assigned to him in the mountain-chain we
+call the Biggarsbergen. I was placed under General Meyer at
+Vantondersnek, near Pomeroy, and we left at once for our destination.
+From this place a pass leads through the Biggarsbergen, about 18 miles
+from Glencoe Station.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+DRIVEN FROM THE BIGGARSBERGEN.
+
+
+We spent the next few weeks in entrenching and fortifying our new
+positions. General Botha had left with some men for the Orange Free
+State which Lord Roberts, having relieved Kimberley, was marching
+through. General Joubert died about this time at Pretoria, having been
+twenty-one years Commandant-General of the South African Republic. He
+was without doubt one of the most prominent figures in the South
+African drama.
+
+General Botha now took up the chief command and soon proved himself to
+be worthy of holding the reins. He enjoyed the confidence and esteem
+of our whole army, a very important advantage under our trying
+circumstances.
+
+Assisted by De Wet he was soon engaged in organizing the commandos in
+the Orange Free State, and in attempting to make some sort of a stand
+against the British, who were now marching through the country in
+overwhelming numbers. In this Republic the burghers had been under the
+command of the aged General Prinsloo, who now, however, had become so
+downhearted that the supreme command was taken from him and given to
+General De Wet. Prinsloo surrendered soon after, in doing which he did
+his people his greatest service; it was, however, unfortunate that he
+should have succeeded in leading with him 900 burghers into the hands
+of the enemy.
+
+In the Biggarsbergen we had nothing to do but to sleep and eat and
+drink. On two separate occasions, however, we were ordered to join
+others in attacking the enemy's camp at Elandslaagte. This was done
+with much ado, but I would rather say nothing about the way in which
+the attacks were directed. It suffices to say that both failed
+miserably, and we were forced to retire considerably quicker than we
+had come.
+
+Our generals, meantime, were very busy issuing innumerable circulars
+to the different commandos. It is impossible for me to remember the
+contents of all these curious manifestos, but one read as follows:--
+
+     "A roll-call of all burghers is to be taken daily; weekly
+     reports are to be sent to headquarters of each separate
+     commando, and the minimum number of burghers making up a
+     field-cornetship is therein to be stated. Every 15 men
+     forming a field-cornetship are to be under a corporal; and
+     these corporals are to hold a roll-call every day, and to
+     send in weekly detailed reports of their men to the
+     Field-Cornet and Commandant, who in his turn must report to
+     the General."
+
+Another lengthy circular had full instructions and regulations for the
+granting of "leave" to burghers, an intricate arrangement which gave
+officers a considerable amount of trouble. The scheme was known as the
+"furlough system," and was an effort to introduce a show of
+organisation into the weighty matter of granting leave of absence. It
+failed, however, completely to have its desired effect. It provided
+that one-tenth of each commando should be granted furlough for a
+fortnight, and then return to allow another tenth part to go in its
+turn. In a case of sick leave, a doctor's certificate was required,
+which had to bear the counter-signature of the field-cornet; its
+possessor was then allowed to go home instead of to the hospital.
+Further, a percentage of the farmers were allowed from time to time to
+go home and attend to pressing matters of their farms, such as
+harvesting, shearing sheep, etc. Men were chosen by the farmers to go
+and attend to matters not only for themselves but for other farmers in
+their districts as well. The net result of all this was that when
+everybody who could on some pretext or other obtain furlough had done
+so, about a third of each commando was missing. My burghers who were
+mostly men from the Witwatersrand Goldfields, could of course obtain
+no leave for farming purposes; and great dissatisfaction prevailed. I
+was inundated with complaints about their unfair treatment in this
+respect and only settled matters with considerable trouble.
+
+I agree that this matter had to be regulated somehow, and I do not
+blame the authorities for their inability to cope with the
+difficulty. It seemed a great pity, however, that the commandos should
+be weakened so much and that the fighting spirit should be destroyed
+in this fashion. Of course it was our first big war and our
+arrangements were naturally of a very primitive character.
+
+It was the beginning of May before our friends the enemy at Ladysmith
+and Elandslaagte began to show some signs of activity. We discovered
+unmistakable signs that some big forward movement was in progress, but
+we could not discover on which point the attack was to be directed.
+Buller and his men were marching on the road along Vantondersnek, and
+I scented heavy fighting for us again. I gathered a strong patrol and
+started out to reconnoitre the position. We found that the enemy had
+pitched their camp past Waschbank in great force, and were sending out
+detachments in an easterly direction. From this I concluded that they
+did not propose going through Vantondersnek, but that they intended to
+attack our left flank at Helpmakaar. This seemed to me, at any rate,
+to be General Buller's safest plan.
+
+Helpmakaar was east of my position; it is a little village elbowed in
+a pass in the Biggarsbergen. By taking this point one could hold the
+key to our entire extended line of defence, as was subsequently only
+too clearly shown. I pointed this out to some of our generals, but a
+commandant's opinion did not weigh much just then; nor was any notice
+taken of a similar warning from Commandant Christian Botha, who held a
+position close to mine with the Swaziland burghers.
+
+We had repeated skirmishes with the English outposts during our
+scouting expeditions, and on one occasion we suddenly encountered a
+score of men of the South African Light Horse.
+
+We noticed them in a "donk" (a hollow place) thickly covered with
+trees and bushes, but not before we were right amongst them. It
+appears they mistook us for Englishmen, while we thought at first they
+were members of Colonel Blake's Irish Brigade. Many of them shook
+hands with us, and a burgher named Vivian Cogell asked them in Dutch:
+"How are you, boys?"
+
+To which an Englishman, who understood a little Dutch, answered: "Oh,
+all right; where do you come from?"
+
+Vivian replied: "From Viljoen's commando; we are scouting."
+
+Then the Englishman discovered who we were, but Vivian gave the man no
+time for reflection. Riding up to him, he asked: "What regiment do you
+belong to?"
+
+"To the South African Light Horse," answered the Englishman.
+
+"Hands up!" retorted Vivian, and the English-Afrikander threw down his
+gun and put up his hands.
+
+"Hands up! Hands up!" was the cry now universally heard, and although
+a few escaped, the majority were disarmed and made prisoners. It had
+been made a rule that when a burgher captured a British soldier he
+should be allowed to conduct him to Pretoria, where he could then
+obtain a few days' leave to visit his family. This did much to
+encourage our burghers to make prisoners, although many lost their
+lives in attempting to do so.
+
+The next day, General Buller marched on Helpmakaar, passing close to
+our position. We fired a few shots from our Creusot gun, and had
+several light skirmishes. The enemy, however, concentrated the fire of
+a few batteries on us, and our guns were soon silenced.
+
+General L. Meyer had arrived with some reinforcements close to
+Helpmakaar, but the position had never been strengthened, and the sole
+defending force consisted of the Piet Retief burghers, known as the
+"Piet Retreaters," together with a small German corps. The result was
+easy to predict. The attack was made, and we lost the position without
+seriously attempting to defend it. Buller was now, therefore, in
+possession of the key to the Boer position in Natal, a position which
+we had occupied for two months--and could therefore, have fortified to
+perfection--and whose strategic importance should have been known in
+its smallest details. I think our generals, who had a sufficient force
+at their disposal, of which the mobility has become world-famed,
+should have been able to prevent such a fiasco as our occupation of
+the splendid line of defence in the Biggarsbergen turned out to be.
+
+Here, for the first time in the war, General Buller utilised his
+success, and followed up our men as they were retreating on Dundee. He
+descended by the main waggon track from Helpmakaar, and drove the
+commandos like sheep before him. I myself was obliged to move away in
+hot haste and join the general retreat. Once or twice our men
+attempted to make a stand, but with little success.
+
+When we reached Dundee the enemy gradually slackened off pursuit, and
+at dark we were clear of them. Satisfied with their previous day's
+success, and sadly hampered by their enormous convoys, the English now
+allowed us to move on at our leisure.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+DISPIRITED AND DEMORALISED.
+
+
+Our first intention was to proceed to Vereeniging, there to join
+General Botha's forces. At Klip River Station, that preceding
+Vereeniging, I was ordered, however, to leave my carts behind and
+proceed with my men to Vaalbank, as the enemy were advancing with
+forced marches, and had compelled all the other commandos to fall back
+on Vereeniging.
+
+On our way we met groups of retreating burghers, each of whom gave us
+a different version of the position. Some said that the enemy had
+already swept past Vereeniging, others that they could not now be
+stopped until they reached Johannesburg. Further on, we had the good
+fortune to encounter General Botha and his staff. The General ordered
+me to take up a position at the Gatsrand, near the Nek at
+Pharaohsfontein, as the British, having split their forces up into two
+parts, would send one portion to cross the Vaal River at Lindeque's
+Drift, whilst the other detachments would follow the railway past
+Vereeniging. Generals Lemmer and Grobler were already posted at the
+Gatsrand to obstruct the enemy's progress.
+
+I asked General Botha how we stood. He sighed, and answered: "If only
+the burghers would fight we could stop them easily enough; but I
+cannot get a single burgher to start fighting. I hope their running
+mood will soon change into a fighting mood. You keep your spirits up,
+and let us do our duty."
+
+"All right, General," I answered, and we shook hands heartily.
+
+We rode on through the evening and at midnight halted at a farm to
+give our horses rest and fodder. The owner of the farm was absent on
+duty, and his family had been left behind. On our approach the
+women-folk, mistaking us for Englishmen, were terrified out of their
+wits. Remembering the atrocities and horrors committed in Natal on the
+advance of the Imperial troops, they awaited the coming of the
+English with the greatest terror. On the approach of the enemy many
+women and children forsook their homes and wandered about in caves and
+woods for days, exposed to every privation and inclemency of the
+weather, and to the attacks of wandering bands of plundering kaffirs.
+
+Mrs. van der Merwe, whom we met here, was exceedingly kind to us, and
+gave us plenty of fodder for our horses. We purchased some sheep, and
+slaughtered them and enjoyed a good meal before sunrise; and each one
+of us bore away a good-sized piece of mutton as provisions for the
+future.
+
+Our scouts, whom we had despatched over night, informed us that
+Generals Lemmer and Grobler had taken up their stand to the right of
+Pharaohsfontein in the Gatsrand, and that the English were approaching
+in enormous force.
+
+By nine in the morning we had taken up our positions, and at noon the
+enemy came in sight. Our commando had been considerably reduced, as
+many burghers, finding themselves near their homes, had applied for
+twenty-four hours' leave, which had been granted in order to allow
+them to arrange matters before the advance of the English on their
+farms made it impossible. A few also had deserted for the time being,
+unable to resist the temptation of visiting their families in the
+neighbourhood.
+
+Some old burghers approached us and hailed us with the usual "Morning,
+boys! Which commando do you belong to?"
+
+"Viljoen's."
+
+"We would like to see your Commandant," they answered.
+
+Presenting myself, I asked: "Who are you, and where do you come from,
+and where are you going to?"
+
+They answered: "We are scouts of General Lemmer and we came to see who
+is holding this position."
+
+"But surely General Lemmer knows that I am here?"
+
+[Illustration: A Surprise.--Coyell Meeting the Imperial Light Horse.]
+
+"Very probably," they replied, "but we wanted to know for ourselves;
+we thought we might find some of our friends amongst you. You come
+from Natal, don't you?"
+
+"Yes," I answered sadly. "We have come to reinforce the others, but I
+fear we can be of little use. It seems to me that it will be here as
+it was in Natal; all running and no fighting."
+
+"Alas!" they said, "the Free Staters will not remain in one position,
+and we must admit the Transvaalers are also very disheartened.
+However, if the British once cross our frontiers you will find that
+the burghers will fight to the bitter end."
+
+Consoled by this pretty promise we made up our minds to do our best,
+but our outposts presently brought word that the British were bearing
+to the right and nearing General Grobler's position, and had passed
+round that of General Lemmer. Whilst they attacked General Grobler's
+we attacked their flank, but we could not do much damage, as we were
+without guns. Soon after the enemy directed a heavy artillery fire on
+us, to which we, being on flat ground, found ourselves dangerously
+exposed.
+
+Towards evening the enemy were in possession of General Grobler's
+position, and were passing over the Gatsrand, leaving us behind. I
+ordered my commando to fall back on Klipriversberg, while I rode away
+with some adjutants to attempt to put myself in communication with the
+other commandos.
+
+The night was dark and cloudy, which rendered it somewhat difficult
+for us to move about in safety. We occasionally fell into ditches and
+trenches, and had much trouble with barbed wire. However, we finally
+fell in with General Lemmer's rearguard, who informed us that the
+enemy, after having overcome the feeble resistance of General Grobler,
+had proceeded north, and all the burghers were retreating in haste
+before them.
+
+We rode on past the enemy to find General Grobler and what his plans
+were. We rode quite close to the English camp, as we knew that they
+seldom posted sentries far from their tents. On this occasion,
+however, they had placed a guard in an old "klipkraal," for them a
+prodigious distance from their camp, and a "Tommy" hailed us from the
+darkness.--
+
+"Halt, who goes there?"
+
+I replied "Friend," whereupon the guileless soldier answered:
+
+"Pass, friend, all's well."
+
+I had my doubts, however. He might be a Boer outpost anxious to
+ascertain if we were Englishmen. Afraid to ride into ambush of my own
+men, I called out in Dutch:
+
+"Whose men are you?"
+
+The Tommy lost his temper at being kept awake so long and retorted
+testily, "I can't understand your beastly Dutch; come here and be
+recognized." But we did not wait for identification, and I rode off
+shouting back "Thanks, my compliments to General French, and tell him
+that his outposts are asleep."
+
+This was too much for the "Tommy" and his friends, who answered with a
+volley of rifle fire, which was taken up by the whole line of British
+outposts. No harm was done, however, and we soon rode out of range. I
+gave up looking for General Grobler, and on the following morning
+rejoined my men at Klipriversberg.
+
+It was by no means easy to find out the exact position of affairs.
+Our scouts reported that the enemy's left wing, having broken through
+General Grobler's position, were now marching along Van Wijk's Rust. I
+could, however, obtain no definite information regarding the right
+wing, nor could I discover the General under whose orders I was to
+place myself. General Lemmer, moreover, was suffering from an acute
+disease of the kidneys, which had compelled him to hand over his
+command to Commandant Gravett, who had proved himself an excellent
+officer.
+
+General Grobler had lost the majority of his men, or what was more
+likely the case, they had lost him. He declared that he was unaware of
+General Botha's or Mr. Kruger's plans, and that it was absurd to keep
+running away, but he clearly did not feel equal to any more fighting,
+although he had not the moral courage to openly say so. From this
+point this gentleman did no further service to his country, and was
+shortly afterwards dismissed. The reader will now gather an idea of
+the enormous change which had come over our troops. Six months before
+they had been cheerful and gay, confident of the ultimate success of
+their cause; now they were downhearted and in the lowest of spirits. I
+must admit that in this our officers were no exception.
+
+Those were dark days for us. Now began the real fighting, and this
+under the most difficult and distressing circumstances; and I think
+that if our leaders could have had a glimpse of the difficulties and
+hardships that were before us, they would not have had the courage to
+proceed any further in the struggle.
+
+Early next morning (the 29th May, 1900) we reached Klipspruit, and
+found there several other commandos placed in extended order all the
+way up to Doornkop.
+
+Amongst them was that of General De la Rey, who had come from the
+Western frontier of our Republic, and that of General Snyman, whom I
+regard as the real defender and reliever of Mafeking, for he was
+afraid to attack a garrison of 1,000 men with twice that number of
+burghers.
+
+Before having had time to properly fortify our position we were
+attacked on the right flank by General French's cavalry, while the
+left flank had to resist a strong opposing force of cavalry. Both
+attacks were successfully repulsed, as well as a third in the centre
+of our fighting line.
+
+The British now marched on Doornkop, their real object of attack being
+our extreme right wing, but they made a feint on our left. Our line of
+defence was very extended and weakened by the removal of a body of men
+who had been sent to Natal Spruit to stop the other body of the enemy
+from forcing its way along the railway line and cutting off our
+retreat to Pretoria.
+
+The battle lasted till sunset, and was especially fierce on our right,
+where the Krugersdorpers stood. Early in the evening our right wing
+had to yield to an overwhelming force, and during the night all the
+commandos had to fall back. My commando, which should have consisted
+of about 450 men, only numbered 65 during this engagement; our losses
+were two men killed. I was also slightly wounded in the thigh by a
+piece of shell, but I had no time to attend such matters, as we had
+to retire in haste, and the wound soon healed.
+
+The next day our forces were again in full retreat to Pretoria, where
+I understood we were to make a desperate stand. About seven o'clock we
+passed through Fordsburg, a suburb of Johannesburg.
+
+We had been warned not to enter Johannesburg, as Dr. Krause, who had
+taken from me the command of the town, had already surrendered it to
+Lord Roberts, who might shell it if he found commandos were there. Our
+larger commissariat had proceeded to Pretoria, but we wanted several
+articles of food, and strange to say the commissariat official at
+Johannesburg would not give us anything for fear of incurring Lord
+Roberts' displeasure!
+
+I was very angry; the enemy were not actually in possession of the
+town, and I therefore should have been consulted in the matter; but
+these irresponsible officials even refused to grant us the necessaries
+of life!
+
+At this time there was a strong movement on foot to blow up the
+principal mines about Johannesburg, and an irresponsible young person
+named Antonie Kock had placed himself at the head of a confederacy
+with this object in view. But thanks to the explicit orders of General
+L. Botha, which were faithfully carried out by Dr. Krause, Kock's plan
+was fortunately frustrated, and I fully agree with Botha that it would
+have been most impolitic to have allowed this destruction. I often
+wished afterwards, however, that the British military authorities had
+shown as much consideration for our property.
+
+We had to have food in any case, and as the official hesitated to
+supply us we helped ourselves from the Government Stores, and
+proceeded to the capital. The roads to Pretoria were crowded with men,
+guns, and vehicles of every description, and despondency and despair
+were plainly visible on every human face.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+OCCUPATION OF PRETORIA.
+
+
+The enemy naturally profited by our confusion to pursue us more
+closely than before. The prospect before us was a sad one, and we
+asked ourselves, "What is to be the end of all this, and what is to
+become of our poor people? Shall we be able to prolong the struggle,
+and for how long?"
+
+But no prolongation of the struggle appeared to have entered into our
+enemy's minds, who evidently thought that the War had now come upon
+its last stage, and they were as elated as we were downhearted. They
+made certain that the Boer was completely vanquished, and his
+resistance effectually put an end to. At this juncture Conan Doyle,
+after pointing out what glorious liberty and progress would fall to
+the Boers' lot under the British flag, wrote:--
+
+     "When that is learned it may happen that they will come to
+     date a happier life and a wider liberty from that 5th of
+     June which saw the symbol of their nation pass for ever from
+     the ensigns of the world."
+
+Thus, not only did Lord Roberts announce to the world that "the War
+was now practically over," but Conan Doyle did not hesitate to say the
+same in more eloquent style.
+
+How England utterly under-estimated the determination of the Boers,
+subsequent events have plainly proved. It is equally plain that we
+ourselves did not know the strength of our resolution, when one takes
+into account the pessimism and despair that weighed us down in those
+dark days; and as the Union Jack was flying over our Government
+buildings we might have exclaimed:--"England, we do not know our
+strength, but you know it still less!"
+
+Nearly all the commandos were now in the neighbourhood of Pretoria,
+General Botha forming a rearguard, and we determined to defend the
+capital as well as we could. But at this juncture some Boer officer
+was said to have received a communication from the Government,
+informing us that they had decided not to defend the town. A cyclist
+was taking this communication round to the different commandos, but
+the Commandant-General did not seem to be aware of it, and we tried in
+vain to find him so as to discover what his plans were. The greatest
+confusion naturally prevailed, and as all the generals gave different
+orders, no one knew what was going to be done. I believe General Botha
+intended to concentrate the troops round Pretoria, and there offer
+some sort of resistance to the triumphant forces of the enemy, and we
+had all understood that the capital would be defended to the last; but
+this communication altered the position considerably. Shortly
+afterwards all the Boer officers met at Irene Estate, near Pretoria,
+in a council of war, and were there informed that the Government had
+already forsaken the town, leaving a few "feather-bed patriots" to
+formally surrender the town to the English.
+
+I thought this decision of easy surrender ridiculous and
+inexplicable, and many officers joined me in loud condemnation of it.
+I do not remember exactly all that happened at the time, but I know a
+telegram arrived from the Commandant-General saying that a crowd had
+broken open the Commissariat Buildings in Pretoria and were looting
+them. An adjutant was sent into Pretoria to spread an alarm that the
+English were entering the town, and this had the effect of driving all
+the looters out of it. Some of my own men were engaged in these
+predatory operations, and I did not see them again until three days
+after.
+
+The English approached Pretoria very cautiously, and directed some big
+naval guns on our forts built round the town, to which we replied for
+some time with our guns from the "randten," south-west of the town;
+but our officers were unable to offer any organised resistance, and
+thus on the 5th of June, 1900, the capital of the South African
+Republic fell with little ado into the enemy's hands. Bloemfontein,
+the capital of the Orange Free State, had months before suffered the
+same fate, and thousands of Free Staters had surrendered to the
+English as they marched from Bloemfontein to the Transvaal. Happily,
+however, in the Free State President Steyn and General De Wet were
+still wide awake and Lord Roberts very soon discovered that his long
+lines of communication were a source of great trouble and anxiety to
+him. The commandos, meanwhile, were reorganised; the buried Mausers
+and ammunition were once more resurrected, and soon it became clear
+that the Orange Free State was far from conquered.
+
+The fall of Pretoria, indeed, was but a sham victory for the enemy. A
+number of officials of the Government remained behind there and
+surrendered, together with a number of burghers, amongst these
+faint-hearted brethren being even members of the Volksraad and men who
+had played a prominent part in the Republic's history; while to the
+everlasting shame of them and their race, a number of other Boers
+entered at once into the English service and henceforth used their
+rifles to shoot at and maim their own fellow-countrymen.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+BATTLE OF DONKERHOEK ("DIAMOND HILL").
+
+
+Our first and best positions were now obviously the kopjes which
+stretched from Donkerhoek past Waterval and Wonderboompoort. This
+chain of mountains runs for about 12 miles E. and N.E. of Pretoria,
+and our positions here would cut off all the roads of any importance
+to Pietersburg, Middelburg, as well as the Delagoa Bay railway. We
+therefore posted ourselves along this range, General De la Rey forming
+the right flank, some of our other fighting generals occupying the
+centre, whilst Commandant-General Botha himself took command of the
+left flank.
+
+On the 11th of June, 1900, Lord Roberts approached with a force of
+28,000 to 30,000 men and about 100 guns, in order, as the official
+despatches had it, "to clear the Boers from the neighbourhood of
+Pretoria." Their right and left flanks were composed of cavalry,
+whilst the centre was formed of infantry regiments; their big guns
+were placed in good positions and their field pieces were evenly
+distributed amongst the different army divisions.
+
+Towards sunset they began booming away at our whole 13 miles of
+defence. Our artillery answered their fire from all points with
+excellent results, and when night fell the enemy retired a little with
+considerable losses.
+
+The battle was renewed again next day, the enemy attempting to turn
+our right with a strong flanking movement, but was completely
+repulsed. Meanwhile I at Donkerpoort proper had the privilege of being
+left unmolested for several hours. The object of this soon became
+apparent. A little cart drawn by two horses and bearing a white flag
+came down the road from Pretoria. From it descended two persons,
+Messrs. Koos Smit, our Railway Commissioner and Mr. J. F. de Beer,
+Chief Inspector of Offices, both high officials of the South African
+Republic. I called out to them from a distance.
+
+"Halt, you cannot pass. What do you want?"
+
+Smit said, "I want to see Botha and President Kruger. Dr. Scholtz is
+also with us. We are sent by Lord Roberts."
+
+I answered Mr. Smit that traitors were not admitted on our premises,
+and that he would have to stay where he was. Turning to some burghers
+who were standing near I gave instructions that the fellows were to be
+detained.
+
+Mr. Smit now began to "sing small," and turning deadly pale, asked in
+a tremulous voice if there were any chance of seeing Botha.
+
+"Your request," I replied, "will be forwarded." Which was done.
+
+An hour passed before General Botha sent word that he was coming.
+Meanwhile the battle continued raging fiercely, and a good many
+lyddite bombs were straying our way. The "white-flaggists" appeared to
+be very anxious to know if the General would be long in coming, and if
+their flag could not be hoisted in a more conspicuous place. The
+burghers guarding them pointed out, however, that the bombs came from
+their own British friends.
+
+After a while General Botha rode up. He offered a far from cordial
+welcome to the deputation.
+
+Dr. Scholtz produced a piece of paper and said Lord Roberts had sent
+him to enquire why Botha insisted on more unnecessary bloodshed, and
+why he did not come in to make peace, and that sort of thing.
+
+Botha asked if Scholtz held an authoritative letter or document from
+the English general, to which the Doctor replied in the negative.
+
+Smit now suggested that he should be allowed to see Mr. Kruger, but
+Botha declared, with considerable emphasis, "Look here, your conduct
+is nothing less than execrable, and I shall not allow you to see Mr.
+Kruger. You are a couple of contemptible scoundrels, and as for Dr.
+Scholtz, his certificate looks rather dubious. You will go back and
+give the following message to Lord Roberts:--
+
+     "That this is not the first time messages of this
+     description are sent to me in an unofficial manner; that
+     these overtures have also sometimes been made in an
+     insulting form, but always equally unofficially. I have to
+     express my surprise at such tactics on the part of a man in
+     Lord Roberts' position. His Lordship may think that our
+     country is lost to us, but I shall do my duty towards it all
+     the same. They can shoot me for it or imprison me, or banish
+     me, but my principles and my character they cannot assail."
+
+One could plainly see that the conscience-stricken messengers winced
+under the reproach. Not another word was said, and the noble trio
+turned on their heels and took their white flag back to Pretoria.
+
+Whether Botha was right in allowing these "hands-uppers" to return, is
+a question I do not care to discuss, but many burghers had their own
+opinion about it. Still, if they had been detained by us and shot for
+high treason, what would not have been said by those who did not
+hesitate to send our own unfaithful burghers to us to induce us to
+surrender.
+
+I cannot say whether Lord Roberts was personally responsible for the
+sending of these messengers, but that such action was extremely
+improper no one can deny. It was a specially stupendous piece of
+impudence on the part of these men, J. S. Smit and J. F. de Beer,
+burghers both, and highly placed officials of the S. A. Republic. They
+had thrown down their arms and sworn allegiance to an enemy, thereby
+committing high treason in the fullest sense of the word. They now
+came through the fighting lines of their former comrades to ascertain
+from the commanders of the republican army why the whole nation did
+not follow their example, why they would not surrender their liberty
+and very existence as a people and commit the most despicable act
+known to mankind.
+
+"Pretoria was in British hands!" As if, forsooth, the existence of our
+nationality began and ended in Pretoria! Pretoria was after all only a
+village where "patriots" of the Smit and de Beer stamp had for years
+been fattening on State funds, and, having filled their pockets by
+means of questionable practices, had helped to damage the reputation
+of a young and virile nation.
+
+Not only had they enjoyed the spoils of high office in the State
+Service offices, to which a fabulous remuneration was attached, but
+they belonged to the Boer aristocracy, members of honourable families
+whose high birth and qualities had secured for them preference over
+thousands of other men and the unlimited confidence of the Head of
+State. Little wonder these gentlemen regarded the fall of Pretoria as
+the end of the war!
+
+The battle continued the whole day; it was fiercest on our left flank,
+where General French and his cavalry charged the positions of the
+Ermelo and Bethel burghers again and again, each time to be repulsed
+with heavy losses. Once the lancers attacked so valiantly that a
+hand-to-hand fight ensued. The commandant of the Bethel burghers
+afterwards told me that during the charge his kaffir servant got among
+the lancers and called upon them to "Hands up!" The unsophisticated
+native had heard so much about "hands up," and "hands-uppers," that he
+thought the entire English language consisted of those two simple
+words, and when one lancer shouted to him "Hands up," he echoed "Hands
+up." The British cavalryman thrust his lance through the nigger's
+arm, still shouting "Hands up," the black man retreating, also
+vociferously shrieking "Hands up, boss; hands up!"
+
+When his master asked him why he had shouted "Hands up" so
+persistently though he was running away, he answered: "Ah, boss, me
+hear every day people say, 'Hands up;' now me think this means kaffir
+'Soebat' (to beg). I thought it mean, 'Leave off, please,' but the
+more I shouted 'Hands up' English boss prod me with his assegai all
+the same."
+
+On our right General De la Rey had an equally awkward position; the
+British here also made several determined attempts to turn his flank,
+but were repulsed each time. Once during an attack on our right, their
+convoy came so close to our position that our artillery and our
+Mausers were enabled to pour such a fire into them that the mules
+drawing the carts careered about the veldt at random, and the greatest
+confusion ensued. British mules were "pro-Boer" throughout the War.
+The ground, however, was not favourable for our operations, and we
+failed to avail ourselves of the general chaos. Towards the evening of
+the second day General Tobias Smuts made an unpardonable blunder in
+falling back with his commandos. There was no necessity for the
+retreat; but it served to show the British that there was a weak point
+in our armoury. Indeed, the following day the attack in force was made
+upon this point. The British had meantime continued pouring in
+reinforcements, men as well as guns.
+
+About two o clock in the afternoon Smuts applied urgently for
+reinforcements, and I was ordered by the Commandant-General to go to
+his position. A ride of a mile and a half brought us near Smuts; our
+horses were put behind a "randje," the enemy's bullets and shells
+meantime flying over their heads without doing much harm. We then
+hurried up on foot to the fighting line, but before we could reach the
+position General Smuts and his burghers had left it. At first I was
+rather in the dark as to what it all meant until we discovered that
+the British had won Smuts' position, and from it were firing upon us.
+We fell down flat behind the nearest "klips" and returned the fire,
+but were at a disadvantage, since the British were above us. I never
+heard where General Smuts and his burghers finally got to. On our left
+we had Commandant Kemp with the Krugersdorpers; on the right
+Field-Cornet Koen Brits. The British tried alternately to get through
+between one of my neighbours and myself, but we succeeded,
+notwithstanding their fierce onslaught, in turning them back each
+time. All we could do, however, was to hold our own till dark. Then
+orders were given to "inspan" all our carts and other conveyances as
+the commandos would all have to retire.
+
+I do not know the extent of the British losses in that engagement. My
+friend Conan Doyle wisely says nothing about them, but we knew they
+had suffered very severely indeed. Our losses were not heavy; but we
+had to regret the death of brave Field-Cornet Roelf Jansen and some
+other plucky burghers. Dr. Doyle, referring to the engagement, says:
+
+"'The two days' prolonged struggle (Diamond Hill) showed that there
+was still plenty of fight in the burghers. Lord Roberts had not routed
+them," etc.
+
+Thus ended the battle of Donkerhoek, and next day our commandos were
+falling back to the north.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+I BECOME A GENERAL.
+
+
+In our retreat northwards the English did not pursue us. They
+contented themselves by fortifying the position we had evacuated
+between Donkerhoek and Wonderboompoort. Meantime our commandos
+proceeded along the Delagoa Bay Railway until we reached Balmoral
+Station, while other little divisions of ours were at Rhenosterkop,
+north of Bronkhorst Spruit.
+
+I may state that this general retreat knocked the spirit out of some
+of our weaker brethren. Hundreds of Boers rode into Pretoria with the
+white flag suspended from their Mauser barrels. In Pretoria there were
+many prominent burghers who had readily accepted the new conditions,
+and these were employed by the British to induce other Boers within
+reach, by manner of all sorts of specious promises, to lay down their
+arms. Many more western district Boers quietly returned to their
+homes. Luckily, the Boer loves his Mauser too well to part with it,
+except on compulsion, and although the majority of these western Boers
+handed in their weapons, some retained them.
+
+They retained their weapons by burying them, pacifying the confiding
+British officer in charge of the district by handing in rusty and
+obsolete Martini-Henris or a venerable blunderbuss which nobody had
+used since ancestral Boer shot lions with it in the mediaeval days of
+the first great trek. The buried Mausers came in very useful
+afterwards.
+
+About this time General Buller entered the Republic from the Natal
+side, and marched with his force through the southern districts of
+Wakkerstroom, Standerton, and Ermelo. Hundreds of burghers remained on
+their farms and handed their weapons to the British. In some
+districts, for instance, at Standerton, the commandant and two out of
+his three field-cornets surrendered. Thus, not only were some
+commandos without officers, but others entirely disappeared from our
+army. Still, at the psychological moment a Joshua would appear, and
+save the situation, as, for instance, in the Standerton district,
+where Assistant-Field-Cornet Brits led a forlorn hope and saved a
+whole commando from extinction. The greatest mischief was done by many
+of our landdrosts, who, after having surrendered, sent out
+communications to officers and burghers exhorting them to come in.
+
+The majority of our Boer officers, however, remained faithful to their
+vow, though since the country was partly occupied by the British it
+was difficult to get in touch with the Commandant-General or the
+Government, and the general demoralisation prevented many officers
+from asserting their authority.
+
+Generals Sarel Oosthuizen and H. L. Lemmer, both now deceased, were
+sent to the north of Pretoria, to collect the burghers from the
+western districts, and to generally rehabilitate their commandos. They
+were followed by Assistant-Commandant General J. H. De la Rey and
+State Attorney Smuts (our legal adviser). It was at this point,
+indeed, that the supreme command of the western districts was assumed
+by General De la Rey, who, on his way to the north, attacked and
+defeated an English garrison at Selatsnek.
+
+The "reorganisation" of our depleted commandos proceeded very well;
+about 95 per cent. of the fighting Boers rejoined, and speedily the
+commandos in the western districts had grown to about 7,000 men.
+
+But just a few weeks after his arrival in the West Krugersdorp
+district, poor, plucky Sarel Oosthuizen was severely wounded in the
+battle of Dwarsvlei, and died of his wounds some time after.
+
+General H. Lemmer, a promising soldier, whom we could ill spare, was
+killed soon after while storming Lichtenburg under General De la Rey,
+an engagement in which we did not succeed. We had much trouble in
+replacing these two brave generals, whose names will live for all time
+in the history of the Boer Republics.
+
+It is hardly necessary to dwell on the splendid work done by
+Assistant-Commandant-General De la Rey in the western districts.
+Commandant-General Botha was also hard worked at this stage, and was
+severely taxed reorganising his commandos and filling up the
+lamentable vacancies caused by the deaths of Lemmer and Oosthuizen.
+
+I have already pointed out that General De la Rey had taken with him
+the remainder of the burghers from the western districts. The
+following commandos were now left to us:--Krugersdorp and Germiston,
+respectively, under the then Commandants J. Kemp and C. Gravett, and
+the Johannesburg police, with some smaller commandos under the four
+fighting generals, Douthwaith, Snyman (of Mafeking fame), Liebenberg,
+and Du Toit. The last four generals were "sent home" and their
+burghers with those of Krugersdorp, Germiston, Johannesburg, Boksburg
+and the Mounted Police, were placed under my command, while I myself
+was promoted to the rank of General. I had now under me 1,200 men, all
+told--a very fair force.
+
+I can hardly describe my feelings on hearing of my promotion to such a
+responsible position. For the first time during the War I felt a sort
+of trepidation. I had all sorts of misgivings; how should I be able
+to properly guard the interests of such a great commando? Had I a
+right to do so? Would the burghers be satisfied? It was all very well
+to say that they would have to be satisfied, but if they had shown
+signs of dissatisfaction I should have felt bound to resign. I am not
+in the habit of blinking at facts; they are stern things. What was to
+become of me if I had to tender my resignation? I was eager and rash,
+like most young officers, for although the prospects of our cause were
+not brilliant and our army had suffered some serious reverses, I still
+had implicit faith in the future, and above all, in the justice of the
+cause for which we were fighting. And I knew, moreover, that the
+burghers we now had left with us were determined and firm.
+
+There was only one way open to me: to take the bull by the horns. I
+thought it my duty to go the round of all the commandos, call the
+burghers together, tell them I had been appointed, ask them their
+opinion on the appointment, and give them some particulars of the new
+organisation.
+
+I went to the Krugersdorp Commando first. All went well, and the
+burghers comprising the force received me very cordially. There was a
+lot of questioning and explanations; one of the commandants was so
+moved by my address that he requested those who were present to
+conclude the meeting by singing Psalm 134, verse 3, after which he
+exhorted his fellow burghers in an impassioned speech to be obedient
+and determined.
+
+The worst of it was that he asked me to wind up by offering a prayer.
+I felt as if I would gladly have welcomed the earth opening beneath
+me. I had never been in such a predicament before. To refuse, to have
+pleaded exoneration from this solemn duty, would have been fatal, for
+a Boer general is expected, amongst other things, to conduct all
+proceedings of a religious character. And not only Boer generals are
+required to do this thing, but all subordinate officers, and an
+officer who cannot offer a suitable prayer generally receives a hint
+that he is not worthy of his position. In these matters the burghers
+are backed up by the parsons.
+
+There was, therefore, no help for it; I felt like a stranger in
+Jerusalem, and resolved to mumble a bit of a prayer as well as I
+could. I need not say it was short, but I doubt very much whether it
+was appropriate, for all sorts of thoughts passed through my head, and
+I felt as if all the bees in this world were buzzing about my ears. Of
+course I had to shut my eyes; I knew that. But I had, moreover, to
+screw them up, for I knew that everybody was watching me. I closed my
+eyes very tightly, and presently there came a welcome "Amen."
+
+My old commando was now obliged to find a new commandant and I had to
+take leave of them in that capacity. I was pleased to find the
+officers and men were sorry to lose me as their commandant, but they
+said they were proud of the distinction that had been conferred upon
+me. Commandant F. Pienaar, who took my place, had soon to resign on
+account of some rather serious irregularities. My younger brother, W.
+J. Viljoen, who, at the time of writing, is, I believe, still in this
+position, replaced him.
+
+At the end of June my commandos marched from Balmoral to near
+Donkerhoek in order to get in touch with the British. Only a few
+outpost skirmishes took place.
+
+My burghers captured half a score of Australians near Van der Merwe
+Station, and three days afterwards three Johannesburgers were
+surprised near Pienaarspoort. As far as our information went the
+Donkerhoek Kopjes were in possession of General Pole-Carew, and on our
+left General Hutton, with a strong mounted force, was operating near
+Zwavelpoort and Tigerspoort. We had some sharp fighting with this
+force for a couple of days, and had to call in reinforcements from the
+Middelburg and Boksburg commandos.
+
+The fighting line by this time had widely extended and was at least
+sixty miles in length; on my right I had General D. Erasmus with the
+Pretoria commando, and farther still to the right, nearer the
+Pietersburg railway, the Waterberg and Zoutpansberg commandos were
+positioned. General Pole-Carew tried to rush us several times with his
+cavalry, but had to retire each time. Commandant-General Botha finally
+directed us to attack General Hutton's position, and I realised what
+this involved. It would be the first fight I had to direct as a
+fighting general. Much would depend on the issue, and I fully
+understood that my influence with, and my prestige among, the burghers
+in the future was absolutely at stake.
+
+General Hutton's main force was encamped in a "donk" at the very top
+of the randt, almost equidistant from Tigerspoort, Zwavelpoort and
+Bapsfontein. Encircling his laager was another chain of "randten"
+entirely occupied and fortified, and we soon realised what a large and
+entrenched stretch of ground it was. The Commandant-General,
+accompanied by the French, Dutch, American and Russian attaches, would
+follow the attack from a high point and keep in touch with me by means
+of a heliograph, thus enabling Botha to keep well posted about the
+course of the battle, and to send instructions if required.
+
+During the night of the 13th of July we marched in the following
+order: On the right were the Johannesburg and Germiston commandos; in
+the centre the Krugersdorp and the Johannesburg Police; and on the
+left the Boksburg and Middelburg commandos. At daybreak I ordered a
+general storming of the enemy's entrenchments. I placed a Krupp gun
+and a Creusot on the left flank, another Krupp and some pom-poms to
+the right, while I had an English 15-pounder (an Armstrong) mounted in
+the centre. Several positions were taken by storm with little or no
+fighting. It was my right flank which met with the only stubborn
+resistance from a strongly fortified point occupied by a company of
+Australians.
+
+Soon after this position was in our possession, and we had taken 32
+prisoners, with a captain and a lieutenant. When Commandant Gravett
+had taken the first trenches we were stubbornly opposed in a position
+defended by the Irish Fusiliers, who were fighting with great
+determination. Our burghers charged right into the trenches; and a
+hand-to-hand combat ensued. The butt-ends of the guns were freely
+used, and lumps of rock were thrown about. We made a few prisoners and
+took a pom-pom, which, to my deep regret, on reinforcements with guns
+coming up to the enemy, we had to abandon, with a loss of five men.
+Meanwhile, the Krugersdorpers and Johannesburg Police had succeeded in
+occupying other positions and making several prisoners, while half a
+dozen dead and wounded were left on the field.
+
+The ground was so exposed that my left wing could not storm the
+enemy's main force, especially as his outposts had noticed our march
+before sunrise and had brought up a battery of guns, and in this flat
+field a charge would have cost too many lives.
+
+We landed several shells into the enemy's laager, and if we had been
+able to get nearer he would certainly have been compelled to run.
+
+When darkness supervened we retired to our base with a loss of two
+killed and seven wounded; whereas 45 prisoners and 20 horses with
+saddles and accoutrements were evidence that we had inflicted a severe
+loss upon the enemy. So far as I know, the Commandant-General was
+satisfied with my work. On the day after the fight I met an attache.
+He spoke in French, of which language I know nothing. My Gallic
+friend then tried to get on in English, and congratulated me in the
+following terms with the result of the fight: "I congratuly very much
+you, le General; we think you good man of war." It was the first time
+I had bulked in anyone's opinion as largely as a battleship; but I
+suppose his intentions were good enough.
+
+A few days afterwards Lord Roberts sent a hundred women and children
+down the line to Van der Merwe Station, despite Botha's vehement
+protests. It fell to my lot to receive these unfortunates, and to send
+them on by rail to Barberton, where they could find a home. I shall
+not go into a question which is still _sub judice_; nor is it my
+present purpose to discuss the fairness and unfairness of the war
+methods employed against us. I leave that to abler men. I shall only
+add that these waifs were in a pitiful position, as they had been
+driven from their homes and stripped of pretty nearly everything they
+possessed.
+
+Towards the end of July Carrington marched his force to Rustenburg,
+and thence past Wonderboompoort, while another force proceeded from
+Olifantsfontein in the direction of Witbank Station. We were,
+therefore, threatened on both sides and obliged to fall back on
+Machadodorp.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+OUR CAMP BURNED OUT.
+
+
+The beginning of August saw my commandos falling back on Machadodorp.
+Those of Erasmus and Grobler remained where they were for the time
+being, until the latter was discharged for some reason or other and
+replaced by Attorney Beyers. General Erasmus suffered rather worse,
+for he was deprived of his rank as a general and reduced to the level
+of a commandant on account of want of activity.
+
+Our retreat to Machadodorp was very much like previous experiences of
+the kind; we were continually expecting to be cut off from the railway
+by flanking movements and this we had to prevent because we had placed
+one of our big guns on the rails in an armour-clad railway carriage.
+The enemy took care to keep out of rifle range, and the big gun was
+an element of strength we could ill afford to lose. Besides, our
+Government were now moving about on the railway line near Machadodorp,
+and we had to check the enemy at all hazards from stealing a march on
+us. Both at Witbank Station and near Middelburg and Pan Stations we
+had skirmishes, but not important enough to describe in detail.
+
+After several unsuccessful attempts, the Boer Artillery at last
+managed to fire the big gun without a platform. It was tedious work,
+however, as "Long Tom" was exceedingly heavy, and it usually took
+twenty men to serve it. The mouth was raised from the "kastion" by
+means of a pulley, and the former taken away; then and not till then
+could the gunner properly get the range. The carriage vacuum sucking
+apparatus had to be well fixed in hard ground to prevent recoil.
+
+The enemy repeatedly sent a mounted squad to try and take this gun,
+and then there was hard fighting.
+
+[Illustration: Fight With General Hutton at Olifantsfontein.]
+
+One day while we were manoeuvring with the "Long Tom," the veldt burst
+into flames, and the wind swept them along in our direction like
+lightning. Near the gun were some loads of shells and gunpowder, and
+we had to set all hands at work to save them. While we were doing this
+the enemy fired two pom-poms at us from about 3,000 yards, vastly to
+our inconvenience.
+
+As my commando formed a sort of centre for the remainder,
+Commandant-General Botha was, as a rule, in our immediate
+neighbourhood, which made my task much easier, our generalissimo
+taking the command in person on several occasions, if required, and
+assisting in every possible way.
+
+The enemy pursued us right up to Wonderfontein Station (the first
+station south-west of Belfast), about 15 miles from Dalmanutha or
+Bergendal, and waited there for Buller's army to arrive from the Natal
+frontier.
+
+We occupied the "randten" between Belfast and Machadodorp, and waited
+events. While we were resting there Lord Roberts sent us 250 families
+from Pretoria and Johannesburg in open trucks, notwithstanding the
+bitterly cold weather and the continual gusts of wind and snow. One
+can picture to oneself the deplorable condition we found these women
+and children in.
+
+But, with all this misery, we still found them full of enthusiasm,
+especially when the trucks in which they had to be sent on down the
+line were covered with Transvaal and Free State flags. They sang our
+National Anthem as if they had not a care in the world.
+
+Many burghers found their families amongst these exiles, and some
+heartrending scenes were witnessed. Luckily the railway to Barberton
+was still in our possession, and at Belfast the families were taken
+over from the British authorities, to be sent to Barberton direct.
+While this was being done near Belfast under my direction, the
+unpleasant news came that our camp was entirely destroyed by a grass
+fire.
+
+The Commandant-General and myself had set up our camp near Dalmanutha
+Station. It consisted of twelve tents and six carts. This was Botha's
+headquarters, as well as of his staff and mine. When we came to the
+spot that night we found everything burned save the iron tyres of the
+waggon wheels, so that the clothes we had on were all we had left us.
+All my notes had perished, as well as other documents of value. I was
+thus deprived of the few indispensable things which had remained to
+me, for at Elandslaagte my "kit" had also fallen into the hands of the
+British. The grass had been set on fire by a kaffir to the windward of
+the camp. The wind had turned everything into a sea of fire in less
+than no time, and the attempts at stamping out the flames had been of
+no avail. One man gave us a cart, another a tent; and the harbour at
+Delagoa Bay being still open (although the Portuguese had become far
+from friendly towards us after the recent British victories) we
+managed to get the more urgent things we wanted. Within a few days we
+had established a sort of small camp near to headquarters.
+
+We had plenty to do at this time--building fortresses and digging
+trenches for the guns. This of course ought to have been done when we
+were still at Donkerhoek by officers the Commandant-General had sent
+to Machadodorp for the purpose. We had made forts for our "Long Toms,"
+which were so well hidden from view behind a rand that the enemy had
+not discovered them, although a tunnel would have been necessary in
+order to enable us to use them in shelling the enemy. We were
+therefore obliged to set to work again, and the old trenches were
+abandoned. The holes may surprise our posterity, by the way, as a
+display of the splendid architectural abilities of their ancestors.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+BATTLE OF BERGENDAL (MACHADODORP).
+
+
+Let us pass on to the 21st of August, 1900. Buller's army had by this
+time effected a junction with that of Lord Roberts' between
+Wonderfontein and Komati River. The commandos under Generals Piet
+Viljoen and Joachim Fourie had now joined us, and taken up a position
+on our left, from Rooikraal to Komati Bridge. The enemy's numbers were
+estimated at 60,000, with about 130 guns, including twelve 4.7 naval
+guns, in addition to the necessary Maxims.
+
+We had about 4,000 men at the most with six Maxims and about thirteen
+guns of various sizes. Our extreme left was first attacked by the
+enemy while they took possession of Belfast and Monument Hill, a
+little eastward, thereby threatening the whole of our fighting lines.
+My commandos were stationed to the right and left of the railway and
+partly round Monument Hill. Fighting had been going on at intervals
+all day long, between my burghers and the enemy's outposts. The
+fighting on our left wing lasted till late in the afternoon, when the
+enemy was repulsed with heavy losses; while a company of infantry
+which had pushed on too far during the fighting, through some
+misunderstanding or something of that sort, were cut off and captured
+by the Bethel burghers.
+
+The attack was renewed the next morning, several positions being
+assailed in turn, while an uninterrupted gunfire was kept up. General
+Duller was commanding the enemy's right flank and General French was
+in charge of the left. We were able to resist all attacks and the
+battle went on for six days without a decisive result. The enemy had
+tried to break through nearly every weak point in our fighting line
+and found out that the key to all our positions existed in a prominent
+"randje" to the right of the railway. This point was being defended by
+our brave Johannesburg police, while on the right were the
+Krugersdorpers and Johannesburgers and to the left the burghers from
+Germiston. Thus we had another "Spion Kop" fight for six long days.
+The Boers held their ground with determination, and many charges were
+repulsed by the burghers with great bravery. But the English were not
+to be discouraged by the loss of many valiant soldiers and any failure
+to dislodge the Boers from the "klip-kopjes." They were admirably
+resolute; but then they were backed up by a superior force of soldiers
+and artillery.
+
+On the morning of the 27th of August the enemy were obviously bent on
+concentrating their main force on this "randje." There were naval guns
+shelling it from different directions, while batteries of field-pieces
+pounded away incessantly. The "randje" was enveloped by a cloud of
+smoke and dust. The British Infantry charged under cover of the guns,
+but the Police and burghers made a brave resistance. The booming of
+cannon went on without intermission, and the storming was repeated by
+regiment upon regiment. Our gallant Lieutenant Pohlman was killed in
+this action, and Commandant Philip Oosthuizen was wounded while
+fighting manfully against overwhelming odds at the head of his
+burghers. An hour before sunset the position fell into the hands of
+the enemy. Our loss was heavy--two officers, 18 men killed or wounded,
+and 20 missing.
+
+Thus ended one of the fiercest fights of the war. With the exception
+of the battle of Vaalkrantz (on the Tugela) our commandos had been
+exposed to the heaviest and most persistent bombardment they had yet
+experienced. It was by directing an uninterrupted rifle fire from all
+sides on the lost "randje" that we kept the enemy employed and
+prevented them from pushing on any farther that evening.
+
+At last came the final order for all to retire via Machadodorp.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+TWO THOUSAND BRITISH PRISONERS RELEASED.
+
+
+After the battle of Bergendal there was another retreat. Our
+Government, which had fled from Machadodorp to Waterval Station, had
+now reached Nelspruit, three stations further down the line, still
+"attended," shall I say, by a group of Boer officials and members of
+the Volksraad, who preferred the shelter of Mr. Kruger's fugitive
+skirts to any active fighting. There were also hovering about this
+party half a dozen Hebraic persons of extremely questionable
+character, one of whom had secured a contract for smuggling in clothes
+from Delagoa Bay; and another one to supply coffee and sugar to the
+commandos. As a rule, some official or other made a nice little
+commission out of these transactions, and many burghers and officers
+expressed their displeasure and disgust at these matters; but so it
+was, and so it remained. That same night we marched from Machadodorp
+to Helvetia, where we halted while a commando was appointed to guard
+the railway at Waterval Boven.
+
+The next morning a big cloud of dust arose. "_De Engelse kom_" (the
+English are coming) was the cry. And come they did, in overwhelming
+numbers. We fired our cannon at their advance guard, which had already
+passed Machadodorp: but the British main force stayed there for the
+day, and a little outpost skirmishing of no consequence occurred.
+
+A portion of the British forces appeared to go from Belfast via
+Dullstroom to Lydenburg, these operations being only feebly resisted.
+Our commandos were now parcelled out by the Commandant-General, who
+followed a path over the Crocodile River bridge with his own section,
+which was pursued by a strong force of Buller's.
+
+I was ordered to go down the mountain in charge of a number of
+Helvetia burghers to try and reach the railway, which I was to defend
+at all hazards. General Smuts, with the remnant of our men went
+further south towards the road leading to Barberton. Early the next
+morning we were attacked and again obliged to fall back. That night we
+stayed at Nooitgedacht.
+
+The Boer position at and near Nooitgedacht was unique. Here was a
+great camp in which 2,000 English prisoners-of-war were confined, but
+in the confusion the majority of their Boer guards had fled to
+Nelspruit. I found only 15 burghers armed with Martini-Henry rifles
+left to look after 2,000 prisoners. Save for "Tommy" being such a
+helpless individual when he has nobody to give him orders and to think
+for him, these 2,000 men might have become a great source of danger to
+us had they had the sense to disarm their fifteen custodians (and what
+was there to prevent them doing so?) and to destroy the railway, they
+would have been able not only to have deprived my commando of
+provisions and ammunition, but also to have captured a "Long Tom."
+There was, moreover, a large quantity of victuals, rifles, and
+ammunition lying about the station, of which nobody appeared to take
+any notice. Of the crowd of officials who stuck so very faithfully to
+the fugitive Government there was not one who took the trouble to look
+after these stores and munitions.
+
+On arrival I telegraphed to the Government to enquire what was to be
+done with the British prisoners-of-war. The answer was: "You had
+better let them be where they are until the enemy force you to
+evacuate, when you will leave them plenty of food."
+
+This meant that there would be more D.S.O's or V.C's handed out, for
+the first "Tommies" to arrive at the prisoners' camp would be hailed
+as deliverers, and half of them would be certain of distinctions.
+
+I was also extremely dissatisfied with the way the prisoners had been
+lodged, and so would any officer in our fighting line have been had he
+seen their condition and accommodation. But those who have never been
+in a fight and who had only performed the "heroic" duty of _guarding_
+prisoners-of-war, did not know what humanity meant to an enemy who had
+fallen into their hands.
+
+So what was I to do?
+
+To disobey the Government's orders was impossible. I accordingly
+resolved to notify the prisoners that, "for military reasons," it
+would be impossible to keep them in confinement any longer.
+
+The next morning I mustered them outside the camp, and they were told
+that they had ceased to be prisoners-of-war, at which they seemed to
+be very much amazed. I was obliged to go and speak formally to some of
+them; they could scarcely credit that they were free men and could go
+back to their own people. It was really pleasant to hear them cheer,
+and to see how pleased they were. A great crowd of them positively
+mobbed me to shake hands with them, crying, "Thank you, sir; God bless
+you, sir." One of their senior officers was ordered to take charge of
+them, while a white-flag message was sent to General Pole-Carew to
+send for these fine fellows restored to freedom, and to despatch an
+ambulance for the sick and wounded. My messenger, however, did not
+succeed in delivering the letter, as the scouts of the British
+advance-guard were exceedingly drunk, and shot at him; so that the
+prisoners-of-war had to go out and introduce themselves. I believe
+they were compelled to overpower their own scouts.
+
+Ten days afterwards an English doctor and a lieutenant of the 17th
+Lancers came to us, bringing a mule laden with medical appliances and
+food. The English medico, Dr. Ailward, succeeded, moreover, in getting
+through our lines without my express permission.
+
+Next morning I accompanied an ambulance train to transport the wounded
+British to the charge of the British agent at Delagoa Bay. Outside
+Nooitgedacht I found four military doctors with a field ambulance.
+
+"Does this officer belong to the Red Cross?" I asked.
+
+"No," was the answer, "he is only with us quite unofficially as a
+sympathetic friend."
+
+"I regret," said I, "that I cannot allow this thing; you have come
+through our lines without my permission; this officer no doubt is a
+spy."
+
+I wired at once for instructions, which, when received read: "That as
+a protest against the action of the English officers who stopped three
+of our ambulances, and since this officer has passed through our lines
+without permission, you are to stop the ambulance and dispatch the
+doctors and their staff, as well as the wounded to Lourenco Marques."
+
+The doctors were very angry and protested vehemently against the
+order, which, however, was irrevocable. And thus the whole party,
+including the Lancers' doctor, were sent to Lourenco Marques that very
+day. The nearest English General was informed of the whole incident,
+and he sent a very unpleasant message the next day, of which I
+remember the following phrases:--
+
+"The action which you have taken in this matter is contrary to the
+rules of civilised warfare, and will alter entirely the conditions
+upon which the War was carried on up to the present," etc.
+
+After I had sent my first note we found, on inspection, some
+Lee-Metford cartridges and an unexploded bomb in the ambulance vans.
+This fact alone would have justified the retention of the ambulance.
+
+This was intimated again in our reply to General Pole-Carew, and I
+wrote, _inter alia_: "_Re_ the threat contained in your letter of the
+... I may say I am sorry to find such a remark coming from your side,
+and I can assure you that whatever may happen my Government,
+commandants, and burghers are firmly resolved to continue the War on
+our side in the same civilised and humane manner as it has hitherto
+been conducted."
+
+This was the end of our correspondence in regard to this subject, and
+nothing further happened, save that the English very shortly
+afterwards recovered five out of the eight ambulances we had retained.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+A GOVERNMENT IN FLIGHT.
+
+
+About this time President Steyn arrived from the Orange Free State and
+had joined President Kruger, and the plan of campaign for the future
+was schemed. It was also decided that Mr. Schalk Burger should assume
+the acting Presidentship, since Mr. Kruger's advanced age and feeble
+health did not permit his risking the hardships attendant on a warlike
+life on the veldt.
+
+It was decided Mr. Kruger should go to Europe and Messrs. Steyn and
+Burger should move about with their respective commandos. They were
+younger men and the railway, would soon have to be abandoned.
+
+We spent the first weeks of September at Godwan River and Nooitgedacht
+Station, near the Delagoa Bay railway, and had a fairly quiet time of
+it. General Buller had meanwhile pushed on with his forces via
+Lydenburg in the direction of Spitskop and the Sabi, on which General
+Botha had been compelled to concentrate himself after falling back,
+fighting steadily, while General French threatened Barberton.
+
+I had expected Pole-Carew to force me off the railway line along which
+we held some rather strong positions, and I intended to offer a stout
+resistance. But the English general left me severely alone, went over
+Dwaalheuvel by an abandoned wagon-track, and crossed the plateau of
+the mountains, probably to try and cut us off through the pass near
+Duivelskantoor. I tried hard, with the aid of 150 burghers, to thwart
+his plans and we had some fighting. But the locality was against us,
+and the enemy with their great force of infantry and with the help of
+their guns forced us to retire.
+
+About the 11th of September I was ordered to fall back along the
+railway, via Duivelskantoor and Nelspruit Station, since General
+Buller was threatening Nelspruit in the direction of Spitskop, while
+General French, with a great force, was nearing Barberton. It appeared
+extremely likely that we should be surrounded very soon. We marched
+through the Godwan River and over the colossal mountain near
+Duivelskantoor, destroying the railway bridges behind us. The road we
+followed was swamped by the heavy rains and nearly impassable. Carts
+were continually being upset, breakdowns were frequent, and our guns
+often stuck in the swampy ground. To make matters worse, a burgher on
+horseback arrived about midnight to tell us that Buller's column had
+taken Nelspruit Station, and cut off our means of retreat. Yet we had
+to pass Nelspruit; there was no help for it. I gave instructions for
+the waggons and carts (numbering over a hundred), to push on as
+quickly as possible, and sent out a strong mounted advance guard to
+escort them.
+
+I myself went out scouting with some burghers, for I wanted to find
+out before daybreak whether Nelspruit was really in the hands of the
+enemy or not. In that case our carts and guns would have to be
+destroyed or hidden, while the commando would have to escape along
+the footpaths. We crept up to the station, and just at dawn, when we
+were only a hundred paces away from it, a great fire burst out,
+accompanied by occasional loud reports. This somewhat reassured me. I
+soon found our own people to be in possession burning things, and the
+detonations were obviously not caused by the bursting of shells fired
+from field-pieces. On sending two of my adjutants--Rokzak and Koos
+Nel--to the station to obtain further details, they soon came back to
+report that there was nobody there except a nervous old Dutchman. The
+burgher, who had told me Nelspruit was in the hands of the enemy, must
+have dreamt it.
+
+The conflagration I found was caused by a quantity of "kastions" and
+ammunition-waggons which had been set afire on the previous day, while
+the explosions emanated from the shells which had been left among
+their contents.
+
+The enemy's advance guard had pushed on to Shamoham and Sapthorpe,
+about 12 miles from the railway, enabling the whole of my commando to
+pass. We arrived at Nelspruit by eight o'clock. That day we rested and
+discussed future operations, feeling that our prospects seemed to grow
+worse every day.
+
+The station presented a sad spectacle. Many trucks loaded with
+victuals, engines, and burst gun-carriages--everything had been left
+behind at the mercy of the first-comer, while a large number of
+kaffirs were plundering and stealing. Only the day before the
+Government had had its seat there, and how desolate and distressing
+the sight was now! The traces of a fugitive Government were
+unmistakable. Whatever might have been our optimism before, however
+little inclination the burghers might have felt to surrender, however
+great the firmness of the officers, and their resolve to keep the
+beloved "Vierkleur" flying, scenes like those at Nooitgedacht, and
+again at Nelspruit, were enough to make even the strongest and most
+energetic lose all courage. Many men could not keep back their tears
+at the disastrous spectacle, as they thought of the future of our
+country and of those who had been true to her to the last.
+
+Kaffirs, as I said, had been making sad havoc among the provisions,
+clothes and ammunition, and I ordered them to be driven away. Amongst
+the many railway-waggons I found some loaded with clothes the fighting
+burghers had in vain and incessantly been asking for, also cannon and
+cases of rifle ammunition. We also came across a great quantity of
+things belonging to our famous medical commission, sweets, beverages,
+etc. The suspicion which had existed for some considerable time
+against this commission was, therefore, justified. There was even a
+carriage which had been used by some of its members, beautifully
+decorated, with every possible comfort and luxury, one compartment
+being filled with bottles of champagne and valuable wines. My
+officers, who were no saints, saw that our men were well provided for
+out of these. The remainder of the good things was shifted on to a
+siding, where about twenty engines were kept. By great good luck the
+Government commissariat stock, consisting of some thousands of sheep,
+and even some horses, had also been left behind. But we were not
+cheered.
+
+Among the many questions asked regarding this sad state of affairs was
+one put by an old burger:
+
+"Dat is nou die plan, want zooals zaken hier lyk, dan heeft die boel
+in wanhoop gevlug." ("Is that the plan, then? For from what I can see
+of it, they have all fled in despair.")
+
+I answered, "Perhaps they were frightened away, Oom."
+
+"Ja," he said, "but look, General, it seems to me as if our members of
+the Government do not intend to continue the war. You can see this by
+the way they have now left everything behind for the second time."
+
+"No, old Oom," I replied, "we should not take any notice of this. Our
+people are wrestling among the waves of a stormy ocean; the gale is
+strong, and the little boat seems upon the point of capsizing, but, it
+has not gone down as yet. Now and then the boat is dashed against the
+rocks and the splinters fly, but the faithful sailors never lose
+heart. If they were to do that the dinghy would soon go under, and the
+crew would disappear for ever. It would be the last page of their
+history, and their children would be strangers in their own country.
+You understand, Oom?"
+
+"Yes, General, but I shall not forget to settle up, for I myself and
+others with me have had enough of this, and the War has opened our
+eyes."
+
+"All right, old man." I rejoined, "nobody can prevent you
+surrendering, but I have now plenty of work to do; so get along."
+
+[Illustration: My Talk with Erasmus (Non-Combatant).]
+
+Burghers of different commandos who had strayed--some on
+purpose--passed us here in groups of two or ten or more. Some of them
+were going to their own districts, right through the English lines,
+others were looking for their cattle, which they had allowed to stray
+in order to evade the enemy. I could only tell them that the veldt
+between Nelspruit and Barberton up to Avoca, was, so far as I had been
+able to discover, full of cattle and waggons belonging to farmers
+who now had no chance of escaping. Everybody wanted some information
+from the General.
+
+About half a score of burghers with bridle horses then came up. There
+was one old burgher among them with a long beard, a great veldt hat,
+and armed with a Mauser which seemed hardly to have been used. He
+carried two belts with a good stock of cartridges, a revolver, and a
+_tamaai_ (long sjambok). This veteran strode up in grand martial style
+to where I was sitting having something to eat. As he approached he
+looked brave enough to rout the whole British army.
+
+"Dag!" (Good morning.) "Are you the General?" asked the old man.
+
+"Yes, I have the honour of being called so. Are you a field-marshal, a
+Texas Jack, or what?"
+
+"My name is Erasmus, from the Pretoria district," he replied, "and my
+nine comrades and myself, with my family and cattle, have gone into
+the bush. I saw them all running away, the Government and all. You are
+close to the Portuguese border, and my mates and I want to know what
+your plans are."
+
+"Well," Mr. Erasmus, I returned, "what you say is almost true; but as
+you say you and your comrades have been hiding in the bush with your
+cattle and your wives, I should like to know if you have ever tried to
+oppose the enemy yet, and also what is your right to speak like this."
+
+"Well, I had to flee with my cattle, for you have to live on that as
+well as I."
+
+"Right," said I; "what do you want, for I do not feel inclined to talk
+any longer."
+
+"I want to know," he replied, "if you intend to retire, and if there
+is any chance of making peace. If not, we will go straight away to
+Buller, and 'hands-up,' then we shall save all our property."
+
+"Well, my friend," I remarked, "our Government and the
+Commandant-General are the people who have to conclude peace, and it
+is not for you or me, when our family and cattle are in danger, to
+surrender to the enemy, which means turning traitor to your own
+people."
+
+"Well, yes; good-bye, General, we are moving on now."
+
+I sent a message to our outposts to watch these fellows, and to see if
+they really were going over to the enemy. And, as it happened, that
+same night my Boers came to camp with the Mausers and horses Erasmus
+and his party had abandoned. They had gone over to Buller.
+
+The above is but an instance illustrating what often came under my
+notice during the latter period of my command. This sort of burgher,
+it turned out, invariably belonged to a class that never meant to
+fight. In many cases we could do better without them, for it was
+always these people who wanted to know exactly what was "on the
+cards," and whenever things turned out unpleasantly, they only misled
+and discouraged others. Obviously, we were better off without them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+AN IGNOMINIOUS DISPERSAL.
+
+
+Commandant-General Botha, who was then invalided at Hector's Spruit
+Station, now sent word that we were to join him there without delay.
+He said I could send part of the commando by train, but the railway
+arrangements were now all disturbed, and everything was in a muddle.
+As nothing could be relied on in the way of transport, the greater
+number of the men and most of the draught beasts had to "trek."
+
+At Crocodile Gat Station the situation was no better than at
+Nelspruit, and the same might be said of Kaapmuiden. Many of the
+engine drivers, and many of the burghers even, who were helping in
+destroying the barrels of spirits at the stations, were so excited (as
+they put it) through the fumes of the drink, that the strangest
+things were happening. Heavily-laden trains were going at the rate of
+40 miles an hour. A terrible collision had happened between two trains
+going in different directions, several burghers and animals being
+killed. Striplings were shooting from the trains at whatever game they
+saw, or fancied they saw, along the line, and many mishaps resulted.
+These things did not tend to improve matters.
+
+It was not so much that the officers had lost control over their men.
+It seemed as if the Evil Spirit had been let loose and was doing his
+very best to encourage the people to riotous enjoyment.
+
+Hector's Spruit is the last station but one before you come to the
+Portuguese frontier, and about seventeen miles from Ressano Garcia.
+Here every commando stopped intending of course to push on to the
+north and then to cross the mountains near Lydenburg in a westerly
+direction. The day when I arrived at Hector's Spruit, President Steyn,
+attended by an escort of 100 men, went away by the same route.
+Meanwhile General Buller was encamped at Glyn's mines near Spitskop
+and the Sabi River, which enabled him to command the mountain pass
+near Mac Mac and Belvedere without the slightest trouble, and to block
+the roads along which we meant to proceed. Although the late
+Commandant (afterwards fighting General) Gravett occupied one of the
+passes with a small commando, he was himself in constant danger of
+being cut off from Lydenburg by a flank movement. On the 16th of
+September, 1900, an incident occurred which is difficult to describe
+adequately. Hector Spruit is one of the many unattractive stations
+along the Delegoa Bay railway situated between the great Crocodile
+river and dreary black "kopjes" or "randjes" with branches of the Cape
+mountains intervening and the "Low Veldts," better known as the
+"Boschveldt." This is a locality almost filled with black holly
+bushes, where you can only see the sky overhead and the spot of ground
+you are standing on. In September the "boschveldt" is usually dry and
+withered and the scorching heat makes the surroundings seem more
+lugubrious and inhospitable than ever.
+
+The station was crowded with railway carriages loaded up with all
+sorts of goods, and innumerable passenger carriages, and the platform
+and adjoining places filled with agitated people. Some were packing
+up, others unpacking, and some, again, were looting. The majority
+were, however, wandering about aimlessly. They did not know what was
+happening; what ought to be done or would be done; and the only
+exceptions were the officers, who were busily engaged in providing
+themselves and their burghers with provisions and ammunition.
+
+I now had to perform one of the most unpleasant duties I have ever
+known: that of calling the burghers together and telling them that
+those who had no horses were to go by train to Komati Poort, there to
+join General Jan Coetser. Those who had horses were to report
+themselves to me the next morning, and get away with me through the
+low fields.
+
+Some burghers exclaimed: "We are now thrown over, left in the 'lurch,'
+because we have not got horses; that is not fair."
+
+Others said they would be satisfied if I went with them, for they did
+not know General Coetser.
+
+Commandant-General Botha did not see his way to let me go to Komati
+Poort, as he could not spare me and the other commandos. Those of the
+men who had to walk the distance complained very bitterly, and their
+complaints were well-founded. I did my best to persuade and pacify
+them all, and some of them were crying like babies when we parted.
+
+Komati Poort was, of course, the last station, and if the enemy were
+to drive them any further they would have to cross the Portuguese
+border, and to surrender to the Portuguese; or they could try to
+escape through Swaziland (as several hundreds did afterwards) or along
+the Lebombo mountains, via Leydsdorp. But if they took the latter
+route then they might just as well have stayed with me in the first
+place. It was along this road that General Coetser afterwards fled
+with a small body of burghers, when the enemy, according to
+expectations, marched on Komati Poort, and met with no resistance,
+though there were over 1800 there of our men with guns.
+
+A certain Pienaar, who arrogated unto himself the rank of a general on
+Portuguese territory, fled with 800 men over the frontier. These,
+however, were disarmed and sent to Lisbon.
+
+The end of the struggle was ignominious, as many a burgher had feared;
+and to this day I pity the men who, at Hector's Spruit, had to go to
+Komati Poort much against their will.
+
+Fortunately they had the time and presence of mind to blow up the
+"Long Tom" and other guns before going; but a tremendous lot of
+provisions and ammunition must have fallen into the hands of the
+enemy.
+
+At Hector's Spruit half a score of cannon of different calibre had
+been blown up, and many things buried which may be found some day by
+our progeny. Our carts were all ready loaded, and we were prepared to
+march next morning into the desert and take leave of our stores. How
+would we get on now? Where would we get our food, cut off as we were
+from the railway, and, consequently, from all imports and supplies?
+These questions and many others crossed our minds, but nobody could
+answer them.
+
+Our convoys were ready waiting, and the following morning we trekked
+into the Hinterland Desert, saying farewell to commissariats and
+stores.
+
+The prospect was melancholy enough. By leaving Hector's Spruit we were
+isolating ourselves from the outer world, which meant that Europe and
+civilisation generally could only be informed of our doings through
+English channels.
+
+Once again our hopes were centred in our God and our Mausers.
+
+Dr. Conan Doyle says about this stage of the war:--
+
+     "The most incredulous must have recognised as he looked at
+     the heap of splintered and shattered gunmetal (at Hector's
+     Spruit) that the long War was at last drawing to a close."
+
+And here I am, writing these pages seventeen months later, and the War
+is not over yet. But Dr. Doyle is not a prophet, and cannot be
+reproached for a miscalculation of this character, for if I, and many
+with me, had been asked at the time what we thought of the future, we
+might have been as wide of the mark as Dr. Doyle himself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+A DREARY TREK THROUGH FEVERLAND.
+
+
+The 18th of September, 1900, found us trekking along an old disused
+road in a northerly direction. We made a curious procession, an
+endless retinue of carts, waggons, guns, mounted men, "voetgangers"
+nearly three miles long. The Boers walking comprised 150 burghers
+without horses, who refused to surrender to the Portuguese, and who
+had now joined the trek on foot. Of the 1,500 mounted Boers 500
+possessed horses which were in such a parlous condition that they
+could not be ridden. The draught cattle were mostly poor and weak, and
+the waggons carrying provisions and ammunition, as also those
+conveying the guns, could only be urged along with great difficulty.
+In the last few months our cattle and horses had been worked hard
+nearly every day, and had to be kept close to our positions.
+
+During the season the veldt in the Transvaal is in the very worst
+condition, and the animals are then poorer than at any other period.
+We had, moreover, the very worst of luck, kept as we were in the
+coldest parts of the country from June till September, and the rains
+had fallen later than usual. There was, therefore, scarcely any food
+for the poor creatures, and hardly any grass. The bushveldt through
+which we were now trekking was scorched by an intolerable heat,
+aggravated by drought, and the temperature in the daytime was so
+unbearable that we could only trek during the night.
+
+Water was very scarce, and most of the wells which, according to old
+hunters with us, yielded splendid supplies, were found to be dried up.
+The veldt being burned out there was not a blade of grass to be seen,
+and we had great trouble in keeping our animals alive. From time to
+time we came across itinerant kaffir tribes from whom we obtained
+handfuls of salt or sugar, or a pailful of mealies, and by these
+means we managed to save our cattle and horses.
+
+When we had got through the Crocodile River the trek was arranged in a
+sort of military formation enabling us to defend ourselves, had we
+been attacked. The British were already in possession of the railway
+up to Kaapmuiden and we had to be prepared for pursuit; and really
+pursuit by the British seemed feasible and probable from along the
+Ohrigstad River towards Olifant's Nek and thence along the Olifant's
+River.
+
+Our original plan was to cross the Sabi, along the Meritsjani River,
+over the mountains near Mac Mac, through Erasmus or Gowyn's Pass and
+across Pilgrim's Rest, where we might speedily have reached healthier
+veldt and better climatic conditions. President Steyn had passed there
+three days previously, but when our advance guard reached the foot of
+the high mountains, near Mac Mac, the late General Gravett sent word
+that General Buller with his force was marching from Spitskop along
+the mountain plateau and that it would be difficult for us to get
+ahead of him and into the mountains. The road, which was washed away,
+was very steep and difficult and contained abrupt deviations so that
+we could only proceed at a snail's pace.
+
+Commandant-General Botha then sent instructions to me to take my
+commando along the foot of the mountains, via Leydsdorp, while he with
+his staff and the members of the Government would proceed across the
+mountains near Mac Mac. General Gravett was detailed to keep Buller's
+advance guard busy, and he succeeded admirably.
+
+I think it was here that the British lost a fine chance of making a
+big haul. General Buller could have blocked us at any of the mountain
+roads near Mac Mac, and could also have swooped down upon us near
+Gowyn's Pass and Belvedere. At the time of which I write Buller was
+lying not 14 miles away at Spitskop. Two days after he actually
+occupied the passes, but just too late to turn the two Governments and
+the Commandant-General. It might be said that they could in any case
+have, like myself, escaped along the foot of the mountains via
+Leydsdorp to Tabina and Pietersburg, but had the way out been blocked
+to them near Mac Mac, our Government and generalissimo would have been
+compelled to trek for at least three weeks in the low veldt before
+they could have reached Pietersburg, during which time all the other
+commandos would have been out of touch with the chief Boer military
+strategists and commanders, and would not have known what had become
+of their military leaders or of their Government. This would have been
+a very undesirable state of affairs, and would very likely have borne
+the most serious consequences to us. The British, moreover, could have
+occupied Pietersburg without much trouble by cutting off our progress
+in the low veldt, and barring our way across the Sabini and at Agatha.
+This coup could indeed have been effected by a small British force. In
+the mountains they would, moreover, have found a healthy climate,
+while we should have been left in the sickly districts of the low
+veldt. And had we been compelled to stay there for two months we would
+have been forced to surrender, for about the middle of October the
+disease among our horses increased and so serious was the epidemic
+that none but salted horses survived. The enteric fever would also
+have wrought havoc amongst us.
+
+Another problem was whether all this would not have put an end to the
+war; we still had generals left, and strong commandos, and it was, of
+course, very likely that a great number of Boers driven to desperation
+would have broken through, although two-thirds of our horses were not
+fit for a bold dash. Perhaps fifteen hundred out of the two thousand
+Boers would have made good their escape, but in any case large numbers
+of wagons, guns, etc. would have fallen into the British hands and our
+leaders might have been captured as well. The moral effect would have
+caused many other burghers from the other commandos to have lost heart
+and this at a moment, too, when they already required much
+encouragement.
+
+This was my view of the situation, and I think Lord Roberts, or
+whoever was responsible, lost a splendid opportunity.
+
+As regards my commando at the foot of the Mauch Mountains we turned
+right about and I took temporary leave of Louis Botha. It was a very
+affecting parting; Botha pressed my hand, saying, "Farewell, brother;
+I hope we shall get through all right. God bless you. Let me hear from
+you soon and frequently."
+
+That night we encamped at Boschbokrand, where we found a store
+unoccupied, and a house probably belonging to English refugees, for
+shop and dwelling had been burgled and looted. After our big laager
+had been arranged, Boer fashion, and the camp fire threw its lurid
+light against the weird dark outline of the woods, the Boers grouped
+themselves over the veldt. Some who had walked twenty miles that day
+fell down exhausted.
+
+I made the round of the laager, and I am bound to say that in spite of
+the trying circumstances, my burghers were in fairly cheerful spirits.
+
+I discussed the immediate prospects with the officers, and arranged
+for a different commando to be placed in the advance guard each day
+and a different field-cornet in the rear. Boers conversant with the
+locality were detailed to ride ahead and to scout and reconnoitre for
+water.
+
+When I returned that night to my waggon the evening meal was ready,
+but for the first time in my life I could eat nothing. I felt too
+dejected. My cook, Jan Smith, and my messmates were curious to know
+the reason I did not "wade in," for they always admired my ferocious
+appetite.
+
+It had been a tiring day, and I pretended I was not well; and soon
+afterwards I lay down to rest.
+
+I had been sitting up the previous evening till late in the night, and
+was therefore in hopes of dropping off to sleep. But whatever I
+tried--counting the stars, closing my eyes and doing my best to think
+of nothing--it was all in vain.
+
+Insurmountable difficulties presented themselves to me. I had ventured
+into an unhealthy, deserted, and worst of all, unknown part of the
+country with only 2,000 men. I was told we should have to cover 300
+miles of this enteric-stricken country.
+
+The burghers without horses were suffering terribly from the killing
+heat, and many were attacked by typhoid and malarial fever through
+having to drink a lot of bad water; these enemies would soon decimate
+our commando and reduce its strength to a minimum. And for four or
+five weeks we should be isolated from the Commandant-General and from
+all white men.
+
+Was I a coward, then, to lie there, dejected and even frightened? I
+asked myself. Surely, to think nothing of taking part in a fierce
+battle, to be able to see blood being shed like water, to play with
+life and death, one could not be without some courage? And yet I did
+not seem to have any pluck left in me here where there did not seem to
+be much danger.
+
+These and many similar thoughts came into my head while I was trying
+to force myself to sleep, and I told myself not to waver, to keep a
+cool head and a stout heart, and to manfully go on to the end in order
+to reach the goal we had so long kept in view.
+
+Ah, well, do not let anybody expect a general to be a hero, and
+nothing else, at all times; let us remember that "A man's a man for a'
+that," and even a fighting man may have his moments of weakness and
+fear.
+
+The next morning, about four o'clock, our little force woke up again.
+The cool morning air made it bearable for man and beast to trek. This,
+however, only lasted till seven o'clock, when the sun was already
+scorching, without the slightest sign of a breeze. It became most
+oppressive, and we were scarcely able to breathe.
+
+The road had not been used for twenty or thirty years, and big trees
+were growing in our path, and had to be cut down at times. The dry
+ground, now cut up by the horses' hoofs, was turned into dust by the
+many wheels, great clouds flying all round us, high up in the air,
+covering everything and everybody with a thick layer of ashy-grey
+powder.
+
+About nine o'clock we reached Zand River, where we found some good
+water, and stayed till dusk. We exchanged some mealies against salt
+and other necessaries with some kaffirs who were living near by the
+water. Their diminutive, deformed stature was another proof of the
+miserable climate obtaining there.
+
+There was much big game here; wild beasts, "hartebeest," "rooiboks"
+(sometimes in groups of from five to twenty at a time), and at night
+we heard the roaring of lions and the howling of wolves. Even by day
+lions were encountered. Now, one of the weakest points, perhaps the
+weakest, of an Afrikander is his being unable to refrain from shooting
+when he sees game, whether such be prohibited or not. From every
+commando burghers had been sent out to do shooting for our
+commissariat, but a good many had slipped away, so that hundreds of
+them were soon hunting about in the thickly-grown woods. The
+consequence was that, whenever a group of them discovered game, it
+seemed as if a real battle were going on, several persons often being
+wounded, and many cattle killed. We made rules and regulations, and
+even inflicted punishments which did some good, but could not check
+the wild hunting instincts altogether, it being difficult to find out
+in the dark bush who had been the culprits.
+
+Meanwhile the trek went on very slowly. On the seventh day we reached
+Blyde River, where we had one of the loveliest views of the whole
+"boschveldt." The river, which has its source near Pilgrim's Rest and
+runs into the great Olifant's River near the Lomboba, owes its name to
+trekker pioneers, who, being out hunting in the good old times, had
+been looking for water for days, and when nearly perishing from
+thirst, had suddenly discovered this river, and called it Blyde (or
+"Glad") River. The stream at the spot we crossed is about 40 feet
+wide, and the water as pure as crystal. The even bed is covered with
+white gravel, and along both banks are splendid high trees. The whole
+laager could outspan under their shade, and it was a delightful,
+refreshing sensation to find oneself protected from the burning sun.
+We all drank of the delicious water, which we had seldom found in such
+abundance, and we also availed ourselves of it to bathe and wash our
+clothes.
+
+In the afternoon a burgher, whose name I had better not mention, came
+running up to us with his clothes torn to tatters, and his hat and gun
+gone. He presented a curious picture. I heard the burghers jeer and
+chaff him as he approached, and called out to him: "What on earth have
+you been up to? It looks as if you had seen old Nick with a mask on."
+
+The affrighted Boer's dishevelled hair stood on end and he shook with
+fear.
+
+He gasped: "Goodness gracious, General, I am nearly dead. I had gone
+for a stroll to do a bit of hunting like, and had shot a lion who ran
+away into some brushwood. I knew the animal had received a mortal
+wound, and ran after it. But I could only see a yard or so ahead
+through the thick undergrowth, and was following the bloodstained
+track. Seeing the animal I put down my gun and was stepping over the
+trunk of an old tree; but just as I put my foot down, lo! I saw a
+terrible monster standing with one paw on the beast's chest. Oh, my
+eye! I thought my last hour had come, for the lion looked so hard at
+me, and he roared so awfully. By jove, General, if this had been an
+Englishman I should just have "hands-upped," you bet! But I veered
+round and went down bang on my nose. My rifle, my hat, my all, I
+abandoned in that battle, and for all the riches of England, I would
+not go back. General, you may punish me for losing my rifle, but I
+won't go back to that place for anything or anybody."
+
+I asked him what the lion had done then, but he knew nothing more.
+Another burgher who stood by, remarked: "I think it was a dog this
+chap saw. He came running up to me so terrified that he would not have
+known his own mother. If I had asked him at that moment he would not
+have been able to remember his own name."
+
+The poor fellow was roused to indignation, and offered to go with the
+whole commando and show them the lion's trail. But there was no time
+for that, and the hero had a bad time of it, for everybody was teasing
+and chaffing him, and henceforth he was called the "Terror of the
+Vaal."
+
+We should have liked to have lingered a few days near that splendid
+and wholesome stream. We wanted a rest badly enough, but it was not
+advisable on account of the fever, which is almost invariably the
+penalty for sleeping near a river in the low veldt. One of the
+regulations of our commando forbade the officers and men to spend the
+night by the side of any water or low spot. It would also have been
+fatal to the horses, for sickness amongst them and fever always
+coincide. But they did not always keep to the letter of these
+instructions. The burghers, especially those who had been walking, or
+arriving at a river, would always quickly undress and jump into the
+water, after which some of them would fall asleep on the banks or have
+a rest under the trees. Both were unhealthy and dangerous luxuries.
+Many burghers who had been out hunting or had been sent out
+provisioning, stayed by the riverside till the morning, since they
+could dispense with their kit in this warm climate. They often were
+without food for twenty-four hours, unless we happened to trek along
+the spot where they were resting. To pass the night in these
+treacherous parts on an empty stomach was enough to give anybody the
+fever.
+
+When we moved on from Blyde River many draught beasts were exhausted
+through want of food, and we were obliged to leave half a dozen carts
+behind. This caused a lot of trouble as we had to transfer all the
+things to other vehicles, and field-cornets did not like to take up
+the goods belonging to other field-cornets' burghers, the cattle being
+in such a weak condition that it made every man think of his own
+division. No doubt the burghers were very kind to their animals, but
+they sometimes carried it too far, and the superior officers had often
+to interfere.
+
+The distance from Blyde River to the next stopping place could not be
+covered in one day, and we should have no water the next; not a very
+pleasant prospect. The great clouds of dust through which we were
+marching overnight and the scorching heat in the daytime made us all
+long for water to drink and to clean ourselves. So when the order
+came from the laager commandants: "Outspan! No water to-day, my boys,
+you will have to be careful with the water on the carts. We shall be
+near some stream to-morrow evening," they were bitterly disappointed.
+
+When we got near the water the following day eight burghers were
+reported to be suffering badly from the typhoid fever, five of them
+belonging to the men who were walking. We had a very insufficient
+supply of ambulance waggons. I had omitted to procure a great number
+of these indispensable vehicles on leaving Hector's Spruit, for there
+had been so many things to look after. We were lucky to have with us
+brave Dr. Manning, of the Russian Ambulance, who rendered us such
+excellent assistance, and we have every reason to be thankful to H.M.
+the Czarina of Russia for sending him out. Dr. Manning had the
+patients placed in waggons, which had been put at his disposal for
+this purpose, but notwithstanding his skilled and careful treatment,
+one of my men died the following day, while the number of those who
+were seriously ill rose to fifteen. The symptoms of this fatal illness
+are: headache and a numb feeling in all the limbs, accompanied by an
+unusually high temperature very often rising to 104 and 106 degrees
+during the first 24 hours, with the blood running from the patient's
+nose and ears, which is an ominous sign. At other times the first
+symptom is what is commonly called "cold shivers."
+
+We proceeded slowly until we came to the Nagout River, where the
+monotony and dreariness of a trek through the "boschveldt" were
+somewhat relieved by the spectacle of a wide stream of good water,
+with a luxurious vegetation along the banks. It was a most pleasant
+and refreshing sight to behold. For some distance along the banks some
+grass was found, to which the half-starved animals were soon devoting
+their attention. It was the sort of sweet grass the hunters call
+"buffalo-grass," and which is considered splendid food for cattle. We
+pitched our camp on a hill about one mile from the river, and as our
+draught-beasts were in want of a thorough rest we remained there for a
+few days. We had been obliged to drive along some hundreds of oxen,
+mules, and horses, as they had been unfit to be harnessed for days,
+and had several times been obliged to leave those behind that were
+emaciated and exhausted.
+
+From the Nagout River we had to go right up to the Olifant's River, a
+distance of about 20 miles, which took us three days. The track led
+all along through the immense bush-plain which extends from the high
+Mauch Mountains in the west to the Lebombo Mountains in the east; and
+yet one could only see a few paces ahead during all these days, and
+the only thing we could discern was the summit of some mountain on the
+westerly or easterly horizon, and even the tops of the Mauch and
+Lebombo Mountains one could only see by standing on the top of a
+loaded waggon, and with the aid of a field-glass. This thickly-wooded
+region included nearly one-third of the Transvaal, and is uninhabited,
+the white men fearing the unhealthy climate, while only some miserable
+little kaffir tribes were found about there, the bulk being the
+undisputed territory of the wild animals.
+
+The Olifant's River, which we had to cross, is over 100 feet wide. The
+old track leading down to it, was so thickly covered with trees and
+undergrowth that we had to cut a path through it. The banks of the
+river were not very high, thus enabling us to make a drift without
+much trouble. The bed was rocky, and the water pretty shallow, and
+towards the afternoon the whole commando had crossed. Here again we
+were obliged to rest our cattle for a few days, during which we had to
+fulfil the melancholy duty of burying two of our burghers who had died
+of fever. It was a very sad loss and we were very much affected,
+especially as one left a young wife and two little children, living at
+Barberton. The other one was a young colonial Afrikander who had left
+his parents in the Cradock district (Cape Colony) to fight for our
+cause. We could not help thinking how intensely sad it was to lose
+one's life on the banks of this river, far from one's home, from
+relatives and friends, without a last grasp of the hand of those who
+were nearest and dearest.
+
+The Transvaaler's last words were:--
+
+     "Be sure to tell my wife I am dying cheerfully, with a
+     clear conscience; that I have given my life for the welfare
+     of my Fatherland."
+
+We had now to leave some draught cattle and horses behind every day,
+and the number of those who were obliged to walk was continually
+increasing, till there were several hundred.
+
+Near Sabini, the first river we came to after leaving Leydsdorp we
+secured twenty-four mules which were of very great use to us under the
+circumstances. But the difficulty was how to distribute them amongst
+the field-cornets. The men all said they wanted them very urgently,
+and at once found the cattle belonging to each cart to be too thin and
+too weak to move. Yet the twenty-four could only be put into two
+carts, and I had to solve the difficulty by asserting my authority.
+
+It was no easy task to get over the Agatha Mountains and we had to
+rest for the day near the big Letaba, especially as we had to give the
+whole file of carts, guns, etc., a chance of forming up again. Here we
+succeeded in buying some loads of mealies, which were a real God-send
+to our half-starved horses. I also managed to hire some teams of oxen
+from Boers who had taken up a position with their cattle along the
+Letaba, which enabled us to get our carts out of the Hartbosch
+Mountains as far as practicable. The task would have been too
+fatiguing for our cattle. It took us two days before we were out of
+these mountains, when we camped out on the splendid "plateau" of the
+Koutboschbergen, where the climate was wholesome and pleasant.
+
+Here, after having passed a whole month in the wilderness of the low
+veldt, with its destructive climate, it was as though we began a new
+life, as if we had come back to civilisation. We again saw white men's
+dwellings, cultivated green fields, flocks of grazing sheep, and herds
+of sleek cows.
+
+The inhabitants of the country were not a little surprised, not to say
+alarmed, to find, early one Sunday morning, a big laager occupying the
+plateau. A Boer laager always looks twice as large as it really is
+when seen from a little distance. Some Boer lads presently came up to
+ask us whether we were friends or enemies, for in these distant parts
+people were not kept informed of what happened elsewhere.
+
+"A general," said a woman, who paid us a visit in a trap, "is a thing
+we have all been longing to see. I have called to hear some news, and
+whether you would like to buy some oats; but I tell you straight I am
+not going to take "blue-backs" (Government notes), and if you people
+buy my oats you will have to pay in gold."
+
+A burgher answered her: "There is the General, under that cart;
+'tante' had better go to him."
+
+Of course I had heard the whole conversation, but thought the woman
+had been joking. The good lady came up to my cart, putting her cap a
+little on one side, probably to favour us with a peep at her beauty.
+
+"Good morning. Where is that General Viljoen; they say he is here?"
+
+I thought to myself: "I wonder what this charming Delilah of fifty
+summers wants," and got up and shook hands with her, saying: "I am
+that General. What can I do for 'tante'?"
+
+"No, but I never! Are you the General? You don't look a bit like one;
+I thought a General looked 'baing' (much) different from what you are
+like."
+
+Much amused by all this I asked: "What's the matter with me, then,
+'tante'?"
+
+"Nay, but cousin (meaning myself) looks like a youngster. I have heard
+so much of you, I expected to see an old man with a long beard."
+
+I had had enough of this comedy, and not feeling inclined to waste any
+more civilities on this innocent daughter of Mother Eve, I asked her
+about the oats.
+
+I sent an adjutant to have a look at her stock and to buy what we
+wanted, and the prim dame spared me the rest of her criticism.
+
+We now heard that Pietersburg and Warmbad were still held by the
+Boers, and the road was therefore clear. We marched from here via
+Haenertsburg, a little village on the Houtboschbergrand, and the seat
+of some officials of the Boer Mining Department, for in this
+neighbourhood gold mines existed, which in time of peace give
+employment to hundreds of miners.
+
+Luckily, there was also a hospital at Haenertsburg, where we could
+leave half a dozen fever patients, under the careful treatment of an
+Irish doctor named Kavanagh, assisted by the tender care of a daughter
+of the local justice of the peace, whose name, I am sorry to say, I
+have forgotten.
+
+About the 19th of October, 1900, we arrived at Pietersburg, our place
+of destination.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+PAINS AND PLEASURES OF COMMANDEERING.
+
+
+We found Pietersburg to be quite republican, all the officials, from
+high to low, in their proper places in the offices, and the
+"Vierkleur" flying from the Government buildings. The railway to
+Warmbad was also in Boer hands. At Warmbad were General Beyers and his
+burghers and those of the Waterberg district. Although we had no coals
+left, this did not prevent us from running a train with a sufficient
+number of carriages from Pietersburg to Warmbad twice a week. We used
+wood instead, this being found in great quantities in this part of the
+country.
+
+Of course, it took some time to get steam up, and we had to put in
+more wood all the time, while the boilers continually threatened to
+run dry. We only had two engines, one of which was mostly laid up for
+repairs. The other one served to keep the commandos at Warmbad
+provided with food, etc.
+
+The Pietersburgers also had kept up telegraphic communication, and we
+were delighted to hear that clothes and boots could be got in the
+town, as we had to replace our own, which had got dreadfully torn and
+worn out on the "trek" through the "boschveldt." Each commandant did
+his best to get the necessary things together for his burghers, and my
+quarters were the centre of great activity from the early morning to
+late in the evening, persons who had had their goods commandeered
+applying to the General and lodging complaints.
+
+After we had been at Pietersburg for eight days, a delay which seemed
+so many months to me, I had really had too much of it. The complaints
+were generally introduced by remarks about how much the complainants'
+ancestors had done for the country at Boomplaats, Majuba, etc., etc.,
+and how unfairly they were now being treated by having their only
+horses, or mules, or their carriages, or saddles commandeered.
+
+The worst of it was, that they all had to be coaxed, either with a
+long sermon, pointing out to them what an honour and distinction it
+was to be thus selected to do their duty to their country and their
+people, or by giving them money if no appeal to their generous
+feelings would avail; sometimes by using strong language to the timid
+ones, telling them it would have to be, whether they liked it or not.
+
+Anyhow we got a hundred fine horses together at the cost of a good
+many imprecations. The complainants may be divided into the following
+categories:--
+
+1st. Those who really believed they had some cause of complaint.
+
+2nd. Those who did not feel inclined to part with anything without
+receiving the full value in cash--whose patriotism began and ended
+with money.
+
+3rd. Those who had Anglophile tendencies and thought it an abomination
+to part with anything to a commando (these were the worst to deal
+with, for they wore a mask, and we often did not know whether we had
+got hold of the Evil One's tail or an angel's pinions), and
+
+4th. Those who were complaining without reason. These were, as a rule,
+burghers who did not care to fight, and who remained at home under all
+sorts of pretexts.
+
+The complaints from females consisted of three classes:--
+
+1st. The patriotic ones who did all they could--sensible ladies as
+they were--to help us and to encourage our burghers, but who wanted
+the things we had commandeered for their own use.
+
+2nd. The women without any national sympathy--a tiresome species, who
+forget their sex, and burst into vituperation if they could not get
+their way; and
+
+3rd. The women with English sympathies, carefully hidden behind a mask
+of pro-Boer expressions.
+
+The pity of it was that you could not see it written on their
+foreheads which category they belonged to, and although one could soon
+find out what their ideas were, one had to be careful in expressing a
+decided opinion about them, as there was a risk of being prosecuted
+for libel.
+
+I myself always preferred an outspoken complaint. I could always cut
+up roughly refer him to martial law, and gruffly answer, "It will have
+to be like this, or you will have to do it!" And if that did not
+satisfy him I had him sent away. But the most difficult case was when
+the complaint was stammered under a copious flood of tears, although
+not supported by any arguments worth listening to.
+
+There were a good many foreign subjects at Pietersburg but they were
+mostly British, and these persons, who also had some of their horses,
+etc., commandeered, were a great source of trouble, for many Boer
+officers and burghers treated them without any ceremony, simply taking
+away what they wanted for their commandos. I did not at all agree with
+this way of doing things, for so long as a foreign subject, though an
+Englishman, is allowed to remain within the fighting lines, he has a
+right to protection and fairness, and no difference ought to be made
+between him and the burghers who stay at home, when there is any
+fighting to be done.
+
+From Pietersburg we went to Nylstroom, a village on the railway to
+which I had been summoned by telegram by the Commandant-General, who
+had arrived there on his way to the westerly districts, this being the
+first I had heard of him after we had parted at the foot of the
+Mauchberg, near Mac Mac.
+
+I travelled by rail, accompanied by one of my commandants. The way
+they managed to keep up steam was delightfully primitive. We did not,
+indeed, fly along the rails, yet we very often went at the rate of
+nine miles an hour!
+
+When our supply of wood got exhausted, we would just stop the train,
+or the train would stop itself, and the passengers were politely
+requested to get out and take a hand at cutting down trees and
+carrying wood. This had a delicious flavour of the old time stage
+coach about it, when first, second, and third class passengers
+travelled in the same compartment, although the prices of the
+different classes varied considerably. When a coach came to the foot
+of a mountain the travellers would, however, soon find out where the
+difference between the classes lay, for the driver would order all
+first-class passengers to keep their seats, second-class passengers to
+get out and walk, and third-class passengers to get out and push.
+
+We got to our destination, however, although the chances seemed to
+have been against it. I myself had laid any odds against ever arriving
+alive.
+
+At Nylstroom we found President Steyn and suite, who had just arrived,
+causing a great stir in this sleepy little village, which had now
+become a frontier village of the territory in which we still held
+sway.
+
+A great popular meeting was held, which President Steyn opened with a
+manly speech, followed by a no less stirring one from our
+Commandant-General, both exhorting the burghers to do their duty
+towards their country and towards themselves by remaining faithful to
+the Cause, as the very existence of our nation depended on it.
+
+In the afternoon the officers met in an empty hall of the hotel at
+Nylstroom to hold a Council of War, under the direction of the
+Commandant-General.
+
+Plans were discussed and arrangements made for the future. I was to
+march at once from Pietersburg to the north-westerly part of the
+Pretoria district, and on to Witnek, which would bring us back to our
+old battle-grounds. The state of the commandos, I was told, in those
+parts was very sad. The commandant of the Boksburg Commando had
+mysteriously fallen into the enemy's hands, and with his treacherous
+assistance nearly the whole commando had been captured as well. The
+Pretoria Commando had nearly shared this melancholy fate.
+
+That same night we travelled to Pietersburg. After we had passed
+Yzerberg the train seemed to be going more and more slowly, till we
+came to a dead stop. The engine had broken down, and all we could do
+was to get out and walk the rest of the way. In a few hours' time, to
+our great joy, the second, and the only other train from Pietersburg
+there was, came up.
+
+After having convinced the engine-driver that he had to obey the
+General's orders, he complied with our request to take us to
+Pietersburg, and at last, after a lot of trouble, we arrived the
+following day. Our cattle and horses were now sufficiently rested and
+in good condition. The commandos have been provided with the things
+they most urgently needed, and ordered to be ready within two days.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+PUNISHING THE PRO-BRITISH.
+
+
+During the first days of November, 1900, we went from Pietersburg to
+Witnek, about nineteen miles north of Bronkhorst Spruit, in the
+Pretoria district. We had enjoyed a fortnight's rest, which had
+especially benefited our horses, and our circumstances were much more
+favourable in every respect when we left Pietersburg than when we had
+entered it.
+
+The Krugersdorp Commando had been sent to its own district, from
+Pietersburg via Warmbad and Rustenburg, under Commandant Jan Kemp, in
+order to be placed under General De la Rey's command. Most of the
+burghers preferred being always in their own districts, even though
+the villages scattered about were in the enemy's hands, the greater
+part of the homesteads burnt down and the farms destroyed, and nearly
+all the families had been placed in British Concentration Camps; and
+if the commanding officers would not allow the burghers to go to their
+own districts they would simply desert, one after the other, to join
+the commando nearest their districts.
+
+I do not think there is another nation so fondly attached to their
+home and its neighbourhood, even though the houses be in ruins and the
+farms destroyed. Still the Boer feels attracted to it, and when he has
+at last succeeded in reaching it, you will often find him sit down
+disconsolately among the ruins or wandering about in the vicinity.
+
+It was better, therefore, to keep our men somewhere near their
+districts, for even from a strategical point of view they were better
+there, knowing every nook and cranny, which enabled them to find
+exactly where to hide in case of danger. Even in the dark they were
+able to tell, after scouting, which way the enemy would be coming.
+This especially gave a commando the necessary self-reliance, which is
+of such great importance in battle. It has also been found during the
+latter part of the War to be easier for a burgher to get provisions in
+his own district than in others, notwithstanding the destruction
+caused by the enemy.
+
+Commandant Muller, of the Boksburg Commando, one of those who were
+lucky enough to escape the danger of being caught through the
+half-heartedness of the previous commandant (Dirksen), and had taken
+his place, arrived at Warmbad almost the same moment. He proceeded via
+Yzerberg and joined us at Klipplaatdrift near Zebedelestad.
+
+I had allowed a field-cornet's company, consisting of Colonial
+Afrikanders, to accompany President Steyn to the Orange Free State,
+which meant a reduction of my force of 350 men, including the
+Krugersdorpers. But the junction with the Boksburg burghers, numbering
+about 200 men, somewhat made up for it.
+
+We went along the Olifant's River, by Israelskop and Crocodile Hill,
+to the spot where the Eland's River runs into the Olifant's River, and
+thence direct to Witnek through Giftspruit.
+
+The grass, after the heavy rains, was in good condition and yielded
+plenty of food for our quadrupeds. Strange to say, nothing worth
+recording occurred during this "trek" of about 95 miles. About the
+middle of November we camped near the "Albert" silver mines, south of
+Witnek.
+
+Commandant Erasmus was still in this part of the country with the
+remainder of the Pretoria Commando. Divided into three or four smaller
+groups, they watched in the neighbourhood of the railway, from
+Donkerhoek till close to Wilgeriver Station, and whenever the enemy
+moved out, the men on watch gave warning and all fled with their
+families and cattle into the "boschveldt" along Witnek.
+
+It was these tactics which enabled the British Press to state that the
+Generals Plumer and Paget had a brilliant victory over Erasmus the
+previous month; for, with the exception of a few abandoned carts at
+Zusterhoek, they could certainly not have seen anything of Erasmus and
+his commando except a cloud of dust on the road from Witnek to the
+"boschveldt."
+
+I had instructions to reorganise the commandos in these regions and to
+see that law and order were maintained. The reorganisation was a
+difficult work, for the burghers were divided amongst themselves.
+
+Some wanted a different commando, while others wanted to keep to
+Erasmus, who was formerly general and who had been my superior, round
+Ladysmith. He, one of the wealthiest and most influential burghers in
+the Pretoria district, did not seem inclined to carry out my
+instructions, and altogether he could not get accustomed to the
+altered conditions. I did all I could in the matter, but, so far as
+the Pretoria Commando was concerned, the result of my efforts was not
+very satisfactory. Nor did the generals who tried the same thing after
+me get on with the reorganisation while Erasmus remained in control as
+an officer. A dangerous element, which he and his clique tolerated,
+was formed by some families (Schalkwyk and others) who, after having
+surrendered to the enemy, were allowed to remain on their holdings,
+with their cattle, and to go on farming as if nothing had happened.
+They generally lived near the railway between our sentry stations and
+those of the enemy. These "voluntarily disarmed ones," as we called
+them, had got passes from the enemy, allowing them free access to the
+British camps, and in accordance with one of Lord Roberts'
+proclamations, their duty, on seeing any Boers or commandos, was, to
+notify this at once to the nearest English picket, and also to
+communicate all information received about the Boers. All this was on
+penalty of having their houses burnt down and their cattle and
+property confiscated. Sometimes a brother or other relative of these
+"hands-uppers" would call on them. The son of one of them was adjutant
+to Commandant Erasmus, and shared his tent with him, while the
+adjutant often visited his parents during the night and sometimes by
+day; the consequence being that the English always knew exactly what
+was going on in our district. This situation could not be allowed to
+go on, and I instructed one of my officers to have all these suspected
+families placed behind our commandos. Any male persons who had
+surrendered to the enemy out of cowardice were arrested.
+
+Most of them were court-martialled for high treason and desertion, and
+giving up their arms, and fifteen were imprisoned in a school building
+at Rhenosterkop, which had been turned into a gaol for the purpose.
+The court consisted of a presiding officer selected from the
+commandants by the General, and of four members, two of whom had been
+chosen by the General and the President, and two by the burghers.
+
+In the absence of our "Staats-procureur," a lawyer was appointed
+public prosecutor.
+
+Before the trial commenced the President was sworn by the General and
+the other four members by the President. The usual criminal procedure
+was followed, and each sentence was submitted for the General's
+ratification.
+
+The court could decree capital punishment, in which case there could
+be an appeal to the Government.
+
+There were other courts, constituted by the latter, but as they were
+moving about almost every day, they were not always available, and
+recourse had then to be taken to the court-martial.
+
+The fifteen prisoners were tried in Rhenosterkop churchyard. The trial
+lasted several days, and I do not remember all the particulars of the
+various sentences, which differed from two and a half to five years'
+imprisonment, I believe with the option of a fine. The only prison we
+could send them to was at Pietersburg, and there they went.
+
+The arresting and punishing of these people caused a great sensation
+in the different commandos.
+
+It seems incredible, but it is a fact that many members of these
+traitors' families were very indignant about my action in the matter,
+even sending me anonymous letters in which they threatened to shoot
+me.
+
+Although there was less treason after the conviction of these fifteen
+worthies had taken place, there always remained an easy channel in the
+shape of correspondence between burghers from the commandos and their
+relatives within the English fighting lines, carried by kaffir
+runners. This could not be stopped so easily.
+
+On the 19th of November, 1900, I attacked the enemy on the railway
+simultaneously at Balmoral and Wilgeriver, and soon found that the
+British had heard of our plan beforehand.
+
+Commandant Muller, who was cautiously creeping up to the enemy at
+Wilgeriver with some of his burghers, and a Krupp gun, met with a
+determined resistance early in the morning. He succeeded, indeed, in
+taking a few small forts, but the station was too strongly fortified,
+and the enemy used two 15-pounders in one of the forts with such
+precision as to soon hit our Krupp gun, which had to be cleared out of
+the fighting line.
+
+The burghers, who had taken the small forts in the early morning, were
+obliged to stop there till they could get away under protection of the
+darkness, with three men wounded. We did not find out the enemy's
+losses.
+
+We were equally unfortunate near Balmoral Station, where I personally
+led the attack.
+
+At daybreak I ordered a fortress to be stormed, expecting to capture a
+gun, which would enable us to fire on the station from there, and
+then storm it. In fact we occupied the fort with little trouble,
+taking a captain and 32 men prisoners, besides inflicting a loss of
+several killed and wounded, while a score more escaped. These all
+belonged to the "Buffs," the same regiment which now takes part in
+watching us at St. Helena. But, on the whole, we were disappointed,
+not finding a gun in the fort, which was situated to the west of the
+station. Two divisions of burghers with a 15-pounder and a pom-pom
+were approaching the station from north and east, while a commando,
+under Field-Cornet Duvenhage, which had been called upon to strengthen
+the attack, was to occupy an important position in the south before
+the enemy could take it up, for during the night it was still
+unoccupied.
+
+Our 15-pounder, one of the guns we had captured from the English,
+fired six shells on the enemy at the station, when it burst, while the
+pom-pom after having sent some bombs through the station buildings,
+also jammed. We tried to storm over the bare ground between our
+position and the strongly barricaded and fortified station, and the
+enemy would no doubt have been forced to surrender if they had not
+realised that something had gone wrong with us, our guns being silent,
+and Field-Cornet Duvenhage and his burghers not turning up from the
+south. The British, who had taken an important position from which
+they could cover us with their fire, sent us some lyddite shells from
+a howitzer in the station fort. Although there was a good shower of
+them, yet the lyddite-squirt sent the shells at such a slow pace, that
+we could quietly watch them coming and get under cover in time and
+therefore they did very little harm.
+
+At eight o'clock we were forced to fall back, for although we had
+destroyed the railway and telegraphic communications in several places
+over night, the latter were repaired in the afternoon, and the enemy's
+reinforcements poured in from Pretoria as well as from Middelburg. I
+observed all this through my glass from the position I had taken up on
+a high point near the Douglas coal mines.
+
+Amongst the prisoners we had made in the morning was a captain of the
+"Buffs," whose collar stars had been stripped off for some reason, the
+marks showing they had only recently been removed. At that time there
+were no orders to keep officers as prisoners-of-war, and this captain
+was therefore sent back to Balmoral with the other "Tommies," after we
+had relieved them of their weapons and other things which we were in
+want of. I read afterwards, in an English newspaper, that this captain
+had taken the stars off in order to save himself from the "cruelties
+of the Boers."
+
+This, I considered, an unjust and undeserved libel.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+BATTLE OF RHENOSTERKOP.
+
+
+On the 27th of November, 1900, our scouts reported that a force of the
+enemy was marching from the direction of Pretoria, and proceeding
+along Zustershoek. I sent out Commandant Muller with a strong patrol,
+while I placed the laager in a safe position, in the ridge of kopjes
+running from Rhenosterkop some miles to the north. This is the place,
+about 15 miles to the north-east of Bronkhorst Spruit, where Colonel
+Anstruther with the 94th regiment was attacked in 1881 by the Boers
+and thoroughly defeated. Rhenosterkop is a splendid position, rising
+several hundred feet above the neighbouring heights, and can be seen
+from a great distance. Towards the south and south-east this kopje is
+cut off from the Kliprandts (known by the name of Suikerboschplaats)
+by a deep circular cleft called Rhenosterpoort.
+
+On the opposite side of this cleft the so-called "banks" form a
+"plateau" about the same height as the Rhenosterkop, with some smaller
+plateaux, at a lesser altitude, towards the Wilge River. These
+plateaux form a crescent running from south-east to north of the
+Rhenosterkop. Only one road leading out of the "bank" near Blackwood
+Camp and crossing them near Goun, gives access to this crescent. On
+the west side is a great gap up to Zustershoek, only interrupted by
+some "randjes," or ridges, near the Albert silver mines and the row of
+kopjes on which I had now taken up a position.
+
+The enemy's force had been estimated at 5,000 men, mostly mounted,
+who, quite against their usual tactics, charged us so soon as they
+noticed us. Muller had to fall back again and again. The enemy under
+General Paget, pursued us as if we were a lot of game, and it soon
+became apparent that they had made up their mind to catch us this
+time. I sent our carts into the forest along Poortjesnek to
+Roodelaager, and made a stand in the kopjes near Rhenosterkop.
+
+On the 28th--the next day--General Paget pitched his camp near our
+positions, shelling us with some batteries of field guns till dusk.
+The same evening I received information that a force under General
+Lyttelton had marched from Middelburg and arrived near Blackwood Camp.
+This meant that our way near Gourjsberg had been cut off. All we could
+do was to keep the road along Poortjesnek well defended, for if the
+enemy were to succeed in blocking that as well, we would be in a trap
+and be entirely cut up.
+
+There was General Paget against us to the west, to the south there was
+Rhenosterkop with no way out, and General Lyttelton to the east, while
+to the north there was only one road, running between high chains and
+deep clefts. If General Paget were to make a flanking movement
+threatening the road to the north, I should have been obliged to
+retire in hot haste, but we were in hopes the General would not think
+of this. General Lyttelton only needed to advance another mile, right
+up to the first "randts" of the mountain near Blackwood Camp, for his
+guns to command our whole position, and to make it impossible for us
+to hold it. I had, however, a field-cornet's company between him and
+my burghers, with instructions to resist as long as possible, and to
+prevent our being attacked from behind, which plan succeeded, as luck
+would have it. My Krupp and pom-pom guns had been repaired, or rather,
+patched up, though the former had only been fired fourteen times when
+it was done up.
+
+I placed the Johannesburgers on the left, the Police in the centre,
+and the Boksburgers on the right. As I have already pointed out, these
+positions were situated in a row of small kopjes strewn with big
+"klips," while the assailant would have to charge over a bare "bult,"
+and we should not be able to see each other before they were at 60 to
+150 paces distant.
+
+Next morning, when the day dawned, the watchmen gave the alarm, the
+warning we knew so well, "The Khakis are coming!" The horses were all
+put out of range of the bullets behind the "randts." I rode about
+with my officers in front of our positions, thus being able to
+overlook the whole ground, just at daybreak.
+
+It gave me a turn when I suddenly saw the gigantic army of "Khakis"
+right in front of us, slowly approaching, in grand formation, regiment
+upon regiment, deploying systematically, in proper fighting order, and
+my anxiety was mingled with admiration at the splendid discipline of
+the adversary. This, then, was the first act in the bloody drama which
+would be played for the next fifteen hours. The enemy came straight up
+to us, and had obviously been carefully reconnoitring our positions.
+
+General Paget seemed to have been spoiling for a fight, for it did not
+look as if he simply meant to threaten our only outlet. His heavy
+ordnance was in position near his camp, behind the soldiers, and was
+firing at us over their heads, while some 15-pounders were divided
+amongst the different regiments. The thought of being involved in such
+an unequal struggle weighed heavily on my mind. Facing me were from
+four to five thousand soldiers, well equipped, well disciplined,
+backed up by a strong artillery; just behind me my men, 500 at the
+outside, with some patched-up guns, almost too shaky for firing
+purposes.
+
+But I could rely on at least 90 per cent. of my burghers being
+splendid shots, each man knowing how to economise his store of
+ammunition, while their hearts beat warmly for the Cause they were
+fighting.
+
+The battle was opened by our Krupp gun, from which they had orders to
+fire the fourteen shells we had at our disposal, and then "run." The
+enemy's heavy guns soon answered from the second ridge. When it was
+broad daylight the enemy tried his first charge on the Johannesburg
+position, over which my brother had the command, and approached in
+skirmishing order. They charged right up to seventy paces, when our
+men fired for the first time, so that we could not very well have
+missed our aim at so short a distance, in addition to which the
+assailants' outline was just showing against the sky-line as he was
+going over the last ridge. Only two volleys and all the Khakis were
+flat on the ground, some dead, others wounded, while those who had not
+been hit were obliged to lie down as flat as a pancake.
+
+The enemy's field-pieces were out of our sight behind the ridge which
+the enemy had to pass in charging, and they went on firing without any
+intermission. Half an hour later the position of the Johannesburg
+Police, under the late Lieutenant D. Smith, was stormed again, this
+time the British being assisted by two field-pieces which they had
+brought up with them in the ranks and which were to be used as soon as
+the soldiers were under fire. They came to within a hundred paces. One
+of these guns, I think, I saw put up, but before they could get the
+range it had to be removed into safety, for the attacking soldiers
+fared equally badly here as on our left flank.
+
+Then, after a little hesitation, they tried the attack on our right
+flank again, when Commandant Muller and the Boksburgers and some
+Pretoria burghers, under Field-Cornet Opperman held the position, but
+with the same fatal result to the attackers. Our fifteen-pounder,
+after having been fired a few times, had given out, while our pom-pom
+could only be used from time to time after the artilleryman had
+righted it.
+
+I had a heliograph post near the left-hand position, one near the
+centre and the one belonging to my staff on our extreme right. I
+remained near this, expecting a flank movement by General Paget after
+his front attacks had failed. From this coign of vantage I was able to
+overlook the whole of the fighting ground, besides which I was in
+constant touch with my officers, and could tell them all the enemy's
+movements.
+
+About 10 o'clock they charged again, and so far as I could see with a
+fresh regiment. We allowed them to come up very closely again and once
+more our deadly Mauser fire mowed them down, compelling those who went
+scot-free to go down flat on the ground, while during this charge some
+who had been obliged to drop down, now jumped up and ran away. If I
+remember rightly, it was during this charge that a brave officer, who
+had one of his legs smashed, leant on a gun or his sword, and kept on
+giving his orders, cheering the soldiers and telling them to charge
+on. While in this position, a second bullet struck him, and he fell
+mortally wounded. We afterwards heard it was a certain Colonel Lloyd
+of the West Riding Regiment. A few months after, on passing over this
+same battlefield, we laid a wreath of flowers on his grave, with a
+card, bearing the inscription: "In honour of a brave enemy."
+
+General Paget seemed resolved to take our positions, whatever the
+sacrifice of human lives might be. If he succeeded at last, at this
+rate, he might find half a score of wounded burghers and, if his
+cavalry hurried up, perhaps a number of burghers with horses in bad
+condition, but nothing more.
+
+Whereas, if he had made a flanking movement, he might have attained
+his end, perhaps without losing a single man.
+
+Pride or stupidity must have induced him not to change his tactics.
+Nothing daunted by the repeated failures in the morning, our
+assailant charged again, now one position and then another, trying to
+get their field-pieces in position, but each time without success. At
+their wits' end, the enemy tried another dodge, bringing his guns
+right up to our position under cover of some Red Cross waggons. The
+officer who perceived this, reported to me by heliograph, asking for
+instructions. I answered: 'If a Red Cross waggon enters the fighting
+lines during the battle, it is there on its own responsibility.'
+Besides, General Paget, under protection of the white flag, might have
+asked any moment or an hour, or longer, to carry away his many
+unfortunate wounded, who were lying between two fires in the burning
+sun.
+
+When the Red Cross waggon was found to be in the line of fire, it was
+put right-about face, while some guns remained behind to fire shrapnel
+at us from a short distance. They could only fire one or two shots,
+for our burghers soon put out of action the artillerists who were
+serving them. Towards the afternoon some of my burghers began to run
+short of ammunition, I had a field-cornet's force in reserve, from
+which five to ten men were sent to the position from time to time, and
+this cheered the burghers up again.
+
+The same attacking tactics were persisted in by General Paget all day
+long, although they were a complete failure. When the sun disappeared
+behind the Magaliesbergs, the enemy made a final, in fact, a desperate
+effort to take our positions, the guns booming along while we were
+enveloped by clouds of dust thrown up by the shells.
+
+The soldiers charged, brave as lions, and crept closer to our
+positions than they had done during the day.
+
+But it seemed as if Fate were favouring us, for our 15-pounder had
+just got ready, sending his shells into the enemy's lines in rapid
+succession, and finding the range most beautifully. The pom-pom
+too--which we could only get to fire one or two shells all day long,
+owing to the gunner having to potter about for two or three hours
+after each shot to try and repair it--to our great surprise suddenly
+commenced booming away, and the two pieces--I was going to say the
+"mysterious" pieces--poured a stream of murderous steel into the
+assailants, which made them waver and then retire, leaving many
+comrades behind.
+
+On our side only two burghers were killed, while 22 were wounded. The
+exact loss of the enemy was difficult to estimate. It must, however,
+have amounted to some hundreds.
+
+Again night spread a dark veil over one of the most bloody dramas of
+this war. After the cessation of hostilities, I called my officers
+together and considered our position. We had not lost an inch of
+ground that day, while the enemy had gained nothing. On the contrary,
+they had suffered a serious repulse at our hands. But our ammunition
+was getting scarce, our waggons, with provisions, were 18 miles away.
+All we had in our positions was mealies and raw meat, and the burghers
+had no chance of cooking them. We therefore decided, as we had no
+particular interest in keeping these positions, to fall back that
+night on Poortjesnek, which was a "half-way house" between the place
+we were leaving and our carts, from which we should be able to draw
+our provisions and reserve ammunition.
+
+We therefore allowed General Paget to occupy these positions without
+more ado.
+
+I have tried to describe this battle as minutely as possible in order
+to show that incompetence of generals was not always on our side only.
+
+I have seen from the report of the British Commander-in-Chief,
+published in the newspapers, that this battle had been a most
+successful and brilliant victory, gained by General Paget. People will
+say, perhaps, that it was silly on my part to evacuate the positions,
+and that I should have gone on defending them the next day. Well, in
+the old days this would have been done by European generals, but no
+doubt they were fighting under different circumstances. They were not
+faced by a force ten times their own strength; not restricted to a
+limited quantity of ammunition; nor were they in want of proper food
+or reinforcements. The nearest Boer commando was at Warmbad, about 60
+miles distant. Besides, there was no necessity, either for military
+or strategical reasons, for us to cling to these positions. It had
+already become our policy to fight whenever we could, and to retire
+when we could not hold on any longer. The Government had decided that
+the War should be continued and it was the duty of every general to
+manoeuvre so as to prolong it. We had no reserve troops, so my motto
+was: "Kill as many of the enemy as you possibly can, but see you do
+not expose your own men, for we cannot spare a single one."
+
+On the 30th of November, the day after the fight, I was with a patrol
+on the first "randts," north-east of Rhenosterkop, just as the sun
+rose, and had a splendid view of the whole battlefield of the previous
+day. I saw the enemy's scouts, cautiously approaching the evacuated
+positions, and concluded from the precautions they were taking that
+they did not know we had left overnight. Indeed, very shortly after I
+saw the Khakis storming and occupying the kopjes. How great must have
+been their astonishment and disappointment on finding those positions
+deserted, for the possession of which they had shed so much blood. A
+number of ambulance waggons were brought up and were moving backwards
+and forwards on the battlefield, taking the wounded to the hospital
+camp, which must have assumed colossal proportions. Ditches were seen
+to be dug, in which the killed soldiers were buried. A troop of
+kaffirs carried the bodies, as far as I could distinguish, and I could
+distinctly see some heaps of khaki-coloured forms near the graves.
+
+[Illustration: Battle of Rhenosterkop--How Colonel Lloyd died.]
+
+As the battlefield looked now, it was a sad spectacle. Death and
+mutilation, sorrow and misery, were the traces yesterday's fight had
+left behind. How sad, I thought, that civilised nations should thus
+try to annihilate one another. The repeated brave charges made by
+General Paget's soldiers, notwithstanding our deadly fire, had won our
+greatest admiration for the enemy, and many a burgher sighed even
+during the battle. What a pity such plucky fellows should have to be
+led on to destruction like so many sheep to the butcher's block!
+
+Meanwhile, General Lyttelton's columns had not got any nearer, and it
+appeared to us that he had only made a display to confuse us, and with
+the object of inducing us to flee in face of their overwhelming
+strength.
+
+On the 1st of December General Paget sent a strong mounted force to
+meet us, and we had a short, sharp fight, without very great loss on
+either side.
+
+This column camped at Langkloof, near our positions, compelling us to
+graze and water our horses at the bottom of the "neck" in the woods,
+where horse-sickness was prevalent. We were, therefore, very soon
+obliged to move.
+
+About this time I received a report to the effect that a number of
+women and children were wandering about near Rhenosterkop along the
+Wilge River. Their houses had been burnt by order of General Paget,
+and we were asked to protect these unfortunate people.
+
+Some burghers offered to ride out at night time to try and find them,
+and the next morning they brought several families into our camp. The
+husbands of these poor sufferers were on duty in the neighbourhood, so
+that they were now enabled to do the needful for their wives and
+children. I put some questions to some of the women, from which it
+appeared that although they had besought the English not to burn their
+clothes and food, yet this had been done. Some Australians and
+Canadians, who had been present, had done their best to save some of
+the food and clothes, and these Colonials had shown them much
+consideration in every respect, but, the women added, a gang of
+kaffirs, who were ordered to cause this destruction, were behaving in
+the most barbarous and cruel manner, and were under no control by the
+British soldiers.
+
+I felt bound to protest against these scandalous acts of vandalism,
+and sent two of my adjutants to the English camp next day with a note
+of about the following tenour:--
+
+     "To GENERAL PAGET, _commanding H.M's. forces at
+     Rhenosterkop_.
+
+     "It is my painful duty to bring under your Honour's notice
+     the cruel way in which the troops under your command are
+     acting in ill-treating defenceless women and children. Not
+     only their homes, but also their food and clothes, are being
+     burnt. These poor creatures were left in the open veldt, at
+     the mercy of the kaffirs, and would have died of starvation
+     and exhaustion but for our assistance. This way of treating
+     these unfortunate people is undoubtedly against the rules of
+     civilised warfare, and I beg to emphasise that the
+     responsibility for this cruelty will be entirely yours. You
+     may rest assured that a similar treatment of our families
+     will not shorten the duration of the War, but that, on the
+     contrary, such barbarities will force the burghers to
+     prolong the struggle and to fight on with more bitterness
+     and determination than ever."
+
+The two despatch carriers whom I sent to the British General under a
+white flag were taken for spies, and however much they tried to
+establish their identity, General Paget was not to be convinced, and
+had them arrested, detaining them for three days. Their horses were
+used every day by the English officers, which I consider far from
+gentlemanly. On the third day my two adjutants were again taken before
+the general, and cross-examined, but no evidence could be found
+against their being bona-fide messengers. Paget told them that my
+despatch was all nonsense, and did not give them the right to enter
+his lines under the white flag, adding, while he handed them a letter
+addressed to me:
+
+"You can go now; tell your General that if he likes to fight I shall
+be pleased to meet him at any time in the open. You have killed some
+of my Red Cross people, but I know it was done by those 'damned'
+unscrupulous Johannesburgers. Tell them I shall pay them for this!"
+
+Before my adjutants left, a certain Captain ---- said to one of them:
+
+"I say, what do your people think of the fight?"
+
+"Which fight do you mean?" asked the adjutant.
+
+"The fight here," returned the captain.
+
+"Oh," remarked the adjutant, "we think it was rather a mismanagement."
+To which the captain replied: "By Jove! you are not the only people
+who think so."
+
+The contents of General Paget's letter were short and rough; "The
+responsibility for the suffering of women and children rests on the
+shoulders of those who blindly continue the helpless struggle," etc.,
+etc.
+
+I may say here that this was the first time in this War the English
+officers treated my despatch riders under the white flag in such a
+manner, giving me at the same time such a discourteous answer.
+
+No doubt we have had generals acting like this on our side, and I
+admit that we did not always stand on etiquette.
+
+As already stated, part of the enemy's forces were camping out near
+Poortjesnek, so close by that we had to shift our laager and commando
+to a more healthy part on account of the horse-sickness. The enemy
+installed a permanent occupation at Rhenosterkop, and we moved into
+the Lydenberg district, where we knew we should find some wholesome
+"veldt" on the Steenkamps Mountains. We went through the forest near
+Maleemskop via Roodekraal, to the foot of Bothasberg, where we had a
+few weeks' rest.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+THE SECOND CHRISTMAS AT WAR.
+
+
+The veldt was in splendid condition at the foot of Bothasberg, where
+we had pitched our camp. We found mealies and cattle left everywhere.
+The enemy did not know where we really were, and could not, therefore,
+bother us for the time being. Our Government was at Tautesberg, about
+12 miles north of Bothasberg, and we received a visit from
+Acting-President Burger, who brought with him the latest news from
+Europe, and the reports from the other commandos. Mr. Burger said he
+was sorry we had to leave the Pretoria district, but he could
+understand our horses would have all been killed by the sickness if we
+had stopped at Poortjesnek. As regards the Battle of Rhenosterkop, he
+expressed the Government's satisfaction with the result.
+
+On the 16th of December we celebrated Dingaan's Day in a solemn
+manner. Pastor J. Louw, who had faithfully accompanied us during these
+fatiguing months of retreats and adversity, delivered a most
+impressive address, describing our position. Several officers also
+spoke, and I myself had a go at it, although I kept to politics. In
+the afternoon the burghers had sports, consisting of races on foot and
+on horseback. The prizes were got together by means of small
+contributions from the officers. All went well, without any mishaps,
+and it was unanimously voted to have been very entertaining.
+
+It was a peculiar sight--taking into consideration the
+circumstances--to see these people on the "veldt" feasting and of good
+cheer, each trying to amuse the other, under the fluttering
+"Vierkleur"--the only one we possessed--but the look of which
+gladdened the hearts of many assisting at this celebration in the
+wilderness. How could we have been in a truly festive mood without
+the sight of that beloved banner, which it had cost so many
+sacrifices to protect, and to save which so much Afrikander blood had
+been shed.
+
+And in many of us the thought suggested itself: "O, Vierkleur of our
+Transvaal, how much longer shall we be allowed to see you unfurled?
+How long, O Lord, will a stream of tears and blood have to flow before
+we are again the undisputed masters of our little Republic, scarcely
+visible on the world's map? For how long will our adored Vierkleur be
+allowed to remain floating over the heads of our persecuted nation,
+whose blood has stained and soaked your colours for some generations?
+We hope and trust that so sure as the sun shall rise in the east and
+set in the west, so surely may this our flag, now wrapped in sorry
+mourning, soon flutter aloft again in all its glory, over the country
+on which Nature lavishes her most wondrous treasures."
+
+The Afrikander character may be called peculiar in many respects. In
+moments of reverse, when the future seems dark, one can easily trace
+its pessimistic tendencies. But once his comrades buried, the wounded
+attended to, and a moment's rest left him by the enemy, the cheerful
+part of the Boer nature prevails, and he is full of fun and sport. If
+anybody, in a sermon or in a speech, try to impress on him the
+seriousness of the situation, pointing out how our ancestors have
+suffered and how we have to follow in their steps, our hero of
+yesterday, the jolly lad who was laughing boisterously and joking a
+minute ago, is seen to melt, and the tears start in his eyes. I am now
+referring to the true Afrikander. Of course, there are many calling
+themselves Afrikanders who during this War have proved themselves to
+be the scum of the nation. I wish to keep them distinguished from the
+true, from the noble men belonging to this nationality of whom I shall
+be proud as long as I live, no matter what the result of the War may
+be.
+
+Our laagers were not in a very satisfactory position, more as regards
+our safety than the question of health, sickness being expected to
+make itself felt only later in the year.
+
+We therefore decided to "trek" another 10 miles, to the east of
+Witpoort, through Korfsnek, to the Steenkampsbergen, in order to pitch
+or camp at Windhoek. Windhoek (wind-corner) was an appropriate name,
+the breezes blowing there at times with unrelenting fury.
+
+Here we celebrated Christmas of 1900, but we sorely missed the many
+presents our friends and lady acquaintances sent us from Johannesburg
+on the previous festival, and which had made last year's Christmas on
+the Tugela such a success.
+
+No flour, sugar or coffee, no spirits or cigars to brighten up our
+festive board. This sort of thing belonged to the luxuries which had
+long ceased to come our way, and we had to look pleasant on
+mealie-porridge and meat, varied by meat and mealie-porridge.
+
+Yet many groups of burghers were seen to be amusing themselves at all
+sorts of games; or you found a pastor leading divine service and
+exhorting the burghers. Thus we kept our second Christmas in the
+field.
+
+About this time the commandos from the Lydenburg district (where we
+now were) as well as those from the northern part of Middelburg, were
+placed under my command, and I was occupied for several days in
+reorganising the new arrivals. The fact of the railway being almost
+incessantly in the hands of the enemy, and the road from Machadodorp
+to Lydenburg also blocked by them (the latter being occupied in
+several places by large or small garrisons) compelled us to place a
+great number of outposts to guard against continual attacks and to
+report whenever some of the columns, which were always moving about,
+were approaching.
+
+The spot where our laagers were now situated was only 13 miles from
+Belfast and Bergendal, between which two places General
+Smith-Dorrien's strong force was posted; while a little distance
+behind Lydenburg was General Walter Kitchener with an equally strong
+garrison. We were, therefore, obliged to be continually on the alert,
+not relaxing our watchfulness for one single moment. One or two
+burghers were still deserting from time to time, aggravating their
+shameful behaviour by informing the enemy of our movements, which
+often caused a well-arranged plan to fail. We knew this was simply
+owing to these very dangerous traitors.
+
+The State Artillerymen, who had now been deprived of their guns, were
+transformed into a mounted corps of 85 men, under Majors Wolmarans and
+Pretorius, and placed under my command for the time being.
+
+It was now time we should assume the offensive, before the enemy
+attacked us. I therefore went out scouting for some days, with several
+of my officers, in order to ascertain the enemy's positions and to find
+out their weakest spot. My task was getting too arduous, and I decided
+to promote Commandant Muller to the rank of a fighting-general. He
+turned out to be an active and reliable assistant.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+CAPTURE OF "LADY ROBERTS."
+
+
+After I had carefully reconnoitred the enemy's positions, I resolved,
+after consulting my fighting-general, Muller, to attack the Helvetia
+garrison, one of the enemy's fortifications or camps between Lydenburg
+and Machadodorp. Those fortifications served to protect the railway
+road from Machadodorp Station to Lydenburg, along which their convoys
+went twice a week to provision Lydenburg village. Helvetia is situated
+three miles east of Machadodorp, four miles west of Watervalboven
+Station, where a garrison was stationed, and about three miles south
+of a camp near Zwartkoppies. It was only protected on the north side.
+Although it was difficult to approach this side on account of a
+mountainous rand through which the Crocodile River runs, yet this was
+the only road to take. It led across Witrand or Bakenkop; the
+commandos were therefore obliged to follow it, and had to do this at
+night time, for if they had passed the Bakenkop by day they would have
+exposed themselves to the enemy's artillery fire from the Machadodorp
+and Zwartkoppies garrisons.
+
+During the night of the 28th of December 1900, we marched from
+Windhoek, past Dullstroom, up to the neighbourhood of Bakenkop, where
+we halted and divided the commandos for the attack, which was to be
+made in about the following order:--
+
+Fighting-General Muller was to trek with 150 men along the convoy-road
+between Helvetia and Zwartkoppies up to Watervalboven, keeping his
+movements concealed from the adversary. Commandant W. Viljoen (my
+brother), would approach the northerly and southerly parts of Helvetia
+within a few hundred paces, with part of the Johannesburgers and
+Johannesburg Police. This commando numbered 200 men.
+
+In order to be able to storm the different forts almost
+simultaneously we were all to move at 3.30 a.m., and I gave the men a
+password, in order to prevent confusion and the possibility of our
+hitting one another in the general charge. There being several forts
+and trenches to take the burghers were to shout "Hurrah!" as loudly as
+they could in taking each fort, which would show us it was captured,
+and at the same time encourage the others. Two of our most valiant
+field-cornets, P. Myburgh and J. Cevonia, an Italian Afrikander, were
+sent to the left, past Helvetia, with 120 men, to attack Zwartkoppies
+the moment we were to storm Helvetia, while I kept in reserve the
+State Artillerists and a field-cornet's posse of Lydenburgers to the
+right of the latter place, near Machadodorp, which would enable me to
+stop any reinforcements sent to the other side from that place or from
+Belfast. For if the British were to send any cavalry from there they
+would be able to turn our rear, and by marching up as soon as they
+heard the first report of firing at Helvetia, they would be in a
+position to cut me up with the whole of my commando. I only suggest
+the possibility of it, and cannot make out why it was not attempted. I
+can only be thankful to the British officers for omitting to do this.
+
+I had taken up a position, with some of my adjutants, between the
+commandos as arranged, and stood waiting, watch in hand, for the
+moment the first shot should be fired. My men all knew their places
+and their duties, but unfortunately a heavy fog rose at about 2
+o'clock, which made the two field-cornets who were to attack the
+Zwartkoppies lose their way and the chance of reaching their
+destination before daybreak.
+
+I received the news of this failure at 3.20, _i.e._, ten minutes
+before the appointed time of action. A bad beginning, I thought, and
+these last ten minutes seemed many hours to me.
+
+I struck a match every moment, under cover of my macintosh, to see if
+it were yet half past three. Another minute and it would soon be
+decided whether I should be the vanquished or the victor. How many
+burghers, who were now marching so eagerly to charge the enemy in his
+trenches, would be missed from our ranks to-morrow? It is these
+moments of tension which make an officer's hair turn grey. The
+relation between our burgher and his officers is so entirely different
+from that which exists between the British officer and his men or
+between these ranks perhaps in any other standing army. We are all
+friends. The life of each individual burgher in our army is highly
+valued by his officer and is only sacrificed at the very highest
+price. We regret the loss of a simple burgher as much as that of the
+highest in rank. And it was the distress and worry of seeing these
+lives lost, which made me ponder before the battle.
+
+Suddenly one of my adjutants called out: "I hear some shouting. What
+may this be?"
+
+I threw my waterproof over my head and struck a match, then cried: "It
+is time, my lads!" And in a few seconds a chain of fire flamed up
+round the forts, immediately followed by the rattling and crackling of
+the burghers' Mausers. The enemy was not slow in returning our fire.
+
+It is not easy to adequately render the impression a battle in the
+dark makes. Each time a shot is fired you see a flash of fire several
+yards long, and where about 500 or 600 rifles are being fired at a
+short distance from you, it makes one think of a gigantic display of
+fireworks.
+
+Although it was still dusk, I could easily follow the course of the
+fight. The defenders' firing slackened in several places, to subside
+entirely in others, while from the direction of the other reports and
+flashes, our men were obviously closing up, drawing tighter the ring
+round the enemy.
+
+So far, according to my scouts, no stir had been made from Belfast,
+which encouraged me to inform the officers that we were not being cut
+off. At daybreak only a few shots were falling, and when the fog
+cleared up I found Helvetia to be in our hands.
+
+General Muller reported that his part of the attack had been
+successfully accomplished, and that a 4.7 naval gun had been found in
+the great fortress. I gave orders to fetch this gun out of the fort
+without delay, to take away the prisoners we had made and as much of
+the commissariat as we could manage to carry, and to burn the
+remainder.
+
+Towards the evening we were fired at by two guns at Zwartkoppies,
+making it very difficult for us to get the provisions away.
+
+A great quantity of rum and other spirits was found among the enemy's
+commissariat, and as soon as the British soldiers made prisoners were
+disarmed, they ran up to it, filled their flasks, and drank so freely
+that about thirty of them were soon unable to walk. Their bad example
+was followed by several burghers, and many a man who had not been
+given to drinking used this opportunity to imbibe a good quantity,
+making it very difficult for us to keep things in order.
+
+About 60 men of the garrison had been killed or wounded, and their
+commanding officer had received some injuries, but fortunately there
+was a doctor there who at once attended to these cases. On our side we
+had five men killed and seven wounded--the brave Lieutenant Nortje and
+Corporal J. Coetzee being amongst them.
+
+A small fort, situated between the others, had been overlooked,
+through a misunderstanding, and a score of soldiers who were
+garrisoning it had been forgotten and omitted to be disarmed.
+
+An undisciplined commando is not easily managed at times. It takes all
+the officers' tact and shrewdness to get all the captured goods--like
+arms, ammunition, provisions, &c.--transported, especially when drink
+is found in a captured camp.
+
+When we discussed the victory afterwards, it became quite clear that
+our tactics in storming the enemy's positions on the east and south
+sides had been pregnant of excellent results, for the English were not
+at all prepared at these points, though they had been on their guard
+to the north. In fact it had been very trying work to force them to
+surrender there. The officer in command, who was subsequently
+discharged from the British Army, had done his best, but he was
+wounded in the head at the beginning of the fight, and so far as I
+could ascertain there had been nobody to take his place. Three
+lieutenants were surprised in their beds and made prisoners-of-war.
+In the big fort where we found the naval gun, a captain of the
+garrison's artillery was in command. This fortress had been stormed,
+as already stated, from the side on which the attack had not been
+expected and the captain had not had an opportunity of firing many
+shots from his revolver, when he was wounded in the arm and compelled
+to surrender to the burghers who rushed up. Two hundred and fifty
+prisoners, including four officers, were made, the majority belonging
+to the Liverpool regiment and the 18th regiment of Hussars. They were
+all taken to our laager.
+
+We succeeded in bringing away the captured gun in perfect order, also
+some waggons. Unfortunately the cart with the projectiles or shell,
+stuck in the morass and had to be left behind.
+
+I gave orders to have a gun which we had left with the reserve
+burghers at Bakenkop, brought up, to open fire on the two pieces which
+were firing at us from Zwartkoppies, and to cover our movements while
+we were taking away the prisoners-of-war and the captured stores. I
+was in hopes of getting an opportunity of releasing the carts which
+stuck. But Fate was against us. A heavy hailstorm accompanied by
+thunder and lightning, fiercer than I have ever witnessed in South
+Africa before, broke over our heads. Several times the lightning
+struck the ground around us, and the weather became so alarming that
+the drunken "Tommies" began to talk about their souls, and further
+efforts to save the carts had to be abandoned.
+
+Whoever may have been the officer in command at Zwartkoppies he really
+deserved a D.S.O., which he obtained, too.
+
+What that order really means I wot not, but I know that an English
+soldier is quite prepared to risk his life to deserve one, and as the
+decoration itself cannot be very expensive, it pays the British
+Government to be very liberal with it. A Boer would be satisfied with
+nothing less than promotion as a reward for heroism.
+
+When the storm subsided we went on. It was a remarkable sight--a long
+procession of "Tommies," burghers, carts, and the naval gun, 18 feet
+long, an elephantine one when compared with our small guns.
+
+It struck me again on this occasion what little bad feeling there was
+really between Boer and Briton, and how they both fight simply to do
+their duty as soldiers. As I rode along the stream of men I noticed
+several groups of burghers and soldiers sitting together along the
+road, eating from one tin of jam and dividing their loaf between them,
+and drinking out of the same field flask.
+
+I remember some snatches of conversation I overheard:--
+
+     TOMMY: By Jove, but you fellows gave us jip. If you had come
+     a little later you wouldn't have got us so easy, you know.
+
+     BURGHER: Never mind, Tommy, we got you. I suppose next time
+     you will get us. Fortunes of war, you know. Have some more,
+     old boy. Oh, I say, here is the general coming.
+
+     TOMMY: Who's he? Du Wyte or Viljohn?
+
+And then as I passed them the whole group would salute very civilly.
+
+We stopped at Dullstroom that night, where we found some lodgings for
+the captured British officers. We were sorry one of the Englishmen
+had not been given time to dress himself properly, for we had a very
+scanty stock of clothes, and it was difficult to find him some.
+
+The next morning I found half a dozen prisoners-of-war had sustained
+slight flesh wounds during the fight, and I sent them on a trolley to
+Belfast with a dispatch to General Smith-Dorrien, informing him that
+four of his officers and 250 men were in our hands, that they would be
+well looked after, and that I now sent back the slightly wounded who
+had been taken away by mistake.
+
+I will try to give the concluding sentence of my communication as far
+as I remember it, and also the reply to it. I may add that the words
+"The Lady Roberts" had been chiselled on the naval gun, and that many
+persons had just been expelled from Pretoria and other places as being
+considered "undesirables."
+
+My letter wound up as follows:--
+
+     "I have been obliged to expel "The Lady Roberts" from
+     Helvetia, this lady being an "undesirable" inhabitant of
+     that place. I am glad to inform you that she seems quite at
+     home in her new surroundings, and pleased with the change of
+     company."
+
+To which General Smith-Dorrien replied:
+
+     "As the lady you refer to is not accustomed to sleep in the
+     open air, I would recommend you to try flannel next to the
+     skin."
+
+I had been instructed to keep the officers we had taken prisoners
+until further orders, and these four were therefore lodged in an empty
+building near Roos Senekal under a guard. The Boers had christened
+this place "Ceylon," but the officers dubbed it "the house beautiful"
+on account of its utter want of attractiveness.
+
+They were allowed to write to their relatives and friends, to receive
+letters, and food and clothes, which were usually sent through our
+lines under the white flag. The company was soon augmented by the
+arrivals of many other British officers who were taken prisoners from
+time to time.
+
+The 250 captured rank and file were given up to the British
+authorities at Middelburg some days after, for military reasons.
+
+"The Lady Roberts" was the first and so far the last big gun taken
+from the English, and we are proud to say that never during this War,
+notwithstanding all our vicissitudes and reverses, have the British
+succeeded in taking one of our big guns.
+
+One might call this bragging, but that is not my intention and I do
+not think I am given to boasting. We only relate it as one of the most
+remarkable incidents of the War, and as a fact which we may recall
+with satisfaction.
+
+As already related, the cart with the shells for "The Lady Roberts"
+had to be left behind after the battle. Nothing would have given us
+greater pleasure than to send some shells from "Her Ladyship" into the
+Belfast camp on the last day of 1900, with the "Compliments of the
+Season." Not of course, in order to cause any destruction, but simply
+as a New Year's greeting. We would have sent them close by like the
+Americans in Mark Twain's book: "Not right in it, you know, but close
+by or near it." Only the shells were wanting, for with the gun were 50
+charged "hulzen" and a case of cordite "schokbuizen."
+
+We tried to make a shell from an empty "Long Tom" one, by cutting the
+latter down, for the "Long Toms" shells were of greater calibre, and
+after having it filled with four pom-pom bullets, some cordite etc.,
+we made it tight with copper wire, and soldered the whole together.
+
+But when the shell was fired it burst a few steps away from the mouth
+of the cannon, and we had to abandon all hope of ever hearing a shout
+from the distinguished "Lady's" throat.
+
+It was stowed away safely in the neighbourhood of Tautesberg and
+guarded by a group of cattle-farmers, or rather "bush-lancers," as
+they were afterwards called, in case we should get hold of the proper
+shells some day or other.
+
+In connection with the attack on Helvetia I should like to quote the
+following lines, written by one of our poetasters, State-Secretary Mr.
+F. W. Reitz, in the field, although the translation will hardly give
+an adequate idea of the peculiar treatment of the subject:--
+
+    "Hurrah for General Muller, hurrah for Ben Viljoen,
+    They went for 'Lady Roberts' and caught her very soon.
+    They caught her at Helvetia, great was Helvetia's fall!
+    Come up and see 'The Lady,' you Ooms and Tantes all.
+
+    It was a Christmas present (they made a splendid haul),
+    And sent 'The Lady Roberts,' a present to Oom Paul.
+    It cheered the poor Bush-lancers, it cheered the 'trek boers' all,
+    It made them gladly answer to freedom's battle call.
+
+    Lord Roberts gave up fighting, he did not care a rap,
+    But left his dear old 'Lady,' who's fond of mealie-pap.
+    Of our dear wives and children he burned the happy homes,
+    He likes to worry Tantes but fears the sturdy Ooms.
+
+    But his old 'Lady Roberts' (the lyddite-spitting gun),
+    He sent her to Helvetia to cheer the garrison;
+    He thought she would be safe there, in old Smith-Dorrien's care;
+    To leave the kopjes' shelter the Boers would never dare.
+
+    Well done, Johannesburgers, Boksburgers, and police,
+    Don't give them any quarter, don't give them any peace;
+    Before the sleepy "Tommies" could get their stockings on,
+    The forts were stormed and taken, and all the burghers gone.
+
+    We took 300 soldiers, provisions, and their guns,
+    And of their ammunition we captured many tons.
+    'This is guerilla warfare,' says Mr. Chamberlain,
+    But those we have bowled over will never fight again.
+
+    Let Roberts of Kandahar, and Kitchener of Khartoum,
+    Let Buller of Colenso make all their cannon boom.
+    They may mow down the kaffirs, with shield and assegai,
+    But on his trusty Mauser the burgher can rely.
+
+    For now the white man's fighting, these heroes dare not stay,
+    Lord Kitchener's in Pretoria, the others ran away.
+    Lord Roberts _can't_ beat burghers, although he _Can_dahar,
+    The Lords are at a distance, the Generals few and far!
+
+    They may annex and conquer, have conquered and annexed,
+    Yet when the Mauser rattles the British are perplexed.
+    Stand firm then, Afrikanders, prolong the glorious fight,
+    Unfurl the good old 'Vierkleur.' Stand firm, for right is might!
+
+    What though the sky be clouded, what though the light be gone;
+    The day will dawn to-morrow, the sun will shine anon;
+    And though in evil moments a hero's hand may fail,
+    The strong will be confounded and right will yet prevail!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+A DISMAL "HAPPY NEW YEAR."
+
+
+This is the 31st of December, 1900, two days after the victory gained
+by our burghers over the English troops at Helvetia, at the same time
+the last day of the year, or, as they call it, "New Year's Eve"; which
+is celebrated in our country with great enjoyment. The members of each
+family used to meet on that day, sometimes coming from all parts of
+the country. If this could not be done they would invite their most
+intimate friends to come and see the Old Year out--to "ring out the
+old, and ring in the new," for "Auld Lang Syne." This was one of the
+most festive days for everybody in South Africa. On the 31st of
+December, 1899, we had had to give up our time-honoured custom, there
+being no chance of joining in the friendly gathering at home, most of
+us having been at the front since the beginning of October, 1899,
+while our commandos were still in the very centre of Natal or in the
+northern part of Cape Colony; Ladysmith, Kimberley, and Mafeking were
+still besieged, and on the 15th of December the great victory of
+Colenso over the English Army had been won.
+
+It is true that even then we were far from our beloved friends, but
+those who had not been made prisoners were still in direct
+communication with those who were near and dear to them. And although
+we were unable to pass the great day in the family circle, yet we
+could send our best wishes by letter or by wire. We had then hoped it
+would be the last time we should have to spend the last day of the
+year under such distressing circumstances, trusting the war would soon
+be over.
+
+Now 365 days had gone by--long, dreary, weary days of incessant
+struggle; and again our expectations had not been realised, and our
+hopes were deferred. We were not to have the privilege of celebrating
+"the Old and the New" with our people as we had so fervently wished
+the previous year on the Tugela.
+
+The day would pass under far more depressing circumstances. In many
+homes the members of the family we left behind would be prevented from
+being in a festive mood, thinking as they were of the country's
+position, while mourning the dead, and pre-occupied with the fate of the
+wounded, of those who were missing, or known to be prisoners-of-war.
+
+It was night-time, and everybody was under the depression of the
+present serious situation. Is it necessary to say that we were all
+absorbed in our thoughts, reviewing the incidents of the past year?
+Need we say that everyone of us was thinking with sadness of our many
+defeats, of the misery suffered on the battlefields, of our dead and
+wounded and imprisoned comrades; how we had been compelled to give up
+Ladysmith, Kimberley, and Mafeking, and how the principal towns of our
+Republics, Bloemfontein and Pretoria, where our beloved flag had been
+flying for so many long years, over an independent people, were now in
+the hands of the enemy? Need we say we were thinking that night more
+than ever of our many relatives who had sacrificed their blood and
+treasure in this melancholy War for the good Cause; of our wives and
+children, who did not know what had become of us, and whom most of us
+had not seen for the last eight months. Were they still alive? Should
+we ever see them alive? Such were the terrible thoughts passing
+through our minds as we silently sat round the fires that evening.
+
+Nor did anything tend to relieve the sombre monotony. This time we
+should not have a chance of receiving some little things to cheer us
+up and remind us that our dearest friends had thought of us. Our fare
+would that day be the eternal meat and mealies--mealies and meat.
+
+But why call to mind all these sombre memories of the past? Sufficient
+unto the day it seems was the evil thereof. Why sum up the misery of a
+whole year's struggles? And thus we "celebrated" New Year's Eve of
+1900, till we found our consolation in that greatest of blessings to a
+tired-out man--a refreshing sleep.
+
+But no sooner had we risen next morning than the cheerful
+compliments: "A Happy New Year!" or "My best wishes for the New Year"
+rang in our ears. We were all obviously trying to lay stress on the
+possible blessings of the future, so as to make each other forget the
+past, but I am afraid we did not expect the fulfilment of half of what
+we wished.
+
+For well we knew how bad things were all round, how many dark clouds
+were hanging over our heads, and how very few bright spots were
+visible on the political horizon.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+GENERAL ATTACK ON BRITISH FORTS.
+
+
+My presence was requested on the 3rd of January, 1901, by the
+Commandant-General at a Council of War, which was to be held two days
+after at Hoetspruit, some miles east of Middelburg. General Botha
+would be there with his staff, and a small escort would take him from
+Ermelo over the railway through the enemy's lines. My commandos were
+to hold themselves in readiness. There was no doubt in my mind as to
+there being some great schemes on the cards, and that the next day we
+should have plenty to do, for the Commandant-General would not come
+all that way unless something important was on. And why should my
+commandos have to keep themselves in readiness?
+
+On the morning of the 5th I went to the place of destination, which
+we reached at 11 o'clock, to find the Commandant-General and suite had
+already arrived. General Botha had been riding all night long in order
+to get through the enemy's lines, and had been resting in the shadow
+of a tree at Hoetspruit. The meeting of his adjutants and mine was
+rather boisterous, and woke him up, whereupon he rose immediately and
+came up to me with his usual genial smile. We had often been together
+for many months in the War, and the relations between us had been very
+cordial. I therefore do not hesitate to call him a bosom-friend, with
+due respect to his Honour as my chief.
+
+"Hullo, old brother, how are you?" was Botha's welcome.
+
+"Good morning, General, thank you, how are you?" I replied.
+
+My high appreciation of, and respect for his position, made me refrain
+from calling him Louis, although we did not differ much in age, and
+were on intimate terms.
+
+"I must congratulate you upon your successful attack on Helvetia. You
+made a nice job of it," he said. "I hope you had a pleasant New
+Year's Eve. But," he went on, "I am sorry in one way, for the enemy
+will be on his guard now, and we may not succeed in the execution of
+the plans we are going to discuss to-day, and which concern those very
+districts."
+
+"I am sorry, General," I replied, "but of course I know nothing of
+those plans."
+
+"Well," rejoined the Commandant-General, "we will try anyhow, and hope
+for the best."
+
+An hour later we met in council. Louis Botha briefly explained how he
+had gone with General Christian Botha and Tobias Smuts, with 1,200
+men, to Komatiboven, between Carolina and Belfast, where they had left
+the commandos to cross the line in order to meet the officers who were
+to the north of it with the object of going into the details of a
+combined attack on the enemy's camps.
+
+All were agreed and so it was decided that the attack would be made
+during the night of the 7th of January, at midnight, the enemy's
+positions being stormed simultaneously.
+
+The attack was to be made in the following way: The Commandant-General
+and General C. Botha along with F. Smuts, would attack on the southern
+side of the garrisons, in the following places: Pan Station,
+Wonderfontein Station, Belfast Camp and Station, Dalmanutha and
+Machadodorp, while I was to attack these places from the north. The
+commandos would be divided so as to have a field-cornet's force charge
+at each place.
+
+I must say that I had considerable difficulty in trying to make a
+little go a long way in dividing my small force along such a long line
+of camps, but the majority were in favour of this "frittering-away"
+policy, and so it had to be done.
+
+The enemy's strength in different places was not easy to ascertain. I
+knew the strongest garrison at Belfast numbered over 2,500 men, and
+this place was to be made the chief point of attack, although the
+Machadodorp garrison was pretty strong too. The distance along which
+the simultaneous attack was to be made was about 22 miles and there
+were at least seven points to be stormed, viz., Pan Station,
+Wonderfontein, Belfast Village, Monument Hill (near Belfast), the coal
+mines (near Belfast), Dalmanutha Station and Machadodorp. A big
+programme, no doubt.
+
+I can only, of course, give a description of the incidents on my side
+of the railway line, for the blockhouses and the forts provided with
+guns, which had been built along the railway, separated us entirely
+from the commandos to the south. The communication between both sides
+of the railway could be only kept up at night time and with a great
+amount of trouble, by means of despatch-carriers. We, therefore, did
+not even know how the attacking-parties on the southern side had been
+distributed. All we knew was, that any place which was to be attacked
+from the north would also be stormed from the south at the same time,
+except the coal mine west of Belfast, occupied by Lieutenant Marshall
+with half a section of the Gloucester Regiment, which we were to
+attack separately, as it was situated some distance north of the
+railway line.
+
+I arranged my plans as follows: Commandant Trichardt, with two
+field-cornets posses of Middelburgers and one of Germiston burghers,
+were to attack Pan and Wonderfontein; the State Artillery would go for
+the coal mine; the Lydenburgers look after Dalmanutha and Machadodorp;
+while General Muller with the Johannesburgers and Boksburgers would
+devote their attention to Monument Hill.
+
+I should personally attack Belfast Village, with a detachment of
+police, passing between the coal mine and Monument Hill. My attack
+could only, of course, be commenced after that on the latter two
+places had turned out successfully, as otherwise I should most likely
+have my retreat cut off.
+
+[Illustration: Gen. Viljoen meeting Gen. Botha at Hoedspruit, near
+Middleburg.]
+
+In the evening of the 7th of January all the commandos marched, for
+the enemy would have been able to see us from a distance on this flat
+ground if we had started in the daytime, and would have fired at us
+with their 4.7 guns, one of which we knew to be at Belfast. We had to
+cover a distance of 15 miles between dusk and midnight. There was
+therefore no time to be lost, for a commando moves very slowly at
+night time if there is any danger in front. If the danger comes
+from the rear, things very often move quicker than is good for the
+horses. Then the men have to be kept together, and the guides are
+followed up closely, for if any burghers were to lag behind and the
+chain be broken, 20 or 30 of them might stray which would deprive us
+of their services.
+
+It was one of those nights, known in the Steenkamp Mountains as "dirty
+nights," very dark, with a piercing easterly wind, which blew an
+incessant, fine, misty rain into our faces. About nine o'clock the
+mist changed into heavy rains, and we were soon drenched to the skin,
+for very few of us wore rainproof cloaks.
+
+At ten the rain left off, but a thick fog prevented us from seeing
+anything in front of us, while the cold easterly wind had numbed our
+limbs, almost making them stiff. Some of the burghers had therefore to
+be taken up by the ambulance in order to have their circulation
+restored by means of some medicine or artificial treatment. The
+impenetrable darkness made it very difficult to get on, as we were
+obliged to keep contact by means of despatch-riders; for, as already
+stated, I had to wait with the police for the result of the attack on
+the two positions to the right and left of me.
+
+Exactly at midnight all had arrived at the place of destination.
+Unfortunately the wind was roaring so loudly as to prevent any firing
+being heard even at a hundred paces distant.
+
+The positions near Monument Hill and the coal mine were attacked
+simultaneously, but unfortunately our artillerymen could not
+distinctly see the trenches on account of the darkness, and they
+charged right past them, and had to turn back when they became aware
+of the fact, by which time the enemy had found out what was up, and
+allowed their assailants to come close up to them (it was a round fort
+about five feet high with a trench round it), and received them with a
+tremendous volley. The artillerymen, however, charged away pluckily,
+and before they had reached the wall four were killed and nine
+wounded. The enemy shot fiercely and aimed well.
+
+Our brave boys stormed away, and soon some of them jumped over the
+wall and a hand-to-hand combat ensued. The commanding officer of the
+fortress, Lieutenant Marshall, was severely wounded in the leg, which
+fact must have had a great influence on the course of the fight, for
+he surrendered soon after. Some soldiers managed to escape, some were
+killed, about 10 wounded, and 25 were taken prisoners. No less than
+five artillerymen were killed and 13 wounded, amongst the latter being
+the valiant Lieutenant Coetsee who afterwards was cruelly murdered by
+kaffirs near Roos Senekal. The defenders as well as the assailants had
+behaved excellently.
+
+Near Monument Hill, at some distance from the position, the burghers'
+horses were left behind, and the men marched up in scattered order, in
+the shape of a crescent. When we arrived at the enemy's outposts they
+had formed up at 100 paces from the forts, but in the dark the
+soldiers did not see us till we almost ran into them. There was no
+time to waste words. Fortunately, they surrendered without making any
+defence, which made our task much lighter, for if one shot had been
+fired, the garrison of the forts would have been informed of our
+approach. Only at 20 paces distance from the forts near the Monument
+(there were four of them), we were greeted with the usual "Halt, who
+goes there." After this had been repeated three times without our
+taking any notice, and as we kept coming closer, the soldiers fired
+from all the forts. Only now could we see how they were situated. We
+found them to be surrounded by a barbed wire fence which was so strong
+and thick that some burghers were soon entangled in it, but most of
+them got over it.
+
+The first fort was taken after a short but sharp defence, the usual
+"hurrah" of the burghers jumping into the fort was, like a whisper of
+hope in the dark, an encouragement to the remainder of the storming
+burghers, who now soon took the other forts, not without having met
+with a stout resistance. Many burghers were killed, amongst whom the
+brave Field-Cornet John Ceronie, and many were wounded.
+
+It had looked at first as if the enemy did not mean to give in, but
+we could not go back, and "onward" was the watchword. In several
+instances there was a struggle at a few paces' distance, only the wall
+of the fort intervening between the burghers and the soldiers. The
+burghers cried: "Hands up, you devils," but the soldiers replied: "Hy
+kona," a kaffir expression which means "shan't."
+
+"Jump over the walls, my men!" shouted my officers, and at last they
+were in the forts: not, of course, without the loss of many valuable
+lives. A "melee" now followed; the English struck about with their
+guns and with their fists, and several burghers lay on the ground
+wrestling with the soldiers. One "Tommy" wanted to thrust a bayonet
+through a Boer, but was caught from behind by one of the latter's
+comrades, and knocked down and a general hand-to-hand fight ensued, a
+rolling over and over, till one of the parties was exhausted,
+disarmed, wounded, or killed. One of the English captains (Vosburry)
+and 40 soldiers were found dead or wounded, several having been
+pierced by their own bayonets.
+
+Some burghers had been knocked senseless with the butt-end of a rifle
+in the struggle with the enemy.
+
+This carnage had lasted for twenty minutes, during which the result
+had been decided in our favour, and a "hurrah," full of glory and
+thankfulness, came from the throats of some hundreds of burghers. We
+had won the day, and 81 prisoners-of-war had been made, including two
+officers--Captain Milner and Lieutenant Dease--both brave defenders of
+England's flag.
+
+They belonged to the Royal Irish Regiment, of which all Britons should
+be proud.
+
+In the captured forts we found a Maxim, in perfect order, 20 boxes of
+ammunition, and other things, besides provisions, also a quantity of
+spirits, which was, however, at once destroyed, to the disappointment
+of many burghers.
+
+We now pushed on to Belfast village, but found every cliff and ditch
+occupied. All efforts to get in touch with the commandos which meant
+to attack the village from the south were without avail. Besides, we
+did not hear a single shot fired, and did not know what had become of
+the attack from the south. In intense darkness we were firing at each
+other from time to time, so that it was not advisable to continue our
+operations under the circumstances, and at daybreak I told all my
+commandos to desist.
+
+The attacks on Wonderfontein, Pan Station, Dalmanutha, and Machadodorp
+had failed.
+
+I afterwards received a report from the commandos on the other side of
+the line, that, owing to the dark night, their attacks, although they
+were made with deliberation and great bravery, had all been
+unsuccessful. They had repeatedly missed the forts and had shot at one
+another.
+
+General Christian Botha had succeeded in capturing some of the enemy's
+outposts, and in pushing on had come across a detachment of Gordon
+Highlanders and been obliged to retire with a loss of 40 killed and
+wounded.
+
+We found, therefore, these forts in the hands of the soldiers, who, in
+my opinion, belonged to the best regiments of the English army.
+
+The guests of our Government, at "the house beautiful" near Roos
+Senekal were thus added to by two gentlemen, Captain Milner and
+Lieutenant Dease, and they were my prisoners-of-war for four months,
+during which time I found Captain Milner one of the most worthy
+British officers whom it had been my privilege to meet in this War.
+Not only in his manly appearance, but especially by his noble
+character he stood head and shoulders above his fellow-officers.
+
+Lieutenant Dease bore a very good character but was young and
+inexperienced. For several reasons I am pleased to be able to make
+publicly these statements.
+
+The soldiers we had made prisoners during this fight, as well as those
+we took at Helvetia, were given up to the British officers a few days
+afterwards, as we were not in a position to feed them properly, and it
+would not be humane or fair to keep the soldiers who had the
+misfortune of falling into our hands without proper food. This, of
+course, was a very unsatisfactory state of affairs, for we had to
+fight fiercely, valuable lives had to be sacrificed, every nerve had
+to be strained to force the enemy to surrender, and to take his
+positions; and then, when we had captured them, the soldiers were
+merely disarmed and sent back to the English lines after a little
+while, only to find them fighting against us once more in a few days.
+
+The Boers asked, "Why are not these "Tommies" required to take the
+oath before being liberated not to fight against us again?" I believe
+this would have been against the rules of civilised warfare, and we
+did not think it chivalrous to ask a man who was a prisoner to take an
+oath in return for his release.
+
+A prisoner-of-war has no freedom of action, and might have promised
+under the circumstances what he would not have done if he had been a
+free man.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+A "BLUFF" AND A BATTLE.
+
+
+The last days of February, 1901, were very trying for our commandos on
+the "Hoogeveld," south of the railway. General French, assisted by
+half a dozen other generals, with a force of 60,000 men, crossed the
+"Hoogeveld," between the Natal border and the Delagoa Railway, driving
+all the burghers and cattle before him, continually closer to the
+Swazi frontier, in order to strike a "final blow" there.
+
+These operations the English called "The Great Sweep of February,
+1901."
+
+Commandant-General Botha sent word that he was in a bad plight on the
+"Hoogeveld," the enemy having concentrated all his available troops
+upon him. I was asked to divert their attention as much as possible by
+repeated attacks on the railway line, and to worry them everywhere.
+
+To attack the fortified entrenchments in these parts, where we had
+only just been taking the offensive, causing the enemy to be on his
+guard, would not have been advisable. I therefore decided to make a
+feint attack on Belfast.
+
+One night we moved with all the burghers who had horses, about 15
+carts, waggons, and other vehicles, guns and pom-pom, to a high
+"bult," near the "Pannetjes." When the sun rose the next morning we
+were in full sight of the enemy at Belfast, from which we were about
+ten miles away.
+
+Here our commando was split into two parts, and the mounted men spread
+about in groups of fifty men each, with carts scattered everywhere
+among the ranks. We slowly approached Belfast in this order. Our
+commando numbered about 800 men, and considering the way we were
+distributed, this would look three times as many. We halted several
+times, and the heliographers, who were posted everywhere in sight of
+the enemy, made as much fuss as possible. Scouts were riding about
+everywhere, making a great display by dashing about all over the
+place, from one group of burghers to another. After we had waited
+again for some little time we moved on, and thus the comedy lasted
+till sunset; in fact, we had got within range of the enemy's guns. We
+had received information from Belfast to the effect that General
+French had taken all the guns with him to Belfast, leaving only a few
+of small calibre, which could not reach us until we were at about
+4,000 yards from the fort. Our pom-pom and our 15-pounder were divided
+between the two divisions, and the officers had orders to fire a few
+shots on Belfast at sunset. We could see all day long how the English
+near Monument Hill were making ditches round the village and putting
+up barbed wire fences.
+
+Trains were running backwards and forwards between Belfast and the
+nearest stations, probably to bring up reinforcements.
+
+At twilight we were still marching, and by the light of the last rays
+of the sun we fired our two valuable field-pieces simultaneously, as
+arranged. I could not see where the shells were falling, but we heard
+them bursting, and consoled ourselves with the idea that they must
+have struck in near the enemy. Each piece sent half a dozen shells,
+and some volleys were fired from a few rifles at intervals. We thought
+the enemy would be sure to take this last movement for a general
+attack. What he really did think, there is no saying. As the burghers
+put it, "We are trying to make them frightened, but the thing to know
+is, did they get frightened?" For this concluded our programme for the
+day, and we retired for the night, leaving the enemy in doubt as to
+whether we meant to give him any further trouble, yet without any
+apology for having disturbed his rest.
+
+The result of this bloodless fight was _nil_ in wounded and killed on
+both sides.
+
+On the 12th of February, 1901, the first death-sentence on a traitor
+on our side was about to be carried out, when suddenly our outposts
+round Belfast were attacked by a strong British column under General
+Walter Kitchener. When the report was brought to our laager, all the
+burghers went to the rescue, in order to keep the enemy as far from
+the laager as possible, and beat them back. Meanwhile the outposts
+retired fighting all the while. We took up the most favourable
+positions we could and waited. The enemy did not come up close to us
+that evening, but camped out on a round hill between Dullstroom and
+Belfast and we could distinctly see how the soldiers were all busy
+digging ditches and trenches round the camp and putting up barbed wire
+enclosures. They were very likely afraid of a night attack and did not
+forget the old saying about being "wise in time."
+
+Near the spot where their camp was situated were several roads leading
+in different directions which left us in doubt as to which way they
+intended to go, and whether they wanted to attack us, or were on their
+way to Witpoort-Lydenburg.
+
+The next morning, at sunset, the enemy broke up his camp and made a
+stir. First came a dense mass of mounted men, who after having gone
+about a few hundred paces, split up into two divisions. One portion
+moved in a westerly direction, the other to the north, slowly
+followed by a long file, or as they say in Afrikander "gedermte" (gut)
+of waggons and carts which, of course, formed the convoy. Companies of
+infantry, with guns, marched between the vehicles.
+
+I came to the conclusion that they intended to attack from two sides,
+and therefore ordered the ranks to scatter. General Muller, with part
+of the burghers, went in advance of the enemy's left flank and, as the
+English spread out their ranks, we did the same.
+
+At about 9 a.m. our outposts near the right flank of the English were
+already in touch with the enemy, and rifle-fire was heard at
+intervals.
+
+I still had the old 15-pounder, but the stock of ammunition had gone
+down considerably and the same may be said of the pom-pom of
+Rhenosterkop fame. We fired some shots from the 15-pounder at a
+division of cavalry at the foot of a kopje. Our worthy artillery
+sergeant swore he had hit them right in the centre, but even with my
+strong spy-glass I could not see the shells burst, although I admit
+the enemy showed a little respect for them, which may be concluded
+from the fact that they at once mounted their horses and looked for
+cover.
+
+A British soldier is much more in awe of a shell than a Boer is, and
+the enemy's movements are therefore not always a criterion of our
+getting the range. We had, moreover, only some ordinary grenades left,
+some of which would not burst, as the "schokbuizen" were defective,
+and we could not be sure of their doing any harm.
+
+The other side had some howitzers, which began to spit about lyddite
+indiscriminately. They also had some quick-firing guns of a small
+calibre, which, however, did not carry particularly far. But they were
+a great nuisance, as they would go for isolated burghers without being
+at all economical with their ammunition.
+
+Meanwhile, the enemy's left reached right up to Schoonpoort, where
+some burghers, who held good positions, were able to fight them. This
+caused continual collisions with our outposts. Here, also, the
+assailants had two 15-pounder Armstrong's, which fired at any moving
+target, and hardly ever desisted, now on one or two burghers who
+showed themselves, then on a tree, or an anthill, or a protruding
+rock. They thus succeeded in keeping up a deafening cannonade, which
+would have made one think there was a terrific fight going on, instead
+of which it was a very harmless bombardment.
+
+It did no more harm than at the English manoeuvres, although it was no
+doubt a brilliant demonstration, a sort of performance to show the
+British Lion's prowess. I could not see the practical use of it,
+though.
+
+It was only on the enemy's right wing that we got near enough to feel
+some of the effect of the artillery's gigantic efforts, which here
+forced us to some sharp but innocent little fights between the
+outposts. At about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the British cavalry
+stormed our left, which was in command of General Muller. We soon
+repulsed them, however. Half an hour after we saw the enemy's carts go
+back.
+
+I sent a heliographic message to General Muller, with whom I had kept
+in close contact, to the effect that they were moving away their carts
+and that we ought to try and charge them on all points as well as we
+could.
+
+"All right," he answered; "shall we start at once?" I flashed back
+"Yes," and ordered a general charge.
+
+The burghers now appeared all along the extended fighting line.
+
+The enemy's guns, which were just ready to be moved, were again placed
+in position and opened fire, but our men charged everywhere, a sort of
+action which General Kitchener did not seem to like, for his soldiers
+began to flee with their guns, and a general confusion ensued. Some of
+these guns were still being fired at the Boers but the latter stormed
+away determinedly. The British lost many killed and wounded.
+
+The cavalry fled in such a hurry as to leave the infantry as the only
+protection of the guns, and although these men also beat a retreat
+they, at least, did it while fighting.
+
+I do not think I overstate the case by declaring that General Walter
+Kitchener owed it to the stubborn defence of his infantry that his
+carts were not captured by us that day.
+
+Their ambulance, in charge of Dr. Mathews and four assistants, and
+some wounded fell into our hands, and were afterwards sent back.
+
+We pursued the enemy as well as we could, but about nine miles from
+Belfast, towards which the retreating enemy was marching, the forts
+opened fire on us from a 4.7 naval gun and they got the range so well
+that lyddite shells were soon bursting about our ears.
+
+We were now in the open, quite exposed and in sight of the Belfast
+forts. Two of our burghers were wounded here.
+
+Field-Cornet Jaapie Kriege, who was afterwards killed, with about 35
+burghers, was trying to cut off the enemy from a "spruit"-drift; the
+attack was a very brave one, but our men ventured too far, and would
+all have been captured had not the other side been so much in a hurry
+to get away from us. Luckily, too, another field-cornet realised the
+situation, and kept the enemy well under fire, thus attracting
+Kriege's attention, who now got out of this scrape.
+
+When night fell we left the enemy alone, and went back to our laager.
+The next morning the outposts reported that the would-be assailants
+were all gone.
+
+How much this farce had cost General Kitchener we could not tell with
+certainty. An English officer told me afterwards he had been in the
+fight, and that their loss there had been 52 dead and wounded,
+including some officers. He also informed me that their object that
+day had been to dislodge us. If that is so, I pity the soldiers who
+were told to do this work.
+
+Our losses were two burghers wounded, as already stated.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+EXECUTION OF A TRAITOR.
+
+
+As briefly referred to in the last chapter, there occurred in the
+early part of February, 1901, what I always regard as one of the most
+unpleasant incidents of the whole Campaign, and which even now I
+cannot record without awakening the most painful recollections. I
+refer to the summary execution of a traitor in our ranks, and inasmuch
+as a great deal has been written of this tragic episode, I venture to
+state the particulars of it in full. The facts of the case are as
+follows:--
+
+At this period of the War, as well as subsequently, much harm was done
+to our cause by various burghers who surrendered to the enemy, and
+who, actuated by the most sordid motives, assisted the British in
+every possible way against us. Some of these treacherous Boers
+occasionally fell into our hands, and were tried by court martial for
+high treason; but however damning the evidence brought against them
+they usually managed to escape with some light punishment. On some
+occasions sentence of death was passed on them, but it was invariably
+commuted to imprisonment for life, and as we had great difficulty in
+keeping such prisoners, they generally succeeded, sooner or later, in
+making their escape. This mistaken leniency was the cause of much
+dissatisfaction in our ranks, which deeply resented that these
+betrayers of their country should escape scot-free.
+
+About this time a society was formed at Pretoria, chiefly composed of
+surrendered burghers, called the "Peace Committee," but better known
+to us as the "Hands-uppers." Its members surreptitiously circulated
+pamphlets and circulars amongst our troops, advising them to surrender
+and join the enemy. The impartial reader will doubtless agree that
+such a state of things was not to be tolerated. Imagine, for example,
+that English officers and soldiers circulated similar communications
+amongst the Imperial troops! Would such proceedings have been
+tolerated?
+
+The chairman of this society was a man by the name of Meyer De Kock,
+who had belonged to a Steenkampsberg field-cornet's force and had
+deserted to the enemy. He was the man who first suggested to the
+British authorities the scheme of placing the Boer women and children
+in Concentration Camps--a system which resulted in so much misery and
+suffering--and he maintained that this would be the most effective way
+of forcing the Boers to surrender, arguing that no burgher would
+continue to fight when once his family was in British hands.
+
+One day a kaffir, bearing a white flag, brought a letter from this
+person's wife addressed to one of my field-cornets, informing him that
+her husband, Mr. De Kock, wished to meet him and discuss with him the
+advisability of surrendering with his men to the enemy. My
+field-cornet, however, was sufficiently sensible and loyal to send no
+reply.
+
+And so it occurred that one morning Mr. De Kock, doubtlessly thinking
+that he would escape punishment as easily as others had before him,
+had the audacity to ride coolly into our outposts. He was promptly
+arrested and incarcerated in Roos Senekal Gaol, this village being at
+the time in our possession. Soon afterwards he was tried by
+court-martial, and on the face of the most damning evidence, and on
+perusal of a host of incriminating documents found in his possession,
+was condemned to death.
+
+[Illustration: Execution of a Traitor.]
+
+About a fortnight later a waggon drove up to our laager at Windhoek,
+carrying Lieutenant De Hart, accompanied by a member of President
+Burger's bodyguard, some armed burghers, and the condemned man De
+Kock. They halted at my tent, and the officer handed me an order from
+our Government, bearing the President's ratification of the sentence
+of death, and instructing me to carry it out within 24 hours. Needless
+to say I was much grieved to receive this order, but as it had to be
+obeyed I thought the sooner it was done the better for all concerned.
+So then and there on the veldt I approached the condemned man, and
+said:--
+
+"Mr. De Kock, the Government has confirmed the sentence of death
+passed on you, and it is my painful duty to inform you that this
+sentence will be carried out to-morrow evening. If you have any
+request to make or if you wish to write to your family you will now
+have an opportunity of doing so."
+
+At this he turned deadly pale, and some minutes passed before he had
+recovered from his emotion. He then expressed a wish to write to his
+family, and was conducted, under escort, to a tent, where writing
+materials were placed before him. He wrote a long communication to his
+wife, which we sent to the nearest British officers to forward to its
+destination. He also wrote me a letter thanking me for my "kind
+treatment," and requested me to forward the letter to his wife. Later
+on spiritual consolation was offered and administered to him by our
+pastor.
+
+Next day, as related in the previous chapter, we were attacked by a
+detachment of General Kitchener's force from Belfast. This kept me
+busy all day, and I delegated two of my subaltern officers to carry
+out the execution. At dusk the condemned man was blindfolded and
+conducted to the side of an open grave, where twelve burghers fired a
+volley, and death was instantaneous. I am told that De Kock met his
+fate with considerable fortitude.
+
+So far as I am aware, this was the first Boer "execution" in our
+history. I afterwards read accounts of it in the English press, in
+which it was described as murder, but I emphatically repudiate this
+description of a wholly justifiable act. The crime was a serious one,
+and the punishment was well deserved, and I have no doubt that the
+same fate would have awaited any English soldier guilty of a similar
+offence. It seems a great pity, however, that no war can take place
+without these melancholy incidents.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+IN A TIGHT CORNER.
+
+
+It was now March, 1901. For some time our burghers had been
+complaining of inactivity, and the weary and monotonous existence was
+gradually beginning to pall on them. But it became evident that April
+would be an eventful month, as the enemy had determined not to suffer
+our presence in these parts any longer. A huge movement, therefore,
+was being set on foot to surround us and capture the whole commando
+_en bloc_.
+
+It began with a night attack on a field-cornet's force posted at
+Kruger's Post, north of Lydenburg, and here the enemy succeeded in
+capturing 35 men and a quantity of "impedimenta;" the field-cornet in
+question, although warned in time, having taken no proper
+precautions. By the middle of April the enemy's forward movement was
+in full swing. General Plumer came from Pietersburg, General Walter
+Kitchener from Lydenburg, and General Barber from Middelburg. They
+approached us in six different directions, altogether a force of
+25,000 men, and the whole under the supreme command of General Sir
+Bindon Blood.
+
+No escape was available for us through Secoekuniland on the north, as
+the natives here, since the British had occupied their territory, were
+avowedly hostile to us. To escape, therefore, we would have to break
+through the enemy's lines and also to cross the railway, which was
+closely guarded.
+
+The enemy were advancing slowly from various directions. All our roads
+were carefully guarded, and the cordon was gradually tightening around
+us. We were repeatedly attacked, now on this side, now on that, the
+British being clearly anxious to discover our position and our
+strength. In a sharp skirmish with a column from Lydenburg my faithful
+Fighting-General Muller was severely wounded in his shoulder, and a
+commando of Lydenburgers had been isolated from me and driven by the
+enemy along Waterfal River up to Steelpoort, where they encountered
+hostile tribes of kaffirs. The commandant of the corps after a short
+defence was obliged to destroy his guns, forsake his baggage, and
+escape with his burghers in small groups into the mountains.
+
+Our position was growing more critical, but I resolved to make a stand
+before abandoning our carts and waggons, although there seemed little
+hope of being able to save anything. In fact the situation was
+extremely perilous. As far as I could see we were entirely hemmed in,
+all the roads were blocked, my best officer wounded, I had barely 900
+men with me, and our stock of ammunition was very limited.
+
+I have omitted to mention that early in April, when we first got an
+inkling of this move I had liberated all the British officers whom I
+had kept as prisoners at Middelburg, and thus saved the British
+authorities many a D.S.O. which would otherwise have been claimed by
+their rescuers.
+
+The British around us were now posted as follows: At Diepkloof on the
+Tautesberg to the north-west of us; at Roodekraal, between Tautesberg
+and Bothasberg, to the west of us; at Koebold, under Roodehoogte; at
+Windhoek, to the east of us; at Oshoek, to the north-east; and to the
+north of us between Magneetshoogte and Klip Spruit. We were positioned
+on Mapochsberg near Roos Senekal, about midway between Tautesberg and
+Steenkampsberg. We had carts, waggons, two field-pieces, and a
+Colt-Maxim.
+
+We speedily discovered that we should have to leave our baggage and
+guns, and rely mainly on our horses and rifles. We had placed our
+hospitals as well as we could, one in an empty school-building at
+Mapochsberg with 10 wounded, under the care of Dr. Manning; the other,
+our only field-hospital, at Schoonpoort, under the supervision of Dr.
+H. Neethling. Whether these poor wounded Boers would have to be
+abandoned to the enemy, was a question which perplexed us
+considerably. If so, we should have been reduced to only one
+physician, Dr. Leitz, a young German who might get through with a
+pack-horse. Many officers and men, however, had lost all hope of
+escape.
+
+It was about the 20th of April when the British approached so close
+that we had to fight all day to maintain our positions. I gave orders
+that same night that we should burn our waggons, destroy our guns with
+dynamite, and make a dash through the enemy's lines, those burghers
+who had no horses to mount the mules of the convoy. Hereupon about 100
+burghers and an officer coolly informed me that they had had enough
+fighting, and preferred to surrender. I was at that time powerless to
+prevent them doing so, so I took away all their horses and ammunition,
+at which they did not seem very pleased. Before dusk our camp was a
+scene of wild confusion. Waggons and carts were burning fiercely,
+dynamite was being exploded, and horseless burghers were attempting to
+break in the mules which were to serve them as mounts. Meanwhile a
+skirmish was going on between our outposts and those of the enemy.
+
+It was a strange procession that left Mapochsberg that night in our
+dash through the British lines. Many Boers rode mules, whilst many
+more had no saddles, and no small number were trudging along on foot,
+carrying their rifles and blankets on their shoulders. My scouts had
+reported that the best way to get through was on the southern side
+along Steelpoort, about a quarter of a mile from the enemy's camp at
+Bothasberg. But even should we succeed in breaking through the cordon
+around us, we still had to cross the line at Wondersfontein before
+daybreak, so as not to get caught between the enemy's troops and the
+blockhouses.
+
+About 100 scouts, who formed our advance-guard, soon encountered the
+enemy's sentries. They turned to the right, then turned to the left;
+but everywhere the inquisitive "Tommies" kept asking: "Who goes
+there?" Not being over anxious to satisfy their curiosity, they sent
+round word at once for us to lie low, and we started very carefully
+exploring the neighbourhood. But there seemed no way out of the mess.
+We might have attacked some weak point and thus forced our way
+through, but it was still four or five hours' ride to the railway
+line, and with our poor mounts we should have been caught and
+captured. Besides which the enemy might have warned the blockhouse
+garrisons, in which case we should have been caught between two fires.
+
+No; we wanted to get through without being discovered, and seeing that
+this was that night hopeless, I consulted my officers and decided to
+return to our deserted camp, where we could take up our original
+positions without the enemy being aware of our nocturnal excursion.
+
+Next morning the rising sun found us back in our old positions. We
+despatched scouts in all directions as usual, so as to make the enemy
+believe that we intended to remain there permanently, and we put
+ourselves on our guard, ready to repel an attack at any point on the
+shortest notice.
+
+But the enemy were much too cautious, and evidently thought they had
+us safely in their hands. They amused themselves by destroying every
+living thing, and burned the houses and the crops. The whole veldt
+all round was black, everything seemed in mourning, the only relief
+from this dull monotony of colour being that afforded by the
+innumerable specks of khaki all around us. I believe I said there were
+25,000 men there, but it now seemed to me as if there were almost
+double that number.
+
+We had to wait until darkness set in before making a second attempt at
+escape. The day seemed interminable. Many burghers were loudly
+grumbling, and even some officers were openly declaring that all this
+had been done on purpose. Of course, these offensive remarks were
+pointed at me. At last the situation became too serious. I could only
+gather together a few officers to oppose an attack from the enemy on
+the eastern side, and something had to be done to prevent a general
+mutiny. I therefore ordered a burgher who seemed loudest in his
+complaints to receive 15 lashes with a sjambok, and I placed a
+field-cornet under arrest. After this the grumblers remained sullenly
+silent.
+
+The only loophole in the enemy's lines seemed to be in the direction
+of Pietersburg on the portion held by General Plumer, who seemed far
+too busy capturing cattle and sheep from the "bush-lancers" to
+surround us closely. We therefore decided to take our chance there and
+move away as quickly as possible in that direction, and then to bear
+to the left, where we expected to find the enemy least watchful.
+Shortly before sunset I despatched 100 mounted men to ride openly in
+the opposite direction to that which we intended to take, so as to
+divert the enemy's attention from our scene of operations, and sat
+down to wait for darkness.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+ELUDING THE BRITISH CORDON.
+
+
+"The shades of eve were falling fast" as we moved cautiously away from
+Mapochsberg and proceeded through Landdrift, Steelpoort, and the
+Tautesberg. At 3 o'clock in the morning we halted in a hollow place
+where we would not be observed, yet we were still a mile and a half
+from the enemy's cordon. Our position was now more critical than ever;
+for should the enemy discover our departure, and General Plumer hurry
+up towards us that morning, we should have little chance of escape.
+
+During the day I was obliged to call all the burghers together, and to
+earnestly address them concerning the happenings of the previous day.
+I told them to tell me candidly if they had lost faith in me, or if
+they had any reason not to trust me implicitly, as I would not
+tolerate the way in which they had behaved the day before. I added:--
+
+"If you cannot see your way clear to obey implicitly my commands, to
+be true to me, and to believe that I am true to you, I shall at once
+leave you, and you can appoint someone else to look after you. We are
+by no means out of the wood yet, and it is now more than ever
+necessary that we should be able to trust one another to the fullest
+extent. Therefore, I ask those who have lost confidence in me, or have
+any objection to my leading them, to stand out."
+
+No one stirred. Other officers and burghers next rose and spoke,
+assuring me that all the rebels had deserted the previous night, and
+that all the men with me would be true and faithful. Then Pastor J.
+Louw addressed the burghers very earnestly, pointing out to them the
+offensive way in which some of them had spoken of their superior
+officers, and that in the present difficult circumstances it was
+absolutely necessary that there should be no disintegration and
+discord amongst ourselves. I think all these perorations had a very
+salutary effect. But such were the difficulties that we officers had
+to contend with at the hands of undisciplined men who held exaggerated
+notions of freedom of action and of speech, and I was not the only
+Boer officer who suffered in this respect.
+
+About two in the afternoon I gave the order to saddle up, as it was
+necessary to start before sunset in order to be able to cross the
+Olifant's River before daybreak, so that the enemy should not overtake
+us should they notice us. We dismounted and led our horses, for we had
+discovered that the English could not distinguish between a body of
+men leading their horses and a troop of cattle, so long as the horses
+were all kept close together. All the hills around us were covered
+with cattle captured from our "bush-lancers," and therefore our
+passage was unnoticed.
+
+We followed an old waggon track along the Buffelskloof, where a road
+leads from Tautesberg to Blood River. The stream runs between Botha's
+and Tautesbergen, and flows into the Olifant's River near Mazeppa
+Drift. It is called Blood River on account of the horrible massacre
+which took place there many years before, when the Swazi kaffirs
+murdered a whole kaffir tribe without distinction of age or sex,
+literally turning the river red with blood.
+
+Towards evening we reached the foot of the mountains, and moved in a
+north-westerly direction past Makleerewskop. We got through the
+English lines without any difficulty along some footpaths, but our
+progress was very slow, as we had to proceed in Indian file, and we
+had to stop frequently to see that no one was left behind. The country
+was thickly wooded, and frequently the baggage on the pack-horses
+became entangled with branches of trees, and had to be disentangled
+and pulled off the horses' backs, which also caused considerable
+delay.
+
+It was 3 o'clock in the morning before we reached the Olifant's River,
+at a spot which was once a footpath drift, but was now washed away and
+overgrown with trees and shrubs, making it very difficult to find the
+right spot to cross. Our only guide who knew the way had not been
+there for 15 years, but recognised the place by some high trees which
+rose above the others. We had considerable difficulty in crossing, the
+water reaching to our horses' saddles, and the banks being very steep.
+By the time we had all forded the sun had risen. All the other drifts
+on the river were occupied by the enemy, our scouts reporting that
+Mazeppa Drift, three miles down stream, was entrenched by a strong
+English force, as was the case with Kalkfontein Drift, a little higher
+up. I suppose this drift was not known to them, and thus had been left
+unguarded.
+
+[Illustration: Crossing Railway Line Northward (Between Balmoral and
+Brugspruit Stations).]
+
+Having got through we rode in a northerly direction until about 9
+o'clock in the morning, and not until then were we sure of being clear
+of the enemy's clutches. But there was a danger that the English had
+noticed our absence and had followed us up. I therefore sent out
+scouts on the high kopjes in the neighbourhood, and not until these
+had reported all clear did we take the risk of off-saddling. You can
+imagine how thankful we were after having been in the saddle for over
+19 hours, and I believe our poor animals were no less thankful for
+a rest.
+
+We had not slept for three consecutive nights, and soon the whole
+commando, with the exception of the sentries, were fast asleep. Few of
+us thought of food, for our fatigue and drowsiness were greater than
+our hunger. But we could only sleep for two hours, for we were much
+too close to the enemy, and we wished to make them lose scent of us
+entirely.
+
+The burghers grumbled a good deal at being awakened and ordered to
+saddle up, but we moved on nevertheless. I sent some men to enquire at
+a kaffir kraal for the way to Pietersburg, and although I had no
+intention of going in that direction, I knew that the kaffirs, so soon
+as we had gone, would report to the nearest British camp that they had
+met a commando of Boers going there. Kaffirs would do this with the
+hope of reward, which they often received in the shape of spirituous
+liquor. We proceeded all that day in the direction of Pietersburg
+until just before sunset we came to a small stream. Here we stopped
+for an hour and then went on again, this time, however, to the left
+in a southerly direction through the bush to Poortjesnek near
+Rhenosterkop, where a little time before the fight with General
+Paget's force had taken place. We had to hurry through the bush, as
+horse-sickness was prevalent here and we still had a long way before
+us. It was midnight before we reached the foot of the Poortjesnek.
+
+Here my officers informed me that two young burghers had become insane
+through fatigue and want of sleep, and that several, while asleep in
+their saddles had been pulled off their horses by low branches and
+severely injured. Yet we had to get through the Nek and get to the
+plateau before I could allow any rest. I went and had a look at the
+demented men. They looked as if intoxicated and were very violent. All
+our men and horses were utterly exhausted, but we pushed on and at
+last reached the plateau, where, to everybody's great delight, we
+rested for the whole day. The demented men would not sleep, but I had
+luckily some opium pills with me and I gave each man one of them, so
+that they got calmer, and, dropping off to sleep, afterwards
+recovered.
+
+My scouts reported next day that a strong English patrol had followed
+us up, but that otherwise it was "all serene." We pushed on through
+Langkloof over our old fighting ground near Rhenosterkop, then through
+the Wilge River near Gousdenberg up to Blackwood Camp, about nine
+miles north of Balmoral Station. Here we stayed a few days to allow
+our animals to rest and recover from their hardships, and then moved
+on across the railway to the Bethel and Ermelo districts. Here the
+enemy was much less active, and we should have an opportunity of being
+left undisturbed for a little time. But we lost 40 of our horses, who
+had caught the dreaded horse-sickness whilst passing through the bush
+country.
+
+On the second day of our stay at Blackwood Camp I sent 150 men under
+Commandants Groenwald and Viljoen through the Banks, via Staghoek, to
+attack the enemy's camp near Wagendrift on the Olifant's River. This
+was a detachment of the force which had been surrounding us. We
+discovered that they were still trying to find us, and that the patrol
+which had followed us were not aware of our having got away. It
+appears that they only discovered this several days afterwards, and
+great must have been the good general's surprise when they found that
+the birds had flown and their great laid schemes had failed.
+
+My 150 men approached the enemy's camp early in the morning, and when
+at a short range began pouring in a deadly rifle fire on the western
+side. The British soldiers, who were not dreaming of an attack, ran to
+and fro in wild disorder. Our burghers, however, ceased firing when
+they saw that there were many women and children in the camp, but the
+enemy began soon to pour out a rifle and gun fire, and our men were
+obliged to carry on the fight.
+
+After a few days' absence they returned to our camp and reported to me
+that "they had frightened the English out of their wits, for they
+thought we were to the east at Roos Senekal, whereas we turned up from
+the west."
+
+Of course the British speedily discovered where we were, and came
+marching up from Poortjesnek in great force. But we sent out a patrol
+to meet them, and the latter by passing them west of Rhenosterkop
+effectually misled them, and we were left undisturbed at Blackwood
+Camp.
+
+This left us time to prepare for crossing the railway; so I despatched
+scouts south to see how matters stood, and bade them return the next
+day. We knew that a number of small commandos were located on the
+south side of the railway, but to effect a junction was a difficult
+matter, and we would risk getting trapped between the columns if we
+moved at random. The railway and all the roads were closely guarded,
+and great care was being taken to prevent any communication between
+the burghers on either side of the line.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+BOER GOVERNMENT'S NARROW ESCAPE.
+
+
+During the first week of May, 1901, we split up into two sections, and
+left Blackwood Camp early in the evening. General Muller took one
+section over the railway line near Brugspruit, whilst I took the other
+section across near Balmoral Station. We naturally kept as far from
+the blockhouses as possible, quietly cut the barbed-wire fences
+stretched all along the line, and succeeded in crossing it without a
+shot being fired. To split up into two sections was a necessary
+precaution, first because it would have taken the whole commando too
+long to cross the line at one point, and secondly, we made more sure
+of getting at least one section across. Further, had the enemy
+encountered one of the sections they would probably have concluded
+that that was our whole force.
+
+We halted about six miles from the railway-line, as it was now 2
+o'clock in the morning. I ordered a general dismount, and we were at
+last able to light up our pipes, which we had been afraid of doing in
+the neighbourhood of the railway for fear of the lights being seen by
+the enemy. The men sat round in groups, and smoked and chatted
+cheerfully. We passed the rest of the night here, and with the
+exception of the sentinels on duty, all were able to enjoy a
+refreshing sleep, lying down, however, with their unsaddled horses by
+their side, and the bridles in their hands--a most necessary and
+useful precaution. Together with my adjutant, Nel, I made the round of
+the sentries, sitting a few moments with each to cheer them up and
+keep them awake; for there is nothing to which I object more than to
+be surprised by the enemy, when asleep.
+
+The few hours of rest afforded us passed very quickly, and at the
+first glimmer of dawn I ordered the men to be called. This is simply
+done by the officers calling "Opzaal, opzaal" (saddle-up) in loud
+tones. When it was light enough to look round us we had the
+satisfaction of seeing that all was quiet and that no troops were in
+the immediate neighbourhood. We made for a place called Kroomdraai,
+about halfway between Heidelberg and Middelburg, where we knew there
+were some mealies left; and although we should be between the enemy's
+camps there, I felt there would be no danger of being disturbed or
+surprised.
+
+I also sent a report to the Commandant-General, who was at that time
+with the Government near Ermelo, and described to him all that had
+happened. I received a reply some days later, requesting me to leave
+my commando at Kroomdraai and proceed to see him, as an important
+Council of War was to be held between the various generals and the
+Government.
+
+Four days later I arrived at Begin der Lijn ("beginning of the line")
+on the Vaal River, south-east of Ermelo, accompanied by three of my
+adjutants, and reported myself to the Commandant-General.
+
+Simultaneously with my arrival there came two British columns,
+commanded by our old friend Colonel Bullock, whose acquaintance we had
+previously made at Colenso. They came apparently with the idea of
+chasing us, possibly thinking to catch us. This was far from pleasant
+for me. I had been riding post-haste for four days, and I and my horse
+were very tired and worn out. However, there was no help for it. I had
+barely time to salute the members of the Government, and to exchange a
+few words with General Botha, when we had to "quit." For eight days we
+wandered round with Colonel Bullock at our heels, always remaining,
+however, in the same neighbourhood. This officer's tactics in trying
+to capture us were childishly simple. During the day there would be
+skirmishes between the enemy and General Botha's men, but each evening
+the former would, by retiring, attempt to lull us into a sense of
+security. But as soon as the sun had set, they would turn right about
+face, return full speed to where they had left us, and there would
+surround us carefully during the night, gallantly attacking us in the
+morning and fully expecting to capture the whole Boer Government and
+at least half a dozen generals. This was a distinct nuisance, but the
+tactics of this worthy officer were so simple that we very soon
+discovered them. Accordingly, every evening we would make a fine
+pretence of pitching our camp for the night; but so soon as darkness
+had set in, we would take the precaution of moving some 10 or 15 miles
+further on. Next morning Colonel Bullock, who had been carefully
+"surrounding" us all night, would find that we were unaccountably
+absent. Much annoyed at this, he would then send his "flying" columns
+running after us. This went on for several days, until finally, as we
+expected, his horses were tired out, and I believe he was then removed
+to some other garrison, having been considered a failure as a
+"Boer-stalker." No doubt he did his best, but he nevertheless managed
+his business very clumsily.
+
+Not until nine days after my arrival at this perambulating seat of
+Government did we have an opportunity of snatching a few hours' rest.
+We were now at a spot called Immegratie, between Ermelo and
+Wakkerstroom. Here a meeting was held by the Executive Council, and
+attended by the Commandant-General, General Jan Smuts, General C.
+Botha, and myself. General T. Smuts could not be present, as he was
+busy keeping Colonel Bullock amused.
+
+At this meeting we discussed the general situation, and decided to
+send a letter to President Steyn, but our communication afterwards
+fell into the enemy's hands. In accordance with this letter, President
+Steyn and Generals De Wet and De la Rey joined our Government, and a
+meeting was held later on.
+
+The day after this meeting at Immegratie I took leave of my friends
+and began the journey in a more leisurely fashion back to my commando
+at Kroomdraai, via Ermelo and Bethel. The Acting-President had made me
+a present of a cart and four mules, as they pitied us for having had
+to burn all our vehicles in escaping from Roos Senekal. We were thus
+once more seated in a cart, which added considerably to the dignity
+of our staff. How long I should continue to be possessed of this means
+of transport depended, of course, entirely on the enemy. My old
+coloured groom "Mooiroos," who followed behind leading my horse,
+evidently thought the same, for he remarked naively: "Baas, the
+English will soon fix us in another corner; had we not better throw
+the cart away?"
+
+We drove into Ermelo that afternoon. The dread east wind was blowing
+hard and raising great clouds of dust around us. The village had been
+occupied about half a dozen times by the enemy and each time looted,
+plundered, and evacuated, and was now again in our possession. At
+least, the English had left it the day before, and a Landdrost had
+placed himself in charge; a little Hollander with a pointed nose and
+small, glittering eyes, who between each sentence that he spoke rolled
+round those little eyes of his, carefully scanning the neighbouring
+hills for any sign of the English. The only other person of importance
+in the town was a worthy predicant, who evidently had not had his hair
+cut since the commencement of the War, and who had great difficulty
+in keeping his little black wide-awake on his head. He seemed very
+proud of his abundant locks.
+
+There were also a few families in the place belonging to the Red Cross
+staff and in charge of the local hospitals. One of my adjutants was
+seriously indisposed, and it was whilst hunting for a chemist in order
+to obtain medicine that I came into contact with the town's sparse
+population. I found the dispensary closed, the proprietor having
+departed with the English, and the Landdrost, fearing to get himself
+into trouble, was not inclined to open it. He grew very excited when
+we liberally helped ourselves to the medicines, and made himself
+unpleasant. So we gave him clearly to understand that his presence was
+not required in that immediate neighbourhood.
+
+Our cart was standing waiting for us in the High Street, and during
+our absence a lady had appeared on the verandah of a house and had
+sent a servant to enquire who we were. When we reappeared laden with
+our booty she graciously invited us to come in. She was a Mrs. P. de
+Jager and belonged to the Red Cross Society. She asked us to stay and
+have some dinner, which was then being prepared. Imagine what a luxury
+for us to be once more in a house, to be addressed by a lady and to be
+served with a bountiful repast! Our clothes were in a ragged and
+dilapidated condition and we presented a very unkempt appearance,
+which did not make us feel quite at our ease. Still the good lady with
+great tact soon put us quite at home.
+
+We partook of a delicious meal, which we shall not easily forget. I
+cannot remember what the menu was, and I am not quite sure whether it
+would compare favourably with a first-class cafe dinner, but I never
+enjoyed a meal more in my existence, and possibly never shall.
+
+After dinner the lady related to us how on the previous day, when the
+British entered the village, there were in her house three
+convalescent burghers, who could, however, neither ride nor walk. With
+tears in her eyes she told us how an English doctor and an officer
+had come there, and kicking open the doors of her neatly-kept house,
+had entered it, followed by a crowd of soldiers, who had helped
+themselves to most of the knives, forks, and other utensils. She tried
+to explain to the doctor that she had wounded men in the house, but he
+was too conceited and arrogant to listen to her protestations.
+Fortunately for them the men were not discovered, for the English, on
+leaving the village, took with them all our wounded, and even our
+doctor. With a proud smile she now produced this trio, who, not
+knowing whether we were friend or foe, were at first very much
+frightened.
+
+I sympathised with the lady with respect to the harsh treatment she
+had received the previous day, and thanking her for her great
+kindness, warned her not to keep armed burghers in her house, as this
+was against the Geneva Convention.
+
+We told her what great pleasure it was for us to meet a lady, as all
+our women having been placed in Concentration Camps, we had only had
+the society of our fellow-burghers. Before leaving she grasped our
+hands, and with tears in her eyes wished us God speed:--"Good-bye, my
+friends! May God reward your efforts on behalf of your country.
+General, be of good cheer; for however dark the future may seem, be
+sure that the Almighty will provide for you!" I can scarcely be dubbed
+sentimental, yet the genuine expressions of this good lady, coupled
+perhaps with her excellent dinner, did much to put us into better
+spirits, and somehow the future did not seem now quite so dark and
+terrible as we were previously inclined to believe.
+
+We soon resumed our journey, and that night arrived at a farm
+belonging to a certain Venter. We knew that here some houses had
+escaped the general destruction and we found that a dwelling house was
+still standing and that the Venter family were occupying it. It was
+not our practice to pass the night near inhabited houses, as that
+might have got the people in trouble with the enemy, but having
+off-saddled, I sent up an adjutant to the house to see if he could
+purchase a few eggs and milk for our sick companions. He speedily
+returned followed by the lady of the house in a very excited
+condition:--
+
+"Are you the General?" she asked.
+
+"I have that honour," I replied. "What is the matter?"
+
+"There is much the matter," she retorted loudly. "I will have nothing
+to do with you or your people. You are nothing but a band of brigands
+and scoundrels, and you must leave my farm immediately. All
+respectable people have long since surrendered, and it is only such
+people as you who continue the War, while you personally are one of
+the ringleaders of these rebels."
+
+"Tut, tut," I said, "where is your husband?"
+
+"My husband is where all respectable people ought to be; with the
+English, of course."
+
+"'Hands-uppers,' is that it?" answered my men in chorus, even Mooiroos
+the native joining in. "You deserve the D.S.O.," I said, "and if we
+meet the English we will mention it to them. Now go back to your house
+before these rebels and brigands give you your deserts."
+
+She continued to pour out a flood of insults and imprecations on
+myself, the other generals, and the Government, and finally went away
+still muttering to herself. I could scarcely help comparing this
+patriotic lady to the one in Ermelo who had treated us so kindly. I
+encountered many more such incidents, and only mention these two in
+order to show the different views held at that time by our women on
+these matters, but in justice to our women-folk I should add that this
+kind were only a small minority.
+
+It was a bitterly cold night. Our blankets were very thin, and the
+wind continually scattered our fire and gave us little opportunity of
+warming ourselves. There was no food for the horses except the grass.
+We haltered them close together, and each of us took it in turn to
+keep a watch, as we ran the risk at any moment of being surprised by
+the enemy, and as many in that district had turned traitors, we had to
+redouble our precautions. During the whole cold night I slept but
+little, and I fervently wished for the day to come, and felt
+exceedingly thankful when the sun arose and it got a little warmer.
+
+Proceeding, we crossed the ridges east of Bethel, and as this village
+came in sight my groom Mooiroos exclaimed: "There are a lot of Khakis
+there, Baas."
+
+I halted, and with my field-glasses could see distinctly the enemy's
+force, which was coming from Bethel in our direction, their scouts
+being visible everywhere to the right and left of the ridges. While we
+were still discussing what to do, the field-cornet of the district, a
+certain Jan Davel, dashed up with a score of burghers between us and
+the British. He informed me that the enemy's forces were coming from
+Brugspruit, and that he had scattered his burghers in all directions
+to prevent them organizing any resistance. The enemy's guns were now
+firing at us, and although the range was a long one the ridges in
+which we found ourselves were quite bare, and afforded us no cover.
+
+We were therefore obliged to wheel to our right, and, proceeding to
+Klein Spionkop, we passed round the enemy along Vaalkop and
+Wilmansrust.
+
+At Steenkoolspruit I met some burghers, who told me that the enemy had
+marched from Springs, near Boksburg, and were making straight for our
+commando at Kroomdraai. We managed to reach that place in the evening
+just in time to warn our men and be off. I left a section of my men
+behind to obstruct the advance of the enemy, whom they met the
+following day, but finding the force too strong were obliged to
+retire, and I do not know exactly where they got to. At this time
+there were no less than nine of the enemy's columns in that district,
+and they all tried their level best to catch the Boers, but as the
+Boers also tried their best not to get caught, I am afraid the English
+were often disappointed. Here the reader will, perhaps, remark that it
+was not very brave to run away in this fashion, but one should also
+take our circumstances into consideration.
+
+No sooner did we attack one column than we were attacked in our turn
+by a couple more, and had then considerable difficulty in effecting
+our escape. The enemy, moreover, had every advantage of us. They had
+plenty of guns, and could cut our ranks to pieces before we could
+approach sufficiently near to do any damage with our rifles; they far
+surpassed us in numerical strength; they had a constant supply of
+fresh horses--some of us had no horses at all; they had continual
+reinforcements; their troops were well fed, better equipped, and
+altogether in better condition. Small wonder, therefore, that the War
+had become a one-sided affair.
+
+On the 20th of May, 1901, I seized an opportunity of attacking General
+Plumer on his way from Bethel to Standerton.
+
+We had effected a junction with Commandant Mears and charged the
+enemy, and but for their having with them a number of Boer families we
+would have succeeded in capturing their whole laager. We had already
+succeeded in driving their infantry away from the waggons containing
+these families, when their infantry rushed in between and opened fire
+on us at 200 paces. We could do nothing else but return this fire,
+although it was quite possible that in doing so we wounded one or two
+of our own women and children. These kept waving their handkerchiefs
+to warn us not to fire, but it was impossible to resist the infantry's
+volleys without shooting. Meanwhile the cavalry replaced their guns
+behind the women's waggons and fired on us from that coign of vantage.
+
+Here we took 25 prisoners, 4,000 sheep and 10 horses. Our losses were
+two killed and nine wounded. The enemy left several dead and wounded
+on the field, as well as two doctors and an ambulance belonging to the
+Queensland Imperial Bushmen, which we sent back together with the
+prisoners we had taken.
+
+On this occasion the English were spared a great defeat by having
+women and children in their laager, and no doubt for the sake of
+safety they kept these with them as long as possible. I do not
+insinuate that this was generally the case, and I am sure that Lord
+Kitchener or any other responsible commanding officer would loudly
+have condemned such tactics; but the fact remains that these
+unpleasant incidents occasionally took place.
+
+About the beginning of June, 1901 (I find it difficult to be accurate
+without the aid of my notes) another violent effort was made to
+capture the members of the Government and the Commandant-General.
+Colonel Benson now appeared as the new "Boer-stalker," and after
+making several unsuccessful attempts to surround them almost captured
+the Government in the mountains between Piet Retief and Spitskop. Just
+as Colonel Benson thought he had them safe and was slowly but surely
+weaving his net around them--I believe this was at Halhangapase--the
+members of the Government left their carriages, and packing the most
+necessary articles and documents on their horses escaped in the night
+along a footpath which the enemy had kindly left unguarded and passed
+right through the British lines in the direction of Ermelo. On the
+following day the English, on closing their cordon, found, as they
+usually did, naught but the burned remains of some vehicles and a few
+lame mules.
+
+Together with the late General Spruit, who happened to be in that
+neighbourhood, I had been asked to march with a small commando to the
+assistance of the Government and the Commandant-General and we had
+started at once, only hearing when well on our way that they had
+succeeded in escaping.
+
+We proceeded as far as the Bankop, not knowing where to find them, and
+it was no easy matter to look for them amongst the British columns.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+A GOVERNMENT ON HORSEBACK.
+
+
+For ten days we searched the neighbourhood, and finally met one of the
+Commandant-General's despatch-riders, who informed me of their
+whereabouts, which they were obliged to keep secret for fear of
+treachery. We met the whole party on William Smeet's farm near the
+Vaal River, every man on horseback or on a mule, without a solitary
+cart or waggon. It was a very strange sight to see the whole Transvaal
+Government on horseback. Some had not yet got used to this method of
+governing, and they had great trouble with their luggage, which was
+continually being dropped on the road.
+
+General Spruit and myself undertook to escort the Executive Council
+through the Ermelo district, past Bethel to Standerton, where they
+were to meet the members of the Orange Free State Government. I had
+now with me only 100 men, under Field-Cornet R. D. Young; the
+remainder I had left behind near Bethel in charge of General Muller
+and Commandants Viljoen and Groenwald, with instructions to keep on
+the alert and to fall on any column that ventured a little ahead of
+the others.
+
+It was whilst on my way back to them that a burgher brought me a
+report from General Muller, informing me that the previous night,
+assisted by Commandants W. Viljoen and Groenwald, he had with 130 men
+stormed one of the enemy's camps at Wilmansrust, capturing the whole
+after a short resistance on the enemy's part, but sustaining a loss of
+six killed and some wounded. The camp had been under the command of
+Colonel Morris, and its garrison numbered 450 men belonging to the 5th
+Victorian Mounted Rifles. About 60 of these were killed and wounded,
+and the remainder were disarmed and released. Our haul consisted of
+two pom-poms, carts and waggons with teams in harness, and about 300
+horses, the most miserable collection of animals I have ever seen.
+Here we also captured a well-known burgher, whose name, I believe, was
+Trotsky, and who was fighting with the enemy against us. He was
+brought before a court-martial, tried for high treason, and sentenced
+to death, which sentence was afterwards carried out.
+
+Our Government received about this time a communication from General
+Brits, that the members of the Orange Free State Government had
+reached Blankop, north of Standerton, and would await us at Waterval.
+We hurried thither, and reached it in the evening of the 20th of June,
+1901. Here we found President Steyn and Generals De Wet, De la Rey,
+and Hertzog, with an escort of 150 men. It was very pleasant to meet
+these great leaders again, and still more pleasing was the cordiality
+with which they received us. We sat round our fires all that night
+relating to each other our various adventures. Some which caused great
+fun and amusement, and some which brought tears even to the eyes of
+the hardened warrior. General De Wet was then suffering acutely from
+rheumatism, but he showed scarcely any trace of his complaint, and was
+as cheerful as the rest of us.
+
+Next day we parted, each going separately on our way. We had decided
+what each of us was to do, and under this agreement I was to return to
+the Lydenburg and Middelburg districts, where we had already had such
+a narrow escape. I confess I did not care much about this, but we had
+to obey the Commandant-General, and there was an end of it. Meanwhile,
+reports came in that on the other side of the railway the burghers who
+had been left behind were surrendering day by day, and that a
+field-cornet was engaged in negotiations with the enemy about a
+general laying down of arms. I at once despatched General Muller there
+to put an end to this.
+
+We now prepared once more to cross the railway line, which was guarded
+more carefully than ever, and no one dared to cross with a conveyance
+of any description. We had, however, become possessed of a laager--a
+score of waggons and two pom-poms--and I determined to take these
+carts and guns across with me, for my men valued them all the more for
+having been captured. They were, in fact, as sweet to us as stolen
+kisses, although I have had no very large experience of the latter
+commodity.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+BLOWING UP AN ARMOURED TRAIN.
+
+
+We approached the line between Balmoral and Brugspruit, coming as
+close to it as was possible with regard to safety, and we stopped in a
+"dunk" (hollow place) intending to remain there until dusk before
+attempting to cross. The blockhouses were only 1,000 yards distant
+from each other, and in order to take our waggons across there was but
+one thing to be done, namely, to storm two blockhouses, overpower
+their garrisons, and take our convoy across between these two.
+Fortunately there were no obstacles here in the shape of embankments
+or excavations, the line being level with the veldt. We moved on in
+the evening (the 27th of June), the moon shining brightly, which was
+very unfortunate for us, as the enemy would see us and hear us long
+before we came within range. I had arranged that Commandant Groenwald
+was to storm the blockhouse on the right, and Commandant W. Viljoen
+that to the left, each with 75 men. We halted about 1,000 paces from
+the line, and here the sections left their horses behind and marched
+in scattered order towards the blockhouses. The enemy had been warned
+by telephone that morning of our vicinity, and all the pickets and
+outposts along the line were on the "qui vive." When 150 yards from
+the blockhouses the garrison opened fire on our men, and a hail of
+Lee-Metford bullets spread over a distance of about four miles, the
+British soldiers firing from within the blockhouses and from behind
+mounds of earth. The blockhouse attacked by Commandant Viljoen offered
+the most determined resistance for about twenty minutes, but our men
+thrust their rifles through the loopholes of the blockhouses and fired
+within, calling out "hands-up" all the time, whilst the "Tommies"
+within retorted, "You haven't V.M.R.'s to deal with this time!"
+However, we soon made it too hot for them and their boasting was
+exchanged into cries of mercy, but not before three of our men had
+been killed and several wounded. The "Tommies" now shouted: "We
+surrender, Sir; for God's sake stop firing." My brave field-cornet, G.
+Mybergh, who was closest to the blockhouses, answered: "All right
+then, come out." The "Tommies" answered: "Right, we are coming," and
+we ceased firing.
+
+Field-Cornet Mybergh now stepped up to the entrance of the fort, but
+when he reached it a shot was fired from the inside and he fell
+mortally wounded in the stomach. At the same time the soldiers ran out
+holding up their hands. Our burghers were enraged beyond measure at
+this act of treachery, but the sergeant and the men swore by all that
+was sacred that it had been an accident, and that a gun had gone off
+spontaneously whilst being thrown down. The soldier who admitted
+firing the fatal shot was crying like a baby and kissing the hands of
+his victim. We held a short consultation amongst the officers and
+decided to accept his explanation of the affair. I was much upset,
+however, by this loss of one of the bravest officers I have ever
+known.
+
+Meanwhile the fight at the other blockhouse continued. Commandant
+Groenwald afterwards informed me that he had approached the blockhouse
+and found it built of rock; it was, in fact, a fortified ganger's
+house built by the Netherlands South Africa Railway Company. He did
+not see any way of taking the place; many of his men had fallen, and
+an armoured train with a search-light was approaching from Brugspruit.
+On the other side of the blockhouse we found a ditch about three feet
+deep and two feet wide. Hastily filling this up we let the carts go
+over. As the fifth one had got across and the sixth was standing on
+the lines, the armoured train came dashing at full speed in our midst.
+We had had no dynamite to blow up the line, and although we fired on
+the train, it steamed right up to where we were crossing, smashing a
+team of mules and splitting us up into two sections. Turning the
+search-light on us, the enemy opened fire on us with rifles, Maxims
+and guns firing grape-shot. Commandant Groenwald had to retire along
+the unconquered blockhouse, and managed somehow to get through. The
+majority of the burghers had already crossed and fled, whilst the
+remainder hurried back with a pom-pom and the other carts. I did not
+expect that the train would come so close to us, and was seated on my
+horse close to the surrendered blockhouse when it pulled up abruptly
+not four paces from me. The search-light made the surroundings as
+light as day, and revealed the strange spectacle of the burghers, on
+foot and on horseback, fleeing in all directions and accompanied by
+cattle and waggons, whilst many dead lay on the veldt. However, we
+saved everything with the exception of a waggon and two carts, one of
+which unfortunately was my own. Thus for the fourth time in the war I
+lost all my worldly belongings, my clothes, my rugs, my food, my
+money.
+
+My two commandants were now south of the line with half the men,
+whilst I was north of it with the other half. We buried our dead next
+morning and that evening I sent a message to the remainder of the
+commandos, telling them to cross the line at Uitkijk Station,
+south-west of Middelburg, whilst Captain Hindon was to lay a mine
+under the line near the station to blow up any armoured train coming
+down. Here we managed to get the rest of our laager over without much
+trouble. The "Tommies" fired furiously from the blockhouses and our
+friend the armoured train was seen approaching from Middelburg,
+whistling a friendly warning to us. It came full speed as before, but
+only got to the spot where the mine had been laid for it. There was a
+loud explosion; something went up in the air and then the shrill
+whistle stopped and all was silent.
+
+The next morning we were all once more camped together at Rooihoogte.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+TRAPPING PRO-BRITISH BOERS.
+
+
+In the month of July, 1901, we found ourselves once more on the scene
+of our former struggles, and were joined here by General Muller, who
+had completed his mission south of the railway. This district having
+been scoured for three weeks by thirty thousand English soldiers, who
+had carefully removed and destroyed everything living or dead, one can
+imagine the conditions under which we had to exist. No doubt from a
+strategical point of view the enemy could not be expected to do
+otherwise than devastate the country, but what grieved us most was the
+great amount of suffering this entailed to our women and children.
+Often the waggons in which these were being carried to imprisonment
+in the Concentration Camps were upset by the unskilful driving of the
+soldiers or their kaffir servants, and many women and children were
+injured in this way.
+
+Moreover, a certain Mrs. Lindeque was killed by an English bullet near
+Roos Senekal, the soldiers saying that she had passed through the
+outposts against instructions. Small wonder, therefore, that many of
+our women-folk fled with their children at the enemy's approach,
+leaving all their worldly possessions behind to fall a prey to the
+general destruction. We often came across such families in the
+greatest distress, some having taken shelter in caves, and others
+living in huts roughly constructed of half-burnt corrugated iron
+amongst the charred ruins of their former happy homes. The sufferings
+of our half-clad and hungry burghers were small compared to the misery
+and privations of these poor creatures. Their husbands and other
+relations, however, made provision for them to the best of their
+ability, and these families were, in spite of all, comparatively
+happy, so long as they were able to remain amongst their own people.
+
+Our commandos were now fairly exhausted, and our horses needed a rest
+very badly, the wanderings of the previous few weeks having reduced
+them to a miserable condition. I therefore left General Muller near
+the cobalt mines on the Upper Olifant's River, just by the waggon
+drift, whilst I departed with 100 men and a pom-pom to Witpoort and
+Windhoek, there to collect my scattered burghers and reorganise my
+diminished commando, as well as to look after our food supplies. At
+Witpoort the burghers who had been under the late Field-Cornet Kruge,
+and had escaped the enemy's sweeping movements, had repaired the mill
+which the English had blown up, and this was now working as well as
+before. A good stock of mealies had been buried there, and had
+remained undiscovered, and we were very thankful to the "bush-lancers"
+for this bounty.
+
+Still, things were not altogether "honey." Matters were rather in a
+critical state, as treachery was rampant, and many burghers were
+riding to and fro to the enemy and arranging to surrender, the
+faithful division being powerless to prevent them. We had to act with
+great firmness and determination to put a stop to these tendencies and
+within a week of our arrival half a dozen persons had been
+incarcerated in Roos Senekal gaol under a charge of high treason.
+Moreover we effected a radical change in leadership, discharging old
+and war-sick officers and placing younger and more energetic men in
+command.
+
+Several families here were causing considerable trouble. When first
+the enemy had passed through their district they had had no
+opportunity of surrendering with their cattle. But when the English
+returned, they had attempted to go to the enemy's camp at Belfast,
+taking all their cattle and moveables with them. At this the loyal
+burghers were furious and threatened to confiscate all their cattle
+and goods. Seeing this, these families, whom I shall call the
+Steenkamps, had desisted from their attempt to go over to the enemy
+and had taken up their abode in a church at Dullstroom, the only
+building which had not been destroyed, although the windows, doors
+and pulpit had long disappeared. Here they quietly awaited an
+opportunity of surrendering to the enemy, whose camp at Belfast was
+only 10 or 12 miles distant. We were very anxious that their cattle
+and sheep, of which they had a large number, should not go to the
+enemy, but we could bring no charge of treachery home to them, as they
+were very smooth-tongued scoundrels and always swore fealty to us.
+
+I have mentioned this as an example of the dangerous elements with
+which we had to contend amongst our own people, and to show how low a
+Boer may sink when once he has decided to forego his most sacred
+duties and turn against his own countrymen the weapon he had lately
+used in their defence. Such men were luckily in the minority. Yet I
+often came across cases where fathers fought against their own sons,
+and brother against brother. I cannot help considering that it was far
+from noble on the part of our enemy to employ such traitors to their
+country and to form such bodies of scoundrels as the National Scouts.
+
+Amongst all this worry of reorganising our commandos and weeding out
+the traitors we were allowed little rest by the enemy, and once we
+suddenly found them marching up from Helvetia in our direction. A
+smart body of men, chiefly composed of Lydenburg and Middelburg men,
+and under the command of a newly-appointed officer, Captain Du Toit,
+went to meet the enemy between Bakendorp and Dullstroom. Here ensued a
+fierce fight, where we lost some men, but succeeded in arresting the
+enemy's progress. The fight, however, was renewed the next day, and
+the British having received strong reinforcements our burghers were
+forced to retire, the enemy remaining at a place near the "Pannetjes,"
+three miles from Dullstroom.
+
+The English camp was now close to our friends, the Steenkamps, who
+were anxiously waiting an opportunity to become "hands-uppers." They
+had, of course, left off fighting long ago, one complaining that he
+had a disease of the kidneys, another that he suffered from some other
+complaint. They would sit on the kopjes and watch the fighting and the
+various manoeuvres, congratulating each other when the enemy
+approached a little nearer to them.
+
+I will now ask the reader's indulgence to describe one of our little
+practical jokes enacted at Dullstroom Church, which was characteristic
+of many other similar incidents in the Campaign. It will be seen how
+these would-be "hands-uppers" were caught in a little trap prepared by
+some officers of my staff.
+
+My three adjutants, Bester, Redelinghuisen, and J. Viljoen, carefully
+dressed in as much "khaki" as they could collect, and parading
+respectively as Colonels Bullock, "Jack," and "Cooper," all of His
+Majesty's forces, proceeded one fine evening to Dullstroom Church, to
+ascertain if the Steenkamps would agree to surrender and fight under
+the British flag. They arrived there about 9 p.m., and finding that
+the inmates had all gone to sleep, loudly knocked at the door. This
+was opened by a certain youthful Mr. Van der Nest, who was staying in
+the church for the night with his brother. J. Viljoen, alias "Cooper,"
+and acting as interpreter between the pseudo-English and the renegade
+Boers, addressed the young man in this fashion:--
+
+"Good evening! Is Mr. Steenkamp in? Here is a British officer who
+wishes to see him and his brother-in-law."
+
+Van der Nest turned pale, and hurried inside, and stammering, "Oom
+Jan, there are some people at the door," woke up his brother and both
+decamped out of the back door. Steenkamp's brother-in-law, however,
+whom I will call Roux, soon made his appearance and bowing cringingly,
+said with a smile:--
+
+"Good evening, gentlemen; good evening."
+
+The self-styled Colonel Bullock, addressing "Cooper," the interpreter,
+said: "Tell Mr. Roux that we have information that he and his brother
+wish to surrender."
+
+As soon as "Cooper" began to interpret, Roux answered in broken
+English, "Yes, sir, you are quite right; myself and my brother-in-law
+have been waiting twelve months for an opportunity to surrender, and
+we are so thankful now that we are able to do so."
+
+"Colonel Bullock": "Very well, then; call your people out!"
+
+Roux bowed low, and ran back into the church, presently issuing with
+three comrades, who all threw down their arms and made abeyance.
+
+_The "Colonel":_ "Are these men able to speak English?"
+
+_Roux:_ "No, sir."
+
+_The "Colonel":_ "Ask them if they are willing to surrender
+voluntarily to His Majesty the King of Great Britain?"
+
+The burghers, in chorus: "Yes, sir; thank you very much. We are so
+pleased that you have come at last. We have wished to surrender for a
+long time, but the Boers would not let us get through. We have not
+fought against you, sir."
+
+_The "Colonel":_ "Very well; now deliver up all your arms."
+
+And whilst the pseudo-colonel pretended to be busy making notes the
+burghers brought out their Mausers and cartridge-belts, handing them
+over to the masquerading "Tommies."
+
+Roux next said to the "Colonel": "Please, sir, may I keep this
+revolver? There are a few Hollanders in the hut yonder who said they
+would shoot me if I surrendered; and you know, sir, that it is these
+Hollanders who urge the Boers to fight and prolong the War. Why don't
+you go and catch them? I will show you where they are."
+
+Resisting an impulse to put a bullet through the traitor's head, the
+"Colonel" answered briefly: "Very well, keep your revolver. I will
+catch the Hollanders early to-morrow."
+
+_Roux:_ "Be careful, sir; Ben Viljoen is over there with a commando
+and a pom-pom."
+
+_The "Colonel"_ (haughtily): "Be at ease; my column will soon be round
+him and he will not escape this time."
+
+The women-folk now came out to join the party. They clapped their
+hands in joy and invited the "Colonel" and his men to come in and have
+some coffee.
+
+The "Colonel" graciously returned thanks. Meanwhile a woman had
+whispered to Roux: "I hope these are not Ben Viljoen's people making
+fools of us."
+
+"Nonsense," he answered, "Can't you see that this is a very superior
+British officer?" Whereat the whole company further expressed their
+delight at seeing them.
+
+The "Colonel" now spoke: "Mr. Roux, we will take your cattle and sheep
+with us for safety. Kindly lend us a servant to help drive them along.
+Will you show us to-morrow where the Boers are?"
+
+_Mr. Roux:_ "Certainly, sir, but you must not take me into dangerous
+places, please."
+
+_The "Colonel":_ "Very well; I will send the waggons to fetch your
+women-folk in the morning."
+
+Roux gathered together his cattle and said: "I hope you and I shall
+have a whiskey together in your camp to-morrow."
+
+The "Colonel" answered: "I shall be pleased to see you," and asked
+them if they had any money or valuables they wished taken care of. But
+the Boers, true to the saying, "Touch a Boer's heart rather than his
+purse," answered in chorus: "Thank you, but we have put all that
+carefully away where no Boer will find it."
+
+They all bid the "Colonel" good-bye, the "Tommies" exchanging some
+familiarities with the women till these screamed with laughter, and
+then the "Colonel" and his commando of two men remounted their big
+clumsy English horses and rode proudly away. But pride comes before a
+fall, and they had not proceeded many yards when the "Colonel's"
+horse, stumbling over a bundle of barbed wire, fell, and threw his
+rider to the ground. Just as he had nearly exhausted the Dutch
+vocabulary of imprecations, the Steenkamps, who fortunately had not
+heard him, came to his assistance and with many expressions of
+sympathy helped him on his horse, Roux carefully wiping his leggings
+clean with his handkerchief. After proceeding a little further the
+"Tommies" asked their "Colonel" what he meant by that acrobatic
+performance. Whereat the "Colonel" answered: "That was a very
+fortunate accident; the Steenkamps are now convinced that we are
+English by the clumsy manner I rode."
+
+The next morning my three adjutants arrived in camp carrying four new
+Mausers and 100 cartridges each, and driving about 300 sheep and a
+nice pony. The same morning I sent Field-Cornet Young to arrest the
+brave quartette of burghers. He found everything packed in readiness
+to depart to the English camp, and they were anxiously awaiting
+Colonel Bullock's promised waggons.
+
+It was, of course, a fine "tableau" when the curtain rose on the
+farce, disclosing in the place of the expected English rescuers a
+burgher officer with a broad smile on his face. They were, of course,
+profuse in their apologies and excuses. They declared that they had
+been surrounded by hundreds of the enemy who had placed their rifles
+to their breasts, forcing them to surrender. One of them was now in so
+pitiable a condition of fear that he showed the field-cornet a score
+of certificates from doctors and quacks of all sorts, declaring him to
+be suffering from every imaginable disease, and the field-cornet was
+moved to leave him behind. The other three were placed under arrest,
+court-martialled and sentenced to three months' hard labour, and to
+have all their goods confiscated.
+
+Two days later the English occupied Dullstroom, and the pseudo-invalid
+and the women, minus their belongings, were taken care of by the
+enemy, as they had wished.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIX.
+
+BRUTAL KAFFIRS' MURDER TRAIL.
+
+
+At Windhoek we were again attacked by an English column. The reader
+will probably be getting weary of these continual attacks, and I
+hasten to assure him that we were far more weary than he can ever
+grow. On the first day of the fight we succeeded in forcing back the
+enemy, but on the second day, the fortunes of war were changed and
+after a fierce fight, in which I had the misfortune to lose a brave
+young burgher named Botha, we gave up arguing the matter with our foes
+and retired.
+
+The enemy followed us up very closely, and although I used the sjambok
+freely amongst my men I could not persuade them, not even by this
+ungentle method, to make a stand against their foes, and as we passed
+Witpoort the enemy's cavalry with two guns was close at our heels.
+
+Not until the burghers had reached Maagschuur, between the Bothas and
+Tautesbergen, would they condescend to make a stand and check the
+enemy's advance. Here after a short but sharp engagement, we forced
+them to return to Witpoort, where they pitched camp.
+
+Our mill, which I have previously mentioned as being an important
+source of our food supply, was again burned to the ground.
+
+Our commandos returned to Olifant's River and at the cobalt mine near
+there joined those who had remained behind under General Muller. The
+enemy, however, who seemed determined, if possible, to obliterate us
+from the earth's surface, discovered our whereabouts about the middle
+of July, and attacked us in overwhelming numbers. We had taken up a
+position on the "Randts," and offered as much resistance as we could.
+The enemy poured into us a heavy shell fire from their howitzers and
+15-pounders, while their infantry charged both our extreme flanks.
+After losing many men, a battalion of Highlanders succeeded in
+turning our left flank, and once having gained this advantage, and
+aided by their superior numbers, the enemy were able to take up
+position after position, and finally rendered it impossible to offer
+any further resistance. Late in the afternoon, with a loss of five
+wounded and one man killed--an Irish-American, named Wilson--we
+retired through the Olifant's River, near Mazeppa Drift, the enemy
+staying the night at Wagendrift, about three miles further up the
+stream. The following morning they forded the river, and proceeded
+through Poortjesnek and Donkerhoek, to Pretoria, thus allowing us a
+little breathing space. I now despatched some reliable burghers to
+report our various movements to the Commandant-General, and to bring
+news of the other commandos. It was three weeks before these men
+returned, for they had on several occasions been prevented from
+crossing the railway line, and they finally only succeeded in doing so
+under great difficulties. They reported that the English on the high
+veldt were very active and numerous.
+
+About the middle of July I left General Muller to take a rest with the
+commando, and accompanied by half a score of adjutants and despatch
+riders, proceeded to Pilgrimsrust in the Lydenburg district to visit
+the commandos there, and allay as much as I could the dissatisfaction
+caused by my reorganisation.
+
+At Zwagerhoek, a kloof some 12 miles south of Lydenburg, through which
+the waggon track leads from Lydenburg to Dullstroom, I found a
+field-cornet with about 57 men. Having discussed the situation with
+them and explained matters, they were all satisfied.
+
+Here I appointed as field-cornet a young man of 23 years of age, a
+certain J. S. Schoenman, who distinguished himself subsequently by his
+gallant behaviour.
+
+We had barely completed our arrangements when we were again attacked
+by one of the enemy's columns from Lydenburg. At first we successfully
+defended ourselves, but at last were compelled to give way.
+
+I do not believe we caused the enemy any considerable losses, but we
+had no casualties. The same night we proceeded through the enemy's
+line to Houtboschloop, five miles east of Lydenburg, where a small
+commando was situated, and having to proceed a very roundabout way, we
+covered that night no less than 40 miles.
+
+Another meeting of all burghers north of Lydenburg was now convened,
+to be held at a ruined hotel some 12 miles west of Nelspruit Station,
+which might have been considered the centre of all the commandos in
+that district. I found that these were divided into two parties, one
+of which was dissatisfied with the new order of things I had arranged
+and desired to re-instate their old officers, while the other was
+quite pleased with my arrangements. The latter party was commanded by
+Mr. Piet Moll, whom I had appointed commandant instead of Mr. D.
+Schoeman, who formerly used to occupy that position. At the gathering
+I explained matters to them and tried to persuade the burghers to be
+content with their new commandants. It was evident, however, that many
+were not to be satisfied and that they were not to be expected to work
+harmoniously together. I therefore decided to let both commandants
+keep their positions and to let the men follow whichever one they
+chose, and I took the first opportunity of making an attack on the
+enemy so as to test the efficiency of these two bodies.
+
+Taking the two commandos with their respective two commandants in an
+easterly direction to Wit River, we camped there for a few days and
+scouted for the enemy on the Delagoa Bay Railway, so as to find out
+the best spot to attack. We had just decided to attack Crocodilpoort
+Station in the evening of the 1st August, when our scouts reported
+that the English, who had held the fort at M'pisana's Stad, between
+our laager in Wit River and Leydsdorp, were moving in the direction of
+Komati Poort with a great quantity of captured cattle.
+
+Our first plan was therefore abandoned and I ordered 50 burghers of
+each commando to attack this column at M'pisana's fort at once, as
+they had done far too much harm to be allowed to get away unmolested.
+They were a group of men called "Steinacker's Horse," a corps formed
+of all the desperadoes and vagabonds to be scraped together from
+isolated places in the north, including kaffir storekeepers,
+smugglers, spies, and scoundrels of every description, the whole
+commanded by a character of the name of ----. Who or what this
+gentleman was I have never been able to discover, but judging by his
+work and by the men under him, he must have been a second Musolino.
+This corps had its headquarters at Komati Poort, under Major
+Steinacker, to whom was probably entrusted the task of guarding the
+Portuguese frontier, and he must have been given _carte blanche_ as
+regards his mode of operation.
+
+From all accounts the primary occupation of this corps appeared to be
+looting, and the kaffirs attached to it were used for scouting,
+fighting, and worse. Many families in the northern part of Lydenburg
+had been attacked in lonely spots, and on one occasion the white men
+on one of these marauding expeditions had allowed the kaffirs to
+murder ten defenceless people with their assegais and hatchets,
+capturing their cattle and other property. In like manner were
+massacred the relatives of Commandants Lombard, Vermaak, Rudolf and
+Stoltz, and doubtless many others who were not reported to me. The
+reader will now understand my anxiety to put some check on these
+lawless brigands. The instructions to the commando which I had sent
+out, and which would reach M'pisana's in two days, were briefly to
+take the fort and afterwards do as circumstances dictated. If my men
+failed they would have the desperadoes pursue them on their swift
+horses, and all the kaffir tribes would conspire against us, so that
+none would escape on our side. A kaffir was generally understood to be
+a neutral person in this War, and unless found armed within our lines,
+with no reasonable excuse for his presence, we generally left him
+alone. They were, however, largely used as spies against us, keeping
+to their kraals in the daytime and issuing forth at night to ascertain
+our position and strength. They also made good guides for the English
+troops, who often had not the faintest idea of the country in which
+they were. It must not be forgotten that when a kaffir is given a
+rifle he at once falls a prey to his brutal instincts, and his only
+amusement henceforth becomes to kill without distinction of age,
+colour, or sex. Several hundreds of such natives, led by white men,
+were roaming about in this district, and all that was captured,
+plundered or stolen was equally divided among them, 25 per cent. being
+first deducted for the British Government.
+
+I have indulged in this digression in order to describe another phase
+with which we had to contend in our struggle for existence. I have
+reason to believe, however, that the British Commander-in-Chief, for
+whom I have always had the greatest respect, was not at that time
+aware of the remarkable character of these operations, carried on as
+they were in the most remote parts of the country; and there is no
+doubt that had he been aware of their true character he would have
+speedily brought these miscreants to justice.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XL.
+
+CAPTURING A FREEBOOTER'S LAIR.
+
+
+Early in the morning of the 6th of August, as the breaking dawn was
+tinting the tops of the Lebombo Mountains with its purple dye and the
+first rays of the rising sun shed its golden rays over the sombre
+bushveldt, the commando under Commandants Moll and Schoeman were
+slowly approaching the dreaded M'pisana's fort. When within a few
+hundred paces of it they left the horses behind and slowly crept up to
+it in scattered order; for as none of us knew the arrangement or
+construction of the place, it had been arranged to advance very
+cautiously and to charge suddenly on the blowing of a whistle. Nothing
+was stirring in the fort as we approached, and we began to think that
+the garrison had departed; but when barely 70 yards from it the
+officers noticed some forms moving about in the trenches, which
+encompassed it. The whistle was blown and the burghers charged, a
+cheer rising from a hundred throats. Volley after volley was
+discharged from the trenches, but our burghers rushed steadily on,
+jumped into the trenches themselves and drove the defenders into the
+fort through secret passages. The English now began firing on us
+through loopholes in the walls and several of our men had fallen, when
+Commandant Moll shouted, "Jump over the wall!" A group of burghers
+rushed at the 12-foot wall, and attempted to scale it; but a heavy
+fire was directed on them and seven burghers, including the valiant
+Commandant Moll, fell severely wounded. Nothing daunted, Captain
+Malan, who was next in command of the division, urged his men to go
+on, and most of them succeeded in jumping into the fort, where, after
+a desperate resistance, in which Captain ----, their leader, fell
+mortally wounded, the whole band surrendered to us. Our losses were
+six burghers killed, whilst Commandant Moll and 12 others were
+severely wounded. The burghers found one white man killed in the
+fort, and two wounded, whilst a score of kaffirs lay wounded and dead.
+We took 24 white prisoners and about 50 kaffirs. I repeat that the
+whites were the lowest specimens of humanity that one can possibly
+imagine.
+
+Hardly was the fight over and our prisoners disarmed when a sentry we
+had posted on the wall called out:
+
+"Look out, there is a kaffir commando coming!"
+
+It was, in fact, a strong kaffir commando, headed by the chief
+M'pisana himself, who had come to the rescue of his friends of
+Steinacker's Horse. They opened fire on us at about 100 yards, and the
+burghers promptly returned their greeting, bowling over a fair number
+of them, at which the remainder retired.
+
+Alongside the fort were about 20 small huts, in which we found a
+number of kaffir girls. On being asked who they were, they repeated
+that they were the "missuses" of the white soldiers. Inside the
+captured fort we found many useful articles, and the official books
+of this band. They contained systematic entries of what had been
+plundered, looted and stolen on their marauding expeditions and showed
+how they had been divided amongst themselves, deducting 25 per cent.
+for the British Government.
+
+A long and extensive correspondence now took place about this matter
+between myself and Lord Kitchener. I wished first to know whether the
+gang was a recognised part of the British Army, as otherwise I should
+have to treat them as ordinary brigands. After some delay Lord
+Kitchener answered that they were a part of His Majesty's Army. I then
+wished to know if he would undertake to try the men for their
+misdeeds, but this was refused. This correspondence ultimately led to
+a meeting between General Bindon Blood and myself, which was held at
+Lydenburg on the 27th August, 1901.
+
+The captured kaffirs were tried by court-martial and each punished
+according to his deserts. The 24 Englishmen were handed over to the
+enemy, after having given their word of honour not to return to their
+barbarous life. How far this promise was kept I do not know; but from
+the impression they made upon me I do not think they had much idea of
+what honour meant. The captured cattle which we had hoped to find at
+the fort had been sent away to Komati Poort a few days before our
+attack and according to their "books" it must have numbered about
+4,000 heads. Another section of this notorious corps met with a like
+fate about this time at Bremersdorp in Swaziland. They did not there
+offer such a determined resistance, and the Ermelo burghers captured
+two good Colt-Maxims and two loads of ammunition probably intended for
+Swaziland natives.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLI.
+
+AMBUSHING THE HUSSARS.
+
+
+On August 10th, shortly after our arrival with the prisoners-of-war at
+Sabi, and while I was still discussing with Lord Kitchener the
+incident related in the previous chapter, General Muller sent word to
+me from Olifant's River, where I had left him with my men, that he had
+been attacked by General W. Kitchener three days after I had left him.
+It appears that his sentries were surprised and cut off from the
+commandos, these being divided into different camps.
+
+The burghers who were farthest away, the Middelburg and Johannesburg
+men, had, contrary to my instructions, pitched camp on the Blood
+River, near Rooikraal, and were suddenly and unexpectedly attacked by
+the enemy at about two o'clock in the afternoon, whilst their horses
+were grazing in the veldt. Some horses were caught in time and some
+burghers offered a little resistance, firing at a short range, several
+men being killed on both sides. The confusion, however, was
+indescribable, horses, cattle, burghers and soldiers being all mixed
+up together. A pom-pom, together with its team of mules and harness,
+and most of the carts and saddles, were captured by the enemy. Our
+officers could not induce the men to make a determined stand until
+they had retired to the Mazeppa Drift, on the Olifant's River. Here
+General Muller arrived in the night with some reinforcements and
+awaited the enemy, who duly appeared next morning with a division of
+the 18th and 19th Hussars, and, encouraged by the previous day's
+success, charged our men with a well-directed fire which wrought havoc
+in their ranks. The gallant Hussars were repulsed in one place, and,
+at another, Major Davies (or Davis) and 20 men were made prisoners. At
+last some guns and reinforcements reached the enemy, and our burghers
+wisely retired, going as far as Eland's River, near the "Double
+Drifts," where they rested.
+
+On the third day General W. Kitchener had discovered our whereabouts,
+and our sentries gave us warning that the enemy was approaching
+through the bushes, raising great clouds of dust. While the waggons
+were being got ready the burghers marched out, and awaited the English
+in a convenient spot between two kopjes. The latter rode on
+unsuspectingly two by two, and when about 100 had been allowed to
+pass, our men rushed out, calling, "Hands up!" and, catching hold of
+their horses' bridles, disarmed about 30 men. This caused an immediate
+panic, and most of the Hussars fled (closely pursued by our burghers,
+who shot 10 or 12 of them). The Hussars left behind a Colt-Maxim and a
+heliograph for our usage. The ground was overgrown here with a
+prickly, thorny bush, which made it difficult for our foes to escape,
+and about 20 more were overtaken and caught, several having been
+dragged from their horses by protruding branches, and with their face
+and hands badly injured by thorns, whilst their clothes were half
+torn off their bodies.
+
+Meanwhile the enemy continued to fire on us whilst retreating, and
+thus succeeded in wounding several of their own people. This running
+fight lasted until late in the evening, when the burghers slackened
+off their pursuit and returned, their losses being only one killed,
+Lieut. D. Smit, of the Johannesburg Police. The enemy's losses were
+considerable, although one could not estimate the exact number, as the
+dead were scattered over a large tract of ground and hidden amongst
+the bushes, rendering it difficult to find them. Weeks afterwards,
+when we returned over the same ground, we still found some bodies
+lying about the bush, and gave them decent burial.
+
+Our burghers were now once more in possession of 100 fresh horses and
+saddles, whilst their pom-pom was replaced by a Colt-Maxim. General W.
+Kitchener now left us alone for a while, for which relief we were very
+thankful, and fell back on the railway line. The respite, however, was
+short-lived; soon fresh columns were seen coming up from Middelburg
+and Pretoria, and we were again attacked, some fighting taking place
+mostly on our old battlefields. General Muller repeatedly succeeded in
+tearing up the railway line and destroying trains with provisions,
+whilst I had the good fortune of capturing a commissariat train, near
+Modelane, on the Delagoa Bay line; but, as I could not remove the
+goods, I was forced to burn the whole lot. A train, apparently with
+reinforcements, was also blown up, the engine and carriages going up
+in the air with fine effect.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLII.
+
+I TALK WITH GENERAL BLOOD.
+
+
+About the end of August, 1901, I met General Sir Bindon Blood at
+Lydenburg by appointment. We had arranged to discuss several momentous
+questions there, as we made little progress by correspondence. In the
+first place, we accused the English of employing barbarous kaffir
+tribes against us; in the second place, of abusing the usage of the
+white flag by repeatedly sending officers through our lines with
+seditious proclamations which we would not recognise, and we could
+only obey our own Government and not theirs; in the third place, we
+complained of their sending our women with similar proclamations to us
+from the Concentration Camps and making them solemnly promise to do
+all that they could to induce their husbands to surrender and thus
+regain their liberty. This we considered was a rather mean device on
+the part of our powerful enemy. There was also other minor questions
+to discuss with regard to the Red Cross.
+
+I went into the English line accompanied by my adjutants, Nel and
+Bedeluighuis, and my secretary, Lieutenant W. Malan. At Potloodspruit,
+four miles from Lydenburg, I met General Blood's chief staff officer,
+who conducted us to him. At the entrance of the village a guard of
+honour had been placed and received us with military honours. I could
+not understand the meaning of all this fuss, especially as the streets
+through which we passed were lined with all sorts of spectators, and
+to my great discomfort I found myself the chief object of this
+interest. On every side I heard the question asked, "Which is
+Viljoen?" and, on my being pointed out, I often caught the
+disappointed answer, "Is that him?" "By Jove, he looks just like other
+people." They had evidently expected to see a new specimen of mankind.
+
+In the middle of the village we halted before a small, neat house,
+which I was told was General Blood's headquarters. The General himself
+met us on the threshold; a well-proportioned, kindly-looking man about
+50 years of age, evidently a genuine soldier and an Irishman, as I
+soon detected by his speech. He received us very courteously, and as I
+had little time at my disposal, we at once entered into our
+discussion. It would serve little purpose to set down all the details
+of our interview, especially as nothing final was decided, since
+whatever the General said was subject to Lord Kitchener's approval,
+whilst I myself had to submit everything to my Commandant-General.
+General Blood promised, however, to stop sending out the women with
+their proclamations, and also the officers on similar missions, and
+the Red Cross question was also satisfactorily settled. The kaffir
+question, however, was left unsettled, although General Blood promised
+to warn the kaffir tribes round Lydenburg not to interfere in the War
+and not to leave the immediate vicinity of their kraals. (Only the
+night before two burghers named Swart had been murdered at Doornkoek
+by some kaffirs, who pretended to have done this by order of the
+English). The interview lasted about an hour, and besides us two,
+Colonel Curran and my secretary, Lieutenant Malan, were present.
+General Blood and his staff conducted us as far as Potloodspruit,
+where we took leave. The white flag was replaced by the rifle, and we
+returned to our respective duties.
+
+[Illustration: Going in under the White Flag to a Conference with
+General Blood at Lydenburg.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIII.
+
+MRS. BOTHA'S BABY AND THE "TOMMY."
+
+
+In September, 1901, after having organized the commandos north of
+Lydenburg, I went back with my suite to join my burghers at Olifant's
+River, which I reached at the beginning of September. The enemy had
+left General Muller alone after the affair with the Hussars. Reports
+were coming in from across the railway informing us that much fighting
+was going on in the Orange Free State and Cape Colony, and that the
+burghers were holding their own. This was very satisfactory news to
+us, especially as we had not received any tidings for over a month. I
+again sent in a report to our Commandant-General relating my
+adventures.
+
+We had much difficulty in getting the necessary food for the
+commandos, the enemy having repeatedly crossed the country between
+Roos Senekal, Middelburg, and Rhenosterkop, destroying and ravaging
+everything. I therefore resolved to split up my forces, the corps
+known by the name of the "Rond Commando" taking one portion through
+the enemy's lines to Pilgrimsrust, North of Lydenburg, where food was
+still abundant. Fighting-General Muller was left behind with the
+Boksburg Police and the Middelburg Commando, the Johannesburg corps
+going with me to Pilgrim's Rest, where I had my temporary
+headquarters. We had plenty of mealies in this district and also
+enough cattle to kill, so that we could manage to subsist on these
+provisions. We had long since dispensed with tents, but the rains in
+the mountain regions of Pilgrim's Rest and the Sabi had compelled us
+to find the burghers shelter. At the alluvial diggings at Pilgrim's
+Rest we found a great quantity of galvanized iron plates and deals,
+which, when cut into smaller pieces, could be used for building. We
+found a convenient spot in the mountains between Pilgrim's Rest and
+Kruger's Post, where some hundreds of iron or zinc huts were soon
+erected, affording excellent cover for the burghers.
+
+Patrols were continually sent out round Lydenburg, and whenever
+possible we attacked the enemy, keeping him well occupied. We
+succeeded in getting near his outposts from time to time and
+occasionally capturing some cattle. This seemed to be very galling to
+the English, and towards the end of September we found they were
+receiving reinforcements at Lydenburg. This had soon become a
+considerable force, in fact in November they crossed the Spekboom
+River in great numbers, and at Kruger's Post came upon our outposts,
+when there was some fighting. The enemy did not go any further that
+night. The following day we had to leave these positions and the other
+side took them and camped there. Next day they moved along Ohrigstad
+River with a strong mounted force and a good many empty waggons,
+evidently to collect the women-folk in that place. I had to proceed by
+a circuitous route in order to get ahead of the enemy. The road led
+across a steep mountain and through thickly grown kloofs, which
+prevented us from reaching the enemy until they had burnt all the
+houses, destroyed the seed plants, and loaded the families on their
+carts, after which they withdrew to the camp at Kruger's Post. We at
+once charged the enemy's rearguard, and a heavy fight followed, which,
+however, was of short duration. The English fled, leaving some dead
+and wounded behind, also some dozens of helmets and "putties" which
+had got entangled in the trees. We also captured a waggon loaded with
+provisions and things that had been looted, such as women's clothes
+and rugs, a case of Lee-Metford ammunition and a number of uniforms.
+Some days after the enemy tried to get through to Pilgrim's Rest, but
+had to retire before our rifle fire. They managed, however, to get to
+Roosenkrans, where a fight of only some minutes ensued, when they
+retired to Kruger's Post. They only stopped there for a few days,
+marching back to Lydenburg at night time just when we had carefully
+planned a night attack. We destroyed the Spekboom River bridge shortly
+after, thus preventing the enemy's return from Lydenburg to Kruger's
+Post in a single night. Although there is a drift through the river
+it cannot be passed in the dark without danger, especially with guns
+and carts, without which no English column will march. Every fortnight
+I personally proceeded with my adjutants through the enemy's lines
+near Lydenburg to see how the commando in the South were getting on
+and to arrange matters.
+
+The month of November, 1901, passed without any remarkable incidents.
+We organized some expeditions to the Delagoa Bay Railway, but without
+much success, and during one of these the burghers succeeded in laying
+a mine near Hector's Spruit Station during the night. They were lying
+in ambush next day waiting for a train to come along when a "Tommy"
+went down the line and noticed some traces of the ground having been
+disturbed which roused his suspicions. He saw the mine and took the
+dynamite out. Two burghers who were lying in the long grass shouted
+"Hands up." Tommy threw his rifle down and with his hands up in the
+air ran up to the burghers saying, before they could speak, "I say,
+did you hear the news that Mrs. Botha gave birth to a son in Europe?"
+
+They could not help laughing, and the "Tommy," looking very innocent,
+answered:
+
+"I am not telling you a fib."
+
+One of the burghers coaxed him by telling him they did not doubt his
+word, only the family news had come so prematurely.
+
+"Well," returned "Tommy," "Oi thought you blokes would be interested
+in your boss's family, that's why I spoke."
+
+The courteous soldier was sent back with instructions to get some
+better clothes, for those he had on his back were all torn and dirty
+and they were not worth taking.
+
+The expedition was now a failure, for the enemy had been warned and
+the sentries were doubled along the line.
+
+In December, 1901, we tried an attack on a British convoy between
+Lydenburg and Machadodorp. I took a mounted commando and arrived at
+Schvemones Cleft after four days' marching through the Sabinek via
+Cham Sham, an arduous task, as we had to go over the mountains and
+through some rivers. Some of my officers went out scouting in order
+to find the best place for an attack on the convoy. The enemy's
+blockhouses were found to be so close together on the road along which
+the convoy had to pass as to make it very difficult to get at it. But
+having come such a long way nobody liked to go back without having at
+least made an effort. We therefore marched during the night and found
+some hiding places along the road where we waited, ready to charge
+anything coming along. At dawn next day I found the locality to be
+very little suitable for the purpose we had in view, but if we were
+now to move the enemy would notice our presence from the blockhouses.
+We would, therefore, either have to lie low till dusk or make an
+attack after all. We had already captured several of the enemy's
+spies, whom we kept prisoners so as not to be betrayed. Towards the
+afternoon the convoy came by and we charged on horseback. The English,
+who must have seen us coming, were ready to receive our charge and
+poured a heavy fire into us from ditches and trenches and holes in the
+ground. We managed to dislodge the enemy's outerflanks and to make
+several prisoners, but could not reach the carts on account of the
+heavy fire from a regiment of infantry escorting the waggons. I
+thought the taking of the convoy would cost more lives than it was
+worth, and gave orders to cease firing. We lost my brave adjutant,
+Jaapie Oliver, while Captain Giel Joubert and another burgher were
+wounded. On the other side Captain Merriman and ten men were wounded.
+I do not know how many killed he had.
+
+We went back to Schoeman's Kloof the same day, where we buried our
+comrades and attended to the wounded. The blockhouses and garrisons
+along the convoy road were now fortified with entrenchments and guns,
+and we had to abandon our plan of further attacks. It was raining fast
+all the time we were out on this expedition, which caused us serious
+discomfort. We had very few waterproofs, and, all the houses in the
+district having been burnt down, there was no shelter for man or
+beast. We slowly retired on Pilgrim's Rest, having to cross several
+swollen rivers.
+
+On our arrival at Sabi I received the sad tidings that four burghers
+named Stoltz had been cruelly murdered by kaffirs at Witriver.
+Commandant Du Toit had gone there with a patrol and found the bodies
+in a shocking condition, plundered and cut to pieces with assegais,
+and, according to the trace, the murderers had come from Nelspruit
+Station.
+
+Another report came from General Muller at Steenkampsberg. He informed
+me that he had stormed a camp during the night of the 16th December,
+but had been forced to retire after a fierce fight, losing 25 killed
+and wounded, amongst whom was the valiant Field-Cornet J. J. Kriege.
+The enemy's losses were also very heavy, being 31 killed and wounded,
+including Major Hudson.
+
+It should not be imagined that we had to put up with very primitive
+arrangements in every respect. Where we were now stationed, to the
+north of Lydenburg, we even had telephonic communication between
+Spitskop and Doornhoek, with call-offices at Sabi and Pilgrim's Rest.
+The latter place is in the centre of the diggers' population here,
+and a moderate-sized village. There are a few hundred houses in it,
+and it is situated 30 miles north-east of Lydenburg. Here are the
+oldest goldfields known in South Africa, having been discovered in
+1876. This village had so far been permanently in our possession.
+General Buller had been there with his force in 1900 but had not
+caused any damage, and the enemy had not returned since. The mines and
+big stamp-batteries were protected by us and kept in order by neutral
+persons under the management of Mr. Alex. Marshall. We established a
+hospital there under the supervision of Dr. A. Neethling. About forty
+families were still in residence and there was enough food, although
+it was only simple fare and not of great variety. Yet people seemed to
+be very happy and contented so long as they were allowed to live among
+their own people.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIV.
+
+THE LAST CHRISTMAS OF THE WAR.
+
+
+December, 1901, passed without any important incident. We only had a
+few insignificant outpost skirmishes with the British garrison at
+Witklip to the south of Lydenburg. Both belligerents in this district
+attempted to annoy each other as much as possible by blowing up each
+other's mills and storehouses. Two of the more adventurous spirits
+amongst my scouts, by name Jordaan and Mellema, succeeded in blowing
+up a mill in the Lydenburg district used by the British for grinding
+corn, and the enemy very soon retaliated by blowing up one of our
+mills at Pilgrim's Rest. As the Germans say, "_Alle gute dingen sind
+drei_." Several such experiences and the occasional capture of small
+droves of British cattle were all the incidents worth mentioning. It
+was in this comparatively quiet manner that the third year of our
+campaign came to a termination. The War was still raging and our lot
+was hard, but we did not murmur. We decided rather to extract as much
+pleasure and amusement out of the Christmas festivities as the
+extraordinary circumstances in which we found ourselves rendered
+possible.
+
+The British for the time being desisted from troubling us, and our
+stock and horses being in excellent condition, we arranged to hold a
+sort of gymkhana on Christmas Day. In the sportive festivities of the
+day many interesting events took place. Perhaps the most noteworthy of
+these were a mule race, for which nine competitors entered, and a
+ladies' race, in which six fair pedestrians took part. The spectacle
+of nine burly, bearded Boers urging their asinine steeds to top speed
+by shout and spur provoked quite as much honest laughter as any
+theatrical farce ever excited. We on the grand stand were but a shaggy
+and shabby audience, but we were in excellent spirits and cheered with
+tremendous gusto the enterprising jockey who won this remarkable
+"Derby." Shabby as we were, we subscribed L115 in prizes. After the
+sports I have just described the company retired to a little tin
+church at Pilgrim's Rest, and there made merry by singing hymns and
+songs round a little Christmas tree.
+
+Later in the evening a magic-lantern, which we had captured from the
+British, was brought into play, and with this we regaled 90 of our
+juvenile guests. The building was crowded and the utmost enthusiasm
+reigned. The ceremony was opened by the singing of hymns and the
+making of speeches, a harmonium adding largely to the enjoyment of the
+evening. I felt somewhat nervous when called upon to address the
+gathering, for the children were accompanied by their mothers, and
+these stared at me with expectant eyes as if they would say, "See, the
+General is about to speak; his words are sure to be full of wisdom." I
+endeavoured to display great coolness, and I do not think I failed
+very markedly as an extemporaneous orator. I was helped very
+considerably in the speechmaking part of the programme by my good
+friends the Rev. Neethling and Mr. W. Barter, of Lydenburg. I have not
+now the slightest idea of what I spoke about except that I
+congratulated the little ones and their mothers on being preserved
+from the Concentration Camps, where so many of their friends were
+confined.
+
+I have mentioned that there were young ladies with us who participated
+in the races. These were some whom the British had kindly omitted to
+place in the Concentration Camps, and it was remarkable to see how
+soon certain youthful and handsome burghers entered into amorous
+relations with these young ladies, and matters developed so quickly
+that I was soon confronted with a very curious problem. We had no
+marriage officers handy, and I, as General, had not been armed with
+any special authority to act as such. Two blushing heroes came to me
+one morning accompanied by clinging, timorous young ladies, and
+declared that they had decided that since I was their General I had
+full authority to marry them. I was taken aback by this request, and
+asked, "Don't you think, young fellows, that under the circumstances
+you had better wait a little till after the termination of the war?"
+"Yes," they admitted, "perhaps it would be more prudent, General, but
+we have been waiting three years already!"
+
+In General De la Rey's Commando, which comprised burghers from eight
+large districts, it had been found necessary to appoint marriage
+officers, and quite a large number of marriages were contracted. I
+mention this to show how diversified are the duties of the Boer
+general in war-time, and what sort of strange offices he is sometimes
+called upon to perform.
+
+It will be seen from what I have said that occasionally the dark
+horizon of our veldt life was lit up by the bright sunshine of the
+lighter elements of life. At most times our outlook was gloomy enough,
+and our hearts were heavily weighed down by cares. I often found my
+thoughts involuntarily turning to those who had so long and so
+faithfully stood shoulder to shoulder with me through all the
+vicissitudes of war, fighting for what we regarded as our holy right,
+to obtain which we were prepared to sacrifice our lives and our all.
+Unconsciously I recalled on this Christmas Day the words of General
+Joubert addressed to us outside Ladysmith in 1899: "Happy the
+Africander who shall not survive the termination of this War." Time
+will show, if it have not already shown, the wisdom of General
+Joubert's words.
+
+Just about this time rumours of various kinds were spread abroad. From
+several sources we heard daily that the War was about to end, that the
+English had evacuated the country because their funds were exhausted,
+that Russia and France had intervened, and that Lord Kitchener had
+been captured by De Wet and liberated on condition that he and his
+troops left South Africa immediately. It was even said that General
+Botha had received an invitation from the British Government to come
+and arrange a Peace on "independence" lines.
+
+Nobody will doubt that we on the veldt were desperately anxious to
+hear the glad tidings of Peace. We were weary of the fierce struggle,
+and we impatiently awaited the time when the Commandant-General and
+the Government should order us to sheathe the sword.
+
+But the night of the Old Year left us engaged in the fierce conflict
+of hostilities, and the dawn of the New Year found us still enveloped
+in the clouds of war--clouds whose blackness was relieved by no silver
+lining.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLV.
+
+MY LAST DAYS ON THE VELDT.
+
+
+The first month of 1902 found the storm of death and destruction still
+unabated, and the prospect appeared as dark as at the commencement of
+the previous year. Our hand, however, was on the plough, and there was
+no looking back. My instructions were, "Go forward and persevere."
+
+To the south of Lydenburg, where a section of my commando under
+General Muller was operating, the enemy kept us very busy, for they
+had one or more columns engaged. We, to the north of Lydenburg, had a
+much calmer time of it than our brethren to the south of that place,
+for there the British were pursuing their policy of exhausting our
+people with unsparing hand. I attribute the fact that we in the north
+were left comparatively undisturbed to the mountainous nature of the
+country. It would have been impossible for the British to have
+captured us or to have invaded our mountain recesses successfully
+without a tremendous force, and, obviously, the British had no such
+force at their disposal. Probably also the British had some respect
+for the prowess of my commando. An English officer afterwards told me
+in all seriousness that the British Intelligence Department had
+information that I was prowling round to the north of Lydenburg with
+4,000 men and two cannons, and that my men were so splendidly
+fortified that our position was unconquerable. Of course, it was not
+in my interest to enlighten him upon the point. I was a
+prisoner-of-war when this amusing information was given me, and I
+simply answered: "Yes, your intelligence officers are very smart
+fellows." The officer then inquired, with an assumption of candour and
+innocence, whether it was really a fact that we had still cannon in
+the field. To this I retorted: "What would you think if I put a
+similar question to a British officer who had fallen into my hands?"
+At this he bit his thumb and stammered: "I beg your pardon; I did not
+mean to--er--insult you." He was quite a young chap this, a conceited
+puppy, affecting the "haw-haw," which seems to be epidemic in the
+British Army. His hair was parted down the centre, in the manner so
+popular among certain British officers, and this style of
+hair-dressing came to be described by the Boers as "middel-paadje"
+(middle-path). As a matter of fact, my men only numbered as many
+hundreds as the thousands attributed to me by the British. As for
+cannons, they simply existed in the imagination of the British
+Intelligence Department.
+
+Affairs were daily growing more critical. Since the beginning of the
+year we had made several attempts at destroying the Delagoa Bay
+Railway, but the British had constructed so formidable a network of
+barbed wire, and their blockhouses were so close together and strongly
+garrisoned, that hitherto our attempts had been abortive. The line
+was also protected by a large number of armoured trains.
+
+In consequence of our ill-success in this enterprise, we turned our
+attention to other directions. We reconnoitred the British garrisons
+in the Lydenburg district with the object of striking at their weakest
+point. A number of my officers and men proceeded under cover of
+darkness right through the British outposts, and gained the Lydenburg
+village by crawling on their hands and knees. On their return journey
+they were challenged and fired on several times, and managed only with
+difficulty to return to camp unhurt. The object of the reconnaissance
+was, however, accomplished. They reported to me that the village was
+encompassed with barbed wire, and that a number of blockhouses had
+been built round it, and also that various large houses of the village
+had been barricaded and were strongly occupied. My two professional
+scouts, Jordaan and Mellema, had also reconnoitred the village from
+another direction, and had brought back confirmatory information and
+the news that Lydenburg was occupied by about 2,000 British soldiers,
+consisting of the Manchester Regiment and the First Royal Irish,
+together with a corps of "hands-uppers" under the notorious Harber.
+Three other Boer spies scouting about the forts on the Crocodile
+Heights also brought in discouraging reports.
+
+At the Council of War which then took place, and over which I
+presided, these reports were discussed, and we agreed to attack the
+two blockhouses nearest the village, and thereafter to storm the
+village itself. I should mention that it was necessary for us to
+capture the blockhouses before attempting to take the village itself,
+for had we left them intact we should have run the danger of having
+our retreat cut off.
+
+The attack was to take place next night, and as we approached the
+British lines on horseback, between Spekboom River and Potloodspruit,
+we dismounted, and proceeded cautiously on foot. One of the objective
+blockhouses was on the waggon path to the north of the village, and
+the other was 1,000 yards to the east of Potloodspruit. Field-Cornet
+Young, accompanied by Jordaan and Mellema, crept up to within 10 feet
+of one of these blockhouses, and brought me a report that the barbed
+wire network which surrounded it rendered an assault an impossible
+task in the darkness. Separating my commando of 150 men into two
+bodies, I placed them on either side of the blockhouse, sending, in
+the meanwhile, four men to cut down the wire fences. These men had
+instructions to give us a signal when they had achieved this object,
+so that we could then proceed to storm the fort. It would have been
+sacrificing many in vain to have attempted to proceed without
+effecting the preliminary operation of fence cutting, since, if we had
+stormed a blockhouse without first removing the wire, we should have
+become entangled in the fences and have offered splendid targets to
+the enemy at a very short range, and our losses would, without doubt,
+have been considerable.
+
+My fence-cutters stuck doggedly to their task despite the fact that
+they were being fired upon by the sentries on guard. It was a long
+and weary business, but we patiently waited, lying on the ground.
+Towards 2 o'clock in the morning the officer in command of the
+wire-cutters returned to us, stating that they had accomplished their
+object in cutting the first wire barrier, but had come across another
+which it would require several hours to cut through. The sentries had,
+in the meantime, grown unpleasantly vigilant, and were now frequently
+firing on our men. They were often so close that at one time, in the
+darkness, they might have knocked up against the Boers who were
+cutting their fences.
+
+It being very nearly 3 o'clock, it appeared to me that the attempt
+would be ineffectual owing to the approach of daylight, and we were
+forced to retire before the rays of the rising sun lit the heavens and
+exposed us to the well-aimed fire of the British. I therefore
+resolved, after consulting my officers, to retire quietly, and to
+renew my attempt a week later at another point. We returned to camp
+much disappointed, but consoled ourselves with the hope that success
+would attend our next efforts.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVI.
+
+I AM AMBUSHED AND CAPTURED.
+
+
+I may say that the barbed wire fences by which the blockhouses were
+encompassed, constituted very formidable obstacles to our attacks. Our
+men were comparatively few, and we could not afford to lose any of
+them in futile attempts to capture strongly garrisoned British forts.
+Moreover, there were many other ways of inflicting damage on the enemy
+that did not lay us open to so much danger.
+
+Heavy and continuous rains had been experienced for some time, and the
+rivers and spruits were greatly swollen. The whole of the Lydenburg
+district, in which we were operating, was besides enveloped in a thick
+mist, and both these causes rendered reconnoitring very difficult and
+perilous, as we never knew how near the enemy's patrols might be.
+
+About the 15th of January, 1902, I obtained information that our
+Government were being chased all over the country, and had now
+encamped at Windhoek near Dullstroom, to the south of Lydenburg. At
+the same time I received an order from Acting-President Schalk Burger,
+stating that he wished to see me. This latter intelligence was very
+acceptable, for I was anxious to renew acquaintance with the
+President, and with a personal friend of mine, Mr. J. C. Krojk, who
+was attached to the Field Government. Therefore, on receiving this
+instruction, I set out from Pilgrim's Rest accompanied by Adjutants
+Nel, Coetzee, Bester, and Potgieter, for the place where the
+Government were encamped. I little expected as I rode along that this
+would be my last and most fateful expedition.
+
+I calculated that I should be away eight days, and, wishing to be
+present at any active operations that might be conducted, I
+instructed my brother, whom I left in charge of my forces, to make no
+attack during my absence. After leaving Pilgrim's Rest, I and my
+companions rode briskly forth along the path past Dornbock, Roodekrans
+and Kruger's Post. We encamped at the latter place at night-fall. Next
+day we again set out, and having succeeded in passing the British
+forts and blockhouses to the north of Lydenburg, we came upon the
+Spekboom River. This river was so swollen by the recent rains that no
+fording was possible, and we were only able to cross by making our
+horses swim. At one o'clock we reached Koodekraus, and off-saddled
+there. This place is about 15 miles to the west of Lydenburg. At dawn
+the next day, after having reconnoitred the country in the
+neighbourhood, we proceeded cautiously in the direction of
+Steenkampsberg until we were meet by messengers, who told us precisely
+where our Government was to be found. That evening we found our
+locomotive Administration encamped at Mopochsburgen, to which place
+they had retreated before a hostile column, which was operating from
+Belfast.
+
+The greetings that were exchanged were of the heartiest character, and
+we sat chatting round the camp fires far into the night. That we had
+much to talk about and many stories to relate of the vicissitudes of
+war needs no saying. I personally received the very lamentable tidings
+that my sister, her husband, and three of their children had died in
+the Concentration Camp at Pietersburg.
+
+Two days after we arrived, the Government received a report from
+General Muller stating that two hostile columns were approaching. We
+had not long to wait. The enemy attacked us in the afternoon, but did
+not succeed in driving us from our position. We were not, however, in
+a position to sustain a long battle, owing to scarcity of ammunition.
+Many of our burghers had only five cartridges left and some had not
+even one. Therefore, that same night--I think it was the 21st of
+January although I had lost count of dates--the Government, whom I
+accompanied, departed and proceeded to the Kloof Oshoek, between
+Dullstroom and Lydenburg. The weather was very unpropitious, rain
+falling in torrents, and as may be understood, we were in a sad
+plight. We were protected by nothing except our mackintoshes, and
+greatly envied a member of the party who was the proud possessor of a
+small piece of canvas.
+
+It had been decided that the Government should proceed on the 25th of
+January from Oshoek to Pilgrim's Rest, but the information that the
+British were not pressing their pursuit, caused them to give up this
+project, for it was thought advisable to await the enemy's next move.
+I should here mention that the further the Government were chased, the
+more difficult they found it to keep up communications with the
+Commandant-General and the Orange Free State Government. With the
+latter, however, despatches were being exchanged concerning very
+important matters which I consider as still improper to disclose. The
+Government having determined not to proceed, I decided to bid
+farewell, and to proceed with my attendants on the way to Pilgrim's
+Rest.
+
+Accordingly, on the 25th of January, we left the Government at Oshoek
+and rode along to Zwagerhoek, where we remained till sundown. We were
+now nearing the enemy's country, and so, having carefully reconnoitred
+the ground, we set forth cautiously at dusk. Two young Boers, who were
+also on the road to Pilgrim's Rest, had meanwhile joined us, and,
+including my kaffir servant, our party comprised eight persons. We
+soon passed the fateful spot where Commandant Schoenman had been
+captured in the early part of the War, and forded the Spekboom River.
+
+I am not superstitious, but I must confess that somehow or other I
+experienced considerable disquietude about this time, and felt cold
+shivers running down my back. We were just approaching Bloomplaats,
+which is about two and half miles to the west of Lydenburg, when we
+observed something moving. A deadly silence enveloped the country,
+and the brightly-shining moon gave a weird appearance to the moving
+objects in the distance which had attracted our attention. Our
+suspicions were aroused and we went in pursuit, but soon lost sight of
+the object of our quest. We discovered afterwards that our suspicions
+were well-founded, and that the moving objects were kaffir spies, who
+returned to the British lines and reported our approach. Having failed
+in this enterprise we returned to the road, I riding in advance with
+Adjutant Bester, the others following. Presently we approached a deep
+spruit, and having dismounted, we were cautiously leading our horses
+down the steep bank, when suddenly we found ourselves the centre of a
+perfect storm of bullets. We were completely taken by surprise, and
+almost before we realised what had happened, we found ourselves
+confronted by two rows of British soldiery, who shouted "Hands up,"
+and fired simultaneously. Bullets whistled in every direction. The
+first volley laid my horse low, and I found myself on the ground half
+stunned. When I recovered somewhat and lifted my head, I discovered
+myself surrounded, but the dust and the flash of firing prevented me
+from seeing much of what occurred. It seemed hopeless to attempt
+escape, and I cried excitedly that I was ready to surrender. So loud,
+however, was the noise of shouting that my cries were drowned. One
+soldier viciously pressed his gun against my breast as if about to
+shoot me, but thrusting the barrel away, I said in English that I saw
+no chance of escape, that I did not defend myself, and there was no
+reason therefore why he should kill me. While I was talking he again
+drove his rifle against me, and I, having grasped it firmly, a very
+animated argument took place, for he strongly resented my grasping his
+gun. Outstretching my hand I asked "Tommy" to help me up, and this he
+did. I afterwards learned that the name of my assailant was Patrick,
+and that he belonged to the Irish Rifles.
+
+[Illustration: My Capture.]
+
+Four or five soldiers now took charge of me, and at my request
+consented to conduct me to an officer. Just as they were about to
+lead me away, however, they all fell flat upon their chests, and
+directed their fire at an object, which turned out later to be a bush.
+I very soon discovered that the "Tommies" were not very circumspect in
+their fire, and I sought safety by lying on the ground. Having
+discovered the innocent nature of their target, my guards conducted me
+before one of their officers, a young man named Walsh, who seemed to
+belong to the British Intelligence Department. This officer enquired,
+"Well, what is it?" I answered him in his own language, "My name is
+Viljoen, and not wishing to be plundered by your soldiers, I desire to
+place myself under the protection of an officer." He was quite a minor
+officer this Mr. Walsh, but he said kindly, "All right, it is rather a
+lucky haul, sir; you look quite cool, are you hurt?" I replied that I
+was not hurt, though it was a miracle that I was still alive, for a
+bullet had struck my chest, and would have penetrated had my
+pocket-book not stopped it. The fact was, that my pocket-book had
+served the providential service of the proverbial bible or pack of
+cards. Bester was with me, and not seeing my other adjutants, I
+enquired what had become of them. Walsh did not reply at once, and one
+of the "Tommies" standing close by said, "Both killed, sor." This
+information was a terrible blow to me.
+
+Major Orr, of the Royal Irish Regiment, was in charge of the force
+that had captured me, and presently I was taken before him. He greeted
+me most courteously and said, "I believe we are old friends, General
+Viljoen; at least you captured some of my comrades in that regrettable
+affair at Belfast." I was greatly touched by Major Orr's kindness, and
+asked that I might see those of my men who had been killed. He
+immediately consented, and led me a few paces aside. My gaze was soon
+arrested by a heartrending spectacle. There on the ground lay the two
+lifeless forms of my brave and faithful adjutants, Jacobus Nel and L.
+Jordaan. As I bent over their prostrate bodies my eyes grew dim with
+the sad tears of my great bereavement. Major Orr stood uncovered by
+my side, touched by my deep emotion and paying homage to the brave
+dead. "These men were heroes," I said to him with broken voice. "They
+followed me because they loved me, and they fearlessly risked their
+lives for me several times." The good Major was full of sympathy, and
+made provision for the decent burial of my poor comrades at Lydenburg.
+
+Bester and I were now conducted under an escort of 150 soldiers with
+fixed bayonets to the village, which was two and a half miles off. We
+reached Lydenburg very wet and gloomy, after having waded through a
+drift whose waters reached up to our armpits. Major Orr did his best
+to console us both with refreshment and kind words.
+
+Our procession was presently joined by an officer of the British
+Intelligence Department, and this gentleman told me that he knew of
+the approach of my party, and that the chief object of the British in
+attacking us was to capture our itinerant Government, who they
+learned were to accompany us. He was very anxious to know where the
+Government was, and whether it was intended that they should pass that
+way. But I answered his queries by telling him that it was quite
+unworthy of a gentleman to put such questions to me, and to attempt to
+exploit my most unfortunate position.
+
+Arriving at the village, I was treated with great courtesy, and was
+introduced by Major Orr to Colonel Guinness, the commanding officer.
+Colonel Guinness declared that he regarded it as an honour to have a
+man of my rank as a prisoner-of-war, and that we had fought so
+frequently that we were quite old friends. I thanked him for his
+compliment, expressing, however, my regret that we had renewed
+acquaintance under such unfortunate circumstances.
+
+"That is the fortune of war," said the Colonel. "You have nothing to
+be ashamed of, General." We were treated very well by our captors, and
+were given accommodation in the apartments of my old friend Captain
+Milner, who now filled the office of Provost-Marshal. My meeting with
+this gentleman was very cordial, and we sat up till nearly daybreak
+relating our different adventures since we had last met at Roos
+Senekal, where the worthy Captain was made prisoner by me. He assured
+me that his regiment entertained the highest respect for me and my
+burghers, and that they appreciated the fact that we had fought fairly
+and gallantly and had well-treated our prisoners-of-war. Bester and I
+remained under Milner's care throughout our stay at Lydenburg, and I
+shall always remember with gratitude the kindness extended me by the
+officers of the Royal Irish Regiment.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVII.
+
+SHIPPED TO ST. HELENA.
+
+
+We were kept at Lydenburg until about the 30th of January, 1902, and
+during our stay there I obtained leave to write a letter to my
+burghers. In this I acquainted them and my brother with what had
+occurred, and exhorted them to keep up their hearts and persevere.
+Although kindly treated at Lydenberg, I cannot adequately describe the
+feeling of disappointment and sorrow which my enforced inaction caused
+me. I would have given anything to have been able to return to my
+commando, and felt that I would rather have been killed than have
+fallen into the enemy's hands. Being thus rendered impotent I could
+but curse my fate.
+
+Friendships which are formed on the veldt are strong indeed, and the
+men who have lived together through all the vicissitudes of war for
+twenty-eight months--through sunshine and rain, happiness and sorrow,
+prosperity and adversity--become attached one to another with lasting
+affections. My sufferings hit me very keenly. Besides the sadness
+which separation from my companions caused me, I acutely felt my
+position as, having been before in the habit of commanding and of
+being obeyed by others, I was now subject to the humiliation of having
+to obey the orders of British privates.
+
+We prisoners were conveyed from Lydenburg to Machadodorp under the
+charge of Colonel Urenston, of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders,
+with an escort of 2,000 men. I was at a loss to know why so large a
+force should have been sent to guard me, but this seemingly
+exaggerated precaution was soon explained when I was told that Lord
+Kitchener had given special orders that great care was to be taken to
+prevent my commando from rescuing me. I must say that there was not
+much chance of that occurring. Colonel Urenston was a very courteous
+soldier, and treated me as well as could be expected.
+
+Reaching Machadodorp four days later, I was handed over at Dalmanutha
+Station to Captain Pearson, a staff officer, who subsequently
+conducted me and my fellow prisoners to Pretoria. Some days after my
+arrival there I was taken before Lord Kitchener, and was received very
+courteously by him at his office. My interview with this great General
+lasted about half an hour. The Commander-in-Chief of the British Army
+in South Africa impressed me as being a real soldier, a man possessed
+of a strong will not marred by arrogance.
+
+I did not know what the British military authorities proposed to do
+with me, and felt quite indifferent as to the matter. At dawn on the
+third day after my arrival I was awakened by a soldier and informed
+that I was to be taken to the station. The train was in readiness when
+I arrived, and the officer in charge invited me to take a seat in his
+compartment. I was then told that we were to proceed to Durban, but no
+information was given me as to my ultimate destination.
+
+On the train we prisoners were treated with great courtesy, but on
+reaching Durban a different experience awaited us. Here I was placed
+under the charge of Colonel Ellet, a very irascible person. This
+Colonel greeted me with the information that he was quite delighted
+that I had been captured. He repeated this gratuitous insult three
+times, and, my patience being exhausted, I asked him to be kind enough
+to tell me where he was instructed to convey me, and not to cause me
+unnecessary pain by his taunts. He apologised lamely and told me that
+I was to proceed on board ship. This very much surprised me, and I
+remarked that I had already been taken from home and hearth 500 miles.
+This ill-tempered creature then lent back arrogantly in his armchair,
+puffing at his cigar, and said: "Well, ah, you are banished, don't you
+know. You are to be sent to St. Helena, or as we call it, 'The Rock.'
+You will shortly embark. It is a large ship you are going in; it is
+called--ah, let me see, oh, yes, the _Britannica_. I will proceed to
+the station and order your kit, and in the meantime you must sign this
+parole and report yourself forthwith at the docks." I said in Dutch,
+which the Colonel did not understand, "Lord deliver me from this evil
+person."
+
+On arriving on board ship I found several other Boer prisoners-of-war,
+amongst them my old friend Erasmus, who masqueraded as a general in
+the early stages of the War. Never having been before upon the sea I
+was soon in the throes of _mal de mer_, and the prospect was certainly
+not encouraging. There was no help for it, however. Colonel Curtis, of
+the Royal Artillery, who was in charge of the troops on board, was a
+very polite and pleasant person, and very welcome after that
+extraordinary creature, Ellet. We were provided with good cabins and
+the food was excellent. Before leaving the Bay General Lyttelton
+visited me and showed himself very friendly. I soon found out that
+Mrs. Lyttelton was proceeding on the same boat to England. My company
+must have been rather unattractive, seeing that I was only well for
+one day during the whole voyage.
+
+The steamer was ordered to call at Cape Town, and when we neared this
+port the guard kept over us was strengthened. An officer remained with
+us continually and counted us every two hours to make sure that none
+of us had escaped. One day two young Boers conspired to make a fool
+of the officer, and concealed themselves in the lavatory. Their
+absence was discovered the next time we were counted, and the officer
+in charge, in a great state of perturbation, demanded of us what had
+become of them. We took up the joke at once, and replied that they had
+gone on shore to be shaved and would return at 7 o'clock. This
+entirely took his breath away. But the absurdity of the situation so
+got the better of us that we burst out into ironical laughter, and
+finally set our custodian at ease by producing the two fugitives. We
+were punished for our little joke, however, by having our paroles
+withdrawn.
+
+On the 19th of February the ship, with its sorrowful freight, steamed
+away from Cape Town. We prisoners, assembled on the upper deck, bade a
+very sorrowful farewell to the shores of our dear Fatherland. Long and
+sadly did we gaze upon the fast receding land from which we expected
+to be alienated for ever. Notwithstanding our depressing
+circumstances, however, we attempted pluckily to keep up our spirits,
+and with laughter and frivolity to cheer each other. Most of us had
+never been on a ship before, and only one of our number had ever
+voyaged away from South Africa. Ours was a very cheerless prospect,
+for, although we did not know our exact fate, banishment for life
+loomed over us. The ship's officers were urbanity itself, and did
+everything in their power for our comfort. I shall always remember
+their kindness, but it would have required much more than human effort
+to have made our voyage enjoyable owing to the fact that we suffered
+so intensely from sea-sickness.
+
+After a very cheerless and discomforting voyage, we dropped anchor on
+the 24th of February in St. Helena Harbour. "The Rock" rose out of the
+ocean, bare and rugged, and imprisonment upon it offered a gloomy
+prospect. No animal was visible, and foliage was wanting, I never saw
+a less attractive place than Jamestown, the port at which we landed.
+The houses seemed to be tumbling over one another in a "kloof." We
+were all gloomily impressed, and somebody near me said, "This will be
+our living graves." I answered, "No wonder that Napoleon broke his
+heart upon this God-forsaken rock." I must confess that the feeling
+grew upon us that we were to be treated as ordinary criminals, since
+only murderers and dangerous people are banished to such places to be
+forgotten by mankind.
+
+An English officer came to me and asked what I thought of the Island.
+My feelings got the better of me, and I replied--"It seems a suitable
+place for England's felons, but it is very spiteful of England to
+deport here men whose only crime has been to fight for their country.
+It would have been much more merciful to have killed us at once than
+to make us drag out an existence in a manner so dreary."
+
+We were soon taken ashore by boats to Jamestown, and there learned to
+our great disgust that we were all to be put in quarantine for bubonic
+plague, and to be isolated at Lemon Valley, a valley in which I
+afterwards found that lemons were conspicuous by their absence. No
+greenery was to be seen in this desolate place. While our debarkation
+was proceeding one of the boats capsized, but, happily, everybody
+escaped with nothing worse than a ducking.
+
+Quarantine regulations were enforced for six days at Lemon Valley. The
+accommodation was very inadequate, and our culinary utensils, though
+not primitive, were very bad, the food being such as might have been
+the portion of criminals.
+
+Luckily for us a British Censor named Baron von Ahlenfeldt, and a
+doctor named Casey had accompanied us, and owing to their
+instrumentality we were allowed better food and treatment. At the end
+of our detention in the quarantine camp some of our number were
+removed to Broadbottom Camp, while the others were quartered at
+Deadwood Camp. Lieutenant Bathurst, who now assumed the position of
+our custodian, was a good prototype of friend Ellet at Durban, and he
+was at pains to treat us as felons rather than as prisoners-of-war.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVIII.
+
+LIFE IN BONAPARTE'S PRISON.
+
+
+In order to reach Broadbottom Camp we had to ascend a remarkably rocky
+cliff named "Jacob's Ladder," the face of which was cut into a
+multitudinous series of steps. Having reached the summit we found a
+pleasing view of the Island opened before us. We now discovered that
+St. Helena was not the totally-barren rock we had at first been led to
+suppose. Patches of trees and greenery met our gaze, and in the midst
+of a carefully-cultivated plantation we espied a beautiful house, the
+habitation of the Governor of the Island. On our way we encountered a
+party of our fellow-prisoners, who, having been guilty of
+insubordination, were being taken to the dreary fort at High Knoll for
+punishment. Amongst these unfortunates we recognised several friends,
+but were not permitted to talk to them.
+
+At sundown our destination was reached at Broadbottom Camp, which is
+situated under High Peak. Before us stretched a large space enclosed
+by four encirclements of barbed wire containing the tents and houses
+which formed the temporary homes of the prisoners-of-war. Sentries
+were posted at every hundred paces. There were 2,000 prisoners
+stationed here, and as they wandered aimlessly round they forcibly
+reminded me of the Israelites in exile.
+
+On entering the camp I was received by the commandant, Colonel Wright,
+a typical Briton, who made no pleasant impression upon me. I shall not
+be querulous, although the Colonel very bluntly notified to me that he
+had no instructions but to treat me in the same manner as the ordinary
+prisoners, and added that as my name had appeared in the list of Boer
+officers who were sentenced to banishment, he doubted whether I was
+entitled even to the treatment accorded to the ordinary
+prisoners-of-war. However, a tent was erected for me, and I and my
+companions in adversity were given beds and culinary utensils. My bed
+consisted of two khaki blankets and a waterproof sheet, and my kitchen
+utensils comprised a pot, a washing basin, a pail, two enamelled
+plates, two large mugs, and a spoon. This is a complete inventory of
+the articles with which I was provided. I and the prisoners who had
+accompanied me had not tasted food throughout the whole day, and we
+would have gone supperless to bed had it not been that some
+compassionate brother prisoners ministered to our inner needs by
+providing us with some bully beef and bread, which, though but a
+frugal meal, was very welcome to us.
+
+Camp life of the kind I now experienced was wearisome indeed. There
+was nothing to do, and we tried to while away the time by singing
+psalms and songs. At night the camp and its environments were rendered
+almost as bright as day by the glaring light of huge naphtha flares
+and by large search-lights which played round, making attempts at
+escape hopeless. It appeared to me that the search-lights were
+continually being turned in my direction, and I can assure you that I
+wished these glaring abominations at Hades. The buzzing and roaring
+noise given forth by the naphtha lamps, the monotonous chanting of the
+prisoners, the perpetual "All's well" of the sentries, and the
+intermingling notes of the bugle calls suffused the air with their
+distracting sounds and made me feel as if my head were in a maelstrom.
+The bugler was so amiable a person that he always made it a point of
+standing close to my tent when launching forth to the world his
+shrieking calls. Happily I became acclimatised to my distasteful
+surroundings, or I fear I should have soon graduated as a patient for
+a lunatic asylum.
+
+I unhappily became at an early date acquainted with Colonel Price,
+commanding the troops on the Island. I shall never forget his
+demeanour towards me, for from the first his attitude was arrogant,
+cruel, and generally unbearable. He refused me parole, and declined to
+give me a pass beyond the confines of the camp. The unreasonableness
+of this hard treatment will be seen when it is remembered that not the
+slightest possibility of escape from the Island existed. The close
+confinement began to play havoc with my health, and I was in the fair
+way to the hospital, when a friendly doctor intervened and restored me
+to health once more. The rigid discipline and the stern regulations
+that were enforced can only be likened to what is experienced in
+monastic life. The "red-tape" curse prevailed everywhere.
+
+Subsequently Colonel Price modified his tone towards me and allowed me
+parole. He was also gracious enough to permit me and some companions
+to occupy a little house 400 paces from the camp. This was a very
+agreeable change, for now we were no longer subjected to the harsh
+treatment of the "Tommies." Our little residence rejoiced in the
+pleasantly-floral name of the "Myrtle Grove," and was rented by us
+from an old coloured lady who vigorously insisted upon the punctual
+payment of the rent, and drew our special attention to the fact that
+plucking pears in the garden was strictly prohibited.
+
+We had been told that the "Myrtle Grove" was haunted by ghosts, but
+the ghosts, if any there were, must have been pro-Boers, since they
+never disturbed us. But though we had no ghostly visitors we certainly
+had some of another kind. The house was perfectly infested by
+particularly large and bold rats. These thieving rodents, not
+satisfied with robbing our larder, had the audacity to sup off our
+fingers and ears while we were asleep. We waged vigorous war against
+the vermin, and after considerable difficulty managed to get the
+residence exclusively to ourselves. With the addition of some
+furniture, with which Colonel Wright was good enough to provide us, we
+made our house so comfortable that we felt ourselves almost in a
+position to invite the Governor to dinner.
+
+Our landlady, Mrs. Joshua, was the proud possessor of several donkeys,
+which were turned loose in our garden, and a large number of fowls. I
+may say that Mrs. Joshua was very ill-advised in keeping her fowls so
+near our house, for our cook, who had been trained in commando, was
+unable to resist the temptation of appropriating eggs. It did not,
+however, take our landlady long to find out what was happening, and we
+were informed that it was very much more Christianlike to purchase
+eggs. We took the hint, and adopted as far as we could Christianlike
+methods, though we found it extremely difficult to subscribe to all
+the principles of Christianity practised by the Islanders.
+
+We whiled away the time by taking daily walks, and, by making
+excursions to the house at Longwood tenanted by Napoleon Bonaparte for
+six and a half years, and to the grave where his remains were interred
+for 19 years. I noticed that both places were being preserved and kept
+in order by the French Government. We used to sit by the little
+fountain, where the great French warrior so frequently sat, and read.
+We were permitted to drink a glass of water from this historical
+spring.
+
+At Deadwood Camp 4,000 of my compatriots were confined. Some had been
+there for over two years, and I could not help admiring their
+discipline. It is not for me to criticise the entirely unnecessary
+restrictions to which these unfortunate prisoners were subjected, but
+I will point out that the severity practised towards helpless
+prisoners by armed soldiers created feelings of great bitterness. It
+was a stupid policy to pursue and perhaps fateful.
+
+The military authorities were entirely unacquainted with the character
+and mannerisms of the Boers, and were advised in this connection by
+so-called "Cape" or "English" Afrikanders, who bear an ineradicable
+hatred to the Boers, and who always did their utmost to cause the
+prisoners to be treated with humiliation and contempt. Happily a
+number of English officers whom I met on the Island saw that we were
+not so black as we had been painted. Most of the officers who acted as
+our custodians here had come direct from England and knew nothing of
+South Africa. One of these gentlemen confessed to me that when he
+left London for St. Helena he had a sort of idea that he was to be
+placed in charge of a troop of wild barbarians, and that he had been
+quite agreeably disappointed. He declared, indeed, that he had found
+that the Afrikander in some respects was superior to men of his own
+nation.
+
+It was undoubtedly a sad error for England to send officers to look
+after us, who, not having had any experience of South African warfare,
+were entirely ignorant of our idiosyncrasies and manners. The result
+of placing these inexperienced men as our guards was that one
+misunderstanding followed upon another, and that unnecessarily
+rigorous regulations were promulgated to preserve discipline and
+order. This treatment had the effect of nourishing within our bosoms
+hatred and bitterness.
+
+Not being desirous of having to undergo incarceration with my
+insubordinate fellow-prisoners at High Knoll Fort, I carefully
+refrained from being unruly, and practised an orderly and amiable
+demeanour.
+
+On one occasion I ventured to approach Colonel Price with a view to
+obtaining some amelioration in our treatment, and some remission of
+the rigorous regulations meted out to us. After keeping me waiting
+half an hour he came out of his office to meet me, but instead of
+extending a greeting he stared at me with ill-concealed amazement,
+probably expecting that I should jump up and salute him. I, however,
+merely rose and nodded, and enquired if I had the honour of addressing
+Colonel Price. He answered stiffly, "Yes, what do you want?" It was
+greatly disconcerting to be thus unceremoniously and discourteously
+greeted, and having explained my mission, I withdrew and took care to
+fight shy of this arrogant soldier in future.
+
+I may say that our little party at "Myrtle Grove" was a few weeks
+later augmented by the arrival of Vaal Piet Uys and Landdrost T.
+Kelly.
+
+We had in the meantime improved our acquaintance with Colonel Wright,
+who always treated us with cordiality and kindness, and allowed us
+frequently the privilege of spending pleasant afternoons at his house.
+Mrs. Wright was a charming hostess, and did everything in her power to
+lessen the feeling of humiliation with which we regarded our sad
+plight.
+
+I should perhaps mention that St. Helena boasts of some elegant
+society. A few years before our confinement the Zulu chief, Dinizulu,
+was banished within the rocky bounds of this island prison. This son
+of Cain had during his detention here been invited to all the
+fashionable parties and dances, and had been honoured with an
+invitation to the Governor's house. He was feted at dinners and public
+festivities--but of course it must be remembered that Dinizulu was a
+kaffir and we were only Boers. Fancy, my Afrikander brothers, a
+self-respecting English young lady consenting to dance with this
+uncivilised kaffir! Imagine, they allowed him to dine at the same
+table, and to drive in the same carriage with them! I do not know how
+this information strikes my readers, but I must say that when the
+Governor of the Island, an elderly gentleman named Sterndale, with 35
+years of the Indian Civil Service behind him, informed me that such
+had been the case, I was rendered speechless.
+
+I would not have it supposed, however, that we prisoners had any
+special ambition to attend balls and dinners, for we were not in the
+mood for festivities, and even had we desired we could hardly with
+propriety have appeared at these elegant boards and gatherings dressed
+in our shabby apparel.
+
+A number of the prisoners received permission from the authorities to
+pursue the various crafts and employments with which they were
+conversant, at the small daily wage of between sixpence and a
+shilling. This pay was a ridiculously small remuneration for the large
+amount of work which the men executed. A great diversity of trades
+were represented by us prisoners. One was a mason, another a farmer, a
+third an apothecary, while a fourth was a goldsmith, and so far did we
+go that one man was appointed caterer for the St. Helena Club.
+
+Months had now passed since I had been first brought a captive to this
+island prison, and it approached the middle of May. Persistent though
+rather vague reports about Peace continually reached us, but owing to
+the strictness of the censors, who had an exaggerated idea of their
+duties, any news from outside came to our anxious ears in very small
+pieces, and gave us a very meagre idea of what was happening in South
+Africa and other places outside. That we were all praying earnestly
+for Peace needs no telling, especially if I may mention that some of
+my comrades had been incarcerated on the island for two years and
+eight months. I cannot adequately tell how wearisome their long exile
+was to them.
+
+Just before I was liberated from confinement, our old antagonists, the
+3rd Battalion of "Buffs," under Colonel Brinckman, were detailed to
+the Island. This regiment had seen two years of active service in
+South Africa, and they were, therefore, soldiers who did not hold
+their enemies in contempt.
+
+I do not feel at this time, in view of the present tension of affairs,
+able to pursue my account further; but if encouraged by a sympathetic
+public to supplement this effort by a more detailed description of my
+imprisonment at St. Helena, I may in the near future again seek their
+indulgence.
+
+Meanwhile, I take what I hope will prove but a temporary leave of my
+readers, with the following explanatory details and critical comments
+on the general characteristics of the War.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIX.
+
+HOW WE BLEW UP AND CAPTURED TRAINS.
+
+
+Looking at the matter superficially it seems a very barbarous thing to
+derail and destroy trains with dynamite, but this was the only course
+left open to us, since large military stores were being continually
+brought in by the British from the coast. We honestly regretted that,
+owing to the derailment and destruction of trains, drivers, stokers,
+and often innocent passengers were launched into eternity. War is at
+best a cruel and illogical way of settling disputes, and the measures
+which the belligerent parties are sometimes compelled to take are of
+such a character that sentimentality does not enter into any of the
+calculations of the contending parties.
+
+It should not be necessary to assure my readers that we acted entirely
+within our rights in derailing and destroying trains. This was the
+only means we had of breaking the British lines of communication and
+of interrupting the conveyance of British troops and food.
+
+Moreover, we were more than justified in any act of train-derailment
+that we committed, by the instructions of Lord Wolseley as expressed
+in his handbook. In that well-known publication this distinguished
+soldier actually prescribes the use of dynamite, and even suggests the
+manner in which it may be employed to the best advantage. But although
+this train-wrecking was in every degree justifiable, I can assure the
+reader that we regarded it as a very unpalatable duty. I remember that
+when Lord Kitchener complained to me about the destruction of a
+certain train, I sent him a reply to the following effect:--
+
+     "That the blowing up and destroying of trains was as
+     distasteful to me as I hoped the burning of our houses was
+     to his Excellency; and that when we derailed trains we
+     entered upon the task with hearts quite as heavy as those
+     which I presumed weighed down his troops when they deported
+     our women and children from their homes to the Concentration
+     Camps."
+
+I shall now describe how we went to work in the matter of capturing
+trains. That this is not so easy a task as appears to be supposed I
+shall endeavour to show. Perhaps the best way to exemplify our method
+of procedure would be to describe a particular instance which occurred
+in March, 1901, between Belfast and Wonderfontein on the Delagoa Bay
+Railway. The two stations are approximately 12 miles apart. At either
+station a garrison had been established, and these were provided with
+two or three cannons and two armoured trains, which latter were held
+in readiness to proceed to any place within their immediate sphere of
+action when anything irregular occurred on the line. They were used
+besides to carry reinforcements and stores when needed. The armoured
+train was indeed a very important factor in the British military
+tactics, and one we had to take fully into account. The railway
+between these two stations was also guarded by blockhouses. Every
+morning the British soldiers carefully inspected their particular
+section of the railway before trains were despatched in any direction.
+The peril of running trains at night was speedily recognised, and of
+those that attempted the journey very few indeed escaped capture. On
+the particular occasion when the incident I am about to relate took
+place, we were encamped at Steenkampsbergen, enjoying a little
+remission from the arduous work in which we had been engaged. But we
+were not idle, and a field-cornetcy of approximately a hundred men was
+detailed to attempt the capture of a train. I personally reconnoitred
+the line, and sent a field-cornet with instructions to lay a mine at
+the most favourable spot for the distasteful operation we were about
+to perform.
+
+Our _modus operandi_ was to take a Martini-Henri rifle and saw off
+four inches before and behind the magazine, and then to so file the
+trigger guard that the trigger was left exposed. Two of the most
+intelligent burghers were despatched over night with this mutilated
+rifle and a packet of dynamite to the spot chosen for the mine, while
+two other burghers kept guard.
+
+Special precautions were taken to prevent footmarks being traced by
+the British patrols, the burghers walking for a considerable distance
+on the rails. The mine was prepared by carefully removing the stones
+from underneath the rails and as cautiously replacing them to again
+fill up the hole after the instruments of destruction had been
+adjusted. The trigger was placed in contact with the dynamite, and
+just enough above ground to be affected by the weight of the
+locomotive, but so little exposed as to be passed unnoticed. All
+surplus stones were carried off in a bag and great care was taken to
+conceal all traces of the mine. Gingerly and cautiously and without
+leaving any trace of their visit, the burghers now returned to their
+field-cornet and reported that all was in order. The field-cornetcy
+took up its position behind a small hill about a mile from the
+railway, and the men concealed themselves and their horses so
+ingeniously that their presence was not even suspected by the
+occupants of the blockhouse close by. According to our information the
+first train that was to pass next morning was the mail train carrying
+the European mails, and the prospect of capturing some newspapers and
+thus obtaining news of the outside world, from which we had been
+isolated for several months, filled us with pleasant expectation. I
+especially instructed the field-cornet to obtain newspapers, and to
+capture as much food and clothing as possible. It being the custom of
+the British garrisons to send scouts along the railway each day to
+examine the line, the next morning the track was as usual
+microscopically inspected, but the scouts failed to discover the trap
+which we had laid.
+
+Two outpost burghers lay at the top of the hill in the grass, and from
+their coign of vantage they had a clear view of the railway line.
+
+Ten o'clock in the morning arriving without a train appearing, my men
+began to grumble. In the excitement of this adventure they had omitted
+to prepare any food, and they were not now allowed to make fires,
+because the smoke evolved in culinary operations would have been
+immediately noticed by the enemy's outpost. We had therefore to remain
+hungry, or our well-laid plans would have been frustrated. Time passed
+on, and at 2 o'clock in the afternoon there were still no traces of
+the expected train. Our horses were saddled up and had been without
+food since the previous afternoon, and the poor animals also began to
+show their displeasure by whinnying and stamping their hoofs on the
+ground. The enemy's scouts had already inspected the line three or
+four times either by going over it on foot or by using a trolley.
+
+The afternoon was well advanced, and fears were growing in our minds
+that the mine had been discovered. I should say that it was Sunday
+afternoon, and that the mine had been laid on Saturday night. This
+train-wrecking scheme of ours was contrary to the practices of our
+nation, who regard all such acts on Sunday as a desecration of the
+Sabbath, but here I will again apply an English precept, "The better
+the day the better the deed."
+
+About four o'clock my outposts notified to me the approach of smoke,
+and shortly afterwards we beheld a train coming along. Every man of us
+mounted his horse, and we sat calmly in the saddle to observe the
+execution of our plan. We held our breaths. Perhaps the British had
+detected the mine and removed it, with the result that all our travail
+would be in vain; or they might possibly have sent a large force of
+soldiers with cannon on the train to give us a "good hiding" to boot.
+We watched breathlessly the progress of the train as it rapidly
+approached the fatal spot, and our hearts thumped wildly as we waited
+to see the success or failure of our enterprise. We had not long to
+wait, for with a tremendous shock the mine exploded, overturning the
+engine, and bringing the train to a standstill.
+
+We now proceeded to storm the train, but I saw the danger of advancing
+in a mass and shouted to my men to go carefully and spread out. When
+we were about 500 feet from the train the British fired a volley at
+us, but in so doing they merely displayed by their firing that there
+were not many riflemen on the train, and that those that there were
+shot badly and at random. Thus shown the weakness of the enemy, we
+stormed with renewed vigour, and on arriving at about a hundred yards
+distance we dismounted. The defenders did not face our fire long
+before displaying the white flag. I stopped fire at once and the
+train was ours.
+
+It was Lieutenant Crossby, of the Remount Department, who waved the
+white flag, and he now surrendered with about 20 "Tommies."
+
+Among the occupants of the train was an old major, and on his saying
+that he was very sick, and was on his way to the hospital, we
+immediately apologised for having disturbed him and for the delay
+which our little operation had caused him. There were eight sacks of
+European mail in the train and these we seized. We liberated the
+"Tommies" after disarming them. The Lieutenant in charge was the sole
+person detained as a prisoner-of-war, and he was added to six other
+British officers who were vegetating under our charge. Only a part of
+the train could be destroyed by us, as one section was occupied by
+women and children who were being transported to the Concentration
+Camps.
+
+On the following morning the field-cornet brought me the papers and
+said with a smile, "You see I have brought you what you required,
+General." I was overjoyed to obtain tidings from the outside world.
+The letters were distributed about the laager, and there was abundance
+of reading matter. I felt rather sorry for the "Tommies" who were
+being thus mercilessly robbed of their letters, but I consoled myself
+with the thought that our plight was quite as bad as theirs, for we
+Boers had had no communication from any members of our families for
+twelve months, and we felt justified in making the "Tommies" share our
+misfortune. The Boers did not, however, get much satisfaction out of
+other men's epistles, and even those who could read English gave up
+the operation after having perused one or two, and threw away the
+sackfuls of letters with disappointed faces.
+
+The capture of this train was our second success. Shortly before we
+had seized a train near Pan Station and had obtained a splendid haul.
+This particular train was carrying Christmas presents for the British
+soldiers, and we found a miscellaneous assortment of cakes, puddings
+and other delicacies. It was very amusing that we should be
+celebrating Christmas with cakes and puddings which had been intended
+for our opponents.
+
+A few weeks after we had captured the train carrying the European
+mails we made another attempt at train wrecking, this time at
+Wonderfontein Station. All, too, went well on this occasion until we
+charged, and the British opened fire upon us with cannon. We were not
+favoured this time by any sort of cover, but had to attack over open
+ground, exposing ourselves to the heavy fire of the guns and the
+fusillade of a hundred British riflemen. We had chanced this time upon
+an armoured train, and the trucks which bore the cannon had remained
+uninjured. The nut was rather too hard for us to crack, and failing to
+take the train by storm, we were compelled to retire, after having
+sustained the loss of three men, of whom one was my brave adjutant,
+Vivian Cogell. From what I have said I think my readers will agree
+that the capturing of a train is not always a "cake and ale"
+operation.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER L.
+
+HOW WE FED AND CLOTHED COMMANDOS.
+
+
+As early as March, 1901, we experienced the difficulty of adequately
+providing our commandos with the necessities of life. So far back as
+September, 1900, we had said good-bye at Hector's Spruit to our
+commissariat, and thence, no organized supplies existing, it may very
+well be imagined that the task of feeding the Boers was one of the
+most serious, and I may say disquieting, questions with which we had
+to deal. We were cut off from the world, and there was no means of
+importing stores. Of course the men who had been previously engaged on
+commissariat duty were enlisted in the fighting ranks so soon as they
+became available. From this date we had to feed ourselves on quite a
+different system. Each commandant looked after his own men and
+appointed two or three Boers whose special duty it was to ride round
+for provisions. It must not be supposed that we commandeered stores
+without signing receipts, and the storekeeper who supplied us was
+provided with an acknowledgment, countersigned by field-cornet,
+commandant, and general. On producing this document to our Government
+the holder received probably one-third of the amount in cash and the
+balance in Government notes, better known as "blue-backs." By this
+time a large portion of the Republic had been occupied by the British,
+all food-stuffs had been removed or destroyed, and most of the cattle
+had been captured. In consequence, everything in the shape of food
+became very scarce. Flour, coffee, sugar, &c., were now regarded as
+delicacies remembered from the far-away past. The salt supplies were
+especially low, and we feared that without salt we would not be able
+to live, or if we did manage to exist, that we might bring upon
+ourselves an epidemic of disease. Our fears in this respect were
+increased by the opinions expressed by our doctors, and we viewed our
+situation with considerable disquietude. Happily, as experience
+proved, our apprehensions were not in the least justified, for during
+the ten months that preceded my capture my burghers lived entirely
+without salt, and were at the time that I fell into the hands of the
+British as healthy as could be desired.
+
+Existing as we did solely on mealies and meat, potatoes and other
+vegetables which we might chance upon were regarded as luxuries
+indeed. Though it may appear strange it is nevertheless a fact that we
+were always fortunate enough to obtain adequate supplies of mealies
+and meat. We ground our mealies in coffee mills if no other mills were
+available. Mealie pap is cooked in a simple fashion, and occasionally
+boiling hot pots of it have fallen into the hands of the British. The
+British soldiers were not much better off than we were, for they were
+limited to bully-beef and "clinkers," though they frequently
+supplemented their larder by stores from Boer farms, such as fowls,
+pigs, &c., and had salt, sugar, and coffee in abundance. Their
+culinary utensils were not nearly so primitive as circumstances had
+reduced ours to.
+
+Many Boers did nothing but roam round with their cattle, and I confess
+that on many occasions they excited my admiration by the "slim" manner
+in which they evaded capture. Boers of this description were dubbed
+"bush-lancers," because they always sought the thickest bushes for
+sanctuary. These "bush-lancers" were of three kinds: There were some
+who sought by running away with their cattle to escape commando duty,
+others who hoped by retaining their cattle to obtain a large profit on
+them after the War was over, while others were so attached to their
+cattle that they would as lief have lost their own lives as have
+suffered their cattle to be taken. All three classes of "bush-lancers"
+contrived to supply us with adequate stores of food. Often, however,
+it was a difficult task to get the supplies out of them. When we asked
+them to sell us cattle we were frequently met by the reply that we had
+already taken their best cattle, that the British had taken some, and
+that the little they had left they could not do without. Of course
+we were not hindered in our purpose of obtaining food by such a reply,
+and we had sometimes to resort to force. We frequently gave these
+"bush-lancers" notice when danger threatened, but in most instances
+they were the first to discover danger, and gave us information as to
+the movements of the British.
+
+Everybody knows that it is a sore trial for the Boer to live without
+coffee, but this national beverage disappeared entirely from our menu,
+and its loss was only partly replaced by the "mealie coffee" which we
+set about preparing. The process was a very simple one. As soon as we
+off-saddled a hundred coffee mills were set to work. The mealie was
+roasted over a fire and afterwards treated in a similar manner to that
+by which the coffee bean is prepared. This "mealie coffee" made a very
+palatable drink, especially as we were frequently able to obtain milk
+to mix with it.
+
+We generally roasted our meat on the coals, as we found that without
+salt meat was most palatable when treated in this way. This is
+explained by the fact that the ashes of the fire contain a certain
+saline quality. We obtained mealies in all sorts of extraordinary
+ways. Sometimes we harvested it ourselves, but more often we found
+quantities hidden in caves or kraals. Mealies were also purchased from
+the natives. Every general did all that was possible to sow in the
+district in which he was operating, for the soil is very fruitful. We
+very seldom lacked mealies, although the British frequently destroyed
+the crops we had been growing. There can be no doubt that when an
+Afrikander feels hungry he will find something to eat.
+
+I have already mentioned that sometimes when the British swooped down
+upon us they carried away our culinary utensils, and a question may
+arise in the minds of my readers as to how we obtained others to
+replace them. Well, we were not particular in this connection. We
+found empty tea cans and empty bully-beef tins, and by manipulating
+barbed wire we speedily converted these crude materials into
+serviceable culinary implements. We preferred the tar cans because
+the beef tins often came to pieces after the solder with which they
+are fastened had been subjected to the heat of the fire. I remember
+that one day our parson gave as much as five shillings for an empty
+tar can.
+
+Several British convoys fell into our hands, but the food we found on
+them consisted usually of bully-beef and "clinkers," things which only
+dire necessity drove us Boers to eat. Sometimes to our great chagrin
+we discovered that all our fighting to capture a convoy was only
+rewarded by the sight of empty trucks or ones loaded with hay and
+fodder. If perchance we were fortunate enough to capture a camp or a
+fort we contented ourselves with removing such coffee and sugar as we
+could carry away on our pack mules.
+
+The clothing question was very perplexing. Whenever we were able to
+obtain it we bought canvas and converted it into trousers. Sheep skins
+we tanned and employed either for the purpose of making clothes or for
+patching. The hides of cattle and of horses that had died of disease
+were also tanned and employed for the making of boots. I may point out
+that no horse was specially slaughtered for this purpose or for the
+purpose of food. It was only General Baden-Powell and General White
+who slaughtered their horses to make sausages. Our best clothing
+supply, however, came from the British Army. Forgive me for saying so;
+I do not intend to be sarcastic. When we captured a convoy or a fort
+we always obtained a supply of clothes. At the beginning of the War we
+Boers had a strong prejudice against any garment which even faintly
+resembled khaki, but afterwards we grew indifferent and accepted khaki
+quite as readily as any other material. We generally compelled our
+prisoners to exchange clothes with us, and often derived much
+amusement from the disgusted look of the sensitive Briton as he walked
+away in the clothes of a ragged Boer. Imagine the spectacle! A dandy
+English soldier, clean shaven, with a monocle adorning one eye, his
+head covered with an old war-worn slouch hat of broad brim, and his
+body with ragged jacket and trousers patched with sheep-skin or yarn.
+
+I may say that none of this systematic plundering occurred in my
+presence. But such things were certainly done, and, after all, who can
+blame a ragged burgher for resorting to this means, however much to be
+deprecated, of clothing himself. Remember that the poor Boers were
+prepared to pay double the value of a suit of clothes, and were, so to
+speak, cut off from the world, while the British soldier had simply to
+go back to camp to obtain a new outfit. "Necessity knows no law."
+
+In concluding this chapter I must mention that the lack of matches was
+very sensibly felt. And when our stock of matches was exhausted we had
+to resort to the old-fashioned tinder-box and flint and steel. We
+found this expedient a very poor substitute for the lucifer match, but
+it was certainly better than nothing at all. Personally I experienced
+the greatest difficulty in getting fire from a flint and steel, and to
+do it generally took me quite twice as long as it took anybody else,
+and I bruised my hands considerably. This latter, however, is an
+experience to which every amateur is liable, and I was never much more
+than an amateur at anything.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LI.
+
+OUR FRIEND THE ENEMY.
+
+
+In venturing on a judgment of the British soldier, from a military
+point of view, I may be told that only the man who has had a military
+training is competent to express an opinion upon the individual
+capacity of a soldier, be he Boer or Briton. That may be true, as long
+as people only go theoretically to work; but after my two and a half
+years of practical experience, my military friends may be gracious
+enough to allow me to express my simple opinion concerning this
+important factor, which is undoubtedly fundamental to the efficiency
+of any army. At the same time I promise to be as impartial in my
+judgment of the Boer as of the Briton as a fighter, or, at least, as
+impartial as can be expected from a fallible Boer.
+
+As an officer in the Boer army I encountered the British soldier in
+many capacities and in many circumstances. The officer of the regular
+British troops was always prepared to notify that he had no high
+opinion of the officers of the irregular troops. At the same time the
+volunteer officer was equally ready to heartily reciprocate the
+compliment when it was passed upon him by the regular. To be honest, I
+must say that I specifically give preference to the regular officer,
+whom I regard as having more initiative, and as being more practical
+and less artificial than his colleague, the irregular Imperial
+officer. As regards courage I saw little to choose between them. I
+certainly can draw no great distinction, since I have never been in a
+position to fight on the same side as they.
+
+Generally speaking, I consider the British officer a very brave man,
+though I do think he sometimes is guilty of excess in that
+respect--that is to say, that he goes impractically to work, and, the
+young officer especially, is driven by ambition to do desperate and
+stupid things. To this foolhardiness may be largely attributed the
+heavy losses in officers suffered by the British Army in the War.
+
+Since I fell into British hands I have found the officers to whom I
+had been opposed on the battlefield treat me with the utmost
+magnanimity. After having been in personal contact with a considerable
+number of officers of various regiments I must plainly say that the
+British officer is to be encountered in only two species: He is either
+a gentleman or--the other. The officer of the first species is
+prepared to be charitable to his antagonists, and generally assumes an
+attitude of dignity and humanity; whereas the latter possesses all the
+attributes of the idiot, and is not only detestable in the eyes of his
+antagonists, but is also despised by his own _entourage_.
+
+There have been unfortunate British officers in this War, and there
+have been occasions when a disaster to the British has been
+immediately attributed to the acts or the tactics of the commanding
+officer. In this connection I will cite the regrettable instance of
+General Gatacre at Stormberg. I do not think this reverse is to be
+attributable to stupidity, or indiscretion, or cowardice.
+
+There is a great deal of luck attached to any adventure in the field,
+and ill-luck had pursued General Gatacre persistently. But undoubtedly
+where bad luck pursues a commander on more than one occasion it is not
+only expedient but necessary to dismiss such an officer, because his
+troops lose confidence in him, and their spirit is undermined. It has
+occurred in this War that incapable officers with good men and much
+luck have performed wonders.
+
+The British soldier, or "Tommy," who draws a very poor daily pay, for
+which he has to perform a tremendous lot of work, is, if not the most
+capable fighter, the most willing in all circumstances to offer
+himself as a sacrifice at the altar of duty, or of what he considers
+his duty, to his country. But if "Tommy" by any accident be asked to
+deviate from the usual routine in which he has been trained, he is a
+thoroughly helpless creature. This helplessness, in my opinion, is
+caused by exaggerated discipline, and by the system under which
+"Tommy" is not allowed to think for himself or to take care of
+himself, and this individual helplessness has undoubtedly been one of
+the shortcomings of the British soldier during the War. As regards the
+fortitude of the ordinary British soldier, I must repeat what I have
+already said--that he is a courageous, willing and faithful warrior,
+and that it is to his fidelity and patriotism that the British Army
+may attribute its success. I believe this to be a truism which will
+defy even criticism.
+
+There are, of course, exceptions to the courageous "Tommy." If I were
+to draw any comparison between the nationalities, I would say that of
+the soldiers with whom I was brought into contact on the battlefield,
+the Irishmen and the Scotsmen were better fighting men than the
+others. In regard to British soldiers generally, I would remark that,
+if they could add good shooting and ability to judge distances to
+their courage, then they would be perhaps perfect soldiers, and
+certainly be doubly dangerous to their foes.
+
+Taken as a whole "Tommy" is a very warm-hearted fellow, though as
+regards humanity some distinction must be drawn between the regular
+soldier and the enlisted volunteer, for the latter is less humane than
+the former. This was too clearly shown by his conduct in the
+transporting of women and children and in the plundering of
+prisoners-of-war. But nevertheless "Tommy," generally speaking,
+whether regular or irregular, was sympathetic with regard to our
+wounded, and showed great kindness of heart to a maimed opponent.
+
+I consider that the British infantry bore the brunt of the fighting of
+this War, especially in its earlier stages. Where the cavalryman
+failed to break through our lines the infantryman stepped in and paved
+the way for him. We found we could always better stand an attack from
+cavalry than from infantry, for this latter, advancing as it did in
+scattered formation, was much less visible to our marksmen. When
+advancing to the attack the British foot soldiers were wont to crawl
+along on their faces, seeking cover whenever that was available; thus
+advancing, and especially when they were supported by artillery, these
+men proved very difficult indeed to repulse. In my opinion a
+cavalryman has no chance against a good marksman when this latter
+occupies a good position and is able to await attack. The British
+cavalry horses are such stupendous creatures that given a good rifle
+and a keen eye it is difficult for one to miss them. They certainly
+make most excellent targets. It is my firm opinion that for usefulness
+the cavalryman cannot be compared to the mounted infantryman. Indeed,
+my experience during the last 14 months of my active participation in
+the War taught me that the British mounted infantry was a very hard
+nut to crack. Of course everything depended upon the quality of the
+man and the horse. A good rifleman and a horseman, especially if he
+were able to fire when mounted, was a very formidable foe. As for
+horses, I may say that I do not wonder that the great unwieldy horses
+for which the British cavalrymen have such a predilection cannot be
+compared to the Basuto ponies with which we went to work. The African
+pony has, in fact proved itself to be the only useful horse during the
+campaign. The British cavalryman might have used elephants with almost
+as much advantage as their colossal horses. Further, in my opinion,
+the cavalrymen might just as well be discontinued as a branch of an
+army, for there can be no doubt that the infantry, artillery, and
+mounted infantry will be the only really useful and, indeed,
+practicable soldiers of the future.
+
+While I was writing the above a book was placed in my hand written by
+Count Sternberg, with an introduction from the pen of Lieut-Colonel
+Henderson. I doubt very much whether Colonel Henderson read the
+manuscript of the Count's book before penning his introduction, for I
+cannot suppose that he holds such small-minded and fantastic ideas
+regarding South Africa as the Count expresses. In this memorable work
+some extraordinary tales are told of the galloping and trotting feats
+of the Basuto ponies. The confession that the Count makes that he did
+not care upon which side he fought so long as he fought is indeed
+extraordinary. That he ever fought at all the Boer officers who knew
+him strongly doubt, and none of them will wonder that the Count's
+bitterest experience in South Africa was that on one occasion some
+naughty German ambulance people deprived him of a box of lager-beer.
+This and other amateurs have already overwhelmed the reading public
+with so much so-called criticism about this War, that I venture upon
+delicate ground in offering my opinion. I will confine myself to
+commenting upon what I saw and I know personally, for I know nothing
+about the topography of Europe and I am not acquainted either with the
+composition of the European armies or with their manner of fighting.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LII.
+
+THE FIGHTING BOER AND HIS OFFICER.
+
+
+There is great difference between the relations of a Boer officer to
+his following and the relation of a European officer to his men, for
+while in the former case no social distinction between the two exists,
+in the latter the officers and men are drawn from two distinct
+branches of society. The Boers in their normal state are independent
+farmers differing only in wealth. One Boer might be the possessor of
+perhaps ten farms and be worth a quarter of a million, while another
+might be but a poor "bywoner" and not worth a hundred pence, yet the
+two men would occupy the same rank in time of war.
+
+Immediately martial law is promulgated the entire Boer adult male
+population is amenable for military service. In the ranks of a
+commando one finds men of every profession, from the advocate and
+doctor to the blacksmith and plumber. From these ranks the officers
+are chosen, and a man who one day is but an ordinary soldier might be
+the next promoted to the rank of field-cornet or commandant, and might
+possibly in a few days attain the position of a General.
+
+The officer and the men that follow him have in most cases been drawn
+from the same district, and they know one another personally. If,
+therefore, a Boer falls in battle, whatever be his rank, his loss is
+keenly felt by his comrades in arms, for they, having known him of
+old, lose a personal friend by his death.
+
+The Boer officers can be divided into two classes--the brave and the
+cowardly. The brave officer fights whenever he gets the chance,
+whereas his chicken-hearted brother always waits for orders and makes
+elaborate plans to escape fighting. It is quite easy in the Boer Army
+to succeed in the course adopted by the latter class, and it not
+infrequently occurred that the Boers preferred this class of officer
+to his more reckless comrade, for they argued--"We like to serve
+under him because he will keep us out of danger." And just as the
+officers could be divided so could the men.
+
+In this campaign it was noticeable that during the last stages of the
+struggle the younger officers replaced the older ones. Many of these
+latter got tired of the War and surrendered to the British, others
+were removed from their commands as being too old-fashioned in their
+methods and incapable of adapting themselves to the altered
+circumstances. Moreover, we found that the younger officers were more
+industrious, more mischievous, and more reckless. Of course, when I
+speak of the young Boer officers I do not intend to convey the idea of
+children of seventeen to twenty years of age, such as I have sometimes
+encountered among the junior officers of the British Army.
+
+The life training of the burghers in horsemanship and musketry stood
+them in good stead. I may say that a Boer even early in life is a good
+horseman and marksman. He does not shoot without purpose for he can
+generally estimate at a glance the distance at which he is shooting,
+and he has been taught economy in the use of ammunition. The burgher
+knows perfectly well how valuable to him is his horse, and he is thus
+constrained to use his knowledge in carefully tending it; moreover,
+considerable affection exists, in many instances, between the master
+and his beast.
+
+Taken all round the Boer is a brave man, but his attitude on the
+battlefield is influenced very largely by the character of his
+officer. And being brave, the Boer is, in the main, sympathetic
+towards prisoners-of-war, and especially towards such as are wounded.
+Possessing bravery and humanity the Boer has besides what the British
+"Tommy Atkins" lacks, the power of initiative. The death of an officer
+does not throw the ranks of a Boer commando into chaos, for everybody
+knows how to proceed. It must not be supposed, however, that the death
+of an officer does not exercise a certain amount of demoralising
+influence. What I wish to impress is that the members of a commando
+can act independently of the officer and can exercise their own
+judgment.
+
+As regards the fortitude of the Boers, I can best illustrate it by
+pointing to the fact that it frequently happened that having been
+repulsed with loss one day we attacked our conqueror with better
+success the next. We often assumed the aggressive when a favourable
+opportunity offered itself, and did not always wait to be shot at.
+Frequently we held out for hours notwithstanding severe punishment.
+
+I think even the bitterest of our enemies will allow that the Boers
+who remained faithful to their country to the last were animated with
+noble principles. Were it not that so many of my compatriots lacked
+that which is so largely characteristic of the British soldier, the
+quality of patriotism and the intense desire to uphold the traditions
+of his nationality, I would ask what people in the world would have
+been able to conquer the Afrikander? I say this with great
+deliberation, and I do not believe that any impartial compatriot will
+attempt to deny the truth of the statement.
+
+The question suggests itself how would the English have fared had
+they been placed in a plight similar to that to which we found
+ourselves reduced? Supposing that we Boers had taken London and other
+large towns, and had driven the English people before us and compelled
+them to hide in the mountains with nothing upon which to subsist but
+mealie pap and meat without salt, with only worn and rent clothes as a
+covering, their houses burnt, and their women and children placed in
+Concentration Camps in the hands of the enemy. How would the English
+have acted under such circumstances? Would they not have surrendered
+to the conqueror? However that may be, one thing is certain, that the
+patriotism of a nation is only to be learned when put to such a severe
+test as this.
+
+In his book, "The Great Boer War," Dr. Conan Doyle has, on the whole,
+gained the admiration of the Afrikanders by his moderate language. But
+here and there, where he has been carried away by his English
+sympathies to use bitter and libellous language with respect to the
+Boers, that admiration has been changed into contempt. Dr. Conan Doyle
+attempts to defend the British Army by abusing the Boers. Abuse is
+not argument. To prove that Van der Merwe is a thief does not
+exonerate Brown from the crime of theft if he have been stealing.
+
+The author describes the shooting of Lieutenant Neumeyer, for refusing
+to surrender and for attempting to escape from his captors as murder,
+and the shooting of kaffir spies it also glibly described as murder;
+whereas, the incident at Frederickstad, where a number of Boers were
+shot dead by the British because they continued firing after hoisting
+the white flag, is justified by him. Of course, the execution of
+Scheepers is also justified by the author. I object to such things
+appearing in a book, because they must tend to sow anew the seeds of
+dissension, hate and bitterness, and these have been planted
+sufficiently deep without being nurtured by Dr. Conan Doyle. Neither
+Boer nor Briton can speak impartially on this question, and both would
+be better employed in attempting to find out the virtues rather than
+the vices in one another's characters.
+
+Whoever in the future governs South Africa, the two races must live
+together, and when the day of Peace arrives and the sword is sheathed,
+let us hold out our hands to each other like men, forgetting the past
+and remembering the motto--
+
+  ="Both Nations have Done their Duty."=
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+_Some Correspondence between the British and Boer Military Officials._
+
+
+                                   Lyndenburg,
+                                       _20th August, 1901_.
+
+ASSISTANT COMMANDANT-GENERAL B. J. VILJOEN.
+
+SIR,
+
+I have the honour to enclose herewith a copy of a communication
+received from Lord Kitchener. _Begins_:--With reference to your letter
+of the 10th August on the subject of employment of natives, I have the
+honour to inform you, as I have already informed Commandant-General
+Botha, that natives are employed by me as scouts and as police in
+native districts, especially in the low country, where white men, if
+not by long residence inured to the climate, suffer much from fever.
+
+I would point out to you that in numerous cases armed natives have
+been employed by the burgher forces, particularly in the commando of
+General Beyers, and that armed natives have frequently been found in
+the commandos fighting against us. I do not wish to bring the native
+population of the country into this quarrel between British and Boers.
+
+I have invariably told the natives that, although I could not forbid
+their defending themselves if attacked by burghers, they were on no
+account to attack. I am convinced that but for the strict orders which
+I have issued on this subject, the hatred engendered by the wholesale
+slaughter of unarmed natives by the burghers during this War would
+have led to a native rising, with deplorable results to the Boer race.
+
+It must also be within your knowledge that most of the rifles in
+possession of M'pisana's natives were sold to them by men of your own
+commando when moving from Hector's Spruit to Pietersburg last year.
+
+In answer to your questions regarding the British prisoners now in
+your hands, the persons named are enlisted soldiers in His Majesty's
+Army, and have been acting under my orders. They should be treated as
+prisoners-of-war.--_Ends._
+
+  I have the honour to be, Sir,
+         Your obedient servant,
+                           A. CURRAN,
+                        _Lieutenant-Colonel
+                      Commanding Lydenburg_.
+
+
+                                        _23rd July, 1901._
+
+TO HIS EXCELLENCY LORD KITCHENER,
+  _Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's Troops in South Africa, Pretoria._
+
+YOUR EXCELLENCY,
+
+I am compelled to emphatically protest against the methods of your
+officers. Last April your Excellency's brother, General W. Kitchener,
+took our ambulance veldt-hospital, near Roos Senekal, and only after
+much trouble were a number of the vehicles restored to us. On that
+occasion, General W. Kitchener refused to return to me the slaughter
+oxen belonging to the field-hospital, saying that we could steal such
+oxen from the kaffirs. In consequence of those acts, my wounded were
+rendered without food, and robbed of means of transportation.
+
+Now, again, a column of your troops, which was proceeding on the 9th
+or 10th inst. from Machadodorp across Witpoort, attacked a Red Cross
+hospital occupied by sick women and children, notwithstanding the
+patients were in charge of a certificated nurse, named Mrs. W. Botha.
+One of your officers, misled by a former burgher, who is now
+treacherously fighting against his own people, declared that the Red
+Cross was not genuine, and burned all the buildings and food found
+therein, placed the patients on open trucks, and removed them.
+
+The first night of their deportation the sick patients and nurses
+slept in a camp at Steelpoortdrift, under the trolley waggons and in
+the bitter cold, and although the women and children were lamenting
+and weeping the entire night, their complaints were not listened to. I
+have declarations testifying to the most inhuman, heartless, and cruel
+maltreatment committed towards helpless women and children on this
+occasion.
+
+Probably, your Excellency knows nothing about these incidents, and as
+regards the _bona-fides_ of our ambulances, I wish to point out to you
+that British officers depend largely on the assertions of kaffirs, and
+especially on the allegations of traitors, and on the slightest
+provocation ignore the rights of the Red Cross.
+
+The column referred to also burned, and plundered and destroyed many
+houses at Steenkampsberg, Witpoort and many other places, without
+there being one single shot fired in the neighbourhood by our
+burghers. And all this was allowed to occur in spite of your
+Excellency's promises at the meeting of the Commandant-General Botha
+at Middelburg.
+
+Latterly, it has often occurred that British ambulances have fallen
+into my hands. At Bethel, three doctors and an ambulance attached to
+General Plumer's force fell into my hands. Near Vaalkop, Major
+Morris's ambulance, and near Belfast an ambulance, attached to your
+brother's forces, were in my power, but I always regarded and treated
+ambulances flying the Red Cross as neutral and humane institutions,
+and I even liberated the soldiers employed to attend your wounded.
+
+And not a single one of these doctors or attendants was provided with
+a certificate, and I have invariably accepted their word that they
+were legally attached to the Red Cross. But what is the attitude of
+the British officers towards us?
+
+I trust your Excellency will give me a satisfactory reply to these
+complaints, and issue orders to remedy them.
+
+  I am,
+
+      Your Excellency's most obedient servant,
+
+                                          B. J. VILJOEN.
+
+                               _Assistant Commandant-General._
+
+
+                                   District Lydenburg,
+                                        _8th September, 1901_.
+
+TO HIS EXCELLENCY, LORD KITCHENER,
+  _Commanding the British Troops in South Africa, Pretoria_.
+
+YOUR EXCELLENCY,
+
+I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's letter
+to General Blood, dated Pretoria, 31st of August, from which I
+understand that your Excellency essays to justify the use of the white
+flag for the dissemination of proclamations through our lines, in
+connection with which your Excellency offers arguments which I do not
+hesitate to say are utterly untenable.
+
+Firstly, it is asserted by your Excellency that the sending of these
+documents addressed to individuals is justified under the white flag;
+secondly, that your Excellency considers it your Excellency's duty to
+render us conversant with the contents of your Excellency's
+proclamations in order that we shall be informed what our fate shall
+be after the 15th September next, &c., &c., &c.
+
+With regard to the first argument introduced, I regret that I must
+dispute your Excellency's contention that this is legal, and I am
+assured that an impartial court would declare it as illegal. I enclose
+herewith the copy of a letter from General W. Kitchener, dated 1st
+September last, in answer to a complaint of my _locum tenens_,
+"Fighting"-General Muller, with respect to the taking and removing by
+the said General W. Kitchener's troops of our ambulance and hospital
+attendants, from which letter it will appear that General Kitchener
+considers the sending of a white flag despatch concerning important
+and serious irregularities as "trivial communications." How am I to
+understand British officers?
+
+Your Excellency thinks that it is permissible to employ the white flag
+to send pernicious and misleading proclamations within our lines,
+whereas General W. Kitchener warns us not to employ the white flag
+when we are compelled to complain concerning the British Army where
+the latter removes and robs us of our ambulances, as occurred in
+connection with the ambulance of Dr. Neethling, which was removed to
+Middelburg, and after being relieved of food, medical instruments, a
+number of vehicles, eight mules, and 10 oxen, was sent back.
+
+With regard to the second matter, your Excellency, I should say,
+appears to display as keen an interest in our ultimate fate as
+Messrs. Dillon and Labouchere, and, if I possessed any prophetic
+faculty, I should probably be better able to appreciate your
+Excellency's interest in ourselves.
+
+In the letter referred to above, your Excellency mentions a letter
+sent to his Honour, Commandant-General Botha, in which your Excellency
+asserts that certain murders committed by us filled the British public
+with horror, and that these murders provoked Mr. Chamberlain's remark
+"that the acts of the Boers justified the description of marauding
+ruffianisms." I cannot believe such acts have been committed by us or
+ours with the knowledge of our officers, or that any such acts will be
+committed. It is, of course, impossible for me to discuss this matter
+further, as I am ignorant of the circumstances.
+
+With reference to your Excellency's contention that the destruction of
+our enemy's railway lines is unjustifiable, I can only say that such
+action is not only regarded as legal by all military authorities, but
+that in a handbook published by Sir Garnet Wolseley circumstantial
+instructions are given in this connection for interrupting hostile
+supplies. As your Excellency rightly remarks, we, as soldiers, must
+take the rough with the smooth, and not complain petulantly when in
+certain cases a less gentle treatment is dealt out. Military
+operations, such as the blowing up of railway lines, are as unpleasant
+to us as I hope the destruction of our houses, the burning of our
+food, and the deportation of our families may be to your Excellency.
+
+  I have the honour to be,
+               Your Excellency's obedient servant,
+                                            B. J. VILJOEN,
+
+                                   _Assistant Commandant-General,
+                                     Transvaal Burgher Forces._
+
+
+                                   District Lydenburg,
+                                        _21st September, 1901_.
+
+TO HIS HONOUR GENERAL SIR BINDON BLOOD, _Middelburg_.
+
+YOUR HONOUR,
+
+I am compelled to protest against the methods of one of your columns,
+which during the past week has been operating round about Roos
+Senekal, and which has burnt and destroyed the food of a number of
+families which it did not deport. This is surely a most inhuman
+action, inasmuch that the families mentioned are now in a destitute
+position. The families in question are those of Mr. Hans Grobler of
+Klip River, and others at Tondeldoos. I should also like to know why
+Dr. Manning and his ambulance and wounded have been removed from
+Tondeldoos, notwithstanding former assurances that the Red Cross
+should be regarded as neutral and left unmolested.
+
+  I have the honour to be,
+              Your Honour's obedient servant,
+
+                                    B. J. VILJOEN.
+                           _Assistant Commandant-General._
+
+
+                                   Head Quarters, Pretoria,
+                                        _26th October, 1901_.
+
+TO GENERAL BEN VILJOEN.
+
+SIR,
+
+I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 8th of
+October, in which you complain of attacks upon your burghers, and the
+families and the property of your burghers, by kaffirs. You specify
+two particular incidents in your letter:--
+
+     (_a_) The incident at Wit River on the 22nd September, 1901.
+
+     (_b_) The burning and plundering of homesteads at Ohrigstad.
+
+I have investigated both cases and find that the facts are as
+follows:--
+
+     (_a_) In the first case a small body of mounted troops in
+     charge of an officer attempted to capture a number of Boer
+     waggons near Wit River on the 22nd September. A fight took
+     place, and during the battle a band of kaffirs, of whose
+     proximity His Majesty's troops had no knowledge, approached
+     from another direction and commenced shooting on the
+     burghers. This being observed, His Majesty's troops were
+     withdrawn in order to avert any appearance of co-operation
+     with the kaffirs, and a report in connection with the
+     incident was immediately sent in.
+
+     (_b_) In the second case Colonel Parke, the commanding
+     officer of His Majesty's troops in the district named,
+     reports that there is no foundation for the report supplied
+     to you. On the 3rd of September all families in Ohrigstad
+     district were removed by him. Harber's burgher commando was
+     present, but took no part in the operation. On this occasion
+     it was reported by a Boer woman that a number of kaffirs had
+     appeared there the day previous and had plundered the
+     village of Ohrigstad, but the kaffirs were acting
+     independently of His Majesty's troops, and no further
+     information as regards the matter is available except the
+     report as stated above.
+
+In conclusion, I think that it is not improbable that kaffirs have
+made attacks in the districts named by you, but I can only attribute
+these attacks to the action of your own burghers, _i.e._, to the
+shooting and robbing of kaffirs, and the enmity thereby awakened among
+the kaffirs by such maltreatment. While at the same time they (the
+burghers) have supplied the kaffirs, by manner of sale, of weapons and
+ammunition wherewith the attacks were made concerning which you
+complain. I emphatically deny that they (the kaffirs) were armed or
+incited by His Majesty's troops.
+
+  I have the honour to be,
+                 Your obedient servant,
+
+                                        KITCHENER,
+                                 _Commander-in-Chief in
+                                      South Africa_.
+
+
+                                   District Lydenburg,
+                                        _6th November, 1901._
+
+TO HIS EXCELLENCY LORD KITCHENER,
+  _Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's Forces in South Africa._
+
+YOUR EXCELLENCY,--
+
+I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's
+letter of the 26th October, containing a denial of certain acts
+committed by armed kaffirs in the neighbourhood of Wit River and
+Ohrigstad.
+
+With respect to the first incident, _i.e._, that at Wit River, I can
+only say that it appeared to us not only strange, but even improbable
+that a band of armed kaffirs could attack simultaneously, and in
+evident harmony with His Majesty's troops, and that neither party
+should have any cognisance of the other's presence.
+
+If it were the first occasion that His Majesty's troops had acted in
+conjunction and with the assistance of kaffirs to make raids on the
+burghers, then His Excellency's explanation would be feasible.
+
+But, alas, our bitter experience in this War is otherwise. I shall,
+therefore, be causing your Excellency no surprise if I contend that
+your Excellency's explanation is untenable. As to what occurred at
+Ohrigstad, I adhere to what I said, and to my letter of the 8th of
+October, and I regret to observe that Colonel Parke misled your
+Excellency by giving you an inaccurate account of the true facts.
+
+To assist Colonel Parke's memory I may state that the same night he
+left Lydenburg on his way to Kruger's Post, the Boer, Harber, with his
+band of traitors, proceeded through Klipkloof and across
+Joubertshoogte, accompanied by 100 armed kaffirs, and passed
+Field-Cornet Zwart's farm at Uitkomst, where the plundering of Boer
+families and homesteads was commenced. This was done at the explicit
+instructions and in the presence of the said Harber.
+
+The same afternoon Harber was met by the forces under Colonel Parke,
+at Rustplaats, whence they conjointly withdrew to Kruger's Post Nek.
+
+The next morning Colonel Parke once more proceeded to Ohrigstad, where
+our families were again plundered and deported, and the homesteads
+raided and burned.
+
+Accordingly, only the last paragraph of Colonel Parke's report is
+correct; and if your Excellency would take the trouble to question
+and examine the families now in your hands--as requested in my former
+letter--your Excellency would easily ascertain the true facts.
+
+Since I construe from your Excellency's letter that Harber and his
+corps are recognised as attached to His Majesty's forces, His
+Majesty's officers must be held responsible for the acts of the said
+Harber and his kaffir hordes.
+
+It is not to be assumed that Harber and his corps, all armed, and
+attired in khaki, only accompanied His Majesty's Army as spectators or
+military attaches.
+
+In conclusion, I observe that your Excellency repeats the allegation
+that kaffirs are promiscuously shot, robbed, and maltreated by our
+burghers, and that arms have been sold to the kaffirs by our burghers;
+and that you trace the hostile attitude of the kaffirs towards us to
+these causes.
+
+As regards the hostile attitude of the kaffir races I can refer your
+Excellency to a letter from his Honour, General Louis Botha, on the
+same subject, wherein it is notified, _inter alia_, that prior to the
+arrival of British troops in these districts, and in Swaziland, the
+kaffir races, without exception, maintained a pacific attitude, a fact
+which speaks for itself.
+
+I must again repeat that the allegation that burghers sold arms to
+the kaffirs is, so far as I know, untrue, and that this is merely one
+of the many baseless accusations which have emanated from traitors and
+unscrupulous individuals, and are offered by them as "important
+information" to the British officers.
+
+That kaffirs were provided by His Majesty's officers with arms can be
+proved by intercepted documents, and I enclose herewith an extract
+from the diary of Sergeant Buchanan, of Steinacker's Horse, from which
+your Excellency will perceive that Lieutenant Gray, an officer of His
+Majesty's Army, did personally supply kaffirs with arms and
+ammunition.
+
+  I have the honour to be,
+                 Your Excellency's obedient servant,
+                                            B. J. VILJOEN.
+                                  _Assistant Commandant-General._
+
+
+                                   District of Lydenburg,
+                                        _7th November, 1901._
+
+THE OFFICER COMMANDING LYDENBURG,
+
+DEAR SIR,--
+
+I shall be obliged by your bringing the following to the attention of
+Lord Kitchener, namely, that on 29th October last the residence of a
+certain D. Coetzee, on the Vrischgewaard Farm, in this district, was
+surrounded during the night of that day, or approximately at that
+time, by His Majesty's troops, assisted by a number of kaffirs and
+traitors, and that only the youth Abraham Coetzee, occupied the house,
+and that this youth, while attempting to escape, was shot through the
+stomach. Coetzee was, furthermore, left in a shed, and robbed of all
+his personal goods, and even his clothes.
+
+The following day I found him still alive, but he died shortly after.
+He declared that in the presence of white British troops he had been
+robbed, knocked about, and kicked by armed kaffirs. I know beforehand
+that the officer responsible for this noble and civilised act will
+attempt to pervert the truth, because I am assured that His Excellency
+cannot sanction this method of warfare. But this case is personally
+known to me, and in my opinion, the declaration of a dying man is
+worthy of credit.
+
+  I have the honour to be,
+
+               Your very obedient servant,
+
+                                       B. J. VILJOEN.
+
+
+                                   On the Veldt,
+                                        _11th November, 1901._
+
+TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE MARQUIS OF SALISBURY,
+  _Prime Minister of His British Majesty's Government_.
+
+YOUR EXCELLENCY,
+
+Whereas His Honour the Commandant-General, and other commanding
+officers, have already more than once, without any result, protested
+to the Commanding Officer of your Forces in South Africa against the
+employment of savage aborigines in this War, and notwithstanding that
+we have repeatedly assured your military authorities here that on our
+side every effort is being made to keep kaffirs entirely outside this
+War, this Government is of opinion that it is its duty to earnestly
+and solemnly protest to your Government, as we hereby do, and at the
+same time to point out and direct its attention to the horrible and
+cruel consequences of this manner of warfare.
+
+Former protests sent in to your military authorities here in this
+connection have met with the reply that such kaffirs were only
+employed as unarmed scouts, though we have proof that they actually
+fight against us, and pursue their destructive methods while in the
+ranks of your forces, and as isolated commandos directed by British
+officers.
+
+These kaffirs, being ignorant of the rules of civilised warfare, have
+not hesitated on various occasions and even in the presence of your
+troops, to kill prisoners-of-war in a barbarous fashion. This is only
+one of the evil consequences resulting from the employment of
+barbarians in war, because it has also occurred that defenceless women
+and children have been made prisoners by these wild ruffians, and
+removed to kaffir kraals for detention until they were handed over to
+the British military authorities.
+
+This Government is prepared, in case the above allegations are denied,
+to send your Excellency a large number of sworn declarations
+confirming the facts.
+
+  We have the honour to be,
+              Your Excellency's most obedient servants,
+
+                                   S. W. BURGER
+                           (_Acting State President_).
+
+                                   F. W. REITZ
+                           (_Acting State Secretary_).
+
+
+                              Army Headquarters, Pretoria, South Africa.
+                                        _1st December, 1901._
+
+SIR,
+
+I observe from a communication which his Honour Schalk Burger has
+requested me to forward to Lord Salisbury, and which I have so
+forwarded, that his Government complains of the treatment of the women
+and children in the camps which we have established for their
+reception.
+
+Everything has been done which the conditions of a state of war
+allowed to provide for the well-being of the women and children; but
+as you complain of that treatment and must, therefore, be in a
+position to provide for them, I have the honour to inform you that all
+women and children at present in our camps who are willing to leave
+will be sent to your care, and I shall be happy to be informed where
+you desire that they should be handed over to you.
+
+I have addressed a reply to His Honour Schalk Burger in the above
+sense.
+
+  I have the honour to be, Sir,
+                      Your obedient servant,
+
+                                        KITCHENER,
+                             _General Commanding-in-Chief,
+                                      South Africa_.
+
+
+
+
+TO GENERAL C. DE WET.
+
+
+
+
+MESSRS. HOOD, DOUGLAS & HOWARD'S ANNOUNCEMENTS.
+
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+
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+
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+
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+
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