London to Ladysmith via Pretoria

This small book is mainly a personal record of my adventures and impressions during the first five months of the African War. It may also be found to give a tolerably coherent account of the operations conducted by Sir Redvers Buller for the Relief of Ladysmith. The correspondence of which it is mainly composed appeared in the columns of the Morning Post newspaper, and I propose, if I am not interrupted by the accidents of war, to continue the series of letters. The stir and tumult of a camp do not favour calm or sustained thought, and whatever is written herein must be regarded simply as the immediate effect produced by men powerfully moved, and scenes swiftly changing upon what I hope is a truth-seeking mind.

The fact that a man's life depends upon my discretion compels me to omit an essential part of the story of my escape from the Boers; but if the book and its author survive the war, and when the British flag is firmly planted at Bloemfontein and Pretoria, I shall hasten to fill the gap in the narrative.

WINSTON S. CHURCHILL. March 10, 1900.

CONTENTS

I. STEAMING SOUTH R.M.S. 'Dunottar Castle,' October 26 and October 29, 1899

II. THE STATE OF THE GAME Capetown; November 1, 1899

III. ALONG THE SOUTHERN FRONTIER East London: November 5, 1899

IV. IN NATAL Estcourt: November 6, 1899

V. A CRUISE IN THE ARMOURED TRAIN Estcourt: November 9, 1899

VI. DISTANT GUNS Estcourt: November 10, 1899

VII. THE FATE OF THE ARMOURED TRAIN Pretoria: November 20, 1899

VIII. PRISONERS OF WAR Pretoria: November 24, 1899

IX. THROUGH THE DUTCH CAMPS Pretoria: November 30, 1899

X. IN AFRIKANDER BONDS Pretoria: December 3, 1899

XI. I ESCAPE FROM THE BOERS Lourenço Marques: December 22, 1899

XII. BACK TO THE BRITISH LINES Frere: December 24, 1899

XIII. CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR Frere: January 4, 1900

XIV. A MILITARY DEMONSTRATION AND SOME GOOD NEWS Chieveley: January 8, 1900

XV. THE DASH FOR POTGIETER'S FERRY Spearman's Hill: January 13, 1900

XVI. TRICHARDT'S DRIFT AND THE AFFAIR OF ACTON HOMES Venter's Spruit: January 22, 1900

XVII. THE BATTLE OF SPION KOP Venter's Spruit: January 25, 1900

XVIII. THROUGH THE FIVE DAYS' ACTION Venter's Spruit: January 25, 1900

XIX. A FRESH-EFFORT AND AN ARMY CHAPLAIN Spearman's Hill: February 4, 1900

XX. THE COMBAT OF VAAL KRANTZ General Buller's Headquarters: February 9, 1900

XXI. HUSSAR HILL General Buller's Headquarters: February 15, 1900

XXII. THE ENGAGEMENT OF MONTE CRISTO Cingolo Neck: February 19, 1900

XXIII. THE PASSAGE OF THE TUGELA Hospital-ship 'Maine': March 4, 1900

XXIV. THE BATTLE OF PIETERS: THE THIRD DAY Hospital-ship 'Maine': March 5, 1900

XXV. UPON MAJUBA DAY Commandant's Office, Durban: March 6, 1900

XXVI. THE RELIEF OF LADYSMITH Commandant's Office, Durban: March 9, 1900

XXVII. AFTER THE SIEGE Durban: March 10, 1900

CHAPTER I

STEAMING SOUTH

R.M.S. 'Dunottar Castle,' at sea: October 26, 1899.

The last cry of 'Any more for the shore?' had sounded, the last good-bye had been said, the latest pressman or photographer had scrambled ashore, and all Southampton was cheering wildly along a mile of pier and promontory when at 6 P.M., on October 14, the Royal Mail steamer 'Dunottar Castle' left her moorings and sailed with Sir Redvers Buller for the Cape. For a space the decks remained crowded with the passengers who, while the sound of many voices echoed in their ears, looked back towards the shores swiftly fading in the distance and the twilight, and wondered whether, and if so when, they would come safe home again; then everyone hurried to his cabin, arranged his luggage, and resigned himself to the voyage.