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diff --git a/25049-8.txt b/25049-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fdc9638 --- /dev/null +++ b/25049-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10542 @@ +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 minutiĉ 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 (Cĉsar'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 mediĉval 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. + + * * * * * + +Famous Fighting Regiments. + +By GEORGE HOOD + +PRICE ONE SHILLING AND SIXPENCE. + + * * * * * + +=Lord Salisbury.= The Record Premiership of Modern Times. By ARTHUR +MEE. Illustrated, 2s. 6d. + + _The Globe:_ "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." + + +=General Sir Hector Macdonald,= K.C.B., D.S.O., A.D.C. The Story of a +Romantic Career. By DAVID CAMPBELL. Illustrated, 1s. 6d. + + _The Bookman:_ "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." + + _The Western Morning News:_ "This is an admirable work. It + is a soul-stirring narrative--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." + + _The Queen:_ "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." + + +=China and Her Mysteries,= By ALFRED STEAD, F.R.C.I. 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