My Reminiscences of the Anglo-Boer War

[Transcriber's note: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected, all other inconsistencies are as in the original. The author's spelling has been maintained.

Page 453: The sentence "which [missing word] consider it as still improper to disclose." has been changed to "which I consider as still improper to disclose."

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[Illustration: General Ben Viljoen and his Secretary (Mr. J. Visser).]

MY REMINISCENCES OF THE ANGLO-BOER WAR

BY

GENERAL BEN VILJOEN

(ASSISTANT COMMANDANT-GENERAL OF THE TRANSVAAL BURGHER FORCES AND MEMBER FOR JOHANNESBURG IN THE TRANSVAAL VOLKSRAAD)

Maps from Drawings by P. Van Breda

LONDON: HOOD, DOUGLAS, & HOWARD, 11, CLIFFORD'S INN, E.C. 1902.

PREFACE.

General Ben Viljoen, while engaged on this work, requested me to write a short introduction to it. This request I gladly comply with.

General Viljoen was a prisoner-of-war at Broadbottom Camp, St. Helena, where, after two years' service in South Africa, I was stationed with my regiment. It was at the General's further request that I conveyed this work to Europe for publication.

The qualities which particularly endeared this brave and justly-famous Boer officer to us were his straightforwardness and unostentatious manner, his truthfulness, and the utter absence of affectation that distinguishes him. I am certain that he has written his simple narrative with candour and impartiality, and I feel equally certain, from what I know of him, that this most popular of our late opponents has reviewed the exciting episodes of the War with an honesty, an intelligence, and a humour which many previous publications on the War have lacked.

During his stay at St. Helena I became deeply attached to General Viljoen; and in conclusion I trust that this work, which entailed many hours of labour, will yield him a handsome recompense.

THEODORE BRINCKMAN, C.B. Colonel Commanding, 3rd, The Buffs (East Kent Regt.)

Tarbert, Loch Fyne, Scotland. September, 1902

INDEX TO CONTENTS.

Page PREFACE BY COL. THEODORE BRINCKMAN, C.B. 5

THE AUTHOR TO THE READER 9

CHAPTER

I. THE WAR CLOUDS GATHER 19

II. AND THE WAR STORM BREAKS 24

III. THE INVASION OF NATAL 30

IV. DEFEATED AT ELANDSLAAGTE 40

V. PURSUED BY THE LANCERS 44

VI. RISKING JOUBERT'S ANGER 59

VII. THE BOER GENERAL'S SUPERSTITIONS 68

VIII. "GREAT POWERS" TO INTERVENE 72

IX. COLENSO AND SPION KOP FIGHTS 78

X. THE BATTLE OF VAALKRANTZ 88

XI. THE TURN OF THE TIDE 100

XII. THE GREAT BOER RETREAT 110

XIII. DRIVEN FROM THE BIGGARSBERGEN 124

XIV. DISPIRITED AND DEMORALISED 133

XV. OCCUPATION OF PRETORIA 145

XVI. BATTLE OF DONKERHOEK ("DIAMOND HILL") 150

XVII. I BECOME A GENERAL 161

XVIII. OUR CAMP BURNED OUT 175

XIX. BATTLE OF BERGENDAL (MACHADODORP) 181

XX. TWO THOUSAND BRITISH PRISONERS RELEASED 185

XXI. A GOVERNMENT IN FLIGHT 193

XXII. AN IGNOMINIOUS DISPERSAL 204

XXIII. A DREARY TREK THROUGH FEVERLAND 212

XIV. PAINS AND PLEASURES OF COMMANDEERING 237

XXV. PUNISHING THE PRO-BRITISH 246

XXVI. BATTLE OF RHENOSTERKOP 258

XXVII. THE SECOND CHRISTMAS AT WAR 278

XXVIII. CAPTURE OF "LADY ROBERTS" 285

XXIX. A DISMAL "HAPPY NEW YEAR" 302

XXX. GENERAL ATTACK ON BRITISH FORTS 307

XXXI. A "BLUFF" AND A BATTLE 322

XXXII. EXECUTION OF A TRAITOR 333

XXXIII. IN A TIGHT CORNER 339

XXXIV. ELUDING THE BRITISH CORDON 348

XXXV. BOER GOVERNMENT'S NARROW ESCAPE 358

XXXVI. A GOVERNMENT ON HORSEBACK 377

XXXVII. BLOWING UP AN ARMOURED TRAIN 382