CHAPTER VII

THE LYDENBURG CAMPAIGN

Lord Roberts moved, _viâ_ Wonderfontein, to Belfast, which had been

previously occupied by General Pole-Carew. The Chief arrived on the 25th

of August, and immediately proceeded to order a reconnaissance of the

Boer position between Belfast and Dalmanutha, south-west of which place,

about six miles off, were the forces of Generals Buller and French. The

Boers were ensconced in a perfect chain of ridges--a frowning rampart of

menace, thirty miles in extent--some 8000 yards east of the station,

where they evidently intended to dispute possession of every inch of the

ground to Machadodorp, and whence it was the intention of the

Commander-in-Chief to sweep them.

The Field-Marshal called together his generals--Sir Redvers Buller, and

Generals French and Pole-Carew--and their several rôles in the

forthcoming operations were discussed. General Buller was to advance on

the right flank, General Pole-Carew as usual to maintain a central

position, while General French's Cavalry Brigades would fly well to left,

scouring again the terrible country towards Machadodorp and beyond it.

Almost immediately General Buller's force was shelled by the Boers, and

so also was General Stephenson's Brigade on the extreme left, the General

himself having a narrow escape from a hostile pom-pom. The town was also

liberally attacked, and the enemy, with long-range guns from Dalmanutha,

made a stubborn defence of their ground, even trying to squeeze a small

force to the rear of General French, a manoeuvre which was quickly

frustrated. General Buller continued to push steadily forward, with

General French on his flank, driving back Boers as he went, and

bivouacking on the ground he had gained.

The whole of the 26th was spent in furious fighting over the whole

thirty-mile radius, the bellowing of guns multifarious continuing from

dawn till sunset. Lyttelton's Division (General Buller directing), with

two brigades of cavalry, operated south-west of Dalmanutha; while

French's cavalry, moving north by the west of Belfast, crumpled back the

foe towards a place on the Belfast-Lydenburg road, called Lekenvlei.

General Buller was supported by the Guards Brigade, who advanced steadily

from Belfast in spite of an enfilading fire, contesting their way against

a clamorous tornado of Dutch artillery--Long Toms, pom-poms, and many

other formidable weapons, accompanied by Mausers, which persistently

continued their flute-like concert--till both belligerents were enveloped

in the eerie shadows of night. The cavalry operated over uncongenial

ground, well suited to the tactics of the Boers and consequently

hazardous to themselves; but only one officer, Captain Harrison (Scots

Greys), was seriously wounded.

[Illustration: A CAPITAL ON WHEELS: MR. KRUGER'S SEAT OF GOVERNMENT AT

MACHADODORP]

On the 27th came the grand attack which may be said to have broken the

back of the Boer army. General Buller, having found it impossible on the

previous day to find an artillery position whence the infantry could be

assisted in an attack, sent forward on the morning of the 27th the 2nd

Cavalry Brigade (General Brocklehurst), "A" Battery R.H.A. (Major

Burrows), 53rd Battery R.F.A. (Major Gordon), two pom-poms, and the 4th

Division Mounted Infantry (Major Stewart), towards a commanding ridge

which ran from Belfast on the south side of the railway towards

Dalmanutha. Here the Boers occupied about a mile or two of frontage, the

centre being a picturesque homestead called Bergandal Farm, the kopjes on

the left being thickly peopled with the enemy. Having obtained excellent

artillery positions, the General directed the fire of all the British

guns on this farm. Quickly the gunners got to work, and a fierce

bombardment commenced and continued to grow heavier and heavier as the

moments wore on, till at last the roar and rampage sounded as though

Vulcan were holding festival in the bosom of the hills.

The place was described by General Buller as a "natural fortress

surrounded by a glacis of about 1500 yards absolutely without cover."

Others who saw it looked upon it in the light of another Spion Kop, yet

this the infantry were ordered to assault. General Kitchener directed

Colonel Metcalfe to move the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade under cover of

the ridge from which the guns were firing, and place his battalion across

the main east and west ridge, on which the farm stood, and assault it

frontally from the west. Colonel Payne was at the same time to move the

Inniskilling Fusiliers down the face of the gun ridge, and assault the

flank of the position from the south, the 1st Devons supporting the left

centre, the 2nd Gordons the right attack. At the moment of starting the

leading companies of Inniskillings were assailed by an accurate and

deadly fire from the Boer pom-pom, which was somewhat staggering, but

nevertheless without loss of time they reformed themselves, and,

"admirably led by their commanding officers," pressed on and on against

the stubborn foe. These only gave way when the troops were absolutely in

among them, many continuing to fire till actually made prisoners.

General Buller described the attack made without the assistance of any

cover as a most gallant one. "The moment the kopje was carried the Rifle

Brigade, although they lost their Colonel (who, to our great regret, was

wounded while gallantly leading the advance), at once reformed, and swept

on their own initiative up the plateau, carrying all before them,

supported by the Devons, who had got up on the left, and the Gordons and

Inniskillings who joined in on the right." He went on to say, "The

honours of the assault belong to the Rifle Brigade, as they had to attack

that part of the kopje which had been most protected from our artillery

fire, but all the troops did splendidly, and the carrying of such a

position, held as it was by resolute men, will always remain present to

the minds of those who witnessed it as a most gallant feat of arms."

The gunners had a terrific day's work, but on this occasion they seemed

to have surpassed themselves, for though the Dutchmen had stubbornly

decided to contest the principal heights, by noon the whole of the

Johannesburg police, by whom this vantage-point was defended, had fallen

victims to the excellence of their execution. A noticeable incident in

the attack was the great tactical skill with which the Maxims of the

Gordons, Inniskillings, Rifle Brigade, and Devons were handled by their

respective detachments. The fire of these guns contributed materially to

the successful result of the assault. An eye-witness describing the

operations said: "It was a sight never to be forgotten. It was truly

grand--the shells from some sixty guns or more all bursting within a

circle of 200 yards diameter, shrapnel with its white puff of smoke in

the air, lyddite raising a dirty brown cloud as it struck. It was awful.

I must say one could not but admire the courage of the defenders. They

were the Zarps, Johannesburg Police, 130 of them, and 113 were killed or

wounded in that one spot. Then Buller advanced his infantry across the

open, the Rifle Brigade bearing the brunt of it. It was splendid, and the

Boers gave way all along the line. Lord Roberts rode out to meet Buller

on the kopje, and on his way back told our men the news, and they cheered

him."

The casualties were chiefly among the Rifle Brigade, whose stiff work has

been described. Captain G. L. Lysley and thirteen men were killed, and

the following were wounded: Lieutenant-Colonel C. Metcalfe, Captain R.

Alexander, Captain J. D. Heriot-Maitland, Captain Ernest G. Campbell

(since dead), Captain W. H. W. Steward (since dead), Lieutenant B. A.

Turner, Second Lieutenant W. F. Bassett, and fifty-seven non-commissioned

officers and men. Nineteen prisoners and a pom-pom were captured from the

foe.

Captain O'Neill, R.A.M.C., met a tragic fate. When the heat of the battle

was over and night had fallen he went forth with an ambulance to grope

for wounded and dead. While performing this merciful act, lantern in

hand, he approached a Boer picket and was at once shot dead!

In the moment of warfare it is impossible to stop to eulogise the

splendid heroism of the doctors and chaplains who, deprived of the

intoxication of contest, have yet risked their lives in the service of

their fellow-creatures. The coolness and daring of these noncombatant,

death-defying men has often passed unnoted, and will need to find a

memorial in the hearts of those at home, whose dear ones have enjoyed

safety and skill and consolation at their hands.

On the following day (28th) the enemy, chased over difficult country by

Lord Dundonald's force, was retiring northward, while Buller's advance

troops occupied Machadodorp, whither Mr. Kruger had fled to Nelspruit.

Beyond them, General French, arriving at Elandsfontein, removed the enemy

with such scant ceremony that they left their dinners behind them. He now

got into signalling communication with General Buller, while General

Pole-Carew marched towards Waterval Onder. Lord Dundonald's Cavalry

pushed forward as far as Helvetia, beyond which his mounted force could

not proceed owing to the strong position taken by the Dutchmen in the

crusted and gibbose country, which was growing more and more alpine as

the troops advanced. A few officers were wounded in General Buller's

force: Major W. R. Birdwood, 11th Bengal Lancers; Captain F. R. Ewart,

1st Liverpool Regiment; Second Lieutenant H. Wadlow, 16th Company

Southern Division Royal Garrison Artillery.

[Illustration: BRITISH PRISONERS WAITING FOR RELEASE: THE CAMP AT

NOOITGEDACHT

Drawing by Frank Dadd, R.I., from a Sketch by Lieut. Essex Capell, one of

the Prisoners]

The Boers, owing to their crushing defeats at Bergendal and Dalmanutha,

were now forced to let loose most of their captives, and, to the great

delight of their comrades, over 1700 of our countrymen trickled into camp

and were sent to Pretoria.

The following officers were kept as prisoners and moved to Barberton:

Lieutenant-Colonels Spragge and Holland, Captain Robinson, Lieutenants

Lord Ennismore, Rutledge, Craig, Dupre, Lane, Wright, Woodhouse, and

Mitchell, all of the Yeomanry; Lieutenants Mowbray, Black Watch; Capel,

Bethune's Horse; Bentnat, Eastern Province Horse; Birble, Brabant's

Horse; Boyes, Border Horse; and Captain Howard, Strathcona's Horse.

Others belonging to the Yeomanry were also sent to Barberton as

prisoners, the Boers saying that though they were not officers they must

be in the position of officers, as they were able to pay for any extra

food they required: Sergeant-Major Pringle, Sergeant Robb, Corporal

Woodeness, Sergeant Milner Brown, Lance-Corporal Hodgson, Troopers

Walker, Footner, K. Elphinstone, Bonham, Garrett, Boultbee, Lubbock,

Curtis, P. Gold, Young, Soames, Kinyon, Rickitt, Billhille, Darby,

Campbell, L. Elphinstone, Eyre, Thomas, Clarke, Pomeroy, Hill, Dale,

Wells, G. Gold, Sweats, Evelyn, O'Gorman, Hughes, Holden.

The 1st of September was a red-letter day in the annals of the campaign,

for Lord Roberts took the occasion to issue from the army headquarters,

Belfast, proclamations formally announcing the fact that "The Transvaal

will henceforth form part of her Majesty's dominions." The campaign was

now developing into little more than guerilla warfare, for Mr. Kruger's

days in the Transvaal were numbered, while he had practically abdicated

the functions of government. Certainly he had gone through the form of

appointing Mr. Schalk Burger to take his place, but the action was a mere

figure of speech, this Dutchman being nicknamed "flighting general" by

his own burghers, and his nomination was of no account in regard to the

proceedings which were expressly made public to bring home to the minds

of the burghers the real facts of the situation and the futility of

flying longer in the face of the inevitable. This definite move afforded

considerable satisfaction even among the supposed "irreconcilables," as

the inconvenience of serving two masters had rendered their situation

almost unbearable.

The 2nd of September found Lord Dundonald's mounted troops at

Nooitgedacht, and General French's Cavalry at Waterval Onder, while

General Buller was engaged in making a reconnaissance of the Boer

position towards Lydenburg, the dispersed parties having so disposed

themselves that the complete scouring of the surrounding country became

necessary. (It must be noted that the Natal Field Force at this time was

divided, part of it being occupied in guarding the line of

communications. General Wolfe Murray protected the district between

Ladysmith and Newcastle; General Hildyard that between Newcastle and

Platrand; and General Clery that between Platrand and Heidelburg.) In the

passes of the impenetrable mountains overlooking the town of Lydenburg,

Botha, with 2000 burghers, was found to have fortified himself. He took

care on the advent of the South African Light Horse to give the dashing

Colonists a reception with three Long Toms and a high-velocity gun, which

put to the test their admirable courage and that of the Composite

Regiment which occupied the right of the basin into which murderous

missiles poured the whole day without stint. The Boers in their

precipitous cliffs and their forbidding ravines were too strong to be

turned, and fortunately there was no necessity now for the frontal

attacks which had been forced upon General Buller in the early days of

the war when he had been left to fling himself against living mountains

with the thinnest of "thin red (or khaki) lines." He forthwith called for

reinforcements, and quickly got them. General Ian Hamilton (who had

arrived with a strong force at Belfast) pushed along the direct

Belfast-Dulstroom road to his succour. Assisted by Brocklehurst's brigade

of cavalry, amidst passes, and gorges, and acclivities, he endeavoured to

work round by Helvetia to turn the Boer right flank, while Buller

thundered on their left; the Leicester Regiment and King's Royal Rifles

dragging a battery of artillery up the steeps with herculean vigour. The

foe were ensconced in bush, and scrub, and tangle, and were protected by

the creeks into which they had burrowed, but nevertheless, by Ian

Hamilton's turning movement, the way was cleared for Buller's force, and

on the 6th, Lydenburg was occupied.

An officer of the Royal Scots gave some interesting details of the

stupendous undertaking. "On the 2nd September, General Smith-Dorrien, to

whose brigade we had been posted, inspected us with a similar result.

That night we got orders to move next day. At 6.30 A.M. on the 3rd we

moved off. We were with the advanced guard, besides C.I.V., Mounted

Infantry, two pom-poms, and a battery Royal Artillery. At about noon, as

we neared Zwarteskopjes, our advanced mounted men came in contact with

the enemy. We pushed on, and presently--and I must confess to every one's

surprise--'bang,' and a Long Tom 6-inch shell burst 200 yards from us--a

bad shot. The Boers were in position on our right front. We at once

opened out the companies, and moved to the left behind the brow of a

spur, changing front so as to face the Boers. The men did this

splendidly, and though we were shelled throughout the movement, at a

range of about 5000 yards, never a man was hit. Two were knocked down by

a shell that burst between them, and another had his helmet plugged, and

a shell fell in the middle of the band, but no skin was broken. Our guns

came into action; four of our companies attacked in front, two to the

left to seize some kopjes. The Boers decamped, and we bivouacked on the

position won. Next morning we were off again, found our friends, the Long

Toms, which greeted us, but our "cow" guns (5-inch naval guns) were up,

and the Long Toms made off, we after them. We were in the mountains now.

The scenery was magnificent, quite Himalayan; but it was awful work for

men and animals. We passed through Dullstroom that day, where we found

the remains of a large Boer laager. On the 5th we reached Palmietfontein,

rifle firing daily.

"That evening at five o'clock, our commanding officer got a message that

the General wanted to see him. Going off, he found Generals Ian Hamilton

and Smith-Dorrien in close consultation, and looking at a mountain at the

exit of a gorge, through which the column had to pass next day. (After

passing through it, General Hamilton told me that it was just like the

Khyber, but shorter.) Our commandant was told that the General wanted

this mountain seized that night. It is called Zwaggershoch, and was about

five miles from our bivouac. Its possession would give us complete

control of that side of the pass, and we should be behind the right of

the Boer position, where they were holding Buller at Klipspruit. He had

selected us to undertake this task. With 500 men and half-a-dozen mounted

men we started off at 8 P.M. by moonlight. The men were splendid--not a

sound. We sounded up three farms on the way, lest they concealed Boers,

and we had no idea of being cut off. We reached the foot of the hill all

right. The companies then advanced at attack formation, so as to envelop

the top of the hill. Then commenced a most awful climb. What Boers there

were there I cannot tell you. It was very misty. We 'put up' seven, and

they bolted. It is impossible to say what they had behind them. We

reached the summit at 12.30 A.M., drenched through and through with

perspiration. We set to and made sangars, and then lay down in biting

cold at about 2 A.M., one blanket apiece. In spite of the cold I should

have slept had it not been for a man alongside me who snored vigorously

all night. We were lying on flat rocks--none too soft. Our commanding

officer was up before dawn looking out for our friends, the Boers,

opposing Buller, for we were now in rear of their right, and if they had

waited till daylight we should have gone for them; but our friends the

seven must have warned them, for they had retired during the night.

"Thus he relieved Sir Redvers from what he told Ian Hamilton was the most

difficult position he had found himself in since the beginning of the

campaign. Besides that, we effectually stopped all sniping from our side

of the pass, whilst the column marched through, though there was plenty

on the other side, out of range from us. We climbed precipitous hilltops

all that day as we pushed men on and on, so as to get command up to the

very exit. I was a bit done when I got into bivouac. I hadn't really had

a meal since 6 P.M. the day before, and had been hard at work night and

day. We were off again on the 6th--Buller level with us now on the other

road--and we marched into Lydenburg."

The Boers, turned back from their grand emplacements and cleverly

constructed trenches, were forced to follow their plan of splitting into

two forces, one taking the direction of Kruger's Post, the other going to

Pilgrim's Rest, where the President was said to have gone. But still,

though retiring, other marauding bands had found leisure to prowl in the

region of the railway, for on the 5th, both morn and eve were made

hideous by their murderous ingenuity.

At dawn they attempted to cut the line between Pan and Wonderfontein, but

the Canadian Mounted Rifles briskly blazed on the raiders, and though

there were but 125 of the British against a horde of Dutchmen with two

guns and a pom-pom, they contrived to rout the enemy without needing the

assistance of Colonel Mahon, who was promptly sent to their succour. "A

very creditable performance," telegraphed the Chief, who was well pleased

with the smartness of Major Sanders and his men. The Major and Lieutenant

Moodie were slightly wounded, and several men were injured and taken

prisoners. At night a train between Belfast and Pretoria was derailed

owing to the engine being blown up with dynamite, but nevertheless the

"Tommies" who were in the train gathered themselves together with amazing

rapidity, and drove off the Boers who were hovering like expectant

vultures round what they hoped would be a scene of blood.

To return to Lydenburg. The town lies within the hollow of a gigantic

mountainous range, which frowns some 1500 feet above it. Its aspect,

foliaged and green, with running brooks rippling in every direction,

delighted the hearts of the wayworn troops. Grateful to every eye, after

the monotonous drab of sun-dried veldt, was the sight of its blue

gum-trees and verdurous gardens; refreshing to the long parched and

heated senses, the babble of many pellucid streams! Here at last, they

thought, was a haven of rest, and here on the 7th, when Generals Buller

and Ian Hamilton had joined hands, the Union Jack was hoisted with

resonant cheers. But the joy was of short duration. Scarcely had the

strains of "God Save the Queen" died away than the Boers from the region

of Spitz Kop, a formidable hill some twenty-five miles east, to which

Botha with all his big guns had retreated, celebrated the occasion by

firing into the town, and that despite the fact that it contained some

thirty burghers' families!

Now it became evident that the troops must face the prodigious task of

clearing the Boer positions--natural fortresses they may be

called--above Lydenburg and beyond it--a task for which the heroes of

Pieter's and Laing's Nek were well fitted. It was a curious fact that to

the share of these warriors fell the opening and the closing scenes of an

arduous campaign, a dramatic fact like the working of a stage play, which

takes care that all the prominent characters of the piece shall say their

last say before the falling of the curtain.

The plan of attack was simple to read of but complex to execute. North of

the road, towards the lair of the enemy, Lyttelton with Kitchener's

Brigade was to march; south of it, Hamilton with Smith-Dorrien's Brigade

and three batteries of artillery were to clear the course.

Early the next morning, the 8th, the troops, as described, proceeded to

attack the foe--who at once began to thunder at them from the serpentine

sweeps round Spitz Kop--while part of the forces crossed the Mauchberg

ridge, so as to give battle to another hostile section which was perched

on a commanding ridge some 1500 feet high. The whole series of eminences,

cleft asunder in different parts, forming deep and treacherous ravines,

was forbidding in the extreme to infantry; yet undaunted, the Devons,

Royal Irish, and Royal Scots, marching steadily on and on like a vast

machine, swept towards both sides of the position, and gradually

converged as they neared the hill. The 20th and 53rd Batteries raked the

summit, and finally, with a mighty roar, the combined infantry carried

the crest and sent the enemy scuttling to a narrow causeway, which,

sheltering them in a dense fog, allowed them unpunished to disappear with

their guns.

The experiences of the officer before quoted were exhilarating. He

said:--

"At 3 A.M. on the 8th September an order reached us, which proved to be

Sir Redvers' order for attack that morning. We breakfasted at 5.30 A.M.,

marched off at 6.30 A.M., forded a stream, and got under cover at the

rendezvous, about four to five miles from the Boer position on Paarde

Kraal. It looked quite impregnable--indeed, some of the ground between it

and us seemed impassable. At 7.30 A.M. the plan of attack was explained

to us. We were to be on the right (not left as the newspapers had it) in

the first line, the Gordons behind us in the second line, the Royal Irish

(half battalion) on our left, and on the left of them again the Devons,

supported by more of Buller's force. The battalion, nearly 1200 strong,

covered an enormous front. The men extended to ten paces. We had twelve

lines at first, but absorbed four very quickly, to prolong the right.

After a severe trudge we reached the ravine. The near side was some 1500

yards from the Boer trenches, the far side about 1200 yards. It had

precipitous sides of rock, with two small rocky gullies, down which the

men climbed. Its depth was from 300 to 400 feet. At the bottom was a

fast running stream, nowhere less than 2 feet in depth, with very

slippery, round black rocks at the bottom.

"The men went splendidly, and when Buller saw us appear at the top of the

other side and open fire he turned to General Smith-Dorrien and said, 'By

Jove! those Royal Scots are devils to go. I never saw a regiment cross

such ground so quickly.' He also mentioned the regiment specially in

orders that night. The scene inside the ravine was grand. The precipitous

rocky sides, the tropical vegetation, the running stream, with thickly

wooded banks, together with the incessant roar of guns, bursting shells,

the 'knock-knock' of the pom-poms, and rattle of rifles, combined to make

it a weird and splendid experience. We fired by volleys and independently

from the edge of the ravine for some time, whilst our artillery supported

us nobly. It is impossible to overrate the value of their support. They

placed their shells exactly in the right places. Between us and the

trenches was a plateau of 1200 yards, without any cover at all, flat,

with thin and short grass. At first we advanced by rushes, then in

general lines. A grand feeling of elation carried us on regardless of

anything. We got to within 200 yards and fixed bayonets. The men, full of

excitement, yelled and charged, the guns ceasing exactly at the right

moment--one more shell would have hit us--but it was of no use, the Boers

had bolted before we reached the trenches, delayed as we were by boulders

and steepness. What, however, was worst of all was the fog that now fell

on the mountains. It spoilt our bag. We were right round the Boer left,

but could see nothing, and except for a few caught at 200 yards by case

from our guns, they slipped away."

Of the British forces thirteen were killed, twenty-five wounded, sixteen

of whom belonged to the Volunteer Company of the Gordons. This company,

while marching in column about seven miles from the enemy, were caught by

a shrapnel shell, which burst among them, but it was noted that they

"continued to march steadily forward as if nothing had happened." It was

not the first time these fine fellows had shown surprising grit in

awkward situations.

* * * * *

General French, who for the time had been halting at Carolina, now

continued his march towards Barberton, fighting as he went. With him were

Dickson's and Gordon's brigades of cavalry, the Suffolks and Shropshires,

and the 4.7 naval guns under Captain Bearcroft. From one fortified

position to another they pushed back the enemy, the Suffolks

distinguishing themselves by their gallantry in clearing a formidable

peak and escaping with few casualties owing to the skilfulness of their

leading.

General Hutton's Mounted Infantry marched east from Belfast _viâ_

Rietvlei to Tafel Kop, and beyond it to Kaapsche Hoop, one of the most

beautiful and formidable heights of the Drakensberg, which places command

the railway valley to north and west. The view thence towards Barberton

is unique. From a precipitous height you gaze over rank on rank of

irregular spurs seamed with gullies of sand, russet, and orange, the

cradles of alluvial gold. The object of the operation was to clear these

districts of Boers and secure General French's left flank, and also

enable the Eleventh Division to advance and take possession of the

railway route to Godwan Station. General Hutton's force consisted of

Colonel Alderson's command, Brabant's Horse, with one 15-pounder and one

Hotchkiss gun, 300 men of 1st Mounted Infantry Corps, and two pom-poms.

Colonel Henry's command consisted of 400 men of the 4th Mounted Infantry

Corps, with two pom-poms; Brigade troops consisting of J Battery Royal

Horse Artillery, New South Wales Field Hospital, under Major Fiaschi, and

New South Wales Bearer Company, under Major Eames; the Mounted Pioneers,

under Lieutenant Earle, Royal Engineers, Corps of Scouts, and Telegraph

Section. In a thick fog impenetrable as an iced blanket--the same that

gathered around the gorges of the Spitz Kop and helped the flying

Boers--the troops moved to the place of rendezvous on the Dalmanutha

Road, passing the field of the battle of the previous week and the graves

of many gallant fellows of the Rifle Brigade who had fallen on that

occasion. The troops proceeded according to orders, marching over rough,

mountainous, and capricious country, that caused so much inconvenience

with the transport that as many as seven waggons upset within the space

of a mile. Some waggons, though double-spanned, could not surmount

several of the steep ascents; one was at an angle of 45 degrees, and had

finally to be sent back some fifteen miles to Machadodorp. In fact, the

road was gradually becoming so steep and unnegotiable that nearly all

vehicles had to be sent back, nevertheless the top of Kaapsche Kop was

reached and found to be vacated by Boers, who had taken to their heels

two hours before. This gigantic march enabled the Eleventh Division to

march on, and finally, to the Guards Brigade was handed over the

possession of the mountain.

General Buller proceeded to occupy the region of the Mauchberg range on

the 9th, in spite of some resistance from the enemy, who were at last

dislodged by the King's Royal Rifles. Among the wounded were Second

Lieutenant G. Lumley Johnstone, 53rd Battery Royal Field Artillery.

Regardless of infamous roads and execrable weather, the troops moved on

and on towards the frowning heights of Spitz Kop. But it was a tremendous

ten miles along narrow passes among mountains, some of them 6000 feet

high, skirting deep gorges, and in the very teeth of the enemy, who ever

and anon launched at them fire from pom-poms and musketry, yet failed to

arrest the steady onward progress of men and guns. On the 10th they were

at Kipgat, midway between Mauchberg and Spitz Kop, the Boers, a

demoralised rabble, hurrying before them in such panic that they were

unable to prevent the capture of tons of food stores, the gun tackle of a

heavy gun, and some ammunition. The rest, rather than it should fall into

British hands, they flung over the crags--thirteen waggons being

sacrificed to the necessity for speedy flight.

[Illustration: MAP TO ILLUSTRATE THE MOVEMENTS FOR THE CAPTURE OF

LYDENBURG.]

Meanwhile the rest of the army was creeping east--creeping indeed, owing

to the difficult nature of the country, that grew more and more

obstructive and confounding with every mile. The Guards Brigade, with

General Pole-Carew, moved from Nooitgedacht to Godwan Station on the

12th, protected on the right flank by General Hutton, who was in

signalling communication with General French. This officer having crossed

the Komati River on the 10th, was making his way against considerable

opposition towards the hills west of Barberton, while General Ian

Hamilton, having completed his task for the relief of General Buller,

was leaving Helvetia for Waterval Onder.

[Illustration: THE NIGHT CHARGE OF THE 19th HUSSARS NEAR LYDENBURG ON

NOV. 7th, 1900

Drawing by R. Caton Woodville]

"On the 11th," said one who was with him, "we marched to Helvetia, and

here we halted for one day--our first and only halt from the time we left

Belfast until we reached Komati Poort _viâ_ Lydenburg. On the 13th we

descended 3000 feet sheer to Watervalonder--scenery quite lovely. We were

then in the fever valley of the Elandspruit. Our daily marches now

involved throwing forward piquets to hold the tops of the mountains on

either side till the tail of the column had passed through. Advanced and

flank guards were useless. On the 14th we reached Nooitgedacht, and on

the 15th we passed Godwan, and bivouacked on the lowest slope of Kaapsche

Hoop--a charming site for a camp, amongst a natural rockery. On the 16th

we had a heavy day. We had to get to the summit of the Kaapsche Hoop, the

loftiest mountain in the neighbourhood. It is also called the Devil's

Kantoor, and is covered with alluvial gold diggings. The whole of the

infantry moved off at 3.30 A.M. in darkness. That meant rising at 1.45,

and breakfast at 2.30, but early breakfast in the dark was a common

occurrence, and not a pleasant one when the fare consisted of trek ox and

dry biscuit, as it generally did. It was difficult to get down; yet we

had to force ourselves to it, for there was no chance of food until we

reached our next bivouac. All the infantry left in the dark, and was

split up along the road at the worst bits, where drag-ropes were

distributed, and the men took off their equipment, and each waggon was

helped up the steeps. It would have been impossible to have got them up

without. The men worked splendidly, the Royal Scots putting their backs

into it in a way which elicited the admiration of the General."

At this juncture Mr. Kruger, preceded by a great portion of his worldly

goods, made off to Lorenço Marques. To the great relief of every one this

misguided old man now disappeared from the political platform, and left

his country to be lifted, by those he had been pleased to call his

enemies, from the ruin he had brought about. As that notable socialist,

Mr. Bernard Shaw, expressed it, he had had a chance "to play the

statesman," but had "played the Mahdi,"--now, like Mahdism, Krugerism was

extinct.

It was therefore Lord Roberts's turn to take up the tangled skein of law

and order in the Transvaal. To this end he ordered the following

proclamation to be printed and widely circulated in English and Dutch:--

"MACHADODORP, _September 13_.

"The late President Kruger, with Reitz and the archives of the

South African Republic, crossed the Portuguese frontier, and

arrived at Lorenço Marques, with a view of sailing for Europe

at an early date.

"Mr. Kruger has formally resigned the position he held as

President of the South African Republic, thus severing his

official connection with the Transvaal.

"Mr. Kruger's action shows how hopeless, in his opinion, is the

war which has now been carried on for nearly a year, and his

desertion of the Boer cause should make it clear to his

fellow-burghers that it is useless for them to continue the

struggle any longer.

"It is probably unknown to the inhabitants of the Transvaal and

Orange River Colony that nearly fifteen thousand of their

fellow-subjects are now prisoners of war, not one of whom will

be released until those now in arms against us surrender

unconditionally.

"The burghers must by this time be cognisant of the fact that

no intervention on their behalf can come from any of the Great

Powers, and, further, that the British Empire is determined to

complete the work which has already cost so many valuable

lives, and to carry to its conclusion the war declared against

her by the late Governments of the Transvaal and Orange Free

State--a war to which there can be but one ending.

"If any further doubts remain in the minds of the burghers as

to her Britannic Majesty's intentions, they should be dispelled

by the permanent manner in which the country is gradually being

occupied by her Majesty's forces, and by the issue of the

proclamations signed by me on the 24th May and 1st September

1900, annexing the Orange Free State and the South African

Republic respectively in the name of her Majesty.

"I take this opportunity of pointing out that, except in the

small area occupied by the Boer army under the personal command

of Commandant-General Botha, the war is degenerating, and has

degenerated into operations carried on in an irregular and

irresponsible manner, and in very many cases by insignificant

bodies of men.

"I should be failing in my duty to her Majesty's Government and

to her Majesty's army in South Africa if I neglected to use

every means in my power to bring such irregular warfare to an

early conclusion.

"The means which I am compelled to adopt are those which the

customs of war prescribe as being applicable to such cases:

they are ruinous to the country, entail endless suffering on

the burghers and their families; and the longer this guerilla

warfare continues the more vigorously must they be enforced."

From the Hague Messrs. Fischer, Wessels, and Wolmarans, the Boer

delegates, now issued an appeal addressed to all nations in favour of

intervention. After expressing the conviction that the only object of the

annexation of the Transvaal which had been proclaimed by Great Britain

was to enable the British to continue the war in an inhuman manner, and

contrary to the principles of International Law, the appeal said--

"The British generals wish to treat as rebels the people of the

South African Republics, previously recognised as belligerents,

and mercilessly to pursue to the bitter end the exhausted

combatants. With the help of God this object will not be

attained. The citizens of the Republics will continue the

struggle to their last breath. Have they not shown themselves

worthy of their liberty and their fatherland? Will the world

allow them to be crushed? The Powers have not intervened up to

the present, perhaps abstaining from so doing as long as the

war was regular; but will the restoration of peace never be

pronounced, not even now when Great Britain tramples under foot

by her theoretical annexations all the principles of

International Law, and thus endeavours to acquire freedom of

action in order to exercise her powers, and if possible

annihilate completely the existence of a free people? In the

name of justice and humanity we appeal to all peoples who

sympathise with us to come to our aid even in this critical and

supreme moment, and to save our country. We commit ourselves to

God, trusting that our prayers will be heard."

[Illustration: BARBERTON.]

It may here be mentioned that Messrs. Fischer, Wessels, and Wolmarans had

been sent in May as delegates to Holland and to America in the effort to

enlist the sympathy of outsiders in the great quarrel. They went first to

The Hague, where they hoped to secure the application of the resolution

adopted by the Acts of the Peace Conference to the Transvaal question.

Messrs. Fischer, Wessels, and Wolmarans were cordially welcomed, and

expressed their satisfaction with the kindly reception accorded them by a

people united to them by bonds of race and religion. (As an aside, it may

be stated that not very long since, the Hollanders were wont to dub the

Boers "White Hottentots," and disdain any connection with them. This on

the word of a Dutchman.) The delegates then proceeded to America with the

avowed object of securing the aid of the Americans. "We are going," said

Mr. Fischer, "to a sister Republic, the people of which a century ago

fought the same fight as our people are now fighting. We are going to a

great free people, pre-eminent for their sentiments of liberty and

justice. We go to rectify erroneous opinions and to make known the truth.

Our enemies have said much that they cannot prove, and have thus misled

many. We are certain that, once the truth is known, no civilised nation

will refuse us support. The chief charge against us is that we desired or

sought war. We shall try to dispel this error. We only desire peace and

tranquil possession of what is as dear to us as it is to the American

people--namely, our independence, without impairing the rights of other

peoples. We do not appeal to one or the other political party, but to the

American people, hoping that all parties will unite on a common platform,

since the greatness of a great nation like the United States will be

still more enhanced if it aid a small nation in a struggle for its rights

and freedom. Our aim is to put an end to this cruel bloodshed on both

sides, but especially the destruction of our own fellow-citizens, who are

indispensable to our continued existence as a people. We hope this appeal

to the Government and people of America will not be in vain, and that our

manner of conducting the war will have shown that we have the right to

demand the independent existence of our people as an independent State in

South Africa." Their errand was fruitless, as the conclusion of the

Secretary of State's reply serves to show.

"The President sympathises heartily with the sincere desire of all the

people of the United States that the war which is now afflicting South

Africa may, for the sake of both parties engaged, come to a speedy close,

but having done his full duty in preserving a strictly neutral position

between them, and in seizing the first opportunity that presented itself

for tendering his good offices in the interest of peace, he feels that in

the present circumstances no course is open to him except to persist in

his policy of impartial neutrality. To deviate from this would be

contrary to all our traditions, and all our national interests, and would

lead to consequences which neither the people nor the President of the

United States could regard with favour." The same attitude was taken up

by other Powers who were appealed to by the still optimistic Dutchmen.

General Buller by this time had located himself on Spitz Kop, which

stands some 7100 feet high and commands an enormous expanse of country.

Here fifty-eight burghers surrendered, and he captured trophies--300,000

bales of supplies, and 300 boxes of ammunition. But the Boers were

luckier elsewhere. An engineer convoy under Lieutenant Meyrick, Royal

Engineers, with an escort of nineteen Hussars, in act of repairing

telegraph line, was attacked near where the road crosses the Crocodile

River. The young officer was wounded and the escort was missing.

Generals Pole-Carew and Hamilton meanwhile pushed on, the Boers

retreating as they saw themselves in danger. General French surprised the

enemy and occupied Barberton on the 13th. He came on sufficient supplies

to last three weeks, and made a splendid haul of prisoners, ammunition,

and waggons, together with forty-five locomotives, which latter came in

handy at a moment when engines were much needed. On the 17th fifty more

locomotives were captured by French's Cavalry at Avoca Station, while six

more on the arrival of the 18th Brigade (Stephenson's) were found at Nel

Spruit. At the same time Generals Pole-Carew and Hamilton were moving

towards Kaap Muiden Station.

A word about General Hildyard. While the fighting had been going on round

Lydenburg the General had been keeping his eye on Natal, chasing bands of

Boers, fighting, dispersing them, and establishing fortified posts and

restoring telegraphic communication at different points. On the 9th at

Groen Vlei Lieutenant Watson, 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers, and Captain

Cracroft, 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers, were wounded. On the 10th the Boers

were driven from Langwacht Pass, and the hills scoured in the direction

of Utrecht. This quaint little Dutch town, containing a very big church,

and some very small houses rendered picturesque by gardens full of

blossoming fruit-trees, was soon reoccupied. The Royal Dragoons and 13th

Hussars arrived there in advance of General Hildyard, and spread

consternation among the Boers. Colonel Blagrove deposed the Llandrost,

seized his effects, and let loose some British prisoners who had been in

Boer clutches.

The Dutchmen a few days later revenged themselves by committing an act of

treachery. Some women in a farm floating a white flag invited a party of

the 13th Hussars, who were patrolling some ten miles to the west, to

enter and partake of refreshment. This they did. As they were riding from

the house, they were fired on from within. These barbarities were far

from infrequent, and the only method of dealing with the assassins was to

destroy the homesteads which had harboured them. Vryheid was occupied on

the 19th, the Boer position being turned by the Mounted Infantry, the

Dutchmen in the neighbourhood causing a comparatively small amount of

trouble. Most of the Boers had foreseen the trend of the British

operations, and commenced to trek on the taking of Utrecht. Here we must

leave the Natal defence force and return to the Chief.

The 19th found Lord Roberts at Nel Spruit, all events having progressed,

notwithstanding the mountainous nature of the country, with the rapidity

and success which usually characterised the Field-Marshal's movements.

Upwards of 3000 Boers had retreated towards Komati Poort, and of these

many had dispersed into broken gangs, while more than 700 had crossed the

Portuguese border. Thus the field operations were coming to an end, for,

as the Commander-in-Chief put it, there were now left of the Boer army

"only marauding bands."

General Pole-Carew, with Henry's Mounted Infantry and the Guards Brigade,

hewing the roads as they went through a jungle forked with ravines,

arrived dust-choked at Kaap Muiden, capturing at the station 114

truck-loads of goods more or less valuable. One march behind the Guards,

came General Ian Hamilton's column.

On the 22nd the "marauding bands" made themselves obnoxious in three

places on the line. At dawn, a commando under Erasmus, with a 15-pounder

and two pom-poms, attacked Elands River Station. (It must be noted that

Elands River runs both east and west of Pretoria.) B Company, under

Captain Cass, with about 120 Infantry and Cavalry details, succeeded

admirably in defending their position, and after three hours' smart

fighting drove off the enemy with eleven men disabled. The British party

had only one casualty.

This was a curious military rendering of the popular rhyme, "Taffy was a

Welshman," which runs:--

"I went to Taffy's house, Taffy wasn't at home;

Taffy came to my house and stole a marrow bone."

Taffy, the filcher, in this case was the Briton; the filchee was the

Boer. When Erasmus and his commando knocked with big guns at the door of

Elands River Station, "Not at home," was so definitely expressed that the

visitor was forced to turn on his haunches. Unfortunately, during his

absence Taffy had called at his house and helped himself, not merely to a

marrow bone, but to a good deal more. In other words, General Paget, the

"slim" hero of the exploit, with the West Riding Regiment, two companies

of the Wiltshires, two companies of the Munster Fusiliers, the City

Imperial Volunteer Battery and two 5-in. guns, had made a forced night

march of twenty-six miles, seized Erasmus's vacant camp, and with it 2500

cattle, 6000 sheep, 50 horses, 12 prisoners, 20 rifles, and some

ammunition! Erasmus will be cautious when he goes a-visiting in future.

At the same hour, a smaller commando attempted mischief at Bronker's

Spruit, and was dispersed by Colonel Donald, with five companies of Royal

Fusiliers, while at noon some other "snipers" pelted a train, which was

conveying Generals Wood and Marshall from the front, between Brug Spruit

and Balmoral. The enemy's sole success, after surprising activity, was

the cutting of the line between Elands River and Skie Poort.

On the 24th, General Pole-Carew, after one of the hardest and most

fatiguing marches on record over nineteen miles of waterless jungle,

occupied Komati Poort. Here he found the bridge, though prepared for

destruction, still intact. Fourteen Long Toms and an enormous number of

other guns, including two of the lost 12-pounders belonging to Q Battery

Royal Horse Artillery, were found by the Guards, while General Ian

Hamilton discovered more trophies in the Crocodile River near Hector

Spruit. Rifles, small arm ammunition, boxes of Long Tom and other shells

innumerable, formed the prizes of a memorable march, which was another

feather in the cap of the Guards, whose endurance and cheerfulness under

toil and privation was little less than heroic.

General Buller, who was clearing the country north of Lydenburg,

continuing his operations, moved from Spitz Kop. The gallant Devons,

under Captain Jacson, drove the enemy from the Burghers Pass, and on the

26th the General took up a position on the Machlac River. On the

following day he reached Pilgrim's Rest without casualties. The enemy

were ensconced on the top of Pilgrim's Hill, and from here, marching by

night on the 28th, Colonel Byng decided to turn them. This was

brilliantly accomplished by the, now veteran, South African Light Horse,

who caused the enemy to vacate his lair with much precipitation. Two

prisoners, forty oxen, and 4000 sheep were the prize of this dashing

exploit. More work of the hardest fell to the lot of the troops on the

29th, the long steep road to the top of Pilgrim's Hill making terrible

demands on man and beast. But nevertheless the men worked "like niggers,"

dragging the waggons up the obstinate country, eventually reaching

Kruger's Post on the 1st of October. To this date the enemy had lain

"doggo," as the phrase is, but no sooner was General Buller in possession

of Kruger's Post, than they brought long-range guns to bear on him. The

position from which the Dutchmen fired was situated at about 9000 yards

from the British bivouac, and towards this point Major Henderson (Argyll

and Sutherland Highlanders) with some men of the 6th Lancers, 18th and

19th Hussars, at once proceeded. Owing to the nature of the country to be

traversed, they reached their destination about four in the morning, and

then to their disappointment found that they were not in time to prevent

the Boers from disappearing with their guns. These, meanwhile, had done a

good deal of damage. Second Lieutenant H. W. Cuming, 1st Devon Regiment,

was killed, and one man of the South African Light Horse. Among the

wounded were Captain N. Luxmore, 1st Devonshire Regiment, dangerously;

seven men of South African Light Horse; and one man of Strathcona's

Horse.

On the 2nd General Buller's force returned to Lydenburg, bringing with it

600 head of cattle, 4000 sheep, and 150 waggon-loads of supplies. Sir

Redvers had also the satisfaction of reporting the surrender of 109

burghers as the result of his very successful expedition.

In honour of the birthday of the King of Portugal, the British troops,

under General Pole-Carew, paraded at Komati Poort, and presented arms to

the Portuguese flag. With this martial _tableau vivant_ closed the main

operations. The Eleventh Division subsequently returned to Pretoria, Lord

Kitchener remaining at Komati Poort with Lieutenant Legget, Assistant

Director of Railways. Repairing of lines and bridges was continued with

unabated zeal, and the line to Johannesburg was speedily cleared.

Unfortunately, in the work of destroying Boer ammunition, a Gordon

Highlander was killed, Lieutenant Doris and eighteen men were wounded,

also a Royal Engineer.

ORANGE RIVER COLONY

On 4th August Harrismith surrendered to General MacDonald, and

simultaneously a squadron of the 5th Lancers from Besters and one of the

13th Hussars from Ladysmith arrived there, after having captured Van

Reenen's Pass and secured it for General MacDonald's advance. The people

of the town, mostly Scottish, were jubilant at the return of the "good

old times." They had expected to be relieved soon after the relief of

Ladysmith, and had possessed their souls in patience through many weary

weeks, made doubly weary by the fact that, the railway being broken and

the wires cut, no news from friends was forthcoming, and supplies were

not to be had.

[Illustration: THE DÉBÂCLE: ON THE TRACK OF A FLEEING COMMANDO

Drawing by H. C. Seppings Wright]

A most interesting account of the arrival of the British troops was given

by a smart Yeoman--a hoary veteran of twenty-two!--who had been present

at engagements innumerable, and still cheerily endured all the varieties

of hardship--cold, famine, and fatigue included--which had fallen to the

share of the Yeomanry since the early days of June. This Yeoman, Sergeant

H. T. Mackenzie (Yorks Imperial Yeomanry), was actually the first of the

troops to enter the town, and thus he described his experiences: "We

arrived in sight of the town at 9 A.M., and I was sent on with the

advanced guard of twenty-five men under Major Coptam, and we had to make

arrangements for the formal entry of the General. We posted sentries on

the principal buildings, such as the Bank, Post-Office, &c. We had an

awfully good time; the inhabitants crowded round us and insisted on

shaking hands, and also brought us tea, cake, and bread and butter, which

was much more to the point. I was treated to three lunches and

half-a-dozen teas. There are three fine hotels, and I had excellent

lunches!" The young trooper's relish of these treats may be imagined when

we remember that all the gallant fellows had been roughing it since the

1st of June, spending every day under fire, and living on three-quarter

rations most of the time. Mr. Mackenzie went on to say: "By about ten

o'clock the people had all put on their best clothes, and had raised

several flags. Soon after, the procession entered, headed, of course, by

the Highland Brigade. The General stopped at the Court-house and hoisted

the Union Jack, while the band played 'God Save the Queen,' and we

presented arms and tried to look imposing. This is rather difficult when

you have not washed for a week and your uniform is in rags. However, the

inhabitants seemed satisfied. The General then took up his stand under

the flag, and we all marched by. We went through the principal street of

the town, and then marched into camp, about three miles the other side of

the town. I was left behind with the guard, and had a very good time....

The ladies brought us out afternoon tea on the verandah of the Bank,

where we had a guard stationed." The hoisting of the flag did not take

place without a somewhat exciting scene, which was described in the

letter before quoted. "The Llandrost, or Chief Magistrate, refused to

take off his hat while 'God Save the Queen' was being played, so one of

the doctors in Harrismith gently knocked it off. The Llandrost's son then

hit the doctor in the mouth, whereupon the doctor, being a Scotsman,

promptly stretched him out. We then interfered, and MacDonald made them

shake hands all round."

[Illustration: HARRISMITH. (Photo by Mr. Kemp.)]

To insure the safety of General MacDonald's advance, a simultaneous move,

as we know, had been taken from the Ladysmith direction. The 13th Hussars

received sudden orders to start minus baggage or tents and meet the 5th

Lancers at the foot of the Drakensberg and secure Van Reenen's Pass. They

reached their destination in the drear dead of midnight. Shivering in

every limb, and rolled only in the fur rugs from their saddles, the small

band awaited the daylight; then a few men being left to guard the Pass

they pressed on hot-foot to Harrismith, which was reached at 5 P.M., just

twenty-four hours after leaving Ladysmith--a distance of fifty-four

miles. Thanksgiving services were held on the 5th at both church and

town-hall in honour of the arrival of the British troops, and the general

joy in spite of the cold (Harrismith, about 5000 feet above the sea

level, was in a state of mid-winter) was inspiriting to the least

patriotic heart.

In other places the surrendering of Boers continued, as many as 130

having come into Bethlehem during the 8th and 9th of August. On the 15th,

General Hunter in his northward march encountered the enemy south of

Heilbron, where the Boers with six guns were strongly posted at Spitz

Kop. (This must not be confounded with the kop of the same name captured

by General Buller.) After some ferocious fighting the position was

turned, but not before three men of the Highland Light Infantry were

killed, and thirty-three were wounded. The wounded officers were:

Lieutenant-Colonel Kelham, Highland Light Infantry; Second Lieutenant L.

H. Gibson, Highland Light Infantry (since dead).

On the 24th, Colonel Ridley with 250 mounted men and twenty-five infantry

of the Imperial Yeomanry, while reconnoitring found himself confronted by

a huge force of the enemy. He took up a position in a farm, and there

defied 1000 Boers with two guns. The situation was critical, but General

Bruce Hamilton's Brigade was despatched to the rescue, and arrived and

dispersed the raiders. Colonel White, R.A., had also been despatched by

General Kelly-Kenny, and had flung his small column into the fray, losing

five men missing, one killed, while Lieutenant Jones (Yeomanry) was

slightly wounded. The Boers proceeded to attack Winburg on the 26th, and

General Bruce Hamilton had the satisfaction of beating them off minus

their presiding genius, Olivier (who, it will be remembered, had refused

to surrender with Prinsloo), and his three sons, all of whom were

captured. Commandants Haasbrook, Roux, and Fourie, were the only

prominent Boers now flitting about the Orange Colony, and one of these

caused the wire between Winburg and Ladybrand to be cut, and made signs

of attacking the latter place. This was on the 29th.

For some time, as we know, Ladybrand had been a centre of attraction for

the enemy. It is situated in the heart of their grain country, and now,

they, being what is vulgarly known as out at elbows, naturally made plans

to capture the place. It is some seventy-two miles due east of

Bloemfontein, near to Thabanchu, and within a cart drive of Maseru, and

in the shadow of the purple mountains of Basutoland.

On Sunday the 2nd of September, Commandant Fourie, with some 3000 Boers,

nine guns, and a pom-pom, invited Major White, Royal Marine Light

Infantry, and his gallant band of 150 men to surrender. A refusal caused

the hostile artillery to open fire, while the enemy approached on both

flanks, surrounding the garrison. The Boers on one side had made for

Lilleyhoek, those on the other for Vandermuelen's Farm, adjoining the

town, which they viciously bombarded. The British force, consisting of

one company of the Worcester Regiment, with Lieutenant Moss and Second

Lieutenant Dorman, and forty-three rank and file of the Wiltshire

Yeomanry with Lieutenants Awdry and Henderson, was entrenched on the

mountain, and in the caves below it opposite the town, but within rifle

range of it. They had a good supply of food, plenty of water, and had

fortified several houses in the town, and therefore had a firm conviction

that they could and would hold out till reinforcements should arrive from

Thabanchu.

On the following day the Boers, their numbers swelled by others on

parole, drew closer, and during the whole day a duelling with small arms

was maintained. Meanwhile the foe placed a big gun at a point in the

church square, and from thence attacked the garrison. They also fired

from windows, walls, and every available shelter; but fortunately both

Dutch and English inhabitants had sought refuge in Maseru. The garrison

meanwhile held on doggedly, and repulsed the Boers in two attempts to

charge.

These, it was imagined, "put their backs into it," because, disgusted at

the loss of their Commandant, Olivier, they proposed to secure

supplies--clothing, groceries, and stock--before returning to their farms

to recuperate. Any way, they worked with a will, determining to make hay

while the sun shone, for report said that Bruce Hamilton with a relief

column was marching in ten-league boots to the rescue. (The infantry

covered eighty miles in four days and a half!)

Early the next morning the foe plied guns and small arms, and the noble

little garrison, puny in size but large in spirit, replied with intense

vigour and activity. Finally the big gun of the opposition stopped,

whether from lack of ammunition or other causes, none knew. The fighting

continued, however, and was viewed with interest, yet not without

anxiety, by Sir Godfrey Lagden and the Basuto Chief, Lerothodi, from a

point of vantage on an opposite mountain. Efforts were made to obtain

news by heliograph, but these were unsuccessful, and the tug-of-war

dragged on. But soon there were evidences that the Boers lay in fear of

the arrival of the relief column, and were becoming concerned whence

would come the attack. This concern increased, and by nightfall of the

4th, after looting stores and appropriating horses in the town, the Boers

retreated in the direction of Clocolan with the loss of twenty-four

killed and thirty-five wounded. The British casualties were few.

Lieutenant Dorman, Worcester Regiment, was slightly wounded, but the

injuries of Sergeant-Major Clifford, Wiltshire Yeomanry, were severe. All

the officers behaved heroically, and the gallantry of Lieutenant Moss was

especially remarkable.

The routed Boers soon betook themselves to the railway line in the region

of Brandfort. As it was evident some mischief was brewing, General

Kelly-Kenny communicated with General MacDonald, who brought the Highland

Brigade from Winburg, whither he had gone to co-operate with General

Hunter's scheme for enclosing the raiders. On the 13th the gallant Scot,

assisted by Lovat's dashing Scouts, caught the enemy, drove them across

the Vet River, and pursued them north of the Winburg-Smaaldeel Railway,

the scattered rabble fleeing before the braw men of the north in such

haste and panic that their track was marked with the trail of their

effects. A magnificent "bag" was the Highland Brigade's reward: 7

prisoners, 31 waggons, 270 trek-oxen, 6 cases of dynamite, gun and rifle

ammunition, groceries, blankets, clothing, besides useful odds and ends

of all kinds. The British casualties were nil.

On the 14th and 15th two notable lieutenants, in different parts of the

Orange Colony, decided to maintain the high traditions of the British

Army. The first, Lieutenant Power, 8th Company Derbyshire Yeomanry, and

his patrol, was attacked some six miles out of Bethlehem. Field-Cornet

Froeman, in command of the Boers, sent a letter calling on the young

officer to surrender, and threatening, if he refused, to attack him in a

quarter of an hour, adding that he would guarantee no quarter, no lives

would be spared. The note was promptly returned by the bearer with two

words scrawled on the back, "No surrender." Fortunately in the nick of

time reinforcements appeared, and Froeman vanished. In the second case,

at Bulfontein in the west, the garrison, consisting of sixteen Police and

Yeomanry under Lieutenant Slater, Imperial Yeomanry, was attacked by a

hundred Boers. Undaunted by the superior number of the foe, the doughty

sixteen held out until the following day, when relief arrived. The

warlike proceedings at this date were degenerating into acts of

brigandage, raids, and marauding excursions, and these continued through

October and on.

THE WESTERN TRANSVAAL

The district round Krugersdorp was greatly disaffected, and contests

between British and Boers occurred almost daily. On the 29th of August a

smart tussle took place near Modderfontein between a column under Colonel

Bradley (North Staffordshire Regiment) and a band of desperadoes, who

were driven off with some loss. Three men of the North Staffordshire

Regiment were killed, and among the wounded were Lieutenant Wyatt and

five men. Meanwhile the Colonial Division--a portion of it--with the 3rd

Cavalry Brigade, was marching and fighting from Zeerust _viâ_ Krugersdorp

to Kroonstad, losing in all sixty of their number. General Little,

commanding the Brigade, was wounded, and was succeeded by Colonel

Dalgety. Nearer Pretoria, at a place called Rooikop, Colonel Plumer had a

brush with the enemy, resulting in the discomfiture of the latter, who

dispersed, minus 100 rifles, 40,000 rounds of ammunition, 350 head of

cattle, some waggon-loads of supplies, and seven of their number, who

were taken prisoners. Captain Brooke, R.A.M.C., was wounded, as was

Lieutenant Wylly and three Tasmanians.

The history of captures and surrenders, of marauding excursions and

surprises, of sniping and derailing of trains, of Boer treachery and Boer

shiftiness continued. The exciting episodes it would be impossible to

chronicle in detail, but a fair idea of the strain on the already

hard-worn troops may be gauged by looking at a table of guerilla

incidents which followed at each other's heels in the course of the first

week in September. On the 1st the rails were torn up near the Klip River;

a supply train was overturned and captured, and the engine wrecked by

dynamite. On the following day the line below Kroonstad was wrecked and a

train containing stores captured, while another portion of the line--at

America Siding--was cut. South of Heidelberg the line was cut on the 3rd,

and injuries to the Heidelberg rails occasioned the upset of a train. On

the 4th the line was cut near Honing Spruit, on the 5th near Krugersdorp,

on the 6th near Balmoral, when an engine was blown up and five trucks

were derailed. To finish the seven days' work the enemy on the 7th blew

up the rail near Roodeval.

At this time strong columns under Generals Clements and Hart had set to

work to scour the country between Krugersdorp and Johannesburg, and clear

it of bands of marauders. The former skirmished near Kekepoort and

elsewhere with Delarey, the latter operated south-west of Krugersdorp.

Small parties of Boers were being driven hither and thither, and were

usually hurried off with such rapidity that they left supplies and

waggons behind them. General Knox, sweeping north-west of Kroonstad, had

the satisfaction of capturing two of De Wet's despatch riders, bearing

interesting letters for that officer, and thus returning a suitable _quid

pro quo_ for the attack on the British mails made by the Dutchman in

June. Lord Methuen's force, which had been halting at Mafeking, completed

its re-equipment and started for Lichtenburg. Some little opposition was

met with _en route_. On the 11th the Boers, who had assembled near the

Malopo, were dispersed. Thirty prisoners were captured, twenty-two

waggons, and forty thousand rounds of ammunition. In the fray Captain

Bryce (Australian Bushmen) was severely wounded. On the 12th there was

more fighting, near Ottoshoof. Captain S. G. Hubbe (South Australian

Bushmen) was killed; Lieutenant White (6th Imperial Bushmen) was severely

wounded and taken prisoner.

While these engagements were taking place, General Clements gave battle

to Delarey's band and drove them from two positions, with the loss of two

men killed and fourteen wounded. Later, on the 16th, he caught the

raiders again near Hexpoort and again fought them, losing a gallant young

fellow, Lieutenant Stanley of the Imperial Yeomanry, and one or two men

wounded. Elsewhere the clearing process continued, and tussles were part

of the daily programme. General Paget was operating around the north-west

of Pretoria, at Warmbaths and Pienaar's River; and General Barton,

outside the Krugersdorp line, protected the west flank of Johannesburg.

General Hart was actively employed in the neighbourhood of Potchefstroom,

which place he occupied on the 11th, in the smartest manner possible. He

was getting tired of cannonadings and fusilladings, futile and fatiguing,

which resulted only in the dispersion of the enemy, who had a knack of

reappearing on the warpath directly his back was turned. There had been

many days of hopeful advance; "Little Bobs," the naval gun, had searched

kopjes innumerable; Marshall's Horse and the Imperials and others had

boldly assaulted them, but at the end of it all, they had arrived only to

find--a vacuum! This was depressing and wearisome, so the General gave

rein to his _penchant_ for night attacks, and reaped the reward of what

looked like temerity.

The force, leaving Welverdiend Station on the 8th, made forced marches of

thirty-six and thirty-eight miles in fifteen hours for the infantry, and

forty-four for cavalry, and surprised the Boers so completely that the

town was captured, and also some eighty prisoners, with comparatively

little fighting. Unfortunately young Maddocks, a most promising and

popular officer of the 2nd Somersetshire Light Infantry, lost his life.

Incessant attacks on the railway lines, too numerous to be recorded,

continued, of course throwing an enormous strain on the staff of the

military railways, who had verily to sleep with one eye open, unknowing

when and where the Boer would perpetrate fresh outrages. On the 12th, the

guerillas destroyed a bridge on the Krugersdorp line, and elsewhere they

made futile but annoying efforts to dislocate traffic. Lord Methuen at

this time was moving steadily on across the Western Transvaal,

occasionally varying his route by animated chases after Boer convoys. In

one of these he was splendidly successful, and his booty included a

15-pounder lost at Colenso, 26 waggons, 8000 cattle, 4000 sheep, and

about 20,000 rounds of small arm ammunition. Thus enriched he moved on

the following day, the 20th, to Rietpan, forty-five miles east of Vryburg

station. Here he chased more Boers, and increased his "bag" by 634

cattle, 3000 sheep, 29 horses, and 24 donkeys.

On the 26th Rustenburg was reoccupied by General Broadwood without loss.

With Generals Clements and Ridley he spent his time in clearing the

surrounding country, capturing waggons, rifles, and small arm ammunition,

and occasionally--Boers. These, as a rule, dispersed like a flock of

rooks at the sound of British pursuit, but twenty-four Dutchmen were

captured and sent into Rustenburg. There, on the 4th of October, arrived

Lord Methuen, who had fought two engagements on the 28th of

September--one commanded by himself, the other by General

Douglas--routing Lemmers's force and taking fourteen of them prisoners.

Seven were killed. Two of the British were also lost, and among the

wounded were Captain Lord Loch (Grenadier Guards), Lieutenant Parker

(R.A.M.C.), and Lieutenant Noel Money (Imperial Yeomanry).

General Hart meanwhile continued to spend his energies in identical

activities in the districts of Potchefstroom and Krugersdorp, to which

latter place he returned on the last day of September. He came not

empty-handed. His "bag," like those of Generals Paget and Methuen, was

big almost to inconvenience. His prizes ran as follows: 2720 head of

cattle, 3281 sheep and goats, and large quantities of mealies, potatoes,

oats, bran, and hay, 90 horses, 28 ponies, 11 mules, and 67 carts and

waggons. Of prisoners there were ninety-six. This was the result of a

thirty-three days' march, during which the column had covered 310 miles

and skirmished or fought on twenty-nine occasions. Of the British

"braves" only three were killed. Twenty-four were wounded and three

missing.

General Barton had his share of fighting, and on the 11th of October, in

a somewhat serious contest with the enemy, the Welsh Fusiliers, led by

Sir Robert Colleton, greatly distinguished themselves. Unhappily they

lost Second Lieutenant Williams-Ellis, a gallant boy of only twenty years

of age. Captain Gabbett was dangerously wounded, and Second Lieutenant

Kyrke sustained a severe injury to the head. Captain Trenchard (Royal

Scots Fusiliers) was also seriously wounded, as were eleven men of the

Welsh Fusiliers.

EXIT MR. KRUGER

With Lord Roberts's return to Pretoria on the 21st of September commenced

the general winding-up of affairs. At Schweizer Reneke the Boers had been

giving trouble, and General Settle, with a force of 7000 men, went to the

relief of the garrison and drove off the Boers, who lost heavily.

On the 25th General Baden-Powell returned from the Cape to Pretoria to

take up his post as head of the Transvaal Police, and was promptly beset

by upwards of 17,000 applications for appointments in his new force.

Seventeen officers and 319 men of the Royal Canadian Regiment left on

their return to Canada, while the City Imperial Volunteers prepared to

follow in order to reach home before the 5th of November. These were in

high feather: declared that they had acquired marvellous digestions from

the practice of eating oxen that must have taken part in the Great Trek,

and vaunted their ability to kill, clean, and cook anything from a

chicken to a pig, and make chupatties fit for the Lord Mayor! They were

still more exuberant when, early in October, they were reviewed, prior to

departure, by the Chief, who commented on the fine performances of the

gallant body of men, the conduct of the infantry under the Earl of

Albemarle (who was at Cape Town invalided), and the excellent work done

by Colonel Mackinnon. He spoke of their cheerful and ungrudging services,

of their long marches, the privations and hardships, the fever and

fighting they had endured, and he also alluded to the coolness and

utility of the mounted branch under Colonel Cholmondeley. He wished them

success on the resumption of their ordinary professions, and God-speed

upon their journey.

The Volunteers had great cause to be proud of themselves, for on all

occasions they had acquitted themselves admirably. On their entry into

Pretoria their "soldierly bearing" had been remarked on by the Chief, in

the subsequent battle of Diamond Hill, where young Alt lost his life,

they had "greatly distinguished" themselves, and besides fighting

twenty-six engagements had done some record marching, which has been

noted elsewhere.

On the 31st of July some of the C.I.V. came into action at Frederickstad,

losing one man killed and four wounded. Later they engaged in the chase

after De Wet, throwing themselves with zeal into the pursuit,

particularly on one occasion when they marched thirty miles in seventeen

hours. Altogether, from first to last, the Volunteers had nobly thrown

off the civic character for the honour of fighting for their country, had

"put their backs into it," and showed that clerk or shopkeeper, gardener

or groom, "A man's a man for a' that!"

[Illustration: (Pioneer). (Private).

THE ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS.

Photo by Gregory & Co., London.]

The C.I.V. Battery under the command of Major M'Micking, H.A.C. (late

R.H.A.) and Captain Budworth, R.A., Adjutant of the H.A.C., acting as

Captain of the Battery, had been invaluable. They moved to Bloemfontein

in June, proceeded along the Kroonstad line to suppress the activities of

De Wet, and from thence came into action at Lindley. The Battery did

excellent work, and finally silenced the Boer guns with their rapid and

accurate fire. At Bethlehem they comported themselves gloriously, averted

disaster, saving the guns and the situation. Afterwards, on the 22nd of

September, again under Paget, they assisted in the surprise of Erasmus

and capture of his camp.

Their official record of casualties to the end of August was: killed in

action, 6; wounded, 65; died of wounds received in action, 3; died of

disease, 44; taken prisoners and missing, 12; invalided home, 121.[13]

On the 27th, at Pienaar's River Station, forty miles north of Pretoria,

the force under the command of Colonel Lionel Chapman was attacked by the

enemy, who had crept up within 200 yards either side, through the thick

scrub surrounding the district. Three hours' fierce fighting ensued, in

which a Bushman was killed and three Munster Fusiliers were taken

prisoners. These succeeded in escaping, owing to the number of the Boer

wounded. Many of the foe, in addition to those slain in the fray, were

killed owing to the explosion of a mine of whose existence they were

unaware, and so great was the number of the wounded that ambulances had

to be twice sent out to collect the Boer sufferers.

In the region of Groot Vlei Railway the marauders were surprised by a

Mounted Infantry Patrol of the South Wales Borderers, under Lieutenants

Dickinson and Gross, who themselves were surprised, on taking six

prisoners, to find that their prizes were not Boers but Frenchmen!

September closed with the anniversary of the birthday of the beloved

Chief, who was born at Cawnpore in 1832. Moltke did his great work at the

age of seventy; Wellington accomplished his at the age of forty-six; and

Roberts put the finishing touch to his crown of laurels at sixty-eight.

Most appropriately, the day was chosen to announce the appointment of the

gallant Field-Marshal to the post of Commander-in-Chief of the British

army--an appointment which was looked upon both in England and abroad as

an auspicious omen for the thorough reform of the British military

system, and as a guarantee for the future defence of the Empire. The

whole British world united in wishes--one may almost say prayers--for the

long life and welfare of its grandest soldier.

On the 2nd of October, Colonel Rochfort, with the Dublin Fusiliers

Mounted Infantry, attacked a Boer laager between Johannesburg and

Pretoria, the Fusiliers charging into the midst of the enemy with the

bayonet, and capturing some nine marauders who had been actively engaged

in the district for some time. The Boers, too, had their innings, for on

the evening of the same day they succeeded in derailing, near Pan

Station, a train containing three companies of the 2nd Coldstream Guards.

On the unfortunate men they poured a vigorous fire with their Mausers,

with the result that five were killed. Thirteen were injured, among them

Second Lieutenant C. Heywood. Five men of other regiments were wounded.

An effort was made to surprise some of the Boer bandits at Bulfontein on

the 4th, but Captain Henty (16th Middlesex Volunteers) found the party

far stronger than his own small force, and was compelled to retire, which

he did after three hours' fighting. Six of his men were wounded,

including Lieutenant Slater (57th Company Imperial Yeomanry). Lieutenant

Thomas (Ceylon Mounted Infantry) was reported missing but believed to be

dead.

During the early days of October the Boers made more despairing efforts

to be aggressive. The engine of a train conveying some men of the Naval

Brigade and Coldstream Guardsmen was derailed on night of 5th near

Balmoral by the explosion of a dynamite cartridge, but fortunately no

casualties occurred.

Signs were not wanting that the Boers were sickening of the war, for

General Kelly-Kenny reported that an armed Boer was brought in a prisoner

by two of his former countrymen who were wise enough to see the futility

of kicking against the pricks. Commandant Dirksen, who had been

commanding a Boer band opposed to General Paget, also surrendered. He had

been kept in ignorance of the real state of the political outlook, and

was allowed to proceed to Komati Poort to learn the truth regarding

Kruger's flight for himself. He returned satisfied, and gave up his arms.

Thus very slowly affairs were moving on, the Boer belligerents thinning,

the work of pacification growing gradually less troublesome.

General Buller took his departure for home on the 6th, leaving General

Lyttelton in command at Lydenburg. The farewell meeting between the Chief

and the troops who for nearly a year had followed him confidently through

blood and fire, disaster and success, was remarkably touching, a

demonstration which--leaving the formula of red-tape and blue-books--may

almost be termed affectionate. Certainly, whatever may have been the

opinion of the arm-chair critics at home, that of the "do or die"

soldiers of Natal was expressed in a lusty and spontaneous burst of

enthusiasm, which left no room for doubt.

On the 7th Captain Bearcroft and the Naval Brigade left, having first

received the thanks of the Chief for the able assistance they had

afforded during the war. The Natal Volunteers had also left for their

homes, with many compliments on the excellent services they had rendered.

On the 8th Lord Roberts visited the camp of the Australians and

Rhodesians at Daspoort, and thanked the men for their devotion and

bravery, especially for their fine defence of Elands River.

A chapter of accidents took place on the 9th. During the night a train

conveying men and animals was upset near Kaap Muiden; three men were

killed and fifteen injured--Lieutenant Hawkes sustaining a fracture of

the leg--while over forty animals were killed or maimed. In the morning,

to inquire into the mischief, Captain Paget, with Lieutenants Stubbs and

Sewell and eighteen men of the Vlakfontein Garrison, went on an engine

and truck to the scene of the disaster. The Boers, of course, were

waiting their happy chance, and promptly assailed the party. The fighting

at this time was fast and furious. On hearing of the attack Captain

Stewart (Rifle Brigade) with forty men hastened to the rescue, and there,

fighting, fell. A private in the Rifle Brigade was also killed, and among

the injured were Captain Paget and Lieutenant J. H. Stubbs. Five men

attached to the Royal Engineers were also wounded. Lieutenant Sewell,

Royal Engineers, and ten men of the Rifle Brigade were captured.

At this period there was a good deal of enteric fever in Pretoria, and

among the invalids, whose condition caused considerable anxiety, was

Major Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein.[14] Not that his

state at the time was in the least critical, but interest hung around him

because he was, first, the grandson of the Sovereign; second, because he

was a gallant officer and a prince; and lastly, because he was before all

things a delightful comrade, as popular as he was genial. His death,

which did not occur till fighting had developed into guerilla warfare,

was deplored by all who were acquainted with him; and also by the nation

at large, who knew how to appreciate the devotion to duty of one who,

though born in the purple, preferred to take his share of the country's

work, and fight shoulder to shoulder with her defenders. His last wish

was characteristic of his noble nature--he desired no royal

resting-place, but elected to be buried "by the side of his comrades."

On the 19th, in the grey of the dawn, Mr. Kruger slunk from South Africa

on board the Dutch man-of-war _Gelderland_. With the utmost secrecy he

was smuggled to sea to evade, not his foes the British, but his dupes the

Boers, the luckless refugees who lusted for revenge on the man who had

ruined their country, deceived, robbed, and deserted themselves. When he

departed his moneybags were full! Theirs--his beloved people's--were

empty! Rich, he fled to escape the consequence of his own inflated

obstinancy; beggared, they remained to endure the brunt of it! Round the

debased fugitive it was impossible to cast the smallest glamour of

sentiment. The absence of all sense of honour and truth, the sordid

ambition and personal greed of the man, exposed now to the full, deprived

him of the sympathy of those who had formerly watched his remarkable

career with interest and admiration. Hitherto, most people had been prone

to believe that the President of the Transvaal was, as the patriarchs of

old, narrow-minded and obstinate no doubt, but saved by a simplicity that

was picturesque as it was primitive. The romantic were even wont to look

on him as another Cromwell of the English--a new Hofer of the Tyrolese--a

brawny moral giant, to wonder at and revere. But, gradually, the massive

peasant became transformed into the pinchbeck potentate, a despot with

never an inkling of statesmanship to redeem the unctious sophistries and

hypocritical cant with which he attempted to blind the world and himself.

Now, it was impossible for his admirers to ignore the clay feet of their

idol, and his compatriots, many of them, were forced to realise that his

character, like the bar gold he paid to his creditors, was little more

than a delusive show of amalgam. His last evasion declared that he had

received "six months' leave of absence for the benefit of his health." So

let it remain--a crumbling rung on the long ladder of his duplicity.

There was more truth in the fabrication than he recked of. He had gone

from his native land for six months--and as many more as he cared to

take--and, if his flight were not for the benefit of his personal health,

it was assuredly for the health of the great mass of human beings whose

lives in the Transvaal had hitherto been asphyxiated by the narrowness of

his prejudices and the autocracy of his rule! So, good-bye to him!

[Illustration: SIMON'S TOWN, CAPE COLONY

Photo by Wilson, Aberdeen]

FOOTNOTES:

[13] All the prisoners have since been released or returned to camp. Five

poor fellows died on their voyage home.

[14] Prince Christian Victor Albert Ludwig Ernest Anton was the eldest

son of Prince and Princess Christian. He was born on April 14, 1867, and

died at Pretoria on October 29, 1900. He was educated at Wellington

College and Magdalen College, Oxford, and subsequently entered the Royal

Military College at Sandhurst. He received his commission in 1888, and

was appointed second lieutenant in the King's Royal Rifle Corps. Two

years later he was promoted to be lieutenant, and in 1896 became captain,

with the brevet rank of major.

He served with the Hazara Expedition in 1891 as orderly officer to

Major-General Elles, commanding the forces. He was mentioned in

despatches, and received the medal and clasp. He was in the Miranzai

Expedition of the same year, and was present at the engagements at Sangar

and Mastan. The next year he accompanied the Isazai Expedition.

When it was found necessary to despatch a force to Ashanti against King

Prempeh in 1895 his Highness volunteered his services, and was made

aide-de-camp to Major-General Sir Francis Scott, who commanded the

expedition. For his share in the Ashanti Expedition Prince Christian

Victor received the star and promotion to the brevet rank of major. He

also served with the Soudan Expedition under Sir Herbert (now Lord)

Kitchener in 1898 as staff officer to the troops on board the gunboat

flotilla. He took part in the bombardment of the forts of Omdurman, and

was present at the battle of Khartoum. He was mentioned in despatches,

and given the Fourth Class of the Osmanieh, the British medal, and the

Khedive's medal with clasp. Prince Christian Victor was gazetted in

October 1899 for special service in South Africa. He took part in many

engagements before the occupation of Pretoria, and was appointed an extra

aide-de-camp to Lord Roberts in August.