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
Poor Lieutenant Cameron of the Gordon Highlanders, who had many times
before been notable for conspicuous gallantry, was killed. A gallant
young officer, White of the Gordon Highlanders, escaped by a marvel.
He was taken prisoner during the first fight, and stripped by the
Boers; but when the second attack commenced he succeeded in escaping,
and, further, managed to run six miles and bring up reinforcements.
But such hard fighting was not carried on without heavy cost--that of
3 officers and 17 men killed, and 1 officer and 24 men wounded. The
enemy lost 14 dead, 6 wounded, and 45 taken prisoners, in addition to
a number of injured which were carried away in carts. The captures
included 10,000 rounds of ammunition, 114 waggons and carts, 4000
cattle, and a quantity of foodstuffs.
More captures were made later, near Lindley, and the force, heavily
weighted, arrived at Kroonstad on the 14th and 15th of June. From
thence, on the 22nd, they swept eastward, between Lindley and Senekal,
towards the line of the Wilge River. On the 2nd of July, at
Springfield Drift, some twenty miles north of Harrismith, they
received supplies sent out by General Rundle. This officer was now
preparing to co-operate with General Elliot, and to march north, on
his right, through the country east of the Wilge River, while General
Bullock should traverse the country from Standerton to Frankfort _viâ_
Villiersdorp, and thus serve as a stop for any Boers who might be
swept that way.
CHAPTER VII
GENERAL BRUCE-HAMILTON'S OPERATIONS, ORANGE RIVER COLONY (SOUTH)
General Bruce-Hamilton, as we know, succeeded General Lyttelton in his
command on the 13th of April, and proceeded to spend the rest of the
month in clearing the Orange River Colony, the Smithfield, Zastron,
and Rouxville districts, on the east of the railway. Engaged in this
work were Colonels Hickman, Monro, Maxwell, and White. Hearing that
the enemy was massing in the hills round Philippolis, he directed
Colonel W. Williams to move with three columns from the railway to the
western border. From the 10th to the 19th of May was spent in marching
through the Philippolis district, mopping up Boers, horses, and stock.
Thirty-three prisoners were taken, including Commandant Bothma. About
this date a brilliant little piece of work was performed by Major
Gogarty and four squadrons of the South African Light Horse. A gang of
raiders was known to be hovering in the region of Luckhoff, therefore
this officer, with his dashing party, was ordered to surprise and, if
possible, seize them. The affair was managed with consummate skill,
the troops marching by night and surrounding the marauders. Of these,
armed, they captured thirty-one, together with their horses.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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