ON THE BANKS OF THE LITTLE CALEDON
The officers agreed among themselves that General Hasebroek should
remain at Nauwpoort to defend the nek, whilst the men of Harrismith were
ordered to go to the footpath near the house of Mr. Willem Bester, in
order thus to afford the commandos a chance of coming out from behind
the mountains somewhere near Oldenburg or Witzieshoek. We therefore
advanced on Friday to the south of the Roodebergen, up along the Little
Caledon. How lavishly does Nature reveal her magnificence here.
Awe-inspiring mountains rise into the air with every variety of jagged
rock, crowning the heights now tinted red by the winter grass. The
sharpest contrast of light and shadow strike the eye from the barren
masses of sandstone, and the deep, dark ravines. One feels
overpowered--everything is so colossal! It is in such a place and in
sight of such mountain views that one must feel oneself a stranger and
sojourner upon this earth of ours. Ay, a stranger, for one cannot claim
as one's possession what Nature so liberally offers.
We rode on with this grandeur all around, and arrived at the farm of
Willem Bester shortly after noon. There we off-saddled at a large
wheatstack, whilst a number of men were sent as a patrol to the top of
the mountain where the footpath crosses. I was lying on the straw with
the others, when General Roux arrived there. From him I learnt much
that surprised me, and which by no means served to cheer me. He told me
that, after the President and General De Wet had shortly before passed
through Slabbert's Nek, the English had broken through there. This had
happened in the previous week. And now the enemy had also taken
Fouriesburg. There were still burghers in position on this side of that
town, but the majority had no intention of fighting any longer.
Everything was demoralised. Moreover, nobody knew who was in command: he
or General Marthinus Prinsloo. The consequence was that there was no
cohesion. Every Commandant acted as he thought fit. Then there were very
many who were fleeing with their cattle and waggons, and it seemed as if
all those people cared about was how to save their cattle or waggons, or
even some little cart. He saw plainly, that as long as there existed
such an immense waggon-laager as that which now accompanied the
commandos, and as long also as they were encumbered with women and
children, nothing could be accomplished. Under these circumstances he
considered that, first of all, somebody should be elected who would be
acknowledged as Commander-in-Chief. He thought an armistice of six days
should be asked of the English in order to enable us to consult our
Government. He had convoked a meeting of a Council of War for this
purpose, and the officers were to assemble that same night.
We moved up somewhat nearer to the footpath and spent the night at the
foot of precipitous mountains in a beautiful kloof. Here we learned that
our waggon-laager, for the safety of which we had been uneasy, was still
at large and was encamped at Groendraai. That night the officers held a
lengthy meeting, and General Marthinus Prinsloo was elected
Chief-Commandant. His election was, however, not final, on account of
the absence of some of the officers who had still to vote. It was
further resolved, _mirabile dictu_, by 17 votes against 13, to surrender
to the English forces! But the Council of War was undoubtedly startled
by this resolution, and immediately brought it under revision, resolving
anew that they would ask the enemy for an armistice of six days for the
purpose of being enabled to consult with the Government. They further
resolved that if this were not to be acceded to by the enemy, a
commission of officers should reconnoitre the positions, and if these
were found to be untenable, they would then continue fighting in the
direction of Witzieshoek with the object of breaking through and passing
out of the mountains there. The following day we proceeded. I met the
Revs. J. J. T. Marquard, M. Heyns, and P. A. Roux, not far from the
house of Mr. W. Bester. They were in no very hopeful mood--a fact which
did not tend to cheer me, as the Rev. J. J. T. Marquard, especially, had
never been otherwise than buoyant.
I could not remain with them long, because I had to proceed with my
commando. What beautiful views of kloof, valley, and mountain presented
themselves everywhere! Sometimes an immense rock would rise
perpendicularly a thousand feet into the air, from the road along which
we were marching. Then we would cross a hill and could look down upon
the Little Caledon far below, winding its way through a ravine. How this
little stream seemed to soothe and comfort, and soften the weirdness of
the grandeur. Now it lay still and calm, caressed by lily and bulrush,
where it was for a moment held captive by a ledge of rocks stretching
from bank to bank; then again it dashed on as if impatient at being
impeded in its course by the great boulders which had fallen into its
bed from above. But it was not the rivulet,--it was the mountains that
held you spellbound and constrained you to think of nothing else.
How sharp was the contrast between the majestic calm of the eternal
mountains and the unrest of the men that swarmed below! Everyone kept
pressing on. Forward, ever forward! Whither? No one knew whither; but
everybody felt himself enclosed within the mountains, as if in the
horrid embrace of a nightmare and his only wish was to escape. To
escape! no matter whither! and then? This I asked myself, when we had
got beyond these mountains, should we then bravely march against the
enemy on the plains? Alas! I saw but few indications of it. Yet could I
blame this confused multitude? No, they were as sheep without a
shepherd. It was then, if ever, that a _man_--ONE MAN was wanted!
Unconsciously the multitude cried for a Leader, and--the Leader did not
come!
Long trains of waggons and carts, large herds of cattle and flocks of
sheep were driven on with feverish haste. Everywhere one could mark the
signs of uneasiness and fear upon the faces of those who were fleeing
there. They anxiously inquired of such persons as came from the
direction of Fouriesburg or Nauwpoort, where the English were, and
whether they might soon be expected.
What grieved me beyond measure was the sight of so many women and
children amongst those who were thus endeavouring to escape. Here one
might see mothers with babies in their arms, and little ones clinging to
their skirts, jumping over the stepping-stones of a river-ford or wading
through the water whilst the waggons were struggling across. Yonder
again there were others baking bread in ant-hills. Here again you saw
girls in scanty clothing, gathering fuel or drawing water, while there
was a short halt for the purpose of preparing a meal, and letting the
weary oxen rest and graze. Poor women, poor children! Why should they be
there?
We rode on, and about noon passed the beautiful farm "Golden Gate"
belonging to Mr. Jan van Reenen. He treated the burghers with great
kindness, and gave each one a bundle of forage for his horse.
In the afternoon we proceeded on our journey, and when the sun set we
stood upon the mountains that look down upon Oldenburg.
Many a time, when visiting as clergyman of the district the members of
my congregation there, I had gazed enrapt on the beautiful view of this
fruitful plain surrounded by a circle of lordly mountains; and now
again, in spite of melancholy thoughts, the charm of the scene entranced
me as I looked a thousand feet down. There many carts and waggons had
arrived already, and preparations were being made to pass the night on
the spot.
We descended by a steep footpath, and learnt that our waggon-laager had
not, as we had feared, fallen into the hands of the enemy. It was at
that moment still in safety, at the farm of Mrs. van der Merwe. We
off-saddled, and soon the mantle of night hid not only the grand views
of mountain and kloof, but also the sad spectacle of panic and
confusion.