Three Years War | Page 5

appeared to be to keep
us in small parties, so that we should be unable to concentrate a large
force anywhere.
Meanwhile the troops which were making the attack pushed on closer
and closer to us. The country was of such a nature that they were able
to get quite near to us without coming under our fire, for small kloofs[9]
and other inequalities of the ground afforded them excellent cover. But
when they did show themselves they were met by such a frightful and
unceasing fire that they could not approach nearer than two hundred
paces from our lines.
The brunt of the attack was borne by the burghers from Kroonstad, who,
under Commandant Nel, formed our western wing. More to the east,
where I myself was, our men had less to endure. But every burgher,
wherever he might be, fought with the greatest courage. Although there
were some who fell killed or wounded, there was no sign of yielding
throughout the whole battle, and every one of our positions we
successfully held.
Till three o'clock in the afternoon we kept up our rifle fire on the
English, and then we ceased, for the enemy, realizing the impossibility
of driving us out of our positions, withdrew to Ladysmith. Shortly
afterwards we were able to go over the battlefield. There were not
many dead or wounded to be seen; but burghers who had been
stationed on the high kop previously mentioned had seen the English
remove their wounded during the engagement.

We ourselves had eleven men killed and twenty-one wounded, of
whom two subsequently died. This loss touched us deeply, yet it was
encouraging to notice that it had not the effect of disheartening a single
officer or burgher.
Just as the battle began Mr. A.P. Cronje arrived on the scene. He had
been nominated by the President as Vechtgeneraal, and had taken over
the command from Vice-General C.J. De Villiers. He was most useful
in this engagement. When it was over I agreed with him in thinking that
our forces were too weak to pursue the retreating English troops. As
soon as I was able to leave my position it gave me great pleasure to
shake hands with him, for he was an old friend and fellow-member of
the Volksraad. It was pleasant to greet him as Vechtgeneraal--he was
the son of a valiant officer who had fought in the Basuto war of 1865
and 1866. He had reached the age of sixty-six years, an age when it is
very hard for a man to have to stand the strain which the duties of a
Vechtgeneraal necessarily entail.
[Footnote 1: Small loaves manufactured of flour, with fermented raisins
instead of yeast, and twice baked.]
[Footnote 2: Officer in charge of the meat--literally, Flesh-corporal.]
[Footnote 3: Literally, a team of oxen which are not all of the same
colour.]
[Footnote 4: Storm-hunters; so-called from being rapidly cooked.]
[Footnote 5: Stomach-bombs--a reflection on their wholesomeness.]
[Footnote 6: A Vice-Commandant has no duties to fulfil so long as the
Commandant is himself in camp and fit for work.]
[Footnote 7: Fighting general.]
[Footnote 8: Sometimes referred to as the battle of Rietfontein.]
[Footnote 9: Water-courses.]

CHAPTER II
Nicholson's Nek
Until the 29th of October we retained our positions at Rietfontein. On
that date General Joubert joined us with a portion of the Transvaal
commandos. On his arrival it was settled that the Transvaalers should
proceed to the north of Ladysmith and occupy positions on the east of
Nicholson's Nek, whilst the Free-Staters were to go to the west and
north-west of that town.
A party of burghers, under Commandant Nel, of Kroonstad, were
ordered to station themselves on a kop with a flat top, called
Swartbooiskop,[10] an hour and a half to the south of Nicholson's Nek.
After the battle which was fought on the 30th of November this kop
was christened by us Little Majuba.
Just after sunrise on the 30th of November the roaring of cannon came
to our ears. The sound came from the extreme end of our position,
where the Transvaalers were stationed. No sooner did we hear it than
the order to off-saddle was given. I myself asked Commandant
Steenekamp, who had arrived the previous day from Bezuidenhoutspas,
to go to General Croup's laager, about two miles distant, and to request
him to advance to where the firing was taking place. To this request
General Croup acceded, and Commandant Steenekamp went there with
three hundred men, of whom I was one. Our way led past the kop to the
south of Nicholson's Nek. What a sight met our gaze on our arrival
there!
The kop was occupied by the English.
This must be ascribed to the negligence of Commandant Nel, who had
orders to guard the kop. He excused