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Updated: August 6, 2024
The expected firm stand of the enemy along the right bank of the Vaal, where the great battle of the war was to be fought, was not made. Vereeniging and subsequently Meyerton were abandoned in spite of all Botha's efforts to keep his burghers' faces to the front.
"But, Alexander, there are three hippopotami lying asleep on the side of the river. Have you a mind to try your skill?" "No, not particularly," replied Alexander; "I have had enough of hippopotami. By-the-bye, the river is much wider than it was." "Yes, by my calculation we ought to travel no more to the westward after to-day. We must now cut across to the Yellow or Vaal River.
By the second article of the Orange River Convention, renewed and ratified at Aliwal after the Basuto war in 1869, Her Majesty's Government promised not to make any agreement with native chiefs north of the Vaal River.
They were erected at a cost of £400,000, the water supply being obtained from the Vaal River, seventeen miles away. After spending a most pleasant and agreeable week there, I left Kimberley at six o'clock on the morning of June 7, in a wagon drawn by eight horses, and accompanied by five friends, for Warrenton, en route for Bechuanaland and the Transvaal.
The same day Vaal Krantz was carried and occupied; but Buller was disappointed in the advantage he hoped from it. As the projected advance depended upon the tenure of Vaal Krantz, and this could not be assured under the circumstances, the attempt had to be abandoned.
I occupied the wagon, my more juvenile companions lying on the ground beneath it. This was my first experience of sleeping in the open air in a wagon, and this, too, in the depth of a South African winter. The town of Warrenton is situated on the banks of the Vaal River, and is forty-three miles north of Kimberley.
The sailor had lost all his savings at faro. Dead broke, he was ready for anything which promised to recoup his fortunes. Handsome Jack laid before him a scheme which would make them both rich beyond the dreams of avarice. The recent discoveries on the Vaal had startled the world. A native had picked up a stone weighing over 80 carats. They might be equally lucky.
It was true that they still had the pass signed by the Boer general, but after what had occurred not unnaturally they were somewhat sceptical about the value of a pass, and certainly most unwilling to put its efficacy to the proof. So after due consideration they determined to avoid Standerton and ride in the opposite direction till they found a practicable ford of the Vaal.
Near Heilbron we heard the dismal news that he was forced over the Vaal and was being driven northward by some 40,000 troops. This, led us to change our course and move in the direction of Winburg. On the morning of the 27th of August we made an unsuccessful attack on Winburg. Olivier, with 27 men, got captured.
The Yeomanry had an opportunity of showing once more that there are few more high-mettled troops in South Africa than these good sportsmen of the shires, who only showed a trace of their origin in their irresistible inclination to burst into a 'tally-ho! when ordered to attack. The Boer forces fell back after the action along the line of the Vaal, making for Christiana and Bloemhof.
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