Chapter I: Front Matter

LONDON TO LADYSMITH VIA PRETORIA

BY

WINSTON SPENCER CHURCHILL

AUTHOR OF
'THE STORY OF THE MALAKAND FIELD FORCE, 1897',
'THE RIVER WAR: AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
RECONQUEST OF THE SOUDAN',
'SAVROLA: A ROMANCE'

LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON
NEW YORK AND BOMBAY
1900

DEDICATION

THIS COLLECTION OF LETTERS IS INSCRIBED TO

THE STAFF OF THE
NATAL GOVERNMENT RAILWAY

WHOSE CAREFUL AND COURAGEOUS DISCHARGE OF THEIR
EVERY-DAY DUTIES
AMID THE PERILS OF WAR
HAS MADE THEM HONOURABLY CONSPICUOUS
EVEN AMONG THEIR FELLOW COLONISTS

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

This small book is mainly a personal record of my adventures and impressions during the first five months of the African War. It may also be found to give a tolerably coherent account of the operations conducted by Sir Redvers Buller for the Relief of Ladysmith. The correspondence of which it is mainly composed appeared in the columns of the _Morning Post_ newspaper, and I propose, if I am not interrupted by the accidents of war, to continue the series of letters. The stir and tumult of a camp do not favour calm or sustained thought, and whatever is written herein must be regarded simply as the immediate effect produced by men powerfully moved, and scenes swiftly changing upon what I hope is a truth-seeking mind.

The fact that a man's life depends upon my discretion compels me to omit an essential part of the story of my escape from the Boers; but if the book and its author survive the war, and when the British flag is firmly planted at Bloemfontein and Pretoria, I shall hasten to fill the gap in the narrative.

WINSTON S. CHURCHILL.
_March 10, 1900_.

CONTENTS

I. STEAMING SOUTH
R.M.S. 'Dunottar Castle,' October 26 and October 29, 1899

II. THE STATE OF THE GAME
Capetown; November 1, 1899

III. ALONG THE SOUTHERN FRONTIER
East London: November 5, 1899

IV. IN NATAL
Estcourt: November 6, 1899

V. A CRUISE IN THE ARMOURED TRAIN
Estcourt: November 9, 1899

VI. DISTANT GUNS
Estcourt: November 10, 1899

VII. THE FATE OF THE ARMOURED TRAIN
Pretoria: November 20, 1899

VIII. PRISONERS OF WAR
Pretoria: November 24, 1899

IX. THROUGH THE DUTCH CAMPS
Pretoria: November 30, 1899

X. IN AFRIKANDER BONDS
Pretoria: December 3, 1899

XI. I ESCAPE FROM THE BOERS
Lourenço Marques: December 22, 1899

XII. BACK TO THE BRITISH LINES
Frere: December 24, 1899

XIII. CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
Frere: January 4, 1900

XIV. A MILITARY DEMONSTRATION AND SOME GOOD NEWS
Chieveley: January 8, 1900

XV. THE DASH FOR POTGIETER'S FERRY
Spearman's Hill: January 13, 1900

XVI. TRICHARDT'S DRIFT AND THE AFFAIR OF ACTON HOMES
Venter's Spruit: January 22, 1900

XVII. THE BATTLE OF SPION KOP
Venter's Spruit: January 25, 1900

XVIII. THROUGH THE FIVE DAYS' ACTION
Venter's Spruit: January 25, 1900

XIX. A FRESH-EFFORT AND AN ARMY CHAPLAIN
Spearman's Hill: February 4, 1900

XX. THE COMBAT OF VAAL KRANTZ
General Buller's Headquarters: February 9, 1900

XXI. HUSSAR HILL
General Buller's Headquarters: February 15, 1900

XXII. THE ENGAGEMENT OF MONTE CRISTO
Cingolo Neck: February 19, 1900

XXIII. THE PASSAGE OF THE TUGELA
Hospital-ship 'Maine': March 4, 1900

XXIV. THE BATTLE OF PIETERS: THE THIRD DAY
Hospital-ship 'Maine': March 5, 1900

XXV. UPON MAJUBA DAY
Commandant's Office, Durban: March 6, 1900

XXVI. THE RELIEF OF LADYSMITH
Commandant's Office, Durban: March 9, 1900

XXVII. AFTER THE SIEGE
Durban: March 10, 1900