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diff --git a/36866.txt b/36866.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..94aa3d4 --- /dev/null +++ b/36866.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10740 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 3 (of 6), by +Louis Creswicke + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 3 (of 6) + From the Battle of Colenso, 15th Dec. 1899, to Lord + Roberts's Advance into the Free State, 12th Feb. 1900 + +Author: Louis Creswicke + +Release Date: July 27, 2011 [EBook #36866] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOUTH AFRICA *** + + + + +Produced by Brownfox and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images generously made available by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Photo by Russell and Sons, London.] + + + + +SOUTH AFRICA + +AND THE + +TRANSVAAL WAR + + +BY +LOUIS CRESWICKE + +AUTHOR OF "ROXANE," ETC. + + +WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS + + +IN SIX VOLUMES + +VOL. III.--FROM THE BATTLE OF COLENSO, +15TH DEC. 1899, TO LORD ROBERTS'S ADVANCE INTO +THE FREE STATE, 12TH FEB. 1900 + + +EDINBURGH: T. C. & E. C. JACK +MANCHESTER: KENNETH MACLENNAN, 75 PICCADILLY +1900 + + + + +CONTENTS--VOL. III. + + + PAGE + CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE vii + + + CHAPTER I + PAGE + THE SITUATION 1 + DOINGS AT CHIEVELEY 8 + CHRISTMAS AT THE CAPE AND NATAL 14 + + + CHAPTER II + PAGE + MAFEKING 19 + KURUMAN AND ELSEWHERE 25 + MAFEKING, NOVEMBER 31 + KIMBERLEY 39 + + + CHAPTER III + PAGE + LIFE WITH GENERAL GATACRE 47 + WITH GENERAL FRENCH 52 + + + CHAPTER IV + PAGE + THE COLONIALS AT BELMONT 60 + COLONEL PILCHER'S RAID 61 + ACTIVITIES AND SURPRISES 68 + AT MODDER RIVER 72 + + + CHAPTER V + PAGE + CHRISTMAS AT LADYSMITH 79 + THE ATTACK ON WAGON HILL 81 + + + CHAPTER VI + PAGE + BULLER'S SECOND ADVANCE 92 + THE FLANK MOVEMENT 97 + THE BATTLE OF SPION KOP 104 + THE THIRD GREAT EFFORT--VAAL KRANTZ 117 + DISAPPOINTMENT AT LADYSMITH 125 + LORD ROBERTS AT THE CAPE 131 + + + CHAPTER VII + PAGE + THE WONDER OF THE WORLD 136 + FIRST CANADIAN CONTINGENT 138 + THE SECOND CANADIAN CONTINGENT 144 + STRATHCONA'S HORSE 146 + NEW SOUTH WALES 148 + VICTORIA 150 + NEW ZEALAND 151 + QUEENSLAND 153 + SOUTH AUSTRALIA 154 + WEST AUSTRALIA 157 + TASMANIA 157 + THE BUSHMEN'S CORPS 158 + INDIA'S CONTINGENTS 159 + THE SOUTH AFRICAN VOLUNTEERS-- + CAPE COLONY 161 + NATAL 166 + THE IMPERIAL YEOMANRY 167 + THE CITY IMPERIAL VOLUNTEERS 171 + + + CHAPTER VIII + PAGE + AT COLESBERG 174 + LORD ROBERTS'S ADVANCE 183 + "FIGHTING MAC" AT KOODOESBERG 186 + + + PAGE + APPENDIX 190 + THE STORY OF SPION KOP 190 + LIST OF STAFF 199 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS--VOL. III. + + + BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF THE GROUND COVERED BY GENERAL + BULLER'S OPERATIONS _At Front_ + + + 1. _COLOURED PLATES_ + PAGE + FIELD-MARSHAL LORD ROBERTS OF KANDAHAR, + V.C. &c. _Frontispiece_ + SERGEANT-MAJOR--IMPERIAL LIGHT HORSE 24 + ARMY SERVICE CORPS 40 + HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY--CAPTAIN, 2ND LIFE GUARDS 80 + ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY (ACTION FRONT) 100 + CYCLISTS--LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS 120 + PRIVATE, DRUMMERS, PIPER, AND BUGLER--THE BLACK WATCH 134 + OFFICERS--CITY OF LONDON IMPERIAL VOLUNTEERS 176 + + + 2. _FULL-PAGE PLATES_ + PAGE + A PICKET OF 13TH HUSSARS SURPRISED NEAR THE TUGELA RIVER 8 + A RECONNAISSANCE IN FORCE WITH GENERAL FRENCH'S + CAVALRY NEAR COLESBERG 56 + COLONEL PILCHER'S ATTACK ON SUNNYSIDE KOPJE 64 + H.M.S. "POWERFUL" 84 + THE GREAT ASSAULT ON LADYSMITH 88 + PIETERMARITZBURG FROM THE EAST 92 + THE CROSSING OF POTGIETER'S DRIFT, JANUARY 16 96 + TAKING THE 4.7 NAVAL GUN ACROSS THE TUGELA 104 + GOING OUT TO THE ATTACK ON SPION KOP 112 + THE SCENE ON SPION KOP 116 + FALLS ON THE TUGELA RIVER 124 + ARRIVAL AT CAPE TOWN OF WOUNDED FROM NATAL 132 + LADY MINTO PRESENTING COLOURS TO HERCHMER'S HORSE 144 + THE CITY IMPERIAL VOLUNTEERS CROSSING WESTMINSTER BRIDGE 168 + NEW ZEALANDERS SAVING A PICKET OF THE YORKSHIRE + REGIMENT NEAR SLINGERSFONTEIN 184 + "FIGHTING MAC" AND THE HIGHLAND BRIGADE IN ACTION + AT KOODOESBERG 188 + + + 3. _FULL-PAGE PORTRAITS_ + PAGE + LIEUT.-GENERAL FORESTIER WALKER, K.C.B. 16 + MAJOR-GENERAL LORD KITCHENER OF KHARTOUM 32 + MAJOR-GENERAL SIR W. F. GATACRE, K.C.B. 48 + MAJOR-GENERAL HECTOR A. MACDONALD, C.B. 72 + LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES WARREN, G.C.M.G. 128 + COLONEL W. D. OTTER 136 + HON. W. P. SCHREINER, C.M.G. 152 + GENERAL BRABANT, C.M.G. 160 + + + 4. _MAPS AND ENGRAVINGS IN THE TEXT_ + PAGE + MAP--THE SEAT OF WAR 9 + SKETCH OF POSITIONS AT MAFEKING 20 + OUTPOST AND INTRENCHMENT AT MAFEKING 24 + FACSIMILE OF HANDWRITING OF COL. BADEN POWELL 32 + PLAN OF KIMBERLEY 40 + SPLINTER PROOF SHELTER AT KIMBERLEY 43 + MAP OF MOVEMENTS OF GATACRE AND FRENCH 51 + MAP OF COLONEL PILCHER'S RAID 62 + LORD DUNDONALD'S GALLOPING GUN CARRIAGE 70 + MAXIM AUTOMATIC GUN OR POM-POM 75 + MAP OF LADYSMITH 87 + MOUNTAIN BATTERY 97 + SKETCH, &C., OF SPION KOP 107 + PLAN OF ENGAGEMENT OF SPION KOP 111 + PLAN OF ENGAGEMENT OF VAAL KRANTZ 120 + BRITISH 7-POUNDER FIELD GUN 126 + SIEGE OF LADYSMITH 128 + NAVAL 12-POUNDER FIELD GUN 132 + MR. KRUGER'S AUTOGRAPH 134 + SOUTH AFRICAN SCOUT 163 + 12-1/2-POUNDER FIELD GUN (C.I.V.) 172 + MAP OF POSITION AT COLESBERG 179 + SKETCH OF POSITION AT COLESBERG 181 + MAP ILLUSTRATING MOVEMENT TO KOODOESBERG 187 + + + + +CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE--VOL. III. + + +DECEMBER 1899. + +17.--Field-Marshal Lord Roberts, K.P., G.C.B., V.C., &c., appointed + Commander-in-Chief in South Africa, with Lord Kitchener of + Khartoum as his Chief of the Staff. + + War Office issued orders under which the remaining portion of + the Army A Reserve were called up; and large reinforcements + were to proceed to South Africa without delay. + + General Gatacre advanced from Sterkstroom to Putters Kraal. + + General French established his headquarters at Arundel. + + Offers of Second Contingents by the Colonies accepted. + +18.--Additional Battalions of Militia embodied. There were now + fifty-four Battalions of Militia embodied. + + Sir Charles Warren and the Staff of the Fifth Division left + Cape Town. + + Reconnaissance by General French. Sortie from Ladysmith. + +19.--Important order issued from the War Office, announcing that + the Government had decided to raise for service in South + Africa a Mounted Infantry force, to be called "The Imperial + Yeomanry." The force to be recruited from the Yeomanry. + +21.--Mr. Winston Churchill arrived at Lourenco Marques after an + adventurous journey. + +23.--Departure of Lord Roberts from London and Southampton for the + Cape. + +24.--Dordrecht occupied by General Gatacre. + + Sortie from Mafeking. + + Two British officers captured by Boers near Chieveley. + +25.--Bluejackets blew up Tugela Road bridge, and cut off Boers with + their guns. + + Colonel Dalgety with Mounted Police and Colonial troops held + Dordrecht. (Gatacre's Division.) + +26.--Sir Charles Warren arrived at the Natal front. + + Boers appeared at Victoria West. + + Mafeking force attacked a Boer fort. + +27.--Boers unsuccessfully bombarded Ladysmith. + +28.--H.M.S. _Magicienne_ captured German liner _Bundesrath_, near + Delagoa Bay, with contraband of war on board. + +30.--Skirmish near Dordrecht. Boers defeated with loss. Two British + officers captured through mistaking Boers for New Zealanders. + + +JANUARY 1900. + +1.--Enrolment of the first draft of the City Imperial Volunteers. + + Surrender of Kuruman, after a stout resistance, to the Boers. + Twelve officers and 120 police captured. + + General French occupied a kopje overlooking Colesberg. Flight + of Boers, leaving their wrecked guns and quantities of stores. + + Brilliant manoeuvre by Lieutenant-Colonel Pilcher at + Sunnyside. Captured the entire Boer camp, made forty prisoners, + advanced and occupied Douglas on Vaal River. + + Colonel Plumer and Colonel Holdsworth from Rhodesia continued + their march to the relief of Mafeking. + +2.--Loyal inhabitants of Douglas escorted to Belmont. + + General French still engaged with enemy at Colesberg. + +3.--General French reinforced from De Aar. Boers being surrounded; + fighting in the hills. + + General Gatacre repulsed Boer attack on position commanding + Molteno. + + Colonel Pilcher, for "military reasons," evacuated Douglas. + +4.--General Gatacre occupied Molteno; Boers retreated to Stormberg + with loss. + + General French manoeuvring to enclose Colesberg; further + fighting. + +5.--General Gatacre hotly engaged at Molteno by Boers from + Stormberg; drove them off, inflicting heavy losses. + +6.--Great battle at Ladysmith. Boers repulsed on every side with + heavy loss. + + General Buller made a demonstration in force to aid General + White. + + General French inflicted severe defeat on Boers at Colesberg. A + Company of the 1st Suffolk Regiment captured. + +9.--British troops invaded Free State territory near Jacobsdal. The + Queensland and Canadian Volunteers cleared a large belt across + the Free State border. + +10.--Lord Roberts and Lord Kitchener arrived at Cape Town. + + Forward movement for the relief of Ladysmith from Chieveley + and Frere. + +11.--Sir Redvers Buller crossed the Little Tugela, and occupied the + south bank of the Tugela at Potgieter's Drift. + + Lord Dundonald and Mounted Brigade crossed the Tugela at + Potgieter's Drift. + + General Gatacre made a reconnaissance in force towards + Stormberg. + +13.--The City Imperial Volunteers left London for South Africa. + +15.--Boers attacked General French and were repulsed at Colesberg. + +16.--General Lyttleton and Mounted Brigade crossed the Tugela at + Potgieter's Drift. + +17.--Sir Charles Warren crossed, with his Division, at Trichardt's + Drift. + + Lord Dundonald had an action with the Boers near Acton Homes. + +18.--Tugela bridged and crossed by a Brigade and battery. + +20.--Sir Charles Warren moved towards Spion Kop. + + Reconnaissance by Lord Dundonald. + +21.--Heavy fighting by Clery's force; they attacked the Boers and + captured ridge after ridge for three miles. + +22--Sir Charles Warren's entire army engaged. + +23.--Spion Kop captured by Sir Charles Warren; General Woodgate + wounded. + +25-27.--Abandonment of Spion Kop. Sir Charles Warren's force + withdrew to south of Tugela. + +27.--Brigadier-General Brabant, commanding a Brigade of Colonial + forces, joined General Gatacre. + +28.--General Kelly-Kenny occupied Thebus. + +30.--British force reoccupied Prieska. + + +FEBRUARY 1900. + +3.--Telegraphic communication restored between Mafeking and + Gaberones. + +4.--General Macdonald occupied Koodoe's Drift. + +5.--General Buller crossed the Tugela at Manger's Drift. + +6.--General Buller captured Vaal Krantz Hill. + +7.--Vaal Krantz Hill abandoned, and British force withdrew south of + the Tugela. + +9.--General Macdonald retired to Modder River. + + Lord Roberts arrived at Modder River. + +10.--Colonel Hannay's force moved to Ramdam. + +12.--General French with Cavalry Division, proceeding to the Relief + of Kimberley, seized Dekiel's Drift. + +[Illustration: BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF THE COUNTRY COVERED BY GENERAL +BULLER'S OPERATIONS FOR THE RELIEF OF LADYSMITH. + +EDINBURGH AND LONDON: T. C. & E. C. JACK] + + + + +SOUTH AFRICA AND THE + +TRANSVAAL WAR + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE SITUATION + + "The wave that breaks against a forward stroke + Beats not the swimmer back, but thrills him through + With joyous trust to win his way anew + Through stronger seas than first upon him broke + And triumphed. England's iron-tempered oak + Shrank not when Europe's might against her grew + Full, and her sun drunk up her foes like dew, + And lion-like from sleep her strength awoke. + As bold in fight as bold in breach of trust + We find our foes and wonder not to find, + Nor grudge them praise whom honour may not bind: + But loathing more intense than speaks disgust + Heaves England's heart, when scorn is bound to greet + Hunters and hounds whose tongues would lick their feet." + + --ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE. + + +A week of disaster had terminated woefully. Three British Generals in +succession--Sir William Gatacre, Lord Methuen, and Sir Redvers +Buller--had advanced against strongly fortified Boer positions and +suffered repulse. The hearts of the miserable loyalists, who hung in +dire suspense on the result of British action, sank in despair--their +dismay and their grief were pitiful. Great Britain echoed their +sentiment. Disappointment was universal. General Gatacre had failed +through lack of caution and mischance; the other Generals had come to +grief owing to the circumstances which forced them willy nilly to hurry +to the assistance of beleaguered towns in the face of overwhelming +disadvantages, notably the lack of cavalry and the inefficiency of the +guns. Lord Methuen had been unable to bring home his early victories +owing to the absence of mounted men. Sir Redvers Buller had failed to +dislodge the enemy from his strong, naturally fortified positions owing +to the weakness of his artillery in comparison to that of the enemy, who +had Nordenfeldt and Hotchkiss quick-firing guns in every available +position. He had made a glorious attempt--owned to be magnificent; but +it was not war, and in his failure he recognised that it was not the +game of derring-do, but the game of "slim" warfare as played by his +brother Boer which must claim his attention. Now was verified the +prophecy of the Polish apocalypse: "The war of the future will be a war +of sieges and entrenched positions. In the war of the future the +advantage will always rest with the defensive. In the war of the future, +frontal attacks, without immense superiority in numbers, will be +impossible." + +Every campaign, they say, has its lessons. This one we now find to be +full of them, so full indeed that it has necessarily taken our Generals +some time to become acquainted even with their grammar. When the war was +forced upon us by the Pretoria oligarchy for the long-cherished purpose +of ousting Great Britain from South Africa, many of the authorities were +of opinion that a rabble of undisciplined farmers would be incapable of +offering any formidable resistance to the superior military system of +Great Britain. Not a hint of doubt as to the success of our arms and the +effectiveness of our war apparatus was entertained. When Colonials in +the summer of '99 volunteered their services, the Government received +the offers with a sniff. Later they accepted them with grateful thanks. +It was never imagined that colonists could know anything of the art of +war, or that they might teach a lesson or two even to that august +institution the Staff College. Those who knew ventured to suggest that +in South Africa the same cast-iron principles that existed in European +warfare would be valueless, and that the lessons of Ingogo and Majuba in +'81 might be repeated in '99 in all their dire and dismal reality. But +these pessimists were scoffed at. They therefore waited, and hoped +against hope. Now and then they feebly wondered by what process +infantry, arriving two months late, when the enemy had had time to +entrench the whole country at various naturally strong strategic points, +would be able to overcome the disadvantages attendant on immobility. But +they were silenced by a look. British pluck and endurance might be +calculated upon to surmount everything and anything--some said! No one +seemed to care to tackle the problem of how men on foot would be enabled +to compete creditably, in anything like equal numbers, with a mounted +enemy possessing more than ordinary mobility. + +A mounted enemy has many advantages in his favour. He can select his own +position, he can place all his force _en masse_ into the fighting line, +he can so pick his positions that one man on the defensive can make +himself the equal of three men of the attacking force; and, besides, he +can occupy a length of position which must extend his flanks far beyond +those of the attackers on foot. These in consequence are either forced +to extend to equal length, at almost certain risk of being unable to +reinforce any weak point developed during the attack, and thereby cause +the attack to be broken at points; or they have to "contain" only a +portion of the enemy in position, and perhaps leave his wings--or one +wing--free to execute an outflanking movement. It is impossible when a +line extends for miles, and the enemy's strength is not discoverable +before the heat of the engagement, for infantry to come from a great +distance to the assistance of weak points; and by reason of this +immobility it is equally impossible for infantry in the heat of action, +and when the front is extended for miles, to suddenly change a plan of +attack in time to save a situation. + +The task set before our Generals was, therefore, almost superhuman: they +were expected to make up for want of mobility with superior strategical +qualifications; but, as has been said, no committee of Generals could at +this juncture have decided on a strategy applicable to the complicated +situation. That the Boer was a born strategist, and had able advisers, +was amply proved. The amalgam of Boer methods, with Zulu theories and +modern German tactics, was sufficient to try the most ingenious +intelligence. For instance, the Boers in early days selected positions +on the sides and tops of kopjes, and at the commencement of the +campaign, at Talana Hill and at Elandslaagte, they were so perched, in +accordance with the primitive principles of their race. They ignored the +fact that such positions were the worst they could select against +artillery fire with percussion fuses. Even for their own rifle practice +such positions were also the worst, as, firing down at an angle, their +bullets as a rule ran the chance of ploughing the earth without +ricocheting, and served only to hit the one man aimed at. They worked, +and still work, on the old Zulu principle of putting their whole +strength into the fighting line, acting on the Zulu axiom, "Let it +thunder--and pass." A sound principle this, no doubt, but one which our +ponderous military machinery would not allow us to adopt. To these early +methods, and to his native "slimness" and cunning, the Boer now added +some German erudition. The influence of German officers and German +tactics began to work changes curious and inexplicable. The Boers built +scientific entrenchments, no longer on the kopjes alone but also below +them, thus reducing the effect of hostile artillery, save that of +howitzers, and permitting their sharpshooters to sweep the plain with a +hurricane from their Mausers. In addition to this they built long +castellated trenches, perfect underground avenues, to allow of the +invisible massing of troops at any given point. They were also provided +with ingenious gun-trenches, quite hidden, along which their Nordenfeldt +gun, that pumped five shells in rapid succession, could be removed +swiftly from one spot to another, and thereby defeat the efforts of the +British gunners to locate it. + +Thus it will be seen a new complexion was put upon Boer affairs. Novel +and trying conditions were imposed on those who already had to cope +with the problem of how to match in mobility a rival who brought to his +support six legs, while the British only brought two. Whole armies +consisting merely of mounted infantry and artillery had never before +come into action, and it began to be understood that a war against +bushwhackers, guerillas, and sharpshooters, plus the most expensive guns +modernity could provide, was a matter more serious than any with which +the nineteenth century had hitherto had to deal. We had to learn that +sheer pluck, endurance, and brute force were unavailing, and that +strategy of the hard and fast kind--the red-tape strategy of the Staff +College--was about as unpractical as a knowledge of the classics to one +who goes a-marketing. There is no finality in the art of war, and +nations, be they ever so old and wise and important, must go on +learning. + +One of the newer questions was, how far personal intelligence might be +distributed among a body of men? The General as a head, the Staff +Officers as nerves that convey volition to the different members, we had +accepted, but how far individual acumen was needed to insure success now +began to be argued. Certain it was that in this campaign we had +opportunities for studying the comparative value of individual +discretion _versus_ "fighting to order." The Boers, every one of them, +were working for themselves, absolutely for hearth and home, though +perhaps under a general plan which certainly served to harass and annoy +and keep the British army in a dilemma; while we laboured on a +consolidated system which, if not obsolete, was certainly inappropriate. +However, as there was no use in bemoaning our reverses, we began to +congratulate ourselves on having discovered the cause of them. It was +decided that first there must be more troops sent out to meet the +extended nature of our operations, and that these troops must be +accompanied by a sufficient number of horses to insure the necessary +mobility, without which even the brute force of our numbers would be +useless. + +Of the successful issue of future proceedings none had a doubt. All knew +that the finest strategy in the world must be useless when tools were +wanting, and all felt certain that the admirable abilities of our +Generals, when once the means of playing their war game came to hand, +were bound to rise to the prodigious task still in store. + +But for the dire necessity of the three gallant towns--Mafeking, +Kimberley, and Ladysmith--a waiting game would have been possible and +wise. The Boer stores of food and ammunition would eventually have run +out, and the guns gone the way of much-used guns. Trek-oxen, instead of +dragging the waggons of their masters, would have had to go to feed the +hungry commandoes, and the history of slow exhaustion would have had to +be told. But--again there was the great But!--those three valiant towns +were holding out their hands, they were crying for help, they were +standing in their hourly peril hopeful and brave because they +believed--they were certain--that we should never desert them! + + +At home the grievous news of the reverse was digested by the public with +dumb, almost paralysed resignation. At first it was scarcely possible to +believe that the great, the long-anticipated move for the relief of +Ladysmith had proved a failure, and that the Boers were still masters of +the situation, and moreover the richer by eleven of our much-needed +guns. By degrees the terrible truth began to be accepted by us. By +degrees the Government awakened to the fact that the fighting of the +Dutchmen within the region of Natal meant more than the pitting of one +Briton against two Boers, that it meant the dashing of a whole Army +Corps against Nature's strongholds, our own by right of purchase and +blood, and captured from us merely by reason of neglect and delay! + +To awake, however, was to act. In our misfortune it was pleasant to +recall the words of Jomini, when speaking of Frederick the Great and his +defeats in Silesia. "A series of fortunate events," he said, "may dull +the greatest minds, deprive them of their natural vigour, and level them +with common beings. But adversity is a tonic capable of bringing back +energy and elasticity to those who have lost it." The tonic was sipped. +Jomini's theories were proved! Though Great Britain through a series of +fortunate events--a long reign of comparative peace--had become +lethargic and money-grubbing, she, at the first shock of adversity, +regained all her elasticity, vigour, and natural spirit of chivalry. +Promptly the entire nation nerved itself to prove that, as of old, it +was equal to any struggle, any sacrifice. The whole country seemed with +one consent to leap to arms. + +The Militia, nine battalions of Infantry, was now permitted to volunteer +for service in any part of the Queen's dominions where such services +might be wanted, while it was arranged that specially selected +contingents of Yeomanry and Volunteers would start for the Front as soon +as there were found ships sufficient to carry them. + +Noble as amazing was the hurried response of the Volunteers to the +intimation that their services would be accepted for the war. Hastily +they pressed forward in crowds to enrol themselves. Their promptitude +was goodly to look upon and to read of, for it showed that, in spite of +the theories of Tolstoi and the influence of the spirit of modernity, +patriotism is inherent and not a mere exotic or cultivated sentiment in +the British race. We now found that though many traditions may be worn +to rags, those of the British army had grown, like old tapestry, the +more precious for the passage of time. + +Still the military position was pregnant with anxieties. A horse that is +left at the post may perhaps win in the end, but his chances of success +are remote. An army that lands in driblets three months after time is +scarcely calculated to succeed against a rival army which has spent that +interval in equipping itself for the fray. We were forced to remember +that at the onset our officers were placed in the most dangerous +positions, with inadequate support and no prospect of reinforcement, +until their energies, mental and physical, had been sapped by undue and +prolonged strain. On the north Tuli had but a handful of troops to +resist an enormous and powerful enemy; Mafeking was surrounded, +isolated, and able only to resist to the death the persistent attacks of +shot and shell; Vryburg was allowed to be treacherously given away to +the enemy; and Kimberley was left in the lurch as it were, to fight or +fall according to the pluck of those who were ready to exhaust their +vitality in loyalty to the Queen. On the Natal side things were still +worse. The country, every inch of which is familiar to the Boer, had +almost invited invasion. The whole strength of Boers and Free Staters +was permitted to launch itself against an army which was entirely +without reserves, and which could not be reinforced under a month. That +brave and unfortunate soldier, Sir George Colley, had a theory that +small, well-organised troops were worth as much again as large and +desultory ones; but he took no account of peculiar facilities which are +almost inherent to armies fighting on their own soil, as it were, and +habits of warfare which have, so to speak, become ancestral with the +Boer. From old time the Dutchman has employed his mountain fastnesses, +his boulders, and his tambookie grass as screens and shelters, till in +war the "tricks of the trade" have become a second nature to him, and +serve in place of more complicated European methods. The small Natal +army was, on Sir George Colley's principle, allowed to pit itself +against a fighting mass, dense and desultory it may be, but a fighting +mass of enormous dimensions, which, whatever their failings, had weight, +equipment, courage, obstinacy, and intimacy with their surroundings +entirely in their favour. That the enemy was first in the field they had +to thank the original promoters of war, the Peace party--the +humanitarian persons who so long hampered reason by loud outcries +against the shedding of blood that their own countrymen in the Transvaal +were condemned to all the tortures of suspense, to be aggravated later +by all the agonies of famine and disease. Their own countrywomen and +their babes were saved from shot and shell to be sent defenceless and +homeless to wander the world till the charity of strangers or the relief +of death should overtake them, while the loyal natives were left in a +state of trepidation and suspense, without protection, yet forbidden to +raise a hand in their own defence. + +Reason now had its way. But remedies cannot be applied in a moment, and +the public, which is always wise after the event, vented its anguish and +its feelings of suspense by indulging in criticism, or in asking +questions which, of course, could not be answered till the principal +persons concerned were able to take part in the catechism. For instance, +some of the riddles buzzed about in club and railway carriage were: Why +did Sir Redvers Buller make a frontal attack across an open plain +against an enemy admirably entrenched, and posted in a position not only +made strong by art but by nature? Why was it that the Government, in +spite of the warnings given by Sir Alfred Milner while he was in England +in May '99, neglected to take such precautions as would have prevented +the enemy from being entirely in advance of us in the matter of time? +Why, also, were the Boers permitted to arm themselves with the most +expensive modern weapons, to be used against us, under the very eye of +our representative in Pretoria, without our being warned of the inferior +quality of our own guns, and of the impossibility of making ourselves a +match for the enemy so long as the cheese-paring policy of the +authorities at home was countenanced? Why, with an Intelligence +Department in working order, was it never discovered that united Free +State and Transvaal Dutchmen would vastly outnumber all the troops we +were prepared--or, rather, unprepared--to put in the field, the troops +we strove to make sufficient till the strain of reverse forced from us +the acceptance of help from the Colonies, the Militia, and the +Volunteers? + +The great question of reinforcements filled all minds. Nothing indeed +could be looked for till they should reach the Cape. Fifteen huge +transports were due to arrive between the end of December and the +beginning of January, bringing on the scene some 15,000 troops of all +arms. The Fifth Division, under Sir Charles Warren, consisting of eight +battalions of Infantry and its complement of Artillery and Engineers was +expected, also the Household Cavalry Composite Regiment, the 14th +Hussars, a siege train, a draft of Marines, and various odd branches of +the service. Later on more troops would follow, but pending the arrival +of the warrior cargoes it was impossible for our Generals to do more +than act on the defensive, and consider themselves fortunate if they +could prevent the further advance of the enemy to the south. + +But the most momentous move of the closing year was the departure of +Lord Roberts for the seat of war. Here was this gallant officer, whose +life had been devoted to the service of his country, and who was at an +age when many other men would have elected to stay by hearth and home, +suddenly called on to act in the most difficult and trying crisis. And, +in the very hour that he was asked to rouse himself to meet the call of +Queen and country, he was dealt a crushing blow. His gallant son, the +only one, and one well worthy to have worn the laurels of his noble +father, besides adding to them by his own splendid acts, was carried +off, a victim to the severe wound he received at Colenso. Here was a +supreme trial, so supreme indeed that none dared touch it. All, even +Lord Roberts's sincerest friends, shrunk from dwelling on the agony of +mind that must have been endured by this great hero when at the same +moment the voice of duty and the cry of domestic love jarred in +conflict. On the one side he was called upon to brace himself to meet a +political situation fraught with all manner of indescribable +complications, while on the other, human nature with a thousand clinging +tendrils drew him towards the numbness of mute woe or the consolation of +private tears. But, like the great warrior he is, he got into harness +and started off, leaving his misery in the hands of the great British +people, who held it as their own. The "send off" they gave him at +Waterloo Station was one of the most remarkable outbursts of public +feeling on record, and this was not only due to admiration for the +conqueror of Kandahar, but to profound sympathy for the man and the +father who was thus laying aside his private self and placing all his +magnificent ability at the service of the Empire. + + +DOINGS AT CHIEVELEY + +It was now found desirable to remove part of the camp about ten and a +half miles to the south, to get out of range of the Boer big guns which +commanded the position. The wounded were daily being sent off in +train-loads to Maritzburg, many of them, in spite of being shot in two +or three places, cheerful and anxious to return quickly "to be in at the +death," as they sportingly described it. The funeral of Lord Roberts's +gallant son caused a sense of deep depression to prevail in all ranks, +for he was not only regretted by those who held his brilliant qualities +in esteem, but in sympathy with the sore affliction which had befallen +the veteran "Bobs," whose name, wherever Tommy goes, is one to conjure +with. The ceremony was a most impressive one, and the pall-bearers were +all men of young Roberts's corps. These were Major Prince Christian +Victor, Colonels Buchanan-Riddell and Bewicke-Copley, and Major +Stuart-Wortley. + +The graves of all the unfortunate slain were marked round, covered with +flowers, and temporary tablets arranged till suitable memorials should +be prepared. + +[Illustration: A PICKET OF 13th HUSSARS SURPRISED NEAR THE TUGELA RIVER +(HUSSAR HILL). + +Drawing by John Charlton.] + +Meanwhile the Naval guns were unceasing in their activity, and made an +appalling accompaniment to the afternoon siestas in which many, +owing to the excessive heat, were inclined to indulge. For strategical +reasons it was now found necessary to blow up the road-bridge over the +Tugela, and thus prevent the Boers from advancing further to the south +or spying upon our positions. + +[Illustration: MAP OF THE SEAT OF WAR. Scale 1 inch=86 miles.] + +Extra precautions were taken in regard to the white flag. It began to be +believed at last that the Boer would take an unfair advantage of the +Briton whenever he should get a chance. Strangely enough, our officers +seemed to have forgotten or disregarded the object-lesson of the tragic +affair of Bronker's Spruit. Yet Boer "slimness" was then well enough +established. The unfortunate Colonel Anstruther caused to be printed in +the Transvaal Government _Gazette_ a bi-lingual proclamation, informing +the Boers that, in consequence of the many treacherous uses to which the +white flag had been put, he would in future recognise the emblem only +under the following conditions: two Boers accompanied by an officer, and +all unarmed, must approach the lines bearing the white flag aloft. The +British soldiers were also advised to keep well under cover whenever the +flag was displayed. This showed that reliance on Boer honour would in no +case be attempted. At the present date Boer morality had not improved, +and it was even declared that the Free Staters had made their women boil +down their national flag, so that in its pallid state it might at a +little distance be mistaken for the white flag, and come in handy in +case of need. + +On the 20th of December a picket, consisting of seven men belonging to +the 13th Hussars, was surprised some five miles from camp, in the +direction of Weenen, by a party of sixty Boers. These cautiously crept +round some kopjes to where the outpost was stationed. A smart tussle +ensued. Two men were killed and seven horses were lost. No sooner had +information of the fight reached camp than some of Bethune's and +Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry were despatched to the rescue, but the +Boers, on perceiving these reinforcements, quickly fled and thus escaped +punishment. + +At this time the second advance for the relief of Ladysmith was very +secretly being organised, but no one knew exactly when Sir Redvers +Buller meant to move, or whether he intended to give up the idea of a +frontal attack altogether. Our Generals were criticised for making +frontal attacks, but Clausewitz declares that the attempt to turn the +flank of the enemy can only be justified by a great superiority; this +superiority may be either actual superiority of numbers, or it may +follow from the way in which the lines of communication are placed. +Unfortunately we had no favouring strength; the Boers outnumbered us +everywhere, and not only did they exceed us numerically, but their +mobility enabled them so quickly to move from front to flank positions +that they were, on desire, facing us at any moment. In fact the Boer +army had no flank, and therefore the vast amount of after-the-event +wisdom which was gratuitously handed about by "the man in the street" +was absolutely wasted. + +An unfortunate incident now occurred. Capt. James Rutherford and Mr. +Grenfell, S.A.L.H., while visiting the pickets, disappeared. They +apparently rode into the midst of the enemy's scouts, who were +everywhere prowling about, and were forced to surrender. The report of +the capture was brought to the camp by native runners, who stated that +the officers had been removed to Pretoria. However, for two gallant +Britons lost there was one gained, for at the very time Mr. Winston +Churchill had almost miraculously made himself free of his captors. + +The story of his escape reads like a novel; but truth is stranger than +fiction. When removed to Pretoria after the disaster to the armoured +train at Chieveley, he almost gave up hope of escape; indeed he had every +reason so to do, for on the 12th of December he was informed by the +Transvaal Government's Secretary for War that there was little chance of +his release. Whereupon, with many doubts and misgivings, he discussed +with himself the best means of struggling for freedom. The State Schools +Prison was well guarded; it was surrounded by a high wall, and the +sentries were vigilant in the extreme. He formed for himself a plan, +however, and once when the back of the sentry was momentarily turned he +took his courage in both hands as the French say, rushed at the six-foot +wall, scaled it, and let himself down into a neighbouring garden before +his movement could be detected. The garden was the garden of an inhabited +house. There were lights in the windows; more, there were visitors on the +verandah, and presently, ramblers among the paths! Moments of horror as +the escaped hid in the trees seemed to become years, discovery appeared +to be merely a matter of moments. But evidently the Fates decided that so +useful a member of creation--warrior, writer, and politician--could not +be spared by society or his country, and in a little while Mr. Churchill +found himself wandering, undisguised and unrecognised, through the +streets of the town. Burghers passed him, passengers brushed his +shoulders. Nobody asked his business. It was evident that Fate wanted +him. The stars said so, and following their direction he struck out +towards the Delagoa Railroad. He knew that he dared ask his way of none; +he was aware that he must make the most of the cloak of night; he was +intimate enough with Boer customs to be certain that in a few hours his +description would be posted throughout the two Republics. The present, +and only the present, was his. He walked along the line, evading the +watchers on bridges and culverts, and determining to stick to the rails, +without which he might find himself lost or wandering back in the teeth +of the enemy. Once free of the town, he bided his time cautiously in the +neighbourhood of an adjacent station. There he watched the coming of a +train, and just as it steamed past him, with an alacrity and agility born +of sheer despair, he made a leap towards a truck, grabbed at a hook on +the edge, boarded it, and was soon burrowing deep in a cargo of +coal-sacks. There he lay, grimy, exhausted, and almost distraught, but +happy. He was free. Every minute the anxiety for freedom had grown within +him, till now, fighting his way towards it, it had become an almost +savage passion. He had decided he would never go back. No one should +capture him. But this was easier to swear than to accomplish. To escape +detection it was necessary again to risk his life--to leap off the train +as he had leapt on it, while the machinery was in full swing and the +driver ignorant of the existence of his distinguished passenger. Before +dawn, therefore, he emerged from the coal-heap, and with a flying leap +landed flat on the railroad. He gathered himself together, and by sunrise +was concealed in a wood, his only companion for some time being a +vulture. The sojourn in the cool boskage of the Transvaal was fraught +with good luck, and at dusk when the fugitive emerged he was another man. +At last he was able to gather his forces together for another trip on a +passing train. There was always danger though--danger because it was +necessary to hug the line, and where the line was, there also were +railway guards, or at least humanity--inimical humanity, who most +probably were plotting his ruin. Plod, plod, plod; so passed the hours, +scrambling along in the dead of night through sluits and dongas in the +effort to avoid the direct neighbourhood of huts, bridges, stations, and +yet keep in touch with the winding iron track that led to the longed-for +sea. For five days and nights he persevered, tramping after dark and +sneaking under cover all day, and dimly conscious that the hue and cry +had gone forth, and that every man's hand in the enemy's country was now +turned against him. On the sixth day he managed again with amazing good +fortune to safely board a train, and this time it was one going from +Middleburg to Delagoa Bay. Again he burrowed among sacks and carefully +hid himself, so carefully, indeed, that owing to his extreme precaution +discovery was evaded. The train was searched, the sacks were prodded. +Deep down, scarcely daring to breathe, lay the man they were seeking--an +inch or two off--just an inch or two off. He drew a long breath and +praised God for his escape. After that he passed some sixty hours in all +the agonies of suspense. Famine and thirst preyed on him, and active +horror lest all his exertions should be in vain, lest, at the very last +moment, the whole struggle of hope and wretchedness would end in dire and +fatal disaster. But he was preserved. He arrived at Lourenco Marques on +the 21st of December, and from there proceeded to Natal. "I am very +weak, but I am free." Such were the words of his telegram; no wired +words ever meant more. "I have lost many pounds in weight, but I am +lighter in heart; and I avail myself of this moment, which is a witness +to my earnestness, to urge an unflinching and uncompromising prosecution +of the war." In regard to Mr. Winston Churchill's arrival among his +friends in Natal, an eye-witness wrote:-- + + "The 23rd of December last was a memorable day at Durban, + perhaps the most memorable since that on which the Boers' + ultimatum was published. From Lourenco Marques had come the + exciting intelligence that young Winston Churchill, a + distinguished member of a world-renowned race, had succeeded in + evading his jailers at Pretoria, and, after a series of + thrilling adventures, had arrived safely at Delagoa Bay. The + telegrams had further announced that the hero had immediately + shipped on board the Rennie liner _Induna_ and would land at + Durban that very afternoon. The fame of Mr. Churchill as a + soldier and an author was already established. The history of + his gallantry both in India and at Omdurman was already well + known to every good Natalian before he first stepped ashore + there as one of the war correspondents of the _Morning Post_. + His subsequent courageous conduct at Chieveley at the + unfortunate incident of the armoured train and his capture by + the Boers, now capped by his marvellous escape from Pretoria, + had set Durban agog with excitement, and filled all and sundry + with hearty desires to afford him a right royal welcome on his + landing again on British soil. + + "The brilliant summer sunshine, tempered by a fresh sea-breeze + which sent a soft ripple across the deep blue surface of the + magnificent harbour; the bold headland of the bluff contrasting + vividly against the streets of iron-roofed dwellings in the + township; the large numbers of ocean-going steamers and sailing + craft, gay with bunting; the eager, expectant crowd of every + class of society, from gaily-dressed ladies to wharf labourers, + refugees, and Kaffirs in but shirts and trousers, all + contributed to the completion of a picturesque panorama never + to be forgotten. Long before midday did we assemble in our + thousands. When it was whispered about that the _Induna_ would + berth alongside the steamer _Inchanga_, and that Mr. Churchill + must cross the decks of the _Inchanga_ before stepping ashore, + a rush was made for her, and, in spite of all the efforts of + the officers and crew, the crowd swarmed like bees on her. They + took possession of every available point of vantage; they + invaded the sacred precincts of the captain's bridge; they + braved the perils of the rigging; they huddled together on the + 'fo'cas'le'; they filled every boat; and, heedless of fresh + paint, they clung affectionately to the ventilators and the + funnel. + + "After having been several times reported the _Induna_ rounded + the point at half-past two. Amid breathless expectation she + steamed slowly across the harbour. Standing beside the captain + on the bridge a smallish, clean-shaven man was descried, and + the crowd at once recognised him as the hero whom they had + assembled to honour. A thousand good British cheers broke the + silence, a thousand lusty throats shouted a heartfelt welcome. + But this was not all. The sturdy Natalians did not stop at + shouting. The moment the _Induna_ was moored Mr. Churchill, + smiling, was seized bodily by twenty pairs of brawny arms, was + patted and thumped on the back by hundreds of applauding hands, + and finally, after being nearly strangled by over-zealous + admirers who were waving hats and handkerchiefs and crying + 'Bravo!' and 'Well done!' he was carried shoulder-high across + the decks of the _Inchanga_ and deposited in a ricksha, whence + a speech was demanded. In a few modest sentences Mr. Churchill + good-humouredly narrated some of the more prominent episodes of + his exploit, and a start was made for his hotel, the + ricksha-boy being assisted more or less by some fifty amateur + ricksha-men and escorted by a majority of the crowd. After + picking up the editor of the _Natal Mercury_ on the way, and + installing him in state by the side of Mr. Churchill, the hotel + was at last reached, and the demand for another speech having + been acceded to, Mr. Churchill was permitted at four o'clock to + retire from the public gaze. The same night he left Durban for + the front." + +The following is a copy of the letter written by Mr. Winston Churchill +to Mr. de Souza prior to escaping from prison:-- + + + "STATE SCHOOLS PRISON, PRETORIA. + + "DEAR MR. DE SOUZA,--I do not consider that your Government was + justified in holding me, a press correspondent and a + non-combatant, as a prisoner, and I have consequently resolved + to escape. The arrangements I have succeeded in making with my + friends outside are such as to give me every confidence. But I + wish, in leaving you thus hastily and unceremoniously, to once + more place on record my appreciation of the kindness which has + been shown me and the other prisoners by you, by the + commandant, and by Dr. Gunning, and my admiration of the + chivalrous and humane character of the Republican forces. My + views on the general question of the war remain unchanged, but + I shall always retain a feeling of high respect for the several + classes of the Burghers I have met, and on reaching the British + lines I will set forth a truthful and impartial account of my + experiences in Pretoria. In conclusion, I desire to express my + obligations to you, and to hope that when this most grievous + and unhappy war shall have come to an end, a state of affairs + may be created which shall preserve the national pride of the + Boers and the security of the British, and put a final stop to + the rivalry and enmity of both races. Regretting that + circumstances have not permitted me to bid you a personal + farewell, believe me, yours very sincerely, + + "WINSTON CHURCHILL. + + "_December 11, 1899._" + + +CHRISTMAS AT THE CAPE AND NATAL + +We had arrived at what might be termed a breathing spell. There was no +serious movement in the direction of the Modder River, and Lord Methuen +was evidently biding his time. General Gatacre felt himself too weak to +take up any very active or offensive step, while General French +contented himself with such harassing and cleverly annoying operations +as kept the enemy, like a man with a mosquito round his nose, from +napping. There was great hope of better things, however, for it was +known that the _Dunottar Castle_ had left England and was conveying to +the Cape--in addition to Lord Roberts--Lord Kitchener and Major-General +T. Kelly-Kenny, the Commander of the Sixth Division. Besides these were +the following officers of Lord Roberts's Staff:--Major-General G. T. +Pretyman; Colonel Viscount Downe, C.I.E.; Major H. V. Cowan; Captain A. +C. M. Waterfield; Major J. F. R. Henderson; Major C. V. Hume; +Brevet-Major G. F. Gorringe, D.S.O.; Colonel Lord Erroll; Commander the +Hon. S. J. Fortescue (Naval Adviser to Lord Roberts); Captain Lord +Herbert Scott; Captain Lord Settrington. + +This showed that when at last we set to work we did so with a will. The +forces in South Africa before the war had amounted to 25,000, which +number was augmented by 55,000 on the arrival of the First Army Corps. +Late in December came the Fifth Division of about 11,000, under Sir +Charles Warren, followed by the Sixth Division of 10,000 men. The +Seventh and Eighth Divisions of 10,000 men respectively were shortly to +increase the forces at the disposal of Lord Roberts, together with some +2000 additional Cavalry, 10,000 Yeomanry, 9000 Volunteers, seven +battalions of Militia, drafts for regiments at the front amounting to +10,000, and about 20,000 local forces. The first Colonial contingents +consisted of about 2500 men, and these were to be followed by second +contingents of like strength. The Naval Brigade was composed of about +1000; so that in all, roughly estimated, we were on the eve of putting +184,000 men into the field. + +Christmas day at the Cape was solemnised with much speechifying, both +from Dutch pulpits and Dutch partisans, and not a few peacefully +disposed persons in this time of general goodwill lugged in Sir Henry +Campbell-Bannerman by the ears and quoted him to suit their purpose. +That amiable worthy had said the war could have been avoided, and that +cheap and incontrovertible statement the Bond got hold of and chewed and +rolled on the tongue as an accompaniment to its plum-pudding and +mince-pies. Of course, the war could have been avoided. Of course, it +would have been quite possible to voluntarily retire from the Cape and +allow South Africa to become entirely Dutch. In the same way we could +give up governing India and hand it over to Russia and confine our +expenses and our energies to Great Britain, the water supply, the +development of national cookery, and the propagation of cabbages. But +peace with dishonour was fortunately not to the taste of the British +public, and those who spent their Yuletide in active service were far +too devoted to the sacred duty of maintaining the prestige of the Empire +to sigh for the domestic hearth and regal sirloin that might have been +theirs had the Government extended its accommodating apathy a few months +longer. + +There were no holly decorations and displays of bunting, no rubbings of +hands and vigorous snow-balling, because the South African sun blazed +with the glare of beaten brass, and the thermometer stood to the height +of some 100 degrees at midday. But there was a vast amount of +joke-making and hearty goodwill nevertheless, and many prayers for +friends and family and Queen. + +In Natal there were lively doings in honour of the festal season. At a +time when even cracker manufacturers wax poetic, the journalistic poets +thought it their duty to burst into rhyme. The Natal papers indulged in +some jocose doggerel, which would have been comic had it not been deeply +tragic. The lines ran thus: "To Ladysmith"--the only lines, by-the-bye, +that did run there-- + + "'Hold the Fort, for I am coming,' + Says the helio-- + Quick as light the answer flashes, + 'Ain't you coming slow?'" + +But Tommy was pleased and thought the stanza a capital joke. He meant to +get there directly, and merely quoted the proverb about "slow and +shure"--there were so many Irishmen about, fine fellows, who believed in +themselves and they were shure about everything. They had nothing to do +with doubt, for doubt, after all, is the mother of diffidence! + +And some of these rollicking youngsters managed to retain their native +good-humour in most distressing circumstances. A good story was told of +one gallant private in hospital who had lost his leg but persisted in +apostrophising the missing limb whenever it ached. "Be aisy wid ye. +Can't ye be quiet? Ye'll niver take me into the foight again. Ohovo!" + +Other examples of amazing good-temper and pluck on the part of the +wounded filled all eye-witnesses with pathetic admiration. One man, a +quondam music-hall singer, carried his jocose art into his sick-bed. A +Boer prisoner had lost his arms, and the poor fellow helplessly shook +his head when offered tobacco. But the music-hall singer saw the shake +of the head and tearful eye that accompanied it. In a moment, with +gymnastic dexterity, he had placed his arms round the Boer and performed +the office of the missing ones, giving the fellow the advantage of a +good smoke. Another of our men who had lost his right arm co-operated +with a Boer who had lost his left, and between them they rolled +cigarettes to the great satisfaction of both. While they were in +hospital another sufferer pretended to be in no way depressed by the +loss of his arm, and ventured on mild whimsicalities regarding the +economy of being able to share a single pair of gloves with any +right-handed man who might also have lost a limb! + +[Illustration: LIEUT.-GENERAL FORRESTIER WALKER, K.C.B. + +Commanding the Lines of Communication. + +Photo by Elliott & Fry, London.] + +On the whole, well or ill, Tommy was temporarily in clover. The fat of +the land was being sent out by fervent admirers at home. Indeed he was +getting somewhat inundated with worsted goods which the fair hands of +his countrywomen had been devotedly manufacturing. Jack Tar, despite his +magnificent work, was not so highly distinguished, at least so he +thought, and occasionally vented his disgust into private ears. But, +as one of them said, they'd had a treat for Christmas--the treat of a +wash! It was bathing under difficulties, however, for one half of the +men had to keep guard with loaded rifles while the other half wallowed +in water that, in harmony with the general scheme of things in camp, was +also of kharki hue! + +Tommy at the front was externally scarcely the Tommy of our +acquaintance. His bright spick and span exterior was gone. Kharki had +sobered him and planed down his individuality. His uniform no longer sat +without a crease. It was washed and worn and shrunken from hard and +honourable usage, and his carriage was no longer the carriage of Tommy +on parade. He seemed to have taken a leaf out of Jack's book, and the +slight slouch became him well. It gave him the air of a workman and an +individual, and seemed to point to the fact that there was no longer +occasion for him to be judged by appearances. We knew the inner man now. +He did his duty grandly, and his splendid courage and perseverance had +made him independent of the pomp and panoply of war. In the matter of +"grit" they were all alike. But in externals they had curious +differences, their characteristics varying considerably according to the +regiment to which they belonged. Some were dapper still--the newly +arrived ones--with hair clipped to an eighth of an inch for head and +half an inch for moustache; others had succumbed to circumstances, and +had grown beards of odd sizes and shapes and colours (scumbled in all +cases with dust), while the youngsters displayed an unhappy medium, +styled by an officer "pieces of unexpected wool," on promiscuous parts +of their faces! Still, when all was said, joviality and "grit" put an +identical veneer on them all! + +The officers too were transmogrified. They were dressed exactly like the +men. Tan brown belts, swords, and revolvers were no longer in evidence. +When going off to war, or any other duty at all under arms, each officer +arrayed himself in his servant's belt and equipment--stained with clay +paste to the prevalent dust or kharki colour--and took with him his +servant's rifle and one hundred rounds of ammunition. There was a +difference without a distinction. The officer carried a field-glass, and +this when not in use was concealed in a coat-pocket. Every precaution +was now adopted to prevent them from inviting an undue share of +attention. The mounted officers had carbines--neat, handy weapons, which +slipped into a leather carbine bucket in the saddle, on the other side +of which went the very necessary wire-cutters. Barbed wire entanglements +were so much a part of the Boer programme--"to cheer you up in crossing +the drifts," some one said--that the cutters became an essential part of +warlike gear. A strange innovation this; very small but very full of +meaning. The Boers were teaching us a great deal. We were beginning to +understand, almost to admire, their curious modes of warfare--their +strange ability to "sit tight," wire themselves in, and yet to fly away! +Years ago, when some tactician ventured to say that the war of the +future embraced only the question of long-range rifles and +wire-entangled trenches, we were inclined to pooh-pooh! Now we were +beginning to see wisdom in this stubborn and persistent, and yet +skittishly mobile foe! When we looked at our wire nippers and their +strong entrenchments we began to formulate the war motto of the future, +which resolves itself into five words: "Six legs and a spade!" The +sword, the bayonet, the cavalry charge were passing away for ever. Here +the dignified charger was ill-matched with the nimble steed of the +country, and many officers were only too glad to supplement their +English horses with Basuto ponies--to secure four serviceable and sure +legs, as the climate and other circumstances contrived to wear out those +of their British beasts. Fortunately there was still a plentiful choice +in horse-flesh, what with British and Australian and Argentine +specimens, but the Basuto ponies were the most knowing and handy for the +purposes required. The imported horse, it was discovered, needed a long +and probationary period to make him at home on the South African veldt. +Like other aristocratical creatures, he was unequal to the hand-to-mouth +existence of the African-born animal, who, by habit and instinct, could +shift for himself. He was neither knowing nor cautious, having been +unaccustomed to ground honeycombed with mole-holes, sluits, and other +obstacles, or to the trick of rolling on the veldt and picking up his +meals haphazard from the first bush he came across. Hence it became +evident that horses in plenty must be forthcoming if we were ever to +remedy our deficiencies and make our progress something other than the +steam-roller style of progress to which we had been accustomed. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +MAFEKING + + +Plucky little Mafeking continued to hold its own, and not merely to hold +its own, but to make itself dauntlessly aggressive. Continual sorties +took place, and indeed formed part of the routine of daily life. +Commandant Cronje now sent in a communication disputing the right of the +British to use dynamite in any way in the operations for the defence of +the town; but Colonel Baden-Powell was inclined for deeds, not +arguments, so Cronje was silenced. The town was enlivened by a great +concert, in which the National Anthem was sung with fervour and intense +significance. This showed without doubt that Mafeking meant to fight so +long as breath should last. In regard to provisions and water, the +garrison was getting on well. The art of dodging shells, said one +officer, was being carried to a state of great perfection, and the +fighting was being conducted in strict accordance with military +etiquette, Commandant Cronje always giving due notice of bombardment! + +For some time after Colonel Walford's gallant defence of Cannon Kopje on +the 31st October, nothing much occurred. The losses from this attack +were more than at first supposed. Captain the Hon. H. Marsham, as we +know, was killed, and Captain Pechell, who was hit in the abdomen by a +piece of shell, succumbed to his injuries. Sergeant Lloyd, who did +splendid service with the Red Cross company, was struck while attending +to the wounded, and died. Trooper Nicholas, whose arm was shattered, +succumbed owing to shock to the system. A trooper who was hit by a +bullet in the collar-bone escaped death miraculously. Fortunately, +Lieutenants Brady and Dawson, who were also injured, were getting on +well. + +Among the marvellous escapes recorded, and these were not a few, was one +of a negro who was shot through the brain by a bullet. The projectile +passed through one temple and lodged in the other, yet the man still +survived, and showed a decided intention to recover. There is an old +story of a Jamaica negro who fell from a tree without injury, and when +asked how he escaped, he explained his good fortune by saying, "Tank +God, me fall on me head!" The invulnerability of the nigger cranium in +that case, as in this, had its advantages, and it would be interesting +if some of our specialists--say Dr. Horsley--would account for the +rough-and-tumble superiority of blacks over whites. + +On the 1st of November a lamentable incident occurred. Parslow, the +correspondent of the _Daily Chronicle_, was shot by a member of the +garrison. The following is an extract from a letter relating to the sad +affair, which was in the possession of the Editor of the _Daily +Chronicle_:-- + +"MAFEKING, _November 19_.--One item, the most unpleasant of the whole +beleaguerment, occupied attention during last week--that is, the +court-martial of Lieutenant Murchison for the murder of Mr. Parslow, +special war correspondent of the London _Daily Chronicle_. He was a +genial, good-humoured young fellow, and asked Murchison, an artilleryman +of ability and undoubted courage, to dine with him. After dinner Mr. +Parslow strolled with Murchison across the Market Square towards Dixon's +Hotel, the headquarters of the Staff, the ostensible purpose being for +both of them to obtain a copy of the orders for the day, usually issued +about that time--half-past nine or ten o'clock P.M. Some words ensued +apparently during the few minutes occupied in reaching Dixon's. Parslow +left his companion in the passage of the hotel, and was passing out, +when it is alleged that Murchison drew his revolver and shot him dead, +the bullet entering his head on the occipital protuberance an inch or an +inch and a half behind the left ear, and lodging against the base of the +skull. The case is completed, and the court closed to consider the +verdict." + +The young journalist was exceedingly popular and deeply regretted. He +was buried with military honours on the evening of the 2nd. His coffin +was covered with the Union Jack, and carried to the grave by Major +Baillie of the _Morning Post_, Mr. Angus Hamilton of the _Times_, Mr. +Hellawell of the _Daily Mail_, Mr. Reilly of the _Pall Mall Gazette_, +and the correspondent of the Press Association. The funeral was attended +by many members of the Staff, who were desirous of showing their esteem +for the promising and gallant writer. + +[Illustration: THE SIEGE OF MAFEKING + +TOPOGRAPHICAL SKETCH SHOWING THE BRITISH AND BOER POSITIONS + +From a sketch by a British officer brought by runner to Buluwayo] + +The enemy now engaged in hostilities under the command of the son of +Cronje, who was said to have had, in the interval, a _passage d'armes_ +with his father, the General, the younger man having taunted the elder +for not having succeeded in reducing Mafeking to submission. Whereupon +Cronje _fils_ undertook to do the great deed himself, and in setting +about it managed to get killed. The Boers again stormed the place, and +were driven back in confusion by the magnificent energy of the British +South African Police, leaving strewn on the field of action an enormous +number of dead and wounded. Their removal occupied two hours. Captain +Goodyear, commanding a squad of Cape "boys," made a dashing sortie, and +received a wound in the leg, but he nevertheless captured the +brickfields, and held them against the enemy, thus preventing him from +utilising them for sniping operations. + +Sunday the 5th of November was, as usual, observed as a day of truce. +The enemy made an effort to defy the rules of Sabbath etiquette, and +were informed, under a flag of truce, that if they should continue to +erect works commanding the brickfields, the guns would open fire on +them. This warning had the desired effect. The memory of Guy Fawkes, +together with the news of our victories in Natal, was honoured by an +exhibition of fireworks--a display which some thought rather _de trop_ +considering the nature of the daily operations in the town. On the +following day the Boers made themselves unpleasantly obstreperous by +saluting the place with quick-firing guns, weapons whose shells burst +almost simultaneously with the report, thus depriving those aimed at of +the chance of running to cover. + +The air of Mafeking is said to be equal to champagne, and perhaps to its +stimulating influence the garrison owed its sprightliness and activity. +The little township "ran" a journal of its own, and though not so +effervescent as _The Lyre_ of Ladysmith, it had its humorous side. The +_Mafeking Mail_, as it was called, was issued daily--shells permitting. +Quoting from the _Mail_ of the 1st of November, a facsimile of which was +reproduced by the _Daily Telegraph_, we read that-- + + "We have borne the much-feared bombardment for a fortnight, and + still Mafeking stands. From what we have experienced we do not + consider ourselves too optimistic in anticipating a successful + ending to the contest. For the first time in the history of + Boer warfare have the Boers been defeated at every turn by a + force far inferior in point of numbers. Since the first attack + on Saturday, October 14th, they fly directly our guns are + heard. Safely out of range they fire into the town, but they do + not appear to be pining for another attempt at storming + Mafeking. In the 'general orders' issued last Sunday the + following occurs:--'The Colonel Commanding having made a + careful inspection of the defences of the town and the native + stadt, is now of opinion that no force that the Boers are + likely to bring against us could possibly effect an entrance at + any point.' Now, this is like the advertisements say a certain + cocoa is--grateful and comforting, and we feel that having got + so far through the ordeal, we have only to remain steadfast, as + the matter of a little time will see decided the first great + step towards the settlement of the future of South Africa. + There is no doubt that the attention of Great Britain, the + Colonies, in fact, the whole world, is now riveted upon this + little spot, which is now playing a prominent part in the most + important epoch in the history of this wonderful continent. We + know there is no need to urge the claims of our country and + kindred upon our gallant garrison. Being in such close touch + with each other that nothing but the exceptional circumstances + thrust upon us could have made possible, we are in a position + to judge and recognise the steady determination that British + blood and British pluck exhibit when such a crisis as the + present arises, and we know that the memory of Bronkhurst + Spruit, Majuba, and Potchefstrom will make that determination, + supported by the knowledge of our grand successes of the past + fortnight, more firm, more strong, and more united than has + been before, and this, with the grand soldier who is in command + here, will render certain the first stages towards the complete + crushing of the enemy. + + "There is no doubt that there was landed in South Africa by + Sunday last a body of 57,000 men, including probably twelve or + fourteen regiments of cavalry, twenty or twenty-two batteries + of artillery, and forty regiments of infantry, besides, most + likely, a body of mounted infantry. Of this force there will be + not less than 15,000 disembarked at Cape Town and despatched on + the road here. They may now be settling accounts with the Boers + outside Kimberley, in which case Vryburg might be reached by + Sunday, allowing for some delay at Fourteen Streams. When our + troops reach Vryburg the air of Mafeking will not suit Cronje + sprinters, so by _this day week_ we may begin to wish them a + pleasant journey back to the Transvaal. It will then be merely + an interchange of courtesy if we return the visit. + + "When the big gun with which the enemy hoped to pulverise us, + and which has sent more shells in the neighbourhood of the + hospital and women's laager than in any other parts of the + town, is taken by our troops, we think it only fair to Mafeking + that it should be brought here. It will make a good memorial + and be an object lesson to succeeding generations, who, reading + the history of our bombardment, and seeing the weapon employed + against our women and children, will be able to judge of the + nineteenth-century Boer's fitness to dominate such a territory + as the Transvaal. Let it be placed, say, in the space opposite + the entrance to the railway station, raised on end, with the + unexploded shells piled at its base, with a description of + Colonel Baden-Powell's clever defence of the place. We hope the + Colonel will bear the town in mind when the disposal of the gun + is under discussion. + + "Major Lord E. Cecil, C.S.O., last evening issued the following + under the heading of 'General Orders':"-- + + [Here was recorded Colonel Baden-Powell's appreciation of the + action of Colonel Walford and his gallant men, which has been + previously quoted.] + +The perusal of the opening paragraphs of the _Mafeking Mail_ serves to +enlighten us as to the degrees of hope deferred through which the plucky +inhabitants had to pass. The pathos of the expression, "So by this day +week we may begin to wish them a pleasant journey back to the +Transvaal," can only be understood by comparing the date to which it +referred with that of the relief of the noble garrison--the 17th of May +1900! + +On the 7th of November, the force under Major Godley and Captain Vernon +made a successful sortie, the excellent management of which was +recognised in an order issued by Colonel Baden-Powell:-- + +"The surprise against the enemy to the westward of the town was smartly +and successfully executed at dawn this morning by a force under the +direction of Major Godley. Captain Vernon's squadron of the Protectorate +Regiment carried this operation out with conspicuous coolness and +steadiness. The gunners, under Major Panzera, fought and worked their +guns well under a very trying fire from the enemy. The Bechuanaland +Rifles are to be congratulated on the efficient services rendered by +them under Captain Cowan in this their first engagement in the field. +The enemy appeared to have suffered severely, while our casualties were +luckily very light. This is largely due to the fact that Major Godley +delivered his blow suddenly and quickly, and withdrew his force again in +good time and order. The Colonel Commanding has much pleasure in placing +on record a plucky piece of work by Gunners R. Cowan and F. H. Godson. +The Hotchkiss gun, of which they had charge, was overturned and its +trail-hook broken in course of action. In spite of a very heavy fire +from the enemy's one-pound Maxim and seven-pound Krupp, these men +attached the trail to the limber by ropes, and brought the gun safely +away." + +At this time the town was surrounded by some 2000 Boers, and a heavy +shell-fire was daily exchanged. The damage done, however, was slight, +except in the case of the Convent, which seemed to be a favourite mark +for the Boer gunners. The trenches of the besiegers had been moved to +about 2000 yards of the town, and from here the enemy fired with rifles, +but with indifferent success. The Boers, in fact, were getting +disheartened. Colonel Baden-Powell was proving himself prepared to enter +into a competitive examination on the subject of "slimness" with them, +and they were somewhat disturbed at the intellectual strain demanded for +rivalry against so smart a pupil. All manner of efforts were made, and +there was even a Dutch council of war as to the propriety of making a +midnight attack upon the place. But the wily Colonel was ready for them. +He took care that lanterns should be placed in suitable positions to +illumine the paths of the would-be assailants, and when they turned on +these lanterns the attention of their guns and broke them, more were +immediately found to take their place. There was also the British +bayonet in reserve, and a hint which they did not care to prove as a +certainty--that dynamite was somewhere or other arranged in a ring round +the place, so that at a given sign the too pressing attentions of +intruders might be disposed of. These some one called "the B. P. +Surprise Packets," which were arranged on the lucky-tub principle, ready +for those who might venture on an experimental dive. The exact locality +was not disclosed, in order that their whereabouts might prove a +never-ending source of wonder and interest to the besiegers. + +[Illustration: OUTPOST AND ENTRENCHMENT, SOUTHERN FORT, MAFEKING] + +As before said, continual sorties took place, and Colonel Baden-Powell +succeeded in capturing mules and horses from the enemy and generally +harassing him. Great expectations sustained the gallant little party +that Colonel Plumer's force would shortly make its way from the north +and join hands with Colonel Baden-Powell. Early in November the opposing +forces stood thus:-- + + Colonel Baden-Powell, with 500 Cavalry, 200 Cape Mounted + Police, and B.S.A. Company's Mounted Police, 60 + Volunteers, six machine-guns, two 7-pounders, and 200 + to 300 townsmen used to arms 1500 + + 1000 Transvaal Boers under Commandant Cronje, and 500 + Boers at Maritzani 1500 + +But later, some of the Boers were drawn off for service in the south. + +[Illustration: SERGEANT-MAJOR--IMPERIAL LIGHT HORSE. + +Photo by Gregory & Co., London.] + + +KURUMAN AND ELSEWHERE + +Of the diminutive town of Kuruman and its gallant struggle little can be +said. The garrison--consisting of seventy-five British subjects, +including the men that came from Bastards--under the command of Captain +Baker stood out valiantly, fighting with rare obstinacy, and hoping that +British success elsewhere would speedily draw off the intermittent +attentions of the Boers. From the 13th to the 20th of November a strong +party of Dutchmen kept up incessant pressure, but they were forced to +retreat, though both sides suffered loss. On the part of the British one +special constable was killed. + +The official details of the defence showed that the Mission Station +which was formerly the centre of Dr. Moffat's long work among the +natives of that part of Africa was the point of resistance to the Boer +attack. When the Dutch commandant notified the magistrate of his +intention to occupy the place, the latter replied that he had orders to +defend it. Thereupon he collected twenty natives and thirty half-castes, +with whose aid he barricaded the Mission Chapel, and there resisted the +assault of 500 Boers for six days and nights, after which the Boers +abandoned the attack. + +To look back on the amazing valour of the tiny garrison, unsuccessful +though it was, makes every British heart swell with pride. On the +outbreak of hostilities, Mr. Hilliard, the Resident Magistrate, called a +meeting of the inhabitants, and eloquently urged them to remain loyal. +This, as we know, they did, with the result that the place resisted the +Boers and routed them, and, moreover, set a most salutary example of +loyalty to the surrounding districts of Cape Colony. The following +extracts from five short letters (all dated November 24), written by Mr. +and Mrs. Hilliard to relatives, will be of interest, as showing the +gallant spirit that sustained these brave people, and the love for Queen +and country that was so practically displayed by them. Mr. Hilliard +said:--"Just a short letter to say we have been fighting the Boers here +from the 13th to the 18th, and have driven them back with heavy loss. I +received a letter from their 'Fighting General,' Visser, on Sunday the +12th, saying that if I did not surrender the town voluntarily, he would +take it by main force. I replied that if he did he would have to take +the consequences of his illegal act, as my Government had not instructed +me to evacuate the town. The enemy has drawn off towards Vryburg." In +another letter he said:--"We are going strong; the brave little garrison +is so good and cheerful. The army has gone, but may return, so we are +prepared." In yet another he wrote:--"We are all right up to now, and +shall stick to our dear old flag till the last, whatever happens. May +God defend the right and our dear Queen. Three cheers for all." Mrs. +Hilliard wrote:--"On Monday, November 13, the Boers attacked Kuruman. +Our men fought bravely for six days, after which the Boers departed, and +we don't know if they intend returning or not. Charlie is at the Police +Camp, and looks well and happy. He is very proud of our men. Our men are +still on the alert, and are strengthening their forts, as the Boers will +not return without a cannon. They quite expected this place to be handed +over to them at once, as Vryburg was." + +This state of affairs continued till the end of the year. On the 1st of +January the plucky little garrison was at last forced to surrender. +This, they said, they would never have done had they possessed a single +cannon. The Boer artillery knocked to pieces the improvised fort before +the white flag was hoisted over the ruins. Four men were killed and +eighteen wounded in the splendid but hopeless effort to hold the open +village against a foe provided with artillery and superior in numbers. +The Boers numbered twelve hundred against some seventy-five practically +helpless men! So the unequal tug-of-war came to an end--we may say, an +honourable end. + + +In Northern Rhodesia, British subjects were practically isolated. The +telegraph to the south was cut, and the railway--some four hundred miles +of it--was damaged in various places. To show the state of remoteness in +which the unfortunate inhabitants found themselves, it is sufficient to +say that a telegram from London to Buluwayo took sixteen days in +transit. Letters from Port Elizabeth were received about three weeks +after being posted. It may easily be imagined what dearth of news +prevailed, and how even such news as it was, was falsified by rumour. +But the excellent fellows kept heart, although they were, as one of them +said, "absolutely ignored by the British Government, and had not a red +coat in the country." He went on to say, "We have any quantity of men of +grit, and about a thousand fellows have volunteered to fight out of a +total population of men, women, and children of six thousand at most." + + +So little could reach us as to the doings of Colonel Plumer's splendid +little force, that the following letter from Trooper Young, a barrister, +who joined at the outbreak of the war, may be quoted. It supplies some +early links in the chain of the brave history:-- + + "FORT TULI, SOUTH AFRICA, _November_ 9, 1899. + +"I've had a bit of an exciting time since I last wrote--almost too +exciting at one time. Last time I wrote was when we were leaving Tuli +for Rhodes Drift. We arrived there all right after much marching and +counter-marching, mostly by night. The second night of it, for the small +portion we had for sleep I struck a guard; so by the third night I was +in a wretched state from want of sleep. I was always dropping off to +sleep on my horse and suddenly waking up. Moreover, I began to see all +sorts of strange things. Brooks and trees were transformed into houses +and gardens, and then I would come-to with a start and pinch myself and +try to keep awake--a very unpleasant experience. When we reached Rhodes +Drift, our squadron was quartered there alone, and we had a couple of +brushes with the enemy to start with. + +"I missed the first, in which we had much the best of it. We only had +one man hit, and that only slightly, and in return we bowled over a +couple of Dutchmen (others may have been wounded), stampeded their +horses, over a hundred in number (we surprised their grazing guard), +killed or wounded twenty of the horses, and jumped seven. The next fight +was warm for a bit. We had only half the squadron--about forty-five +men--who were reconnoitring round the enemy's fort dismounted. This was +only three miles from our camp and in British territory. We had four men +wounded, and did an equal amount of damage to them, if not more. We got +off very cheap, for their fire was very hot, and very close too. The +third fight came off on November 2, and that was a scorcher. On the +night before it I was on guard. It was a beastly night, raining and +blowing hard, so I got very little sleep when it was my turn off. In the +day I was in charge of the grazing guard with three other men. + +"About one o'clock I got orders to bring in the horses, which I did, and +had just got all the horses tied up when the Dutch started firing on us. +I'd just got into a nice position behind a good big rock when I was +ordered to ride out to warn our outlying pickets. There were three of +them, four men in each, about a mile or a mile and a half away. A risky +job it was too. Two of us were sent. I asked the other man which he +would go to. He chose the one I had wanted, so I had the worst job--two +pickets to warn, and had to ride right through the line of fire. As I +started, one of our officers shouted, 'Don't spare your horse; ride like +h--ll;' and I did too. Directly I got out, ping-ping came two bullets, a +bit high, but others soon followed much closer. I got out, though, all +right, warned the two pickets, and came in with them. We got a bit of a +fusillade on us when we got near the fort, but had no casualties. The +man who rode to the other picket had his horse shot under him; so I +scored--not for long, though, for my own horse was shot soon after. + +"When I got back, I found we were having a very hot time. Our position +was a couple of small kopjes close together. On two sides there was an +open space for about 600 or 700 yards. On the other two sides there was +a lot of bush and a ridge running round us, which we were not strong +enough to occupy. The Boers had in the field between 300 and 400 men, so +we thought; we afterwards found that that was not overstating their +number. Moreover, they had 250 men and one gun at Brice's Store, about +six miles away on the Tuli road, and strong reinforcements at their +camp. They gave us the devil of a time. At first they fired mostly at +the horses. They, poor beasts, had no cover, and nearly every one was +hit. A few broke loose and bolted. Later, they turned their attention to +us. Luckily, their shell-fire was very wild, or we should have suffered +heavily. As it was, we had not a man even wounded; but it was a miracle +we did not, for at times their rifle-fire was very heavy, and now and +then they got a good shell in. I had a narrow shave. A shell burst just +near me, and one of the splinters struck a stone and sent a piece of it +bang against my leg. It cut right through my putties, three folds of +them. I made certain I was wounded, and was much relieved to find there +was no damage done. + +"When the evening came, we had two alternatives--to stay where we were +and wait to be cut up, or try to go through to Tuli. It was finally +decided to do the latter, and it was undoubtedly the right thing to do. +If we had remained, we should have been surrounded the next day, and +every one slaughtered. With ninety men against a thousand we should have +had no show; still, it was a very bitter pill having to sneak off at +night, leaving everything behind (including the few horses left alive), +our kit and waggons, even the ambulance waggon. It was horrible saying +good-bye to our horses. My poor little Whiskey was wounded and very +unhappy; we were not allowed to shoot the wounded ones, as we had to +sneak off as quietly as possible. It was very sad work. Luckily we had +no man hit. I don't know what we should have done if we had. I suppose +we should have remained there and taken the inevitable consequences, as +we would not have left them. We left at 8 P.M., and arrived at Tuli at 1 +P.M. next day, only two halts, one and a half in the night for sleep, +and another of half-an-hour for breakfast, which for me and most of us +consisted of water. I had nothing to eat except one small cookie from 8 +A.M. the morning of the fight to 2 P.M. the next day. + +"Altogether, we marched forty miles through awful country, for a long +way through brushwood called the 'wait-a-bit' thorn, and in the night, +too; it tore our clothes, hands, arms, and faces to bits; then through +sand, over kopjes covered with thick brush. Altogether it was equal to +sixty miles of English roads, and we went pretty fast when the way +allowed. We had one pleasant surprise; one of our officers left us and +rode on to Tuli when we were about ten miles off, and reported that we +were only a few miles out, pretty dead-beat, as we were. Until Captain +Glynne arrived, they believed we were all cut up, and one of the +squadrons rode out to us and lent us their horses, for which we were +very grateful. They met us about three miles out, and I'm blowed if I +know how we could have crawled in without them; we were absolutely +dead-beat. I was never so glad of a ride in my life. When we got into +camp, we found that three or four of the men of E squadron, who had been +left behind at Tuli sick, or had come in riding with dispatches, had +prepared food for us, which was also very grateful, for we wanted it. We +had left most of our kit behind at Tuli, so we were able to have a +change of clothes and a wash, both very much needed, and then I must say +I did enjoy myself. It was simply delightful to lie down and loaf about +and do nothing but smoke cigarettes. All the bitterness of the defeat +and the loss of our horses seemed to disappear, and I thoroughly enjoyed +myself that afternoon. + +"At Tuli every one believed we were cut up. A party from there, +twenty-five in number, when escorting some waggons to us, were attacked +by a much superior force at Brice's Store and badly defeated. They had +to take to the bush and abandon the waggons. They brought four men +wounded back, while seven were missing, including the parson, who was +coming to see us--he was wounded in the leg. According to the men who +were there, he was taking a distinctly active part in the fight. A +squadron of some of the police, about 120 in all, were sent out to try +and relieve us, but near the store were met by some of the boys who had +bolted from us, and who reported that we were already wiped out, every +man killed; so they returned without trying to force their way through +to us. In Tuli they were much relieved to hear of our safe arrival. It +was certainly a very narrow squeak for us; it is still a wonder to me +how we managed to escape without losing a man. Certainly we had very +good cover, and took advantage of it; it was the only thing we could do. +We managed to silence their rifle-fire once or twice, but could do +nothing against their long-range shell-fire. Since then we have had very +little to do, but expect to have some more fighting before long, when we +hope to get a bit of our own back. One thing I think I may say without +boasting--we all behaved very well. There was not a sign of funk, and +every one took it coolly. As a matter of fact, more than half of E +squadron had been under fire before, either in Rhodesia or elsewhere." + +To understand the effect of war upon Rhodesia at this time, we must read +the following extracts from a letter written by a "Son of the Manse" in +business near Buluwayo, dated 11th November 1899:--"We have been cut off +from the south for more than five weeks, and are very badly off for +news. Such news as we get comes by Beira, and as there is no cable +between Delagoa Bay and Beira, this makes things worse. We have heard +nothing from Mafeking since its investment by the Boers except a couple +of messages sent out by a native runner to the nearest telegraph office +still in touch with Buluwayo. A number of men from here are on the +southern frontier keeping the Boers in check, so as to prevent them +making a raid in this direction. They have had several skirmishes, but +the Boers are not in any great force, as they appear to have +concentrated their men on the Natal border, where most of the fighting +will probably take place. Business is so slow here that numbers can get +leave from their offices for the asking, and there were lots of fellows +in town doing nothing who were only too glad of the chance of earning +10s. a day, which the Government are paying the Volunteers. The local +newspaper here is of little use at present, as it has not funds to get +direct news from Natal, and the only reliable information we get is +published by the authorities. The _Chronicle_ here came out with a +special edition yesterday, describing a serious reverse to the British +(two thousand men and forty-six officers captured), but it turned out to +be taken from a German paper published in Zanzibar and sent to Beira, +and I trust it may prove false. We won't get any newspapers, I fear, as +long as the mails come _via_ Beira, owing to the cost of bringing them +from Salisbury by coach, but we hope there will be a change for the +better soon. When the newspapers come they will be interesting +reading.... The stoppage of the railway has had a serious effect in +Buluwayo, as it has caused a tremendous rise in the prices of +everything, and if most of the merchants had not laid in immense stocks +in anticipation of what was coming, things would be very much worse. +Some articles are very scarce. Potatoes are about L5 a sack, and of very +inferior quality. Sugar is 9d. to 1s. per lb.; and a 200-lb. sack of +flour costs 50s. to 60s., cheaper than most things, as there was an +enormous stock stored. Everything is likely to go up still higher before +supplies can reach the town, and fresh meal will soon be practically +unattainable, and every one will have to depend on tinned meat. There +are no colonial eggs coming up, so we are getting about 5s. a dozen for +ours, and the price will probably rise, as with everything else. Some of +the restaurants and hotels have had to close their dining-room, as so +many men have gone to the front. The demand for eggs and fuel (wood) is, +therefore, somewhat decreased. Several storekeepers talk of getting +things from Salisbury, and if prices rise very much perhaps it would +pay. The average rate per waggon to Salisbury lately was nearly 25s. per +100 lbs. weight. The mines are still working fairly, and may be kept on. +The Kaffirs round here seem to take little interest in the war, and the +most of them have not the remotest idea where Natal is, although the +Matabele came from there less than seventy years ago. Of course they all +know the Boers, and thoroughly detest them, as they have very good +reason to do. We have only had a few showers of rain here so far, and +the grass is very poor. We can work our donkeys much at present on that +account, as I want to have them in good order, as transport will be very +high when communications are again established." + +In Southern Rhodesia the Boers were kept in check by the activities of +Colonel Holdsworth. In order to reconnoitre, and, if possible, attack +the Boer laager at Sekwani, he started on the 23rd of November with +seventy-five mounted men and ten cyclists on a night march over sandy +roads in a region where water was extremely scarce. At daybreak they +reached the Dutch laager and caught the Boers napping. Lieutenant +Llewellyn wished them an energetic "Good morning" by means of a Maxim +gun at 1000 to 1200 yards range, with the result that the enemy, about +eighty strong, were routed from their position among the kopjes. The +Boers retired to other kopjes, and from thence offered resistance, but +as storming them would have entailed considerable loss, the British +force returned to camp. They, however, burned a large store of +ammunition and captured some rifles. Therefore their hundred-mile march, +accomplished in twenty-three hours, was not profitless. + + +MAFEKING, NOVEMBER + +Poor Mafeking! The inevitable hung like a ghost over +everything--bodiless, formless, but always there at the elbows of the +gallant band that so long had held out against the foe. He was now +coming closer--closer, continuing to sap and approach by parallels, till +before long not only shells but rifle-fire would render streets +impassable, shelters useless, and fortified positions dangerous. Colonel +Baden-Powell's brilliant wits were hard pressed to keep the enemy from +carrying the town by storm, and all who valued their lives lived +underground, burrowing like rabbits, or in bomb-proof shelters, from +which occasionally they were routed, not by fire but by water. + +Still the word surrender was unspelt. None dared breathe it aloud. A +battery of seven field-guns blazing their hot fire and doing their fell +work made no effect--the besieged remained firm. Mauser bullets whizzed +past their ears; shells long as coal-scuttles and nearly as thick +crashed into buildings, now into the hospital, now the convent, or +sometimes into the women's laager, leaving not seldom a track of +mourning and blood; but the Boer could not plume himself on victory. Not +so far off his white tents reflected the sunlight, and closer still the +grim music of his rifles was eternally to be heard; but inside the +little town were men who were developing from mere men of commerce into +toughened warriors, and assisting Colonel Baden-Powell and his +diminutive force to maintain the majesty of Great Britain, with a +chivalry that might have done honour to the knights of old. + +Towards the middle of the month the garrison was much cheered by the +arrival on the scene of a plucky American journalist, who had ridden +from the Cape straight through the Boer lines, and who came with all the +buoyancy of the outer world to delight the ears of the British with +tales of Lord Methuen's advance. Other news now and then filtered in, +and this the Colonel, either _viva voce_ or by means of his typewriter, +promptly shared with the whole interested community. + +[Illustration: FACSIMILE OF WRITING IN ALBUM BY COL. BADEN-POWELL] + +To make it evident that Mafeking was determined to keep lively and +aggressive in spite of intermittent bombardment, several more gallant +sorties were made, and on each occasion the little place came off with +flying colours. Commander Cronje, disgusted, finally took himself off +with some twenty waggons to Riceters (Transvaal), leaving his guns with +the remaining commandoes and relegating to them the task of reducing the +truculent town to submission. + +Ruses, which are as the breath of his nostrils to the Boer in warfare, +continued to be tried on Colonel Baden-Powell, who may be said to have +almost enjoyed new chances to whet his wits and showed himself the last +person to be caught napping. Indeed, some one at the time remarked that +if they wanted to take him in they would have to get up very early in +the morning and stay awake all night into the bargain! The latest Boer +device was to make a show of going away and leaving a big gun apparently +in a state of being dismantled. This of course was what in vulgar +phrase might be called a "draw" for the besieged. But the Colonel was +not to be drawn; his smart scouts continually found the enemy hidden in +force, and thereupon put every one on their guard. Mafeking, in fact, +"sat tight" and--winked! + +[Illustration: MAJOR-GENERAL LORD KITCHENER OF KHARTOUM. + +Photo by Bassano, London.] + +Meanwhile the inhabitants were pushing out advanced works with good +effect, and began to feel more and more confident that their pluck and +patience would ultimately receive their reward. Their bomb-proof +shelters were becoming works of art. They were no longer rabbit-warrens, +but well-ventilated apartments, roofed with the best steel rails and +sand-bags, and lighted by windows resembling portholes. Great ingenuity +was displayed in the wedding of safety with comfort, and the owners soon +began to grow interested in the artistic quality of their improvised +retreats! + +On the 25th of November another gallant sortie was made, and the +Chartered Company's Police, with magnificent pluck and determination, +attacked Eloffsfort and kept the Boers from further encroachment. + +For some days nothing unusual took place. The Boers continued to annoy +with their 10-ton gun and the Boer flag began to float over the fortified +places surrounding the town. In fact, there was a somewhat wearisome +monotony in the programme of daily life. The laconic report at that time +of one of the sufferers was that the sole resource was to "snipe and +wait!" Fortunately pressure elsewhere was beginning to draw off some of +the hostile legions, and consequently the activity of the assault on the +town was diminished. It was quite evident that Colonel Baden-Powell had +been found a nasty nut to crack, and that his earthworks, his trenches, +his underground shelters, his night attacks, and his hundred-and-one +minor dodges, which had been craftily invented to test the amiability of +the ingenuous Boer, were scarcely appreciated. Indeed, the worthy Cronje, +when wisely taking himself off, was reported to have owned that the +Mafeking blend of Baden-Powell-dynamite-mine-and-best-Sheffield was +decidedly infernal! + +On this subject the correspondent of the _Times_, who was cooped in +Mafeking, said: "The significance of the dynamite mines which surround +our position cannot be under-estimated. Had the Boers any trustworthy +information as to the whereabouts of the mines, the town would probably +have been stormed weeks ago. The general ignorance on their part of the +locality of the mines creates corresponding dread. The mines may be +taken as a material effort on the part of Rhodesia to assist Imperial +prestige and interests. The Postmaster-General of Rhodesia lent Mr. +Kiddy, manager of telegraphs, to superintend the laying of mines, +telephones, and field-telegraphs. The services so rendered have been +invaluable." + +Of the Commandant another of the beleaguered band wrote: "Commanding us +we have a man than whom we could have none better. The Colonel is always +smiling, and is a host in himself. To see 'B. P.,' as he is +affectionately termed, whistling down the street, deep in thought, +pleasing of countenance, cheerful and confident, is cheering and +heartening--far more cheering and heartening than a pint of dry +champagne. Had any man in whom the town placed less confidence been in +command, disaster might have befallen Mafeking; and if we are able to +place the name of Mafeking upon the roll of the Empire's outposts which +have fought for the honour and glory of Britain, it will be chiefly +because Baden-Powell has commanded us." + +That our good old friend _Punch_ should, in his old age, cause almost +intoxicating delight is a fact worthy of note. A copy brought by +Reuter's cyclist-runner was safely carried into the town, to the intense +joy of its inhabitants. It contained the cartoon by Sir John Tenniel in +which John Bull is represented as telling the Boer that if he wishes to +fight it must be a fight to the finish. The journal was read and re-read +even to the advertisements, and gloated over for many days. What has now +become of it is a question of interest. There are doubtless many +collectors of war trophies who would pay more than his weight in gold +for Mr. Punch after he had lived through and shared in the vicissitudes +of siege life in Mafeking. + +The pluck of Colonel Baden-Powell seemed to be epidemic. Young boys, and +even women, clamoured to do their share of the work, and strove to +display a perfectly unruffled front in face of shot and shell. In one +house some ladies stuck to their abode while the breastworks were being +built, and employed the interval in playing and singing the National +Anthem, thus stimulating and cheering the workers outside, who joined +heartily in the chorus. On the 28th of November grand preparations were +made for an evening attack, and these were quietly inspected by Colonel +Baden-Powell in the small hours of the morning. But the Boers, whose +spies were for ever busy, were forewarned and had evacuated their +position. From the advanced trench in the river-bed some successful +sniping at the foe on the brickfields was carried on, however, and from +here the enemy was eventually routed by the smart action of the +besieged. + +During the night the Colonel ordered Captain Fitzclarence, with D +squadron and a Hotchkiss gun, to relieve Lord C. Bentinck and to support +the "snipers" in the river-bed. D squadron took up a position in the +river-bed under Captain Fitzclarence and Lieutenant Bridges 1400 yards +from "Big Ben." The Cape Police and a Maxim at the extreme south-east +corner, and Captain Marsh with a detachment of the Cape Police in the +native stadt at 2000 yards range, co-operated. It now became impossible +for the Boer artillerists to hold the emplacement of their 100-lb. gun. +Heavy three-cornered volleying from the British positions swept the +parapet of "Big Ben" every time its detachment attempted to turn the gun +upon the town. The remarkable accuracy of our fire kept the Boer gunners +at bay, and after discharging two shells they withdrew the weapon below +its platform. The enemy made some futile efforts to renew the shelling, +but at last desisted. But on the morrow the customary salute of big guns +was resumed. Meanwhile the Colonel employed himself with various jokes +of a very practical nature, which served to keep the wits and energies +of the Boers in a perpetual state of polish. + +News from Colonel Plumer and his force was scarce, but all were aware +that their days and nights were spent in hard work, great discomfort, +and in perpetual and gallant efforts to come to the aid of the besieged +town. It must be remembered that the Rhodesian Regiment originally had +for its object the protection of the northern border of the Transvaal +and a portion of the western side. Mafeking made, as it were, the outer +gate, and this gate it was necessary to defend in order to preserve the +communications with the north and with Buluwayo. No sooner, therefore, +was it locked by a state of siege, than the entire responsibility of +keeping the Boers at bay in the northern fringe of the Transvaal +devolved on Colonel Plumer, who, on arrival at Tuli, set to work to +guard the Drifts, and keep an eye on all quarters along the Crocodile +where the Boers might try to effect a crossing. At Rhodes Drift, +twenty-six miles south of South Tuli, he posted Major Pilsen with 250 +mounted infantry, while Captain Maclaren, with fifty men of the Rhodesia +Regiment and twenty of the Bechuanaland Border Police, was sent to +garrison Macloutsie, some thirty miles north of the Limpopo, where it +was said the Boers hoped to put in an appearance. Major Pilsen, as we +know, was forced to retire on Tuli, after which the position vacated by +him was occupied by Colonel Spreckley (Southern Rhodesia Volunteers), +who in his turn was obliged to make a night march back to Tuli, with the +loss of all his horses. Soon after this, strong Boer patrols approached +daily towards Tuli, and the garrison had an anxious and energetic time. +Minor skirmishes took place with certain success, but leaving behind +them their melancholy roll of killed and wounded. Soon, however, a +British victory south, and Colonel Plumer's exertions round about, +combined to alter the Boer plans, and at length their retirement in the +direction of Mafeking was reported. Whereupon this enterprising officer +prepared to enter the Transvaal, whither he was driven, not by the +enemy, but by drought. On the 1st of December he started from Tuli with +a force of mounted men, and, after hairbreadth escapes, in four or five +days reached a place some fifty miles north of Petersburg, the chief +town in the north of the South African Republic. He also proceeded down +the railway line towards Mafeking, but was continually harassed by the +enemy, and continually obliged to retrace his steps owing to lack of +water and other insuperable difficulties. Here we must leave him for a +time. + +The Boers, learning that necessity is the mother of invention, and +finding they could not get into Mafeking, were obliged to communicate +with the Baden-Powell "braves" in an original manner. They fired into +the town a five-pounder shell, which failed to explode. It was examined, +opened, and discovered to contain the following jocose epistle:--"Dear +Powell,--Excuse an iron messenger. There is no other means of +communicating. Please tell Mrs. -- Mother and family all well. Don't +drink all the whisky. Leave some for us when we get in." This was a +little piece of innocent diversion compared to other experiences. On the +following day a shell from a Boer 100-pounder struck a store, sending +its splinters far and wide, and carrying devastation in its wake. Daily +some tragic episode was the result of a well-directed shot, some white +or black inhabitant was left a mangled, hopeless wreck--a pathetic +fortuitous atom blown to the winds by the blast of war. In addition to +the intermittent uproar of the heavy guns, heaven's thunders at times +broke out, with copious showers of rain, and one of these, on the 5th, +was so violent that it flooded out the trenches, and made all bomb-proof +shelters untenable. Trouble and discomfort were as far as possible +relieved with great energy by Lord Edward Cecil and others, but the +effects of the inundation were not easily removed. Brisk engagements +between the sharpshooters on either side now formed part of a morning +and evening programme, and the Protectorate Regiment, under Lord Charles +Bentinck, did such good service that the enemy grew shy of approach, and +concluded that the process of starving out the garrison would be more +comfortable than shelling so vigorous and retaliative a community. + +On the 10th of December the Dutchman Viljoen, who was a prisoner, was +exchanged for Lady Sarah Wilson. The story of this enterprising lady is +one of remarkable interest. In the beginning of the siege she left +Mafeking and rode to Setlagoli Hotel, where she arrived on the same +night. No sooner was she asleep than the rattle and roar of musketry +commenced. This was afterwards discovered to be the gallant fight of +Lieutenant Nesbitt on the armoured train, which has been described in +the opening story of the siege. Poor Nesbitt, it may be remembered, was +taken prisoner. Lady Sarah, a day or two after the fight, rode to the +scene of the engagement and photographed the wreck. Later on, this +intrepid lady moved from Mosuti to the care of a colonial farmer, and +with great difficulty and much expenditure of energy and coin, she +managed to induce the natives to provide her with information. All this +time she and her friends were subject to the insults of the Boers. At +one period she was declared to be the sole survivor of Mafeking, in +hiding in the disguise of a woman. At another, she was believed to be +the wife of one of the British generals. Others declared that the +extraordinary lady was a member of the Royal Family, who was acting as +spy on the doings of the Boers in the Colony. After moving to Vryburg, +life for her became more exciting still. A young Boer passed her off as +his sister, and some loyalists in the town gave her shelter, and helped +her to obtain official despatches and news. But her state was far from +comfortable, for most of her excursions had to be made under the shadow +of night, and her days were spent enclosed in a room at the hotel. When +Lady Sarah desired to leave the town, her exit was not so easy. The +magistrates had issued orders that no one was to leave, and but for the +kindness of her "brother Boer," she might not have been able to depart. +Their journey was commenced at four in the morning, while it was still +dark, and before leaving the town they had to submit to a search of +their car, lest it should contain any contraband of war. + +At last, however, it was discovered that Lady Sarah Wilson's energy was +connected with despatch-running, and her liberty was threatened. One day +while riding to Mafeking with her maid she was captured by the Boers. On +reaching Snyman's camp, the general refused to allow her to proceed to +her destination or to return to Setlagoli. She was then detained as a +prisoner of war, pending negotiations with Colonel Baden-Powell +regarding the terms of her release. The Colonel offered to exchange for +Lady Sarah a Boer lady prisoner, but the enemy refused to part with +their prize till Viljoen, who was incarcerated in Mafeking, was first +given up. Colonel Baden-Powell then represented that he, as a natural +consequence, and without terms of exchange, had at once transferred +women and children prisoners to the care of their people; but the Boer +general was not to be prevailed upon by argument. Eventually Viljoen was +given up and Lady Sarah returned safe and well to Mafeking. The +transaction, though somewhat unpleasant, was on the whole decidedly +complimentary to Lady Sarah in particular, and to the British feminine +sex in general. It fully proved that an Englishwoman might in future +view herself as the equivalent of a Boer officer. + +The artillery-fire of the enemy was now beginning to prove more +efficient than formerly. In spite of this, however, Colonel +Baden-Powell, in the kindness of his heart, issued a warning to the +Burghers advising them to make terms and go home. This very +characteristic epistle is here reproduced, as it shows the amazing blend +of serpent and dove in the spirit of the man who was at that moment +facing the choice of death or surrender:-- + + "To the Burghers under arms round Mafeking:-- + + "Burghers,--I address you in this manner because I have only + recently learned how you have been intentionally kept in the + dark by your officers, the Government, and the newspapers as to + what is happening in other parts of South Africa. As the + officer commanding Her Majesty's troops on this border, I think + it right to point out clearly the inevitable result of your + remaining longer under arms against Great Britain. You are + aware that the present war was caused by the invasion of + British territory by your forces without justifiable reasons. + Your leaders do not tell you that so far your forces have only + met the advanced guard of the British forces. The circumstances + have changed within the last week. The main body of the British + are now daily arriving by thousands from England, Canada, + India, and Australia, and are about to advance through the + country. In a short time the Republic will be in the hands of + the English, and no sacrifice of life on your part can stop it. + The question now that you have to put to yourselves before it + is too late is:--Is it worth while losing your lives in a vain + attempt to stop the invasion or take a town beyond your + borders, which, if taken, will be of no use to you? + + "I may tell you that Mafeking cannot be taken by sitting down + and looking at it, for we have ample supplies for several + months. The Staats artillery has done very little damage, and + we are now protected both by troops and mines. Your presence + here and elsewhere under arms cannot stop the British advancing + through your country. Your leaders and newspapers are also + trying to make you believe that some foreign combination or + Power is likely to intervene in your behalf against England. It + is not in keeping with their pretence that your side is going + to be victorious, nor in accordance with facts. The Republics + having declared war and taken the offensive, cannot claim + intervention on their behalf. The German Emperor is at present + in England, and fully sympathises with us. The American + Government has warned others of its intention to side with + England should any Power intervene. France has large interests + in the goldfields, identical with those of England. Italy is + entirely in accord with us. Russia has no cause to interfere. + The war is of one Government against another, and not of a + people against another people. The duty assigned to my troops + is to sit still here until the proper time arrives, and then to + fight and kill until you give in. You, on the other hand, have + other interests to think of, your families, farms, and their + safety. Your leaders have caused the destruction of farms, and + have fired on women and children. Our men are becoming hard to + restrain in consequence. They have also caused the invasion of + Kaffir territory, looting their cattle, and have thus induced + them to rise and invade your country and kill your Burghers. As + one white man to another, I warned General Cronje on November + 14 that this would occur. Yesterday I heard that more Kaffirs + were rising. I have warned General Snyman accordingly. Great + bloodshed and destruction of farms threaten you on all sides. + + "I wish to offer you a chance of avoiding it. My advice to you + is to return to your homes without delay and remain peaceful + till the war is over. Those who do this before the 13th will, + as far as possible, be protected, as regards yourselves, your + families, and property, from confiscation, looting, and other + penalties, to which those remaining under arms will be + subjected when the invasion takes place. Secret agents will + communicate to me the names of those who do. Those who do not + avail themselves of the terms now offered may be sure that + their property will be confiscated when the troops arrive. Each + man must be prepared to hand over a rifle and 150 rounds of + ammunition. The above terms do not apply to officers and + members of the Staats artillery, who may surrender as prisoners + of war at any time, nor to rebels on British territory. + + "It is probable that my force will shortly take the offensive. + To those who after this warning defer their submission till too + late, I can offer no promise. They will have only themselves to + blame for injury to and loss of property they and their + families may afterwards suffer."--(Signed) R. S. S. + BADEN-POWELL, Colonel, Mafeking, December 10." + +If this warning did nothing else, it certainly had the effect of +touching General Snyman in a soft spot, for he at once wrote to his +Burghers in fiery language, expressing his disapproval that such a +communication should have been addressed direct to them. The idea that +"sitting and looking at a place is not the way to take it" seems to have +gone home to him, for he promptly challenged the besieged to come out +and drive him away! + +On the same day as his address to the Burghers the Colonel wrote home to +a relative in England, and sent the missive folded in a quill, which was +in its turn rammed into the pipe of a Kaffir:-- + + "MAFEKING, _Dec._ 12, 1899. + +"All going well with me. To-day I have been trying to find any old +Carthusians in the place to have a Carthusian dinner together, as it is +Founder's Day; but so far, for a wonder, I believe I am the only one +among the odd thousand people here. + +"This is our sixtieth day of the siege, and I do believe we're beginning +to get a little tired of it; but I suppose, like other things, it will +come to an end some day. I have got such an interesting collection of +mementoes of it to bring home. I wonder if Baden[1] is in the country? +What fun if he should come up to relieve me! + +"I don't know if this letter will get through the Boer outposts, but if +it does, I hope it will find you very well and flourishing." + + +KIMBERLEY + +At Kimberley on November 4 things were still cheerful, though short +commons had begun to be enforced. The Transvaalers advanced on +Kenilworth, and Major Peakman with a squadron of the Kimberley Light +Horse, emerging suddenly from the bush, gave them a warm reception. +Colonel Scott-Turner reinforced Major Peakman, and two guns were sent to +support him against the enemy's guns, which at that juncture ceased +firing. The enemy's fire with one piece of artillery was on the whole +poor, and fortunately little serious damage was done. Later in the +afternoon came another encounter with the enemy, an encounter which was +kept up till dusk, and in which the enemy sustained considerable loss. +Unfortunately Major Ayliff of the Cape Police, a brave and efficient +officer, was wounded in the neck. The Boers occupied the Kampersdam +mine, some five miles distant, and shelled the Otto Kopje mine, while +the manager, Mr. Chapman, like a Spartan, watched the destruction of his +property and kept Colonel Kekewich informed as to the damage done. This +was luckily small. On November 6 General Cronje sent a message to +Colonel Kekewich calling on him to surrender, otherwise the town would +be bombarded, and on the following day a force of Free State artillery, +supported by a large commando, began further offensive operations. +Captain Brown, who rode out a short distance to Alexandersfontein, was +captured, and stripped by the Boers because he would reveal nothing +regarding the state of the town. + +[Illustration: PLAN OF KIMBERLEY AND ENVIRONS] + +[Illustration: ARMY SERVICE CORPS. + +Photo by Gregory & Co., London.] + +According to rough calculation, the opposing forces at Kimberley early +in November stood thus:-- + + Four companies of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment; + battery of Royal Garrison Artillery, consisting of six + 7-pounder mountain guns; a large party of Royal + Engineers; detachment of the Army Medical Corps 2500 + + In addition to these were the following irregular troops:-- + + One battery Diamond Fields Artillery with six 7-pounder + field guns, 3 officers and 90 non-commissioned officers + and men; Diamond Fields Horse, 6 officers and 142 non- + commissioned officers and men; Kimberley Regiment, 14 + officers and 285 non-commissioned officers and men 540 + + Free Staters, and probably some Transvaal Boers, with four + field-guns, 3500; on Orange River, 2000; reinforcements + from Mafeking, 1000 6500 + +The disparity was not enlivening, but, though provisions were beginning +to run low, pluck was inexhaustible. And with pluck, as with faith, one +may move mountains. + +On the 11th of November the bombardment of the town was commenced with +great vigour, the Boers firing from three positions. Little serious +damage was done, owing to the fact that many of the shells did not +burst. In spite of the incessant brawling of artillery, the perpetual +appearance of fog, and a stinging pall of smoke in which they lived, the +inhabitants of the place kept up an air of cheery unconcern, which +naturally they were far from feeling. They also determined to disquiet +the enemy by continual threats of attack from unexpected quarters. With +the spirit of philosophers they at times made small divertisements for +themselves. Once when a cooking-pot was struck the debris were put up to +auction, and some fun was got out of the brisk competition for the +historic relics. Some of the choicest of these were knocked down--this +time not by guns--for the sum of L2 a piece. The price of a complete +shell was about L5, and portions of one could be purchased at +proportionate rates. Bits and fragments fetched sums varying from half a +crown to half a sovereign! + +Nothing further happened, save that a cabdriver was captured, +interrogated, threatened, and finally set free. Commandant Wessels, who +sounded him regarding the dynamite mines round Kimberley, concluded with +the message--a typical specimen of Boer braggadocio--"Tell Rhodes I +shall take Wesselton mine next Tuesday, and then he must stand +whiskies!" + +On the 12th Lord Methuen, on whom all had pinned their faith, arrived +with his staff at the Orange River. This was a red-letter day. The news +of British relief so close at hand was most inspiriting, and those +whose patience was inclined to languish began to take heart. In +Kimberley itself the weather was fine and warm, and as yet little ill +consequence from the shelling was suffered. A peacock was killed, some +buildings damaged, some nervous persons terrified. The military +authorities issued a proclamation ordering that all people not engaged +with the defensive forces should give up arms and ammunition, a decision +that was found necessary to prevent irresponsible persons from +infringing the laws of civilised warfare. + +On the 17th of November a force composed of detachments of the Diamond +Fields Horse, Kimberley Light Horse, and Cape Police, under Colonel +Scott Turner, went out with a field-gun and two Maxims to ascertain the +strength of the enemy's position at Lazaretto Ridge. The enemy, who were +posted on a rocky mound between Carter's Farm and the reservoir, opened +fire on the advancing men, who, though some vigorous volleys were +returned, were obliged to retire. Meanwhile the Beaconsfield Town Guard +had a tussle with the foe, and, after much firing on either side, he +eventually retired. As usual, he hid behind rocks and stones, and made +himself generally inaccessible. On the following day some smart +engagements ensued, and so brisk was the volleying from rifles and the +booming of field-guns, that the townspeople believed that some decisive +battle must be taking place. There were, however, few casualties. + +All eyes were now fixed on the doings of the Kimberley relief force that +was concentrating at Orange River. A few more weeks, nay, a few more +days, and those patient, cheery prisoners would march out free to have +their reckoning with the Boers. Lord Methuen, once joined by the +Coldstream Guards, Grenadiers, and Naval Brigade, would be able to push +on, and then the first big move in the war would be made. So they hoped, +and with reason, for an electric searchlight, worked by the Naval +Brigade under Colonel Ernest Rhodes, was signalling to Kimberley, whose +searchlights were plainly visible to the advancing army. + +To the dreary imprisoned inhabitants this mode of communication was +vastly exciting. Every day the relief column was approaching nearer and +nearer, and the patient though longing besieged began to feel as if they +were already almost liberated. They commenced preparing an enthusiastic +welcome for the incoming troops, and ironical farewell salutations were +now levied at the Boers in acknowledgment of shells and of their general +artillery prowess. At that time, coming events--the disasters of +Majesfontein and Colenso--had not cast their shadows before! Mr. Rhodes +was particularly cheery, and took most whimsically to the information +conveyed through Kaffir sources that the enemy was keenly desirous of +exhibiting him in a cage at Bloemfontein prior to despatching him to +Pretoria! The brutal manners and customs of the Boers, however, were no +subject for joke, as shown by their treatment of four "boys" who were +found and captured while searching for stray cattle. After killing a +couple of them, the enemy ordered the remaining two, having first +flogged them, to bury the bodies of their comrades, and then go back to +Kimberley and tell their friends how they had been treated. + +[Illustration: THE SIEGE OF KIMBERLEY: TYPICAL SPLINTER-PROOF SHELTER OF +SAND-BAGS AND IRON PLATES + +Photo, Hancox, Kimberley] + +Boer tricks continued to be practised with little success. They served +instead to sharpen the wits of the beleaguered Kimburlians--if one may +be allowed to coin a word which seems to suit them. A few rifle-shots +were fired in the direction of Wright's Farm for the purpose of +pretending that the long-looked-for relieving force was approaching, and +thus draw out the Diamond Fields Horse; but the manoeuvre was a +failure. The Boers consoled themselves by blowing up two large culverts +near the rifle-butts on the line towards Spyfontein, where the bulk of +the Boer forces were then supposed to be. An official estimate at that +date (Nov. 25) placed the number of shells fired by the Boers during the +bombardment at 1000, while the number of shells fired by the British was +600. Owing to the fact that the hostile shells had so often fallen in +sandy ground, their effect had been neutralised. Experiments were made +with "home-made" shells, or rather De Beers-made shells, which exploded +to the general satisfaction of their manufacturers. Some of these were +said to be labelled "With J. C. Rhodes's compliments," but this was +doubtless a cheery quip for the entertainment of the lugubrious, as +Colonel Kekewich and the "Colossus" were too good men of business to +waste their ammunition on pleasantries. These two marvellous people were +now working hand in hand, the great business brain of the one lending +support to the military skill of the other. Mr. Rhodes placed at the +disposal of the Colonel--one should say of his country--the whole +resources of De Beers, and worked without cessation for the welfare of +the people, spending without stint, intellect, energy, and funds on +their behalf. When the mines ceased to work, he still paid full wages to +the 2000 white men employed on them, and laid out large vegetable +gardens in the midst of Kenilworth for the purpose of supplying the +inhabitants with green foods. He organised a mounted force of 600 men, +supplying them himself with horses; and later on he instituted a service +of native runners and scouts, which served to keep the garrison alert as +to the whereabouts of the enemy. Indeed, space does not allow of a +faithful recital of the doings of this public benefactor, who, without +display, made his influence felt in every quarter of the town. + +Kimberley, as said, was now in communication by searchlight with Colonel +Rhodes, and was racking its brains how an attempt might be made from the +east side to march out and assist the troops coming from Belmont. "So +near and yet so far" was the general feeling in regard to these troops, +and a burning desire for the handclasp of the gallant rescuers filled +all the brave yet anxious hearts that for so long had been cut off from +the outer world. + +On the 25th of November there was unusual activity. The mounted troops +at dawn made a strong reconnaissance in force under Lieut.-Colonel Scott +Turner. The guns were under the charge of Colonel Chamier of the Royal +Artillery. Hostilities commenced with a hot fire from the Diamond Fields +Artillery's guns under Captain May, in the direction of Carter's Farm, +Colonel Scott Turner with his troops marching towards Lazaretto Ridge, +where the enemy was strongly entrenched. This took place at about 4.30 +A.M. in the dusk of the early dawn. By good chance the pickets were +found to be asleep, and Colonel Scott Turner and his forces crept along +the ridge and with marvellous energy rushed the Boer redoubts. On the +instant rifles bristled--shots blazed out. But all was to no purpose; +the Boers had to surrender. They did this in their usual treacherous +fashion, hoisting the white flag while they took stray pot-shots at +their conquerors. This charge was one worthy of record, for few of the +men who engaged in it had ever used a bayonet in their lives. So little +did they know of the weapon, that they were unable to fix it in the +socket, and consequently rushed upon the enemy, rifle in one hand and +naked blade in the other! + +As ill-luck would have it, there was a lack of ammunition, and the +British attack could not be pressed home. Meanwhile the Royal Engineers +on Otto Kopje were protecting the flanks, and a strong body of infantry +with a mounted force, field-guns and Maxims, were checking the advance +of the enemy from Spyfontein. An armoured train, also, under Lieutenant +Webster (North Lancashire Regiment), was reconnoitring north and south. +The train (which was supported by three half companies of the +Beaconsfield Town Guard under Major Fraser) proceeded south of +Kimberley, and held the enemy's reinforcements in check as they advanced +from Wimbledon. Subsequently, owing to the brisk firing of the Boer +guns, it was decided to return to Kimberley, where Colonel Scott Turner, +in consequence of his inability to hold the position he had stormed, was +forced also to retire. But during the hot cannonade in which our +artillery was engaged with that of the enemy in all directions save +Kenilworth, this gallant officer was wounded. First his horse was shot +under him, then a bullet pierced the muscle of his shoulder. But he +continued to perform his duties regardless of the inconvenience caused +by his wound. The Boers, as usual, paid no respect to the ambulance +waggon, despite the obvious Red Cross flag which fluttered over it. They +fired at it when they chose, and, as some reported, used explosive +bullets. Eight prisoners were captured, in addition to two wounded +Boers. + +The day's work on the whole was satisfactory, as it ably demonstrated +that there was life in the garrison yet. And this glorious activity was +subsequently recognised in the following order:-- + + "The officer commanding desires to thank all ranks who took + part in to-day's engagement for their excellent behaviour. The + garrison of Kimberley have this day shown that they can not + only defend their positions, but can sally out and drive the + enemy from their entrenched positions. He deplores the loss of + the brave comrades who have so honourably fallen in the + performance of their duty." + +A second sortie of the same kind was attempted on the 28th of November, +but with more disastrous results. The troops took the same direction as +before--attacked the Boers, beat them back, and captured their laager +and three works. But, on attempting to take the fourth work, the enemy +fought desperately, and Lieut.-Colonel Scott Turner was killed. When +Colonel Scott Turner fell, Lieutenant Clifford, North Lancashire +Regiment, who had more than once distinguished himself, assumed command +of the Imperial Mounted Infantry, and, though wounded in the scalp, +pluckily remained on duty till all was over.[2] + +There was terrible grief in the garrison at the loss of this splendid +officer, the principal organiser of the Town Guards and the successful +leader of so many skirmishes and sorties throughout the siege. The +following special order was issued:-- + + "The officer commanding has again to congratulate the troops of + the garrison who engaged the enemy yesterday on their excellent + behaviour and on the capture of the enemy's laager, with his + supplies, ammunition, &c. It was in every respect a most + creditable performance. He has also again to deplore the loss + of many brave men who have fallen at the call of duty. It was + with profound sorrow he learnt that Lieut.-Colonel Scott Turner + was killed while gallantly leading his men against the last + stronghold of the enemy's defences. In Lieut.-Colonel Scott + Turner the garrison of Kimberley loses a brave and most + distinguished comrade, and the officer commanding feels sure + the whole population of Kimberley will join with them in + mourning the loss of this true British officer, to whose skill + and activity in the field is so largely due the complete + success of our efforts to keep the enemy at a safe distance + from this town." + +Major M. C. Peakman, an excellent and most dauntless officer, succeeded +to the command of the Kimberley Light Horse in consequence of Colonel +Scott Turner's death. + +Lieutenant Wright of the Kimberley Light Horse was killed, and among the +wounded were Lieutenant W. K. Clifford (1st Battalion Loyal North +Lancashire Regiment), Captain Walleck (Diamond Fields Horse), and +Lieutenant Watson (Kimberley Light Horse). + +On the afternoon of the 29th of November, amid feelings of universal +regret, the remains of Colonel Scott Turner and others who fell in +Tuesday's sortie were interred. The ceremony, so common in those days, +was yet full of deep pathos. Round the graves stood Mr. Cecil Rhodes, +Dr. Smart, the Mayor of Kimberley, Mr. and the Hon. Mrs. Rochfort +Maguire, and indeed the whole mournful community of the place. Six +volleys were fired over the graves, six blasts blown on the bugle, and +then a last prayer being said, they left them "alone in their glory." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Captain Baden-Powell, of the Scots Guards. + +[2] Henry Scott Turner entered the Black Watch at the age of twenty in +1887. After taking part in the operations in Matabeleland in 1893-94, he +was, in the latter year, placed on the "Special Extra Regimental +Employment List," and in 1896 served with the Matabeleland Relief Force +as adjutant and paymaster. For this service he was mentioned in +despatches and received a brevet majority. After serving with the British +South African Police, Major Scott Turner was, last July, reappointed as a +"Special Service Officer," and in that capacity had done excellent +service in Kimberley under Colonel Kekewich. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +LIFE WITH GENERAL GATACRE + + +On the 18th of December, General Gatacre withdrew from Putter's Kraal, +his original advance post, to Sterkstroom. At this time, in the central +sphere, Generals French and Gatacre, while guarding the lines of +communication, were merely waiting the turn of events. Owing to a series +of successful skirmishes, in which a patrol under Captain de +Montmorency, V.C., was engaged, the Boers thought discretion the better +part of valour, and cleared out of Dordrecht, with the result that on +the 24th of December Colonel Dalgety, of the Cape Mounted Rifles, with +his force occupied the town. At Bushman's Hoek were four companies of +the Royal Scots, two 12-pounders, three Maxim guns, about 800 Kaffrarian +Rifles, and about thirty Engineers. Owing to scarcity of water General +Gatacre's force had to be divided, the rest remaining at Sterkstroom. +There water had to be conveyed by rail, whence, with some difficulty, it +was hauled to Bushman's Hoek in water-tanks by mules. The railway in +these parts, a species of South African switchback on two narrow rails, +rambled up hill and down dale with engaging ingenuity. Though water was +dependent on the trains, fresh foods were sometimes obtainable. At +neighbouring farms it was possible to purchase butter-milk, grain, and +bread, but to "go a marketing" it was necessary to start in full +marching order, for there was no knowing when the Boers might block the +road, or what nefarious tricks might be taking place. It was quite +impossible to be even with the Dutchmen's ruses. For instance, one who +knew their ways said that if a Boer horse went lame or knocked up, +twenty chances to one a "loyal" would place a mount at his disposal, +give him bed, "tucker," forage, &c., while he would also watch the +horizon for the approach of the military, and should they come the Boer +would be a man of peace, without uniform, arms, or anything else to +incriminate him. Therefore, as may be imagined, life was never too +easy-going. The day began at 3.15 A.M., but night itself, short as it +was, was scarcely restful. The troops slept with their straps on, 150 +rounds of ammunition apiece by their side, in hourly expectation of +attack. Niceties of the toilet were unknown, and gallant fellows with +black faces and whiskers whose acquaintance with water was only weekly, +were the rule. Some even presented the appearance of opera-house +brigands, having locks so redundant and long, that jocose Tommies +suggested writing home to their sweethearts for the loan of hairpins. + +In other respects the daily routine was not unpleasant. Bullocks and +sheep were killed regularly and found their way into the camp-kettle; +bread was still served out, and supplemented with biscuits. For +recreation there was football; and to enliven the spirits there were +four cheery pipers, who at night-time made the welkin ring, and caused +their compatriots to start up and indulge in reels and Highland flings, +and almost to forget that they were in the land of the enemy. + +On the 29th, a pouring day, Captain de Montmorency started with his +scouts and thirty Cape Mounted Rifles in hope of catching the enemy. But +the Boers, under cover of the mist, took themselves off in the direction +of the Barkly East district. + +On the 30th of December a hundred of Flannigan's Squadron of Brabant's +Horse had a smart brush with an equal number of Dutchmen, who, however, +were promptly reinforced. Thereupon the squadron retired, but +unfortunately Lieutenant Milford Turner and twenty-seven men were left +behind in a donga which none would leave, determining to remain there +and protect Lieutenant Warren of Brabant's Horse, who was wounded. To +their assistance went Captain Goldsworthy the next day, accompanied by +Captain de Montmorency's scouts, 110 men, and four guns. These arrived +on the scene so early as to surprise the Boers, who, after having been +kept at bay by the small force of Colonials, had continued to snipe at +them from a distance throughout the night. A sharp fight now ensued, +and, after some clever manoeuvring on both sides, the enemy retired +with the loss of eight killed, while the party in the donga was +relieved, and returned in safety to Dordrecht. The rescue was highly +exciting, as the Boers were finally sent helter-skelter just as our men, +worn out with a night's anxiety in the nullah, had almost given up hope +of release. As it was, they were restored to their friends in camp amid +a storm of cheers. + +Early on the 3rd of January a force was sent out from the advanced camp +at Bushman's Hoek to meet a hostile horde that occupied Molteno. The +Boers had mounted a big gun on a kopje in front of Bushman's Hoek, and +from thence commenced to fire at about eight o'clock. Around the +neighbourhood the Boers were seen to be swarming; therefore the force, +composed of Kaffrarian Rifles, Mounted Infantry of the Berkshire +Regiment, and the Cape Mounted Police, at once engaged them. + +[Illustration: MAJOR-GENERAL SIR W. F. GATACRE, K.C.B. + +Photo by Elliott & Fry, London.] + +Two hours later General Gatacre and Staff started from headquarters with +half a battalion of the Royal Scots and the 78th Battery of Artillery. +The Boers from their point of vantage were firing from the hill on +which was placed their big gun, and they continued to fire on the +Infantry as they advanced over an undulating plain to right of +Cypherghat, whence the population had fled panic-stricken at the outset +of the fight. Fortunately the hostile shells burst without doing damage, +and the troops continued to advance. + +The Artillery made a detour to the right, secured a commanding position +on a kopje, and from thence began a ten minutes' cannonade which had the +effect of silencing the Boers. They withdrew their gun and retreated, +the bulk of their force now advancing, now retiring, to cover the +movement. + +At this juncture the Mounted Infantry, which had worked its way round +with a view to outflanking the enemy's position, came on the scene only +to learn of the withdrawal. This was carried on without check owing to +our lack of cavalry. While General Gatacre's force were thus engaged, +the enemy was making a determined attack on 140 men of the Cape Police +and 60 men of the Kaffrarian Rifles at Molteno. They were splendidly +repulsed, though the Police had an unpleasant experience. Five shells +dropped into their camp, but all miraculously escaped injury. The Boers +now retired as mysteriously as they had come, and none knew the exact +reason for their arrival. It was suspected that it was a "slim" trick to +draw General Gatacre into another trap. + +A strong force left Sterkstroom before dawn on the morning of the 8th of +January for the dual purpose of reconnoitring in the direction of +Stormberg and taking possession of the meal and flour from Molteno +Mills. The force comprised the Derbyshire Regiment, the 77th and 79th +Field Batteries, 400 mounted men of the Cape Police and Berkshire +Regiment, the Kaffrarian Rifles, and the Frontier Rifles. The expedition +was eminently successful. The operation of removing the food-stuffs and +detaching the vital parts of the machinery of the mills was carried on +under the protection of the Derbyshire Regiment and the 77th Battery. +That of reconnoitring was undertaken by the force under Colonel +Jefferies, R.A., and it was discovered that the Boers, who were supposed +to have evacuated Stormberg, were within a two-mile range. A survey of +the Boer position was made by the Engineers, and the troops returned to +camp well satisfied with the result of their labours. + +No larger martial moves could be attempted, for General Gatacre lived in +a chronic state of suspended activity for lack of reinforcements. The +Dutchmen had now fallen back from Stormberg, leaving only a small +garrison there, and established themselves near Burghersdorp. The Boer +strength in this district was estimated at about 4500, a force made up +for the most part of Free Staters and Cape rebels. On the 18th of +January General Gatacre moved some three hundred of all ranks from +Bushman's Hoek to Loperberg, and the 74th Field Battery, with one +company of Mounted Infantry, from Sterkstroom to Bushman's Hoek. The +Boers continued a system of annoyance and petty progress by destroying +railway bridges in the neighbourhood of Steynsburg and Kromhoogte, about +eleven miles from Sterkstroom, and damaging portions of the line near +Stormberg. + +Though General Gatacre's Division was merely the shadow of the division +it should have been, and his strength, such as it was, materially +thinned by reverse, he had at his elbow one man who was a host in +himself. This man was Captain de Montmorency. He kept the Boers who were +holding Stormberg in a simmering state of excitement and suspense. He +and his active party of scouts were perpetually reconnoitring and +skirmishing and emerging from very tight corners, getting back to camp +by what in vulgar phrase is called "the skin of their teeth." One of +these narrow escapes was experienced on the 16th January, when Captain +de Montmorency and his men went out from Molteno to gain information +regarding the whereabouts of the enemy. A smart combat was the result of +their efforts, and when they were almost surrounded Major Heylen with +sixty Police came to the rescue, and the whole force, after some +animated firing, returned safely to Molteno, plus horses, mares, foals, +and oxen, which had been captured from the enemy. + +At this time a curious correspondence took place between the Boer +Commandant, General Olivier, and General Gatacre. It was a species of +Dutch _tu quoque_--the Boer leader thinking to charge the British one +with the same tricks as those in which his countrymen had been detected. + +General Olivier solemnly declared that a store of ammunition had been +found in an abandoned British waggon--a waggon marked with red crosses +and purporting to be an ambulance waggon. General Gatacre emphatically +denied the "slim" impeachment. He forwarded affidavits sworn by Major +Lilly, R.A.M.C., who was the last man with the waggon before it had to +be abandoned, who stated that if such ammunition had been found it had +been subsequently deposited there. General Gatacre further informed the +Commandant that the practice of taking wives and children in or near +camp and allowing them to run the risks common to belligerents was +contrary to the rules of civilised warfare, and desired to point out the +responsibility he incurred in so doing. He further remonstrated that a +servant who had been on the field of battle to assist Father Ryan in the +succour of the wounded had been detained in the Boer camp after +assurances of his release had been made. To these remarks and complaints +the General received no reply. + +Fortunately, our wounded who were not captured were doing well. The +ladies at Sterkstroom were particularly devoted, and visited and cheered +the sick daily, and carried them little luxuries which were mightily +appreciated. Though there were not many losses, sick and disabled were +constantly being carried into the hospital as the result of +reconnoitring and scouting expeditions, which were ceaseless, and had to +continue ceaseless, owing to the inability of the force to take powerful +action. + +[Illustration: MOVEMENTS OF GATACRE AND FRENCH.] + +On the 20th of January Lieutenant Nickerson, R.A.M.C., who had +accompanied the wounded after the misfortune at Stormberg, arrived in +camp. Father Ryan's servant, on whose account General Gatacre, as +already mentioned, addressed Commandant Olivier, also returned. They +brought interesting news. More guns had been brought on the scene, and +these were served by German gunners. Septuagenarians and striplings were +drafted into the commandoes, while at Burghersdorp the Town Guard was +composed of lads of about thirteen years of age. This showed that the +stream of reinforcements was beginning to run dry. Many youngsters were +said to have been sent from their college at Bloemfontein straight to +the front. + +Commandant Olivier now took the opportunity to announce that he meant to +retain as prisoners all correspondents who might be captured. The +correspondents were flattered, and began to calculate whether +"Experiences in Pretoria" would make good "copy," but finally decided +for the liberty of the press. + +A little innocent diversion was provided by the Boers during the night +of the 20th. The British were awakened by furious fire, which was +continued for some time. Great consternation prevailed, till it was +afterwards discovered that a scare in the Boer lines had taken place, +and the sound of some stampeding cattle had been mistaken for the +advance of the British! The Boers had at once flown to arms, fired right +and left in the midnight darkness, and as a natural consequence shot +some of their own cattle! + +After this, there was silence, like the ominous lull which comes before +a storm. Little puffs and pants of hostility took place around +Sterkstroom and Penhoek, while at Colesberg the Boers were on guard, +with the fear of some impending ill. Important developments were +dreaded. It was known that swarms of troops were moving from the Cape, +and that the positions which had hitherto been held by the Federals in +consequence of the weakness of British forces in all quarters, would +soon be tenable no longer. And the waverers began to shake in their +shoes. They began suddenly to adopt a helpful attitude towards the +forces. The fact was, Lord Roberts had issued a proclamation encouraging +Free Staters and Transvaalers to desert by the promise that they should +be well treated. To the Colonial rebels he had diplomatically tendered +the advice to surrender before being caught in _flagrante delicto_. + + +WITH GENERAL FRENCH + +While all eyes were turned in the direction of the Natal force for the +relief of Ladysmith, General French was making things lively for the +Boers. It may be remembered that he left Ladysmith immediately before +Sir George White's garrison was hemmed in, and betook himself to the +central sphere of war. On the 23rd of November, with a reconnoitring +force consisting of a company of the Black Watch, some mounted infantry, +police, and the New South Wales Lancers, he went by train towards +Arundel, and was fired on by Boers who were sneaking in the hills. Three +of the party were wounded, but the rest drove the enemy off. The rails +had been lifted just in front of the scene of the fight. From this time +activities of the same kind took place daily, the General devoting his +energies to reconnoitring east and west of his position, keeping the +enemy from massing at any given point, and forcing them to remain on the +_qui vive_ in perpetual expectation of attack. + +Scouting at this time was carried on to the extent of a fine art. Never +a day was devoid of excitement. "We start out before dawn, and get +back--well, when we can!" This was the pithy description of a youngster +who enjoyed some thrilling moments. The following sketch of the +experiences of a New Zealander show how one and all willingly risked +their lives in the service of their country:-- + +"I was under fire for the first time on my birthday (Dec. 7), when a +section of us (four men) were sent out as a mark for any Boers to shoot +at. We rode to the foot of a kopje and left one of us in charge of the +four horses. Another chap and I climbed to the top. Puff! bang went +three shells from their Long Tom and a perfect fusillade of bullets. It +is marvellous how we escaped. We were to report as soon as we were fired +at, so I volunteered as galloper to go back to our lines to report. I +did a quick time over that two miles of veldt, bullets missing me all +the time. I reported, and was told to go back and withdraw the men, +which I did. Afterwards we took eight men, and under cover kept up a +steady fire for five hours. I was horribly tired, as I had been in the +saddle eighteen hours the previous day. My mate was fresh--we were +planted behind stones in pairs--and while he kept up the firing I +slumbered, strange as it may seem. There are thousands of troops in the +camp. General French, in command of this particular division, has +complimented us on many occasions on our coolness under fire and our +horsemanship. He said we could gallop across country where English +cavalry could only walk. He told us after a skirmish we had with the +enemy that he couldn't express in words his admiration of us, that we +were the best scouts he had ever employed, and that we always brought in +something, either prisoners, horses, sheep, cattle, or valuable +information--which latter is entirely true. During the slack time our +chaps are busy breaking in remounts for the English cavalry. Horses die +like flies here, and Cape ponies are substituted." + +Numerous and ingenious tricks were practised on the Boers, many of them +doubtless owing their origin to the active and fertile brains of General +French and Colonel Baden-Powell, the author of the "Manual on Scouting." +One of these was to take in the enemy's scouts by tethering ostriches to +bushes on the hills. The presence of the birds naturally gave to the +place an air of desolation, and satisfied the enemy that the ground was +unoccupied. In Colonel Baden-Powell's opinion fine scouting is a true +bit of hero-work, and his description of the "sport" in his own words +serves to show of what stuff our Colonial scouts were made. He says: "It +is comparatively easy for a man in the heat and excitement of battle, +where every one is striving to be first, to dash out before the rest and +do some gallant deed; but it is another thing for a man to take his life +in his hand to carry out some extra dangerous bit of scouting on his own +account, where there is no one by to applaud, and it might be just as +easy for him to go back; that is a true bit of hero's work, and yet it +is what a scout does continually as 'all in the day's work.' The British +scout has, too, to be good beyond all nationalities in every branch of +his art, because he is called upon not only to act against civilised +enemies in civilised countries like France and Germany, but he has also +to take on the crafty Afghan in his mountains, or the fierce Zulu in the +open South African towns, the Burmese in his forests, the Soudanese on +the Egyptian desert, all requiring different methods of working, but +their efficiency depending in every case on the same factor--the pluck +and ability of the scout himself. To be successful as a scout you must +have plenty of what Americans call 'jump' and 'push,' 'jump' being +alertness, wideawakeness, and readiness to seize your opportunity, +'push' being a never-say-die feeling. When in doubt as to whether to go +on or to go back, think of that and of the Zulu saying, 'If we go +forward we die, if we go backward we die; better go forward and die.' +Scouting is like a game of football. You are selected as a forward +player. Play the game; play that your side may win. Don't think of your +own glorification or your own risks--your side are backing you up. +Football is a good game, but better than it, better than any other game, +is that of man-hunting." Of this game, our troops, particularly in the +disaffected regions of Cape Colony, were beginning to have their fill. + +On the 8th of December Colonel Porter, with the 5th Dragoon Guards and +Mounted Infantry, arrived at Arundel from Naauwpoort, for the purpose of +making a reconnaissance and locating the enemy and discovering his +strength. The force detrained some four miles outside the town and +advanced across the plain, the Dragoons to left and right, the Mounted +Infantry, consisting of New Zealanders and Australians, in the centre +slightly in the rear. The Boers in the surrounding kopjes, seeing their +danger, took themselves off with great rapidity to another ridge three +miles to the north. This position was located before nightfall. At +daybreak four companies of Mounted Infantry were posted on a hill two +miles north of Arundel, while a troop of Dragoons reconnoitred the town +and found it evacuated by the enemy. The advance was then resumed. At 8 +A.M. the troops reached Maaiboschlaagte, and spied the enemy on the +hills near Rensburg's Farm. The Boers were busy dragging a huge gun up +the hill. Having no artillery, the flanking movement on the left was +discontinued, but the Dragoons on the right, who were three miles in +advance of the remainder of the force, crossed the plain and outflanked +the enemy. The crackling of muskets followed, and soon after the booming +of two guns. The New South Wales Lancers now reinforced the first line, +and though for many hours their "baptism of fire" was prolonged, they +suffered the only loss of the day--the loss of a horse. The operations +were successful, and the strength of the enemy was found to number about +2000. The occupation of this region by our troops was considered of +great strategical importance, as it formed a convenient advance base for +further operations. The town is situated some twelve miles from +Colesberg, and is in a fashion a natural fortress. It consists of rugged +hills surrounding flats, and is provided with refreshing water springs. + +On the 12th of December a patrol under Lieutenant Collins was fiercely +fired upon; a sergeant of the Carabineers was killed and a private was +reported missing. This happened as they were turning away from a farm at +Jasfontein belonging to Field-Cornet Geldenhuis, with whom they had had +an interview. The proprietor received his just deserts, for later on two +squadrons of Carabineers with two guns and a company of Mounted Infantry +were sent out to shell the farm, which duty was accomplished with zest +and thoroughness. General French's report of the affair is too +interesting to be omitted. He said:-- + + "I wish particularly to bring to notice the excellent conduct + and bearing of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, commanded by + Major A. W. Robin, on one of these occasions. + + "On 18th December I took them out with a battery of Horse + Artillery to reconnoitre round the enemy's left flank, and + determined to dislodge him from a farm called Jasfontein lying + on his left rear. The guns shelled the farm, and the New + Zealand Mounted Rifles then gained possession of it. But the + enemy very suddenly brought up strong reinforcements and + pressed on us with his Artillery. Our Artillery had been left + some way behind to avoid this latter fire, and I had to send + back some distance for its support, during which time we were + exposed to a heavy musketry fire from the surrounding hills. + The conduct of the New Zealanders was admirable in thus + maintaining a difficult position till the Artillery caused the + enemy to retire." + +Early on the morning of the 13th patrols were again fired upon, this +time from Platberg, a kopje on the fringe of Colesberg Commonage. About +4 A.M., in the dusk of early dawn, the Dutchmen, some 1800 strong, were +found to be leaving their position and advancing in the direction of +Naauwpoort. Thereupon Colonel Porter, with Carabineers, Inniskillings, +10th Hussars, and four guns of the R.H.A., moved eastwards. What Mr. +Gilbert describes as "a short sharp shock" followed, and the enemy's +guns, after firing three shots, were silenced. Our cavalry headed the +enemy off, and soon after 2 P.M. the bulk of his forces retired to their +former position. Vaalkop was held by one squadron of cavalry and two +guns for the rest of the day. Some Boers remained at Talboschlaagte, +and some later on occupied Kuilfontein Farm, but were driven out by +British shells with loss of forty killed and wounded. Our own losses +during two days' sharp work amounted to one man killed. Captain Moseley +(Inniskillings) was slightly wounded, and four men also received +injuries. + +On the same date Colonel Miles reported from Orange River an unlucky +incident. Part of the Mounted Infantry under Captain Bradshaw and the +Guides under Lieutenant Macfarlane patrolled in the direction of Kamak +and Zoutpansdrift, ten miles east of Orange River, for the purpose of +reconnoitring and reporting the strength of the enemy. The Boers were +said to be holding the drift, and near there, somewhat suddenly, a +strong party of them appeared. The Mounted Infantry attacked, and a +brisk engagement followed, with the result that the enemy decamped to +Geemansberg. Unfortunately, for this smart piece of work Captain +Bradshaw paid with his life; Lieutenant Greyson (Buffs) was wounded, +three men were killed, and seven wounded. Captain Bradshaw was an +energetic and valuable officer, and his loss was deeply deplored. + +To return to General French. Hard days of work in a broiling sun with +little to show for it were the lot of those around Naauwpoort at this +time. On the morning of the 15th two guns of the Horse Artillery, going +eastward across the veldt from Vaalkop, shelled a Boer waggon which had +been espied winding along the road. It was presumably from Colesberg, +and laden with supplies for the artillery of the enemy. Several shells +were at once launched, but they failed to strike it. The artillery then +tried a new position, and were "sniped" at by odd sharpshooters from the +hills. Finally a "Long Tom" was brought by the Boers to bear on the +situation, and then the artillery, pursued by shells, returned to +Vaalkop. + +Boer aggression continued. On the 16th the enemy took up a position on a +hill near Kannaksolam and sniped at the British patrols when they went +to water their horses. The Dutchmen were splendidly concealed, so +splendidly that it was impossible for the patrols to return the fire. +The New Zealanders were also fired upon, and though five scouts lay for +hours on the hill watching the Boers' hiding-place, not one of the foe +showed his nose out of cover. At last, in the afternoon, Captain +Jackson, with eight Carabineers on patrol, caught sight of the enemy +peeping from his lair, and suddenly found himself in the midst of a +volley. Captain Jackson was shot in the spine and instantly killed, the +other members of the party and the riderless horse fleeing amid a storm +of bullets. On the morning of the 18th the remains of the gallant +officer were buried at Naauwpoort with military honours. The enemy's +position was shelled at daybreak by ten guns. + +[Illustration: A RECONNAISSANCE IN FORCE WITH GENERAL FRENCH'S CAVALRY +NEAR COLESBERG. + +Drawing by R. Caton Woodville.] + +On the same day General French made a successful reconnaissance with +a battery of Horse Artillery and the New Zealand Rifles. The New +Zealanders had some exciting experiences. Major Lee and his men went +forth to draw the fire of the Boers, and unfortunately, instead of +drawing the shell of the enemy they drew the shot, and found themselves +all at once in a very warm corner indeed. They were rapidly hemmed in on +three sides, and stood a very good chance of being cut off. But pluck +carried the day, and though all their accoutrements, saddles, and +water-bottles showed visible signs of the hurricane of destruction +through which they had ridden, they arrived in camp safe and sound, much +to the satisfaction of the General, who issued an order complimenting +them on the success of their reconnaissance. + +Major Lee, who was in command of the New Zealanders at Arundel, was +reported to be a splendid fellow--not the typical dashing officer by any +means, but what was described as a regular paterfamilias of somewhat +aldermanic proportions. He was hale, hearty, and beaming, and withal a +man of coolness and courage. The qualities possessed by this officer +were said to be shared by most of his men, who, though of the rough and +ready stamp, were true chips of the old British block. + +Mr. Gifford Hall was most enthusiastic about Colonials all and sundry, +and, knowing their excellence and Great Britain's needs, delivered +himself of words of wisdom which are worthy of repetition:-- + + "Ex-frontier cavalryman myself, with further experience as + cowboy in both the United States and North-west Canada, and + also as stockrider in Australia, I have never for a moment + doubted that in the raising of an irregular Anglo-Boer force + lay the solution of England's problem, 'How to successfully + cope with the enemy.' Sans standard of physique, sans much + orthodox training, sans everything but virility, inherent + horsemanship, inherent wild-land craft, mounted on his own + pony--bronco of Canada or brumbie of Australia--the Canadian + ranche hand, the Australian stockrider, shearer, station + rouseabout, or the 'cull' of all lands Anglicised might easily + become the quintessence of a useful and operative force against + a semi-guerilla enemy. A pair of cord breeches, a couple of + shirts, his big hat, and a cartridge-filled belt, Winchester + carbine, a pony of the sort that can be run to a white sweat, + and staggering, tremble, and then be kicked out to nuzzle for + grass or die--that's what your man wants. The pants and shirts + will be better than he has worn for years; the gun he has 'shot + straight' with ever since he first handled his 'daddy's' + muzzle-loader; and the 'hoss,' why each is of the other, horse + and man, each apart, a thing inept. Orthodoxy against the Boers + in military operations doesn't wash. + Aldershot-cum-Sandhurst-cum-Soudan-cum-Further-India and + War-Office tactics fall flat. The Boer is here, there, and + everywhere, not to be followed by 'crushing forces'--only to be + checked and turned and tracked and harried and hustled by a + brother Boer. There is scarce a Canadian ranche hand but owns a + pony of bronco breed, scarce an Australian station hand of any + decent calibre but owns or can procure a tough and serviceable + semi-'brumbie' mount. And will these men volunteer? Yes, plenty + of them, and those that won't can't. Surely Empire saved or + gained is worth their worth to the Motherland they fight for. + Let her hire them. Transportation and time? The Boer war is not + over yet, and England's pocket is deep. To-day she fights for + her life, for her honour, and win she must. Arm them and saddle + them, men of the wild-lands and prairies. Work them van, flank, + and rear. This folly of 'standard' physique and 'training'--to + the winds with it. The theory of weight and height for + effective fighting is exploded. Heart, eye, and seat, and + wild-land inherent tact make up for it. Five-feet-six can ride + and shoot and fight or die as well as six-feet-two. We + wild-landers have proven it over and over again. Even when the + war is over, and our regulars and reserves must return, make + these men into protective police for a while, officered not by + orthodoxy but by knowledge and experience. They will 'learn the + country.' They will evolve scouts from amongst them who shall + make no mistakes. They will give to England what she needs in + times like these--to come again or not. Your yeomanry won't do + the trick; nor your oat-fed kharki-clad higher Colonials + either. 'Tis your Anglo-Boer, cowboy, stockrider, shearer, + rouseabout, cull, given his way and a cause--yes, he and his + scrub-fed mongrel mount and 'gun.'" + +These expressions of opinion almost amounted to a prophecy, for very +shortly the Canadian ranche hands, the Australian stockriders, the hardy +New Zealanders, and the "higher" Colonials--as Mr. Hall styled +them--taught us lessons which we were swift enough to follow. + +At Christmas the troops fared well, and contributions of a homely and +delectable kind were supplied to make the season pleasurable. The +inhabitants of Naauwpoort showed their appreciation of Mr. Thomas Atkins +in many tangible ways, notably by providing him with appetising +refreshments as he arrived by rail. Of course, there was a run on the +telegraph office. Christmas greetings went pouring out and came pouring +in, while the mail-bags swelled with a plethora of seasonable +blandishments. At Arundel Colonel Fisher and the officers of the 10th +Hussars endeavoured to forward Christmas greetings to the Colonel of the +Regiment, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, but for some +unexplained reason the felicitation was not allowed to go beyond the +vigilant eye of the censor. + +The great attraction of Christmas, and its accompaniment the New Year, +was the expectation of a gift from Queen Victoria, which was specially +prepared according to the order of the Sovereign herself. It was to take +the form of a tin of chocolate, and was to be presented to every soldier +on service in South Africa. The box was specially designed, and adorned +with the regal monogram. This unique gift, in order to make it the more +valuable as a trophy or a family relic, was manufactured only of the +exact number required for presentation to each individual serving at the +front. + +Naauwpoort enlivened itself with sports, and though the weather was +almost tropical, the activity served to compensate for the absence of +the mirth of Merrie England. At this time the Boers were approaching +nearer the British camp. There was a three days' truce, it is true, but +their positions were only six miles from our troops, and they were +warned that a nearer approach would mean prompt action by the guns. + +The daily routine went on somewhat monotonously--the grooming, watering, +and exercising of horses; drilling, exercising the mules of ambulance +and transport waggons; unloading the food supplies, cooking +them--occupations which afforded work in plenty, but the real business +of warfare was suspended. Some of the officers made an effort to get up +hunting parties, and succeeded in bagging a few springbuck, but their +expeditions were fraught with even more risk to themselves than to their +quarry. For instance, in one case, while two gallant Nimrods were in the +act of stalking a splendid springbuck, their chargers made off. They +suddenly found themselves almost surrounded by Boers, and an animated +chase followed. Luckily the carcass of the springbuck, which was left +behind, was too great a prize to be parted with, and the enemy captured +it in preference to the huntsmen! + +At this time there was great consternation in camp, as two cavalry +officers were taken prisoners. It subsequently transpired that the +officers, Lieutenant Till (Carabineers) and Lieutenant Hedger (attached +to the 10th Hussars), were captured through an unfortunate accident. +They mistook the Boers for New Zealanders, and therefore were unprepared +to offer resistance. On discovering their error they made a desperate +attempt to escape, but were overpowered. + +The Colonials afterwards discarded their picturesque hats and took to +helmets. Owing to the resemblance of their headgear to that of the +Boers, some British pickets had mistaken them for the enemy and fired on +them. + +On the 29th the enemy fell back on Colesberg, and there with his small +force General French proceeded to tackle him. "So near and yet so far" +must have been repeated many times by both Generals French and Gatacre +when each failed to accomplish some clever moves for want of the +necessary reinforcements. In the ordinary course of things, from +Naauwpoort to Sterkstroom was an easy three-hours journey by rail, but +now, with the barrier of the Boers at Stormberg--the junction between +the East London and Port Elizabeth systems--it was necessary to travel, +if by rail, _via_ Port Elizabeth, thus making a three-days instead of a +three-hours trip. And railway travelling was by no means a safe and +enjoyable exercise. True, the lines of communication were protected by +some eleven hundred Volunteers, but as martial law had not been +proclaimed south of Naauwpoort, and disloyalty was here the rule and not +the exception, it was quite on the cards that at any moment culverts +would be found blown up and rails twisted. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE COLONIALS AT BELMONT + + +On Christmas Day Lieut.-Colonel Pilcher, formerly of the Northumberland +Fusiliers, late of the Bedfordshire Regiment, arrived at Belmont and +took command of the troops. The Station Staff now consisted of Colonel +Pilcher; Major Bayly, Major MacDougall, and Major Dennison. The garrison +was soon strengthened by two companies of the 2nd Duke of Cornwall's +Light Infantry under Major Ashby. A general state of high polish was +begun, and the Canadians, ever active and on the alert, came in for some +excellent training, which they were not slow to profit by. Owing to the +insecure state of the neighbourhood, it was put in a fair state of +defence. Stone sconces were built on the kopjes; earthwork trenches were +built at the station and elsewhere; and a series of alarm drills was +carried on, in order to enable all concerned to take up their especial +posts at a moment's notice. For instance, at an appointed hour an alarm +on the bugles would wake the echoes. The men would rush to arms; every +company, previously instructed, would fall in on its own private parade +ground, and then set out at the double for its post. Celerity without +fluster was the motto of the movement. When all were posted, some in +trenches a mile off, others three or four hundred yards away, the +Colonel would proceed to make such disposition of his troops as the +imagined enemy might impose. For instance, he would picture the attack +coming from the north-east and march some of his force in the direction +of the assumed attack, covering it with a strong line of skirmishers, +while other troops in springless four-wheeled buck waggons were sent to +their support. The movement would be only sufficiently developed to give +the men an intelligent appreciation of what might be required of them, +and certainly nothing could exceed the promptness and alacrity with +which the troops threw themselves into their military rehearsals. The +Canadians especially distinguished themselves by their zest and +acuteness, and in all the bogus engagements--the attack drill--earned +the praise of the commander. The following is a copy of a regimental +order: "The officer commanding the Royal Canadian Regiment is desired by +the officer commanding the troops at this station to express his +satisfaction with the intelligent and quiet way in which this morning's +work was carried out by the officers, non-commissioned officers, and +men of the Royal Canadian Regiment." The Colonel particularly +appreciated the manner in which the men avoided "bunching," the most +fatal error that can be made by troops in modern warfare of the kind in +hand. + +At the end of the year more Australians arrived. These troops had been +stationed for a short time at the Orange River, getting their horses +into condition after a six weeks' voyage. From thence they moved on to +Belmont. The two companies of Queensland's Mounted Infantry found their +green tents awaiting them, and a hearty welcome. The men, a hardy and +stalwart set, tall and comely to look on, were well fitted in their +kharki uniform, which showed no signs of relationship to the slouching +apparel peculiar to hastily rigged-out troops. Their jackets, cord +breeches, felt hats looped up at the side with a tuft of feathers of the +emu, gave them a picturesque as well as workmanlike air. But their +leggings were dangerously dark, and scarcely as suited to sand or +morass--the ground was either one thing or the other--as the familiar +puttees. These useful articles had now been assumed by the Canadians +instead of their shrunken or loosely flapping duck trousers. The effect +was infinitely more dapper, becoming to the figure, and serviceable for +hard wear. The Queenslanders and Canadians at once fraternised, the +older arrivals making the new comers welcome by inviting them to drinks +and breakfast, and generally "showing them around." The bond of union +was cemented by the fact that the officer in command of the +Queenslanders, Colonel Ricardo, was an old Royal Canadian Artillery +officer. + + +COLONEL PILCHER'S RAID + +New Year's Day was a great occasion for the Colonial troops. They had +been burning with impatience to come in touch with the enemy, and till +now no opportunity had been afforded for testing their prowess in the +field. At midday on the 31st of December a force under Colonel Pilcher +started off from Belmont. The force consisted of 200 Queenslanders, +commanded by Colonel Ricardo; 100 Canadians, Toronto Company, with two +guns; and a horse battery under Major de Rougemont; 30 Mounted Infantry +under Lieutenant Ryan (Munster Fusiliers); the New South Wales +Ambulance, under Surgeon-Major Dodds; and 200 Cornwall Light Infantry. +These left Belmont and proceeded westward. Twenty miles were covered +before sunset, and the force encamped at Cook's Farm. In this region, on +a string of kopjes, a Boer laager was reported to be, and this--it was +decided--must be removed. + +[Illustration: MAP ILLUSTRATING COLONEL PILCHER'S RAID. + +Scale 9 miles = 1 inch.] + +Colonel Pilcher's programme, however, was not divulged. Great caution +was preserved, as the country was swarming with native spies, and all +movements of the troops were watched and reported to the enemy. The +Colonel therefore very adroitly arranged that no person should have a +chance of reporting his movements, and caused a watch to be kept on all +the natives, and these during the night were shut in their huts to +prevent any from escaping and communicating the intention of the troops. +The vigilance was certainly well rewarded. At daybreak the force +steadily marched out, creating as little dust as possible, and took up a +position at a place some fifteen miles off, called Sunnyside. Here the +enemy's laager was reported to be situated. It was posted on two +connected kopjes to north and south, and towards these kopjes the troops +advanced. When within a distance of some four miles the troops halted. +Major de Rougemont with two guns under Lieutenant Atkinson, Captain +Barker with the Toronto Company of Canadians, and Lieutenants Ryan and +Smith with the Mounted Infantry were ordered in the direction of the +enemy's laager to the north; while Colonel Pilcher with Colonel Ricardo +and the Queenslanders, A Company under Captain Chaucer, and B Company +under Captain Pinnock, advanced from the south. Patrols were sent to the +east. All was done with great quietness and precision, and the Boer +tactics so closely imitated that the enemy were unconscious of the +arrival of the British till the troops were upon them. Major Rougemont's +force made use of all the existing cover, which luckily was sufficient +to screen both man and horse, and in a very short time had discovered +some excellent ground which gave on to the Boer position. The enemy's +laager was ensconced in a nest of trees, at the base of a range of +kopjes commanded by a convenient ridge. This ridge--reported by the +Mounted Infantry to be clear of the enemy--with great promptness was +practically seized and occupied before the Boers had sufficiently +gathered themselves together to contest the position. The guns were +advanced at a trot, and unlimbered within 1500 yards of the laager, into +which two shells were neatly plumped, with a stupendous detonation that +startled the whole surrounding neighbourhood. Up scrambled the Boers, +streaming and bounding along the sides of the kopje like stampeded +goats, and commencing to fire with all their might. Upon our guns and +gunners came a torrent of lead fierce and sustained. Two Maxims under +Captain Bell now prepared to give tongue from the right, and then the +Toronto Company was ordered to double into action. They leapt to the +word. With a gasp of relief they cried, "At last!" and were off. When +within 1000 yards of the position their rifles came into play. A +hurricane of bullets met the enemy's fire: met it, continued +fiercely--and finally subdued it. + +While the guns under Lieutenant Atkinson were booming and banging, the +Mounted Infantry, ably led by Lieutenant Ryan, were working their way +along the right, and hunting the enemy from a concealed position among +the scrub. At midday Colonel Pilcher and the Queenslanders were steadily +nearing the position from three separate directions. They approached +under cover, cautious as tigers and nimble as cats, finally firing, and +returning the fire, but only when they caught glimpses of the enemy. +Then they blazed away to good purpose, and continued to approach nearer +and ever nearer, till the enemy, in view of the persistent and deadly +advance, shrank from his ground, and sulkily retired. The dexterity of +the Queenslanders was remarkable; they stalked the enemy as a sportsman +would stalk a deer, criticising their own fire and the fire of the foe +with workmanlike coolness and interest. The success of these tactics was +complete. The laager was captured, and with it forty ill-kempt, surly +prisoners. Lieutenant Adie, who was with a patrol of four men, came +suddenly on a number of the enemy, and was wounded in two places, but he +was saved and carried off by two plucky fellows, Butler and Rose, who +came to his rescue. The latter was wounded, and his horse was killed. +Another dashing Queenslander, Victor Jones, was shot through the heart, +and Macleod, an equally brave comrade, after many lucky escapes, while +advancing with Colonel Pilcher's force, was shot through the spine. +While these heroic and tragic doings were taking place, General +Babington with a mounted force had been working hard, his operations +having been arranged for the purpose of co-operating with Colonel +Pilcher, and distracting the enemy's attention from the north. These +manoeuvres had the desired effect, and the day's work, apart from its +pathetic side, was accounted a glorious success. So cleverly had the +proceedings been contrived, and so ingeniously were the orders +interpreted by one and all, that the Boers were completely nonplussed. +There was a hurried stampede, and the Federals bolted, leaving their +laager with all its luxuries, its boiling soup, its gin and water +bottles, &c., at the mercy of the invaders. + +[Illustration: COLONEL PILCHER'S ATTACK ON SUNNYSIDE KOPJE--CANADIAN AND +AUSTRALIAN CONTINGENTS RECEIVE THEIR "BAPTISM OF FIRE." + +Drawing by H. C. Seppings Wright from Sketch by Fred. Villiers.] + +A vivid description of the Boer camp was given by Mr. Frederick Hamilton +of the _Toronto Globe_, who accompanied the Canadians. + + "Fourteen ancient tents, their blankets, kettles, and camp + utensils, tossed about in wild confusion. Three long waggons of + the type in which the voortrekkers voyaged the veldt, a team of + a dozen magnificent oxen, a big water-cart which we eyed + greedily, a Kaffir wattled hut, its floor piled high with odds + and ends of clothing and valuables, its doorway marked by a + shell-smash; the rocky kopje-side behind, a flat plain dotted + with shaggy, bushlike trees in front--such was the Boer laager. + Prisoners came from here and there, over a score from the + kopje-top, more from this corner and that of the field, and + were taken to the hut. Within it and around its door they + squatted, a silent downcast crew; what a mess they had made of + their affairs! Perhaps they were not so despondent as we + thought, for one man as he sat in the guarded group pointed out + a rifle which one of the victors was carrying, and claimed it + as his own--a piece of cheek which staggered our men. The + prisoners claimed only part of our attention; with eager + curiosity the camp was ransacked. At last we had our hands upon + these Boers: what manner of men were they, and how did they + live? Poorly enough, I should say; the camp must have been + densely crowded with the motley gathering, and we could see the + odd admixture of practical barbarism with occasional contact + with civilisation, as when good suits of clothes lay side by + side with repulsive-looking strips of biltong. We felt that all + this was ours, ours by right of battle, ours by virtue of + victory. Perhaps we were wrong, perhaps the confiscated + property of rebels should fall to the Crown, but as long as men + go to war so long will victors walk through the camp of the + vanquished with just that feeling swelling through their veins. + Something else lay heavy upon us--thirst. It raged through us. + The yellow pool where the veldt cut into the kopje face filled + our water-bottles, and we drank and drank. The foul dregs of + the Boers' water-cart were drained with joy. As the sun was + setting our own water-cart with more wholesome water drove up, + and we drank and drank again. As our fires were lighted, what + receptacles could be found were filled and the muddy fluid + boiled. Our transport waggons were miles away, and for tea or + coffee we were dependent on what we found in the Boer waggons. + I remember drinking a cup of hot water and finding it most + refreshing. Food was foraged. One section of our men found a + sheep's carcass hanging up under a tree, slaughtered by the + rebels before our shell changed the tenor of their day. Some + had hardtack or army rations in their haversacks. Here and + there they picked up enough to make up a meal, not especially + plentiful, and very scrappy, but satisfying. Indeed a most + peculiar thing about the whole affair was the great amount + of work we managed to do on a very small amount of food. The + shadows of the evening were falling as we finished our meal, + sent out the necessary pickets, and prepared for rest." + +Later came the death of poor Macleod the Queenslander, whose wound had +been mortal. As the Queenslanders had early moved on to Rooi Pan (a +farmhouse across the veldt where rebels were suspected to be in hiding), +the Canadians took upon themselves the duty of conducting the sad +ceremonies of burial. A grave was dug and a New Testament found. Then +the Canadians slowly bore to its last resting-place the remains of the +heroic young Colonial who had lost his life in the service of the mother +country. Major Bayly, the Staff Officer of the expedition, read a few +selections from Corinthians over the body, after which it was consigned +to the heart of the veldt. A rude cross bearing his name and corps was +placed to mark the spot, and written thereon was also the intimation +that it was "Erected by his Queensland and Canadian comrades." The noble +young fellow Victor Jones secured less formal burial, though his loss +was as deeply regretted. On the following day two of his comrades from +Rooi Pan started off in search of his body, and having found it, buried +it without ceremony or rite, but with the keenest feelings of sorrow. + +On this day, the 2nd of January, the work of destruction of Boer effects +was begun. Soon after dawn a huge bonfire was made under such waggons +and ammunition of the foe as could not be utilised, and as the troops +marched out they were saluted by the appalling uproar of the exploding +cartridges. The procession, as it moved on its way to Rooi Pan, a +distance of some four or six miles, presented a somewhat mediaeval aspect +in spite of symbols of modernity--magazine rifles and machine guns. In +front was the wide expanse of grassy veldt; behind, the curling blue +smoke from the burning wreckage of the camp. Along the road came the +heavy springless waggons piled high with booty, their negro drivers +flourishing their long whips and repeating their vociferous bark of +"Eigh" to encourage the small, contumacious mules. With them marched the +bronzed, picturesque-looking army with its train of captives in the +rear, an unkempt, dilapidated crew--a strange contrast to the lively and +robust Canadians, who, rejoiced at their yesterday's feat, were singing +as they tramped along. Very curious was it to hear, instead of the +familiar British airs our soldiers love, the Niagara camp-song with its +Hallelujah chorus, and the popular "The Maple Leaf" proceeding from the +brawny throats of these brother soldiers of the Queen. Their joy and +their triumph was complete, and with a good night's rest and the +beautiful morning air to refresh them, their spirits were effervescent +in the extreme. + +At Rooi Pan there was a halt for half-an-hour, during which Colonel +Pilcher took the opportunity to address his force, and convey to them +congratulations on the recent fight which had been forwarded by General +Wood, commanding at the Orange River. Water-bottles were then filled +from the clear pond in the farm of one of the prisoners, and soon, the +sun growing momentarily hotter, the party advanced. This time their +route lay over dust ankle-deep in places, dust which rose up in clouds +and came down into eyes and ears and throats, and settled itself in hot +cakes and rings on hair and beards and necks. But presently, after a few +miles, the state of things was improved. Government roads stretched a +smooth highway in front, and kopjes--the dangerous kopjes that afforded +such comfortable hiding-places for the wily foe--grew fewer and farther +between. There was now comparative comfort, for there was little fear of +encounter with the enemy in the open. + +The journey was continued without event. There was no sign of +opposition, and about three o'clock in the afternoon, as they neared +their destination, a message came in, "Nothing to be seen in Douglas but +Union Jacks and red ensigns." This was a fact, and Colonel Pilcher and +his troops very soon occupied the town. Never was there a more +enthusiastic demonstration: the loyal inhabitants cheered to the echo; +some almost wept at the arrival of their deliverers. + +This town is situated below the junction of the Modder and Vaal Rivers, +and is of some importance. Here the long-suffering loyalists had +remained, ever since the commencement of hostilities, in anxious +expectation, awaiting the arrival of the British troops. Naturally the +frenzy of their delight knew no bounds, particularly when it was found +how completely the rebels had dispersed. Fourteen tents, three waggons, +an immense store of rifles and ammunition, saddles, forage, equipment, +and many incriminating letters were seized. On some of the envelopes +were stamped "On Her Majesty's Service," showing that these had been +used by the newly appointed Landrost of Douglas in the absence of an +official Free State superscription. + +The joy of the loyalists was of short duration. In the afternoon Colonel +Pilcher broke to them the terrible news. He stated that, for military +reasons, his force would be obliged to leave on the morrow. +Consternation prevailed. The leading members of the community explained +that, if deserted, their lives would not be worth a moment's purchase. +It was impossible to remain where they were and await the return of the +enemy, consequently Colonel Pilcher ordered all who wished to leave to +be ready by six the next morning, and promised them safe conduct to +Belmont. Thereupon a scene of great animation ensued. An immense exodus +was actively arranged. Vehicles of all kinds, sizes, and shapes were got +ready, while the women and babies--such as overflowed the transport +accommodation--were taken charge of by the gallant Canadians. These +marched forth singing, to keep up the spirits of the community, and +finally, when the wearisome end of the journey seemed never to be +reached, some of the noble fellows, although worn out with a long spell +of active work, and suffering from sore feet, carried the babies, and +thus relieved the women of the fatigue of the march. The cortege left +Douglas at eight o'clock on the morning of the 3rd, and reached Dover +Farm at two o'clock. With the refugees were sent forward the captured +rebels. These before their departure were paraded, and Colonel Pilcher +enjoined those who were Free Staters or Transvaalers to step from the +ranks, as they would be treated as prisoners of war. The rebels who had +taken up arms against their Queen would suffer different treatment. No +one stepped forward, and it was evident that either there were no Boers +among the number, or they mistrusted the assurances of Colonel Pilcher, +and preferred to meet their fate _en bloc_. (They were subsequently sent +to the Cape for trial.) Colonel Pilcher's "slim" arrangement for the +confusing of the natives prior to making his advance was eminently +successful, for the Boers, so a prisoner said, considered themselves +deeply aggrieved that they had not received information regarding the +proposed movements. On the 5th Colonel Pilcher's column arrived at +Belmont. The night's march from Cook's Farm was splendidly managed. News +had reached him to the effect that some 600 or 800 Boers intended to +effect a junction, and attack the column. At eight o'clock, therefore, +the whole force started quietly forth, stealing off in the jetty +obscurity like a band of conspirators. A halt was made during the night +to allow the troops a short spell of repose: after this they continued +their journey without mishap. Two companies of Canadians were employed +to hold a pass some six miles off Belmont, in order to prevent the +incoming force being cut off by the enemy. + +So ended, happily, a most successful raid. The Colonial troops had more +than acted up to the expectation of every one; and, though it was +somewhat disappointing that Douglas had to be instantly evacuated, the +expedition had helped to demonstrate to the loyalists that the British +could and would come to their aid, and that faith in the end has its +reward. + +The following table of their march is interesting as showing the wear +and tear to which the troops were subjected:-- + + Miles. + Sunday, December 31, Belmont to Thornhill 22 + Monday, January 1, Thornhill to Sunnyside (action) 13 + Tuesday, January 2, Sunnyside to Rooi Pan, 6 miles; + Rooi Pan to Douglas, 15 miles 21 + Wednesday, January 3, Douglas to Thornhill 24 + Thursday night, January 4, Thornhill to Richmond 10 + Friday, January 5, Richmond to Belmont 12 + --- + Total 102 + +This smart little military exploit was appreciated throughout the globe. +Telegrams poured in from all parts of the Queen's dominions +congratulating Colonel Pilcher and the Colonials on the excellent work +they had accomplished. The following from G.O.C., Cape Town, read:-- + + "Congratulate Colonel Pilcher on brilliant exploit, which will + have far-reaching effect." + +From Military Secretary, Government House:-- + + "Please send following message to Colonial troops employed in + action at Sunnyside: 'His Excellency Sir Alfred Milner sends + you his heartiest congratulations on your success, and hopes it + is only the forerunner of many more. While regretting the loss + of some of your brave comrades, he feels sure that your friends + in the colonies over the sea will feel proud of the success of + their representatives, as he himself does.'" + +From Sir Redvers Buller the following was received:-- + + "General Buller desires that his congratulations be conveyed to + the Colonial troops on their action at Sunnyside." + +From the Governor, Queensland, came:-- + + "Request you will be good enough to convey to Queensland + Mounted Infantry hearty congratulations on gallant conduct at + Sunnyside and sympathy in loss of life. Second contingent + embarks for South Africa next week." + + +ACTIVITIES AND SURPRISES + +More useful work, which had a direct bearing on the events of the +future, took place during Colonel Pilcher's three weeks' stay at +Belmont. Soon after the Douglas expedition another excursion was +devised. More Canadians were to be employed. The Queenslanders were to +send such men as they could mount, their animals being, many of them, +still _hors de combat_ from the sea trip, and the guns and infantry were +to go as a matter of course. A dive into the enemy's country was +projected--one of the first deliberate incursions upon the Southern +Dutch Republic. These incursions were of immense value, and served in +reality as pilotage for the gigantic military engine that was shortly to +sweep the way from the Cape to Bloemfontein. + +At six o'clock in the morning of Tuesday, January 9, the column started. +It was composed as follows:-- + + Royal Horse Artillery--Two guns, 45 men, 51 horses. Queensland + Mounted Infantry--Two Maxims, 116 men, 106 horses. Royal + Munster Fusiliers Mounted Infantry--15 men, 15 horses. Royal + Canadian Regiment--Two Maxims, 293 men, 2 horses. New South + Wales Army Medical Corps--Two ambulances, 18 men, 14 horses. + Total--487 men, 188 horses. + +The officers who were engaged in the flying column were:-- + + Staff--Lieut.-Col. T. D. Pilcher, P.S.C., in command; Major M. + Dobell, R.C.R.I., Staff Officer; Major S. J. A. Denison, + R.C.R.I., Quartermaster; Major Brown, Q.M.I., Transport + Officer; Lieut. Lafferty, R.C.R.I., Transport Officer; Lieut. + J. H. C. Ogilvy, in charge of R.C.R.I. machine gun section; + Capt. Pelham, Q.M.I., in charge of Queensland machine gun + section; Lieut. A. C. Caldwell, R.C.R.I., attached; Lieut. C. + W. M'Lean, R.C.R.I., attached; Rev. J. M. Almond, chaplain. + Royal Horse Artillery--Major de Rougemont and Lieut. Atkinson. + Queensland Mounted Infantry--Lieut.-Col. Ricardo, Capt. + Chauvel, Capt. Pinnock, Lieut. Bailey, Lieut. Glascow. R.M.F. + Mounted Infantry--Capt. Bowen, Lieut. Tyrrell. Royal Canadian + Regiment--Lieut.-Col. Pelletier. A Company--Capt. Arnold, + Lieut. Hodgins, Lieut. Blanchard. B Company--Lieut. Ross, + Lieut. J. C. Mason, Lieut. S. P. Layborn. H Company + (half-company)--Lieut. Burstall, Lieut. Willis. New South Wales + Army Medical Corps--Capt. Roth, Lieut. Martin; Capt. Dods, + Queensland, attached. (Lieut.-Col. Patterson of Queensland also + went with the force as a spectator.) + +The troops marched out by the road skirting the kopje so gallantly +stormed by the Guards, and moved over the veldt some few miles to the +south-east, towards the Free State. After passing Riet Pan a wide left +wheel was made, and the force struck north-east to eastwards, towards +the Free State. Here the dull purple kopjes wound along in chains, +dotted here and there with small plains some three or four miles in +depth and width. At Blaauwbosch Pan the border was reached--the border +between Griqualand West and the Southern Republic. A halt was called. +The troops gathered on a circular plain fringed with high kopjes. The +road, fenced across with wire, ran through the plain, and close by was a +small pan or pool, which glittered like diamonds when shaken by the +thunder showers; for the sky, always overcast and threatening, now and +then burst into tears. Though these tears had the effect of April +showers they were mightily drenching, and the troops, in saturated +overcoats like tepid sponges, pursued their march somewhat +uncomfortably. In the place above described Col. Pelletier, with two +companies of the Canadians, was left with orders to remain till three in +the afternoon, in readiness, if occasion demanded, to reinforce Colonel +Pilcher. Failing a message, he was to return to camp. The flying column +proceeded, travelling north till parallel with Enslin, where Gordons and +Australians were encamped, and from whence the Victorian Mounted +Infantry were skirmishing. Great caution had to be observed, as it was +difficult, particularly with so many Colonials about in their soft felt +hats, to discern friend from foe. Scares, as may be imagined, were many. +One of these took place when advancing horsemen were seen skimming the +distance. These dismounted and knelt. They meant business. The +excitement was intense. Signallers instantly fluttered flags, and +presently, after some moments of suspense, the troops were reassured. It +was a squadron of the 9th Lancers, who had come from Modder River +reconnoitring, keeping the Riet between them and the Jacobsdal position. +But we are anticipating. + +[Illustration: TYPES OF ARMS--LORD DUNDONALD'S GALLOPING GUN-CARRIAGE +WITH MAXIM. + +(Photo by Gregory & Co., London.)] + +On the first day of their march, the force enjoyed unlooked-for +hospitality. About five miles east of the border was the house of one +Commandant Lubbe, the commandant of Jacobsdal, a luminary of some +magnitude in the Free State. He may be described as a "man of +substance," to which his comfortable dwelling and flourishing +surroundings testified. Upon this pastoral domain the troops, somewhat +famished and fatigued, advanced. Their arrival, for the Boers, was most +ill-timed and unexpected. At that very moment dinner for some fifteen +persons was being spread, piping hot, on the festive board. Odours of +succulent fare pervaded the atmosphere, odours inviting--tantalising! +The portly Burghers were in the very act of setting to when they were +warned of the approach of British scouts. A stampede followed. Departing +coat-tails, and, five minutes later, mounted dots racing away to the +shelter of distant kopjes--that was all that our troops on arrival +beheld. But they saw something better than Boers. Their eyes lighted on +the goodly array of edibles, and, presto! the officers were seated. +Joyously they surrounded the well-equipped table, and demolished with +zest and considerable humour the repast which had been prepared for +their foes. + +A couple of negro domestics were the sole persons left on the homestead. +The place was searched; ammunition was found, and dies for casting +bullets. These were promptly destroyed. Some live stock and various +other useful articles were seized, including three rifles left behind in +the flight of the Burghers. Presently there came a report that the enemy +were in hiding in the neighbourhood of some kopjes. A rush to action was +made. The Maxim gun section went to some kopjes flanking the house, the +Canadian guns went to a height on the east, the Queensland ones to a +height on the west. Lieutenant Willis took his section of H Company to +support the Queensland guns, while Lieutenant Burstall took his section, +with intrenching tools, to a ridge midway between farm and kopje, to +prepare a position. Clatter and clank went the horse artillery guns to a +coign of vantage on the right, whence they could spit at the enemy if +they should attempt to mount or surround the big kopje in that +direction, while the Queenslanders on the west commenced explorations +for the reported foe. Horror! Slouch-hatted horsemen were distinctly +visible--they were coming nearer and nearer--though evidences of their +own caution were visible. They were not going to be trapped. Our gallant +troops were as determined not to be surprised. Thus must the Kilkenny +cats have commenced overtures. Both parties were wide awake! Both +parties were sidling up! It was but a matter of moments, and they would +promptly spring at each other's throats! + +Excitement was at a supreme pitch, when the good glasses of an officer +offered a revelation. The hostile hordes--the advancing horsemen--were +now plainly discernible. They proved to be not blood-thirsty Boers--not +an innocent crowd of ostriches that so often in the distance had been +mistaken for cavalry, but only a company of Victorian Mounted Rifles +from Enslin, from which place the advanced line was this time but some +dozen miles distant. It was a pleasant surprise. The scouts came in +contact, exchanged greetings, and the troops each went on their +respective way. Colonel Pilcher's force bivouacked at the farmhouse, and +the next morning, the 10th of January, saw them on their return journey +to Belmont. It was during this journey, as they wound homewards with +their captured prizes of oxen, that more horsemen were seen in the +distance--those who, as before said, were discovered to be the 9th +Lancers, on business already mentioned. The force reached camp about +noon. On the following day the sojourn of Colonel Pilcher in those +regions came to an end. He moved on to Modder River to command the +Mounted Infantry force at the front. His stay was fraught with much +benefit to the troops, as his energetic measures, smart manoeuvres, +and surprise drills brought the spirited Colonials to a high state of +alertness and proficiency. + + +AT MODDER RIVER + +General Methuen, as has been noted, was forced at last to fall back on +his base at the Modder River, since the Boers held their position in +great strength, and it became necessary to rest the men, free them from +tension, and save them from unnecessary sufferings due to the scarcity +of water. In addition to this, the Engineers were enabled to carry on +much necessary work. Railway communication was perfected, and the +permanent bridge was repaired, to provide against accident, which in +case of a flood might overtake the temporary one. + +On the Boer left flank, from the extreme end of Majesfontein +south-eastwards to the Riet River, was comparatively open ground. Beyond +the broad expanse of bush which stretched for over a thousand yards was +a road leading to Jacobsdal, and farther on was flat country which +offered no cover, and appeared singularly free from traps or trenches. +Looking over this open ground, it seemed possible to turn the Boer flank +and cut off the enemy's communications with Jacobsdal, and possibly +threaten his line of retreat to the Free State. + +Some one has called the Modder River the Hampton Court of Kimberley, and +perhaps it was fortunate that the troops found themselves forced to halt +in a locality which is one of the most picturesque in South Africa. The +surroundings were comforting after the desolation of Gras Pan--with +never a house to hint at humanity, and only the frowning darkness of +threatening kopjes to break the monotony of the view--and the primitive +prettiness of Honeynest Kloof, which boasts but a farm or two and a few +trees to give it life. From this point the country became greener, the +eye was relieved from the autumnal drabs and purples of the rocky hills, +and began to lean affectionately on the suggestion of moistness implied +by the expanse of verdure. + +Across the river was the crowded railway station, choked with stores and +goods waggons, and the usual medley of camp kit. On one side +accoutrements, lances, swords, the steel of their scabbards glinting +through the crackled coats of kharki--odds and ends of uniform--telling +their tale of action--action--action--in all its phases. And close +beside them were other portions of baggage seemingly the same, but--oh! +how tragically different! Here were rifles and bayonets, broken, +battered, and blood-stained--all that was left of the heroic dead who +had acted their last drama at Majesfontein, and whose belongings, in an +inert mass, seemed to confess dumbly that they were "off duty" for +ever. + +[Illustration: MAJOR-GENERAL HECTOR A. MACDONALD, C.B. + +Photo by Heath, Plymouth.] + +Christmas Day was an unpleasant memory--a tropical sun overhead, a +whirlwind of dust around. It is said that every man must eat a peck of +dirt in his life-time, and on this day the troops certainly ate their +quantum. Food and drink were ruined, and tempers into the bargain, for +the day was made into one long twilight misery by a hurricane of driving +dust. + +The position of the Boers soon after this period grew somewhat +uncomfortable. Night attacks were threatened; indeed, Lord Methuen had +the Naval guns laid on to the Boer positions by day, with the order that +they were to be fired by night. And the order was obeyed with zest. The +Boers were on tenter-hooks. The shells burst, throwing gorgeous haloes +into the Majesfontein night. Of course, the compliment was returned. +Tier after tier of the Boer positions spitted and spouted and vomited +flame, and the night breezes, carrying the fracas on their wings, +brought it close, so close indeed, that an attack sounded as though +imminent. Still our outposts were silent. Discipline kept them "mum." +Still the Boers continued, and the rattle of their rifles directed at +nothing in particular, and everybody in general, wakened the echoes of +the hills. + +There was nothing further to be done. Reinforcements had to be awaited +with annoying, almost humiliating patience. The Boers were stretched +from Jacobsdal on the east to a point miles away on the west of the +railway; they were intrenched horse-shoe fashion, with Majesfontein for +their most imposing stronghold. There was no means of outflanking them, +for in order to wheel to the west the force would need to march through +an arid and waterless desert. Had the march been ventured upon, the +position might not have bettered, as Lord Methuen, even supposing he had +succeeded in reaching Kimberley, would still have had before him the +bulk of the Boer commandoes, who would have been at liberty to cut off +his supplies. The "relief" of Kimberley without supplies would have been +the reverse of relief. + +All the British could do was to struggle to hold their ground, and make +their proximity as uncomfortable as possible for the enemy. Routine went +on like clockwork, save that the Modder River clock had no works. It was +a child of Necessity! A broken steel rail suspended from a crossbeam was +struck by the sentry with the blunt head of an axe. The stupendous clang +proclaimed the hours all over the camp. The troops were not allowed too +much leisure, and ennui was not permitted to reach them; they dug +trenches, constructed breastworks, and generally improved the lines of +defence; indeed they worked with a will at anything that came to hand. +Some one, seeing them alight at a railway station, remarked: "They've +left all their frills behind them." This was truly the case. Mr. Atkins +was now above the desire for display. He was workmanly in the extreme, +and made himself a jack of all trades, alternately groom, labourer, +cook, porter, mule-driver, laundryman, and hero! To-day he was scouring, +rubbing, kharki-painting, and hoisting; to-morrow he was good-humouredly +playing the role of his own washerwoman by the river-side. One moment he +was pulling or coaxing or cudgelling obdurate mules, and apostrophising +them in language peculiarly his own; the next he was rushing gallantly +to the forefront to spend his heart's blood in the service of his Queen! + +To General Wood must be given the credit of the first entry into the +enemy's country. On the 6th of January, with a force of all arms, he +occupied Zoutpansdrift, the place--situated north of the Orange River, +in Free State territory--where gallant Captain Bradshaw met his fate. +Communications between the banks of the river were maintained by means +of a pontoon bridge. This was an excellent piece of work, for by holding +the drift it was possible to control the progress of the Free Staters, +and avert sudden raids against the railway between Orange Station and De +Aar. A great deal of active though scarcely "showy" work was carried on +at this time, often under the most unfavourable conditions. For +instance, on the 14th of January, one of the most obnoxious and ever to +be remembered dust-storms burst over the place. It made life temporarily +into a bilious sea, a blinding, suffocating bath of yellow sand. Food +was ruined, to say nothing of temper. Clothes were covered, eyes and +throats were clogged, and the pores of the skin were caked with showers +of ochreous pepper, which made every one in camp miserable for a period +of quite seven hours! + +Cavalry reconnaissances at this period were frequent. The troops, always +in peril of their lives, explored some twenty-five miles into the Orange +Free State, and found the country clear of the enemy with the exception +of patrols. The Victorian Mounted Rifles under Captain M'Leish did some +admirable scouting, and visited several farms, which they found had been +vacated in hot haste at their approach. The country was thoroughly +searched, the 9th and 12th Lancers under General Babington doing +valuable work. It was this party that came in touch with Colonel Pilcher +and the Queenslanders near Lubbe's Farm. + +Our warriors became well versed in peculiarities of Boer homesteads. All +the Dutch farms had a brotherly likeness, and were usually found at a +sufficient distance from each other to carry out the Boer ideal that one +man should not breathe or see the smoke from his neighbour's chimney. +They commonly nestled under cover of some small kopje, and seemed as +though so planted for purposes of self-protection. Self-protection is +the first law of nature, and the Boer character has a great reverence +for first laws. In every farm was found a harmonium--on the Natal side +there were pianos--and many Bibles. Some of these were valuable, and +were old enough to arouse the covetous interest of the bibliophile. Most +probably they were heirlooms, and had belonged to the early trekkers, +who could thumb them out, text by text, when their capacity for other +reading was nil. These one-storeyed abodes were composed of sun-baked +bricks plastered over, and the flat roofs were lined within by ceilings +of deal. Simplicity, ignorance, bad taste, and uncleanliness reigned +everywhere. Indeed, it was a matter for wonder how close to +civilisation, yet how remote from it, the Dutchmen had contrived to +dwell. The cattle kraals and homestead were surrounded with +rudely-constructed walls of stone that in their ruggedness were not +unpicturesque. + +[Illustration: TYPES OF ARMS--MAXIM AUTOMATIC MACHINE-GUN (THE +"POM-POM"). + +(By permission of Messrs. Vickers Sons & Maxim, Limited.)] + +To return to camp. The Boers, determining not to be accused of lack of +invention, adopted a new and ingenious dodge. In the distance from the +British outposts a Highlander was observed in the act of driving cattle. +As the proceeding was contrary to orders, the manoeuvres of the man +were carefully observed, and he was discovered to be a Boer masquerading +in Highland uniform. He was at once fired upon and he fell, but +succeeded in rising and making off before he could be captured. + +On the 16th of January Lord Methuen made a demonstration against the +left of the Boer entrenchments at Majesfontein, for the purpose of +drawing off some of the force investing Colonel Kekewich's garrison. On +the following day, the 17th, a similar demonstration was made, but the +enemy was nothing if not "canny," and refused to be drawn. Then new +tactics were tried. On the 23rd there was quite a theatrical +bombardment. Night fell. The moon rose, empurpling the frowning kopjes +and filling the whole foreground with magnesian radiance. Then the balmy +breath of evening was ruffled with the uproar of British shells, +whizzing like rockets and bursting in the Boers' lair. For full +half-an-hour a brisk cannonade was maintained, neither party being in +view of each other, both being wrapped in the mysterious gloom of the +midnight shadows; but the echoes took up the weird tale of warring souls +and repeated it into the ear of the winds. Ordinarily, shelling morning +and evening was a matter of daily ritual. So many shells into the Boer +trenches, so much breakfast. An hour of brisk bombardment, four hours of +night's repose. Such might have been the printed programme. + +On the 24th of January a tremendous reception was given to General +Hector Macdonald, who arrived in the best of health and spirits, and at +once took command of the Highland Brigade. With each of the officers he +conversed, and apprised them of a special message entrusted to him by +Lord Roberts, an attention which afforded immense satisfaction to all +concerned. + +The appointment of "Fighting Mac"--as he is popularly called--to the +command of the Highland Brigade was full of romantic interest. As a +sergeant in the Gordon Highlanders he was one of those who took part in +the disastrous fight at Majuba. He was unluckily taken prisoner, but so +great was his valour and dash that he even excited the admiration and +appreciation of the enemy. This was testified to this remarkable man in +a remarkable way. General Joubert, to show his esteem for his fine +qualities as a soldier, decided on restoring to him the sword which he +had necessarily surrendered. As the sword was not immediately +forthcoming, the Boer commander offered a reward for it, so that it +should be returned to the gallant fellow who had so nobly striven to +defend it. The picture of Colonel Macdonald and his Khedivial Brigade at +Omdurman was made ever present to us all through the vivid word-painting +of Mr. Steevens in his book "With Kitchener to Khartoum"; and now it is +easy to realise that the kilted warrior was at the moment the right man +in the right place. The men wanted him. Some were sick and sore and +fretted to get a chance to distinguish themselves in the field. +Tradition demanded it, and tradition was dear to them; strangely and +absurdly dear, some thought. Here were men exposed to the fierce sun in +what the layman calls "petticoats," suffering agonies in the muscles of +their scorched legs, yet enduring anything rather than part with the +external attributes of their warrior land. Though the kilt and the +sporran had to be extinguished under a hideous apron of kharki, and +though the heat and weight of wool pleats surmounted by cotton was +overwhelming, they preferred these sufferings to any change in their +gear. Suggestions were offered on every side, but it was certain that +nothing would overcome the conservative devotion of the Highlander for +the warlike insignia of his race. Yet their plight was sometimes +pitiable, particularly on occasions when, as a Scot described it, he had +to take a barbed wire entanglement at "the double" and emerged "a +bleeding mass, with his kilt hard a starboard, his kharki flap half left +turn, and his sporran dangling on the wire." Anyhow the men of the kilt +meant to hold on to all their traditions, and to take the taste of +Majesfontein out of their mouths. And they were truly glad of "Fighting +Mac" to help them. + +Camp routine was occasionally varied and upset by locust swarms. These +descended persistently for a space of about three hours, making the +atmosphere dense, as though thick with snowflakes. It was a snowstorm in +mourning. Down came the creatures in myriads, gobbling every blade of +grass, every crumb, every edible fragment, and then, swiftly as they had +come, disappearing on the wings of the wind. They were useful at times, +however, for on one occasion, just as a party of troopers had almost +fallen into a trap laid by the enemy, the air became suddenly dark, and +presently a veil of locusts descended, entirely cutting off the British +from the Boers, and enabling the former to scuttle campwards in the +sudden obscurity. Not so convenient or comforting was the dust-storm, +with which the troops were becoming well acquainted. The dust-storm or +dust-spout is analogous to a waterspout. Columns of dust rise vertically +to a height of about 150 feet in the air and promptly descend with +alarming velocity, sweeping over the earth at the rate of five or six +miles an hour, and making life for the time being into a state of chaos. +But everything may be turned to account, and the British, being tired of +Boer tricks, utilised even the sand-storm with pleasing results. One of +the great difficulties of our gunners in shelling the enemy consisted in +the fact that the Boers, at the first sign of fire, rushed to bomb-proof +trenches. They employed lookout men to give a signal of warning. On the +29th of January, however, when the Naval gunners saw a storm brewing, +they bided their time. No sooner had the whirl descended than they set +to work and plumped lyddite with great success into the enemy's lines. + +Coming events now began to cast their shadows before. Activities around +the railroad showed that the influence of Lord Kitchener was already at +work. The Royal Engineers commenced to build a strong and permanent +bridge across the Modder at its confluence with the Riet. This bridge +was constructed about fifteen feet above water, to insure it against the +flooding of the river during the rainy season in the Free State, and +enable the heaviest traffic to be carried to the scene of action. This +promised shortly to be situated in the direction of Jacobsdal. Here the +Boers kept a species of headquarters; and here, in the open plain +dividing them from Kopjesdam, they set fire to the veldt for two miles. +The conflagration began in the afternoon of Wednesday, the 31st of +January, and continued throughout the night, illuminating earth and sky +with weird reflections. The smoke of these fires served to act as a +screen for Boer movements, for at this time the hostile armies were +reinforced by troops from Barkly and Koodoesberg districts. The burning +of the grass might also have been arranged with the object of procuring +a black background against which the approach of winding, snake-like +columns of kharki could be more distinctly visible. + +There was some excitement in camp as to the reported capture of Mr. +Jourdaan, the private secretary of Mr. Rhodes, who had endeavoured to +pass from the beleaguered town with messages from the "Colossus" +relating to the critical affairs of the moment. + +On the 31st of January the British occupied Prieska unopposed. The Boers +had been in possession of the place in all about five days, and had +left, taking with them two prisoners, one of whom they subsequently +released. Commandants Olivier and Snyman were busy recruiting, and +finding themselves at a loss for combatants, were now forcing Dutchmen +all and sundry to serve with the Transvaal colours. "There is no such +thing as a loyal Dutchman," declared Olivier, and promptly commandeered +young and old on pain of fine or imprisonment. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +CHRISTMAS AT LADYSMITH + + +Prices at Ladysmith had now gone up, but still those whose purses were +plethoric could treat themselves to a few luxuries. Jam, for instance, +was 3s. 6d. per lb., a possible price but a tantalising; while eggs were +sold at about half a guinea a dozen. Whisky fetched from L5 to L7 a +bottle, so there was little fear of dipsomania; and small packets of +cigarettes were worth 3s. 6d. a piece. On the 23rd of December there was +a grand auction. The Mayor at one time had instituted periodical +auctions for the sale of the town produce, but finding competition too +brisk, and fearing prices would never return to their normal level, the +plan had been dropped. However, in face of Christmas there was a great +sale, and the soldiers eagerly competed for bargains in the way of +chickens and ducks and etceteras of the meal. In default of Covent +Garden or Leadenhall, a long table at an angle of the main street was +set out with inviting fare tantalizing to all but the most stoical. One +Gordon was seen dragging off another in act of making an extravagant +bid--"Come awa, mon! we dinna want nae sour grapes." Poultry was +fetching from 8s. to 10s. a bird; while vegetables, in proportion, were +more costly still. Vegetable marrows were sold for 2s. 9d. each; and +carrots, homely and almost despised carrots, fetched over 3s. a bunch! +As a great luxury a turkey, a goose, a sucking-pig now and then appeared +on the Ladysmith board; but the ordinary domestic meal was composed of +trek beef and "goat" mutton. But even these were becoming beautifully +less. + +Christmas passed off well. Hope revived. News of Lord Methuen's earlier +victories refreshed the ears of the community, and a series of sports of +various kinds helped to impart to the day a suitable air of festivity. +Quantities of popular people set to work to make the day merry. Colonel +Dartnell, Major Karri Davies, Colonel Rhodes--the delight of all from +the Tommies to the babes--arranged a Christmas Tree. It was decorated +with gifts and mottoes, "Imperial to the core," and attended by children +of all sizes and degrees, even to a siege baby aged three days! But +behind the scene enteric fever and dysentery flourished, and languishing +in Intombi camp, two miles out, were pathetic remnants of the hale and +hearty regiments who had marched to the front in October. The other +gallant warriors were now nothing more than a mob of badly-dressed +scarecrows, lean and wizened, but, as one of them said, "good enough +food for powder." The horses, too, had grown thin and spiritless, their +anatomy was grievously obvious, and in their eyes--those erstwhile fiery +eyes--there seemed to dwell the melancholy foreboding of a strange +hereafter--the hereafter when sausages should be served out to the +hungry, and the poor equine devotees would have spent the last of +themselves to keep the British flag flying. + +The message of the Queen warmed the hearts of the weary garrison. It was +pleasant to know that the Sovereign, in thought, lived in the shadows as +in the sunlight of Empire. Still, none but those experiencing it could +plumb the depths of monotony and wretchedness. It was enough to kill the +martial spirit of the most valorous, though none would own that +bellicosity was exuding little by little from their wasted finger-ends. +Far from it. + +Sir George White maintained a series of night attacks or threats of +night attacks, which served to keep the Boers uncomfortably on the _qui +vive_, and these, as a necessary return, indulged in exasperating +bombardment during the day. On the 26th as many as 176 shells were flung +into the town before nine in the morning, independently of the action +carried on by the Maxim automatic guns. It was plain the Boers +considered that the inactivity of Christmas Day must be atoned for, and +therefore the guns were plied with additional ardour. On the 27th, +unfortunately, their murderous efforts were more than rewarded. A shell +was fired from the Creusot gun on Bulwana, which dropped into the +Devons' mess at Junction Hill. There, were congregated many of the +officers, and of these Lieutenant Dalziel and Lieutenant Price-Dent were +killed. Many others were wounded. Lieutenant Twist was injured in five +places, and Lieutenants Scafe, Kane, Field, Byrne (Inniskilling +Fusiliers), Tringham (Royal West Surrey), and Captain Lafone--who had +been previously wounded at Elandslaagte--were all more or less +mutilated. + +[Illustration: HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY--CAPTAIN, 2nd, LIFE GUARDS. + +Photo by Gregory & Co., London.] + +On the 28th the Naval Battery took on itself to avenge the loss of the +noble fellows who had fallen victims to the Bulwana gun, and directed at +it, or rather at its gunners, six well-intentioned shots from the 4.7 +inch and 12-pounder, with the result that the voice of the aggressor was +temporarily silenced. There was some satisfaction in the feeling that +the gunners who had created such awful havoc and regret had met their +deserts. Both Lieutenant Dalziel and Lieutenant Price-Dent were +particularly promising young officers, having both seen service with Sir +William Lockhart on the Indian frontier, the latter having also served +in the Chitral Relief Force. A sentiment of gloom mingled with fury +disturbed the fortitude of the gallant party, and the only satisfaction +they enjoyed was calculation and speculation as to what form Sir Redvers +Buller's next move would take. "When will Buller come, and how?" such +were the questions which were repeated scores of times during the day. + +The cessation of the fire from Bulwana was certainly cheering, and from +various sources it was discovered that the Boers were becoming nervous +in fear of night attacks and the destruction of more of their big guns. +Their state of mind was not evidenced entirely by their conduct, for two +plugged shells fired into the camp were found to contain a hunk of +plum-pudding and the compliments of the season. + +Sickness, as we know, was rife, but fortunately there were many doctors +of repute in the town, members of the Army Medical Department, and also +independent practitioners. There was Dr. Jameson, whose ability was for +years testified at Kimberley, and also Dr. Davies of Johannesburg; these +assisted materially in giving advice, but unfortunately medicines were +now growing scarce, and milk, though some invalids could digest nothing +else, was not to be had. It is too pathetic to deal with the losses that +must have occurred through the lack of suitable nourishment for those +whose cases, not in themselves serious, only required care and +sustenance. + +The bombardment on the first day of the New Year had tragic results. A +shell crashed into the house of Major Vallentine and killed a soldier +servant named Clydesdale. Later, another shell burst near the railway +station, where a cricket match between the railway officials and bridge +guards was taking place, and killed Captain Vallentine Todd. The unlucky +player was in the act of bowling, and dropped with the ball still in his +hand. + + +THE ATTACK ON WAGON HILL + +Our midnight surprises had not been without their lesson, and now the +Boers conceived the brilliant, the desperate idea of emulating British +example, and bringing Ladysmith to her knees by assault in the small +hours. Some three days before the event, a Kaffir deserter had warned +the besieged that an attack was contemplated; that it had been decided +among the Boers that a large force must be moved up from the +neighbourhood of Colenso, and that a final assault at arms must be +attempted. The warning was pooh-poohed. Kaffir tales were almost as +prevalent as flies! It was proverbial that night attacks to the Dutchman +were taboo--they were dangerous, they tried the nerves, and cold steel +glittered horribly in the moonlight. So Ladysmith slept. But as a matter +of fact the Kaffir was right. These arrangements had taken place, and +two storming parties from the Heidelberg and Harrismith commandoes were +promised immediate return to their homes if they should succeed in the +hazardous enterprise. Accordingly, on the evening of the 5th of January +they arranged a plan which on Saturday the 6th they almost carried out. +The main object of their attack, they decided, should be on the western +side of the perimeter, where a crescent-shaped, flat-topped eminence +divided them from the town. At the south point of this crescent was +placed Caesar's Camp, bounded on the east by the Klip River, and at the +west point, a distance of some four miles, was a post known as Wagon +Hill. Close to this was a twin plateau called Wagon Hill West. Caesar's +Camp was guarded by the Manchester Regiment, the 42nd Field Battery, and +a Naval 12-1/2-pounder gun. Only half a battalion of 60th Rifles were on +Wagon Hill, while two squadrons of Imperial Light Horse were on Wagon +Hill West. Against these positions the enemy decided to make their +concentrated attack. The darksome steeps were almost perpendicular, and +afforded excellent cover for approach. In some respects they resembled +Majuba, where a man climbing up was almost invisible till he came face +to face with his quarry. Some three hundred warrior-farmers of the +Harrismith commando arranged secretly to gather in Fournier's Spruit, a +dry nullah which intersected the base of the position, and there wait +till the gloom of the small hours should give them the chance they were +expecting. Their plan was to divide in two columns. The one, under the +Harrismith Commandant, De Villiers, was to attack the steeps of Wagon +Hill West, while the other, in concert, was to crawl to the nek or slope +which united that hill with Wagon Hill proper, and thus cut off the +former hill from the rest of the camps. In this way, should the plan +succeed, they hoped to make the southern peak of the hill, Caesar's Camp, +untenable. Accordingly, divesting themselves of shoes, they started off, +and under cover of darkness, like stealthily slinking panthers, +approached, from different points, the British lines. It so happened +that a Hotchkiss gun and some Naval guns were being placed in position +on the top of Wagon Hill West. Possibly these guns may have tempted the +enemy. They would be useful, they thought, to capture and turn on camp +or town. All day and all night the Royal Engineers and Bluejackets had +been labouring to get the weapons into position, and at this hour the +party were taking a "breather" after their long and arduous efforts. +With them, to cover their operations, were the King's Royal Rifles and +the Gordon Highlanders, who occupied a post on the front and flank. The +fatigue party were resting, as before stated. Suddenly, in the stillness +of the night, a curious and unusual sound was heard. The velvety sound +of a muffled footfall. A crumbling as of broken earth. Ears pricked up. +The sentry at once cried out, "Who goes there?" "Friend," was answered, +and the next moment the sentry dropped dead! + +Curiously enough, while the beforesaid plan of attack was in course of +being enacted, Lieutenant Mathias was visiting his posts. In the +obscurity he all at once found himself confronted by Boers on every +side. With amazing presence of mind he faced about, and seeing that the +Dutchmen mistook him for one of themselves, acted as if he also were +assaulting the hill. When near enough, however, he made a rush--a +desperate rush--to warn the pickets of their danger. But he was too +late. Two men were shot dead, whilst Lieutenant Mathias and a third +trooper were wounded. There was no help at hand, and before assistance +could be summoned, the enemy were already sweeping the hill. But the +sound of the first shots had given the alarm. + +Instantly all was flurry and confusion. Men that a moment before had +been sleepily yawning after their heavy labours were racing hither and +thither, groping in the darkness in search of arms. Others however, who +were armed, forebore to fire, the felt hats of the foe being mistaken +for those of the Imperial Light Horsemen. With a desperate effort +Lieutenant Digby Jones gathered together his sappers. Hurried shots were +fired, hurried orders given, but nothing could efface the effects of the +sudden surprise. The Boers had gained the hill and driven the defenders +over the crest! This all in a darkness that might have been felt. Such +lanterns as there were had been overturned and extinguished in the +hustle of the stampeding Kaffirs, who had been assisting at the +arrangement of the gun, and who, at the first approach of the enemy, had +fled. Forks and flashes of flame shining from the nek between the twin +hills showed that the second column of the Dutch commando also was +attaining its object. The gun, which fortunately had not yet been +erected on the top of the hill, was instantly got to work under the +direction of Lieutenant Parker; rifles were seized, and an effort was +made in the obscurity to sweep the hill in the direction where the enemy +was supposed to be. But the Boers were completely enveloped in the +darkness of the night, and it was impossible to locate them; and the +Hotchkiss gun was drawn back within the sandguard which had hurriedly +been thrown up, only just in time. The Boers were now almost upon it. +All the available men about Wagon Hill had instantly rushed to the +rescue, and the Imperial Light Horse, some King's Royal Rifles, and a +few Gordon Highlanders were soon in the thick of the fray. The +Highlanders, taking their place round the crest, fired, as hard as +rifles would let them, down the slope. Some fierce fighting followed. +Before the Boers could get farther up, the Imperial Light Horse with +their wonted gallantry engaged them, and sent the invaders +helter-skelter down hill into the mysterious mists of the dawn. But +this was but for a moment--it was merely the commencement of affairs. + +The whole garrison got under arms, not only the military, but every +available man taking up some weapon to assist in withstanding the +onslaught. It was felt to be a desperate situation, desperate for both +sides, for the enemy knew that something must be done, and that quickly, +to prevent the pending arrival of relief by Sir Redvers Buller, while +the garrison, in face of reduced rations, disease, dysentery, and +decreasing ammunition, was aware that it was a case of now or never. The +alarm once given, Colonel Hamilton from the west had sent for +reinforcements with amazing rapidity, and up came two and a half +companies of Gordon Highlanders from the base of Caesar's Camp, while one +company under Captain the Hon. R. T. Carnegie started to support the +Manchester pickets on Caesar's Camp, and a company and a half went to +Wagon Hill. It was while the Gordons were marching up and crossing the +bridge of the Klip River that they met with their first mishap. Colonel +Dick Cunyngham, only just recovered from his wound at Elandslaagte, was +struck by a chance bullet and fell mortally wounded. Major Scott then +took the command. Presently came the Rifle Brigade and half a battalion +of the first 60th to the rescue, while the 21st Field Battery hurried to +cover the western approaches to Wagon Hill, and the 53rd Battery took up +a position to guard the most southern point of Caesar's Camp. But all +this movement was not accomplished till much carnage had been wrought. +As already mentioned, the Boers had nearly achieved their object and cut +off Wagon Hill West from Wagon Hill proper. By dawn they were straggling +on the plateau connecting the two hills, merely checked in their further +advance on Wagon Hill by the remnant of the Light Horse. Firing at this +time was so terrific and at such close range that it was impossible to +move from cover and live. Bullets literally buzzed like bees in the +serene morning air. On one side were the Boers making for the second +hill, on the other were the British struggling to ward them off. +Meanwhile, trickling along through the Fournier's Spruit were arriving +more desperate farmers, more picked men of skilled marksmanship and +deadly purpose. At this time reinforcements also arrived for the brave +little band who were so gallantly resisting the Dutchmen. But even the +additional numbers were insufficient, it was impossible to cope with the +marvellous marksmanship of the advancing horde. They came ever nearer +and nearer, firing thick and fast--and with explosive bullets. The +Colonel, two Majors, and four other officers of the Light Horse +dropped--the enemy seized the position--and from thence it was +impossible to dislodge them! To do this it would have been necessary to +rush through some sixty yards of what seemed hell-fire--a perfect +avalanche of death. Major Mackworth made the dashing effort, but in +the very act he was stricken down, and most of the gallant fellows of +the 60th Rifles who accompanied him. Another officer, Lieutenant Tod, +pluckily attempted the same hazardous exploit. Twelve noble fellows +followed him. Six were hit, and the valiant young leader dropped dead +before he had moved three yards from cover. Colonel Codrington (11th +Hussars), who was commanding a squadron of the Imperial Light Horse, +made a rush forward to ascertain if it were possible to get cover for +his men, but before he had gone thirty yards, he too shared the fate of +the other officers. These experiences were sufficient. It was decided +that the best plan would be to wait under cover till dusk, when the +bayonet might be made to supersede the rifle. + +[Illustration: H.M.S. "POWERFUL." + +Photo by Symonds, Portsmouth.] + +While all this was taking place on Wagon Hill, a terrific drama was +being enacted at Caesar's Camp; and exciting assaults, defeats, and +re-assaults were following each other on Wagon Hill West. Soon after +dawn, the 52nd Field Battery, under Major Abdy, commenced to shell the +slopes below Caesar's Camp, and keep the enemy from ascending in that +direction. The operation was one fraught with extreme difficulty, as the +shells were forced to travel over the heads of our own men in order to +effect a lodgment at the desired spot. But the work of the gunners was +admirable, and the shells burst with a precision that wrought awful +destruction on the enemy. The whole of the eastern slopes of the hill +were covered with dead Dutchmen lying amidst fragments of steel and iron +in the blood-clotted grass. The scene around Ladysmith at this time was +appalling. Away in the direction of Wagon Hill, fiercely every inch of +ground was being contested, and here the Naval guns and artillery were +bellowing and roaring and sending their deadly messages all along the +ridge of Caesar's Camp, driving off the enemy, who came back again and +again. There was a hard tussle, particularly for the Gordons and the +Rifle Brigade. Their lives hung by a thread. The Boers were inflamed +with either hope or desperation, and, contrary to custom, advanced to +death and destruction with dogged and, one may say, admirable pluck. Day +broke and grew to its zenith, and still the fighting raged; still the +guns roared and snorted; still the dust and dirt flew to the skies, +coming down again to stop the mouths of gasping, dying men, and blind +the eyes of those who, blood-stained and sweltering, were yet selling +their lives at the dearest price that could be asked. + +Just as the fire was slackening, possibly from sheer fatigue on both +sides, the heavily charged thunder-clouds burst over the position, and a +terrific downpour of hail and rain scourged the contesting forces and +flooded the trenches. The Boers at this time had been driven to a corner +like wolves at bay, and could not emerge without running the gantlet of +a tremendous fire from the Ladysmith guns. Wet to the skin, the ground +one vast meadow of slush, the combatants still held on with grim +tenacity, each side watching lynx-eyed, each being now almost mad with +an insatiable and ferocious desire for victory. + +The storm continued and grew. Instead, as imagined, of relinquishing the +fight, the Boers took courage from the tempest. The tornado from heaven +only served to increase the tornado below! It seemed to suit the stormy +state of human passions, to stimulate rather than subdue. Under cover of +the thunder and the swirl of the elements the Federals made one +desperate onward rush, but the furious fire which met them from +Volunteers and British Infantry hurled them back and sent them spinning +in heaps or rushing with howls down the hill. The 53rd Battery swept the +bush country with a storm of shrapnel, and away to cover they went, and +with them their reinforcements, who had been hiding in the neighbouring +nullahs, waiting for the great, the final hour of triumph. + +So much for Caesar's Camp. On Wagon Hill before noon the Devons, with +their gallant commander, had come to the forefront, Colonel Park again +leading them to renewed success. As we know, the Boers were already on +the hill, and the Gordons, who had lost their officers, were falling +back when Major Milner Wallnutt rallied them. The enemy were soon +removed from the emplacement which they held; but they rushed towards +the west, and were there as dangerously fixed as ever. About two o'clock +the most horrible moment of the fight arrived. The hill that had been +the subject of such eager contest was again attacked, this time by a +small but desperate body of Dutchmen. De Villiers, their Commandant, +made a wild forward rush to secure the position. In an instant Major +Wallnutt and a sapper were shot dead, but the rest of the sappers +magnificently fronted the invaders with fixed bayonets. Presently the +brilliant youth, the hero of the Surprise Hill affair, Lieutenant Digby +Jones, R.E., led them forward, shot De Villiers, and dropped! A bullet +had sent him home to his last account. The hoary-headed Burghers were +stayed in their onward march by the splendid action of the noble boy, +who so many times had risked his young life in the service of his +country. At this juncture up came a dismounted squadron of the 18th +Hussars, and the situation was saved. The plateau was reoccupied. + +[Illustration: PLAN OF LADYSMITH AND CHRONICLE OF EVENTS. (From Drawing +by W. T. Maud.)] + +But even then all was not over. The great, the supreme effort to +recapture Wagon Hill came at four o'clock in the afternoon. The +lightning flashed, the thunder rolled, the hail clattered and splashed, +the guns blazed, vomited, and growled, and the silky whistle of bullets +made a flute-like treble to the awful orchestra of sound. In the midst +of the uproar the Boers again obstinately advanced up the heights, +firing deliberately as they came. On their heads poured the wrath of the +British guns, and among their numbers rained the ceaseless bullets of +the Infantry; but they steadily moved up, doggedly determined once more +to reach the crest of the hill. They came nearer and ever nearer till, +on a sudden, they flung themselves upon the Devons, who, cheering +wildly, rushed into their midst and dispersed them. One short +moment--one wild, valiant rush, and then--then the trusty British +bayonets dripped with gore, and the Boers--all that were left of them, a +racing, disorganised rabble--surged madly down the hill! + +The worst was over; the British conquerors rushed after the retreating +foe. The Devons, led by their intrepid commander, charged down the +slope, and this time, with a wild exultant yell--which echoed like a +tocsin among the caves and the boulders and the honeycombed banks of the +river--effectually drove the fleeing herd from the scene of carnage. + +The lost ground was recovered, but the lost lives.... Yes; they, too, +live in the glorious annals of British history. + +Captain Lafone, Lieutenants Field and Walker were among the slain; and +Lieutenant Masterton was wounded. The splendid charge cost the Devons +all the company officers--fifteen killed and forty wounded! + +[Illustration: THE GREAT ASSAULT ON LADYSMITH--THE DEVONS CLEARING WAGON +HILL. + +Drawing by W. T. Maud.] + +It was a dreadful seventeen hours' work. Not a soul but had his duty, +and more than his duty, cut out for him. The jolly Jack Tars stood to +their guns from morn till night, blazing away with marvellous accuracy +and precision, while the gallant Natal Police, Natal Carabineers, and +Mounted Rifles were wedged between the Boers from Mount Bulwana and the +rest of their attacking party, and signally defeated all their efforts +to effect a junction. The Manchester Regiment, the Border Regiment, a +detachment of Mounted Rifles, the Gordon Highlanders, and the Rifle +Brigade defended the east of Caesar's Camp like heroes, while on the +west, as we know, the Imperial Light Horse, more Gordon Highlanders, the +Devon Regiment, the King's Royal Rifles, and a Naval detachment did +glorious deeds. The Naval Brigade and the Natal Naval Volunteers +occupied a central position, while three batteries of the Field +Artillery were perched on a hill, and one remained on the ground below. +All these were called upon to act with might and main to avert the +pending calamity, to meet the stubborn, mulish persistency of the Boers +with its match in British bulldog obstinacy, and show the enemy that +with all the odds against them the besieged would never surrender. +Valiantly--almost miraculously--they held their own. They who for months +had been exposed to privation of all kinds, who had fought engagement +after engagement, who had eaten, drunk, and slept with the shadow of +death hanging over them, knowing that at any moment the caprice of fate +might make them victims to the incoming shells or threatened disease, +came out with enfeebled frames, but wills of iron, determined to conquer +or to die. + +Elsewhere there had also been bloody doings. The enemy had even tried to +force their way into the town, and from here they were chased by the +gallantry and daring of the Gloucester, Leicester, and Liverpool +Regiments. The Boers were forced to retire, but even in their retirement +they showed characteristic "slimness," as they made their way in line +with the neutral camp at Intombi Spruit, and thus defied the British to +fire upon them. Nor was this the only example of their ingenious mode of +self-defence on that day. Their "slimness" was carried on on every +available opportunity. For instance, a party of the enemy, under cover +of darkness of the early morning, had got almost within touch of +Lieutenant Royston, who at once called on the Border Mounted Rifles to +fire. They were in the act of doing so when a voice rang out, "Don't +shoot. We are the Town Guard." No sooner, however, had the order to +"Cease fire" been heard than crack, crack, ping, ping, a volley was at +once poured on the Colonials. Several of their number dropped, but the +rest, exasperated beyond endurance at the hateful duplicity, charged +into the midst of the enemy, leaving scarce one of them to tell the +tale. + +These tricks and dodges set aside, the Boers fought more pluckily than +was their wont, and they, cheered on by their dauntless Commandant, De +Villiers, came to such close quarters that Colonel Hamilton had recourse +to his revolver. Among the first of the gallant defenders to drop was +the glorious, heroic figure of Colonel Dick-Cunyngham.[3] He was seen +standing on the road-bridge in the act of leading his men, and was +struck by some sharp-shooting Boer. By seven o'clock in the morning +numbers of other splendid fellows had fallen, and the air of Ladysmith +was rent with the cries and groans of the dying, who thickly strewed the +ground. Lord Ava, orderly officer to Colonel Hamilton, fell mortally +injured,[4] and Colonel Edwards's wound was also severe. + +Lieutenant Digby Jones (Royal Engineers) took a most heroic part, alas! +with tragic results. With his own hands he shot three of the enemy, and +clubbed a fourth, but for his gallant conduct, which doubtless would +have been rewarded with a V.C., he paid later on in the day with his +life. One gallant young trooper of the Imperial Light Horse had strange +experiences. He, with only a sergeant, was among the first to meet the +Boers. In the dusk of dawn the sergeant fell, and the trooper was +wounded. He recovered his senses sufficiently to try and creep to cover. +A shower of rain drenched him, then the sun blazed out mercilessly and +scorched him. Worn out, he decided he would stagger to the Devons and +get support, but, battered as he was, they failed to recognise him, and +arrested him as a spy! + +Numerous deeds of amazing valour were performed, so many indeed that +they deserve a separate record without the limits of the narrative. But +the story of the heroic Bozeley cannot be omitted. During the action +there was a sergeant in command of one of the guns sitting rather +doubled up on the trail of his gun. A 4.7 shell took off his leg high up +on one side, and took the arm out of the socket, and he fell across the +trail of the gun, as they thought, an inanimate, speechless mass. But to +the astonishment of every man amongst them, a voice came from the mass +inciting them on to their duty, and saying: "Here, you men, roll me out +of the way, and go on working the gun." + +The list of casualties was a grievously long one:-- + + _Killed_:--5th Lancers--Second Lieutenant W. H. T. Hill. 23rd + Corps Royal Engineers--Lieutenant R. J. T. Digby Jones, Second + Lieutenant G. B. B. Dennis. 1st Devonshire Regiment--Captain W. + B. Lafone, Lieutenant H. N. Field, Lieutenant C. E. M. Walker, + 1st Somerset Light Infantry (attached). Imperial Light + Horse--Lieutenant William F. Adams, Lieutenant John Edward + Pakeman. 1st King's Royal Rifle Corps--Brevet-Major F. + Mackworth, 2nd Royal West Surrey Regiment (attached). 2nd + King's Royal Rifle Corps--Major R. S. Dowen, Lieutenant M. M. + Tod, 1st Cameronians (attached), Second Lieutenant F. H. + Raikes. 2nd Gordon Highlanders--Major C. C. Miller Wallnutt. + 2nd Rifle Brigade--Second Lieutenant L. D. Hall. + _Wounded_:--Staff--Captain Earl of Ava dangerously (died + January 11). Intelligence Department--Local Captain H. + Lees-Smith, slightly. 5th Lancers--Captain E. O. Wathen, + slightly. Imperial Light Horse--Lieutenant-Colonel A. H. M. + Edwards, 5th Dragoon Guards (attached), slightly, Major W. + Karri Davis, slightly, Major D. E. Doveton, dangerously (died + February 14), Lieutenant W. R. Codrington, 11th Hussars + (attached), dangerously, Lieutenant J. Richardson, 11th Hussars + (attached), severely, Lieutenant Douglas Campbell, + dangerously, Lieutenant P. H. Normand, slightly. 1st Devonshire + Regiment--Lieutenant J. Masterson, severely. 1st Manchester + Regiment--Major A. E. Simpson, slightly, Captain A. W. Marden, + slightly, Captain T. Menzies, slightly, Second Lieutenant E. N. + Fisher, severely. 1st King's Royal Rifle Corps--Lieutenant R. + McLachlan, severely. 2nd Gordon Highlanders--Lieutenant-Colonel + W. Dick-Cunyngham, severely (died January 7), Captain Hon. R. + Carnegie, severely, Lieutenant W. Macgregor, severely. 2nd + Rifle Brigade--Brevet Major G. Thesiger, severely, Captain S. + Mills, dangerously (died February 2), Captain R. Stephens, + severely, Captain H. Biddulph, slightly, Second Lieutenant C. + E. Harrison, slightly. 5th Lancashire Fusiliers--Lieutenant F. + Barker, attached Army Service Corps. Natal Mounted + Rifles--Captain A. Wales, slightly, Lieutenant H. W. + Richardson, slightly. Volunteer Medical Staff, Lieutenant R. W. + Hornebrook, slightly. Royal Army Medical Corps--Major C. G. + Woods, slightly. + +On the following day--Sunday--in the Anglican Church, a thanksgiving +service for victory was held, and all who were able attended the solemn +function. At the close of the simple yet impressive service General +White and his staff stood at the altar rails while the _Te Deum_ was +performed, and this was afterwards followed by the singing in thrilling +unison of the National Anthem. Round the Chief were the men who have +fought by his side through many days of sore trouble--each hour an +eternity in its experiences. The well-known forms of General Sir +Archibald Hunter and General Ian Hamilton were in evidence, but some, +alas! of that goodly company would never be seen again. In the Town Hall +close by, and in the adjacent hotels and dwellings, honest manly souls +were breathing their last, and others had already taken their flight to +where the great thanksgiving service of creation goes on for ever and +ever. + +Among these last was a man who was the pride of his sex and an ornament +to his profession, Colonel Dick-Cunyngham, V.C. Wounded previously, from +his second blow he never rallied, and on this sad Sunday passed away. + +In a few words the _Daily Telegraph_ summed up the surprising qualities +of the heroic figure that had so lamentably passed from society as from +the scene of war: "Lieutenant-Colonel Dick-Cunyngham was the beau-ideal +of a Highland officer, and there was not a man or woman in the world who +had a bad word to say about him. His heart was as true as steel, and his +manner was courtesy itself. In his kilt and bonnet, a moustache that was +so light that it was nearly white telling against the bronze of his +face, and with a mountaineer's figure, he was a man who caught every +artist's eye at once, and he has figured, without his knowledge, again +and again in pictures and illustrations. At Shirpur he first gave proof +of his great gallantry by rallying the men when for a moment they +wavered; at Majuba he was the officer who asked permission to charge. +Elandslaagte and Ladysmith are the last two names in his long record of +heroism." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[3] Lieutenant-Colonel William Henry Dick-Cunyngham, V.C., of the Gordon +Highlanders, entered the army in 1872, and first saw service in the +Afghan War of 1878-80, and won his Victoria Cross in that campaign. He +was present on transport duty in the advance to Candahar and +Khelat-Ghilzie under Sir Donald Stewart; with the Thull Chotiali Force +under Major-General Biddulph; under Sir Frederick Roberts in the Koorum +Valley Field Force in the 92nd Gordon Highlanders, including the +engagement at Ali Kheyl; and he took part in the operations round Cabul +in December 1879, including the attack on the Sherpur Pass. He was with +the Maidan Expedition in 1880 as acting adjutant of a wing of the 92nd +Gordon Highlanders, including the engagement at Charasiah on April 25; +accompanied Sir Frederick Roberts in the famous march to Candahar, and +was present at the reconnaissance of the 31st of August, and at the +Battle of Candahar. He was awarded the V.C. "for the conspicuous +gallantry and coolness displayed by him on the 13th of December 1879 at +the attack on the Sherpur Pass, in Afghanistan, in having exposed himself +to the terrible fire of the enemy, and by his example and encouragement +rallied the men who, having been beaten back, were at the moment wavering +at the top of the hill." He served in the Boer War of 1881 as Adjutant of +the 92nd Gordon Highlanders, and was subsequently D.A.A.G. at Bengal. He +went out in the autumn of 1899 to Natal in command of the 2nd Battalion +of the Gordon Highlanders, and led them into action at the battle of +Elandslaagte. He fell early in the charge, wounded by a bullet in the +leg. While lying on the ground he called to his men to go on and leave +him, and then calmly took out and lit his pipe, waiting for hours before +being removed by the ambulance party. At the end of the year Sir George +White reported that Colonel Dick-Cunyngham had completely recovered. He +returned to active duty only to be again wounded--this time mortally. He +was uncle to Sir William Dick-Cunyngham, the present baronet, and fifth +son of the eighth baronet. Born in 1851, he married in 1883 Helen, +daughter of Mr. Samuel Wauchope, C.B. + +[4] Archibald James Leofric Temple Blackwood, born in 1863, was educated +at Eton. He was a member of Methuen's Horse in Sir Charles Warren's +Bechuanaland Expedition. Then he served with the Carabineers, and +afterwards obtained a lieutenancy in the 17th Lancers. He accompanied the +Natal Force, in an unattached capacity, on the outbreak of hostilities. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +BULLER'S SECOND ADVANCE + + +At last, after a long period of suspense, it was possible for General +Buller's force to make an appreciable advance. The arrangements were set +on foot with the utmost secrecy, and on the 9th of January the second +forward movement of the troops from Frere and Chieveley may be said to +have commenced. General Barton and the Fusilier Brigade were deputed to +watch over Colenso, and with them were left some dummy cannon, cunningly +contrived by Jack Tar so as not to forewarn the Boers, and allow them to +congratulate themselves on the absence of lyddite from their vicinity. +This was not the first time that guns in effigy had been arranged to do +duty in our dealings with the Boers. During one of the sieges in the +year 1881, a "Quaker" cannon was erected in an inviting position on +purpose to draw the Boers' fire, with the result that they expended the +best part of a day and a vast amount of valuable ammunition on the +imperturbable object! + +[Illustration: PIETERMARITZBURG FROM THE EAST. + +Photo by Wilson, Aberdeen.] + +To appreciate the gigantic nature of the advance now made, we may refer +to a rough table showing the composition and strength of the forces in +Natal at this date under the command of Sir Redvers Buller. + + + SIR REDVERS BULLER'S FORCE + + SECOND DIVISION.--(Lieutenant-General Sir C. F. Clery).--2nd + (Hildyard's) Brigade--2nd East Surrey; 2nd West Yorks; 2nd + Devons; 2nd West Surrey. 4th (Lyttelton's) Brigade--1st Rifle + Brigade (included in Sir C. Warren's Division); 1st Durham + Light Infantry; 3rd King's Royal Rifles; 2nd Scottish Rifles + (Cameronians); Squadron 14th Hussars; 7th, 14th, and 66th Field + Batteries, less 11 guns of 14th and 66th Batteries lost at + Colenso. + + THIRD DIVISION.--5th (Hart's) Brigade--1st Royal Inniskilling + Fusiliers; 1st Connaught Rangers; 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers; + 1st Border. 6th (Barton's) Brigade--2nd Royal Fusiliers; 2nd + Royal Scots Fusiliers; 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers; 2nd Royal + Irish Fusiliers; Squadron 14th Hussars; 63rd, 64th, and 73rd + Field Batteries. + + FIFTH DIVISION.--(Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Warren).--10th + (Coke's) Brigade--2nd Dorset; 2nd Middlesex. 11th (Woodgate's) + Brigade--2nd Royal Lancaster; 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers; 1st + South Lancashire; 1st York and Lancaster; Squadron 6th + Dragoons; 19th, 20th, and 28th Field Batteries. Brigades + uncertain--2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers; 2nd Somerset Light + Infantry. Corps Troops--61st Field Battery (Howitzers); Natal + Battery 9-pounders; Six Naval 12-pounder quick-firers; 4th + Mountain Battery; 4.7 Naval guns. Cavalry Brigade--1st Royal + Dragoons; 13th Hussars. South African Colonial Troops--500 + Bethune's Mounted Infantry; Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry; + Natal Carabineers; South African Light Horse (seven squadrons); + Imperial Light Horse (squadron); Imperial Light Infantry; Natal + Police. + +This table suggests a very imposing army, but it is necessary to +remember that only a part of any force assembled at the base is +available for actual attack. The lines of communication to Chieveley +alone were some 160 miles in length, and the necessary work of guarding +them, securing easy transport and supply, Royal Engineer work, and other +business connected with the munition of war, independent of sickness, +absorbed a large proportion of the troops. Military experts estimated +that the absolute fighting men were far fewer than supposed. The table +here shown represents some 30,000 men, but of these about 5000 were +engaged in miscellaneous work. Out of twenty-three battalions of +infantry it was necessary to use three or even more for the guarding of +the lines of communication. Of three regiments of cavalry, only a part +was available, while of the other arms, allowance had to be made for the +loss that had been sustained, and also for sickness. In this march, now +that the army had at last moved from the railway, the baggage column was +enormous. It made a procession of some miles in length as it lumbered +along primitive roads, through mud sometimes ankle-deep. It had been +decided to bring up all tents, sheep, coops, &c., and consequently the +various fatigue duties involved in the move were enormous. + +When one considers the ordinary transport of a mere regiment, it is +possible to form some idea of the amazing cortege that had to follow the +movements of the commander. The transport of a regiment in South Africa, +roughly speaking, was composed of six ox-waggons, each drawn by sixteen +oxen in pairs tandem fashion (managed by Kaffir boys, one driving the +wheelers, another spurring the whole caravan by means of an enormous +whip and a profuse vocabulary); four ammunition carts, each drawn by six +mules; a water-cart, with pair of mules; a "Scotch" cart, and a strong +luggage-cart, drawn by four mules, for conveyance of tents, blankets, +and food, &c. A little mental multiplication will help us to picture the +long serpentine coil that was twisting its way from Colenso to the new +westerly point of attack. + +The procession was forced to move slowly and cautiously through a +rugged, mountainous district, from which no supplies of any sort could +be drawn. The ox-waggon of the country had to be relied upon entirely +for heavy transport. This mode of conveyance is somewhat characteristic +of the progress of the tortoise; two miles an hour was the average rate +of advance, and at most the shambling cattle succeeded in covering about +twelve to fifteen miles a day. Of proper roads there were none. The +country was a vast swamp after heavy rain, or, in fine weather, a mass +of dry ruts and tracks, steep hills, difficult fords, and irritating +boulders. Over all this had to be coaxed or goaded the patient oxen, or, +still worse, the stubborn, obstinate mules which dragged the lighter +carts, and which, like ignorant persons, sometimes jibbed for sheer +jibbing's sake, true to the obstructionist instinct that belongs to the +intellectually stolid. When a team of these strong yet strange beasts +chooses to jib at a ford or in a pass, it takes some companies of +infantry to haul the waggon on to level ground, and then, and only then, +will they condescend to resume their labour. It may therefore be +imagined that the progress of troops--dependent as they were for food +and forage on the tempers of quadrupeds--was at this time slow and not +always sure! However, troops and baggage were gradually concentrated at +Springfield, while the Boers, who had spies everywhere, among boulders, +in dongas, and upon the formidable height of Spion Kop, hurried about +their preparations for the renewed and mighty tussle which was now +pending. + +On the 10th of January Lord Dundonald, at the head of the Cavalry +Brigade, started at dawn from Frere Camp. A few miles outside they came +on targets erected by the Boers to represent a force advancing in +skirmishing order, which showed that the enemy had evidently been +indulging in rifle practice. The troops marched some twenty-four miles +in a north-westerly direction to Springfield, through the country, which +was one vast quagmire beset with the enemy, without mishap of any kind. +There were thrilling moments when the enemy were known to be ensconced +in neighbouring kopjes or hiding in the bush, but every precaution was +taken, the country having been previously searched by scouts, and the +whole movement so successfully carried out that the brigade at last was +able to occupy a strong position dominating Potgieter's Drift on the +Upper Tugela. Here at once extra defences were made, to ensure against +surprise from the enemy, who, finding the rivers in flood, had retired +to the north, and to enable Lord Dundonald's force to hold its ground, +and thus render safe the passage of the river. + +Lord Dundonald's Brigade was accompanied by the Fifth Brigade under +General Hart, comprising the Dublin Fusiliers, the Connaught Rangers, +the Border Regiment, and the Inniskilling Fusiliers. These, on hearing +that Springfield was unoccupied by the enemy, now took possession of the +place. + +The column then advanced to Mount Alice, one of the spurs of Swartz Kop +or Black Hill, a rocky eminence which faced the mountain fastnesses of +the foe. From this point the panorama was magnificent. In front the +Tugela looped and twisted in four big silvery bends, and great kopjes, +the scenes of future fights, rose on the other side. It was possible to +see the flat crowned summit of Spion Hill, which was held by the Boers +and covered with trenches, and another frowning eminence also held by +the enemy. A glimpse, too, might be had of the distant laager of the +Boers perched on the Tugela heights; but the Dutchmen being evidently +warned of the coming of the British troops, struck camp and silently +melted away. Still it was known that there were some of them within +almost a stone's throw, for on the arrival of Lord Dundonald's force at +Potgieter's Drift it was discovered they had been there the previous +day. + +The next morning, the 11th, the pontoon from the enemy's side of the +river was very cleverly captured, it may be said in the very teeth of +the foe, by Lieutenant Carlyle and six of his men of the South African +Horse. They leapt into the stream, which at that place was running +strong, swam to the Boer side, untied the pont, and succeeded in getting +it across for the use of the troops. The achievement was a brilliant +one, because during the whole proceedings the exact position of the +Boers was unknown. At any moment a volley might have been poured on the +adventurous party from which it would have been almost impossible to +escape. No sooner had they removed the fastenings of the pont and were +getting it across than shots were fired, one of them grazing Lieutenant +Carlyle, who, however, pursued his work to the end. + +From the heights we had gained, operations were soon commenced both with +heliograph and telescope. Mount Bulwana and part of the outskirts of +Ladysmith were clearly visible. Fringed around them were Boer camps, +waggons, and cattle; while studded over the ground the enemy was seen, +some building forts, others digging trenches, and all working like bees +to protect the road from our advance. The Ladysmith chief signaller, +Captain Walker, rapidly came into communication with the signallers on +Swartz Kop, and Sir George White was informed of the satisfactory +progress of the advance so far. + +The Naval guns were now comfortably ensconced on the western ridge of +the hill, ready to do duty in sweeping away the strong positions which +were being rapidly built up by the hostile hordes, who were fast +beginning to congregate from the neighbourhood of Colenso. + +Meanwhile General Lyttelton's brigade had streamed in with howitzers, +and soon these, under cover of the guns of the Naval Brigade, were +across the river, and safely located on the other side. At the same time +was commenced the fortifying of Mount Alice. The men were all in great +fettle, working like Trojans, and perfectly regardless of fatigue. They +crossed the scudding river, steadying themselves by holding each other's +rifles, in a burning sun with the water up to their waists, and +advanced in skirmishing order over the boulder-strewn country, settling +themselves at last on some low kopjes to the north of the river and +facing the enemy's defences five miles north of the drift. + +While these important events were taking place at Potgieter's Drift, +General Sir Charles Warren with the 5th Division was also moving forward +by a circuitous route. By another drift, called Trichardt's Drift, some +five miles farther west, the entire force eventually got across and took +up a position beyond the river, with the object of turning the position +of the enemy, who were posted on Spion Kop. This journey was not +achieved without coming in touch with the Boers. Some of them were +hidden in a wooded nook by a farmhouse, and from thence poured +rifle-shots on the advance guards. They even brought their cannon to +bear on the troops; but the _passage d'armes_ was of short duration, and +the enemy, warmed with fervent salutations from the Naval guns on the +hills, was soon in full flight across country. Then the engineers, with +celerity which looked to the uninitiated like a conjuring trick, in two +hours threw a pontoon bridge over the river, and the crossing was +successfully accomplished. The great object of Sir Charles Warren was +now, as stated, to turn the enemy's position. This, situated about five +miles off to his right front, was undoubtedly a strong one. It ran +laterally with the river, with Spion Kop for its centre, and all around +the enemy were actively engaged in intrenching themselves. The plan of +the combined movement was to make as hasty an attack as possible and +prevent the Dutchmen from strengthening their position and reinforcing +their right from their centre and left, and perhaps enable the Ladysmith +garrison to do its share in threatening the enemy's rear. For this +reason General Barton, with sufficient troops, had been left at Colenso +to hold the Boers' forces and prevent them from massing on the line of +Sir Redvers Buller's march. This latter officer with a small force +directed the combined operations from Spearman's Farm, a little to the +south of Mount Alice. The headquarters of himself and his staff were at +the picturesque homestead of one Martinius Pretorius, a personage who +thought it advisable not to remain to play the host. + +[Illustration: THE CROSSING OF POTGIETER'S DRIFT, JANUARY 16. + +Drawn by Enoch Ward from a Full Sketch by Rene Bull, War Artist with +General Buller.] + +The troops, in spite of their trying march--the mud collected by +tremendous rains, the arduous business of getting across the river, the +grilling sun overhead, and the enemy possibly threatening from unknown +quarters--were bright, healthy, and hopeful. Immense enthusiasm was +occasioned in every camp when all were made acquainted with the brief +yet stirring words of Sir Redvers Buller: "_We are going to the relief +of our comrades in Ladysmith; there will be no turning back_." A short +emphatic statement this--blunt as the conversation of the man who made +it, but instinct with noble meaning--of superb resolve! It touched +every heart, and made each bronzed-face warrior repeat once more to +himself the oath to do or die for the honour of his country and for the +service of those to be relieved! + + +THE FLANK MOVEMENT + +Before going further, it is interesting to examine with the map a rough +hint made by Mr. Winston Churchill, correspondent of the _Morning Post_, +of the general plan of the advance. + +[Illustration: TYPES OF ARMS--A MOUNTAIN BATTERY. + +(Drawn by Ernest Prater.)] + +"Having placed his army within striking distance of the various passages +across the Tugela, Sir Redvers Buller's next object was to cross and +debouch. To this end his plan appears to have been--for information is +scarcely yet properly codified--something as follows: Lyttleton's +Brigade, the corps troops forming Coke's Brigade, the ten Naval guns, +the battery of howitzers, one field-battery, and Bethune's Mounted +Infantry to demonstrate in front of the Potgieter position, keeping the +Boers holding the horseshoe in expectation of a frontal attack and +masking their main position; Sir Charles Warren to march by night from +Springfield with the brigades of Hart, Woodgate, and Hildyard, the Royal +Dragoons, six batteries of artillery, and the pontoon train to a point +about five miles west of Spearman's Hill, and opposite Trichardt's +Drift on the Tugela. Here he was to meet the mounted forces from +Spearman's Hill, and with these troops he was next day, the 17th, to +throw bridges, force the passage of the river, and operate at leisure +and discretion against the right flank of the enemy's horseshoe before +Potgieter's, resting on Spion Kop, a commanding mountain, ultimately +joining hands with the frontal force from Spearman's Hill at a point on +the Acton Homes Ladysmith road. To sum up briefly, seven battalions, +twenty-two guns, and three hundred horse under Lyttleton to mask the +Potgieter position; twelve battalions, thirty-six guns, and sixteen +hundred horse to cross five miles to the westward, and make a turning +movement against the enemy's right. The Boer covering army was to be +swept back on Ladysmith by a powerful left arm, the pivoting shoulder of +which was at Potgieter's, the elbow at Trichardt's Drift, and the +enveloping hand--the cavalry under Lord Dundonald--stretching out +towards Acton Homes." + +This plan on the surface appeared fairly practicable if the action could +be carried on with sufficient rapidity to prevent the enemy from +gathering in his crowds, as he had gathered at Colenso. Here was the +great--If. The art of war is at best a choice of difficulties, and at +this time our Generals had an embarrassment of that choice. It says a +great deal for their courage that they handled these difficulties one +after another, and let go only when they thought they had been squeezed +dry. + +The British troops having done with the fatigue of the march, did not +allow the grass to grow under their feet. No sooner had they crossed the +river than they began to threaten some of the Boer lines of retreat to +the Free State. The Naval Brigade also set to work with vigour, and +they, together with the howitzers from Mount Alice, pounded the whole +vicinity to the right impartially. The range having been ascertained to +a nicety, with the assistance of the balloon, whose occupants directed +the gunners, some effective shots were launched at the Boer +entrenchments, and others which were rapidly in course of construction. +From the balloon these were plainly visible, but their tenants, if +tenants there were, vouchsafed no reply. Many mounted Boers were seen +galloping from Colenso to their laagers in the shelter of the more +northerly kopjes, while others were also discovered coming in the +direction from Ladysmith, evidently with a view to reinforce the +commandoes on Spion Kop. While the Naval Brigade was hammering in the +direction of the Boer position, which was somewhat below the level of +Mount Alice, General Lyttleton was moving north of the position for the +purpose of making a demonstration towards Brakfontein, and Sir Charles +Warren's force was approaching two high kopjes overlooking a ravine +behind Spion Hill. It was now the 18th of January. The cavalry started +in advance of the rest of the force. The order of march being, first, +the Composite Regiment (one squadron of Imperial Light Horse, sixty +Rifles Mounted Infantry, one squadron Natal Carabineers), four squadrons +South African Light Horse, Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry, and behind +these the Royals and 13th Hussars. But the Composite Regiment at midday +was found to have moved still farther west, and soon from that region +came an ominous crackling. Something deadly was afoot. It appeared that +a party of Boers was caught trekking by the Acton Homes Road towards the +Free State, and was in act of being cut off. Firing was fast and +furious, and presently dead and dying Boers besprinkled the field that a +few moments before had been green and gracious to the eye. A message was +sent to the main body demanding reinforcements. Promptly Lord Dundonald +with the rest of his troops came on the scene. Hostilities grew in +animation--the situation was desperate. The Boers made a hard fight of +it, clung tenaciously to their position, refusing, though surrounded, to +surrender. Their fire rained furiously down on the Rifles as they +advanced, so furiously that they were forced to seek the shelter of a +desirable donga. The obstinate combat was on the point of renewal when +up went a white flag. The old dodge, one to which now our troops had +become so accustomed that they scarcely heeded it. Both sides continued +to blaze away in uncertainty and mistrust till presently hands flew up, +and this sincerest and distinct sign of surrender was accepted. +Twenty-four burly Boers were then captured, while, round about, the +wounded of the foe were assiduously succoured and tended by the very men +who in the race for dear life had stricken them down. Twenty-four +captured, ten killed, eight wounded--such was the result of a few hours' +work on the enemy. Of our number, Captain Shore of the Imperial Light +Horse was severely wounded, two soldiers of the Mounted Infantry were +killed, and one trooper of the Imperial Light Horse was slightly +injured. + +A word must be said of the South African Light Horse or "Cockyoli +Birds," as they were jocosely styled in deference to the plumes in their +headgear. These had become the heroes of the hour owing to the splendid +action formerly mentioned of Lieutenant Carlyle and his plucky +companions, Sergeant Turner, Corporals Cox and Barkley, and Troopers +Howell, Godden, and Collingwood. In addition to this plucky feat they +were ceaseless in their activity, as we shall afterwards see. + +Before this date the men of the squadron had been much commented on and +universally praised. Their dash, their aptness, their marvellous +intelligence had earned the admiration of all the regulars who had been +associated with them. They, in their neat kharki, looked as efficient a +body of mounted infantry as any one could wish to come across. Among +their numbers were Afrikanders of good birth, Canadians, Australians, +gentlemen of means, sporting men, old soldiers, and the like. They were +hard as nails and bronzed as their saddles, acute as weasels, and +big-hearted and adventurous as any of Robin Hood's world-famed merry +men. If they were rough they were ready, sniffing adventure in the air +and rushing hot-foot to greet it, or stalking warily like old Shikari, +saving no pains so that they eventually brought down their quarry. + +The engagement was a grand feather in the cap of the cavalry, and an +additional one in that of the "Cockyoli Birds." + +On the morning of Saturday the 20th of January Sir Charles Warren +advanced his whole force to the attack. The scheme had been thought out +with immense care. There was an excellent general with a superb division +of troops, and there was every chance of success. General Woodgate's and +General Hart's brigades marched forward at 3 A.M. from their bivouac on +the low ridges below Spion Kop, with a view to capturing a position +called Three Tree Hill, so called because of three mimosa trees whose +fragrance filled the air. The proceedings opened with an animated +bombardment from all quarters, our guns in the neighbourhood of +Potgieter's and Tritchardt's Drifts engaging the attention of the Boers. +By this time the Dutchmen were powerfully intrenched, and were still +hurrying and scurrying to protect the big mountain that stood between +the British and the object of their desire--Ladysmith. Woodgate's +Brigade had pushed forward in this direction. Later Hart's Brigade took +up a position on the spur parallel to the left of the Lancashire +Brigade, and, under cover of the field-guns, the troops, in the thick of +a storm from rifles and artillery, fought their way almost inch by inch +up the steeps held by the Boers. They finally succeeded in gaining some +portions of the enemy's line of intrenchments. But this was not achieved +without an exhibition of pluck and valiant obstinacy that was heroic. + +[Illustration: ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY (ACTION FRONT). + +Photo by Gregory & Co., London.] + +The Irish Brigade, as usual, were in the thick of the fight, jovial yet +determined, and holding their grip of every inch they gained +notwithstanding shadows of threatened dissolution, the sights of death +and sounds of horror that filled the air. Captain Hensley, a brave and +gallant soul, was shot through the head, and several officers were +smitten, but still their valorous commander, waving his sword, pressed +on, and still his sturdy Irishmen, animated, encouraged, confident, +pursued their upward way. They had debts to settle--some old scores to +wipe out. They remembered their hideous disappointment of Colenso, their +grievous experiences of Dundee, and also they remembered--a far grander +remembrance!--that the honour of the Emerald Isle rested on their +shoulders, and that the quality of its loyalty stood proved by the +quality of their famous deeds! + +All around played the fierce fire of the enemy's guns, Creusot, Maxim, +Nordenfeldt, and others. These were posted in commanding positions on a +chain of hills to the west of Spion Hill, and from various points of +vantage the Dutchmen were able to keep up a ceaseless clamour, and pour +a rapid torrent of death and mutilation upon the advancing troops. +These, by reason of the bad ground and the caution required in the +manner of approach, could travel but slowly. The enemy, owing to the +delay in our advance, had increased their forces most unexpectedly, and +seemed, though scarcely to have existed a week ago, to be now +ubiquitous! During the afternoon General Lyttleton's Brigade made a +frontal attack on the Dutchmen's position between Schwartz Kop and Spion +Kop, to divert their attention pending the movements of Sir Charles +Warren. This movement, it was imagined, had been kept very "dark," but, +in spite of the secrecy and caution, the agile foe had contrived again +to concentrate a huge force to oppose his every turn. More artillery +seemed continuously to be brought to the scene, and also some of the +trophies captured in the ill-fated attack on Colenso. Our Naval guns +bombarded the ridge all day, and the howitzers boomed and roared, but +the whole place appeared to be bustling with Boers. On the extreme left +Lord Dundonald engaged in more energetic demonstration, and the +indefatigable South African Light Horse, under Colonel Byng, more than +ever distinguished themselves. In the most gallant manner they captured +Bastion Hill, a hill between the Dutch right and centre. + +This hill in the hands of the Boers was a standing menace, as from +thence they could direct a cross-fire at the infantry on the opposite +spur of the big mountain. Major Childe, commanding F Squadron, South +African Light Horse, decided that he, and not the Federals, must secure +so important a vantage-point. Dismounting with his men, and leaving his +horses in rear of the heights, he cautiously crept round through a +mealie field and various dongas which gave him cover from the storm of +shot directed from the curve of the hills. In spite of the pelting lead, +he got to the base of the position in safety. Then, with half the +squadron, he started laboriously to climb. It was tough work, the +sugar-loaf eminence being steep and stony and the sun above blisteringly +hot. Thus they sweated and toiled for a whole hour. Finally, the Boers +were seen scampering from the top. They had detected the approach of +men--bayonets were suspected--they discreetly bolted. Just then Trooper +Tobin, who had grandly led the way up the precipitous height, had +reached his goal. Here he stood in his delight and triumph waving his +helmet and shouting, and quite regardless of the fact that he made an +excellent mark for Boer sharpshooters or their mercenaries. Up, too, +rushed Major Childe with a dozen or so of his nimble men, into the midst +of a tornado of shot and shell which had suddenly started from the Boer +left and centre. Promptly every one went to earth. It was useless at the +moment to attempt to return so withering a fire. Then came a +shell--bursting and banging--and the gallant Major was caught on the +head and killed. Several others were slain, among them Godden, who had +been one of the gallant seven who distinguished themselves in the pont +exploit. Shattered by the terrible fire of artillery, breathless from +past exertions, the troops still hung on. Then our own artillery came to +the rescue and kept the Boer gunners occupied. Meanwhile, reinforcements +from Hildyard's Brigade were sent up to the help of the brave fellows +who for twelve hours had been without rest or water, and on the +following day, to the West Surreys, the cavalry, after a tremendous and +fatiguing experience, handed over the charge of the hill which they had +so magnificently gained. The losses during this complex series of +engagements were many, but the sufferings due to hunger, heat, thirst, +and fatigue were even greater than those due to actual wounds. + +The Lancashire Fusiliers, Lancashire Regiment, and the Dublin Fusiliers +lost most during the day. Their wounded numbered about 350 officers and +men. These troops had a peculiarly trying time, as for three whole days +previously they had remained on some captured hills, sun-baked and fired +on promiscuously, while at night, when the temperature had run down with +its customary rapidity, they had found themselves chilled to the bone, +with no blankets or overcoats to cover them. They had about two hours' +sleep on an average per night and very little to eat during the day. +From 3 A.M. on the 20th the Lancashires had taken up a position screened +behind a string of low kopjes, while the artillery on the right battered +and pounded at the Boer earthworks in front and half-left and +half-right. The troops had remained quiet and painfully inactive in the +sweltering sun for many hours, stray bullets whistling round their ears, +and, as one of the officers said, "causing great levity among the men." +At 1.30 they had begun to advance. Immediately they showed their heads +they were caught by a hailstorm of bullets, and seven men dropped. +Rushing dauntlessly on, they made for the shelter of a ring of rocks +some 150 yards in advance, remained for some ten minutes or so, then +pushed forward another 400 yards, losing less men and taking a lesson in +caution from the Boers. Thus, in short energetic rushes, they had +managed to get within 900 yards of the enemy. On the top of the hillock +a perfect deluge of bullets descended, and though the General had moved +some 400 forward, so quickly were the men hit that only thirty or so +could use their rifles. + +Afterwards the order was given to make breastworks, and there was a rush +into the open to gather stones and rocks and boulders, when more men +were stricken down. All the wounded could do was to creep to a rock in +the rear, and there await the turn of events. Some lay as they crawled +from 3 to 8.30 at night. It was impossible for them to be removed from +the hill, as the Boers promptly fired on the stretcher-bearers. The +sights and sounds were heart-rending. On one side was seen a man sent to +his last account in a breath; on another was one still hobbling along +and plying his rifle, with both ankles smashed. Here lay a poor fellow +who had a splinter of rock driven clean through his lungs and out at his +back; there languished another shot through the eye and brain--hopeless. +All of them suffered patiently, but were madly athirst, craving for the +hour when the sun should go down and they might get a chance of removal +from the awful scene. And yet there were some, wounded too, who bore the +long hours with amazing cheeriness. One, shot in the leg, lay on his +back, drew forth his home letters, and perused them in the midst of a +deadly fusillade. Another, more seriously wounded still, had the +audacity to beguile the weary moments by taking a "snap-shot" at General +Hart in the act of waving his sword and gesticulating. So much for +pluck! + +After sundown came the moment so longed for by the wretched beings, some +of whom were now literally glued to earth in their own gore. But their +miseries were not yet at an end. It took some two hours to go +three-quarters of a mile in the darkness over the bad ground; there were +creeks, and dongas, and boulders everywhere. No lights were allowed. In +the jetty obscurity the Samaritans tripped and stumbled. "I was only +dropped twice," smiled a wounded youth when he was at last safely borne +towards the stretcher-bearers. Others at intervals were brought in +soaked with blood and rain, the hot stream and the cold mingling +uncannily and to their supreme discomfort. Many who were wounded soon +after midday only succeeded in reaching the field-hospital about +half-past twelve at night. Some, more pathetic still, did not reach it +at all! They had patiently waited till past the need of assistance! + +Very pathetic were the circumstances attending the fall of Major Childe. +It was said that on the previous day he had had forebodings of disaster, +so much so that he even begged of his companions, in the event of his +death, to put on his grave his chosen quotation, "Is it well with the +child? It is well." This dying wish was faithfully carried out. His +burial took place on the day after the engagement, Lord Dundonald +reading the solemn words of the funeral service. Over his roughly-made +grave was placed the gallant officer's name, the date of his death, and +the text he had desired to have written on his tomb. + +On the following day the fight was waged as fiercely as ever so far as +artillery was concerned. Six field-batteries and four howitzers +bombarded the enemy's position with tremendous vigour, and inflicted +considerable loss. The Boer rifles were indefatigable, however, and +continued their fiendish activity, and the Dutch or German gunners +maintained their excellent practice with scarcely a moment's cessation. + +While General Woodgate made a demonstration on the right, General Hart +and his brigade continued to advance, and General Hildyard's troops +joined in the attack from the valley past the right of Bastion Hill. +Here a cleft appeared to open between the right and centre of the Boer +position, and here the infantry, pushing on, practically divided the +position in two; but it was found that the second line of defence was a +formidable one; that the Boers had secured to themselves a magnificent +point of vantage, whence they could sweep the country and command all +the approaches with cross-fire, and even with converging fire; but, in +spite of this, the troops tenaciously retained the positions they had +gained, remaining there throughout the 22nd and 23rd, partially covered, +so that in all their loss was inconsiderable. + +The following officers were wounded in action near Venter's Spruit on +the 20th of January:-- + + Staff--Colonel B. Hamilton, Major C. M'Grigor. 2nd Lancashire + Fusiliers--Captain R. B. Blunt, Second Lieut. M. G. Crofton, + Second Lieut. E. I. M. Barret. 1st Border Regiment--Captain E. + D. Vaughan, Second Lieut. Muriel. 1st York and Lancaster + Regiment--Second Lieut. A. H. Kearsey. 2nd Dublin + Fusiliers--Captain C. A. Hensley (since dead), Major F. + English. 2nd Gordon Highlanders--Second Lieut. P. D. Stewart. + Non-commissioned officers and men, 279. Royal West Surrey + Regiment--Second Lieut. Du Buisson. 16th Lancers + (Staff)--Captain Dallas. + + +SPION KOP + +On Tuesday the 23rd, the continuous and steady assault of the Boer +position seemed to be reaching a promising climax. For four days on the +heights above the Venter Spruit the English and Irish Brigades had been +doggedly moving up and on, and had carried one position after another in +the teeth of many guns, and in the face of discomforts and +discouragements multifarious. They had achieved a great deal with +comparatively small loss, viewing the masterly manner in which the Boer +guns were served. Fortunately the rifle-fire of the foe was not equal in +accuracy to their shell-fire, most probably for the reason that the +bucolic Dutchman had lost his ancient cunning in wielding the rifle, +while in the management of guns of position he was assisted--nay, +relieved, by his German mercenaries. The astonishing dexterity of the +Teutonic specialists in planting shells accurately at a range of over +3000 yards was a matter for marvel and admiration. Their success was +attributed partly to the fact that the range had previously been marked, +and also that spots had been selected over which it was known bodies of +troops must eventually pass, and where it was certain every shot must be +made to tell. For all that, and considering the cross-fire to which the +troops were subjected on the opening days of Sir Charles Warren's +attack, the losses were small. A council of war had been held, and three +courses had been sifted: first, a frontal attack by night on the second +Boer position, possibly attended by terrible loss; second, retirement +beyond the river to seek for a new passage; third, attack by night on +the mountain of Spion Kop, thence to enfilade and dominate all the Boer +positions. + +[Illustration: TAKING THE 4.7 NAVAL GUN ACROSS THE TUGELA. + +Drawing by J. Finnemore.] + +The last course was decided on. Spion Kop was to be attacked by night, +the Boer trenches to be scooped out with the point of the bayonet, and +the position held till again--by night--guns could be dragged up to +assist in commanding the position of the foe. Spion Kop, the extreme +left of the Boer position, once fortified, would become a key to the +door of Ladysmith. So it was thought. + +General Woodgate was informed of what was required of him, and Colonel +Thorneycroft discussed the programme of the night attack. By his desire, +satisfactory reconnaissances had been made, and there was every reason +to believe that the attempt would be crowned with success. Accordingly, +soon after midnight, General Woodgate, accompanied by Colonel aCourt, +started forth with the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, the Royal Lancaster +Regiment, a portion of Thorneycroft's Horse, and half a company Royal +Engineers, supported by two companies of the Connaught Rangers and by +the Imperial Light Infantry. + +In pitch darkness the troops began their march up the southern slope of +the giant mountain called Thaba Emunyama. The steeps were precipitous +and rocky, and had to be negotiated with extreme care. Dongas were on +this side, boulders on that; these had to be crept through and leapt +over with stealthy, cat-like tread lest the enemy on the summit should +be forewarned. Now and then the whirr of a bullet showed that the +Dutchmen were awake, and were indulging in the pastime of sniping; +otherwise the still, purple night spoke of peace. Led by General +Woodgate and Colonel Blomfield, the Fusiliers (who, being seasoned +fighters, were specially selected for the honour of engaging in +"ticklish" work) ascended softly, advancing higher and higher in single +file and in cautious silence. When more than half-way up, the +approaching multitude was discovered, and the Boer picket, firing, +fled. But the warrior crowd pressed on, Colonel Thorneycroft now leading +the way, firing never a shot, and waiting till the trusty bayonet should +teach its lesson. At three o'clock the summit was reached. The rain +drizzled down, the clouds wrapt the hill, but the ardour of the troops +was unabated. With a wild, ringing cheer, which echoed far over the +hills, the position was carried. The force then proceeded to fortify +itself so far as was possible in the hard and rocky ground that covered +the heights. + +It must here be noted that, owing to the darkness and the impossibility +of judging exact distances, the trenches that were dug were badly +situated. Instead of the whole or most part of the triangular tableland +of the top, the force occupied merely a cramped position on the extreme +point. This point was already marked and commanded by six Boer guns, +while on the very hill itself was another hostile weapon. Sneaking +around the crust of the kop--on the brim, as it were, while we occupied +the crown--were sharpshooters and snipers, who from thence could pelt +the northern hump of the slope; but in the dense atmosphere of the early +morning these facts were unknown, and the effort, under cover of the +darkness, to widen our position and capture the entire triangle was not +then made. + +[Illustration: SKETCH AND PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF SPION KOP. + +Made on the spot by Lieutenant E. B. Knox of the Royal Army Medical +Corps.] + +While the hazy blue pall of the morning yet hung over the hills the +trenches near the crest were occupied. The clouds hung low, and not a +Dutchman was to be seen. For some time the troops were protected by the +enshrouding mist, but so soon as it cleared, the Boers from their posts +opened fire. They realised that the position to them was virtually one +of life or death. Ping! ping! rang the rifles in chorus; bong! bong! +went the guns, with a deep basso that reverberated in the hollows of the +hills. It was an awe-striking reveille. The hostile artillery had the +range to a nicety; each shell followed the other with precision, and +burst with terrific uproar on the patch of earthworks held by our +infantry. Under this fearful fusillade our men, pelted yet undismayed, +faithfully held their ground for two mortal hours. But the shell-fire +made horrible gaps in the stalwart company; and by-and-by General +Woodgate, who, having captured the position, still continued to direct +and encourage his men, was wounded, Colonel Blomfield, of the 2nd +Lancashire Fusiliers, took over command, and sent for reinforcements. He +also fell. Then, by reason of merit rather than of seniority, Major +Thorneycroft, local lieutenant-colonel, was appointed to take the place +of the disabled chief. With the rising of the sun, with the development +of day, developed the battle. Shrapnel from 15-pounders sprayed hither +and thither; lyddite opened out earth-umbrellas far and wide. The roar +and the roll of fiends in fury rent the clear, mimosa-scented +atmosphere, and made even the bosom of the placid, silvery river +shudder and quake as it wound and twisted and looped round Potgieter's +Drift. For three and a half hours the tornado pursued its deadly course. +Death--mutilation--agony--thirst--these were more prominent than the +word glory in that long, immemorial period. Officers and men alike +could scarce lift a head lest they should meet the doom that hung over +every creature that dared to stand upright in the murderous arena. They +crouched, and took cover, and waited. The Boers, seeing their advantage, +noting the terrible strain on the men that held the captured trenches, +and the dance of death among Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry, also bided +their time. With great caution and "slimness" they finally commenced to +creep up nearer and nearer, firing the while, and hoping, when things +became a shade worse, to rush the position. Unfortunately there were no +guns to rout the adventurous crew--not one handy Naval 12-pounder to +sweep the enemy from the plateau. There they were, and there they meant +to remain. Major-General Coke's brigade had started to get to the scene +of action, and before long the Middlesex, Dorset, and Somerset Regiments +were moving up the heights to the assistance of the battered regiments +above. Major Walters, in charge of the ambulance, was also carrying out +his grim, unusually heavy duties, but he, in the midst of his deeds of +mercy, was caught by a shot and brought to earth. + +By this time the glorious Lancashire Fusiliers, who held the captured +trenches, had suffered most severely, not only from wounds, but from the +agonies of thirst, for which there was no remedy. Their losses were +horrible, and so also were those of Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry, and +they lay in many cases too far removed for the ambulance-bearers to +reach them, and in too exposed a position for help from any around. +Indeed, the state of affairs was so lamentable, the Boers forcing their +way with such persistency, that the question of holding the hill hung by +a thread. Three times before midday had the Dutchmen returned, driven +the Britons back, and again been driven back themselves, till the ups +and downs of the fight became like a perilous game of see-saw, none +daring to prognosticate the conclusion. From noon till the late +afternoon the Boers persisted in their desperate efforts to retake the +crest of the hill. They evidently regarded the position of so much +importance that reinforcements from their right were drawn away to help +in the work. But the gallant fellows who were in possession hung +doggedly to their prize. "Only a day," they said; "a day's more +endurance, and to-morrow we shall mount guns. We shall be rulers of the +roost." So they fought on with a will. Fortunately, at this time they +had no premonition of impediments to success. The place turned out to be +very difficult to hold. Its perimeter was large, and water was +exceedingly scarce, and their ammunition, moreover, gave out at a +critical period. + +All these discoveries were gradually and painfully made as the day wore +on, but nevertheless they resisted the assaults of the enemy with +herculean vigour--with courage that was Spartan. + +For two hours in the afternoon the scene on the summit of the kop was +terrific. A hurricane of shot and shell swept the crest--it became a +seething Inferno. Six quick-firing guns, two Hotchkiss guns, and +numerous other weapons of more or less deadliness played upon the +troops. Maimed and dying were being carried off as fast as possible. +General Woodgate, brave as a lion, who had worked like a Trojan till +struck down by a piece of shell, refused to leave. Usually a placid man, +he was now irrepressible, protesting that he would remain on the field, +though his sufferings--since he was shot over the left eye--must have +been severe. Reinforcements had now arrived--the Middlesex, Dorsets, and +Somersets--the plateau was crowded--overcrowded, some say--and death was +taking a full meal. The Boer Maxim-Nordenfeldt, which had done its fell +work at Colenso, perambulated from position to position with insatiable +greed, preying on the life-blood of our bravest and best, and defying +the efforts of our gunners below to locate it. Its work, and the work of +the Mausers, lay everywhere--the hill was a shambles. Major Walters, +chief of the Natal Volunteer Ambulance, had dropped; his brother, of the +2nd Scottish Rifles, was killed; Captain Murray, of the same regiment, +was simply riddled with bullets--he received as many as four, yet +persisted in leading on his men till struck down mortally. Colonel +Buchanan Riddell, King's Royal Rifles, another hero, was slain later, +while directing a flanking movement. The turmoil of those exciting hours +was described by an officer:-- + +"I crawled along a little way with half my company, and then brought up +others in the same manner. The men of the different regiments already on +the hill were mixed up, and ours met the same fate. It was impossible, +under the circumstances, to keep regimental control. One unit merged +into another; one officer gave directions to this or that unit, or to +another battalion. I saw some tents on the far side of the hill to our +front, and knowing the enemy must be there, opened with volleys at 1800 +yards, when we saw a puff of smoke, indicating that one of the Boer guns +had just fired. We lay prone, and could only venture a volley now and +again, firing independently at times when the shower of bullets seemed +to fall away, and the shells did not appear likely to land specially +amongst us. Everywhere, however, it was practically the same deadly +smash of shells, mangling and killing all about us. The only troops +actually close to me then were a party of the Lancashire Fusiliers +inside a _schanze_, F Company of the Middlesex, and a mixed company of +other troops on the left front. A good many shells from the big guns +burst near us, and a lance-corporal of the Fusiliers was killed. The +only point I could see rifle-fire proceeding from was a trench, the +third, I believe, occupied by our troops on the right, and looking +towards Spearman's. + +"Presently I heard a great deal of shouting from this trench, in which +were about fifty men. They were calling for reinforcements, and +shouting, 'The Boers are coming up.' Two or three minutes afterwards I +saw a party of about forty Boers walking towards the trench. They came +up quite coolly; most of them had their rifles slung, and all, so far as +I could observe, had their hands up. Our men in the trench--they were +Fusiliers--were then standing up also, with their hands up, and +shouting, 'The Boers are giving in, the Boers are giving in.' I did not +know what to think, but ordered a company of my regiment to fix +bayonets. We waited to see what would happen. Just then, when the Boers +were close to the trench, some one--whether an enemy or one of our +men--fired a shot. In an instant there was a general stampede, or rather +a _melee_, my men rushing from their position and charging, while the +Boers fired at the men in the trench, knocking several back into it, +dead. Previous to this a Boer came towards me saying, 'I won't hurt +you.' He looked frightened, and threw down his rifle. Immediately +afterwards the Boer fired, and there was a frightful muddle. I fired at +one Boer, and then another passed. We were fighting hand to hand. I shot +the Boer in order to help the man, and he dropped, clinging, however, to +his rifle as he fell, and covering me most carefully. He fired, and I +fell like a rabbit, the bullet going in just over and grazing the left +lung. I lay where I fell until midnight. Subsequent to my being hit, +parties of Boers passed twice over me, trying on the same trick, holding +up their hands, as if they were asking for quarter. But our men refused +to be taken in again, and fired, killing or driving them back." + +In this fight the Dutchmen were unusually obstinate. Over and over again +they advanced to within seventy yards of the captured trenches, and from +thence were only routed at the point of the bayonet. Their rushes were +most valiant and persistent, and nothing but the heroism of officers and +men could have withstood the overwhelming nature of the attack made upon +them. + +But dodges with the white flag and other frauds continued to be +practised by the Boers. Colonel Thorneycroft escaped merely by an +accident from an endeavour to play a trick upon him. The leader of a +commando facing Thorneycroft's Horse advanced with a white flag. The +Colonel approached to the parley, but being suspicious, he told the +leader to go back, as he refused to confer with him. Both retired, but +before the Colonel could return to his regiment a volley was poured on +him by the enemy. Another and more curious trick was practised on some +of the privates. They were approached by an officer in kharki and +directed to follow him to a better position. This they began to do till, +at last, seeing themselves being led into the jaws of the enemy, they +halted, and some one demanded to know who this bogus officer might be. +At that moment the party was met by a storm of Boer bullets, and +scarcely a man came whole from the adventure. Fortunately, the +miscreant--an Austrian--who had played the trick on them was bayoneted +ere all our gallant fellows dropped down. Strange, too, was the fate of +gallant Colonel Blomfield, whose regiment, one of the smartest of the +smart regiments present, had done such splendid work, and had held on to +its post to the bitter end. This officer was wounded early in the day, +as already recorded, and lay in a trench helpless and fainting for hours +and beyond the reach of help. Finally, he was able to crawl out and make +his way down the side of the hill--down the _wrong_ side, unluckily for +himself--and when next he was heard of he was a prisoner in Pretoria. +That his life was saved at all was a marvel. Captain Tidswell, on seeing +his Colonel wounded, rushed out with Sergeant Lightfoot and dragged him +under a heavy fire into a trench, where he remained till the action was +over. + +[Illustration: PLAN OF ENGAGEMENT AT SPION KOP.] + +During the early part of the day the Scottish Rifles and the 3rd +Battalion of the King's Royal Rifles had been sent off to storm the +kopjes forming an extension of Spion Kop, and thus occupy the enemy and +relieve the pressure of his attack. The river was forded at Kaffir Drift +by Colonel Buchanan Riddell's troops, and soon after the battalion +divided, half being led by the Colonel to the right, and half under +Major Bewicke-Copley advancing to the left, of the objective. The enemy +was everywhere--at the base of the kopjes and in the trenches up the +sides. Still the troops advanced. The Dutchmen were shifted upwards inch +by inch from their defences. The best cold Sheffield glittered near the +trenches, and--the trenches were vacated! Up and up moved the Boers, on +and on went the Rifles--on and up, rushing wildly, gallantly, charging +and cheering, and finally gaining the crest! + +Meanwhile the Scottish Rifles had advanced on Spion Kop. Nothing could +exceed the smartness with which they scaled the steeps. They marched +straight to the front firing line, and, in a word, saved the situation. +No sooner did the enemy show his nose than the Scottish Rifles held him +in check, and over and over again showed him that British tenacity was +equal to both Boer stubbornness and slimness combined. The enemy could +make no headway against them. + +But the gallant action of the King's Royal Rifles was one of the grand +deeds that end in the ineffectual. The battalion in its triumph had +pressed the Boers upwards, but on doing so became practically isolated. +The Boers were above and between them and our own troops, and as a +result of its too forward movement the regiment stood in peril. Seeing +their position of jeopardy, orders were sent up to retire. It was +disgusting, heart-breaking, but it had to be done. The glorious company, +after capturing two positions, slowly, reluctantly, moved down the hill +they had ascended in the flush of triumph--moved again to their bivouac, +sadder and wiser men. But they were only the first of many sad and sorry +men that day. Meanwhile the battle on the great hill raged continuously, +and shells, not alone those of the enemy, but those of our own guns +which had attempted to assist, made the crowded kop a "veritable hell." + +[Illustration: GOING OUT TO THE ATTACK ON SPION KOP ON JANUARY 24. + +Drawing by R. Caton Woodville.] + +Presently, in the late afternoon a still more serious situation +presented itself. Water, always scarce, threatened to run short +altogether. Ammunition failed. A more appalling quandary in the drama of +war can scarcely be imagined. Fortunately, to the relief of the plucky +band on the heights, at last came a mule-train with much-desired water +and cartridges, and the fight was pursued in more auspicious +circumstances. But the Boer guns lost none of their persistency. Shells +hurtled over the plateau, and as dusk set in, regiments and battalions +and such officers as were left were mixed up in a surging, stumbling +_melee_, wounded men firing last shots at the darkness, and hale ones +dropping helpless as the blaze from the bursting projectiles showed, for +one moment, the scene of agony. + +When night made further activity impossible the position of affairs came +under discussion. Was this sorry game worth the vast, the costly candle +that was being expended--that yet might have to be expended? One +commanding officer said "Yes!" another said "No!" It is stated that the +decision rested with Colonel Crofton. He argued in favour of withdrawal. +The troops were terribly mauled; the dead lay in crowds, a ghastly +testimony of their impetuous courage. It had been found impossible to +secure good cover against the enemy's shrapnel and venomous, unceasing +quick-firers. There had scarcely been time for the raking of rifle-pits, +the construction of stone defences--the guns of the foe had been too +active and unceasing--and besides this, the troops were unaccustomed to +the sly art of crouching to cover. While the Colonial crawled like a +stalker along dongas and through gulleys to get at his quarry, the hardy +Briton always exposed himself as though pluck demanded that he should +make a mark of himself. As some one at the time expressed it, "Their +courage is incontestable, their methods absurd." For this reason many of +the trenches that our soldiers had so grandly defended became in the end +their graves. The number of slain was appalling to see. The flower of +the country lay struck down as the grass beneath the scythe of the +reaper. It was a harvest of blood. The dead lay literally in stacks, the +sole protection of their living comrades. Crowds upon crowds had pressed +to the top of the great hill, offering a thick, compact front to the +guns of the enemy, an imposing target to the horrible shells that merely +breathed death as they passed. Liberally as the brigades exposed +themselves, liberally they paid the penalty. + +Late in the evening, guns--Naval guns and a battery--toiled towards the +scene, rattling along through the night air to get into position for the +morrow, and take revenge, though late, on the devastating "pom-poms" of +the foe. But the die was cast. The withdrawal had begun. At 7.30 P.M. +Colonel Thorneycroft gave the word. Slowly and in confused fashion the +shattered braves began to wind downwards, and by nine the summit of the +hill was almost deserted. + +Pitiable were the circumstances of the retirement. The wounded, with +staggering footsteps, crawled or crept down the mountain-side, reeling +from loss of blood and exhaustion. Streams of officers and knots of men +scrambled along calling for their units and finding them not. Drowsy, +stupefied beings stumbled through dongas and broke their ankles against +boulders, trying before they dropped to come in touch with their +fellow-men. Many wandered aimlessly, twining the hill and passing over +it into the hands of the enemy. Battalion was mixed with battalion, +company with company. Dazed men searched in vain for the rendezvous. +Some cursed, some swore, some slept or seemed to sleep. One commanding +officer sat helplessly on the spur of the hill, staring like a +somnambulist, deaf to all consciousness of the outer world; another, +lying among the trenches, was given up for dead. + +The losses were terrific. The Royal Engineers, in some cases, were +riddled with bullets. Major Massey died covered with wounds. Lieutenant +Falcon, 17th Company, had arms, legs, knees, and helmet perforated with +lead. In fact, no one has been able very clearly to describe in its +hideous reality the awful picture of the battle of Spion Kop. A great +holocaust some called it, and with truth, for the mountain from morn +till night was literally scourged with lead, raked in all directions by +Maxim-Nordenfeldts, artillery, and musketry. The tale is only writ in +the wounds and on the graves of those who by a miracle took the summit, +and by sheer grit held it in the face of overwhelming odds. Over a +thousand men gave their lives to gain that which, in twenty hours--hours +each one crowded with moments of heroism--had to be abandoned. The +evacuation was carried out by order of Colonel Thorneycroft, one of the +most valiant of the many valiant men who went up only to come down +again. The excellence of his reasons was acknowledged, and his personal +valour was beyond dispute. His authority for action was the sole source +of debate. A military correspondent of the _Daily Telegraph_ related an +incident of the fight which served to show what manner of commander had +taken the place made vacant by the wounding of General Woodgate. Some +men, about a score, who had lost their officers, threw down their arms +to surrender, but Thorneycroft, seeing the act, rushed out to the front +and called to the Boers to go on firing, for he commanded on the hill, +and he alone would give the word to surrender. The Boers promptly +responded. The officer went on to say, "Luckily a fresh regiment arrived +at our side and restored the battle, but Thorneycroft undoubtedly saved +a dreadful disaster by conduct so gallant that it recalls the old story +of _Messieurs de la Garde Francaise, tirez_." + +Acts of gallantry were so numerous that V.C.'s were surely earned by the +dozen. Lieutenant Mallock's devotion to duty was remarkable, and all +regretted his loss. Captain Stewart, who also lost his life, assisted in +maintaining the high traditions of the 20th Regiment. + +The King's Royal Rifles lost three officers killed and five wounded. +Their Colonel, the bravest of the brave, was hit while in the act of +leading the regiment up the steeps. He rose for one instant to read a +message and was shot through the brain. The commanders of three leading +companies were all wounded. Colonel Thorneycroft was injured, Captain +the Hon. J. H. Petre, though twice struck, held on to his duty till +another bullet laid him low. Captain O'Gowan was hit in two places, and +Lieutenant Lockwood in four, as also was Captain Murray of the Scottish +Rifles while attempting to lead his men towards the Boer trenches. Death +claimed this splendid officer before the end of the day. Captain Walter +was killed by a shell. + +Curious stories were told of the behaviour of the Boers to the Colonial +soldiers, stories which were hardly creditable to the Dutchmen. What +their deadly missiles had failed to do the Boers themselves +accomplished. They clubbed some unfortunates to death. These were +Uitlanders, or suspected of being such. The correspondent of the _Daily +Telegraph_ gave the names of two men slaughtered in this way--Corporal +Weldon and Private Daddon, ex-Pretoria men! In addition to this +brutality, explosive bullets in quantities were used. A drummer and a +private of the Fusiliers were both killed by them. It was said that the +quantity of losses sustained by Thorneycroft's, the Imperial Light +Horse, and other South African "Irregulars" was due to special spite +owing to a suspicion on the part of the Boers that these regiments might +have been recruited from Uitlanders. This charge was so generally +believed that many of the "Regulars" came to the assistance of the +Colonials, transferring to them their badges in order to save them from +the consequences of discovery; for it was distinctly stated that cases +had occurred where the Boers deliberately shot the wounded whom they +knew to be Colonials. So as to be thoroughly impartial, however, we must +remember that there are blood-thirsty villains of all nationalities in +times of peace as well as in times of war. + +Next morning, General Buller, riding to the scene of action, then, and +then only, became acquainted with the decisive move, the abandonment of +Spion Kop. His astonishment was great--so was that of the Boers. Some +said that the foe had already begun trekking, believing, in spite of +their stout resistance, that the position was lost. Others argued that +any trekking that they might have attempted meant merely a manoeuvre +consistent with their mobility to entice the British farther on into a +trap from whence they could not have escaped. Be this as it may, a man +of immense courage gave the order to withdraw, and he had his reasons, +which reasons proved satisfactory to the Chief. + +[Illustration: THE SCENE ON SPION KOP--MAJOR THORNEYCROFT'S DESPERATE +SITUATION. + +Drawing by Frank Craig from a Sketch by a British Officer.] + +On the 25th the battle dragged on, the artillery barking and rifles +snapping at each other, while the transport slowly prepared to retrace +its winding way whither it had come, across the Tugela. The most gallant +and perhaps the most melancholy feature of the war was at an end. +General Warren's right flanking movement had failed, and the +Commander-in-Chief decided that there was no alternative but to again +concentrate in the neighbourhood of Potgieter's Drift. The movement was +conducted, under the personal direction of General Buller, with +admirable precision and skill, and though there were weary and disgusted +hearts among the bitterly disappointed troops, they bore their trial +with dignity. The return was orderly, and no further misfortune +happened. The enemy made no attempt to interfere. They, too, though +successful in their defence, were hard hit. + +The following casualty list represents the cost of the great flanking +movement:-- + + _Killed_:--Staff--Captain Virtue, Brigade-Major. 3rd King's + Royal Rifles--Lieut.-Colonel Buchanan Riddell, Lieutenant R. + Grand, Second Lieutenant French-Brewster. 2nd + Cameronians--Captain F. Murray, Captain Walter, Lieutenant + Osborne. 17th Company Royal Engineers--Major Massey. 2nd King's + Royal Rifles--Lieutenant Pope Wolferstan. 1st South + Lancashire--Captain Birch. 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers--Captain + Stewart, Lieutenant J. Mallock, Lieutenant Fraser. Imperial + Light Horse--Lieutenant Rudall, Lieutenant Kynock. 2nd + Middlesex Regiment--Captain Muriel, Second Lieutenant Lawley, + Second Lieutenant Wilson. 2nd Lancaster Regiment--Major Ross, + Captain Kirk, Lieutenant Wade. Thorneycroft's Mounted + Infantry--Captain Hon. W. Petre, Captain Knox-Gore, Lieutenant + Grenfell, Lieutenant Newnham, Lieutenant M'Corqudale, + Lieutenant Hon. Hill-Trevor. South African Light Horse--Major + Childe. 2nd West York--Captain Ryall. + _Wounded_:--Staff--Major-General Sir E. Woodgate[5] (since + dead), Captain Castleton, A.D.C. 3rd King's Royal Rifles--Major + Thistlethwayte, Major Kays, Captain Beaumont, Captain Briscoe. + 2nd Cameronians--Major S. P. Strong, Major Ellis, Captain + Wanless-O'Gowan, Lieutenant H. V. Lockwood, Second Lieutenant + O. M. Torkington, Second Lieutenant F. G. W. Draffen. Indian + Staff Corps--Major Bayly. Bethune's Horse--Captain Ford. 17th + Company Royal Engineers--Lieutenant Falcon. 1st South + Lancashire--Lieutenant Raphael. 1st Border Regiment--Captain + Sinclair-M'Lagan, Second Lieutenant Andrews. 2nd Lancashire + Fusiliers--Lieut.-Colonel Blomfield (taken prisoner), Major + Walter, Lieutenant Griffin, Lieutenant Wilson, Lieutenant + Charlton. Royal Engineers--Captain Phillips. Royal Inniskilling + Fusiliers--Captain Maclachlan. 2nd West York--Lieutenant + Barlow. 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers--Captain Wolley-Dod, Captain + White, Captain Ormond, Lieutenant Campbell. 1st York and + Lancaster--Lieutenant Halford, Lieutenant Duckworth. 2nd West + Surrey--Captain Raitt (since dead), Captain Warden, Lieutenant + Smith, Lieutenant Wedd. 2nd Middlesex Regiment--Major + Scott-Moncrieff, Captain Savile, Captain Burton, Second + Lieutenant Bentley. 2nd Lancaster Regiment--Captain Sandbach, + Lieutenant Dykes, Lieutenant Stephens, Second Lieutenant Nixon. + Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry--Captain Bettington, Lieutenant + Foster, Lieutenant Baldwin, Lieutenant Howard. _Missing_:--2nd + Lancashire Fusiliers--Captain Elmslie (taken prisoner), Captain + Hicks, Captain Freeth. 2nd Middlesex Regiment--Lieutenant + Galbraith. 2nd Lancaster Regiment--Major Carleton. + Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry--Lieutenant Power-Ellis. + + +THE THIRD GREAT EFFORT--VAAL KRANTZ + +At this time it seemed as though the word "As you were" had been spoken +by the military authorities. But it was, alas! no longer possible to +believe that the position was as it had been; for it was now a case of +melancholy experience plus previous melancholy experience. Nearly six +weeks before, the great frontal attack at Colenso had failed--failed +partly by reason of the tremendous strategical position taken up by the +Boers, with the river Tugela as a natural moat for its protection, and +partly on account of the disaster to the guns, which completely upturned +the plan of Sir Redvers Buller's calculations. + +Now a great flank movement had been attempted, and had failed as +signally as the first frontal effort. It was really discovered that a +flanking movement, truly interpreted, was impossible, for there is no +flank to a circle, and the Boer lines were found to be equally strong +all round from Colenso to Ladysmith. + +This horrible discovery naturally made the situation very grave indeed. +The effect on the garrison of Ladysmith--the terrible rebound from +delighted anticipation to amazed despair--may be partly imagined. None, +indeed, save those who had so valiantly endured the terrible changes in +the barometer of expectation could entirely gauge the sensitivity of +those ill-fed, debilitated thousands, ravaged by disease, privation, and +warfare, who hung oscillating day after day between salvation and +destruction. They now knew that their saviours, Sir Charles Warren and +his force, were withdrawn to the south of the Tugela. This was done +because the river forms a species of natural rampart, beyond which the +country--a species of South African Switzerland--offered no facilities +to an attacking force. It was found that the Boers had carefully +fortified every position already well formed by nature for purposes of +defence. It was the same as Colenso. The theatre of war was margined by +fortifications, regular galleries, rising tier upon tier on originally +favourable positions. The opportunity to occupy these favourable +positions the Boers owed entirely to us--to the procrastination and +pacific tendencies of the British Government. It was now owned that Sir +Alfred Milner should have gone to the Conference with a forest of rifles +at his back, an army of mounted Colonials at his elbows, and some big +guns "up his sleeve." As it was, while he talked and the Government +spent its money on telegraphic palaver, the Boers, assisted by their +German mercenaries, were marking out the choicest positions, not for +their own defence, but for the defence of Natal (which they were allowed +time to seize) against the "magnanimous" Briton. Yes, the Boers from the +beginning had decided to talk the British into delay, and had profited +gloriously by their strategy. In our first volume, a letter on "Boer +ignorance" candidly showed the Dutchman's hand--too late, of course, for +then the trick was bound to be taken. The Dutchmen conferred with Sir +Alfred Milner to suit their own ends and to further their main objects; +firstly, to keep the war outside their own territories, and secondly, to +confine it to soil that, geographically and by a species of hereditary +instinct, they knew to perfection. They, boy and man, loved those +kopjes. In those semi-circular windings, those almost inaccessible peaks +and cones, those boulders which afforded eternal cover to the sniper, +those vast arenas of open veldt where an approaching enemy might be +stormed upon by a deluge of leaden hail--they had mentally played +hide-and-seek for eighteen years. Now the reality of the game was come. +From the early days when Sir Harry Smith found them prospecting the fair +land of Natal, they had learnt its intimate geography. We, to whom the +fair land belonged, had barely heard of the Tugela or the region around +it. To us it was superficially known only at the cost of dire +experience. The Boers had been aware that the British advance northwards +through the Free State would lie across flat fair country, and knowing +this, had decided that during the month taken to land the British army +they must take up their positions beyond and around it; and so excellent +was their cunning, so amicably pacific the temper of the British nation, +that they were enabled to follow their strategic programme in its +entirety, and plant themselves in firmly rooted masses to await our +arrival! + +The problem of how to dislodge them and how to relieve Ladysmith was +once more staring Sir Redvers Buller in the face with hard and unbending +austerity. According to military experts, who viewed the plan of +campaign with dispassionate eyes, the fate of Ladysmith should have been +left out of the calculations. The troops should have been massed to a +common centre and at the south, and from thence boldly advanced into the +Free State. But against that opinion was the picture of the noble ten +thousand inside a beleaguered town, a grand British multitude, who had +been kept for months hoping against hope, fighting bravely, and praying +of the Almighty to hasten the hour of their deliverance. They could not +be left. While he had men and guns the General felt he must go on. But +how? Certainly not by the newer route. The recapture of Spion Kop was +decided to be impracticable, and the force remained stationary south of +the Tugela while the complicated situation was reviewed. + +The General, whatever his misfortunes, had lost none of the confidence +of his troops. As he himself said of them, "The men were splendid." They +were disgusted at being a second time defeated without being beaten, and +disappointed at again being forced back from the road to Ladysmith; but +their steadfast faith in their chief was unalterable. Sir Redvers Buller +again addressed his warriors, promising them they should be in Ladysmith +soon, and the men, Britons to the core, again said in their hearts, "We +shall." + +To replace 1600 killed and wounded in the late actions, drafts of 2400 +men had now arrived. A mountain battery, A Battery R.H.A., and two +fortress guns had strengthened the artillery, while two squadrons of the +14th Hussars had been added to the cavalry, thus bringing the strength +of the force to 1000 more than the number which had started for Spion +Kop. This was an imposing increase, but its value at the present time +was much less than it would have been had Sir Redvers Buller originally +taken the field with a proper complement of men and guns. "To do the +thing handsomely we want 150,000 men," a tactician declared at the +onset; but nobody heeded him, and in consequence of this heedlessness +the complications in Natal had arisen. + +"However," as a military officer expressed it, "there was not a sore +head nor a timid heart in Buller's army. As we lie in our bivouacs at +night, the Southern Cross and a thousand constellations watching over +our slumbers, we dream of the Angel of Victory, and in our dreams we +hear the flapping of her wings." + +The optimism of the army was undiminished. There was no doubt whatever +that they would relieve Ladysmith, but the when and the how remained as +yet unsolved. The troops had not yet sustained actual defeat at the +hands of the Boers, and, while our losses could be replaced, and _were_ +being replaced, the recuperative power of the Boers was nil. Indeed it +was stated that they had come to the end of their resources, and that +they were already forcing Kaffirs to fight for them in the trenches. +Later on it was discovered that females even--true to the ancient +sporting instinct of the Boer woman--were lending a hand in the +management of the rifle. + +At last, after some days of deliberation, a third great attempt to reach +the imprisoned multitude in Ladysmith was planned out. + +A week of waiting and then a new advance was decided on. Seventy guns +drew up in line on the hills to prepare the way for another gigantic +move. This time Sir Redvers Buller's plan was to occupy a hill called +Vaal Krantz and get forward between Spion Kop and the Doorn Kloof +ranges. But after a very short yet valorous essay, it was discovered +that there were veritably cannon to right of them, cannon to left of +them. The Boers commanded the hills on either side the road through +which the troops must pass. Not only were there guns on both sides, but +these Krupps and Creusot cannon far outranged anything that our +artillery could bring to bear on them. The Naval guns alone were capable +of not only barking but biting, and these three were not enough to meet +the formidable array of the Republicans. + +[Illustration: PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF VAAL KRANTZ] + +On the 5th of February, however, the gallant attempt was made. The +cavalry moved forward about 6 A.M.--one brigade under Colonel +Burn-Murdoch advanced to the right below Swartz Kop, the Colonials under +Lord Dundonald kept nearer to Potgieter's Drift, Sir Charles Warren with +one brigade remained west of Mount Alice in a position commanding the +road leading to Potgieter's Drift. The Naval guns meanwhile came into +action, shelling the Boer positions, dongas, and trenches, and every +imaginable hiding-place with immense energy, but with little result. The +Boers in their trenches were quiet, as usual reserving themselves for an +effective outburst later on. Meanwhile the Lancashire Brigade (now under +Colonel Wynne) were advancing in skirmishing order to the tune of the +mighty orchestra, while above an officer of sappers in the balloon spied +out the Boer haunts, and directed accordingly. By nine o'clock +pandemonium was unloosed--lyddite bellowed, shrapnel clattered over +the whole fortified face of Brakfontein, while the infantry steadily +moved on. Presently from dongas and trenches, at ranges of 1000 yards +and less, came the crackling of rifles, to which our troops responded by +volleys now and again. Between these volleys they proceeded steadily, +regardless of the uproar and the fell work of the eternally active +sniper. + +[Illustration: CYCLISTS--LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS. + +Photo by Gregory & Co., London.] + +While this feint attack was taking place on the left before the now +flaming ridges of Brakfontein, a real and vigorous move was being made +on the extreme right for the purpose of carrying the crest of Vaal +Krantz, which was then thought to be the key to the direct road to +Ladysmith, and was not very strongly fortified by the Dutchmen. The +Royal Engineers with immense energy set to work laying a pontoon bridge +across the treacherous depths in the direction of Skiet's Drift, an +operation which had to be performed with infinite patience and pluck, as +the Boers were no sooner aware of their activities than they plied their +Mausers with a will. This crossing-place, styled Munger's Ford, now +attracted the attention of the whole Boer artillery, and the "pom-poms" +and 40-pounders of the enemy contrived to render the locality anything +but an enviable place of rendezvous. Our pieces, from their hiding-place +among the trees in the neighbourhood of Swartz Kop, soon bombarded the +Boer position with equal activity. By ten o'clock the bridge had been +thrown across the river, and General Lyttelton and his troops were +preparing for the assault of Vaal Krantz. The artillery now made its +finishing demonstration before Brakfontein, there being no +necessity--now that the troops had come successfully across the pontoon +bridge--for a continuation of the feint attack. For this reason the +Lancashire Brigade was now ordered to retire. The gallant fellows, +having done what was required of them, marched back in excellent order +to their original position. + +All this while shells were shrieking, lyddite was bursting, and musketry +crackling, till the whole earth seemed riven with an enormous +convulsion. The gunners had some terrific experiences, and nobly, in a +truly alarming position, they comported themselves. They were on low +ground, exposed without shelter to the Boer works, which dominated the +plain; yet they pursued their labours with unerring care and +intelligence that was truly remarkable. Shell plumped in their midst, +under the limbers, over the guns, above their heads, round their feet. +They stuck to their duty. Horses dropped and shrieked in their agony, +gunners fell shot through the heart and were carried away. Loudly the +vociferous chorus of death went on, steadily the gunners took their +share of the fearful drama of destruction. To show the vast amount of +"grit" that these gunners could boast, an incident of the day must be +recorded. About noon the batteries were ordered to approach nearer to +Vaal Krantz and prepare the way for the infantry assault. The guns, ever +under a scathing fire, moved off in due order to take up the fresh +position on the right facing Vaal Krantz. Finally they came to the last +waggon, an ammunition waggon belonging to the 78th Battery R.A., which +was horseless. The team had been wiped off by the enemy. Nevertheless +the gunners put their shoulders to the wheel, and, with a mighty effort, +rolled the machine straight through the fiery hurricane to a place of +safety! The conduct of the Jack Tars also stuck another feather in their +already well-decorated caps. While the new balloon made its descent it +became an object of attention, and was saluted vigorously by the enemy. +Nevertheless the sailors stuck to their work, held the basket, took +possession of the truculent aerial vessel, and marched off with it under +a galling fire. + +By-and-by, when Vaal Krantz had been thoroughly searched and swept by +the British batteries, and the snipers from the base of Doorn Kloof had +been partially reduced to silence by the joint efforts of the artillery +and Hildyard's Brigade, Lyttelton's gallant band began to move off from +the direction of Munger's Farm on the road to Vaal Krantz. It was now +the early afternoon, but from all sides the deadly missiles of the enemy +still bellowed and hooted. Still the Durham Light Infantry, with the 3rd +King's Royal Rifles on their right, pushed steadily on--forward from the +river and up the precipitous broken face of the hill. Cheering, they +went, clambering and leaping, and whether it was the menacing roar, or +the suggestion it gave of coming steel that stirred them, certain it was +that few of the foe remained to meet the charge. + +The Boers saw them--heard them--gauged the meaning of the lusty British +cheer--and bolted. Scarcely any elected to fall victim to the bayonet. +Those who were there threw up their hands and appealed for mercy. These +were promptly made prisoners, and the British, for the time being, +reigned supreme on the hill. But their reign had its discomforts. +Dutchmen crowded the ground, west, east, and north of them, dosing them +liberally with lead from their rifles, while their position was +perpetually pounded by the big guns of the enemy. These, vomiting on the +eastern slopes of the hill, set fire to the grass and added to the +discomforts of the position by surrounding it with appalling fumes, +which choked and blinded, and destroyed the view of the Dutchmen's +haunts. Nevertheless, the kopje once gained, the men rushed along the +crest and entrenched themselves in a spot that looked as though it had +been overtaken by a prairie fire. Our shells had effectually cleared the +grass and scrub. The gunners from the surrounding kopjes kept a sharp +lookout, firing at the Boers as they brought up their guns from all +directions, while General Lyttelton maintained his ground. Meanwhile +efforts were made to get the batteries forward to the hill, but the task +was a difficult one, and the position was strengthened and enlarged in +order to assist in the accomplishment of the desired object. Until guns +could be mounted and made to defy the active aggression of the +"pom-poms," Creusots, and other deadly weapons of the enemy, there could +be no hope of getting the troops and their baggage through to Ladysmith. +At this time an obstinate effort to gain lost ground was made by the +Republicans, but owing to the doughty resistance of the Scottish Rifles +and the King's Royal Rifles, the attempt to dislodge them entirely +failed. Towards seven o'clock a drizzling rain and darkness descended. +The troops which had gathered together between Swartz Kop, Munger's +Drift, and the newly acquired hill were forced to bivouac where they +were for the night, Sir Redvers Buller and his staff remaining on the +field with the men. + +At dawn on the 6th of February the Boers resumed their activity. Long +Tom--the first to awake--with his big black snout snorted sonorously. +Bang went a hundred-pound shell across the plain--helter-skelter flew +the British Tommies, who were enjoying their morning tea, and crash and +splash went their delicious brew. Fortunately no serious harm was done. +A few horses were killed. But after this began an artillery duel of +vigorous nature. This was chiefly directed against General Lyttelton's +troops on Vaal Krantz. The Boers seemed everywhere, more ubiquitous than +usual. From the lower crests of Spion Kop, from the peak of Doorn Kloof, +from the mountains commanding the road to Ladysmith, flame vomited, and +lead and steel and powder spouted and spluttered. + +The fact was that during the night the Boers, in order to proceed with +the work of defence, had set fire to more grass in the neighbourhood of +the British position, and utilised the illumination for the transfer of +their guns from one place to another. Early, therefore, they were +enabled to greet the camp with the roar of a Creusot gun and other +weapons from all quarters playing upon the position. Shells burst +everywhere, some even reaching headquarters. It was said that Buller, +the imperturbable, welcomed them. Certainly his Spartan-like disregard +of danger was remarkable, and was responsible for the superb nonchalance +of those who served under him. Still, with his courage he displayed +caution, the caution that only a courageous man would dare to display. +He decided later on that his move was impracticable, that more lives +should not be spent in futile effort. Of this anon. While the Creusots +and Krupps pounded the hill, the Boers strove their uttermost to regain +their hold on the lost position. Meanwhile the Naval guns rumbled and +rampaged, ammunition waggons blew up, earthquakes filled the clear blue +atmosphere with avalanches of dust, and one of the enemy's cherished +weapons on Spion Kop was knocked clean out of action. + +Late in the afternoon, the worn-out troops of Lyttelton's Brigade were +relieved by Hildyard's men, who came in from a violent night-attack by +the enemy. This in their usual gallant style was repelled by the East +Surrey and the West Yorks--the veteran West Yorks, who had learned not a +little from Beacon Hill onwards. + +On Wednesday the firing grew terrific. More guns were brought up, +seemingly from the bowels of the earth; they were posted +everywhere--another 6-inch Creusot gun, Maxim cannons, two 30-pounders, +three "pom-poms," in addition to the death-dealing weapons of the +previous day. Shells hurtled and burst on hill and dale, mountain and +valley, smoke, flame, and dust spouted forth, making the atmosphere +dense, torrid, and fearsome. Still Hildyard's dauntless brigade held +their ground unflinchingly, while the Naval guns strove bravely, but +strove in vain, to tackle the great snorting crew of the opposition. It +seemed as though the advance must be accomplished not merely through a +zone, but a sheath of fire, for the road to Ladysmith was barred from +end to end, a sheer _cul-de-sac_, with flame and death for its lining. + +Our troops during the whole day hung tenaciously to Vaal Krantz, while +the Dutchmen obstinately challenged their right to be there. But nothing +appreciable was achieved, and evacuation seemed the wiser and more +profitable course to pursue. By this time it began to be recognised that +the strategic value of Vaal Krantz for turning the Brakfontein position +had been over-estimated, and that an advance would necessitate the +routing of the Boers from Brakfontein and the taking and holding of +Doorn Kloof, if our communications through the valley were to be +maintained. + +There was no glory in trying to proceed in the teeth--nay, into the +jaws--of so overpowering a foe, a foe who was on the eve of outflanking +us. It would have been walking into a fiery furnace--into the pocket of +hell. Another council of war took place. Retirement was suggested. +General Hart, as distinguished for valour as General Lyttelton for brave +discretion, proposed the storming of Doorn Kop. He and his were ready +for everything: he had Ireland at his back. But Pat was not to be thrown +away on an impossible undertaking, and consequently the majority had +their way, and the retirement was effected. On Friday the whole glorious +persevering band were again across the Tugela, preparing to strike out +in a fresh direction. + +[Illustration: FALLS ON THE TUGELA RIVER. + +Photo by Wilson, Aberdeen.] + +The following is the list of casualties between the 5th and 7th of +February:-- + + _Killed_:--1st Durham Light Infantry--Major Johnson Smith; + Second Lieutenant Shafto. + + _Wounded_:--1st Durham Light Infantry--Lieut.-Colonel + Fitzgerald; Captain Lascelles; Second Lieutenant Lambton; + Second Lieutenant Appleby. 1st Rifle Brigade--Captain Thorp; + Captain Talbot; Lieutenant Blewitt; Lieutenant Ellis; + Lieutenant Sir T. Cunninghame, Bart. 3rd King's Royal + Rifles--Lieutenant Sims. Royal Artillery--Lieut.-Colonel + Montgomery, Captain Dawson, 78th Battery R.F.A. 2nd Scottish + Rifles--Second Lieutenant Ferrars. 2nd West Yorkshire--Second + Lieutenant Bicknell. 2nd East Surrey--Captain White. R.A.M.C., + Major Rose. + + +DISAPPOINTMENT AT LADYSMITH + +The fearful and ghastly activity of the 6th of January ceased with dusk. +Night descended: she came softly as the footsteps of angels moving +lightly among the tranquil dead. The moon, with pale white serenity, +looked down on the scene of carnage, so still, so appallingly still; and +the dots of twinkling stars seemed like a thousand eyes of heaven, +seeing and inquiring how the face of the fair earth could grow so +changed within a day. And everywhere there moved leaden hearts and feet +weary with the long strain of foregone hours. Hunger, exposure, and long +vigils had become a daily routine, but this close and sustained attack, +and the terrible havoc it had wrought on the weakening numbers, brought +with it new alarms. True, the bayonet, the trusty bayonet, had served +its turn, and might serve again, so long as strength would hold out. But +there were doubts. The Russian general Suvaroff once said, "The ball is +a fool, but the bayonet is a brick." He took it for granted that the +bayonet even must needs have a man, and not the ghost of a man, at the +back of it; and the poor heroes in Ladysmith were fast becoming shadows +of the hale and muscular fellows who had scaled the steeps of Talana +Hill and broken the echoes of Elandslaagte with the yell of victory. +Sadly and solemnly they now set themselves to the pathetic work of +removing the slain. + +On the 7th of January one of the Boer medical officers rode in under a +Red Cross flag, requesting the burial of the British dead. A party +started to fulfil this sad office, and while they wandered about picking +up the melancholy mutilated forms, the Boers assisted in the task, and +in some cases helped to dig the graves and carry the slain; conversing +the while with such perfect amity, that it was almost impossible to +believe they were deadly foes. Deeply pathetic was the reading of the +solemn burial service by the commanding officer, for Britons and Boers +stood side by side, and one of the latter, moving apart, uttered a short +prayer that the war would soon be at an end. This was followed by the +singing of a hymn in Dutch, a quaint, simple, earnest solemnity, which +was vastly touching to all. + +The curious blend of courage and pleasantness, of trickery and +barbarity, in the Boer character has been remarked upon before. It was +never more displayed than in the dealings of the Boers around Ladysmith. +On one day they would shell an hospital, or rather the Town Hall, +knowing it to serve as an hospital; on another they would treat the +wounded with almost brotherly consideration. For instance, one man in +the 19th Hussars, who was wounded on January 6, and subsequently taken +prisoner, gave a refreshing account of Boer manners. Though shot in the +arm, he remained at his post till dark, and then in the gloom mistook +his way to camp and wandered down the wrong side of the hill. He was +captured and detained till morning, while his wound was dressed and +cared for. Then he was sent back to camp armed with a tin of jam and a +box of chocolate! A somewhat similar experience was related by another +man, one of the Gordons, who was wounded and taken prisoner on Waggon +Hill early in the morning, and was removed in charge of an old Boer to a +place of safety half-way down the slope. From here he subsequently +escaped. In the _melee_ that followed the Devons' charge across the +plateau in the thick of the hailstorm, the Boers, shouting in Dutch that +the rooineks were upon them, stampeded, and consequently the prisoner +was left to his own devices. He thereupon rejoined the troops. + +[Illustration: BRITISH 7-POUNDER FIELD-GUN.] + +The Boers in the fight had been animated by unusual confidence. They had +seemed assured of victory. Their demeanour was cool and deliberate, some +of them doing an hour's firing while others put in a half-hour's nap +under cover of the rocks. All their preparations were made with a view +to spending Sunday in Ladysmith, and their tents were ready to be +pitched immediately they had obtained possession of the ridge. They, in +fact, firmly believed that they would make a repetition of Majuba, and +it was noticed that their tactics were identical with those observed on +that tragic occasion. Curiously enough, an exceedingly interesting relic +of Majuba came to hand. A rifle bearing the mark "Majuba" and the name +of the 58th Regiment was found on an old Boer. It had evidently been +captured on the fatal day when Colley fell. + +Much regret was felt for the loss of Lord Ava, one of the cheeriest of +soldiers and most handsome and brilliant of men. He had served with the +17th Lancers, and had also cast in his lot with the irregulars in South +Africa under Methuen. He was essentially a sporting and a romantic +figure in all circles of London society, having resuscitated the +fortunes of Ranelagh and engaged himself actively in plans and projects +for the brightening of social life. He was moreover a general favourite, +and sympathy with Lord Dufferin on the loss of his promising heir was +great. + +Now that the rivers were flooded the service of native runners was +precarious, and less than ever was known of the outside world. But the +Boers were seen to be in active movement on the distant hills, and there +was a very general belief that the quiet that was enjoyed was due to +some advance movement on the part of General Buller that was demanding +the attention of the Dutchmen. This belief was confirmed by the sight of +two machine-guns which were being galloped off post-haste to a +destination unknown. + +Since Christmas the prices had gone up. Eggs by the middle of January +were worth 19s. a dozen, and jam cost 6s. 6d. a tin. Condensed milk was +sold for 10s. a tin, other things, particularly medicines, were becoming +priceless. An appalling apathy almost approaching despair had settled on +the community. It was going on for three months since they had been shut +off from the outside world, during which their losses had exceeded 1500 +in slain, wounded, and missing, yet they were no nearer release. Indeed, +each began to wonder whether death or Sir Redvers Buller's force would +reach them first. One month after another passed, and with them, +precious lives, yet little fuss was made, for death was a common +visitor. Much regret was felt at the loss on the 15th of the brilliant +author and correspondent of the _Daily Mail_, Mr. G. W. Steevens. His +was a young career, rich in promise. But death is a connoisseur--he +chooses the best. Only a few days before, Mr. Mitchell, sub-editor of +the _Johannesburg Star_, and Lieutenant Stabb (Naval Reserve) of the +_Times of India_, had been carried off by enteric fever; while young +Ferrand, sometime a correspondent of the _Morning Post_ and a trooper of +the Light Horse, fell in action on the 6th. + +[Illustration: THE SIEGE OF LADYSMITH, JAN. 1900. VIEW FROM BULWANA +HILL. + +From a sketch by George Lynch, War Correspondent. + +The hospital train is here shown on its way to Intombi Camp with its +daily load of sick and wounded.] + +But soon a change came. Sounds of unusual guns reached their ears--ears +now well attuned to all the surrounding noises. Though news by heliogram +came slowly and at long intervals, all were conscious that something was +afloat. + +They were soon wild with excitement and anticipation. Not only could Sir +George White's garrison hear the distant thunder of the guns of the +relieving column, a sound which made heavenly music to their ears, but +from the lookout posts on the heights held by them they could +occasionally see the bursting of the shells fired by the Naval guns +from the region of Potgieter's Drift. The attention of the investing +force was now distracted; the Dutchmen were concentrating their energies +to repel the movement of the British troops on the Upper Tugela, and +continued to send reinforcements westward to meet the demand on their +resources there. But they strengthened their works on the north of the +town, added some more howitzers and fired a few shells by way of +introduction. + +[Illustration: LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CHARLES WARREN, G.C.M.G. + +Photo by Elliott & Fry, London.] + +At this time impatience and anxiety arrived at an almost painful pitch. +Every soul was panting for the signal that might call upon them to +co-operate in the final tug-of-war which should set Ladysmith free. +Acutely were the movements of General Buller's relieving force watched +from the highest points in the town. Intense was the interest displayed +as every bursting shell threw forth its dense volumes of brown smoke, +and showed how the friendly lyddite worked to the rescue. The garrison +looked forth breathlessly for the coming of relief, hoping, praying, +doubting, fearing, with nothing to vary the ever-recurrent anguish of +anticipation. + +At this date a journalist made a daring sortie on his own account, and +reached Durban in safety. He left with permission at nightfall on the +18th of January, and, guided by a wily Kaffir, made tracks for +Chieveley. Having gone about two miles to the east of Caesar's Camp and +approached unwarily a Boer picket, he was promptly challenged. Then +ping! ping! ping! a swift whistling sound of Boer bullets, and silence! +The journalist, to use a sporting phrase, was lying "doggo." Not a shot +touched him. Flat on his stomach he remained for fully half an hour with +bated breath, then, when murmurs of the disquieted Boers ceased to +ruffle the night air, he resumed his way, groping on hands and knees, +and wishing fervently that he had taken lessons in deportment +earlier--from the quadrupeds. Perilous was the onward journey, +clambering and crawling up hill and down dale, and falling over rocks +and stones in the pitch darkness. Daylight saw him at the hut of a +friendly native not far from Chieveley, and here concealed, he spent +twenty-four hours of terrible suspense till it was time again to proceed +on his journey. The Boers almost discovered him. They called at the hut +for milk, absorbed it, and looked about suspiciously, while the man of +the pen was penned in amongst a heap of blankets, a perspiring mass, +quaking but safe. + +Meanwhile with the rumour of battle in the air, hope revived. It +continued to increase as the British positions from the heights around +the town became visible--the newly gained positions on Swartz Kop and +the eminences near the Tugela at Potgieter's and Trichardt's Drifts. +Every red flash was like a smile of welcome--every roar of bursting +shrapnel seemed a very chorus of jubilation. To the ears of the +besieged the tremendous awe-striking cannonade appeared as the loved +assurance of Great Britain, their deliverer, saying, with grand majestic +tone, "I am coming." In the distance the Boers could be seen in frenzied +activity inspanning their waggons, and towards the evening they were +observed trekking northwards towards Van Reenan's Pass. Many conjectures +were rife, and subsequently on the 25th curiosity grew to fever heat. +Surely the British were in possession of Spion Kop! Decidedly they were +masters of the situation! Yet in the nek below, by the light of the +telescope, Boer camps could be seen on the plains; under cover of the +great hill Boer cattle were grazing. What could this mean? Had the Boers +gone and left everything to the mercy of their victors? or were they +merely in hiding, intending to return at nightfall, and remove their +valuables? Certainly the Burghers were to be viewed mounted and +decamping in the direction of the pass, and also winding strings of +waggons pursuing their slow way in the same direction. Still the riddle +remained unsolved. Night fell. The suspense grew more and more fevered; +it became almost a delirium. There was little sleep; then, when morning +dawned, there was more anxiety and more puzzling, more mental torture. +The Boers were as much in evidence as ever! + +Disappointment may be borne with a show of spirit when the inner +machinery is well oiled, but the inhabitants of Ladysmith had no such +source of fortitude. True, they had fared, if not sumptuously, at least +practically, on horse-sausages, which were turned out wholesale from a +factory for the benefit of the troops, and on fairly nourishing soup +which was supplied in the same way; but of civilised food there was +none. Eggs had now gone up to 36s. a dozen, and a diminutive and +emaciated fowl could be purchased for 18s. These luxuries were for the +elect. For the mass a varying dietary of horse and mule was obligatory. +Vegetables were sold at a prohibitive price, and a case of whisky was +raffled for and fetched L145, so that "Dutch courage" wherewith to meet +their misfortune was unpurchasable. + +Not till Sunday the 28th the fearful truth was learned, that Warren, +after holding Spion Kop, had retired, and left the Boers in undisturbed +occupation of their commanding position! + +As all the latest events to the south were communicated to the garrison +as fast as they were made known to the chief, the news of the capture of +Spion Kop and the disappointing retirement therefrom was published in +general orders. Blank faces turned from each other, that none should see +the reflection of his own despondency. Intense had been the rapture of +the anxious inhabitants when they had heard the far-away booming of the +British guns, seen the splashing of British lyddite, watched the great +spouts of smoke that spoke of tremendous activity and their possible +salvation. Now their dismay was more than proportionate. After all their +agony--silence. Silence, so far as they were concerned. Mystery, doubt, +and agonising suspense--and now the news, the woeful news, that the +second splendid effort to break through the imprisoning Boer girdle had +failed! + +Still the garrison was resolved to hold on to the last, preferring death +by starvation or disease rather than surrender. The malodorous +surroundings were borne with patience, the diminution of the supply of +medicines, watched with pathetic resignation. Nevertheless an untold +weariness crept over the unhappy sufferers, who spent their days huddled +underground and dreading to expose themselves in the open lest they +should be caught by a shell or "sniped" at by some Boer more +enterprising than the rest. How they longed, how they prayed for the +great hour! They believed in Buller; they knew he would come, they said +to themselves. But when, O when? And echo answered--When? + + +LORD ROBERTS AT THE CAPE + +On the 10th of January Lord Roberts arrived. He was received by General +Sir F. Forestier Walker on behalf of Sir Alfred Milner. All the ships in +port were dressed, and there was immense excitement at the prospect of +better things. Many recalled to mind the occasion of the last coming of +the great little man, when, on the eve of a campaign to retrieve Majuba, +he found that the British Government, unknown to him, had arranged peace +on contemptible terms. At that time it was said he broke his sword in +indignation at the betrayal to which he had been subjected, and vowed +never again to serve under a British Government. Be this as it may--he +had now come at the earnest call of his country, and all felt that his +coming meant a turn in the wheel of fortune. After his arrival things +began gradually to unfold themselves, and the promise of decisive +movement was in the air. + +Lord Roberts's decision to bring the Colonial volunteers to the support +of the Imperial forces was acknowledged to be a great move. The +Colonist's services were eminently to be desired, for he had taken the +Boer measure. He knew him in all the complex windings of his sinuous, +twisting nature. In some respects the Boer had been his lesson-book. +From him he had learned the necessity to be a good shot, a smart +horseman, and a long stayer. He followed the ins and outs of the +Dutchman's war game, and could practise the art of dodging round kopjes +and into dongas, hiding in scrub and disappearing from mortal ken at a +moment's notice, with the zest and agility of a schoolboy playing at +hide and seek, and with a certain enjoyment in the diamond-cut-diamond +sort of exercise. + +On the 26th of January General Brabant arrived at Queenstown to take +over the command of the Colonial Division, and on the same day General +Kelly Kenny, commanding the Sixth Division, occupied Thebus, a position +on the railway between Middleburg and Stormberg Junction. This station +is situated about ninety miles from Colesberg, around which General +French so untiringly operated, and forty-five miles from Stormberg, the +scene of General Gatacre's disaster. + +On the 1st of February the City of London Volunteers landed. Immediately +after their arrival at the Cape they were honoured by a visit from the +great man who was about to control the destinies of South Africa. +Gracefully he welcomed them, and said how little it had been imagined in +days gone by, the days when the Volunteer force had been established, +that any of its members would come to take part in a war in South +Africa. He expressed his belief that nothing was more calculated to +benefit the army than employment together on service of all its +component parts, and that these would learn to appreciate each other, +and acquire a spirit of comradeship which would have far-reaching +results. He reminded them that strangely enough the first Volunteers +left home three hundred years ago to fight for the Dutch, and arrived +just in time to save Flushing from the Spaniards. On this occasion they +would take an equally brilliant part in establishing peace, order, and +freedom in South Africa. + +[Illustration: TYPE OF ARMS--NEW NAVAL 12-POUNDER FIELD-GUN. + +(Photo, Cribb, Southsea.)] + +The members of the corps were delighted. Colonel Cholmondeley +expressed their thanks, and they all cheered right royally. They were +burning to get to the front, and, in spite of the sudden change of +temperature from British midwinter to tropical sunshine, their zeal to +be up and doing was unabated. They waited at the Cape to be joined by +the second detachment and receive their horses, after which they +entrained for the western border, where they were so soon to distinguish +themselves. + +[Illustration: ARRIVAL AT CAPE TOWN OF WOUNDED FROM NATAL. + +Photo by Hosking, Cape Town.] + +There was great satisfaction at the announcement that General Brabant +would command the Colonial corps. The class of men enlisting in +Brabant's Horse, the Imperial Horse, Bailey's Horse, and other of the +South African mounted corps was a superior one. The volunteers were +mostly well-to-do men, sons of farmers and Colonials who were residents +in the country, and were intimately acquainted with its geography. +Moreover, they were men and not striplings, and were averse from being +commanded by young officers who were absolutely without South African +experience. + +It has been rumoured that the British officers and those of the +irregular troops have not always been in accord. The fact is, that one +is a master of discipline and the other a master of independence. The +Colonial is accustomed to habits of complete self-reliance; he expects +to be treated like an individual and not as a machine. Our military +system is a machine-made system, and one which, unluckily for us, has +been incapable of any of the smart plasticities which warfare with the +Boers has demanded. Colonial troops will be led, but they won't be +driven. They are composed of men of first-rate quality, but not men +accustomed blindly to obey orders. The Colonist obeys because of the +personal influence of a man or men whom he holds intellectually or +morally in esteem, but the word discipline for sheer discipline's sake +he is disinclined to understand. Among the ranks of the Colonials are +many men of wealth and influence, men of high character and good +education. These could not suddenly be treated in the same way as the +British regulars, who, being gifted with more dare-devil courage than +knowledge of the three R's, require to be welded together on a system. A +tactician once asked the question--What is the difference between an +army and a mob? and the general answered--"Discipline." It is discipline +that converts a rowdy British youngster into the glorious British Tommy +that he is. With the Colonial we have already the trained and +independent man, and the system of give and take is the only system that +can avert friction between men who, though brothers in blood, have, and +always must have, the special idiosyncrasies attendant on their +dissimilar forms of life. + +Lord Roberts, recognising all this, with his usual diplomacy and +sympathy for those who serve the Queen, decided to form a bodyguard, to +accompany him to the front, of Colonials, the troops to be +representative of all the corps--volunteers, irregulars, &c. The guard +was to consist of Major Laing, an officer well versed and distinguished +in Colonial matters, a lieutenant, two sergeants and corporals, and +about forty picked troopers taken from the various irregular corps +already at the front. The men of the corps were to continue to wear +their own uniform, and merely to be distinguished by a badge. Preference +in choosing the members of the guard was given to men of Colonial birth, +good shots, riders, and scouts, who were well acquainted with all the +peculiarities of Colonial life. + +To further show his appreciation of the services of the Colonials, Lord +Roberts appointed as extra aide-de-camp on his personal staff Colonel +Bryon of the Australian Artillery. He also sent telegrams to the +Governors of Victoria and New South Wales congratulating them on the +spirit of patriotism in Australia, and expressing his appreciation of +the useful and workmanlike troops that had been sent to assist in +restoring peace, order, and freedom in South Africa. + +[Illustration: PRIVATE, DRUMMERS, PIPER, AND BUGLER--THE BLACK WATCH. + +Photo by Knight, Aldershot.] + +At this time the following correspondence between the Presidents of the +Transvaal and the Orange Free State and Lord Roberts was published at +the Cape. It began with a joint despatch from Presidents Steyn and +Kruger dated Bloemfontein, February 3, stating:-- + + "We learn from many sides that the British troops, contrary to + the recognised usages of war, have been guilty of destruction + by burning and blowing up with dynamite farmhouses and + devastating farms and goods therein, whereby unprotected women + and children have often been deprived of food and shelter. This + happens not only in places where barbarians are encouraged by + British officers, but even in Cape Colony and in this State + (Orange Free State), where white brigands come out from the + theatre of war with the evident intention of carrying on + general devastation without any reason recognised by the custom + of war and without in any way furthering the operations. We + wish earnestly to protest against such practices." + +[Illustration: MR. KRUGER'S AUTOGRAPH] + +In reply Lord Roberts wrote:-- + + "I beg to acknowledge your Honours' telegram charging British + troops with the destruction of property contrary to the + recognised usages of war, and with brigandage and devastation. + These charges are made in vague and general terms. No specific + case is mentioned. No evidence is given. I have seen such + charges made before now in the Press, but in no case which has + come under my notice have they been substantiated. Most + stringent instructions have been issued to British troops to + respect private property so far as it is compatible with the + conduct of military operations. All wanton destruction and + injury to peaceful inhabitants are contrary to British practice + and traditions, and will, if necessary, be vigorously repressed + by me. + + "I regret that your Honours should have seen fit to repeat the + untrue statement that barbarians have been encouraged by + British officers to commit depredations. In the only case in + which a raid has been perpetrated by native subjects of the + Queen, the act was contrary to the instructions of the British + officer nearest the spot, and entirely disconcerted his + operations. The women and children taken prisoners by the + natives were restored to their home by the agency of the + British officer in question. + + "I regret to say it is the Republican forces which in some + cases have been guilty of carrying on war in a manner not in + accordance with civilised usage. I refer especially to the + expulsion of loyal subjects of Her Majesty from their homes in + the invaded districts because they refused to be commandeered + by the invaders. It is barbarous to attempt to force men to + take sides against their sovereign country by threats of + spoliation and expulsion. Men, women, and children had to leave + their homes owing to such compulsion. Many of those who were + formerly in comfortable circumstances are now maintained by + charity. + + "That war should inflict hardships and injury on peaceful + inhabitants is inevitable, but it is the desire of Her + Majesty's Government and my intention to conduct this war with + as little injury as possible to peaceful inhabitants and + private property. I hope your Honours will exercise your + authority to ensure that it is conducted in a similar spirit on + your side." + +Meanwhile the British Commander was rapidly maturing his plans. Troops +were pouring into the Cape and mysteriously departing none knew whither. +Great doings were in the air, and secret communications between Lord +Roberts and the wily General French--communications which Boer spies +endeavoured to intercept--promised that the splendid fastnesses hitherto +enjoyed by the enemy would not much longer serve to keep him from the +punishment that was his due. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[5] Colonel (local Major-General) E. R. P. Woodgate, who was in command +of the 9th Brigade, joined as Ensign in the 4th Foot on April 7, 1865, +and became Brevet-Colonel on June 26, 1897. He commanded a Regimental +District from September 1897 to April 1898; was on special service in the +Ashanti expedition from September 1873 to March 1874, also on special +service in South Africa from June 1878 to November 1879; was Brigade +Major in the West Indies from February 1880 to February 1885. He was +employed with the West African Regiment from April 9, 1898; with the +Abyssinian expedition in 1868; and was present at the capture of Magdala, +for which he received a medal. He served in the Ashanti war, 1873-74, and +was present at the actions of Essaman, Ainsah, Abrakrampa, and Faysoonah, +at the battle of Amoaful and capture of Coomassie. For these services he +received a medal with clasp. He also served through the Zulu campaign in +1879, at the action of Kambula and battle of Ulundi, and received a medal +with clasp and his brevet of Major; and in 1898 in West Africa, in +command of forces in expeditions against Sierra Leone insurgents. He was +fifty-four years of age. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE WONDER OF THE WORLD + + "Forty years had I in my city seen soldiers parading, + Forty years as a pageant, till unawares the lady of this teeming + and turbulent city, + Sleepless amid her ships, her houses, her incalculable wealth, + With her million children around her, suddenly, + At dead of night, at news from the south, + Incens'd struck with clinch'd hand the pavement. + + A shock electric, the night sustain'd it, + Till with ominous hum our hive at daybreak pour'd out its myriads." + + --WALT WHITMAN. + + +The eyes of Europe, and indeed of the universe, turned upon the forces +at war in Natal with amazement almost akin to awe. There, in the eve of +the twentieth century, was presented a tenth wonder of the world! Where, +among the states, principalities, and powers, could be found another +example of an army being raised veritably from all points of the compass +to serve the Mother Country? Whence in the history of heroic ages could +be quoted the counterpart of spontaneous, simultaneous, exultant +patriotism such as was brought forth by a few reverses to British arms? +Here were men, brothers, whom we had never seen, whose names we had +never heard, rushing to our side--influential citizens, judges, +merchants, landowners in the distant dominions of the Queen--throwing +over domestic comfort, ease, commercial advantage, political +distinction, for the sheer desire to barter breath for fame, and to win +laurels in the cause of the Empire. Our friends--the Powers--gazed and +rubbed their eyes and marvelled! Our enemies--the Powers--gazed, rubbed +their eyes, and--well! if they did not curse, they certainly trod warily +and pondered! We were providing an object-lesson for eternity. The +infinitesimal little island, the bird's-nest of the Little Englanders, +was introducing to the nations her stalwart progeny--introducing with +the easy pride of motherhood gigantic sons, all young and strong and +well-grown, full of the vigour of youth and the finest traits of the +parent stock--a martial multitude, clamouring to defend her in her hour +of need! Yes, if our enemies--the Powers--did not curse, they walked +warily and pondered! + +[Illustration: COLONEL W. D. OTTER. + +Commanding the First Canadian Contingent.] + +They did wisely, for by the beginning of March the number of Colonial +troops at the front was approximately as follows: Cape Colony, 15,000; +Natal, 7000; Canada, 2820; Ceylon, 130; New South Wales, 1800; +Queensland, 810; South Australia, 340; West Australia, 230; Victoria, +500; Tasmania, 180; New Zealand, 730; India, 250; total, 29,790. This +tremendous increase in the size of the Transvaal force was a magnificent +spectacle for the world at large. While it constituted the greatest +military concentration in the history of the Empire, it left the British +possessions in India, Malta, Crete, Barbadoes, Bermuda, Ceylon, +Hong-Kong, Gibraltar, and elsewhere, if not adequately, at least +powerfully defended. For instance, in India alone we had still a superb +British army. It was composed of forty-seven battalions of infantry, six +regiments of cavalry, sixty-two batteries of artillery, not to mention +the enormous Indian Army, of which the cavalry was styled by Lord Curzon +"the finest cavalry in the world." Even then we were not at the end of +our tether. Conscription was undreamt of. Our military resources had +barely been tested. The display of loyalty to the British flag, love for +the Mother Country, and an ardent desire to uphold her rights, had not +been confined to Great Britain's larger colonies. Small contingents for +South Africa had been offered by Jamaica and Trinidad and elsewhere, and +these, though gratefully acknowledged, had been refused, mostly in cases +where the contingents were not large enough to constitute a military +unit, and there might have been trouble in the movement of the force. + +The growth of Colonial offers of assistance from the time--the 10th of +July--when Queensland sent an anticipatory telegram proposing military +aid, it is interesting to follow. Two days later, the 12th of July, came +a telegram from Lord Brassey at Victoria, saying that "offers have been +received from Volunteers for service in South Africa." Five days passed. +Then an offer of 300 men from the Malay States Guides arrived, the High +Commissioner intimating, however, that he could not spare them. Three +hundred Hausas from Lagos volunteered on the 18th of July. On the 21st +of that month New South Wales offered 1860 officers, non-commissioned +officers, and men. The offer of Hong-Kong on the 21st of September was +followed by New Zealand's Parliamentary resolution to send a Transvaal +Contingent. On the 5th of October Western Australia came forward, and on +the 9th Tasmania offered her unit. On the 13th the offers of troops from +South Australia and Canada were "gratefully accepted." Last, but not +least, came the offer of assistance from India, and additional help from +those whose aid had previously been given and acknowledged as +invaluable. + +Thus, by degrees, the whole concourse of Great Britain's best was +gathered together, the flowers of her numerous flocks were drawn to a +common centre by the tie of blood and the pride of it--drawn to a far +quarter of the earth, there to demonstrate the crowning triumph of +British colonisation. The long-talked-of consolidation of the +Anglo-Saxon race for the welfare and freedom of humanity was no longer +an idealist's dream; it had become a living and a lasting reality! + + + FIRST CANADIAN CONTINGENT + + Early in the century the spirit of loyalty was developed in + Canada. From her first years, when Wolfe made Canada a colony + of Great Britain, the colonists began to recognise their debt + to the British Crown. The feeling of reverence and love for the + Mother Country strengthened and grew with the strength and + growth of Canada itself, till the sentiment of Imperialism, + always silently existing, suddenly found almost passionate + utterance in the month of October 1899. + + What came to pass a great man had foreseen. Sir John Macdonald, + who gauged aright the sentiment of the Canadians, described + almost prophetically the expansion of that sentiment, and + pointed out the developments that might be looked for in the + future. In one of his pro-Confederation speeches he said:-- + + "Some are apprehensive that the fact of our forming this + Confederation will hasten the time when we shall be severed + from the Mother Country. I have no apprehension of that kind. I + believe it will have the contrary effect. I believe that as we + grow stronger, as we become a people able, from our union, our + population, and the development of our resources, to take our + position among the nations of the world, she will be less + willing to part with us than now. I am strongly of opinion that + year by year, as we grow in population and strength, England + will more see the advantage of maintaining the alliance between + British North America and herself. Does any one imagine that + when our population, instead of 3,500,000 will be 7,000,000, as + it will be ere many years pass, we would be one whit more + willing than now to sever the connection with England? The + Colonies are now in a transition state. Gradually a different + colonial system is being developed, and it will become year by + year less a case of dependence on our part, and of overruling + protection on the part of the Mother Country, and more a case + of healthy and cordial alliance. Instead of looking upon us as + a merely dependent colony, England will have in us a friendly + nation, a subordinate but still a powerful people, to stand by + her in North America in peace or in war." + + Many other prominent persons, Sir John Thompson, Sir Charles + Tupper, Sir Wilfred Laurier, shared the same opinion, and + confidently asserted that Great Britain had but to hold out her + hand and the hand of Canada would go out to meet it with firm + and cordial grasp. + + Then came the hour and the opportunity. Canada acted exactly as + Canada's greatest men had expected her to act. She did not jump + to action, for the idea of participating in the active affairs + of the Empire had scarcely dawned upon her, but, the opening + once made, Canada lost no time in availing herself of it. Great + things have small beginnings, and the grand movement which has + astonished the universe commenced in a simple manner. + + While the possibility of war drifted like a small cloud on the + horizon, a certain Colonel Hughes, of Lindsay, Ontario, set to + work to raise a volunteer regiment for possible service in + South Africa. In September 1899 he openly expressed himself. In + answer to energetic remonstrance he wrote, that "unless the + Government of the Dominion showed itself patriotic enough to do + its duty by the Imperial Government, he was justified in his + action, the object of which was to assist in upbuilding the + British Empire and rendering justice to one's + fellow-countrymen, even at great sacrifice, and that as little + delay as possible should result on the outbreak of hostilities + in enrolling a corps." The idea, to use the popular phrase, + "caught on." All the notabilities of the Dominion put their + heads together, with the result that, early as October 3, the + Canadian Military Institute in Toronto proposed to offer a + Canadian Contingent to the British Imperial Government, in the + event of a war breaking out with the Boers. It was also + suggested and carried unanimously, that whereas all the + expenses of the Canadian Contingent sent to the aid of the + British troops in the Crimean War had been borne by the British + Government, the expenses of the Contingent it was now proposed + to send to South Africa, should be provided by the Dominion of + Canada, that the Canadian Government should train, arm, equip, + transport, and pay the force raised, and, if necessary, pension + those deserving it. The offer of a Canadian Contingent was + accordingly made through the Government to the British + Government, who accepted it with two reservations--First, that + the force raised should consist of 1000 men only; Second, that + half the expenses of the Contingent should be met by the + Imperial Government. To this the Canadians consented under + protest, declaring, however, that should any further assistance + be required during the course of the war, they would be ready + and glad to send it. + + Thousands of volunteers offered their services, but only a + limited number could be accepted. It was decided to allow each + locality to have the honour of taking part in the patriotic + movement, and the formation of companies was authorised as + follows:--A Company, Manitoba and the North-West; B, London, + Ontario; C, Toronto; D, Ottawa and Kingston; E, Montreal; F, + Quebec; G, Fredericton and Prince Edward Island; H, Halifax. + + The men were thus gathered from all parts of Canada, the + smaller towns sending from three to seven representatives each, + and the larger ones supplying some regulars from the city + regiments, in addition to volunteers. The enrolling and + equipping of these 1000 volunteers, scattered as they had been + over 3500 miles of territory, was accomplished in little more + than a fortnight--a wonderful feat in view of the pacific times + enjoyed by the Colonials. + + It was quite inspiriting to note the general activity. All the + Dominion displayed its loyalty in deeds as well as words. Men + living in idleness and comfort, professional men of standing, + family men with innumerable ties, came to the fore and + volunteered their services; while employers assisted the + splendid movement by offering facilities to those serving them + who might care to enlist. Every soul insisted on taking his + share in the Imperial doings. Those who could not volunteer + united their efforts and showed their loyalty by showering + gifts on the battalion. The officers and men of every company + were presented at their own headquarters with a sum of money + varying according to rank, but in each case of substantial + value, as a contribution to their warlike needs. Every officer + received from public subscriptions a field-glass, revolver, and + $125 in money. Privates were presented with a silver match-box + and $25. The Bank of Ottawa contributed $1000 for the purchase + of delicacies for the men on their sea-voyage. In addition to + this generosity, firms of all kinds sent in their own + manufacture, life insurances were effected on special terms for + officers and men of the battalion covering compensation for + partial disablement, and the telegraph and telephonic companies + liberally agreed to transmit private messages for all connected + with the Contingent free of charge. + + The mobilisation and concentration at Quebec of the composite + battalion was no mean undertaking, but it was accomplished by + the 27th of October. On the following night a dinner to the + officers was given, and later, a smoking concert. + + On the 29th the special service battalion attended divine + service, the Catholics at the Cathedral, the Roman Catholics at + the Basilica. The sermon given at the Cathedral was a notable + one, and served to mark the historical nature of the occasion. + Among other things, the Rev. J. G. Scott expressed himself of + sentiments that all might do well to read, mark, learn, and + inwardly digest. He said: "What is the Empire of which we are a + part? It is not a mere collection of subservient peoples adding + to the revenue and importance of a small island to the + north-west of Europe. No; it is much more than that. It is a + vast federation of peoples of all nations, tongues, languages, + and creeds joined together in 'liberty, equality, and + fraternity,' by common laws and a common love to their real or + their adopted mother. England and England's flag must remain + the symbol of our common patriotism. But the British Empire, + the Empire of the future, the Empire rising with the sun of a + new century, is founded in deeper principles than mere + sentimental devotion to the land of our fathers. The principle + underlying it is the liberty and brotherhood and welfare of + man. We conquer and advance. Wild lands come under our sway. + Savage races are subjugated or turn to us for protection. But + all with what result? With the result that the waste lands are + cultivated, the hidden mines of the earth yield up their + treasures, continents are spanned by vast railways and the bed + of ocean by electric cables, with the result that the savage is + brought under the yoke of civilisation, and religion, + education, and commerce raise him almost to the level of a + European. But this progress has not been, nor can it be, + unaccompanied by difficulties. At the present time our race in + its general advance is brought face to face with forces that + retard, not merely the growth of the British Empire, but the + principles of freedom and humanity which underlie it. The + nineteenth century is confronted in South Africa with a remnant + of the seventeenth. Our brethren, oppressed by an intolerable + tyranny, cry to us for help, and we, a republic under a + monarchical form, go to crush a despotism under the form of a + republic." + + This last phrase was a masterpiece, one that all who have + enjoyed the liberty, fraternity, and equality of our republican + empire can fully appreciate. Continuing, the preacher went on + to say: "Surely, if we go forth firmly, fearlessly, and + mercifully to fight in such a cause, we can feel, like Israel + of old, that 'the Eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are + the everlasting arms, and that He will thrust out the enemy + from before us.' And you, my brethren, who are privileged to go + forth under the flag of our Queen and the Empire, are the + representatives of a great people, formed of various creeds, + and nationalities, and languages, but blended in a common law + and a common love for the liberty which makes men--men. The + call to arms from the Motherland has sent a thrill to the four + corners of the earth. The Empire, which has been knit together + by community of race, by commerce, by railways and by cables, + is to be drawn now into an absolutely indissoluble bond by the + voluntary sacrifice of blood and life on a common battlefield. + No ordinary departure of troops to the front is yours. You are + the pioneers of a new era in our history. The importance of + this day is not to be measured, any more than was the + importance of the great battle in the Plains hard by, according + to numerical computation. We have taken a step, a step on the + threshold of another century, which is destined in time to put + an end to the distinction of Colony and Motherland, and will + finally give us a voice in the conduct of the Empire. Surely, + to those going forth as champions in a noble cause, I cannot do + better than to commend to you individually the watchword of + Israel's--nay, of England's strength, 'The Eternal God is thy + refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.' There may + come moments to some of you, in the irksomeness of discipline, + in the pause before the battle-charge, in the silence of lonely + picket duty, or during sleepless nights on the hospital pallet, + when the memory of the parting service in these hallowed + walls--walls which, during this century, have seen many heroes + arm at the call of duty--will come back to you with the comfort + which even the bravest need, and you will feel that in life and + death 'the Eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the + everlasting arms.' Then, like the knights of old, consecrate + to-day your hearts and swords to God's service, and you who are + communicants draw near to the altar of God and receive the + strength which comes from the Body and Blood of Christ. You are + not a wild horde let loose in savage warfare, but Christian men + armed for a great cause. Keep then your lives pure--pure as the + memories of your Canadian home. Be sober, as men who can face + danger without artificial courage. Let the talk at mess and in + camp be clean, and above all remember to pay regularly the + daily homage of prayer to your Heavenly Father. Do not be + ashamed to confess Christ before men." + + These heart-stirring words found their echo in every + breast--the great body of patriotic volunteers was thrilled + through with the ambition to do great deeds in a great way, to + go forth and write their names in blood, if need be, alongside + of those of their brothers of the Anglo-Saxon race whose + records loomed large and indelible upon the scrip of Time. + + In the evening the Governor-General entertained the superior + officers and staff at dinner, and on the following morning the + last parade was held. Major-General Hutton, commanding the + Canadian Militia, commenced his inspection at 11.30. At noon + the Governor-General, the Premier, Sir Wilfred Laurier, and + other members of the Cabinet arrived on the ground. His + Excellency addressed the men as follows: "Colonel Otter, + officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Canadian + Contingent, I congratulate you on the splendid appearance of + your regiment on parade, and Canada may justly be proud of her + representative troops. But, Colonel Otter, the force you + command represents a great deal more than a serviceable + regiment on parade. We are standing here upon historic ground, + under the ramparts of the old city of Quebec, surrounded by + celebrated battlefields, and in an atmosphere full of the + glorious traditions of two great nations--nations who, + respecting each other's warlike qualities on many a hard-fought + field, have now joined in common loyalty to their Queen and + Empress. Your companies have been gathered from British + Columbia to the Atlantic coast, from the settlers in the Rocky + Mountains and the Far West, from Ontario and the Maritime + Provinces, and from the old French families of Quebec. They + represent the manhood of the Dominion from the west to the + east, but, above all, they represent the spontaneous offer of + the people of Canada, British born and French Canadian, to the + Mother Country. The people of Canada have shown no inclination + to discuss the quibbles of Colonial responsibility; they have + only unmistakably asked that their loyal offers should be made + known, and they rejoice in their gracious acceptance. In so + doing surely they have opened a new chapter in the history of + our Empire; they have freely made their military gift to an + Imperial cause, to share the privations, and the dangers, and + the glories of an Imperial army. They have insisted on giving + vent to the expression of that sentimental Imperial unity which + may, perhaps, hereafter prove more binding than any written + Imperial constitution. The embarkation of your force, Colonel + Otter, to-day will mark a memorable epoch in the history of + Canada and the Empire. Of the success of your future we have no + doubt; we shall watch your departure with very full hearts, and + shall follow your movements with eager enthusiasm. All Canada + will long to see the Maple Leaf well to the front, and to give + her Contingent a glorious welcome home again. And now, as the + representative of Her Majesty, I wish you God speed and every + success." + + Lord Minto then called on the men to give three cheers for the + Queen, which they did with all the zest of lusty Anglo-Saxon + lungs. + + Sir Wilfrid Laurier then addressed the regiment. He reminded + them they were going to obey the call of duty, that their cause + was the cause of justice, the cause of humanity and of + civilisation. Men of our own race were being unjustly + oppressed, and the troops were going forth in the interests of + the Empire and of liberty. He rejoiced to see the alacrity with + which Canadians had responded to the call and rushed to the aid + of the great Empire of which all were so proud. He wished them + God speed, and expressed his confidence that they would be an + honour to themselves and to their native land. + + Major-General Hutton impressively assured the troops that their + honour was Canada's honour, that their renown was Canada's + renown; and though strain and hardships might be great, they + would remember that in the far-off Dominion thousands of men + and women looked to the Royal Canadian Regiment to uphold the + honour of their native land. French Canadians and English + Canadians must recollect the responsibility that would rest + upon their shoulders, and he knew they would acquit themselves + well of their duties. + + Then followed an address by the Hon. S. Parent, Mayor of + Quebec. He read: "The citizens of Quebec offer you the most + cordial welcome in this old fortress, so often stormed by war + and tempest, whose inhabitants, from their earliest years, have + been accustomed to the music of military bands, to the smell of + powder and the smoke of battles. We are proud of the honour + that has been done our city in its selection as the scene of + the mobilisation of this select regiment which the Canadian + people send to the assistance of our Mother Country. The + presence in our midst of the representative of our Most + Gracious Sovereign, His Excellency the Governor-General, and + other dignitaries of the State, adds not only lustre and + _eclat_ to this day's ceremony, but gives to our proceedings a + deeper and wider meaning. It was no vain appeal that was made + to our valour and our loyalty, for along the way from Victoria + to Halifax, a thousand picked men, representing the youth, + physical strength, the discipline and the courageous daring of + our people, freely volunteered to serve under the British flag. + The people of various origin and different religious creeds + that go to make up the population of this country are + represented in your regiment, and now that we are, for the time + being, assembled within the walls of the most French city of + the New World, let us claim for the French-Canadian element a + large share of the warm and spontaneous outburst of sentiments + of loyalty to England which marked your triumphal passage from + your homes to Quebec. No matter how diverse may be our origin + and the languages that we speak, who is there that will dare to + affirm that we have not all the qualities necessary for the + making of a real nation? Who dare say, upon such an occasion as + the present, that we are not all sincerely united and loyal + towards the Canadian Dominion, and loyal to England which has + given us so complete a measure of liberty? We French-Canadians + have loyally accepted the new destinies that Providence + provided for us upon the battlefield of 1759. Is it possible + that anybody can have forgotten 1775 and 1812? On the summit of + this proud rock of Quebec, rendered illustrious by Jacques + Cartier and Champlain, behold, but a few steps from this place, + the superb monument erected by an English Governor to the + memory of Wolfe and of Montcalm! Why may we not make it the + emblem and the symbol of our national unity? Let us leave to + each individual amongst us the privilege to retain, as a sweet + souvenir worthy of a noble heart, the rose, the thistle, the + fleur-de-lys, or the shamrock, and even the pot of earth that + the Irish immigrant brings with him from under distant skies, + and let us be united for the great and holy cause that we have + in hand: the foundation of a great nation and the development + of the boundless resources of a rich and immense country. Our + best wishes accompany you in the long journey, at the end of + which you will, no doubt, find glory as well as suffering, + privations, and perhaps even heroic sacrifices. When you will + be under the burning sun of Africa, you may be sure that our + hearts will follow you everywhere, and that in our long winter + evenings you will be the principal object of our fireside talk + and solicitude. Be quite sure, too, that this Canada of ours + will watch with a maternal care over the loved ones that you + leave behind you, and who, in parting with you, are making so + great and generous a sacrifice. May the God of battles crown + your efforts! May He preserve you in the midst of danger! And + may He bring you back safe and sound to the beloved shores of + your fatherland!" + + Never was more impressive scene, and even the stoutest warriors + among the audience were thrilled with the consciousness of the + solemnity of the moment, the sacredness of their future duty. + Colonel Otter, who was much moved, replied as a + soldier--briefly, but to the point. He thanked all around for + their goodwill, and expressed his confidence that the Canadian + Contingent would do its duty and do honour to the land of its + birth. + + The list of the principal officers was as follows:-- + + To command--Lieut.-Colonel W. D. Otter, Canadian Staff, A.D.C. + to His Excellency the Governor-General. To be Major and second + in command--Lieut.-Colonel L. Buchan, Royal Canadian Regiment. + To be Major--Lieut.-Colonel O. C. C. Pelletier, Canadian Staff. + To be Adjutant--Major J. C. M'Dougall, Royal Canadian Regiment. + To be Quartermaster--Capt. and Brevet-Major S. J. A. Denison, + Royal Canadian Regiment. To be Medical Officers--Surgeon-Major + C. A. Wilson, 3rd Field Battery, C.A.; Surgeon-Major E. Fiset, + 89th Batt. To be attached for Staff duty--Major L. G. Drummond, + Scots Guards, Military Secretary to His Excellency the + Governor-General. A Company (British Columbia and + Manitoba).--To be Captain--Capt. M. G. Blanchard, 5th Regt. + C.A. Major H. M. Arnold, 90th Batt.; Capt. A. E. Hodkins, + Nelson R. Co.; Lieut. S. P. Layborn, R.C.R.I. B Company + (London)--Major Duncan Stuart, 26th Batt.; Capt. J. C. Mason, + 10th Batt.; Capt. J. M. Ross, 22nd Batt.; Second Lieut. R. H. + M. Temple, 48th Highlanders. C Company (Toronto)--Capt. R. K. + Barker, Q.O.R.; Lieut. J. C. Ogilvie, R.C.A.; Lieut. W. R. + Marshall, 13th Batt.; Lieut. G. S. Wilkie, 10th Batt. D Company + (Ottawa and Kingston)--Major S. M. Rogers, 43rd Batt.; Capt. W. + T. Lawless, G.G.F.G.; Lieut. R. G. Stewart, 43rd Batt.; Lieut. + A. C. Caldwell, 42nd Batt. E Company (Montreal)--Capt. A. H. + Macdonell, R.C.R.I.; Capt. C. K. Fraser, 53rd Batt.; Lieut. A. + E. Swift, 8th Batt.; Lieut. A. Laurie, P. of W. R. F Company + (Quebec)--Capt. J. E. Pelletier, 65th Batt.; Capt. H. A. Panet, + R.C.A.; Lieut. L. Leduc, R.C.R.I.; Lieut. E. A. Pelletier, 55th + Batt. G Company (New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island)--Major + W. A. Weeks, Charlottetown Engineers; Capt. F. C. Jones, 3rd + Regt. C.A.; Lieut. J. H. Kaye, R.C.R.I.; Second Lieut. C. W. W. + M'Lean, 8th Hussars. H Company (Halifax)--Capt H. B. Stairs, + 66th Batt.; Capt. H. E. Burstall, R.C.A.; Lieut. R. B. Willis, + 66th Batt.; Second Lieut. J. C. Oland, 63rd Batt. Machine-Gun + Section--Lieut. and Capt. A. C. Bell, Scots Guards, A.D.C. to + the Major-General commanding the Canadian Militia. + + The following officers were attached to the Royal Canadian + Regiment for whatever duty might be allotted to them in + connection with the campaign: Lieut.-Colonel F. L. Lessard, + Royal Canadian Dragoons; Lieut.-Colonel C. W. Drury, A.D.C., + Royal Canadian Artillery; Major R. Cartwright, Royal Canadian + Regiment; Capt. W. Forester, Royal Canadian Dragoons. Medical + officer--Capt. A. B. Osborne, C.A.M.S. (provisional). + + By five o'clock in the afternoon all was over. The great ship + _Sardinian_, with slow dignity, as though conscious of the + gallant burden she was bearing to battle, sailed out into the + great immensity of sea and sky. Cheers rent the air, tears--the + tears not of personal grief, but of sympathetic + patriotism--dimmed every eye. Many sorrowed, but many more were + overwhelmed with sheer joy and pride to see this goodly throng + going forth to do martial deeds, and bring back laurels to + crown the land that Wolfe had made glorious. Slowly and with + precision the minute guns boomed from the Citadel, loudly, the + bands played the well-loved tunes, the "Maple Leaf" and "God + Save the Queen." Swiftly now sped the _Sardinian_, flaunting + her gay decorations, and bearing on the bosom of the water a + thousand of Canada's best, a thousand brave hearts and true. + + + THE SECOND CANADIAN CONTINGENT + + After the departure of the first Contingent the loyalty of + Canada continued to increase. Every incident of the war was + carefully watched and discussed, the great deeds that were on + foot found lavish appreciation. At numerous meetings which took + place in various parts of Canada the spirit of the country was + described by such declarations as: "We, too, are loyal Britons, + and our patriotism is at its best when our country needs us + most." + + On November 7th Canada made the offer to the British Government + of a second Contingent for South Africa, and on December 18th + Sir Wilfred Laurier received a cablegram from Mr. Joseph + Chamberlain accepting the offer. As one of the Canadian + Ministry afterwards said, "It did not take much more than five + minutes for the Cabinet to decide that the Hon. F. W. Borden, + Minister of Militia, should immediately instruct his officers + at the Militia Department to go on with the preparations for + sending the second Contingent." The fact was that most of the + details had been ready for a month and more. The Minister of + Militia had early come to the conclusion that a second + Contingent of Canadians should be gathered together in the form + of cavalry or mounted infantry and artillery. + + The first to be given a chance of enlisting for South Africa + were the Mounted Police. Forty-eight hours later steps were + taken towards recruiting 200 Prairie Cowboys, men who could + ride and shoot as well as any cavalrymen in the world, and who + are accustomed to subsisting on the scantiest of rations. Next + came the Royal Canadian Dragoons, regulars, who were mounted on + well-trained horses, and so well drilled as to make it possible + for every man of them to instruct the less trained recruits + during the voyage. The Boers having a healthy horror of the + lance as a cavalry weapon, it was decided that half at least of + Canada's cavalry should be given this arm. + + [Illustration: LADY MINTO PRESENTING COLOURS TO HERCHMER'S + HORSE, ON LEAVING OTTAWA, 19th JAN. 1900. + + Drawing by J. H. Bacon, from Photo by J. C. Hemment.] + + It was considered that the Cowboys, and such "Plainsmen of the + West" as Herchmer's Horse, _broncho busters_ who had never been + conquered by man or horse, would be specially valuable in the + style of warfare affected by the Boers. With nerves of steel + and thews of wire, they could speak without boasting of their + capacity for putting in thirty-six hours consecutively in the + saddle, and for living "on the smell of an oiled rag." + + Ardent volunteers who had failed to get a place in the first + Contingent now rushed forward from every side. The sole + disappointment was, that only a limited number could be + accepted, and those must all be mounted men or artillery. + + The wild enthusiasm aroused by the brave and splendid work of + that portion of the first Canadian Contingent which was with + Colonel Pilcher in South Africa, and the inspiring accounts + given by the correspondent of the _Toronto Globe_, resulted in + more volunteering, and a third Contingent could easily have + been raised, even after the rigorous medical examination had + rejected numbers. + + The people of Canada responded nobly to the call for funds to + provide for the families of their volunteers on service in + South Africa, the large amounts subscribed by the Banks of + Montreal and British North America, followed by donations of + 15,000 dollars by the Canadian Pacific Railway and 2000 dollars + by Holsen's Bank, having served to stimulate action in this + direction. The City Council of Toronto insured for 1000 dollars + the lives of all the 123 men they had sent to form part of the + second Contingent. + + On January 19, the Dominion Government, in a house which + cheered itself hoarse in response to patriotic speeches, + decided to offer, if required, 12,000 men to the Imperial + Parliament for service in South Africa. Lord Strathcona + meantime, at his own expense, raised a mounted battalion for + service, which was to be ready to sail on February 10 for South + Africa, the War Office having given their consent to the + formation of the corps. The matter was placed in the hands of + the Hon. Dr. Borden, Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence, + who was given a free hand to recommend officers, organise and + equip the corps, Lord Strathcona reserving only the right to + reject or confirm his decisions. + + The following officers left for the front at the end of + January: Officers of D Battery--Major W. G. Hurdman, Capt. D. + J. V. Eaton; Lieutenants, first section, T. W. Vantuyl; second + section, J. M'Crea; third section, E. W. B. Morrison. Officers + of E Battery--Major G. H. Ogilvie; Capt. R. Costigan; + Lieutenants, first section, W. F. Murray; second section, A. T. + Ogilvie; third section, W. G. Good. Officers attached for + duty--Captain H. J. Uniacke; Adjutant, Captain H. C. Thatcher; + Medical Officer, Surgeon-Major A. Worthington; Veterinary + Officer, Veterinary-Major Massie. These were followed by + Regimental Staff Commander Lieut.-Colonel Herchmer; Adjutant + Lieut. Montague Baker; Transport Officer, Lieut. Eustace; + Quartermaster, Captain Allan; Medical Officer, Surg.-Capt. + Devine; Veterinary Officer, Lieut. R. Riddell. In command of + squadrons, Majors Howe and Sanders; Captains Cuthbert and + Macdonnell; Lieutenants Begin, Davidson, Wroughton, Cosby, + Chalmers, Taylor, and Inglis. + + When the mounted section of the second Canadian Contingent, + numbering eighty men, started, some twelve extra men were + invited to volunteer. To meet the demand no less than 400 + applicants, many of them men of independent means, instantly + came forward. Here was a remarkable proof of martial spirit, of + devotion to the cause of the Mother Country. Vanity some said + it was. Any way, it was a vanity fringing on the sublime. + + It is interesting to note, that before the gallant members of + the second Contingent left for Halifax they were presented with + guidons by Lady Minto, the gifts being inscribed with the motto + of the Elliot clan--"Wha daur meddle wi' me." This delicate + mark of attention was highly appreciated by the men. + + Early in February the Mounted Bushmen's Corps of 300 men and + horses started for the Cape. All the Canadians, volunteers it + must be remembered, were picked men from all parts of the + Dominion, and with them were scouts from British Columbia, who, + for the most part, were recruited from the Mounted Police of + the North-West and from Cowboys. Being about the smartest + riders and best shots in the world, it was felt that they would + distinguish themselves in the war game as played by the Boers. + + Among those at the front prominently connected with Canada was + Captain Kirkpatrick, Royal Engineers, who was attached to the + staff of Sir Redvers Buller. This officer is a graduate of the + Royal Military College, Kingston, and on leaving that + institution received a commission in the Royal Engineers. When + the war broke out, Captain Kirkpatrick was ordered from Malta + to South Africa, where he commanded the Fortress Company of the + Royal Engineers. Major Denison, a prominent officer in the + Royal Canadian Infantry, who had personal charge of the + recruiting for the first Canadian Contingent, and was appointed + quartermaster to the battalion at Quebec, had the honour in + January of being appointed aide-de-camp on the staff of Lord + Roberts. + + Another of the patriotic band was Colonel Girouard (the French + Canadian of Egyptian fame), who assisted Lord Kitchener and the + Engineers in marvellous operations along the line of rail. This + officer has achieved a glorious reputation, one which has been + declared to be a closer bond between French Canada and Great + Britain than any words. Another honoured Canadian, who was + mortally wounded in the attack near Spearman's Camp on the 20th + of January, was Captain Hensley (Dublin Fusiliers). This + gallant officer was born at Charlottetown and educated at + King's College, Windsor, whence he passed into the Royal + Military College. + + Major-General Hutton, commanding the Canadian Militia, early in + the year was selected for special service in South Africa. No + better officer could have been chosen. He had ample experience + of the subject in hand, as he himself stated in speaking to the + Canadian Contingent before their departure: "It was my lot to + have seen two campaigns in South Africa, including the campaign + against the Boers in 1882. It was also--I was going to say my + privilege--it was certainly not my pleasure--to have been at + Pretoria at the time the present Convention was made; and I + therefore know their leaders, and a little something--I may say + almost too much--of South Africa and the Transvaal, and + therefore I recognise perhaps more clearly than many of you do + the very great difficulties and the dangers which our + Contingent and the Imperial troops in South Africa are exposed + to." + + + STRATHCONA'S HORSE + + Strathcona's Horse, consisting of 530 men and 560 horses, was + commanded by Colonel Steele of the North-West Mounted Police. + He is regarded as an ideal officer for a scouting force, and + his men were all picked men, the cream of the expert riders and + riflemen of the Dominion. Morally and physically they were + declared to be the best soldiers that have ever been enrolled + in Canada. Their mounts were small shaggy bronchos, but sturdy + long stayers. In regard to Lord Strathcona's timely generosity + it is impossible to say enough--the general appreciation of his + splendid and patriotic act is expressed in the following + resolution, which was adopted by the Executive Committee of the + British Empire League in Canada: "That the Executive Committee + of the British Empire League in Canada has heard with + unqualified satisfaction of the magnificent undertaking of Lord + Strathcona and Mount Royal, a Vice-President of this League, to + raise, equip, and support, at his entire expense, a corps of + mounted troops composed of Canadians for service for the Empire + in the South African war, and desires to place on record its + enthusiastic appreciation of his patriotic munificence, and is + certain that his work will yet further convince the rest of the + Empire of Canada's devotion to the cause." Speaking of this + noble promoter of his country's weal, Lieutenant Cooper, + Q.V.R., said: "Generously has the British Empire done by Lord + Strathcona, and generously and freely has Lord Strathcona done + by the Empire. Under the aegis of the Union Jack in Scotland, + Donald Alexander Smith spent the first eighteen years of his + life. In 1838 he entered the service of the Hudson's Bay + Company, and learned the intricacies of North American trade in + Labrador and the North-West. In later years he took a prominent + part in the organisation of the Canadian Government in the + newly-acquired Rupert's Land, and was intimately connected with + the early official days of Manitoba and the North-West + Territories. After representing Montreal for two terms in the + Dominion Parliament, he was appointed Canadian High + Commissioner in London, England, a position which he still + fills to the satisfaction of the Canadian people. In 1897 he + was raised to the peerage as Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal + of Glencoe and Montreal." + + The force, equipped after the manner of other mounted troops, + and not armed with lances, was paid by Lord Strathcona until it + landed in South Africa, when it was taken over by the Imperial + Government. As in the case of the Contingents from the various + Colonies, the officers of the corps were appointed as follows: + S. B. Steele, gent., Canadian North-West Mounted Police, to be + Lieut.-Colonel, with the temporary rank of Lieut.-Colonel in + the army. To be Majors, with the temporary rank of Major in the + army: Lieut. R. C. Laurie, Canadian Militia Reserve of + Officers; R. Belcher, Inspector Canadian North-West Mounted + Police; A. M. Jarvis, Inspector Canadian North-West Mounted + Police; A. E. Synder, Inspector Canadian North-West Mounted + Police. D. M. Howards, Canadian North-West Mounted Police, to + be Captain, with the temporary rank of Captain in the army. To + be Lieutenants, with the temporary rank of Lieutenant in the + army: Major G. W. Camden, Canadian Militia; Captains R. M. + Courtney, Canadian Militia; J. J. Macdonald, Canadian Militia; + E. F. Mackie, Canadian Militia; Lieutenants T. E. Pooley, + Canadian Militia; R. H. B. Magee, Canadian Militia Reserve of + Officers; Second Lieutenant P. Fall, Canadian Militia; F. L. + Cartwright, Inspector Canadian North-West Mounted Police; A. E. + Christie, Inspector Canadian North-West Mounted Police; J. E. + Leckie, Graduate Royal Military College, Kingston, Canada; A. + W. Strange, gent., late Canadian Militia. Lieutenant M. P. + Cotton, Canadian Militia, to be Lieutenant for Machine-Gun + Detachment, with the temporary rank of Lieutenant in the Army. + W. Parker, Canadian North-West Mounted Police, to be + Quartermaster, with the temporary rank of Lieutenant in the + army. C. B. Keenan, gent., M.D., to be Medical Officer, with + the temporary rank of Captain. Dr. M'Millan of Brandon was + appointed Veterinary Surgeon for the Strathcona Horse. His + assistant was Mr. Millican, of Rapid City, Manitoba. + + The regiment was recruited from a territory covering a million + square miles, some men having travelled from Yukon and the + Peace River district in order to enlist. Many distinguished men + were among them. In one troop were to be found Mr. Beresford + (formerly a Naval officer), cousin of the Marquis of Waterford; + Mr. Warren, son of Colonel Warren, R.H.A.; Mr. Shaw, son of a + Baronet; Mr. O'Brien, a kinsman of Lord Inchiquin; Hon. Mr. + Cochrane, son of the now notable Lord Dundonald; and Lord + Seymour. Colonel Steele (N.W.M.P.), in command of the corps, + is a son of a Captain in the Royal Navy. He was born in Canada, + and is noted for his bravery and devotion to duty. Major + Belcher, a notable swordsman and lancer, was for some years in + the 9th Lancers. The troops received an enthusiastic send off, + and multitudes gathered together to do honour to the latest + addition of Great Britain's army. Several beautiful guidons + were presented to the corps by the ladies of Ottawa. Each was + made of crimson silk, with a broad white stripe through the + centre, on which was embroidered in crimson letters, + "Strathcona's Horse." On the upper crimson bar was Lord + Strathcona's motto, "Perseverance," done in crimson on a white + garter. Above the garter was a Baron's coronet and tiny brown + beaver on a green maple leaf. On the lower crimson bar was the + squadron's designation. + + + NEW SOUTH WALES + + New South Wales fell into line with the other Australasian + Colonies, and decided to send a military force for service with + the Imperial army in South Africa. + + The New South Wales Lancers, who had been in training at + Aldershot, were the first to start. They were then about to + return home, but were stopped _en route_, and proceeded to the + Cape. Of their number some few refused to serve and went home, + but on arrival many offered to return to the front. The rest + gave satisfactory reasons for being unable to do so. + Subsequently another Contingent was sent, and also the Bushmen + Corps, at least 1000 strong. It was composed of men who could + ride well, shoot splendidly, and were accustomed to camping out + and roughing it in pursuit of their usual vocations. It must be + noted that this was not the first time that New South Wales had + come to the assistance of the Mother Country. A force went to + Egypt in the earlier Soudan wars, when one man was wounded. + Some discontent at that time was shown owing to the troops not + being allowed to go to the front. On this occasion they were to + serve and fare as the Imperial troops, and to be considered as + such while in the field. + + Each Contingent was composed of--1st, N.S.W. Lancers; First + Australian Horse; N.S.W. Artillery; Mounted Rifles; Infantry, + who, being good horsemen, were subsequently mounted by the + Imperial Government. 2nd Contingent consisted of three Mounted + Rifle units of 125 men each, one unit of Australian Horse of + 100 men (475), one Battery of Artillery--18 officers, 175 men, + 140 horses (629). The total of the New South Wales troops at + the front in February amounted to 1331 men. + + Though not at first very enthusiastic in expressions of + patriotism, New South Wales soon became strong in deeds. + Enthusiasm became epidemical. Mr. Lyne, the Premier, threw + himself into the movement, and rapidly pushed forward the + arrangements, and did all in his power to move in sympathy with + the patriotic feelings of the Colony, which were daily growing + more ardent. As a practical expression of the intensity of + their patriotism, the citizens arranged and subscribed for the + despatch of 500 expert roughriders and Bush marksmen, while the + New South Wales Government assisted by supplying arms and + ammunition. + + The volunteers were all part, or had formed part, of the land + forces. The only actual _regular_ regiment, as understood by + us, was the artillery, a small company of Submarine Mining + Engineers, 27; Army Service Corps, 10; and Army Medical Staff, + 11. All the rest were partially paid or volunteers. The men + came from the whole country, and were men who were serving in + the various corps either as volunteers or partially paid + troops. All the infantry corps were volunteers--all cavalry + regiments and some of the field and garrison artillery were + partially paid troops, and were called regulars, though not on + the permanent staff. The officers of the Contingents were--1. + Captain C. F. Cox, N.S.W. Lancers, Major Bridges, N.S.W. + Artillery, Captain Legge, General Staff N.S.W. Inf.; 2. Major + and Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Samuel Parrott, V. D. Corps of + Engineers, an officer who served in 1885 with the Australian + Contingent in the Soudan. Colonel Sydenham Smith com. + Artillery; Major J. H. Plunkett Murray, com. 8th Inf. (Union + Regiment); Captain and temporary Major P. T. Owen, General + Staff; Staff officer for Engineer services, Captain L. H. + Kyngdon, N.S.W. Regt. R.A.; Captain A. P. Popham Luscombe; + N.S.W. Regt. R.A.A., Captain Henry P. Ramsay Copeland. Reserve + of officers--Captain R. St. Julien Pearce; N.S.W. Art. (Field), + Lieutenant R. S. Hay Blake Jenkins; N.S.W. Regt. R.A.A., + Lieutenant C. F. Bracen, N.S.W. Art. (garrison). 1st Aus. + (Vol.) Horse unit--1st Lieut. R. R. Thompson, Permanent Staff, + with rank Captain; 2nd Lieutenant J. F. Moore Wilkinson, 1st + Aus. Horse (Vol.), with rank 1st Lieutenant; 1st Lieutenant + Keith Kinnaird Mackellar, 5th Inf. (Vol.) Regt.; Lieutenant B. + J. Newmarch, N.S.W.A.M.C.; Lieutenant J. A. Dick, N.S.W.A.M.C.; + Lieutenant A. H. Horsfall, N.S.W.A.M.C. Additional + officers--Dr. A. MacCormick, to be Consulting Surgeon, hon. + rank Major; Dr. R. Scot-Skirving, to be Consulting Surgeon, + hon. rank Major; Dr. W. R. Cortis, rank Captain; N. R. Howse, + rank Lieutenant. Chaplains--Church of England--Rev. H. J. Rose, + hon. rank Major; Rev. Patrick Fagan, hon. rank Captain. + + The first Contingent reached Cape Town (from London) on + November 2, 1899. The second Contingent started on January 17th + and 18th in three transports; these, while in dock, had to be + watched, as some Boer sympathisers were suspected of wishing to + set fire to them. Nevertheless there were most remarkable + demonstrations of loyalty on all sides, and the troops went off + in high feather, having been previously addressed by Mr. Lyne + in the following stirring speech: "I wish to tell you that + every man and woman in this country is not so proud of anything + as of you. You are not enlisting in the ordinary sense of the + term, in that you are volunteering to serve with the British + troops in the interests of the Empire. You are certain to meet + a foe such as Great Britain has not met for some considerable + time, and I feel we shall all be proud of your deeds. It is + admitted that you are particularly useful, knowing bush life + and being able readily to seize commanding points. Great + Britain is finding that her Colonies form a valuable nursery + ground, and we, on our part, are prepared to supply Great + Britain with a force which is rapidly becoming a powerful + adjunct of the British arms. You will be placed where you must + show energy and determination, and must manifest pluck and + courage, and we believe that you will bring back as a reward a + wide recognition that our arms have been of service to the + Empire. You will make a name for us such as rarely falls to the + lot of a youthful country. You will show the world that the + Empire is united, and that we are prepared to defend her and + our homes if the necessity arises. We in Australia wish you + God-speed, and every heart here beats in accord with every + loyal heart in South Africa. I can only add, for those who may + fall, that their memories will be revered, and you depart + knowing that the loved ones of those yielding their lives will + be tended by a generous Government and a generous public. Again + I wish you God-speed, and may you return covered with all + honour." + + On the 19th of January the Premier received the following + cable: "Her Majesty's Government learn with great satisfaction + of the despatch of the Contingent and the patriotic feeling in + New South Wales. The Queen commands me to express her thanks + for these renewed expressions of loyalty. + + "CHAMBERLAIN." + + + VICTORIA + + The Victorian Contingent started off with the same flourish of + trumpets and the same outbursts of popular feeling which had + accompanied all the Transvaal Contingents. There was a mixture + of song and shout, of sorrow and tears. The weather was + unchangeably splendid; the city of Melbourne was thronged with + visitors to witness the unusual sight, the crowd being + augmented by numerous Tasmanians who journeyed across the + straits to get a last glimpse at the brave band of warriors as + they started on their voyage. Lord Brassey gave a short + address, and in the name of the Queen wished them God-speed. + + FIRST VICTORIAN CONTINGENT FOR SOUTH AFRICA.--Nominal Roll of + Officers of the Victorian Contingent for service in South + Africa, sent in accordance with the cablegram of the Right + Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies of 4th + October 1899: Major G. A. Eddy, Captain (Medical Staff) W. F. + Hopkins, Lieutenant T. M. M'Inerney, Lieutenant H. W. + Pendlebury, Lieutenant A. J. N. Tremearne. Mounted Infantry + Unit--Captain M'Leish, Lieutenant and Adjutant Salmon, + Lieutenant Thorn, Lieutenant Chomley, Lieutenant Staughton, + Lieutenant Roberts, Veterinary-Captain Kendall. + + The following officers were attached for instruction in + accordance with the cablegram of the Right Honourable the + Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated 27th October 1899: + Colonel J. C. Hoad, Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. E. Umphelby, + Captain G. J. Johnston, Captain J. H. Bruche. Transport Officer + for service with troops for South Africa on board s.s. + _Medic_--Lieutenant-Commander W. J. Colquhoun. + + SECOND VICTORIAN CONTINGENT FOR SOUTH AFRICA (two companies of + mounted infantry).--Nominal Roll of Officers who embarked on + s.s. _Euryalus_ on 13th January 1900 for service in South + Africa: Colonel T. Price, Captain D. H. Jenkins, Lieutenant T. + H. Sergeant, Lieutenant T. F. Umphelby, Lieutenant G. O. Bruce, + Lieutenant A. A. Holdsworth, Lieutenant M. T. Kirby, Lieutenant + E. O. Anderson, Lieutenant T. A. Umphelby, Lieutenant E. S. + Norton, Lieutenant R. S. R. S. Bree, Lieutenant and Adjutant J. + L. Lilley, Major (Medical Staff) A. Honman, Chaplain Rev. F. W. + Wray, Veterinary-Captain H. S. Rudduck. Officer attached for + special service with Army Service Corps: Lieutenant A. J. + Christie. + + In addition to these Contingents the Colony contributed 250 + Bushmen, making in all up to the month of April, 751; officers, + 46. + + Among the officers of the Victorian Contingent were some whose + careers were particularly interesting:-- + + Lieut.-Colonel Charles Edward Ernest Umphelby was forty-six + years of age, and a native of Victoria. He commanded the + V.R.A.A. He joined the Militia Garrison Artillery at + Warrnambool on the 20th June 1884; in March 1885 was appointed + lieutenant in the Permanent Artillery, being promoted to be + captain on the 1st January 1888. In August 1891 he was promoted + to be major, and in June 1897 to the rank of + lieutenant-colonel. In addition to commanding the artillery he + also commanded the Western District Garrison Artillery. He was + sent to England by the Victorian Government in 1889 to undergo + courses of instruction, and while there was attached to the + staff of Major-General Clarke. He passed through various + artillery courses, including the long course at Woolwich and + Shoeburyness. + + Captain George Jamieson Johnston is a Victorian native, and is + thirty-one years of age. He is an officer of the Field + Artillery Brigade, which is commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel + Kelly. Captain Johnston was appointed lieutenant on the 11th + January 1889, and was promoted to be captain on the 1st July + 1895. He is well known as a straight and regular follower of + the Melbourne Hounds. + + Captain Julius Henry Bruche was born on the 6th March 1873, and + educated at the Scotch College, Melbourne. His first experience + of military work was in the ranks, and as an officer in the + cadet corps, under Major W. Whitehead. After leaving the Scotch + College cadets he was appointed to the senior cadets, and from + them was transferred to the 1st Battalion Infantry Brigade as a + lieutenant on 15th May 1891. Whilst in the 1st Battalion he + passed the examination for captain, "distinguished in all + subjects." He was appointed permanent adjutant of the 1st and + 2nd Battalions of the Infantry Brigade on the 18th July 1898, + and was promoted to the position of captain on the 17th + February 1899, after passing the examination for regular + officers, and going through a course of musketry and Maxim + machine-gun, obtaining an officer's extra certificate, and a + certificate as qualified as instructor of the Maxim + machine-gun. Captain Bruche is a barrister and solicitor, but + gave up his profession to join the permanent staff of the + Victorian forces. + + It may here be mentioned that Victoria has the distinction of + being the birthplace of Dr. Robert Andrew Buntine, who was + mentioned for bravery at the battle of Glencoe in Sir George + White's despatches. Dr. Buntine was born on the 13th of + November 1869. He matriculated in the Melbourne University with + honours, and at once entered upon his medical course, where he + acquitted himself with some distinction, for although close + upon a hundred students entered their curriculum with him, only + five (and he was one of them) passed consecutively all their + examinations with honours. In 1890 he graduated with honours, + and took his M.B., Ch.M. degrees. He then became one of the + resident surgeons of the Melbourne Hospital for a year. After + that, and the hard work of the University, he decided upon a + year's travel. Accordingly, he travelled first in South Africa, + and then in Great Britain for some months, visiting many + interesting historical spots, and finally returning to South + Africa, where he bought a practice in partnership with Dr. + Currie, of Pietermaritzburg, Natal. Both are surgeons in the + army, Dr. Buntine being surgeon to the Volunteers, and Dr. + Currie to the Carabineers. + + + NEW ZEALAND + + On the 21st of October, the anniversary of Trafalgar, + Wellington was very early astir. Great were her preparations to + commemorate the departure of her Contingent--the first + Contingent to embark from the Colonies. Bunting began to break + out before breakfast, and town and shipping were soon + fluttering with flags. In the streets groups were congregating + at a time when people are usually given up to business, and + uniforms everywhere dotted the thoroughfare. Large numbers of + volunteers came in from the country, some travelling all night, + and there was a turn out of local forces amounting to 1500. + + The march through the town began at 1.20 P.M. It was an + inspiriting sight, and one that all wished to bear in memory. + The road at intervals was so dotted with cameras, that one + humourist in the ranks was heard to remark that this was the + "real original March of the Camera Men." The crowds thickened + and enthusiasm increased. Jervois Quay, the broadest avenue in + the city, as well the open land abutting on it, was thronged + from end to end. All the roofs commanding a view were lined, + the steamers at the wharves were packed even to the rigging, + and the long breastwork along the quay was crammed to + suffocation. + + Here the passage for the Contingent was kept by a double row of + volunteers. The weather had been frowning and gusty, but no + sooner had the Contingent formed up in front of a temporary + stand projecting from the breastwork, on which Lord Ranfurly, + the Governor, Lady Ranfurly and suite were accommodated, than + the sun burst forth resplendent while the wind gently lulled. + Speeches were made, followed by pathetic leave-takings of + friends and relatives. At the last moment so great was the + crush that some of the men were cut off from the rest, and had + afterwards to struggle to the steamer as best they could. + + As the big vessel slowly steamed off, cries of farewell, + shouts, cheers rent the air, and continued unceasingly, till + the _Waiwera_ bearing New Zealand "Soldiers of the Queen" to + the scene of war, had passed from sight. + + The first New Zealand Contingent was commanded by Major Robin, + who is a splendid example of the born warrior. Originally a + gunner in the B Battery New Zealand Artillery, he rose in the + Otago Hussars through all the grades of non-commissioned + officers to command of the troop. This regiment from that time + was unsurpassed in efficiency by any in the Colony. As an + instance of the pluck and energy of the gallant major, a + characteristic story is told: When Sir John Richardson died he + was accorded a military funeral, and was interred in the + Northern Cemetery. On the day of the funeral the Leith was in + high flood, and there was a general opinion that the Dundas + Street Bridge would not bear the weight of the gun-carriage + bearing the honoured remains. Major Robin at once volunteered + to drive the gun-carriage across, and accomplished the + dangerous task without mishap. + + Major Robin took charge of the New Zealand Contingent which + attended the Diamond Jubilee, and had the honour of commanding + the mixed Colonial escort which accompanied the Queen on her + visit to London during the celebrations. + + Captain Madocks, who distinguished himself in the fight of the + 15th of January at Slingersfontein, is a Wellington man, full + of pluck and resource, and as we now know, admirably calculated + to become a leader of men. + + The second Contingent, under the command of Major Cradock and + numbering 242 officers and men and 300 horses, left Wellington + on the 20th of January--upwards of 70,000 spectators + congregating to witness the departure of the fine fellows, + whose appearance was alike martial and workmanly. These two + Contingents, equipped and sent over at the cost of the New + Zealand Government--the funds being raised among the settlers + themselves--were not by any means New Zealand's entire + contribution. Two more Contingents followed, and afterwards a + fifth, consisting of 500 rough riders; some of the smartest men + that could be gathered together! Indeed the whole force was + remarkable for its smartness, and before it had been long in + the Transvaal was highly praised by General French for its fine + horsemanship and coolness under fire. + + An interesting feature belonging to the New Zealanders, and one + which must have struck consternation in the heart of the Boers, + was the Maori war-cry of the troops. This was composed by + Trooper Galloway, one of the Volunteer Contingent, and + taught by him to his comrades. The war cry in the Maori tongue + is "Kia, Kaha, Niu Tireni. Whawhai maiea mo te Kuini, to + kaianga. Ake! ake! ake!" which interpreted means, "Be strong, + New Zealand. Fight bravely for your Queen, for your country. + Ever! ever! ever!" The interest of the Maoris in Great Britain + was evinced in practical form. They held carnival, danced + native dances, and sang native songs, devoting the proceeds to + the Patriotic Fund. Their only regret was their inability to be + enrolled among the defenders of the country. + + [Illustration: HON. W. P. SCHREINER, C.M.G. + + Premier of the Cape Parliament, 1898-1900. + + Photo by Elliott & Fry, London.] + + + QUEENSLAND + + The Queenslanders, under the command of Colonel Ricardo, have, + as before said, the honour of being the first of Great + Britain's children to come forward to her assistance. Their + deeds are now familiar to us, for they are associated with + Colonel Pilcher's famous raid to Sunnyside and Douglas, and + also with the magnificent ride of General French for the relief + of Kimberley. But before July 1899 we were scarcely acquainted + with our warlike brothers across the ocean. + + The prime mover in the patriotic scheme of assisting the Mother + Country in her need was the Hon. J. R. Dickson, the Premier. As + we know, he lost not a moment. He did not wait for the need of + assistance to be recognised. In this respect he followed the + splendid example set in 1884 by the late Mr. Dalley, who, while + acting Premier for Sir A. Stuart, telegraphed independently the + wish of New South Wales to assist in the military undertakings + of the Mother Country. The Premier knew the spirit of loyalty + and patriotism that pervaded Queensland, and made haste to give + it utterance. He was well supported by all sections of the + Government and of the people, and speedily his action was + imitated all over the world. + + Queensland by degrees sent out two Contingents composed of + mounted infantry and one machine-gun section of Royal + Australian Artillery; and finally, a third Contingent, of which + 75 per cent. were bushmen, all first-class riders and splendid + shots. They were men of grand physique, many of them wealthy, + and many sons of prominent citizens. The infantry were not + mounted when despatched, but all being good horsemen, and their + services being chiefly required as scouts or to assist cavalry, + they had mounts provided for them on arrival by the Imperial + authorities. The Queensland Mounted Infantry was organised in + 1884 by Colonel Ricardo, who is styled the "father" of mounted + infantry in Queensland, and belongs to the Militia Division of + the Colonial Defence force. The force is organised on the basis + of three years' service, and ordinarily is recruited from the + bushman and farmer class--a sterling and hardy set of fellows, + whose plain motto is "For God and the right." The uniform, a + highly becoming one, is of kharki, with claret-coloured + facings. The hat is of the usual "brigand" shape, decorated at + the side with a smart tuft of emu plumes. + + The whole of the expenses of transport, equipment, arms, and + food for men and horses during the voyage was defrayed by the + Colony; pay on the field was met by the Imperial Exchequer, the + Colony only meeting the difference between the Imperial and + Colonial rates, the latter being higher. + + The first Contingent consisted of 262 men and officers, who + sailed in the _Cornwall_ on November 11, 1899, amid a wild + display of patriotic enthusiasm. + + Officers of the first Contingent--Staff--Major P. R. Ricardo, + to rank as Lieut.-Colonel; Sup. Captain R. S. Browne; + Lieutenant C. H. A. Pelham; Machine-Gun Section--Lieutenant C. + H. Black, Royal Australian Artillery. A Company Queensland + Mounted Infantry--Captain H. G. Chauvel; Lieutenant A. G. Adie + (wounded at Sunnyside under Colonel Pilcher); Lieutenant C. A. + Cumming; Lieutenant T. W. Glasgow; Lieutenant D. E. Reid. B + Company Queensland Mounted Infantry--Captain P. W. G. Pinnock; + Lieutenant H. Bailey; Lieutenant R. Dowse; Lieutenant R. + Gordon. The second Contingent was composed of 148 men and 8 + officers, with 5 additional officers for special service in + South Africa. Officers of second Contingent--Lieut.-Colonel + Kenneth Hutchison, Headquarters Staff, commanding; Captain W. + G. Thompson, Queensland Mounted Infantry; Lieutenant H. J. + Imrie Harris, Queensland Mounted Infantry; Lieutenant A. F. + Crichton, Queensland Mounted Infantry; Lieutenant James Walker, + 3rd Queensland (Kennedy) Regiment; Lieutenant R. M. Stodart, + Queensland Mounted Infantry. Supernumeraries--Captain Sir + Edward Stewart-Richardson, Bart., 3rd Battalion Black Watch; + Lieutenant John H. Fox. Additional officers + attached--Surgeon-Captain H. R. Nolan, A.M.C. Queensland + Defence; Major D. W. Rankin; Captain F. W. Toll, special + service; Captain A. E. Crichton, Camp Quartermaster; Captain W. + T. Deacon, Camp Adjutant. + + The second Contingent sailed in the _Maori King_ on January 20. + The night before they were to start it was discovered that the + ship had been set on fire, but the flames were extinguished + before much damage was done. There seemed to be no doubt it was + the work of an incendiary, and the police kept a close watch + over the vessel till she was fairly away. It was regarded as + significant that the crew consisted mainly of Dutchmen and + Germans. + + The third Contingent, which sailed in the _Duke of Portland_ on + March 1, was 300 strong, with 350 horses. In addition to the + above, about 20 men and 50 horses had been sent to Sydney, and + sailed with the New South Wales Contingent on February 26. + After accommodating men and horses, it was found that the _Duke + of Portland_ had still 500 tons of space available for cargo; + this the Queensland Government offered to fill with forage for + horses and men, and present to the Imperial Government. + + + SOUTH AND WEST AUSTRALIA + + South Australia speedily sent two Contingents to the front, and + offered more should further help be required. The first + Contingent was commanded by Captain F. H. Howland. This officer + was born in Kensington, London, 1863, and served for three + years in the Middlesex E.V. Royal Engineers. At the expiration + of that time he went to Australia, and in 1885 joined the + volunteer company which was being formed at Mount Gambier, in + which he was appointed lance-corporal. Since then he has passed + through every rank, was appointed captain in 1893, and made + adjutant in June 1898. Captain Howland then became senior + captain in the second battalion, and--having passed his + examination for his majority--on the illness of his commanding + officer, commanded the battalion on several occasions. + + The officers of the Contingent were as follows: Captain F. H. + Howland, D Company, Mount Gambier Infantry, C.O.; Captain G. R. + Lascelles, Royal Fusiliers, A.D.C. to Lord Tennyson (attached); + Lieutenant J. H. Stapleton, A Company, first battalion + infantry; Lieutenant F. M. Blair, B Company, first battalion + infantry; Lieutenant J. W. Powell, D Company, Mount Gambier + Infantry; Major J. T. Toll, Medical Staff. + + In regard to the payment of the troops the arrangement was + simple. The men received 5s. a day. That meant that the pay + received through the South Australian Government and the pay + from the Imperial Government would together amount to 5s. a + day. Whatever amount the Imperial Government gave their + soldiers, members of the South Australian Contingent received + the same while on active service, and the balance paid to them + by the South Australian Government would bring the amount up to + 5s. a day. They did not propose to send any money from the + Colony while the men were away, in order that, while fighting + side by side with the Imperial soldiers, they should not + receive more pay than their comrades. Their South Australian + pay would be left at home until their return. If the British + rate of pay were 1s. 4d., that arrangement would mean that 3s. + 8d. per day would be due to them from the Colonial Government. + Before starting the men received one month's pay, amounting to + L7, which was considered sufficient to supply their immediate + wants, and see them over the voyage. On arrival at Port + Elizabeth they began to receive the same pay as the British + soldiers. + + The officers of the second Contingent were: Captain J. Reade, + commanding; J. F. Humphries, senior subaltern; G. H. Lynch, + second subaltern; F. M. Rowell, third subaltern; G. J. Restall + Walter, junior subaltern; W. J. Press, warrant officer, in + charge of the "Colt" automatic machine-gun; William De Passy, + warrant officer. + + The first Contingent of infantry was afterwards turned into + mounted infantry. The second Contingent was composed of + cavalry, and one machine-gun section. The Australian Horse was + drilled on exactly the same lines as British cavalry, and was, + in fact, under the instruction of British cavalrymen. The men + were either members of volunteer corps, or volunteered on the + outbreak of the war from all parts of the Colony. + + When the news of British reverses reached the Colony, the + patriotic fervour of which the despatch of the first Contingent + was a practical proof, was once more fanned into flame. The + desire for Australian representation on the field of battle + again translated itself into action, and the intimation that + not only would further assistance be welcomed but that it was + really wanted met with ready response. No lack of volunteers + troubled the authorities, for numerous offers to serve were + received from all parts of the colony, from persons of all + classes and all ages. Among the youngest of those volunteering + was Allan O'Halloran Wright, who was but fourteen years of age, + who accompanied the Contingent as trumpeter. He is + exceptionally well developed, and considerably taller than many + of the rank and file. Among others was Sergeant Hanley, who was + in the thick of the fight at Majuba Hill. He served with the + 92nd Gordon Highlanders in the Afghan War, and received two + decorations, including medal with the Kabul, Kandahar, and + Charasia bars, and a star for the historical march from Kabul + to Kandahar. He, with others, was mentioned in despatches for + his conduct in defending Lord Roberts from an attack of the + Ghilzais. He fought in twenty-seven engagements in Afghanistan, + and was the youngest man in the regiment. He stood side by side + with "Fighting Mac," who was then a lance-corporal, and + promoted to a commission for his distinguished services. After + the Afghan War he went to India, and though he had completed + seven years service, and need have done no more, he volunteered + for service with the 92nd Highlanders in South Africa. After + the miserable experiences of Majuba he went to South Australia, + where he served for nine years with the permanent force. He + acted as warder in the Yatala prison till, hearing of the war, + he instantly volunteered. + + On the 28th of October the Contingent dined at Government + House, and after the meal the men were received in the great + hall and thus eloquently addressed by Lord Tennyson: "Men of + the South Australian Contingent of the British army in South + Africa--I am proud of being your Commander-in-Chief because of + your splendid patriotism, your alacrity in obeying the summons + of the old country, your self-sacrifice in leaving your + comfortable homes to fight for the United Empire, to maintain + the Queen's position in South Africa, and to rescue the + down-trodden Uitlanders from the political and social serfdom + imposed on them by the Boers. When I was at home in 1897 I saw + some of you in the Jubilee procession, and you were + vociferously cheered by the millions of people in the streets. + Why did they cheer you? Because they felt that you were our + kith and kin, and that you were not only taking part in a + triumphal procession in honour of the Queen, but that you were + pledging yourselves that, if the needful occasion should arise, + you would fight for our Queen and for our Empire. Your action + now, and the action of all Australasia and of Canada, will make + the nations of the earth hesitate before they strike at our + Empire in the future, seeing our Imperial loyalty, our Imperial + solidarity, our Imperial unity, our Imperial strength. I + believe from my experience as your Governor that there is no + man throughout South Australia who would not stand up in time + of stress in defence of the Queen, the Empire, and the Union + Jack. You are a gallant and stalwart body of men, and we + rejoice in your soldierly appearance and your loyal enthusiasm. + We feel sure that you will do your duty nobly, and return + covered with honour and renown. Remember, my men, that + obedience to discipline, and patience in enduring hardship, and + promptitude in the performance of your military duties are the + first steps towards the making of a victorious army. You are to + be joined in South Africa to highly organised battalions of + troops, some of the best in the world, commanded by highly + trained and scientific officers. Obey these officers and your + own implicitly, from the corporal to the Commander-in-Chief, + whether on the field or in garrison, or wherever you are; and I + need not tell you that, if you keep your eyes and ears open, + you will learn a great deal that will be useful to you in the + future. May Australia never be visited by war! If this ever + happens, the British fleet will protect Australia in the first + line of defence, but you must have an efficiently trained army + as a second line of defence. Knowing this, the Federal + Government of the future will, I am confident, put Australia in + a proper state of military preparedness; and that is one of the + reasons why I glory in our Federal Commonwealth to be. Remember + always, my friends, that you are the guardians of a magnificent + heritage, of a country of which you are justly proud, and that + the experience which you Australians will gain in South Africa + will not only enable you to fight, if necessary, for this + country, but will also enable you to teach your + comrades-in-arms, who are obliged to stay at home, something of + the needful requirements of modern warfare. I know the General + who is to lead you, Sir Redvers Buller. He is married to a + cousin of my wife's, and I can tell you that a finer soldier + could not be met with. The motto he would wish to be given you + would be: 'Obedience and cheerful courage on service are an + army's strength.' I am glad to have allowed--though it is + personally a loss to myself--my A.D.C., Captain Lascelles, to + accompany you, with special leave from the War Office at home. + As you are aware, in him you have a thoroughly experienced and + capable officer, and, like Captain Howland and your other + officers, he is fond of you and devoted to your welfare. If I + had to command a British army, I should know that, when you + have had a little more military experience, with your pluck, + your good marksmanship, and your loyalty, the standard of the + Queen could well be intrusted to the keeping of the Australian + Contingent. It is my duty as well as my pleasure to tell you + that, on behalf of the British people, Her Majesty's Government + have sent me two telegrams appreciative of the enthusiastic + patriotism of yourselves, of the Ministry, and of South + Australia. It is also my duty as well as my pleasure to read + you the kindly and gracious message from the Queen, which has + moved us all very deeply: 'Her Majesty the Queen desires to + thank the people of her Colonies in Australia for the striking + manifestation of loyalty and patriotism in their voluntary + offer to send troops to co-operate with Her Majesty's Imperial + forces in maintaining her position and the rights of British + subjects in South Africa. She wishes the troops God-speed and a + safe return.' The Boers have forced war upon us and have + invaded our territory. You are going to fight for the cause of + British freedom, for the honour of Great Britain, for the + honour of Australia. In the name, then, of our beloved Queen, + of Great Britain, and of South Australia, I bid you farewell, + and I wish you, after your work is accomplished, a safe and + happy home-coming." + + On the 26th of January the second South Australian Contingent + started for the Transvaal amid scenes of great enthusiasm. The + Governor, Lord Tennyson, again made an inspiriting speech and + wished them God-speed. + + + WEST AUSTRALIA + + West Australia sent with the same energy of patriotism two + Contingents amounting to 230 officers and men, with offers of + more if required. The officers were: Capt. R. Moor, R.A.; Capt. + H. S. Pilkington, late 21st Hussars; Major M'Williams, Medical + Officer; Lieut. J. Campbell; Lieut. H. F. Darling; Lieut. F. W. + M. Parker. + + + TASMANIA + + The Tasmanian Government were not behind the other Colonies of + Australia in their desire to show their loyalty and patriotism + by offering troops for Imperial service. There was, of course, + some difference of opinion regarding the policy of going to + fight at all, as the following cutting from a local journal + will show: "In Tasmania, as elsewhere, there is a certain + number, not many, of the crawling tribe, who always find that + their country is in the wrong, and are never so happy as when + they can hold up some foe as a model of virtue in contrast with + the brutal Briton. It is curious to find those who call + themselves friends of the working-classes indulging in this + vein of oratory, but it is common to all the Colonies, and may + be said to account for the little influence that the party has + on general affairs. We have had here, of course, the inevitable + Catholic priest who has denounced the British, for he always + appears when Great Britain has any serious work to do, just as + there is the usual meeting of Irish in New York. In Hobart the + Catholic priests spoke feeling and appropriate words about the + departure of the Contingent, but on the West Coast one Father + Murphy went on the rampage in the good old style, and proceeded + to denounce the country under the Government of which he lives, + and which is liberal enough to allow him to say such things + with impunity. I wonder whether these folk ever think about + what would happen to them if they talked in the same strain in + France, Germany, or even in the United States. It does not + matter to Great Britain what these discontented ones say, but + they might learn from the liberty they use the value of the + freedom which they enjoy. On the whole, the people of Tasmania, + while they deeply regret that war should be necessary, are + fully alive to the value of a united empire, and are keenly + anxious that she may vindicate her position in South Africa, + and finally get rid of the Boer incubus which has weighed upon + the country ever since the Gladstone Ministry adopted the + policy of scuttle and palaver." + + This quotation shows the drift of popular sentiment, and in the + end loyalty everywhere prevailed, and some splendid fellows + volunteered to go to the front. These were not "raw material," + but intelligent, handy soldiers, accustomed to the rough and + tumble of bush life, and ready to provide for emergencies. + Their commander, Captain Cameron, had seen some service, and + took part in the famous march to Kandahar. + + The first Contingent, sent in the _Medic_, consisted of eighty + men, of which the officers were: Capt. C. St. Clair Cameron, + Erandale, commanding (who was afterwards a prisoner in + Pretoria); Lieut. W. Brown; Lieut. F. B. Heritage; Lieut. G. E. + Reid, 1st Regt., Hobart. Of the privates the following were + subsequently taken prisoners to Pretoria: M. H. Swan, V. J. + Peers, A. Button. J. H. Whitelaw, also a private, who has + distinguished himself by gallantry in the field and by saving a + comrade's life at the imminent risk of his own, will probably + receive the V.C. + + The second Contingent, which consisted of forty-five men, was + under the command of Sergt. J. Stagg, of Deloraine. + + Both Contingents were composed almost entirely of gentlemen. + + Tasmania also contributed 100 men to the Imperial Australian + Corps which was raised at Mr. J. Chamberlain's suggestion from + all the Australasian Colonies. The volunteering of the + Tasmanian contingent to join hands with Canada, Australia, and + New Zealand, and shoulder to shoulder to support the "flag of + old renown" in South Africa, gave origin to the following lines + written by a Tasmanian poet:-- + + "War? We would rather peace; but, Mother, if fight we must, + There be none of your sons on whom you can lean with a surer trust; + Bone of your bone are we, and in death would be dust of your dust!" + + + THE BUSHMEN'S CORPS + + There was immense excitement over the formation of the Imperial + Bushmen or Roughriders' Corps. It consisted of over 2000 + mounted men, selected from those experienced in riding and + looking after stock in country in its natural rough state, + unbroken by cultivation, fences or roads. In the first + instance, New Zealand made an offer to provide 500 such men, + after which--as more were required--Australia was asked to + raise a further 2000, the Imperial Government bearing the cost + of forwarding them to the seat of war, and maintaining and + paying them there. Four thousand applications from Victoria and + 2000 from Adelaide were received. The citizens of Rockhampton + immediately offered to provide and equip twenty-five Bushmen. + New South Wales was represented by a Contingent of 500 men, and + Queensland decided to join with the other Colonies in + organising this smart and serviceable corps, whose value was + estimated as equal to twice the number of infantry. + + The movement was a most popular one, and gifts of horses were + sent in from every direction. The public subscribed liberally, + Captain Bridges alone giving L1000 towards the expenses of the + Victorian Bushmen. + + The officers selected for the New South Wales Bushmen were + Lieut.-Colonel Airey in command, Major Onslow, three captains + and fourteen subalterns. The movement was so popular and + subscriptions so liberal, that it was decided that 100 men + should be sent from South Australia instead of the fifty + originally proposed. Colonel Williams, of the New South Wales + Contingent, was appointed principal medical officer for all + the Australian Contingents serving in South Africa. The + departure of the Bushmen on the 17th of January was a + magnificent climax to the many magnificent demonstrations of + patriotism which had been evidenced throughout the Colonies. + + + INDIA'S CONTINGENTS + + Between the Australasian and Canadian Colonies and the + Volunteer Contingent from India there is a certain difference + which it is necessary to recognise. In the Colonies, the + movement to help the Mother Country in her need, though + prompted and encouraged by popular enthusiasm, patriotism, and + donations from private and public resources, was suggested, + voiced, and supported by the respective Governments, the + Premiers of which acted very prominently in the enterprise, + whereas in India, the offer of military assistance was a + spontaneous impulse springing from individual patriotism and + carried out by private enterprise. India, being a Crown Colony, + could display her loyalty in no other way. Her position was + somewhat similar to the Home Establishment, and her regular + British troops were under orders for South Africa in exactly + the same way as were the Home forces. Nevertheless, India was + not backward in independent demonstrations of loyalty. English + officers from various native corps, who, in ordinary + circumstances, could serve only in their respective Indian + Contingents, now came forward and volunteered for active + service in aid of the Imperial cause in South Africa. The "men" + volunteered from all directions. Dapper young Calcutta + merchants, sporting tea-planters from Assam, gallant + indigo-planters, and dashing roughriders from Bombay, Assam, + Bengal, Cawnpore, Mysore, and all manner of districts unknown + even by name to the Little Englander sent in their appeal, and + pressed to be allowed to play their part in the defence of the + Empire; and thus the smart regiments known as Lumsden's Horse, + the Railway Contingent, and the Ceylon Mounted Contingent came + to be recruited. + + Colonel Lumsden, lately Commandant of the Assam Valley Light + Horse, generously assisted both financially and personally in + raising and equipping the force, and quantities of Calcutta men + offered their services, their expenses being guaranteed by the + firms employing them. Gifts and subscriptions poured in. Lord + Curzon, the Viceroy, headed the subscription-list by a handsome + contribution, and so generous was the response of all India, + that about L30,000 was collected in connection with the + Transvaal war, including the equipment of volunteers. + + The native princes offered troops and horses, and loyally + expressed themselves towards the Queen Empress. The troops were + declined, it being understood that the war was between white + men alone. Their offers of horses were, however, accepted. + Nevertheless, the generosity of the princes was not to be + denied, and several among them, the Maharajah of Bikanir, the + Maharajah of Durbhanga, and the Nawab of Moorshedabad, + subscribed liberally to the expenses of Lumsden's Horse, + offering at the same time their best wishes for the success of + the Contingent and the complete triumph of the British arms in + South Africa. + + The Nizam of Hyderabad, whose State is as large as France, and + whose relations with the sovereign have always been most + cordial, assisted handsomely, saying at the same time, with + true Oriental grace, that his troops, his purse, and his own + sword were at the service of the Queen. The Maharajah of + Tanjore contributed 5000 rupees, while his son furnished a + complete set of X-ray apparatus. The Nawab of Bhavnagar State + presented fifty fully equipped Arab horses to the force, and + quantities of other prominent Nawabs displayed corresponding + liberality. The Maharanee of Bettiah generously presented to + each volunteer from her district a horse, and Khwajah Mahomed + Khan forwarded from Mardan (on the Punjab frontier) the sum of + 2000 rupees as an expression of loyalty, with his best wishes + for the success of Lumsden's Horse. As an instance of the + excitement and martial feeling in regard to the Indian + Transvaal Contingent, it may be noted that the instant the + scheme was proposed, two-thirds of the Light Horse of Behar + volunteered for service, promising to provide everything except + means of transport. They formed part of Lumsden's Horse, who + were all men under forty years of age, many of them of + independent means, with horses of their own. + + The following is the list of officers who were appointed to + Colonel Lumsden's Corps:-- + + Lieut.-Colonel Dugald McT. Lumsden, Assam Valley Light Horse + Volunteers, to be Commandant, with the temporary rank of + Lieut.-Colonel in the army; Lieut.-Colonel Eden Showers, late + Commandant Surma Valley Light Horse Volunteers, to be second in + command, with the temporary rank of Major in the army; Captain + J. H. B. Beresford, Indian Staff Corps, to be Company + Commander. To be Captains, with the temporary rank of Captain + in the army: Major Henry Chamney, Surma Valley Light Horse + Volunteers; Captain Francis Clifford, Coorg and Mysore + Volunteer Rifles; Second Lieutenant Bernard W. Holmes, East + India Railway Volunteer Rifles; Second Lieutenant John B. + Rutherford, Behar Light Horse Volunteers. To be Lieutenants, + with the temporary rank of Lieutenant in the army: Lieutenant + Charles L. Sidey, Surma Valley Light Horse Volunteers; Herbert + O. Pugh, gent.; George A. Nevill, gent.; Charles E. Crane, + gent. Captain Louis H. Noblett, the Royal Irish Rifles, to be a + Company Commander; Captain Neville C. Taylor, Indian Staff + Corps, to be Adjutant; Surgeon-Captain Samuel A Powell, M.D., + Surma Valley Light Horse Volunteers, to be Medical Officer, + with the temporary rank of Captain; William Stevenson, gent., + to be Veterinary Officer, with the temporary rank of Veterinary + Lieutenant. + + The Government provided free passages, and the railway + authorities gave free passes. With the force went Mrs. C. W. + Park and Mrs. M. C. Curry, wives of Lieut.-Colonel C. W. Park + and Major M. C. Curry, of the 1st Devonshire Regiment, to + assist in the hospitals in Natal. This regiment, it may be + remembered, was with Sir George White, and had four officers + severely wounded in its first battle, Elandslaagte, and was + shut up in Ladysmith for over four months. Lumsden's Horse + sailed from India on February 6, much envied by all who had not + the good fortune to be of their number. + + [Illustration: GENERAL BRABANT, C.M.G. + + After Photo by S. B. Barnard, Cape Town.] + + Ceylon was not behind India in patriotic enthusiasm, though its + powers were more limited. Great demonstrations of loyalty + prevailed everywhere in the island, and volunteers were eager + to be enrolled. Out of the numbers applying 125 men were picked + out and 5 officers. The force was armed with Lee-Metford + magazine rifles, 500 rounds of ammunition, and were nearly all + mounted on trained horses. Captain Rutherford, Royal Dublin + Fusiliers, was in command, and Captain Anderson, Royal + Artillery, was second in command. Captain Toogood (Warwickshire + Regiment) also accompanied the force. + + The planters and merchants of Ceylon presented upwards of + 30,000 lbs. of tea to be delivered free to the troops in South + Africa, to be shipped with the Contingent, and many private + individuals were equally generous. The Legislative Council + unanimously agreed that all expenses connected with the + equipment, arming, transport, and, when necessary, mounting of + the Ceylon Contingent, should be borne by the Colony. This + liberal decision was acknowledged by Mr. Chamberlain in the + following terms:-- + + MR. CHAMBERLAIN TO GOVERNOR THE RIGHT HON. + SIR J. WEST RIDGEWAY. + + "Your telegrams of January 9 and January 10. Her Majesty's + Government congratulate Ceylon on completion of Contingent, + which they accept with much pleasure, and highly appreciate + patriotic and generous action of Legislative Council." + + The Ceylon Mounted Contingent sailed on February 2 for active + service in South Africa, amid the prayers and good wishes of a + huge concourse of people. + + In addition to the above contingents from India and Ceylon, the + Indian Government sent the guns and equipment for three + field-batteries of 15-pounders, and also three corps of native + transport drivers and muleteers--about 400 in all--under + British officers. + + + THE SOUTH AFRICAN VOLUNTEERS[6] + + CAPE COLONY + + It has been said that the whole course of the campaign might + have been changed had the Cape Colony forces been utilised + sufficiently early. If the Cape Ministry had begun at once by + employing the splendid Colonial forces at its disposal, not for + purposes of defiance, but of defence, the tale of raid and + rebellion, which has been as harassing as the tale of war, + would never have been told. But as it is useless to talk of the + _might have been_, or of things done or left undone by the Cape + Ministry, we must proceed to consider the services of the Cape + Colonial Force, of the ten thousand volunteers, when they were + eventually allowed to come into action. Of the splendid troops + in Mafeking and Kimberley the Colony must ever be proud, for on + them fell the weight of showing what worthy offshoots of the + bold and the brave the sun of South Africa has reared. These + men, recruited for the most part from Cape Town, Port + Elizabeth, East London, Queenstown, Grahamstown, and Kimberley, + consisted largely of past and present Cape Colony Volunteers. + They were bone of our bone, and when the hour of stress arrived + they proved themselves as such. They were immensely proud to be + included in the term British, and right royally they acted up + to the higher interpretation of that term. Though they have + borne years of insult and suffered in innumerable ways for + their fealty and devotion to the Mother Country, they rushed to + arms joyfully in the hope that Great Britain would reassert + herself, annex the whole of South Africa, and administer it + under one Government. They longed to be quit of Dutch intrigue. + They pined for a strong rule, one that would be free of the + vacillations that had kept them on tenter-hooks for years, and + prevented their living in a sense of security enjoyed by other + freeborn British subjects. By these loyal fellows the towns of + Mafeking and Kimberley were practically defended. In those + places there were very few Imperial troops, and little could + have been accomplished without the aptness and grit of the + Colonials. The reason why they appeared to be neglected is not + far to seek. No man is a prophet in his own country, and to + this trite fact may be attributed the want of instant + appreciation accorded to the Cape Colonial Volunteers who so + spontaneously and with genuine zeal responded to the call of + duty. While we made much of the Colonials from over the + seas--the "Visiting Colonials" as they are called--we failed to + see that at our elbows were the very men who would leap forward + at a word and check the onward career of the enemy and put a + stop to his annexations while our troops in England were + getting into shape. But later we jumped at them. Then the Cape + Colonists began to be vastly appreciated, and to receive the + highest encomiums from all who had the good fortune to serve + with them. + + The following is a table of some of the prominent Colonial + forces of Cape Colony, 1900:-- + + ----------------------+-------------+------------------------+---------------- + |ESTABLISHMENT| EFFECTIVE TO DATE | + +-----+-------+--------+--------+------+ + CORPS |All | | |N.C.O.'s| | + |Ranks|Horses |Officers|and Men |Horses|OFFICERS + ----------------------+-----+-------+--------+--------+------+---------------- + IRREGULARS RAISED | | | | | | + BEFORE WAR | | | | | | + | | | | | | + Rhodesian Regiment | ... | | ... | ... | ... | ... + Protectorate Regiment}| | | | | |{Col. Baden- + }| 650 | ... | ... | ... | ... |{Powell, 5th + Kimberley Regiment }| | | | | |{Dragoon Guards + Diamond Fields Horse | 100 | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... + Bechuanaland Rifles | 100 | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... + | | | | | | + IRREGULARS RAISED | | | | | | + SINCE WAR | | | | | | + | | | | | | + Rimington's Guides | 212 | 220 | ... | ... | ... |{Lieut.-Col. + | | | | | |{Hon. J. Byng, + 1st S.A.L. Horse | 599 | 580 | ... | ... | ... |{10th Hussars + | | | | | |{Capt. Villiers, + Roberts's Horse | 599 | 580 | ... | ... | ... |{Royal Horse + | | | | | |{Guards + Kitchener's Horse | 599 | 580 | 41 | 617 | 586 | ... + 1st Brabant's Light | | | | | | + Horse | 599 | 580 | ... | ... | ... | ... + 2nd Brabant's Light | | | | | | + Horse | 599 | 580 | ... | ... | ... | ... + Gatacre's Scouts | 50 | 50 | ... | ... | ... | ... + Montmorency's Cavalry | | | | | | + Division Scouts | 100 | 100 | ... | ... | ... | ... + 6th Cavalry Division | | | | | | + Scouts | 25 | 25 | ... | ... | ... | ... + Chief in Command's | | | | | | + Body Guard | 50 | 50 | ... | ... | ... | ... + | | | | | | + LOCAL DEFENCE CORPS | | | | | | + Nesbitt's Mounted | | | | | | + Local Defence Corps | 400 | 400 | ... | ... | ... | ... + Bayley's Mounted | | | | | | + Local Defence Corps | 500 | 500 | ... | ... | ... | ... + Orpen's Horse | 300 | 300 | ... | ... | ... | ... + Railway Pioneer | | | | | | + Regiment |1008 | 8 | 34 | 959 | 15 | ... + | | | | | | + VOLUNTEERS | | | | | | + | | | | | | + P.A.O. Cape Artillery | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... + Diamond Fields | | | | | | + Artillery | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... + Cape Garrison | | | | | | + Artillery | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... + ----------------------+-----+-------+--------+--------+------+---------------- + + [[Transcriber's note: The following text was written vertically + in a column of the table above. It has been rendered here for + ease of display. + + REMARKS: These numbers have been increased within the last few + months by recruiting, Kitchener's Horse showing an increase of + about 50. The figures, therefore, are only approximately + correct]] + + STRENGTH OF VOLUNTEER CORPS ON ACTIVE SERVICE + + Prince Alfred's Own Cape Artillery--officers, 5; other ranks, + 117; total, 122. Diamond Fields Artillery--officers, 4; other + ranks, 119; total, 123. Cape Garrison Artillery--officers, 18; + other ranks, 431; total, 449. Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer + Rifles--officers, 31; other ranks, 1027; total, 1058. Cape Town + Highlanders--officers, 12; other ranks, 392; total, 404. Prince + Alfred's Volunteer Guard--officers, 21; other ranks, 494; + total, 515. First City Volunteers--officers, 22; other ranks, + 556; total, 578. Kaffrarian Rifles (Colonel Cuming)--officers, + 31; other ranks, 672; total, 703. Queenstown Rifle + Volunteers--officers, 18; other ranks, 299; total, 317. + Frontier Mounted Rifles--officers, 10; other ranks, 131; total, + 141. Uitenhage Volunteer Rifles--officers, 16; other ranks, + 396; total, 412. Komgha Mounted Rifles--officers, 5; other + ranks, 41; total, 46. Stellenbosch Mounted Infantry--officers, + 1; other ranks, 31; total, 32. Kimberley Regiment--officers, + 25; other ranks, 541; total, 566. Bechuanaland + Rifles--officers, 5; other ranks, 61; total, 66. A Company Cape + Medical Staff Corps--officers, 2; other ranks, 55; total, 57. B + Company Cape Medical Staff Corps--officers, 3; other ranks, 71; + total, 74. C Company Cape Medical Staff Corps--officers, 0; + other ranks, 13; total, 13. Transkei Mounted Rifles--officers, + 5; other ranks, 66; total, 71. No. 1 Xalanga Border Mounted + Rifle Club--officers, 4; other ranks, 40; total, 44. No. 19 + Tembuland Mounted Rifle Club--officers, 2; other ranks, 21; + total, 23. No. 23 Nqamakwe Mounted Rifle Club--officers, 1; + other ranks, 21; total, 22. No. 25 Engcobo Mounted Rifle + Club--officers, 1; other ranks, 28; total, 29. No. 29 Tsomo + Mounted Rifle Club--officers, 1; other ranks, 29; total, 30. + + [Illustration: SOUTH AFRICAN SCOUT. FULL EQUIPMENT.] + + To prove his appreciation of the devotion and military prowess + of the Cape colonists Lord Roberts, on his arrival in South + Africa, decided on raising a Colonial Division. The official + intimation of the formation of this division was contained in + the following announcement:-- + + "The Commander-in-Chief, recognising the value of the services + rendered by the Colonial troops, has authorised the formation + of a division. Colonel Brabant, M.L.A., C.M.G., has been given + the local and temporary rank of a Brigadier-General, and will + be in command. Brabant's Horse, with several other irregular + corps and mounted contingents, limited in number, from the + infantry volunteer regiments, will form the first portion of + this force, and its first object will be to drive the enemy + out of the Colony, and to co-operate with the Imperial troops. + It has been decided to raise a further 1500 mounted irregulars, + so as to give all Colonials and men with Colonial experience a + chance of joining this division. Men who enrol in this Mounted + Irregular Corps, and who cannot afford to go on a long + campaign, will be allowed to register their names for service + in the Colony only, but any portion of such registered men can + volunteer to take part in any further advance that may be + ordered beyond the Orange River. To raise this latter force + recruiting stations will be open in all parts of the Colony, + and it is proposed to elect officers from Colonial gentlemen or + those with Colonial experience." + + As may be imagined, there was great jubilation among the + thousands of martial spirits at the Cape, who for long had been + fretting at enforced inactivity. + + Some very interesting particulars regarding raising of some of + the Colonial Corps were elicited from Mr. W. Hosken, who was + chairman of the Uitlander Council and the Chamber of Commerce + at Johannesburg. He said: "I was chairman of the committee + which obtained permission from the Government to raise + Thorneycroft's and Bethune's Corps of mounted infantry and the + Imperial Light Horse, and all raised in Natal and mainly from + refugee Uitlanders from Johannesburg. From the Imperial + officers with whom I was brought into contact I received every + consideration and the greatest cordiality. But again it should + be remembered that we got the permission only after pressure + had been brought to bear by public meetings at Durban and + Maritzburg, and in other ways. The response was most + gratifying. Only when the Boers were threatening to advance on + Maritzburg were we allowed to form the Imperial Light Horse. + Intimation of the permission was given on the Friday. By the + following Wednesday we were able to report that 1300 men had + offered for service, and that the medical examination would be + at once begun. Thorneycroft's Corps was the first to take the + field, and was actually fighting within six weeks from the date + of its enrolment. The testimony from Boer sources as to the + value of these regiments has been most gratifying. In one + verbal statement by a Boer commandant they were described as + 'evidently skilled sharpshooters.' Then there are the Natal + Volunteers, recruited in very much the same way as your + Volunteers at home, clerks and artisans from the towns, with + the mounted companies from the country districts. They took the + field possibly with some misgivings as to their capacity, just + as the Volunteers here might do; but they have proved + themselves equal to any military duty that is imposed on them. + The soldiers of the regular army recognise them as worthy + comrades, and the greatest cordiality exists between the + regular and volunteer forces. Later on there was formed also in + Natal a body of Colonial scouts--750 strong--recruited from + local men who knew the country. Those who wished to serve + together were placed in the same squad. Every section of + twenty-five men elects its own leader, and every four sections + its commander. They have already proved their efficiency in + service with Sir Redvers Buller's army. Then there is the corps + of ambulance bearers. When General Buller was making + arrangements for the attack on Colenso last month he asked for + 1200 white bearers. On the first day the notice was posted in + Durban 900 men volunteered. Far more than the required number + offered, and a selection was made of those who were considered + the most fitted for the duty. These men did excellent work, + bringing out the wounded under fire during that disastrous day + at Colenso. Three were killed and several wounded, and every + one of the corps behaved splendidly." + + In regard to the apparent neglect of the Volunteers at the + Cape, he went on to say: "The delay in recruiting irregulars + at the Cape was not in the least due to the unwillingness of + the Uitlanders there or of the British residents. It was the + result of political considerations which were then thought to + be of sufficient weight by well-advised men on the spot. The + delay caused a great deal of heart-burning among hundreds who + were only too keen to take up arms; and it is only quite + recently that permission has been given to form irregular corps + and to accept the services of the Cape Volunteers already in + existence, who were eager to serve. Directly the permission was + given men flocked to the standard, and you have now Rimington's + Guides, the South African Light Horse, and the Cape Volunteers, + who have all promptly proceeded to the front. Another most + useful body is now being recruited both in Natal and in Cape + Colony--I mean the Railway Pioneer Corps. It is being officered + by the most eminent of the mining engineers of Johannesburg, + and the rank and file are made up of skilled mechanics, who are + specially qualified for the particular duties they will have to + perform. They will be armed in the ordinary way, drilled as an + engineer corps, and will be expected to do the ordinary work of + the military engineer." + + The Imperial Light Horse, formed by Majors Sampson and Karri + Davies, was largely composed of Australians. Many Johannesburg + people joined it, most of them "all-round sportsmen, capital + shots, and keen riders." They joined on the principle of not + allowing the Mother Country to fight their battles for them + while they had a right arm with which to assert themselves. + + The Cape Mounted Police, 1000 strong, who were also sent on + active service at the commencement of the war, were invaluable. + They were remarkable, not alone for gallantry, but efficiency. + When Captain de Montmorency's Scouts were cut off near + Labuschagnes Nek by some 800 Boers, Captain Golsworthy on the + last day of the year came to the rescue with a party of the + Cape Mounted Police, and put the enemy to flight. + + + Early in 1900, the Rhodesian Field Force, under the command of + Lieut.-General Sir Frederick Carrington, was organised to + operate in Northern Rhodesia, and stop any trekking of members + of the Free State or Transvaal or rebels of Cape Colony into + Rhodesian territory. + + The officers were:--Major C. D. Learoyd, Royal Engineers; Major + A. V. Jenner, D.S.O., Rifle Brigade; Major C. L. Josling, Royal + Army Medical Corps; Major G. A. R. Carew, 7th Hussars; Captain + E. Peach, Indian Staff Corps; Captain R. G. Partridge, Army + Ordnance Department; Captain W. E. Lawrence, South Wales + Borderers; Second Lieutenant C. S. Rome, 11th Hussars; Second + Lieutenant C. H. Dillon, Rifle Brigade; Paymaster G. J. C. + Whittington, Hon. Colonel; Lieutenant Pemberton; Major P. + Dalton, late 3rd V.B. Royal Fusiliers; Major C. D. Guise, 3rd + Gloucester Regiment; Brevet-Major P. Moir Byres, 1st Dragoon + Guards; Captain C. W. Kennard, 3rd Gordon Highlanders; Second + Lieutenant W. H. Longden, 4th East Surrey Regiment; Chaplain + Rev. F. P. Moreton, M.A.; Lieutenant R. Laing, surgeon; + Lieutenant E. A. Parsons, surgeon; Lieutenant H. Cardin, + surgeon; Lieutenant F. F. Bond, surgeon; Lieutenant G. H. + Collard, surgeon; Lieutenant F. R. Pullin, surgeon; Lieutenant + H. D. Buss, surgeon; Colonel H. C. Wood, late 10th Hussars; + Lieut.-Colonel J. Leslie, 5th Royal Irish Fusiliers; + Lieutenant-Colonel B. G. Booth, late Scots Guards; Major J. W. + Traill, late 4th Cheshire; Captain R. Gray, C.M.G., late 6th + Dragoons; Captain E. C. P. Curzon, late 18th Hussars; Captain + F. C. P. Curzon, Royal Irish Rifles; Captain H. F. F. Fisher, + Army Service Corps; Veterinary-Captain H. T. W. Mann; + Lieutenant J. K. Rashleigh, late Artillery Militia; Lieutenant + F. J. Lawrence, late English Militia; Lieutenant C. A. + Burgoyne, 3rd Dragoon Guards; Lieutenant A. Wormald, surgeon; + Major E. J. Tickell, D.S.O., 14th Hussars; Captain J. Ponsonby, + Coldstream Guards; Captain Pereira, Coldstream Guards; Captain + H. J. Haddock, Royal Welsh Fusiliers; Captain R. K. Arbuthnot, + Royal Irish Regiment; Lieutenant W. D. P. Watson, late Scots + Greys; Major G. Wright, R.G.A.; Major A. Paris, R.M.A.; Captain + and Hon. Major G. E. Giles, late R.A. In all, forty-four + officers. + + + NATAL + + The following is a list of the names and numbers of the local + forces which the colony of Natal has put into the field: Natal + Naval Volunteers, 150; Natal Carabineers (Colonel Royston, + since dead), 465; Natal Mounted Rifles, 200; Border Mounted + Rifles, 270; Umvoti Mounted Rifles (Major Leuchars), 130; Natal + Field Artillery, 120; Natal Royal Rifles, 145; Durban Light + Infantry, 400; Medical Staff, 7; Veterinary, 3; Staff, 19; + Natal Mounted Police (Europeans) at Ladysmith and other + portions of the Colony (Colonel Dartnell), 649; Thorneycroft's + Mounted Infantry (Colonel Thorneycroft, Royal Scots Fusiliers, + D.A.A.G.), 500; Bethune's Mounted Infantry (Lieut.-Colonel + Bethune, 16th Lancers, Colonel Addison second in command), 500; + Imperial Light Infantry (Colonel Nash), 1000; Imperial Light + Horse (Colonel Scott Chisholm, killed 21st November 1899), 500; + Colonial Scouts (Colonel Edwards, Captain Sydney Osborne), 500; + Ambulance Bearers (1st section), 1000; Ambulance Bearers (2nd + section), 600. Total, 7158. + + The South African Light Horse is mentioned among the Cape + Colonial troops, though it has done notable work in Natal. The + second and third regiments of the corps became respectively + Roberts's and Kitchener's Horse. In the district of Kaffraria + half the available men were embodied, men belonging to the Duke + of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer Rifles--one of the corps of + "regulars" belonging to Cape Colony. + + The South African Light Horse was started on the 12th of + November. By order of Sir Redvers Buller a recruiting office + was opened in Cape Town, whereupon the place was instantly + invaded. Patriotic fervour ran high, and every one desired to + take a share in showing forth the might of Great Britain. The + officers, Major Byng (10th Hussars, with temporary rank of + colonel) and Captain Villiers (R.H.G., with temporary rank of + major), set themselves manfully to hurry the work of + organisation. In no time men were picked--fine riders and fine + shots--mounted and equipped. Saddlery, tents, harness, + ammunition--all were gathered together with startling celerity. + Among the troopers were British-born subjects, Uitlanders, + Colonials, Americans, farmers, seamen, &c. The officers hailed + from many regiments--the 10th Hussars, Royal Horse Guards, Life + Guards, 11th Hussars, 20th Hussars, Gordon Highlanders, + Yeomanry, Militia--all manner of men of distinction and wealth + and breeding uniting together in a common brotherhood for a + common cause. + + The following is a list of the officers: Colonel Byng, 10th + Hussars, commanding; Major Villiers, Royal Horse Guards, second + in command; Captain Fraser, 1st Life Guards, adjutant; Captain + French, late L.G., Maxims; Captain Harden, Transport; Captain + Murray; Captain Anderson; Captain Hull, paymaster; Vet.-Captain + Walker; Vet.-Lieutenant Steele; Chaplain Rev. G. Eales. + Squadron Leaders--Captain Balfour, late 11th Hussars; Major + (Bimbash) Stewart, Gordon Highlanders; Captain Kirkwood; + Captain Gatacre; Captain Renton; Captain Whittaker; Captain + Child; Captain Allgood. Lieutenants Milne, Tucker, Brown, + Jobling, De Rougemont, Tarbutt, Davis, Bathurst, Shepherd; + Second Lieutenants Warren, Carlton Smith, Hamilton, Cock, + Leith, Welstead, Robinson, Oates, Johnson, Vignelles, Vaughan, + Carlisle, Marsden, Overbeck, Newman, Penrose, Kuhlman, Horne, + Cloete, Walker-Leigh, Hon. de Saumarez, Thorold, Kitson, + Vaghan. + + Three squadrons under Captain Byng proceeded to the front to + Natal, where they immediately distinguished themselves, while + the remainder of the regiment went to the western border, and + there took a full share of incessant work. + + The Natal Mounted Police under Colonel Dartnell, "a genius, + planner, and guide," did wonderful deeds in relation to the + defence of Ladysmith and during the trying actions which + preceded it. The gallant colonel, who has been described in + action as being "as good as a brigade," placed his own horse at + the disposal of General Symons, who was wounded, and saw him + safely off the field at Glencoe. + + The Natal Carabineers served splendidly both within and without + Ladysmith, some of the force, under Lord Dundonald, being the + first to relieve the town. Their fighting qualities are well + known, and it is unnecessary to do more than quote the words of + General Hunter, who said, "I never wish to serve with better + men." + + First-rate work has been done by the Frontier Mounted Rifles, a + well-trained and excellently-equipped body of men, all in the + prime of life, and drawn from the eastern border towns of the + Cape Colony. They held a position of continual danger, being + encamped nearest the enemy. Being born and bred among the + kopjes which afforded the Boers such cosy hiding-places, they + were acquainted with every nook and corner, and could find + their way about them both in daylight and dark. This force, + with the Cape Police, helped to keep General Gatacre informed + regarding the seething mass of disloyalty that surrounded him. + It was difficult to choose between the honest hostility of the + Free Staters and the crafty antagonism of the rebel Dutchmen, + who had joined the enemy almost to a man. These were known to + be in active collusion with the foe, assisting them by spying, + blowing up culverts, wrecking railway lines, and generally + assisting in the development of the plots to sweep British rule + from the soil of Africa. Loyal British subjects had much to + suffer at the hands of these people, who spent their time + carrying off and destroying furniture and valuables, smashing + windows and doors, and damaging all property other than their + own that they could lay hands on, and with these duplicit + ruffians the British troops unaided by Colonials could never + have been even. Besides the valuable services of the Frontier + Mounted Rifles and the Cape Police, General Gatacre had under + him four other regiments of Cape Colonials, who were all trying + to outrival each other in nobility, pluck, and usefulness. Of + many other regiments pages might be written, but space does not + permit. In regard to the Imperial Light Horse, one sentence + expressed by Sir George White speaks volumes. He said it was + composed of the finest fighting material that he had ever had + under his command. + + + THE IMPERIAL YEOMANRY + + Early in the days of war Lord Lonsdale offered to take out to + South Africa 200 men of the Westmoreland and Cumberland + Yeomanry, of which he is colonel, and to fully equip and clothe + them. Lord Harris and his regiment, the East Kent Mounted + Rifles, also were among the first to volunteer for the front, + and before that the Middlesex Yeomanry (the Duke of + Cambridge's Hussars) made a hurried application to go to the + Transvaal, which impetuosity of loyalty was met by the War + Office with courteous refusal. At that time the need for light + cavalry in South Africa seemed scarcely to have dawned on the + authorities. It was true that October mists and November fogs + had enveloped London, and that no one between Downing Street + and the Mansion House could see an inch before his nose, and it + was equally true that by the time these mists had cleared away + there was only one question, namely, "How many men could be + sent abroad out of the 10,000 who constituted the Yeomanry + Cavalry?" + + Then, in December, the following announcement, with regulations + to be observed in the organisation of a Contingent of Yeomanry + and Volunteers, was published:-- + + YEOMANRY.--1. Her Majesty's Government have decided to raise + for service in South Africa a mounted infantry force, to be + named "The Imperial Yeomanry." 2. The force will be recruited + from the Yeomanry, but Volunteers and civilians who may possess + the requisite qualifications (as given below) will be specially + enrolled in the Yeomanry for this purpose. 3. The force will be + organised in companies of 115 rank and file, five officers + being allotted to each company, viz., one captain and four + subalterns, preference being given to Yeomanry officers. 4. The + term of enlistment for officers and men will be for one year, + or for not less than the period of the war. 5. The officers and + men will bring their own horses, clothing, saddlery, and + accoutrements. Arms and ammunition, camp equipment, and + regimental transport will be provided by Government. 6. The men + will be dressed in Norfolk jackets, of woollen material of + neutral colour, breeches and gaiters, lace boots, and felt + hats. Strict uniformity of pattern will not be insisted upon. + 7. The pay will be at cavalry rates, with a capitation grant + for horses, clothing, saddles, and accoutrements. All ranks + will receive rations from date of joining. Gratuities and + allowances will be those laid down in special army order of May + 10, 1899. 8. Applications for enrolment should be addressed to + colonels commanding Yeomanry regiments, or to General Officers + commanding districts, to whom instructions will be immediately + issued. + + _Qualifications._--(_a_) Candidates must be from twenty to + thirty-five years of age and of good character. (_b_) + Volunteers or civilian candidates must satisfy the colonel of + the regiment through which they enlist that they are good + riders and marksmen, according to Yeomanry standard. (_c_) The + standard of physique to be that for cavalry of the line. + + VOLUNTEERS.--Her Majesty's Government have decided to accept + offers of service in South Africa from the Volunteers. A + carefully selected company of 110 rank and file, officered by + one captain and three subalterns, will be raised (one for each + British line battalion serving in, or about to proceed to, + South Africa) from the Volunteer battalions of the territorial + regiment. These Volunteer companies will, as a general rule, + take the place in the line battalion of its company, serving as + mounted infantry. The Volunteer battalions from which a company + is accepted will form and maintain a waiting company in reserve + at home. The selection of men from the Volunteer battalions for + service with the line battalion in the field, will devolve on + the commanding officers of Volunteer battalions. The terms of + enlistment for officers and men will be for one year, or for + not less than the period of the war. Full instructions for the + information of all concerned will be issued with the least + possible delay through General Officers commanding districts. + + [Illustration: LONDON'S RESPONSE--THE CITY IMPERIAL VOLUNTEERS + CROSSING WESTMINSTER BRIDGE. + + Drawing by Allan Stewart.] + + A committee was formed to assist in organising the Yeomanry + force, among which were the following notable persons: + Colonel Lord Chesham, Colonel A. G. Lucas, Colonel Viscount + Valentia, Colonel the Right Hon. W. H. Long, M. P. Colonel the + Earl of Lonsdale consented to assist the committee in the + obtaining of horses. The following Acting Staff Officers were + nominated to assist Colonel Lord Chesham: Captain the Hon. W. + Bagot (late Scots Guards), Captain L. Sandwith (8th Hussars), + Adjutant of the 2nd Yeomanry Brigade. + + In a short, an almost incredibly short, space of time numerous + battalions were in readiness, and a strong contingent from + Ireland was raised, composed mainly of hunting men. The + Under-Secretary for War wrote to correct the impression which + prevailed in some quarters that the raising of funds by private + subscriptions for the Volunteers and Imperial Yeomanry going to + South Africa was promoted by Government in order to do work + which ought to be done with Government money. He pointed out + that the Government was bearing the whole cost of those forces, + providing them directly with their pay, food, and arms, and, + through their regiments, with clothing and equipments. But the + Government allowance for these things was calculated on the + regular army scale, and the public subscription would be + serviceable in the way of making better provision in those + directions for the local Volunteers and Yeomanry, of locally + overcoming certain difficulties of organisation, and of + decentralising a great deal of contracting for horses, saddles, + clothing, &c. Why, they argued, should the man who volunteers + his service in the field bear also all the cost of making + himself efficient, and all the cost entailed by his absence + from his trade or profession? Surely those who could not + volunteer for the front will be glad to assist him, or his + corps in this case, as they have assisted him or his corps in + time of peace for forty years? Quantities of men of independent + means throughout the country, a great many of whom were + acquainted with each other, were ready and anxious to form a + corps of the Imperial Yeomanry, messing and fighting together, + and enduring the hardships and dangers of the trooper in + emulation of the regular service man; and to this body of men + the corps specially appealed. Though at first some 5000 men + were called for, it was evident that 10,000 could have been + recruited if needed. The magnificent example set by thousands + of young men in humble stations of life, who left home and good + employment courageously to serve their country, acted as a + powerful incentive to their more fortunate brethren of means + and leisure, and it was astonishing to find how readily all the + members of the "upper ten" sacrificed themselves rather than be + "out of it." Eventually the Duke of Cambridge's Own, the + Special Corps, went to Africa, paying their own expenses. In + this corps every trooper, equally with every other member of + the Imperial Yeomanry, was entitled to a grant of L65 on + joining, but all other expenses were defrayed by themselves, + and even the pay received during the campaign was devoted to + swell the Imperial War Fund for the widows and orphans of + soldiers who had fallen in action. The cost of equipment of + each recruit amounted to L170. The special purpose of the + scheme was to attract men of social standing and education, and + enable groups of friends to serve together in the same unit at + the front. Among those who were enrolled was Lord Elphinstone; + Mr. Geoffrey Malcolm Gathorne-Hardy, grandson of the Earl of + Cranbrook; Captain Shaw; the Hon. Aubrey N. Molyneux Herbert + (brother of the Earl of Carnarvon); the Hon. A. Hill-Trevor. + Lord Lovat engaged himself actively in raising a corps of + Highland gillies. In addition to the Government grant, + magnificent contributions poured in for the full equipment of + the corps. Lord Loch worked energetically in organising the + South African Contingent of the Imperial Yeomanry. These + troops were formed only of men who had South African + experience, and had seen service there. + + The following is a list of the various battalions:-- + + 1st Battalion (Colonel Challoner)--1st and 2nd Co. Royal + Wiltshire Yeomanry; 4th Co. Glamorganshire Detachment; 3rd Co. + Gloucestershire Yeomanry. 2nd Battalion (Colonel Burke)--32nd + Co. Lancashire Hussars; 21st and 22nd Co. Cheshire Yeomanry; + 5th Co. Warwickshire Yeomanry. 3rd Battalion (Colonel + Younghusband)--9th Co. Yorkshire Hussars; 11th Co. Yorkshire + Dragoons; 12th Co. South Notts; 10th Co. Notts (Sherwood + Rangers). 4th Battalion (Colonel Blair)--7th Co. Leicestershire + Yeomanry; 8th Co. Derbyshire Yeomanry; 6th Co. Staffordshire + Yeomanry; 28th Co. Bedfordshire Detachment. 5th Battalion + (Colonel Meyrick)--14th and 15th Co. Northumberland; 13th Co. + Shropshire; 16th Co. Worcestershire. 6th Battalion (Colonel + Burn)--17th Co. Ayrshire Yeomanry; 18th Co. Lanarkshire + Yeomanry; 19th Co. Lothian and Berwickshire; 20th Co. Fife + Light Horse. 7th Battalion (Colonel Helyar)--27th Co. Royal 1st + Devon, Royal North Devon; 48th Co. North Somerset; 25th Co. + West Somerset; 26th Co. Dorsetshire. 8th Battalion (Colonel + Crawley)--23rd Co. Duke of Lancaster's Own; 51st and 52nd Co. + Mr. Paget's Corps; 24th Co. Westmoreland and Cumberland. 9th + Battalion (Colonel Howard)--29th Co. Denbighshire; 30th Co. + Pembrokeshire; 31st and 49th Co. Montgomeryshire. 10th + Battalion (Colonel Lord Chesham)--37th and 38th Co. + Buckinghamshire; 39th Co. Berkshire; 40th Co. Oxfordshire, 11th + Battalion (Colonel Wilson)--42nd Co. Hertfordshire; 43rd and + 44th Co. Suffolk; 41st Co. Hampshire Carabineers. 12th + Battalion (Colonel Mitford)--34th and 35th Co. Middlesex; 33rd + Co. Royal East Kent; 36th Co. West Kent. 13th Battalion--54th + and 56th Co. Irish (Belfast) Companies; 45th Co. Irish (Dublin) + Company; 47th Co. Lord Donoughmore's Corps (Duke of Cambridge's + Own). 14th Battalion (Lieut.-Colonel Brookfield)--55th Co. + Northumberland; 53rd Co. Royal East Kent; 50th Co. Hampshire; + 62nd Co. Middlesex. 15th Battalion (Lieut.-Colonel + Sandwith)--56th and 57th Co. Bucks; 58th Co. Berks; 59th Co. + Oxford. 16th Battalion (Lieut.-Colonel Ridley)--63rd Co. Wilts; + 64th Co. Cheshire; 65th Co. Suffolk; 66th Co. York. 17th + Battalion (Lieut.-Colonel Moore ?)--60th Co. North Irish, + Belfast; 61st Co. South Irish, Dublin. 18th Battalion--67th, + 70th, and 71st Co. Sharpshooters. 19th Battalion + (Lieut.-Colonel Rodney ?)--69th Co. Sussex; 68th Co. Paget's + Corps; 72nd Co. Rough Riders; 73rd Co. Paget's Corps. + + Each battalion consisted of four companies of 116 each. + + Colonel Viscount Downe, who was serving on Lord Roberts's staff + in South Africa, was elected to command a brigade of the + Imperial Yeomanry, and Lieutenant the Hon. R. F. Molyneux, + Royal Horse Guards, was selected as his aide-de-camp. + + Lord Dunraven's Battalion of Sharpshooters embarked for Africa + to join the Rhodesian Force on the 6th of April. It was + composed of four companies. The 67th, under the command of + Captain Crum (late 52nd Regiment), was accompanied by + Lieutenants Langford, Jones, Curley, and Dyke. The 75th, + commanded by Major Warden (late Middlesex Regiment), was + accompanied by Lieutenants Gabbett, Power, Warde, and + Bosanquet. The 70th Company, comprising the Scottish Unit under + Colonel Hill (late 12th Lancers), was accompanied by + Lieutenants Clark, Torrance, Hotchkiss, and Andrews. The + remaining company was commanded by Sir Savile Crossley. + + The Earl of Dunraven, the founder of the corps, went to South + Africa as Supernumerary Captain on the Battalion Staff. + + + THE CITY IMPERIAL VOLUNTEERS + + The announcement that the Government had decided to send to + South Africa a force of Volunteers, was received with general + delight by our civilian soldiers throughout the country. Here + was a chance--a chance never before offered to earn distinction + in the field; and here was an opportunity--most seasonable and + appropriate, for the expression of public opinion, and for the + display, the universal and effervescent patriotism that had + found little chance of outlet in the prosaic walks of everyday + life. The official intimation came as a surprise, and surprise + in a few moments developed into unrestrained joy. The proposal + to employ "a strong contingent of carefully selected + Volunteers" was no sooner published than the War Office was + besieged with applicants all eager to know what chance of being + included in the great military movement might be available. A + few weeks before the opening of Parliament Colonel Sir Howard + Vincent volunteered "marksmen" for service in South Africa, and + other colonels of Volunteer regiments followed suit. General + Trotter (commanding the Home District) expressed a belief that + the employment of Volunteers in the present crisis would + demonstrate for all who should care to profit by the lesson the + magnificent reserve force of civilian soldiers possessed by our + nation, a force utterly ignored by Continental nations. This + force was practically a force of picked men, selected marksmen + who, unlike the "Regulars," were all first-rate shots, and fit + to cope with the skilled sharpshooters of the Boers. The + marksmanship of many of the London corps of Volunteers has for + many years been phenomenal, and it was said that in one company + of the 13th Middlesex there were no less than sixty-three + first-class shots out of eighty. Finally, it was decided that + the "C.I.V.'s," as they were called, should consist of 1400, + and both corps sailed towards the end of January. Prior to + their departure the Freedom of the City was conferred upon the + officers of the regiment at the Guildhall, and later an + impressive farewell service was held at St. Paul's Cathedral. + Their departure through London was somewhat difficult, owing to + the dense and enthusiastic multitude that thronged the streets + to see the last of them. + + [Illustration: 12-1/2-POUNDER QUICK-FIRING FIELD-GUN--CITY OF + LONDON FIELD BATTERY. + + (By permission of Messrs. Vickers, Sons & Maxim, and the + publishers of the _Engineer_.)] + + The Lord Mayor, Mr. Newton (now Sir A. J. Newton, Bart.), who + was the moving spirit in the organisation of the corps, gave an + excellent account of the splendid work that had been + accomplished and of the prompt equipment and despatch of the + regiment. This report concisely and modestly describes the + enormous undertaking, though it does not sufficiently enlarge + on the keen personal interest and magnificent services rendered + by the prime mover in the great scheme. The Lord Mayor said: + "From the moment when the Commander-in-Chief did me the honour + of placing in my hands, as Chief Magistrate of the City of + London, the organisation of a regiment of thoroughly qualified + Volunteers for service in South Africa, I have been profoundly + impressed with the responsibility of the trust, and the + importance of every promise made on behalf of the Corporation + and City of London being fulfilled in its integrity. The + original promise was 1000 Metropolitan Volunteers, all + recommended by their commanding officers, all between twenty + and thirty-five years, all bachelors, and that at least 250 + should be mounted. That was on the 20th of December (1899), and + now, on the 3rd of February (1900), the City of London, with + the approval of the military authorities, has completely + equipped and despatched to the seat of war upwards of 1550 + selected Volunteers, of whom 500 men and 17 officers are + already in Cape Town--all approved by the General Officer + commanding the Home District. Of these, 400 are mounted + infantry, having their saddlery with them, and their horses + ready at the Cape. Four small Maxim guns, with 200,000 rounds + of ammunition, have also been shipped. A highly trained battery + of field artillery, mainly provided by the Honourable Artillery + Company, through the zealous co-operation of the Earl of + Denbigh, composed of 140 men and officers, left the Royal + Albert Docks by the steamship _Montfort_. This section took + with it four 12-1/2-pounder quick-firing guns and ample + ammunition, together with their full complement of 110 horses, + purchased here, as they must be of a stouter type than the Cape + horses. The City has also--which was not originally + intended--provided the entire camp and tent equipment for the + whole force when it leaves Cape Town, and, at the request of + the authorities, done a good deal in the direction of land + transport, without interfering with the responsibility of the + Headquarters Staff in South Africa in respect of maintenance of + the corps. The regiment constitutes a part of her Majesty's + regular army. The officers and men are soldiers, and remain so + during the campaign. The time has been very brief, but there + has been neither hurry nor confusion, and the explanation of + the successful results may be fairly summed up as follows: As + soon as Lord Wolseley accepted my offer, made on behalf of the + Corporation and City, I was in the position of an autocrat in + this business, and the power of the purse was promptly placed + at my disposal--in the first instance by the Corporation with + its grant of L25,000, by the City Livery Companies, the large + shipowners, bankers, merchants, the Honourable Artillery + Companies, its members, and the citizens generally. The + Metropolitan Volunteer commanding officers vied with each other + as to who could send the most men, do the most work, and be the + most useful. The result is that, with the exception of a few + staff officers from the regular army, the officers of the City + Imperial Volunteers are gentlemen engaged in civil pursuits, + but who have spent years in efficiently performing their + duties. The non-commissioned officers are most carefully picked + from the vast band of qualified men holding the same or higher + rank in their own Volunteer regiments, and every man of the + rank and file has been expressly recommended by his commanding + officer for the particular duty allotted to him. Several + committees have dealt with sea and land transport, equipment, + saddlery, and finance, and Volunteer commanding officers have + served on all these. A committee of the Honourable Artillery + Company and the battery officers arranged the details of their + own equipment without coming to the Mansion House for anything + but the inevitable cheque. The selection of Colonel Mackinnon, + A.A.G., Home District, as commandant was a very fortunate one + for all concerned. Major-General Turner, C.B., R.A., has been + constant in his attendance at the Mansion House, and always at + hand when technical assistance was required. Major Freemantle + and Lieutenant Grantham have been indefatigable, while my son + as hon. secretary to, and Mr. A. D. Watson, a member of, the + Equipment Committee, have gone to Cape Town as the connecting + link for a short time between the regiment and its + headquarters--the Mansion House. Colonel C. G. Boxall, C.B., on + whose initiative I took up this work, has thoroughly and + loyally fulfilled in every sense his promise to me to see this + business completed, for which his admittedly great technical + knowledge and his indomitable zeal in the Volunteer cause so + eminently fit him. Mr. Abe Bailey, D.L. of the City, who from + the first placed his services at my disposal, is acting as + honorary agent of the regiment at Cape Town. He purchased over + four hundred horses, and arranged for their being put in + training and ready for the arrival of the first contingent, + besides rendering other and invaluable aid. Several City firms + have furnished contingents of their expert employees, whose + services at the Guildhall in the preparation and distribution + of "kits" have been of great assistance. The payment of + accounts is now progressing, and at the first opportunity an + audited statement of receipts and expenditure will be + presented. In conclusion, I would state that the whole force + has gone to the front with no burning desire for glory, but + with a determination to do its duty, and with an intense + loyalty and devotion to their beloved Sovereign." + + + ROLL OF THE CITY OF LONDON IMPERIAL VOLUNTEERS. + + Officers.--Infantry--Colonel, Earl of Albemarle; second in + command, Lieutenant-Colonel A. G. Pawle; Adjutant, Captain the + Hon. J. R. Bailey. A Company--Captain A. Reid; Lieutenant F. R. + Jeffrey; Lieutenant E. D. Townroe. B Company--Captain C. W. + Berkeley; Lieutenant B. W. Garnett; Lieutenant J. W. Cohen. C + Company--Captain C. Matthey; Lieutenant the Hon. S. McDonnell, + C.B.; Lieutenant E. Treffry. D Company--Captain F. J. Cousens; + Lieutenant J. H. Smith; Lieutenant F. R. Burnside. E + Company--Captain R. B. Shipley; Lieutenant W. J. P. Benson; + Lieutenant F. B. Marsh. F Company--Captain W. Edis; Lieutenant + P. F. Brown; Lieutenant S. H. Hole. G Company--Captain A. A. + Howell; Lieutenant C. P. Grindle; Lieutenant P. Croft. H + Company--Captain C. A. Mortimer; Lieutenant W. B. I. Alt; + Lieutenant B. C. Green. Quartermaster, Captain S. Firth. + Medical Officer, Surgeon-Captain E. St. V. Ryan. Staff--Colonel + W. H. Mackinnon; Lieutenant E. H. Trotter; Transport Captain J. + E. H. Orr; Paymaster Captain Triggs (late A. P. D.); Medical + Officer, Surgeon-Captain R. R. Sleman; Veterinary Officer, W. + S. Mulvey. Battery--Major G. McMicking; Captain E. C. Budworth; + Lieutenant A. C. Lowe; Lieutenant H. Bayley; Lieutenant J. F. + Duncan; Surgeon, Captain A. Thorne. Mounted Infantry--Colonel + H. C. Cholmondeley; Adjutant Captain E. Bell; Quartermaster J. + Ridler. Machine-Gun Section--Lieutenant E. V. Wellby. No. 1 + Company--Captain J. W. Reid; Lieutenant G. Berry; Lieutenant W. + H. Brailey; Lieutenant B. Moeller; Lieutenant C. H. W. Wilson. + No. 2 Company--Captain J. F. Waterlow; Lieutenant A. Bailey; + Lieutenant E. G. Concanon; Lieutenant A. H. Henderson; + Lieutenant E. A. Manisty. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[6] For much valuable information I am indebted to the editor of the +_South African Volunteer Gazette_. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AT COLESBERG + + +The troops with General French were in very fine fettle. They had no +past history; they were not damped by the remembrance of a Majesfontein, +a Stormberg, or a Colenso. They had perfect confidence in their chief; +they had just enough hard work to keep their wits polished and their +minds alert, and in the intervals there was sport of a kind for those +who fancied it. + +Fighting in and around Colesberg was incessant. The Boers were most +stubborn in their determination to get rid of the British, and General +French was equally stubborn in his determination to get rid of the +Boers! Colesberg was a situation to be desired, and both British and +Boer forces fought desperately to hold it. It is situated some +thirty-seven miles north of Naauwpoort, which is the junction of a +branch line to De Aar. Between Naauwpoort and Colesberg are undulating +pastures, and the town itself, which boasts a population of 1900 souls, +possesses three--till lately--thriving hotels. In addition to these +attractions it has for the Boers another--the attraction of being the +birthplace of Oom Paul. Its capture would have mightily impressed the +waverers in Cape Colony, consequently General French determined to +celebrate the New Year by making another lunge at the enemy. + +Early on Monday morning his troops took up a position upon the kopjes +surrounding the town. His force, divided into two brigades commanded by +Colonel Porter (Carabineers) and Colonel Fisher (10th Hussars), +simultaneously attacked the Boer position. + +The second brigade started from Rensburg at five on the previous +afternoon, passed the night at Maider's farm, and in the small hours +proceeded to their destination, the Boer position on Kul Kop, and seized +the kopjes overlooking Colesberg on the west. + +The advance was made on the Boer haunts at nine, and was greeted by a +tornado from the surprised enemy, whose position extended for six miles +round the entire village. Our artillery answered briskly, continuing a +two hours' argument which had the result of effectually silencing the +seven or eight Boer guns. (Curiously enough, on inspection, it was +discovered that some of the Boer shells had been manufactured at the +Royal Laboratory, Woolwich!) + +Meanwhile the cavalry and horse-artillery were endeavouring to work +round to the north of the enemy's position. The foe, ever nimble, was +kept "on the trot." He was driven from hill to hill. Brilliantly the +Berkshires, under Major M'Cracken, stormed a kopje to the west of +Colesberg, occupying successive positions and pouring a torrent of lead +on the enemy, who fled in disorder with loud shouts! Splendidly wheeled +the cavalry, under Colonel Fisher, executing at the same time a flank +movement and closing in round the Dutchmen, who had but time to flee. +The enemy retired towards the west, followed always by the British, but +owing to the peculiar disposition of the many kopjes in the vicinity the +task of pursuing them was difficult. In their retreat towards Colesberg +Junction they were hotly chased by the cavalry, and Colesberg itself was +left almost in our hands. + +On the 2nd of January an unfortunate accident occurred. A train within +the British lines was mysteriously set in motion, and was carried by the +impetus given to it in the direction of the Boer lines. It travelled +slowly, but sufficiently fast to get out of reach, and as the machine +was full of supplies, it was necessary to fire on and destroy it rather +than allow the Boers to reap the reward of rebel treachery. The brakes +were found to have been taken off the trucks, and a Dutchman was +arrested on suspicion of having perpetrated the deed. At first an +attempt was made to mend the trucks, the working party being supported +by Carabineers and the Mounted Infantry; but these were bombarded by the +Boers, and finally the trucks had to be fired to prevent the rations +they contained, a quantity of rum, from falling into the hands of the +enemy. The New South Wales Lancers under Major Lee, who were sent to the +scene to avert looting by the foe, spent five hours under fire, holding +the position and returning the fire with great gallantry. + +The small force under General French's command at this time consisted of +the Carabineers, 10th Hussars, Inniskilling Dragoons, O and R Batteries +of Horse Artillery, the Berkshires and Suffolks, the New South Wales +Lancers and New Zealanders. With this limited number he had worked +wonders, driving the Dutchmen out from the kopjes immediately around +Arundel, and forcing them continually to shift their position, a process +which effectually deterred them from gaining ground. The Boer position +now lay on long lines of kopjes to east and west of the rails, from +Taaibosch Laagte to Rensburg; in the middle of the plain was the +dumpling-figured kopje known as Val Kop which the British had been +forced to evacuate. + +The enemy now prepared a little surprise. At daybreak on the 4th they +made a sudden attempt to outflank the British position beyond Coleskop, +westward of the town; thus hoping to reopen communications with the +northern waggon bridge. + +In General French's report of the day's work, he said: "The enemy was +found to have established himself in strength at some hills running +about east and west at right angles to the left rear of our position. +The cavalry on the left should not have allowed him to do this unseen, +but in turning him out they rendered signal service. The 10th Hussars, +with two guns which I sent to them, threatened to take them in reverse, +and they were heavily fired upon by the remaining four guns of O Battery +in front. This caused several hundred to abandon the position, and the +plain was covered with flying horsemen. The 10th Hussars on one flank, +and a squadron of the Inniskillings on the other, dashed after them. The +10th Hussars were checked by some of the Boers taking up a strong +position in some rocks to cover the retreat of the others. In a most +gallant style Colonel Fisher dismounted his men and led them on foot +against this position, which they carried with great boldness and +intrepidity. + +"In this daring operation, I regret to say, Major Harvey was killed, and +Major Alexander severely wounded. + +"The 6th Dragoons, led by Captain E. A. Herbert, showed no less dash, +pursuing the enemy, mounted, and inflicting some loss with their lances. +Some 200 of the enemy had, however, still clung to the hills, and after +shelling them for some considerable time, both in front and flank, I +decided to clear the position with the Mounted Infantry. Advancing under +cover of the fire of the artillery, Captain De Lisle moved his men with +great skill to a position where he could move against the enemy's right +flank. Here he dismounted and advanced to attack, choosing the ground +with admirable care. At this threat at least 100 more of the Boers took +to flight in many small parties, the remainder endeavoured to check the +Mounted Infantry advance. When one half the position was made good, a +final exodus was made by the enemy, and twenty-one last remaining Boers +surrendered. The Mounted Infantry suffered no casualties. This operation +was most skilfully and boldly carried out by Captain De Lisle. It has +been conclusively ascertained that on this day the enemy lost upwards of +ninety killed and wounded, our casualties being six killed and fifteen +wounded." + +[Illustration: OFFICERS--CITY OF LONDON IMPERIAL VOLUNTEERS. + +Photo by Gregory & Co., London.] + +On the 5th of January, Lieutenant Sir John Milbanke, who went out with a +patrol of five men on the plain north of Colesberg, came in touch with +the enemy. The Boers galloped up to intercept the small British party, +and Sir John Milbanke was slightly wounded in the thigh. This form of +skirmish was an almost daily occurrence, for round the place was a +species of Boer girdle. The Dutchmen, like flies--swept off at one +moment to return the next--now buzzed in the hills within a mile radius +from the town, while on the north, in the direction of the Free State, +and in the east towards Aliwal and Burghersdorp, they remained in +undisturbed possession of the country. To the north of Colesberg was a +hill which practically commanded the road to Orange River, and also +other roads leading to the town. That this hill should be in British +possession was eminently desirable, and Colonel Watson conceived the +idea that it might be easily taken and held by us. With General French's +permission, on Friday, the 5th of January, he arranged an expedition, a +midnight one, for the purpose of gaining the coveted position. He +started forth at two o'clock on the morning of the 6th with four +companies of the Suffolk Regiment. After marching stealthily in the +darkness for about a mile, they reached the foot of the hill. This kopje +had been often reconnoitred by various officers, and it was not due to +any rashness on their part that a lamentable accident occurred. They +marched through the dead of night to the top of the hill. In the morning +twilight they were attacked by the enemy, who, aware of their design, +was awaiting them. So completely had the troops fallen into a trap, that +when the rifles blazed out they were at a distance of only thirty paces +from the Dutchmen. The Colonel, who had halted to address the men, the +Adjutant, and two other officers, were wounded before the Suffolks had +found time to fire a single shot. Indeed, so quickly were they pounced +on, that Colonel Watson, on giving orders to charge, fell riddled with +bullets. Suddenly orders, none knew from whence, were given to "retire." +Some said it was a ruse of the Boers. The rear fled back to the pickets, +some thousand yards off, believing the order came from their officers; +others--about a hundred and twenty officers and men--remained, refusing +to budge. They fought bravely, but were eventually compelled to +surrender. All were killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. Of eleven +officers, but one remained! The Boers were evidently well-informed of +the commanding officer's programme, and their tactics were so clever and +combined that they contrived to create something of a panic when the +unfortunate Suffolks, who thought themselves only preparing for attack, +were definitely attacked. Critics sitting in judgment at home declared +that ordinary precautions would have averted the chance of being +entrapped, but others, who knew Kaffir ways and the condition of the +country, where every keyhole was an ear and every leaf of a tree an eye, +were inclined to marvel that so few disasters happened. + +One of the officers writing of the affair said: "It is quite certain the +Colonel never gave that order, or the officers would have retired too. +They remained to a man, except Graham, who was wounded early, and could +not hold his rifle. He dragged himself down the hill, and somehow +crawled the two miles into camp. The Boers said those that were left +charged three times and behaved splendidly. The position was impossible +to take, even if a brigade had attacked, although it had been carefully +reconnoitred. The ditch, with the loopholed wall near the top of the +hill, could only have been discovered by a balloon. The Colonel's last +words were, 'Remember Gibraltar, my boys!'"[7] + +There was deep regret at the loss of this distinguished officer, and the +whole force lamented the first check which this column had sustained. +The enemy was shelled at intervals, so as to make his position as +uncomfortable as possible, but the Boers still remained in possession of +the route leading to the Free State by Achtertang. Soon the Essex +Regiment was sent on to replace the 1st Suffolk, who went south to +recruit their shattered forces. + +Among the wounded officers was Major Graham; Lieutenants Wilkins, Carey, +and White were killed. With those taken prisoners were Captains Brett, +Thomson, Brown; Second Lieutenants Allen, Wood-Martin, and Butler. Of +the men, 26 were killed, 45 wounded, and 72 taken prisoners or missing. + +The British occupied Slingersfontein on the 9th of January. From this +time Colonel Porter and his splendidly alert troops--the 5th Dragoons, +New Zealanders and New South Wales Lancers--were busily occupied in +keeping the enemy "on the run," forcing him to leave one kopje after +another, and maintaining harassing tactics which entirely upset the +Dutchmen's calculations. Still the Boers were ubiquitous. They now held +a strong position between Colesberg and Slingersfontein, from which with +the small force at hand it was impossible to dislodge them. On the 13th, +the inconvenience of the situation was rendered more intense by a +perfect cyclone of dust which caused the utmost discomfort. Meals were +also made impossible by the aggressive attacks of the enemy, who plumped +shell after shell in the midst of the camp. Colonel Porter retired his +troops to the cover of a neighbouring hill, while three squadrons of the +6th Dragoon Guards and four guns of O Battery, Horse Artillery, advanced +across the plain and prepared to tackle the enemy. This was done with +such celerity and decision that almost in five minutes the Boer guns +were silenced and the enemy driven to cover. As a result of the prompt +activities of our artillery, the Boer tents were removed eastwards. + +[Illustration: POSITION AT COLESBERG ABOUT 20TH JANUARY.] + +These sand-storms, characteristic of the Veldt, were a terrible test to +patience. At one moment the camp was an orderly array of mushroom tents +springing decorously from the earth; in the next it was seemingly an +animated mass of anthills trying to maintain life against an ochreous +avalanche of dust. Occasionally when the cyclone of grit had ceased, it +was followed by a hurricane of hail, accompanied by the gloom of night, +the bellow of the blast and growl of the thunder-claps fighting together +in the hills. Then would the frightened cattle stampede, and the whole +routine of military life become deranged. A rushing mob, a battle of the +elements, a vast ditch irrigated with rivulets, bombardment by the big +guns of the wind--such would be the programme for a good hour or so! +Then, as often as not, the sun would suddenly come out and shine +affably, with the placid, self-satisfied beam of dear old ladies when +they've trumped their partner's best card of a long suit at whist! + +After this, the routine of life would go on much as before, the Dutchmen +clinging to their positions, and General French determining to make +these as untenable as possible. + +On the 15th the New Zealanders had an excellent opportunity of +exhibiting their smartness and dash. The Boers made a stubborn attempt +to seize a hill that practically commanded the country to east and west +of their main position. This valuable eminence was held by a detachment +of New Zealanders and D Company of the Yorkshire Regiment under Captain +Orr. Early in the morning desultory firing began, and later the Boers, +increasing the warmth of their fire, worked towards the right of the +position held by the New Zealanders. At the same time they assailed the +Yorkshires, directing their fire at a small wall held by them and +forcing them to keep close cover. Gradually the Boers advanced, creeping +towards the wall ever nearer and nearer. They then blazed furiously from +their position on the slopes, killing the Sergeant-Major and wounding +Captain Orr. At this time Captain Madocks, R.A. (attached to the New +Zealand Mounted Rifles), and ten New Zealanders appeared on the scene, +and, to the dismay of the Boers, the whole party with a dash and a yell +leapt over the wall and charged down on their assailants with fixed +bayonets. It was a splendid act, and one which, as the officer +commanding the Yorkshires had dropped wounded, came just in time to save +the situation. + +Away rushed the enemy, rolling one over another in their effort to be +off, while a sustained storm of bullets inflicted heavy loss on their +retreating numbers. From the distance they made a feeble attempt to fire +at the gallant fellows who had routed them, but eventually they retired +to the small kopjes at the base of the contested hill. There they were +saluted by a detachment of two guns of O Battery from the west of the +kopje. The enemy's long-range gun now came into play and forced the +British guns to move their position farther to the west. That done, the +small kopjes were effectively shelled and the Dutchmen's fire silenced. +The whole engagement was a signal success, and the Yorkshires and New +Zealanders were well pleased with their share of the day's work. +Twenty-one Boers were left dead on the field and many more were wounded. +(On the morning of this day an unfortunate incident occurred at +Colesberg. Lieutenant Thompson, R.H.A., while out scouting, was wounded +and taken prisoner. This officer, together with Lieutenants Talbot +Ponsonby, Lamont, and Aldridge, was especially mentioned for services +performed with the guns.) + +[Illustration: GENERAL FRENCH'S REMARKABLE POSITION AT COLESBERG, AS +SEEN FROM KUL OR COLE'S KOP ABOUT 15TH JANUARY. + +Sketch by Frederick Villiers, War Artist.] + +The events of the last few days had served to show that, however the +Colonials might differ in their customs, habits, and ideas, they were +assuredly identical in their dogged bravery and their fine spirit of +dash-- + + "They come of The Blood, slower to bless than to ban, + Little used to lie down at the bidding of any man,"-- + +and Captain Madocks and his hardy New Zealanders had now the +well-merited good fortune to have earned the esteem and appreciation of +all who had seen their splendid rush to the rescue of the Yorkshires. On +the 16th General French visited the New Zealanders' camp and +congratulated them on their gallant conduct during the fight. + +The Boers now brought to bear on the position one of the guns captured +by them at Stormberg, and launched some ten shots into the kopjes held +by a company of the Welsh Regiment. They got as good as they gave, and +before long the enemy was completely silenced. General French's system +was a tit-for-tat form of warfare, which failed to commend itself to the +Dutchmen. It served well, however--in default of sufficient troops to +make any definite advance--to hold the enemy from proceeding farther +south in British territory. News now came in that a large force of +Dutchmen had been transferred from Majesfontein for the purpose of +reinforcing the Boer commandoes at Colesberg, and thus rendering the +paralysis of the British complete. + +A very serious disaster befell a patrol consisting partly of New South +Wales Lancers and South Australian Horse, who had so nobly volunteered +their services to the Mother Country at the beginning of the war. On the +morning of the 16th of January a party of nineteen rode out from Colonel +Porter's camp for the purpose of reconnoitring towards Achtertang. It +was not yet dawn, but they pursued their investigations, reaching Norval +Camp without seeing any signs of the enemy. About 8 A.M. they commenced +the return journey naturally with a feeling of greater security than +when they started. They unfortunately fell into an ambush. A hot fight +ensued, but the Boers were in overwhelming numbers, and the party was +hard pressed. Two escaped to camp, and six more, after hiding till it +was possible to make good their escape, followed them. The rest were +made prisoners, but not without a struggle, as the bodies of four dead +Australian and seven dead Boer horses, left on the field, served to +testify. Lieutenant Dowling was killed. The enemy now occupied Klein +Toren to the north of Slingersfontein. + +On the 18th inst. Major-General Clements, D.S.O., arrived with two +regiments of the 12th Brigade (the Royal Irish and the Worcestershire), +and was placed in command of all the troops at and east of Slinger's +Farm. Two battalions were posted at that place, and occupied a good +commanding position, which had been well fortified and intrenched. + +General Clements had also, at Slinger's, one company New Zealand Mounted +Rifles; one squadron and four guns. Colonel Porter, 6th Dragoon Guards, +with four squadrons, two guns, and one company of infantry, was posted +at a farm called Potfontein, some eight miles east, and a little south, +of Slinger's. The enemy's force at Colesberg was now hemmed in on the +west, south, and east, and their position began to look uncomfortable, +particularly as a battery firing lyddite shells was at hand to assist in +the British operations. The British now held a series of positions of +great extent, shaped after the manner of a mark of interrogation, with +Colesberg within the curve of the hook. + +The distance to be covered between the camps on the east and west flanks +was about sixteen miles. Supplies were conveyed by waggons drawn by +mules of South African breed--sleek, and as a rule good-tempered beasts. +The South American mules were of a weaklier stamp, their poor condition +being the result of importation. The tracks through the veldt, called by +courtesy roads, were now in many places a foot deep in dust wherever +sand-drifts had been lodged, and these promised in the event of rain to +develop into morasses. + +On the 25th General French made a reconnaissance in person, and +discovered that the enemy was strongly posted at Rietfontein. The +reconnaissance occupied two days, during which the troops covered forty +miles. In spite of many efforts to cut the Boer's communications with +the Free State the Boers outwitted him, or rather out-dodged him, and +retained their hold on Colesberg. Their position consisted of commanding +hills down a defile through which a spruit flows towards the Orange +River. The windings of this stream are followed by Waggon Road for more +than a mile, then, after passing the hills, it flows over undulating +country towards the river. + +On Saturday, the 27th, a melancholy incident took place. For some weeks +Major MacCracken had been holding a hill close up to the Boer position, +and on this particular morning, though no fighting was taking place, a +shell was plumped upon the hill by the enemy with the result that an +officer was wounded. A New Zealander named Booth, orderly to General +Clements, was killed while holding the General's horse. At this time +General French had mysteriously disappeared. His destination, though not +announced, was Cape Town, where he went on a visit to Lord Roberts, +whose plans were rapidly approaching completion. The upshot of that +momentous visit we shall discover anon. + + +LORD ROBERTS'S ADVANCE + +At Modder River Lord Methuen, to encourage the performers in a series of +inter-regimental boxing matches, offered three splendid challenge cups +for competition. These were won by the Scots Guards, the Grenadier +Guards, and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders respectively, on the +3rd of February, when the series came to an exciting conclusion. + +Meanwhile, when the cat was away the mice could play. The Boers engaged +in their usual game of destroying railway tracks between Modder Camp and +Langeberg, and as many as thirty-three explosions were heard, which +portended considerable damage to line and culverts. However the trains +conveying the sick to hospital at the Cape got away in safety, and as +many invalids as possible were despatched to the base in order that the +advance movement, when it should commence, would not be hampered. + +The junction of De Aar at this time was simmering with activity. Stores +to the value of a million pounds were being accumulated in preparation +for a gigantic move in the direction of Modder River. Though at the +moment Lord Roberts's plans were not generally known, it was certain +that a vast number of troops--many more than those then under Lord +Methuen's command--were about to congregate in the neighbourhood of +Orange River, and in consequence there was suppressed excitement among +the British and corresponding trepidation among the Free Staters. +General French, whose splendid activity had been going on in most trying +circumstances, now found himself freed to begin operations on a scale +more fitted to his talents and more congenial to them. Cavalry was +pouring in, and with cavalry and such a commander there was immense +cause for hope. + +The Suffolks who, after their disaster at Colesberg, went to Port +Elizabeth to recruit their forces, now came up to De Aar, and were +re-officered prior to being sent to the front. Other regiments were also +trickling in, and slowly disposing of themselves in positions previously +arranged by Lord Roberts at the Cape. All these dispositions were made +with intense secrecy, Lord Kitchener setting himself to work to +reorganise the transport department in such a manner as to make all the +complicated moves of the coming war game possible. + +[Illustration: WITH GENERAL FRENCH: NEW ZEALANDERS SAVING A PICKET OF +THE YORKSHIRE REGIMENT NEAR SLINGERSFONTEIN ON JANUARY 15. + +Drawing by W. Small from a Sketch by G. D. Giles.] + +Life at Modder River began to grow correspondingly animated. Experiments +in the working of the Marconi wireless telegraphy were set on foot, and +other active preparations for decisive combat were pushed forward. The +Boers were busy too. They were making further trenches in front of the +Majesfontein ridge with a view to still further strengthening their +position, an exertion which they subsequently found to be somewhat +unnecessary. They also swelled their numbers. From the report of +deserters it seemed that President Steyn had drawn to his banner many +reluctant farmers by means of false representations, he having +circulated the report that the British meant to seize and confiscate +property for the purpose of enriching their own soldiers after the war. +The Canadian Regiment, who till then had been guarding the lines of +communication, moved to the front. They were in great spirits, and much +rejoiced at being allowed to take a more active share in operations. + +The Australian Infantry Regiment was now to be mounted. It was a +misfortune that the Australians were not mounted from the first, as all +were good horsemen, and would have come in handy to assist the British +cavalry in the work of reconnaissance, which the mobile nature of Boer +movements rendered unusually hard. The companies were composed of about +125 men from Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, West Australia, +and Tasmania respectively. + +On the 6th of February Lord Roberts left Cape Town for the front. He +stopped _en route_ at Belmont. Every eye was turned to him as he +alighted at the railway station. It was nine o'clock, and presently a +crowd collected to view the two warriors on whom the British Empire +pinned its faith. One was the smallest man in the station; the other was +the largest. The Field-Marshal, neat as a new pin, with his refined +visage, grey moustache and tufted imperial, looked young, even happy, +and undisturbed by his responsibilities; the hero of Omdurman, large and +broad-shouldered, his forage cap crammed on his head, his keen +steel-tinted eyes piercing the heart of things at a glance, appeared +stern and preoccupied. They were met by Colonel Otter, and the +Field-Marshal at once asked to see the Canadians. Colonel Otter +accordingly brought him to the main guard, which consisted of one +sergeant, one corporal, and two men. One of these described the +inspection by the august chief. "We were standing at the present, and +Lord Roberts appeared to be sizing us up pretty well. He inquired how we +liked our bandoliers for cartridges, and on Sergeant Ellard informing +him that they were too loose, and that the cartridges fell out of them, +Lord Roberts said that he would see that this was remedied. Lord Roberts +presented Sergeant Ellard with a basket of roses, and on distribution of +them I received one." This flower was treasured and sent home to the +trooper's family in remembrance of the great day which brought him face +to face with England's grandest soldier. On the 9th the Chief arrived at +Modder River. At this time General Macdonald and the Highland Brigade +were keeping the Boers occupied on the west, and during this manoeuvre +tremendous activities were set on foot. For instance, while General +Macdonald's Brigade was marching back to camp on the 10th of February, a +force consisting of 23,000 infantry, 11,000 mounted men, and 48 guns, +with transport of some 700 waggons, drawn by 9000 mules and oxen, was +approaching the Free State! A brigade of Mounted Infantry under Colonel +Hannay was moving from Orange River to Ramdam, situated about eight +miles from Jacobsdal. On the 11th, Boers were discovered intercepting +the road and holding the hills, but these, with a detached part of +Colonel Hannay's force, were held where they were, while the main body +with the baggage pushed on to their destination. On the 12th General +French--who was now for the first time since his departure from +Ladysmith, in command of a cavalry division--seized the crossing of the +Riet River at Dekiel's Drift, whereupon the 6th and 7th Divisions there +encamped themselves. + +Before going further, it is necessary to follow the movements of the +Highland Brigade, movements which materially assisted the development of +the intricate plan of advance. + + +"FIGHTING MAC" AT KOODOESBERG + +The Boers were now threatening the line between the Orange and Modder +Rivers, and in consequence of various reports regarding their movements +Colonel Broadwood proceeded to Sunnyside with the Royal Horse Artillery, +Mounted Infantry, and Roberts's Horse, the newly-raised regiment from +whom great things were expected. The enemy retired and crossed the Riet +River, taking care to keep well out of the way, for it was known that +"Fighting Mac" was on the warpath, and the last thing the rebels desired +was to find their own line of communications interrupted. + +On the 3rd of February General Macdonald with the Highland Brigade, 9th +Lancers, 9th and 62nd Batteries Royal Field Artillery, moved out in a +westerly direction with a view to blocking the main drift at +Koodoesberg, and thus preventing a force reported to be coming from +Griqualand West from joining that coming from the north for the purpose +of cutting Lord Methuen's line of communication. There was also another +motive for the movement, and that was to attract the attention and +energy of the enemy while Lord Roberts was arranging for a decisive +stroke in another quarter. The march was a trying one owing to the +tropical temperature, exposure to a scorching sun, and the perpetual +inconvenience of dust. The troops however, bore it bravely. They +bivouacked at Fraser's Drift, and on the following (Sunday) morning +moved forward to Koodoesberg. The distance--some thirteen miles--was +covered, again in sweltering conditions, over a shadeless expanse of +rough road, which reflected the glare of the heavens and threw out hot +rays as from a baker's oven. Men dropped continually from sunstroke, and +exhaustion, and thirst; but, fortunately, owing to the near proximity of +the river, there were few serious cases. The troops arrived at their +destination about one o'clock, without having seen any Boers. On +reaching the drift the men refreshed themselves by bathing in the river, +a luxury in which they revelled. But repose was short. A hurried meal of +bully beef and biscuits and they were at work again, providing for +contingencies. Two thousand yards off were a group of kopjes, behind +which it was said some 4000 Boers were hiding. + +[Illustration: MAP ILLUSTRATING THE MOVEMENT TO KOODOESBERG.] + +The General at once set himself to construct breastworks to protect the +drift and secure his positions on north and south of the river, while +the 9th Lancers and their scouts reconnoitred the surrounding country to +ascertain the strength and disposition of the enemy. They came on a +small picket of Boers--there was a rapid exchange of shots--but on the +nearer approach of our troops the Boers fled. On Monday both sides of +the river were taken possession of. A large body of mounted Boers were +seen advancing about 2000 yards off, but beyond firing a few shots at +the British force no serious conflict took place. On Tuesday there was a +smart race between our men and a large force of Boers advancing from +their laagers. Both parties made for a big kopje, which was cleverly +gained by the British after a breathless scramble. The enemy, worsted, +galloped off, pursued by the Lancers. + +At nine o'clock on Wednesday, the 7th, the Boers, who had engaged +themselves in dragging a heavy gun to the scene of action, began to +blaze out upon the Seaforth Highlanders. These, with alacrity, sprang to +action. As a private said, "It was not a Majesfontein affair this time, +and a holy joy filled our hearts at the prospect of having a little bit +of our own back." The enemy was established at the north end of +Koodoesberg, whence they shelled the works that were being constructed +to protect the drift. At the drift were seven companies of Highland +Light Infantry. On the left bank were the Argyll and Sutherland +Highlanders, half a battalion of Seaforths, two guns, and the 9th +Lancers observing both flanks. Holding the south end of Koodoesberg on +the right bank of the river were the Black Watch, half a battalion of +Seaforths, one company of Highland Light Infantry, and four guns (62nd +Field Battery). An animated battle ensued, and the British guns did +splendid execution. The troops took cover behind hastily-constructed +sangars, and the bullets of the enemy failed to touch them. There were +no evidences of the celebrated Boer marksmanship on this occasion. The +enemy pounded the hill with shrapnel, and made a ferocious effort to +rout the Highlanders from their position. The 62nd Field Battery, after +some smart cannonading, which was as effective as it was vigorous, +forced the Dutchmen to shift their gun to a position farther north. +Eventually the weapon of the Dutchmen was silenced altogether. + +Meanwhile, at the request of General Macdonald, General Babington, with +his own regiment of cavalry (12th Lancers) and two batteries of Horse +Artillery, had been despatched from Modder River. They started at 11.30 +A.M. on the 7th, and had they arrived in time might have cut off the +retreat of the enemy and entirely hemmed them in. + +As it was, they marched along the north side of the Modder, and only +arrived at four o'clock, in time, however, to quickly pursue the foe in +his retreat northwards, which retreat had been begun with all speed on +the first hint of the coming of an additional force. The sufferings +endured by some of the cavalry were intense, and one man expired through +exposure and thirst. Others were in pitiable plight, but finally +recovered. + +While the great struggle was taking place it was discovered that the +enemy was intrenched at a small drift on the west. Whereupon two +companies of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders became engaged in a +smart skirmish, and gave the Federals so warm a time that by nightfall, +after being shelled in their trenches, they were glad enough to slink +off. By morning the enemy had entirely evacuated their position, and not +a vestige of them was to be seen. Had the cavalry not been utterly worn +out on reaching the scene of action, the Dutchmen would have been caught +before they had time to seek refuge in flight. + +[Illustration: "FIGHTING MAC" AND THE HIGHLAND BRIGADE IN ACTION AT +KOODOESBERG. + +From a Sketch by Lestor Ralph.] + +The troops then, under orders from Lord Methuen, retired to Modder +River. They started from Koodoesberg on the evening of Thursday, made a +moonlight march to Fraser's Drift, returning to camp footsore and +dilapidated on Friday. But before leaving, the officers and men who fell +in the action were buried on the south bank of the river. Among them was +Captain Blair, who, after having been previously struck by a bullet, had +been mortally wounded by a shell. Lieutenant Tait, a very gallant +officer, a notable golfer, and a general favourite, also fell, and +Captain Eykyn eventually died of his injuries. + +General Macdonald's reconnaissance at Koodoesberg Drift was entirely +satisfactory. The position there was important, as it prevented Boer +reinforcements from passing _via_ the chief drift from Douglas to +Majesfontein, and the movement served to confound the enemy, and protect +the operations of the Belmont garrison in the direction of Douglas, not +to speak of its value in keeping Boer activities to the west of +Majesfontein at the time when Lord Roberts was developing his plans in +regard to the east of that place. The enemy had been kept amused and out +of mischief, and been wholesomely trounced into the bargain! + +The casualties, which were comparatively few, were as follows:-- + + _Killed_:--2nd Royal Highlanders--Captain Eykyn; Lieutenant + Tait. 2nd Seaforth Highlanders--Captain Blair. + + _Wounded_:--2nd Seaforth Highlanders--Captain Studdert, A.S.C. + 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders--Captain Kirk. 9th + Lancers--Second Lieutenant Cavendish; Lieutenant Mackenzie, + R.A.M.C. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[7] Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur John Watson was forty-six years of age. He +entered the army as a sub-lieutenant of the 12th Foot (now the +Berkshires) on August 9, 1873, and received his lieutenancy from the same +date. He was instructor of musketry to the regiment from February 12, +1880, to January 24, 1883, received his company on the 14th of April +following, and, passing the Staff College in 1884, served with the +Bechuanaland Expedition under Sir Charles Warren later in the year, and +from February 17 to October 28, 1885, was brigade-major in Bechuanaland, +being honourably mentioned in dispatches. He was employed on staff +service with the Egyptian army from February 12 to September 7, 1886, +obtaining his major's commission on October 21 following; and in 1888 +served in the Hazara Expedition as brigade-major to the first column +under Brigadier-General Channer, when he was again mentioned in +dispatches, and received the medal with clasp. From July 20, 1889, to +February 20, 1896, he was garrison instructor in Bengal, and deputy +assistant-adjutant-general for instruction in the Punjaub, taking part in +1895 in the operations in the Chitral, accompanying the relief force +under Sir Robert Low, acting as road commandant on the lines of +communication. For his services in this campaign he received his second +medal with clasp. He was gazetted lieutenant-colonel of the Suffolk +Regiment on September 19, 1898. + + + + +APPENDIX + +THE STORY OF SPION KOP. + + +A great deal of consternation and not a little surprise was caused by +the publication of the official account (_London Gazette_, April 16, +1900) of the evacuation of Spion Kop. In order to make intelligible the +causes of the terrible fiasco it is necessary to quote for the benefit +of those interested not only Lord Roberts's comments on the subject, but +the statements of the officers concerned. Sir Redvers Buller, writing +from Spearman's Hill, January 30, 1900, gave his version of the +proceedings:-- + + "I have the honour to report that General Sir Charles Warren's + Division having arrived at Estcourt, less two battalions 10th + Brigade, which were left at the Cape, by the 7th January, it + moved to Frere on the 9th. + + "The column moved as ordered, but torrents of rain fell on the + 9th, which filled all the spruits, and, indeed, rendered many + of them impassable for many hours. To forward supply alone took + 650 ox waggons, and as in the 16 miles from Frere to + Springfield there were three places at which all the waggons + had to be double spanned, and some required three spans, some + idea may be formed of the difficulties; but these were all + successfully overcome by the willing labours of the troops. + + "The 4th Brigade reached Springfield on the 12th in support of + the mounted troops, who had surprised and seized the important + position of Spearman's Hill, commanding Potgieter's Drift, on + the 11th. + + "By the 13th all troops were at Springfield and Spearman's + Hill, and supply was well forward. + + "On the 16th a reserve of seventeen days' supply having been + collected, General Sir Charles Warren, in command of the 2nd + Division, the 11th Brigade of the 5th Division, the Brigade + Division Royal Field Artillery, 5th Division, and certain corps + troops, including the Mounted Brigade, moved from Springfield + to Trichardt's Drift, which is about six miles west of + Potgieter's. + + "I attach Sir Charles Warren's report of his operations. + + "On the night of the 23rd General Warren attacked Spion Kop, + which operation he has made the subject of a special report. On + the morning of the 25th, finding that Spion Kop had been + abandoned in the night, I decided to withdraw General Warren's + force; the troops had been continuously engaged for a week, in + circumstances entailing considerable hardships; there had been + very heavy losses on Spion Kop. I consequently assumed the + command, commenced the withdrawal of the ox and heavy mule + transports on the 25th: this was completed by midday the 26th; + by double spanning, the loaded ox waggons got over the drift at + the rate of about eight per hour. The mule waggons went over + the pontoon bridge, but all the mules had to be taken out and + the vehicles passed over by hand. For about seven hours of the + night the drift could not be used as it was dangerous in the + dark, but the use of the pontoon went on day and night. In + addition to machine guns, six batteries of Royal Field + Artillery and four howitzers, the following vehicles were + passed: ox waggons, 232; 10-span mule waggons, 98; 6-span, 107; + 4 span, 52; total, 489 vehicles. In addition to these the + ambulances were working backwards and forwards evacuating the + sick and wounded. + + "By 2 P.M. the 26th all the ox waggons were over, and by 11.30 + P.M. all the mule transports were across and the bridge clear + for the troops. By 4 A.M. the 27th all the troops were over, + and by 8 A.M. the pontoons were gone and all was clear. The + troops had all reached their new camps by 10 A.M. The marches + averaged for the mounted troops about seven miles, and for the + infantry and artillery an average of five miles. + + "Everything worked without a hitch, and the arrangements + reflected great credit on the Staff of all degrees; but I must + especially mention Major Irwin, R.E., and his men of the + Pontoon Troop, who were untiring. When all men were over, the + chesses of the pontoon bridge were so worn by the traffic that + I do not think they would have lasted another half-hour." + +He concluded by saying:-- + + "Thus ended an expedition which I think ought to have + succeeded. We have suffered very heavy losses, and lost many + whom we can ill spare; but, on the other hand, we have + inflicted as great or greater losses upon the enemy than they + have upon us, and they are, by all accounts, thoroughly + disheartened; while our troops are, I am glad and proud to say, + in excellent fettle." + +Sir Charles Warren's report addressed to the Chief of the Staff, ran +thus:-- + + "On the 8th January field orders were published constituting + the 10th Brigade of the 5th Division a Corps Brigade, and + placing the 4th Brigade in the 5th Division. The 5th Division + thus constituted marched from Frere on the 10th instant, + arriving at Springfield on the 12th instant. + + "On the 15th January I received your secret instructions to + command a force to proceed across the Tugela, near Trichardt's + Drift to the west of Spion Kop, recommending me to proceed + forward, refusing my right (namely) Spion Kop, and bringing my + left forward to gain the open plain north of Spion Kop. This + move was to commence as soon as supplies were all in, and the + 10th Brigade (except two companies) removed from Springfield + Bridge to Spearman's Hill. + + "I was provided with four days' rations with which I was to + cross the Tugela, fight my way round to north of Spion Kop, and + join your column opposite Potgieter's. + + "On the 15th January I made the arrangements for getting + supplies, and moved the 10th Brigade on the following day, and + on the evening of the 16th January I left Springfield with a + force under my command, which amounted to an Army Corps (less + one Brigade), and by a night march arrived at Trichardt's + Drift, and took possession of the hills on the south side of + the Tugela. + + "On the 17th January I threw pontoon bridges across the Tugela, + passed the infantry across by ponts, and captured the hills + immediately commanding the drift on the north side with two + brigades commanded by Generals Woodgate and Hart. The + Commander-in-Chief was present during part of the day, and gave + some verbal directions to General Woodgate. + + "The Mounted Brigade passed over principally by the drift, and + went over the country as far as Acton Homes, and on the + following day (18th) had a successful action with a small party + of Boers, bringing in 31 prisoners. + + "During the night of the 17th, and day of the 18th, the whole + of the waggons belonging to the force were brought across the + Tugela, and the artillery were in position outside of Wright's + Farm. + + "On the 19th two brigades advanced, occupying the slopes of the + adjoining hills on the right, and the waggons were successfully + brought to Venter's Spruit. + + "In the evening, after having examined the possible roads by + which we could proceed, I assembled the General Officers and + the Staff, and the Officer Commanding Royal Artillery, and + Commanding Royal Engineer, and pointed out to them that of the + two roads by which we could advance, the eastern one by Acton + Homes must be rejected, because time would not allow of it, and + with this all concurred. I then pointed out that the only + possible way of all getting through by the road north of Fair + View would be by taking three or four days' food in our + haversacks, and sending all our waggons back across the Tugela, + but before we could do this we must capture the position in + front of us. + + "On the following day, 20th January, I placed two brigades and + six batteries of artillery at the disposal of General Sir C. F. + Clery, with instructions to attack the Boer positions by a + series of outflanking movements, and by the end of the day, + after fighting for twelve hours, we were in possession of the + whole part of the hills, but found a strongly-intrenched line + on the comparatively flat country beyond us. + + "On the 21st the Boers displayed considerable activity on our + left, and the Commander-in-Chief desired me to move two + batteries from right to left. At a subsequent date, during the + day, I found it impossible to proceed without howitzers, and + telegraphed for four from Potgieter's. These arrived early on + the morning of the 22nd, and the Commander-in-Chief, arriving + about the same time, directed me to place two of these + howitzers on the left, two having already been placed on the + right flank. I pointed out to the Commander-in-Chief that it + would be impossible to get waggons through by the road leading + past Fair View, unless we first took Spion Kop, which lies + within about 2000 yards of the road. The Commander-in-Chief + agreed that Spion Kop would have to be taken. Accordingly that + evening orders were drawn up giving the necessary instructions + to General Talbot Coke to take Spion Kop that night, but, owing + to an absence of sufficient reconnaissance, he requested that + the attack might be put off for a day. + + "On the 23rd January the Commander-in-Chief came into camp, the + attack on Spion Kop was decided upon, and Lieut.-Colonel + aCourt, of the Headquarter Staff, was directed by the + Commander-in-Chief to accompany General Woodgate, who was + detailed to command the attacking column. The account of the + capture of Spion Kop is given in another report. + + "On the morning of the 25th January the Commander-in-Chief + arrived, decided to retire the force, and assumed direct + command. The whole of the waggons of the 5th Division were got + down to the drift during the day, and were crossed over before + 2 P.M. on the 26th January." + +In regard to the Council of War, Sir Charles Warren amplified his +previous statement: + + "Upon the 19th of January, on arrival at Venter's Laager, I + assembled all the General Officers, Officers Commanding Royal + Artillery and Royal Engineers of Divisions, and Staff Officers, + together. I pointed out to them that, with the three and a + half (3-1/2) days' provisions allowed, it was impossible to + advance by the left road through Acton Homes. In this they + unanimously concurred. I showed them that the only possible + road was that going over Fair View through Rosalie, but I + expressed my conviction that this could not be done unless we + sent the whole of our transport back across the Tugela, and + attempted to march through with our rations in our + haversacks--without impedimenta." + +Sir Charles then added:-- + + "The hills were cleared on the following day, and very strong + intrenchments found behind them. The Commander-in-Chief was + present on the 21st and 22nd January, and I pointed out the + difficulties of marching along the road, accompanied by + waggons, without first taking Spion Kop. + + "Accordingly, on the night of the 22nd, I ordered General Coke + to occupy Spion Kop. He, however, desired that the occupation + might be deferred for a day in order that he might make a + reconnaissance with the Officers Commanding battalions to be + sent there. + + "On 23rd January the Commander-in-Chief came into camp, and + told me that there were two courses open--(1) to attack, (2) to + retire. I replied that I should prefer to attack Spion Kop to + retiring, and showed the Commander-in-Chief my orders of the + previous day. + + "The Commander-in-Chief then desired that I should put General + Woodgate in command of the expedition, and detailed + Lieutenant-Colonel aCourt to accompany him as Staff Officer. + + "The same evening General Woodgate proceeded with the + Lancashire Fusiliers, the Royal Lancaster Regiment, a portion + of Thorneycroft's Horse, and half-company Royal Engineers, + supported by two companies of the Connaught Rangers and by the + Imperial Light Infantry, the latter having just arrived by + Trichardt's Drift. + + "The attack and capture of Spion Kop was entirely successful. + General Woodgate, having secured the summit on the 24th, + reported that he had intrenched a position and hoped he was + secure, but that the fog was too thick to permit him to see. + The position was rushed without casualties other than three men + wounded. + + "Lieutenant-Colonel aCourt came down in the morning and stated + that everything was satisfactory and secure, and telegraphed to + the Commander-in-Chief to that effect. Scarcely had he started + on his return to headquarters when a heliogram arrived from + Colonel Crofton (Royal Lancaster). The message was, 'Reinforce + at once, or all lost. General dead.' + + "He also sent a similar message to headquarters. I immediately + ordered General Coke to proceed to his assistance, and to take + command of the troops. He started at once, and was accompanied + by the Middlesex and Dorsetshire Regiments. + + "I replied to Colonel Crofton, 'I am sending two battalions, + and the Imperial Light Infantry are on their way up. You must + hold on to the last. No surrender.' + + "This occurred about 10 A.M. + + "Shortly afterwards I received a telegram from the + Commander-in-Chief, ordering me to appoint Lieutenant-Colonel + Thorneycroft to the command of the summit. I accordingly had + heliographed, 'With the approval of the Commander-in-Chief, I + place Lieutenant-Colonel Thorneycroft in command of the summit, + with the local rank of Brigadier-General.' + + "For some hours after this message I could get no information + from the summit. It appears that the signallers and their + apparatus were destroyed by the heavy fire. + + "I repeatedly asked for Colonel Thorneycroft to state his view + of the situation. At 1.20 P.M. I heliographed to ascertain + whether Colonel Thorneycroft had assumed command, and at the + same time asked General Coke to give me his views on the + situation on Spion Kop. Still getting no reply, I asked whether + General Coke was there, and subsequently received his view of + the situation. He stated that, unless the Artillery could + silence the enemy's guns, the men on the summit could not stand + another complete day's shelling, and that the situation was + extremely critical." + +Later on in the evening arrangements were made to send two (Naval) +12-pounders, and the Mountain Battery, Royal Artillery, to the summit, +together with half-company Royal Engineers (and working parties, two +reliefs of 600 men each), to strengthen the intrenchments and provide +shell cover for the men. The 17th Company, Royal Engineers--it must be +noted--proceeded at the same time as General Woodgate's force, and were +employed until daylight upon the intrenchments, then upon road-making +and water supply. + +Sand-bags were sent up early on the 24th instant, but they were too +late. Colonel Sim and his party, while ascending, met Colonel +Thorneycroft descending the hill. The position was evacuated. Sir +Charles Warren concluded thus:-- + + "I wish to bring to notice that I heard from all but one + expression of the admirable conduct and bravery shown by + officers and men suffering under a withering artillery fire on + the summit of the slopes, and also of those who, with so much + endurance, persisted in carrying up water and food and + ammunition to the troops during the day. + + "During the day a Staff Officer of the Headquarter Staff was + present on the summit, and reported direct to the + Commander-in-Chief. + + "At sunset I considered that the position could be held next + day, provided that guns could be mounted and effective shelter + provided. Both of these conditions were about to be fulfilled, + as already mentioned. + + "In the absence of General Coke, whom I ordered to come to + report in person as to the situation, the evacuation took place + under orders, given upon his own responsibility, by + Lieut.-Colonel Thorneycroft. This occurred in the face of the + vigorous protests of General Coke's Brigade-Major, the Officer + commanding the Middlesex Regiment, and others. + + "It is a matter for the Commander-in-Chief to decide whether + there should be an investigation into the question of the + unauthorised evacuation of Spion Kop." + +General Buller, in forwarding to the Secretary of State for War Sir +Charles Warren's report, made the following observations:-- + + "Sir C. Warren is hardly correct in saying that he was only + allowed three and a half days' provisions. I had told him that + transport for three and a half days would be sufficient burden + to him, but that I would keep him filled up as he wanted it. + That he was aware of this is shown by the following telegram + which he sent on the day in question. It is the only report I + had from Sir C. Warren:-- + + (Sent 7.54 P.M. Received 8.15 P.M.) + + 'Left Flank, 19th January. + + 'To the Chief of the Staff-- + + 'I find there are only two roads by which we could + possibly get from Trichardt's Drift to Potgeiter's, on + the north of the Tugela, one by Acton Homes, the other + by Fair View and Rosalie; the first I reject as too + long, the second is a very difficult road for a large + number of waggons, unless the enemy is thoroughly + cleared out. I am, therefore, going to adopt some + special arrangements which will involve my stay at + Venter's Laager for two or three days. I will send in + for further supplies and report progress. WARREN.' + + "The reply to this was that three days' supply was being sent. + + "I went over to Sir C. Warren on the 23rd. I pointed out to him + that I had no further report and no intimation of the special + arrangements foreshadowed by this telegram of the 19th, that + for four days he had kept his men continuously exposed to shell + and rifle fire, perched on the edge of an almost precipitous + hill, that the position admitted of no second line, and the + supports were massed close behind the firing line in + indefensible formations, and that a panic or sudden charge + might send the whole lot in disorder down the hill at any + moment. I said it was too dangerous a situation to be + prolonged, and that he must either attack or I should withdraw + his force. I advocated, as I had previously done, an advance + from his left. He said that he had the night before ordered + General Coke to assault Spion Kop, but the latter had objected + to undertaking a night attack on a position the road to which + he had not reconnoitred, and added that he intended to assault + Spion Kop that night. + + "I suggested that as General Coke was still lame from the + effects of a lately broken leg, General Woodgate, who had two + sound legs, was better adapted for mountain climbing. + + "As no heliograph could, on account of the fire, be kept on the + east side of Spion Kop, messages for Sir C. Warren were + received by our signallers at Spearman and telegraphed to Sir + C. Warren; thus I saw them before he did, as I was at the + signal station. The telegram Sir C. Warren quotes did not give + me confidence in its sender, and at the moment I could see that + our men on the top had given way and that efforts were being + made to rally them. I telegraphed to Sir C. Warren: 'Unless you + put some really good hard fighting man in command on the top + you will lose the hill. I suggest Thorneycroft.' + + "The statement that a staff officer reported direct to me + during the day is a mistake. Colonel aCourt was sent down by + General Woodgate almost as soon as he gained the summit. + + "I have not thought it necessary to order any investigation. If + at sundown the defence of the summit had been taken regularly + in hand, intrenchments laid out, gun emplacements prepared, the + dead removed, the wounded collected, and, in fact, the whole + place brought under regular military command, and careful + arrangements made for the supply of water and food to the + scattered fighting line, the hills would have been held, I am + sure. + + "But no arrangements were made. General Coke appears to have + been ordered away just as he would have been useful, and no one + succeeded him; those on the top were ignorant of the fact that + guns were coming up, and generally there was a want of + organisation and system that acted most unfavourably on the + defence. + + "It is admitted by all that Colonel Thorneycroft acted with the + greatest gallantry throughout the day, and really saved the + situation. Preparations for the second day's defence should + have been organised during the day and have been commenced at + nightfall. + + "As this was not done I think Colonel Thorneycroft exercised a + wise discretion. + + "Our losses, I regret to say, were very heavy, but the enemy + admitted to our doctors that theirs were equally severe, and + though we were not successful in retaining the position, the + losses inflicted on the enemy and the attack generally have had + a marked effect upon them. + + "I cannot close these remarks without bearing testimony to the + gallant and admirable behaviour of the troops, the endurance + shown by the Lancashire Fusiliers, the Middlesex Regiment, and + Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry was admirable, while the + efforts of the 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles and 3rd Battalion + King's Royal Rifles were equally good, and the Royal Lancasters + fought gallantly." + +The Commander-in-Chief, writing to the Secretary of State for War, thus +criticised both operations and operators:-- + + "The plan of operations is not very clearly described in the + despatches themselves, but it may be gathered from them and the + accompanying documents themselves that the original intention + was to cross the Tugela at or near Trichardt's Drift, and + thence by following the road past Fair View and Acton Homes, to + gain the open plain north of Spion Kop, the Boer position in + front of Potgieter's Drift being too strong to be taken by + direct attack. The whole force, less one brigade, was placed + under the orders of Sir Charles Warren, who, the day after he + had crossed the Tugela, seems to have consulted his General and + principal Staff Officers, and to have come to the conclusion + that the flanking movement which Sir Redvers Buller had + mentioned in his secret instructions was impracticable on + account of the insufficiency of supplies. He accordingly + decided to advance by the more direct road leading north-east + and branching off from a point east of Three Tree Hill. The + selection of this road necessitated the capture and retention + of Spion Kop, but whether it would have been equally necessary + to occupy Spion Kop, had the line of advance indicated by Sir + Redvers Buller been followed, is not stated in the + correspondence. As Sir Charles Warren considered it impossible + to make the wide flanking movement which was recommended, if + not actually prescribed, in his secret instructions, he should + at once have acquainted Sir Redvers Buller with the course of + action which he proposed to adopt. There is nothing to show + whether he did so or not, but it seems only fair to Sir Charles + Warren to point out that Sir Redvers Buller appears throughout + to have been aware of what was happening. On several occasions + he was present during the operations. He repeatedly gave advice + to his subordinate Commander, and on the day after the + withdrawal from Spion Kop he resumed the chief command." + +The abandonment of Spion Kop was condemned by Lord Roberts in the +following terms:-- + + "As regards the withdrawal of the troops from the Spion Kop + position, which, though occupied almost without opposition in + the early morning of the 24th January, had to be held + throughout the day under an extremely heavy fire, and the + retention of which had become essential to the relief of + Ladysmith, I regret that I am unable to concur with Sir + Redvers Buller in thinking that Lieut.-Colonel Thorneycroft + exercised a wise discretion in ordering the troops to retire. + Even admitting that due preparations may not have been made for + strengthening the position during the night, reorganising the + defence and bringing up artillery--in regard to which Sir + Charles Warren's report does not altogether bear out Sir + Redvers Buller's contention--admitting also that the senior + officers on the summit of the hill might have been more + promptly informed of the measures taken by Sir Charles Warren + to support and reinforce them, I am of opinion that + Lieut.-Colonel Thorneycroft's assumption of responsibility and + authority was wholly inexcusable. During the night the enemy's + fire, if it did not cease altogether, could not have been + formidable, and though lamp signalling was not possible at the + time owing to the supply of oil having failed, it would not + have taken more than two or three hours at most for + Lieut.-Colonel Thorneycroft to communicate by messenger with + Major-General Coke or Sir Charles Warren, and to receive a + reply. Major-General Coke appears to have left Spion Kop at + 9.30 P.M. for the purpose of consulting with Sir Charles + Warren, and up to that hour the idea of a withdrawal had not + been entertained. Yet almost immediately after Major-General + Coke's departure Lieut.-Colonel Thorneycroft issued an order, + without reference to superior authority, which upset the whole + plan of operations and rendered unavailing the sacrifices which + had already been made to carry it into effect." + +In spite of this somewhat severe criticism, however, Lord Roberts went +on to say:-- + + "On the other hand, it is only right to state that + Lieut.-Colonel Thorneycroft appears to have behaved in a very + gallant manner throughout the day, and it was doubtless due, in + a great measure, to his exertions and example that the troops + continued to hold the summit of the hill until directed to + retire." + +The action of Captain Phillips he warmly praised:-- + + "The conduct of Captain Phillips, Brigade-Major of the 10th + Brigade, on the occasion in question, is deserving of high + commendation. He did his best to rectify the mistake which was + being made, but it was too late. Signalling communication was + not re-established until 2.30 A.M. on the 25th January, and by + that time the Naval guns could not have reached the summit of + the hill before daybreak. Major-General Coke did not return, + and Lieutenant-Colonel Thorneycroft had gone away. Moreover, + most of the troops had begun to leave the hill, and the working + parties, with the half-company of Royal Engineers, had also + withdrawn." + +Briefly the Commander-in-Chief deplored the chaotic state of affairs +prior to the retirement. He said:-- + + "It is to be regretted that Sir Charles Warren did not himself + visit Spion Kop during the afternoon or evening, knowing as he + did that the state of affairs there was very critical, and that + the loss of the position would involve the failure of the + operations. He was, consequently, obliged to summon + Major-General Coke to his headquarters in the evening, in order + that he might ascertain how matters were going on, and the + command on Spion Kop thus devolved on Lieutenant-Colonel + Thorneycroft; but Major-General Coke was not aware of this. + About midday, under instructions from Sir Redvers Buller, Sir + Charles Warren had directed Lieutenant-Colonel Thorneycroft to + assume command on the summit of the hill, with the temporary + rank of Brigadier-General, but this order was not communicated + to Major-General Coke, who, until he left the position at 9.30 + P.M., was under the impression that the command had devolved on + Colonel Hill, as senior officer, after Colonel Crofton had been + wounded. Omissions or mistakes of this nature may be trivial in + themselves, yet may exercise an important influence on the + course of events; and I think that Sir Redvers Buller is + justified in remarking that 'there was a want of organisation + and system which acted most unfavourably on the defence.'" + +In conclusion, the principal actors in the drama were censured, while +the troops engaged received well-merited praise:-- + + "The attempt to relieve Ladysmith, described in these + despatches, was well devised, and I agree with Sir Redvers + Buller in thinking that it ought to have succeeded. That it + failed may, in some measure, be due to the difficulties of the + ground and the commanding positions held by the enemy--probably + also to errors of judgment and want of administrative capacity + on the part of Sir Charles Warren. But whatever faults Sir + Charles Warren may have committed, the failure must also be + ascribed to the disinclination of the officer in supreme + command to assert his authority and see that what he thought + best was done, and also to the unwarrantable and needless + assumption of responsibility by a subordinate officer. + + "The gratifying feature in these despatches is the admirable + behaviour of the troops throughout the operations." + + + + +LIST OF STAFF + + +The following Divisions reached South Africa at the end of 1899 and the +beginning of 1900. + +FIFTH DIVISION + + Lieutenant-General--Lieut.-General Sir C. Warren, G.C.M.G., + K.C.B., R.E. + + Aides-de-Camp--Major R. M. B. F. Kelly, R.A.; Lieut. I. V. + Paton, Royal Scots Fusiliers. + + Assistant Adjutant-General--Colonel A. W. Morris, _p.s.c._ + + Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-Generals--Bt.-Major T. Capper, East + Lancashire Regt., _p.s.c._; Bt.-Major H. N. Sargent, Army + Service Corps. + + Assistant Provost-Marshal--Bt.-Major E. C. J. Williams, East + Kent Regt. + + Principal Medical Officer--Lieut.-Colonel W. B. Allin, M.B., + R.A.M.C. + + Divisional Signalling Officer--Captain A. A. McHardy, R.A. + + + 10TH BRIGADE + + Major-General--Colonel (local Maj.-General) J. T. Coke. + + Aide-de-Camp--Lieut. W. E. Kemble, R.A. + + Brigade-Major--Captain H. G. C. Phillips, Welsh Regt., _p.s.c._ + + + 11TH BRIGADE + + Major-General--Colonel (local Maj.-General) E. R. P. Woodgate, + K.C.M.G., C.B., _p.s.c._ + + Aide-de-Camp--Captain F. M. Carleton, D.S.O., Royal Lancashire + Regt. + + Brigade-Major--Captain N. H. Vertue, East Kent Regt. + + + SIXTH DIVISION + + Lieutenant-General--Major-General (local Lieut.-General) T. + Kelly-Kenny, C.B., _p.s.c._ + + Aides-de-Camp--Major H. I. W. Hamilton, D.S.O., Royal West + Surrey Regt., _p.s.c._; Captain W. H. Booth, East Kent Regt. + + Assistant Adjutant-General--Colonel A. E. W. Goldsmid, _p.s.c._ + + Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-Generals--Major C. C. Monro, Royal + West Surrey Regt., _p.s.c._; Major J. E. Caunter, Lancashire + Fusiliers, _p.s.c._ + + Assistant Provost-Marshal--Major M. G. Wilkinson, King's Own + Scottish Borderers. + + Principal Medical Officer--Lieut.-Colonel W. L. Gubbins, M.B., + R.A.M.C. + + Divisional Signalling Officer--Lieut. J. T. Burnett-Stuart, + Rifle Brigade. + + + 12TH BRIGADE + + Major-General--Colonel (local Maj.-General) R. A. P. Clements, + D.S.O., A.D.C. + + Aide-de-Camp--Captain H. de C. Moody, South Wales Borderers. + + Brigade-Major--Captain R. S. Oxley, King's Royal Rifle Corps, + _p.s.c._ + + + 13TH BRIGADE + + Major-General--Colonel (local Maj.-General) C. E. Knox. + + Aide-de-Camp--Captain O. H. E. Marescaux, Shropshire Light + Infantry. + + Brigade-Major--Captain R. W. Thompson, North Lancashire Regt., + _p.s.c._ + + + SEVENTH DIVISION + + Lieutenant-General--Major-General (local Lieut.-General) C. + Tucker, C.B. Aides-de-Camp-- + + Assistant Adjutant-General--Colonel H. E. Belfield, _p.s.c._ + + Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-Generals--Brevet-Major H. G. Fitton, + D.S.O., Royal Berkshire Regt., _p.s.c._; Lieut.-Colonel H. G. + Rice, Army Service Corps. + + Assistant Provost-Marshal--Brevet-Major F. Wintour, Royal West + Kent Regt., _p.s.c._ + + Principal Medical Officer--Lieut.-Colonel J. A. Gormley, M.D., + R.A.M.C. + + Divisional Signalling Officer--Captain J. R. K. Birch, Cheshire + Regt. + + + 14TH BRIGADE + + Major-General--Major-General Sir H. C. Chermside, G.C.M.G., + C.B., R.E. + + Aide-de-Camp--Captain E. FitzG. M. Wood, Devonshire Regt. + + Brigade-Major--Captain W. M. Marter, 1st Dragoon Guards, + _p.s.c._ + + + 15TH BRIGADE + + Major-General--Colonel (local Maj.-General) A. G. Wavell, + _p.s.c._ + + Brigade-Major--Captain L. R. Carleton, Essex Regt., _p.s.c._ + + + + +END OF VOL. III. + + + + + Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO. + Edinburgh & London + + + + +TRANSCRIBERS' NOTES + + + General : Corrections to punctuation have not been individually + documented + Page 5: "enroll" standardised to "enrol" after "forward in crowds to" + Page 15: "Divison" corrected to "Division" after "the Sixth" + Page 30: Variant spelling "via" not standardised as part of a + quotation + Page 31: "bombproof" standardised to "bomb-proof" after "burrowing + like rabbits, or in" + Page 55: "Jaysfontein" corrected to "Jasfontein" after "away from a + farm at" + Page 56: "Zoutspansdrift" corrected to "Zoutpansdrift" after "in the + direction of Kamak and" + Page 56: "Naauwport" corrected to "Naauwpoort" after "lot of those + around" + Page 58: "Naauwport" corrected to "Naauwpoort" after "The inhabitants + of" + Page 71: "bloodthirsty" standardised to "blood-thirsty" after "They + proved to be not" + Page 71: "farm-house" standardised to "farmhouse" after "bivouacked at + the" + Page 73: "horse-shoe" as in the original. Not standardised as this is + an adjectival usage + Page 77: "look-out" standardised to "lookout" after "They employed" + Page 78: "Koodoosberg" corrected to "Koodoesberg" after "troops from + Barkly and" + Page 85: "bloodstained" standardised to "blood-stained" after "the + eyes of those who," + Page 86: "gantlet" as in the original + Page 92: "Divsion" corrected to "Division" after "Second" + Page 96: "POTGEITER'S" corrected to "POTGIETER'S" after "THE CROSSING + OF" + Page 99: "Carbineers" corrected to "Carabineers" after "one squadron + Natal" + Page 108: "roast" corrected to "roost" after "We shall be rulers of + the" + Page 123: "head-quarters" standardised to "headquarters" after "some + even reaching" + Page 134: "Blomfontein" corrected to "Bloemfontein" after "Steyn and + Kruger dated" + Page 148: "rough-riders" standardised to "roughriders" after "despatch + of 500 expert" + Page 174: "Naauwport" corrected to "Naauwpoort" after "thirty-seven + miles north of" + Page 179: "sandstorms" standardised to "sand-storms" after "These" + Page 182: "Ochtertang" corrected to "Achtertang" after "reconnoitring + towards" + Page 185: "unusally" corrected to "unusually" after "Boer movements + rendered" + Page 194: "Sandbags" standardised to "Sand-bags" before "were sent up + early" + Page 195: "Potgeiter's" as in the original. Left as part of a + quotation. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 3 (of 6) +by Louis Creswicke + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOUTH AFRICA *** + +***** This file should be named 36866.txt or 36866.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/8/6/36866/ + +Produced by Brownfox and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images generously made available by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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