THE ADVANCE OF ROBERTS.
1900.
The war of 1899-1901 in South Africa is of too recent date to call for
a very minute exposition of the causes which led up to it.
The first appearance of the Dutch in South Africa took place in 1652.
On the invitation of the Netherlands Government, Britain seized Cape
Colony in 1795, holding it for a period of seven years, when it was
restored to the Netherlands. Five years later Britain again seized it,
and it was finally ceded to them upon a payment of £6,000,000. From
this time forward strife commenced between the Boers and the British
immigrants. English was the language chosen for the law courts of Cape
Colony, and all slaves of whom the Boers held many thousands, were
freed under British rule. Both these happenings gave great offence, and
in 1836 the Boers made their “Great Trek” into new territory.
Says Mr. Julian Ralph in his history of the late war:--“Great Britain
never ceased to regard the Boers as her subjects, and yet did nothing
to interfere with their course or the government which they set up.”
In 1852, after many bickerings, the famous Sand River Convention
established the Transvaal Republic, over which Great Britain “held
the right to impose conditions, upon which she granted the Boers what
rights they held, and this British overlordship was acknowledged by
them without protest.” The Orange Free State was set up under somewhat
similar conditions, with, however, somewhat more extended privileges
than those enjoyed by the Transvaal. The Transvaal government went from
bad to worse. Frequent friction with the natives, marked by savage
cruelties on both sides, and the virtual enslaving of many natives,
brought the Government of the Transvaal into disrepute, and in 1877 the
British Commissioner, Sir Theophilus Shepstone, formally annexed the
Transvaal, reporting that the majority of people desired annexation.
Protests were, however, numerous, and shortly after order had been
apparently restored the newly-annexed territory revolted, defeating the
British forces at Laing’s Nek and Majuba Hill, in what has become known
to posterity as the First Boer War.
An armistice was ordered by Mr. Gladstone’s Government in March, 1881,
and the Boers were granted self-government under British suzerainty.
Further independence was granted to them in 1884.
The discovery of gold in the Transvaal Republic had by this time led to
a great rush of new settlers, called by the Boers, the “Uitlanders,”
to whose energy the present prosperity of the country was now largely
due. These European settlers, the Uitlanders, were of course subject
to the laws of the Transvaal, and very soon they found that instead of
possessing equal rights with Transvaal burghers, though forming nearly
three-fourths of the white population, they were at disadvantages in
every way. Dutch was the only language of government, and was taught in
the public schools. British citizens were assaulted, and even murdered
by agents of the Transvaal with impunity, and right of franchise was
refused.
The Uitlanders determined on revolt, and a somewhat premature movement
was made by Dr. Jameson, in his famous, and of course disastrous, raid.
Negotiations now ensued, and Sir Alfred Milner, the High Commissioner
at the Cape, held many meetings with President Kruger of the Transvaal,
with a view to securing fair and equal rights for the Uitlanders. The
sequel is fresh in the minds of all. Prevarications, endless delays,
and abortive conferences followed--the Boers all the while arming
themselves for the forthcoming conflict which they had virtually
decided upon. The British yoke was to be thrown off once and for all.
Gradually Britain massed her forces in South Africa, and when finally,
on the 9th October, 1899, the Boer Government presented a virtual
ultimatum, war became inevitable. The ultimatum protested against the
right of the British Government to interfere in the affairs of the
Transvaal. It demanded the withdrawal from South Africa of the British
reinforcements, and it desired an answer to these demands before 5
p.m. on the day in question. The British reply was brief and to the
point; it merely announced that Her Majesty’s Government had no further
announcement to make to Mr. Kruger.
At first the British preparations were wholly inadequate. Some 20,000
British troops in all were available on the spot, but a complete army
corps of 50,000 men, under Sir Redvers Buller, was mobilised in Britain
and despatched at once. Divisional commanders were Lord Methuen, Sir
William Gatacre, and Sir Francis Clery. The opening engagement of
the war took place on October 12th, when an armoured train, conveying
cannon to Mafeking was attacked, and several men were captured. On
November 1st, the Free State Boers, siding with their Transvaal
brethren, invaded Cape Colony.
To relieve Kimberley, Ladysmith, and Mafeking, where the frontier
garrisons were enclosed on all sides by the enemy, now became the
objective of the campaign. Lord Methuen moved from the Orange River
for the relief of Kimberley, and on November 23rd, with the Guards and
the 9th Brigade, drove 2500 Boers out of their entrenched position at
Belmont with the bayonet. Two days later, at Enslin, near Graspan, a
memorable battle was fought against 3000 Boers, and the British, though
successful, lost heavily--14 killed and 91 wounded out of a total force
of 550 men. On November 28th the battle of Modder River, against 8000
Boers, was fought. Ten hours’ fighting under a burning sun resulted in
the British holding their own, but with a loss of 4 officers and 71
men killed, and 19 officers and 375 men wounded. On the 11th December,
Lord Methuen’s force fought a fierce engagement at Magersfontein, to
the north of Modder River, where General Cronje had prepared a long
series of concealed entrenchments. The British force numbered 11,000,
the Boers 15,000, strongly entrenched. The Highland Brigade, marching
in quarter column in the dusk of early morning found itself close
to the barbed wire obstructions of the strongest entrenchments, and
a tremendous rifle fire at close range greeted the hardy Scotsmen.
Nothing could exceed their gallantry, but no troops could stand against
that awful blast, and one man in every five of the 3000 led by General
Wauchope was mown down. The gallant Wauchope himself fell, riddled by
bullets, at the head of his men, a brave and well-beloved soldier. For
the whole day the fight raged, but it was found impossible to dislodge
the Boers, and a retreat to Modder River was inevitable. The British
losses were more than 850 casualties--the killed alone totalled 152,
and 130 men reported missing.
Meanwhile General Gatacre had begun operations in Cape Colony north
of Queenstown. He occupied Bushmen’s Hock on November 27, while his
main force was at Buller’s Kraal. On December 10th, the day before
Magersfontein, he met with a sad reverse in making a night attack on
Stormberg, when he was misled by guides and at daybreak was surprised
by the enemy. Five hundred of his force were cut off and made
prisoners. All attempts to reach Ladysmith had been fruitless.
General Symons, acting under Lieut.-General White at Ladysmith,
occupied Dundee and Glencoe, and fought the first serious battle of
the Natal campaign on October 20th, in an attack on Lucas Myer’s
army, 6000 strong, who held an advantageous position on Talana Hill.
At the cost of his own life, General Symons accomplished a successful
issue. The Boers were driven from their guns, and these were captured.
The next day a fierce engagement was fought at Elandslaagte. General
French’s cavalry and the Gordon Highlanders played conspicuous parts,
and a heavy defeat to the enemy resulted. Four British officers and 37
men were killed; the wounded of all ranks totalled over 200. The Boer
losses were put at 100 killed, 108 wounded, including General Kock,
and nearly 200 prisoners. Generals White and Yule now joined forces
in Ladysmith, which was at once invested by the enemy. Disaster now
overtook the relieving force. At Nicholson’s Nek nearly 900 officers
and men were taken prisoners. On December 15th General Buller fought a
fierce battle with the enemy at Colenso, and lost eleven guns, having
1097 officers and men killed, wounded, and missing. Operations were now
brought to a standstill.
Few will forget that dark December day when check after check to the
British forces in South Africa announced the war was at a standstill,
and little forward movement could be made until the hands of our
commanders had been strengthened, and that, too, considerably.
The disasters did much to bring out the national doggedness and
determination. From every county and every colony, from remote
Highland hamlets and from the teeming cities of the Empire the flower
of Britain went forth to do battle for her honour in South Africa,
and the Government, at length convinced of the arduous nature of
the enterprise, lent an able assistance to the national will and
determination.
On December 23rd, 1899, Field-Marshal Lord Roberts of Kandahar left
London for Cape Town, to take supreme command of the British armies
in South Africa, and he was joined at Gibraltar by his chief of
staff, Lord Kitchener of Khartoum, who had travelled post haste from
Egypt. A sigh of relief went up on every side when these two able and
distinguished officers, backed by a vast and ever-increasing army, took
up the reins of war in the disordered kingdoms.
Matters now began to mend slowly. A detachment of 120 colonial mounted
infantry, on December 30th, under Captain Montmorency, were cut off
near Dordrecht, and for a whole night held out gallantly against a
force of 800 of the enemy. In the morning they were relieved by a party
of the Cape Mounted Rifles. The next day General French conducted
successful operations near Colesberg, and on the 1st of January he
shelled their position, compelling them to fall back. The same day
Colonel Pilcher defeated a commando at Sunnyside.
With such small successes the arrival of Lord Roberts was heralded, and
every day reinforcements poured into South Africa. A desperate attempt
was made on the 6th January to overwhelm Ladysmith, but after 17 hours’
fighting, the foe were driven back with heavy loss.
The turning point of the war, however, was reached when, on January
10th, 1900, Roberts took charge of hostilities, and began his famous
march to Pretoria. A month after his arrival at Cape Town, Lord Roberts
and his staff went north, his movements being shrouded in mystery. On
the 9th February, 1900, he took over command at Modder River camp, and
within three days his great movement was begun. The Highland Brigade,
under the bravest of soldiers, Major-General Macdonald, were engaged
with the enemy to the west of the railway, this being to attract
the enemy’s attention from the preparation for a greater event. The
intention was to make straight to relieve Kimberley. Suddenly the Free
State (as it was then) was invaded at various points to the south of
Modder River. General French, who had been withdrawn from Colesberg
with his cavalry, dashed north, brushing aside or ignoring small
parties of Boers, who sought to oppose him. The General then swept in
a circle round the east of Magersfontein, and after a trying march,
Kimberley was reached late in the afternoon of Wednesday, February 14th.
The Boer commandoes had timely warning of the advancing hosts, and,
recognising that in the circumstances their position was untenable, the
enemy took to flight. There was very little fighting. The Kimberley
garrison moved out when it was apparent that the relief force was at
hand, but the enemy did not wait for these. The garrison was too late
to intercept the retreat, the Boers getting away in the darkness. The
Boers’ loss in arms and ammunition was enormous. The first of the
besieged towns had been relieved, but not at a cheap price. It was work
which cost Britain, from Belmont onwards, 129 officers and 1818 men.
The British infantry brigades followed in the wake of General French,
and marching north-east, occupied Jacobsdal, the Boer base of supplies.
General Cronje, one of the most stubborn of the Boer generals, whose
tactics were typical of his reputed border ancestry, saw that he ran a
great risk of being surrounded in his trenches at Magersfontein. There
was one loophole of escape--to the east between the rear of the British
cavalry and the front of the infantry. Accordingly Cronje warily made
towards Bloemfontein by this route. But he was not circumspect enough,
and his retreat was soon discovered. British infantry and cavalry were
despatched in hot pursuit, and he was brought to bay on the 10th at
Paardeberg, in the valley of the Modder River. On that day an attempt
to storm the Boer laager failed. The British circled round the doomed
Cronje, and day by day the lines of investment were drawn closer. Shot
and shell were poured into the camp of the Boers, who, like rabbits,
buried themselves in holes in the river bank. Quite a number of Boer
commandoes were defeated, but despite this, and the fact that his camp
was in flames, and shot and shell were dropping into it like rain, the
obstinate Cronje refused to yield. The statement that Cronje was a
descendant of the old raiders of Galloway was certainly amply qualified
by his tactics throughout. However, on the morning of Majuba Day--27th
February--the Canadians, Gordons, and Shropshires dashed forward, and
entrenched themselves in a position which commanded the Boer camp.
After this, Cronje saw that further resistance was useless, and, with
4000 men, unconditionally surrendered.
It was a small force that was commanded by Cronje as compared with the
army of besiegers, and he had held out magnificently. After the battle
an examination of the enemy’s position showed this. The whole of the
river on both sides was honeycombed with trenches, but such trenches
as had never before been used in warfare; they were really underground
dwellings, and perfectly secure unless a shell was dropped into the
opening above. Straight projecting missiles were bound to fail to have
an effect. The condition of the whole laager, and trenches, however,
was a frightful one. Every three paces lay dead horses, mules and
cattle, polluting the air, and it was no wonder Cronje was forced to
surrender at last. The parting between several men and their wives at
this stage was extremely heartrending, and both were crying bitterly.
The completeness of the capture was the more singular in view of
the determined character of the enemy, and it was thought, at the
very least, the enemy would destroy their guns and ammunition before
surrendering.
The pursuit and capture of the Boers cost Britain no fewer than 98
officers and 1436 men.
Pushing on from Paardeberg, Lord Roberts, on the 7th March, outflanked
the Boers at Poplar Grove, compelling them to retreat, and three days
later he defeated them at Driefontein. Ex-President Steyn fled from the
capital, and on the 13th Lord Roberts took possession, as he himself
put it, “by the help of God and the bravery of Her Majesty’s soldiers.”
The total casualties, since the army left Modder River, were 2086
officers and men, killed, wounded and missing.
The occupation of Bloemfontein had a wonderful effect on the course of
events. The Boers withdrew from northern Cape Colony, and the British
forces crossed the Orange River on 15th March. There had been much
desultory fighting in this district, and the British losses would
amount to about 2000.
While the relief of Ladysmith by General Buller was taking place,
Lord Roberts rested at Bloemfontein for six weeks for the purpose
of reorganising his transport service, and generally strengthening
his forces. This inactivity on the part of the British commander was
fully taken advantage of by the Boers, who swept down to the east and
south-east of the capital. It was then Lord Roberts decided to check
the enemy’s progress, and the battle of Karree was fought, at which
the enemy made their last stand between Bloemfontein and Brandfort.
Their attitude had become unceasingly aggressive, and if the Free
State burghers, who had surrendered to Britain, were to be assured
of her ability to protect them, it was necessary to check the raids
and incursions in the country immediately north of the capital.
Lord Roberts deputed this task to the 7th Division, commanded by
Lieutenant-General Tucker, the 1st and 3rd cavalry brigades under
General French, and the brigade of mounted infantry under Colonel le
Gallais.
At an early hour in the morning the whole force, preceded by a screen
of mounted men, moved out of the advance camp in the direction of a
ridge which commanded the line of railway north of Modder Bridge. It
was known to be occupied and entrenched by an outpost of 1500 Boers.
Moving forward over the plain, which the British cavalry had already
reconnoitred, General Tucker was soon in front of the enemy’s position.
After a stiff fight and attacks from various positions, the object
of the advance was fully attained, and the troops bivouacked on the
position they had carried. The Boers, however, succeeded in getting
away over a flat country with all their guns and waggons.
This was followed by several rather unfortunate mishaps to the British
forces at Sanna’s Post and Reddersburg, the latter being particularly
noted for a gallant stand by the Royal Irish Rifles against great odds.
Three companies of Royal Irish Rifles and two companies of the north
regiment of mounted infantry which had been captured by the Boers, were
falling back for a position when they were surrounded by over 3000 of
the enemy, occupying a kopje. They defended the position for nearly 24
hours, notwithstanding that they were without food or water, and were
exposed to the shells of the enemy’s guns. This fight was one of rifles
on the Boer side and artillery on the other, and before darkness fell
all the gallant British fellows were being led away. General Gatacre,
who had been advised of the fighting, hurried to the scene, to arrive
two hours late. At this time the whole country was reeking with active
spies. As a result of Reddersburg about 600 men were captured. While
at Sanna’s Post, another unfortunate mishap, 37 officers and over
500 men were made prisoners. After this came the stiff engagement at
Wepener, which lasted several days. An attempt was made to encircle the
enemy by the British general, and while the opposing forces received a
check, both sides suffered heavy casualties. This attempt at encircling
the enemy was not successful.
The end of April found Lord Roberts’ preparations finished, and the
opening days of May witnessed the beginning of the triumphal march
north. The British front extended across country for forty miles, and
time and again overlapped the burgher flanks and threatened their lines
of retreat. After several days’ hard marching, during which splendid
progress was made, Kronstad was reached, and here great opposition was
expected. Great preparations had been made by Lord Roberts to make his
march a successful one, and before the rapid advance of the British
forces the Boers fled in confusion from the position at Kronstad. No
fewer than 10,000 of them passed through the town the night previous
to the arrival of the British forces, quite a number of the residents
following. The enemy had been reinforced by 3000 men from Natal, but
the position they took up was quite untenable, and they beat a retreat.
Thus, no fewer than 128 miles had been covered by Lord Roberts’ forces
in about twelve days’ time. For a week the forces rested at Kronstad,
and getting ready for the march again, an advance was made towards
the Transvaal. On the 23rd May the forces arrived at Rhenoster River,
where again they were surprised in finding the enemy had gone, having
fled during the night of our arrival. The enemy had occupied a strong
position on the north bank of the river, which had been carefully
entrenched, but they did not think it advisable to defend it when they
heard that General Hamilton’s force was at Heilbron, and the cavalry,
which crossed the Rhenoster, some miles lower down the stream, was
threatening their right rear.
Right on from here the British march to the Vaal was made with great
progress, and although the enemy threatened strong resistance on
several occasions, they always retreated in front of the British
forces, and evacuated their strongholds. On the Queen’s Birthday,
24th May, the British forces entered the Transvaal, and encamped on
the north bank. The advance troops, who crossed first, were only just
in time to save the coal mines on each side of the river from being
destroyed. The river was crossed amid loud cheers by Compton’s Horse
and the Dorset Company, who were fired at by several scouting parties
of Boers. These were pursued, and had a very narrow escape from
being captured. General Botha had considered the line of the Vaal
indefensible, and the big guns were taken to Pretoria. After this it
was becoming more and more evident that the Boer forces were shrinking
at the thought of opposing such an army as General Roberts led, and on
May 28th, when Klip River, which is 18 miles from Johannesburg, was
reached, the enemy, who had prepared several positions, where they
intended to set up opposition, again fled, or abandoned one after
another of their vantage grounds. So hard were the enemy pressed on
this occasion, that they had only time to get their guns into the
train, and leave the station when some of the mounted infantry dashed
into it
The complete success of Lord Roberts’ march seemed now only a matter
of time, but there was falling off in the desire to press forward as
quickly as possible the more so seeing the enemy were being hustled out
of their various positions. On the Tuesday following their arrival at
Klip River, the British forces arrived at a point about ten miles from
Johannesburg, without any serious opposition. The enemy were completely
taken aback, as they did not expect the arrival until next day, and
had not even carried off all the rolling stock. On the Thursday
Johannesburg was in the hands of the British.
Lord Roberts, on the Wednesday, had summoned the town to surrender
within twenty-four hours. The Boer commandant considered this course
inadvisable, as the town was full of burghers, but these difficulties
were overcome, and the Field-Marshal entered and hoisted the British
flag. The entry of Lord Roberts into Johannesburg has been described
as a spectacle to be remembered by all who beheld it. After formally
accepting the surrender of the town, Lord Roberts left the building,
and, remounting his charger, proceeded to the next ceremony, which was
the hauling down of the Transvaal flag. Numbers of the rugged burghers
who were witnesses to this action appeared touched to the heart. When
the flag was lowered tears were seen streaming down the faces of
several men as they looked at the loss of all they had been fighting
for during many weary months. While the National Anthem was being sung,
a tall Free Stater, an artillerist, refused to remove his hat, and a
fellow-spectator, a small man, attempted to pull it off, whereupon a
British soldier standing near pushed the aggressor away, saying,
“Leave him alone. He fought for his flag; you fight for none.”
Lord Roberts took up his quarters at a small inn with the sign “Orange
Grove,” and here a rather interesting anecdote is recorded, the truth
of which has, however, been denied by the principal actor.
Early in the evening, soon after the Field-Marshal reached his
quarters, one of the officers of the staff approached him in order to
discuss a matter of importance. He found the Field-Marshal with one of
the innkeeper’s little children on his knee, trying to teach the mite
to trace the letters of the alphabet. When the officer entered, Lord
Roberts looked up with a smile and said, “Don’t come now; can’t you see
I’m busy!”
Only 30 miles now separated the British forces from Pretoria. After
the taking of Johannesburg, the people began to lose all confidence
in their leaders, and during the short period that the troops stayed
in the town, large numbers of the Boers came forward and surrendered.
After hearing that Lord Roberts had reached Johannesburg, Kruger joined
the retreat. Gathering up his goods and chattels, the ex-President,
leaving his ignorant and deluded burghers to their fate, scuttled
ignominiously out of the country.
Continuing his march forward, General Roberts made straight for
Pretoria for his crowning effort. On the way a number of lingering
parties of Boers were met, and these were driven off to surrounding
hills. On Monday, the 4th June, the troops started on what was supposed
to be their final march. After going about ten miles, however, the
district of Six Mules Spruit was found to be occupied by the enemy.
Two companies of the mounted infantry, along with four companies of
the Yeomanry, were despatched to the scene, and quickly dislodged the
enemy from the south bank. After pursuing them for nearly a mile,
the companies found themselves under a heavy fire from guns, which
the Boers had placed on a well-concealed and commanding position.
The British heavy guns, naval and Royal Artillery, which had been
purposely placed in the front part of the column, were hurried on to
the assistance of the mounted infantry as fast as oxen and mules could
travel over the great rolling hills by which Pretoria is surrounded.
The guns were supported by Stephenson’s Brigade, and after firing a few
rounds they drove the enemy out of their positions
The Boers then attempted to turn the British left flank. In this they
were again foiled by the mounted infantry, and Yeomanry, supported by
Maxwell’s Brigade and Tucker’s Division. As they still kept pressing
on the left rear, General Roberts sent word for Ian Hamilton, who was
advancing three miles to the left, to incline his forces and fill up
the gap between the two columns. This finally checked the enemy, who
were driven back towards Pretoria. General Roberts was expecting that
he might have been able to follow them, and as the days were then
very short in that part, and after nearly twelve hours’ marching and
fighting, the troops had to bivouac on the ground fought-over during
the day. Just before dark the enemy were beaten back from nearly all
the positions they had been holding, and Ian Hamilton’s mounted
infantry followed them up within 2000 yards of Pretoria, through which
they retreated hastily. Colonel de Lisle then sent an officer with a
flag of truce into the town, demanding its surrender.
Shortly before midnight Lord Roberts was awakened by two officials of
the South African Republic--Sandburg, military secretary to General
Botha, and a general officer of the Boer army--who brought him a
letter from Commandant Botha, proposing an armistice for the purpose
of settling terms of surrender. Lord Roberts replied that he would
gladly meet the Commander-General the next morning, but that he was
not prepared to discuss any terms, as the surrender of the town must
be unconditional. At the same time his lordship asked for a reply by
daybreak, as he had ordered the troops to march on the town as soon as
it was light. In his reply, Botha stated that he had decided not to
defend Pretoria, and that he trusted the women, children and property
would be protected. About one o’clock in the morning Lord Roberts was
met by three principal civil officials with a flag of truce, stating
their wish to surrender the town. At two o’clock in the afternoon of
the 5th June, 1900, Pretoria was occupied by Her Majesty’s troops, and
nearly 4000 British prisoners of war were released.
But the occupation of Pretoria was not to see the termination of the
war. May 17th had seen Mafeking relieved by Colonels Mahon and Plumer,
and cordial was the welcome extended to these officers by its harassed
garrison and by its brave defender Colonel Baden-Powell. For six
months and six days the gallant defenders had held out. On February
26th Ladysmith had been relieved, after a siege of nearly four months,
General Buller making a formal entry on the 2nd March; but much yet
remained to be done elsewhere, and a species of guerilla warfare ensued.
On July 31st, Generals Hunter and Rundle captured the Boer leader
Prinsloo with 4000 of his men, but De Wet, the wily and mobile head of
the Boer cavalry forces, still remained at large, and for nearly 18
months the war dragged on its weary course, the blockhouse system of
Lord Kitchener, now in supreme command, gradually reducing the number
of the foe in the field.
Peace was finally signed at Pretoria on May 31st, 1902, both the
Transvaal and Orange Free State having been formally annexed by the
British Empire.
No less than 1072 officers and 20,870 non-commissioned officers and men
had died in the field, either from wounds or disease, whilst the total
Boer losses will probably never be known.