MAJOR-GENERAL SIR FREDERICK MAURICE, K.C.B

WITH A STAFF OF OFFICERS

VOLUME I

LONDON
HURST AND BLACKETT LIMITED
1906

PREFACE.

The decision of His Majesty's late Government, mentioned on the first page of this history, was not finally given till November, 1905. It was, therefore, not till December 12th, 1905, that I was able to obtain approval for the form in which the political facts connected with the war are mentioned in the first chapter. Since then the whole volume has necessarily been recast, and it was not possible to go to page proof till the first chapter had been approved. Hence the delay in the appearance of the volume. I took over the work from Colonel Henderson in July, 1903. He had not then written either narrative of, or comments on, the military operations.

F. Maurice.

May 22nd, 1906, London.

CONTENTS.

VOLUME I.

chap. page

Preparation for War [1]
The Outbreak of the War [35]
The Theatre of War [54]
The Boer Army [68]
The British Army [87]
The Navy in the Boer War [96]
Talana Hill [123]
The Retreat from Dundee, and the action of Rietfontein [142]
Elandslaagte [157]
Lombards Kop [172]
The Arrival of Sir Redvers Buller [196]
Advance from the Orange River [211]
Belmont [218]
Graspan [229]
The Battle of the Modder River [243]
The Raid on Southern Natal [261]
Operations round Colesberg up to the 16th December [275]
Stormberg [285]
Halt on the Modder River before Magersfontein [304]
The Battle of Magersfontein [316]
Sir Redvers Buller in Face of Colenso [332]
Colenso, December 15th, 1899 [351]
Lord Roberts' Appointment to the Command in South Africa [376]
Operations Round Colesberg—December 16th, 1899, to February 6th, 1900 [389]
Lord Roberts at Capetown; reorganises [408]
The Army Moves Forward [428]

APPENDICES.

No. page
1. Reinforcements sanctioned on 8th September, 1899 [453]
2. Distribution of British Forces on 11th October, 1899, in Cape Colony [455]
3. Distribution of British Forces on 11th October, 1899, in Natal [456]
4. Strengths of the Forces of the Transvaal and Orange Free State [457]
5. List of H.M. Ships and Vessels serving on the Cape Station, October 11th, 1899, to June 1st, 1902 [460]
6. Approximate Strength and Casualties at Various Engagements described in Volume I [462]
7. The Expeditionary Force as originally organised and sent to South Africa [471]
8. The Composition and Distribution of British Troops in Southern Natal, 23rd November, 1899 [477]
9. Reinforcements Landed in South Africa up to the 13th February, 1900, other than those given in Appendices [1] and [7] [478]
10. Distribution of Troops in South Africa on 11th February, 1900, when the March from Ramdam began [485]
Glossary [492]
Index [497]

LIST OF MAPS AND FREEHAND SKETCHES.

(In separate case.)

MAPS.

General Map:—South Africa.
Special Maps:—

No. 1. [Index Map].
No. 2. [Relief Map of South Africa], to show Topographical Features and Theatre of War.
No. 3. [Northern Natal].
No. 4. [Southern Natal].
No. 5. [Talana. October 20th, 1899.]
No. 6. [Elandslaagte]. October 21st, 1899.
No. 7. [Rietfontein]. October 24th, 1899.
No. 8. [Lombards Kop]. October 30th, 1899. Situation before 7 a.m.
No. 8 (A). [Lombards Kop]. October 30th, 1899. Situation from 7 a.m. to Close of Action.
No. 9. [North Cape Colony] and Part of the Orange Free State.
No. 10. [Belmont]. November 23rd, 1899. Situation prior to Capture of Gun Hill.
No. 10 (A). [Belmont]. November 23rd, 1899. Situation prior to Capture of Mont Blanc.
No. 11. [Graspan]. November 25th, 1899. Situation at 9 a.m.
No. 12. [Modder River]. November 28th, 1899. Situation at about 3.30 p.m.
No. 13. [Magersfontein]. December 11th 1899. Situation at 4.30 a.m.
No. 13 (A). Magersfontein. December 11th 1899. Situation at 8 a.m.
No. 13 (B). Magersfontein. December 11th, 1899. Situation at 3.30 p.m.
No. 14. Stormberg. December 10th, 1899.
No. 15. Colenso. December 15th, 1899. Situation at 8 a.m.
No. 15 (A). Colenso. December 15th, 1899. Situation at 11 a.m.
No. 16. Operations around Colesberg.
No. 17. South Africa. Map showing the approximate situation on the 31st December, 1899.