Escort a convoy of waggons to Bulawayo—Murder of a Greek
trader—Mr. Gordon saved by native police—Mr. Reed warned
of danger by Makalakas—Patrols sent to Gwanda and Shiloh
districts—Proceedings of the Gwanda patrol—Scenes of pillage
and desolation—Lieutenant Webb's narrative—Six hours' severe
fighting—Narrow escape of patrol from annihilation—Captain Van
Niekerk's cool judgment and bravery—Gallant conduct of the patrol.
Leaving Mangwe on 2nd April, I rejoined my men on the following day,
and we then escorted the convoy of waggons to Bulawayo, where we
arrived early on the morning of Saturday, 4th April.
Before reaching Bulawayo, I had heard that a Greek trader had been
murdered in the Bulilima district, near the Maitengwe river, and
this news was confirmed by the Rev. Mr. Reed and Assistant Native
Commissioner Gordon, both of whom had been stationed in the same
district, and both of whom owe their escape to the fact that they
received notice from friendly natives that their lives were in danger.
Mr. Gordon was informed by his own native police that a Matabele
Induna, named Langabi, had given orders to his people to kill him, and
they not only warned him of his danger, but escorted him by bypaths
through the dangerous part of the country, and put him on to the main
road to Bulawayo.
These police, thirty in number, have all remained loyal to the
Government. One of them was murdered by the rebels, but the remainder
all reported themselves to the Chief Native Commissioner, by whom they
were disarmed, but they have since been employed on Government service.
Mr. Reed was saved by the Makalaka amongst whom he was working. They
informed him that the Greek trader living near him had been murdered,
and told him plainly that he too would be killed unless he got away
to a place of safety. At the same time a horse was sent to him by the
Rev. Mr. Carnegie from Hope Fountain, together with a letter containing
information concerning the generally disturbed state of the country.
This decided him to leave his station for the time being and retire on
Bulawayo, which place he reached safely the day before the return of my
patrol from Mangwe.
During my absence two patrols, somewhat stronger than those first sent
out, had been despatched to the Gwanda and Shiloh districts. The first,
under Captains Brand and Van Niekerk, had left town on the previous
Thursday, in order to relieve a party of prospectors and families
said to be in laager in the Gwanda district. This patrol consisted of
one hundred mounted men—fifty of C troop and fifty of the Africander
Corps—and was accompanied by a mule waggon and a Maxim gun. The
second patrol, numbering one hundred and sixty-nine men all told, and
accompanied by a Maxim gun, was commanded by the Hon. Maurice Gifford,
and had started on the Friday night to dislodge an impi, which it was
reported had gathered in the hills near Shiloh. I will first give a
short account of the proceedings of the Gwanda patrol, for the most
interesting portion of which, namely the account of the return journey
to Bulawayo, I am indebted to Lieutenant Webb of the Africander Corps,
who has most kindly placed the graphic description which he has himself
written of this fateful march at my disposal.
Leaving Bulawayo at six o'clock on Thursday evening, 2nd April, the
first halt was made at Spargot's store, some six miles from town. Here
the horses were off-saddled for an hour. During the halt one of the
sentries found a wounded Kafir lying in the grass, who, on examination,
proved to be the colonial boy "Jim," who had been so terribly knocked
about by the Matabele at Edkins' store, that when discovered there it
was not thought he could possibly survive many hours; and yet, thanks
to the food that had been left with him, he had not only been able to
keep body and soul together, but had recovered in the course of a few
days sufficiently to enable him to make his way slowly and by easy
stages, travelling always by night, to Bulawayo. Fortunately he was
never short of food, as the rainy season being not yet over, the young
maize cobs—green mealies—were standing ready for plucking in all the
native fields.
After leaving Spargot's the next halting-place was Dawson's store at
the Umzingwani river, which was reached late at night. The store it was
found had been burnt and destroyed by the Kafirs, but the mule stables
were still standing, and in them a plentiful supply of maize was
obtained for the horses. The latter were all placed inside the stable
fence, whilst the men lay down behind their saddles on the rising
ground outside. The pickets were fired on during the night, but a few
volleys from a portion of the Africander Corps drove the Kafirs off,
though they were afterwards heard calling to one another in the hills
near the river.
When day broke no natives were to be seen, and the horses were at
once saddled up, and the march continued. Spiro's store, thirty-seven
miles from Bulawayo, was found to have been totally destroyed by fire,
but Grainger's hotel, twelve miles farther on, was still standing. The
Kafirs had, however, apparently only just left it before the patrol
arrived, as everything was in the utmost disorder, and water was
discovered in a bucket which had evidently only just been brought up
from the stream, as some of it had been spilt on the ground. A large
supply of maize was again found in the mule stables, so the horses got
another good feed.
In the evening the expedition moved on to Grainger's second store,
which it was found had not been interfered with by the natives. Here
Friday night was passed, the men again lying down behind their saddles.
Early the following morning Dawson's store at "Amanzi minyama" was
reached. It was found to have been very recently deserted by its
European occupants, and since their departure had been partially looted
by Kafirs. From here a move was made to Mr. Nicholson's camp, some four
miles farther down the road, where it was thought that all the white
men in the Gwanda district had probably collected. On arriving there a
most excellent fort was discovered on the top of a kopje near the camp.
Whilst the fort was being strengthened, Mr. Zeederberg, the well-known
post contractor, and three more men rode down the Tuli road to discover
how far ahead the Gwanda people were. Mr. Zeederberg and one of these
men rode through to Tuli, in order to despatch telegrams to Bulawayo;
but the other two returned the following day, after having caught up
the waggon with the people from Dawson's store, who were retiring
on Tuli, and who reported that the Gwanda party was thirteen hours
ahead of them, making for the same destination. On Sunday, 5th April,
two more despatch-riders were sent to Tuli with farther messages for
Bulawayo, asking that reinforcements and a Hotchkiss gun should be sent
down to meet the patrol on its return, as, from information received
from a native scout, it was believed that the Kafirs would attack
them in force at some point along the road. On Wednesday morning the
despatch-riders returned, with a message informing Captain Brand that
it was impossible to send the reinforcements asked for, and requesting
him to return as soon as possible to Bulawayo. On Monday, the day after
the despatch-riders had left, an escort which had been sent in charge
of a waggon to Dawson's store to bring in some supplies was fired on by
the Kafirs. Captain Van Niekerk with some men of the Africander Corps,
and some of C troop under Mr. Holland, immediately went off in pursuit,
but beyond a few stragglers saw nothing of them. On the following day
Captain Van Niekerk and Mr. Purssell went out with a force to patrol
round the store and bring in all the remaining stores left. They found
the country strewn for several miles with blankets, boots, etc., left
by the Kafirs in their hasty flight on the preceding day, but again no
resistance was met with.
[Illustration:
_From a photo by C. H. Newberry, Bulawayo._
CAPTAIN VAN NIEKERK
who commanded the Africander Corps of the Bulawayo Field Force in many
engagements during the last campaign.]
From this point I will proceed with the narrative in Lieutenant Webb's
own words, as follows:—"We started early the next morning, 9th April,
on our return journey. By lunch time we had marched fifteen miles, and
reached Grainger's store No. 2. This place we found had been burnt
to the ground by the Matabele during our stay at Gwanda, and judging
by the spoor a large number of them had been at work. We decided to
stay the rest of the day at this place, and were careful to take
every necessary precaution in case of a night attack. Next morning we
saddled up at daybreak, and covered twelve miles to Grainger's store
No. 1, before halting. This store had in our absence shared the same
fate as the other, and we recovered nothing from the ashes. As we were
now entering a most dangerous section of the road, we were careful to
use extra vigilance. At about ten o'clock we came up with some cattle
at the foot of the range of hills on our left, but before capturing
them, narrowly inspected the hills for natives, as we suspected a
trap. Sure enough on a ridge about 1000 yards away we made out a body
of men hiding under cover. We at once put the Maxim on them, and as
they retreated in haste up the side of the hill, we found that several
hundreds of them had been waiting in ambush. They only returned our
fire with one or two shots. We were then going through thick bush, with
hills a couple of hundred yards away towering on each side.
"Upon emerging from these, we came to the ruins of Spiro's store, and
about a mile beyond we saw a column of smoke ascending, and rightly
conjectured that this was the place where they meant to attack us. The
situation was all in their favour. We had to pass through a narrow neck
amongst the hills in order to emerge into comparatively open country,
though even this latter afforded them ample cover from our fire. The
first evidence we had of the ambuscade was a steady and prolonged fire
directed at the head of the column (composed of our corps) from the
kopjes on the left flank. We at once returned the fire; but so well was
the enemy concealed amongst the rocks, that I may tell you—though you
will hardly credit my statement—that I scarcely saw one of them for
half an hour. As the column was pressing on to get out of the dangerous
position we were in, a few of Captain Brand's men fired just in front
of the faces of the mules drawing the provision waggon. The mules
swerved round suddenly, and broke the disselboom. Whilst the damage was
being repaired, Mr. Jobson, who was in command of the Maxim, brought
his gun into action with the greatest coolness and promptitude; but
this unfortunate accident delayed us for half an hour, and was largely
responsible for the wounds of many horses and men.
"When we at last emerged from the pass, the disorganised appearance
of the column showed the severity of the enemy's fire, and I firmly
believe it was due to the fact that there were a number of old
campaigners in the Africander Corps, which was commanded by our
cool and experienced chief Captain Van Niekerk, that we escaped
annihilation. When we had got the men into skirmishing order, we were
better able to cope with the enemy; and when I tell you that the
latter were over 1000 strong and followed us for over five miles at
a distance of little more than 200 yards, you will be better able to
judge of the task we had in hand. Our route lay over successive ranges
of ridges and valleys, and afforded plenty of cover for the enemy, as
the grass was about three feet high, and the country thickly studded
with bush and trees. They formed a half-moon round us and skirmished
excellently, taking advantage of every bit of cover. They also fought
with ferocious determination, and often showed pluck verging on lunacy.
They were kept well in hand by their leaders, who constantly urged them
to fire low. Our horses and men were now falling with deadly monotony,
and we all saw the importance of getting into more open country. Our
men were firing steadily and rapidly all this time, and the Maxim did
good service; but being on the move and owing to the tactics of the
enemy, did not do the execution we were accustomed to see in the first
Matabele war.
"At last, after about three hours' fighting, we saw about a mile ahead
of us a round stone kopje, for which we made in order to take a short
halt. The enemy at once saw through our movement, and a number of
them endeavoured to defeat our object by out-flanking our advance.
Our horsemen, however, were too sharp for them, and by hard riding
reached the kopje first, and held them in check until the main body
arrived. The kopje we thus reached was nothing but a huge flat rock,
showing out about twelve or fifteen feet above the surrounding country.
It was almost surrounded by broken rocks and trees, and under this
cover—in some instances only some thirty to forty yards from where we
were standing—the Matabele concealed themselves, and continued their
fire upon us. This alone will give you some idea of their astounding
audacity and bravery. We had to charge them four times to make them at
last give in and retire. It was now about sundown (5.30 P.M.), and we
had actually been about six hours fighting over five miles of country.
"When at last we had time to look about us, we saw a scene that I for
one shall never forget. The men still stood at their posts about the
kopje keeping a good look-out. Across the plain through which we had
come could be seen the carcasses of horses slain, and the bodies of
men lying as they fell. On the kopje itself was the little ammunition
waggonette, capable of holding two men comfortably, and now surrounded
by the wounded and dying. We found that we had lost five men shot dead,
and two more were dying, whilst over twenty others were wounded, and
thirty-three horses had been killed. Of the enemy we estimated that
we had killed and wounded between two and three hundred. I do not
think that any one of us had reckoned upon having such a tough job in
getting through the pass, and even now our position was very grave.
Prompt action was needed to get us out of our difficulty, and after
consultation amongst the officers, we decided at once to move on, so as
to give the Matabele no time for united action to surround us during
the night. Our greatest difficulty was the conveyance of our wounded,
and how any of the poor fellows survived that night will always remain
a mystery. In the little waggonette we had to place eight, and on
the Maxim gun-carriage we carried several more. The remainder were
fortunately able to ride.
"We left the kopje at dusk, and for the next sixteen miles had a most
unpleasant section of the road to traverse, on any portion of which the
Matabele had us at their mercy had they chosen to attack. Whether they
had had enough fighting, or whether they did not suspect our departure,
is not known, but we were all heartily glad to get through that section
of the country unmolested. At half-past four on the morning of the
11th of April, we met the relief force sent to meet us, and two hours
later we halted in front of the Government Offices in Bulawayo. That
afternoon we buried one of my most intimate friends, poor Baker, who
had been shot in the fight, and died on the homeward march."
From the foregoing narrative it is evident that this small patrol of
100 men narrowly escaped annihilation at the hands of the Matabele; and
I should be doing an injustice if I did not state that, in the opinion
of at any rate the majority of those who took part in the fight, they
were only saved from destruction by the determined bravery combined
with cool judgment—the result of long experience gained in many a
previous fight with Kafirs in the Old Colony and the Transvaal—shown
by Captain Van Niekerk, who took over the command during the action.
Captain Brand, who was the senior officer, and who is as gallant a
fellow as ever stepped, indeed brave to the point of foolhardiness,
but who had had no previous experience of native warfare, showed both
generosity of character and soundness of judgment in asking Van Niekerk
to take over the command directly he saw that his men were in a tight
place. Van Niekerk himself speaks enthusiastically of the cool bravery
shown throughout this trying time by all the men forming the patrol.
They were all equally brave, he says. But amongst the Africanders there
were many old Kafir fighters, such as old Mr. Steyn and Messrs. Loots
and Ferreira, and these old campaigners were naturally more useful
than inexperienced men. Lieutenants Webb and Holland, Purssell and
Jobson—the latter in charge of the Maxim gun—did their duty throughout
the engagement as coolly as if they were on parade. Five dead men had
to be left on the field, viz. Messrs. Forbes, Pack, Greer, Hayland, and
Green. Mr. Baker died on the Maxim carriage, and his body was laid on
the roadside eight miles from Bulawayo.
On the following morning, Saturday, 11th April, a party was sent out to
bring in the body, which they did, but they were fired on from a kopje
near the road. No damage however was done, and poor Baker was buried
the same afternoon.
About half-past eight on the previous evening, a messenger—Mr. White,
attached to the Africander Corps—had reached town, with a despatch
from Captain Brand, saying that he was in a tight place and feared
that his ammunition might run short if the fight lasted much longer.
Mr. White had left the patrol about four o'clock in the afternoon, and
some two hours earlier had been struck on the head by a bullet, which
luckily however only inflicted a scalp wound, stunning him for the
moment.
On his arrival there was great excitement in Bulawayo, and a relief
force was at once organised to go to Captain Brand's assistance. Being
then in town, I and my men of course volunteered like every one else,
and I well remember how bitterly disappointed we were that we could
not go. As it happened, the relief force was not required to rescue
the patrol, which had extricated itself from a very difficult position
without assistance; but its appearance must have been most welcome to
the jaded men, whose horses when they reached Bulawayo had been upwards
of twenty-six hours under the saddle without food or rest. Thus ended
one of the toughest fights of the present campaign, in which more than
one-third of the men engaged were either killed or wounded, and more
than one-third of the horses were likewise killed. Several men, whose
wounds were slight, never reported themselves at all. Brave Captain
Van Niekerk was twice hit, one bullet cutting his bandoleer-strap
and bruising his shoulder, and the second smashing the stock of his
revolver and bruising his side. The Kafirs, although they probably lost
heavily, had the satisfaction of getting possession of the dead bodies
of five white men to mutilate, together with the saddles and other
accoutrements of the horses killed; whilst, worst of all from our point
of view, several Lee-Metford rifles and bandoleers full of cartridges
fell into their hands.