[Illustration: CROSSING THE KOMATI RIVER.
Drawing by Donald E. M'Cracken.]
SOUTH AFRICA
AND THE
TRANSVAAL WAR
BY
LOUIS CRESWICKE
AUTHOR OF "ROXANE," ETC.
WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS
VOL. VII.--THE GUERILLA WAR. FROM FEBRUARY
1901 TO THE CONCLUSION OF HOSTILITIES. THE
DEVELOPMENT OF PEACE NEGOTIATIONS FROM
FEBRUARY 23, 1901, TO MAY 31, 1902
MANCHESTER: KENNETH MACLENNAN
75 PICCADILLY
Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.
At the Ballantyne Press
CONTENTS--Vol. VII.
PAGE
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE viii
COMPOSITION AND STRENGTH OF COLUMNS xiv
THE SITUATION--FEBRUARY 1901 1
CHAPTER I
CONTINUATION OF THE DE WET CHASE, 1ST TO 10TH MARCH--ACROSS THE
ORANGE RIVER 7
LYTTELTON'S SWEEPING MOVEMENT--10TH TO 20TH MARCH--THABANCHU LINE
9
CHAPTER II
CAPE COLONY--PURSUIT OF RAIDERS--MARCH AND APRIL--CHASING KRUITZINGER
14
CHAPTER III
THE OPERATIONS OF GENERAL FRENCH IN THE EASTERN TRANSVAAL, FROM
27TH JANUARY TO 16TH APRIL 1901 19
CHAPTER IV
IN THE WESTERN TRANSVAAL--JANUARY TO MAY 31
APRIL, ORANGE RIVER COLONY--OPERATIONS OF GENERAL BRUCE-HAMILTON
AND GENERAL RUNDLE 40
CHAPTER V
COMBINED MOVEMENT FOR THE CLEARANCE OF THE NORTHERN TRANSVAAL--MARCH
AND APRIL 43
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR BINDON BLOOD'S OPERATIONS NORTH OF THE
LINE MIDDELBURG--BELFAST--LYDENBURG 45
COLONEL GRENFELL AT PIETERSBURG 48
CHAPTER VI
GENERAL ELLIOT'S OPERATIONS FROM KROONSTAD 50
GENERAL ELLIOT'S OPERATIONS--SECOND PHASE 52
CHAPTER VII
GENERAL BRUCE-HAMILTON'S OPERATIONS, ORANGE RIVER COLONY (SOUTH) 55
MAJOR-GENERAL C. KNOX, ORANGE RIVER COLONY (CENTRE)--MAY AND JUNE 57
CHAPTER VIII
LORD METHUEN, TRANSVAAL (SOUTH-WEST)--MAY AND JUNE 59
CHAPTER IX
OPERATIONS BETWEEN THE DELAGOA AND NATAL LINES--MAY AND JUNE 66
BRIGADIER-GENERAL PLUMER IN THE EASTERN TRANSVAAL 68
MAJOR-GENERAL BEATSON'S OPERATIONS 70
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR BINDON BLOOD, EASTERN TRANSVAAL 71
ACTIVITIES AROUND STANDERTON AND HEIDELBERG 73
CHAPTER X
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL GRENFELL'S OPERATIONS, TRANSVAAL, N. 75
SITUATION AND SKIRMISHES IN CAPE COLONY--MAY AND JUNE 77
CHAPTER XI
ORANGE RIVER COLONY, S.--MAJOR-GENERALS BRUCE-HAMILTON AND
C. KNOX--JULY 82
ORANGE RIVER COLONY, N.--MAJOR-GENERAL ELLIOT 84
ORANGE RIVER COLONY, E.--LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR L. RUNDLE 90
ORANGE RIVER COLONY, N.--COLONEL RIMINGTON--BRIGADIER-GENERAL
BULLOCK--BRIGADIER-GENERAL SPENS 92
TRANSVAAL, S.W.--OPERATIONS OF GENERAL FETHERSTONHAUGH--CLEARING THE
MAGALIESBERG--JULY 93
TRANSVAAL, E.--LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR BINDON BLOOD 94
STANDERTON-HEIDELBERG--LIEUTENANT-COLONEL COLVILLE 97
CAPE COLONY--JULY 98
THE SITUATION--AUGUST 100
CHAPTER XII
ORANGE RIVER COLONY--AUGUST 105
ORANGE RIVER COLONY, S.--BRIGADIER-GENERAL PLUMER 107
ORANGE RIVER COLONY, E.--MAJOR-GENERAL ELLIOT--AUGUST 107
SWEEPING THE KROONSTAD DISTRICT--BRIGADIER-GENERAL SPENS 109
OPERATIONS NEAR HONING SPRUIT AND THE LOSBERG--LIEUTENANT-COLONEL
GARRATT 110
SCOURING THE MAGALIESBERG--COLONELS ALLENBY AND KEKEWICH 112
TRANSVAAL, S.W. 114
THE PIETERSBURG LINE--LIEUT.-COLONEL GRENFELL 116
THE TRANSVAAL (NORTH-EAST)--GENERAL BLOOD'S OPERATIONS 116
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL COLVILLE'S OPERATIONS 120
NATAL--LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR H. HILDYARD 121
CAPE COLONY--LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR J. FRENCH 122
CHAPTER XIII
NATAL AND THE EASTERN TRANSVAAL--SEPTEMBER 1901 127
TRANSVAAL (WEST) 131
OPERATIONS ON THE VAAL 133
OPERATIONS IN THE ORANGE RIVER COLONY, N. 133
MAJOR-GENERAL ELLIOT--ORANGE RIVER COLONY, E. 133
EVENTS IN CAPE COLONY 136
CHAPTER XIV
PROGRESS IN OCTOBER 1901 140
TRANSVAAL (EAST) 140
TRANSVAAL (WEST) 144
OCTOBER IN THE ORANGE RIVER COLONY 145
OPERATIONS IN CAPE COLONY 146
CHAPTER XV
THE CLOSE OF 1901--PROGRESS IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 149
TRANSVAAL (EAST) 149
TRANSVAAL (WEST) 150
ORANGE RIVER COLONY 151
THE SWAZI BORDER 153
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 153
TRANSVAAL (EAST)--DECEMBER 154
IN THE NORTHERN TRANSVAAL 157
TRANSVAAL (WEST) 158
ORANGE RIVER COLONY 158
CAPE COLONY 162
THE SITUATION--JANUARY 1902 163
THE LOYALISTS OF THE CAPE COLONY 171
THE SOLDIERS' CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION 176
CHAPTER XVI
THE NEW YEAR--JANUARY 1902 178
TRANSVAAL (EAST) 178
TRANSVAAL (NORTH) 179
TRANSVAAL (WEST) 180
ORANGE RIVER COLONY 180
A BIG TRAP FOR DE WET 181
CAPE COLONY 183
CHAPTER XVII
THE EVENTS OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH 1902 184
TRANSVAAL (EAST) 184
TRANSVAAL (WEST) 185
ORANGE RIVER COLONY--MAJUBA DAY 189
THE CAPE COLONY 190
CHAPTER XVIII
THE CLOSE OF HOSTILITIES--MARCH, APRIL, AND MAY 1902 192
TRANSVAAL (EAST) 192
FINISHING CLEARANCE OF THE ORANGE RIVER COLONY 193
TRANSVAAL (WEST)--MARCH 194
CAPE COLONY--MARCH 196
THE SITUATION--APRIL AND MAY 199
APPENDIX--THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. COMMENCED MARCH 12, 1902; CONCLUDED
MAY 31, 1902 201
OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE AFTER THE BATTLE OF COLENSO, DECEMBER 15, 1899
210
RECIPIENTS OF THE VICTORIA CROSS 212
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS--VOL. VII.
1. _COLOURED PLATES_
PAGE
CROSSING THE KOMATI RIVER _Frontispiece_
CECIL J. RHODES AT GROOTE SCHUUR 32
AN ARMY DOCTOR AT WORK IN THE FIRING LINE 64
DELAGOA BAY 100
CHURCH SQUARE, PRETORIA 104
BULLOCK WAGGON CROSSING A DRIFT ON THE UMBELOSI RIVER, SWAZILAND
120
DE WET'S ATTEMPT TO CROSS THE RAILWAY 160
A DUTCH VILLAGE NEAR EDENBURG 176
2. _FULL-PAGE PLATES_
DEFENDING A TRAIN DERAILED BY THE BOERS 24
CHARGE OF THE BUSHMEN AND NEW ZEALANDERS ON THE BOER GUNS DURING
THE ATTACK ON BABINGTON'S CONVOY NEAR KLERKSDORP 36
DEFEAT OF A NIGHT ATTEMPT TO CROSS THE RAILWAY 44
THE CAPTURE OF DE WET'S CONVOY AT REITZ 52
THE ENGAGEMENT AT VLAKFONTEIN 60
THE MISHAP TO THE VICTORIANS AT WILMANSRUST 72
BOERS CAUGHT IN THE ACT OF CUTTING THE TELEGRAPH WIRES 96
NIGHT ATTACK ON A BOER CONVOY BY MOUNTED INFANTRY UNDER COLONEL
WILLIAMS 112
THE DEFENCE OF FORT ITALA 128
THE GALLANT BUGLER OF FORT ITALA 132
THE FIGHT AT BAKENLAAGTE 140
MISHAP TO THE SCOTS GREYS AT KLIPPAN 184
LORD METHUEN RALLYING HIS BROKEN FORCES AT TWEEBOSCH 186
BRILLIANT DEFENCE BY NEW ZEALANDERS AT HOLSPRUIT 188
THE TRAIN CONVEYING THE REMAINS OF MR. RHODES SALUTED BY
THE BLOCKHOUSE GUARDS 196
SURRENDERED BOERS AT BELFAST ANXIOUS TO JOIN THE NATIONAL
SCOUTS 206
3. _FULL-PAGE PORTRAITS_
MAJOR-GENERAL CHARLES KNOX 8
MAJOR-GENERAL SIR H. H. SETTLE 16
BRIGADIER-GENERAL THE EARL OF ERROLL 68
MAJOR-GENERAL BRUCE-HAMILTON 80
MAJOR-GENERAL WALTER KITCHENER 88
LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR BINDON BLOOD 148
MAJOR-GENERAL ARTHUR PAGET 152
MAJOR-GENERAL BABINGTON 168
4. _MAPS AND ENGRAVINGS IN THE TEXT_
MAP--DE WET'S RUSH IN CAPE COLONY 4
MAP--DE WET'S ESCAPE FROM THE ENVELOPING CORDON 6
MAP--OPERATIONS IN SOUTH-EAST OF ORANGE RIVER COLONY 10
MAP--REORGANISATION OF TROOPS IN ORANGE RIVER COLONY 12
MAP OF OPERATIONS IN EASTERN TRANSVAAL 20
MAP--POSITION OF FORCES AROUND ERMELO 23
COLONEL BENSON 36
MAP OF COMBINED MOVEMENT TO CLEAR NORTHERN TRANSVAAL 47
COLONEL DE LISLE 53
A TYPICAL BLOCKHOUSE 56
MAP OF OPERATIONS BETWEEN DELAGOA BAY AND NATAL LINES 67
COLONEL COLENBRANDER 76
GENERAL ELLIOT'S SWEEP SOUTH OF THE VAAL 89
CONCENTRATION CAMP AT NORVAL'S PONT 99
GENERAL ELLIOT 110
LIEUT.-COLONEL GORRINGE 123
COLONEL BETHUNE AND HIS BRIGADE STAFF 134
MAP OF EASTERN PORTION OF CAPE COLONY 147
COLONEL PILCHER 151
GENERAL BEATSON 156
MAP OF THE BLOCKHOUSE SYSTEM 163
MAP OF WESTERN PORTION OF CAPE COLONY 172
COLONEL CREWE 191
COLONEL H. T. LUKIN 193
COLONEL DOUGLAS HAIG 193
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE--VOL. VII.
JANUARY 1901.
1.--"Call to arms" at Cape Town. General Charles Knox and others
continued the pursuit of De Wet.
2.--Arrival of Lord Roberts at Osborne. He is created by the Queen
an Earl.
30.--De Wet breaks through the Bloemfontein-Ladybrand line going
south.
FEBRUARY 1901.
1.--General French continued to operate against Botha in the
Eastern Transvaal.
6.--The War Office decided to reinforce Lord Kitchener by 30,000
mounted troops beyond those already landed in Cape Colony. "Call
to arms" at Cape Town.
9.--"Call to arms" at Cape Town.
10.--"Call to arms" at Cape Town.
22.--Extraordinary proclamation signed by Steyn and De Wet
published.
23.--Accounts of Boer atrocities published. "Call to arms" at Cape
Town.
Severe defeat of De Wet by General Plumer, who captured two
guns, fifty prisoners, and all De Wet's ammunition. De Wet's
attempt to invade Cape Colony completely failed.
General French gained several victories over Botha in Eastern
Transvaal, with capture of guns, ammunition, and waggons.
28.--Further great captures from the Boers by General French, and
heavy Boer losses.
MARCH 1901.
2.--De Wet was forced over the Orange River with the loss of his
guns and convoy.
Sir Alfred Milner proceeded north from Cape Town to take up the
duties of the Governor of the Transvaal and Orange River
Colonies.
26.--Victory by General Babington over Delarey at Ventersdorp. Nine
Boer guns captured.
APRIL 1901.
6.--General French, in his sweeping operations in the Eastern
Transvaal, captured all the enemy's guns in that district.
8.--Colonel Plumer captured Pietersburg, the terminus of the railway
running due north from Pretoria.
10.--Civil administration resumed in the Transvaal.
15.--Smuts' commando defeated near Klerksdorp. Two guns captured.
18.--Sir A. Milner obtained leave of absence on account of the state
of his health.
19.--Generals Plumer and Walter Kitchener co-operated with General
French in clearing the Eastern Transvaal and Lydenburg district.
30.--General Blood discovered documents and banknotes of Transvaal
Government at Roosenekal, from which place Mr. Schalk Burger
fled.
MAY 1901.
8.--Municipal Government started in Johannesburg.
24.--Sir A. Milner arrived in London and had a peerage conferred
upon him by the King.
JUNE 1901.
1.--Severe engagement between General Dixon and Delarey at
Vlakfontein, in the Magaliesberg. Enemy repulsed with heavy
loss. Our casualties also heavy.
6.--De Wet severely defeated near Reitz by General Elliot, who made
large captures.
9.--Lieut.-General Sir John French assumed command of the troops in
Cape Colony.
12.--General Beatson surprised near Middelburg (Transvaal). Loss of
two pom-poms.
JULY 1901.
5.--In reply to Botha's inquiries about ending the war, Kruger
telegraphed to Botha to continue fighting.
6.--A train wrecked on the Pretoria-Pietersburg line.
15.--Capture of the so-called "Orange Free State Government" at
Reitz. Important Boer papers seized. Steyn alone of the members
of his "Government" escaped--in his shirt.
16.--Important success by General French in Cape Colony.
19.--Publication of Lord Kitchener's despatch embodying contents of
important documents seized at Reitz.
Death of Mrs. Kruger.
AUGUST 1901.
2.--More murders by Boers officially announced. One of the murdered
men was an Imperial Yeoman.
8.--Commandant de Villiers and two Field Cornets surrendered at
Warmbaths.
10.--Lord Kitchener by proclamation called upon the Boer leaders to
surrender on or before the 15th of September.
13.--Lord Kitchener reported the largest return of Boer losses yet
sustained in a week. More than 800 prisoners, 700 waggons, and
33,000 cattle.
27.--Lord Kitchener received letters from Steyn and De Wet
protesting against his proclamation.
28.--Lord Milner arrived at the Cape from England.
SEPTEMBER 1901.
2.--Another case of train-wrecking on the Pretoria-Pietersburg
railway.
7.--Lotter and his entire commando captured in Cape Colony.
20.--Reverse to Major Gough near Utrecht.
Severe fighting in Cape Colony.
21.--Reverse at Vlakfontein, near Sanna's Post. Two guns lost.
(Afterwards recovered.)
23.--The camp of Lovat's Scouts rushed by Kruitzinger near Herschel.
Koch's commando captured near Edenburg.
The Carolina commando captured by Colonel Benson.
26.--Ten Boer leaders banished under Lord Kitchener's proclamation.
Attacks on Fort Itala and Fort Prospect. Boers repulsed with
very heavy losses at both places.
The attempt of Botha and De Wet to invade Natal foiled.
29.--Proclamation issued in Pretoria providing for the sale of the
properties of Boers still in the field, in accordance with Lord
Kitchener's proclamation.
30.--Great attack by Delarey and Kemp on Colonel Kekewich's camp
near Magato Nek, in the Magaliesberg. Boers repulsed. Severe
losses on both sides. The Scottish Horse especially
distinguished themselves and sustained severe loss.
OCTOBER 1901.
6.--General Walter Kitchener and General Bruce-Hamilton engaged
Botha's forces in the south-east of the Transvaal. Botha
escaped to the north.
9.--Martial law extended to the whole of Cape Colony.
11.--Commandant Lotter sentenced to death. Death sentence on five
members of his commando was commuted to penal servitude for
life.
13.--Lieut.-Colonel Hon. J. Byng attacked laager at Jackfontein and
captured eighteen prisoners.
15.--Major Damant took prisoner Adjutant Theron. Colonel de Lisle
surprised laager at Wilge River and captured fifteen prisoners.
16.--Colonel Rawlinson returned to Standerton with twenty prisoners
and many prizes.
21.--Colonel Lukin surprised Vander Venter's laager near New
Bethesda.
22.--Colonel Benson captured laager at Klippoortje.
23.--Gallant attack on laager in Pongola Bosch.
24.--Colonel von Donop's brilliant defeat of 1000 Boers at
Kleenfontein.
25.--Botha's farm surrounded at Schimmelhoek. His papers captured.
26.--Colonel Benson repulsed attack on his rearguard on the
Steenkool Spruit.
27.--Colonel Williams' force occupied the Witnek Pass and routed a
strong body of Boers from the position.
30.--Attack on Colonel Benson's force at Bakenlaagte. Colonel
Benson and Colonel Guinness killed.
Colonel Kekewich captured a laager at Beestekraal.
NOVEMBER 1901.
2.--Patrol under Captain Walker captured twenty-one prisoners near
Wolvekop.
7.--Attack on Piquetberg repulsed by garrison under Major Wilson and
Town Guard.
General B. Hamilton commenced operations against Botha in the
Eastern Transvaal.
8.--Major Wiggin (26th Mounted Infantry) surrounded laager near
Mahamba. Fourteen prisoners secured.
9.--Line blown up at Myburg Siding by Fouché.
11.--Major Pack Beresford and detachment of South African
Constabulary captured laager at Doornhoek.
13.--Squadron Imperial Yeomanry detached from Hickie's force
surprised and surrounded. Rescued by reinforcements.
14.--Rearguard of Colonel Byng's column attacked near Heilbron by
400 of the enemy under De Wet. Boers repulsed. British loss
considerable.
16.--Further captures by Major Wiggin within Swaziland border.
18.--Lieutenant Welshman with patrol of West Yorkshire Regiment
surprised party of Boers and captured eight prisoners.
20.--Engagement with Buys near Villiersdorp. Major Fisher killed.
Buys captured by Colonel Rimington.
Captain Elliot successfully engaged Boers in Griqualand.
Captain Elliot killed. Three officers wounded.
24.--General Dartnell, with Highland Light Infantry, engaged Boers
near Harrismith. Captured twelve and killed two.
Offer of Canadian Government to raise 600 more troops for
service in South Africa accepted.
25.--General Dartnell's force surprised Boers near Bethlehem and
took twelve prisoners.
26.--Lord Basing engaged Joubert in Orange River Colony. Joubert
wounded and captured.
Major Pack Beresford attacked convoy near Paardeberg.
27.--Imperial Light Horse under Colonel Mackenzie took twenty-four
prisoners, &c.
Attack on Colonel Rimington's rearguard by De Wet repulsed.
Many prisoners taken.
28.--Van Rensburg and thirteen burghers captured by Colonel Lowry
Cole in Wepener district.
DECEMBER 1901.
1.--General Elliot reached Kroonstad with 15 prisoners, 114
waggons, 89 carts, 2470 cattle, and 1280 horses.
3.--Colonel Colenbrander broke up Badenhorst's commando, and took
fifteen prisoners and all the waggons.
4.--Laager surprised at Oshoek (twenty miles from Ermelo) by Spens'
and Rawlinson's columns. Ninety-three prisoners taken.
7.--Colonel C. Mackenzie, in night march towards Watervaal (Eastern
Transvaal), took sixteen prisoners.
Colonel Holland surprised Brand's laager and took six Boers.
11.--Badenhorst and twenty-two burghers secured by Colonels
Colenbrander and Dawkins, near Zandriverspoort.
13.--Brilliant surprise of Boers by General B. Hamilton at Witkraus.
Laager broken up. One of Benson's guns recovered.
15.--Secretary of State for War congratulated General Bruce-Hamilton
on his brilliant achievements.
16.--Haasbroek killed in encounter with Colonel Barker's men in the
Doornberg.
Capture of Kruitzinger by Colonel Dorans' and Lord Charles
Bentinck's columns.
18.--Colonel Steele, with South African Constabulary, captured
thirty-six Boers in the region of the Magaliesberg.
Four hours' fighting between De Wet and General Dartnell. Boers
driven off.
Lord Methuen reported capture of thirty-two Boers.
19.--Colonel Allenby captured thirty-two of the enemy near
Heidelberg.
20.--Colonel Damant attacked by 800 Boers. Two officers killed,
three wounded. Boers repulsed.
21.--Capture of Smuts' convoy, near Bothwell, by Colonel Mackenzie.
22.--Seven hundred Cape raiders attacked columns of Colonels Wyndham
and Crabbe. Were driven off with loss of five killed and twenty
wounded.
23.--Successful attack on Grobelaar's laager by General B. Hamilton.
24.--Colonel Du Moulin surprised laager near Jagersfontein. Captured
two Field-Cornets and twenty other Boers.
25.--Colonel Firman's camp at Tweefontein rushed by huge force under
De Wet.
28.--Successful engagement near Burghersdorp by Colonel Price.
Field-Cornet Jan Venter killed.
JANUARY 1902.
3.--Capture of General Erasmus by General Bruce-Hamilton.
10.--Surprise of laager near Ermelo by Colonel Wing and capture of
forty-two prisoners.
12.--More captures by General B. Hamilton.
13.--Fight for a convoy by De Villiers. Gallant charge of Munster
Fusiliers.
16.--Capture of laager and twenty-four prisoners by Lord Methuen.
18.--Execution of Scheepers on various charges of murder at Graaff
Reinet.
Night expedition to Witbank. General Hamilton secured more
prisoners.
21.--Colonels Park and Urmston engaged party of Boers under Muller
and Trichardt, occasioning stampede of Boer Government from
Houtenbek.
24.--Important captures by General Plumer's troops. Thirty burghers
secured by Colonel Fry, West Yorkshire Regiment.
Attack on Pietersburg repulsed. Volunteer Town Guard
distinguished itself.
25.--Capture of Viljoen near Kruger's Post by detachment of Royal
Irish under Major Orr.
26.--Successful engagement on the Modder by Major Driscoll's column.
Huge laager at Nelspan dispersed by General Bruce-Hamilton's
force.
27.--Colonel Du Moulin killed in a night attack on his camp. Enemy
repulsed by Major Gilbert (Sussex Regiment).
30.--Colonel Rawlinson's troops after tremendous march surprised
Manie Botha's laager and made valuable captures.
31.--Capture of convoy at Groothoop by Colonel Rimington.
FEBRUARY 1902.
2.--De Wet's commando gallantly charged by New Zealanders,
Queensland Imperial Bushmen, and South African Light Horse.
Enormous captures.
4.--Capture and destruction of British convoy by Boers in Cape
Colony. Major Crofton killed.
5.--Surprise and capture of Commandant S. Alberts' laager by
Scottish Horse under Major Leader.
6.--Major Vallancey dispersed Beyers' commando. Gigantic movement to
entrap De Wet started.
7.--De Wet, by brilliant manoeuvre, ruptured the British cordon
and escaped.
8.--Big capture from Potgieter's laager by Colonel von Donop's
force.
13.--Bouvers' laager in Cape Colony rushed by Colonel Kavanagh's
men.
18.--Capture of Judge Hugo in Cape Colony. Boers cut off and
surrounded a portion of squadron of Scots Greys south-east of
Springs.
20.--Two laagers surprised by Colonel Park's troops; 164 prisoners
taken.
21.--Capture of laager at Buffelskloof by Colonel E. Williams'
column.
24.--Some East Griqualand rebels surrendered to Colonel Stanford.
25.--Determined attack on Colonel von Donop's convoy by Delarey and
Kemp. Waggons lost. Escort, which made gallant defence,
overpowered. Five British officers and fifty-three men killed;
six officers and 123 men wounded; others taken prisoners.
26.--Jacob's laager captured by Colonel Driscoll.
27.--Anniversary of Majuba. Combined operations for driving Boers
against Harrismith-Van Reenan's blockhouse line. Manie Botha
killed; 600 Boers killed, wounded, or prisoners. Splendid
defence by New Zealanders under Major Bauchop and New South
Wales Mounted Infantry under Colonel Cox.
28.--Capture of Boers near Steynsdorp by Captain Holgate
(Steinacker's Horse).
MARCH 1902.
6.--Colonel Ross (Canadian Scouts) made valuable captures in a cave
near Tafel Kop.
7.--Successful attack by Delarey on Lord Methuen's force at
Tweebosch. Lord Methuen seriously wounded and taken prisoner.
11.--Close of big drive in Orange River Colony; 127 Boers taken.
Commandant Celliers wounded.
12.--Many prisoners captured by Colonel Ternan and Colonel Pilcher.
13.--Little garrison of fifty men at Fort Edward surrounded by
Beyers' commando.
15.--Attack on laager near Vryheid by General Bruce-Hamilton.
General Cherry Emmett captured.
16.--Rebels at Sliphock captured by Captain Bowker.
17.--Some of Bezuidenhout commando captured in Cape Colony by
Colonel Baillie.
18.--Lieutenant Williams, a notorious train-wrecker, captured by
National Scouts.
21.--Colonel Harrison sent out from Pietersburg small force under
Colonel Denny to relief of Fort Edward. Advance opposed by
Boers.
23.--Arrival at Pretoria of so-called Acting Transvaal Government to
discuss the terms of peace.
26.--Death of Cecil John Rhodes.
28.--Colonel Colenbrander from Krugersdorp moved to Pietersburg and
from thence accomplished relief of Fort Edward.
29.--Total defeat of Beyers and dispersal of investing commando.
30.--Serious railway accident at Barberton.
31.--Delarey defeated in engagement with Colonels Keir and Cookson.
R.H.A. Rifles, Canadian Rifles, and 28th Mounted Infantry
distinguished themselves.
APRIL 1902.
1.--Laager surprised by 2nd Dragoon Guards near Springs. Four
officers wounded.
3.--State funeral of the late Mr. Rhodes at Cape Town.
4.--Ookief invested by Commandant Smuts.
8.--Successful attack on Beyers' laager near Pietersburg by Colonels
Colenbrander and Murray.
9.--Conference between Transvaal and Orange Free State leaders at
Klerksdorp in regard to negotiations for peace.
10.--Burial of Cecil John Rhodes in the Matoppos.
"They left him alone in his glory."
11.--Meeting of Boer representatives at Klerksdorp in relation to
Peace movement. Colonel Kekewich defeated Boers in Western
Transvaal and captured two guns and a pom-pom.
12.--Laager at Schweizerreneke surprised by Colonel Rochfort.
Fifty-five prisoners taken.
MAY 1902.
1.--Relief of Ookiep by British troops under Colonels Cooper and
Caldwell.
2.--Lieutenant Murray (District Mounted troops) killed at
Tweefontein by Boers in kharki.
6.--Pieter de Wet sentenced by Treason Court to pay a fine of £1000
or undergo two years' imprisonment.
9.--Patrol attacked by Boers near Middelburg, Cape Colony. Captain
Hinks killed.
15.--Members of the late Governments met together to discuss Peace
proposals.
17.--Surrender of Hinton, the notorious train-wrecker.
20.--Delegates of late Governments arrived at Pretoria to arrange
terms of surrender.
27.--Malan mortally wounded and captured by Jansenville District
Mounted Horse (under Major Collett), and Lovat's Scouts.
30.--Peace Agreement signed.
COMPOSITION OF COLUMNS
COMPOSITION AND STRENGTH OF COLUMNS ENGAGED IN MAJOR-GENERAL
BRUCE-HAMILTON'S OPERATIONS IN SOUTHERN ORANGE RIVER COLONY.[1]
LIEUT.-COLONEL DU MOULIN'S COLUMN.
30th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (31-32).
31st Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (153-177).
39th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
"N" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
1st Royal Sussex Regiment (436).
COLONEL ROCHFORT'S COLUMN.
9th Bn., Imperial Yeomanry (302-274).
17th Mounted Infantry (331-358).
17th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
"G" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
28th Co., Army Service Corps (11).
LIEUT.-COLONEL BYNG'S COLUMN.
5th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (129-109).
23rd Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (123-75).
66th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (104-95).
32nd Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (91-93).
South African Light Horse (503-642).
17th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
Pompom Section, 1 pompom.
3rd Brigade Field Hospital (5).
13th Brigade Field Hospital (11).
LIEUT.-COLONEL W. H. WILLIAMS' COLUMN.
1st Mounted Infantry (203-241), 1 M.G.
50th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (120-91).
60th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (121-110).
43rd Battery, R.F.A., 1 5-inch Howitzer.
"D" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
20th Bearer Company (8).
COLONEL MONRO'S COLUMN. (Afterwards in Cape Colony.)
Bethune's Mounted Infantry (273-500), 2 M.G.
56th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (80), 3 M.G.
57th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (92-95).
58th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (71-56).
59th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (77-80).
39th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
"Z" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
LIEUT.-COLONEL A. MURRAY'S COLUMN. (Afterwards in Cape Colony.)
Lovat's Scouts (152-182).
"M" Battery, R.H.A., 2 guns.
LIEUT.-COLONEL WHITE'S COLUMN. 28/6/01. (Since broken up.)
16th Lancers (469-329).
29th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (132-114).
49th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (141-100).
39th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
"X" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
9th Bearer Company (8).
COLONEL HENRY'S COLUMN.
22nd Mounted Infantry (446-325).
24th Bn., Imperial Yeomanry (373-270).
82nd Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
Pompom Section, R.F.F., 1 pompom.
2nd Gloucestershire Regiment (271), 1 M.G.
23rd Bearer Company (9).
KIMBERLEY COLUMN.
74th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (125-135).
Kimberley Light Horse (94-99).
Dennison's Scouts (81-85).
Mounted Infantry, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (20-24).
Vol. Northumberland Fusiliers (102).
3rd Leinster Regiment (100).
38th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers (38).
Diamond Field Artillery (13-19), 1 M.G.
COLUMNS ENGAGED IN MAJOR-GENERAL CHARLES KNOX'S OPERATIONS IN CENTRAL
ORANGE RIVER COLONY.
COLONEL PILCHER'S COLUMN.
7th Corps Mounted Infantry (891-860), 2 M.G.
6th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry (642-582).
MAJOR PINE COFFIN'S COLUMN.
Mounted Infantry, Suffolk Regiment (119-112).
Mounted Infantry, South Wales Borderers (105-107).
Mounted Infantry, Berkshire Regiment (88-116).
Mounted Infantry, West Riding Regiment (114-117).
"O" Battery, R.H.A., 2 guns.
14th Battery, R.F.A., 4 guns.
"M" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
36th Co. Army Service Corps (37).
13th Brigade Bearer Company (8).
LIEUT.-COLONEL THORNEYCROFT'S COLUMN.
21st and 22nd Sqds. and 18th Battalion.
Imperial Yeomanry (740-780).
Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry (168-339).
Burmah Mounted Infantry (185-230).
76th Battery, R.F.A., 4 guns.
"X" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
Royal Army Medical Corps (14).
COLONEL HENRY'S COLUMN.
KIMBERLEY COLUMN.
COLUMNS ENGAGED IN MAJOR-GENERAL ELLIOT'S OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN
ORANGE RIVER COLONY.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL BROADWOOD'S COLUMN.
7th Dragoon Guards (581-584), 1 M.G.
6th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (123-126).
42nd Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (29-105).
44th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (107-122).
46th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (108-102).
78th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (59-70).
Gun Section, Imperial Yeomanry (17-23), 2 M.G.
82nd Battery, R.F.A., 4 guns.
20th Brigade Bearer Company (21).
86th Co., Army Service Corps (17).
17th Co., Army Service Corps (11).
Royal Engineers (7).
COLONEL BETHUNE'S COLUMN.
1st Dragoon Guards (384-510), 1 M.G.
3rd Dragoon Guards (317-390).
7th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (99-98).
8th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (99-87).
28th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (92-90).
"Q" Battery, R.H.A., 4 guns.
Elswick Battery, 1 gun.
"K" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
2nd Somerset Light Infantry (196).
4th Field Troop, Royal Engineers (39).
19th Co., Army Service Corps (29).
Royal Army Medical Corps (19).
LIEUT.-COLONEL COLVILLE'S COLUMN.
2nd Division Mounted Infantry (300-340).
2nd Johannesburg Mounted Rifles (106-130).
63rd Battery, R.F.A., 4 guns.
"O" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
2nd East Surrey Regiment (345), 1 M.G.
No. 1 Auxiliary Co., Army Service Corps (13).
2nd Brigade Field Hospital (16).
2nd Brigade Bearer Company (4).
COLONEL RIMINGTON'S COLUMN.
3rd Regiment, 5th Contingent, New South Wales Mounted Rifles
(734-854), 4 M.G.
41st Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (106-113).
77th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (91-96).
106th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (102-115).
Prince of Wales Light Horse (501-504), 2 M.G.
"G" Battery, R.H.A., 4 guns.
"G" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
"R" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
30th Co., Army Service Corps (14).
20th Brigade Field Hospital (23).
LIEUT.-COLONEL DE LISLE'S COLUMN.
6th Regiment Mounted Infantry (392-457), 2 M.G.
South Australians (326-398).
62nd Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
"A" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
2nd Co., Army Service Corps (16).
COLONEL E. C. KNOX'S COLUMN.
10th Hussars (566-668), 1 M.G.
12th Lancers (663-771), 1 M.G.
21st Bn., Imperial Yeomanry (259-316).
"A" Battery, Royal Australian Artillery, 4 guns.
2nd East Surrey Regiment (274).
"U" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
17th Co., Royal Engineers (7).
40th Co., Army Service Corps (15).
4th Brigade Field Hospital (25).
LIEUT.-COLONEL WESTERN'S COLUMN.
No. 1 Co., Royal Irish Rifles Mounted Infantry (103-130).
No. 2 Co., Royal Irish Rifles Mounted Infantry (99-137).
Mounted Infantry, Royal West Kent Regiment (61-76).
Driscoll's Scouts (422-489).
62nd Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
"M" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
1st Oxfordshire Light Infantry (120).
1st Royal Irish Fusiliers (120).
2nd Division Field Hospital (17).
17th Co., Army Service Corps (15).
COLUMNS ENGAGED IN LIEUT.-COLONEL WESTERN'S OPERATIONS ON THE VAAL
RIVER.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL G. HAMILTON'S COLUMN.
5th Dragoon Guards (373-340), 1 M.G.
13th Hussars (544-578), 1 M.G.
"Q" Battery, R.H.A., 2 guns.
64th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
"F" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
1st East Lancashire (363), 1 M.G.
7th Co., Army Service Corps (7).
3rd Field Troop, Royal Engineers (29).
2nd Brigade Bearer Company (27).
LIEUT.-COLONEL WESTERN'S COLUMN.
COLONEL ALLENBY'S COLUMN.
6th Dragoon Guards (475-488), 3 M.G.
2nd Dragoons (506-533), 1 M.G.
"O" Battery, R.H.A., 4 guns.
83rd Battery, R.F.A., 1 gun.
87th Battery, R.F.A., 1 5-inch Howitzer.
"E" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
1st Inniskilling Fusiliers (683), 1 M.G.
1st Field Troop, Royal Engineers (27).
6th Field Hospital (10).
6th Bearer Company (13).
COLONEL HENRY'S COLUMN.
COLUMNS ENGAGED IN CLEARING THE EAST OF THE ORANGE RIVER COLONY.
MAJOR-GENERAL B. CAMPBELL'S COLUMN.
1st Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (134)}
2nd Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (160)} Total
3rd Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (114)} horses,
4th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (139)} 536.
2nd Battery, R.F.A., 4 guns.
"T" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
2nd Scots Guards (688).
1st Leinster Regiment (402).
COLONEL HARLEY'S COLUMN.
36th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (142-153).
53rd Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (138-138).
62nd Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (82-35).
Unallotted Imperial Yeomanry (343-121).
Mounted Infantry, Manchester Regiment (96-114).
Tempest's Scouts (38).
36th, Southern Division, R.G.A., 1 5-inch.
77th Battery, R.F.A., 4 guns.
"T" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
1st South Staffordshire Regiment (787).
2nd Manchester Regiment (645).
2nd Grenadier Guards (62).
COLUMNS ENGAGED IN OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTH-WEST TRANSVAAL.
LIEUT.-GENERAL LORD METHUEN'S COLUMN.
13th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (128).
14th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (130-154).
15th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (140-162).
16th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (130-141).
100th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (36-35).
101st Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (142-148).
102nd Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (105-116).
Gun Section, Imperial Yeomanry (15-24), 2 M.G.
37th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (99-115).
38th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (96-105).
39th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (119-124).
MAJOR-GENERAL BABINGTON'S COLUMN.
14th Hussars (98-105).
Mounted Infantry, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (29-35).
Imperial Light Horse (162-229).
4th New Zealand Rifles (216-280).
6th Imperial Bushmen (193-260).
103rd Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (135-144).
107th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (145-153).
37th Battery, R.F.A., 1 5-inch Howitzer.
68th Battery, R.F.A., 4 guns.
Elswick Battery, 1 gun.
Pompom Section, R.F.F., 2 pompoms.
Signallers, R.F.F. (7).
1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers (522).
11th Co., Royal Engineers (9).
7th Co., Army Service Corps (21).
9th Brigade Field Hospital (20).
12th Bearer Company (11).
COLONEL SIR H. RAWLINSON'S COLUMN.
2nd Mounted Infantry (352-439).
8th Mounted Infantry (375-428).
"P" Battery, R.H.A., 2 guns.
38th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
37th Battery, R.F.A., 1 5-inch Howitzer.
40th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (95-91), 1 M.G.
43rd Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (113-116).
73rd Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (105-153).
51st Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (81-106).
Mounted Infantry, Bedfordshire Regiment (63-72).
Bechuanaland Rifles (64-90).
4th Battery, R.F.A., 6 guns.
37th Battery, R.F.A., 2 5-inch Howitzers.
R.F.F. Artillery, 2 guns.
"H" Section Pompoms, 2 pompoms.
Pompom Section, R.F.F., 2 pompoms.
1st Northumberland Fusiliers (146).
1st Loyal North Lancashire (334).
3rd South Wales Borderers (146).
LIEUT.-COLONEL HICKIE'S COLUMN.
"P" Battery, R.H.A., 2 guns.
78th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
Pompom Section, 2 pompoms.
103rd Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (108-113).
107th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (99-109).
Kitchener's Horse (29-51).
Roberts' Horse (114-118).
Imperial Light Horse (369-439).
2nd Cheshire Regiment (182), 1 M.G.
11th Field Troop, Royal Engineers (7).
7th Co., Army Service Corps (24).
29th Co., Army Service Corps (6).
9th Brigade Field Hospital (14).
12th Bearer Company (10).
BRIGADIER-GENERAL DIXON'S COLUMN.
7th Bn., Imperial Yeomanry (151-164).
1st Scottish Horse (451-543).
8th Battery, R.F.A., 4 guns.
28th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
37th Battery, R.F.A., 1 5-inch Howitzer.
"G" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
1st King's Own Scottish Borderers (469), 1 M.G.
1st Derby Regiment (411), 1 M.G.
"B" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
"Z" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
2nd Cheshire Regiment (179).
2nd Field Troop, Royal Engineers (14).
LIEUT.-COLONEL E. C. WILLIAMS' COLUMN.
2nd New South Wales Mounted Rifles (526-536).
3rd New South Wales Bushmen (229-244).
21st Bn., Mounted Infantry (432-415).
78th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
Elswick Battery, 1 gun.
"A" Batt., Royal Australian Artillery, 2 guns.
"B" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
"D" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
2nd Cheshire Regiment (192).
Australian Medical Corps (23).
7th Co., Royal Engineers (7).
10th Co., Army Service Corps (24).
12th Field Hospital (32).
10th Bearer Company (12).
7th Co., Royal Engineers (4).
BRIGADIER-GENERAL G. HAMILTON'S COLUMN.
COLONEL ALLENBY'S COLUMN.
GENERAL BARTON'S COLUMN.
108th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (100).
Mounted Infantry (200).
81st Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
1st Cameron Highlanders (700).
MAJOR G. WILLIAMS' COLUMN.
11th Bn., Mounted Infantry (323-403).
COLUMNS ENGAGED IN OPERATIONS BETWEEN THE DELAGOA AND NATAL LINES.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL PLUMER'S COLUMN.
5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (340-361).
6th New Zealand Mounted Rifles (419-406).
18th Battery. R.F.A., 4 guns.
"Q" Section Pompoms, 2 pompoms.
1st Royal Munster Fusiliers (264).
2nd and 11th Cos., Royal Engineers (37).
13th Brigade Field Hospital (18).
14th Brigade Field Hospital (16).
Elswick Battery, 1 gun.
2nd Dorset Regiment (500), 1 M.G.
26th Co., Royal Engineers (20).
11th Field Hospital (9).
18th Field Hospital (10).
20th Co., Army Service Corps (20).
45th Co., Army Service Corps (16).
LIEUT.-COLONEL GREY'S (afterwards LIEUT.-COLONEL GARRATT'S) COLUMN.
6th Queenslanders (307-302).
7th New Zealanders (489-504), 1 M.G.
9th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
73rd Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
"C" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
1st East Lancashire (309).
15th Field Hospital (22).
91st Co., Army Service Corps (22).
MAJOR-GENERAL W. KITCHENER'S COLUMN.
5th West Australian Mounted Infantry (160-194).
6th West Australian Mounted Infantry (195-186).
BRIGADIER-GENERAL BULLOCK'S COLUMN.
5th Corps, Mounted Infantry (758-894).
Gough's Mounted Infantry (590-742), 3 M.G.
Johannesburg Mounted Rifles (318-366).
Commander-in-Chief's Bodyguard (182-310), 2 guns and 1 pompom.
74th Battery, R.F.A., 4 guns.
"J" Battery, R.H.A., 6 guns.
"F" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
2nd Imperial Light Horse (138-170), 1 M.G.
53rd Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
16th Southern Division, R.G.A., 1 5-inch.
10th Mountain Battery, R.G.A., 1 gun.
"S" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
1st Devonshire Regiment (833), 2 M.G.
24th Bearer Company and Field Hospital (9).
23rd Co., Royal Engineers (10).
LIEUT.-COLONEL PULTENEY'S COLUMN.
1st Royal Dragoons (345-349), 1 M.G.
6th Inniskilling Dragoons (370-400), 2 M.G.
66th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
"P" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
1st Scots Guards (854), 1 M.G.
Royal Engineers (48).
11th Field Hospital (19).
9th Bearer Company (21).
COLONEL RIMINGTON'S COLUMN.
COLONEL ALLENBY'S COLUMN.
COLONEL E. C. KNOX'S COLUMN.
COLUMNS ENGAGED IN BRIGADIER-GENERAL PLUMER'S OPERATIONS IN
SOUTH-EASTERN TRANSVAAL.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL PLUMER'S COLUMN.
COLONEL E. C. KNOX'S COLUMN.
COLONEL RIMINGTON'S COLUMN.
MAJOR-GENERAL BEATSON'S OPERATIONS.
MAJOR-GENERAL BEATSON'S COLUMN.
5th Victorian Mounted Rifles (740-721).
9th Battery, R.F.A., 4 guns.
2nd Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (366).
2nd Seaforth Highlanders (178).
26th Co., Royal Engineers (23).
20th Field Hospital (26).
84th Co., A.S.C. (18).
COLUMNS ENGAGED IN LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR BINDON BLOOD'S OPERATIONS IN THE
EASTERN TRANSVAAL.
MAJOR-GENERAL BABINGTON'S COLUMN.
19th Hussars (279-268), 1 M.G.
83rd Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
10th Mountain Battery, R.G.A., 1 gun.
"J" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
1st King's Royal Rifle Corps (637), 1 M.G.
43rd Co., Army Service Corps (16).
12th Field Hospital (21).
9th Co., Royal Engineers (12).
LIEUT.-COLONEL BENSON'S (R.A.) COLUMN.
18th Mounted Infantry (466-513).
19th Mounted Infantry (362-430).
2nd Scottish Horse (503-647).
21st Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
81st Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
61st Battery, R.F.A., 1 5-inch Howitzer.
10th Mountain Battery, R.G.A., 1 gun.
"C" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
"R" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (724).
23rd Co., Royal Engineers (23).
8th Bearer Company (22).
31st Co., Army Service Corps (19).
BRIGADIER-GENERAL SPENS' COLUMN.
5th Lancers (153-132).
4th Mounted Infantry (457-534).
4th Mountain Battery, R.G.A., 2 2.5-inch.
10th Mountain Battery, R.G.A., 1 12-pr.
"S" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment (570), 3 M.G.
19th Co., Royal Engineers (23).
19th Bearer Co. (29).
COLONEL CAMPBELL'S COLUMN.
18th Hussars (543-470).
53rd Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
14th Southern Division, R.G.A., 1 5-inch.
Pontoon Troop, R.E. (10).
2nd Rifle Brigade (587), 1 M.G.
12th Brigade Field Hospital (30).
Army Service Corps (10).
COLONEL PARK'S COLUMN.
4th Division Mounted Infantry (123-137),
1 Krupp gun.
53rd Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
"P" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
1st Royal Irish Regiment (613), 1 M.G.
40th Co., Army Service Corps (8).
4th Division Field Hospital (4).
LIEUT.-COLONEL DOUGLAS' COLUMN.
3rd Mounted Infantry (349-446).
84th Battery, R.F.A., 4 guns.
"L" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
1st Royal Scots (704), 1 M.G.
23rd Co., Royal Engineers (17).
19th Field Hospital (22).
19th Bearer Company (11).
MAJOR-GENERAL W. KITCHENER'S COLUMN.
LIEUT.-COLONEL PULTENEY'S COLUMN.
MAJOR-GENERAL BEATSON'S COLUMN.
LIEUT.-COLONEL COLVILLE'S COLUMN.
COLONEL GARRATT'S COLUMN.
COLUMNS ENGAGED IN OPERATIONS ON THE PIETERSBURG LINE.
MAJOR MCMICKING'S COLUMN.
20th Bn., Mounted Infantry (374-317).
75th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
2nd Lincoln Rifles (179).
LIEUT.-COLONEL WILSON'S COLUMN.
Kitchener's Fighting Scouts (417-399).
Bush Veldt Carabineers (21-22).
12th Mounted Infantry (13-13).
2nd Gordon Highlanders (104).
LIEUT.-COLONEL GRENFELL'S COLUMN.
Kitchener's Fighting Scouts (364-361).
12th Mounted Infantry (193-194).
2nd Wiltshire Rifles (363).
85th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
"A" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
OPERATIONS IN THE STANDERTON-HEIDELBERG DISTRICT.
LIEUT.-COLONEL COLVILLE'S COLUMN.
LIEUT.-COLONEL GREY'S COLUMN.
COLUMNS ENGAGED IN OPERATIONS IN CAPE COLONY.
COLONEL DORAN'S COLUMN. (Late LIEUT.-COLONEL HENNIKER'S.)
Warren's Mounted Infantry (181-191).
11th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (134-131).
23rd Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (141-148).
24th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (125-94).
"M" Battery, R.H.A., 2 guns.
Cape Colony Cyclists (4).
LIEUT.-COLONEL CRABBE'S COLUMN.
P. A. Guards (193-205).
Marshall's Horse (120-139).
99th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (53-63).
104th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (58-60).
105th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (53-69).
111th Sqdn., Imperial Yeomanry (47-53).
85th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
2nd Royal Fusiliers (78).
Cape Medical Staff (13).
LIEUT.-COLONEL GORRINGE'S COLUMN.
Cape Defence Force (263).
Cape Police (212).
Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen (92).
5th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
"O" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
Total horses (1401).
LIEUT.-COLONEL CREWE'S COLUMN.
Kaffrarian Rifles (301-374), 2 machine guns.
Queenstown Volunteer Rifles (78-137).
44th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
"Y" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
CAPTAIN LUND'S COLUMN.
9th Lancers (132).
Brabant's Horse (209).
Imperial Yeomanry (278).
"A" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
Total horses (828), and 1 machine gun.
LIEUT.-COLONEL SCOBELL'S COLUMN.
9th Lancers (303-332).
Cape Mounted Rifles (203-356).
Cape Mounted Royal Artillery, 3 guns.
Cape Cyclists (9).
Royal Engineers (2).
LIEUT.-COLONEL WYNDHAM'S COLUMN.
17th Lancers (387-412), 1 machine gun.
LIEUT.-COLONEL HON. A. D. MURRAY'S COLUMN.
COLONEL MONRO'S COLUMN.
NOTE.--Where two figures appear, the first refers to effective men,
the second to effective horses.
FORCE EMPLOYED AT VLAKFONTEIN (584) ON MAY 29TH.
(_a_) Left (afterwards rear), under MAJOR CHANCE, R.A.
28th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
"G" Section Pompoms, 1 pompom.
7th Bn., Imperial Yeomanry (230).
1 Co., 1st Derbyshire Regiment.
(_b_) Centre, under BRIGADE-GENERAL DIXON.
8th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
37th Battery, R.F.A., 1 5-inch Howitzer.
2 Cos., 1st King's Own Scottish Borderers.
1 Co., 1st Derbyshire Regiment.
(_c_) Right, under LIEUT.-COLONEL DUFF.
8th Battery, R.F.A., 2 guns.
1st Scottish Horse (200).
2 Cos., 1st King's Own Scottish Borderers.
MAJOR-GENERAL BEATSON'S COLUMN (on 12th June).
5th Victorian Mounted Rifles (780-806).
9th Battery, R.F.A., 4 guns.
"B" and "E" Sections Pompoms, 2 pompoms.
1st Royal Munster Fusiliers (347).
26th Co., Royal Engineers (23).
20th Field Hospital (26).
84th Co., Army Service Corps (20).
Of which the following were detached to Wilmansrust (22) under MAJOR
MORRIS, R.F.A.:--
5th Victorian Mounted Rifles (350).
Pompom Section, 2 pompoms.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] This table represents the columns as they were disposed at
Midsummer 1901.
SOUTH AFRICA AND THE TRANSVAAL WAR
PEACE
"On her knees, before the glory of the Lord,
Britannia sheathes the lightnings of her sword;
Once again, to utmost ends
Of the Red Line it defends,
She hath peace."--SIR EDWIN ARNOLD.
THE SITUATION--FEBRUARY 1901
The reign of His Majesty King Edward VII. began in clouds! There was
no denying that the last half-year had been one of retrogression. In
June 1900, from the Orange River southwards, there had been
comparative quietude. The southern and eastern half of the Orange
River Colony had become fairly settled, while even in some districts
of the Transvaal--towards the south-western area especially--the
inhabitants gave indications of a willingness to accept British rule,
and of a desire to return to their agricultural and peaceful
avocations. But with the end of the year came a deplorable change. The
enemy, broken up into a large number of desultory gangs, commenced
raiding and wrecking, consequently the British forces, in order to
cope with and pursue these vagrant bands, had to be broken up to
correspond. The area of hostility and destruction grew larger daily
and the difficulty of fighting more extreme. The lack of supplies now
drove the Boers, who lived entirely on the country through which they
passed, to spend their time in looting, in pouncing on the farms and
small villages, and in seizing everything they might need. Stores,
clothing, horses, cattle, all were grabbed at the point of the rifle,
if not, as in some cases, delivered up on demand. To frustrate the
tactics of the enemy, the British forces were compelled to denude the
country of every movable thing, and to place whatever could be
conveyed there in refuge camps which were established at points along
the railway lines. But in this operation great loss was entailed,
owing to the difficulty of finding sufficient grass for the number of
collected animals, and of keeping them alive _en route_.
The loss of crops and stock became a still more serious matter than
even the destruction of farm buildings--a measure which had almost
entirely been abandoned. Having regard to the inexpensive character
of these structures, this measure, to quote Sir Alfred Milner, was a
"comparatively small item" in the total damage caused by the war to
the agricultural community. But, he said, the wanton and malicious
injury done to the headgear, stamps, and other apparatus of some of
the outlying mines by Boer raiders was a form of destruction for which
there was no excuse. It was a vandalism unjustified by the
requirements of military operations and outside the scope of civilised
warfare. Directly or indirectly, all South Africa, including the
agricultural population, owes its prosperity to the mines, and, of
course, especially to the mines of the Transvaal. To money made in
mining it is indebted for such progress, even in agriculture, as it
has recently made, and the same source will have to be relied upon for
the recuperation of agriculture after the ravages of war. The damage
done to the mines Lord Milner estimated was not large "relatively to
the vast total amount of the fixed capital sunk in them. The mining
area," he said, "is excessively difficult to guard against purely
predatory attacks having no military purpose, because it is, so to
speak, 'all length and no breadth'--one long thin line, stretching
across the country from east to west for many miles. Still, garrisoned
as Johannesburg now is, it was only possible successfully to attack a
few points in it. Of the raids previously made, and they have been
fairly numerous, only one has resulted in any serious damage. In that
instance the injury done to the single mine attacked amounted to
£200,000, and it is estimated that the mine is put out of working for
two years. This mine is only one out of a hundred, and is not by any
means one of the most important. These facts may afford some
indication of the ruin which might have been inflicted, not only on
the Transvaal and all South Africa, but on many European interests, if
that general destruction of mine works which was contemplated just
before our occupation of Johannesburg had been carried out. However
serious in some respects may have been the military consequences of
our rapid advance to Johannesburg, South Africa owes more than is
commonly recognised to that brilliant dash forward, by which the vast
mining apparatus, the foundation of all her wealth, was saved from the
ruin threatening it."
The events of the last six months promised to involve a more vast
amount of repair and a longer period of recuperation, especially for
agriculture, than would have been anticipated at the commencement of
hostilities. Still, having regard to the fact that both the Rand and
Kimberley were virtually undamaged, and that the main engines of
prosperity, when once set going again, would not take very long to get
into working order, the economic consequences of the war, though
grave, did not appear by any means appalling. The country population
it was admitted would need a good deal of help, first to preserve it
from starvation, and then, probably, to supply it with a certain
amount of capital to make a fresh start. And the great industry of the
country would require some little time before it would be able to
render any assistance. But, in a young country with great recuperative
powers, many years would not elapse before the economic ravages of the
war would be effaced.
Still, the moral effect of the recrudescence of the war was
lamentable. Everywhere after the occupation of Pretoria the
inhabitants had seemed resigned to the state of affairs--the feeling
in the colony had been one of acquiescent relief. The rebellious
element was glad of the opportunity to settle down. Had these people
been shut off from communication with the enemy they would have
maintained their calm, and engaged themselves with their former
peaceful pursuits. As it was, while the great advance to Pretoria, and
subsequently to Delagoa Bay, demanded the presence of the British
troops in the north, the country was left open to raiders, who daily
grew more audacious as the small successes of their guerilla leaders
appeared to give promise of a turn of fortune's wheel.
And now came the real tug of war. These raiders, both on the brink of
the Orange Colony and the Southern Transvaal, kept the peaceable
inhabitants of the colony in an unenviable quandary. These, and many
others, on taking the oath of neutrality, instead of being made
prisoners of war, had been permitted to return to their farms. But
under pressure from their old comrades, they now wavered between the
obligations of their oath and the calls of friendship--and many of
them fell. Men who had been exceptionally well treated were again in
arms, sometimes justifying their break of faith by the poor apology
that they had not been "preserved from the temptation to commit it."
Naturally, on the return of the troops to again quell a rising in the
south, their conduct was not marked by the same leniency which had
characterised the original conquest. Still, these parole breakers were
not punished with the severity which might have been meted out to them
in the same circumstances by other nations. Though we were by the
rules of war entitled to shoot men who had broken their parole, we had
not availed ourselves of the right.
We remained as humane as the exigence of discipline would permit.
Efforts were made to check the general demoralisation by establishing
refuge camps for the peaceable along the railway lines, but these
camps were mainly tenanted by the women and children of burghers who
still determined to flout us.
Lord Milner, in speaking of the situation in the new territories and
the Cape Colony, described it as possibly "the most puzzling that we
have had to confront since the beginning of the war." On the one hand
there was the outcry for greater severity and for a stricter
administration of martial law. On the other hand, there was the
expression of the fear that strict measures would only exasperate the
people. He himself was in favour of reasonable strictness as the
proper attitude in the presence of a grave national danger, and he
further affirmed that exceptional regulations for a time of invasion,
the necessity of which every man of sense could understand, if clearly
explained and firmly adhered to, were not only not incompatible with,
but actually conducive to, the avoidance of injustice and cruelty. He
went on to say:--
[Illustration: DE WET'S RUSH IN CAPE COLONY _VIÂ_ ZAND DRIFT, 10TH
FEBRUARY 1901]
"I am satisfied by experience that the majority of those Dutch
inhabitants of the Colony who sympathise with the Republics, however
little they may be able to resist giving active expression to that
sympathy when the enemy actually appear amongst them, do not desire to
see their own districts invaded or to find themselves personally
placed in the awkward dilemma of choosing between high treason and an
unfriendly attitude to the men of their own race from beyond the
border. There are extremists who would like to see the whole of the
Cape Colony overrun. But the bulk of the farmers, especially the
substantial ones, are not of this mind. They submit readily enough
even to stringent regulations having for their object the prevention
of the spread of invasion. And not a few of them are, perhaps,
secretly glad that the prohibition of seditious speaking and writing,
of political meetings, and of the free movement of political
firebrands through the country, enables them to keep quiet, without
actually themselves taking a strong line against the propaganda, and,
to do them justice, they behave reasonably well under the pass and
other regulations necessary for that purpose, as long as care is taken
not to make these regulations too irksome to them in the conduct of
their business, or in their daily lives."
He suggested that the fact that there had been an invasion at all was
no doubt due to the weakness of some of the Dutch colonists in
tolerating, or supporting, the violent propaganda, which could not but
lead the enemy to believe that they had only to come into the Colony
in order to meet with general active support. But this had been a
miscalculation on the part of the enemy, though a very pardonable one.
They knew the vehemence of the agitation in their favour as shown by
the speeches in Parliament, the series of public meetings culminating
in the Worcester Congress, the writings of the Dutch press, the very
general wearing of the Republican colours, the singing of the
Volkslied, and so forth, and they regarded these demonstrations as
meaning more than they actually did. Three things were forgotten.
Firstly, that a great proportion of the Afrikanders in the Colony who
really meant business, had slipped away and joined the Republican
ranks long ago. Secondly, that the abortive rebellion of a year ago
had left the people of the border districts disinclined to repeat the
experiment of a revolt. Thirdly, that owing to the precautionary
measures of the Government the amount of arms and ammunition in the
hands of the country population throughout the greater part of the
Colony is not now anything like as large as it usually was, and far
smaller than it was at the onset of the war.
In regard to the "call to arms" that took place on the 1st of January,
and the vehement response it had met, Lord Milner stated that it had
always been admitted, by their friends and foes alike, that the bulk
of the Afrikander population would never take up arms on the side of
the British Government in this quarrel, even for local defence. The
appeal therefore had been virtually directed to the British
population, mostly townspeople, and to a small, but no doubt very
strong and courageous, minority of the Afrikanders who have always
been loyalists. These classes had been already immensely drawn on by
the Cape Police, the regular Volunteer Corps, and the numerous
Irregular Mounted Corps which had been called into existence because
of the war. There must have been 12,000 Cape colonists under arms
before the recent appeal, and as things were going, as many more
promised to answer that appeal--a truly remarkable achievement under a
purely voluntary system.
[Illustration: POSITION OF TROOPS AFTER THE ENGAGEMENT OF 23RD
FEBRUARY. DE WET'S ESCAPE FROM THE ENVELOPING CORDON, 28TH FEBRUARY
1901]
How gloriously the system worked throughout the year 1901 has yet to
be seen, for peace was still a great way off. All yearned for it, all
were fairly sick of carnage and ruin and sacrifice, but, nevertheless,
it was agreed that to endure and fight to the bitter end were
preferable to an ignoble compromise, which must inevitably bring about
a recurrence of the terrible scourge in the future. All were
determined that South Africa should become one country under one flag,
and that the British; and this once accomplished, they would be ready
to bury racial animosities for ever. But, in order to bring about that
happy, that inevitable end, all decided that a vigorous prosecution of
the war, at whatever cost, was an imperative duty.
CHAPTER I
CONTINUATION OF THE DE WET CHASE, 1ST TO 10TH MARCH--ACROSS THE ORANGE
RIVER
On the last day of February, as we know, De Wet and Steyn, with a
bedraggled, hungry commando of some fifteen hundred Boers,
precipitately crossed the Orange River at Lilliefontein, near
Colesberg Bridge. They were seen by some few men of Nesbitt's Horse
under Sergeant-Major Surworth, and promptly fired upon as men and
horses strove to battle with the current. This unlooked for attack
caused considerable dismay, so much so, that many Cape carts and some
clothing were left on the south bank, while several fugitives were
seen to be galloping off in Garden of Eden attire. Many Boers were
left in the neighbourhood of the Zeekoe River, and of these some
thirty-three were captured by Captain Dallimore and sixteen Victorian
Rifles.
The retirement becoming known to General Lyttelton, who was directing
the operations, the pursuing columns were ordered to converge on
Philippolis. General Plumer, Colonels Haig and Thorneycroft, entering
Orange River by Norval's Pont, operated from Springfontein to the
river, while General C. Knox and Colonel Bethune at Orange River
Bridge mounted guard there, and threatened such marauders as might
retire in their direction. On the arrival of General Plumer at
Philippolis, on the 3rd, he discovered that De Wet was fleeing to
Fauresmith, and Hertzog, with 500 men, was making for Luckhoff. He
therefore, with almost inexhaustible energy, instantly pursued the
great raider, and after a rearguard action on the 4th at Zuurfontein,
reached Fauresmith on the 5th, only to find the bird flown _viâ_ the
Petrusburg Road. On and on then went the troops, past Petrusburg--De
Wet ever twenty-four hours ahead--till they reached Abraham Kraal
Drift on the Modder River. By this time (the 7th) the Boer flock had
dispersed over the enormous track of country with which they are so
intimate, and De Wet himself vanished, as usual, into "thin air." The
8th was spent in recuperation, replenishing stores, and gaining
information. On the following two days the northerly march was
continued in search of De Wet, who was reported to have crossed the
line (on the night of the 8th) on the way to Senekal. But, as the
redoubtable one trekked at the rate of some five miles a day more than
the best column, General Plumer gave him up as lost, and marched to
Brandfort, and thence proceeded under orders to Winburg. The chase had
been far from stimulating, for heavy rain had fallen, causing much
inconvenience to man and beast, and hindering transport operations.
The veldt, however, soon assumed a rich green garb, which rendered all
the English horses independent of the Commissariat Department.
Meanwhile Colonel Haig, in conjunction, had moved to Philippolis on
the 4th, only to learn that General Plumer was on the track of De Wet.
He therefore turned his attention to Hertzog, caught him on the 5th at
Grootfontein, ten miles north-west of Philippolis, engaged him and
forced him westward. He then waited orders at Springfontein lest a
more speedy movement by rail might be directed.
Colonel Bethune, in his position near Orange River Bridge, spent this
time in fighting and dispersing large bodies of raiders, passing at
length _viâ_ Petrusburg, on the 6th, to the line Abraham's Kraal,
Roodewal, on the 8th. Here he halted. An empty convoy returning from
him to Bloemfontein was attacked by the Boers, but the escort tackled
the enemy, and, with the assistance of the Prince of Wales' Light
Horse, put them to flight.
General C. Knox's columns (Colonels Pilcher and Crewe, moving by way
of Kalabas Bridge and Koffyfontein respectively), advanced at the same
time, reaching Bloemfontein on the 10th and 11th, the astute Pilcher
having captured a Boer laager by the way. He had three killed, eleven
wounded, three missing, and his captures included twenty-four
prisoners, 1500 horses, and some cattle.
Colonel Crewe engaged in a smart tussle with Brand's commando at
Olivenberg (south-west of Petrusburg), and reached his destination
_plus_ five prisoners, twenty-one waggons and carts with teams
complete, and 2000 horses.
During March, Major Goold-Adams, the Deputy-Administrator of the
Orange River Colony, in whom the burghers placed much confidence, bent
his mind to the organisation of the civil administration of the
colony. Mr. Conrad Linder, an ex-official of the late Government, was
provisionally appointed registrar. A scheme of education, based on the
Canadian principle, was drawn up, and the organisation of the civil
police taken in hand. The Imperial authorities were engaged in a
scheme for restocking the country after the war by establishing stock
depots on the Government farms in both the Transvaal and Orange
River.
[Illustration: MAJOR-GENERAL CHARLES KNOX.
Photo Elliott & Fry, London.]
LYTTELTON'S SWEEPING MOVEMENT--10TH TO 20TH MARCH--THABANCHU LINE
The enemy, under the direction of Fourie, in many small gangs of from
two to four hundred, still hovered in the region between the Orange
River and the Thabanchu-Ladybrand line. With the object of sweeping
them up, General Lyttelton organised a combined northward movement
which began on the 10th of March. General Bruce-Hamilton's columns,
under Lieutenant-Colonels Monro, Maxwell, and White pushed up from
Aliwal North, Colonel Hickman and Lieutenant-Colonel Thorneycroft
moved out from Bethulie and Springfontein respectively, prolonging the
line on the left to the railway, while Colonel Haig's troops advanced
from Edenburg. Later on, as the columns swept upwards, Colonel
Bethune's Brigade took its place in the scheme, filling the gap
between Leeuw Kop and Boesman's Kop, with its right flank resting on
the Kaffir River. While these were marching up, the line of posts from
Bloemfontein _viâ_ Thabanchu to the Basutoland border was temporarily
reinforced by Colonel Harley, who, with some 200 mounted men, two
guns, and a battalion, had been detached from the portion of General
Rundle's force which was holding Ficksburg. The road still further
north, near Houtnek, was watched by Colonel Pilcher to guard against
hostile movement in that region. The combined advance, though there
was little fighting, was decidedly successful. Heavy stocks of grain
were found, and such as could not be accommodated in the British
waggons were destroyed. Though, as usual, the Boers were dispersed in
driblets and most of the farms were deserted and the property
abandoned, some of their number got caught in the meshes of the
military net. Colonel Pilcher's men succeeded in securing some
thirty-three Boers and about 3000 horses, and the total haul of the
columns on reaching the Thabanchu line on the 20th amounted to 70
prisoners, 4300 horses, and many trek oxen. After this date General
Bruce-Hamilton's force and that of Colonel Hickman disposed themselves
between Wepener and Dewetsdorp, while Colonel Haig was ordered to keep
his eye on rambling raiders from Cape Colony, in the region of the
Caledon. Colonel Bethune's Brigade, marching north _viâ_ Winburg and
Ventersburg, soon swelled the mounted force of some 7000 men, being
organised at Kroonstad (under the command of General Elliot), and
Colonel Thorneycroft, now under orders of General C. Knox, took up a
position at Brandfort. This place at that time was somewhat harassed
by meandering marauders, who were in the habit of taking up a nightly
post on a hill near by. These were surprised by the mounted infantry
and burgher police, and their number considerably thinned.
[Illustration: OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTH-EAST OF THE ORANGE RIVER
COLONY]
From all points the clearance of the Colony was pursued with vigour.
On the 24th Colonel White, in the Thabanchu region, surprised parties
of Boers, capturing six waggons, thirty-four horses, and some cattle,
and on the 25th some smart work was done by a detachment of Lancers,
Yeomanry, and Rimington's Guides, who drove off and dispersed various
portions of Fourie's commando without loss to themselves. At this time
Fourie, Joubert, Pretorius, and Coetzee had been all hanging about the
neighbourhood of Dewetsdorp, and on the 25th and 26th some spirited
encounters took place between them and Captain Damant, who, with some
of Rimington's Scouts, engaged in many perilous excursions. On the
27th General Bruce-Hamilton, with Hickman's column and Rimington's
Scouts, moved out with a view to clearing off the snipers that
fringed the surrounding hills. The Scouts and the Lancaster Mounted
Infantry routed the Boers from one position after another, chasing
them for miles as far as Blesbokfontein, where they dispersed.
Meanwhile on the left, near Byersberg, our troops had discovered the
Boer laager, whereupon Rimington's Scouts rode round the position,
driving the enemy, who scampered from their concealment in the ridges,
in a south-westerly direction. Owing to the exhaustion of the horses
the pursuit could not be continued, but the troops returned to camp
with a goodly show of horses, cattle, and Cape carts as a prize for
their endurance.
Concurrently with the activities in the south-east of the Orange River
Colony, in the region of Winburg and Heilbron, good work had been
going forward. Colonel Williams and Major Pine Coffin, working in
combination, had cleared the Doornberg, a supply depot, which, owing
to De Wet's absence, was but weakly guarded. All stock was removed,
and during the operations General P. Botha and seven Boers were killed
and many were taken prisoners. Colonel Williams and the combined
forces, reinforced by Major Massy's column from Edenburg, now took up
a position near the Vet and Zand Rivers, in order to catch De Wet
should he break northward. But as this leader was now in hiding,
"taking a breather" for fresh nimbleness in future, it was found
unnecessary to wait there, and the column moved on towards Heilbron.
Here, accompanied by a detachment from the garrison under Major
Weston, Colonel Williams continued his work of clearance, fighting
betimes, and capturing grain, forage, foodstuffs, and ammunition in
great quantities. Colonel Williams then moved to the north of
Heilbron, performing the same task of clearance between the Wilge
River and the main line of rail. This occupation took him well into
April, of which month more anon.
* * * * *
During the middle of March Lord Kitchener engaged himself with the
rearrangement of the mobile columns in the Orange River Colony,
dividing the place into four military districts. Each district was
placed under the control of a General Officer, whose duty it was to
deal with any encroachments of the enemy, to prevent the concentration
of commandos, and to clear the country of horses and cattle, and any
supplies which might stimulate the marauders to new exertion. The
southern district, bounded on the south by the Orange River, on the
north by the line Petrusburg-Ladybrand, on the west by the Kimberley
Railway, on the east by Basutoland, was entrusted to General
Lyttelton, his force including the columns of General Bruce-Hamilton
and Colonels Hickman and Haig.
The central district, bounded on the south by General Lyttelton's
command, on the north by the Bultfontein-Winburg-Ficksburg line,
extending to Boshof, was assigned to General C. Knox, with whom were
the columns of Colonels Pilcher and Thorneycroft.
The northern district, including part of Orange River Colony north
of General C. Knox's command, bounded on the east by the
Frankfort-Reitz-Bethlehem line, was allotted to General Elliot,
whose troops consisted of Colonel Bethune's Cavalry Brigade, Colonel
de Lisle's Column (withdrawn from Cape Colony), and General
Broadwood's Brigade, composed of 7th Dragoon Guards, three
battalions Imperial Yeomanry, and six guns.
[Illustration: REORGANISATION OF TROOPS IN THE ORANGE RIVER COLONY]
The eastern district, as before, remained in charge of General Rundle,
who, with the original 8th Division and some Mounted Infantry and
Yeomanry, protected the line Frankfort-Reitz-Bethlehem-Ficksburg.
By the end of March recruiting for General Baden-Powell's Police
ceased. The work of training, clothing, mounting, and equipping was
carried on with all speed, and the recruits who arrived from England
promptly displayed their grit and their zeal by withstanding the
assaults of the Boers, who invariably attacked such districts as they
fancied were in charge of the "raw" element. The new-comers were no
fledgelings, however, for the members of the Constabulary were mostly
gentlemen or farmers of a high class, selected with a view to making
good colonists.