MAFEKING IN MARCH
Five months of beleaguerment and no nearer the end! Ruefully the caged
crowd began to draw pictures of themselves as weird Rip Van Winkles,
curious fossilised things that would some day be unearthed by the
inquiring historian. They wondered whether Ginevra in her sealed oaken
chest felt more lost to the world, more forgotten, more impossible of
rescue! "We," said some one who shall be nameless, "we are all modern
Ginevras--only no one seems to look for us, and, by-and-by, perhaps no
one will even mourn. It is five months, you see! Ginevra was probably
asphyxiated in five hours, whereas we--we do the thing more
sluggishly--more painfully--we starve mentally and physically by slow
degrees. If we get air, it is air that is best not respired."
Nevertheless, these people sent forth to the world radiant accounts of
their doings, and sported the mask of Punchinello over the visage of
Melpomene. It was very British, this jocose unreserve that was a still
more tragic reserve, this festivity on the lips with famine gnawing at
the vitals.
Fever, the fever of heat, ennui, and mental and bodily depression, had
begun to assail the unfortunate besieged. The climate of Mafeking--in
ordinary circumstances most inspiriting--was becoming tainted, and the
feeling of creeping malaria swept over all who were forced to remain
cooped within the sorry regions. But the chief on whose wits the whole
community depended defied the malign influence of his surroundings.
During the day, with reserved, adamantine calm, he busied himself
inventing the thousand and one projects by which might be defeated any
possible move of the enemy, in reviving the spirits of his followers,
and providing for their appetites, in fighting against the encroachments
of disease and retaining the perfect discipline, which was no easy
matter in so small a radius with so many conflicting emotions to be
dealt with. At night, stealthy as a cat, he would creep forth to make
the necessary investigations and acquaint himself with the state of the
force opposing him, and if possible discover the Boer machinations of
the future. Creeping along the veldt all eyes and ears, he gathered
inspiration from a glimmer, the sound of a hoof, the flutter of bird and
rustle of bush. Even the colour of the darkness in east and west gave
him unspoken hints of designs nefarious--secrets or prophetic warnings
of movements to be. And then he would return from his mysterious
peregrinations primed with notions ingenious and plans elaborate, and
remain for the day under the roof of the verandah of the headquarters
office concocting some of the multitudinous schemes which confounded the
Boers and frustrated their best efforts at assault.
On the 3rd of March a little peace was secured owing to the
disappearance of the Teuton who worked the huge gun. He had been what
was described as "providentially potted." On the other hand a more
valuable life than that of the German mercenary had been sacrificed, for
Sergeant-Major Taylor of the Cape Boys, who had been doing splendid work
for his country, fell early in the morning mortally wounded. The Boers
fired something under forty shells before breakfast, and might have
pursued their activities the whole day had the loss of their chief
gunner not damped their ardour and forced them to postpone their
activities to a more convenient period. They nevertheless "sniped" at
intervals throughout the following Sunday, doubtless with the righteous
desire to avenge their artillery-man.
New brooms sweep clean. As a fresh gunner had come upon the scene, there
now began some more active bombardment. But the activity was no longer
what it had been, and but for the meagreness of the fare, and the fear
that the rations might diminish till they became invisible, the besieged
would have got on fairly well. On the 7th there died an adventurous
Scotsman whose history would have delighted the heart of the late Robert
Louis Stevenson. Major Baillie in his sparkling account of the siege
gave a brief outline of his romantic career. "Trooper M'Donald joined
the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1847, served in the Crimea
(French and Sardinian medals and two clasps) and in the Indian Mutiny,
was kidnapped when embarking home by Americans, fought for the North
against the South, deserted the North and fought for the South,
afterwards went to Australia, thence to New Zealand, and served in the
Maori War, in which he was taken prisoner. Later he came to South
Africa, served in the Basuto War with Sir Charles Warren's expedition,
Carrington's Horse, the Bechuanaland Border Police, and transferred to
the Cape Police, in which corps he has died of hardships and old age,
fighting the Boers." The Major went on to say: "He is not the only
Crimean veteran we have here. Both the Navy and Army are represented.
Mr. Ellis joined the Royal Navy in 1854, served in the Baltic and the
Black Sea, came to Africa and served in the Galika War. Mr. Brasier
served in the Crimea and the Mutiny, and there are others of whose
records of service I am not so certain. The contrast between them and
the cadet corps, utilised for orderly work, &c., is remarkable, and if
the Boers have their greybeards and boys fighting, why so have we." The
cadet corps was composed of youths ranging from the ages of ten to
fifteen years, game little fellows who did their duty splendidly.
The great news of the capture of Cronje and his horde now served to
raise the drooping spirits of the community. It was also reported that
Snyman was on the move, and that Malan, who was opposing Colonel Plumer,
had come into the neighbourhood of Mafeking. Sounds of rejoicing came
from the Boer camp, and on the following day Boers with their field kit
were seen to be clearing off. The information that the force was
marching to Bloemfontein, that Cape Colony was being swept of rebels,
that Ladysmith was relieved, now poured in, and caused the whole place
to become simply inebriated with joy.
On the 9th of March, to commemorate the victory at Paardeberg, a special
siege slip was published at the newspaper office. The news was announced
in the form of a poster, and concluded with the effectively printed
information: "Cronje a prisoner. Snyman to be hanged." Copies were
afterwards liberally pelted into the Boer quarter, who digested the news
with their morning biltong.
On the 11th (Sunday) a truce was observed. The Colonel, writing at that
date, said:--
"Our men, sitting upon the parapets, held a friendly
conversation with a detachment of the enemy, and an
enterprising photographer endeavoured to get them into line
while he photographed them, but they were evidently suspicious,
and feared the temptation to turn a Maxim upon them instead of
a camera would prove too great. Small parties appeared
throughout the day, and amicable relations were maintained
until dark."
The Boers outside were a hardy and stalwart lot, brawny and uncouth and
unkempt, though from a distance not unpicturesque. In their
rough-and-tumble attire no two were alike. Some were slouching in
velveteen coats and soft felt hats, others in black jackets with
"billycocks," and all with the inevitable well-worn neckerchief that
some one suggested might "come in handy for turtle soup." Their
bandoliers and their Martini and Mauser rifles gave them a certain
uniformity of aspect, but otherwise they seemed the most motley gang
that the hands of fate could have shuffled together. Some of the Boers
did not approve of the camera, and were inclined to suspect the British
of attempting dodges equal to their own, but others took a pride in
being portrayed.
A remarkable, almost a pathetic, feature of Mafeking fighting was the
strange ability of both sides to fraternise when hostilities were
suspended. The fact was that the combatants were linked together by ties
of relationship so mysteriously interwoven that the fights partook of
the nature of civil war--brothers and cousins-in-law, and, in one case,
two brothers, contending on either side of the battlefield. Naturally,
when the bloody business of their lives was ended, they were inclined to
foregather, to compare losses and make kindly inquiries strangely
inconsistent with the trend of their antagonistic pursuits. The Colonel
further reported:--
"Sergeant Currie has been promoted to the rank of a
commissioned officer. He has thus risen by gallantry and hard
work from a third-class private to be a lieutenant within five
months. Early on Monday morning (12th) the enemy recommenced
the bombardment with their six-inch gun, which had been
comparatively silent the previous week, now firing shrapnel.
Used against troops in the open the fire of these projectiles
is ineffectual as long as cover can be obtained, but they are
more dangerous to persons passing to the front from the streets
of the town. A detachment of Colonial native troops, under
Lieutenant Mackenzie, made an advance on Jackal Tree Fort, the
position originally occupied by the siege gun on the
south-western heights. The Boers got wind of the movement, and
evacuated the position before it could be carried through. To
cover the advance on Jackal Tree Fort, a detachment of Baralong
natives were despatched to make a feint attack on Fort Snyman,
a new work recently erected by the Boers, and threatening the
most advanced western position. They succeeded in creeping to
within thirty yards of the enemy, many of whom were sleeping
outside, and when near the fort poured in two or three rapid
volleys. Trooper Webb got sufficiently close to the fort to
blow out the brains of one of the enemy. The natives then beat
a rapid retreat, in accordance with instructions previously
given to them, having inflicted some losses upon the enemy. In
the brickfields the Cape Boys were reinforced by a detachment
of Protectorate troops under Captain Fitzclarence."
All were much perturbed at the sad news of the death of the genial young
trooper, Webb of the Cape Police, who was shot through the head while on
guard in the brickfields. This gallant fellow had been previously
wounded in October, and had been carried off under fire by Trooper
Stevens, and had only just returned to duty when he lost his
life--possibly in revenge for the act described above.
According to Colonel Baden-Powell's despatch of this date, a raiding
party of Baralongs, who had gone out on their own initiative,
encountered a patrol of the enemy, and opened fire upon them, killing
one man, whose rifle and bandolier they secured. The enemy retired for
reinforcements, but the Baralongs ambushed these reinforcements from a
convenient ditch at Madibi Siding, and the enemy fell back in confusion,
losing six men. The Baralongs, being unable to cope with long-range
fire, then commenced to retire on Mafeking, having captured two horses
with saddles and bridles. Finding the Boers were in pursuit, and fearing
the arrival of reinforcements from the investing forces, however, they
returned to a kopje in the vicinity of Madibi. Here they maintained
their position until dark, and then made good their retreat into the
stadt, having lost one killed and bringing in a few wounded. Three of
the party were missing.
It was impossible to prevent the Baralongs from retaliating by raids of
this description upon those whom they called the murderers of their
women and children. Mr. C. G. Bell, however, rendered invaluable service
in dealing with the natives, and a board was appointed by the Colonel
commanding to go thoroughly into the native question.
The Colonel described the effects of the bombardment on the following
day:--
"On Tuesday a shrapnel shell, bursting just about my
bomb-proof, sprinkled the wall of the fire brigade office with
bullets, which entered the bedrooms of Dixon's Hotel. These
were unoccupied, but afterwards a steel-plated shell passed
through the wall of the office, and when spent fell beneath the
table, and was scrambled for by the staff of clerks. In the
afternoon a shell, bursting in the court-house, killed two
natives and wounded four, slightly injuring another. All these
belonged to an unfortunate working party who happened to be
passing at the moment. A woman was also slightly wounded."
The conduct of the Boers towards the natives varied according to the
policy of the commandant engaged in subduing Mafeking. A Scottish farmer
who remained some ten miles south of the heroic hamlet, said that in the
beginning of the war the Boers were not so severe on the natives as they
were later on. About Christmas-time natives began to come out of
Mafeking and loot cattle to take back into the town. Then the Boers were
ordered to give no quarter to natives. If this order had had reference
to those found looting cattle, it would only have been according to the
rules of warfare, but the Boers were told to shoot down any strange
native found in the veldt without a pass from their people; and this was
done in a very large number of cases, their bodies being left to rot on
the veldt as if they were dogs. In some cases they had come out of
Mafeking, which need hardly be wondered at, in view of the scarcity of
food amongst the natives there. Considering the risk run, it was
wonderful how natives could be found willing to creep through the Boer
lines with despatches; but the natives are certainly anything but
cowards.
Towards the middle of March the attitude of the Boers towards the
natives improved, and they began to allow fugitives to escape through
their lines. The reason for this change of front was attributed to a
desire to conciliate the Baralongs in the event of Boer defeat, and to
keep them from raiding into Boer territory when their time for reprisals
might come.
Native spies brought in all manner of rumours, to the effect that
Colonel Plumer's armoured train had reached Pitsani Pothlugo, notable as
Jameson's starting-point on his famous raid, and that the enemy was
concentrating at Ramathlabama to prevent the advance of the relieving
force. But news certainly lost nothing by passing through the medium of
native channels, and the inhabitants of Mafeking were not over
credulous. The great ideal of the Bechuanas was Dr. Jameson, and he, it
was averred, was coming down from Buluwayo with an army to relieve
Mafeking. One rumour had it that the famous raider had totally
annihilated a Boer laager with a bomb from a balloon! Over an extensive
area, west and south of Mafeking, all the natives had been compelled to
leave their homes, and were placed near the Transvaal border with a
view--it was thought--to prevent despatches passing through to Mafeking.
Whatever the object, such a proceeding, especially in the wet season,
was very cruel. The poor people were robbed of their herds and household
goods, and driven away, and deposited like cattle wherever the Boers
thought fit to place them.
[Illustration: NATIVE CHURCH, MAFEKING.]
On the 18th the Boers were found in occupation of the new trench which
had just been triumphantly constructed by the besieged. It was, as Mr.
Neilly said, "like the soldier crab who gets into the shell of a winkle
when the winkle has gone out for a walk. As a rule the soldier crab
keeps what he has gained, but in this case the winkle came back and
recovered his shell." He did so very promptly. Lieutenant Feltham and a
small party advanced and threw bombs at the intruders, which caused them
quickly to evacuate their trenches. Then some of the Bechuanaland
Volunteers "speeded the parting guest" with a smart fusillade from the
flank, and the prized trench was recovered.
On the 20th the Boers appeared to be breaking up their western laager,
and on the 23rd it was discovered that the enemy had evacuated his
positions in the brickfields. These were promptly annexed and dismantled
by the Mafeking men. Major Panzera had what some one called "a real
sporting day." From morn till night he plied his Hotchkiss and kept the
Boers active till dusk. After dark the acetyline searchlight built by
the railwaymen was erected at the main work, but no demonstration from
the direction of the enemy took place. Then started off Lieutenant
Murray and trooper Mallalen (Cape Police) to reconnoitre. On reaching
the enemy's sap they crawled round cautiously on hands and knees to
investigate. It was a ticklish moment, but they were rewarded. They
peered in and made the discovery that the Boers had vanished. They crept
still farther along the connecting trench to the rear of the main work
and made assurance doubly sure. The Dutchmen were flown. So rapid had
been their flight that biltong, biscuits, and journals were left behind.
Quick as thought the trench was dismantled. Then Sergeant Page
(Protectorate Regiment) burrowed about for the mine which he and Mr.
Kiddy had laid in the direction of this trench in the early days of the
siege. The Boers had "slimly" unearthed the dynamite, and presently it
was discovered that the evacuated trench was connected by a copper wire
with the enemy's line. This was carefully cut. Then its direction was
traced, and a neat little plot of the Boers exposed itself to view. They
had arranged some 250 pounds of war gelatine and dynamite in the trench,
which, at a given moment, a touch from the wily Dutchman on the look-out
was meant to explode and blow some of the garrison into the air.
This failure served to depress the Boers, and for a time their siege gun
ceased fire, something having gone wrong with its works. Colonel
Baden-Powell was very proud of the brickfield's success and those who
contributed to it. Colonel Vyvyan, Inspector Marsh (Cape Police), Majors
Panzera and Fitzclarence, Inspector Browne, Lieutenant Currie (Cape
Police), Sergeant Page, and trooper Thompson (Cape Police), were all
eulogised in general orders.
[Illustration: (Captain). (Sergeant).
THE CAPE TOWN HIGHLANDERS.
Photo by J. E. Bruton, Cape Town.]
The captured newspapers afforded great satisfaction to the beleaguered
company, for they recounted the entry of Lord Roberts to Bloemfontein,
the surrender of Cronje, and the relief of Ladysmith. The intelligence
was intensely heartening, and the garrison seemed to gain in
backbone--not that it had ever been deficient in that quality. But now
its obstinate resistance of the Boers was resumed with renewed zest.
It must be noted that besides the Baralongs, who defended their own
stadt, were four other black contingents--the Fingoes, under Webster;
the Cape Boys, under Lieutenant Currie, B.S.C.P., who succeeded Captain
Goodyear when that officer was wounded; a detachment of Baralongs, under
Sergeant Abrams; and a Zulu crowd, called the "Black Watch," under
Mackenzie. All these contingents "put their backs into it," and rejoiced
in making things as hot and uncomfortable for the enemy as they could.
In default of other amusement some of the inhabitants interested
themselves in the Dutch snipers, and began to grow so familiar with them
that they resorted to the primeval mode of christening, that of
designating each individual by his personal attributes. One would be
called "Bow-legs," another "Bluebeard," or "Draggle Beard," and so on.
One Rip Van Winkle was particularly admired. Despite his years and his
probable "rheumatics," he would take up his post from dawn till dusk,
and snipe with persistence worthy a better cause. His patience and
perseverance somewhat endeared him to the garrison, and there was felt
to be something missing in the excitement of life when it was found that
he, like many of his compatriots, had been "curried," otherwise
"dished," by Lieutenant Currie, B.S.C.P., and his ever-active
contingent. These cheery fellows in off moments were ready enough to
exchange jocosities with the foe, almost treating him, despite his
barbarism, as one of themselves.
The correspondent of the _Pall Mall Gazette_ quoted a sample scene to
describe the style of friendly intercourse that took place.
"Cape 'boy' to Boer: 'Could you hit a bottle?' 'Yes, I think so. Put one
up.' (A hand rises cautiously to the top of the British trench, and a
black bottle is deposited there.)
"Boer: 'I can't see it. Put it higher.' (The Cape 'boy' balances a hat
on the head of the bottle and says, 'There you are; you can see that.')
The Boer fires, and the bullet flies wide.
"Cape 'boy': 'Wide to the left.' (Boer fires again and asks, 'Is that
nearer?')
"Cape 'boy': 'Rather high.' Boer fires a third shot that comes through
the loophole.
"The Cape soldier announces the result, and the Boer, fearing that he
will lose his good reputation for marksmanship, and angered by his bad
display, sings out--
"'Look here, you rooinek, we were sent here not to shoot bottles, but
men.'"
Curiously enough many of the Boers were hopelessly ignorant and
unsophisticated. They hardly knew what they were fighting for, and one
raw individual was heard to declare that he didn't believe the Queen had
caused this war, but the foreman of the English Raad. They retained
their bumptiousness in all circumstances. After a victory they would
brag of the number of British killed, about 80,000 as a rule, their news
being gleaned from the imaginative columns of the _Standard and Diggers'
News_. On the subject of defeat they were reticent, but fairly confident
that the Dutch flag in a month or two was bound to be floating over
South Africa.
On Sunday the 25th, a great Siege Exhibition took place--an exhibition
notable for its originality. Among the articles on view were bonnets
which had been trimmed with "siege" materials by ladies of the town.
These were never tired of showing their usefulness and versatility, but,
as Lady Sarah Wilson--a host in herself--declared in the _Daily Mail_,
"even the dogs played a prominent part in the siege. One belonging to
the base commandant was wounded no less than three times; another, a
rough Irish terrier, accompanied the Protectorate Regiment in all its
engagements; a third amused itself by running after the small Maxim
shells, barking loudly and trying hard to retrieve pieces; while the
Resident Commissioner's dog, a prudent animal, whenever she heard the
alarm-bell tore into the bomb-proof attached to her master's redoubt,
and remained there till the explosion was over. The sagacious creatures
rendered themselves most valuable, for no sooner had the warning bell
announced the firing of a shell than the town dogs began to bark loudly
in all quarters, thus enabling persons who, owing to the direction of
the wind or other circumstances, had failed to note the signal, to
escape to their shelters." The natives were much more apathetic, and
Reuter's correspondent gave curious instances of their stupidity and
_laisser faire_. "They would gather in great crowds round the
soup-kitchens in the town, and when bells were rung warning them that
the enemy's 6-inch gun had been fired they were too lazy to take cover
in the lee of the surrounding buildings, and had to be driven to do so
by means of sticks and sjamboks. Many would rather die than work, and
were too lazy to attempt the now comparatively safe journey to Kanya."
It was annoying to hear perpetual rumours of relief and to find relief
as far off as ever. Runners continually brought in telegrams of
congratulation, which added not a little to the bitterness of
incarceration. At one moment Plumer seemed to be coming; he was said to
be only eleven miles off, and the town was in ecstasies; at another
bombardment began briskly as ever, and spirits descended to zero. One of
the besieged, writing home on March 22, said:--
"Things are going on as usual. Every one is heartily sick and
tired of the siege. Colonel Plumer, with 1500 men, is only
about thirty-five miles away, with provisions for us.... Every
one here feels the want of more, better, and varied food. A
friend of ours was very ill for ten days, and the only
comforts the doctor could order were two tins of milk and some
lunch biscuits! There is no margarine left in the town, and the
Commissariat Department is calling in all the starch. The
hospital is very full; and there is a good deal of malarial and
typhoid fever.... Sometimes the bread is awful, black, and made
from locally-crushed oats, with all the husks on, simply split
in long pieces. We are all downright hungry, and cannot buy a
bit of food, except on some special occasion. Last Sunday
Weil's store was allowed to sell certain articles of food,
_e.g._ pea flour and margarine; former, 2s. 6d. a tin; latter,
3s. per lb. The crush outside the store was so great that women
fainted, and some were waiting for hours, and then unable to
get in.... The railings of the park and tennis-courts are used
for firing, and we are authorised to use our fences for the
same purpose. Our meat is good, but poor and tough. We almost
entirely depend upon the natives looting enemy's cattle, and
sometimes we have horse-flesh, but that I cannot manage, so on
those days I am hungrier than ever.... My husband is
quarter-master-sergeant in charge of the rations--not a very
enviable billet. The whole town is on rations. We are all under
martial law, and Colonel Baden-Powell looks after us all, and
we may be very thankful that the defence of Mafeking has been
entrusted to such a capable man."
The menu was not variegated. You took your choice between a species of
porridge (made from the husks of oats fermented for some hours prior to
boiling) and a noxious brown biscuit, or, as the Indians called it,
"chupattie." But it had none of the savouriness of the chupattie, and
was described as a cross between a ship's biscuit and a baked brick. It
was certainly filling at the price, so filling, in fact, that those who
devoured it suffered from what was styled "hippopotamus on the chest"
for some hours afterwards.
March 27th was described as the hottest day in the siege, the mud walls
of Mafeking being liberally dosed to the tune of 200 shells by Creusots
and quick-firing Krupps. As many as 250 shells were said to have been
fired into the town, while the 100-pounder was responsible for 70.
Sergeant Abrams, of the Cape Police, an officer who had been in the
thick of the whole siege, was caught by a high-velocity shell and had
the misfortune to lose his foot. Some of the shells penetrated the
bomb-proofs, and one or two persons were more or less injured. It was
calculated that during the sixty-four days of the siege as many as 1300
shells from the 100-pound Creusot, independently of minor missiles, had
descended in the midst of the valorous community. Some of the shells
were sold as curios and fetched as much as five guineas apiece; rarer
ones sold for ten or twelve. The losses of the garrison up to this date
were: Killed and missing: 7 officers and 93 men, besides 53 native and
other non-combatants. Wounded: 11 officers and 38 men, besides 114
native and other non-combatants.
The congratulations of the Lord Mayor of London on the relief now
arrived, and all began to hope that "coming events cast their shadows
before." But cruel disappointment followed.
Heavy firing was reported from the north on the 31st, and there was
tremendous excitement. One and all agreed that it was Colonel Plumer
coming to the rescue. They hoped, they prayed, and when at last the
sounds died away hope died with them. The next morning explained it.
General Snyman sent in a letter under a flag of truce requesting Colonel
Baden-Powell to send an ambulance for Colonel Plumer's dead! A horrible
description of the battlefield "strewn with corpses" followed, and
caused deep concern to those who were the cause of the gallant
enterprise which had cost so many lives. Fortunately only three bodies
were found, but these had rifled pockets, while the boots of one had
been removed. The action of removing boots from the dead savours of the
barbaric, but it must be remembered that the Boers, and indeed some of
our own men, were almost soleless. War brings about strange conditions
and strange ethics. A trooper, one of the remnant of the Light Brigade,
told a strange story of how on that "great occasion" he came on the
corpse of a Russian officer magnificently booted, while he himself could
barely hobble in his tatters. He could not resist the prize, and
possessed himself of the much-needed apparel. He was in the act of going
off in triumph when his conscience smote him; he returned, and taking
off his own boots reverentially clothed the feet of the dead man! He
appeased his qualms by arguing that exchange was not robbery!
COLONEL PLUMER'S OPERATIONS
Colonel Plumer lived in the hope of joining hands with Colonel
Baden-Powell at Mafeking, and messages were successfully interchanged
between the two officers. Life in the north was occupied mainly with
skirmishes and the repairs of railway lines and culverts, which were
needed along almost every mile of route. Between Gaberones and Crocodile
Pools the engineers worked arduously, under the protection of an
armoured train and a strong body of dismounted men. Very useful
information was received of the Boers' whereabouts from papers contained
in a Boer mail-bag captured between Sequani and Sauerpoord. The Boers
were found to be in force at Crocodile Pools, and to have in their
possession two cannon and two machine-guns, and here it was evident they
meant to harass any progressive movement of the British.
[Illustration: MAP SHOWING THE ADVANCE FROM THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH FOR
THE RELIEF OF MAFEKING.
The above sketch-plan of Mafeking shows the Boer trenches and the
British lines of defence round the town, with the localities and dates
of the principal fights which have taken place between the besiegers and
besieged. Above and below the plan (though not, of course, upon the same
scale) there is a map of the country between Kimberley and Tuli. The
margin is divided into spaces of twenty-five miles, measuring from
Mafeking north and south, and the advance of Plumer from the north and
of Methuen from the south is shown step by step.]
On the 11th of January Colonel Plumer, with a portion of his forces,
arrived near Mochudi. The Boers--about 200--were reported to have
gathered some thirty miles to the south-east, while others were
entrenched on the kopjes by the railway at Crocodile Pools. With them
were said to be guns in charge of German officers--an objectionable
discovery for the British, who were almost gunless! There was reason
to suppose that discontent reigned among the Boers owing to scarcity of
provisions, and that they were longing to throw up the sponge and return
to their farms. They found life in the trenches and kopjes not what is
vulgarly described as "all beer and skittles," and began to think of the
coming seasons which would find them empty as the fabled grasshopper in
winter.
Some of the troops also proceeded to Gaberones, where three armoured
trains were kept active. On the 12th a Boer patrol made an effort to
burn a bridge a mile north of the station, but was frustrated by the
promptness with which Lieutenant Wallis brought No. 3 armoured train on
the scene. When the enemy fell back on the station they were welcomed by
No. 1 armoured train under Colonel Llewellyn, and the welcome was so
unexpected and so hearty that the enemy bolted. Owing to the darkness
they got off in safety. Reconnaissances were made, and it was discovered
that the Boers were located one mile south of Crocodile Pools.
Major Bird made a reconnaissance on the 23rd of January--with four
squadrons of the Rhodesian Regiment--in the direction of a Boer laager.
In consequence of a storm of rain operations could not be carried as far
as intended, but some of the enemy were dislodged from a hill, and two
horses and two Transvaal flags were captured.
On the 31st an animated artillery duel took place between Colonel Plumer
and Commandant Eloff, and on the following day it was some satisfaction
to see the Boers busily engaged in repairing the havoc wrought by the
British 121/2-pounder on their fort. On the 2nd of February more
activities took place. Major Bird, with 150 mounted infantry and one
7-pounder, made a demonstration on the right flank of the Boer position.
This occupied a ridge running for a mile and a half from south-west to
north-east. In the centre of the ridge was a nek, which was protected on
either side by a fringe of Boer sharpshooters. This nek became the
object of British attention, and Lieutenants Harland and Blunt with
their men poured on it some forty volleys, to which the Boers replied,
but without serious effect. While the rattling of musketry was kept up
by the mounted infantry, a 7-pounder, manned by the British South
African Police, escorted by troopers under Captain Maclaren, shelled the
nek. Whereupon the Boers brought into play a 121/2-pounder, which forced
the British 7-pounder to retire. The weapon, however, was met by one of
its own calibre, which was posted near Basuto kopje, and a spirited
contest ensued. On the 4th of February the hostile guns were silenced by
well-directed shells adroitly dropped by Lieutenant Montmorency in the
middle of the Boer fortress.
Colonel Plumer, though still too weak to make a decisive move on, was
bent on energetically annoying the Boers, but night escapades for some
time were stopped by infamous weather. On the first opportunity Major
Bird devised a midnight attack, which, unfortunately, was more costly
than successful. In dense darkness, on the night of the 11th of
February, the troops deployed at the base of a thorny and rocky ridge at
Crocodile Pools Bridge, where the enemy was entrenched. No sooner had
the men neared the summit than they came on wire entanglements and
thorny scrub, and in surmounting wire and bush they necessarily made
some noise. This set the Boer dogs barking and the Boer pickets blazing
with their rifles. Thereupon Major Bird ordered a bayonet charge. He had
forbidden rifle fire lest it should betray the position of the storming
party. Before the men could get to close quarters, however, the Dutchmen
exploded dynamite mines and followed the fracas with volleys of
musketry. The result was disastrous to the British, and Major Bird
ordered a retreat. Captain French (Royal Irish Regiment) was among the
killed. Seven of the party were more or less severely injured. At first
the Boers refused to give up the dead and wounded. When Archdeacon
Upcher and Father Hartmann, under cover of the white flag, made the
demand, they declared that they could not respect the symbol, as General
Buller had stated that the British would no longer respect it. They
eventually gave up five of the dead, but refused for some time to part
with the wounded. Among these were Major Straker and Colonel Hon. H.
White (British South African Police).
On the 26th of February Colonel Plumer, after many strenuous efforts and
continued fighting, occupied the enemy's position at Crocodile Pools,
the Boers having taken themselves off and gone south to Lobatsi. Trains
were now moving from the Pools to Ramoutsa. A cairn was erected over the
spot where the valiant officer, Captain French, met his fate. The wounds
received by Major Straker in the disastrous night attack were mending
slowly, and great hopes were entertained of his ultimate recovery.
Colonel Plumer and his little force, numbering some 700 in all,
continued to suffer many harassments, to fight and to struggle manfully
for the assistance of Mafeking, whose relief they believed could not be
long delayed. To help in this relief was their perpetual aim, and to
this end Colonel Plumer accumulated a vast quantity of stores at Kanya,
some sixty miles to the west of Crocodile Pools, so that when
opportunity should offer the starving braves might not have to wait for
provisions. For some weeks the troops had been fixed on a string of
kopjes to the north of the Metsima Suma Bridge, while the Boers' laager,
strongly fortified, occupied another ridge in the vicinity. Both Britons
and Boers from their elevated posts could command the river above named,
and the Notwani River for some miles. On the 26th of February, for some
unaccountable reason, the Boers suddenly made themselves scarce, and
suspicion grew that events elsewhere were demanding their prompt
attention. The disappearance caused some sensation, as it was
reported--erroneously as it afterwards proved--that not a Boer was
visible between the British and Mafeking. Thereupon Colonel Plumer
decided to be up and doing, and an advance on Lobatsi (situated some
forty-five miles from Colonel Baden-Powell's kingdom) was organised.
First of all telegraph lines and rails were repaired, an armoured train
being sent forward to Pitsani Pothlugo to protect the operations. This
work accomplished, rations for thirty days, the base hospital, &c., were
transferred to Lobatsi.
There on the morning of the 6th of March Colonel Plumer's force arrived.
The efforts of the relieving party were now directed to the
reconstruction of the railway and bridges which had been wrecked by the
Boers in October. These were slowly got into working order.
Reconnaissances were pushed south with a view to farther advance, and
provision was made for the protection of the railway behind him as
Colonel Plumer advanced.
[Illustration: COLONEL PLUMER'S GALLANT ATTEMPT TO RELIEVE MAFEKING FROM
THE NORTH.
Drawing by Frank Dudd, R.I., from a Sketch by F. J. Mackenzie.]
At daybreak on the 13th of March a column of some 300 men with three
guns marched towards Kanya on the west, while Colonel Bodle (B.S.A.P.)
with 150 men and a Maxim proceeded towards Pitsani. When the former
party had succeeded in reaching a place some twenty miles beyond Lobatsi
camp they were suddenly ordered to return. Captain Maclaren with his
party, though fairly worn out after a long day's tramp, at once obeyed
orders, marched throughout the night, and by dawn on the 15th had
retraced his steps. The reason for the recall was this. Colonel Bodle's
advanced scouts had come upon swarms of the enemy to the north of
Pitsani, and the colonel with his small force had been compelled to
retire in hot haste. His position was a ticklish one, for all round, in
every available kopje, the Boers had ensconced themselves, and only by
great nerve and splendid presence of mind was it possible to execute
anything like an orderly retreat. But these qualities were possessed by
Colonel Bodle, who promptly retired his ambulance and waggons, covering
their move by forming his troops in Zulu fashion in crescent shape.
Unluckily the right horn of the crescent, under Lieutenant Chapman, was
pounced upon by some hidden Boers, who succeeded in making three or four
of the party prisoners, and capturing a box or two of ammunition. Owing
to an accident to his horse Lieutenant Chapman was thrown and captured.
Corporal Galt nearly shared the same fate, but while he was engaged in a
smart tussle for freedom, Colonel Bodle came to the rescue and put the
Boers to flight. The Dutchmen then commenced to follow at the heels of
the column, approaching to within some 2500 yards of the camp, doing
some damage among cattle with their smokeless guns, which with
difficulty could be located. Their fire was eventually returned, but not
before Lieutenant Tyler (West Riding Regiment) had fallen a victim to a
shell, which caught him in his tent and killed him instantaneously. The
next day (the 16th) the Boers pursued their aggravations, and the
British, as usual, gave a very good account of themselves, though their
gunners had neither range-finder nor range-table. An animated artillery
duel lasted for some hours, and was only terminated at sunset by the
successful landing of a shell in the midst of the Boer guns. This served
to silence them for the rest of the day. That done, the troops retired,
most of the force moving from Lobatsi back to Crocodile Pools (whither
stores, &c., had been removed by rail during the whole of the previous
night), while Colonel Plumer and the mounted men took the direction of
Kanya. On the 17th of March the armoured train voyaged towards Lobatsi,
where it was saluted by the Boers, who had returned in hordes with
marvellous celerity, and were hovering round that place.
The enemy had now placed a 1-pound Maxim and a 121/2-pounder on the east
side of the line 4000 yards to the south of the main camp, but
fortunately the right flank was protected by the Chief Bathoen, who
defied the Boers to enter his territory. The left flank, however,
engaged Colonel Plumer's attention, and there was every fear that the
enemy, repulsed on the western border, might fall in force upon the
Rhodesians. The Dutchmen were now busy in wrecking the rail south of
Lobatsi, and preparing to meet any further advance made by Colonel
Plumer with stout resistance. On the 18th, somewhat exhausted with
fruitless toil and endless marching and fighting, the troops were once
more at their starting-point on the ridges overlooking the Metsima Suma
and Notwani Rivers, Colonel Plumer's force now occupying the position
there formerly held by the Boers.
On the 21st Commandant Snyman entertained himself with a little journey
to Lobatsi and gaily bombarded it, in ignorance that it had been
evacuated by Colonel Plumer's force, and explosions on all sides
announced that he also was engaged in the destruction of the railway.
While the Boers were away, the Baralongs made hay--they utilised the
shining hour by looting some of the Boer cattle and driving them in
triumph into Mafeking. There, the result of Snyman's attack on Plumer
was in its way approved; the town enjoyed temporary repose. The
bombardment lessened for a day or two, and the besieged were buoyed up
by the hope that Colonel Plumer was pursuing his advance.
To intercept the same the enemy had taken up positions at Maritzuni and
Ramathlabama, but they at the same time had to engage themselves with a
native chief in the south. This personage, who had hitherto been
friendly to them, working on the good old principle of "kick a man when
he's down," had heard of the Boer reverses in the Free State, and
promptly seized his opportunity.
On the 25th Colonel Plumer left his base camp with a force of infantry
and as little impedimenta as possible, and invaded the Transvaal, making
two rapid night marches for the purpose of threatening the Boer lines of
communication. In this way, though he found himself too weak in men and
guns for really aggressive operations, he determined to make himself a
thorn in the side of the persecutors of Mafeking, and keep the Boer
hordes too busily engaged to allow of their attempting serious
operations on their own part.
Early on the morning of the 31st Colonel Plumer, with 270 mounted men,
some infantry, and a Maxim reached Ramathlabama, where the Boers were
said to have made their headquarters. The advance guard under Colonel
White proceeding within six miles of Mafeking, encountered a Boer
commando, whereupon Captain Kensman on the left and Major Bordan on the
right simultaneously became engaged. Desperate fighting ensued, the
Boers almost doubling the British. The Dutchmen formed a semicircle,
vainly endeavouring to outflank the party east and west, while Colonel
Plumer's small force, fighting "tooth and nail," retired slowly, the
squadrons covering the retreat of the unmounted men for a good ten miles
till the force reached its base. Owing to the close proximity of the
Boer laagers, reinforcements of Dutchmen and guns were constantly at
hand, while Colonel Plumer was entirely at a disadvantage. Little cover
was available, and the railway embankment, which was his only
protection, was barely two feet high. Captain Crewe, a most popular
officer, was mortally wounded while covering the retreat of the rest, as
was also Lieutenant Milligan while gallantly defending his position.
Some interesting particulars of the fighting outside Mafeking came in a
letter from a trooper.
"On our latest patrol we had a real exciting time. We went to
have a look at Mafeking, and actually saw the promised land,
but we had to pay dearly for the sight. We marched from here
(halfway between Kanya and Mafeking) on March 30th, and arrived
at Ramathlabama on the 31st at 9 A.M. Between 300 and 350 men
went, with one Maxim, all under Colonel Plumer himself. We were
all mounted except thirty men of E Squadron. We formed a camp
at Ramathlabama, and at 11 A.M. all the mounted men moved off
towards Mafeking, our unmounted men and the Maxim remaining in
camp. Our troop and Crewe's scouts formed the advance guard
under our skipper, Colonel White. We rode on about eight miles,
and then we got our first glimpse of Mafeking. We raised a bit
of a cheer on spotting the place. Very soon we saw a large body
of Boers coming up in front at a fast pace, while others were
working round our flanks. We started firing at 1000 yards,
with hardly anything to see to fire at. Their fire was high at
first, but some of them soon got the range. We had to retreat,
as we were far outnumbered, and the Boers were working away at
our flanks. Moreover, they had an unlimited supply of
ammunition, their base being a mile or two away, while we had
to go slow with ours. So we retired by alternate squadrons.
"We were nearly caught once. The Boers were coming round on our
flank, and were making for some Kaffir kraals whence they would
have had us fairly on toast. Our skipper, however, spotted the
move in time, and we raced them for the first place and won.
Crewe's men, who were sent to the second kraal, also got there
first. We made them turn tail and bolt, and they were never
afterwards quite so keen in getting round our flank. Our
skipper worked splendidly. It was a running fight for about
eight miles, lasting from 1 P.M. till 6 P.M. When we reached
the camp we found that Colonel Plumer had decided to abandon
it, and had already sent the waggons off an hour before. We had
to cover the retreat of the unmounted men, who had been in turn
covering the retreat of the Maxim. There was a very warm time
over that business. The unmounted men nearly got caught. Our
casualties were pretty heavy--52 in all--12 killed, 26 wounded,
and 14 missing. Altogether 75 horses were killed, wounded, and
missing. Don't get the idea that we were disgracefully licked.
We retreated certainly and were chased by the Boers, but we
retreated in perfect order without any confusion. Moreover, in
retreating we were doing as we were intended to do. Colonel
Baden-Powell had some move he wished to make at Mafeking, and
we were to draw away as many Boers as possible, and we
certainly were successful in that. There must have been at
least 600 or 700 against us."
In the fight at Ramathlabama the following were taken
prisoners:--Captain K. Maclaren, Captain F. Crewe, Captain Duncan
Robertson, all badly wounded; the two last mentioned since dead.
Staff-Officers Cecil and Granville and nine soldiers, of whom six were
more or less severely wounded, were also captured.
Owing to the absence of war correspondents with Colonel Plumer's force
this officer's unceasing efforts to match the Boers and rescue Colonel
Baden-Powell received none of the publicity they deserved. It has been
possible only from private sources to gauge the terrible tension of the
situation, and the truly noble activity that was maintained in the face
of a most alarming outlook. Of the heroism of the commander little has
been said, but from a few lines written by a trooper we may understand
how his gallant conduct stimulated his men. He said: "It was a good
fight, and our men behaved very well. Plumer was slightly wounded, but
behaved splendidly. He sent his horse away and walked behind the
dismounted men, encouraging them when they were retreating."
Colonel Bodle and Captain Rolt (adjutant) were also slightly wounded.
Some splendid service was rendered by Sergeant-Major Manning (5th
Dragoon Guards), on whom the whole work of staff officer afterwards
devolved.
Another writer shows the trying circumstances in which Colonel Plumer's
campaign was conducted, circumstances which, when the historian of the
future sets to work, cannot be disregarded:--
"On the 31st ult. we got as far as six miles from Mafeking, but
had to retire after four hours' heavy fighting, losing 48
killed, wounded, and missing. We have had a very rough time
indeed, always fighting against much superior odds armed with
splendid artillery, living on short rations, without tents or
any other shelter, wet through with the rain, and scorched with
the sun, and yet the people at home never give us a thought. We
have been so hard up for tobacco that men have been smoking tea
leaves. We have not had a thing from home, not even the Queen's
chocolate, and yet we have done as much in our small way as the
troops down south. Of course, we have had no big battles, as we
have not the men or guns, but we have had constant patrols and
skirmishes, nearly always losing men killed or wounded, or
both. We have also suffered very heavily with fever and
dysentery, and all our hospitals are full."
These lines in their bald simplicity are quoted because they, like the
work they describe, were originated with no view to effect nor applause,
and serve exactly to describe the modest deeds of perpetual valour which
were perpetrated by our countrymen, and which by force of circumstance
were left to waste their smartness "on the desert air."
[Illustration: LOBATSI RAILWAY STATION]
LIST OF STAFF
The following is a list of appointments to the Staff of the Eighth
Division, which left England in February:--
EIGHTH DIVISION
Lieutenant-General on the Staff--Major-General (temporary
Lieutenant-General) Sir H. M. L. Rundle, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., R.A.
Aides-de-Camp (2).
Assistant Adjutant-General--Colonel G. E. Harley, C.B.
Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-Generals--Major A. E. J. Cavendish, _p.s.c._,
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; Captain G. I. Walsh, Leicestershire
Regt.
Assistant Provost-Marshal[11]--Lieut.-Colonel R. H. Morrison.
Principal Medical Officer--Lieut.-Colonel W. A. May, Royal Army Medical
Corps.
Medical Officer--Major J. W. Jerome, Royal Army Medical Corps.
Chaplains--Rev. C. F. O'Reilly; Rev. F. J. P. Jellicoe.
Divisional Signalling Officer--Captain C. H. Bennett, Worcestershire
Regt.
16th BRIGADE
Major-General on the Staff--Major-General B. B. D. Campbell, M.V.O.
Aide-de-Camp.
Brigade-Major--Captain E. F. O. Gascoigne, D.S.O., Grenadier Guards.
17th BRIGADE
Major-General on the Staff--Major-General J. E. Boyes.
Aide-de-Camp.
Brigade-Major--Captain C. B. FitzHenry, 7th Hussars.
At the same time a Ninth Division was formed under the command of
Lieut.-General Sir Henry Colvile, consisting of the 3rd (Highland
Brigade), Colonel (Major-General) H. A. Macdonald, C.B., and 19th
Brigade, Colonel (Major-General) H. L. Smith-Dorrien. For particulars,
see Vol. V.
FOOTNOTES:
[11] Graded as a Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-General.
APPENDIX
KURUMAN[12]
At time of the surrender of Kuruman it was impossible to obtain complete
details regarding the gallant defence of the place. The following short
story published by the _Cape Argus_ serves to throw light on deeds too
brave to be overlooked:--
"On the 15th October 1899, the Cape Police, Vryburg, 96 miles north-east
of Kuruman, evacuated their station without giving battle to the Boers;
the detachment with one Maxim and 110 men retiring on Kimberley. The
commanding officer, Major Scott, Cape Police, committed suicide _en
route_. Refugees came into Kuruman on the 16th and following days.
"On the 23rd October communication was cut off from Kuruman except by
wire to Koopmansfontein, and on the 5th November all wires were cut.
Information reached Kuruman that the South African Republic and Orange
Free State Boers, assisted by rebels from that and surrounding
districts, intended to march on Kuruman and hoist the 'Vierkleur.'
"The defence of Kuruman was commenced by Captain Bates,[13] C.P.
(formerly captain B.B.P. under Sir Frederick Carrington), assisted by
Sergeant Hemsworth, C.P., and Captain Dennison, Intelligence Department.
On the 19th October, Colonel Kekewich, officer commanding forces
Griqualand West and Bechuanaland, instructed the force to endeavour to
prevent Kuruman falling into the hands of the enemy. The officer
commanding, Captain Bates, had orders to defend the place, and the
Kuruman defence force was raised, consisting of, approximately, 54 Cape
Police and Special Police (whites), 62 Bastards and natives--total, 116.
"Redoubts were built on the north, south, east, and west sides of the
main camp, which was fortified with trenches and stone walls loopholed
and raised with sandbags.
"On the 12th November 1899, a letter was received from Commandant Visser
(signed Fighting General), demanding the surrender of Kuruman
voluntarily in the name of the Z.A.R. and O.F.S. Governments, saying
that he was at Pakani, six miles off, with his commando, and failing
compliance with his demand he would attack and take Kuruman by main
force at 7 A.M. the following day. A reply was sent that should he
attack he would have to take the consequences of his illegal act, as no
instructions had been issued by the Colonial Government to evacuate the
town.
"At 9 A.M. on the 13th November a commando of about 400 men came at full
gallop towards the Soeden Mission Station, three miles from Kuruman.
Coming within range (1500 yards) the redoubt on the eastern side opened
fire on them with their rifles. The enemy halted, and then at once
retired out of range. After about ten minutes, one portion, 250 strong,
advanced towards the Mission Station, the other, 150 strong, moving to
the ridge above the Court House. At 10 A.M. the commando from Soeden
attacked the western redoubt held by Corporal Childs, C.P., with six
whites and seven natives. Heavy firing took place. At about 5 P.M. the
enemy, who had during the day occupied a ridge about 400 yards from the
redoubt, retired, and in so doing lost heavily--they were seen falling
from their horses. Our men behaved splendidly. The estimated Boer loss
was six killed and fourteen wounded; ours, one native killed. Captain
Bates rode up during the day to encourage the men, and both going and
returning was received with heavy volleys from the Boers, but both he
and his horse returned unhurt. While the fighting was going on Corporal
Barnes, C.P., and nine men volunteered to take an extra supply of
ammunition to this redoubt, about 1000 yards in the open, under heavy
fire, and remained there to the end of the attack without any further
casualty. Firing from all the enemy's schanzes was kept up during the
night.
"At dawn next day it was discovered that the enemy had built schanzes
(stone entrenchments) all round our redoubts at distances varying from
1200 to 900 yards, and commenced firing volleys into our positions. We
replied, and our losses this day were one native slightly wounded and
five horses badly wounded. The enemy stuck to their schanzes and
continued firing heavily on us daily until the 19th November, when to
our surprise they withdrew to Pakani.
"On the 20th November our scouts, who were sent to find out the enemy's
movements, returned, stating that they were retiring towards Vryburg.
"On the 26th November it was reported by our scouts that the Boers had
formed three laagers, one at Mooifontein, 30 miles away; one at
Magagapirie, 20 miles off; and one at Botitilotse, about 18 miles off;
the total commando numbering about 1100 to 1200 men, and a large number
of waggons.
"On the 1st December a headman, Seloa, reported that the Boers were
waiting for a cannon from Pretoria, and were coming again to attack us
or starve us out. Captain Bates strengthened the forts as much as
possible to resist shell fire.
"On the 5th December the enemy arrived with from 1100 to 1200 men under
Visser, of the Transvaal, now Commandant, and Field-Cornet Wessels, of
the Free State, but without any cannon. They commenced by attacking
Captain Dennison's (Intelligence Officer to Commanding Officer,
Kimberley, Colonel Kekewich) redoubt on the east, but were repulsed. The
enemy made five night attacks on this redoubt and a smaller one held by
Private Brown, Special Police, about 300 yards on the S.E. Their mode of
attack was as follows:--They built schanzes within 500 yards of these
redoubts, surrounding them, and threw up small schanzes of stone and
bags within thirty or forty yards of the redoubts early in the night and
attacked about two or three o'clock in the morning, retiring from time
to time to these small schanzes. They thus succeeded in pushing off the
sandbags from our redoubts on the S.E. side, but were driven back,
losing about four killed and ten or twelve wounded. This redoubt was
held by Private Brown, three white men, and two natives, the enemy
numbering from sixty to seventy men. Our casualties were one white man
wounded. During these attacks a bullet (presumably an explosive one)
struck inside the east fort or redoubt, badly wounding two whites and
two others slightly. Firing was kept up night and day for these five
days. The enemy ceased their attacks and went in for volley firing and
sniping, coming nearer our redoubts by building schanzes during the
night. These two redoubts had to be abandoned, as the loopholes of
sandbags were shot away, and there was no means of building them up
agin. The enemy occupied them after being abandoned for two nights, and
also took possession of a store in a hollow about 800 yards from the
main camp, between it and the Court House. This left only one of our
redoubts occupied by our defence force, and which commanded the water.
Corporal Gash, C.P., was in charge. Our horses had to be watered at
night.
"The Boers made several attempts to cut us off from the water, but were
prevented by our pickets, who were placed in entrenched positions to
cover our cattle and horses while watered. The Boers must have fired
away an enormous quantity of ammunition, and they had five waggon-loads
of it. A unique armistice was arranged on Christmas Day. F. C. Wessels,
of the Free State, wrote to the Commanding Officer saying that if we
would not fire on them this day, the Boers would not fire on us. This
was agreed to, and word was sent round to all the schanzes and redoubts
notifying this. The men came out, but to our surprise, as one of us was
going to bathe, a volley from the Transvaal Boer schanzes on the east
was sent after him. Wessels went to inquire the reason, and was told
that the Transvaal commando would not agree to this armistice, whereupon
Wessels arranged with us that the Free State men, who were on the south
and south-east side, would not fire on us, and our men, running the
gauntlet of the Transvaal fire for about 20 yards, went under cover of
the Free State schanzes, and British and Boer bathed together at the
bathing-place. This circumstance caused a split in the Boer camp, and
Wessels with 150 men of the Free State burghers left for the south,
presumably towards Kimberley. The Boers continued firing and sniping
daily. Up to this we had one white (Private Ward, C.P.) and two natives
killed, seven whites and seven natives wounded. Of the animals 23 horses
were killed and wounded and three oxen killed. We were holding out and
were confident of doing so for another two months, when on the 1st
January 1900, a New Year's gift arrived in the Boer camp in the shape of
a 9-pounder. They started shelling at dawn, with common shell, the
redoubt on the north side; then came to a ridge on the south and shelled
the main camp, four shells falling in the camp without doing any serious
damage. They then fired on the western redoubt without hitting it. On
going to their schanzes about 2000 yards on the eastern side, they
shelled the only remaining redoubt on that side, held by Corporal Gash,
C.P., and 15 men. The 90th shell breached the redoubt, the 91st and 92nd
striking it, and the 93rd falling inside. The men in the redoubt got
into the trenches, which, owing to the stony nature of the ground, could
not be dug deep, and were subjected to such a heavy fire from three of
the enemy's schanzes, that they were compelled to surrender.
"Captain Bates then saw that as the key of the position had fallen, and
that reinforcements could not possibly arrive for weeks or months, it
was hopeless to continue to hold out.
"Thus Kuruman was surrendered after seven weeks, and its defence was
principally due to Captain Bates. Captain Dennison and Sergeant
Hemsworth and Captain Bates were sent to the Pretoria gaol (as they were
supposed to know too much, whatever that meant), and the Magistrate was
sent to the State Model School with the other officers."
FOOTNOTES:
[12] See Vol. iii. p. 25.
[13] This officer's name was originally given as Baker in telegrams
home.
TRANSCRIBERS' NOTES
Page vi: Christo standardised to Cristo after "Scene of Fighting at Monte"
Page vii: Reit standardised to Riet after "on north bank of the"
Page vii: Majesfontein standardised to Majersfontein (two instances)
Page vii: Koodoesrand standardised to Koodoosrand after "Spyfontein,
retreating to"
Page viii: landdrost standardised to landrost after "and arrested the"
Page 9: " added after "180,600 of all arms."
Page 13: no corrected to not after "now engaged stronger," cf. Hansard
Page 22: "Homes were destroyed mothers and children stricken" as in the
original, without punctuation
Page 30: Kimberly standardised to Kimberley before "man stared at the
three objects"
Page 33: Accent on detour not standardised as part of a quotation
Pages 34, 152: Variable spelling of mosquitoes/mosquitos as in the
original
Page 36: horseflesh standardised to horse-flesh after "Cronje had to be
paid for in"
Page 39: Duplicate the removed from "for the the team of mules"
Page 40: duplicate an removed in "having detected an an unusual haze of
dust"
Pages 40, 54: Inconsistent hyphenation of rear-guard as in the original.
Retained as part of a quotation
Page 56: . added after "for the rest of the day"
Page 60: Infanty corrected to Infantry in "Duke of Cornwall's Light
Infantry"
Page 62: mid-day standardised to midday before "came the rumour that
French"
Page 65: reveille standardised to reveille after "a volley by way of"
Page 69: insistance as in the original
Page 71: silhoutte corrected to silhouette before "which gradually grew
clearer"
Page 88 [Illustration]: ( added before Colour-Sergeant)
Page 93: Accent on debris not standardised as part of a quotation
Page 101: depot standardised to depot after "converted into the advanced"
Page 115: shortlived standardised to short-lived after "Rest was"
Page 116: Mr. Shcreiner corrected to Mr. Schreiner
Page 120: Horseflesh standardised to Horse-flesh before "was diversified
by bread"
Page 122: head-quarters standardised to headquarters after "subsequently
established his"
Page 123: Lyttleton corrected to Lyttelton after "While this was going on
above, General"
Page 128: caligraphy as in the original
Page 132: Lee-Mitfords corrected to Lee-Metfords after "been hit by
Mausers or"
Page 133: Inconsistent hyphenation of horseflesh as in the original.
Retained as part of a quotation
Page 148: unchallengably corrected to unchallengeably after "kopjes,
kopjes, kopjes--ours,"
Page 148: . added after "rifle fire was raging on the left"
Page 150: Lieutenan corrected to Lieutenant before "C. H. I. Jackson"
Page 177: martrys corrected to martyrs after "calls for its ministers and"
Page 182: Llandrost corrected to Landrost after "Mr. Papenfus, whose
services as"
Page 189: fourteeen corrected to fourteen after "on the Orange Free State
Railway some"
Page 190: markmanship corrected to marksmanship after "spoke
apologetically of their good"
Page 192: ensconed corrected to ensconced after "where the enemy had"
Page 200: lookout standardised to look-out after "the wily Dutchman on
the"
Page 210: Inconsistent hyphenation of halfway as in the original. Retained
as part of a quotation
Page 216: agin as in the original