Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Taavi Kalju and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net [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._