Mere Route Marches Without A
Very Definite And Adequate Objective Appear To Be Rather
Exasperating Than Overawing, For So Long As The Column Is Moving
Onwards The Most Timid Farmer May Be Tempted Into Long-Range Fire
From The Flanks Or Rear.
The river was reached and the Boers driven
from a position which they had taken up, but their signal fires
brought mounted riflemen from every farm, and the retreat of the
troops was pressed as they returned to Belfast.
There was all the
material for a South African Lexington. The most difficult of
military operations, the covering of a detachment from a numerous
and aggressive enemy, was admirably carried out by the Canadian
gunners and dragoons under the command of Colonel Lessard. So
severe was the pressure that sixteen of the latter were for a time
in the hands of the enemy, who attempted something in the nature of
a charge upon the steadfast rearguard. The movement was repulsed,
and the total Boer loss would appear to have been considerable,
since two of their leaders, Commandant Henry Prinsloo and General
Joachim Fourie, were killed, while General Johann Grobler was
wounded. If the rank and file suffered in proportion the losses
must have been severe. The British casualties in the two days
amounted to eight killed and thirty wounded, a small total when the
arduous nature of the service is considered. The Canadians and the
Shropshires seem to have borne off the honours of these trying
operations.
In the second week of October, General French, with three brigades
of cavalry (Dickson's, Gordon's, and Mahon's), started for a
cross-country ride from Machadodorp.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 618 of 842
Words from 165364 to 165636
of 225456
