South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 5 (of 8): From the Disaster at Koorn Spruit to Lord Roberts's Entry into PretoriaCreswicke, Louis
History
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 5 (of 8): From the Disaster at Koorn Spruit to Lord Roberts's Entry into Pretoria
Creswicke, Louis
South African War, 1899-1902; Transvaal (South Africa) -- History
Lord Roberts began the second act of his campaign by deploying the army
from Karee Siding as far as Wepener, a distance of some seventy miles.
Indeed, on Sunday the 22nd of April, we find that one portion of the
army was at Bushman's Kop, south of Wepener, another was near
Dewetsdorp, half-way between the latter place and Bloemfontein, another
was moving to Tweede Geluk, some twenty miles from Bloemfontein and
twenty-two from Dewetsdorp, and already in communication with General
Rundle, who was making for Dewetsdorp, while troops were also at or near
Sanna's Post and fifteen miles west--at Kranz Kraal, a valuable passage
of the Modder between Sanna's Post and the railways which for some weeks
had been much used by the Boers. All these troops were sprayed out at
distances varying from twenty to thirty miles from each other, and were
capable of getting into heliographic communication. As this somewhat
complicated machinery requires to be examined and not dismissed with a
word, it is better, if possible, to follow the commanding officers as
they each moved on his special duty.
Generals Rundle and Chermside had concentrated their divisions at
Reddersburg with a view to assisting in what was called "the big
partridge drive." The force of the united commanders moving from
Reddersburg towards Dewetsdorp was now about 15,000 strong. It was
composed of the 4th and 7th Imperial Yeomanry, the Mounted Infantry
companies of the 1st Berkshire and 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers, sixty
of Montmorency's Scouts (Captain McNeil), General Campbell's Brigade,
General Boyes's Brigade, and General Allen's Brigade. The united
artillery was commanded by Colonel Jeffreys, R.A. It comprised the 38th,
69th, 74th, 77th, and 79th Field Batteries. The Boers, disposed by De
Wet, occupied a position astride the country from Leeuw Kop to Wepener,
those in the former place covering those in the latter, and _vice
versâ_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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