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
Colonel Pilcher's two columns of General Knox's force, under Colonel
Taylor and Major Lean, now marched from the west into Bloemfontein and
Edenburg, and from thence south to Bethulie, while Colonel Pilcher
pushed up the valley of the Caledon towards Smithfield, thus freeing
the troops of Colonel Thorneycroft and Lord Basing, who were able to
scour further east. About this time, 25th of August, Colonel Sir Henry
Rawlinson, marching south from Dewetsdorp, encountered a detached
bunch of Smuts' men scuttling east of Reddersburg. A brilliant chase
to the north-east followed, the mounted troops under Major Gosset
pursuing with such dash that 25 prisoners out of the party of 120 were
secured, and 30 of their horses captured. In September, after the
column had obtained supplies at Edenburg, further activities all along
the Basuto border were engaged in, and, on the 8th the mischievous
hordes were driven north from a position they had taken up in the
vicinity of Elandsberg. But Smuts and his following, despite the close
proximity of Colonel Thorneycroft, were successful in finding a
loophole at Kiba Drift, and escaped into Cape Colony on the 4th. There
he was quickly "spotted" by General Hart, who pursued him towards
Ladygrey. Both General Hart and General French had now their hands
full. Kruitzinger's and Smuts' men, who had effected a crossing,
required to be dealt with, so, in order to reinforce General French,
Colonel Pilcher moved from the Caledon Valley to Burghersdorp on the
7th of September.
ORANGE RIVER COLONY, S.--BRIGADIER-GENERAL PLUMER
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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