This Singular And Formidable Force Was Drawn From Every
Part Of England And Scotland, With A Contingent Of Hard-Riding
Irish Fox-Hunters.
Noblemen and grooms rode knee to knee in the
ranks, and the officers included many well-known country gentlemen
and masters of hounds.
Well horsed and well armed, a better force
for the work in hand could not be imagined. So high did the
patriotism run that corps were formed in which the men not only
found their own equipment but contributed their pay to the war
fund. Many young men about town justified their existence for the
first time. In a single club, which is peculiarly consecrated to
the jeunesse doree, three hundred members rode to the wars.
Without waiting for these distant but necessary reinforcements, the
Generals in Africa had two divisions to look to, one of which was
actually arriving while the other was on the sea. These formed the
5th Division under Sir Charles Warren, and the 6th Division under
General Kelly-Kenny. Until these forces should arrive it was
obviously best that the three armies should wait, for, unless there
should be pressing need of help on the part of the besieged
garrisons or imminent prospects of European complications, every
week which passed was in our favour. There was therefore a long
lull in the war, during which Methuen strengthened his position at
Modder River, Gatacre held his own at Sterkstroom, and Buller built
up his strength for another attempt at the relief of Ladysmith. The
only connected series of operations during that time were those of
General French in the neighbourhood of Colesberg, an account of
which will be found in their entirety elsewhere. A short narrative
may be given here of the doings of each of these forces until the
period of inaction came to an end.
Methuen after the repulse at Magersfontein had fallen back upon the
lines of Modder River, and had fortified them in such a way that he
felt himself secure against assault. Cronje, on the other hand, had
extended his position both to the right and to the left, and had
strengthened the works which we had already found so formidable. In
this way a condition of inaction was established which was really
very much to our advantage, since Methuen retained his
communications by rail, while all supplies to Cronje had to come a
hundred miles by road. The British troops, and especially the
Highland Brigade, were badly in need of a rest after the very
severe ordeal which they had undergone. General Hector Macdonald,
whose military record had earned the soldierly name of 'Fighting
Mac,' was sent for from India to take the place of the ill-fated
Wauchope. Pending his arrival and that of reinforcements, Methuen
remained quiet, and the Boers fortunately followed his example.
From over the northern horizon those silver flashes of light told
that Kimberley was dauntless in the present and hopeful of the
future. On January 1st the British post of Kuruman fell, by which
twelve officers and 120 police were captured.
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