South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 7 (of 8): The Guerilla War, from February 1901 to the Conclusion of HostilitiesCreswicke, Louis
History
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 7 (of 8): The Guerilla War, from February 1901 to the Conclusion of Hostilities
Creswicke, Louis
South African War, 1899-1902; Transvaal (South Africa) -- History
Meanwhile General Plumer, moving from the Modder River Station on the
4th, had proceeded to effect a junction with Colonel Henry. (How
General Plumer came to be at Modder River at this period must be
explained. After his return from Carolina to Bloemfontein in the
second week of July, he had moved viâ Bains Vlei, Kruger's Drift,
Poplar Grove, Koodoosrand, and Pandamfontein, skirmishing often by the
way, and reaching Modder River plus 11 prisoners, 200 cattle, and 62
horses.) Here his troops, divided in two columns under Colonels Colvin
and Sir John Jarvis, completed the encircling cordon to the west.
During the movement, Sir John Jarvis, be it noted, after a twenty-five
mile march, succeeded in securing, near Botha's Hoek, 15 Boers.
The details of General Elliot's march are full of savour, of heroism,
and of activity; but the story of swoops, surprises, and surrenders of
raiders would outrun the limits of a volume. It is only possible
therefore to record the results, which, early in August, showed that
17 Boers had been killed and wounded and 326 captured; 2600 horses,
20,000 cattle, 377 waggons, 371 other vehicles, and 12,500 rounds of
ammunition had also been secured.
General Elliot, on the conclusion of his operations between the Vaal
and the Modder, withdrew his columns to east and west to the railway
to refit. He himself reached Truter's Drift on the 9th of August.
General Plumer returned to Modder River Station; Colonel Henry moved
back to Boshof, and from thence to Luckhoff, where he operated during
August; and Colonels Rawlinson and Western betook themselves to Glen
and Bloemfontein respectively. General Elliot's programme was now to
prepare at Glen for a fresh advance to the north-east, of a line
Ladybrand, Sannah's Post, Glen. But of this anon.
ORANGE RIVER COLONY, E.--LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR L. RUNDLE
General Rundle, as we know, had marched north from Harrismith
simultaneously with General Elliot's advance from Springfield Drift on
the 4th of July. Till the 12th, the force, marching in three columns,
moved uneventfully to the line Tafel Kop-Maidstone-Driespruit. But, on
the 12th, the very day that Colonel Harrison in one place and General
Broadwood in another were trouncing the enemy and putting them to
flight, the Imperial Yeomanry came in for some exciting experiences. It
so happened that forty men of the Yeomanry under Lieutenant Edgell left
Colonel Harley's (centre) column to communicate with that of General
Campbell (right). Promptly Commandant Charles Botha got wind of the
movement of the small party and attacked them. But the plucky band,
though young Edgell, the sergeant, and four men were wounded at the
first volley, held their own, and finally the enemy was routed, leaving
their leader dead on the field.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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