They formally annexed the whole of
Northern Natal to the Orange Free State - a dangerous precedent when
the tables should be turned. With amazing assurance the burghers
pegged out farms for themselves and sent for their people to occupy
these newly won estates.
On November 5th the Boers had remained so inert that the British
returned in small force to Colenso and removed some stores - which
seems to suggest that the original retirement was premature. Four
days passed in inactivity - four precious days for us - and on the
evening of the fourth, November 9th, the watchers on the signal
station at Table Mountain saw the smoke of a great steamer coming
past Robben Island. It was the 'Roslin Castle' with the first of
the reinforcements. Within the week the 'Moor,' 'Yorkshire,'
'Aurania,' 'Hawarden Castle,' 'Gascon,' 'Armenian,' 'Oriental,' and
a fleet of others had passed for Durban with 15,000 men. Once again
the command of the sea had saved the Empire.
But, now that it was too late, the Boers suddenly took the
initiative, and in dramatic fashion.
