GENERAL BRUCE-HAMILTON'S OPERATIONS, ORANGE RIVER COLONY (SOUTH)
General Bruce-Hamilton, as we know, succeeded General Lyttelton in his
command on the 13th of April, and proceeded to spend the rest of the
month in clearing the Orange River Colony, the Smithfield, Zastron,
and Rouxville districts, on the east of the railway. Engaged in this
work were Colonels Hickman, Monro, Maxwell, and White. Hearing that
the enemy was massing in the hills round Philippolis, he directed
Colonel W. Williams to move with three columns from the railway to the
western border. From the 10th to the 19th of May was spent in marching
through the Philippolis district, mopping up Boers, horses, and stock.
Thirty-three prisoners were taken, including Commandant Bothma. About
this date a brilliant little piece of work was performed by Major
Gogarty and four squadrons of the South African Light Horse. A gang of
raiders was known to be hovering in the region of Luckhoff, therefore
this officer, with his dashing party, was ordered to surprise and, if
possible, seize them. The affair was managed with consummate skill,
the troops marching by night and surrounding the marauders. Of these,
armed, they captured thirty-one, together with their horses.
Colonel Byng now remained behind to hold Philippolis, while Colonel
Williams returned to the railway at Prior Siding. At this time a new
system of blockhouses was inaugurated for the defence of the railway,
which had the effect of releasing for active operations some six
thousand of the troops previously required to guard it. The whole of
these blockhouses were constructed of wood and iron. The walls
consisted of two skins of corrugated iron (six inches apart) filled
with sharp sand. On the _complete_ filling of these skins the proof of
the blockhouse against rifle fire entirely depended. The filling was
done from the inside at the eaves and through holes in the sills of
the loopholes, and was kept complete from time to time by order of the
officer in charge by working new sand through the holes in the sill by
means of a shovel and piece of wood. To prevent blockhouses from being
seen through from one loophole to another, screens of blankets or
sacking were suspended at right angles to each other crossing the
centre of the blockhouse. A barbed wire spiderwebbing and fence
surrounded the blockhouse, the entrance to which was firmly closed at
night. A 200-gallon bullet-proof cased tank for water (rain water or
that brought by water-carts) was kept outside the house, but on
emergency water could be obtained by digging a few feet deep within
the wired area round most of the houses. These preparations and
precautions were none too many, as the Boers were constantly at
mischief, and on the 18th they managed to derail a train at America
Siding--an incident which cost the life of Major Heath (3rd Battalion
South Lancashire Regiment).
[Illustration: A TYPICAL BLOCKHOUSE]
About the 19th of May, owing to the villainous activities of the
guerillas in the north of Cape Colony, Colonel Monro moved to join the
troops operating near Steynsburg, and subsequently Colonel Murray
crossed into the Cape Colony. Colonel Maxwell (R.E.), to the deep
regret of his colleagues and of all who knew of his distinguished
services as leader of the Colonial Division under General Brabant,
succumbed to the serious injuries received by being thrown from his
horse. Early in June Colonel White proceeded to Aliwal North to act in
combination with Colonel Haig, who was still chasing Kruitzinger. At
this time, in accordance with General Bruce-Hamilton's plan of
scouring the country towards Petrusburg, his force was split into
seven small columns. More columns, co-operating, advanced from the
line of Kaffir River, Jagersfontein Road, Luckhoff, and Koffyfontein,
so as to converge on Petrusburg; while Colonel Henry's force
co-operated through Wolvekop (near Luckhoff), and the Kimberley column
moved near Koffyfontein. Another force, moving from Bloemfontein,
operated westward from Kaffir River Station. To block retreat to the
north, the South African Constabulary occupied posts along the line of
country between Bloemfontein and Petrusburg; and higher up, the Modder
River drifts, between Abraham's Kraal and Paardeberg, were guarded by
General Knox's troops. The movement took from the 5th to the 8th of
June, during which time many laagers were surprised (one by the
Burgher Police under Lieutenant Bayley), and 268 prisoners with
various stores and effects secured. These activities were followed by
others of a similar nature against roving gangs--under the Commandants
Brand, Kolbe, and Joubert--which infested the country east of the
railway, between the Caledon River on the south, and the line
Edenburg-Reddersburg-Dewetsdorp on the north. Fights and skirmishes
and snipings continued almost daily, and the columns of Colonels
Rochfort, White, and Du Moulin had no reason to complain of lack of
excitement. On the west of the railway, Colonels Williams and Byng
continued to sweep the districts of Fauresmith, Jacobsdal, and
Philippolis.
MAJOR-GENERAL C. KNOX, ORANGE RIVER COLONY (CENTRE)
General Charles Knox, in accordance with the scheme of General
Elliot's operations, remained in the Senekal district till the 10th of
May, when he arrived on the railway. On the 13th his force was again
on the move in the direction of Bothaville, in order to frustrate some
parties of Boers who were seeking to evade the troops then operating
near Klerksdorp, and to return to the Orange Colony. It was not long
before the advance column under Colonel Pilcher came in touch with
them. At a place called Allettasdraai, on the Valsch River, they were
discovered, dealt with smartly and decisively, and driven south-west
towards Zandspruit before Colonel Thorneycroft and his nimble band.
After this period General Knox concentrated his force, and marched
back to the railway with a view to acting in co-operation with General
Bruce-Hamilton's enveloping movement before described. During this
movement Colonel Pilcher was continually engaged with either
Commandants Jacob or Erasmus, emerging from the various frays with
waggons, stock, and prisoners.
Colonel Henry, who moved his force from Jacobsdal to Christiana at the
conclusion of General Bruce-Hamilton's operations, was now placed
under General Knox's orders. Together with the Kimberley column he
operated in the region between Bloemhof and Hoopstad, with the result
that between the 2nd and 7th of July 52 prisoners, 50 horses, 64
vehicles, and over 7000 cattle were captured, 2 Boers were killed, and
55 surrendered.
Colonel Pilcher from Boshof moved to Bultfontein on the 18th of June,
Colonel Thorneycroft taking simultaneously the same direction. During
the advance Colonel Pilcher came in for hot work. On the 19th, while
watering his cattle, he was attacked by 400 Boers, who, under cover of
the smoke of a veldt fire, attacked the rearguard. These retired in
good order, firing by sections. They were then relieved by the Mounted
Infantry, who sent the guerillas flying, leaving seven of their number
behind. The next day from a small kopje the fugitives became
aggressive, and were charged by a detachment of Yeomen, who routed
them, but on the morrow they were again found in some strength near
Badenhorst Farm. The East Yorkshire Mounted Infantry, therefore,
charged their position and dispersed them.
While Colonel Thorneycroft escorted prisoners and stock to Brandfort,
Colonel Pilcher moved on in the direction of Hoopstad. Colonel
Thorneycroft then searched the bed of the Vet River (west of
Smaldeel), unearthing waggons and cattle which were hidden there.
Towards the end of June the columns of both Pilcher and Thorneycroft
were concentrated at Brandfort in order to recuperate before fresh
undertakings in the easterly direction, which began on the 1st of
July.