ENGAGEMENTS.
And in the hope of freedom they possess
All that the contest calls for,--spirit, strength,
The scorn of danger, and united hearts.
_Cowper._
With the exception of the Stormberg engagement we do not intend to dwell
on the battles of the first part of the campaign. They have already been
described by able hands, by men who participated in them, or were in a
position to ascertain their true history. By this we do not infer that
all accounts are correct, for it requires many eyes to see one battle in
all its aspects. Besides, some writers are unconsciously influenced and
prejudiced by their national sentiments, and thus fail to do justice to
the parties concerned. We shall confine ourselves to the engagements in
which we personally took part, and shall record only the more remarkable
among them.
BATTLE OF STORMBERG.
In the beginning of November, 1899, the commandoes of Rouxville,
Smithfield, and Bethulie entered the Cape Colony at different points.
Having occupied several villages in the Eastern Province, they
concentrated towards the end of the month in the Stormbergen. Our tents
were pitched on the northern slopes of this mountain range, which runs
from east to west, six miles to the north of Molteno. Here we were to
have our first lesson in actual fighting; for up to that time we had not
encountered any resistance on the part of the enemy.
On the 9th of December, the night fixed on by General Gatacre to strike
a blow at the Boer forces at Stormberg, Assistant Chief Commandant
Grobler left that place with about nine hundred burghers, intending to
occupy Steynsburg. The enemy, having heard of their departure, and
knowing that our positions were in consequence so much weaker, left that
same evening, fully resolved to surprise us, and, if possible, reoccupy
the Stormbergen, which were abandoned at the first approach of our
commandoes.
The object of the British was to attack us on our right flank before
dawn, seize our positions and force us to surrender or retreat. On paper
this plan presented no difficulties, but its accomplishment was not
quite so easy, and proved a dangerous operation. The English general, as
we afterwards learnt, had started for the Boer positions at too late an
hour to reach them in due time; and, moreover, had lost his way in the
darkness of the night, so that the first rays of the rising sun were
lighting the majestic mountain tops before he was in position.
The "brandwachten"--night pickets--of the Rouxville Commando were
already on their way back to the camp, when one of them, who had by
chance returned to the top of the mountain, saw, in the shadow of the
valley, and on the slopes of the mountain, human forms moving silently
onward. One glance of his keen eye assured him that those forms were
enemies. Bang! went the first rifle report. The other pickets all rushed
back and opened fire as swiftly as they could handle their Mausers. This
brought the enemy to a standstill, for they, too, were surprised.
In the Boer camp below some of us were still peacefully sleeping, while
others were enjoying their first cup of coffee. With the rifle reports
came wakefulness and bustle. It did not take us a moment to realise that
speed would be our only means of salvation. Should the enemy reach the
summit first, disaster and defeat would be our lot. For some minutes it
was a scene of confusion. The horses, saddles, bridles, rifles and
bandoliers, where were they? Some knew, and had their equipments ready
in a moment; others, less careful, did not know, and sought almost
frantically for theirs. We made for the mountain and scaled it as
swiftly as our feet could carry us. Exhausted and breathless we reached
the summit before the enemy.
Gatacre's men were now exposed to a somewhat confused fire, which
greatly embarrassed them. Subjected to this fire from the summit, some
concealed themselves behind the rocks, while others retreated for
shelter to a donga not far off.
The English battery was then brought into action, and opened a terrific
fire on our positions, commanded by only two Krupp guns. So unceasing
and accurate was the enemy's fire, that our guns were soon silenced. In
a short time some of our burghers fell wounded and a few killed. One of
the enemy's guns was taken by mistake too near to our positions, with
the result that, in a few minutes, all its horses and most of the
gunners were disabled, and the gun passed into our hands.
Although exposed to a violent bombardment, we held our ground and
repelled the repeated attacks of Gatacre's men, who began to realise
that, should their guns not speedily dislodge us, the attack was bound
to collapse.
After the engagement had lasted an hour and a half we noticed that the
enemy began to waver, and was planning a retreat. To their dismay
General Grobler now made his appearance with reinforcements. He had
encamped that night some nine miles from Stormberg, and on hearing the
report of the guns, returned with Commandant du Plooy of Bethulie to
assist the Stormberg defenders.
On his arrival the enemy, exposed to a cross-fire, ran the risk of being
surrounded and captured. There was but one way out of a wretched
position--one loophole out of the net. Fortunately for them, Commandant
Zwanepoel of Smithfield, who had just given orders to guard this way of
escape, was badly wounded while rising to lead on his men. Owing to this
mishap his burghers failed to carry out his instructions, thus leaving
the way open.
Gatacre, seeing that it was a hopeless struggle, abandoned the project
of reoccupying Stormberg and sounded the retreat. He was followed up for
some distance by Commandant du Plooy, who made a few prisoners and took
two ammunition waggons. Weary and thirsty, the English forces re-entered
Molteno that evening. They had been baffled in a determined attack.
Their losses amounted to about 700, captured, wounded and killed. Those
who had taken shelter behind the rocks and in the donga were all made
prisoners. They remained there till the rest had retreated, and then
hoisted the white flag. One English writer says that they were
shamefully forgotten by General Gatacre, who was thus responsible for
their loss. Indeed a questionable explanation! Among the wounded were a
few officers and some privates, who were seriously injured by their own
guns as they tried to seize the Boer positions. Colonel Eagar, one of
the wounded, was removed to our hospital, where he breathed his last. In
addition to the number of prisoners we also captured two big guns. Our
losses amounted to 6 killed and 27 wounded.
The attack on the Stormberg positions, if it was boldly conceived, was
badly carried out. The English general should have postponed the attack
when it dawned upon him that he would not reach the enemy's positions
before daybreak; and he should have used the knowledge, common to most
soldiers, that it is best to attack a foe's weakest side. This was not
done at Stormberg. We, too, suffered from ill-advised action--or rather,
inaction. For we had had the opportunity of capturing, if not all, most
of Gatacre's men, with all their guns, and we neglected it! The victory
would have been complete if we had only followed up our advantage. In
those early days, however, some of our leaders regarded it as rather
sinful to harass a retreating enemy.
SANNA'S POST.
On the occupation of Bloemfontein some of the burghers, discouraged and
despondent, left for their homes. Lord Roberts's proclamation, promising
protection to all who should lay down their arms and settle quietly on
their farms, enticed many to remain at home. Most, however, changed
their minds after a few weeks' rest and returned to their commandoes.
It was then, after they had rallied again, that General De Wet, on the
eve of the 28th of March, left Brandfort with a commando 1500 strong and
moved in the direction of Winburg. De Wet had made up his mind to
surprise the English garrison which guarded the Bloemfontein Waterworks
at Sanna's Post, and so cut off the water supply of Bloemfontein.
With that object in view he made his movements thither by night, so as
to keep the enemy in the dark as to his plans. Neither were these
disclosed to the burghers, who were naturally anxious to know where they
were going and what they were to do next.
On his way De Wet learnt that General Broadwood, dreading an attack of
Commandant Olivier, had quitted Ladybrand and was marching on
Bloemfontein with a strong force. This information was rather
disconcerting, for now he had not only to reckon with the garrison, but
to be ready for an engagement with a column 2000 strong, which might
come to the relief of the garrison at any moment. In case of such an
emergency, De Wet divided his forces into two parts. He placed one
division--1050 strong with four guns--under the control of Generals
Cronje, Froneman, Wessels, and Piet De Wet, with instructions to occupy
the positions east of the Modder River and directly opposite the
Waterworks, so as to check Broadwood, should he come to the rescue of
the garrison.
Taking the remaining 350 burghers he set out to Koorn Spruit, a brook
which flows into the Modder River. Arrived there, he carefully concealed
his horses and men at a point where the road from the Waterworks to
Bloemfontein passes through the brook. The other generals were to shell
the garrison at daybreak, while he would fall on the troops if they
tried to escape to Bloemfontein _viâ_ Koorn Spruit.
As the Boer forces were getting into their different positions during
the night, Broadwood, who had left Thaba 'Nchu at nightfall, arrived
that very night at Sanna's Post. But we were each unconscious of the
other's presence.
The next morning at daybreak we saw a waggon and a large number of
cattle and sheep not far off the brook. The Kaffir drivers informed us
that the British column had just arrived at Sanna's Post. As soon as we
could see some distance ahead, we observed the enemy now hardly 3000
paces off. A few minutes later our guns began to play upon the
unsuspecting British forces. What a scene of confusion! Broadwood had
fallen into a trap and was between two fires. The whole column, with
guns, waggons and carts, made hurriedly for the drift where De Wet and
his men lay hidden. Nearer they came. At length a cart entered the
drift. The occupants, husband and wife, looked bewildered on seeing
armed Boers all around them in the bed of the brook. De Wet immediately
ordered two of his adjutants to mount the cart and drive on. Then in
quick succession followed a number of carts and vehicles, all driven by
Englishmen from Thaba 'Nchu. These were ordered to proceed ahead and
warned not to make any signals to the enemy. So well was everything
arranged, that the first batch of troops that entered the drift had not
the slightest suspicion that there was something wrong. Absolutely
abashed were they on finding themselves among us; the men raised their
hands in surrender at the cry of "Hands up!"
In this way we disarmed 200 without wasting a bullet. But this was not
to go on for long; there came an officer from the rear who was
determined to upset our plans and disturb our peace seriously. He, at
least, was not going to surrender in this fashion. On being asked for
his rifle he said, with marked resoluteness, "Be d----d! I won't," and
called on his men to fire. He drew his sword, but before he could use it
he was no more among the living.
The battle had begun. Scarcely 100 paces from the banks of the brook
stood five of the enemy's guns and more than 100 waggons. Some 400 paces
from these two more guns had stopped. The enemy had withdrawn for cover
about 1300 yards to the station on the Dewetsdorp-Bloemfontein railway.
[Illustration: SANNA'S POST--Plan of Battle.]
It was while they were retreating to this station that the greatest
havoc was wrought among them. Across the open plain, with no cover at
all, they had to retreat, and before they reached the place of shelter
the ground between the brook and the station was thickly strewn with
their dead and wounded. It was, indeed, a ghastly scene. The burghers
stood erect and fired on the retreating foe as though they were so much
game. So quickly did the waggons and guns wheel round that many were
overturned. To remove them was impossible. In vain did the English try
to save the guns. They succeeded, however, in getting two to the station
house, where they had rallied. With these they bombarded us for some
time; but owing to our sheltered positions only two men were wounded.
The Boer forces on the east of the Modder River had in the meanwhile
been doing their best to come to the assistance of General De Wet. But
their progress was much retarded by the uneven veldt and dongas through
which they had to ride. After three hours, spent in fruitless attempts,
they forded the river, attacked the enemy with great energy, and
succeeded in putting them to flight, and this brought the battle to an
end.
We made 480 captives. What their losses in wounded and killed were is
difficult to estimate. In the evening, when all was over, we went to the
house where the wounded were gathered, and there counted in one room
alone 96 cases. Their own report made their losses 350 dead and wounded.
Besides, 7 guns and 117 waggons fell into our hands. Our loss consisted
in 3 killed and 5 wounded.
On looking at the bodies of the dead and listening to the groanings of
the wounded, one was forced to say what a pity that the trap was
discovered, that one brave man, through his very bravery, prevented the
bloodless capture of his column and his general.
MOSTERT'S HOEK.
The victory at Sanna's Post was soon followed up by another success over
the British arms. On the evening of the eventful day at the Waterworks
De Wet handed the command over to Generals A. Cronje and Piet De Wet,
and, having taken three of his staff, he went in the direction of
Dewetsdorp on a reconnoitring expedition.
The following day he learnt that a party of the enemy had occupied
Dewetsdorp. On receiving the report his mind was made up: these too must
be captured. He was then thirty miles away from the commandoes, but
instantly despatched a report to us to come post-haste so as to attack
the enemy at Dewetsdorp or intercept them, should they try to join the
main body, which was advancing under Gatacre on Reddersburg.
In the meanwhile the burghers of that district, who had gone to their
farms on the fall of Bloemfontein, were commandeered. With these, some
120, who were almost all unarmed, De Wet started for Dewetsdorp to watch
the movements of the British.
Early on the 2nd of April the enemy left Dewetsdorp, and resumed their
march to Reddersburg. While marching De Wet kept them all the while
under surveillance. He was moving on one of their flanks, parallel to
them with an intervening distance of six miles. They were evidently not
aware that he was so close to them. As soon as we received the report
concerning the British, we left Sanna's Post in haste. We required no
urging on. For were we not encouraged by our recent success, and was
there not every chance of achieving another? We left Sanna's Post a
little before sunset, and that whole night we rode on without
off-saddling once. We did not halt save for a few minutes to rest our
horses.
Early the following morning a third report, pressing us to increase our
speed and leave behind those whose horses were too tired to proceed
rapidly, reached us. De Wet was most anxious to occupy a ridge in front
of the enemy, between the farms Mostert's Hoek and Sterkfontein. The
road leading to Reddersburg from Dewetsdorp traverses this ridge. Hence
it was absolutely necessary to seize it before the enemy if we were to
intercept them.
So on we went, leaving the weary and exhausted behind to follow on as
soon as possible. About 9 A.M. Generals Froneman and De Villiers, with
350 men, met De Wet, who was still moving parallel to the British
column, obscured from their view by a rising of the ground.
The ridge referred to already loomed now in the distance. We were all
fiercely anxious to seize it before the enemy. For it was a question of
life and death who was to be first there. But our horses were too tired,
and began to fall out rapidly. We were still four miles from the ridge
when the English began to occupy the eastern extremity of it. We moved
on to the western extremity, and reached it in time.
The enemy, however, had the advantage of the best positions, but was
fortunately cut off from the water. We were resolved to hem them in
completely, for we knew that, if no relieving forces arrived, they would
be compelled by thirst alone, if nothing else, to surrender.
Before commencing the fight, De Wet, anxious as usual to avoid
unnecessary bloodshed, sent the following note to the commanding
officer:--
"SIR,--I am here with 500 men, and am every moment expecting
reinforcements with three Krupps, against which you will not be
able to hold out. I therefore advise you, in order to prevent
bloodshed, to surrender."
The messenger returned under a storm of bullets, for no sooner had he
left the English lines than they opened fire on him. How he was missed
seemed inexplicable. The answer he brought back was: "I am d----d if I
surrender." On receiving this reply firing at once commenced. Positions
nearer to the enemy were gradually occupied.
Towards sunset our guns arrived, and were brought to bear upon the
enemy. But darkness soon set in, and firing ceased on both sides. To
make sure that the enemy would not escape during the night, we occupied
positions all round them, and in the darkness of the night silently
stole as near to their positions as was possible.
The next morning, as soon as the glimmer of dawn revealed the Mauser
sights to our eyes, the firing started with renewed vigour. We had drawn
so close to the enemy that when our guns were brought in action we
could, under cover of these, storm their positions. The men boldly
rushed up to the enemy's skanzes, and some burghers even seized their
rifles by the barrels, as they presented these over the bulwarks,
calling out, "Hands up! hands up!"
At 11 A.M. the white flag was hoisted. The commanding officer, who had
refused to surrender, was mortally wounded. Three hundred and seventy
were sent to the Transvaal as prisoners-of-war, while their wounded and
killed numbered 92.
Among the English we found five Boer prisoners-of-war, who were likewise
exposed to our firing. Imagine their joy in being released! They greeted
us with the ejaculation: "Thank God we are free!" We mourned the death
of Veldt Cornet du Plessis of Kroonstad, who fell after the white flag
had been hoisted. That such mistakes should occur! Six or seven burghers
were wounded.
LADYBRAND VISITED.
Towards the end of July, 1900, Prinsloo's surrender took place. Those of
us who escaped the trap laid left for Heilbron with the hope of meeting
De Wet's commando there. Near Heilbron we heard the dismal news that he
was forced over the Vaal and was being driven northward by some 40,000
troops. This, led us to change our course and move in the direction of
Winburg.
On the morning of the 27th of August we made an unsuccessful attack on
Winburg. Olivier, with 27 men, got captured. The burden and
responsibility of leading others was then first placed upon my
shoulders. I was elected commandant.
Frustrated in our attempt to seize Winburg, we resolved to attack
Ladybrand, which was not strongly garrisoned. Having encamped at
Koeranerberg--a mountain 30 miles west of Ladybrand--we mustered our
forces, took three guns and about 800 burghers, and left for the
village.
It was a bitterly cold night--one of those nights which one can hardly
forget. We rode till sunrise without off-saddling once. At 9 P.M. we
halted to prepare a hasty supper. How we enjoyed that! A few days
before, the enemy had unwillingly provided us with sugar, coffee, milk,
butter and cheese. Owing to the intense cold the men that had no
overcoats wrapped themselves up in their blankets, in which they
appeared before the village just as the sun was rising.
Commandant Hertzog, on our arrival, despatched a messenger under a flag
of truce to demand the surrender of the garrison. In reply he received a
message to the effect that it would be much better if he would come in
himself and lay down arms; that would put an end to the business much
quicker. On receiving this answer we at once began to bombard the forts
of the enemy, with the result that almost all their horses took to
flight and fell into our hands, while some of them were wounded and
killed.
General Fourie, Commandant Nieuwhoudt and myself, with a number of
daring volunteers, made for the village. We reached a few houses safely,
and under cover of these we succeeded in forcing the enemy to retreat to
their forts and skanzes at the foot of Platrand--a mountain to the
south-east of the village and very near to it. Gradually we occupied
more and more of the village, and before sunset we were in possession of
the whole of it.
The enemy was, however, so strongly entrenched that, in spite of their
small numbers, it was impossible to compel them to capitulate without
incurring the risk of sustaining heavy losses. For at the base of the
mountain are natural forts and grottoes, against which lyddite shells
would spend their force in vain. All we could do was to keep the foe in
their haunts by directing such a fire against them that they could not
venture even to peep out. In doing this the commandoes could
requisition--loot, as some would say--what they required.
During the night the enemy shifted and occupied other positions. At
daybreak they took vengeance on us from these positions. It did not take
a long time to silence them for the rest of the day.
The following two days we remained in the village, keeping the enemy at
bay. We had hoped that eventually their rations would run short, and
thus bring about their surrender. Unfortunately our hopes were not to be
realised; they were only too well provided. Then, again, we thought that
thirst might prove an irresistible force in our favour; but in this,
too, we erred, for in their grottoes was abundant water.
On the second day of the attack we placed one of our guns in the centre
of the village, whence we shelled the enemy's forts, but all to no
purpose. On the evening of the third day we heard that relieving forces
were at hand, and as we had received a message from De Wet to meet him
in Bothaville district, we left Ladybrand at dusk.
During the three days' fighting only a few burghers were wounded. As the
enemy fired at random into the village, some of the inhabitants were
also injured. A young man was mortally wounded, while a bullet shattered
the arm of a woman.
Our efforts were rewarded by the seizure of the enemy's horses, which we
valued even more than their persons. The horses we could keep and use,
the men we had to dismiss again. We returned to the laager well supplied
with clothes and foodstuffs. But for some traitors, who assisted the
enemy, the garrison would in all probability have fallen. These,
dreading the results of a capitulation, held out until relieved.
As this was our first visit to Ladybrand since its occupation, the joy
of the Boer families in meeting relatives and burghers was indeed great.
They welcomed them with open arms, and during their short stay it was
their delight to minister unto them. We shall ever gratefully remember
the hearty reception which was extended to us by the Ladybrand
Africanders. Were they not prosecuted after our departure for welcoming
and receiving their kith and kin?
MURRAY'S COLUMN.
Compelled to abandon the Cape Colony in August, we went to Gastron
District, a Free State village situated on the Basutoland border. There
we intended to rest our horses for a time; but no sooner had we entered
the district than the English column came pouring into it like so many
birds of prey. They had concentrated in that district and in the
adjoining ones to clear them, _i.e._, to remove or destroy whatever
could be removed or destroyed.
During this time we often came in conflict with the enemy. It was
impossible to avoid that; they were on every side. For miles and miles
it was one column on the other. We could hardly engage any of these
columns successfully during the day, for no sooner had the fight begun
than reinforcements would come from all directions, making our position
quite untenable.
It was in such circumstances that we planned a night attack on one of
the English camps nine miles east of Gastron. We had engaged the enemy
on several occasions without desirable results. Our limited supply of
ammunition was gradually exhausted. Come what would, we were bound to
strike a blow at the enemy, so as to fill our bandoliers once more. The
night was the only time we could hope to succeed. Reinforcements would
not then scatter us before we had achieved our object.
At 11 P.M. on the 19th of September, 1901, after a day's hard fighting
from early morn till sunset, we started, 70 men in all, with the
intention of attacking a column encamped at the foot of a hill. It was a
very cold night, and the moon, casting her pale light across the frosty
plains, was sinking in the west. The column was about eight miles off.
As we approached it, deep silence reigned. Not a word, not a whisper was
heard. Ah! if we could but succeed in passing the enemy's pickets
unobserved, the victory would be ours, the battle half won. So we held
our breath and our tongues as well, and moved onward. Indeed, we have
succeeded! We are past the pickets, and that unnoticed! The hill, where
the slumbering foe is encamped, is in our possession.
Having dismounted, the burghers were arranged in fighting order.
Commandant Louis Wessels was placed on one flank, Commandant De Bruijn
on the other. Before commencing the work of destruction, we briefly
admonished and encouraged the men to be true to each other and to fight
as befits men. We pointed out to them that our success would depend
entirely upon our united efforts. For a long address there was no time,
so we proceeded to the camp.
The moon has set. Down below the enemy is fast asleep. Soon, too soon,
their midnight slumbers will be sadly disturbed. Many of them will not
see the dawn of another day. They are enjoying their last sleep.
Silently we moved on to the British column, which gave no signs
whatever that our approach was suspected. As it was very dark, the men
were ordered not to advance ahead of one another, for fear of accidents,
and also, if possible, to march right through the camp, so as to make
sure of all.
Commandant L. Wessels, famous for his dauntlessness, was the first to
open fire by lodging a shot in one of the enemy's tents. The rest
followed, and then a shower of bullets, thick and fast, poured in upon
the surprised and embarrassed foe. The men aimed low and fired with
deadly precision. The flashes of the rifles leapt forth like lightning
freaks in the darkness. Never before had I witnessed such a scene.
In a quarter of an hour all was over and the whole camp taken. Two
Maxims were destroyed and an Armstrong was taken along with us. What
havoc was played in that brief quarter of an hour! The wounded mules,
horses and men lay groaning side by side. Colonel Murray, Captain
Murray, and almost all the other officers, fell in the action, and
several privates passed into the unseen world that fatal night. So
terrific was the firing that entire teams of mules were shot down where
they stood tied to the ropes.
As the veldt was strewn with the many wounded and the dead, we could not
put the waggons on fire, lest the grass should catch fire and consume
the fallen in battle. We took what we could remove and left the
camp--not exactly as we found it, but a little poorer.
The enemy, though attacked off their guard, defended themselves bravely.
We shall not forget the gallant conduct of the officer who had charge of
the Maxim. Distinctly we could hear him say, "Get the Maxim into action.
Don't be afraid, boys. Go for them! Go for them!" Brave man! He, too,
fell by the side of his Maxim, which was charged and seized by
Commandant Wessels.
As to the conduct of the burghers, we need only remark that their good
behaviour pleased us exceedingly. There was no reason to urge them on;
not one retreated. Though only a handful as compared to the enemy, they
fought well till the foe was vanquished. One of them, young Liebenberg
(familiarly known by the name of Matie) from Murraysburg, was shot
through the head and succumbed at once. Another, young Hugo from
Smithfield, was wounded in the foot. We had no other casualties.
The attack on Murray's column was to a great extent incidental. Near his
was another very much smaller camp. When I left that night it was with
the intention to attack this smaller camp, for I had only 65 men at my
disposal. In the darkness I lost my way, and so lighted on Murray's
column. It was unfortunate for them, but for ourselves we could have
wished for no better accident.
In the Colonel's letter-bag we found a letter addressed to his wife,
dated 19th September, 1901, and written the very day before his death.
We purposed to forward that letter, but the following day the bag was
retaken. Not only was it taken, but also the gun, while 20 burghers were
captured and one--Myburgh--was killed. We were again surprised.
Inconstant are the fortunes of war.
JAMES TOWN.
The villages in possession of the enemy were at length so thoroughly
fortified that it was well-nigh impossible to seize them without
sustaining great losses. Though they seemed impregnable, yet we were
sometimes compelled by sheer necessity to attack them. Beyond
expectation we now and again succeeded in inducing the garrison to
surrender. Such was the case at James Town, a village in the Eastern
Province of the Cape Colony.
Late one afternoon in the month of July, 1901, I set out to this village
to reconnoitre it in person. Unobserved, I reached the summit of a small
hill, about a mile from it. Through my field-glasses I carefully noted
the various forts, and there and then planned an attack. The next
morning I knew exactly what to do.
At 2 A.M. Commandant Myburgh, Commandant Lötter, and myself, with some
60 men, were in the saddle and on our way to James Town. What will be
the issue? Shall we succeed? Can we surprise the enemy? Such questions
we put to ourselves as we rode on in the darkness and silence of the
night to accomplish the work of destruction.
The spot we had in view was a kopje, situated to the north of the
village. Here the enemy's camp was located. As this kopje was the key to
the village, it was necessarily very strongly fortified. We knew that if
we could only occupy that hill, the rest would be easy work. Before dawn
we were close to the camp. A few minutes more and we shall grimly salute
our sleeping brethren. Silently we approach them. We are keenly on the
alert for the pickets, whom, least of all, we wished to disturb. Behold!
something in the darkness--what may that be? To be sure, two human
forms! Hush! they are slumbering. Noiselessly we draw nearer, reach
them, seize their rifles, and then--wake them. They are our first
prisoners; our way to the camp is open, safe and sure.
On we moved until stopped, not by a sentinel--it was much too cold that
night to expect an attack--but by a network of barbed wires, by which
the hill and camp were fenced in. Quickly the wires were cut. That done,
some of the burghers charged the tents, while the rest made for the
enemy's trenches on top of the hill.
How awful a surprise! Taken unawares, the foe ran to their strongholds,
but only to meet death there, for these were already in possession of
our men. Myburgh, a Gastron burgher, so very brave, was the first and
only one to receive a mortal wound--other men were slightly wounded in
that hand-to-hand struggle. At dawn the hill and the camp were in our
possession, for the enemy, after a loss of 9 killed and wounded, thought
it best to resist no longer.
With the occupation of the hill it was possible to reach the village.
The British allowed the burghers to pass their skanzes without shooting
at them. But no sooner had they entered the village than a heavy fire
from the forts was directed against them. They were not slow to respond
to this reception, and that so effectively that the commanding officer
was soon willing to entrust himself with his 130 men to our keeping. All
was over.
At 3 P.M. we departed. The English commandant and his men accompanied
us for some distance, and then we dismissed them after their having
promised that they would remain strictly neutral.
CAPTAIN SPANDOW SURPRISED.
While operating in the Cradock district I learnt that a certain Captain
Spandow, with about ninety men, was on the track of a small party of
Boers. Only _ninety_! The small number tempted us to try to effect their
capture, which, as a rule, was not a very difficult nor dangerous
operation. Taking forty burghers I started at midnight, and at dawn
found myself still six miles from the enemy. Lest they should escape I
took twelve men with the best animals, and with these proceeded ahead,
so as to engage the enemy until the rest, whose horses were very tired,
should come to our assistance.
About half an hour after sunrise we unexpectedly lighted on the pickets
of the enemy, who camped for the night in the Waterkloof valley, twenty
miles from Cradock. The pickets were charged and captured, and we seized
a position hardly 200 yards from the English, who had off-saddled at a
wall.
A brisk firing from both sides then ensued. The wall served the enemy in
good stead. From there they could fire volley after volley on us. But
gradually we crept nearer, until at last a few of the burghers had
passed the wall, and were now on the side of the enemy, so that the wall
could afford them no cover. While the men were trying to get on the
other side of the wall, one of my adjutants--Hugo, a lad of thirteen
summers--was killed, and two others wounded. But the British, now
exposed to a cross-fire, suffered heavily. Several of them dropped down,
either dead or wounded.
When I saw how untenable their position was becoming I sent in a flag of
truce, asking them to surrender, so as to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.
One of the officers sent word that, seeing Captain Spandow had already
fallen, and their losses were so great, he considered further
resistance useless.
We found that 15, including the captain, were killed, and 14 wounded.
Six of the wounded died soon after their surrender. One of their men was
at once sent to Cradock for an ambulance. Our losses were 1 killed and 2
wounded.
The men I had left behind had off-saddled, and so only arrived after the
enemy had surrendered. The officer, on inquiring where our men were, and
who had engaged them, only shook his head when I told him that we were
but 13, and that 3 of these had been put out of action almost at the
beginning of the engagement. The British numbered 84 in all. We were
again provided with a good supply of ammunition, and 105 horses in
excellent condition.
Some months later Major Warn's column was attacked at the same place by
Commandant L. Wessels. Several of the enemy's horses were shot down,
while a number of men were wounded. So suddenly had they to turn back,
that many a helmet dropped down and the owner had no inclination to pick
it up. The English had fallen once more into an awkward trap from which
they had to extricate themselves with the utmost speed.
On another occasion Commandant Fouché awaited the enemy at the same spot
and made about 150 prisoners. Long Kloof Valley has thus become a noted
place. The traveller passing through that valley will always be reminded
of the South African War on seeing the fourteen graves alongside the
road, and near to the stone wall.
SPRAGGE'S COLUMN CAPTURED.
The following report, bearing on Colonel Spragge's surrender, has been
submitted to me by my military secretary, R.D. McDonald.
"On the 27th of May, 1900, Spragge entered Lindley. Our commando
was then stationed at a farm eight miles to the north of the
village. General Colvile, whom Spragge was to have joined here,
left early on the morning of the 27th. What urged him on we could
not guess. Had he waited another day, Spragge would not have been
captured. We followed him up for some miles, and inflicted slight
losses on his rear.
"At noon the burghers returned to the laager. About an hour before
sunset our scouts returned with the news that the English had
reoccupied Lindley, and that it was but a small column _without_
guns. When the burghers heard that the column was only 500 strong,
and had no guns, they required no other inducements, but started
immediately for Lindley. Our men are, as a rule, more daring if
they discover that the enemy has no cannons at their disposal; the
big, monstrous guns they do not like. We had thus decided that this
detached column would receive every attention from us.
"The British, being warned by the dust in the distance that our
commando was coming, considered it wiser to quit the village, fall
back on Valsch River and occupy positions on the right bank of it.
Darkness had now set in, and we could do no more than place our
pickets round the column. We had, however, not enough men that
night to make sure that should the enemy try to escape they would
not succeed. Forsooth, we were greatly surprised to find them still
there the following morning. It seemed to us a little over-bold on
their part to stay on with only two Maxims at their command. We did
not know then that it would take us three and a half days, and some
precious lives, before the white flag would be hoisted. The next
day we surrounded them completely and thus knew that unless
reinforced they would have to surrender.
"Early in the morning firing commenced; but the enemy had occupied
during the night such strong positions--the hills and ridges on the
river banks--that they were quite secure. We had the bed of the
river, from whence we could not inflict such losses as would compel
the enemy to capitulate. They held the key of the positions, and
unless we could seize that stronghold, all our efforts would be
useless. The question was, how to take it. Without the assistance
of guns it was a dangerous and risky undertaking to charge that
particular position--a hill on the right bank of the river. Our
men, in charging it, would be exposed to a rifle and Maxim fire for
at least 800 yards. Under cover of guns, however, it was possible
to reach the hill. A gun was immediately sent for, and on the
evening of the third day of the siege it arrived at Lindley.
"That night the gun was placed in position, and at dawn the hill
was shelled. I stood watching the shells, as one after the other
exploded on the hill. Not a living object was visible, none
stirred, and so still (I shall not say at ease) did the English lie
in the skanzes that I remarked to Prinsloo: 'General, it seems the
enemy has abandoned the hill during the night, else we must already
have seen some signs of them.'
[Illustration: THE LINDLEY AFFAIR.]
"After we had bombarded the hill for some time, a number of
burghers charged it. Breathlessly we stood watching these gallant
chargers. Arrived at the foot of the hill, they dismounted, and
began climbing it. For some time all went well, when lo! a fire was
directed against them from the summit. Being quite coverless on the
slopes of the hill, they were forced to retreat. As they retreated
the enemy rose to their feet and fired as briskly as they could at
them. When we saw the English on top of the hill we mistook them
for Boers, and began to clap hands and cheer, thinking that the
hill had been taken by our men. We were soon disillusioned.
"As the burghers retreated, something strange and inexplicable
occurred, which really decided the fate of the enemy. It was this:
the burghers had hardly gone 300 yards, when the British abandoned
_en masse_ the hill, and retreated, almost as fast as the former,
in the opposite direction. Whether they feared another and more
determined onslaught, or whether there was the usual
misunderstanding, I wot not. Be it as it may, the position we so
coveted was abandoned; it was for us to seize it at once. With a
little encouragement the charge was repeated, the hill taken, and
in less than twenty minutes the white flag announced the surrender
of Spragge's column.
"Between 60 and 70 of the enemy were wounded and killed, while the
rest were made prisoners. It was their first interview with the
Boers. After a four days' siege a bath and a good meal must have
been welcome.
"From the veldt we took our surrendered friends to the village. The
wounded were placed in the local hospital, and the officers found
lodgings for the night in an hotel.
"I escorted Spragge to the village. On the way he had a long talk
with me about the war, and wished to know why the Free State had
cast in her lot with the Transvaal. He failed to see, and had to be
reminded that Free Staters and Transvaalers were essentially one
people; that the Vaal River divides the two States, but not the
people, as far as blood was concerned.
"On being asked why they had evacuated the hill, which was their
chief stronghold, he replied: 'That was a mistake.' We do not
object to such mistakes. If this had not been committed, Spragge
would in all probability have remained a free man, and his column
would not have fallen into our hands, for that was our last and
only chance. Early the next morning the reinforcements appeared on
the adjacent hills, but they were too late to rescue Spragge's
column. The prisoners were sent on to Reitz, and from there to the
Transvaal."
[Illustration: AN INTERESTING GROUP.
The three seated in the centre are MR. MCDONALD, COMMANDANT LOUIS
WESSELS, and the late LIEUT. P. TROSKIE.]