The Boer Idea Of A Strong Attack Upon This Point Was Strategically
Admirable, But Tactically There Was Not Sufficient Energy In
Pushing Home The Advance.
The British wings succeeded in
withdrawing, and the concentrated force at Arundel was too strong
for attack Yet there
Was a time of suspense, a time when every man
had become of such importance that even fifty Indian syces were for
the first and last time in the war, to their own supreme
gratification, permitted for twenty-four hours to play their
natural part as soldiers. [Footnote: There was something piteous in
the chagrin of these fine Sikhs at being held back from their
natural work as soldiers. A deputation of them waited upon Lord
Roberts at Bloemfontein to ask, with many salaams, whether 'his
children were not to see one little fight before they returned.']
But then with the rapid strokes in front the hour of danger passed,
and the Boer advance became first a halt and then a retreat.
On February 27th, Major Butcher, supported by the Inniskillings and
Australians, attacked Rensburg and shelled the enemy out of it.
Next morning Clements's whole force had advanced from Arundel and
took up its old position. The same afternoon it was clear that the
Boers were retiring, and the British, following them up, marched
into Colesberg, around which they had manoeuvred so long. A
telegram from Steyn to De Wet found in the town told the whole
story of the retirement: 'As long as you are able to hold the
positions you are in with the men you have, do so.
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