THE PRESIDENT RETURNS TO THE PLAINS
We had a pleasant time in the grain districts. There was an abundance of
bread and no scarcity of slaughter-cattle. We also found wild-honey in
the fissures of the rocks. Everything looked fresh and full of life in
the early spring. The veld was green, and the trees heavily laden with
young fruit gave promise of a good harvest. All the wheat-fields looked
splendid, and at many places we noticed that people would reap where
they had not sown; for everywhere there were fields where the seed which
had fallen on the ground the previous year had again sprouted and was
growing luxuriantly enough to be harvested. What a beautiful mountainous
country the "Conquered Territory" is! Is it not the Crown of the Orange
Free State?
We spent a pleasant time; but it could not continue, as we were in
danger of English columns which were constantly marching to and fro from
Winburg to Bethlehem. One of these columns, which was just then passing
from Bethlehem to Senekal, took our only Africander medical man, Dr.
Fourie, prisoner in his hospital at the farm of David Malan. We should
now have been wholly without a doctor if Mr. Poutsma, who on the
occasion of General de Wet's second attempt to enter the Cape Colony had
been captured by the English, had not cast in his lot with us again. The
English had let him return to Holland, and now he had come back from
there to South Africa. He was welcomed by us, and the house of Mrs. de
Jager at the farm Bezuidenhout's Drift on Wilge River was arranged as a
hospital for him.
We could not then remain in the "Conquered Territory." We therefore
resolved to return to the plains around Lindley and Reitz. On Sunday,
the 10th of November, we were on the farm of Mr. Claesens, near Wonder
Kop, and I held service under the trees in the garden there for the
burghers, and for two large women's laagers, that were fleeing for fear
of the English.
Three days after we were at the farm of Mr. W. Prinsloo. Here General de
Wet visited the President, and a meeting of the Executive Council was
held.
The General informed the President here that it was his intention to
form a large flying commando for service against the English wherever an
opportunity offered. This commando was to consist of burghers from
Bethlehem under General Prinsloo and Commandant Olivier; and, further,
of men from Heilbron under Commandant van Coller; Kroonstad, under
Commandant Celliers; Ladybrand, under Commandant Koen; Vrede, under
Commandant Botha; and the Transvaalers who were at that time in
Harrismith district, under Commandant Mears.
General de Wet left in the afternoon, and in the evening we trekked
towards Wit Kop, and halted for the night on the ledges near Mr. Krog's
farm, between Wit Kop and Wonder Kop.
The English were once more on the road from Winburg to Senekal, and
Commandant van Niekerk intended passing round their front; but just as
he was on the point of doing this, a false report was brought him that a
force of English was also approaching Senekal from Harrismith, and that
they had got as far as Rexford.
The Commandant now determined to pass round the rear of the enemy, and
a start was made in the afternoon. We had not, however, progressed very
far before we learned that the report that the English were at Rexford
was untrue. Commandant van Niekerk now decided to carry out his original
intention, and the commando returned to the ledges by a round-about way.
The following day, Sunday, the commando again proceeded, passing over
Driekuil and to the east of Tafel Kop, where we halted until dark.
In the clear moonlight we then went on, passing east of Biddulphsberg,
and at eleven o'clock we were near Leendert Muller's farm. There an
occurrence took place which afforded a slight change in the monotony of
the night march. Our scouts, who rode about two hundred yards ahead, saw
two horsemen riding towards them and put them to flight. They were very
nearly fired upon, but luckily both parties perceived betimes that they
were friends.
The two men proved to be burghers, who, along with some others, had
charge of a women's laager not far off. They told us that on the west
the English from Winburg had advanced as far as the farm of Christoffel
de Jager--which fact we were aware of ourselves--and that to the east
there were others from Bethlehem, at Scheur Klip; and furthermore, that
there were British camps in front of us at Blauw Kopje and elsewhere.
It was now too dangerous to go on, and there was nothing to be done but
to return, which we did. And when the eastern sky was reddening with the
light of dawn, we were back on the farm Driekuil.
It was lucky for us that we did this, for on Tuesday morning the English
from Bethlehem made a sortie towards Kaffir's Kop, which lay directly in
our route. We remained in the neighbourhood of Driekuil till Thursday,
28th November, and then rode through the night over Pietersdal,
Bester's Kop, and across the Bethlehem road, till we reached the farm
Nooitgedacht, near Kaffir's Kop.
On the following morning we were in the immediate vicinity of a fight
which General de Wet was having with the English not far south of
Lindley. He arrested their progress, and they retired that night to the
farm of Caspar Kruger at Victoria Spruit.
On the following day the English had disappeared in the direction of
Heilbron, abandoning five waggons. These waggons were loaded with flour,
sugar, tobacco, blankets and tents.