AT POPLAR GROVE
Before going on, it must be noted that on the 19th Lord Roberts had
issued a proclamation to the Burghers of the Free State in English and
Dutch. He said that the British having entered the Free State, he felt
it his duty to make known the cause, and to do his utmost to end the
war. Should the Free Staters continue fighting, they would do so in full
knowledge of their responsibility for the lives lost in the campaign.
Before the war, the Imperial Government desired the friendship of the
Free State, and solemnly assured President Steyn that if he remained
neutral the Free State territory would not be invaded and its
independence would be respected. Nevertheless, the Free Staters had
wantonly and unjustifiably invaded British territory, though the
Imperial Government believed that the Free State Government was wholly
responsible, under mischievous outside influence, for this invasion.
The Imperial Government bore the people no ill-will, and was anxious to
preserve them from the evils which the action of their Government had
caused. Lord Roberts warned the Burghers to desist from further
hostilities, and he undertook that Burghers so desisting should not
suffer in their persons or property. Requisitions of food, forage, fuel,
and shelter must be complied with. Everything would be paid for on the
spot, and if supplies were refused they would be taken, a receipt being
given. Should the inhabitants consider that they had been unjustly
treated, and should their complaint on inquiry be substantiated, redress
would be given. In conclusion, Lord Roberts stated that British soldiers
were prohibited from entering houses or molesting the civil population.
By the terms of this proclamation it was necessary to abide, though, by
degrees, as will be seen, it began to be discovered that generous
concessions made to our enemies were misinterpreted and taken advantage
of in ways which tended to prolong the war.
Lords Roberts and Kitchener paid a flying visit to Kimberley on the 1st
of March, and attended a crowded meeting in the Town Hall. Lord Roberts,
with his usual grace, dwelt on the courage, endurance, and heroism
exhibited by the troops and residents, not only in Kimberley, but in the
other besieged towns.
Cronje's fate being sealed, the Field-Marshal shifted his headquarters
to Osfontein, seven miles up the Modder from Paardeberg. Near here it
was rumoured that such Boers as had failed to come to the succour of
Cronje had flocked. These, numbering some 10,000, had gathered at the
summons of their chief from the regions round Stormberg, Colesberg, and
Ladysmith, and were now busily entrenching a position some fifteen miles
long. Of this the flanks rested on kopjes to the south of the river on a
group called Seven Sisters, and to the north across the river on a
flat-topped kopje, behind which were further fortified kopjes, forming a
formidable position at Poplar Grove, a place so called because of a
sparse display of poplar and Australian gum-trees in the vicinity.
At this time the two Presidents of the Republics, finding things getting
too hot to be comfortable, made magnanimous proposals for peace. The
following is the text of their despatch.
"BLOEMFONTEIN, _March 5, 1900_.
"The blood and the tears of the thousands who have suffered by
this war, and the prospect of all the moral and economic ruin
with which South Africa is now threatened, make it necessary
for both belligerents to ask themselves dispassionately, and as
in the sight of the Triune God, for what they are fighting, and
whether the aim of each justifies all this appalling misery and
devastation.
"With this object, and in view of the assertions of various
British statesmen, to the effect that this war was begun and is
being carried on with the set purpose of undermining Her
Majesty's authority in South Africa, and of setting up an
Administration over all South Africa independent of Her
Majesty's Government, we consider it our duty solemnly to
declare that this war was undertaken solely as a defensive
measure to safeguard the threatened independence of the South
African Republic, and is only continued in order to secure and
safeguard the incontestable independence of both Republics as
sovereign international States, and to obtain the assurance
that those of Her Majesty's subjects who have taken part with
us in this war shall suffer no harm whatsoever in person or
property.
"On these conditions, but on these conditions alone, are we
now, as in the past, desirous of seeing peace re-established in
South Africa, and of putting an end to the evils now reigning
over South Africa; while, if Her Majesty's Government is
determined to destroy the independence of the Republics, there
is nothing left to us and to our people but to persevere to the
end in the course already begun, in spite of the overwhelming
pre-eminence of the British Empire, confident that that God who
lighted the unextinguishable fire of the love of freedom in the
hearts of ourselves and of our fathers will not forsake us, but
will accomplish His work in us and in our descendants.
"We hesitated to make this declaration earlier to your
Excellency, as we feared that as long as the advantage was
always on our side, and as long as our forces held defensive
positions far in Her Majesty's Colonies, such a declaration
might hurt the feelings of honour of the British people; but
now that the prestige of the British Empire may be considered
to be assured by the capture of one of our forces by Her
Majesty's troops, and that we are thereby forced to evacuate
other positions which our forces had occupied, that difficulty
is over, and we can no longer hesitate clearly to inform your
Government and people, in the sight of the whole civilised
world, why we are fighting, and on what conditions we are ready
to restore peace."
[Illustration: SHELL FROM THE NAVAL BRIGADE DISPERSING BOERS FROM BEHIND
THE SEVEN SISTERS KOPJES, DURING THE ACTION OF 7th MARCH AT LE GALLAIS
KOPJE, NEAR OSFONTEIN.
Drawing by Sidney Paget, from a Sketch by W. B. Wollen, R.I.]
The answer to this effusion, addressed by Lord Salisbury on behalf of
Her Majesty's Government to the Presidents, ran:--
"FOREIGN OFFICE, _March 11, 1900_.
"I have the honour to acknowledge your Honours' telegram, dated
March 5, from Bloemfontein, of which the purport is principally
to demand that Her Majesty's Government shall recognise the
'incontestable independence' of the South African Republic and
Orange Free State as 'sovereign international States,' and to
offer, on those terms, to bring the war to a conclusion.
"In the beginning of October last, peace existed between Her
Majesty and the two Republics under the Conventions which then
were in existence. A discussion had been proceeding for some
months between Her Majesty's Government and the South African
Republic, of which the object was to obtain redress for certain
very serious grievances under which British residents in the
South African Republic were suffering. In the course of these
negotiations, the South African Republic had, to the knowledge
of Her Majesty's Government, made considerable armaments, and
the latter had, consequently, taken steps to provide
corresponding reinforcements to the British garrisons of Cape
Town and Natal. No infringement of the rights guaranteed by the
Conventions had, up to that point, taken place on the British
side. Suddenly, at two days' notice, the South African
Republic, after issuing an insulting ultimatum, declared war
upon Her Majesty; and the Orange Free State, with whom there
had not even been any discussion, took a similar step. Her
Majesty's dominions were immediately invaded by the two
Republics, siege was laid to three towns within the British
frontier, a large portion of the two Colonies was overrun, with
great destruction to property and life, and the Republics
claimed to treat the inhabitants of extensive portions of Her
Majesty's dominions as if those dominions had been annexed to
one or other of them. In anticipation of these operations the
South African Republic had been accumulating for many years
past military stores on an enormous scale, which, by their
character, could only have been intended for use against Great
Britain.
"Your Honours make some observations of a negative character
upon the object with which these preparations were made. I do
not think it necessary to discuss the questions you have
raised. But the result of these preparations, carried on with
great secrecy, has been that the British Empire has been
compelled to confront an invasion which has entailed upon the
Empire a costly war and the loss of thousands of precious
lives. This great calamity has been the penalty which Great
Britain has suffered for having in recent years acquiesced in
the existence of the two Republics.
"In view of the use to which the two Republics have put the
position which was given to them, and the calamities which
their unprovoked attack has inflicted upon Her Majesty's
dominions, Her Majesty's Government can only answer your
Honours' telegram by saying that they are not prepared to
assent to the independence either of the South African Republic
or of the Orange Free State."
To return to Osfontein. There was now a short and much-needed interval
of repose, in which men and horses tried to recuperate. It was, however,
necessary for the cavalry to be continually scouring the country to
ascertain the whereabouts of the enemy.
On the 6th of March Lord Roberts welcomed the Ceylon Mounted Infantry,
and sent the following telegram to Sir West Ridgeway, Governor of
Ceylon:--"I have just ridden out to meet Ceylon Mounted Infantry, and
welcome them to this force. They look most workmanlike, and are a
valuable addition to Her Majesty the Queen's army in South Africa."
These troops were in excellent condition, so also were their handy Burma
ponies, smart, knowing, and game little beasts, warranted to turn on a
sixpence and stand any amount of wear and tear.
On the same day the Colonials had a smart set-to with the Dutchmen, who
were endeavouring to locate themselves in the vicinity, and the New
Zealanders and Australians made themselves more than a match for the
Boers, losing themselves only six wounded, while they put ten of the
enemy out of action. The rest of the gang disappeared, on the principle
of those who fight and run away live to fight another day. In fact, they
moved to some strong eminences that commanded either side of the river,
the centre of the position being at Poplar Grove Farm. Here the Federals
thought to embarrass the British advance, but Lord Roberts decided to
undeceive them. The Field-Marshal's plan was now to turn their left
flank with the cavalry division, and then to meet their line of defence
with the infantry divisions, and thus enclose them as Cronje had been
enclosed.
Accordingly the troops got themselves into battle array. The Naval
Brigade brought their 4.7 guns four miles north-east of Osfontein, while
the cavalry prepared to turn the Boer left, and started before daybreak
of the 7th to accomplish this feat. On the north bank was left the Ninth
Division with some handy Colonials and guns. Moving to the east were the
Sixth and Seventh Divisions, with the Guards Brigade in the centre.
The dawn grew. The Boers in the golden rays of morning were disclosed
massed in the far front, and later was seen the glorious mass of
French's cavalry sweeping south--a martial broom which the Boers began
to know meant business.
At eight o'clock the music of battle started, the Naval guns on one side
and the batteries of General French on the other. Lyddite and shrapnel
bounced and spluttered over all the small kopjes wherein the Dutchmen
had made a lodgment. It was sufficient. The Boer guns spat
impotently--the puling cry of dismay--then, knowingly, the Federals made
preparations for a stampede. They saw in the distance the Sixth Division
advancing, the Colonials cleaving the columns of dust, the Highland
Brigade coming on and on, their dark kilts cutting a thin line across
the atmosphere--they saw enough! To east they flew, speeding towards
Bloemfontein--guns, waggons, horsemen--as arrows from the bow, and
leaving behind them their well-constructed trenches, their ammunition,
tents, and supplies. After them went the Colonials and City Imperial
Volunteers, all keen sportsmen, exhilarated with the heat of the chase,
but the Boers were uncatchable. No one has yet beaten them in the art of
running away. Nevertheless, Lord Roberts was left in undisturbed
possession of Poplar Grove. In the early afternoon the Boers certainly
endeavoured to make one futile, feeble stand, but their effort was
unavailing, and by sunset they were careering into space, while the
cavalry vainly endeavoured to hem them in. Horse-flesh had come to the
end of its tether; poor food and much galloping had reduced the noble
steeds to helpless wrecks, and unfortunately the manoeuvres of
Paardeberg could not be repeated. Curiously enough, though no Boers were
caught, the military net was full of strange fish, a Russian, a
Hollander, a German all being left in the lurch. It was a humorous
episode. While the Boers were making off as fast as legs--the mounts of
some had been shot--and horses could carry them, a dilapidated country
cart, surmounted by a red flag, was seen to be approaching. From this
cart presently emerged several forlorn personages, looking very sorry
for themselves indeed. They accounted for their plight by saying that
while the final fight was taking place their mule-waggon had broken
down. The mules having been unloosed, promptly stampeded, and left them
between two fires, that of the Boers (to whom they were attached) and
the British. The name of one foreigner, in dark blue uniform, was
Colonel Prince Gourko, of the Russian army; the other, attired in plain
clothes, was Lieutenant Thomson, of the Netherlands (Military Attache of
the Boers). With them was a German servant in attendance on the Russian
prince. Finding themselves in an uncomfortable quandary, one from which
there was no escape, they decided to join the British. They were
introduced to Lord Kitchener, and thereupon presented to the
Commander-in-Chief, who received them with his usual courtesy.
Lord Roberts, telegraphing home in the afternoon, thus described the
day's work:--
"OSFONTEIN, _March 7_ (4.30 P.M.).
"March 7.--Our operations to-day promise to be a great success.
"The enemy occupied a position four miles north and eleven
miles south of Modder River.
"I placed Colvile's division on north bank; Kelly-Kenny's and
Tucker's, with cavalry division, on south bank.
"The cavalry division succeeded in turning the left flank,
opening the road for 6th Division, which is advancing without
having been obliged to fire a shot up to present time (twelve
noon).
"Enemy are in full retreat toward north and east, being closely
followed by cavalry, horse-artillery, and mounted infantry,
while the 7th (Tucker's) and 9th (Colvile's) divisions, and
Guards Brigade, under Pole-Carew, are making their way across
the river at Poplar's Drift, where I propose to place my
headquarters this evening."
Later on the Commander-in-Chief wired from the said headquarters:--
"POPLAR GROVE, _March 7_ (7.35 P.M.).
"We have had a very successful day and completely routed the
enemy, who are in full retreat.
"The position they occupied was extremely strong, and cunningly
arranged with a second line of entrenchments, which would have
caused us heavy loss had a direct attack been made.
"The turning movement was necessarily wide owing to the nature
of the ground, and the cavalry and horse-artillery horses are
much done up.
"The fighting was practically confined to the cavalry division,
which, as usual, did exceedingly well, and French reports that
the horse-artillery batteries did a great deal of execution
amongst the enemy.
"Our casualties number about fifty.
"I regret to say that Lieutenant Keswick, 12th Lancers, was
killed, and Lieutenant Bailey, of the same regiment, severely
wounded. Lieutenant De Crespigny, 2nd Life Guards, also
severely wounded."
Though the state of the cavalry was deplorable, it was thanks to the
splendid execution of General French that the Boers showed so little
fight, and there were so few casualties. The enemy saw the cavalry
menacing their line of retreat, and pelted off from kopje to kopje, now
and then sniping at the leading squadrons, and occasionally plumping a
shell or two into the British midst. With the Dutchmen, Presidents Steyn
and Kruger were said to be, and these worthies made a desperate attempt to
rally the forces, but without success. Some say they even shed tears to
encourage their countrymen, which tears had evidently a damping effect,
for the Boers--some 14,000 of them--retreated all the faster. They were
absolutely demoralised by Lord Roberts' tactics, and felt seriously
injured that the trenches which had been prepared against a frontal attack
should have been ignored. They had been so accustomed to be attacked in
front that they began to look upon the Commander-in-Chief's "roundabout
way of doing things" as distinctly unfair. They took themselves off, and
when General French, who advanced ten miles ahead of the main body,
scoured the front, he reported that not a Boer was to be seen. A vast
amount of ammunition was left behind, and this, including several boxes of
explosive bullets, labelled "Manufactured for the British Government," was
promptly destroyed.
Good news now arrived. The A and B squadrons of Kitchener's Horse,
reported missing, suddenly returned to camp at Paardeberg. They, with E
squadron, were cut off on the 13th of February, and given up for lost.
Though E squadron was captured by the enemy, A and B squadrons succeeded
in escaping, and, after losing their bearings on the veldt, and
enduring three weeks' somewhat unpleasant experiences, found their way
into safety.
Quantities of the Transvaalers disbanded and returned to their farms. In
other quarters, too, progress was announced. General Gatacre occupied
Burghersdorp and General Clements had reached Norval's Pont, and thus
the sporadic rebellion in Cape Colony was slowly beginning to die out.
The army advanced and formed a fresh camp beyond Poplar Grove, where on
the 8th and 9th more of the troops concentrated. The force was now
moving through a fine grassy country, made additionally green and
refreshing by plentiful rains, and the horses were improving in
condition and spirits, while the men were in first-rate fettle.
On the 10th of March the army proceeded onwards. By this time the Boers
had posted themselves on the kopjes eight miles south of Abraham's
Drift. It was imagined that they would be able to offer little
resistance to the advancing force, but they, however, made a very
determined stand.
THE FIGHT AT DRIEFONTEIN
On leaving Poplar Grove, Lord Roberts' force, rearranged and divided
into three, advanced on Bloemfontein _via_ Driefontein, a place about
six miles south-west of Abraham's Kraal and some forty miles from the
capital of the Free State. Along the Petrusberg Road, to the right,
moved General Tucker's division, with the Gordons and a cavalry brigade.
The central column, composed of General Colvile's division, the Guards
Brigade (General Pole-Carew), and Colonel Broadwood's brigade of
cavalry, accompanied Lord Roberts, while on the left, advancing along
the Modder River, was General French with Colonel Porter's cavalry
brigade and General Kelly-Kenny's division. The ranks had been filled up
by detachments from the Modder and Kimberley, which latter place had
been converted into the advanced depot. Among the additional troops were
the Ceylon Mounted Rifles, a soldierly lot and much admired by those who
saw them. At 10 A.M. the brigade of cavalry under Colonel Broadwood,
which was marching in advance of the central column, came in touch with
the enemy. Their position was a strong one, an open, crescent-shaped
group of kopjes, with the centre a plateau, dropping on all sides to
flat ground. At the extreme end of the semicircle (on the crescent at
the north-east) was posted a formidable gun, and this weapon, perched on
a commanding kopje at Abraham's Kraal, protected the position from
advance from the north-west. It also provided the Republicans with a
loophole for escape. Colonel Broadwood had no sooner discovered the
enemy in his snake-shaped array of kopjes than he commenced to shell
him and drive him forth from the lower projections of the position. That
done, he there planted his mounted infantry till reinforcements should
come to his aid.
[Illustration: DIRECTING AN ARMY FROM A MILITARY BALLOON.]
On the right Colonel Porter had now come in contact with the foe.
General French's orders were to avoid imbroglio with the enemy and to
keep in touch with the centre. On a message being sent by Colonel Porter
to inform General French of the presence of the Dutchmen, the infantry
division changed its course. They now marched twenty miles to the south,
reaching the position about one o'clock. The march was an achievement.
Twenty miles across the blistering, blinding veldt, as a commencement to
a fighting day six hours in length, was a feat of endurance of which the
infantry division might well have been proud. The change of course had
the effect of avoiding the necessity to attack Abraham's Kraal, though
at the same time it unfortunately left open the enemy's line of retreat
to the north, which, later on, he was not slow to make use of. With the
arrival of General French's force, Colonel Broadwood was free to
continue his movement to the left of the enemy's position, and working
round it, found himself assailed by the 9-pounder of the enemy. He
nevertheless pursued his course, gaining ground very slowly but surely,
and by nightfall the brigade of cavalry had worked eight miles to the
rear of the Dutchmen's position. This flanking movement, though not
concluded at dusk, resulted in the eventual retirement of the enemy.
Meanwhile in the centre of the plateau hot fighting was taking place,
General Kelly-Kenny's division having made a bold attack on the north of
the stronghold, whence the troops were greeted from behind a screen of
boulders with a storm of shot and shell. The Dutchmen, safe and
invisible, could not, however, succeed in arresting the dogged advance
of the Welsh Regiment, who formed the first line of the attacking force.
They went on and on despite the fierce fusillade of the Federals, their
numbers growing momentarily thinner, but their nerve and perseverance
showing no diminution. The Boers, ingenious as ever, offered a skilful
and stubborn resistance, pouring a heavy enfilading fire from kopjes
both east and south-west, while they plied two 12-pounders with intense
vigour.
From the south now came the artillery, T Battery R.H.A. sweeping the way
for the infantry advance. But they had no easy task. Before they could
get into action the Vickers-Maxim of the Federals commenced its deadly
activities, and while the gunners were unlimbering killed first one man
then another, and laid low several horses. But the brave artillerymen
undauntedly pursued their work, and presently, with the loss of very few
minutes, exchanged hearty greetings with the weapon which had wrought
such havoc among their numbers. At this time U Battery, at the north of
the Boer centre, was active, but later on, when the 76th Field Battery
moved towards the enemy with a view to clearing a way for the rush of
the infantry, U Battery joined T, and together they blazed away at the
ridges held by the Dutchmen. But throughout the whole period they
pursued their work under showers which unceasingly rained down from the
rifles of the foe. Meanwhile the Welsh Regiment, supported by the Essex
and Gloucesters, moved on and on till they reached the shelter of the
crest of the ridge. Here, at 500 yards range, a crackling concert of
musketry was heard, the Boers firing with great ferocity and
stubbornness, the British with coolness and accuracy. From the centre of
the position the Yorks, supported by the Buffs, did magnificent work,
and they, together with the Essex Regiment, later on in the afternoon
began doggedly to ascend towards the stone sangars of the enemy, which
yet vomited forks of flame.
Now they crawled and now they wormed themselves along through the grass,
dripping with gore and covered with sweat, many of their officers gone,
comrades dropping to right and to left of them, while the fire of the
enemy continued to rattle down in their midst. Then, as the fusillade
slackened, they leapt up and made for the ridge, taking it, going over
the crest with glittering steel and ringing cheer, and finding not one
single Boer had awaited their coming. The Dutchmen had vanished into
thin air! It was a magnificent deed--the finest that had been witnessed
for a long time--but it was dearly paid for. The way was paved to
Bloemfontein, but with the corpses of the honoured dead. The brunt of
the fighting fell on the Sixth Division, more particularly on the Welsh
and Essex Regiments, the Ninth Division, with the Guards, arriving too
late in the day to take part in the fight. A great number of officers
were put out of action--so many, indeed, that some of the leading
companies were led, and admirably led, by their colour-sergeants. A
characteristic feature of the engagement was the Dutchmen's slim and
ingenious mode of firing a big gun from amid a group of red houses, each
floating a white flag, an arrangement which served to cover the
retirement of the enemy, and on the success of which he doubtless
complimented himself not a little.
[Illustration: SERGEANT OF THE INNISKILLING DRAGOONS.
Photo by Gregory & Co., London.]
At dusk a splendid sight was visible. In the last glimmer of day Lord
Roberts and his staff entered the central plateau, followed by degrees
by all the troops--an imposing force, which evidently determined the
Boers in their resolution to make themselves scarce. This they did, guns
included, with really creditable and surprising rapidity. They were much
disheartened by defeat, however, and though they had offered most
stubborn resistance, the character of their defence was lacking in
evidence of the determination which had hitherto been noticeable. Among
the mortally wounded was the gallant officer commanding the Royal
Australian Artillery, Colonel Umphelby.[3] The Boers lost over 100, but
the list of our own killed and wounded was a long one. Amongst the
killed were:--Captain Eustace, the Buffs; Lieutenant Parsons and Second
Lieutenant Coddington, Essex Regiment; Captain Lomax, Welsh Regiment;
Mr. McKartie, a retired Indian civilian attached to Kitchener's Horse.
Wounded--Colonel Hickson, the Buffs, Lieutenant Ronald, the Buffs;
Captain Jordan, Gloucesters; Second Lieutenant Torkington, Welsh
Regiment; Second Lieutenant Pope, Welsh Regiment; Second Lieutenant
Wimberley, Welsh Regiment; Captain Broadmead, Essex Regiment; Lieutenant
Devenish, Royal Field Artillery; Major Waite, Royal Army Medical Corps;
Lieutenant Berne, Royal Army Medical Corps; Colonel Umphelby, Royal
Australian Artillery (since dead); Lieutenant C. Berkeley and Second
Lieutenant Lloyd, Welsh Regiment; Second Lieutenant G. H. Raleigh, Essex
Regiment.
The Australians came in for a heavy share of the fighting. The 1st
Australian Horse, brigaded with the Scots Greys, were fiercely fired on
by the enemy as they advanced to within 800 yards of the wide bend of
kopjes. The New South Wales Mounted Infantry, under Colonel Knight, and
the Mounted Rifles, under Captain Antill, engaged in animated pursuit of
the enemy as they fled towards the north, their fleet horses showing a
marked contrast in condition to the jaded steeds of the English cavalry.
Lord Roberts expressed his satisfaction at the brilliant work performed
by the Welsh Regiment in the storming of Alexander Kopje, a feat in
which they displayed consummate skill as well as amazing pluck. Some
heroic actions took place during the day, particularly in connection
with the supply of ammunition, which ran short owing to the necessity of
relieving the infantry for their heavy march, of fifty rounds apiece.
Some dastardly ones were also practised by the Boers, who, finding
themselves in a perilous situation, the artillery in front and a
squadron of mounted infantry hovering on their flank, hoisted a white
flag and threw up their hands in token of surrender. Naturally the
British accepted the sign, and, while they were approaching the
Dutchmen, some others of their number hastened to pour a volley into the
British ranks. Lord Roberts himself having been a witness of this
treacherous act, remonstrated with the Boer leaders, and ordered that in
future if such action were repeated the white flag should be utterly
disregarded. The following protest was made by the Commander-in-Chief:--
"To their Honours the State Presidents of the Orange Free State
and South African Republic.
"Another instance having occurred of a gross abuse of the white
flag, and of the signal of holding up the hands in token of
surrender, it is my duty to inform your Honours that if such
abuse occurs again, I shall most reluctantly be compelled to
order my troops to disregard the white flag entirely.
"The instance occurred on the kopje east of Driefontein Farm
yesterday evening, and was witnessed by several of my own
staff-officers as well as by myself, and resulted in the
wounding of several of my officers and men.
"A large quantity of explosive bullets of three different kinds
was found in Cronje's laager, and after every engagement with
your Honours' troops.
"Such breaches of the recognised usages of war and of the
Geneva Convention are a disgrace to any civilised Power.
"A copy of this telegram has been sent to my Government, with a
request that it may be communicated to all neutral Powers."
The Boers had now entirely disappeared. It was nevertheless hinted that
they might be collecting in some new and unexpected region. The column,
however, resumed its victorious march, proceeding twelve miles without
coming upon the enemy. The beating of yesterday had produced a good
effect, for the Dutchmen kept their distance, though in the kopjes all
along the direct road to Bloemfontein, which lay due east, they were
said to be swarming. It was also reported that Transvaalers and Free
Staters had fallen out, and that the former, under Joubert, were
determined to make a stand behind a magnificent entrenchment that they
had built. The advance was supposed to come from the west, and
consequently the Boer line of entrenchments extended some six or eight
miles from the town facing towards Bam's Vlei. There were shelter
trenches, made not on the kopjes, but about a hundred yards out on the
plain beneath. They used sandbags, and had gun epaulements besides. In
addition to all this, they had made sangars and piles of stones on the
kopjes. Unfortunately for them, our troops made a cunning detour, which
again dislocated the Dutchmen's programme, and forced them in their
mountain fastnesses to sit inactive, while the cavalry was wheeling
south to the outskirts of Bloemfontein! Here there were no
fortifications and very few Boers.
Mr. Steyn now secretly left Bloemfontein for Kroonstad, as, in spite of
Mr. Kruger's representations, it had been decided to surrender the
capital of the Free State. Lord Roberts, who had sent in a formal demand
for surrender, received no reply. General Joubert made preparations,
with some 3000 men, to avert the surrender, but his approach, veritably
at the eleventh hour, was barred by the clever manoeuvres of the
British. This splendid piece of work was executed by Major
Hunter-Weston, R.E. He was sent by General French to cut the railway
north of Bloemfontein, and thus preclude any chance of Boer interruption
to the triumphal progress into the town. In the dead of night the Major,
with seven men of the field-troop, all mounted on picked horses (a
precaution that was very necessary considering the hard work done by the
troops both before and after the relief of Kimberley), started on their
hazardous expedition. Darkness cramped, though it cloaked their
movements, and the ground over which they sped was seamed with dongas
and many impediments; and, moreover, a wide sweep had to be made to
avoid Boer pickets. Before the peep o' day they reached their
destination. Then they began to search for a place suitable for
demolition. They came on a culvert supported with iron girders, one of
which was hastily but cautiously prepared by placing two 10-lb. charges
of gun-cotton against the web, which was fired within twenty minutes.
Then, with a detonation that seemed to shake the day into dawning, the
line was completely wrecked and rendered impassable, and Joubert, whose
"special" was timed to arrive at Bloemfontein at 8.10 A.M., lost his
last chance of interfering with the proceedings! This in itself was an
excellent _coup_, and particularly serviceable, since it secured to the
British the use of twenty-six locomotives at a time when they were much
needed.
General French had also seized and destroyed some portions of the
railway south of Bloemfontein. His headquarters were made at the house
of Mr. Steyn's brother--who had tried unsuccessfully to get away, and
was forced to remain at his farm--while the troops were now posted at
different points outside the town, and were, in comparison with their
former state, in clover.
Early on the 13th the 1st Cavalry Brigade moved slowly towards some
kopjes to the east of Bloemfontein and occupied them. All knew the great
day was come when Lord Roberts with Kelly-Kenny's and Colvile's
divisions, the Guards Brigade, and the Mounted Infantry would be
presently marching into the Free State capital. Whereupon the
adventurous journalist, determined there should be no pie without the
impress of his finger, put his best leg foremost and decided to lead the
way. The correspondents of the _Sydney Herald_, the _Daily News_, and
the _Daily Telegraph_ were seen like madmen spurring over the plain.
There was ten to one on the favourite, the Burleigh veteran, and the
Colonial was only backed for a place, yet he it was who won! They were
received in the Market Square with beams. There was a shade of relief
even on the most surly countenances. Mr. Fraser, a member of the
Executive, the Mayor of Bloemfontein, and others, "bigwigs of B.," as
somebody called them, came out and did the honours. These gentlemen were
invited to take carriages out to welcome the British force,
which--diplomacy being the better part of hostility--they accordingly
did. In starting they encountered the first of the British victors,
Lieutenant Chester-Master, with three of Remington's scouts. At last
they came to the Chief's halting-place, and the surrender of the town
was made known. The mediaeval ceremony of delivering up the keys of
Parliament and Presidency was gone through. Formalities over, Lord
Roberts made the gracious assurance that, provided no opposition was
offered, the lives and properties of the Bloemfontein public were safe
in his hands. Having notified his intention to enter the capital in
state, the Mayor, Landrost, and others departed to acquaint the
townspeople.
AT BLOEMFONTEIN
Bloemfontein! A name of milk and honey, of flowers and dew! Every vowel
breathed of pastoral simplicity, of luscious grasses and lowing kine, of
gambolling game and purling stream. A name for a poet to conjure with! a
talisman to awaken the mellow music of a Herrick and recall the soul of
Walton to benevolent rejoicings in the "sights and sounds of the open
landscape." Unfortunately, the mellifluous name was not derived from the
German for flowers or from the melody of fountains. It owed its origin
to a Boer peasant who stood godfather to the hamlet and also to an
adjacent stream. Here in other days the innocent Voertrekker unpacked
his waggons and set out his little farmstead, choosing green rising
ground, an oasis in the sandy veldt, and the neighbourhood of a
refreshing rivulet for comfort's sake, and not because he foresaw that
in fifty years this spot would be the central scene in one of the
largest dramas of the world! In the year 1845 the Union Jack first waved
its protective folds over the homestead. At that period it was converted
into the official abode of a British Resident, and from that time, with
an expansion which was truly British, the tiny village developed till it
became a town, and finally passed over, through British apathy and
dislike for responsibility, to the hands of the Free Staters. And there
it might and would have remained had not President Steyn, who owed us no
grudge, and with whom we were on the best of terms, decided to put his
finger in the diplomatic pie, in the hope that some of the plums would
fall to his share. Thus, in his greed for power and his contempt for the
British, he embroiled his country, and being unable to defend his
capital, was forced to scurry off to his birthplace, Winburg, some miles
to the east, where, with the assistance of his foreign mercenaries, he
yet hoped to save himself from the consequences of his ill-advised
interference. So it came to pass that on the 13th of March 1900,
thirty-nine days after the commencement of his great march, Lord
Roberts, with the magnificent British army in his wake, moved unopposed
towards the capital of the Free State.
[Illustration: THE FORMAL SURRENDER OF BLOEMFONTEIN.
Drawing by J. Finnemore, from a Sketch by W. B. Wollen, R.I.]
The entry into the town was an imposing spectacle. The Mayor, Dr.
Kellner, the Landrost, Mr. Papenfus, and Mr. Fraser, as we know, had
driven out in a cart to meet Lord Roberts, and four miles outside the
town the keys of the town were given up. Then the Field-Marshal, the
most simply dressed man in his whole army, appeared at the head of a
cavalcade a mile long. He was followed by his military secretary, his
aides-de-camp, the general officers on his staff with their respective
staffs. Then came the foreign attaches, some war-correspondents, and
Lord Roberts' Indian servants, who contributed a warm note of colour
to the sombre files of kharki. After this came a serpentine train of
cavalry and guns, which entered the city at one o'clock. It was the most
wonderful military display that has been seen for years. A gigantic
army--not a peace but a war army, not the crude army of Salisbury Plain
but the perfected article, the army minus its raw recruits and plus its
trained reserves, which owed its magnificent development to the man whom
Lord Wolseley has called "the greatest War Minister we ever had."
Looking at the splendid physique of the warrior multitude, it was
impossible for military men, even those who had criticised most severely
the short service system, to deny that to-day the triumph of Lord
Cardwell's principle was complete!
The crowds collected from far and wide, all business was suspended, and
knots and cliques gathered together to witness the procession moving up
the slopes towards the town itself. Cheer after cheer rang through the
air, kerchiefs waved and blessings were prayed for, as the procession
marched through the collected crowd and on into the market square. Lord
Roberts then went to the Government Buildings, and took formal
possession in the name of the sovereign. There was renewed cheering and
singing of "God save the Queen," when, half-an-hour later, at twenty
minutes to two, a small silken Union Jack, specially worked by Lady
Roberts, was seen floating over the town.
The day passed without notable incident. A public holiday was observed,
and the kharki-clad crowds rejoiced themselves by singing "Tommy Atkins"
and feasting right royally. They were quite undisturbed by the scarcely
complimentary remarks of the Burghers, who compared them in number and
colour and appetite to a swarm of locusts!
Mr. Steyn's brother, who, it may be remembered, had failed to get away
with his belongings in time, remained discreetly at his farm, where he
entertained General French, and subsequently Lord Roberts. One of the
curious features of the entry into the capital of the Free State was the
extraordinary welcome given by the inhabitants to the conquerors.
Regiment after regiment filed past to the tune of hearty cheers, and
surprised pleasure at the orderly and humane entry of the enemy was
visible on every face. While the public offices were taken over by Lord
Roberts' staff, the banks were visited by Colonel Richardson. This
officer was accounted one of the heroes of the hour, for sufficient
praise could not be given to the achievements of the Army Corps or to
Colonel Richardson, whose task of provisioning, foraging, and
transporting 40,000 men and 18,000 horses savoured of the labours of
Hercules. There were quibblers, of course; but, practically considered,
all had gone off without a hitch, and the whole arrangements moved, as
the phrase is, "on greased wheels," the influence over all of the
beloved "Bobs" having been simply magical.
The next day Lord Roberts inspected the Guards Brigade, complimented
them on their splendid march, and expressed his regret that through a
mistake he had been unable to enter Bloemfontein at the head of the
Brigade. He consoled them by saying, "I will lead you into Pretoria!" In
these gracious words the troops were rewarded for their disappointment,
for the Chief, though he had promised them to lead them into the town,
had finally decided that it was expedient to enter the capital without
waiting for the infantry.
The Guards Brigade had made a magnificent march of thirty-eight miles in
twenty-eight hours, taking from 3 P.M. on the 12th to 1 P.M. on the
13th, with an interval of only two and a half hours for sleep. Yet, in
spite of this, and of having been in some of the toughest fights of the
campaign, they were cheery and elated. One of their number (the Scots
Guards) described their arrival:--"We waited three hours outside
Bloemfontein for Lord Roberts, as we were told that the
Commander-in-Chief wished to ride at the head of the Guards Brigade into
the town. But he did not come, and our Colonel got orders to go in on
his own. Our reception in Bloemfontein would have surprised you. It was
quite funny in its way--not in the least like entering an enemy's town.
The people simply came forth and cheered us as friends. A small group of
nuns who came out to meet us wished us 'Good evening,' and said we were
very welcome. To myself, as an Aberdonian, it was very home-like to pass
by a shop with the inscription, 'Bon-Accord Restaurant.' The proprietor
was standing at the door shouting himself hoarse. I was not surprised
afterwards to learn that he was a pure Aberdonian. We camped outside the
town, and next day Lord Roberts reviewed the Guards Brigade. His
Lordship made a short speech, in which he complimented us on our rapid
march, and said he was sorry he had not been able to lead us into
Bloemfontein. 'But,' said his Lordship, 'I hope to be at your head when
we go into Pretoria.' We all gave three very hearty cheers for the
Commander-in-Chief, who has always been the soldier's friend. We would
follow him anywhere."
To return to the closing events of the momentous 13th. At 8 P.M. a
telegram was sent home describing with simple brevity the entry into the
capital:--"From Lord Roberts to the Secretary for War.--Bloemfontein,
March 13, 8 P.M.--By the help of God and by the bravery of Her
Majesty's soldiers, the troops under my command have taken possession of
Bloemfontein. The British flag now flies over the Presidency, vacated
last evening by Mr. Steyn, late President of the Orange Free State."
An army order was issued on the 14th, in which the Chief said:--
"On February 12 this force crossed the boundary of the Free
State; three days later Kimberley was relieved; on the
fifteenth day the bulk of the Boer army under one of its most
trusted generals was made prisoner; on the seventeenth day news
came of the relief of Ladysmith; and on March 13, twenty-nine
days from the commencement of operations, the capital of the
Free State was occupied.
"This is a record of which any army would be proud--a record
which could not have been achieved except by earnest,
well-disciplined men, determined to do their duty, whatever the
difficulties and dangers.
"Exposed to the extreme heat of the day, bivouacking under
heavy rain, marching long distances often on reduced rations,
all ranks have displayed an endurance, cheerfulness, and
gallantry which is beyond all praise."
Lord Roberts added that he desired especially to refer to the heroic
spirit with which the wounded had borne their suffering. No word nor
murmur of complaint had been uttered. The anxiety of all when succour
came was that their comrades should be attended to first.
So the great march was over--the hurry, the fatigue, the loss of life,
the perpetual anxieties had brought about the desirable end--and the
tremendous first act in the historic drama of the century was nearing
its conclusion. Looking back on the difficulties that had been
surmounted--the movement of some 40,000 men and 20,000 quadrupeds across
over 100 miles of mostly dry veldt, where water was scarce and heat
tropical, and where the enemy lurked in masses in kopje or donga, and
had to be fought at intervals--the march appeared little short of
miraculous. Now the curtain was shortly to go up on the first scene of
the second act, an act which would have for its background the Orange
River Colony, formerly known as the Orange Free State!
FOOTNOTES:
[3] Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. E. Umphelby, who died of the wounds which he
received during the fight, was forty-six years of age. He commanded the
Victorian portion of the Royal Australian Regiment of Artillery. He joined
the Victorian Militia Garrison Artillery in 1884, and in the following
year was appointed lieutenant in the Permanent Artillery. He was promoted
to be captain in 1888, major in 1891, and lieutenant-colonel in 1897. Sent
to England by the Victorian Government in 1889, he passed through various
artillery courses, including the long course at Shoeburyness.
Lieutenant-Colonel Umphelby was attached to the staff of Major-General M.
Clarke at Aldershot from June to August 1890. See vol. iii., "Victoria."