So Much For The Movements Into The Free State Of Clements, Of
Gatacre, And Of Brabant.
It only remains to trace the not very
eventful history of the Natal campaign after the relief of
Ladysmith.
General Buller made no attempt to harass the retreat of the Boers,
although in two days no fewer than two thousand wagons were counted
upon the roads to Newcastle and Dundee. The guns had been removed
by train, the railway being afterwards destroyed. Across the north
of Natal lies the chain of the Biggarsberg mountains, and to this
the Transvaal Boers had retired, while the Freestaters had hurried
through the passes of the Drakensberg in time to make the fruitless
opposition to Roberts's march upon their capital. No accurate
information had come in as to the strength of the Transvaalers, the
estimates ranging from five to ten thousand, but it was known that
their position was formidable and their guns mounted in such a way
as to command the Dundee and Newcastle roads.
General Lyttelton's Division had camped as far out as Elandslaagte
with Burn Murdoch's cavalry, while Dundonald's brigade covered the
space between Burn Murdoch's western outposts and the Drakensberg
passes. Few Boers were seen, hut it was known that the passes were
held in some strength. Meanwhile the line was being restored in the
rear, and on March 9th the gallant White was enabled to take train
for Durban, though it was not until ten days later that the Colenso
bridge was restored.
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