The Record of a Regiment of the Line by M. Jacson

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On the following day General Kitchener ordered the mounted troops and
guns to make a reconnaissance towards Dulstroom. Whilst the rest of the
force remained in camp, the baggage under escort was sent towards
Belfast. The reconnoitring force fared badly, for after advancing a few
miles Boers in large numbers were seen collecting on the high hills due
west, and approaching at a rapid pace. The reconnoitring force was
shortly afterwards heavily engaged, and compelled to retire on to the
camp.

The infantry were now ordered to retire as rapidly as possible to a
ridge in rear, distant about 2000 to 2500 yards. The cavalry retired
hard pressed on to Schwartz Kopjes, which they held until the infantry
had completed their movement, when the cavalry again retired back to the
neighbourhood of the infantry. Schwartz kopjes were immediately occupied
by the Boers, who collected there in large numbers and endeavoured to
get round the flanks of the column.

Followed hotly by the Boers, the column made a rapid retirement, units
covering each other until camp was reached. It was only then that the
Boers drew off. There was no further engagement that day or during the
night, and the column completed its advance next day to Belfast, where
it arrived about midday and camped to the south side of the railway.

The distribution of the garrison, carried out at the commencement of
February, continued more or less the same till the time the Regiment
left Lydenburg. Three companies were north of Lydenburg, and were
stationed at the Mission House, Mission Camp Fort, and Bridge Hill. One
company was at Strathcona Hill, south of the town, two companies under
the command of Major Davies were at Witklip, whilst the three companies
which had proceeded with General Kitchener to Belfast were quartered on
their return in Lydenburg.

During this time Colonel Park was commanding the Lydenburg district with
Captain Ravenshaw as Brigade Major.

On February 5th the Boers attacked all the Lydenburg posts. The attacks
were not heavily pressed. There were no casualties on the side of the
defenders, whilst the Boers lost, as far as could be ascertained, two
killed and seven wounded.

On February 16th two Boers surrendered at Mission Camp. These stated
that their friends in the laagers were badly off for meat and had hardly
any horses left, most of them having died of horse-sickness.

Early in March, 1901, Colonel Park decided on raiding Piet Schwartz's
laager, which was stationed on the ridge to the north of and overlooking
Kruger's Post. His force consisted of three companies Devons under
Captain Jacson, three companies Rifle Brigade, three companies Royal
Irish, one squadron 19th Hussars, three companies mounted infantry,
three guns 53rd Battery, one howitzer, and one pompom, and by the 12th
his arrangements were complete. The infantry were to make a night march
and to attack at dawn, whilst the mounted troops and guns were to be at
Kruger's Post just after dawn to assist.

Under cover of darkness, the column rendezvoused at the Spekboom Bridge,
one company having gone on ahead to seize any Boers who might be coming
down at nightfall, as was their wont, to form a picquet there.

A start was made from the bridge at about 9 p.m. Leaving the main road
on their left, the column proceeded in single file, Devons leading,
along a footpath which led them over a Nek in the hills and thence down
into a donga. An accident, which might have been attended with very
unfortunate results, occurred at the very commencement. The Royal Irish,
who were in the rear, instead of following and keeping in touch with the
remainder of the column missed connection, and went up the main road, on
which, about two miles ahead, was a Boer picquet. They were, however,
stopped just in time and turned back. This delayed the advance for about
an hour. Along the donga the march was continued for some six miles,
when a cross donga was met with, the sides of which were steep and about
fifteen feet high. The leading troops crossed and halted on the far side
till the rear closed up. The Maxim gun mules with difficulty negotiated
the obstacle, and the advance was, after one hour's halt, continued to
Kruger's Post.

The force kept to the donga almost the whole march, scarcely for a
moment leaving its shelter. Terribly rough going it was, with long high
grass soaking wet, and the men tumbling about into ruts and over rocks.
On they trudged, twisting and turning, up and down, falling about, with
every now and then a suppressed exclamation and an imprecation on rocks
and ruts in general and night marches in particular--no lights, no
smoking. No one except he who has done it knows what a strain it is
marching along through the dark night, without a word and without the
company of a pipe.

On emerging from the donga at Kruger's Post on to the open veldt a
further halt was made; the leading troops lay down in the soaking grass
and were fast asleep in a moment.

It was found that the column had opened out considerably, and must have
stretched for some four miles from lead to end. The rate of marching at
the head of the column had been about two miles per hour. This was
found, over the rough ground, to be too quick to allow of the rear
keeping closed up--the pace should not have exceeded one mile an hour.

The column having closed up and the sleeping men having with difficulty
been found and turned up out of the wet grass, a further advance was
made. But now the direction was to the right in order to avoid Kruger's
Post Farm, which was occupied by the Boers. This took the column over
some millraces, a biggish jump for the men. The mules, having been
relieved of their loads, were man-handled across. Once over these and
then a wade through a stream knee deep, the ghostly column again halted.
It was now 3.30 a.m. The foot of the low hills behind which was the
laager, had been reached, and the officers were busy getting their men
collected.

An intelligence officer reports that if there is the slightest delay
dawn will break before the positions are reached. The first streak of
dawn is 4.45 a.m.

"May we go off now on our own?" is the question asked.

"All right; off you go!" is the cheery answer from Colonel Park.

The Devons had the furthest to go, perhaps one and a half miles to reach
the far side of the laager. The Royal Irish were already at the foot of
the hill on the top of which was the position assigned to them.

Two of the Rifle Brigade companies had unfortunately missed connection
and had gone off into the "Ewigkeit" in the dark, but one company was
ready and handy to the Nek which they had to occupy, to fill up the gap
between the Devons and the Royal Irish.

The Devons, who by this time were well together, started off, Captain
Travers with a guide leading. He had orders to take on with him the two
first companies, the guide showing him where to place his men. On they
went, running and walking, walking and running, up the slippery road,
across the Nek and then down into the valley below. Two small groups of
men were posted in the ditch leading up to the Nek.

As the last man reached the knoll overlooking the Nek at the place where
the main road crossed it, and which was the right of the Devons'
allotment of position, the two leading companies could be heard down in
the valley below stumbling amongst the stones, getting into a position
that would entirely cut off the Boers' retreat down the main road
leading north.

[Illustration: Mission Camp Fort, Lydenburg]

Suddenly all was still: everything was ready. It was exactly 4.45 a.m.

All lay down and waited in breathless silence for the coming dawn. The
Devons had orders to withhold their fire as long as possible, to make
sure of the other units being in their places. "That's the position of
the laager, just behind that little knoll," whispered an intelligence
scout; "but it seems as if the bird has flown."

[Illustration: Mission Camp Fort, Lydenburg (Interior)]

For some ten minutes the silence continued, with not so much as the
crack of a twig to interrupt it. What's that? It's a cock crowing! There
it is again! There's another! The laager's there right enough, and we've
got them!

In the far distance, Lydenburg way, the faint noise of musketry fire
could be heard; it was the mounted troops advancing and driving in the
Boer picquets on the road above the Spekboom Bridge, eight miles back.

In about five minutes' time the laager was roused by a Boer, who
commenced swearing roundly at some one in a very loud voice. One man
came out and posted himself on a little rise of ground, and gazed,
listening, Kruger's Post way. He was joined by another, then another,
until there was a group of nine of them, two dressed in long white
robes. It was thought that these were women. Suddenly they all returned
into the laager out of sight, only to appear again in a few minutes on
horseback. Three of them came straight up to the high road just under
the knoll where the Devons were in readiness. They were allowed to go
on, and they continued their career down the road towards Kruger's Post.

Now the utility of posting the groups in the ditch by the side of the
road became manifest. Suddenly from their direction crack! went a single
rifle, then a burst of rifle fire, which was immediately taken up all
round the circle.

No, not quite round; there was silence from the hill which should have
been occupied by the Royal Irish. A party of some twenty Boers were seen
ascending this hill, the top of which was covered with big rocks. The
Devons' rifles as well as their Maxim gun were turned on to them. The
Boers, however, succeeded in reaching the safety of the rocks a few
moments before the ascending Irish.

Meanwhile the firing had become general, and in the dim light also a
trifle mixed. The Rifle Brigade fired into the two Devon companies down
in the valley and across the laager. The latter in their turn fired at
some Boers trying to escape through the gap left open by the Royal
Irish. These were striving with the Boers for the possession of the
rock-capped hill, and both were being fired into by the Devons across
the valley.

After some twenty minutes of sharp musketry fire the "cease fire"
sounded, and everything was again quiet; it was then found that the
whole laager had fallen into British hands. Two Boers were killed, three
wounded, and thirty-six captured, whilst the British casualties were two
killed and four wounded, all of them Royal Irish.

The distance from Lydenburg to Piet Schwartz's laager by road is about
eighteen miles; the distance marched by the column could not have been
under twenty miles, and this over very difficult ground. The column had
left Lydenburg at 7 p.m., and reached its destination at 4.45 a.m.

Unfortunately, Piet Schwartz himself escaped capture, as he was not in
the laager; he had left it the previous day.

The mounted troops and guns were very slow in coming out, with the
result that a large quantity of cattle located in the various kloofs
which should have been captured, escaped. Abel Erasmus was taken the
following day.

The force bivouacked at Kruger's Post for the night, and returned to
Lydenburg next day, bringing with it fifteen Boer families in addition
to the prisoners. On their return a wire was received by Colonel Park
from Lord Kitchener: "Highly appreciate successful operation of Colonel
Park and troops engaged."

The remainder of the month was spent mostly in convoy work between
Witklip and Lydenburg. Whilst returning to Lydenburg with one of these
convoys, General Walter Kitchener, who was riding ahead with a small
escort, suddenly came across some Boers lying concealed in the grass. He
lost two of his own personal escort killed, his own horse also being
shot. He himself narrowly escaped capture.

On April 10th an order was issued for the battalion to concentrate in
Lydenburg, preparatory to a general advance of three columns. The posts
at Bridge Hill, Mission Village, Strathcona, and Paardeplaats were
evacuated, and the company at Witklip withdrawn.

The destinations of the columns were as follows:--

One column under Colonel Park was to proceed in the Kruger's Post
direction and to scour the country towards the north, and later to join
hands with General Kitchener's column, which was to proceed in a
north-westerly direction, and the third column under Colonel Douglas was
to proceed from Witklip in a westerly direction.

On the 12th, Lieutenant-Colonel Park handed over the command of the
battalion to Major Davies, who had arrived from Witklip, and Captain
Jacson took over the duties of second in command.

CHAPTER V

TREKKING IN THE NORTH-EAST TRANSVAAL

On April 13th, 1901, General Walter Kitchener commenced his long trek
with a night march.

His force consisted of--

Two guns 53rd F.B.R.A. under Major Johnson and Captain Talbot-Ponsonby.
One 5-inch gun.
One 5-inch howitzer.
One naval 12-pounder.
One company mounted infantry.
1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment (20 officers and 900 men).
2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade.
The 6th Western Australians.

General Walter Kitchener's column formed one of the many operating at
the time in a combined movement in the Northern Transvaal and bush
veldt, under the direction of General Sir Bindon Blood.

Two columns were sent north to drive the bush veldt, forcing any Boers
that might be located there on to the other columns, who were acting as
stops near the Tautes Berg and Bothas Berg, immediately north of the
Pretoria-Lorenzo railway line.

General Walter Kitchener decided to start his operations with an attack
on Schoeman's laager, and for this purpose the Regiment was ordered to
take up a position before dawn which would cut off the laager, situated
in the Steenkampsberg mountains, near the entrance of the Lydenburg road
into the hills, from the north. This entailed a night march of about
sixteen miles. The remainder of the column was to proceed by the main
road and attack the laager at daybreak.

The Regiment rendezvoused on the west side of the river, clear of the
town, before dusk. Here the men had food, and a start was made at 7 p.m.
The going at first was fairly simple, but once the track was left the
ground became rough, stony, and intersected with dongas. The advance was
then made in single file.

As an instance of how a small obstruction delays troops marching in the
dark, one small water-course 1-1/2 feet wide and about 1 foot deep
delayed the head of the column for some thirty-five minutes, till all
the men had crossed and were closed up again, and then in crossing one
in every ten fell into it. The top of the Steenkampsberg was reached at
about 1 a.m., after a steep climb over a rough track. The difficulty of
the march was increased by a thick fog. On the far side a steep cliff,
at the bottom of which was a deep donga and a mountain torrent, was
encountered, and this had to be negotiated on hands and knees. Slipping
and sliding down, the bottom of the donga was reached and the mountain
torrent waded, and then after a steep ascent the top of the plateau was
reached.

It was here that the laager was supposed to be situated, and an
extension was made and the advance continued. Just as the dawn was
breaking some flying Boers, appearing and disappearing in the fog, were
fired at by the leading extended company. The Boers had been disturbed
prematurely and had escaped, taking with them their pompom, but the
wagon containing its ammunition fell into the hands of the Regiment.

The actual position of the laager was found to be about one mile away
from where it had been previously located, and was very difficult to
find in the dark owing to the undulations of the ground at the top of
the ridge. Complete success under these circumstances was scarcely
probable, but as a test as to what a regiment could do when called upon,
the undertaking was effective and complete.

After the Regiment had been engaged in long-range firing for some time,
the head of the main column appeared on the Lydenburg road, and the
force finally went into bivouac for the night at Boshhoek. About 400
sheep and some cattle were picked up on the neighbouring farms.

The following morning the column marched north down the Waterval valley,
and after the mounted troops had experienced some opposition in very
hilly and rough country, Boshfontein was reached.

Shortly after the force had settled into camp heavy gun fire was heard
from the direction of Waterval. The Boers' shells exploded in the valley
immediately to the north of the camp and in the vicinity of a farm,
where it would appear the Boers considered the column should have
bivouacked. After the explosion of some twenty shells a louder report
than usual was heard, and the shelling ceased.

The mounted troops reported that the Boers were in position above
Waterval, where there was a large women's laager.

In the dark of the morning, at three o'clock, General Kitchener set his
column in motion: four companies, with a 12-pounder and two 5-inch guns,
under Major Davies, preceded the force, with the intention of capturing
the big Boer gun; four companies, with two field guns, under Captain
Jacson, made a flanking movement through scrub and dongas round the
left. Very little opposition was met with. The mounted troops captured a
few prisoners, and it was found that the Boers had blown up their big
gun. This was the gun that had been situated on Pepworth Hill, and which
had been disabled by one of the Naval Brigade's shells during the siege
of Ladysmith. Its muzzle had been shortened, showing that it had been
damaged. The Boers had blown the gun to pieces. The barrel of the gun
was blown about fifty yards in front of the emplacement, whilst the
breech-block was found afterwards 1-1/2 miles in rear. They had
destroyed also one pompom and one Maxim. Twenty-eight Boers were
captured, with about sixty head of cattle and thirteen wagons. The
Australians had one man killed and one man wounded.

[Illustration: Remains of Boer Big Gun, Waterval]

The Waterval valley was well watered and exceedingly rich in crops, and
the numerous farm-houses were full of families. These were collected
afterwards by Colonel Park's column and sent into Lydenburg.

On the 16th the column set out from Waterval in a north-westerly
direction, the objective being Secoconi's country and Magnet Heights.
The first day found the force on the east bank of the Steelpoort River.
The Dwars River, which was found in full flood owing to a very violent
thunderstorm, had been forded on the way. The Regiment was rear-guard to
the column, and, owing to delay in passing the baggage over the river,
reached camp some considerable time after dark. The Australian mounted
troops did not halt at the Steelpoort, but, fording the river, pushed on
to Magnet Heights, which they occupied the same night. Park's column had
been in touch with Kitchener's in the morning.

[Illustration: Crossing the Steelport River]

On the banks of the Dwars River Secoconi's men were first met with.
These, armed with rifles of various patterns ancient and modern, were
out scouting for General Kitchener in all directions.

At dawn on April 17th the crossing of the Steelpoort River was
commenced. One company of the Regiment was first sent across to occupy
the high ground on the far side and to cover the crossing. The river was
in flood owing to the heavy rain of the previous day, and the water
above the men's waist. The advanced company having got safely across and
having occupied the high ground, the remainder of the infantry were sent
over without casualty. The march was then continued towards Magnet
Heights, which was reached at dusk. Here camp was formed, and on the
following day the march was again resumed with mule transport only,
through Secoconi's land.

Secoconi was at the time at war with a neighbouring tribe, and a fringe
of hills only, divided the combatant parties, but an interval was called
in their operations by mutual consent to allow of the passage of the
British through their respective countries. On leaving behind the
outposts of one, the outposts of the other were met with.

Having reached this point to the north of the Transvaal, General
Kitchener's column was in a position to turn south, and, in conjunction
with other columns on his right and left hand, to sweep the bush veldt
and mountains southward towards the railway, near which another force
under the personal command of Sir Bindon Blood, who was in charge of the
entire operations, was drawn up ready to intercept any Boers who might
try to move across the railway from north to south.

At Vergelegen, where the column halted for the night of the 18th, some
of Secoconi's headmen came into camp for an interview. They were much
impressed with what they saw, patted the 5-inch gun with friendly
concern, and having relieved the General of his tobacco-pouch and a box
of cigars, and offering their assistance when not busy with their
neighbours, returned to their kraals.

The mounted troops were sent on ahead the same day to Pokwani town,
where it was supposed the Boers had collected a quantity of cattle. No
trace, however, of either Boers or cattle was found there.

The columns comprising the drive southward were in constant
communication with each other by signalling. Plumer's column was
immediately on Kitchener's right, holding the line of the Oliphant's
River, thus preventing the Boers, who were scattered in small groups in
the bush veldt, from escaping in the direction of Pietersburg, whilst
Park's column was operating on Kitchener's left, thus preventing the
Boers breaking back towards Waterval and the Steenkampsberg mountains.

Gradually Kitchener's column moved southward, driving the Boers off the
high ground and picking them up with their cattle and families in the
low or bush veldt. To do this with greater effect the column was
divided, one portion consisting of the battalion, one gun, the I.L.H.
and Australians under Colonel Davies proceeding in a north-westerly
direction to stop the Boers breaking back into the bush veldt in rear,
whilst General Kitchener with the remainder of the column marched over
the high ground overlooking the bush veldt, and on the direct road to
the south. On the 22nd Davies' column reached Enkeldedoorn, whilst
General Kitchener with the Rifle Brigade occupied Vaal Kop on the
morning of the 23rd. On the first day out the mounted troops of Davies'
force, scouring the bush in their advance, captured 23 prisoners, 8
wagons, 450 head of cattle, and 4000 sheep. They also brought in a
number of families, some of whom had been hiding for months in kloofs
and dongas in great fear of the Kaffirs. One woman with her children was
seen weeping by the side of the track, and on being asked the reason,
she implored that she also might be taken into the railway and not left
behind. She was comforted by an assurance that the column would return
and that she would be taken in.

Stores were now running short, and the biscuit and sugar rations were
reduced to half.

In order to keep connection between the two portions of General
Kitchener's column, two companies were left at Enkeldedoorn under the
command of Captain Bartlett. These also formed a "stop" to prevent the
Boers breaking back, and a post to which prisoners' families and cattle
could be forwarded on their way to join the head-quarters at
Paardeplaats, whither General Kitchener had gone from Vaal Kop.

The Regiment, with the Australian mounted troops, operating through
dense bush proceeded in the direction of the Oliphant's River, capturing
a considerable number of prisoners, cattle, wagons, and families,
amongst the prisoners being Commandant Fourie.

Eight privates of the Regiment, who were escorting an ammunition cart,
and who had lost their way, captured six Boers with all their cattle and
brought them into camp.

When within twelve miles of the Oliphant's River, Davies, hearing that
Commandant Schroeder with a small commando was directly between him and
Plumer's column on the Oliphant's River, split his force into two. The
infantry, comprising five companies of the Regiment, were sent back
under Captain Jacson, with all the prisoners wagons and families to
Enkeldedoorn, while Davies himself, with the Australians and one gun,
started in pursuit of Schroeder. On nearing the Oliphant's River it was
ascertained that Schroeder, with forty-one men and one Maxim gun and
several wagons, had been forced by Davies' mounted troops across the
river into the hands of Plumer, who had them in safe keeping.

Jacson's train of prisoners reached Enkeldedoorn on April 26th, and on
the following day he received orders to proceed at once to
Zuikerboschplaats and to take with him Bartlett's two companies from
Enkeldedoorn. This place was reached at dusk, and shortly afterwards
Davies brought up his Australians to the same camp, his column being
then again united. The northern part of the bush veldt having been swept
clear of Boers, Davies then moved due south and scoured the country
round the Tafel Kop mountain, capturing a number of prisoners and
wagons. Haartebeestfontein was reached late in the evening of the 28th,
some of the companies of the Regiment having marched over hill and dale
through thick scrub more than twenty miles. Four men had lost their way
and were missing.

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