After the disaster at Jacobsdal the enemy appeared on November 1st
near Kimberley and captured a small convoy. The country round was
disturbed, and Settle was sent south with a column to pacify it. In
this way we can trace this small cyclone from its origin in the old
storm centre in the north-east of the Orange River Colony, sweeping
round the whole country, striking one post after another, and
finally blowing out at the corresponding point upon the other side
of the seat of war.
We have last seen De Wet upon November 6th, when he fled south from
Bothaville, leaving his guns but not his courage behind him.
Trekking across the line, and for a wonder gathering up no train as
he passed, he made for that part of the eastern Orange River Colony
which had been reoccupied by his countrymen. Here, in the
neighbourhood of Thabanchu, he was able to join other forces,
probably the commandos of Haasbroek and Fourie, which still
retained some guns. At the head of a considerable force he attacked
the British garrison of Dewetsdorp, a town some forty miles to the
south-east of Bloemfontein.
It was on November 18th that De Wet assailed the place, and it fell
upon the 24th, after a defence which appears to have been a very
creditable one.
