Chapter IV: The Great Advance4

The evil effects of British leniency became still more evident. A hostile society had been organised in Bloemfontein for the purpose of communicating with the enemy and arming surreptitiously at the neighbouring farms. Spies carried news of the British movements, and messengers came in and out under pretext of bringing their goods to market. In short, it was discovered that the outlying farmers were developing into secret-service agents, and were, moreover, lending themselves to the atrocious practice of flying white flags for the purpose of firing at short ranges at unwary patrols. It was found necessary to meet such duplicity with stern reprisals, and following the example set by Moltke in '71, when it was incumbent on him to protect his communications from _franc-tireurs_, it was decided that strongest measures must be resorted to to prevent abuse of confidence in the future. Lord Roberts had tried magnanimity and it had failed. He now determined that a severe course must be adopted by which offenders in future might be made to suffer for acts of duplicity in property and in person. Accordingly, no one was permitted to pass in and out of Bloemfontein, the enemy was deprived of their horses in order that their activity in despatch riding might be limited, and the discovery of hidden cartridges or suspicious documents were in future to be looked upon as sufficient to convict. Various residents in the town were tried on charges of concealing arms and ammunition, and sentenced to a year's imprisonment respectively, while their property was confiscated. These examples were productive of almost instantaneous good result, for unprecedented supplies were pouring into Bloemfontein. General Pole-Carew, who returned to the capital on the 29th of April, had done wonderful work in correcting the abuses that early leniency had brought about. Wherever farmers who had made their submission were discovered to be again fighting, their property had been confiscated. Forage had been taken and receipts given as a rule, thus preventing the surrounding farms from becoming depôts for the enemy. Such precautions adopted earlier would have averted many bloody tussles and much inconvenience and loss of time, for _sans_ forage the raiding capabilities of the various commandos would have been sorely handicapped.

However, even chieftains may live and learn, and Lord Roberts applied himself quickly to the lesson that was forced on him by the ingratitude of the conquered. At the same time the last strokes were being put to the preparations for the great onward march. The regiments were exchanging their tattered and battered cotton khaki for woollen suits, wherewith to meet the change of season, and their soleless boots were being replaced by new ones. All this transmogrification was not to be accomplished in haste, for the same reason that made it impossible to bring up necessaries for the hospital. The line of rail was groaning with the enormous bulk of provisions needful to sustain the bare life of the force, and consequently such matters as raiment and equipment had to take a secondary place among the urgent needs of the moment. General Pole-Carew's Division, after a hard bout of fighting, no sooner returned than it made ready to engage in the pending operations.

The day being Sunday (the 29th), the Field-Marshal, accompanied by Lady Roberts and their daughter, attended divine service at the Cathedral, a last family reunion previous to setting off on the unknown--the great march to Pretoria. At that time none could guess what form of resistance the burghers of Johannesburg and Pretoria might take it into their heads to offer, and fearful threats to stagger humanity by blowing up the mines and committing various other acts of barbarism were bruited abroad.

Fever still raged in the town, and as many as 3000 patients were said to be in hospital. The outburst of sickness, due in the first instance to the polluted conditions surrounding Cronje's camp at Paardeberg, was accelerated by the lack of water after the affair at Koorn Spruit, when the triumphant Boers captured and disabled the waterworks and deprived the town of pure water, leaving the population dependent for drinking-water on wells which, in many cases, were merely sinks of abomination.

Nevertheless, the red business of war had to be pursued at all costs, and May Day was kept in martial manner. With dawn came the music of bands innumerable and inspiriting, and the mighty clangour of armed men, of clamping steeds, of rolling waggons. Pole-Carew and his division were starting for Karee Siding, _en route_ for the great, it was hoped, the final move! In the market-square, to watch the march past of the brigade of goodly Guardsman, of stalwart Welsh, Warwick, Essex, and York regiments, stood Lord Roberts, Lady Roberts, and their daughter. It was a grand though workmanly spectacle, the bearded veterans in their woollen khaki being laden with blankets, macintoshes, haversacks, and in some cases, countrymen's bandanna bundles stocked with good things. Though this may be looked on as the beginning of the general exodus, the Chief himself did not move till later.

Photo by Johnston & Hoffmann, Simla]

Before starting off Lord Roberts made elaborate arrangements for simultaneous movement in other parts of the theatre of war. Wepener relieved, Hart's Brigade was sent to join Barton's at Kimberley. At that place there was therefore the complete Tenth Division under General Hunter, and Lord Methuen's redistributed division comprising the brigades under Generals Douglas and Paget. Elsewhere, wheel was arranged to move within wheel.

Lord Roberts's programme seemed simple enough--on paper. He, with a portion of his army, the Seventh and Eleventh Divisions, intended to advance with speed and on the broadest front possible, hugging the railway line (astride which the Boer positions were sure to be found), till he should have reached the capital of the Transvaal and struck a blow which should destroy the arrogant hopes of President Kruger and demonstrate to the Boers the futility of further resistance. At the same time, on the east of the line, a strong detachment was to keep an eye on the hovering hordes of Dutchmen which still lingered there, while further still, Sir Redvers Buller was to advance along the railway from Ladysmith, and if possible to join hands with the main army later on during the operations. Simultaneously, on the west, the relief of Mafeking was to be attempted by a flying column, while both Hunter's and Methuen's divisions in support acted in concert, and further held themselves in readiness to advance and join in the general operations should occasion demand.

The main army, consisting of the Seventh and Eleventh Divisions, was to march, as said, on the broadest possible front; the left wing--the cavalry under General French--to proceed in advance over the open country; while the right wing, also in advance, commanded by General Ian Hamilton, was to perform a sweeping movement throughout the Boer-haunted regions along the Winburg, Ventersburg, and Kroonstadt roads, and threaten in turn the defensive positions of the foe, forcing them everywhere to choose between investment or retreat.

The troops acting in concert with Lord Roberts in his second great advance were distributed as follows:--

_Commanding-in-chief_--FIELD-MARSHAL LORD ROBERTS.

SEVENTH DIVISION.

Lieutenant-General G. TUCKER.

14th Brigade (Major-General J. G. Maxwell).

2nd Norfolk.
2nd Lincoln.
1st King's Own Scottish Borderers.
2nd Hants.

15th Brigade (Major-General A. G. Wavell).

2nd Cheshire.
1st East Lancashire.
2nd South Wales Borderers.
2nd North Stafford.

18th, 62nd, 75th Field Batteries.
9th Company Royal Engineers.

NINTH DIVISION.

Lieutenant-General Sir H. E. COLVILLE.

(Temporarily broken up.)

3rd Brigade (Major-General H. A. MacDonald).

1st Argyll and Sutherland.
2nd Seaforth Highlanders.
2nd Royal Highlanders (Black Watch).

ELEVENTH DIVISION.

Lieutenant-General R. POLE-CAREW.

1st Brigade (Major-General Inigo R. Jones).

3rd Grenadier Guards.
1st Coldstream Guards.
2nd Coldstream Guards.
1st Scots Guards.

18th Brigade (Major-General T. E. Stephenson).

1st Essex.
1st Yorkshire.
1st Welsh.
2nd Royal Warwickshire.

83rd, 84th, and 85th Field Batteries.

CAVALRY DIVISION.

Lieutenant-General J. D. P. FRENCH.

1st Brigade (Brigadier-General T. C. Porter).

6th Dragoon Guards.
6th Dragoons.
2nd Dragoons.

2nd Brigade (Brigadier-General R. G. Broadwood).

10th Hussars.
12th Lancers.
Household Cavalry.

3rd Brigade (Brigadier-General J. R. P. Gordon).

9th Lancers.
16th Lancers.
17th Lancers.

4th Brigade (Major-General J. B. B. Dickson).

7th Dragoon Guards.
8th Hussars.
14th Hussars.

G, J, O, P, Q, R, T, U Batteries Horse Artillery.

MOUNTED INFANTRY DIVISION.

Lieutenant-General IAN HAMILTON.

1st Brigade (Major-General E. T. H. Hutton).

1st Corps (Colonel E. A. H. Alderson).

1st Canadian Mounted Rifles.
2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles.
Lord Strathcona's Corps.
One Battalion Imperial Mounted Infantry.

2nd Corps (Colonel de Lisle).

New South Wales Mounted Infantry.
West Australian Mounted Infantry.

3rd Corps (Colonel T. D. Pilcher).

Queensland Mounted Infantry.
New Zealand Mounted Infantry.
One Battalion Imperial Mounted Infantry.

4th Corps (Colonel Henry).

Victorian Mounted Infantry.
South Australian Mounted Infantry.
Tasmanian Mounted Infantry.
One Battalion Imperial Mounted Infantry.

2nd Brigade (Major-General Ridley).

South African Irregulars Mounted Infantry.
Several Batteries Artillery.

INFANTRY DIVISION.

(Temporarily attached to Mounted Infantry Division.)

Major-General H. L. Smith-Dorrien.

19th Brigade (Colonel J. Spens).

2nd Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.
2nd Shropshire Light Infantry.
1st Gordon Highlanders.
Canadian Regiment.

21st Brigade (Major-General Bruce Hamilton).

1st Derbyshire.
1st Royal Sussex.
1st Cameron Highlanders.
City Imperial Volunteers.

EIGHTH DIVISION.

Lieutenant-General Sir H. M. L. RUNDLE.

16th Brigade (Major-General B. B. D. Campbell).

2nd Grenadier Guards.
2nd Scots Guards.
2nd East Yorks.
1st Leinster.

17th Brigade (Major-General J. E. Boyes).

1st Worcester.
2nd Royal West Kent.
1st South Stafford.
2nd Manchester.

Brigade Division Royal Field Artillery.
5th Company Royal Engineers.

THIRD DIVISION.

Lieutenant-General Sir H. G. CHERMSIDE.

22nd Brigade (Major-General R. E. Allen).

2nd Royal Irish Rifles.
2nd Northumberland Fusiliers.
1st Royal Scots.
2nd Berkshire.

23rd Brigade (Major-General W. G. Knox).

(Composition not known.)

74th, 77th, and 79th Field Batteries.

COLONIAL DIVISION.

Major-General BRABANT.

Cape Mounted Rifles.
Kaffrarian Mounted Rifles.
Montmorency's Scouts (200).
Brabant's Horse (1200).
Border Horse.
Frontier Mounted Rifles.
Queenstown Volunteers.
Cape Garrison Artillery.
Two naval 12-pounders.

SIXTH DIVISION.

Lieutenant-General T. KELLY-KENNY.

12th Brigade (Major-General Clements).

2nd Worcestershire.
2nd Bedfordshire.
2nd Wiltshire.
1st Royal Irish Regiment.

13th Brigade (Major-General C. E. Knox).

2nd East Kent.
1st Oxfordshire Light Infantry.
1st West Riding.
2nd Gloucester.

76th, 81st, and 82nd Field Batteries.
38th Company Royal Engineers.

OTHER TROOPS WITH LORD ROBERTS.

(Brigades not known.)

Highland Light Infantry.
1st Suffolk.
Roberts's Horse.
Kitchener's Horse.
Marshall's Horse (Grahamstown Volunteers).
1st Battalion Imperial Yeomanry.
4th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry.
7th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry.
8th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry.
11th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry.
C.I.V. Mounted Infantry.
Ceylon Mounted Infantry.
Lumsden's Horse.
Lord Loch's Horse.

43rd, 65th, 86th, and 87th Howitzer Batteries.
2nd, 5th, 8th, 9th, 17th, 38th, 39th, 68th, and 88th Field Batteries.
Eight naval 4.7-in. guns.
Part of Siege Train.

The advance may be said really to have commenced on the 30th of April, with the departure on the one hand of General Ian Hamilton from Thabanchu, followed rapidly on the other by General French. The Field-Marshal, as stated, did not move for a day or two later. When he did so, events succeeded each other with the precision of clockwork. The hundred and twenty miles from Bloemfontein to Kroonstadt was accomplished in a fortnight, and may be described as an almost bloodless progress. Many glorious deeds were done, and some lives were lost; but this march must be looked on as a whole, and not viewed in detail. There were at least no decisive battles. Every step, marvellously organised and magnificently carried out, became a development of the pushing-on system by a species of skilfully devised military pressure from all parts. The enemy was driven from point to point, now fighting, now retreating, destroying water-tanks and pumping adjuncts, blowing up bridges and twisting rails, as a natural consequence of his spite; while the British, sprayed out over the country, made an almost triumphal progress, routing the enemy from every stronghold, and capturing waggons and prisoners by the way.

Brandfort, whither the Boers had departed after the battle of Karree, was occupied by Lord Roberts on the 3rd of May, the Boers, under General Delarey, vacating their strongholds south of the town and retreating towards the north-east. Brandfort is merely a village situated some thirty-six miles north of Bloemfontein, and owes its importance to the fact that it is situated on the direct road to Kroonstadt.

A reconnaissance was made there some four days previous to the advance, when a grievous though heroical incident took place, which cannot be overlooked, as it serves to show the stuff of which the men of Lumsden's Horse were made. Some twenty-five of the Behar Section, who were holding a detached kopje during the reconnaissance, were surrounded and fired on in their isolated position by some 200 Boers. The officer commanding (Lieutenant Crane) was almost instantly wounded, so also was Sergeant-Major Marsham. Two gallant troopers, Case and Firth, though well aware that they were outnumbered and that surrender in the circumstances would be justifiable, refused to desert their officer, though ordered by him to do so, and continued valiantly to fire till they themselves dropped dead, a sacrifice to their own gallantry. Nor were the rest of the band less remarkable for "grit," for out of the small number holding the kopje nine were wounded and five killed! It was hoped on the arrival of the army at Brandfort that the wounded prisoners might be recovered, but it was afterwards found that the Boers had removed them.

To return to the main advance. The town was occupied without serious opposition, as the Dutch hosts, some 4000 of them, who had declared their intention of fighting to the bitter end, simply melted away under pressure of the cleverly combined movement. The force had been preceded overnight by two battalions of Guards, who were deputed to hold a menacing kopje, which mounted guard over a spruit, known to be a favourable harbourage for the enemy. As a natural consequence of this skilful preparation, the Boers were forced to resign their comfortable hiding-place, and the army was enabled to advance in safety. The 1st Brigade of Mounted Infantry (Hutton) covered the left flank, and 14th Brigade of the Seventh Division (Maxwell) supported by the 15th Brigade (Wavell) covered the right flank. General Pole-Carew's Division marched in the centre, General Inigo Jones on the right, and General Stephenson on the left.

General Maxwell encountered the enemy, who, posted in a good position, attacked him with two guns, which eventually were silenced by the British artillery. He then succeeded in sending the whole of the eastern force scudding towards the north, while General Hutton on his side, making an unusual detour, and assisted by No. 9 Field Battery and Colonel Alderson with his smart Colonials, prepared a little surprise, and contrived so to pound and harass the enemy on the hill commanding the town, that their valour, chastened by discretion and shrapnel, subsided, and they scurried away across the plains, thus leaving the coast clear. Several prisoners were captured, among them the commandant of the town, who had returned there for the purpose of destroying the instruments at the telegraph office. Among the defending force was the Irish-American Contingent, a riotous crew, who, according to the townsfolk, must have been to the Boers more bother than they were worth. During the engagement Captain Williams (2nd Hampshire Regiment) was wounded.

On the 4th, the Mounted Infantry, under General Hutton, covering a front of ten miles, proceeded on their way, reconnoitred up to the Vet River, and meanwhile cleared the rail of such Boer stragglers as happened to be hanging about, as far as Eensgevonden, where they bivouacked. They were followed the next day by the rest of the force, all branches of which had been in communication by heliograph.

At dawn on the 5th, the river was found by the West Australians to be held by the enemy. The guns advanced, and a fierce artillery duel followed, in which the 84th and 85th Batteries had some exciting experiences, and escaped as by a miracle without injury. Later on, two naval 12-pounders assisted them, and there was warm work till sunset, the Boers on the opposite bank fighting with rare obstinacy, and only desisting occasionally the better to leap to the attack. Meanwhile on the left, the sound of General Hutton's further operations could be heard. Having endeavoured to find a drift to the west, this officer encountered the enemy in possession, and was greeted by a duet from a hostile Maxim and a pom-pom. This presently developed into a quartet, the British galloping Maxim and a pom-pom taking so prominent a part that presently the Boers, concealed in the bed of the river, began to feel uncomfortable. News had come in to the Chief at mid-day that the enemy meant to hold the Vet River, and was there located with the necessary equipment of field-guns and Mausers, and that he was already in touch with Hutton's Brigade on the left. The army, taking advantage of such daylight as remained, moved on, and presently, across the river, and on the distant hills, blue-grey smoke in panting puffs bespoke the activities of the Colonials. To their assistance went naval guns, great and small, carrying messages of fuming green horror to the other side of the water. While this was taking place the Canadians and Tasmanians were grandly fighting their way across the river, and the gallant New Zealanders, taking their share, plunged into the midst of the Boers and scattered them from a kopje they were holding, themselves paying dearly the penalty of triumph. They were afterwards supported by two companies of the Guards. The Dutchmen eventually were routed from their positions south of the river, and General Hutton succeeded in turning the enemy's right, and establishing himself the next day on the north bank. The only officer wounded in General Pole-Carew's Division was Lieutenant the Hon. M. Parker, Grenadier Guards. General Hutton's operations had been entirely successful, some forty Boers had been put out of action, twelve prisoners and a Maxim were captured with comparatively small loss to the entire force. The Boer horde, which had left its position by the river, now congregated some ten miles off, with a view to the protection of the main body of the foe, who were falling back on Kroonstadt.

The turning movement was declared to be an admirable feat, executed admirably by the Canadians, New South Wales, New Zealand Rifles, and the Queensland Mounted Infantry, whose dash and daring were much eulogised. The first phase of the general advance was promising well. Lord Roberts, according to his plan, had cleared and engaged the south-eastern districts with such celerity that the enemy had not been given breathing time to concentrate in front of the advancing force. On the 6th the British Army crossed the Vet River and encamped at Smaldeel Junction, where many of the Dutchmen, confessing themselves sick of the war, surrendered. The rest of the enemy was in swift retreat in the direction of Zand River and Kroonstadt, where it was thought they would make a final stand. They took care, however, to damage the rail. Rackarock, placed at intervals on the line, was discovered by a Westralian Mounted Infantryman. The force captured a Maxim gun and twenty-five prisoners. Meanwhile, General Ian Hamilton had occupied Winburg. But of his march anon. The following days, the 7th and 8th, there was a halt for two days. The object of the halt was to enable the cavalry to return from Bloemfontein, and take its place in the original combined scheme of operations as described, and also to allow of the completion of certain necessary work on the railway. On the 8th, General French with his cavalry, forming the left wing of the advancing army, reached Smaldeel. It was doubtful whether the Federals intended to dispute the passage of the Zand River, but Hutton to right and Broadwood to left reconnoitred, and it was found that both Delarey and Botha, with some sixteen guns between them, were posted on the north bank in the direct line of the main advance, and therefore the British troops might prepare for stiff work.

Reports now came in that the enemy was hurrying back from the Zand to the Vaal though some of the burghers, the Free State ones, remained and delivered up rifles and horses to the British authorities. They had decided to break with the Transvaalers on the border of their territory. While the halt was taking place, there was activity elsewhere. A strong force from Chermside's Division, on the 3rd, had garrisoned Wepener under Lord Castletown, who was appointed Commissioner for the Wepener district, and General Brabant's Colonial Division had moved to Thabanchu, where it arrived on the 7th. On the 9th, Lord Roberts drew in his right column, and concentrated his whole force in the neighbourhood of Welgelegen, some seven miles south of the Zand River. The march of General Ian Hamilton to this point now claims attention.

FROM THABANCHU TO WINBURG AND WELGELEGEN

(GENERAL IAN HAMILTON)

On the 30th of April General Ian Hamilton was marching north with a view to making his way to Winburg _via_ the Jacobsrust Road. His force consisted of cavalry, including Broadwood's mounted infantry, Smith-Dorrien's, Bruce Hamilton's, and Ridley's commands. His progress was blocked by Botha, who, having been driven northward from Thabanchu, now turned at bay and planted himself firmly on Thaba Mountain, and across the road towards Houtnek. The centre and left of his position seemed almost impregnable, therefore the right, as the weakest point, was chosen for attack. The mounted infantry made for the stronghold, and Smith-Dorrien, with part of his brigade, followed in support--all the troops pushing their way towards the objective under the ferocious fire of the foe. The Boers, seeing the designs of the British, made valiant efforts to retain the hill, and continual reinforcements came to their aid, rendering the task of our advancing troops more and more dangerous. At this time, the fight growing momentarily warmer, and the struggle for possession of the vantage point more and more intense, Captain Towse (Gordon Highlanders) with twelve of his men and a few of Kitchener's Horse managed to gain the top, but in so doing suddenly found himself and his diminutive band removed from support. At this critical juncture a party of some 150 Boers approached, intending also to seize the plateau occupied by the small band of Scotsmen, and came within 100 yards of the Highlanders without either observing them or being observed by them. But, no sooner were the Dutchmen aware of the existence of the British, and of their small number and their apparent helplessness, than they promptly called on them to surrender. "Surrender?" cried Captain Towse in a voice of thunder, and instantly ordered his men to open fire! The blood of Scotland was up. The command was quickly obeyed, and the lion-hearted little band not only fired, but led by their splendid officer charged fiercely with the bayonet straight into the thick mass of Dutchmen. A moment of uproar, of amazement, and then--flying heels. The valorous Highlanders had succeeded, despite their inferior numbers, in driving off the hostile horde and taking possession of the plateau! But, unfortunately, the magnificent daring of the commanding officer had cost him almost more than life. A shot across the eyes shattered them, blinding him, and thus depriving her Majesty's Service of one of its noblest ornaments.

But the great work was accomplished--and the summit of the hill was gained and kept. The Dutchmen elsewhere, in vast masses, were fighting hard with guns and pom-poms, and at close of day had assumed so threatening an attitude that General French was telegraphed for, and the troops were ordered to sleep on the ground they had gained, and prepare to renew the attack at dawn. General French arrived from Thabanchu the same night, and next morning (the 1st of May) hostilities were resumed.

Again the enemy, led by Botha, fought doggedly, even brilliantly, but the troops, after some warm fighting, succeeded in routing him and forcing a passage to the north. In the operations General Hamilton was assisted by Broadwood's brigade of cavalry and the 8th Hussars under Colonel Clowes, whose gallantry helped to harass the enemy's rear and forced them eventually to evacuate their position. Bruce Hamilton's brigade of infantry also did excellent work. The final stroke to the enemy's rout was effected by the Gordons and Canadians, and two companies of the Shropshire Light Infantry. These came within 200 yards of the foe, and with a ringing cheer launched themselves boldly at the Dutchmen's front--so boldly, so dashingly indeed, that at the sheer hint of the coming collision the Boers had scampered. Promptly the 8th Hussars charged into the flying fugitives, and forty prisoners were "bagged." Guns were then galloped on the evacuated position and shells were sent after the dispersing hordes.

The enemy lost twelve killed and forty wounded. Among the former was a German officer and two Frenchmen, and among the latter a Russian who commanded the Foreign Legion. The British wounded were Captain Lord Kensington, Household Cavalry; Major H. Alexander, 10th Hussars; Captain A. Hart, 1st East Surrey Regiment; Captain Buckle, 2nd Royal West Kent. Captain Cheyne, Kitchener's Horse, was missing.

WEST SURREY
(Adjutant)

EAST SURREY
(Sergeant-Major)

Photo by Gregory & Co., London]

On the 2nd, after the dashing assault of the Thaba plateau and defeat of the Boers, a day's halt was ordered at Jacobsrust, as General Hamilton's force had been incessantly fighting for over ten days. Lord Roberts's plan in the Free State was now nearly complete. His proposition was to hold with an adequate force the whole of the front from left to right--from Karee Siding, Krantz Kraal, Springfield, the Waterworks, Thabanchu, Leeuw River Mills, and Ladybrand--thus pressing the Boers steadily up and up, till resistance should be pushed to the narrowest limits. Fighting here and there continued, but the sweeping process preparatory to the great forward move was being very thoroughly accomplished. Reinforcements now arrived, and General Hamilton's force, which in reference to Lord Roberts's advance took its place as the army of the right flank, was composed as follows:--

Infantry {19th Brigade } Smith-Dorrien.
{21st Brigade } Bruce Hamilton.

Cavalry 2nd Cavalry Brigade Broadwood.

{ 3 Batteries F.A. }
Artillery { 2 Batteries H.A. } Waldron.
{ 2 5-in. Guns }

On the 4th the enemy, ubiquitous, were found again in great numbers at Roelofsfontein. They formed a barrier to the onward passage of the troops, and approaching them with a view to strengthening that barrier came more Boers fleeing from Brandfort. There was no time to be lost, so, with prodigious haste General Broadwood with two squadrons of Guards Cavalry and two of the 10th Hussars galloped to the scene, and threw a formidable wedge between the allies. Thereupon such Boers as were hastening to fill the gap came into collision with the cavalry. These, supported by Kitchener's Horse, who had dashed nimbly into the fray, succeeded in defeating the Dutchmen and forcing them back discomfited. Their neatly arranged plan of campaign had failed, and realising the impossibility of joining forces, the Boers set spurs to their horses and made for the drift, speeded in their mad career by shells from the batteries of the Horse Artillery. But the brilliant cavalry feat was costly. Lord Airlie, whose dash and daring had continually almost approached recklessness, was injured, so also was Lieutenant the Hon. C. H. Wyndham, while Lieutenant Rose (Royal Horse Guards), the gallant A.D.C. to the late General Symons, was mortally wounded. The unfortunate officer was felled with many bullets from some sharpshooters who were marking the crest of the ridge held by the British. Most of the losses were sustained by the cavalry, whose splendid action saved much time and possibly many fierce engagements on the line of march.

A Scots colonist who owned an estate near Winburg, which had the misfortune to be situated in the very midst of the belligerents, gave an interesting account of the days directly preceding the occupation of Winburg, when a series of conflicts had been taking place along the road from Thabanchu. From the 2nd of May and onwards small parties of fleeing Boers and German free-lances had been seen escaping from the British and seeking cover in the kopjes near Welkom:--

"The Boers, nearly 4000 strong, with thirteen guns, occupied
the hills round Welkom; the British, under Generals Ian
Hamilton and Broadwood, at Verkeerdi Vlei, two hours distant,
also General Colvile with the Ninth Division, and General
Hector MacDonald with the Highland Brigade, at Os Spruit, two
and a half hours farther east on the Brandfort side. Cannon
firing started at 7 A.M., and continued for two or three
hours, Naval guns, Armstrongs, Howitzers, Maxim-Nordenfeldts,
&c. &c., all booming together. We heard the rifle-firing quite
distinctly. About ten o'clock the Boers began to give way, and
arrived here, about 1000 of them, with six cannon. We supplied
them with water and milk, &c., and thanked God to hear them say
they did not intend making a stand. Across the river they moved
through the drift very swiftly--guns, waggons, transport, men,
horses--all in fairly good order. Just as they got through, the
Boers up on the Brandfort direction began to give way, and
shells from the British cannon burst repeatedly among them.
This went on for about one hour, when a grand stampede set in,
and the flight and confusion and bursting shells was a sight
never to be forgotten. In the flight the drift got jammed up.
One cannon upset in the drift and blocked the traffic. Then
they tore up here past the house, and got through at the top
drift. How they all got through is still a mystery to me.
Suddenly a shell from the large naval gun burst down at the
mill. It made a terrific explosion, and shook both house and
store. The British had meantime worked round, and got some
cannon up to my camp (the Kaffirs' huts), and began shelling
the flying Boers, as my camp commands the road for miles. The
cannon-firing was simply awful, and nearly deafened the lot of
us; even things inside the house shook."

By-and-by when the fire slackened, to the delight of the British party, some 500 of the 17th Lancers were seen approaching, their scouts in advance. Quickly they were assured that they were riding into the arms of friends. The Scotsman mounted to the roof of his house, and there, with the white pinafore of one of his bairns in hand, he waved a frantic welcome. The signal was returned, and joy and relief almost overcame him. Then followed some pleasant experiences, for the Colonist played the host to a distinguished multitude. He said:--

"On the arrival of the Lancers we supplied them with water and
tea, but they pushed on, and the officer in charge asked me to
go with him to General Broadwood. This I did, and after
satisfying him as to the roads, &c., he thanked me and asked me
for the use of the house for General Hamilton and staff, which
I said I would give. As I returned to the house on foot a
wounded officer rode up to me. This was Colonel the Earl of
Airlie, in command of the 17th (12th?) Lancers, wounded in
elbow. He stayed with us until next day, and a finer and more
homely man I have never met. Notwithstanding his wound, he
insisted on helping to put Tommy to bed, and, although the
house was soon full of lords, generals, &c., and the staffs of
two divisions, he helped Florrie (the host's wife) in every way
he could. Lady Airlie is in Bloemfontein, and he returned
thither. He gave us his Kirriemuir Castle address, and insists
on us coming to see him. About sundown the General and staff
arrived, among them Major Count Gleichen, Smith-Dorrien, Duke
of Marlborough, and a lot of others. Winston Churchill also was
with them. The scene that night at Welkom will never be
forgotten by us. Fourteen thousand men bivouacked on the farm,
camp fires for miles around. About seven o'clock the Highland
Brigade arrived in the distance, pipes playing. It is quite
dark here at 6 P.M., so you can picture to yourself the scene.
With the arrival of MacDonald's Highlanders the total army on
Welkom was between 19,000 and 20,000 men. The house here was
in great brilliancy. The Union Jack was planted in front, and
officers were arriving every few minutes with despatches. A
telegraph line is laid by the troops as they move on, so we had
a direct wire from the house here to Bloemfontein."

Delightful was it to the Scotsman to find himself specially introduced to General Hector MacDonald, and see the braw company of Highlanders march past his house. But their appearance was far from spruce, indeed the whole army was begrimed with dust and wear and tear, honourable filth on their bronzed and sweating faces, for which a Walt Whitman--had such been there--would have felt impelled to hug them. The sad part was the death of Captain Ernest Rose (Royal Horse Guards) who had been wounded in the previous fighting. The Colonist, writing of the affair narrated: "When the news was brought to the General and staff at nine o'clock at night that Rose had died of his wounds they were all fearfully cut up. He was buried at midnight, just at the back of the house here on the other side of road, about 100 yards from where I now sit. The General asked me to promise him to have the grave built in and to look after it, as it would be a fearful blow to the officer's father, Lord Rose. He had only two sons, and the other one died of fever last month in Bloemfontein." He went on to say: "The great bulk of the troops had gone forward, only MacDonald and the Highland Brigade remained behind, and they were encamped over at the station, so there are still about 5000 men in town. I found Major Count Gleichen, who had stayed the night at Welkom, was provost marshal, and Lieutenant Rymand, intelligence officer."

At dawn on the 6th the march to Winburg was continued, and the troops prepared themselves again to meet with stout resistance from the hordes which had been pressed across the drift. But when the main army neared the outskirts of the place they were nowhere to be seen. The fact was that the 7th Mounted Infantry and the Hampshires had done a smart piece of work, "off their own bat" as it were, and forced the congregating Federals to think better of any plan of resistance to the entry into Winburg which they had made. The little affair was concisely described by an officer who took part in it:--

"The officer commanding the Mounted Infantry Corps ordered the
7th Battalion Mounted Infantry (which was leading the advance
on the right) to race with the enemy for the occupation of the
big hill, about 3000 feet high, overlooking Winburg, which lies
between the approaches to the town from the south and from the
east, both of which it entirely commands. The Boers were
approaching this hill from the north and the east, and had they
succeeded in occupying it, we should have had great difficulty
in driving them off it and capturing Winburg. But the Mounted
Infantry got there before them. As soon as they received the
order to try and occupy it, the 7th Battalion Mounted Infantry
(having extricated themselves from the deep ravines near the
river) raced for the hill, the Hampshire squadron making for
the point overlooking Winburg, the Borderers and Lincolns
supporting them on the right. When half-way up the hill they
jumped off their horses and scrambled to the top, and, meeting
with no opposition, made their way across the open summit to
the rocky edge overlooking Winburg. There a wonderful sight met
their view. The whole Boer force, about 5000 or 6000 strong,
and several miles in length, was seen trekking slowly past
Winburg in a northerly direction. The road they were moving by
passed within about 2000 yards of this point of the hill, so
the Hampshires (who were at first only twelve strong, the
remainder having been delayed crossing the ravines) opened fire
for all they were worth to make the enemy think that the hill
was strongly occupied. This considerably hastened the enemy's
movements, and the rear-guard commandos which had yet to pass
near the hill thought better of it, and went round another way
behind some high hills out of shot."

At noon a staff officer under a flag of truce summoned the Mayor of the town to surrender, promising to protect private property and pay for such foodstuffs as might be required. Thereupon was enacted a curious drama. While the magnates were putting their heads together and discussing the position, Botha and some five hundred of his mercenaries came on the scene. The commandant bounced that he would not surrender without fighting, and accused Captain Balfour (who had offered to let such Free Staters as should surrender their arms return to their farms) of attempting to suborn his burghers. Botha frantically insisted on the arrest of the staff officer, the staff officer as furiously flourished his flag of truce. The Boers pointed their rifles, the women screamed, the townsfolk gabbled, and general turmoil prevailed. In the end the citizens whose property, so to speak, lay in the palm of the British hand, preferred the Mayor's discretion to Botha's valour, and that warrior, swelling with indignation, and followed by his equally bombastic "braves," shook the dust of the town off their shoes and galloped to the north.

At night General Hamilton reached the town, where he was joined by General Colville's Division, which was marching from Waterval towards Heilbron, and was thereupon directed to follow the leading column at a distance of ten miles.

Facsimile of a Sketch by Melton Prior, War Artist]

The advance of the army is arranged, as some one described, not as a continuous movement but as a caterpillar-like form of progress, the first part of the move being a species of advance, the second a drawing up of the tail end of the creature. Thus the vast machine is carried from point to point, the halting-places being usually at positions of strategic consequence. The Boers had run away from their first positions at Brandfort and on the Vet; the second ones on the Zand, the Valsch, and the Rhenoster were now to be purged of the Republicans. It was necessary before going forward to make a three days' halt, during which the tail end of the monster--the railway--was put in working order, and supplies collected and brought up. The enemy's position on the Zand was reconnoitred, and on the 9th the advance was resumed, General Ian Hamilton hurrying to assist in the operations at the Zand River, the Highland Brigade being left in possession of Winburg.

TOWARDS THE ZAND RIVER TO KROONSTADT

By the 9th of May, as we know, General Pole-Carew's and General Tucker's Divisions and General Ian Hamilton's Column (moving from Winburg), with Naval and Royal Garrison Artillery guns, and four brigades of cavalry, had concentrated at Welgelegen. The enemy, pushed back on all sides, now held the opposite bank of the Zand River in force; but nevertheless it was decided that the army would cross, and cross it did. The crossing was accomplished on the 10th, the enemy being routed from all his strong positions. According to the correspondent of the _Times_, the scheme for the general advance had been planned as follows: "A concentration of the line of advance was to take place at Kroonstadt. General Ian Hamilton, after leaving a brigade at Winburg, was to advance on the right flank with his Mounted Infantry, Broadwood's Cavalry Brigade, and the 19th Brigade, _via_ Ventersburg. The main advance with Lord Roberts was to be made by the Eleventh Division, supported by Gordon's Cavalry Brigade, the connection between the railway and right flank being kept by General Tucker's Division. The left was entrusted to General French with the 1st and 4th Cavalry Brigades and General Hutton's Brigade of Mounted Infantry. As the left in all probability would find it necessary to act independently, the Mounted Infantry belonging to General Tucker became attached to the main column for screening purposes."

The enemy, some 6000 strong with 15 guns, was found to be posted on a series of hills running diagonally against the east side of the Zand, but after some vigorous shelling by General Tucker they evacuated their main position by the river, blew up various culverts that lay in front of the British force, and prepared to make a vigorous stand against the Mounted Infantry advancing in the centre. These, having debouched on the plain on the north of the river were promptly assailed by guns from the hills to the right, but they still pushed on towards the west of the railway, while a battery of Horse Artillery tackled the region whence came the hostile shells. The scene of the fight was dotted with farmhouses and native kraals, and here numerous parties of skirmishers were knowingly concealed. The 8th Mounted Infantry Corps, dismounting, advanced in extended order across the nullah-riven plain under a heavy shell fire, while the British guns barked merrily and wrought devastation among the Boer guns, which were hastily scurried away, pursued now by the 4th Mounted Infantry, who, full of excitement, galloped off to capture the retiring treasures, and in so doing ran almost into the arms of some 500 Boers. These, rushing from ambush, forced them back on their supports. But the fire from a well-directed Maxim, and from Lumsden's Horse, who had captured a hill and stuck to it amid a hurricane of Boer missiles, served to rout the Dutchmen and send them after their guns and convoy, which unfortunately, by this time, had been got safely away.

Of General Ian Hamilton's part in the proceedings on the right an eye-witness contributed to the _Morning Post_ an interesting account:--

"At daybreak on May 9 Ian Hamilton's column left their bivouac
at Klipfontein and marched north to Boemplatz Farm without
resistance. About mid-day the Mounted Infantry, who were a mile
or two ahead of the column, on topping the ridges overlooking
Zand River, came under fire of the enemy concealed in the
dongas near the river, and on the hills beyond, and in the
kopjes on our right. They remained there all the afternoon,
peppering and being peppered in return. The veldt here was
alive with buck and hartebeest, and they were so tame that
herds of them grazed between the Mounted Infantry screen and
the main body. This was too much for some officers of the
C.I.V., and they left their bivouac near the main body, about a
mile in the rear, and let drive at the buck.

"Meanwhile the Hampshire Squadron of Mounted Infantry, which
were playing hide and seek with their brother Boers, began to
wonder how it was that bullets were coming from their rear as
well as from their front. When they discovered that these
bullets from the rear were intended for buck, they sent down a
message, the language of which was hardly parliamentary, to the
would-be buck slayers, and threatened to send a volley at the
buck themselves. More Boer commandos were seen to be arriving
from the east towards dusk, so there seemed to be every
prospect of a warm time the next day, especially on the right
flank. Up till now Ian Hamilton's column had been working quite
independently, and had marched north from Thabanchu as a flying
column, but this afternoon we were acquainted with the presence
of another force on our left by seeing Lord Roberts's balloon
in the air about eight miles away. That Lord Roberts met with
but slight resistance may be accounted for by the fact that Ian
Hamilton's column away on his right was always a few miles
ahead of him, and threatened the enemy's flank. Lord Roberts's
force had been marching north along the line of railway, and
now the two columns were converging with a view to reaching
Kroonstadt together.

"Those on outpost duty that night heard the rumbling of waggons
for many hours in the vicinity of the enemy. Evidently their
transport was being moved out of harm's way. The night was
bitterly cold, and many of those on outpost duty had nothing
but greatcoats to keep them warm, some of the waggons not
having yet arrived. At daybreak our 'Long Toms' made excellent
practice at what looked like a Boer laager on the slope of the
hill across the river to the north. At about 7 P.M. the battle
commenced in earnest, and the crack of our rifles, the double
crack of the enemy's, the barking of Maxims, the 'pom-pom' of
the Vickers-Maxims, and the boom of the 'Long Toms' were heard
all along the line. Our front must have been ten or fifteen
miles along the Zand River, because Roberts's column was now a
few miles to our left, and French's Cavalry Division was on
Roberts's left; but for reasons mentioned above the Boers
showed a bold front to Ian Hamilton's column only. The enemy
kept up a steady fire from the positions they had occupied
during the night, some Boers in the dongas having advanced to
within a short distance of our firing line.

"As the day wore on, reinforcements appeared to arrive for the
enemy, and they made a determined effort to turn our right.
Here they were opposed by Kitchener's Horse, who were hard
pressed, and had to be hurriedly reinforced by the New
Zealanders. On the extreme right the enemy now became very
bold, and report says that the sergeant-major of Kitchener's
Horse made a bull's-eye on a Boer's head at only fifteen yards'
distance. All this time we had kept the enemy at bay without
the aid of a single gun, though they had been firing at us with
common shell and shrapnel, but to our great joy in the
afternoon four field-guns came to our assistance, and proceeded
to deluge the kopjes and dongas with shrapnel. Brother Boer now
finding matters getting rather unpleasant slunk out of the
dongas and off the kopjes in groups of ten and twenty in an
easterly direction, and now the enemy having been pressed back
all along the line, the 7th Mounted Infantry, Kitchener's
Horse, and the New Zealanders were left as a rear-guard, and
the main body moved on five or six miles. At dark we followed
them, and crossed the Zand River unmolested, and bivouacked on
the other side of the drift on the position which had been all
day occupied by the Boers. It was reported that the following
day the bodies of fifty or sixty of the enemy were found in the
Zand River dongas, and many more on the kopjes on the right, so
the losses were not all on our side."

The following casualties occurred in General Ian Hamilton's column during the day's fight: Second Lieutenant R. E. Paget, 1st Royal Sussex Regiment, wounded; Captain Leonard Head, East Lancashire Regiment, dangerously wounded (since dead).

French's
Cavalry
on horizon.

Boers Blowing up
Railway Bridge.

Boers Retreating
with Convoy
and Guns.

Lord Kitchener.

Lord Roberts.

Shelling the Boers'
Rear-guard.

LORD ROBERTS AND HIS STAFF WATCHING THE BOERS' RETREAT FROM ZAND RIVER; GENERAL FRENCH IN PURSUIT ON THE EXTREME LEFT. (Facsimile of a Sketch by Melton Prior, War Artist.)]

Meanwhile General French, whose object was to turn the enemy's right flank and capture Ventersburg station by nightfall, had also a brisk encounter with the Boers, which involved some loss of life, particularly among the Inniskillings. The 1st Brigade, under General Porter, advanced towards a kopje, which was captured by the Inniskillings. Here they were confronted by an advancing khaki-clad regiment, said to be the newly raised Afrikander Horse, which was mistaken for British troops. Before they could be recognised they had opened fire on the hills, and so violently assailed those holding it, that the Dragoons were forced to make for their horses, leaving behind them fourteen slain and many wounded. Guns and the dashing Canadians were sent in support of General Porter, while General French continued to develop his flanking movement. The 4th Brigade (8th Hussars and 7th Dragoons) were deployed on the right of the enemy, and grandly charged a body some 300 strong. They, however, suffered considerably in consequence, for while rallying, the squadrons were fiercely fired on by such of the Dutchmen who had succeeded in bolting to cover, dismounting and firing, before the assailants could get out of range. The object of the charge was nevertheless effected, and by nightfall, by a series of tactical evolutions--a species of military impromptu resulting from the exigencies of the situation--the enemy's flank had been turned, and the Cavalry Division was safely disposed at Graspan. Unfortunately, the casualties during this movement were heavy, some 200 slain, wounded, and missing.

Drawing by S. Begg, from a Sketch by Melton Prior, War Artist]

It was reported that a party of the British, going up to a kraal on which a white flag was hoisted, were suddenly attacked by a large number of the enemy. Two officers, Captain Haig, of the 6th Dragoons, and Lieutenant Wilkinson, 1st Australian Horse, were taken prisoners, and several men were unaccounted for. During the day's fight, Captain C. K. Elworthy, 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers) was killed. Among the wounded were: 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers)--Lieutenant R. H. Collis; Lieutenant M. M. Moncrieff. Tasmanian Mounted Infantry--Major C. Cameron.

On the evening of the 10th, the British Army, converging in the direction of Kroonstadt, occupied a front of some twenty miles, of which the left centre (Pole-Carew's Division) was at Ventersburg Road. Ventersburg Siding had been demolished by the departing Boers, or rather by their mercenaries, the Irish-Americans, but the Boers here made no show of opposition. They were very near at hand, however, for report said the valorous Steyn had but a few hours previously been wasting tears and threats on recalcitrant burghers in the district, burghers who, now refusing to fight any more, hung about for the purpose of laying down their arms.

On the 11th, the army moved on some twelve miles to Geneva Siding. In front, the left wing (French's Cavalry) flew ever well ahead, while the right centre (Tucker's Division) marched slightly in the rear, and the right wing (Hamilton's Column) worked its way onwards in the direction of Lindley. By dusk, General French had seized a drift over the Valshe River, below Kroonstadt, just in time to prevent the passage being opposed by the enemy. The manoeuvre was cleverly managed, and in most inconvenient circumstances, for the transport having gone back to the Zand River, men and horses had been already a day without food. But rapidity was the word, and the deed kept pace with it. Both brigades were advanced as swiftly as possible, and divided each towards a convenient drift, scurrying to get there before the enemy could be informed of the direction taken. The result was, that when the foe, strong in men and guns, debouched from the scrub-country in the region of Kroonstadt, they were saluted with heartiness by the 4th Brigade, who had taken possession of the coveted vantage ground. The Boers retreated, and gathered themselves together to guard the road to the town; but General French made a rapid detour, which they saw might outflank them, whereupon they discreetly withdrew.

At night a gallant effort was made by that indefatigable officer, Major Hunter Weston, R.E., to cut the railway communications in rear of the enemy. Escorted by a squadron of cavalry, and accompanied by Burnham the American scout and eight smart sappers, he proceeded as usual, under cover of darkness, towards the line. Here, however, he came in touch with the Boers, and his troopers charged the Dutch patrol and captured them. Then leaving his escort, he, the scout and sappers, after much hiding in the moonlight and groping in nullahs, reached the line through the enemy's convoy and launched the explosive into the midst of the Dutchmen, causing considerable panic among them. He, however, was defeated in his main object, though the hairbreadth escapes and deeds of cool-headed pluck accomplished during the small hours of the night make a long tale, both exciting and soul-stirring.

On Saturday the advance was resumed. The town of Boschrand, some eight miles below Kroonstadt, was found deserted, the Boers before the ubiquitous French having sped as an arrow from the bow. The Dutchmen had taken care to put a good deal of country between them and the British, for, after reconnaissance towards Kroonstadt had been made, it was found that though they had been seen the night before encamped from Kroonstadt to Honing Spruit they had melted away, and had evidently decided that they would make no further stand till the British arrived within the confines of the Transvaal. President Steyn had already taken himself off to Lindley, and Commandant Botha had departed with his Transvaal burghers to prepare for a big fight on the Vaal.

The entry of Lord Roberts into Kroonstadt was a fine spectacle, all the men, despite their hard, 128-mile march being in splendid condition, and wearing on their faces the air of honest satisfaction at work accomplished--pride in themselves and in their admired Chief. The procession was headed by Lord Roberts's bodyguards, who were all of them Colonials. Following them came the staff and foreign attachés, then trooped in the North Somerset Company of the Imperial Yeomanry, a stalwart and bronzed host; after which marched General Pole-Carew's Division, consisting of the Guards, the 18th Brigade, the Naval Brigade, the 83rd, 84th, and 85th Batteries, two 5-inch guns manned by Royal Artillerymen, and the 12th Company of Royal Engineers. The sight was a most imposing one, and the vision of troops apparently innumerable streaming through the streets highly impressed the Boers, who many of them had entered on the war with the highest confidence in their military prowess and the inferiority of the British as a fighting race.

Mr. Steyn, it was said, before his departure the previous night had used in vain, persuasions, threats, and even violence to the burghers in the effort to rally them. An enterprising photographer went so far as to take a portrait of the late President in act of kicking and cuffing his followers--"to put valour into them," so it was explained. They, however, turned their backs on the smiter, and many of them surrendered to Lord Roberts. Mr. Steyn had announced that in future Lindley, situated between Kroonstadt and Bethlehem, would become the seat of the Free State Government, and thither fled, knowing in his heart that the days of the Free State were numbered. The Transvaalers, disgusted with the "Orange" men, had refused any longer to fight in the Free State, and took themselves off to the Vaal River; while, on the other hand, the Free Staters, furious with the Transvaalers, charged them with having made them into a "cat's-paw" and then left them in the lurch. The valiant Federals were, in fact, at loggerheads, and many surrendered, being only too thankful to part company with their quondam allies.

The troops halted at Kroonstadt for ten days to recuperate, and while they enjoyed their well-earned rest, stirring events took place elsewhere.

FOOTNOTES:

[4] See map at front.