The Boers in strong force, and evidently well prepared, had actively assumed the aggressive, and in consequence of the unexpected declaration of war by Presidents Kruger and Steyn, the northern part of Cape Colony bordering {182} upon the Orange Free State was for a time practically defenceless. Taking advantage of this fact, the Boers had advanced boldly across the frontier, attacking many of our towns and villages, and formally annexing them to the Free State. The arrival of British troops at the Cape in November to some extent arrested this invasion, and as troops were poured into the Colony in quick succession, Generals French, Gatacre, and Methuen found themselves ultimately in a position to assume the offensive, their communications and supplies being kept up by the three lines of railway from Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, and East London respectively. The Highland Brigade, originally destined for Natal, was stopped at Cape Town and at once sent on to reinforce Lord Methuen in command of the western division. With his advanced base at De-Aar, at the junction of the Port Elizabeth and Cape Town railways, and striking north with what troops he had, Methuen engaged and defeated a party of Boers near Belmont on the 10th November. Nine days after, he had concentrated his troops on the Orange River, driving the enemy before him, and on the 23rd November he attacked and completely routed the enemy in the decisive battle of Belmont. After several skirmishes the battle of Modder River was fought, in which the British encountered a Boer force of 11,000 men. It lasted the whole of Tuesday the 28th November, and was keenly contested; but in spite of the bravery and superior position of the enemy, they were compelled to withdraw, and Methuen formed his advanced camp on the north side of the river. After the Modder River fight he rested his force until the 10th December, waiting for the battalions of Wauchope's Highland Brigade, for the great naval gun, and the howitzer battery, and for the {183} sorely needed cavalry. The valiant Ninth Brigade, composed of Yorkshire Light Infantry, 5th Northumberlands, Loyal North Lancashires, Northamptonshires, 9th Lancers, and Mounted Infantry, which had done such gallant work in the previous battles, was now to be scattered, and in some measure supplanted by the Argylls, Seaforths, Gordons, Black Watch, and Highland Light Infantry of the fresher brigade. Having secured his position on the Modder River, Lord Methuen found the way to Kimberley still barred by the Boer army under General Cronje. The enemy were strongly intrenched among the rocks and precipices of the hilly region, some four miles from the river, between the railway on the west and the highroad to Kimberley on the east, and commanded the position with their artillery. [Sidenote: The Diamond City]