The Project Gutenberg EBook of In the Shadow of Death
by P. H. Kritzinger and R. D. McDonald
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Title: In the Shadow of Death
Author: P. H. Kritzinger and R. D. McDonald
Release Date: August 7, 2005 [EBook #16463]
Language: English
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[Illustration: GENERAL P.H. KRITZINGER.
_Photo by Emberon, London._]
In the Shadow of Death
BY
GENERAL P.H. KRITZINGER
AND
MR. R.D. MCDONALD
ILLUSTRATED WITH PORTRAITS AND DIAGRAMS
PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION 1904
LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, DUKE STREET,
STAMFORD STREET, S.E., AND GREAT WINDMILL STREET, W.
Preface.
Several excellent works have already been written about the Anglo-Boer
War of the beginning of the twentieth century; but the field of
operations was so extensive, the duration of the war so long, and the
leaders, on the Boer side, were necessarily so independent of one
another in the operations that were conducted with one common aim, that
something of interest may well remain to be said. We have not here
chronicled our experiences and adventures in the form of a diary, but
have rather grouped together events and observations. We write as Boers,
frankly regretting the loss of that independence for which we took the
field; but also as those who wish to give no offence to any honourable
opponent. Our aim has been to do equal justice to both sides in the war;
to unite and reconcile, not to separate and embitter, two Christian
peoples destined to live together in one land.
"In the Shadow of Death" is a title the reader will hardly consider
inappropriate by the time he reaches the end of this little book.
Outnumbered on the battlefield, often exposed to the enemy's fire, and
one of us wounded and laid low on a bed of intense suffering, and then
charged before a Military Court with the greatest of crimes, we did not
dare to hope that we should live to write these pages.
And here let our cordial thanks be given to Advocate F.G. Gardiner for
his inestimable services in the hour of need, and for kindly submitting
to us the "papers" bearing on the trial.
P.H. KRITZINGER.
R.D. MCDONALD.
Contents.
CHAP. PAGE
PREFACE iii
I. ANTECEDENTS 1
II. DARK DAYS 5
III. ENGAGEMENTS 21
IV. IN TIGHT CORNERS 43
V. TO THE CAPE COLONY 56
VI. WOUNDED 70
VII. COURT-MARTIALLED 81
VIII. WHY WE SURRENDERED 102
IX. THE BOER AS SEEN IN THE LIGHT OF THE WAR 118
X. THE RISING IN THE CAPE COLONY 149
XI. WAR INCIDENTS 170
"In the Shadow of Death."
CHAPTER I.
ANTECEDENTS.
The child is father to the man;
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.
_Wordsworth._
A few preliminary pages of personal history I offer to those who
followed me either in thought or deed during the Anglo-Boer War.
My ancestors were Germans; my grandfather was born in the South. About
the year 1820 he, along with two brothers, bade farewell to the land of
his nativity and emigrated to South Africa. They found a home for
themselves in the neighbourhood of Port Elizabeth, and there they
settled as farmers. Two of the brothers married women of Dutch
extraction; one died a bachelor. A small village, Humansdorp, situated
near to Port Elizabeth, was the birth-place of my father. There he spent
the greater part of his life. He, too, married a Dutch lady; and we
children adopted the language of our mother, and spoke Dutch rather than
German.
My father took an active part in several of the early Kaffir Wars, and
rendered assistance to the Colonial forces in subjugating the native
tribes in the Eastern Province of the Cape Colony. With rapt attention
and enthusiasm we children would listen to him as he told the tale of
those early native wars. I then thought that there was nothing so
sublime and glorious as war. My imagination was inflamed, and I longed
intensely to participate in such exciting adventures. My experience of
recent years has corrected my views. I think differently now. Peace is
better than war. War is brutal and damnable. It is indeed "hell let
loose."
On the 20th of April, 1870, the arrival of a little Kritzinger was
announced on the farm Wildeman's-Kraal, Port Elizabeth District. That
little fellow happened to be myself. I do not recollect much of the days
of my youth--save that I was of a very lively disposition, with a
fondness for all sorts of fun, and often of mischief, which landed me
occasionally in great trouble. My parents obeyed the injunctions of Holy
Writ in diligently applying the rod when they thought it necessary. As a
child, I could but dimly understand, and scarcely believe, that love was
at the root of every chastisement.
At the age of five I met with a serious accident. While gathering shells
on the beach at Port Elizabeth, the receding waves drew me seaward with
irresistible power. But for the pluck and courage of my little
playfellow, a lassie of some twelve summers, I was lost. She came to the
rescue. I was saved at the last moment: a few seconds more and I must
have perished in the deep.
In 1882 my parents, leaving Cape Colony in search of a new home in the
Orange Free State, settled down in the district of Ladybrand. It was,
however, decided that I should remain behind with an uncle. This uncle
was my godfather, and had promised to provide for my education. Having
no children, he made me his adopted son. However excellent these
arrangements might be, I resolved that I too should go to the Orange
Free State. I succeeded in persuading my brother, who had charge of the
waggons, to let me follow him on horseback under cover of darkness. I
left my uncle's home alone and at dusk on the third evening after my
brother's departure. How I felt, and in what condition I was, after
riding thirty-five miles on the bare back of a horse, I shall not
describe. My parents, who had gone ahead of the waggons, were not a
little astonished, and yet they were not angry, at the unexpected
appearance of the boy that was left behind.
On my arrival in the Free State it so happened that there was then a
dispute as to headship between two Barolong chiefs. This quarrel called
forth the intervention of the Free State Government. The burghers were
commandoed in the event of resistance on the part of the native chiefs;
and I, though a mere boy, at once offered my services to the nearest
Field Cornet. He declined to accept them on the score that I was too
young. Like David, I was loth to go back home. I borrowed an old gun,
got a horse, and off I stole to the Boer commando. The dispute was
amicably settled. Some thirty Barolongs, however, offered resistance.
Most eagerly I thus fired my first shot upon a human being. I did not
know then that it would not be the last; that I should live to hear the
mountains and hills of South Africa reverberate with the sound of
exploding shells, that the whizz of bullets would assail my ears like
the humming of bees; that a bullet would penetrate my own lungs, leaving
me a mass of bleeding clay on the battle-field. I did not know that
South Africa's plains would yet be drenched with the blood of Boer and
Briton until the very rivers ran crimson.
At the early age of seventeen I left the parental roof to earn for
myself an independent living. I went to the district of Rouxville, where
I occupied a farm situated on the Basutoland border. Several of the
Basuto chiefs I got to know well. They allowed me to purchase all I
desired from their subjects. Occupied thus with my private affairs while
years sped by, I unconsciously drifted on to the disastrous war.
My mind was never absorbed nor disturbed by the many political
controversies and problems of South Africa, not that I was indifferent
to the welfare of my people and country, for, once war was declared by
the leaders, my services were ready. I attached myself to the Rouxville
Commando, under Commandant J. Olivier, as a private burgher. When
Prinsloo surrendered, late in 1900, I was appointed Assistant-Commandant
over that portion of the Rouxville Commando which had refused to lay
down arms on Prinsloo's authority. This was my first commission in the
Boer Army. On more than one occasion I had been requested to accept
appointments; but, realising the great responsibility involved in
leadership, I preferred to fight as a private. But events pushed onward;
and on the 26th of August, 1900, when Commandant Olivier made an
unsuccessful attack on Winburg, which resulted in his capture, I was
elected in his stead, and so became Commandant of the Rouxville
Commando.
On December 16th, 1900, carrying out instructions of General De Wet, I
crossed the Orange River at a point near Odendaal's Stroom, with about
270 burghers. General De Wet was to follow me, but he was prevented. The
enemy, determined to drive me back or effect my capture, concentrated
numerous forces on my small commando. For months I was dreadfully
harassed, and had no rest day or night. But I was resolved neither to
retrace my steps nor to capitulate. How I escaped from time to time I
now tell. The Cape Colonist Boers began to come in, and my forces
increased rather than decreased. The burghers I had at my disposal I
subdivided into smaller commandos, to give employment to the enemy, so
that they could not concentrate all their forces on me. Thus, as the
Colonists rose in arms, the commandos began to multiply more and more,
until it was impossible for the British forces to expel the invaders
from the Cape Colony.
At the beginning of August, 1901, General French once more fixed his
attention on me. I was hard pressed by large forces, and had to fall
back on the Orange Free State, where I then operated till the 15th of
December. Again, and now for the last time, I forded the Orange River at
midnight, and set foot on British territory. The following day I was
wounded while crossing the railway line near Hanover Road. For about a
month I was laid up in the British hospital at Naauwpoort, whence I was
removed to Graaf Reinet gaol, and there I was confined as a criminal
until the 10th of March, 1902, when after a five days' trial for murder
I was acquitted. After my acquittal I was advanced to the honour (?) of
P.O.W. (Prisoner of War), and so remained till the cessation of
hostilities.
CHAPTER II.
DARK DAYS.
Oft expectation fails, and most oft there where most it promises.
_Shakespeare._
Up to the 27th February, 1900, the Republican arms were on the whole
successful. The Boers fought well and many a brilliant victory crowned
their efforts, and encouraged them to continue their struggle for
freedom. True, they had to sacrifice many noble lives, but that was a
sacrifice they were prepared to make for their country. Fortune smiled
on them; as yet they had met with no very serious reverses.
Magersfontein, Stormberg, Colenso, Spion Kop, were so many offerings of
scarce vanquished Boers to the veiled Goddess Liberty. But towards the
end of February, 1900, clouds gathered over the Republics. The tide of
fortune was turned; disaster after disaster courted the Boer forces;
blow after blow struck them with bewildering force. Then came the news
of Cronje's capture. No sooner had we crossed the Orange River during
the retreat from Stormberg than we learnt that stunning news of the
disaster at Paardeberg on the 27th of February--the anniversary of
Amajuba. Cronje captured--the General in whom we had placed such
implicit confidence and on whom we relied for the future! Cronje
captured--the man who had successfully checked the advance of the
English forces on Kimberley at Magersfontein; the hero of many a battle;
the man who knew no fear! His men captured--the flower and pick of the
Boer forces, with all their guns, and brave Major Albrecht as well!
Many a burgher who up to that fatal day had fought hopefully and
courageously lost hope and courage then. Some, we regret to say, were
so disconsolate that they renounced their faith in that Supreme Being in
whose hands are the destinies of nations. Their reliance on their
country's God ended with Cronje's capture, as though their deliverance
depended solely upon him. This, however, does not appear so strange when
one recollects that the Boers could not afford to lose so many of their
best men at a time when all were precious for their country's safety. As
to the siege itself, we, not having been in it, cannot enter into its
details. One of the besieged, who, in spite of a terrific bombardment
and repeated attacks by the enemy, kept a diary of the events of each
day, gives this striking description on the 10th and last day:
"Bombardment heavier than usual. The burghers are recalcitrant and
in consequence the General's authority wanes rapidly. There is
hardly any food, the remaining bags of biscuits are yellow from the
lyddite fumes, so is everything, damp and yellow. The stench of the
decomposed horses and oxen is awful. The water of the rivers is
putrid with carrion. A party of men caught three stray sheep early
on the morning of the 10th. In haste they killed them and started
to skin them desperately; but they had half done when a lyddite
shell bursting close to them turned the mutton yellow with its
fumes and it had to be abandoned reluctantly. The sufferings of the
wounded are heartrending. Little children huddled together in
bomb-proof excavations are restless, hungry and crying. The women
are adding their sobs to the plaintive exhortations of the wounded.
All the time the shelling never abates. The arena of the defenders
is veneered. Nearly every man, woman and child is lyddite-stained.
The muddy stream is yellow. The night was an awful one. For two
days the men are without food, but worse still are the pestiferous
air, the loathsome water, and the suffering of the wounded. It is
too much for flesh and blood. The morning of the 27th February saw
the first white flag hoisted by a Boer general. It was a woeful
sight when 3600 Boers, undisciplined peasants, reluctantly threw
down their rifles among the wreck of the shells and ambled past the
English lines. They had withstood the onslaught of 80,000 British
troops with modern death-dealing implements of war, and, towards
the end of the siege, about 1000 guns were brought to bear upon
them."
How far this disaster can be attributed to General Cronje is difficult
to say. The following considerations may, however, throw some light on
its causes.
During the early part of the war we hardly realised the great value and
necessity of good scouting. It was only after General Cronje and his men
had fallen into the hands of the enemy that a regular scouting corps was
organised and placed under the control of the brave Danie Therou.
Lord Roberts's forces were almost on Cronje's laager before they were
perceived, and unfortunately they were even then entirely
under-estimated and consequently thought light of. Flushed by the
victory at Magersfontein, the General did not contemplate the
possibility of such a bitter reverse. He was going to strike another
hard blow at the enemy--he did strike it, but at too great a cost. Had
he realised his position the first or second day after the siege was
begun, he might still have escaped. The convoy would have been captured,
but the men would have been saved. The old gentleman was determined to
hold all, and consequently lost all.
So far the General deserves censure and is accountable for the disaster
which had such a far-reaching and bad moral effect on the rest of the
burghers. The only sweet drop contained in the bitter cup extended to us
was the fact that Cronje and his burghers surrendered _as men_, and not
as _cowards_. Once surrounded and brought to bay they resisted every
attack with admirable fortitude and valour. Surrounded along the banks
of the Modder River, at a spot where they had no cover at all, exposed
to a terrific cannonade and charged by thousands of the enemy from time
to time, these farmers fearlessly repelled every onslaught. It was one
thing to surround them, another thing to capture them. They were not to
be taken with cold hands. The enemy, especially the Canadians, had to
pay a great price before the white flag announced Cronje's unconditional
surrender.
During the siege attempts were made by General De Wet to relieve
Cronje, but none succeeded. Several of the relieving forces, including
the pick of the Winburg Commando with Commandant Theunissen, were
themselves surrounded and captured in trying to break through the lines
of the besiegers.
To intensify the gloom, Ladysmith, which was daily expected to fall, was
relieved on the day of Cronje's surrender. For certain reasons the late
Commandant-General P. Joubert had evacuated the positions round
Ladysmith and retreated to the Biggar's Range. General Louis Botha, who
was engaging Buller's relieving forces at Colenso, was then also
compelled to retreat.
After Cronje's capture the way to Bloemfontein and Pretoria lay open.
The Boers made one more stand at Abraham's Kraal, where the enemy
suffered heavily, but carried the day by their overwhelming numbers.
After the British occupied Bloemfontein the Transvaal burghers became
reluctant to offer battle in the Free State, on the ground that there
were no positions from which they could successfully check the
ever-advancing foe. Many of the Free Staters were discouraged and
hopeless; but rest renewed their strength and zeal, and they shortly
returned to the struggles.
The second disaster which befell the two Republics was the ignominious
and cowardly surrender of Prinsloo, which took place on the 1st of
August, 1900. For various reasons this surrender was more keenly felt by
the Boers than that of Cronje. The one, though he might have blundered,
nevertheless acted the part of a brave, though obstinate, man; the other
that of a coward.
Some six weeks after the occupation of Bloemfontein the British troops
resumed their northward march, and so quickly did they advance, almost
day and night, that Pretoria was soon occupied. What this rapid movement
meant, we could not quite understand. Did Lord Roberts think that the
occupation of Pretoria would terminate hostilities? The British forces
in their swift march to the Transvaal capital left Free State burghers
behind them as they advanced. These men rallied again under General De
Wet and seriously threatened the English line of communications,
capturing seven hundred of the British at Roode Wal.
Large forces under Hector MacDonald and Bruce Hamilton recrossed the
Vaal in order to crush the Free Staters. Then Prinsloo surrendered.
Having accompanied the commandos that surrendered under him, we will
relate the story of that most sad incident of the War.
On the occupation of Bethlehem by the British in the beginning of July,
1900, the Boer commandos, under General De Wet, retreated to the
Wittebergen, a mountain range to the south-east of Bethlehem, forming a
semi-circle round Fouriesburg, a small village on the Basutoland border.
This range, with its towering peaks and steep slopes, formed an
impregnable stronghold. The burghers thought that, once behind those
heaven-high mountains, with all the passes in their possession, with
abundant war supplies, and all the necessaries of life, they would
resist successfully every attack. The camps were pitched at the base of
the mountains. The burghers began at once to make turf-bulwarks for the
guns, and trenches for themselves, in the various passes.
General De Wet, who did not seem quite at ease in this enclosure or
kraal, for such it was, organised the Bethlehem-Heilbron burghers into a
commando 2500 strong and left with these in the direction of Heilbron.
General Roux from Senekal was instructed to organise another commando,
1000 or 1200 strong, and advance with that in the direction of
Bloemfontein. For some reason or other, General Roux's departure was
delayed, and so he with all his men fell into Prinsloo's meshes.
On Monday, 23rd July, the enemy made a general attack on all the Boer
positions, except Naauwpoort Pass. These attacks, though very
determined, were unsuccessful. From sunrise to sunset the firing never
ceased. The burghers in Slabberts Nek, where we happened to be, were
subjected to a dreadful cannon fire. This pass was guarded by Captain
Smith with two Krupp guns and Lieutenant Carlblom with a pom-pom. Upon
these guns the English directed two Howitzers and six Armstrongs. Here,
just before sunset, the gallant Captain Rautenbagh was blown to pieces
by a lyddite shell, which exploded in front of him.
Thus repulsed by day, the enemy succeeded in scaling the heights to the
left of the Boers at Slabberts Nek by an unguarded footpath during the
night. As soon as the crimson light of a July dawn had exposed the
frost-covered ridges, the dark overcoats on the left of the Boer
positions revealed the unwelcome fact that the enemy had gained their
object of the day before, and had outflanked the Boers.
Not only at Slabberts Nek, but also at Reliefs Nek the Boers were
outflanked the same night. At the latter pass a number of Highlanders
had occupied the rocky heights during the stillness of the night, so
that when the Boer pickets discovered them the next morning they found
the enemy commanding a position higher than their own, which they
forthwith abandoned. The enemy, now in possession of two mountain
passes, forced the Boers to evacuate all the other passes, by
threatening an attack on our rear and surrounding us. So on Tuesday
morning, at about 9 A.M., the commandos quitted the mountains and fell
back on Fouriesburg.
Our situation was becoming hourly more and more embarrassing. There was
just one thing to be done, and that was to move as quickly as possible
all along the base of the mountain range, and to seize a pass called
Naauwpoort Nek farther northwards. That pass was not yet occupied by the
enemy, and there it was possible to secure a safe exit; and higher up
the mountain range, at the farm of Salmon Raads, was another pass which
could be reached in due time.
If Prinsloo had, in his heart, desired to save his commandos, he could
have done so easily. But no sooner had we left the mountains than we
noticed that strange whispers were passed from man to man; we heard it
said that a further prolongation of the war was absolutely useless;
that many of the officers and burghers were tired of it, and would like
to go home. In short, we saw what was coming, and anticipated the
surrender.
When the commandos arrived at Naauwpoort Pass they found their exit cut
off there by the enemy. Instead of hastening on to the next pass, the
officers held a council of war to discuss the situation, or, more
correctly, to deliberate on a surrender. The meeting lasted almost all
night. Some of the officers were deadly opposed to a surrender;
others--and they were the majority--were in favour of it. Nothing,
however, was decided at that meeting, for a Hoofd Commandant had first
to be elected before any steps could be taken.
A second meeting of officers for the purpose of electing a Chief
Commandant was next held. In that meeting Prinsloo was elected Chief
Commandant, but, as not all the officers were present, some of them
being still in the positions, it was beforehand agreed that the man
elected by that meeting should have no authority before the votes of the
absent officers were taken, and when their votes came in it was found
that General Roux, and not Prinsloo, was elected.
The latter, however, entered into negotiations with the enemy before
this question as to whom was to be Chief Commandant was settled. He
first asked for an armistice, which was refused. Then he asked for
terms, to which General Hunter replied: "Unconditional surrender is
demanded." Prinsloo, well aware that the burghers would not surrender
unconditionally, pleaded and insisted on terms.
At this juncture Vilonel, the deserter, who had been sentenced for five
years' imprisonment for high treason, but who was, unfortunately,
released, appeared on the scene. He came from the British lines, met
Prinsloo, and officiated as intermediary between Generals Hunter and
Prinsloo. Something in the shape of terms was drawn up, but these terms,
if tested and analysed, amounted to unconditional surrender. As soon as
Prinsloo was in possession of these conditions, he forwarded a report to
the different commandants that he had been successful in obtaining good
terms from the English, and that they must evacuate their positions so
as to arrange for a surrender. This report was sent on to Commandant
Potgieter of Smithfield with instructions to forward it to the next
commandant.
General Roux, on learning of Prinsloo's doings, at once dispatched a
report to the different commandos notifying to them that Prinsloo had no
right to negotiate with the enemy, to ask for or accept terms for a
surrender. Also, that the burghers must on no account abandon their
positions. He, so the report ran, would personally go to protest against
the illegal surrender. The General went, but did not return. Why he went
himself, and did not send one of his adjutants with a written protest,
seems still very strange to us. He was warned not to go. General
Fourie's last words to him were: "Good-bye, General; I greet you, never
to see you again in the Boer ranks." He did not heed the warning, and so
we lost one of our bravest and best leaders.
Unfortunately, General Roux's report fell into the hands of Commandant
Potgieter, who, siding with Prinsloo on the question of a surrender, had
it destroyed whilst Prinsloo's was forwarded. This settled the whole
affair. The positions were evacuated, and in part occupied by the enemy.
Still, at the eleventh hour, there was a possibility of escape. The long
trail of waggons would have been captured, but most, if not all, the
burghers could have found their way out. But no, they were to be duped
by a set of unscrupulous officers. They were told they could get all
they desired, except their independence. All could go home, each would
get a horse-saddle and bridle, their private property would not be
confiscated, and they would be allowed to follow their agricultural and
pastoral pursuits undisturbed. And the poor officers--well for them that
there were no extenuating terms, no mercy. So, at least, said Commandant
Polly de Villiers, of the Ficksburg Commando. He, when posing as a
martyr, announced these conditions to the burghers, who, after such long
separation from their families, found it impossible to withstand such
charming terms. Sorrowfully were they disillusioned after they had laid
down their arms.
To make the surrender a complete success, all sorts of rumours were
freely circulated. The burghers were told that all who did not surrender
would be shot as rebels when captured, that the pass, higher up the
mountains, was guarded by twenty-five lyddite guns, so that every exit
was cut off by the enemy. When these reports were brought to bear on men
already depressed and discouraged it did not require great pressure to
effect their surrender. Still, if these men had not been misled, if they
had known that Ceylon and India would be the final destination of many
of them, they never would have surrendered, and very few of them would
have been captured there and then. All this they found out when it was
too late.
These unfortunate burghers we do not wish to criticise too severely. The
officers were to blame. Many of them certainly fell into the hands of
the enemy through no fault of their own. There were, however, some who
were only too ready to lay down their arms, and these were the majority.
They did not act the part of men; for they deserted shamefully those who
still struggled bravely for freedom. Nor am I willing to judge these.
Let conscience speak to such as these.
Some officers, animated by a truer love of their country, protested
strongly against such an illegal and shameful surrender. One of these,
General Olivier of the Rouxville Commando, called his burghers together
and told them plainly what he thought. He warned them not to place too
much credence in British promises, and promised that those who would
follow him he would lead out safely. Of his whole commando--about four
hundred strong--scarcely seventy followed him. The others surrendered.
Besides attending to his men, General Olivier also took charge of most
of the Boer guns, which were to have formed no mean part of the booty,
for Prinsloo had promised the British some thirteen guns, one pom-pom,
and a few maxims with all their ammunition. In the pass at Salmon Raads,
General Hector MacDonald met Olivier with the guns. He at once ordered
him to go no farther, as he was a surrendered man. Olivier tarried as
long as it pleased him, and then proceeded, taking the guns along with
him.
Of all the Boer forces concentrated in the Wittebergen, only about six
hundred did not surrender. To secure these also every means were
resorted to. No fewer than three times were messengers sent to them with
reports from the enemy. At first we were courteously invited to return
and surrender. To prove to us the validity of the surrender, all the
papers bearing on the negotiation from first to last were forwarded to
us. The excellent conditions granted to the surrendered burghers were
also transmitted to us. In these conditions we observed that the
surrendered burghers would each be provided with a horse to ride to
their destination, which would be Winburg, till further orders. We saw
also that they would be kept as prisoners-of-war until the war was over,
which meant, though they did not suspect it then, two years longer.
Their private property was to be respected. How the last condition was
violated is well known.
Olivier and his men were, however, not to be easily ensnared. He
politely rejected the proffered terms, stating at the same time that
Prinsloo's surrender was illegal. A few days later, and lo! in the
distance we beheld another flag-of-truce, a second report. The polite
request had failed, intimidation must now be tried--that might succeed
better. We were admonished urgently to come back at once, and surrender
without further delay. Failing that, we must not expect to receive such
generous and lenient treatment as would be extended to those surrendered
already. All our goods would be confiscated, etc.
On receiving this report, Olivier sent back the somewhat curt and abrupt
reply: "That if the British wanted his rifle they would have to capture
him as a man, for he would not surrender like an old woman. And he would
receive no more white flags on this matter." Consequently the third
messenger was sent back without being interviewed.
So much for the Prinsloo disaster. It was a sad one for those still
struggling against overwhelming odds. Many a heart beat low, and many a
sigh was heaved. That was an "unkind cut," which wounded the hearts of
thousands. Many a one, even of those who stood to the last day, never
recovered from the effects of that shock. They fought bravely, and did
their duty towards their country, but hope for an ultimate victory was
dead within them.
And those who surrendered, what lessons they had to learn! Even to-day,
a year after the close of the war, some of them have not reached their
homes, but are on lonely islands, and in distant India, while many have
passed away to the unseen world on those foreign shores. Those that came
back, what did they find? A country strewn with ruins, their homes
destroyed and burnt, and their sheep and cattle stabbed and shot lying
in heaps upon the ground. What a sad sight did greet their eyes! How
many of their beloved families were missing, having died in the
Concentration Camps. But when they reflect on the past the saddest
thought should be their vanished freedom.
The next ordeal through which the Republicans had to pass began with the
denudation of the two States. As arms alone could not subdue the Boers,
some other expedient had to be tried--the starvation process was
resorted to; all food-stuff had to be destroyed or removed, so that the
burghers should not obtain sustenance. The country had to be cleared of
cattle and sheep--in fact, of everything which could keep the Boers
alive. This was considered the most feasible way of defeating the
so-called _marauding_ bands of armed Boers.
But what about the women-folk, if the country is to be cleared? Well,
these must go to Concentration Camps, from which so many never returned.
We do not wish to dwell on the sufferings of Boer women and children;
but what we are proud to note is that when military operations were
conducted against the weak and defenceless, the burgher was touched to
the centre of his heart. Call a Boer by what name you please, but of
this be assured--he is a man who, above all, loves his family, and has
pride and pleasure in his home, be it never so humble. When, therefore,
a destructive policy was adopted, who shall realise fully what passed
through the minds of these as they stood watching the lurid flames of
their burning homes, and heard how in the camps their families were
dying in scores? Cronje's capture, Prinsloo's surrender, and all the
hard fighting they had to do, seemed but trifles as compared to this, by
far the saddest, phase of the South African War.
Another dark day, and the curtain drops. We refer to that day when the
documents were signed and peace was concluded. Then, indeed, the
darkness seemed tangible Who shall number the tears shed on that
day--tears of men, women, and even children? Tears of men who had fought
for almost three years, who had sacrificed their all, who had but one
object in view, one ideal to pursue; who loved liberty and independence,
with an amazing love. Tears of women, who had spent many months either
in camps, or in the open veldt; women whose husbands and sons had fallen
in the war, whose infants were laid low in many a graveyard. Tears of
children, who had lost their parents, children who never more would know
the love of a mother, the protection of a father. With one voice the
whole people lamented the loss of their beloved Fatherland.
And how did the officers who had to subscribe to these terms of peace
feel? Let one[A] who was present speak:
"Never shall I forget what I witnessed there. General De Wet showed
that there was no chance any longer of continuing the struggle ...
I see him yet, that unyielding man, with his piercing eyes, his
strong mouth and chin--I see him there still, like a lion fallen
into a snare. He will not, he cannot, but he must give up the
struggle! I still see the stern faces of the officers, who up to
that moment had been so unbending. I see them staring as if into
empty space. I see engraved upon their faces an indescribable
expression, an expression that seemed to ask: 'Is this the bitter
end of our sufferings and our sorrows, of our faith and our strong
crying to God?' How great was their emotion! I saw the lips of men
quiver who had never trembled before a foe. I saw tears brimming in
eyes that had been dry when they had seen their dearest laid in
the grave....
"Everything was as silent as death when acting President Burger
took the pen in his hand. I looked at my watch; it was five minutes
past eleven on the 31st day of May in the year 1902.
"President Burger signed. President Steyn was not there. Our hearts
bled at the thought that he had been seized by a dangerous malady;
and yet it seemed to me that something was owed to that malady,
since it prevented the President of the Orange Free State from
doing what would have caused him the greatest pain in the world. He
had said once: 'To set my hand to a paper to sign away the
Independence of my people--that I shall never do.' Sad
circumstances, which he might then almost have called fortunate,
had brought it about that what he would not do, that he could not
do. The document was signed! All were silent in that room where so
much had been spoken."
We quote the terms of peace in full:--
"His Excellency General Lord Kitchener, and His Excellency Lord
Milner, on behalf of the British Government, and Messrs. M.T.
Steyn, J. Brebner, General C.R. De Wet, General C. Olivier, and
Judge J.B.M. Hertzog, acting as the Government of the Orange Free
State, and Messrs. S.W. Burger, F.W. Reitz, Generals Louis Botha,
J.H. de la Rey, Lucas Meyer, and C. Krogh, acting as the Government
of the South African Republic, on behalf of their respective
burghers, desirous to terminate the present hostilities, agree on
the following articles:--
"I. The burgher forces in the field will forthwith lay down their
arms, handing over all guns, rifles, and munitions of war in their
possession or under their control, and desist from any further
resistance to the authority of His Majesty King Edward VII., whom
they recognise as their lawful Sovereign. The manner and details of
this surrender will be arranged between Lord Kitchener and
Commandant-General Botha, Assistant Commandant-General Delarey, and
Chief Commandant De Wet.
"2. All burghers in the field outside the limits of the Transvaal
or Orange River Colony, and all prisoners of war at present outside
South Africa, who are burghers, will, on duly declaring their
acceptance of the position of subjects of His Majesty King Edward
VII., be gradually brought back to their homes as soon as
transport can be provided and their means of subsistence ensured.
"3. The burghers so surrendering or so returning will not be
deprived of their personal liberty or their property.
"4. No proceedings, civil or criminal, will be taken against any of
the burghers so surrendering or so returning for any acts in
connection with the prosecution of the war. The benefit of this
clause will not extend to certain acts contrary to the usage of war
which have been notified by the Commander-in-Chief to the Boer
Generals and which shall be tried by court-martial immediately
after the close of hostilities.
"5. The Dutch language will be taught in public schools in the
Transvaal and Orange River Colony where the parents of the children
desire it, and will be allowed in courts of law when necessary for
the better and more effectual administration of justice.
"6. The possession of rifles will be allowed in the Transvaal and
Orange River Colony to persons requiring them for their protection,
on taking out a licence according to law.
"7. Military administration in the Transvaal and Orange River
Colony will at the earliest possible date be succeeded by Civil
Government, and, as soon as circumstances permit, representative
institutions, leading up to self-government, will be introduced.
"8. The question of granting the franchise to natives will not be
decided until after the introduction of self-government.
"9. No special tax will be imposed on landed property in the
Transvaal and Orange River Colony to defray the expenses of the
War.
"10. As soon as conditions permit, a Commission, on which the local
inhabitants will be represented, will be appointed in each district
of the Transvaal and Orange River Colony, under the presidency of a
Magistrate or other official, for the purpose of assisting the
restoration of the people to their homes, and supplying those who,
owing to war losses, are unable to provide for themselves, with
food, shelter, and the necessary amount of seed, stock, implements,
etc., indispensable to the resumption of their normal occupations.
His Majesty's Government will place at the disposal of these
Commissions a sum of three million pounds sterling for the above
purposes, and will allow all notes issued under Law No. I, of 1900,
of the South African Republic, and all receipts given by officers
in the field of the late Republics, or under their orders, to be
presented to a Judicial Commission, which will be appointed by the
Government; and if such notes and receipts are found by this
Commission to have been duly issued in return for valuable
considerations, they will be received by the first named
Commissions as evidence of war losses suffered by the persons to
whom they were originally given. In addition to the above named
free grant of three million pounds, His Majesty's Government will
be prepared to make advances on loan for the same purposes, free of
interest for two years, and afterwards repayable over a period of
three years with three per cent. interest. No foreigner or rebel
will be entitled to the benefit of this clause."
Statement read by Lord Milner to the Boer delegates:--
"His Majesty's Government must place it on record that the
treatment of Cape and Natal Colonists who have been in rebellion,
and who now surrender, will, if they return to their Colonies, be
determined by the Colonial Governments, and in accordance with the
laws of the Colonies, and that any British subjects who have joined
the enemy will be liable to trial under the law of that part of the
British Empire to which they belong.
"His Majesty's Government are informed by the Cape Government that
the following are their views as to the terms which should be
granted to British subjects of Cape Colony who are now in the
field, or who have surrendered, or have been captured since the
12th of April, 1901: With regard to rank and file, that they should
all, upon surrender, after giving up their arms, sign a document
before the Resident Magistrate of the District in which the
surrender takes place, acknowledging themselves guilty of High
Treason, and that the punishment to be awarded to them, provided
they shall not have been guilty of murder, or other acts contrary
to the usages of civilised warfare, should be that they shall not
be entitled for life to be registered as voters, or to vote at any
Parliamentary Divisional Council, or Municipal election.
"With reference to Justices of the Peace and Field Cornets of the
Cape Colony, and all other persons holding an official position
under the Government of the Cape Colony, or who may occupy the
position of Commandant of rebel or burgher forces, they should be
tried for High Treason before the ordinary court of the country, or
such special court as may be hereafter constituted by Law, the
punishment for their offence to be left to the discretion of the
Court, with this proviso, that in no case shall the penalty of
Death be inflicted.
"The Natal Government are of opinion that rebels should be dealt
with according to the Law of the Colony."
To the Boer, although he had been suffering the manifold miseries of the
battlefield for over two years, such terms made peace a tragedy.
Bitterness was mixed with his cup of happiness when he found himself
once more united to his family.
[Footnote A: Rev. Kestell, 'Through Shot and Flames.']
[Illustration: MR. R. MCDONALD.]
CHAPTER III.
ENGAGEMENTS.
And in the hope of freedom they possess
All that the contest calls for,--spirit, strength,
The scorn of danger, and united hearts.
_Cowper._
With the exception of the Stormberg engagement we do not intend to dwell
on the battles of the first part of the campaign. They have already been
described by able hands, by men who participated in them, or were in a
position to ascertain their true history. By this we do not infer that
all accounts are correct, for it requires many eyes to see one battle in
all its aspects. Besides, some writers are unconsciously influenced and
prejudiced by their national sentiments, and thus fail to do justice to
the parties concerned. We shall confine ourselves to the engagements in
which we personally took part, and shall record only the more remarkable
among them.
BATTLE OF STORMBERG.
In the beginning of November, 1899, the commandoes of Rouxville,
Smithfield, and Bethulie entered the Cape Colony at different points.
Having occupied several villages in the Eastern Province, they
concentrated towards the end of the month in the Stormbergen. Our tents
were pitched on the northern slopes of this mountain range, which runs
from east to west, six miles to the north of Molteno. Here we were to
have our first lesson in actual fighting; for up to that time we had not
encountered any resistance on the part of the enemy.
On the 9th of December, the night fixed on by General Gatacre to strike
a blow at the Boer forces at Stormberg, Assistant Chief Commandant
Grobler left that place with about nine hundred burghers, intending to
occupy Steynsburg. The enemy, having heard of their departure, and
knowing that our positions were in consequence so much weaker, left that
same evening, fully resolved to surprise us, and, if possible, reoccupy
the Stormbergen, which were abandoned at the first approach of our
commandoes.
The object of the British was to attack us on our right flank before
dawn, seize our positions and force us to surrender or retreat. On paper
this plan presented no difficulties, but its accomplishment was not
quite so easy, and proved a dangerous operation. The English general, as
we afterwards learnt, had started for the Boer positions at too late an
hour to reach them in due time; and, moreover, had lost his way in the
darkness of the night, so that the first rays of the rising sun were
lighting the majestic mountain tops before he was in position.
The "brandwachten"--night pickets--of the Rouxville Commando were
already on their way back to the camp, when one of them, who had by
chance returned to the top of the mountain, saw, in the shadow of the
valley, and on the slopes of the mountain, human forms moving silently
onward. One glance of his keen eye assured him that those forms were
enemies. Bang! went the first rifle report. The other pickets all rushed
back and opened fire as swiftly as they could handle their Mausers. This
brought the enemy to a standstill, for they, too, were surprised.
In the Boer camp below some of us were still peacefully sleeping, while
others were enjoying their first cup of coffee. With the rifle reports
came wakefulness and bustle. It did not take us a moment to realise that
speed would be our only means of salvation. Should the enemy reach the
summit first, disaster and defeat would be our lot. For some minutes it
was a scene of confusion. The horses, saddles, bridles, rifles and
bandoliers, where were they? Some knew, and had their equipments ready
in a moment; others, less careful, did not know, and sought almost
frantically for theirs. We made for the mountain and scaled it as
swiftly as our feet could carry us. Exhausted and breathless we reached
the summit before the enemy.
Gatacre's men were now exposed to a somewhat confused fire, which
greatly embarrassed them. Subjected to this fire from the summit, some
concealed themselves behind the rocks, while others retreated for
shelter to a donga not far off.
The English battery was then brought into action, and opened a terrific
fire on our positions, commanded by only two Krupp guns. So unceasing
and accurate was the enemy's fire, that our guns were soon silenced. In
a short time some of our burghers fell wounded and a few killed. One of
the enemy's guns was taken by mistake too near to our positions, with
the result that, in a few minutes, all its horses and most of the
gunners were disabled, and the gun passed into our hands.
Although exposed to a violent bombardment, we held our ground and
repelled the repeated attacks of Gatacre's men, who began to realise
that, should their guns not speedily dislodge us, the attack was bound
to collapse.
After the engagement had lasted an hour and a half we noticed that the
enemy began to waver, and was planning a retreat. To their dismay
General Grobler now made his appearance with reinforcements. He had
encamped that night some nine miles from Stormberg, and on hearing the
report of the guns, returned with Commandant du Plooy of Bethulie to
assist the Stormberg defenders.
On his arrival the enemy, exposed to a cross-fire, ran the risk of being
surrounded and captured. There was but one way out of a wretched
position--one loophole out of the net. Fortunately for them, Commandant
Zwanepoel of Smithfield, who had just given orders to guard this way of
escape, was badly wounded while rising to lead on his men. Owing to this
mishap his burghers failed to carry out his instructions, thus leaving
the way open.
Gatacre, seeing that it was a hopeless struggle, abandoned the project
of reoccupying Stormberg and sounded the retreat. He was followed up for
some distance by Commandant du Plooy, who made a few prisoners and took
two ammunition waggons. Weary and thirsty, the English forces re-entered
Molteno that evening. They had been baffled in a determined attack.
Their losses amounted to about 700, captured, wounded and killed. Those
who had taken shelter behind the rocks and in the donga were all made
prisoners. They remained there till the rest had retreated, and then
hoisted the white flag. One English writer says that they were
shamefully forgotten by General Gatacre, who was thus responsible for
their loss. Indeed a questionable explanation! Among the wounded were a
few officers and some privates, who were seriously injured by their own
guns as they tried to seize the Boer positions. Colonel Eagar, one of
the wounded, was removed to our hospital, where he breathed his last. In
addition to the number of prisoners we also captured two big guns. Our
losses amounted to 6 killed and 27 wounded.
The attack on the Stormberg positions, if it was boldly conceived, was
badly carried out. The English general should have postponed the attack
when it dawned upon him that he would not reach the enemy's positions
before daybreak; and he should have used the knowledge, common to most
soldiers, that it is best to attack a foe's weakest side. This was not
done at Stormberg. We, too, suffered from ill-advised action--or rather,
inaction. For we had had the opportunity of capturing, if not all, most
of Gatacre's men, with all their guns, and we neglected it! The victory
would have been complete if we had only followed up our advantage. In
those early days, however, some of our leaders regarded it as rather
sinful to harass a retreating enemy.
SANNA'S POST.
On the occupation of Bloemfontein some of the burghers, discouraged and
despondent, left for their homes. Lord Roberts's proclamation, promising
protection to all who should lay down their arms and settle quietly on
their farms, enticed many to remain at home. Most, however, changed
their minds after a few weeks' rest and returned to their commandoes.
It was then, after they had rallied again, that General De Wet, on the
eve of the 28th of March, left Brandfort with a commando 1500 strong and
moved in the direction of Winburg. De Wet had made up his mind to
surprise the English garrison which guarded the Bloemfontein Waterworks
at Sanna's Post, and so cut off the water supply of Bloemfontein.
With that object in view he made his movements thither by night, so as
to keep the enemy in the dark as to his plans. Neither were these
disclosed to the burghers, who were naturally anxious to know where they
were going and what they were to do next.
On his way De Wet learnt that General Broadwood, dreading an attack of
Commandant Olivier, had quitted Ladybrand and was marching on
Bloemfontein with a strong force. This information was rather
disconcerting, for now he had not only to reckon with the garrison, but
to be ready for an engagement with a column 2000 strong, which might
come to the relief of the garrison at any moment. In case of such an
emergency, De Wet divided his forces into two parts. He placed one
division--1050 strong with four guns--under the control of Generals
Cronje, Froneman, Wessels, and Piet De Wet, with instructions to occupy
the positions east of the Modder River and directly opposite the
Waterworks, so as to check Broadwood, should he come to the rescue of
the garrison.
Taking the remaining 350 burghers he set out to Koorn Spruit, a brook
which flows into the Modder River. Arrived there, he carefully concealed
his horses and men at a point where the road from the Waterworks to
Bloemfontein passes through the brook. The other generals were to shell
the garrison at daybreak, while he would fall on the troops if they
tried to escape to Bloemfontein _viâ_ Koorn Spruit.
As the Boer forces were getting into their different positions during
the night, Broadwood, who had left Thaba 'Nchu at nightfall, arrived
that very night at Sanna's Post. But we were each unconscious of the
other's presence.
The next morning at daybreak we saw a waggon and a large number of
cattle and sheep not far off the brook. The Kaffir drivers informed us
that the British column had just arrived at Sanna's Post. As soon as we
could see some distance ahead, we observed the enemy now hardly 3000
paces off. A few minutes later our guns began to play upon the
unsuspecting British forces. What a scene of confusion! Broadwood had
fallen into a trap and was between two fires. The whole column, with
guns, waggons and carts, made hurriedly for the drift where De Wet and
his men lay hidden. Nearer they came. At length a cart entered the
drift. The occupants, husband and wife, looked bewildered on seeing
armed Boers all around them in the bed of the brook. De Wet immediately
ordered two of his adjutants to mount the cart and drive on. Then in
quick succession followed a number of carts and vehicles, all driven by
Englishmen from Thaba 'Nchu. These were ordered to proceed ahead and
warned not to make any signals to the enemy. So well was everything
arranged, that the first batch of troops that entered the drift had not
the slightest suspicion that there was something wrong. Absolutely
abashed were they on finding themselves among us; the men raised their
hands in surrender at the cry of "Hands up!"
In this way we disarmed 200 without wasting a bullet. But this was not
to go on for long; there came an officer from the rear who was
determined to upset our plans and disturb our peace seriously. He, at
least, was not going to surrender in this fashion. On being asked for
his rifle he said, with marked resoluteness, "Be d----d! I won't," and
called on his men to fire. He drew his sword, but before he could use it
he was no more among the living.
The battle had begun. Scarcely 100 paces from the banks of the brook
stood five of the enemy's guns and more than 100 waggons. Some 400 paces
from these two more guns had stopped. The enemy had withdrawn for cover
about 1300 yards to the station on the Dewetsdorp-Bloemfontein railway.
[Illustration: SANNA'S POST--Plan of Battle.]
It was while they were retreating to this station that the greatest
havoc was wrought among them. Across the open plain, with no cover at
all, they had to retreat, and before they reached the place of shelter
the ground between the brook and the station was thickly strewn with
their dead and wounded. It was, indeed, a ghastly scene. The burghers
stood erect and fired on the retreating foe as though they were so much
game. So quickly did the waggons and guns wheel round that many were
overturned. To remove them was impossible. In vain did the English try
to save the guns. They succeeded, however, in getting two to the station
house, where they had rallied. With these they bombarded us for some
time; but owing to our sheltered positions only two men were wounded.
The Boer forces on the east of the Modder River had in the meanwhile
been doing their best to come to the assistance of General De Wet. But
their progress was much retarded by the uneven veldt and dongas through
which they had to ride. After three hours, spent in fruitless attempts,
they forded the river, attacked the enemy with great energy, and
succeeded in putting them to flight, and this brought the battle to an
end.
We made 480 captives. What their losses in wounded and killed were is
difficult to estimate. In the evening, when all was over, we went to the
house where the wounded were gathered, and there counted in one room
alone 96 cases. Their own report made their losses 350 dead and wounded.
Besides, 7 guns and 117 waggons fell into our hands. Our loss consisted
in 3 killed and 5 wounded.
On looking at the bodies of the dead and listening to the groanings of
the wounded, one was forced to say what a pity that the trap was
discovered, that one brave man, through his very bravery, prevented the
bloodless capture of his column and his general.
MOSTERT'S HOEK.
The victory at Sanna's Post was soon followed up by another success over
the British arms. On the evening of the eventful day at the Waterworks
De Wet handed the command over to Generals A. Cronje and Piet De Wet,
and, having taken three of his staff, he went in the direction of
Dewetsdorp on a reconnoitring expedition.
The following day he learnt that a party of the enemy had occupied
Dewetsdorp. On receiving the report his mind was made up: these too must
be captured. He was then thirty miles away from the commandoes, but
instantly despatched a report to us to come post-haste so as to attack
the enemy at Dewetsdorp or intercept them, should they try to join the
main body, which was advancing under Gatacre on Reddersburg.
In the meanwhile the burghers of that district, who had gone to their
farms on the fall of Bloemfontein, were commandeered. With these, some
120, who were almost all unarmed, De Wet started for Dewetsdorp to watch
the movements of the British.
Early on the 2nd of April the enemy left Dewetsdorp, and resumed their
march to Reddersburg. While marching De Wet kept them all the while
under surveillance. He was moving on one of their flanks, parallel to
them with an intervening distance of six miles. They were evidently not
aware that he was so close to them. As soon as we received the report
concerning the British, we left Sanna's Post in haste. We required no
urging on. For were we not encouraged by our recent success, and was
there not every chance of achieving another? We left Sanna's Post a
little before sunset, and that whole night we rode on without
off-saddling once. We did not halt save for a few minutes to rest our
horses.
Early the following morning a third report, pressing us to increase our
speed and leave behind those whose horses were too tired to proceed
rapidly, reached us. De Wet was most anxious to occupy a ridge in front
of the enemy, between the farms Mostert's Hoek and Sterkfontein. The
road leading to Reddersburg from Dewetsdorp traverses this ridge. Hence
it was absolutely necessary to seize it before the enemy if we were to
intercept them.
So on we went, leaving the weary and exhausted behind to follow on as
soon as possible. About 9 A.M. Generals Froneman and De Villiers, with
350 men, met De Wet, who was still moving parallel to the British
column, obscured from their view by a rising of the ground.
The ridge referred to already loomed now in the distance. We were all
fiercely anxious to seize it before the enemy. For it was a question of
life and death who was to be first there. But our horses were too tired,
and began to fall out rapidly. We were still four miles from the ridge
when the English began to occupy the eastern extremity of it. We moved
on to the western extremity, and reached it in time.
The enemy, however, had the advantage of the best positions, but was
fortunately cut off from the water. We were resolved to hem them in
completely, for we knew that, if no relieving forces arrived, they would
be compelled by thirst alone, if nothing else, to surrender.
Before commencing the fight, De Wet, anxious as usual to avoid
unnecessary bloodshed, sent the following note to the commanding
officer:--
"SIR,--I am here with 500 men, and am every moment expecting
reinforcements with three Krupps, against which you will not be
able to hold out. I therefore advise you, in order to prevent
bloodshed, to surrender."
The messenger returned under a storm of bullets, for no sooner had he
left the English lines than they opened fire on him. How he was missed
seemed inexplicable. The answer he brought back was: "I am d----d if I
surrender." On receiving this reply firing at once commenced. Positions
nearer to the enemy were gradually occupied.
Towards sunset our guns arrived, and were brought to bear upon the
enemy. But darkness soon set in, and firing ceased on both sides. To
make sure that the enemy would not escape during the night, we occupied
positions all round them, and in the darkness of the night silently
stole as near to their positions as was possible.
The next morning, as soon as the glimmer of dawn revealed the Mauser
sights to our eyes, the firing started with renewed vigour. We had drawn
so close to the enemy that when our guns were brought in action we
could, under cover of these, storm their positions. The men boldly
rushed up to the enemy's skanzes, and some burghers even seized their
rifles by the barrels, as they presented these over the bulwarks,
calling out, "Hands up! hands up!"
At 11 A.M. the white flag was hoisted. The commanding officer, who had
refused to surrender, was mortally wounded. Three hundred and seventy
were sent to the Transvaal as prisoners-of-war, while their wounded and
killed numbered 92.
Among the English we found five Boer prisoners-of-war, who were likewise
exposed to our firing. Imagine their joy in being released! They greeted
us with the ejaculation: "Thank God we are free!" We mourned the death
of Veldt Cornet du Plessis of Kroonstad, who fell after the white flag
had been hoisted. That such mistakes should occur! Six or seven burghers
were wounded.
LADYBRAND VISITED.
Towards the end of July, 1900, Prinsloo's surrender took place. Those of
us who escaped the trap laid left for Heilbron with the hope of meeting
De Wet's commando there. Near Heilbron we heard the dismal news that he
was forced over the Vaal and was being driven northward by some 40,000
troops. This, led us to change our course and move in the direction of
Winburg.
On the morning of the 27th of August we made an unsuccessful attack on
Winburg. Olivier, with 27 men, got captured. The burden and
responsibility of leading others was then first placed upon my
shoulders. I was elected commandant.
Frustrated in our attempt to seize Winburg, we resolved to attack
Ladybrand, which was not strongly garrisoned. Having encamped at
Koeranerberg--a mountain 30 miles west of Ladybrand--we mustered our
forces, took three guns and about 800 burghers, and left for the
village.
It was a bitterly cold night--one of those nights which one can hardly
forget. We rode till sunrise without off-saddling once. At 9 P.M. we
halted to prepare a hasty supper. How we enjoyed that! A few days
before, the enemy had unwillingly provided us with sugar, coffee, milk,
butter and cheese. Owing to the intense cold the men that had no
overcoats wrapped themselves up in their blankets, in which they
appeared before the village just as the sun was rising.
Commandant Hertzog, on our arrival, despatched a messenger under a flag
of truce to demand the surrender of the garrison. In reply he received a
message to the effect that it would be much better if he would come in
himself and lay down arms; that would put an end to the business much
quicker. On receiving this answer we at once began to bombard the forts
of the enemy, with the result that almost all their horses took to
flight and fell into our hands, while some of them were wounded and
killed.
General Fourie, Commandant Nieuwhoudt and myself, with a number of
daring volunteers, made for the village. We reached a few houses safely,
and under cover of these we succeeded in forcing the enemy to retreat to
their forts and skanzes at the foot of Platrand--a mountain to the
south-east of the village and very near to it. Gradually we occupied
more and more of the village, and before sunset we were in possession of
the whole of it.
The enemy was, however, so strongly entrenched that, in spite of their
small numbers, it was impossible to compel them to capitulate without
incurring the risk of sustaining heavy losses. For at the base of the
mountain are natural forts and grottoes, against which lyddite shells
would spend their force in vain. All we could do was to keep the foe in
their haunts by directing such a fire against them that they could not
venture even to peep out. In doing this the commandoes could
requisition--loot, as some would say--what they required.
During the night the enemy shifted and occupied other positions. At
daybreak they took vengeance on us from these positions. It did not take
a long time to silence them for the rest of the day.
The following two days we remained in the village, keeping the enemy at
bay. We had hoped that eventually their rations would run short, and
thus bring about their surrender. Unfortunately our hopes were not to be
realised; they were only too well provided. Then, again, we thought that
thirst might prove an irresistible force in our favour; but in this,
too, we erred, for in their grottoes was abundant water.
On the second day of the attack we placed one of our guns in the centre
of the village, whence we shelled the enemy's forts, but all to no
purpose. On the evening of the third day we heard that relieving forces
were at hand, and as we had received a message from De Wet to meet him
in Bothaville district, we left Ladybrand at dusk.
During the three days' fighting only a few burghers were wounded. As the
enemy fired at random into the village, some of the inhabitants were
also injured. A young man was mortally wounded, while a bullet shattered
the arm of a woman.
Our efforts were rewarded by the seizure of the enemy's horses, which we
valued even more than their persons. The horses we could keep and use,
the men we had to dismiss again. We returned to the laager well supplied
with clothes and foodstuffs. But for some traitors, who assisted the
enemy, the garrison would in all probability have fallen. These,
dreading the results of a capitulation, held out until relieved.
As this was our first visit to Ladybrand since its occupation, the joy
of the Boer families in meeting relatives and burghers was indeed great.
They welcomed them with open arms, and during their short stay it was
their delight to minister unto them. We shall ever gratefully remember
the hearty reception which was extended to us by the Ladybrand
Africanders. Were they not prosecuted after our departure for welcoming
and receiving their kith and kin?
MURRAY'S COLUMN.
Compelled to abandon the Cape Colony in August, we went to Gastron
District, a Free State village situated on the Basutoland border. There
we intended to rest our horses for a time; but no sooner had we entered
the district than the English column came pouring into it like so many
birds of prey. They had concentrated in that district and in the
adjoining ones to clear them, _i.e._, to remove or destroy whatever
could be removed or destroyed.
During this time we often came in conflict with the enemy. It was
impossible to avoid that; they were on every side. For miles and miles
it was one column on the other. We could hardly engage any of these
columns successfully during the day, for no sooner had the fight begun
than reinforcements would come from all directions, making our position
quite untenable.
It was in such circumstances that we planned a night attack on one of
the English camps nine miles east of Gastron. We had engaged the enemy
on several occasions without desirable results. Our limited supply of
ammunition was gradually exhausted. Come what would, we were bound to
strike a blow at the enemy, so as to fill our bandoliers once more. The
night was the only time we could hope to succeed. Reinforcements would
not then scatter us before we had achieved our object.
At 11 P.M. on the 19th of September, 1901, after a day's hard fighting
from early morn till sunset, we started, 70 men in all, with the
intention of attacking a column encamped at the foot of a hill. It was a
very cold night, and the moon, casting her pale light across the frosty
plains, was sinking in the west. The column was about eight miles off.
As we approached it, deep silence reigned. Not a word, not a whisper was
heard. Ah! if we could but succeed in passing the enemy's pickets
unobserved, the victory would be ours, the battle half won. So we held
our breath and our tongues as well, and moved onward. Indeed, we have
succeeded! We are past the pickets, and that unnoticed! The hill, where
the slumbering foe is encamped, is in our possession.
Having dismounted, the burghers were arranged in fighting order.
Commandant Louis Wessels was placed on one flank, Commandant De Bruijn
on the other. Before commencing the work of destruction, we briefly
admonished and encouraged the men to be true to each other and to fight
as befits men. We pointed out to them that our success would depend
entirely upon our united efforts. For a long address there was no time,
so we proceeded to the camp.
The moon has set. Down below the enemy is fast asleep. Soon, too soon,
their midnight slumbers will be sadly disturbed. Many of them will not
see the dawn of another day. They are enjoying their last sleep.
Silently we moved on to the British column, which gave no signs
whatever that our approach was suspected. As it was very dark, the men
were ordered not to advance ahead of one another, for fear of accidents,
and also, if possible, to march right through the camp, so as to make
sure of all.
Commandant L. Wessels, famous for his dauntlessness, was the first to
open fire by lodging a shot in one of the enemy's tents. The rest
followed, and then a shower of bullets, thick and fast, poured in upon
the surprised and embarrassed foe. The men aimed low and fired with
deadly precision. The flashes of the rifles leapt forth like lightning
freaks in the darkness. Never before had I witnessed such a scene.
In a quarter of an hour all was over and the whole camp taken. Two
Maxims were destroyed and an Armstrong was taken along with us. What
havoc was played in that brief quarter of an hour! The wounded mules,
horses and men lay groaning side by side. Colonel Murray, Captain
Murray, and almost all the other officers, fell in the action, and
several privates passed into the unseen world that fatal night. So
terrific was the firing that entire teams of mules were shot down where
they stood tied to the ropes.
As the veldt was strewn with the many wounded and the dead, we could not
put the waggons on fire, lest the grass should catch fire and consume
the fallen in battle. We took what we could remove and left the
camp--not exactly as we found it, but a little poorer.
The enemy, though attacked off their guard, defended themselves bravely.
We shall not forget the gallant conduct of the officer who had charge of
the Maxim. Distinctly we could hear him say, "Get the Maxim into action.
Don't be afraid, boys. Go for them! Go for them!" Brave man! He, too,
fell by the side of his Maxim, which was charged and seized by
Commandant Wessels.
As to the conduct of the burghers, we need only remark that their good
behaviour pleased us exceedingly. There was no reason to urge them on;
not one retreated. Though only a handful as compared to the enemy, they
fought well till the foe was vanquished. One of them, young Liebenberg
(familiarly known by the name of Matie) from Murraysburg, was shot
through the head and succumbed at once. Another, young Hugo from
Smithfield, was wounded in the foot. We had no other casualties.
The attack on Murray's column was to a great extent incidental. Near his
was another very much smaller camp. When I left that night it was with
the intention to attack this smaller camp, for I had only 65 men at my
disposal. In the darkness I lost my way, and so lighted on Murray's
column. It was unfortunate for them, but for ourselves we could have
wished for no better accident.
In the Colonel's letter-bag we found a letter addressed to his wife,
dated 19th September, 1901, and written the very day before his death.
We purposed to forward that letter, but the following day the bag was
retaken. Not only was it taken, but also the gun, while 20 burghers were
captured and one--Myburgh--was killed. We were again surprised.
Inconstant are the fortunes of war.
JAMES TOWN.
The villages in possession of the enemy were at length so thoroughly
fortified that it was well-nigh impossible to seize them without
sustaining great losses. Though they seemed impregnable, yet we were
sometimes compelled by sheer necessity to attack them. Beyond
expectation we now and again succeeded in inducing the garrison to
surrender. Such was the case at James Town, a village in the Eastern
Province of the Cape Colony.
Late one afternoon in the month of July, 1901, I set out to this village
to reconnoitre it in person. Unobserved, I reached the summit of a small
hill, about a mile from it. Through my field-glasses I carefully noted
the various forts, and there and then planned an attack. The next
morning I knew exactly what to do.
At 2 A.M. Commandant Myburgh, Commandant Lötter, and myself, with some
60 men, were in the saddle and on our way to James Town. What will be
the issue? Shall we succeed? Can we surprise the enemy? Such questions
we put to ourselves as we rode on in the darkness and silence of the
night to accomplish the work of destruction.
The spot we had in view was a kopje, situated to the north of the
village. Here the enemy's camp was located. As this kopje was the key to
the village, it was necessarily very strongly fortified. We knew that if
we could only occupy that hill, the rest would be easy work. Before dawn
we were close to the camp. A few minutes more and we shall grimly salute
our sleeping brethren. Silently we approach them. We are keenly on the
alert for the pickets, whom, least of all, we wished to disturb. Behold!
something in the darkness--what may that be? To be sure, two human
forms! Hush! they are slumbering. Noiselessly we draw nearer, reach
them, seize their rifles, and then--wake them. They are our first
prisoners; our way to the camp is open, safe and sure.
On we moved until stopped, not by a sentinel--it was much too cold that
night to expect an attack--but by a network of barbed wires, by which
the hill and camp were fenced in. Quickly the wires were cut. That done,
some of the burghers charged the tents, while the rest made for the
enemy's trenches on top of the hill.
How awful a surprise! Taken unawares, the foe ran to their strongholds,
but only to meet death there, for these were already in possession of
our men. Myburgh, a Gastron burgher, so very brave, was the first and
only one to receive a mortal wound--other men were slightly wounded in
that hand-to-hand struggle. At dawn the hill and the camp were in our
possession, for the enemy, after a loss of 9 killed and wounded, thought
it best to resist no longer.
With the occupation of the hill it was possible to reach the village.
The British allowed the burghers to pass their skanzes without shooting
at them. But no sooner had they entered the village than a heavy fire
from the forts was directed against them. They were not slow to respond
to this reception, and that so effectively that the commanding officer
was soon willing to entrust himself with his 130 men to our keeping. All
was over.
At 3 P.M. we departed. The English commandant and his men accompanied
us for some distance, and then we dismissed them after their having
promised that they would remain strictly neutral.
CAPTAIN SPANDOW SURPRISED.
While operating in the Cradock district I learnt that a certain Captain
Spandow, with about ninety men, was on the track of a small party of
Boers. Only _ninety_! The small number tempted us to try to effect their
capture, which, as a rule, was not a very difficult nor dangerous
operation. Taking forty burghers I started at midnight, and at dawn
found myself still six miles from the enemy. Lest they should escape I
took twelve men with the best animals, and with these proceeded ahead,
so as to engage the enemy until the rest, whose horses were very tired,
should come to our assistance.
About half an hour after sunrise we unexpectedly lighted on the pickets
of the enemy, who camped for the night in the Waterkloof valley, twenty
miles from Cradock. The pickets were charged and captured, and we seized
a position hardly 200 yards from the English, who had off-saddled at a
wall.
A brisk firing from both sides then ensued. The wall served the enemy in
good stead. From there they could fire volley after volley on us. But
gradually we crept nearer, until at last a few of the burghers had
passed the wall, and were now on the side of the enemy, so that the wall
could afford them no cover. While the men were trying to get on the
other side of the wall, one of my adjutants--Hugo, a lad of thirteen
summers--was killed, and two others wounded. But the British, now
exposed to a cross-fire, suffered heavily. Several of them dropped down,
either dead or wounded.
When I saw how untenable their position was becoming I sent in a flag of
truce, asking them to surrender, so as to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.
One of the officers sent word that, seeing Captain Spandow had already
fallen, and their losses were so great, he considered further
resistance useless.
We found that 15, including the captain, were killed, and 14 wounded.
Six of the wounded died soon after their surrender. One of their men was
at once sent to Cradock for an ambulance. Our losses were 1 killed and 2
wounded.
The men I had left behind had off-saddled, and so only arrived after the
enemy had surrendered. The officer, on inquiring where our men were, and
who had engaged them, only shook his head when I told him that we were
but 13, and that 3 of these had been put out of action almost at the
beginning of the engagement. The British numbered 84 in all. We were
again provided with a good supply of ammunition, and 105 horses in
excellent condition.
Some months later Major Warn's column was attacked at the same place by
Commandant L. Wessels. Several of the enemy's horses were shot down,
while a number of men were wounded. So suddenly had they to turn back,
that many a helmet dropped down and the owner had no inclination to pick
it up. The English had fallen once more into an awkward trap from which
they had to extricate themselves with the utmost speed.
On another occasion Commandant Fouché awaited the enemy at the same spot
and made about 150 prisoners. Long Kloof Valley has thus become a noted
place. The traveller passing through that valley will always be reminded
of the South African War on seeing the fourteen graves alongside the
road, and near to the stone wall.
SPRAGGE'S COLUMN CAPTURED.
The following report, bearing on Colonel Spragge's surrender, has been
submitted to me by my military secretary, R.D. McDonald.
"On the 27th of May, 1900, Spragge entered Lindley. Our commando
was then stationed at a farm eight miles to the north of the
village. General Colvile, whom Spragge was to have joined here,
left early on the morning of the 27th. What urged him on we could
not guess. Had he waited another day, Spragge would not have been
captured. We followed him up for some miles, and inflicted slight
losses on his rear.
"At noon the burghers returned to the laager. About an hour before
sunset our scouts returned with the news that the English had
reoccupied Lindley, and that it was but a small column _without_
guns. When the burghers heard that the column was only 500 strong,
and had no guns, they required no other inducements, but started
immediately for Lindley. Our men are, as a rule, more daring if
they discover that the enemy has no cannons at their disposal; the
big, monstrous guns they do not like. We had thus decided that this
detached column would receive every attention from us.
"The British, being warned by the dust in the distance that our
commando was coming, considered it wiser to quit the village, fall
back on Valsch River and occupy positions on the right bank of it.
Darkness had now set in, and we could do no more than place our
pickets round the column. We had, however, not enough men that
night to make sure that should the enemy try to escape they would
not succeed. Forsooth, we were greatly surprised to find them still
there the following morning. It seemed to us a little over-bold on
their part to stay on with only two Maxims at their command. We did
not know then that it would take us three and a half days, and some
precious lives, before the white flag would be hoisted. The next
day we surrounded them completely and thus knew that unless
reinforced they would have to surrender.
"Early in the morning firing commenced; but the enemy had occupied
during the night such strong positions--the hills and ridges on the
river banks--that they were quite secure. We had the bed of the
river, from whence we could not inflict such losses as would compel
the enemy to capitulate. They held the key of the positions, and
unless we could seize that stronghold, all our efforts would be
useless. The question was, how to take it. Without the assistance
of guns it was a dangerous and risky undertaking to charge that
particular position--a hill on the right bank of the river. Our
men, in charging it, would be exposed to a rifle and Maxim fire for
at least 800 yards. Under cover of guns, however, it was possible
to reach the hill. A gun was immediately sent for, and on the
evening of the third day of the siege it arrived at Lindley.
"That night the gun was placed in position, and at dawn the hill
was shelled. I stood watching the shells, as one after the other
exploded on the hill. Not a living object was visible, none
stirred, and so still (I shall not say at ease) did the English lie
in the skanzes that I remarked to Prinsloo: 'General, it seems the
enemy has abandoned the hill during the night, else we must already
have seen some signs of them.'
[Illustration: THE LINDLEY AFFAIR.]
"After we had bombarded the hill for some time, a number of
burghers charged it. Breathlessly we stood watching these gallant
chargers. Arrived at the foot of the hill, they dismounted, and
began climbing it. For some time all went well, when lo! a fire was
directed against them from the summit. Being quite coverless on the
slopes of the hill, they were forced to retreat. As they retreated
the enemy rose to their feet and fired as briskly as they could at
them. When we saw the English on top of the hill we mistook them
for Boers, and began to clap hands and cheer, thinking that the
hill had been taken by our men. We were soon disillusioned.
"As the burghers retreated, something strange and inexplicable
occurred, which really decided the fate of the enemy. It was this:
the burghers had hardly gone 300 yards, when the British abandoned
_en masse_ the hill, and retreated, almost as fast as the former,
in the opposite direction. Whether they feared another and more
determined onslaught, or whether there was the usual
misunderstanding, I wot not. Be it as it may, the position we so
coveted was abandoned; it was for us to seize it at once. With a
little encouragement the charge was repeated, the hill taken, and
in less than twenty minutes the white flag announced the surrender
of Spragge's column.
"Between 60 and 70 of the enemy were wounded and killed, while the
rest were made prisoners. It was their first interview with the
Boers. After a four days' siege a bath and a good meal must have
been welcome.
"From the veldt we took our surrendered friends to the village. The
wounded were placed in the local hospital, and the officers found
lodgings for the night in an hotel.
"I escorted Spragge to the village. On the way he had a long talk
with me about the war, and wished to know why the Free State had
cast in her lot with the Transvaal. He failed to see, and had to be
reminded that Free Staters and Transvaalers were essentially one
people; that the Vaal River divides the two States, but not the
people, as far as blood was concerned.
"On being asked why they had evacuated the hill, which was their
chief stronghold, he replied: 'That was a mistake.' We do not
object to such mistakes. If this had not been committed, Spragge
would in all probability have remained a free man, and his column
would not have fallen into our hands, for that was our last and
only chance. Early the next morning the reinforcements appeared on
the adjacent hills, but they were too late to rescue Spragge's
column. The prisoners were sent on to Reitz, and from there to the
Transvaal."
[Illustration: AN INTERESTING GROUP.
The three seated in the centre are MR. MCDONALD, COMMANDANT LOUIS
WESSELS, and the late LIEUT. P. TROSKIE.]
CHAPTER IV.
IN TIGHT CORNERS.
Daring the event to the teeth ...
And danger serves among them.
_Shakespeare._
Come, let us make an honourable retreat,
Though not with bag and baggage.
_Shakespeare._
The above heading may seem strange, and yet we presume that most
officers, as well as many privates, who had taken a leading part in the
late South African War can record many instances where they escaped by
the skin of the teeth.
How often a shell exploded like a thunder-clap in one's immediate
vicinity! How many a bullet just missed its mark as by a hair's breadth,
whizzing past the ear with lightning speed! Well I remember how, on one
occasion, a shell exploded right overhead with such tremendous force
that both rider and horse rolled in the dust by the violent concussion
produced by the explosion. The burghers, some distance away, watching
me, thought that would be the last of Kritzinger. To their surprise I
rose again, shook off the dust, mounted my steed, and rode on to the
position they were defending.
At present I shall not dwell on deliverances from the fire-spouting
machines of modern warfare, but confine my remarks to such escapes as
were connected with attempts on the part of the enemy, either to secure
my person or capture my commando. Here again I shall only cite some
instances; to relate all will be tedious to reader and writer alike.
In the beginning of July, 1901, just a few days after we had so
successfully attacked and taken James Town, we arrived at a farm
situated on the banks of the Kraai River, eighteen miles from Lady Grey.
Here was the enemy's opportunity.
The owner of the farm--Van der Merwe, a most loyal colonist--was not at
home, but, as we learnt afterwards, had gone to Lady Grey, or to the
nearest English column, to announce the presence of my commando in his
neighbourhood. Of this unfriendly deed we were altogether unaware.
As soon as we had off-saddled, our scouts were sent out in different
directions. In the evening they returned with the report that for miles
around us no traces of the enemy were to be seen. The pickets for the
night were then put out on the three main roads leading to the farm,
which was in a valley almost entirely encompassed by high and rugged
mountains.
With my pickets out I felt at ease. I went to the farm-house, had
dinner, got a room, and laid myself down to enjoy the night's rest, on
which the enemy was soon to intrude so violently.
About 2 A.M. one of the pickets came to the laager to report a noise,
which sounded like the tramp of horses, but he could not, on account of
the intense darkness, see any objects. Warned by this report, we began
to make preparations for an attack. Veldt Cornet Kruger was at once
ordered to ascertain the truth of the report. But before he had left the
camp one of the burghers came back and assured us that it was a herd of
cattle.
Thus reassured, we betook ourselves to rest. Rest? No, certainly not.
The foe is at hand. No sooner had we wrapped ourselves up in the
blankets when, behold! rifle reports grated on our ears. The herd of
cattle was nothing else than Colonel Scobell's column. Alas! our pickets
had been cut off and hence could not report on the enemy.
Imagine our position! I began dressing as fast as I could, faster than
ever before in my life. So near was the enemy, that when I reached the
back door of the house in which I slept they had already entered by the
front door. Had it not been for some plucky burghers the enemy would
have completely cut off my exit and I would have been captured.
Fortunately the way was still open at the back door. What a scene I
witnessed outside! Friend and foe were so intermingled, and engaged in
hand-to-hand fight, that it was impossible to distinguish the one from
the other. Right in front of the door the gallant Commandant Calmon
Cächet was wrestling with an opponent that proved too strong for him.
Next to him a certain Grobler had floored his man, and was handling him
so roughly that the poor fellow called for help. The one who was too
strong for Cächet left him to render assistance to his brother in
adversity. Grobler then left his prey, and both he and Cächet seized
their rifles and made for better regions.
Thinking that it might be only a patrol of the enemy that had come upon
us incidentally and not intentionally, I tried hard to get the rather
panic-stricken burghers into action. At a gate through which they had to
pass I stopped them, and ordered them back. We soon noticed, however,
how serious our position was; in fact, that we were surrounded on every
side, and would have to fight our way through and out.
At about 3.30 A.M. the British brought their guns into action. The
mountains resounded with the explosion of the shells, and the night was
illuminated by the flashes of the guns. The fireworks were magnificent
beyond description, but ... we had no inclination to admire them under
such circumstances.
The next morning we counted our losses: ten burghers were captured, two
wounded and one killed. One hundred and thirty horses were missing, most
of the men were without saddles, and only a few had blankets.
This was indeed a surprise, and yet we were astonished that, after all,
any of us did escape. So eager was the enemy to secure my person, that
they did not attend to the burghers, whom they had disarmed, but simply
flung their rifles aside and left them to themselves. The men, thus
disarmed, instantly picked up their rifles and "trapt," _i.e._, ran off.
Thus very few of them were without rifles the following day.
Our feelings cannot be easily described. There were forty-six men who
had to go on foot. A large number had no saddles. I lost all my horses.
The only hope we entertained was that the British Government would soon
restore our property. What we regretted most was the loss of our men.
Two of our pickets were caught, the remaining six, when charged and cut
off, had taken refuge in a deep ditch, where they remained until the
enemy had left, and then found their way back to the commando.
My next escape, though not exposed to the enemy's fire, and perhaps not
even known to them, was probably the narrowest I had during the whole
campaign.
We were again hard pressed by two columns. Our horses being very tired,
we were obliged to rest them for a short while, even at the risk of
falling into the hands of the enemy. Our way led through a valley,
bordered on both sides by huge mountain ranges which for at least six
miles ran parallel.
On the side of the road, half-way up the valley, was a farmstead where
we off-saddled and gave our horses some fodder. The two columns which
were on our track had been coming nearer. Fortunately darkness was
setting in. When the front column was a short distance from us, we
saddled and went to a dense bush close to the road. In that bush we
delayed, till the first column had passed us and advanced some distance.
As the second was only one or two miles behind the first, and as we were
not sure whether it would also pass, we fell in behind the first; there
was but one road.
We were now between two columns. We rode on as quietly as we could,
hardly a whisper was heard. The slightest noise on our part could betray
our presence. We were so close to the front column that we could
distinctly hear the rumbling of wheels and the tramp of horses. Should
the progress of the column be in any way obstructed, hereby causing a
standstill, the one at our rear would inevitably press us upon the front
one. What cold drops of perspiration rolled over my forehead! How I held
my breath! Who shall describe the anxiety of such moments? There was but
one way open--the way to the stars and the Throne beyond the stars.
Before and behind us the foe, on both sides mountains, so steep and
rugged that it would be folly even to attempt to climb them. Wistfully
we looked up.
After riding some distance we met a native that belonged to the front
column. He had tarried a little too long. We addressed him in English,
and thus put him off the scent altogether. Mistaking us for English, he
told us all he knew about the different columns. In this way we rode
along, gradually approaching the extremity of the two ranges. Out at
last! How relieved we felt can hardly be imagined. Once more we breathed
freely. The poor native! How startled he was when he discovered his
mistake, and learnt that he was then a prisoner, and had to accompany
us.
On the 13th of October, 1901, the enemy had very ingeniously laid a trap
for me, and had almost drawn me into it.
At that time we were in the district of Wepener, a village on the
Basutoland border. Several British columns were then operating in that
district. As so many were concentrated there, it was extremely hazardous
and difficult for small commandoes, such as ours, to move during the
daytime. The space between the Caledon River and Basutoland in which we
could move becoming daily more and more circumscribed and limited, we
determined to cross the Caledon River. Besides, we heard that the river
was rising, and so were anxious to ford it before it was in flood.
On the evening of the 12th of October we set out in the direction of the
river. At 10 P.M. we arrived at a farm, where we halted till 1 A.M. It
was our intention to stop at this farm for the night, but owing to some
strange foreboding of imminent danger I resolved to leave; and at 1
A.M. gave orders to saddle. As it was a very dark and cold night, some
of the burghers felt reluctant to leave, and I heard them saying, "What
is up again to-night with General Kritzinger? Surely we are perfectly
safe here! Why trek again in the bitter cold at midnight?" But my orders
had to be obeyed, and at 2 A.M. we were on the march.
Five of the men, who could not find their horses in the dark, were left
behind to seek them when it was light. At daybreak that farm was
surrounded and shelled by the enemy. Had we remained there we would have
been in a sad plight; the five men were all captured. We escaped, but
there was another trap for the next day. We off-saddled at a farm three
miles from the river. Commandant Wessels, three burghers and myself rode
to the Drift--"Basters Drift"--to see whether the stream was still
fordable.
Little dreaming that the enemy was concealed on the opposite bank of the
river, behind the ruins of an old homestead, and was watching us as we
gradually approached the river, we entered the stream and waded through
it. Arrived on the opposite side we sent one of the men back to call the
commando, for the river was rising rapidly. The other two burghers were
sent to reconnoitre ahead, while Wessels and myself remained on the bank
of the river.
Scarcely had the two men left us, when we were startled by rifle reports
close by. We jumped up, ran to our horses, and saw that we were hardly
100 yards away from the enemy. All we could do was to recross the river,
and that had to take place in a shower of bullets. Let one imagine
himself in a swollen river, so deep that his horse has to swim now and
then, and the foe on the bank directing an incessant fire on him, and he
will realise to some extent our position. We reached the bank safely,
but had to do another 800 yards to get out of harm's way.
The two men we had sent ahead--what became of them? Alas! they rode into
the jaws of death, for when they discovered the enemy they were hardly
15 yards from them. "Hands up!" resounded from behind the wall. The men,
rather than surrender and sacrifice their commando, made an ill-fated
attempt at escape. In the twinkling of an eye they were shot down. The
one--a young Trichard from Cradock--was dead on the spot; three bullets
penetrated his body. The other--young Wessels from Winburg--was wounded
in the leg and captured.
These two brave young men were the means of saving Wessels and myself
either from being captured or shot. And not only that, but their gallant
action, in which the one forfeited his life, and the other a limb,
proved the salvation of the whole commando. If they had surrendered
Wessels and I would probably have gone in the same direction, and the
commando would have followed, and so all of us would have been in a
terrible predicament. But they had risked their lives to save us from
certain destruction.
Failing to ford the river at that drift, we proceeded down-stream with
the hope of crossing it somewhere else. To our disappointment the river
had risen to such a degree that the only transit still left could be a
bridge. Now there was but one far down the stream, and it was very
doubtful whether that was not held by the enemy. Anyway, we were going
to try, and so marching almost all the whole night we arrived at the
bridge a little after sunrise. How glad we were to find the bridge still
unoccupied! We had just reached it in time, for half an hour after we
had gone over the British took possession of it. They had now completed
their cordon; but we--were out of the circle.
On the 22nd of the same month we were once again in tight
corners--surrounded by three columns.
As we found no rest either for ourselves or our animals in the
south-eastern districts of the Orange Free State, we resolved to go to
the Winburg and Ladybrand districts.
The enemy had pitched their camps all along the main road from
Reddersburg to Dewetsdorp, and from there to Wepener. These stations
were from six to eight miles apart, and formed a kind of fence. Through
this line we had to pass, as well as the blockhouse line extending from
Bloemfontein to Ladybrand, _via_ Thaba 'Nchu.
We left at dusk, got safely through the camp-line, and rode on till 2
A.M., when we arrived at a certain farm. We went to the house to make
inquiries as to the enemy. A woman opened the door, and on learning who
we were, informed us that a quarter of an hour from her home an English
column was encamped. How disgusting! We had been in the saddle from
sunset to 2 A.M. and here we were, just a quarter of an hour from the
enemy. We thought and hoped that we were then at least twelve miles from
the nearest column. Why not engage them? the reader might ask. Well, we
did. But our horses, which had to live on the tender grass-shoots,
needed a rest very badly; we could hardly use them. Besides, there was a
blockhouse-line to pass the following night, and this one was still 24
miles off.
We proceeded another three miles, to be at least four miles from that
column. At about 2.30 we off-saddled. Being not quite at ease we rose
after a short rest and re-saddled. Two scouts were sent to a hill close
by. To their surprise they found the enemy's pickets stationed on the
same kopje, at the foot of which the British camp was pitched. Having
said "good-morning" to each other in military fashion the two returned
with the unwelcome news that the enemy was just next door. We had slept
side by side without knowing of each other. Ignorance was bliss that
night.
This column--about 200 strong--on discerning us, at once prepared for
action. Though very tired, we took up positions and began to engage the
advancing foe. We succeeded in checking their progress, and certainly
had the best of the situation till noon, when the scene was changed. My
scouts returned with the alarming report that two other columns were
advancing on us from Thaba 'Nchu.
I saw that we could not afford to lose a moment, for the two columns
were not far apart, nor at any great distance from us. If we should
continue the fight with the one the others would meet and we would be
surrounded. Hence I gave instructions to the men to fall back. The
report reached us unfortunately too late--our exit was already cut off.
The enemy had occupied positions all around us, and there we were, right
in the centre of a circle whose circumference consisted of an unbroken
line of enemies. My secretary, who had never before been in such a
circle, asked me: "Now, General, what now? What is our next move?" "We
must charge that column in front of us," I replied, and, suiting the
action to the word, we went off as fast as our tired horses could go,
making straight for the enemy. This was too much for them; they first
halted, and then--retreated to a ridge about 1700 yards to their left.
This retreat afforded us an exit. We were, however, exposed to a
cross-fire for fully three miles, but it proved ineffectual, for only
one burgher was slightly wounded.
If the enemy had not retreated that day, or had only occupied a certain
brook, through which we had to pass, it would have been impossible for
us to escape. But if there were no _ifs_ there would not have been such
a lamentable war in South Africa. Neither would such unpardonable
blunders have been committed.
We were glad that the enemy had allowed us to pass. That night we
crossed the fighting-line near to Sprinkhaan's Nek, where General De Wet
and his men had such a hot reception.
BETWEEN TWO RIVERS AND FIVE COLUMNS.
On the evening of the 14th of March, 1901, my commando crossed the Tarka
River, after which Tarka Stad is named. As heavy rains were falling we
bivouacked not far from the river. There in the veldt, without any
shelter, we spent a miserable night, for we were exposed to incessant
showers, which drenched us to the very skin. But there was something
even worse in store for us the following day.
Having crossed the Tarka River, we were between that river and another
called Vlekpoort River, which flows into the Tarka some six miles from
where we had forded the latter.
The following morning we rode to a farm near by. There we off-saddled,
fed our horses, and began to prepare our breakfast. How stiff, cold and
hungry we were! We could hardly wait until the meat was thoroughly
broiled. Just as we began to satisfy the pangs of hunger the scouts
came back, and once more it was "opzaal! opzaal!" (saddle! saddle!). We
knew what it meant. The enemy was on our heels.
Two columns were on our right flank, between the two rivers. One had
followed us up, and was then on the banks of the Tarka River; another
was encamped in front of us on the banks of the Vlekpoort River; whilst
a fifth was stationed near the confluence of the two streams. Thus five
columns all around us; and the problem to be solved was, how to get out
of the net.
This problem we solved in a practical manner. We occupied at once the
strongest positions we could find, and, fortunately for us, between the
rivers were natural positions so strong, that, with a small number of
men, it was possible to hold one's own against great odds. These
positions we seized, and were determined to stand or fall thereby. We
would fight to the last cartridge, and then try and break through the
cordon during the night.
In the meanwhile the enemy had drawn nearer. At about 8 A.M. the
fighting commenced. From different directions shell after shell was
hurled upon us. Again and again the enemy charged us, but was beaten
back with greater loss to themselves than to us. Retreat? We could not.
Surrender? That was out of the question; so from morn till sunset we
clung to our positions, as though we were tied to them, and defended our
persons as resolutely as possible.
Just as the sun was setting we stormed one of the enemy's positions. And
although three of the burghers were wounded, the rest succeeded in
expelling the enemy. Our way was now open; when darkness set in we could
recross the Tarka. A pom-pom fire was opened upon us from the column on
our left flank as we crossed the stream, which was then so high that our
horses had to swim. Owing to the darkness none were injured.
The following day we had the pleasure of capturing the Commandant of
Tarka Stad with his escort. The enemy was so sure of our surrender that
a report was sent to Tarka Stad to the effect that we were quite
surrounded, and that they hoped to deliver us the following morning at 8
o'clock. And as they might require some more ammunition to force us to
surrender, the military must forward some.
The commandant of the village was taking this ammunition out when we met
him. His men, riding in twos and threes at some distance apart, were
disarmed by us without wasting bullets on them. At last the commandant,
who happened to be some distance behind, came riding up to us. As he
came on I rode up to him and said in a friendly tone: "Old chap, you'd
better let me have your gun." Thinking that I was imposing upon him, he
said: "Come along; don't play the fool!" When I had assured him that I
was in earnest he remarked: "But surely you are not a Boer. Kritzinger's
commando is the only one in the district, and that is surrounded." Then
taking the report out of his pocket he said: "Just read
this--'Kritzinger surrounded, will be captured and brought in
to-morrow.'" Imagine his astonishment on learning that he was then
addressing the very man whom he had hoped to meet as a prisoner-of-war.
He handed me his rifle. After that we had a long conversation, and
enjoyed a drink together, as though we had never been at war.
The ammunition and horses were confiscated, and came in very useful
after the engagement of the previous day. The commandant and his party
were then dismissed.
AGAINST THE RAILWAY.
Towards the end of July, 1901, large forces of the enemy had
concentrated upon my commando. Our only salvation then lay in crossing
the Port Elizabeth railway line, near which we then were.
After a day's fighting we set out to the line, but to our great
disappointment and embarrassment we found the line securely guarded by
armoured trains, which made it impossible for us to cross during the
day.
The enemy had followed us up, and there was no chance of retracing our
steps. All we could do was to resist the foe till it was dark, and then
try to escape. This we did, and succeeded in repelling the enemy. The
burghers fought bravely, but at sunset they were forced to evacuate
their positions and withdraw to a mountain next to the railway line.
This was our last position. We could go no farther. In front of us was
the railway, behind and on our flanks the British columns. Indeed, an
uncomfortable situation! We fought until it was quite dark; then the
firing ceased, and we had time to plan an escape. And this is what we
did. At 11 o'clock that evening numerous fires were kindled on the top
of the mountain. We knew that these fires would be misleading; the
enemy, as long as they saw the lights, would think that we were still on
the mountain, and, being less watchful, we might slip through.
At 12 o'clock we saddled. We were going to try to pass through the
enemy's line. On we rode, silently and guided by the sentinels' fires;
we knew exactly which spots to avoid. Every moment brought us nearer to
our doom or deliverance. Shall we succeed or not? we anxiously asked
ourselves. Unnoticed we passed the foe and were free once more.
The next morning only the ashes of our fires were surrounded. As a
shower of rain had fallen the same night, wiping out the footprints of
our horses, the British certainly wondered what became of us. The Boers
had again disappeared so mysteriously.
I shall conclude this chapter with two striking incidents. On the 13th
of August, 1901, we came in conflict with the British forces in the
district of Venterstad, Cape Colony. During the engagement I observed
that the enemy was bent on a certain position which, if seized, would
enable them to surround us. Now the Boer never likes to be surrounded.
There is nothing that he dreads so much as a siege. To keep my way open,
I took a number of burghers, and with these occupied the position
referred to. Having stationed them there I rode back to the hill where I
had been before. Unfortunately this hill had been deserted in the
meanwhile, and was then held by the enemy.
Seeing a number of horses at the base of the hill I concluded that the
burghers were still there and thus rode on without the slightest
apprehension. Arrived at the foot of the hill, I looked up, and to my
astonishment saw a large greyhound with the men. This made me
suspicious. One of them at once called out: "Hands up! Come here, you
beggar!" I was with the wrong party. Surrender? Verily not. I turned my
horse, gave spurs, and off we went, horse and rider carried, as it were,
by bullets which whistled past my head with deafening noise. For a
considerable distance I was exposed to this shower of bullets. My horse
received two wounds, but brought me out unscathed. That night I was cut
off from the commando, and all the burghers thought that I was shot or
captured. To their delight and surprise I joined them the next day
again. That same day I was to have as marvellous an escape as the day
before.
From early morn we were engaging the foe. While the fight was going on I
took nine men to occupy a certain hill. This hill was already in the
possession of the enemy, but we were not conscious of that, and thus
unwittingly rode on to our doom.
The enemy had carefully hidden on the hill, and without challenging us
opened a terrible fire upon us just as we arrived at the foot of the
hill. Seeing that we were only a small party it certainly was not manly
on their part to fire before challenging us. All the men but one were
instantly wounded or killed, and their horses shot down. One of them
escaped on foot. Strange--perhaps incredible to some--I came out with my
horse and that uninjured.
At the close of the war I met the officer who was in command on that
hill. He told me that as we came riding up to the hill he recognised me
and told his men: "There, Kritzinger is coming; let us make sure of
him." I happened to be riding a black horse, taken from one Captain
King. That horse was so well known to the enemy that at a great distance
they could recognise me.
These are some of the narrow corners in which we found ourselves during
the war. I could multiply them, but 'tis needless. They will give the
reader some idea of what we often had to pass through.
CHAPTER V.
TO THE CAPE COLONY.
From March to December, 1901, the area of war operations was limited
exclusively to the two Republics. All the British forces were
concentrated there. Gradually the fact dawned upon us that, unless we
contrived to draw the British forces, in some way or other, off the
Republics, the latter would eventually be exhausted of all provisions,
which would necessitate their surrender. They could not for ever supply
Boer commandoes and British columns with provisions, especially when
farming pursuits were so disturbed and hampered by the enemy. It became
quite clear that, in the event of a long campaign, our whole salvation
would be in the Cape Colony. There we would be drawing on the enemy's
resources, and the British Government would indirectly be supporting us
in compensating colonists for losses sustained by Boer commandoes. An
additional advantage, should the scene of operations be transferred from
the Republics to the Cape Colony, would be that many colonists would
enlist in our ranks. There we should be constantly recruited, and our
commandoes would increase rather than decrease. That was an advantage
not to be despised, for our forces were getting daily weaker in the
states.
[Illustration: GENERAL CHRISTIAN DE WET.]
With such facts before him, General De Wet planned a second invasion of
the Cape Colony towards the close of the year 1901. By the end of
November we met him with his forces, about 1500 strong, in the district
of Bethulie. After a few days' fighting with the forces of General Knox
on the farms Goede Hoop and Willoughby, we left for the Orange River,
which we intended to ford at Odendaal's Stroom, a drift fifteen miles
below Aliwal North.
As heavy rains began to fall, we were anxious to reach the river before
it was in flood. Day and night through rain and mud we ploughed on
towards the river. When we reached the Caledon River we saw that the
water was rising rapidly, and began to fear that the Orange River, which
was still thirty miles off, would be impassable. Well, we were going to
try. We increased our speed, and left behind scores of tired horses and
mules.
The 1st of December, at sunset, we arrived on the banks of the river.
But what a disappointment! A rolling mass of water before us, so deep
and strong that there was no chance to pass through. And there we were
between two rivers in flood, with a narrow strip of country between
them, and thousands of the enemy on our track. We knew that the English
could seize the bridges, of which there are but a few, and could then be
reinforced from all parts of the country to hem us in so closely that
escape would be impossible. De Wet would at last be "cornered" and
forced to surrender--so, at least, the enemy thought. Our situation
seemed, nay was indeed, very critical.
To delay and wait for the fall of the river was out of the question. For
not only would it take at least fifteen days before the river would have
subsided to such a degree that we could hope to ford it, but De Wet's
old friend, General Knox, was at his heels. All we could do was to march
up the Caledon. That river, being much smaller than the Orange River,
would sooner fall and afford us a way of escape. Our hopes were
realised. De Wet found a ford where he and his whole commando passed
through. Once more he was a free man. We accompanied him for some
distance up the river, until we came to the farm of one Smith. Here
Captain Scheepers, Captain Fouché and myself left the main body and went
with our commando, consisting of about 300 men in all, in the direction
of Rouxville, where, on the 13th of December, we captured 150 of the 2nd
Brabants, who were sent to and _for_ us.
While in the Rouxville district we received a message from De Wet that
we should enter the Colony as soon as possible, and that he would try to
follow us up. He was, however, prevented from carrying out his
intentions. It seemed as if Providence had so ordained it that he should
not cross the Orange River, or, even crossing it, should not sojourn for
a long time in the land of the enemy. For no sooner had he passed the
Caledon, than the enemy concentrated on him and succeeded in driving him
back through Sprinkhaan Nek to the northern districts of the Orange Free
State.
This, however, afforded us a chance of slipping through on to British
soil. In the night of the 15th of December, at 2 A.M., we forded the
Orange River at a point five miles below Odendaal's Stroom. It was a
dark night, and the water was still very high, but we all reached the
opposite bank in safety. There we came upon the guard of the drift, as
they were indulging in a game of cards. One was wounded, two ran away
and eight were captured. They did not expect us to cross the river at 2
A.M., and were thus taken unawares.
We were now once more in British territory. But what a contrast between
this and our first invasion in the beginning of the war! No large
commandoes, no waggons, and no guns. We were only 300 men--a raiding
band, as some contemptuously called us--with one Maxim, and even that
proved too cumbersome, for we soon cast it into a pool. Instead of
waggons and tents we had only our horses and mackintoshes, and some were
even without the latter. No large supplies of ammunition; our bandoliers
were almost all half empty.
The morning of the 16th of December, then, found us in the Cape Colony.
We had made up our minds to spend at least some months in the enemy's
country. Come what may, we would not return to the Orange Free State. If
the British had the right to stay in the Republics, why should we not
tarry awhile in the Colony? From the river we made a forced march to
Venterstad, a small village lower down the stream. We needed an
outfitting, and thought that that would be the most likely place where
we would get it. We only had to surprise the garrison, about 50 strong,
and we would have all we wanted. In this we were quite successful. The
garrison, or town-guard, soon hoisted the white flag.
We could now fill our bandoliers, and requisition the necessary articles
in clothing, boots, etc. But the enemy was not slow to follow us. We
were just allowed sufficient time to take all we required, and then the
columns came to remind us that we were strangers and intruders.
As we have related our experiences in other chapters, we shall not here
enter into details. For at least seven months, after we had crossed the
river, the enemy continually harassed us. We hardly enjoyed a single
day's rest. During the day we had to fight, and during the night we had
to trek. One thing was plain: the enemy was determined to silence us
completely. That they did not succeed is almost passing strange. If 300
Britishers were to have entered the two republics, would they have
proceeded very far?
General Hertzog had, at the same time, invaded the western province of
the Cape Colony, but, being far away from the railway line, the British
did not worry him very much. They all seemed to conspire against my
small band, and had the additional advantage of railways on every side
of us. Deeper and deeper into the heart of the Colony we were driven. We
marched in a southern direction. Whither? We did not know, only forward.
And so far did we push on that at length the vast expanse of the Indian
Ocean loomed in the distance, and reminded us that it was time to
retrace our steps, for we could certainly go no farther on horseback. So
we slipped through the pursuing columns, and returned to the districts
of Jansenville, Graaff-Reinet and Cradock.
In February we were not so hotly pursued. De Wet had entered the Cape
Colony from the north-west; and like a magnet he drew most of the
British forces irresistibly to him. This gave us a short rest, which
was, alas! only too short. For De Wet, as well as Hertzog, had to fall
back on the Orange Free State, and with redoubled energy the British
came upon us like a mighty avalanche. The reader can hardly realise
what we had to undergo these first eight months in the Cape Colony.
It was a bitter disappointment to learn how De Wet had fared and that
both he and Hertzog had abandoned the Cape Colony. We knew it was not
their fault and so did not blame them. Still we were resolved to hold
out as long as possible. Gradually it went better; the colonists began
to enlist and our numbers swelled. We could now form other commandos,
and despatch these in various directions, and that prevented the enemy
from concentrating all their forces on us. At last we had gained such a
strong footing in the Colony that to expel us all was simply an
impossibility.
And how did General De Wet fare when he crossed the Orange River on the
11th of February, 1901? The following account given by one who
accompanied him will give the reader some idea of the unsuccessful
attempt at invasion.
"MY DEAR K.,--We are just back from the Cape Colony, and no doubt
you will be anxious to hear all about our recent experiences. I
daresay you have followed us all the while in thought, and have
carefully studied the papers to ascertain our movements and learn
what we were doing. As we have little faith in newspaper
war-reports, I shall take the trouble to give you a full account of
our short-lived colonial invasion.
"You will be surprised, and perhaps sorely disappointed, to hear
that De Wet's and Hertzog's commandoes are all back in the Orange
Free State. This means that you are going to have now ever so much
harder times, for the enemy will certainly concentrate their forces
on your small commando, to clear you out of the Cape Colony as soon
as possible. The odds, of course, will be so great to contend
against, that, humanly speaking, you will be bound to retreat
across the Orange River. Still I trust that you will not follow our
example, but will find the Colony quite large enough to baffle the
enemy in their attempts to capture you. And as the British have
already exerted themselves in vain for over three months to oust
you, we entertain the hope that you will maintain your ground till
reinforced.
"On the 11th of February we, _i.e._, General P. Fourie's division,
crossed the Orange River at Zanddrift, west of Philippolis. De Wet
had taken possession of the drift the previous day, so our way was
open, and as the river was low it was not difficult to ford it.
With the exception of a few mules we sustained no losses. It was
somewhat like a picnic, the burghers were as gay as could be. Being
a very hot day they spent most of the time in the water. The guns
and some other vehicles were dragged through the river by teams
composed of sprightly young men. It was a sight to see 70 or 80 men
before a gun or waggon in the stream. I could not help thinking in
what a plight these would be should the enemy suddenly appear on
the banks of the river. That, indeed, would be a surprise worth
beholding. At sunset we were all on British soil.
"After the burghers had taken supper the whistle was blown and the
oft-repeated command, 'opzaal,' sounded in their ears. That night
we did not make a long trek, for both horses and men felt equally
tired after the day's exertions. Still we had to cover at least
eight miles, for it was not quite safe so near to the river. There
were columns behind and columns in front of us, and columns on
every side. After a wearisome march over a rugged and uneven road,
if road it could be called, with intense darkness enveloping us, we
finally reached the halting-place.
"The following morning at sunrise we started for Bezuidenhoud's
farm, which was close by. There the burghers received their
instructions from De Wet. With regard to their conduct in the Cape
Colony it was pointed out to them that they should treat the
colonists in such a way as would ensure their friendship. On no
account were they to molest the peaceful neutral British subjects,
for they were not at war with the colonists. They were also
forbidden to take anything from British subjects without paying the
proper value for the thing required. There were some more
injunctions, which have escaped my memory. No wonder that one
should forget when chased as we were. I believe these orders were,
as a rule, obeyed. In fact I should say we erred in adhering so
strictly to them, for we met some ultra-loyalists who would not
give or sell us so much as a morsel of food. Now when any one is
hungry, and people will neither give nor sell, what else can he do
than help himself? If he does not, it is his own fault should he
starve. At a certain farm we offered a sovereign for one bucket of
meal, but all in vain; when we asked the woman for a glass of
water, she pointed us to a spring some distance off. Shameful, is
it not! Next time we shall, I am afraid, not be so over-polite. One
learns a lot every day.
"At 11 A.M. our scouts reported that they had sighted two columns
about 7 miles from us. And now our troubles and hardships
commenced. What we anticipated and dreaded had actually taken
place. The enemy had occupied all the passes in front of us,
preventing us thereby from crossing the railway at the intended
point between Norval's Pont and Colesberg. We had now to go in that
barren and desolate part of the Colony where one is entirely
dependent upon forage, and where, unfortunately for us, none was to
be had.
"I expected that the British would intercept us. They knew about De
Wet's intended invasion; and had every facility by rail for
mobilising and seizing all the points of consequence. Whilst we had
to ride all the way from Winburg district, they had the advantage
of being transported by rail--an advantage which can hardly be
over-estimated.
"Encumbered with guns and waggons, we could not dodge the enemy. We
either had to seize the passes or proceed in a direction which
might lead to fatal results. To do the former appeared impossible
to De Wet, and so the latter course was reluctantly adopted. If it
were not for the convoy, we would have achieved our object and
would have entered those districts where commandoes could exist.
"The enemy was engaged till dusk. We had no casualties; but
Commandant Ross and a number of his men were cut off. They managed
to reach the Orange Free State safely. How they found their way
through the various columns, I can't say--a Boer, if need be, can
retire wonderfully well! At sunset our convoy almost fell into the
hands of the enemy. What a pity it did not! It would have saved us
so much needless trouble, and we would have been far better off
without it.
"Most of the night we remained in the saddle. The General was
anxious to get as far away as possible from the columns, to rest
his horses for a few hours. But the British, so it seemed, were
resolved that neither we nor our horses should have a rest, for
early the next morning they were on our heels. We could not offer
any resistance, because we had no positions, and could not
recklessly expose ourselves to the enemy's fire without any cover
at all. On the open plain our horses would have been swept away by
the enemy's guns, and in a short time we would have been all
infantry. Hence, on their approach we withdrew, hoping to find a
place where we could make a stand. Unfortunately we failed to find
the wished-for positions. For miles and miles the country is just
one vast plain; when you get to the end of that plain you may find
a ridge, a hill or slight elevation, which, however, did not
signify much. The enemy could easily outflank and surround us, if
we did not abandon it in time. With eyelids "heavy and dim," and
bodies "weary and worn," exposed to the dazzling rays of a burning
sun, we rode on, driven occasionally as a herd of cattle. At last
night fell and we could enjoy a short rest.
"The next morning the same story was repeated: the English hot on
our track--no rest for body or soul. The country being as flat as
the part we had traversed the previous day, we had to march again
the whole day under a burning sun. Now and then we dismounted for a
few minutes, in order that our horses might snatch a few mouthfuls
of grass.
"At the hour of sunset there was something to relieve the monotony
of fleeing all day. Two burghers--bread spies as we call them--had
gone ahead to buy some bread at a farm where a party of the enemy
was stationed. Not aware of that, they rode up to the house, with
the result that one got captured, while the other returned under a
hail of bullets at a breakneck pace to relate the fate of his
comrade. De Wet immediately sent in a note asking the enemy to
surrender, since they numbered only about twenty. They answered
shortly: 'We won't.' They were then charged, and up went the white
flag without their firing a single shot.
"For the night we bivouacked at that farm. The British columns were
now scarcely four miles from us. We dreaded a night attack, but,
owing to incessant rain, both parties seemed only too glad to stay
where they were. Here we had the advantage of hills and ridges,
where we could stand and face the foe.
"At sunrise the enemy's guns and Maxim-Nordenveldt began to play on
these ridges. Our guns had been placed in position, too, and
responded sharply. We succeeded in beating off the enemy's attacks
till 11 A.M., then we were outflanked and had to evacuate our
positions. Their losses must have been great. Two of our men fell
in the action.
"From there we marched in the direction of the railway line, which
we intended to cross that night near Houtkraal station. We were
about seven miles from the line, and were very anxious to pass
over. We were afraid that the English would send on their forces by
rail to guard the line and march upon us from in front, which, if
done, could result in our complete annihilation. Besides, we
intended, as soon as we were on the other side of the line, to
divide our force into several commandoes and let these take
different courses so that the enemy would not be able to
concentrate any longer all their men on us. Thus wearily we dragged
on through mud and rain to the line.
"To prevent armoured trains from cutting off our transit, men were
sent ahead to destroy the line at two points. Here again we
committed a few blunders for which we had to suffer. In the first
instance the line was blown up at too early an hour that night,
long before we were ready to pass over. The explosions reported our
presence, and the armoured trains were despatched to restore the
line. Then again, owing to the darkness the points where the line
was destroyed were not sufficiently far apart. This we discovered
when the enemy's guns began to roar and their shells exploded in
our midst.
"Before reaching the line there was something to get through--a
swamp at least 1500 paces broad. One can hardly have an idea what
this swamp was like, and how much trouble it cost us and our poor
animals to get through it. This was a veritable 'Slough of
Despond.' It was covered with water from one side to the other, and
we had to wade through knee deep, and sometimes the water reached
to our loins. The water was no serious obstacle, but the ground was
of a morass-like nature that our animals sank in to their knees and
often to their girths. Most of the burghers had to dismount and
lead their horses. Every now and then a horse would stumble, and
down came the rider splashing in the mud and water. I led my
faithful 'Klein Booi' all the way, walking knee deep through mud
and water. Just think how we must have looked the following
morning, with clogs of mud attached to our clothes, hands and
faces, while our horses were baptised in mud! The waggons and guns
gave us most trouble. It was quite impossible to get these through
the swamp. They stuck in the mud, with draft animals and all. We
had as many as fifty oxen before one waggon, but they could not
move it an inch. Some mules sank in so deep that they could not
extricate themselves, and were left to die in the mud!
"At daybreak the guns, De Wet's waggonette and a few carts were
through the swamp; the rest of the convoy was still in it. General
Fourie and a hundred burghers were left with the waggons while the
commando proceeded to the line. At sunrise we were safely on the
other side of the line, where we waited for Fourie. Suddenly, and
very unexpectedly, a shell exploded in our midst, like a
thunderbolt from a clear sky. I looked about to see whence it came;
but before my eyes detected the armoured trains, another and yet
another shell dropped in our midst. I say _in our midst_, for we
were riding in close formation when these horrible projectiles were
hurled upon us. As our horses were very tired and the veldt soaked
through and through by the heavy rains, we could not scatter, nor
ride fast, as we usually do when exposed to cannon fire in the open
veldt. Thus slowly we rode on under this cannonade. And how
wonderful none were injured! The hand of the invisible omnipresent
God must have shielded us. At last we were out of the cannon's
reach. Meanwhile the line had been repaired, the armoured trains
moved freely up and down. Fourie, five other officers, and about a
hundred burghers were now cut off from the commando. The burghers
found their way back to the Free State; the officers followed us
up, but, alas! met us only when we were on the point of recrossing
the Orange River.
"In what a sorry plight we now were! Some of our ablest officers
severed from us at a time when they were most needed. Their absence
caused the greatest confusion, for now there were numbers of men
without any officers. Besides, it was then impossible to carry out
the idea of splitting up the commando without officers. Hence we
were to be driven along by the overwhelming numbers at our rear.
How many there were is hard to tell, but we caught up some of their
despatches, from which we learnt that there were no fewer than
fourteen columns in pursuit of us.
"Gradually we drifted into the most deplorable and wretched
conditions. Our animals, owing to lack of fodder, began to give in.
Scores of these we had to leave behind, some of them in excellent
condition, but so starved that they could proceed no farther. The
result was that hundreds of burghers had to walk, and they suffered
most. How I felt for these unfortunates! They walked and walked
until, exhausted and footsore, many a one dropped down along the
road-side. There were those whose clothes were torn to fragments by
the brambles through which they forced their way. They presented an
appearance which evoked one's compassion.
"These men had to confront another enemy--hunger. They scarcely
found time to prepare a meal, for when they arrived at the
halting-place the first word they heard was, as a rule, "opzaal!"
Thus footsore, battered, and with empty stomachs, these fellows had
to march for miles and miles to escape the enemy's grip.
"I admired their power of endurance, patience, and determination.
But admiration was not enough. I parted with all my horses, giving
them to men who could walk no longer, and so walked on myself,
until, footsore and exhausted, I too could go no farther. It was a
pleasure to minister in this way to men who loved their country.
"If it were not for this determination on the part of De Wet's
forces to keep out of the hands of the enemy, hundreds would have
been captured, yet I believe not more than 250 prisoners were
taken. As we went on our numbers gradually diminished. Those who
were unable to keep pace with the main body broke off in small
parties and found their way back to the Orange Free State.
"By the 19th we had pushed on as far as Brak River, about twelve
miles from Prieska. Here we met with another disappointment, which
almost proved fatal to our whole commando. The river was in flood
and no transit possible. In what a dreadful plight we were! Hardly
eight miles behind us the British columns were stationed in
crescent shape; in front was the swollen Brak River, and nine miles
to our right was the Orange River, and that in flood. Here at least
it seemed as if De Wet would be caught, and though he escaped, this
certainly was one of the tightest corners in which he ever found
himself.
"About two hours before sunset we heard that the enemy was rapidly
approaching us. Anxiously we asked ourselves, Whither now? We could
not return, we could not ford the river; to proceed up-stream would
expose us to the risk of being quartered against the river. There
was but one course to follow, and that an extremely hazardous one.
We could march down the Brak River as far as the Orange River, and
then proceed along the latter. Between us and the enemy there was
then a ridge, extending parallel with the Orange River. Behind this
ridge we would be out of the enemy's view. Should they reach this
elevation before it was dark, we would be pressed, with fatal
consequences to ourselves, against a swollen river. But here
darkness proved our salvation once more. We proceeded down the Brak
River and up the Orange River. When the enemy came to the ridge
mentioned it was so dark that they could see no traces of us.
"De Wet had now decided to fall back on the Orange Free State. To
many of us this was a bitter disappointment; but we saw that
nothing else could be done under the circumstances. With tired
horses and many burghers on foot we could not hope to circumvent
the enemy. Others, especially those who had suffered most in
walking, were enraptured at the idea of going back to the Free
State. Their drooping spirits revived, and with renewed courage
they started on the homeward march.
"The whole of that night we trekked along the banks of the Orange
River, parallel to the British columns. We tried one ford after the
other, but to our dismay the stream was impassable. The following
day we were not only behind the enemy, but had outstripped them by
nine miles. To gain more on them we kept up the march almost
unbroken the whole day. And what a day it was! We had to walk from
twelve to fifteen miles without a drop of water. Once we came to a
forsaken well. The water was of a greenish hue, bitter and
stagnant--a real Marah--but we drank to quench our thirst and
moisten our parched lips.
"On the 22nd we had proceeded to a point six miles beyond the
confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. Here we found a small
boat, and began at once to transport the dismounts. We knew that
these, once across the river, would be in a safer position. Day and
night we were engaged in taking these over; but the work progressed
very slowly, for the boat could only take ten or twelve men at a
time, and, besides, was so leaky that two had constantly to throw
out the water. After 250 men had been ferried across the stream the
approach of the enemy was announced, and so near were they that
some of us had to depart in an almost half-naked state. About 80
burghers had to hide in the river until the storm was over. Almost
all the vehicles were left behind while the main force retreated up
the river.
"Fortune favoured me; I was among the lucky ones who found a seat
in the boat as she was returning for the last time. Willie Louw and
myself were appointed to supervise the boat, less the transport of
the men be retarded in some way or other. For some time we worked
together, and then Willie left me to manage alone. Though I was
anxious to cross myself, I could not then leave the boat. When the
report of the enemy reached us the burghers, eager to get through,
stormed the boat from all directions. They forgot that if all want
to get into the boat nobody will get across the river. What must be
done? As there was no time for much deliberation I jumped in and
expostulated with an excited crowd. None heeded, each pressed
forward to get a place in the boat. I was finally compelled to
threaten them with my revolver, but all in vain. No one was afraid.
I believe they knew too well that I would not pull the trigger. One
looked me straight in the face as I pointed the instrument to him
and said, 'My dear fellow, you may shoot if you wish--I am not
afraid; but I want to get through.' He completely disarmed me. I
had no more threats.
"With an overcrowded boat we were at last on the stream, and
finally reached the opposite bank, just as the enemy was beginning
to shell De Wet's forces on the other side. It was indeed a relief
to me, but we had to march another fifteen miles without water,
exposed to scorching heat. At length we found some muddy water.
Lying next to our horses we sipped up water so thick and muddy that
we could hardly swallow it.
"As to De Wet's further movements I can hardly give you full
particulars. He was followed up by the enemy, and had to abandon
his guns the following day. Trying one drift after the other he
succeeded at last in fording the river between Norval's Pont and
Zanddrift; and so after seventeen days he was back in the Free
State.
"Here you have a sketch of our attempt to invade British dominions.
I have omitted many things of less interest. I wonder what you will
think of all this. Looking back upon our adventures, it is, of
course, easy to point out all the errors and blunders we have
committed. We should, for instance, never have encumbered ourselves
with a convoy and guns, which hampered our movements and were of
very little service to us. Then again, we should not have crossed
the river in one commando, but should have divided the force into
at least twelve or fifteen commandoes, and these should have
entered the Colony at different points, all moving in different
directions, then the enemy could not have concentrated their hosts
on us as they did. Besides, our discipline and organisation was
poor, and it is a well-known fact that a thousand in disorder can
accomplish less than two hundred well-organised men. But it is
useless to dwell on these points. 'Tis easier to criticize the past
than to forecast the future. Experience costs a great deal.
"Has our attempt been a complete failure? In many respects I should
say it has. We have succeeded, however, in drawing the enemy out of
the Free State, which was our chief object. And, though it did not
cost them many lives, yet their following us in such desolate
regions must have proved very expensive, and must have been a
source of great hardship to themselves. If that be a consolation to
know that we have not suffered alone, we have, then, at least one
comfort.
"Brak River was the last nail in our coffin. If we only could have
forded that, we would not have been ousted. On the other side of
the river we would have found not only grass for our tired horses,
but would also have been able to find remounts. Hertzog's commando
was not far off, and they were strongly mounted, and could have
rendered us great assistance.
"The president, who accompanied us, remained cheerful to the last,
and, just as a common burgher, partook in all our troubles. Such a
man we may well be proud of, and, I need hardly say, that we love
and honour him all the more.
"As to the conduct of the burghers we need only remark that it was
beyond praise. One never heard them grumble or murmur either
against De Wet or any other officer. No rebellious complaints or
threats were flung at the heads of those in authority. This,
indeed, is typical of the Boer. He endures suffering and hardship
with a submissive spirit and with a dignity which is remarkable. We
do not marvel at this, for are they not formed of that stuff of
which martyrs have been made in bygone years? And does not the
blood of the French Huguenot course through the veins of many a
one, while others are animated by the dauntless spirit of that
little nation that combated the once mighty Spain for eighty years,
and so achieved that honour and distinction which has secured for
them an abiding place in the history of nations? Such men, who are
willing to suffer and sacrifice all for freedom's sake, surely
deserve to succeed at last.--Yours fondly,
"R.D. MCDONALD."
CHAPTER VI.
WOUNDED.
During the first days of August, 1901, the enemy seemed more determined
than ever to effect my capture, or sweep me out of the Cape Colony, Very
large forces concentrated on my commando, and pressed us so hard that
our only safety lay in retreating to the Orange Free State. So hot was
the pursuit that for forty-eight hours our horses were not once
off-saddled.
On the 14th we arrived on the banks of the Orange River, near to
Venterstad. We found the drift guarded by a small garrison of Hottentots
that offered slight resistance. After a short skirmish they surrendered,
and we waded safely through the stream. We were again on Free State
soil, in our native land, where we knew almost every inch of the
country.
Fording the river brought us no immediate relief; it rather increased
our dangers. For we were now between two railway lines, each strongly
guarded by blockhouses, while the space between the two lines was so
confined and limited, that (with columns at our rear) we could not
venture to delay there a day or two. So we had to cross one of these
lines the same night. We decided upon the Springfontein-Bethulie line
and thither directed our steps.
At about 8 A.M. we came in sight of the line, at a point six miles from
Springfontein Junction. The sun had already risen. It was a bright
morning, but our prospects were dark and ominous. We were confronted by
a line studded with blockhouses and fenced in on both sides, while two
armoured trains were belching forth clouds of steam and smoke in the
distance. Behind us, and not far to our rear, the British columns were
drawing nearer. We could but choose between two alternatives--surrender,
or cut the wire at any cost. The former we could hardly give a thought;
the latter must be done, and was successfully executed.
Our first attempt failed. The burghers, who had no cover, retreated when
fire was opened upon them from the blockhouses. We fell back to a small
hill not far from the line, and there we made up our minds that we
_shall_ cross. Commandant Louis Wessels--certainly one of the most
intrepid and fearless officers of the whole Boer Army--made direct for
the two railway gates, near which a blockhouse had been erected. These
gates he opened, so that the burghers could proceed without any
obstruction. Then in the face of blockhouses on every side, guards and
armoured trains, we passed over the line. We were exposed to a shower of
bullets, and to a terrific pom-pom fire, from the armoured train, but,
to our amazement, without any effect. But for a few horses shot down, we
would have achieved our object without any losses. The men marvelled and
said Providence had protected them; the enemy probably attributed it to
ill-luck and bad shooting. Both may be correct.
While passing over the line one of the men, accidentally or out of
fright, had dropped and left his gun behind. He was ordered back, and
had to pick it up under a storm of bullets. We could not afford to leave
rifles behind. This was my first experience in crossing the British
lines in daytime. Some time later I was to have a similar experience,
which, as far as my person was concerned, proved less successful,
indeed, almost fatal.
In regard to the blockhouse system, we need only make these general
remarks. The blockhouses along the railway and fighting lines of the
British, as well as in and round garrisoned places, played a most
prominent part in bringing the war to an end. It was at all times
difficult and dangerous to attack them; and to force their occupants to
surrender involved greater loss of life on our part than we could
prudently face. The only way we could destroy them was to approach them
as near as possible during the night, and locate a dynamite bomb on or
near them. In this way some of them have been blown up. It seems a
barbarous process, but is not war, at its very best, barbarous, brutal,
and unbefitting civilized nations?
As a means of capturing the burghers, they were a failure. Our
commandoes, when driven against them, always had sufficient pluck and
courage to cut the wires between them, and so they crossed the lines at
almost any point they pleased. That we _have_ crossed and recrossed them
frequently is proof enough that they were, in this respect, not a
success. The barbed wire fences, however complicated, were easily cut.
As a means of capturing the women and children, and especially the
cattle, sheep and horses, they served the purpose well. It was almost
impossible to drive a flock of sheep or a herd of cattle, not to mention
horses, over these lines during the day. The women with the old and aged
would retreat with the cattle and sheep until they came in touch with
the blockhouses, and were then often captured, one and all.
If it had not been for these little shanties all over the two republics,
it would have taken the British forces double if not treble the time to
have so thoroughly exhausted the late republics of food supplies. When
the republics were cut up into so many small sections it became
impossible to protect our foodstuffs.
From the railway line we went to Rouxville district, where we enjoyed a
rest of ten days. But on the 1st of September the enemy came in large
numbers and till the 22nd of October harassed us almost daily.
As I was anxious to return to the commandoes I left behind in the Cape
Colony, I thought it feasible to cross the fighting line, and take my
commando to Ladybrand district, where the enemy would probably leave us
unmolested for a while, and where the veldt provided ample food for our
horses. Thither we directed our steps, and for a month we saw no signs
of the British.
On the 23rd of November we were again south of the
Bloemfontein-Ladybrand fighting line, and on our way to the Cape
Colony. My first intention was to ford the Orange River near Aliwal
North, but I soon realised that we would be incurring too great a risk
in trying to cross the river there, for about twenty or twenty-five
columns were then sweeping the southern districts of the Orange Free
State. Now if the river was in flood these columns could press us
against it, and we would then be in an awful predicament. So I resolved
to cut the wire of the main line near Springfontein Junction, and from
there march in the direction of Zanddrift, west of Philippolis.
Before that could be accomplished we had to beat our track through the
columns already mentioned. And what a hearty reception they gave us! In
one day we had to pass no fewer than eleven of these. And they _did_
lift us up--so much so that we scarcely lighted on the ground. Even now
I wonder how we contrived to escape these columns. We were fortunately
provided with a number of picked horses, to which we must largely
ascribe our salvation.
In what a dreadful state we found the country east of the lines! It
resembled more a howling wilderness, a haunt of wild beasts, than an
habitation of human beings. It was cleared of all stock; no living
thing, and not a single burgher of other commandoes came in view. So
thoroughly was the country cleared of all necessaries of life, that for
six days we had to subsist on corn, coffee, and honey found in the
mountains, for the bee-hives at the farms were all destroyed. On the 7th
day, having cut the wire near Springfontein, we found large numbers of
springbucks in Fauresmith district, and though our supply of ammunition
was very limited, we could still afford to spare as many cartridges as
would provide sufficient food for men reduced to starvation's point.
On the 15th of December we arrived at the river, and were ready to
intrude once more upon British territory. During the day the river was
carefully reconnoitred, so as to ascertain the best place to ford it. At
nightfall we headed for it, and at 9 P.M. the commando was on its banks.
In deep silence lest the guards woke up on the other side, and shielded
by the wings of darkness, we began to ford the stream. Heavy rains had
fallen higher up the river, in consequence of which the stream was so
swollen that our horses had to swim about 150 yards. The men who could
not swim had to rely exclusively on their horses, and clung to these for
all life was worth. It was a very dark night, and as we only spoke in
whispers, we succeeded in crossing the river, unobserved by the
sentinels or guards, purposely stationed there to prevent our entering
the Cape Colony. We were wet to the skin, six of the men were without
clothes, some lost their horses, and others their rifles and bandoliers,
but none their lives. We were indeed glad that we had attained our
object. But we did not know what was in store for us.
At dawn we left the river, and moving southwards we soon encountered the
enemy not far from the river. From early in the morning till late in the
afternoon we were engaged by the enemy. At sunset we could off-saddle
and rest our tired horses for a short while, and a hasty meal was
prepared.
At dusk we mounted again, and rode till 11.30 that evening, to get some
fodder. We arrived at a farm at midnight, but unfortunately it was
already occupied by the enemy. We had no sooner fastened our horses and
were lying down to rest, when the enemy began firing at us. We resaddled
at once, and left the farm as quickly and quietly as possible. One of
the burghers was wounded in the arm, the rest came out unhurt.
We now went in search of another farm, for it was a necessity that our
horses should get some fodder. The night was very dark, and, being
unacquainted with that part of the country, we began wandering, and we
_did_ wander until the guide and most of the men were asleep on their
horses--wandered till we had described a circle and found ourselves,
after a three hours' ride, almost at the very farm we had left that
night. If it had not been for the flickering lights of the enemy's
camp-fires, we should not have known where we were, and certainly would
have been quite close to them the next morning. When we saw these
lights, hardly three miles away, _then_ we woke up.
I then took the lead, and brought the commando to the farm we were in
search of.
At sunrise we arrived there, off-saddled, and gave our horses fodder.
The pickets were put out, and breakfast was prepared. But, alas! before
we could eat, the enemy was upon us, and our intended feast was
converted into a prolonged fast. So near was the foe, and so rapidly did
they advance, that we had scarcely time to saddle and seize the nearest
ridges. If it had not been for the marvellous celerity of the Boer, many
of the men would have been captured at that farm.
This was the 16th of December, 1901. The day I never shall forget in my
life's history, and in the history of the Anglo-Boer War. The sun rose
in splendour that morning, casting his rays upon me--a man in the prime
of life, full of energy and martial ambition. At eventide the scene was
changed! Weary, wounded and bleeding on a lonely plain, shrouded in
darkness, I lay, no more the man of the day, or of bygone days, but weak
and helpless as a babe.
Though I had taken part in many hot engagements, both as burgher and
commander, and had been in many tight corners, yet I do not recollect a
day in which we were so brought to bay, when we were so hard pressed as
that day. Early in the morning it was evident that the enemy had but one
design that day, and that was to force me to surrender. My commando was
about eighty strong. On my flanks were continually two British columns,
whilst a third one was following up at my rear. With such a small number
of men at my disposal, and three columns to oppose, it was next to
impossible to offer successful resistance. We had hardly taken up a
position when the flanking columns would come round, and we had either
to abandon the position or allow ourselves to be shut in. Thus we were
compelled to retreat from one to another position, under the rays of a
December sun, which seemed to set everything on fire, through a country
so parched and dry that one hardly found a drop of water to quench one's
thirst, and that from early morn till sunset without a morsel of food!
That was enough to break down the strongest man.
A little before sunset the ominous Cape Railway line stared us in the
face. We were again precisely in the same plight as on the 15th of
August, when we had to cut the wire near Springfontein Junction, only
with this difference--that the danger was much more imminent, the enemy
forming a semi-circle at my back, and before me was a line more strongly
fenced and better guarded than the first. But happily the armoured train
was not on the scene. As we were so successful in our first undertaking,
we determined to pass the enemy's line again in daylight. In fine, we
had to cut the wire or surrender. The latter was more repulsive than the
former.
As my commando was now very near the line, there was not a moment to
lose. The enemy was advancing swiftly, and the armoured train might
appear at any time. Commandant Louis Wessels, Veldt Cornet Fraser,
Landman and myself proceeded with the utmost speed ahead of the commando
to cut the wire, in order that the progress of the commando should not
be impeded in the least.
As we approached the line a sharp cross-fire from the blockhouses was
directed against us; but we all reached the fence safely and began
cutting the wire as quickly as possible.
The enemy, knowing only too well who were trying to cut the wire, poured
volley after volley upon us. The bullets seemed to strike everywhere and
everything but ourselves. Let the reader imagine himself exposed to such
a fire, between two forts about 800 yards apart on a level track of
ground, and forming there in the centre a target for rifles, and he will
realise, to some extent, our situation at that moment. But this was not
all. To intensify our peril we met with thick steel wire which the
scissors refused to cut. We were delayed; the whole commando arrived,
and was checked by this wire.
What an embarrassment! I ordered the men to spread, dismount, and fire
at the blockhouses until we had done the cutting. This was promptly
done. Having, been exposed to the enemy's fire for some minutes, we
succeeded at last in cutting that wire also. I then signalled the men
to pass. And once more the incredible occurred. On a plain between
blockhouses 800 yards apart, exposed to an incessant cross-fire, all the
burghers passed the line, in broad daylight, without receiving so much
as a scratch. Some horses were shot down, others were wounded, but the
men crossed safely. Some distance from the line Lieutenant Bolding was
wounded mortally.
I waited at the line till all, with the exception of eight or ten whose
horses had given in, were over and then followed the commando. But
looking back once more, I beheld one of my men trudging on foot across
the line. At once I decided to go back and lend him a helping hand. I
rode back, and was again exposed to the same fire from which we had just
escaped. This time there was to be no escape. While returning, one of my
officers--Fraser--who saw me going back, came to volunteer his services.
He would not have me exposed to the enemy's fire, and urged me to go
back immediately--he would see to the burgher.
Accepting his generous offer, I rode back. But no sooner had I turned my
horse, than I felt a shock. In the twinkling of an eye a bullet had
passed through the muscles of my left arm and through my lungs, missing
the heart by a mere hair-breadth. It happened all so suddenly that for
the first few seconds I hardly knew that I was wounded. I remained in
the saddle for a time, until some of the men could attend to me. Gently
they took me from my horse, placed me in a blanket, and carried me along
to a safe spot.
It was now eventide, the shadows were deepening, and darkness was hiding
us from the vision of the foe. At first I was determined to accompany
the commando some distance from the line to a place where I could safely
remain till recovered. I, however, soon realised the serious nature of
the wound, and that if it were not well attended to, mortification was
sure to set in, and that would cost me my life. The men too considered
it absolutely impossible for me to accompany them any longer, and deemed
it advisable that I should be sent into the British hospital for medical
treatment.
And then came the _parting_ moment, the moment when I had to bid adieu
to the men whom I had led, and with whom I had fought against our common
foe for so long a time. In the life of every man there comes a day, an
hour, or even a moment, which he never can forget. That parting moment,
reader, was one in my life I never shall forget. My officers, adjutants,
secretary, and some other burghers gathered round me for the last time
as I sat on the ground supported by one of them. As they bade me
farewell--yea, perhaps for ever--the tear-drops sparkled in their eyes,
and gushed down their cheeks. Yes, we all did weep and shed tears of
deep sorrow--tears not such as "angels weep," but such as men can weep
who love one another, and had fought in one common cause.
I could not speak to the men as I would, for I was too weak. Still I
wished them God-speed for the future, and exhorted them to be very
courageous and to do their duty faithfully, as befits men, to the last.
I told them my work was done. I had given my blood, and might be called
upon to give my life for my country. If so, I hope to be prepared to
bring that offering too. More I could not do. My secretary then knelt
and commended me in prayer to the care and protection of our gracious
God and Father.... Then we parted.
My war career had ended. No more fighting, no more retreating, no more
roaming over the veldt, by day and night, exposed to blasting summer
winds or chilling winter frosts. For two years and two months I had seen
active service. During that time I had tried to acquit myself
conscientiously of my duties as a man. No sacrifice was too great, and
no obstacle appeared insuperable for the cause in which I was engaged.
Looking back upon the past I observe how often I have fallen short and
failed--failed as a burgher and as a leader. And though I do not wish
for another war, I believe I should try to do better were I to live
through it again.
Two of my adjutants--Pieter Hugo and Landman--had remained with me. One
of them instantly went to the nearest railway station, about three miles
off, to call for an ambulance. Till 1 A.M. I lay bleeding in the veldt.
Then the British ambulance arrived. When the doctor saw me he had very
little hope that I would recover. As I was too weak to be removed by
waggon, I was put on a stretcher and carried to a small field hospital,
not far from the spot where I was wounded.
How soon I knew that I was no more a free man! First of all I was
stripped of all my belongings, including watch, chain, and money, etc.
At my urgent request the watch and chain and also a certain amount of my
money were restored to me.
The following morning an ambulance train took me to Naauwpoort Junction.
On the way I had to part with my blanket. And one of the nurses actually
wanted my ring, saying that I might as well give it to her, as it would
be taken from me. This I refused to part with, remarking that I didn't
believe any one would act so shamefully as to rob me of my ring. In this
I was correct.
Arrived at Naauwpoort, I was carried to the hospital, where I was laid
up for three weeks. A screen was posted before my bed, and at my feet
stood a sentinel with fixed bayonet. I was to be completely isolated
from the rest of mankind. Imagine my feelings at having this functionary
at my feet, watching over me and staring in my face day and night. It
was enough to drive me mad. When I could endure it no longer I entreated
one of the sisters to offer my guard a seat, somewhere out of my view,
for his penetrating and unbroken gaze was putting too great a strain on
my already shattered nerves. Surely there was no chance whatsoever for
me to escape, for I could hardly move myself. Besides, the hospital was
so well fenced in and strongly guarded, that all escape was impossible.
My request was partly granted; but I was forbidden to speak to any one,
except to the nurses and the doctor. Neither was any one allowed to
address me. And so the time dragged on heavily and wearily. The first
few days I suffered intensely, gradually the pain decreased, and I
became stronger.
After I had spent three weeks in the hospital I was ordered to Graaff
Reinet. I rose, and dressed with the assistance of the nurses. To my
astonishment six khakis entered my room. One of these had a pair of
handcuffs. To my query as to what his intentions were he replied: "You
must be handcuffed." "Well, and where do you want to put them on?" I
asked him, for my wounded arm was still supported by a sling. "I must
put them on somewhere," he replied bluntly. So I suggested that I would
lie down on the stretcher and have them fastened to my feet. I was
beginning to lose my temper, and expressed myself in somewhat forcible
language. Fortunately an officer then appeared on the scene with whom I
remonstrated about the treatment I was being subjected to. The officer,
shrugging his shoulders, said: "'Tis orders, and they must be executed."
It seemed such a disgraceful action that I could not help remarking:
"That is why the Boers will not surrender. If wounded officers,
entrusted to your care, are treated thus, what must the private expect?"
At last I was allowed to go--unhandcuffed.
Placed in an armoured truck, I was taken to Graaff Reinet Gaol. My
experiences there shall be related in the next chapter. Had I suffered
much up to this time, greater suffering and more anxious moments were
awaiting me.
Before leaving this subject I would sincerely thank the doctors and
sisters, who evinced such great interest and attended so well to my case
while laid up in the Naauwpoort Hospital.
CHAPTER VII.
COURT-MARTIALLED.
O, if to fight for ... commonweal
Were piety in thine, it is in these....
Wilt thou draw near the nature of the Gods?
Draw near them then in being merciful.
_Shakespeare._
Arrived at Graaff Reinet, I was instantly removed to gaol, where I was
confined in a small room. Here, isolated from the rest of the world, I
was to spend many anxious days and sleepless nights. During the day I
was allowed to stay a few hours in an inner yard or enclosure of the
prison. The rest of the time I was locked up, and no bright sun-rays
could revive my drooping spirits. I begged permission to go as far as
the prisoner's yard, and promised not to speak to the other
prisoners--no, not even wink an eye, and should I transgress in any
respect the guard could shoot me down. I desired intensely to move and
breathe in the open and pure air--Nature's gift to all. But this favour
was too great. On the contrary, I was forbidden, on penalty of death, to
address any one. To add to my misery other forces seemed to co-operate.
For the very evening after my arrival an unknown gentleman entered my
room. He carried some documents, and politely informed me that I must
get ready for my trial. He hinted, moreover, that I should expect the
worst. If I had not a will, and wanted one, it should be drawn up
without further delay. If I had any documents to be disposed of, I
should arrange about these as well. In short, this kind (?) fellow gave
me to understand that my career was soon to terminate. How? That was the
question.
The next morning the local magistrate came to pay me his respects. The
unpleasant remarks of the previous evening were cruelly reiterated,
enlarged upon, and emphasized. The magistrate volunteered very kindly to
submit, if necessary, all my papers to some one I may please to appoint.
He would also deliver messages to my sorrowing friends and relatives. As
my trial was pending, I asked him what he meant by talking such
nonsense. Surely the British were not going to shoot each and every Boer
officer whom they captured, and that without fair trial!
Though no coward, I must admit that such conversations were not
calculated to produce a favourable impression on my mind. They might
have been well meant, but did more harm than good. It is one thing to
face the enemy on the battlefield, where one may defend himself; 'tis
something else to be dangerously, almost mortally, wounded, and then to
be at the mercy of the foe. For three consecutive nights Nature's
greatest gift--sleep--to suffering humanity had departed from me. Why
could I not sleep? Was it fear that kept me awake? No, not that. My
conscience was clear, my hands unstained. But locked up in that small
room, with no one to speak to, my thoughts began to multiply, and I lay
meditating night after night. That was enough to make a young man old
and grey. Yet there was one friend who helped me to beguile the dreary
hours of confinement. That friend was my beloved pipe.
One evening, towards the end of February, I was told to appear before a
military court the following morning. This announcement seemed strange
to me, for I was not prepared for a trial. I was resolved what to do.
At 8 o'clock the next morning I was taken by an escort of six soldiers
to the court-house. Having taken my place in the prisoner's box, I
listened to my charges, which were recited as follows: Fourteen cases of
murder; wreckage of trains; and ill-treatment of prisoners-of-war. To
the question, "Guilty or not?" I pleaded "Not guilty," whereupon I was
requested to make my defence, which I declined to do; for the public
prosecutor had promised me, and rightly so, that, if I could produce
any witnesses to disprove the [alleged] charges brought against me, I
could summon them. As none of my witnesses were present, nor an
opportunity of enlisting the services of an advocate and solicitor given
me, I refused to take upon me the burden of pleading in self-defence. I
knew that if I did acquiesce in such a trial, it might prove fatal to my
best interests. It would then be urged, too, that Kritzinger had a fair
trial, when condemned to death, something which would be altogether
untrue.
After I had thrice declined to be tried without witnesses and legal
advice, I was sent to gaol, and told to be ready for trial on the 7th of
March. I now addressed a letter to General French, in which I brought to
his notice how I was being treated. French wrote back that he had
corresponded with Lord Kitchener concerning my case, and that Lord
Kitchener's orders were that I should have a fair trial, _i.e._, legal
defence and witnesses for my case.
On the 1st of March, seven days before the appointed trial, I was again
summoned to appear in court. My charges were read out, and the same
questions were submitted to me. Again I declined to make a defence, and
remarked: "I am in your power, gentlemen--you may do as you please,
pronounce any sentence; but _I_ shall _not_ defend myself." I then
referred the court to French's letter, whereupon I was again removed to
my lodgings.
Meanwhile, I succeeded in enlisting the services of Advocate Gardiner
and Attorney Auret, Graaff Reinet, and made such arrangements that my
witnesses could be present at the trial.
Advocate Gardiner arrived on the evening of the 6th of March. The
following day the court-martial commenced. As my witnesses had not yet
arrived, it was decided that the evidence for the prosecution should
first be taken.
The counsel for the defence took exception to the charges of
train-wreckage, ill-treatment of troops, and some instances of murder;
charges which, _prima facie_, would not stand the test of examination.
These were then withdrawn by the prosecution. After this subtraction
there still remained four charges of murder, which we shall enumerate
in succession.
1st Charge:--
_Murder_.
On or about the 15th of February, 1901, it was alleged that I had killed
and murdered Jafta and Solomon, natives, British subjects, at
Grootplaats, Murraysburg, Cape Colony.
Mr. Boltman, the owner of the farm Grootplaats, was the principal
witness for the prosecution. He deposed that he saw one of my officers,
_i.e._, Antonie Wessels, riding up to me, and after Wessels had spoken
to me he rode back and shot the two natives. Hence I must have given him
orders to shoot them! Besides, Mr. Boltman also declared that he had
heard me say to two men, whom I had arrested along with the two natives
in question, "Do you see these natives? Well, I am going to have them
shot, and in future I shall treat all armed natives in the same way."
All these statements were refuted by one of the men to whom I was
supposed to have made the remark of having the natives shot. The man
denied that he ever heard such a statement from my lips.
2nd Charge:--
_Murder_.
In that I have killed and murdered John Vondeling, a native and British
subject, at Tweefontein, Graaff Reinet.
In this case it was proved by the witnesses for the defence that the
native had been shot three days before my arrival at the farm where the
murder was committed.
3rd Charge:--
_Murder_.
About the 18th of March, 1901, I had killed and brutally murdered a
native at Prinsfontein, Tarkastad.
Mr. Mantel, the farmer, deposed:--
One of Kritzinger's men was with me as his commando passed some
distance from my house. Van der Walt said to me, "Do you see that
man in front, riding on the large blue horse? That man is
Kritzinger." I then saw a few burghers riding up to Kritzinger, and
after they had halted for a short while they went back and shot the
natives.
My witnesses proved that at that particular time I had no blue horse in
my possession. Neither was there such a man as Van der Walt in my
commando; and the natives in question had been shot by another
commandant without my instructions.
4th Charge:--
_Murder_.
At Biscuitfontein, Bethulie, I had killed and murdered two natives on
the 14th of August, 1901.
This was the last and principal charge brought against me. Four blacks
were the chief witnesses in this case, by which, if possible, I was to
be convicted and silenced for ever.
Let us see how they fared. The first one succeeded in identifying me.
The next one was less successful. He pointed to an English officer,
saying, "That is the man." He was to have another chance. I looked at
him and smiled; this puzzled him even more. Greatly perplexed, he
pressed his finger against a man with a long bushy beard, and said, "You
are Kritzinger." What a blunder! The prosecutor seemed slightly put out;
the court indulged in lusty laughter.
The other witnesses were then brought forward. Surely these will not
make a mistake, they know the murderer only too well. Had the prosecutor
not sounded them beforehand by asking them to point out the prisoner's
photo among a number of other photos? Did they not hit upon the right
photo? Is this not conclusive evidence that they must have seen and
known the prisoner? In spite of all this precaution, the first witness
in this case declared, on being cross-questioned _re_ the photo in
question, that a certain officer had shown him the photo at Norval's
Pont, and asked him to note it carefully, so that, if called upon, he
would be able to identify the person concerned!
I watched the prosecutor, who exhibited signs of uneasiness or disgust.
This stupid native was spoiling his good case; the other witness was
going to commit as great a blunder. He declared that on the 10th of
January he saw the corpses of two natives, and, on seeing them,
immediately recognized the one as being the body of his brother-in-law.
Questioned as to how he could still recognize his brother-in-law in a
decomposed body, he promptly replied, "Oh! my brother had still a smile
on his face!" Although the native in question was shot on the 14th of
August, 1901, on the 10th of January he still had a smile on his face!
Death must have conferred a great boon upon him. And if he could have
appeared in court, he certainly would have objected to my being tried.
Have not sentences of death, confiscation of property, and imprisonment
been passed on the evidences of such witnesses?
When all the evidences had been taken the prosecutor delivered his
address. After him the counsel for the defence addressed the court. In a
very able speech Advocate Gardiner pointed out the shallowness of the
accusations against me. He urged that the court should not be long in
coming to a decision, as a prolonged trial meant increased expenses for
the accused.
After his address I was removed for half an hour. Summoned back, a
verdict of "not guilty" was brought in. I was at last acquitted, and
could return to my lonely chamber not as a criminal, but as a
prisoner-of-war!
Leaving the court-room I was called back to shake hands with the judges,
who congratulated me with the acquittal. Thus the trial, which lasted
five days, came to an end. The clouds cleared up. The sun rose. It was
all brightness. I had passed unscathed through the ordeal, to indulge
that night in slumbers calm and sweet.
Just a few days before the trial commenced I was somewhat reassured and
encouraged to hope for the best. An unknown friend kindly dropped a
newspaper cutting, tied to a piece of stone, over the prison yard. This
press-cutting fell into my hands, and in it I saw that a large section
of the British public strongly disapproved of the action of the
Military Government _re_ late Commandant Scheepers, and that section and
people all over the continent and in the United States of America were
asking, "What about Kritzinger--will he too be shot?" I noticed also
that petitions on my behalf were being drawn up in England and
elsewhere, and signed extensively.
All the men and women who so petitioned His Majesty the King to spare my
life I thank most sincerely, for the interest shown in my case, and for
the efforts put forth to save my life. How much I owe such I do not
fully know; but I do appreciate the deed of kindness shown to me in the
darkest moments of my life. Such deeds are never forgotten. They
illuminate life's way with such splendour as fills the soul with
inexpressible gratitude.
I have related the story of my trial briefly and as accurately as I
could. I do not wish to comment on the justice or injustice of the
proceedings. It is for others to judge whether an officer, who was a
burgher of the Orange Free State, and _not_ a rebel, should have been
court-martialled, and while the war was still in progress, on such
unfounded charges. I shall not say whether I consider it just and fair
that, tried as a prisoner-of-war and acquitted as such, I should have
had to pay a bill of £226 for my defence. What if a prisoner does not
possess the means to secure legal defence? Must he then be condemned
without it? Has this not been done in certain cases? I shall ask no more
questions. I did not mind the money, but was only too glad to inhale
once more air not pregnant with death and destruction.
Our object in mentioning these details is to illustrate the nature of
some of the charges brought against Boer officers and burghers when
court-martialled by the British. These charges of murder were, as a
rule, associated with Kaffirs who had been shot, either in fair fight or
as spies. Our officers were held responsible for the acts of their men.
Moreover, by proclamation, any officer or burgher convicted of shooting
a Kaffir or Hottentot, after having surrendered, could be charged with
murder and condemned to death. The principle laid down in this
proclamation, that the life of a surrendered foe should not be taken,
must be endorsed by every right-minded man. The burghers, however,
argued that, since the war had not been declared against the coloured
races, they had the right to deal with armed natives in the most
effectual manner possible, especially if these natives were not British
subjects, but belonged to the Republics. Besides, some of these natives
gave no quarter to our men. We could cite several instances where
burghers had been murdered and mutilated in a ghastly manner. To mention
one instance, while peace negotiations were going on, 56 men were
savagely cut up and mutilated by the Kaffirs in the district of Vryheid,
Transvaal.
Eventually we were placed in such a position that we hardly knew what to
do with armed natives. What if they refuse to surrender? Shoot them ...
and then you are a murderer. Let them go ... and then you will pay the
penalty. It was perplexing to know how the British wished us to act. The
Boers, regardless of consequences, did what they thought right.
For the sake of such as were interested in my trial, I submit in full
the charges, my evidence, and the addresses of the prosecutor and
counsel for the defence:--
_Charge Sheet_.
The prisoner, Pieter Hendrik Kritzinger, a burgher of the late
Orange Free State, and ex-Assistant Chief Commandant of the
(so-called) Federal forces, is charged with:--
1st Charge:--
_Murder_.
In that he, at Grootplaats, Murraysburg, on or about the 15th of
February, 1901, killed and murdered Jafta and Solomon, natives,
British subjects.
2nd Charge:--
_Murder_.
In that he, at Tweefontein, Graaff Reinet, on or about the 15th of
February, 1901, killed and murdered John Thomas, a native, a
British subject.
3rd Charge:--
_Murder_.
In that he, at Prinsfontein, Tarkastad, on or about the 18th of
March, 1901, killed and murdered a native, a British subject.
4th Charge:--
_Murder_.
In that he, at Biscuitfontein, Bethulie, Orange River Colony, on or
about the 15th of August, 1901, killed and murdered Koos and
Willem, natives, British subjects.
5th Charge:--
_Destroying Railways_.
In that he, near Knutsford, Cradock, on or about the 27th of July,
1901, cut the railway line, thereby causing a portion of a
passenger train to be derailed.
To be tried by Military Court by order of General French.
The prisoner takes his stand at the place from which other
witnesses give their evidence:--
The prisoner, Pieter Hendrik Kritzinger, being duly sworn,
states:--
"My name is Pieter Hendrik Kritzinger. In the commencement of
September, 1900, I became a commandant of the Free State Forces. I
became Chief Commandant of the forces in the Cape Colony on the
11th of June, 1901. This would not give me a higher position in the
event of my returning to the Free State. Once over the border I
would hold the same position as any other commandant. I surrendered
on the 16th of December last. I attempted to cross the line at
Hanover Road and was wounded.
I know absolutely nothing of the death of Jafta and Solomon, I gave
no orders that they should be shot, nor any other natives. I
arrived at Voetpad on a Thursday, the 14th of February, 1901. I
camped there until the following day. Shortly before I left Voetpad
Captain Smit with his men came there from a farm in the vicinity.
The name of the farm is unknown to me. Captain Smit was not under
my command. He was acting independently. An advance guard is
generally sent out. On this occasion I sent Wessels and some men. I
do not know when Wessels left, I cannot remember. I went from
Voetpad to Poortje, the farm of Van der Merwe. I arrived there
about sundown on Friday the 15th. On my way from Voetpad I passed
over Boltman's place. I did not hear of any natives being shot
there. While on Voetpad I had no message from Wessels. I cannot
remember having spoken to any one in that strain regarding
Boltman's statements _re_ shooting natives. There was one Mijnhardt
in my commando, there were others amongst Smit's men, but I can't
call to mind of a Corporal Mijnhardt in my commando. No report was
ever made to me of natives being shot at Grootplaats.
2nd Charge:--
On the 15th of February, 1901, I went to Poortje. I camped there
for the night. On the 16th I went to Driefontein, the farm of du
Toit. That was Saturday. From there I went on Sunday to the farm
Tweefontein, Minnaar's. I have not had a man named Van Aswegen with
me at Minnaar's. I know a Van Aswegen; he is a sergeant in Smit's
commando. He was not at Minnaar's when I got there. I do not know
where he was. On the 12th of February, 1901, I saw Van Aswegen on a
farm, the name of which is unknown to me. The owner's name is
Burger. There Smit and his men left me. I next saw Van Aswegen on a
farm in the Richmond district, the owner of which is Meiring. I
stopped at Minnaar's for the day, held service, and left there in
the afternoon. I know nothing of the shooting of a native there. No
shooting of a native was reported to me. Van Aswegen certainly had
no orders from me. He was not under my control, he was under the
control of Smit. Nobody belonging to my commando had any orders
from me with reference to shooting natives.
3rd Charge:--
The Court does not think it necessary to take the prisoner's
evidence on this charge.
4th Charge:--
I crossed the Orange River into the Orange River Colony on or about
the 15th of August last. It is brought back to my memory inasmuch
as Commandant Cachet was killed on the 15th of August in the
district of Venterstad in the Cape Colony. I did not take any
natives prisoner prior to crossing the river. Commandant Wessels
was with me before I got to the river, about five or six miles from
the river he left me and crossed. I crossed the Orange River on the
Bethulie side. Wessels crossed the river on the Norval's Pont side.
I did not see him cross the river. After crossing I went to the
first farm. No one was at home there, and I off-saddled. The name
of the farm is unknown to me. It was a farm that had been burnt.
When I arrived at that farm there was no other commando there.
Before I crossed the river I heard rifle-fire, but after I had
off-saddled for a little while I heard cannon-fire. The firing came
from the west, from the direction which Wessels had crossed the
river. The cannon-firing also came from the same direction.
I mounted a horse and rode up a kopje to see if I could see
anything that might be taking place. The kopje was about 1,000 to
1,200 yards from my laager. I was riding a chestnut horse. I went
to the kopje alone, but a man by the name of Michael Coetzee, whom
I intend to call as a witness, was on the kopje on duty as a
sentinel. I remained there a considerable time. I saw cannon-firing
on a little ridge on the Colony side of the river. I heard
rifle-fire while I was on the kopje. I returned to the laager. The
firing was in the direction of the laager. When I got back to the
laager Commandant Wessels was there, off-saddled. After I arrived
at the camp I spoke to him about the firing I had heard. I knew
that some of the farmer's cattle were being brought in for the
purpose of slaughtering, and I asked Wessels why they fired so many
shots at the animals, and he replied that a couple of Kaffirs had
been shot. I was chaffing Wessels when I asked him why they fired
so many shots at the animals. When I was on the kopje I certainly
did not know that Wessels had taken natives prisoner. I did not see
these natives after they had been shot. I do not know the boy Jan
Louw. I did not speak to him that day, nor to any other native. The
Wessels in question is the Commandant Louis Wessels, who passed
into the Colony from the Orange River Colony, and I met him three
or four days before I crossed. The day after our meeting we had a
skirmish with the British. Wessels and I got separated. The
following day we met again on the farm of Van der Keever. He was
not under my command in the Colony, nor in the Orange River Colony.
I had about between seventy and eighty men when I crossed the
river, and Wessels had between thirty and forty men. I had a few
natives shot in the Orange River Colony prior to my crossing into
the Colony in the first instance. These were tried by Captain
Scheepers, Captain Fouché, and Captain Smit and myself, also Judge
Hugo. The papers were sent to Assistant Chief Commandant Fourie,
and the sentences were approved of by him. That was the only case
of natives having been shot by me.
_Prosecutor's Address._
(Captain L. Daine.)
"As regards the first charge, the natives Jafta and Solomon and the
scouts McCabe and Maasdorp were captured by Wessels, who was in
charge of Kritzinger's scouts. He took them to Grootplaats. McCabe
proves that Wessels then went towards Voetpad, three miles off, and
returned some time afterwards, gave an order to his men, and the
two natives were led off to execution. Boltman's statements that
Kritzinger gave a message for British column commanders, informing
them that armed natives would be shot, are fully corroborated by
what McCabe was told by members of Kritzinger's commando, and
clearly shows Kritzinger's intentions and instructions. Kritzinger
states that he cannot remember whether he gave the message or not.
"The witnesses for the defence all state that there were no
prisoners with the commando at Grootplaats, yet the accuracy with
which they describe different horses, and the date of seeing Van
Aswegen, _i.e._, 13th February, 1901, is little short of
marvellous. Kritzinger states that he mounted a horse and rode to
the kopje, which was about 1,000 to 1,200 yards from the laager,
and that he was riding a chestnut horse, while the witnesses for
the defence state that he was riding a dark bay horse with a star
when he rode to the kopje.
"As regards the natives mentioned in the first charge, McCabe
states that he did not lose sight of them all the time they were
together, and as they were not searched in his presence the passes
could therefore not have been found. They were captured on a farm
in British territory.
"As regards the second charge, Van Aswegen was evidently a member
of Kritzinger's commando, and the witness, Van der Merwe, remembers
seeing him with the commando for three weeks, during which time he
and his men were frequently away. Here again, as concerns spies,
Van Aswegen had the passes in his hand and knew what the boy really
was.
"As regards the fourth charge, the natives were captured in the
Cape Colony, where Kritzinger was Chief Commandant. The statement
that his authority as such ceased the moment he crossed the Orange
River is hardly credible. The natives were shot at Biscuitfontein,
where Kritzinger was laagered at the time, and their dead bodies
were seen by de Klerk there. Jan Louw is very clear as to who the
commandant was. He recognized his photo on two occasions, and
identified him at once in court. The dark brown horse ridden by
Kritzinger to the kopje is probably the black referred to, and his
evidence is corroborated by Jan Jonkers, who, however, failed to
recognize Kritzinger in court, more through fright than anything
else, I think. Both these witnesses state that there was a body of
men at Biscuitfontein when they arrived. This is denied by
witnesses for the defence. The bodies found by Jan Hans must have
been those of Koos and Willem, as the spot is identified as that
described by de Klerk.
"It must be remembered that the witnesses Hugo, Matthijsen, Van
Wijk and de Klerk are all accomplices, and therefore their evidence
must be received with caution, especially after the curiously
minute details they give on some points. It is also worthy of note
that Matthijsen was not examined on the fourth charge, though he
was present with Kritzinger at the time.
"The shooting of these prisoners was absolutely unjustifiable and
illegal, and all concerned must be held equally responsible.
"Wessels took over the command of Kritzinger's commando when the
latter was wounded.
"As regards the proclamation, the only name mentioned in it is that
of Kritzinger, and the proclamation is signed by him. The names of
any of the other commandants are not mentioned in it at all.
"As regards the witnesses for the prosecution, there are three who
have been deported, and therefore could not be obtained."
_Address by the Counsel for the Defence._
(Advocate H.G. Gardiner.)
"Mr. President and Members of the Military Court:--
"We are now reaching the end of a great trial, the great trial of a
great man. Of all the trials that have been held before Military
Courts in this country, this, I may fairly say, is most important.
"No officer of higher or even equal rank to him, who was once Chief
Commandant in this Colony, has yet been tried, and on this trial
much will depend. It is a case the result of which may have great
and far-reaching influence. It may influence greatly the Boer
commandoes in the field. On the verdict now given in his case the
attitude of other leaders will greatly depend. I do not urge this
upon you that you should acquit the prisoner. I do not ask you to
consider the consequences of the verdict you may bring in. I know
that you will bring in whatever verdict you think right regardless
of all consequences, but I do bring these facts before you as a
reason why you should carefully consider the evidence.
"The charge in this case is the charge of murder, the greatest
crime that can be brought against a man. It is a crime of which a
man cannot be technically guilty. You must have the most convincing
evidence before you, and the clearest proof. It is a crime where
intent must be clearly proved; where intent is essential. A
merchant whose agent enters into a contract may be held responsible
to carry out that contract, but a merchant whose clerk commits a
crime cannot be held responsible for that crime. It would, sir, be
intolerable if a leader of a column should be held responsible for
every act committed by the men under his command. We are glad to
know, sir, that in the history of this war British troops have
behaved in an exemplary manner, but there have been occasions when
they have done things not in accordance with the laws and usages of
war, and it would be unfair to hold a general responsible for such
acts of isolated individuals. On the question of intent and what
constitutes responsibility for a crime, I would refer to _Manual of
Military Law_, pages 112 and 113, paragraph 17:--'If the offence
charged involves some special intent, it must be shown that the
assistant was cognizant of the intention of the person whom he
assisted; thus, on a charge of wounding with intent to murder, it
must be shown that the assistant not only assisted the principal
offender in what he did, but also knew what his intention was,
before the former can be convicted on the full charge.' Then again,
paragraph 18. After referring to persons going out with common
intent it says that a person is not responsible for any offence
'committed by any member of the party, which is unconnected with a
common purpose, unless he personally instigates or assists in its
commission.' And to give an example, sir, of common intent, the
purpose for which a commander and his men go on commando is to kill
and destroy the enemy, not that of killing prisoners and
non-combatants, or prisoners without a trial, and if a subordinate
without orders from his superior commits a crime, that superior
cannot be held responsible for it unless he has consented to it or
knew of it. I would also refer to paragraph 20:--'Mere knowledge
that a person is about to commit an offence, and even conduct
influenced by such knowledge, will not make a person responsible
for that offence, unless he does something actively to encourage
its commission.' And last of all I would refer to Army Act, section
6, page 322:--'Every person subject to Military Law who commits any
of the following offences, that is to say (_f_):--Does violence to
any person bringing provisions or supplies to the forces, or
commits any offence against the property of persons or any
inhabitant or resident in the country in which he is serving,' but
says nothing about the responsibility of a superior officer.
"We may take it therefore that Kritzinger can only be responsible
for a murder when he has given either general or special orders, or
when he knew of it beforehand, and consented to its being done.
Now, sir, what proof have we of that being so in this case?
"Let us take the first charge--the charge of shooting two natives
at Grootplaats. There can be no doubt that these natives were
spies. They came into the Boer lines unarmed, ununiformed, and with
false passes. They carried two passes, one representing them as
belonging to the 7th Dragoon Guards, and the other to the effect
that they were looking for cattle. I think if such a case came
before you, you would have no doubts about treating them as spies.
Therefore Kritzinger would not have been guilty of murder had he
shot them. I have a far stronger defence, however. The natives were
captured by Wessels. Kritzinger knew nothing about them, and when
these boys were shot he was not present, as he was at another farm
at the time. Wessels left at 10 A.M., Kritzinger arrived there
after sunset. How can he then be responsible for the shooting of
these natives when he was not at the farm? There is not a bit of
proof to show that Kritzinger gave the order about the shooting of
these boys. One of the native witnesses says that one of Wessels'
men went in the direction of Voetpad; there is no evidence that he
ever reached there. More than that, witnesses belonging to
Kritzinger's commando state that they saw nothing of Wessels, and
that they knew nothing of the shooting of these boys. At the close
of the evidence in chief there was something which looked like
implicating Kritzinger, but of that by Van Aswegen there is very
little left to-day. At first the evidence _re_ Mijnhardt was taken,
but the Court has ruled that this evidence cannot be accepted. Now
there is the evidence of Boltman. I do not say that Boltman did not
give his evidence fairly, but he must have made a mistake as
regards Kritzinger making use of the words he referred to. McCabe
says while he was on the farm nothing of the kind occurred. If
anything had been said he would have heard it. When McCabe and
Maasdorp came back no report was made that Kritzinger had said
anything of the kind. But there was a report made, and McCabe bears
it out that something was said by another member of the commando. I
would submit that Boltman mistook the other member of the commando
for Kritzinger. There is no getting over the evidence of McCabe,
and he is the person who ought to remember it. As McCabe says,
Kritzinger did not arrive until some hours after the boys had been
shot.
"I now come to the second charge--the charge of the shooting of the
boy John Thomas at Tweefontein. Now, sir, here again the boy was
clearly a spy. He carried two passes similar to those carried by
the boys mentioned in the first charge. He was unarmed. He was not
in uniform. He was there to spy the movements of the Boers.
Kritzinger would not have been responsible for the shooting of this
boy had he shot him. But here the evidence against him is even
weaker than in the first charge. Here there is no suggestion that
the boy was shot by any of Kritzinger's men. The evidence shows
that the boy was shot by a man serving under Smit. Smit was an
officer with an independent command, and, more than that, he had
been longer in service than Kritzinger himself, and was not under
Kritzinger. Here, too, there is no suggestion, as in the first
charge, that any message was taken to Kritzinger by the men who
shot this boy, John Thomas. None of Van Aswegen's men were sent to
Kritzinger. Van Aswegen himself did not go back. No one from
Kritzinger came to Van Aswegen. Van Aswegen was last seen by
Kritzinger on the 12th or 13th of February, 1901, and was not seen
again by him until a couple of days after the shooting.
"That the boy was shot by Van Aswegen appears clear from the two
Minnaars' evidence, who say that the boy was taken out by Van
Aswegen, and that was the last they saw of him. Kritzinger did not
arrive until Sunday morning with his commando, and everyone says he
knows absolutely nothing about the shooting of the native. I would
submit that there is absolutely nothing to connect Kritzinger with
the shooting of this boy.
"On the 3rd Charge there is no need to say anything. The Court has
already indicated that it is unnecessary to proceed further with
it.
"I now come to the 4th Charge; the only charge in which Kritzinger
was said to have been present at the shooting. In the first two
charges, Kritzinger did not appear until hours after the natives
had been shot. The only witnesses who say that Kritzinger was
present at the shooting of the natives mentioned in this charge are
natives. There appear to have been no white men present. Some one
said that Schmidt was present, but it appears he did not cross the
river. We have only native evidence to this effect, and native
evidence is most unreliable, and only one of the witnesses could
identify Kritzinger. We are, therefore, driven back to the evidence
of Jan Louw. Even if Jan Louw had given his evidence in a way that
could not be shaken, it would be dangerous to convict on the
evidence of one witness alone. Natives have no idea of dates, time,
or distances. They find it difficult to identify prisoners. We have
seen that in the case of Jan Jonkers, and that shows how much
reliance can be placed on native evidence. Jan Jonkers identifies a
man in Court as being Kritzinger who was never near the place. Four
months after a man has been killed Jan Hans goes and sees his body.
He identifies him not by the clothes he wears but by his face. Is
it possible that after being for four months on the plains of the
Orange Free State, exposed to the air and the heat, a man could
identify the face of another? And the one native witness is the
witness Jan Louw. Even if Jan Louw were a strong witness, his
evidence would not have been sufficient to convict, but Jan Louw's
evidence falls to the ground under cross-examination. How did Jan
Louw identify Kritzinger? He was taken to the office at Norval's
Pont. Now, Jan Louw had only seen one commandant in his life. When
in that commandant's possession, his life was apparently not worth
very much. His companions were shot. When shown any commandant's
photo he would naturally identify it with the commandant he knew.
Now, Jan Jonkers explains to us why the photo was identified. He
was asked, 'Is that Kritzinger?' and he replied, 'That is
Kritzinger.' Now, a native is very likely, in a case like that, to
say, 'That is the man.' Then Jan Jonkers, in re-examination, tries
to get out of that. He says that he said, 'That is Kritzinger,' and
then the man in the office said, 'That is Kritzinger.' The
probability is that Jan Louw and Jan Jonkers were asked if it was
Kritzinger's photo, and they said, 'Yes.' If the Court saw the
photos they could see how much reliance could be placed on the
identification. The witnesses were taken into a room where there
were several groups of photos, but the biggest photo was that of
Kritzinger, and these natives had seen it before. Probably it is
the only photo they have seen in their lives. It was the same photo
they had seen at Norval's Pont. What would one expect? One would
naturally expect them to pick out that photo, and that is what
occurred. Well, after that, one can understand why Jan Louw
identifies Kritzinger in Court. He has had a photo shown to him in
town, and of course he naturally identifies Kritzinger at once. The
wonder is that Jan Jonkers did not identify Kritzinger. It only
shows what small reliance can be placed on the evidence of natives,
and that is the sole evidence on which the 4th Charge is based.
"Now let us see what Kritzinger's story is. It is a consistent
story, and it seems what probably happened under the circumstances.
He crossed without prisoners, and everyone in his commando bears
him out. He crossed before Wessels, and laagered there, and
afterwards Wessels came up. Jan Louw says that no other commando
was there when he arrived, and no other came afterwards. Jan
Jonkers says there were about one hundred men when he arrived. The
Court will have no doubt that there were two commandoes there.
Kritzinger said that he had seventy or eighty men with him. And
then again we have Jan Jonkers. If Jan Jonkers found a commando
there, all the evidence goes to show that Jan Jonkers must have
been with Wessels, and not with Kritzinger. Wessels captured these
men, and therefore must have done the shooting.
"Then there is the question of identifying a horse. Both natives
say it was a black horse, and the other evidence shows it was a
chestnut horse. It may appear strange that our men remember the
horses, but I would certainly trust any Boer, who has to deal with
horses all his life, rather than a native. Then Kritzinger says he
left the commando and went up to the kopje. Wessels had not arrived
yet, and that, sir, is borne out by every one of Kritzinger's
witnesses; and, as he says, and all the witnesses say, it was in
Kritzinger's absence that Wessels arrived and the shooting was
done. Kritzinger says he heard the shots and chaffed Wessels about
an ox he supposed they were shooting. But whatever was done in
Kritzinger's absence was done entirely without Kritzinger's
knowledge, and, sir, by men who belonged to Wessels, because
whoever did the shooting it was done by men belonging to the
commando who took these natives prisoners. Now, sir, it is
unfortunate that the witness who was with Kritzinger on the kopje,
and who could also have heard the shots, is not here. I know it is
not the fault of the Court that he is not here. It is unfortunate,
though, that this man is in St. Helena. But Kritzinger is already
corroborated by his other witnesses, and against them is only a
single native witness. There is, of course, this story of a
conversation between Kritzinger and the boy Jan Louw. Kritzinger is
supposed to have said to the boy: 'Did you see those boys? They are
to be shot. Put down your billies, and go and be shot also,' and
then at once to have changed his mind: 'Never mind, my boy, get the
water.' It is an improbable story. Jan Jonkers does not appear to
have heard the conversation at all. None of Kritzinger's men appear
to know of it, and I submit it was not said by Kritzinger, if said
at all. Then on the prosecution's side one native witness is
contradicted by all the other witnesses.
"Before I close the case for the defence, I would like to refer to
the character of the prisoner. In this case I am well aware that
character is not a ground of acquittal. I know, sir, that good men
of excellent characters have committed crimes, and I would not for
one moment appeal for an acquittal because Kritzinger has behaved
so well in other instances, and has shown himself a humane man, and
a man of honour. I do not ask for mercy on the ground of
Kritzinger's character, we can only ask for a fair and just
verdict. But character is of importance when there is any doubt in
the case. I ask the Court to bear in mind the character of the
accused. Is a man who bears such a character likely to have
committed the crimes charged against him? The character of
Kritzinger, if we put aside the charges in his case, is an
excellent one. The prosecution has brought out in cross-examination
a certain proclamation. I am glad it has been brought out, for it
goes to show nothing against the character of the accused, but it
tells in his favour, for, what do we find? That a draft
proclamation was drawn up at a meeting of commandants, at which
Kritzinger was chairman. He opposed it by every means in his power,
but he was in the minority, and, as president of the gathering, he
had to sign it. He then asked for some postponement before that
proclamation was circulated, and that was agreed to. He still
fought against this proclamation, for he asked that before De Wet
approved of it nothing should be done in the way of circulation. He
never circulated it himself. If it was circulated, it was done by
the other commandants against the agreement. It was not approved of
by De Wet, and never became a proclamation. This shows that
Kritzinger disapproved of the harsh measures contained in it, that
he tried to get it done away with, and that at last he succeeded in
getting a refusal from the Chief Commandant of the Free State. It
was owing to his efforts that the proclamation did not become a
valid one in this Colony, and he cannot be responsible for anything
that may have been done against the agreement arrived at by those
at the meeting.
"As regards his treatment of natives, he tells you himself that he
never had natives shot, except those boys who were duly tried, and
whose sentences were duly confirmed, and that will tell in his
favour.
"As regards his attitude _re_ the destruction of property, we have
the letter to Scheepers, and the Court will bear that in mind in
deciding whether he has been guilty of these acts of inhumanity
charged against him or not.
"His character has been excellent. Coming back into danger again in
order to secure a remount for one of his men whose horse had been
shot, he was himself wounded, and ultimately captured. His conduct
on that occasion was that of a brave man, as it has been all
through the war. If there is a question of doubt I ask the Court to
bear in mind the character of the prisoner. All the evidence is
riddled with doubt, and you have to weigh this, sir. On the one
hand the native was shot in Kritzinger's absence. There is no proof
that it was done by his order, or with his consent. The evidence of
the natives in the 4th Charge is of the weakest description.
Against that you have his excellent character, and the story
corroborated by his own witnesses and corroborated in some respects
by the witnesses for the prosecution. I ask you, sir, to weigh that
evidence in the balance, and see which side is found wanting.
"Just a word more, and I have done. I know there are some people
who say it is unfair to try a man by a Court composed of men who
have been fighting against him. Sir, I have no such fear. I know,
sir, I feel sure that there is not an officer in South Africa who
would not gladly acquit the prisoner of the crimes laid to his
charge if he felt he could conscientiously do so. I therefore leave
in your hands the fate of a man whose bravery has been shown on
many occasions, in many a hard fight, whose honesty and humanity
have been, in many instances, conspicuous. More than that, sir,
should he be acquitted, when this war is over, he will, I feel
sure, be able and ready to do much to restore the good feeling
which we all hope will prevail between English and Dutch, I leave
his fate in your hands with the conviction that you will bring in
the only verdict warranted by the evidence, a verdict of 'Not
guilty.'"
This address gives you, reader, the gist of my trial. If you have had
the patience to read through it you will be able to have a fair
conception of what we had to pass through in the early days of March,
1902.
CHAPTER VIII.
WHY WE SURRENDERED.
Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!...
If such there breathe, go, mark him well.
_Walter Scott._
We shall now direct our attention to some of the disadvantages and
difficulties which confronted us in our struggle for freedom. This we do
because many who were in sympathy with the Republics have been sorely
disappointed in their surrender, and some suppose that they should have
prolonged the struggle until victory ultimately crowned their efforts.
Those who reason in this way must be ignorant of the conditions of the
Republics at the time of their surrender, neither do they know the
disadvantages with which we had to grapple throughout the war. It is
therefore of importance that the South African War should be regarded in
the light and under the circumstances in which it was begun, conducted
and concluded. When the obstacles the Boer had to encounter are taken
into due consideration, then censure and disappointment vanish and make
room for praise and admiration.
None know better than those who have been involved in war that its
current does not run evenly. Experience has taught them that war is much
more than a series of exciting adventures or some kind of sport. It
brings before the contending parties problems hard to solve,
difficulties and emergencies of a most perplexing and bewildering
nature. Boer and Briton alike had to face such difficulties and
disadvantages. The disadvantages, however, under which the English had
to labour in South Africa dwindle into insignificance when contrasted
and compared with those of the Boers, especially towards the latter part
of the war. The impartial critic must admit that eventually the vantage
ground was altogether on the side of the British. 'Tis only by sheer
determination and superhuman efforts and sacrifices on the part of the
late Republics that they defied the British Empire for two years and
eight months. None were perhaps more surprised and amazed at the
protracted war than the Imperial Government itself. Time and again an
early termination of hostilities was announced. Such was the case after
Cronje's capture, the occupation of Bloemfontein and Pretoria, and
Prinsloo's surrender. When Lord Roberts left South Africa, the war, it
was said, was practically over!
The British were placed at a great disadvantage at the outbreak of
hostilities. The Boer ultimatum, issued on the 9th of October, 1899,
found the English Government only half prepared either to accept or
reject its demands. None thought that the Boer Republics would ever take
such a bold step, and would be so audacious as to despatch an ultimatum
to one of the mightiest Powers of the world. They should have waited and
waited until that strong Power was quite prepared to crush them at one
stroke. They should have waited, at least, till all the British forces
were massed on their borders, then to cross, and take by force what
peaceful negotiations failed to obtain. Thus reasoned some, the Boers
thought otherwise. To them war seemed inevitable, and they believe that
the man who strikes first strikes best.
That the war presented many difficulties to our opponents cannot be
denied. They were unexpectedly brought to a crisis, and were but half
prepared to meet it. Their reinforcements were delayed in being
transported thousands of miles. Their own subjects rose in rebellion and
assisted the Boers. They were at first unacquainted with the country in
which they had to fight.
How the enemy confronted and overcame these difficulties, and how their
disadvantages gradually vanished like smoke, is well known. Troops,
more troops, and still more were despatched to South Africa, until
finally the Republics were literally flooded by the gentlemen in khaki.
By the end of February, 1900, Lord Roberts had at his disposal tens of
thousands, by whom General Cronje was surrounded and captured, and who
paved the Field-Marshal's way for him to Bloemfontein and Pretoria. The
difficulty and disadvantage arising from their not knowing the
geographical features of the country in which they had to operate was
gradually solved and cleared. Cape colonials enlisted in the British
ranks, and these acted as guides and scouts. They knew the features of
the country as well as the Boers, and could thus render very efficient
service to the British. Still later, services of inestimable value were
rendered to the British forces by natives, and, alas! even republicans
themselves, who joined the enemy's ranks. When these enlisted, the
English were provided with the best of guides, scouts and spies.
The disadvantages of the enemy were, to a large extent, the advantages
of the, Boers. They had a very accurate knowledge of the country where
they were fighting. The value of such a knowledge can hardly be
over-estimated. If they had not known the country as well as they did,
the English forces would certainly have been more successful in
effecting their capture; and they would have often been in a sad plight.
Our knowledge of the field of operations proved our salvation on more
than one occasion, and was at the bottom of some successes achieved over
the enemy. To know every mountain, hill, river, brooklet, valley, or
donga is to be forearmed. The general that knows the battlefield is
infinitely better off than the one that does not. He knows precisely how
and when to lead an attack, or what to do when unexpectedly attacked.
Now the Boer commanders had this intimate knowledge of the country, a
knowledge which served them in good stead, and accounts for the Boers'
marvellous mobility. They were not tied to roads, but could move in any
direction, by night as well as by day, without ever losing their track.
This the enemy could not do, not even with the aid of scientific
instruments. When the natives and some of the burghers attached
themselves to the British forces, then, and then only, were they able to
make forced marches by night, and surprise the Boers when least
expected.
A second point in favour of us was the fact that we were all mounted,
whereas, at the commencement of the war, the British army consisted
largely of infantry. The Boers are splendid horsemen--none more at home
in the saddle than the farmer. The way he handled his steed, and the
posture he assumed on it, invariably distinguished him, even at great
distances, from the British soldier. The British infantry, however well
they might have fought--and they did often fight bravely--were yet
placed at a great disadvantage in engagements with the mounted Boers,
who could quickly, sometimes too quickly, abandon untenable positions
and occupy others which offered greater advantages.
Last, but not least, the Boers had the moral advantage of fighting in
defence of their country. They did not fight for honour or glory, nor
because of lust or greed for gold or expansion of territory, but for
their beloved Fatherland, for that freedom which they had enjoyed so
long and loved so well. This was their stimulus, their very inspiration
to endure hardship and sacrifice all. What was the stimulus and
inspiration of the British forces?
We shall now review some of the disadvantages under which we had to wage
war for almost three years. No sooner had the war been declared than the
Republics were almost completely isolated from the civilised world. The
English were in possession of all the harbours, and if it had not been
for Delagoa Bay, which is a neutral port, the communication of the
Republics with the outer world would instantly have been cut off
entirely. Through this port all contraband of war was strictly
prohibited; and such foreigners as came to our assistance had to
exercise great ingenuity to find their way _via_ Delagoa Bay to the Boer
lines. For several months in succession the Boers had to fight without
the slightest encouragement from abroad. How the nations were regarding
their struggle, whether any of them would dare to interfere on their
behalf, and so indicate the rights of the weak against the strong--such
and similar questions remained unanswered. Neither was the average Boer
much concerned as to what other nations thought about the war. He was
involved in the struggle, not because he courted it or loved to fight,
but because his country was invaded and his independence was at stake.
To secure his liberty he would resist any Power, regardless of all
adverse criticism on the part of other Powers. Yet it proved no less a
serious disadvantage to the Republics to have been so isolated, their
communication with the other Powers so restricted, and themselves
encompassed almost on every side by British dominions.
Not only was our intercourse with the outer world sadly impeded, but our
internal communication was likewise seriously disturbed. The British,
having divided the two states into several small sections by their
blockhouse system, made it extremely difficult for the different
commandoes to come in touch with one another. Our despatch riders, who
had to beat their way through the various blockhouse lines, were
sometimes so hemmed in by these that escape was impossible, and thus
their despatches fell into the hands of the enemy. Towards the latter
part of the war we were entirely dependent upon despatch riders for the
transmission of our reports or messages. We had no more the inestimable
advantage of heliographic instruments or telegraph wires, which were at
the disposal of the British. Our reinforcements often arrived too late
at the scene of action because the reports were delayed on the way, and
so a battle was lost where a victory might have been secured.
The number of able-bodied men that the Republics could put in the field
against the British forces was extremely limited. They had to contend
against great numbers, and these numbers were reinforced from time to
time. While the Boer numbers decreased, those of the enemy increased. It
was certainly an heroic action on the part of two small republics to
enter upon a contest with the British Empire, not to say with England,
but was it not more heroic for these untrained farmers to confront and
defy the overwhelming numbers brought against them? Surely this, if
nothing else, should entitle the Boer to a place in the history of
nations. Is this not proof sufficient that, when their Governments with
their consent despatched an ultimatum, it was not arrogance which
prompted them to take up arms against the British, but steadfast
determination to vindicate their sacred rights at any price?
As to the numbers that were employed during the war, the official
statement of the War Department makes the number of officers and
soldiers that were engaged in active service in South Africa about
500,000. To this must be added the number of armed natives, which would
increase the sum total considerably. The Boer estimates vary, yet we do
not hesitate to state that not more, but rather less, than 50,000 Boers
were ever in the field. Of these a large proportion usually remained in
the laagers, and never fired a shot at the enemy. After Prinsloo's
surrender there were hardly 8,000 men still in the field. According to
these numbers, the odds were ten to one. According to other authorities,
the odds were even greater. One English writer says: "What glory shall a
mighty empire win from a victory over 15,000 farmers? We are forcing
upon our army the cruel humiliation of beating our enemy by sheer force
of fifteen against one; we who used to boast that one Briton was a match
for any three of his foes." The official returns at the close of the war
substantiates the above figures, and show that it has not by any means
been exaggerated. General De Wet, on being asked how long he thought the
war would last if the numbers could be inverted, remarked: "As long as
it would take to cable defeat to England." We do not wonder that some of
the burghers eventually became discouraged and surrendered to the foe,
especially when we think how great the odds were against which they had
to contend month after month. We are rather surprised that so many did
not become disheartened, but unflinchingly maintained the struggle until
their Governments and leaders advised a general surrender.
Not only had we to confront such overpowering numbers, but these forces
were under the control of England's most distinguished generals, men
who combined practical experience with the advantage of a military
training. These generals for the most part had achieved glory and renown
in many a campaign--in Afghanistan, Egypt, and elsewhere--and thus came
to South Africa, not to get their first lessons in warfare, but as
experienced leaders of a great army. With such men to lead the British
forces on to battle, if not to victory, three months were considered all
too long by many to crush and wipe out of existence two small republics.
Opposed to these (famous) British officers stood the inexperienced Boer
leaders. What a contrast! The Boer officers, with very few exceptions,
were men without a shadow of military training, some even poorly
developed mentally. They were, with few exceptions, peasants pure and
simple, who left their ploughfields and flocks to take upon themselves
the command over no less inexperienced burghers. These Boer leaders,
elected by the people in times of peace, went to the front without the
least practical knowledge of warfare. True, a few of them, such as
Cronje, De la Rey, and Prinsloo had been leaders in Kaffir wars, and in
such the burghers placed implicit confidence. Needless almost to state
that in most of these so-called Kaffir warriors the Boers were utterly
disappointed. It was one thing to attack natives badly armed, it was
another thing to face an organised army well equipped with death-dealing
instruments. We were thus at a great disadvantage at the commencement of
hostilities as far as leaders were concerned. Gradually our staff of
officers was improved, for the best men came to the front, and some of
the older officers, who were unfit, were replaced by younger and abler
ones. All these changes, however, took a long time, and were not
effected before we had been subjected to two great disasters: one that
of Cronje's capture on the 27th of February, 1900, the other, Prinsloo's
surrender on the 1st of August, 1900, disasters which proved decisive
epochs in the Anglo-Boer war.
Some of the Boer leaders, though inexperienced and untrained, proved
themselves quite a match for their opponents. They have astonished
military circles by their valorous actions and daring enterprises, and
have merited imperishable honour and glory. Well may we be proud of
leaders such as Louis Botha, Christian De Wet, and Jacobus De la Rey,
men whose names deserve a place in the rolls of history. We were
fortunate in securing the services of such men at a time when they were
most needed. No doubt it was to the advantage and not, as some maintain,
to the disadvantage of the Free State burghers when C.R. De Wet was
elected Hoofd Commandant at Brandfort in March, 1900. He, too, was but a
farmer; culture he lacked, military training he had none, but the spark
of martial genius had fallen and kindled in his breast. In figure,
manner, and dress he was hardly distinguishable from hundreds of his
countrymen, who were not sharers of his military abilities. Does not his
broad forehead indicate thoughtfulness? While his keen and penetrating
eyes and firmly set lips are marks of determination and singleness of
purpose. And his broad chin, does it not reveal the man of tenacity and
endurance? As an individual he was sympathetic, generous, and
magnanimous; he was endowed with discretion and tact, simplicity and
honesty. As a soldier, vigilant, persevering, never indiscreet in anger
or disappointment, but always courageous and resourceful. Recognizing
the advantages of a surprise, he never lost an opportunity of harassing
the enemy. Through his rare topographical knowledge of his country he
baffled the foe by his movements time and again. Followed up by
overwhelming numbers, he was compelled more often to evade fighting than
offer battle. Never unduly elated, he was bravest and supreme when all
others lost heart. He had to contend against treachery, desertion and
want, but rose above all these obstacles, and proved himself the most
powerful obstructor that the British columns had to encounter in South
Africa. Such a man was a boon to his country, and to him the burghers
confidently entrusted themselves and their interests. He has proved
himself worthy of that trust. But all were not De Wets. There were,
alas! Prinsloos, Vilonels, etc., too.
So much for the Boer officers. As regards our rank and file, they were
as inexperienced in military matters as most of their leaders. The Boer
is no soldier in the technical sense of the term. He was never subjected
to military discipline, and unaccustomed to any restrictions. It took
him months to realise the absolute necessity for and inestimable value
of good discipline. The burghers looked upon themselves as volunteers,
and such they really were. Now, when the enemy had to be attacked in
their forts or strongholds, the Boer officers had to call out
volunteers, as it was hazardous to lay too much pressure on the burghers
to charge any position without their consent. To exercise too great
power or authority over burghers was, at all times, especially at the
beginning of the war, a risky thing. The officers knew well that the
Boer is more easily led than driven.
Corps such as the Johannesburg and Swaziland Police and the Staats
Artillery of the Transvaal and Orange Free State, which had the benefit
of military training and discipline, proved their superiority over the
rest of the burgher forces, and greatly distinguished themselves in the
South African campaign. If all the burghers had had the same training as
these corps, greater successes might have crowned their efforts during
the early part of the war. The soldier, on the contrary, is no
volunteer. His wishes are never consulted; when instructed to march on,
he has to obey, though it may mean certain death to him, as was so often
the case.
Another point of great disadvantage to the Boers is the lamentable fact
that thousands of the surrendered and captured burghers enlisted in the
British ranks as "National Scouts." This, viewed from the Boer
standpoint, is the darkest spot in the South African campaign. Gladly
would we dismiss this matter without any further comment, for it merits
silent contempt, but we cannot help noting at what a terrible
disadvantage we were placed by the action of these "National Scouts." As
they made common cause with the enemy they furnished the latter from
time to time with full particulars of our tactics, and divulged all our
military secrets to the British. Moreover, they served the British
forces as guides and led them forth at dead of night to surprise their
countrymen in their secret, and otherwise unknown, retreats, where they
were often captured or shot down by the enemy. Before these enlisted,
night assaults by the English were out of the question. It was perfectly
safe to bivouac some six miles from the enemy. For when the British did
make a move during the night, they usually lost their way, as was the
case when Gatacre undertook a night march on the Stormberg positions.
With Boers as guides it was possible for the English forces to assume
tactics hitherto untried by them.
Ah! brother, national scout, who may be reading this, do you not regret
and lament the unhappy part of traitor? Are your hands not stained with
the blood of your countrymen? And your conscience, is that not tarnished
with the blood of men, women and children, who fell in Freedom's holy
war? We do not despise but we pity you, and wish it were otherwise.
Not only did these "National Scouts" lead the British to the Boers, but
they were the principal instruments in the hands of the enemy to clear
the Republics of all foodstuffs and ammunition. They knew precisely
where their fellow-burghers had stored away their meal, corn, fodder,
and ammunition, knew where the oxen and sheep were grazing, and
forthwith to these they conducted the enemy's forces, and thus was
brought to pass that state of affairs which necessitated the Boers to
lay down their arms. Without the assistance of the deserted burghers it
would have taken the enemy ever so much longer to have exhausted the
Republics entirely of all their resources. To a large extent these very
republicans who sided with their country's enemies became the despoilers
of the once so fair Republics. Ah me, that this should be recorded!
Besides, by assisting the enemy they not only encouraged them, but
greatly discouraged their brethren in the field. The burgher who really
meant well naturally became disheartened that those who fought with him
for one and the same object could turn against him and play such a low
and treacherous part. How men, who have stooped to deeds so mean and
foul, shall defend their loathsome actions at the bar of Conscience and
Justice, I know not.
In addition to the "National Scouts"--as though these were not more than
sufficient--we had to contend against thousands of blacks, aboriginal
natives armed by the British and taken up in their ranks. We naturally
felt indignant at the adoption of coloured races in the British army;
for we regarded it as an unwritten agreement between the respective
Governments that no blacks were to be involved in the war. It was to be
white _versus_ white, Boer _versus_ Briton. Hence, when the natives
became embroiled in the struggle we refused to acknowledge and treat
them as combatants. No quarter was given to armed natives that were not
British subjects, and even these forfeited their lives on more than one
occasion. This action, regarded superficially, may seem cruel and
unjust, but remembering that war had not been declared against the
natives, and also that, if we did treat them as English soldiers, we
would simply have courted the opposition of all the natives, it does not
seem quite so cruel and unjust. We had to resort to severe measures so
as to let the natives fully realise that they were not acknowledged
combatants, and thus could not claim the privileges of combatants.
Surely the odds were already great enough--why then adopt blacks? We
hold that the Military Government was not justified in the use of armed
natives, and surely their adoption did not tend to the glory and honour
of the British arms in South Africa.
Again, one must remember that for fully eighteen months we were entirely
dependent upon the enemy for all military supplies. Our limited
resources were soon exhausted, and, as the English controlled all the
ports, the importation of arms, ammunition, horses, saddles, foodstuffs,
and other necessaries, was out of the question.
The general opinion as to the duration of the war was that it would or
could only last till the limited supply of Boer ammunition was spent.
This limited supply, however, like the widow's oil, was not exhausted
even after two years and eight months, and certainly never would as long
as British factories provided rifles, ammunition, and other military
equipments.
For eighteen months we were provided, directly or indirectly, by the
British Government with the necessaries of war. Britain was supporting
two armies in the field, armies which were not animated by a very
friendly spirit toward each other. Our support, however, demanded at
times the sacrifice of precious lives. When a commando ran short of
ammunition a determined onslaught to secure more was planned, and often
successfully carried out. The ammunition was obtained, but, alas! it
cost them the blood of some of their bravest men. Such dependence was a
great drawback to us. The Home Government also indirectly provided the
fighting Boers with clothes. At first the burgher had his own private
supply of clothing; but when the policy of destruction was resorted to
his clothes were consumed by the flames, and he had to apply to the
British Government for others. And this is how he did it. When he made a
prisoner he would exchange clothes with him, provided better ones were
thus secured, which was not always the case. With a certain amount of
etiquette and dignity, this bargain was closed. Tommy, without any
demonstration or remonstrance, would take off his jacket, pants and
boots, and hand these to his brother Boer, with some such remark: "I
don't grudge you it, sir--I know you fellows need them clothes badly;
we have burnt yours, we shall get others again." "Out boots, out
trousers, out jacket," were the abrupt commands of some of the Boers who
had but little English.
To put an end to this process of exchanging outfits, Lord Kitchener
issued a proclamation which forbade, under penalty of death, any
fighting Boer to dress in khaki. This proclamation was not heeded, for
the simple reason that men who had the interests of their country at
heart were not likely to surrender because their clothes were wearing
out. This threat but added one more to the many risks of death they ran.
And so a few of these unfortunate burghers, captured in khaki dress
because they had no other, were shot in accordance with the
proclamation. This did not, however, intimidate the rest, for at the
close of the war several hundreds were dressed in the dirty khaki hue.
In conclusion we note one point more, which counted seriously against
the late Republics. It was this: the field of operations became more and
more circumscribed and narrowed down by the extension of the
blockhouses. The two Republics were divided, so to speak, into a great
many little states by the blockhouse lines. The Free State alone was
divided into at least eight or nine sections. Now these divisions,
fenced round on every side, were cleared, one after the other, of all
cattle, sheep, and other foodstuff. The British concentrated their
forces in each section and operated there until it resembled a
wilderness. And so they went from one division to another, until finally
almost the whole country--both Transvaal and Free State--was denuded and
in a semi-famine state. Owing to this confined and limited area in which
we had to move, it was absolutely impossible for us to safeguard our war
supplies.
Another result of this restricted area was the release of all
prisoners-of-war taken by us. Thousands were captured, disarmed, and
released to take up arms the next day. The same soldier has been
captured two, three, and four times over. In this way it was impossible
to reduce the forces of the enemy to any appreciable extent. The Boers
certainly would have taken greater pains and dared more to capture the
enemy's forces if they too had had a place of confinement; but no Ceylon
or Bermudas were at their disposal. If they had had any such place, the
Imperial Yeomanry and others would not have surrendered perhaps quite so
readily. It certainly was a great misfortune to the late Republics that
they could not retain their prisoners-of-war, while every Boer prisoner
was either deported or guarded so securely, that, when once captured, he
was entirely lost for the Boer cause. Under such unfavourable
circumstances we had to fight our battle. It was against the stream all
along. If ever there was an unequal contest, surely ours was one.
To show that we have by no means exaggerated the conditions in which we
fought, we shall record here the resolution passed on the 31st of May,
1902, by the Volks Congress held at Vereeniging on the Vaal River, which
reads as follows:--
"This meeting of Representatives of the people of the South African
Republic and Orange Free State, held at Vereeniging, has learnt
with regret of the proposal made by his Majesty's Government in
regard to the cessation of existing hostilities, and of the
intimation that this proposal must be accepted or rejected in an
unaltered form.
"The meeting regrets that his Majesty's Government has absolutely
refused to negotiate with the Governments of the Republics upon the
basis of our Independence, or to permit our Governments to enter
into communication with our Deputation.
"Our Peoples have, indeed, always thought that not only on the
ground of Right, but also on the ground of the great material and
personal sacrifices that they have made for their Independence,
they have a just claim to such Independence.
"This meeting has earnestly taken into consideration the condition
of land and people, and has more especially taken into account the
following facts:--
"(1.) That the military tactics pursued by the British military
authorities has led to the entire ruin of the territory of both
Republics, with burning of farms and towns, destruction of all
means of subsistence, and exhaustion of all sources necessary for
the support of our families, for the maintenance of our forces in
the field, and for the continuation of the war.
"(2.) That the placing of our captured families in the
concentration camps has led to an unprecedented condition of
suffering and disease, so that within a comparatively short time
about 20,000 of those dear to us have perished there, and the
horrible prospect has arisen that by continuing the war our entire
race might be exterminated.
"(3.) That the Kaffir tribes within and without the borders of the
territories of both Republics are almost all armed and take part in
the struggle against us, and by perpetrating murders and committing
all kinds of horrors, an impossible state of affairs has been
brought about in many districts of both Republics, an instance of
which took place lately in the district of Vryheid, where fifty-six
burghers were murdered and mutilated in a shocking manner at the
same time.
"(4.) That by Proclamation of the enemy, which he has already
carried into effect, the burghers still in the field are threatened
with loss of all their movable and immovable property, and so with
total ruin.
"(5.) That through the circumstances of the war it has already long
ago become impossible for us to retain the many thousands of
prisoners-of-war taken by our forces, and that we thus could do but
comparatively little damage to the British troops, whilst our
burghers captured by the British are sent abroad; and that after
the war has raged for nearly three years there remains only a small
portion of the forces with which we entered into the war.
"(6.) That this remnant still in the field, which forms but a small
minority of our entire people, has to contend against overwhelming
odds, and, moreover, has reached a condition virtually amounting to
famine and want of the necessary means of subsistence, and that
notwithstanding our utmost endeavours and the sacrifice of all that
we value and hold dear, we cannot reasonably expect a successful
issue.
"This meeting is therefore of opinion that there is no reasonable
ground for thinking that by continuance of the war our People will
retain the possession of their Independence, and considers that
under the circumstances the People are not justified in carrying on
the war any longer, as that must tend to bring about the social and
material destruction not only of ourselves, but also of our
descendants.
"Urged by the above circumstances and motives, this meeting
authorises both Governments to accept the proposal of his Majesty's
Government, and on behalf of the People of both Republics to sign
the same."
Such was the condition of the two Republics at the termination of the
war. Well may one pause and ask: Has ever small nation, in similar
circumstances, placed greater sacrifices, personal and material, on
Liberty's shrine than the Republics? Have they not a lawful claim to
that independence for which they fought so gallantly and so desperately,
and for which they offered, ah! so much--their homes, their beloved
families, their possessions and their lives?
Shall any still that stood afar off and watched the struggle, maybe
sympathetically, or with cold indifference--shall they blame us for
having surrendered? Verily not; for it cannot rationally be expected
that a handful of farmers could offer resistance indefinitely, without
any assistance, to a rich and mighty empire. The leaking vessel may ride
to and fro for a while on the stormy billows, but eventually she is
bound to sink; the shipwrecked mariner may struggle and swim, but,
exhausted and powerless, he too goes down to find his last rest in the
bosom of the deep. This was the case of the Republics. On the stormy
billows of the ocean of war they were tossed hither and thither for
nearly three years. Time and again they cried and signalled for relief,
but no life-boats were sent to their rescue. None heeded their cry, or
had compassion on them. The nations stood and looked on, sympathised and
pitied, but did not help. And so, after all their strength was spent in
trying to save the vessel of their independence, the gallant crew, with
ship and all, sank beneath the waves of conquest.
CHAPTER IX.
THE BOER AS SEEN IN THE LIGHT OF THE WAR.
People tell
Of an old savage.
_Omar Khayyam_.
'E 'asn't got no papers of his own,
'E 'asn't got no medals nor rewards,
So we must certify the skill 'e's shown.
_Rudyard Kipling._
It is with reluctance we approach a subject on which in past years so
much has been written, often falsely. Besides, it is certainly a most
delicate matter to expatiate on the character of any individual or
nation.
We are aware that some of our readers will read the remarks on this
subject--Boer character--with considerable suspicion and distrust. They
may argue that the writers, being of Dutch extraction themselves, are
not likely to give an accurate and dispassionate estimate of the
character of their own people. They may even fear that our national
sentiments might influence and predominate over our judgment, and switch
us off the track of strict impartiality. If there be such, we can only
assure them that we have no intention whatsoever of eulogising and
extolling the race with which we are connected by blood.
[Illustration: EX-PRESIDENT STEYN.
_Photo by Duffus Bros., Capetown._]
In the past the Boers, _i.e._, the Dutch element in the late Republics,
have frequently been described, and as often maligned, by men who were
perfect strangers to them; men who had not taken the least trouble to
study their habits and character so as to arrive at a better
understanding of the people they were trying to describe. Hence the
various contradictory statements and representations of one and the
same people. Alas! that they should ever have been the victims of so
much cheap slander, that some men should have vied with one another in
heaping insult and infamy on their heads, while others conjured up for
themselves a fantastic and outrageous monster, and called that a Boer.
We cannot expect that minds so inflamed and exasperated would do justice
to the Boers. We feel convinced that their character can only be
portrayed correctly and justly by men not animated by hostile sentiments
towards them, but who, having been in touch with them have generously
entered into their feelings and aspirations, and have looked at things
from the Boer standpoint, as well as from their own; men who have had
patience to bear with their infirmities; in a word, by men from their
very midst--such and such only could do justice to their character.
Born and bred among the Dutch, associated with them all our lives, Dutch
ourselves every inch--a fact in which we glory--our relations to the
Boers, specially during the war, have afforded us excellent
opportunities of making an ethnological study of them. During the war
the Dutch population, more especially that portion of it which was
directly connected with the struggle, passed through various phases and
changes of life. Subjected to the most harassing circumstances, one saw
them at their worst, but also at their best. Their virtues, as well as
their vices, were fanned by the breath of war. Many a hidden virtue
sparkled forth, as the dewdrop glistens in the beams of the rising sun.
Many a slumbering vice and latent evil inclination found the regions of
discord and strife a fruitful soil for development.
Now that hostilities have ceased, and the liberties of speech and the
Press are extended once more, not only to such as were or are possessed
of the bitterest of feelings towards the Dutch, but to all British
subjects, we feel constrained to dissipate, if possible, some of the
clouds of slander which encompassed the Boers before and during the war.
Never in the history of nations has an honourable foe been more abused
than the Boers. They have been misrepresented altogether to the world at
large, and to the public in England in particular.
The war-Press, the platform, and even the pulpit, were all arrayed in
martial order against them, and belched forth streams of abuse on two
small states. A warm glow comes over our faces, and the blood begins to
surge swiftly through our veins, as we recall some of the stinging
expressions by which the Boers were stigmatised, and through which the
mind of the English public was more and more inflamed, and all traces of
sympathy with the Boers removed. We do not wish to enumerate these
descriptive terms and phrases, for that would be raking up old scores.
We would rather forget than remember unpleasant words and deeds.
We must, however, direct our attention briefly to the platform and
pulpit, not to mention the Press, which were so successful in exercising
an influence calculated to intensify race-hatred and obstruct the way to
any peaceful settlement of political disputes.
When the Uitlanders in Johannesburg became dissatisfied with the
existing state of affairs, and began to ask for greater privileges, they
betook themselves to the platform. Now the Boers had no objection to
their forming political organizations, or holding public meetings in
which they could agitate for redress of grievances. But what they did
object to, and very strongly, was the blatant manner in which these
Uitlanders referred to their governments and themselves. Instead of
exercising the art of "gentle persuasion" by laying their grievances
before the Transvaal Government in the form of a polite request, and so
achieving their desired object, these Uitlanders resorted to the policy
of _fortiter in re_, the policy of intimidation, by threatening the
Boers with the right arm of the British Empire unless they granted their
requests instantly. When they adopted this method of procedure, they
naturally did not get what they wanted. So they agitated and cried for
redress of grievances until the unhappy war was brought about. Not only
in South Africa, but also in England thousands were misled by these
platform agitators, who were bent on placing the Dutch in a false light
before the civilized world.
And the pulpit, as represented by some ministers not only of the Church
of England, but also of the Nonconformist Churches, ministers of the
gospel of peace on earth and good-will towards man--what an attitude did
it assume! Surely if these clergymen had been as eager to promote peace
as they were zealous to set in motion the waters of strife, they might,
have accomplished a work meriting eternal reward. Alas! that some who
are, or call themselves, followers of the Prince of Peace should have
favoured a war of destruction, and been led to say very hard things and
utter unfounded charges against the Dutch.
To cite only one of many instances, the Rev. Dr. Hertz, writing from
Lourenço Marques, worded his letter thus:--
"We are safe, having left all we possess in the world behind us,
and in all probability shall never see a single thing of it again.
When I found the game the President and his crew were playing I
thought it best to clear out ... The Boers have threatened to kill,
burn, and destroy everything and everybody, _women_ and _children_,
and some of them at least are bad enough to do it. I had the verbal
assurance of the President that I could stay safe and undisturbed,
but he would not put anything in writing. Then they appointed a
committee to give permits, and they would not give me one. And so
it became more and more manifest that they meant to decoy me into
staying, and then hold me at mercy. And what this mercy is may be
seen from the last news from Johannesburg; any one without a
written permit has been condemned to 25 lashes and three months'
hard labour."
Such statements flowing from the pen of a Reverend Doctor were believed
by thousands. Now what is the truth in regard to them? During the
Bishop's absence his residence was specially guarded by order of the
Government. The punishment meted out to some who remained in
Johannesburg without permits exceeded in no case a higher fine than £3
_without_ lashes. As to the Boers' intention of decoying the Doctor to
stay, and then hold him at mercy, we need only remark that he must have
thought more about his own importance than the Boers ever did. His
assertion that the Boers threatened to kill everybody, including women
and children, and that some of them are bad enough to do it, needs no
refutation, for it merits silent contempt.
A feeling of sadness, if not pity, lays hold of one to think that
ministers of the Gospel could actually draw up large petitions, urging
the British Government to prosecute the war vigorously until the
complete subjugation of the Boers was accomplished, which meant either
their entire extermination or the sacrifice of their sacred rights.
There were, however, several notable exceptions, men who were not afraid
to speak the truth about their enemies or their country's enemies,
regardless of what others might think or say of themselves, regardless
whether they would be called Boer-sympathisers or pro-Boers. Such men we
shall ever revere and hold in estimation because they dared to speak the
truth, cost what it would.
Thus far we have depicted the Boer character negatively in denying the
unjust and unfounded charges brought against them by callous and
misinformed minds. We do not hesitate to state that they are _not_ a
race of inferior beings, savage and uncivilized. They are not as good as
some have presented them, they are not as bad as others have pictured
them. Who, then, are these men and women who so stubbornly resisted
British power and supremacy for such a long period under such great
disadvantages? What are their main characteristics?
The Boers are the descendants of those pioneers who, for various
reasons, left the Cape Colony between the years 1834-39. These emigrants
or pioneers inspanned their large ox-waggons, bade farewell to their
homes and farms in the Cape Colony and trekked across the Orange River.
They traversed the wide plains of the late Orange Free State and
proceeded to the Drakensberg Mountains. These mountains they crossed and
settled down in Natal. How they were attacked and massacred by the
Zulus, and how they, in their turn, defeated the Zulus and broke their
power, how Natal became a British colony, all this is ancient history.
The pioneers, objecting to English rule, quitted Natal. Some of them
forded the Vaal River and they founded the Transvaal or South African
Republic. Others settled west of the Drakensberg Range and founded the
Orange Free State Republic.
These states were then infested by wild beasts and uncivilized native
tribes. Against these the sturdy pioneers had to contend, and only after
years of suffering, hardship, and bloodshed did they succeed, by their
indomitable spirit, in vanquishing all foes, and so made habitable and
opened up for commerce and civilization the Republics, which the late
war has laid in ruins and ashes, indeed, converted into a howling
wilderness, a land of desolation.
And these pioneers, whence came they, and what is their origin? They are
descended from that race which so valiantly resisted and defied Spanish
tyranny and power for eighty years, and so achieved that freedom of
life, freedom of thought and freedom of belief, from which all Europe
and England herself has derived priceless blessings. They are sprung
from that stock whose courage was not shaken by the flames of funeral
pyres, nor by all the tortures the human mind could devise; men who at
the block betrayed no signs of fear, but faced death, as brave men
ofttimes do, with a beatific smile, to the utter amazement of such as
had to enact the cruel tragedy. These pioneers have in their veins the
best blood of European nations, and their traditions are such as any
nation might be proud of.
With such a history behind them, and descended from such ancestors, it
is not strange that the most prominent feature in the Boer character is
an intense and unconquerable love of freedom. His isolation, his large
farm with outstretched plains or rugged mountains, and his manner of
living, all tend to nourish that love of freedom in his bosom. Above all
things he wants to be free and independent. His history is one long
record of trekking away from British domination, not because he wishes
to be exempted from all control and thus indulge in a lawless life, as
some writers have erroneously maintained, but because he desires a
government of his own. The chief desideratum with the Boer, in regard to
government, is that it shall be his own, and not that of some other
power, be it never so excellent a form of government.
When the Republics were annexed the English thought and hoped that the
Boers would very soon take to the new Government, would be more than
satisfied with the new arrangements, and so forget the privileges which
they had enjoyed under the auspices of their own government. Those who
thought and hoped thus were sadly disappointed. That powerful sentiment
and that strong passion for freedom, seated deep down in the heart of
the Boer, sustained them in bidding defiance to fearful odds for almost
three years. That inborn passion enabled the Boer nation to sacrifice
their all, and to endure for freedom's sake indescribable hardships and
sufferings.
A Boer may not exactly know all that independence includes; he may not
be able to enumerate the benefits accruing from it, but instinctively he
covets it as a jewel of great price.
That this love of liberty and of country amounted to something more than
mere sentiment has been proved conclusively by the war, when the whole
male population rose in arms against the invading foe. Touching, indeed,
it was to behold boys of twelve and grey-headed men of seventy and
eighty years shouldering their rifles and all fighting for one great
ideal. When their homes were burned, families removed, and goods taken
or destroyed, they exclaimed: "Let the British do whatever they please,
let them strip us of everything we hold dear, so long as we are only a
_free_ people. We do not mind being poor; we are prepared, when the war
is over, to live in tents as our forefathers did; but we do not want to
swear allegiance to the despoilers of our country. British subjects!
_No, never_."
And the Boer women, who are the very embodiment of liberty itself, were
they less enthusiastic and determined to be free than their husbands and
sons? Verily not. Words fail us when we want to express our admiration
for these heroines who played so prominent a part in the South African
Campaign, and upon whom the brunt of the war fell. Alas! that this
should have been the case.
In years gone by the wives and daughters of the early pioneers stood by
the side of their husbands and fathers, casting bullets and loading
their flint-lock guns, as the latter bravely repelled the fierce
onslaught of Zulus, Matabeles, and other savage hordes. Many of them
were ruthlessly murdered by these savage tribes. No Africander will ever
forget names such as Weenen (Place of Weeping), Blood Rivier (Blood
River), Vechtkop and Blauwkrants--places where Boer women had
contributed their share of blood, that their children might be free.
Those days were sad and dark; but there were sadder and darker times in
store for the descendants of these pioneer women.
During the war the Republican women proved themselves no less formidable
and brave than in those early days. When their husbands and sons were
called to the front they took upon themselves the entire management of
the farms. So well did they acquit themselves of such an onerous task
that, as long as they were left unmolested, there was no lack of
provisions for man or beast, always enough, and to spare. True, it cost
them much labour and fatigue, for some of them had to tend the flocks,
while others had to plough the fields and reap the crops in the
scorching rays of a December or January sun. They did it willingly and
gladly, so that the men might be free to engage in the struggle.
The enemy, on observing the attitude of the women, determined to strike
a blow at them. They, so reasoned the enemy, had to be removed and
gathered into concentration camps, if there ever was to come an end to
the war. Not so much the men as the women were blamed for the
prolongation of the war. The women first had to be subdued; the flames
of freedom burning in their bosoms had to be extinguished. Hence the sad
story of a war in which the weak and defenceless were made to suffer and
endure so much.
When they were roughly handled and transported in ox-waggons, exposed
for days to wind, sun, and rain, and were piled up in disease-stricken
camps, did they flinch? When they and their children were dying in
scores in these camps, did they beseech the burghers to relinquish the
struggle, or petition the Boer Governments to yield? Verily not. On the
contrary, in spite of their intense sufferings and of the appalling rate
of mortality among them, they continually encouraged the burghers by
sending out messages to them to this effect: "Fight on, don't yield; we
would rather all die in the camp than see you surrender" "Go and fight,"
said one to her husband; "I would rather see you dead, and all my
children dead, than that you burghers should cease the struggle."
Another woman was so disappointed and disgusted at the surrender of her
husband, that when he arrived at the concentration camp where she was
confined she would have none of him, and quitted the camp the same
night, making her escape to the Boer lines. Such women are the mothers
of the next generation. Was it quite prudent on the part of the British
to tempt them to rear their children in bitter hatred of the English
race?
This liberty-loving feature in the Boer character has been beautifully
described in the _Leek Times_:--
"The old man, the youth and the stripling, are offering their
hearts' blood as a sacrifice; nor do they think the sacrifice too
great, strengthened and urged on by all they believe to be the
highest and holiest in religion and principle. The Boer will fight
on, giving his last drop of blood and his last breath for his
freedom. And the women-folk of his land are bearing their share of
this task; they do not shrink; they are helping their fathers,
brothers, and sons in this fight. They think no distance too great
to travel, no burden too heavy to carry. The wife, with her little
children round her knees, bids her husband a tearful but brave
God-speed. The mother, as she gazes with a full heart on the boy
who is as the apple of her eye, bids him go forth and fight in
Freedom's Holy War. The lass bids her lover take his stand for all
that she thinks worth having, esteeming him something less than a
coward if he fails to the fight. Woe betide the oppressors when the
women of a nation take up the quarrel."
Ah! thou mighty Christian England, who hast always prided thyself on
being the most liberty-loving of all the Powers that be, how couldst
thou have crushed the liberty of two small states? How couldst thou have
torn so mercilessly the noble passions and aspirations of being free and
independent from the Boer hearts? Hast thou verily extinguished by
force the highest and holiest ambitions of a free-born people? Can the
mountain torrent rushing down the valley be stemmed in its onward
course? If patriotism is the ideal of a race that nourishes the most
indestructible of all passions, then ye have indeed contended against an
indestructible element of the Boer nature.
Next to and quite as prominent as this all-absorbing passion for freedom
is the _religious trait_ in the Boer character. As a people they are
distinguished from all other nations by their religiosity. Remembering
that they are the offshoot of men and women who perished in France,
Holland, England and elsewhere for their faith, one does not wonder that
they are religious. The religion of the Boer forms part and parcel of
his very existence. His mind is imbued with the words and thoughts of
Holy Writ. On a Sunday you will find him with his family, as a rule,
attending service in his little chapel. If he cannot go to church, he
will gather his family, increased sometimes by the presence of
neighbours, round the family altar, and there he will read his Bible,
sing his Psalms, bend his knees and lift up his heart in prayerful
adoration to the God of his fathers.
Attachés, correspondents, and foreigners who fought on the side of the
Boers were struck much by the simple piety, the religious ideas and
sentiments of the Boers. Early in the morning and late at night their
camps would resound with hymns. In this enlightened twentieth century,
however, it has become the fashion to scoff and sneer at everything
which savours of religion, so much so that it seems incredible to most
that the Boers, as a people, can still be devout and God-fearing.
Civilization with its concomitant vices has assumed the garb of
Christianity, having its form and semblance, but missing its spirit and
power. Such as are animated by the spirit of Christian religion and are
endowed with its power are derisively called hypocrites. We shall
willingly admit that there are many hypocrites among the Boers. But are
they not found among all nations? To say that all religious Boers are
hypocrites is utterly false.
When the English entered upon the contest with the Republics they
evidently did not reckon with this religious factor of the Boer
character. They did not know that the Boer would be supported as much by
his religious sentiments as by his love of freedom to fight to the
bitter end. Had they not been animated by such a fervent belief and
childlike trust in Providence, they would have abandoned ere long a
struggle which, regarded from a human standpoint, must have seemed
hopeless to them. But they believed that their cause was a holy and just
one, and that the God of Battles, the God of their forefathers, would
ultimately crown their efforts and sacrifices by sending them a glorious
deliverance. When the enemy desecrated their churches, ill-treated their
pastors, and stabbed their flocks, cattle and horses, they were not
disheartened, but said to themselves: "God in Heaven does behold, and He
shall vindicate the cause of the just as well as that of defenceless
creatures." Such deeds the religious Boer regarded with awe and
aversion, and made him more determined than aught else not to surrender
to those who perpetrated them.
The national anthems of the late Republics admirably express these two
features of the Boer character. The following is a free translation of
the Transvaal Volkslied, which may serve to illustrate the sentiments
which have dominated the Boers ever since their national existence:
TRANSVAAL VOLKSLIED.
Right nobly gave Voortrekkers brave their blood, their lives, their all;
For Freedom's right, in Death's despite, they fought at duty's call.
Ho! Burghers, high our banner waves, the standard of the free,
No foreign yoke our land enslaves, here reigneth liberty.
'Tis heaven's command, here we should stand,
And aye defend the Volk and land.
What realm so fair, so richly fraught with treasures ever new;
Where Nature hath her wonder wrought, and freely spread to view!
Ho! Burghers old, be up and sing, God save the Volk and land,
Then, Burghers young, your anthem ring, o'er veldt, o'er hill, o'er strand.
And, Burghers all, stand ye or fall
For hearths and homes at country's call.
With wisdom, Lord, our rulers guide, and these Thy people bless,
May we with nations all abide in peace and righteousness.
To Thee, whose mighty arm did shield Thy Volk in bygone days--
To Thee alone we humbly yield all glory, honour, praise.
God guard our land, our own dear land,
Our children's home, their Fatherland.
A third distinctive mark in the Boer character, regarded from a military
point of view, is his fearlessness, so strikingly displayed in several
battles. That the Boers proved themselves brave during the war goes
without saying.
Those who prophesied a speedy termination of the war in favour of the
British thought that lyddite-shells and dum-dum bullets, when applied to
the Boer, would at once scatter them far and wide, and so intimidate
them that they would kneel and sue for mercy and peace. To their great
disappointment they found the Boers stubbornly and gallantly resisting
the most determined onslaught of the British forces, repelling them as
often with disastrous results.
We admired, in friend or foe, no other quality more than
bravery--bravery as distinguished from recklessness. We had respect for
brave foes, and when the fortunes of war entrusted such as
prisoners-of-war to our care, we always treated them with the courtesy
gallant men deserve.
We often admired the valour displayed by our opponents. On certain
occasions the British forces performed the most daring and heroic feats
of which mortal men are capable. We saw officers and soldiers rushing
and marching, as it were, into the very jaws of death. Though exposed to
a storm of bullets, which consumed them like a withering fire, they
would press on, often dropping down as wheat before the scythe. Such
determination and bravery called forth the admiration of our men. There
is, however, a difference between valour as displayed by the British and
valour as displayed by the Boers. Without wishing to rob the British
officer and soldier of their martial honours, which they may well
deserve, having earned them at so great a cost, yet, in comparing Boer
and Briton, we must bear in mind that the Boer had had no military
training whatsoever, and was never subjected to military discipline. He
hardly knew the importance and necessity of obeying orders promptly and
implicitly. When he attacked or charged the enemy's stronghold or
positions he did so, as a rule, of his own accord, not under any
compulsion, but spontaneously and voluntarily. The British soldier, on
the other hand, had all the advantages and sometimes disadvantages of
military discipline. He had been taught to obey orders, whether it meant
death to him or not. Besides, the soldier was backed up by thousands and
tens of thousands of comrades on every side, while batteries of naval
guns and Armstrongs were at his rear, under cover of which he could
charge or retreat. No beating of drums, or symphonies of martial music,
or great numbers inspired and urged the Boer on to the performance of
heroic deeds. With rifle in hand and limited supply of cartridges he
often had to face overwhelming odds. And when these odds threatened to
outflank him, he was called by some a coward for retreating and not
allowing himself to be captured. Instinctively he knew it was better to
retreat--
"For he who fights and runs away
May live to fight another day."
Some maintain that the Boers are only brave when lying behind huge
boulders, or entrenched in strong fortifications, from whence,
concealed, they can pour a deadly fusillade on the approaching enemy.
There may be an element of truth in this charge, but as a generalization
it is utterly false. To stamp the Boers as cowards in general is to rob
the British Army of much of its honour and so discredit their work in
South Africa. The best answer to and the most persuasive argument
against this assertion is to be found in the construction of the
multitudinous forts, trenches, sangars, blockhouses, etc., by the
British in South Africa. What is their significance? The most
inobservant traveller in South Africa must be struck by the network of
fortifications erected almost throughout the length and breadth of the
country. Could the English have given the Boers a better testimonial of
gallant behaviour than these? Surely blockhouses and bulwarks are not
required for cowards, for they would never approach them.
It is hardly necessary to say that all Boers were not brave; there were
many timorous ones among them. No army in the world is composed entirely
of brave and fearless characters. We often sustained losses and
sometimes disasters because the burghers retreated when they should have
stood or charged. The victory would have often been theirs had they
resisted a little longer. But apart from this, have they not proved to
the enemy in particular and to the world in general that they are the
children of chivalrous nations, of men who knew no fear? Have not the
British forces sustained some of their greatest losses when these
untrained peasants led the charge? We need only refer to a few of the
many battles fought during the war to show what these simple untrained
farmers did accomplish--battles which certainly merited for them the
attribute of being brave.
(1) On the 30th of November, 1899, General De Wet, who was then only
Assistant Commandant, led 200 men up Nicholson's Nek, a hill which was
then in the possession of the enemy. After an engagement which lasted
five hours, the British hoisted the white flag. General De Wet
personally counted 817 prisoners-of-war, while 203 were lying on the
battlefield either dead or wounded. Here the English were in possession
of the hill, _i.e._, of the best positions, and vastly outnumbered the
Boers.
(2) In the great battle of Spion Kop, which lasted eight days, the Boers
were placed under the most terrific bombardment, and were constantly
attacked by large numbers of the enemy--yet they warded off these
attacks gallantly. On the night of the 23rd of January the English under
cover of darkness scaled the mountain--Spion Kop--and were thus in
possession of the key to Ladysmith. It was evident to the Boer generals
that Ladysmith would be relieved if Spion Kop was not retaken. As soon
as it became light the mountain was stormed from different directions by
the Boers, who were determined, if possible, to wrench it from the grasp
of the British. Both parties displayed amazing bravery. Boer and Briton
fell side by side, staining the grass with their blood, and bespattering
the stones and rocks with their brains. At dusk more than half of the
mountain was in possession of the Boers. During the night the English
evacuated it, and once more the Boers commanded over the entire
mountain. It cost them 35 killed and 170 wounded, but their objective
was achieved. Again the _British_ were in command of the mountain, and
were continually reinforced. After Spion Kop was retaken, no more white
flags were hoisted by the Boers. On the contrary they lamented the loss
of so many precious, innocent lives. The Rev. R. Collins, a chaplain
with General Warren's Brigade, made the following statement _re_ the
attitude of the Boers after the battle:--
"I venture to think it a matter of considerable importance to draw
attention to the attitude of the Boers whom we met during the
carrying out of our duties on these three days. For my part I
confess that the deepest impression has been made on me by these
conversations, and by the manly bearing and straightforward
outspoken way in which we were met.
"There were two things which I particularly noted. As there was no
effort made to impress us by what was said (they spoke with
transparent honesty and natural simplicity, and in nearly all cases
the conversations were begun by us), so there was a total absence
of anything like exultation over what they must consider a military
success. Not a word, not a look, not a gesture or sign, that could
by the most sensitive of persons be construed as a display of their
superiority.
"Far from exultation there was a _sadness_, almost anguish, in the
way in which they referred to our fallen soldiers. I can best
convey the truth of this statement, and show that there is no
attempt at exaggeration in using the word anguish, by repeating
expressions used, not once, but again and again by great numbers as
they inspected the ghastly piles of our dead--'My God! what a
sight!' 'I wish politicians could see their handiwork,' 'What can
God in Heaven think of this sight?'"
By such a spirit was the Boer animated when he achieved some of his most
brilliant successes. He did not fight for honour and glory. He fought
at duty's call as a patriot in a great cause.
(3) A few weeks prior to the battle of Spion Kop the Boers made their
famous, though unsuccessful, attack on Platrand, known as Waggon Hill to
the English, a hill situated three miles south of Ladysmith. This hill
was occupied by the British, and formed as it were the key to Ladysmith.
For it was practically impossible to bring about the fall of Ladysmith
so long as the British were on Platrand. A council of war accordingly
decided to attack the enemy on the hill on the night of the 5th of
January, and, if possible, expel them from it.
The Rev. J.D. Kestell, who accompanied the Boer forces, gives the
following striking description of the attack--a description which
conveys to the mind of the reader something of the awfulness of war, as
well as of the courage and heroism displayed by Boer and Briton alike:--
"On the summit the hill is level, and round about its crest runs a
cornice, to use an architectural term, of great rocks, which we
call a krantz in the Africander language. The British forts were
built immediately above this krantz.
"At about 10 P.M. we left the laager in order to climb the hill at
half-past 2 A.M. Having reached Neutral Hill, we left our horses
there and proceeded on foot. It was very dark, and all was still as
death. We walked forward slowly and spoke only in whispers, and yet
our progress was not so silent but that we feared we should be
heard. In the silence of the night the slightest rustle of tree or
shrub sounded loud in our ears, and the thud of our feet on the
loose stones seemed to me like the tramp of a troop of horses. The
enemy, thought I, would certainly become aware of our approach long
before we could even begin to climb the hill. But it seems after
all that I was mistaken, and that the sentry did not discover us
until we had approached very close. At three o'clock we reached the
deep dongas at the foot of the hill, and the foremost men passed
through. In about twenty minutes we had climbed almost two-thirds
of the hill, when we heard a beautiful voice ringing out in the
morning air: 'Halt! Who goes there?'
"No answer came from us. We continued climbing. A moment passed,
and then the silence was broken by a crash of a volley. Then
another and another. Everywhere, above and in front of us, the
flashes of the rifles leapt forth into the darkness, and the sharp
reports followed in such quick succession as to give the impression
of Maxims firing. All of a sudden I saw a great jet of flame, and
instantly the thunder of a cannon broke upon the startled air, and
presently behind us I could hear the shrapnel bullets falling on
the ground.
"Then many of those who had not yet begun to climb the hill turned
and fled; but others rushed upwards, and rapidly approached the
cornice of rocks, whence the heavy firing issued. Silence was now
unnecessary, and everywhere voices were heard encouraging the men.
"At half-past three we reached the reef of rocks and boulders, and
presently I heard that two burghers had already been wounded, while
another lay motionless, but it was as yet too dark to see who it
was.
"Before long it became light, and some of the burghers charged the
forts that were just above the ledge of rocks. They overpowered the
soldiers there, and took them prisoners, but were forced to fall
back to the escarpment of rocks immediately, on account of the
heavy fire directed on them from the other forts. And now the roar
of the cannons and rifles became terrific. This was especially the
case with the ceaseless rattle of small-arms. One could with
difficulty distinguish separate reports. All sounded together like
one continuous roar, and awoke an echo from the Neutral Hill that
sounded like the surging of a mighty wind.
"We found ourselves under a cross cannon-fire. The shells from one
of our guns flew over our heads, and exploded just in front of us
on the forts, so that we were often in danger of being struck by
our own shells; and the projectiles of the English were hurled in
an opposite direction on our cannon forts and on the burghers on
Neutral Hill.
"Gradually we began to see in what a terrible position we were. How
terrible the firing was! It never ceased for a moment; for if the
burghers did not rush out from time to time, to assail the forts,
the English charged us. This alternate charging was taking place
every now and then, and it was during these attacks that the pick
of our men fell. Whenever a sangar was charged, a destructive fire
was directed on our men, and then some gallant fellows would always
remain behind struck down.
"It was a fearful day--a day that no one who was there will ever
forget. The heat, too, was unbearable. The sun shot down his
piteous rays upon us, and the higher he rose the hotter it became.
It was terrible to see the dead lying uncovered in the scorching
rays; and our poor wounded suffered indescribable tortures from
thirst. And there was nothing to give them--only a little whisky
which I had got from an English officer, who had been taken
prisoner. I gave a little of that--only a few drops--to every
wounded man. Not only the wounded--all of us suffered from thirst.
Long before midday there was not a drop of water left in our
flasks. So intolerable was the thirst that there were burghers who
went down to the dongas below in search of water, where there was
none, and where they knew that almost certain death awaited them.
"How slowly, too, the time dragged on! 'What o'clock is it?'
someone asked. It was then only ten o'clock, and it seemed as if we
had been fighting more than a day, for up to that moment the firing
had continued unabated.
"Twelve o'clock passed, one o'clock, two o'clock--and still the
fire was kept up; and still the burning rays of the sun were
scorching us. Clouds! But they threw no shadow over us. Everywhere
small patches of shadow chequered the hills and valleys, but they
seemed to avoid us. But a black mass of cloud is rising in the
west, and we know that everything will soon be wrapped in shadow.
Nearer and nearer to the zenith the clouds are rising. What is that
deep rumbling in the distance? Thunder! Nearer and nearer it
sounds, and presently we hear it overhead above the din of the
musketry and the boom of the cannon. How insignificant the crash of
the cannons sounds now. It is as the crackle of fireworks when
compared with the mighty voice of God!
"We got more than shadow from the clouds. At five o'clock great
drops splash on the rocks. Presently the rain fell in torrents, and
I could wash the blood of the wounded from my hands in it.
"It was now just when the rain was descending in sheets of water,
and the thunder-claps were shaking the hills, that the enemy
redoubled their efforts to drive us off the ledge, and our men had
to do their utmost to repel the determined onslaught. Had they been
driven down the hill, every burgher fleeing for his life would have
formed a target for the enemy. The fight was now fiercer than at
any time during the day. It was fearful to hear the roar of the
thunder above and the crash of the rifles below. But the enemy did
not succeed in driving us off. We remained there two and a half
hours longer. Meanwhile we had been able to quench our thirst.
Streams of water dashed down through the rocks, and we drank our
fill. These streams of water came from the forts a few yards above
us, and were red in colour. Was it red earth, or was it the blood
of friend or foe that coloured the water? Whatever the cause, we
were so thirsty that nothing would have kept us from drinking.
After the English had done their utmost to drive us from the hill,
and been baffled in their attempts, they returned to their forts,
and the firing subsided for a short time.
"At last the sun set, and at half-past seven we withdrew. We had
been on the hill for sixteen hours, under a most severe fire, and
now we retired; but we were not driven off by the Devons with
levelled bayonets, as I have read in an English book. We were not
driven off the hill. We held it as long as it was light, and when
twilight fell and no reinforcements came, we considered it useless
to remain there. Including the Transvaalers we had lost 68 killed
and 135 wounded."
(4) One instance more to show that the Boers behaved gallantly not only
under cover or when scaling mountains or hills occupied by the enemy,
but also when they met the foe on the plain without any cover at all.
Lord Methuen's column, 1,500 strong, was charged in broad daylight on
the open veldt by about 700 burghers. The whole convoy with four
Armstrong guns was captured. Besides this the enemy lost 400 in killed
and wounded, and 859 prisoners of war, including Lord Methuen himself,
who was wounded in the leg. The Boer casualties amounted to 9 killed and
25 wounded. Do not such engagements prove that the Boers could hold
their own not only behind stones and in trenches but also on the plain?
Lord Methuen's column was not the only one which was attacked and taken
on the exposed veldt. Some of the most brilliant achievements of the
Boers were accomplished when they were altogether exposed to the enemy's
fire and had to take the offensive. Was it then arrogance and vainglory
which prompted them to offer battle to one of the great Powers of the
world? Arrogance and vainglory would not have stood the test, but would
soon have vanquished like morning clouds before the rising sun. There
must have been some other cause. What was it?
Here, then, the reader has another reason why the Boers fought so long.
As a people they are brave, and thus scorn the very thought of
surrendering like cowards. They chose to die as _men_, and the memory of
those who fell as such shall ever be dear and sacred to us.
"For how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers
And the temples of his gods?"
Another trait in the Boer character is his wonderful resourcefulness and
his ability to cope with difficulties. It was as much this phase of his
character as his patriotism, religiosity and valour which enabled him to
continue the struggle so long. If the Boers had not been so wonderfully
resourceful, and understood so well how to lighten their burdens and
solve their problems, they never could have held out so long.
Surrounded on almost every side by British dominions, with all imports
cut off, they were bound to fall back on their own limited resources.
When these were exhausted, they had to plan some way out of the
difficulty. And so ingeniously did they contrive to find the wherewithal
for the prosecution of the war, and the necessaries of life, that it
must have appeared hopeless to the enemy at times that the Republicans
should ever be reduced to such an extremity that they could help
themselves no longer.
And this is the way they planned. When their boots wore out, men were
appointed to tan hides and make boots; even the women busied themselves
in this kind of work. When there was a great scarcity of soap,--an
article used also by Boers,--the women boiled a serviceable substance
with the help of the ashes of various weeds. When the British began
destroying the mills everywhere mills were mounted on waggons and
carried off on the approach of the enemy. When tobacco failed the
burghers, Nature made provision once more. Leaves of different kinds of
trees were taken, dried and soaked in a weak solution of tobacco
extract, and when dry these leaves answered the purpose of tobacco. The
fine handicraft of great-grandmothers in the spinning of wool was
revived. The women-folk, constructing spinning-wheels from old
sewing-machines, spun wool beautifully, and knitted socks and other
articles as fine and as strong as any that can be bought in shops. When
the English took or burnt all their vehicles they reconstructed others
from the remnants of the burnt ones. One woman was seen with a cart in
which two plough wheels were placed. It looked strange, but answered the
purpose well enough. When salt was not to be had for love or money,
wells were dug in the pans and salt water was found, from which, by a
process of evaporation, salt was obtained. In this manner one problem
after the other was solved. As to their clothes, overcoats were made of
sheep-skins, and some burghers wore complete suits made of leather. The
worn-out clothes were patched with soft leather and then they were said
to be "armoured." Besides this there was the "shaking out" process, as
it was called by the burghers. The Boers thought that they were quite
justified in exchanging clothes with Tommy Atkins whenever he was
captured; for the English had destroyed and burnt theirs as often as
they could. As we had no means of import, and as the enemy had burnt our
clothes, who shall condemn our action, however humiliating it might have
been to the soldier or costly to the British Government to provide
outfits for both parties? Necessity knows no laws. In the same way the
burghers were provided with rifles, ammunition, horses, saddles, bridles
and other necessaries by the British. When their ammunition first ran
short, many were not a little concerned about it, and thought that that
would ultimately compel them to surrender. But the English were kind
enough to supply them, so that after each fight, as a rule, they had
enough to commence another with. Towards the latter part of the war the
English were fought and often beaten with their own arms. So, as far as
that was concerned, the Republics could have prolonged the war
indefinitely, or at least as long as they were being supplied by the
British Government. Does this often happen in the history of wars--a foe
lashed by its own weapons?
In his social intercourse the Boer is kind-hearted, tender and
hospitable. He loves to be kind--to be hard and cruel is contrary to his
nature. Owing to his soft and gentle disposition he sometimes brought
disaster and ruin upon himself during the war. Traitors and renegades
were mercifully spared, and these notorious beings were instrumental in
bringing about his defeat. In times of peace kind-heartedness no doubt
is a virtue of intrinsic worth; in times of war it cannot always be
exercised.
In outward appearance the Boer may be, and sometimes is, somewhat stern
and uncompromising; but those who have gained his confidence and known
him best have invariably discovered behind and at the bottom of this
seemingly forbidding exterior a softness of disposition and a tenderness
of heart which brooks no rivalry. Men who have taken the Boer character
second-hand, or have not taken the trouble to enter into his feelings or
obtain his friendship, have often been misled by his quiet phlegmatic
demeanour, which at times verges on stolidity. They have described him
as being sour, morose and unkind. To such he appeared a sort of
obstreperous, cantankerous being, who simply delights to quarrel with
every man he meets--especially if an Englishman came in his way.
Needless to say he is nothing of the sort.
During the war we were several times struck by the gentle nature of the
Boers. They are indeed not that blood-thirsty, war-loving race which
some have imagined them to be. We make bold to say that there is nothing
which they so much dislike and abhor as shedding blood and inflicting
torture and misery on humanity. They are essentially a peace-loving
race, and will never indulge in war unless compelled by circumstances
over which they have no control.
The British officers and soldiers who fell into their hands during the
war can bear evidence from personal experience that the average Boer is
dominated by kind and gentle sentiments. He treated the wounded soldier
and the prisoner-of-war with kindness. He would share his last drop of
water with the wounded, bandage his wounds to the best of his ability,
and would extend to him all the medical attendance at his command.
Major J.B. Seely, Conservative M.P. for the Isle of Wight, who served
with the Hampshire Yeomanry for many months in the Transvaal, confirmed
the above statements in a letter to the _Times_ in the following way:--
"During the seventeen months that I have served in South Africa I
had, perhaps, rather exceptional opportunities of learning how our
wounded were treated by the Boers. On two different occasions men
under my command who were dangerously wounded were attended with
the greatest kindness and care by the Boers; and the wounded men
themselves begged me to thank those who had been so good to them.
On both occasions the general in command of the column conveyed his
thanks either personally or by letter. I have spoken to many
officers and men who have been left sick or wounded in the hands of
the Boers, and in no single instance have I heard anything but
gratitude expressed for the treatment they had received. In the
intense excitement of hand-to-hand fighting it may be difficult to
differentiate between the wounded and unwounded, but the relatives
and friends of those now fighting may rest assured that English
left wounded on the field will receive from the Boers no less care
and kindness than wounded Boers have invariably received from the
English."
Such is the testimony of men who came in contact with the Boers at a
time when one would expect that the demoralizing and hardening
influences of war had removed every vestige of gentleness.
We never heard the Boers use strong and abusive language towards
prisoners-of-war. On the contrary they would converse with them in a
most genial and friendly spirit; so much so, that the onlooker could
scarcely distinguish between Boer and Briton, friend or foe. Now when
the Boers behaved thus towards their prisoners-of-war they only did
what they ought to have done. When a man is captured or wounded he is no
more an enemy in the literal sense of the word, and should not be
treated as such. Military precautions must necessarily be taken to
prevent the escape of prisoners, but, apart from that, men forced to
surrender should neither be regarded nor treated as criminals, but as an
honourable foe deserves. In making these remarks we do not infer that
our wounded were not well attended to by the enemy. In most cases we
believe they were. We shall not comment on the treatment extended to our
prisoners-of-war. In the latter stage of the war we believe there was
room for improvement, especially when natives were taken up in the
British ranks. These natives treated our men shamefully at times, and
went even so far as to commit the most brutal murders.
Not only did the burghers treat their prisoners-of-war well, but the
Boer officers under whose immediate control they were placed dealt, as a
rule, very kindly and leniently with them. Some of the more prominent
Boer officers, such as General De Wet and others, have been accused
occasionally of having ill-treated prisoners-of-war. Most of these
charges on examination proved groundless.
Mr. Erskine Childers, in a letter to the _Times_, expressed himself on
this matter as follows:--
"It is time that a word was spoken in opposition to the idea that
General C. De Wet is a man of brutal and dishonourable character.
Those who, like myself, have served in South Africa, fought against
him, and frequently met men who have been prisoners under him,
look, I believe, with shame and indignation on the attempts made to
advertise and magnify such incidents as the alleged flogging and
shooting of peace envoys, so as to blacken the character of a man
who, throughout the war, held a reputation with our troops in the
field of being not only a gallant soldier, but a humane and
honourable gentleman. We may deplore the desperate tenacity of his
resistance. Our duty is to overcome it by smashing him in the
field. We gain nothing but only lose our self-respect by slandering
him.
"His whole career gives the lie to such aspersions. It was in May
of last year, ten months ago, that he first gained prominence.
Since then he has fought scores of engagements with us, some
successful, some unsuccessful, never with a suspicion of
dishonourable conduct. He has had at one time or another some
thousands of our men in his hands as prisoners-of-war. Many of them
I have myself met. At second or third hand I have heard of the
experiences of many others. I have never heard a word against him.
When men suffered hardships they always agreed that they could not
have been helped. But, on the other hand, I have heard many stories
showing exceptional personal kindness in him over and above the
reasonable degree of humanity which is expected in the treatment of
prisoners-of-war.
"I believe this view of him is universal among our troops in South
Africa. It makes my blood boil to hear such a man called a brigand
and a brute by civilian writers at home, who take as a text the
reports of these solitary incidents, incomplete and one-sided as
they are, and ignore--if, indeed, they know of it--the mass of
testimony in his favour."
This testimony about De Wet, as well as other Boer officers, has been
substantiated by scores of letters from other officers and privates.
The relation of the Boers to the coloured races in South Africa, and the
treatment of the latter, have been a cause of much offence and
misunderstanding. It is generally, though mistakenly, held that the
Boers ill-treated the natives, and that in the most brutal and
tyrannical manner. Such unwarranted assertions had furnished one of the
various flimsy excuses for war in South Africa. The natives had to be
protected! They were slaves, and must be liberated. Therefore--war! That
natives have sometimes received bad treatment at the hands of their
masters we shall candidly admit. In such instances the law-courts of the
country stood open to them, where justice was at all times meted out to
the guilty party.
On the whole, we maintain that the treatment of inferior races by the
Boers contrasts very favourably with that by the British. The Dutch have
always expressed themselves very strongly against the policy of placing
the natives on a footing of political equality with the whites, because
morally, intellectually, and industrially they are decidedly their
inferiors.
Those who, like the American Bishop Hartzell, argued that the British
cause ought to win, since the Boers do not equal the English in just
treatment of inferior races, would do well to consider the following
facts:--
(1) In the strip of East African coast--a British Protectorate--which
faces Zanzibar _the full legal status of slavery_ is maintained, and
fugitive slaves have even been handed back to their owners by British
officials.
(2) In Zanzibar and Pemba the manumission of slaves presided over by Sir
Arthur Hardinge is proceeding slowly, and many thousands are still in
bondage.
(3) In Natal the _corvée_ system prevails, and all natives not employed
by whites may be impressed to labour for six months on the roads.
(4) In Bechuanaland, after a rebellion some years ago, natives were
parcelled out among the Cape farmers and indentured to them as virtual
slaves for a term of five years.
(5) Under the Chartered Company in Rhodesia the chiefs are required,
under compulsion, to furnish batches of young natives to work in the
mines; and the ingenious plan of taxing the Kaffir in money rather than
in kind has been adopted, so that he may be forced to earn the pittance
which the prospectors are willing to pay him.
(6) In Kimberley what is known as the compound system prevails. All
natives who work in the diamond mines are required to "reside" under
lock and key, day and night, in certain compounds, which resemble
spacious prisons. So stringent is the system that even the sick are
treated within the prison yard. On no pretext whatever is a native
allowed to leave his compound.
During these months of incarceration the natives are separated from
their women-folk and families. The consequence is one of the most
striking and shocking features of the compound system. A number of the
lowest, drink-besotted, coloured prostitutes, estimated at about 5,000,
have collected at Beaconsfield, where, so to speak, they constitute a
colony, occupying a revolting quarter of the township. When the natives
come out for a short spell these unhappy women receive them. It is, no
doubt, convenient from the standpoint of the company to have them there,
for it probably prevents the natives from going away. This moral cancer
is one of the direct and inevitable outcomes and concomitants of the
compound system.
(7) The South African Dutch contribute more money annually to native
mission work than the South African English. The English missions in
South Africa are supported chiefly by funds from England. The largest
and most handsome churches for natives in South Africa are those built
by the Dutch. The Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa has more
representatives in the foreign mission field than all the other English
denominations in South Africa together.
If necessary, more facts bearing on this subject of native treatment
could be adduced. One could, for example, point out how the aboriginal
Tasmanians and Australians have been almost completely extirpated; how,
in the name of civilization, thousands of Dervishes have been mowed down
in Egypt, and how South African soil itself has been stained from time
to time by the blood of Zulus, Basutos, Matabeles and other coloured
races, who became the victims of British, and _not Boer_, arms.
Remembering all this and much more, we claim that England has no right
to cast the first stone at the Boer in regard to the treatment of
coloured races.
The Boer's nature does not admit of such tyrannical actions of which he
has constantly been accused. His native servants are treated almost as
members of his own family, and often serve him voluntarily for several
years in succession.
[Illustration: THE LATE COMMANDANT DANIE THERON.
_Photo by Duffus Bros., Capetown._]
Mr. Chamberlain in a Parliamentary Debate has expressed himself on this
matter as follows:--
"Members of Parliament appear to be under the impression that the
Boers in the Transvaal were fierce and unjust aggressors, and that
they dispossessed the natives of their territory and brutally
ill-treated them afterwards. I wish honourable members would
read the papers before they came to this rash and inconsiderate
conclusion. The absolute reverse of that was the fact."
The Boers, as a people and as individuals, are thoroughly hospitable,
indeed we do not hesitate to affirm that no nation is more hospitable.
To meet them, dwell in their midst, associate with them and know them,
is to like, if not to love them.
The respectable traveller that lights on a Boer farm will invariably
receive a cordial welcome. The farmer will politely invite him to his
house, and will try to make his guest feel quite at home. Should it be
late in the day, the guest will be expected to stay the night. A plain
but substantial supper will fall to his share. The best bedroom and most
comfortable bed will be at his disposal for the night, while his horses
will receive every attention. In the morning he will be invited to
breakfast before setting out on his day's journey. Should the traveller,
on leaving, offer to pay the farmer for the night's accommodation, the
latter will, as a rule, decline to accept any payment, nay, will regard
it rather as an insult to be offered payment for his hospitality.
Callous and unappreciative characters have abused such hospitality, and
construed it as a mark of ignorance on the part of the Boer. He is, so
they say, hospitable and ready to entertain _because_ he is so stupid
and ignorant. There may be a grain of truth in this assertion, but to
attribute Boer hospitality exclusively to this is as false as it is
mean.
"... I never want to meet kinder, more hospitable, and more
comfortable people than the Boers. True, some of them are poor and
ignorant, but the general run of them live comfortably, rear their
families well and with fair education. They are the reverse of what
we have been taught to consider them. It will be a happy day for
Australia when our pastoral country is settled by as fine a class
of people."
Thus wrote a Queensland officer, Major Spencer Browne, while Mr. R.H.
Davis, an Englishman who had resided for some time in Pretoria, offers
the following testimony:--
"I left Pretoria with every reason for regret. I had come to it a
stranger, and had found friends among men whom I had learned to
like for themselves and for their cause. I had come prejudiced
against them, believing them to be all the English Press and my
English friends had painted them--semi-barbarous, uncouth,
money-loving, and treacherous in warfare. I found them simple to
the limit of their own disadvantage, magnanimous to their enemies,
independent and kindly."
The trait that we admire and cherish most in the Boer character is their
hospitality. We shall ever gratefully remember how kindly our burghers
were received by many a colonial farmer, such as the Van der Merwes of
Toutelboschkoek and Bamuur, Calvinia district, the Therons of Rietpoort,
Richmond, the two Miss Van der Merwes of Badsfontein, Murraysburg, and a
host of others whose names we cannot mention here, as well as
non-combatant farmers of the late Republics. Weary and worn out by the
fierce and unequal contest we were often refreshed at their tables, and
were so invigorated by their kindness and hospitality that, after a
brief respite, we could once more resume the struggle with fresh
determination and revived energies.
Never shall we forget the kindness shown to us personally during the
years of strife. And here we would express our sincere thanks to all
such as alleviated so greatly the burdens war had imposed upon
us--alleviated these by friendly sympathies, which found expression in
deeds of kindness and love, and that at a time and in circumstances when
the sword of Damocles was suspended over their heads, for to give an
enemy a drop of cold water was then considered a great crime!
The Boers are _passionately fond_ of their homes and families. The
little cottage, with the garden, the flocks and herds--in these they
take pleasure. To accumulate and hoard up wealth is not their sole
ambition or ideal of life. If they possess enough to live comfortably,
give their children a fair education and meet their bills, they are
content.
Now this passionate devotion to their homes and families, however
commendable a virtue it may be, proved most detrimental to their best
interests when the waters of strife were set in commotion. Nothing was
so trying to the Boers than to be separated from their families for
months and months. Up to the commencement of the war the Boer farmer
hardly knew what it meant to be away from his family for a long time.
Owing to this strong attachment to, one might almost say weakness for,
their homes, the burghers often insisted on obtaining leave of absence
to visit their families, and that at times when their services were most
needed on the battlefield.
This love of home and property must account for a great number of
voluntary surrenders to the British. When the enemy entered the
Republics the farmers had to choose between surrender or sacrificing
hearth and home, property and all they had--entrusting these to the
mercy of the foe. Many, be it said to their honour, deliberately chose
to sacrifice all rather than their independence. Others lay down arms,
to protect or save, as they thought, their families, homes and property.
Sadly and bitterly were they disappointed; for their homes were still
burned, and their families confined in the concentration camps.
These, then, are some of the more striking features of the Boer
character. To summarize them in one sentence: the Boer loves his Country
and Freedom, his Bible and Rifle, his Neighbour and Family.
Are these not qualities which recommend themselves as worthy of
admiration? Are they not indications of much that is noble and good,
even though the foe be vanquished? Do not the English pride themselves
in possessing these very qualities, qualities which, they say, have made
them a great and mighty nation? Be it so; let them gently deal with the
Boer, who is possessed of these noble attributes in common with
themselves. We hope that they will treat their new subjects with due
consideration. What a happy day will it be for South Africa when Boer
and Briton, through the length and breadth of that blood-stained land,
have learned the secret of living as friends and brothers, respecting
one another, as befits Christian people. Will that happy day ever dawn,
or is South Africa doomed to be a land of discord? Let us hope that the
unhappy past will gradually be effaced from the memory of both Dutch and
English. Let the English Government exercise discretion in introducing a
South African policy which shall tend to reconcile and unite, not
embitter and sever.
What about the faults and defects of the Boer? some may be asking. While
commenting on the different phases of the Boer character, we have
alluded to and admitted many of these; for they are many. There is
indeed much which we lament in the character of our people, and which we
would, if it were possible, gladly alter or improve upon. Not all of
them are good patriots, saints and heroes. Neither are all resourceful,
kind-hearted, hospitable, and attached to their homes. There were
"National Scouts," traitors, renegades, among the burghers! Among the
women there were, alas! some, not many, who yielded to temptation. Such
characters are found among all nations. Among the Boers they formed a
small minority, and were the exceptions and not the general rule.
CHAPTER X.
THE RISING IN THE CAPE COLONY.
Having been in the full tide of the emotions of the Cape
Colony--emotions which led to the taking up of arms--we feel ourselves
justified in setting down those things which were to the Cape Colonist
the justification of a warlike and anti-British policy.
It is strange, when one bears in mind that England admittedly extends
greater liberties to her colonies than most other Powers, that many of
her subjects are a continual source of trouble and fear to her. How has
this to be accounted for? Is it because the colonists enjoy such great
liberty (?) and share in so many privileges? Or is it because so many of
them became British subjects _only because_ they were compelled to take
an oath of allegiance (or sign a declaration) to a government they
neither loved nor respected but hated and despised? In the former case
it would be base ingratitude on their part to rise in rebellion, in the
latter it seems almost natural. However it be, the lustre and beauty of
English history is sadly marred by the fact that often British artillery
had to bear on British subjects, and British arms had to be employed to
subdue England's own children.
Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the United States of America, India,
Afghanistan, Egypt, South Africa, and many besides of less importance,
have resisted British authority at different times. Some of these, like
the late Republics, were at one time or other laid in ruins and
devastated by British arms. For years and years their inhabitants were
subjected to awful persecutions. The blood of the best and bravest was
spilt like water, whilst millions were spent to conquer whole
populations--millions which might have been used for better and nobler
purposes. And to-day thousands of British subjects are ruled by the
point of the bayonet--by sheer force, not by common consent.
Having spent the greater part of the Anglo-Boer war time in the Cape
Colony, we had the opportunity of ascertaining some, if not all, of the
reasons why so many Colonial British subjects took up arms against the
forces of their lawful king and sovereign. These causes we shall here
narrate. By doing this we do not justify the action of those whose
sympathies led them to cast in their lot with the two Republics. We do
not wish to inculcate or foster the spirit of rebellion in any man, nor
to fan it by words of approval. But we do wish to make known to the
British public in particular that those Dutch colonists who sided with
the late Republics during the lamentable war did not do so because they
hated British rule or government or longed to shed the blood of English
fellow-subjects. Neither did they enlist in our ranks because they
regarded war as an adventurous game and mere child's play. In most cases
the rebels were, prior to the war, as loyal to the British crown, and as
devoted to British rule, as their fellow-English colonists ever were or
could have been. For they had been born and brought up under the British
flag; they knew no other, desired no better, even gloried in the flag of
England. To it they looked for succour and protection in the hour of
danger. Before the war the very men who fought against the British would
have volunteered their services, at a moment's notice, to the Home
Government if England was threatened in any way. Most of them, we are
sure, would have willingly sacrificed their goods, and even lives, to
shield the interests of the British Empire.
Now when these Dutch colonists took up arms they did not do so blindly,
but fully realised the grave responsibility involved in such a step.
They knew that the action was treasonable, and that, when captured, they
were liable to the utmost penalty of the law, such as confiscation of
goods, banishment, imprisonment for life, or death. Some of them,
before they enlisted, had been compelled by the military authorities to
be present at the execution of those who had unfortunately fallen into
the hands of the enemy. In spite of that most tangible warning, they
nevertheless joined the Boer ranks. What then were their reasons for
risking their very lives in a cause which might perhaps fail? Surely
such men as rose in rebellion had potent and valid reasons! To be
stigmatised for life by the title of rebel could not be deemed so great
an honour as to induce a man to face all the dangers and hardships of
war. Nor were these colonial rebels mercenaries; they were volunteers,
that came to the assistance of two small republics.
Those who were acquainted with the situation and with the political
parties at the Cape prior to the war expected and dreaded, in the event
of war with the Republics, a general outbreak in the Cape Colony, and
were not surprised when their expectations proved true.
The Cape Dutch, as well as their English neighbours, knew only too well
that, in the event of war, the whole of South Africa would suffer, that
the flames of it would spread far beyond the Republican borders, and
would be kindled in the adjoining British colonies. Thoroughly convinced
that that would be the result of a war on the two Republics they did all
in their power to prevent it. Had the English element in South Africa
been as eager as the Dutch to abide in peace and avoid bloodshed, there
certainly never would have been war. But, alas! one party had set its
heart upon it.
To precipitate matters and bring them to a crisis, the public in England
was inflamed by rumours of the wildest nature, and was, unfortunately,
enticed to believe anything and everything which was reported. British
interests, British paramountcy, etc., were supposed to be seriously
threatened by a great Pan-Africander conspiracy, which had for its
objective the total elimination of the Imperial factor in South Africa.
The Dutch were plotting, so it was rumoured, to oust the British from
South Africa by driving them all into the sea on a certain day. What a
preposterous absurdity! And many were so innocent as to believe and
fear that a small nation of farmers would actually attempt to expel the
British from South Africa. The Boer may be ignorant, but he has more
common sense than to give such an idea even a thought.
The Cape Dutch, we are glad to state, left no stone unturned in their
attempts to avert a war on a kindred race which was bound to prove
calamitous to, and inflict endless misery on, thousands. Whilst
diplomatic negotiations went on between the Transvaal and English
Governments, and it became evident that these negotiations would in all
probability result in failure, Mr. Jan Hofmeyer,--"onze Jan," that
far-seeing, famous Cape politician,--and Mr. Harold, M.P., left for
Pretoria, and by the co-operation of President Steyn prevailed on
President Kruger to submit those proposals to the British Government
which the Colonial Secretary frankly admitted might form the basis of a
peaceful settlement. "We have nine-tenths of what we wanted," the
Colonial Secretary is reported to have said, "and the other tenth is not
worth our going to war for." Sad that that one-tenth should have
demanded the lives of thousands of men, women and children, millions of
pounds, besides ruin and misery to so many!
When war seemed inevitable and its declaration only a matter of time,
the Africander Party, which then constituted the majority in the Cape
Parliament, passed a resolution in Parliament, by which they solemnly
protested against any aggressive policy on the part of the Imperial
Government. They pointed out to the Home Government what endless woes a
war would entail, and how detrimental it would prove to Imperial
interests through the length and breadth of South Africa. At the same
time they stated, in the most unequivocal language, their strong
disapproval of extreme and coercive measures. This protest was slighted.
The members who subscribed their names to it, and who represented the
feeling of the Cape Dutch, were called disloyal. For to be loyal in
those days meant to side with the war party, and approve of all they
said and did. To think independently, and to express one's political
views frankly and fearlessly, was a sure sign of disloyalty, when one's
aims were for a peaceful solution of the difficulties of the moment.
Besides this Parliamentary resolution, the Cape Dutch drew up a large
petition, addressed to Queen Victoria, whom they all loved as a mother
and revered as a Queen. This petition was signed by thousands of women,
who entreated their gracious and tender Mother-Queen to refrain from a
policy which would result in bloodshed. This plea for peace and justice
also failed to accomplish anything. The voice of the Dutch colonists was
not heeded. Their petitions and protests were ignored and rejected time
and again. The petition, however, of some 21,000 Uitlanders in
Johannesburg, who clamoured for redress of grievances, immediately
called forth armed intervention!
This, then, was the attitude of the Cape Dutch before the declaration of
war: emphatic disapproval of any war policy. They disapproved of and
protested against war in South Africa, not because they were disloyal,
and had not the interests of the mother-country at heart, or because
they naturally sympathised with the Boers as being a kindred race. They
declared themselves against the Imperial war policy, because they knew
and were confident that it was by no means impossible to arrive at a
peaceful solution of all difficulties and disputes along friendly
diplomatic lines, by which the actual grievances of British subjects in
Johannesburg could be redressed, and political affairs so adjusted that
it would not be necessary to shed one drop of blood. So far from being
disloyal, they prided themselves in being British subjects, and, as
such, they claimed the rights and privileges to which all British
subjects are entitled. Their services in the interests of peace were,
however, not appreciated, but were construed into acts calculated to
encourage the enemy and to foster rebellion.
The Press had declared war months before it was actually proclaimed.
Feeling ran so high that men would not listen to reason. "Fight it out,"
was the frantic cry of many, who had not the remotest idea of what
"fighting it out" meant.
Though frustrated in their endeavours to prevent the threatened war, the
Cape Dutch, after hostilities had once begun, tried very hard to bring
about a speedy termination of the struggle, and to effect a settlement
which would be honourable to English and Dutch alike, and which would
secure all, if not more than all, that the English had ever demanded.
Let us note some of the steps they took.
When the Imperial Government announced their policy of annexation of the
Republics after the occupation of Bloemfontein and Pretoria, the voice
of the Cape Dutch was raised once more. They knew that Lord Roberts had
greatly mistaken the character of the people he had come to conquer when
he thought that no sooner would their capitals be occupied by his forces
than all the Boers would surrender. They were conscious of the fact that
a war of annexation would lead to one of conquest, and that the Boers,
rather than sacrifice their independence, would choose to fight to the
finish. Hence the colonial Dutch again strongly urged the Home
Government to discard the policy of annexation, which would crush and
destroy the national life of two small states, which had bravely fought
and struggled for their independent existence.
A conference, attended by thousands representing the whole Dutch
population of the Cape Colony, was held at Worcester on the 6th of
December, 1900. In that conference or congress of the people resolutions
were unanimously adopted discountenancing the policy which led to the
annexation of the two Republics. Six prominent men were chosen from the
Worcester delegates, and were deputed to go and appeal to the conscience
of the English people. It was hoped that, at least, in England--the home
of liberty--they would be allowed to plead their cause, and lay it bare
before the public. How enthusiastically (?) they were received in
England and Scotland is well known. _Warm_ receptions were extended to
them. "Away with them! Crucify them!" was the cry of the enraged war
party. Instead of their message being listened to, these men were
mobbed, hissed at and hooted; sometimes they had to flee so as not to
be the targets for the missiles of the mob. And the treatment of these
men, who represented at least 90,000 Dutch colonists, at the hands of
their fellow-British subjects, was that not an insult--a mockery of
liberty and equal rights?
Besides this deputation of the people, two of the leading ministers of
the Cape Parliament--Messrs. Merriman and Sauer--went to England on a
similar errand, but fared no better. In vain did they offer their
services to the Imperial Parliament by way of suggesting a basis for a
settlement, which would terminate a war of devastation and ruination.
The war party would have none of them. Forsooth, they too were traitors,
working against British interests!
The women-folk at the Cape were as anxious as the men, first to prevent,
and then to stop, the unfortunate war, the burdens of which they shared
with their husbands. Three times large numbers of them met in
conference, at Paarl, Worcester and Cape Town, and there they fearlessly
and strongly protested against the conduct of the war and the annexation
of the two Republics. Through the medium of these conferences they
expostulated and pleaded with the Home Government to abstain from what
they rightly regarded as a stupendous crime, the annihilation of two
small states by overwhelming forces. Their petitions, if they ever
reached the British Government, were treated with silent contempt. Did
they merit such treatment?
All this and much more was done in the interests of peace by the Dutch
colonists. Both before and during the war they did all they possibly
could to rescue or redeem South Africa from the horrors and calamities
of a disastrous war. They failed. Was it their fault? Was it right to
brand as rebels and traitors every Cape Colonial that protested against
the war, and refused to assist the mighty British Empire against the
Republics?
The Africander Bond--a political organization at the Cape--was the
scape-goat during the war. Those who were in search of a pretext for the
cause of the war and its continuation found it in this organization.
Everything that was low and mean was laid to the charge of the
Africander Bond. Its unwearied efforts to induce the English to
terminate a war, declared and carried on in direct opposition to the
wishes of tens of thousands of England's devoted subjects, were
construed into being so many encouragements for the Republicans to
continue the struggle. The Worcester conference was said to have
encouraged and invited General De Wet to invade the Colony--an invasion
which was planned long _before_ the conference was held, and which
failed in the first instance, and only succeeded three months after the
conference had met!
When all the efforts of the Cape Dutch failed, and the voice of the
people was not regarded but systematically suppressed, it is not strange
that there were men who found it impossible to remain silent and
inactive in such circumstances. Gradually their loyalty was being
undermined. The strain placed upon it was too great; it was stretched to
the breaking point. They enlisted and took the field against the forces
of that Government which they once loved so well, and then--despised.
This brings us to some of the more direct causes of the colonial
rebellion, which we shall enumerate in succession. The war with the
Republics was an aggression on a _kindred race_, and was declared and
conducted to the extreme displeasure, and in direct opposition to the
wishes, of the Dutch colonists, who spared themselves neither pain nor
trouble to ward off or terminate a war which was bound to inflict great
misery on themselves, and on thousands with whom they were intimately
connected by ties of blood and friendship. For are the Transvaal and
Free State Boers not the sons and daughters of those pioneers that
emigrated from the Cape Colony between the years 1834-40, in search of
an independent home beyond the Orange and Vaal rivers? Moreover, among
the burghers of the Republics there were several colonists who, prior to
the war, had settled in the Transvaal, chiefly in Johannesburg and
Pretoria, as well as in the Orange Free State. These colonial settlers
constituted another link in the chain which bound the Cape Dutch to the
Boers. They regarded the Republics as their native land, and
consequently came to their assistance in the hour of danger. There they
had found a home, acquired wealth in some instances, and thus would not
desert them when their services were most needed. Instead of abandoning
the two Republics to their sad fate, they were determined to support
them with all the energy and power at their command. On the battlefield
many of them distinguished themselves by their dauntless valour. They
willingly sacrificed their lives and property for their adopted
fatherland, which they loved even better than many a Boer. For when the
Boers became disheartened and surrendered ignominiously, the Colonials,
be it said to their everlasting honour, remained steadfast, thereby
putting to shame those burghers who were possessed of so little national
pride as to kneel at the invaders' feet and sue for mercy.
These Transvaal and Free State Colonials had their relatives in the Cape
Colony, so that the Dutch of South Africa may almost be regarded as one
large family, linked together from Table Bay to the Zambezi by bonds of
blood, religion and marriage. Hence it was impossible to strike a blow
at the two states without touching the very heart of the Cape
Dutch--impossible to inflict losses and bring ruin upon some members of
the family without seriously disturbing and distressing the rest. The
physical boundaries separating the British colonies from the Republics
made no separation as far as the people were concerned. In speech,
religion, character, and blood, the Dutch are essentially one throughout
South Africa. And it was owing to this fact that the Cape Dutch felt for
the Republicans as none else could have felt. Their strong sympathies
took the form of practical assistance when they shouldered their rifles
and took the field against the enemies of the Republics. But this was
not done before their protests, petitions, and all other constitutional
measures had signally failed, and were utterly ignored by the British
Government. Then only did they resort to aggressive measures.
However strongly some might condemn their action, still we believe that
any other people, even the English themselves, and they probably to a
far greater extent, would, in like circumstances, have acted similarly.
If England had been invaded by a foreign foe, and English homes
destroyed and burnt _en masse_, and English women and children removed
in thousands to disease-stricken camps, and English officers and
soldiers court-martialled or deported to distant islands and countries,
we ask, would Scotland, for instance, have looked on with stolid
indifference and cold apathy? Would she not, as well as all other true
Englishmen, wherever they were, have protested most emphatically against
such a war; and if their protests were slighted, would they not have
assisted their fellow-Englishmen? Verily they would, were they subjects
or not of the invaders.
This is exactly what the Cape Dutch did when some of them rose in
rebellion. Their loyalty was gradually undermined as the war assumed the
character of conquest and extermination. It was too much for many a
Colonial to be a silent spectator when thousands of women and children
pined away in concentration camps; and the military authorities,
apparently wreaking vengeance on these because the burghers would not
surrender, positively refused to allow these Boer families to reside
with their relatives or friends in the Cape Colony, or live _at their
own cost_ in garrisoned towns, where they would have no intercourse with
the burghers. When the weak and defenceless became the victims of the
war, and received such treatment, the Cape Dutch were incited to violent
actions. They rose to protect the weak against the strong, the few
against the many. In so doing have they committed the unpardonable sin?
Or will there be mercy even for these?
The Colonists were left unprotected at the tender mercy of the Boer
forces. When the Boers, on the declaration of war, crossed the colonial
borders and pushed ahead into British territory, they found the
districts and most of the villages in an entirely defenceless condition.
The garrison of Aliwal North consisted of three Cape policemen.
Colesberg, Venterstad, Burghersdorp, Lady Grey, James Town, Dordrecht,
Rhodes, and many other places were occupied one after the other, without
being in the least protected. In Natal, Griqualand West, and British
Bechuanaland it was not any better.
The Colonists thought that they were subjects of a vast and mighty
empire, to which they could confidently look for protection against
invaders. If they had any fears, these were hushed, for surely the
mother-country was powerful enough to shelter them from the withering
blasts of war. To their astonishment the mother-country could protect
neither their persons nor their property, but entrusted all to the care
of the Boer commandoes. Had the Colonists no claim to protection? Was it
their fault that the British Government had accepted an ultimatum before
they were prepared to extend to their colonial subjects that protection
to which they certainly had a lawful claim? Such questions the Colonists
asked themselves and the Home Government.
Left unprotected, and literally forsaken for months by their own
Government, they yielded to the temptation to make common cause with the
Boers, whom they met and saw daily. They enlisted in considerable
numbers, and so cast in their lot for better or for worse with the
Boers. Still the majority of the colonial farmers remained at home, and
those who joined the Boer ranks at the commencement of the war were, as
a rule, commandeered or called up. By proclamation all Colonists who
resided within the occupied territory received the option either of
leaving it within a certain time, or of staying, on condition of
submitting to the Martial Law regulations of the new Government.
Under this strange thing, called Martial Law, these Colonists were
summoned to join the ranks of the Boers. In how far this action of
commandeering Colonists was commendable on the part of the Republics is
difficult to say for one not versed in all the technicalities of
International Law, or in the terms prescribed by the various
Conventions. It seemed, however, that as far as the Republics were
concerned, International Law and Convention obligations did not exist at
all. The policy of the Republics all through the war, as one might
expect, was to secure and maintain the friendship and sympathy of their
colonial brethren. The Colonist was treated as a friend, and not as an
enemy. His person and property were respected so long as he remained
neutral. Strict neutrality, and nothing more, the Boers enjoined,
especially towards the end of the war.
To be fair towards the Republics, we have to note that when the
Colonists were commandeered at the commencement of the war--for it was
_only then_, and not later, that they were summoned to the front--the
object of the States was not to force them into their service. It was
more a precautionary measure to protect the Colonist should he fall into
the hands of the enemy. The fact that he had been commandeered, when
taken into account, might, and did, tend to mitigate his punishment.
This commandeering was never rigorously enforced. Occasionally officers
acting on their own responsibility, and without instructions from the
Boer governments, commandeered and pressed Colonists to take up arms
without their consent; but such cases were exceptional, and were
disapproved of. What the Boers wanted were men who volunteered their
services, and came to them, not because they were disloyal to their
Government, but because such a strain was laid upon them that they were
compelled to come. Upon such men they could rely, and they proved
themselves worthy of the confidence placed in them.
The various war proclamations issued by the British from time to time
goaded the Colonists into rebellion.
[Illustration: COMMANDANT W.D. FOUCHÉ.]
If all the proclamations which were circulated in the Republics and
British colonies were published they would constitute a volume of no
mean dimensions, and might afford instructive reading "to principalities
and powers" planning to enlarge their dominions by the assistance, and
on the basis, of proclamations. In South Africa these "paper sheets"
were by far the most formidable allies of the British Empire. They
wrought greater havoc among the Boer forces than all the British
batteries ever did; for when they first began to explode in the midst of
the burghers the latter dropped down thick and fast. Thousands were
lured away from the posts of duty by the fascinating and seemingly
generous proposals contained in some proclamations. Had the
Field-Marshal only understood the Boer character better, and strictly
adhered to his first proclamation, and not violated its conditions, and
replaced it by others calculated to harass the surrendered Boer to such
an extent that war, with all its hardships and dangers, seemed
preferable to a life of continual dread and vexation, thousands of
surrendered burghers who enlisted would assuredly never have fired a
shot at the British troops. And it is just possible that that
proclamation would have secured victory for the British arms at a much
earlier date had it been abided by with more discretion. But then others
came in quick succession. And so it often happened that by proclamation
a burgher would be disarmed while another would compel ten others to
take the field. They were undoubtedly the best commandeering agents the
Boers ever had. Thousands of Boers and Colonists were from time to time
commandeered by the stringent and drastic obligations imposed upon them
by these proclamations. On the other hand they facilitated matters very
greatly for the enemy. Where the soldier could not go the proclamation
was sent; what the former could not do the latter often successfully
accomplished. Officers and burghers who had baffled the enemy by their
movements, and had routed them time and again, were captured
by--proclamations.
Everything and anything the enemy required was secured by proclamation.
Horses, mules, donkeys, oxen, ammunition, rifles, barley, wheat, hay,
corn, maize, vehicles, and even luxuries, such as sugar, jams, etc.,
were all gathered in by--proclamations. Besides, by proclamation the
non-combatant farmer, who was supposed to be neutral, was compelled to
report, at the nearest column or British post, the presence or
whereabouts of any armed Boer or Boers that he might happen to know
of--and that immediately, even at the risk of being shot should he fall
into the hands of the enemy he was reporting. Losing his life was, of
course, a matter of little consequence to the British.
When the enemy adopted such tactics, the Boers had to counteract their
proclamations by circulating others. Now in doing that the
non-combatants were placed between two fires. They had to serve two
masters in carrying out the instructions of proclamations diametrically
opposed to each other. The man who was ingenious enough to act a double
part, who could steer clear of Charybdis and Scylla, alone evaded
trouble. There were, however, not many who succeeded in pleasing or
duping both parties for any length of time.
The Boer proclamations levelled at those of the English made it
specially irksome to the Colonists, who were finally encompassed by a
host of proclamations. When they failed to obey the English
proclamations they were fined, cast into gaol, and treated as criminals.
When they obeyed the English, and consequently violated the Boer
proclamations, they had to undergo the penalty, fines, corporal
punishment, and even death, imposed by the Boers. The English said:
"This do, and thou shalt live"; the Boers: "This do not, and thou shalt
live."
As far as possible the Colonists were left unmolested on their farms by
the Boers, who expected them, as non-combatants, to remain strictly
neutral. The English proclamations, on the other hand, converted these
non-combatant farmers into scouts, and often into spies. They had to
give the enemy every information concerning the Boer commandoes--as to
their strength, the condition of their horses, the number of unarmed
burghers, of servants, their movements and plans, as far as they could
discover these, etc., etc. In some instances they were commandeered to
take upon themselves the dangerous responsibility of acting as guides to
the British columns, and were then dismissed to return to their farms
and pose as non-combatants. This the Boers could not tolerate, and had
to prevent by forbidding it through counter-proclamations, which the
enemy laughed to scorn. The unfortunate farmer could not similarly
slight and ignore them. He _had_ to obey them, or abide the
consequences.
When the Colonists were subjected to vexations of such a serious nature,
and when the British persisted in rigorously enforcing their
proclamations, the position of the Colonists became untenable and drove
them into rebellion. Had the military authorities exercised greater
wisdom and more common sense, so many British subjects would not have
fallen away. There were colonial rebels who never, never would have
lifted a rifle, whose loyalty was beyond all questioning, but the
pressure laid upon them by proclamations so numerous, onerous and odious
in character, forced them to fight for or against the Boers. To do the
former would be disloyal and treasonable, to acquiesce in the latter
would be violating the dictates of conscience. Was it the fault of the
Colonists that they were placed in such an awkward position?
Martial Law and the way it was administered has been one of the leading
causes of the colonial rebellion. As long as the Colonists were
permitted to express their sentiments or political views through the
medium of congresses, conferences, public meetings, resolutions and
petitions, they cherished the hope that the Home Government would
eventually listen to their pleas. But when Martial Law was declared, the
constitution of the Cape Colony was virtually suspended, and the
Colonists were deprived of most, if not all, of their
liberties--liberties of speech, of the Press and of conscience. Under
Martial Law none, not even the most loyal, were allowed to write or say
anything which did not harmonize exactly with the views and actions of
the Imperial Government as represented in South Africa. Now, when men
may neither speak nor write, they are apt to act. The Colonists, being
compelled by this most wonderful of all laws--if law it be at
all--acted. For this law justified all things, as far as the war party
was concerned, while it condemned the rest indiscriminately. It gave
armed men unlimited power over the unarmed. It allowed the strong to
crush the weak, the rich to rob the poor, and the scoundrel to lodge in
gaol the man of honour and reputation. Nothing so exasperated the
Colonists as the odious manner in which the Martial Law regulations were
carried out, and nothing made greater rebels than the harshness of these
regulations.
As the situation in the Cape Colony became more and more serious, the
most arbitrary and despotic methods were adopted to quell the rebellion
by trying to intimidate the Colonists. The policy of the gallows was
unscrupulously brought into practice, and the barbarous method of
compelling the Dutch residents to attend the execution of their
fellow-Dutch was enforced. At Burghersdorp, Cradock, Middelburg, and
various other places several rebels were executed. The chief Dutch
residents were compelled not only to listen to the public promulgation
of these death sentences, but had also to be present at the execution.
On July 10, 1901, the execution of one Marais took place at Middelburg.
At 9 A.M. he was executed in the presence of the leading residents.
Among these was Mr. De Waal, M.L.A., who entered the precincts of the
gaol attired in deep mourning. The scene proved too much for him; he
broke down completely before the executioner had drawn the bolt.
Now these tragic enactments influenced the Colonists in one of two ways.
Some of them--the more timid--who were eye-witnesses of the executions
of their fellow-Dutch, became so intimidated that nothing could induce
them to take up arms against the British. Others--and these not a
few--instead of being over-awed and frightened, got infuriated. In the
awful presence of the gallows, on which their beloved countrymen ended
their earthly career, there and then, as they gazed on them in silent
sorrow, they took a solemn oath that, come what may, _avenge_ they would
the blood of their kindred. From the gallows they went to their
different homes with impressions and feelings so deep and bitter that
not even "Time's effacing finger" will be able to wipe them out for
centuries to come. From these heartrending scenes they turned their
faces, and anxiously awaited the first Boer commando.
On one occasion no less than fifteen colonists, who were forced to
attend the execution of a fellow-colonist, came to my commando and
begged me to provide them with horses and rifles. Nothing could induce
them to return, for they had seen a comrade slain, and that was
sufficient. And so time and again colonists joined the Boer ranks
because they had to witness scenes calculated to stir up the most
callous and indifferent. If these were moved, how much more the hearts
and hands of those linked by ties of blood and love to the fallen! One
brother would enlist because the other was heavily fined or imprisoned
simply on suspicion. Two or more colonists would club together and join
the Boer ranks after a friend or relative of them had been executed. To
cite a few instances:--
In the Middelburg district a certain farmer, by name Van Heerden, was
commandeered by an English patrol to act as guide. Reluctantly he
obeyed, and led the patrol to the best of his ability. Not far from his
home the Boers opened fire on them. The British retreated, leaving their
wounded behind. Van Heerden himself was dangerously wounded. He was
carried off the field by his wife and servants and laid up in his house.
A few days after the column to which the patrol belonged arrived at Van
Heerden's farm. The officer in command entered the house of the wounded
man in a raging temper, and ordered him to be carried out and shot
immediately. In vain did the wife of Van Heerden expostulate and plead
with the unmerciful officer to spare the life of her wounded husband.
Van Heerden was carried out, tied to a chair placed beside a stone wall,
and seven Lee-Metford bullets penetrated the brain of the man who was
wounded, perhaps mortally, _in the service of the British army_! That
was his reward. Even that did not satisfy those who thirsted for blood,
for the house of the unfortunate man was forthwith looted, and his widow
and orphans robbed of everything. A few days after this sad event had
occurred our commando arrived at the same farm. The spot where the
victim sat was pointed out to me; the marks of the bullets, the blood
and the brain against the wall were still distinctly discernible, and
seemed to cry to heaven for revenge. And there was the family of the
departed--stripped of everything. The burghers contributed from their
scanty means what they could in support of the widow and orphans.
No wonder that the brothers of this unfortunate man took up arms and
became the most pronounced, the most bitter enemies of those who
ruthlessly slew, if not murdered, their brother. One of them--Jacobus
van Heerden--whenever he spoke of his brother's death, would bite his
lips, his face would flush, and one could hear him mutter: "My brother's
blood shall be avenged." In the whole commando there was not a more
dauntless man than he. But, alas! he too passed away. A bullet was
destined to pierce his skull. At a farm, Leeuwfontein, in the district
of Murraysburg, he was shot by a Kaffir.
On another occasion four Colonists were arrested; two of these were shot
in cold blood, while the other two were imprisoned, _because_ the
railway line was blown up and a train derailed by the Boers near their
home. They were accused of having known all about the Boers, who had
destroyed the railway line _during the night_--an accusation which, on
later investigation, proved false.
When such crimes were perpetrated in the name of Martial Law, we are
rather surprised that all the Colonists did not rise to a man. What
would the English have done if subjected to such treatment? The Dutchman
is naturally slow to move, and very patient. He seems born to suffer and
endure. But Martial Law imposed such heavy burdens upon him that he
could not but resent them. Where the Boers were too lax in enforcing
their Martial Law regulations, the English went to the other extreme in
applying theirs too strenuously.
Well may we ask whether it was a wise policy which converted so many
Colonists into bitter enemies, by subjecting them to such revolting
measures.
The enlisting of blacks by the British induced many Colonists to cast in
their lot with the Boers. If natives were to be employed to crush a
kindred race, the Colonists thought that they were justified in
rendering assistance to their fellow-Dutch.
Moreover, these armed natives, once promoted to the rank of soldiers,
tantalized the farmers, who were formerly their masters, to an
inconceivable degree. With rifle in hand they would go to these and
treat them in the most insulting manner. They would commandeer bread,
butter, milk, clothes, horses, and everything else they pleased, and woe
to the man or woman that did not promptly answer their demands.
The farmers of the Western Province of the Cape Colony suffered perhaps
most in this respect. The natives had all congregated in the villages,
and there they were armed to assist in the work of destruction, while
the farmer, who required their services, had to tend his flocks and
plough his fields all alone.
In Calvinia was an infamous Hottentot column, five hundred strong. These
Hottentots were the scare and plague of the whole district. By their
actions they goaded the Calvinia farmers into rebellion.
Let us summarize these causes mentioned--causes which to some extent
account for the rising in the Cape Colony. They were:--
(_a_) War on a kindred race without consent of Colonists.
(_b_) The Colonists left unprotected, and thus exposed to danger and
temptation.
(_c_) The Colonists harassed by multitudinous proclamations and
(_d_) Subjected to embarrassing Martial Law regulations.
(_e_) The arming of natives against Colonists and Republicans.
Other causes why so many once loyal and devoted British subjects took up
arms against the English may be cited, but the aforementioned are the
principal ones. By enumerating them we express neither approval nor
disapproval of the action of the Colonists; for we admire nothing more
in friend or foe than unfeigned devotion and loyalty to country and
people. The traitor and renegade are to be pitied, and their actions
despised. We could not but admire the loyalty of many a colonist under
such untoward circumstances; when that loyalty was stretched to the
breaking-point, when it became impossible for them to remain such any
longer, then and then only we gladly welcomed them and equipped them as
best we could.
Those who stigmatize the Colonists as traitors, rebels, or renegades,
would do well to take into account the peculiar position in which they
were placed by the war, before passing a rash judgment on them. To be
fair towards the Colonists we must take into consideration the causes
which produced the effects. Only after a thorough investigation of the
causes could a just sentence be passed on the colonial rebel. If
governments have no responsibility whatever towards their subjects or
citizens, and no binding obligations to fulfil in respect to them, then
only may the investigation of causes be discarded.
None lament more the sad results of the South African war than the
writers of these pages. Before the war Dutch and English lived and
worked side by side as friends and brothers. The two races, once
hostile, began to understand and respect one another more and more. In
the schools the Dutch and English languages had equal rights. In some
Dutch Reformed Churches English sermons were delivered by Dutch pastors
to Dutch and English congregations. The railways of the Free State were
almost exclusively controlled by English officials. In the Government
offices Dutch and English clerks worked together. The principal villages
of the Orange Free State were almost more English than Dutch. The
British subjects were perfectly content with the Free State Government
and desired no better. In the Transvaal the state of affairs was much
the same. Before the Jameson Raid there existed a kindly feeling between
Dutch and English. If time and patience had only been exercised, no
blood would have been shed, there never would have been war in South
Africa. But what time and patience would have wrought, the war party
undertook when they plunged the land into a war the effects of which
will be felt by more than one generation.
Thousands of British subjects have been estranged from the
mother-country and turned into implacable enemies by the war. In many a
home there is a vacant chair, and round many a fireside one is missing
at eventide. Several families, once so happy and content, now mourn the
irreparable loss of a father or brother, a mother or sister. Thousands,
who were well-to-do before the war, are now poverty-stricken. Who then
shall adequately depict the misery and woe which has entered so many
homes since the first shot was fired in South Africa? And to-day, when
the roar of cannons, the din of rifles and the clatter of arms have been
hushed, there are men pining away in foreign countries because they may
not return to their native land. There are the unhappy exiles in
Belgium, Holland, France and America. Their families are left to the
mercy and care of friends and relatives in South Africa. How their
hearts are yearning to go to these, but...! Besides these exiles there
are those undergoing sentences of penal servitude either for life or for
long periods. There are the burghers in Bermuda and in India who,
because they cannot conscientiously take an oath of allegiance to the
British Government, are not allowed to return to their native land. As I
ponder over the condition of these unhappy cases my heart seems to
break, and a feeling of compassion mingled with sorrow inexpressible
rises in my bosom.
While referring to these, I would dare to plead earnestly with the
Imperial Government to display mercy and generosity. Exercise these
towards the exiled, not only for their sake, but also for the sake of
their families and for the promotion of peace in South Africa. Is it too
much to plead for a general amnesty? Will that not lessen the intense
race-hatred between two peoples destined to live in the same land?
True reconciliation is the foundation on which the structure of a united
South Africa shall be raised. Without reconciliation there can be no
co-operation, and South Africa will be in the future what it has been in
the past--a land of strife and discord. Adhere to a policy of severity
and the gulf between Dutch and English will grow deeper and deeper as
the years roll by. There will be another Ireland, instead of a land
where "peace and rest for ever dwell."
CHAPTER XI.
WAR INCIDENTS.
Notwithstanding the horror and depression which must necessarily keep
step with the campaigner, death staring him in the face throughout the
campaign, yet the burgher endeavoured to show a cheerful countenance. In
this he succeeded to a surprising degree. It is a characteristic of the
Boer that he can meet frowning fortune with a smile or at least a shrug
of the shoulders. He found that his best policy was to forget the
reverse of yesterday. Flying to-day before the enemy, to-morrow he will
rally, and charge that same foe with almost irresistible determination.
In this, the last chapter, we want to dwell not on the tragic aspects of
the war, but on its lighter side. Gradually we learnt to be more
conscious of the amusing than of the sad scenes of the battlefield.
Months of fighting, if they had hardened our natures, had yet left us
the power of laughter.
The South African War was rich in incidents that tended to lighten our
burdens. Hardly a day passed by without something happening, either on
the battlefield or in the camp, which caused us amusement. The burghers,
in spite of looks and behaviour, had a keen sense of humour. Even when
we were so hotly pressed that there was often no pause made for a meal,
a joke in the saddle was relished in the place of food. In little
groups, too, round the camp fires we would beguile the long evenings of
winter nights by relating our personal adventures. We will record a few
of these, acquired from personal experience or overheard at such
gatherings.
Moving in the Reddersburg district, we camped for a night at a dam which
contained a small quantity of water. The next morning the burghers,
discovering that there were fish in the pool, but having no
fishing-hooks, undressed and began to convert the water into a muddy
mass, thus compelling the fish to come to the surface for air. While
still engaged in this impromptu fishing, with bodies mud-covered from
top to toe, they heard the cry "Opzaal! opzaal! Khakis near by." So near
was the enemy that they could not afford to lose a minute. As there was
neither clean water nor time to wash off the mud, they were obliged to
jump into their clothes, besmeared as they were with mud. It was an
amusing sight to see them running to their clothes, black as negroes,
and, regardless of the mud, dressing as quickly as they could. Some of
them had a very narrow escape, and not before sunset could they take
another bath.
The destruction of the railway-line afforded us much fun. There were
burghers who dreaded this kind of work much more than actual fighting.
They would rather get into the firing-line than go to the railway-line.
They feared nothing so much as to handle a charge of dynamite, by which
the destruction was usually accomplished. To prevent any accidents, a
whistle was blown as a signal to apply the lights to all the fuses at
once, so that the men could all withdraw to a safe distance before the
explosion took place. On one occasion a burgher, intentionally or out of
fright, lit his fuse while the others were still engaged depositing
their charges under the rails. The surprise of the rest on seeing the
fuse alight took the form of helter-skeltering away, some rushing
against the railway fence, others almost breaking their necks over
ant-heaps, while some only got away a few yards before the explosion
took place. Fortunately none were injured, and when all was over they
laughed heartily over their own disorderly retreat.
After we had blown up the line we went to a farm about three miles away.
As we halted in front of the door, the farmer's wife--her husband had
been deported--came out. The old lady appeared very agitated; she begged
us kindly to leave as soon as possible. It seemed she was entertaining
three English soldiers as guests that night, and was anxious that we
should not disturb their slumbers, which action would get her into
trouble. "Oh, do go," she said, "for if you disturb these sleeping
guests, I also will be prosecuted and sent to India." Poor soul! She was
doing her best to protect her visitors, not because she cared so much
for them, but for fear of the consequences should we lay hands on them.
We could not, however, listen to her plea. We did not want Tommy
himself, but only his rifle and ammunition. Hence we went to their room
and found them sharing one bed. It was midnight and so they did not
expect us at all. Imagine their feelings on realizing that armed Boers
surrounded their bed! Their complete helplessness, as they lay undressed
and unarmed, caused the burghers to indulge in hearty laughter. To
silence their fears we assured them that they need not dread any evil,
we would soon dismiss them.
Our military councils were frequently occasions of humour--a grim humour
which could only appeal to the Boer, made grim by the treachery of
fellow-Dutchmen.
At the beginning of the war some, especially the uninitiated, dreaded
nothing more than a war council. To such it was a body of men invested
with unlimited power, a council that could pronounce sentence of death
on whomsoever they wished. To appear before this august assembly meant
almost certain death. Now sometimes it meant that, but more often not.
For one reason or another prisoners were for the time being brought in
under a wrong impression of the character of the assembly. Such was the
case with two farmers in the district of Trompsburg, Orange River
Colony. They had been arrested on a charge of sending reports to the
enemy. Terror-stricken, they appeared before the war council, there to
render an account of their deeds. Before their trial began, the
president of the council, in addressing the other officers, assured them
that whatever sentence they should consider just would be carried out by
him. If sentence of death should be passed, he would not hesitate to
take his rifle and put an end to the lives of the accused. "We must," he
said, "put a stop to these treasonable acts." The poor prisoners
trembled from head to foot. No mercy! On being examined, they
acknowledged that they had forwarded treasonable reports to the enemy,
and began to plead for mercy. One of them asked us to bear in mind that
he was a poor man, and had a wife and a large family that would be left
destitute. Pretending to be quite in earnest, we assured him that we
were decided to take nothing into consideration, and would mete out
strict justice. They were then removed so that the court could decide on
their punishment. After a few minutes' consultation they were called in,
and asked to subscribe their names to a statement which ran as
follows:--
We, the undersigned, do hereby declare, that, as burghers of the
Orange Free State, we had no right to send reports to the British,
and, in doing so, we have committed High Treason.
When they had signed the paper one of the officers remarked that we must
have such a declaration signed by the accused to justify our actions
with regard to them before the Government. Another officer asked the
president whether the prisoners would be allowed to take leave of their
families. To which the president abruptly replied: "No; such characters
do not deserve any privileges." They were left under the awful
impression for two hours that both would be shot, and then released with
a warning to forward no reports to the enemy. Their anxiety must have
been intense; their joy on being acquitted no less.
Non-combatants frequently found themselves in an uneasy and perplexing
position. It was sometimes most difficult to differentiate between Boer
and Briton, especially in the night. The poor farmer was often at his
wits' end to know whom he was addressing, the more so when the British
ranks were swelled by Dutch colonists and national scouts. The
non-combatant farmer found it extremely difficult to steer a course
inoffensive to either side. He was between two fires, for when suspected
of disloyalty, either a Dutch or English trap might be laid for him. Not
a few were caught in such snares. Others were more careful. If they did
not know you personally, it was of no avail to tell them that you
belonged to such and such a commando or column. They simply professed to
know nothing. "I don't know," was the answer to every question. They
were, of course, on the safe side. But many committed themselves, if not
in deeds, then in words. To cite a few cases:--
One of our officers, Captain Pretorius, dismounted one evening at the
farm of a Mr. B. in the district of Bethulie. The farmer, hearing a tap
at the door, went and opened it. Pretorius, who posed as an English
officer, asked Mr. B., "Where are the Boers?" The latter, pointing to
certain ridges in the distance, said in rather broken English, "Do you
see those kopjes yonder? They are full of Boers." But asked at the same
time, "Do tell me, are you really an Englishman? I must be clear on this
point before I can speak to you. There must be no mistake." On being
assured by Pretorius and his party that they were not Boers and did not
belong to the Boer forces, he told them very confidently all, and
perhaps more than they wanted to know, for he began to express himself
very strongly against the so-called marauding bands of Boers still
roaming at large. He promised the supposed English officer that, as soon
as possible, he would report the Boers; he would, he said, have done so
already had the opportunity come his way. Just think how confused and
embarrassed Mr. B. was when the English officer suddenly changed into a
Boer, lifted his gun and said in his most harsh tone, "I feel inclined
to send a bullet through your brains. Are you not ashamed to slander
your own people in this way? It is because we have such Africanders as
you in our midst that we suffer so much." This revelation proved almost
too much for the farmer, who was of a timid and nervous disposition. The
Boers left his farm the following day for regions so distant that it was
impossible to trap him again. Once was enough for him.
The next victim resided in the same district. Commandant Joubert, having
crossed the Bethulie-Springfontein line, touched at the farm of a
certain Mr. X. Joubert, accompanied by a burgher, went to wake up Mr. X.
They knocked loudly at the door; knocks failing, they were followed by
a kick. But there was no response. Inside it was as still as the grave.
Thinking that Mr. X. was out, the Commandant went to his brother's room,
where he learnt that Mr. X. was in, sure enough. When Joubert heard this
he went back to his room, tapped loudly once more, and then said, "Bring
the dynamite, and let us blow up the show," while the other burgher
said, "Never mind the dynamite, let us fire through the door." On
hearing of dynamite and firing through the door, the occupant could
remain silent no longer. He jumped up and cried out, "Wait, wait--don't
fire! I am coming." Peeping out at the door, he asked with tremulous
voice, "What do you want?" "Come out," said the Commandant; "I want to
see you on important business." "The sooner you come the better for
you," added the burgher, who happened to be related to Mr. X. This
remark, however, spoiled the rest of the game, for Mr. X. recognised the
voice of his relative, and catching at the same time a glimpse of his
face in the bright moonlight, he rushed out and flung his arms around
one who had not killed his relative's affection by his joke.
The following incident well illustrates the self-possession and presence
of mind sometimes displayed by our opponents. On a certain day two Boer
scouts were charged by two of their own men. The scouts, observing that
the two burghers mistook them for enemies, simply dismounted and waited
for them. While the two Boers came tearing up to their own scouts, two
of the enemy's scouts who were not far off, observing these two Boers,
took them in their turn for British, and thinking to render them some
assistance, likewise charged the Boer scouts. When they reached the Boer
scouts the two burghers had already captured (?) the latter, and had
dismounted. Our friends at once realized their awkward position. They
were in the presence of four Boers. Escape was out of the question,
unless they could get round these Boers in some way or other. As both of
them could talk Dutch, being Colonials, the happy idea struck them at
once to try to pose as burghers, for there were several commandoes in
that district, and it was just possible that these Boers, in whose hands
they now were, would take their word and let them off. One of them,
therefore, on reaching the burghers, very ingeniously remarked, "Well,
you know, we actually took you for _khakis_." The other one was not slow
to offer the burghers some fruit which he had in his pocket. And so they
began talking to one another in a most familiar way. One of the Boers, a
certain Mr. Bresler, suspected these two unknown friends, and while the
other three were conversing with them as they sat on their horses, he
(Bresler) kept his eyes on them, and watched their every movement. At
length Bresler said, "Well, you had better go to your commando, or
dismount your tired horses." Only too glad to get away they replied, "We
are going; good-bye," and off they rode. "Do you know these fellows?"
Bresler asked his comrades, as they were leaving them. "No," was the
reply. "Well," said Bresler, "to be sure, they are British scouts." He
called them back and asked them to which commando they belonged.
"Potgieter's" was the answer. As there was no such commandant, they were
immediately arrested. Had Bresler not been present the probability is
that they would have captured the three burghers, for, as they told him,
they simply waited for an opportunity to disarm them, but they saw that
Bresler was watching them all the time and so could not venture to lift
their rifles.
Sport of the most dangerous nature was sometimes indulged in. Certain
Boer officers, and also privates, would risk their lives to have some
amusement. Commandant W. Fouché was one of those who ventured most.
Naturally brave and sometimes even reckless, he would step in almost
anywhere. In the district of Willowmore, Cape Colony, he one evening
entered a house where two of the enemy's scouts were comfortably seated
by the side of two young ladies. He stepped into the room, greeted all,
and took a seat next to one of the young ladies. To chafe and annoy the
scouts, he placed his hand on the shoulder of one of the young ladies
and pretended to kiss her. This act of his was enough to set one of the
Englishmen on fire. "I shall not allow you," he said, "to touch the
lady. You have no right to do it." Fouché then desisted; he withdrew
his arm, and asked the young lady for some food, as he was very hungry.
His friend calmed down, and they began to converse. By chance one of the
scouts touched his pocket and noticed that there was something strange
in it. "What is that hard thing in your pocket?" he queried. Fouché
replied, "Oh, it is my pipe." "Your pipe is very large indeed," rejoined
the scout. (This pipe was nothing else than a revolver.)
To irritate his unknown friends, Fouché began again to trifle with one
of the ladies. This time the scout lost self-control; he rose, and
taking his chair with both hands, brought it down upon Fouché with all
his might, evidently with the intention of shattering the brains of the
latter. Fouché smartly parried the blow, and the next instant the
striker was a wounded man, and his comrade a prisoner.
In the district of Rouxville the same officer had a similar experience.
There, one evening, he came across three of the enemy--one a Dutch
colonist, the other two Britons--off-saddled at a farm. As they did not
expect any Boers, their rifles were carelessly left outside the house.
Fouché was again the one to enter. Having disguised himself so as to
create no suspicion, he boldly walked in and shook hands with the party.
The Colonial, in a domineering tone, asked him the object of his visit.
"Come to see my young lady," was the reply. "Have you permission to
leave your farm?" "No," said Fouché. "We arrest you at once," said the
Colonial, "and will take you to Rouxville gaol. You shall have to walk
all the way [some 24 miles], and that will teach you not to go about
without a pass at this time of the night." "Well," said Fouché, "I
really did not know that I must have a pass to come and see my young
lady, and if you arrest me you must kindly allow me to get a horse at
home, for certainly I cannot walk all this distance." "Nonsense,"
replied the Colonial; "there is no time to go home now."
As Fouché was supplicating for grace the other two went to fetch their
horses. They were cordially received by the burghers outside. The
Colonial in the meantime questioned Fouché as to the whereabouts of the
Boers. The prisoner informed him that the notorious Commandant Fouché
was again in that district. "Why," asked Fouché, "don't you capture this
fellow with his raiding bands? They are the plague of the district. You
should protect us." The Colonial: "Just a few days longer and he will be
no more in the land of the living." At the same time he began to abuse
him, without being conscious in the least that he was at the very moment
speaking to that officer himself.
After some more talk he took Fouché by the arm and said, "Come along, we
must be off; you are my prisoner." "What," rejoined the latter--"your
prisoner! Don't you believe it. You are mine." So saying he took a
revolver out of his pocket and pointed it at the over-confident
Colonial, who thereupon looked several inches smaller.
* * * * *
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