The Project Gutenberg eBook of South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 2 (of 8)

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Title: South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 2 (of 8)

Author: Louis Creswicke

Release date: August 6, 2008 [eBook #26198]
Most recently updated: January 3, 2021

Language: English

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"ALL THAT WAS LEFT OF THEM." THE BLACK WATCH AFTER THE BATTLE OF MAGERSFONTEIN. From the Drawing by R. Caton Woodville.

"ALL THAT WAS LEFT OF THEM."

THE BLACK WATCH AFTER THE BATTLE OF MAGERSFONTEIN.

From the Drawing by R. Caton Woodville.

South Africa

and the

Transvaal War

BY

LOUIS CRESWICKE

AUTHOR OF "ROXANE," ETC.

WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS

IN SIX VOLUMES

VOL. II.—FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR TO THE BATTLE OF COLENSO, 15TH DEC. 1899

EDINBURGH: T. C. & E. C. JACK

1900

CONTENTS—Vol. II.

PAGE
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLEvii
CHAPTER I
PAGE
The Crisis at Home1
In South Africa2
The Occupation of Dundee7
The Battle of Glencoe14
Elandslaagte20
The Retreat from Dundee32
Sir W. Penn Symons—Glencoe35
The Battle of Reitfontein36
Ladysmith38
The Battle of Lombard's Kop41
The Disaster of Nicholson's Nek45
The Siege of Ladysmith51
CHAPTER II
PAGE
The Siege of Mafeking55
Kimberley64
CHAPTER III
PAGE
Natal70
The Invasion of Cape Colony76
The Battle of Belmont86
The Battle of Graspan92
The Battle of Modder River97
After the Fight108
CHAPTER IV
PAGE
The Investment of Ladysmith110
Estcourt119
Armoured Train Disaster At Chieveley121
Estcourt126
The Fight on Beacon Hill132
Ladysmith135
Estcourt and Frere139
Surprises at Ladysmith145
Frere Camp151
CHAPTER V
PAGE
Activity at the Cape154
With General Gatacre159
The Reverse at Stormberg163
At the Modder River168
The Battle of Majesfontein171
CHAPTER VI
PAGE
Chieveley Camp187
The Battle of Colenso188
Facsimile of MS. of Mr. Rudyard Kipling's War Poem "The Absent-minded Beggar"203

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS—Vol. II.

PAGE
Chart Showing Staff Appointments Made at the Commencement of the WarAt front
I. COLOURED PLATES
PAGE

"All That Was Left of Them."

The Black Watch after the Battle of Majesfontein.

By R. Caton Woodville

 Frontispiece
Officer of the 9th Lancers38
Sergeant, King's Royal Rifles80
Private and Corporal of the Gordon Highlanders96
Sergeant and Private of the Dublin Fusiliers102
Sighting a Naval Field Gun128
Sergeants of the Royal Horse Artillery with a 12-pounder144
Sergeant-Major of the New South Wales Lancers154
2. FULL-PAGE PLATES
PAGE
The Outbreak of War—The Drakensberg Mountains6
The Outbreak of the War—Transport Leaving England for the Cape16
The Battle of Elandslaagte26
Before Ladysmith—Horse Artillery Galloping to take up a New Position42
Ladysmith, Natal54
Night Sortie from Mafeking64
The Battle of Belmont90
The Battle of Modder River106
Scene on the Tugela112
Repelling an Attack from the Trenches around Ladysmith138
From Frere to Chieveley150
Stormberg Pass160
The Modder River172
The Battle of Colenso—Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment Leading the Central Attack188
The Battle of Colenso—The Dublin Fusiliers Attempt to Ford the Tugela192
The Battle of Colenso—The Last Desperate Attempt to Save the Guns198
3. FULL-PAGE PORTRAITS
PAGE
Lieut.-General J. D. P. French22
Major-General Sir W. Penn Symons, K.C.B.32
General Joubert48
Colonel Robert S. S. Baden-Powell, the Defender of Mafeking58
Right Hon. Sir Redvers Henry Buller, K.C.B., V.C.74
Lieut.-General Lord Methuen, C.B.86
General Sir George Stewart White, V.C., G.C.B., the Defender of Ladysmith118
Major-General Andrew G. Wauchope, C.B.176
4. MAPS AND ENGRAVINGS IN THE TEXT
PAGE
Coloured Map of Seat of WarAt Front
Map of Northern Natal9
Position of Forces before the Battle of Glencoe15
The Battle of Glencoe17
Position of Forces before the Battle of Elandslaagte, Noon21
Plan of Battle of Elandslaagte25
Map of Ladysmith and Surrounding Heights42
The Creusot Quick-Firing Field Gun, or "Long Tom"44
4.7-Inch Naval Gun on Improvised Mounting52
12-Pounder Naval Gun on Improvised Carriage52
15-Pounder Field Gun62
An Armoured Train68
The Maxim Gun79
Lord Methuen's Line of Advance87
Plan of the Battle of Belmont90
Plan of the Battle of Modder River101
Complete Machine Gun Detachment of Mounted Infantry118
The 5-Inch Howitzer or Siege Gun127
Facsimile of Page of Newspaper Published in Ladysmith during the Siege137
Telegraph Section of the Royal Engineers144
4.7 Naval Gun on Capt. Percy Scott's Improvised Carriage154
Map Illustrating the Operations on the South of the Orange River164
Battle of Majesfontein174
Sketch Plan of Positions at Majesfontein176
Sketch Plan of Battle of Colenso191
Map Showing the Attempted Passage of the River by General Buller on December 15194

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE—Vol. II.

OCTOBER.

11.—Boer Ultimatum time-limit expired. Great Britain commenced to be at war with Transvaal and Orange Free State.

12.—Text of Great Britain's reply to Boer Ultimatum issued. It stated that the conditions demanded were such as her Majesty's Government deemed it impossible to discuss.

Mr. Conyngham Greene recalled.

Armoured train captured by Boers near Mafeking.

Colonel Baden-Powell moved a large force outside Mafeking, and took up a strong defensive position.

13.—Newcastle abandoned.

14.—Sir R. Buller and Staff left England.

15.—Boers occupied Newcastle.

16.—Dundee evacuated.

17.—Parliament opened.

Successful sortie by Colonel Baden-Powell from Mafeking.

Armoured train in action near Kimberley during reconnaissance.

18.—Mr. Balfour announced that the Militia and Militia Reserves were to be called out.

19.—Transvaal flag hoisted at Vryburg.

20.—Boers repulsed by British at Talana Hill (Glencoe).

21.—General French, with about 2000 men, attacked a Boer force under General Kock at Elandslaagte.

22.—General Symons promoted to be Major-General.

General Yule retired from Dundee on Ladysmith.

23.—Death of General Symons.

Mafeking bombarded.

Transvaal National Bank seized at Durban.

24.—Sir George White engaged Boers at Reitfontein.

Services accepted of Sir William M'Cormac, President of the Royal College of Surgeons, to attend the wounded.

26.—Generals Yule and White joined forces at Ladysmith.

Bombardment of Mafeking commenced.

28.—Boers were closing round Ladysmith.

Proclamation issued declaring the Boer "commandeering" of certain portions of Cape Colony null.

30.—Engagement at Lombard's Kop.

Sir George White sent out from Ladysmith to Nicholson's Nek a Mountain Battery, with the Irish Fusiliers and the Gloucesters, to turn the enemy's right flank. Mules, with guns and reserve ammunition, stampeded into enemy's lines. After gallantly defending their position for six hours, men's ammunition was exhausted, and about 800 were captured. Naval Brigade did excellent work.

31.—Sir Redvers Buller landed at Cape Town.

NOVEMBER.

1.—Boers invaded Cape Colony.

2.—Free Staters' position at Besters brilliantly taken by cavalry. Boers lost heavily; our casualties slight. Boers treacherously used white flag.

Colenso evacuated by the British.

Arrangements for a supplementary Naval Brigade completed.

Orders issued for mobilising the Militia.

3.—Naauwpoort and Stormberg evacuated by the British garrisons.

5.—Death of Commander Egerton, of Powerful.

6.—Ladysmith isolated.

9.—Boers attacked Ladysmith, and repulsed with heavy loss.

Orders issued for mobilisation of a Fifth Division.

10.—Engagement of Belmont. Colonel Keith Falconer killed.

11.—Captain Percy Scott, of H.M.S. Terrible, appointed commandant of the forces defending Durban.

12.—Lord Methuen arrived at Orange River.

14.—Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Warren appointed to command the Fifth Division for service in South Africa.

15.—Armoured train wrecked by Boers near Frere. Mr. Winston Churchill and a number of Dublin Fusiliers and Volunteers captured.

Boers defeated at Estcourt.

16.—Fighting near Orange River.

17-22.—Transports arrived at Cape Town with 22,000 troops.

20.—Lord Methuen's force reached Witteputts.

23.—Lord Methuen attacked Boers at Belmont.

Boers routed at Willow Grange.

25.—Lord Methuen engaged the Boers at Graspan (Enslin), and after four hours' hard fighting carried position.

26.—Mooi River Column joined at Frere by General Hildyard.

28.—Lord Methuen engaged enemy, 8000 strong, at Modder River, and after ten hours' desperate fighting, drove them back.

30.—Sixth Division for South Africa notified.

DECEMBER.

2.—General Clery reached Frere.

3.—Transport Ismore wrecked 180 miles north of Cape Town—all troops landed.

6.—Sortie from Kimberley. Major Scott Turner killed.

7.—Arundel occupied by British.

8.—British sortie from Ladysmith, Lombard's Kop being carried.

9.—General Gatacre sustained serious reverse at Stormberg, having been misled by guides.

Lieutenant-Colonel Metcalfe, 2nd Rifle Brigade, with 500 men from Ladysmith, captured Surprise Hill, destroying a howitzer.

10.—General French drove the enemy from Vaal Kop.

11.—Lord Methuen attacked 12,000 Boers entrenched at Majesfontein, but attack failed, although British troops held their position. Major-General Wauchope, Major Lord Winchester, and Colonel Downman killed.

13.—General French defeated 1800 Boers between Arundel and Naauwpoort. British loss, 1 killed, 8 wounded.

14.—Orders given for the mobilisation of a Sixth Division, and a Seventh in reserve.

Sir Charles Warren and Staff arrived at the Cape.

15.—General Buller suffered a serious reverse at Colenso, troops having to retire to Chieveley, leaving behind 11 guns.

General Hector Macdonald appointed to succeed General Wauchope.

CHART OF STAFF APPOINTMENTS MADE AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR,

as issued by the War Office, 7th October, 1899.

LINES OF COMMUNICATION.

The Lines of Communication will be under the general command and direction of Lieut.-General Sir F. W. E. F. Forestier-Walker, K.C.B., C.M.G.

The following Officers will be employed and will have the Staff position shown opposite their names:—

Names of Officers Selected.  Staff Position.
Colonel H. H. Settle, C.B., D.S.O., p.s.c.Colonel on Staff.
Captain F. A. Molony, p.s.c., R.E.Staff Officer to Colonel on Staff.
Colonel J. W. Murray, p.s.c.Colonel on Staff.
Colonel W. D. Richardson, C.B.Deputy Adjutant-General for Supplies and Transport.
Lieut.-Colonel F. F. Johnson, Army Service CorpsStaff Officer to Deputy Adjutant-General for Supplies and Transport.
Brevet-Colonel C. H. Bridge, C.B., Army Service CorpsDeputy Adjutant-General for Transport.
Brevet-Major (local Lieut.-Colonel) E. P. C. Girouard, D.S.O., R.E.Director of Railways.[A]
Captain H. G. Joly de Lotbinière, R.E.Staff Officer to Director of Railways.
Captain (local Major) J. H. Twiss, R.E.  Assistant Directors of Railways.[B]
Captain (local Major) V. Murray, R.E.  
Major J. E. Capper, R.E.  Deputy-Assistant Directors of Railways.
Captain H. C. Manton, R.E. 
Capt. W. D. Waghorn, R.E. 
Major (local Lieut.-Colonel) A. E. Wrottesley, R.E.Director of Telegraphs.[A]
Colonel R. S. R. Fetherstonhaugh, h.p.  Station Commandants.[A]
Brevet-Colonel C. P. Ridley, 2nd Bn. Manchester Regt. 
Brevet-Lieut.-Colonel P. T. Rivett-Carnac, 1st Bn. West Riding Regt. 
Brevet-Lieut.-Colonel H. P. Shekleton, p.s.c., 1st Bn. South Lancashire Regt. 
Capt. J. G. Baldwin, Royal Garrison Artillery  Staff Officers to Station Commandants.[C]
Captain A. E. Lascelles, 2nd Bn. Norfolk Regt. 
Captain C. R. Ballard, 1st Bn. Norfolk Regt. 
Captain C. V. C. Hobart, D.S.O., 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards 
Brevet-Colonel E. W. D. Ward, C.B., Army Service Corps.  Assistant Adjutant-Generals.
Col. J. K. Trotter, C.M.G., p.s.c. 
Lieut.-Col. F. W. Bennet, R.E. 
Brevet-Lieut.-Colonel H. M. Lawson, p.s.c., R.E. 
Lieut.-Colonel S. H. Winter, Army Service Corps Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-Generals.
Lieut.-Colonel W. R. Winter, Army Service Corps 
Lieut.-Col. R. B. M'Comb, Army Service Corps 
Brevet-Lieut.-Colonel F. W. B. Landon, Army Service Corps 
Major J. H. Poett, p.s.c., 2nd Bn. Dorsetshire Regt. 
Major C. Rawnsley, Army Service Corps 
Major R. B. Gaisford, p.s.c., Royal Scots Fusiliers 
Brevet-Major E. G. T. Bainbridge, 2nd Bn. East Kent Regt. 
Major R. C. B. Haking, p.s.c., Hampshire Regt. 
Major A. W. Thorneycroft, 2nd Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers 
Captain E. H. Hughes, p.s.c., 1st Bn. York and Lancaster Regt. 
Captain G. S. St Aubyn, King's Royal Rifle Corps 
Brevet-Lieut.-Colonel J. Adye, p.s.c., Royal Garrison Artillery General Duty.
Major H. N. C. Heath, p.s.c., Yorkshire Light Infantry 
Brevet-Major C. J. Mackenzie, 1st Bn. Seaforth Highlanders 
Major R. L. Walter, 7th Hussars 
Major E. F. Gosset, p.s.c., 2nd Bn. East Yorkshire Regt. 
Brevet-Major A. G. Hunter-Weston, R.E. 
Major G. D. Baker, p.s.c., Royal Garrison Artillery 
Major E. S. C. Kennedy, West India Regt. 
Captain A. W. Elles, 2nd Bn. Yorkshire Light Infantry 
Captain E. St G. Pratt, 1st Bn. Durham Light Infantry 
Capt. C. B. Jervis-Edwards, 1st Bn. Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry 
Captain F. B. Maurice, Derbyshire Regt. 
Lieutenant W. M. C. Vandeleur, 2nd Bn. Essex Regt. 
Lieutenant G. P. Appleby, 1st Bn. Bedfordshire Regt. 
Lieutenant F. S. Reeves, 1st Bn. East Kent Regt. 

Coleridge Grove, M.S.

War Office, 4th October 1899.

Note.—The above list only shows the Officers employed on Staff duties on the Lines of Communication. It does not show those employed on medical, ordnance, clerical, supply, pay, &c., services.—C. G.

FOOTNOTES:

[A] Graded as Assistant Adjutant-Generals.

[B] Graded as Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-Generals.

[C] Graded as Staff Captains.

NATAL FIELD FORCE.

Staff Position.  Names of Officers Selected.
General Officer Commanding (Lieut.-General on Staff)Lieutenant-General Sir G. S. White, V.C., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E.
Assistant Military SecretaryColonel B. Duff, C.I.E., p.s.c., Indian Staff Corps.
Aides-de-Camp (2)Captain R. G. Brooke, D.S.O., 7th Hussars.
Captain F. Lyon, R.F.A.
Assistant Adjutant-GeneralColonel I. S. M. Hamilton, C.B., D.S.O.
Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-Generals(a) Major F. Hammersley, p.s.c., Lancashire Fusiliers.
(b) Major E. R. O. Ludlow, p.s.c., Army Service Corps.
Officer Commanding Royal ArtilleryLieut.-Colonel and Brevet-Col. C. J. Long, R.H.A.
Commanding Royal Engineer (Colonel on Staff)Lieut.-Colonel W. F. N. Noel, R.E.
Principal Medical OfficerLieut.-Colonel R. Exham, R.A.M.C.
Medical OfficerMajor J. F. Bateson, M.B., R.A.M.C.
Chaplains (2)Rev. L. J. Matthews (R.C.)
Rev. E. G. Macpherson, B.A.
Assistant Provost-Marshal[D]Major A. G. Chichester, 1st Bn. Royal Irish Regt.
Signalling OfficerCaptain J. S. Cayzer, 7th Dragoon Guards.
4th Division.
General Officer Commanding (Lieut.-General on Staff)Colonel (local Lieut.-General) Sir W. P. Symons, K.C.B.
Aides-de-Camp (2)
Assistant Adjutant-GeneralColonel C. E. Beckett, C.B., p.s.c.
Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-Generals(a) Major and Brevet-Lieut.-Colonel Sir H. S. Rawlinson, Bart., p.s.c., 2nd Bn. Coldstream Guards.
(b) Captain T. D. Foster, Army Service Corps.
7th Brigade.
Major-GeneralColonel (local Major-General) F. Howard, C.B., C.M.G., A.D.C.
Aide-de-CampCaptain H. E. Vernon, D.S.O., 4th Bn. Rifle Brigade.
Brigade-MajorBrevet-Lieut.-Colonel Hon. C. G. Fortescue, C.M.G., p.s.c., Rifle Brigade.
8th Brigade.
Major-GeneralTo be nominated locally.
Aide-de-Camp
Brigade-Major
3rd Cavalry Brigade.
Major-GeneralColonel (local Major-General) J. F. Brocklehurst, M.V.O.
Aide-de-CampLieutenant H. W. Viscount Crichton, Royal Horse Guards.
Brigade-MajorCaptain G. P. Wyndham, p.s.c., 16th Lancers.

Coleridge Grove, M.S.

War Office, 3rd October 1899.