"Your task is to prevent the enemy moving from his present positions closer to Naauwpoort, or reaching the railway connecting that place with Arundel. The Lieut.-General Commanding considers that the best method to pursue to attain this end is: "(a) Hold Arundel as a pivot. "(b) Using that as a pivot, act energetically with your mounted troops against any of the enemy's detachments which may leave his main position and cross open ground. "(c) Select and hold certain points (such as Vaal Kop), to retain the enemy and make him fear an offensive movement against his line of retreat; (which is viâ Colesberg wagon bridge)." [Sidenote: French, because of effect of "Black Week," takes command at Arundel and reorganises. Dec. 16th.] [Sidenote: Dec. 17th.] On the 16th, however, notwithstanding these instructions, the officer commanding the detachment on Vaal Kop fell back from that post on its being threatened by distant artillery fire, and the whole of the troops at Arundel were turned out on a false alarm that the enemy was advancing. The defeats at Stormberg, Magersfontein, and Colenso, recorded in later chapters, had meantime darkened the prospect, so that manifestly the utmost care must be taken by all commanders to obviate mistakes which might lead to further misfortunes. General French, therefore, moved his Headquarters to the front, and assumed personal command of the troops at Arundel. He had telegraphed on the previous day offering to despatch all his cavalry to the Modder river, but this suggestion was negatived "on account of scarcity of water." He reorganised the Arundel command into a division as follows, appointing Major-General Brabazon second in command:-- _1st Cavalry Brigade (under Colonel T. C. Porter)._ The Carabiniers. New South Wales Lancers (40 men), 1 company mounted infantry. _2nd Cavalry Brigade (under Lieut.-Colonel R. B. W. Fisher)._ The Inniskilling Dragoons (2 squadrons), 10th Hussars (2 squadrons), 1 company mounted infantry. _Divisional Troops._ Brigade division R.H.A. (under Colonel F. J. W. Eustace). New Zealand Mounted Rifles. R.E. company. Bearer company. Half-battalion Royal Berkshire } regiment. } under Major F. W. N. 2 guns R.G.A. } McCracken. [Sidenote: French pivoting on certain strong points continues "policy of worry." Dec. 16th-17th 1899.]