and a speedy exit. The general feeling was that the Boers would get a good beating, and then settle down. quietly; and that all agitation being at an end, the natural resources of the country would be developed. Many persons professed not to regret the war, on the ground that it would lead to an enduring peace-but the peace they contemplated was not the shameful and degrading surrender which actually ensued, and if they had known what was going to happen they would have modified their opinion considerably.

CHAPTER XI.

THE FIGHTING AROUND PRETORIA.

The Boers, though maintaining a state of siege, usually not the attacking party-The skirmish on the 28th of December-The Boer account-Volunteer opinions of the officers-The first Red House sortie-Captain D'Arcy wounded-The Zwart Kopije affair- The Carbineers severely handled-Firing on a flag of truce-Capture of the Kopije-Column attacked on the way home-Behaviour of the women-The prisoners-The Elandsfontein sortie-Colonel Gildea blames Captain Sanctuary for not guarding the flank-Indignation among the Carbineers. The Boer account of the fight-The Red House Kraal sortie -Captain Sanctuary shot-Flank attack of the Boers-Colonel Gildea wounded-Cowardice of the regulars-Failure of the sortie Incidents of the retreat-Boers firing on an ambulance waggon-Riot in camp-Release of prisoners-Reconnaissances -Meant for despatches, but of no real use-End of the siege.

ALTHOUGH the Boers maintained a strict state of siege, they never ventured to attack us. They confined their efforts to stray skirmishes, and attempts to carry off our cattle, or to intercept our patrols. The fights which took place were generally due to our initiative, and, as will be seen from the sequel, we did not by any means issue gloriously from them. The first brush with the enemy at which blood was drawn was on the 28th of December. Lieutenant O'Grady, of the 94th, was sent out in the direction of Erasmus's laager, to the south of Pretoria, with some mounted

infantry and volunteers, on a scouting expedition. Sergeant-Major (afterwards Lieutenant) Williams, of the Carbineers, was told off with four men as an advance-guard, and Captain Sampson was sent with a detachment of Nourse's Horse in another direction. The advance-guard, finding themselves not properly supported by the regulars-who had dismountedretired on the main body, and refused to act further in that capacity. After some wrangling, another advance-guard of the Carbineers was formed, which came up with Captain Sampson, and in his company crossed the Six Mile Spruit, a stream which afterwards became the scene of other fighting. The main body was split into two detachments, one of which, consisting of the Carbineers, advanced parallel with Captain Sampson's troop, and reached the farmhouse of Erasmus, which they began to denude of poultry and forage. The regulars, under Lieutenant O'Grady, meantime advanced over a hill between the troops. While the Carbineers were engaged in looting the farmhouse shots were fired, and on emerging from the house it was discovered that Captain Sampson was attacked by a patrol of the enemy, numbering about thirty or forty, which formed the advance-guard of a much larger party. Two of the volunteers were wounded, and Sampson fell back on his friends, who had left the farmhouse. The mounted infantry, on hearing the shots, retired precipitately over the hill. In the despatches the lieutenant in command says he retired to prevent a party of the enemy outflanking the troops, but the volunteers were unable to perceive any Boers in the direction indicated by him. The volunteers, having joined their forces, retreated slowly up the hill, carrying their wounded with them, and

covering their retreat. When they arrived at the top a halt was made, and the enemy thereupon withdrew. While the enemy were retiring the lieutenant and his men returned, and a messenger was sent into Pretoria to report. Colonel Gildea came out with a body of men in support, but, finding the Boers made no attempt to advance, the party returned to Pretoria.

According to the Boer account of this skirmish, only seven of their men were engaged,' but this is clearly incorrect.

On the morning following a reconnaissance in force was made, under the command of Colonel Gildea. The troops consisted of about 200 infantry, and nearly all the mounted men in camp. He had also with him two guns and a small detachment of artillerymen to work them. The mounted volunteers were thrown out right and left as scouts, and the mounted infantry protected the column. An advance was made to the scene of the fighting on the previous day, a small detachment being left on the road to communicate by flag signals with the hill forts. On arrival at the Six Mile Spruit a halt was made on a hill commanding the spruit, and scouts were sent out to feel the enemy, who occupied a hill on the other side. The scouts were afterwards retired, and the hill was shelled. The enemy withdrew in confusion, and the troops marched over the spruit, and took possession of the hill they had been in the occupation of. The enemy then appeared in force at a farmhouse called "The Red House;" and shells were fired at them, but the practice being bad, the colonel ordered the firing to cease. The troops had left home under strict orders not to go beyond a certain point, and Colonel Gildea having 1 See "De Vrijheids-Voorlog" of Du Plessis, p. 349.

reached his limit, prepared to return. Before doing so he was entreated to allow the mounted volunteers to try to cut off some cattle belonging to the Boers. He consented, but gave orders that they were not to attack the enemy's laager. Unfortunately his message was wrongly interpreted by an officious person, who took upon himself to act as aide-de-camp, and the volunteers "went at" the laager, at which they met with a warm reception. Captain D'Arcy was shot in the foot and permanently disabled for the rest of the siege, and three other volunteers were severely wounded. Amongst these was young Melville, the son of my genial companion in Betshuana-land, a mere lad, who remained in action to the last, notwithstanding his wounds, resisting all attempts to take him to the rear, so long as he was able to fight.

Colonel Gildea, seeing no profit in running mounted men against stone walls, ordered the volunteers to retire. The whole column thereupon retreated in good order, and were unmolested by the enemy According to the Boer account, there were only seventeen men on their side engaged,' but the volunteers on their return stated that they were in considerable force. Our troops claimed to have put several of the enemy hors de combat, but this is denied by the Boers.

The next engagement of any importance was what was afterwards known as the Zwart Kopije affair. This was an attack on one of the enemy's laagers, situated on a small hill called the Zwart Kopije, about nine miles to the east of Pretoria. The kopije formed a strong natural fortress, consisting of rocks and brushwood, rising to a height of fifty feet. It was See the work before quoted, p. 349.

Ο