One of the Boer
guns unlimbered and attempted to open fire, but was overwhelmed by
the wave of horsemen. The Boer riders broke and fled, leaving their
artillery to escape as best it might. The guns dashed over the veld
in a mad gallop, but wilder still was the rush of the fiery cavalry
behind them. For once the brave and cool-headed Dutchmen were
fairly panic-stricken. Hardly a shot was fired at the pursuers, and
the riflemen seem to have been only too happy to save their own
skins. Two field guns, one pom-pom, six maxims, fifty-six wagons
and 140 prisoners were the fruits of that one magnificent charge,
while fifty-four stricken Boers were picked up after the action.
The pursuit was reluctantly abandoned when the spent horses could
go no farther.
While the vanguard had thus scattered the main body of the enemy a
detachment of riflemen had ridden round to attack the British rear
and convoy. A few volleys from the escort drove them off, however,
with some loss. Altogether, what with the loss of nine guns and of
at least 200 men, the rout of Haartebeestefontein was a severe blow
to the Boer cause. A week or two later Sir H. Rawlinson's column,
acting with Babington, rushed Smuts's laager at daylight and
effected a further capture of two guns and thirty prisoners. Taken
in conjunction with French's successes in the east and Plumer's in
the north, these successive blows might have seemed fatal to the
Boer cause, but the weary struggle was still destined to go on
until it seemed that it must be annihilation rather than
incorporation which would at last bring a tragic peace to those
unhappy lands.
All over the country small British columns had been operating
during these months - operations which were destined to increase in
scope and energy as the cold weather drew in. The weekly tale of
prisoners and captures, though small for any one column, gave the
aggregate result of a considerable victory. In these scattered and
obscure actions there was much good work which can have no reward
save the knowledge of duty done. Among many successful raids and
skirmishes may be mentioned two by Colonel Park from Lydenburg,
which resulted between them in the capture of nearly 100 of the
enemy, including Abel Erasmus of sinister reputation. Nor would any
summary of these events be complete without a reference to the very
gallant defence of Mahlabatini in Zululand, which was successfully
held by a handful of police and civilians against an irruption of
the Boers. With the advent of winter and of reinforcements the
British operations became very energetic in every part of the
country, and some account of them will now be added.
CHAPTER 34.
THE WINTER CAMPAIGN (APRIL TO SEPTEMBER, 1901).
The African winter extends roughly from April to September, and as
the grass during that period would be withered on the veld, the
mobility of the Boer commandos must be very much impaired.
