On
October 17th the column reached Frederickstad, where it halted.
On
that date six of Marshall's Horse were cut off while collecting
supplies. The same evening three hundred of the Imperial Light
Horse came in from Krugersdorp.
Up to this date the Boer forces which dogged the column had been
annoying but not seriously aggressive. On the 19th, however,
affairs took an unexpected turn. The British scouts rode in to
report a huge dust cloud whirling swiftly northwards from the
direction of the Vaal River - soon plainly visible to all, and
showing as it drew nearer the hazy outline of a long column of
mounted men. The dark coats of the riders, and possibly the speed
of their advance, showed that they were Boers, and soon it was
rumoured that it was no other than Christian De Wet with his merry
men, who, with characteristic audacity, had ridden back into the
Transvaal in the hope of overwhelming Barton's column.
It is some time since we have seen anything of this energetic
gentleman with the tinted glasses, but as the narrative will be
much occupied with him in the future a few words are needed to
connect him with the past. It has been already told how he escaped
through the net which caught so many of his countrymen at the time
of the surrender of Prinsloo, and how he was chased at furious
speed from the Vaal River to the mountains of Magaliesberg. Here he
eluded his pursuers, separated from Steyn, who desired to go east
to confer with Kruger, and by the end of August was back again in
his favourite recruiting ground in the north of the Orange River
Colony. Here for nearly two months he had lain very quiet,
refitting and reassembling his scattered force, until now, ready
for action once more, and fired by the hope of cutting off an
isolated British force, he rode swiftly northwards with two
thousand men under that rolling cloud which had been spied by the
watchers of Frederickstad.
The problem before him was a more serious one, however, than any
which he had ever undertaken, for this was no isolated regiment or
ill-manned post, but a complete little field force very ready to do
battle with him. De Wet's burghers, as they arrived, sprang from
their ponies and went into action in their usual invisible but
effective fashion, covered by the fire of several guns. The
soldiers had thrown up lines of sangars, however, and were able,
though exposed to a very heavy fire coming from several directions,
to hold their own until nightfall, when the defences were made more
secure. On the 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th the cordon of the
attack was drawn gradually closer, the Boers entirely surrounding
the British force, and it was evident that they were feeling round
for a point at which an assault might be delivered.
The position of the defenders upon the morning of October 25th was
as follows.
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