South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 6 (of 8) / From the Occupation of Pretoria to Mr. Kruger's Departure from South Africa, with a Summarised Account of the Guerilla War to March 1901

by Louis Creswicke

IN THE WESTERN TRANSVAAL. JUNE

Early in the month came a report from General Baden-Powell, from camp forty miles west-south-west of Rustenburg, that the railway to Mafeking had been repaired, and that over a hundred arrested rebels were awaiting their trial. The General was working his systematic way through the districts of Manrico, West Lichtenburg, and Rustenburg, carrying out a mission of pacification, re-establishing order, and collecting arms and supplies. It must be explained that in recognition of his splendid services he had been promoted to the rank of major-general, after which he was appointed a lieutenant-general on the staff while employed with her Majesty’s forces in South Africa. Lord Edward Cecil now filled the post of Administrator of the Rustenburg district, and had already accepted surrenders and collected rifles innumerable.

Rustenburg was occupied on the 14th of June by General Baden-Powell, and a column from Pretoria was sent out to meet this officer, to repair the telegraph between the two places, and thus provide a second line of telegraph between the Chief and Cape Town. This, with the opening of the railway line from Durban to Pretoria (shortly to be accomplished by Sir Redvers Buller’s operations), made important advance in the work of occupation.

On the 18th General Baden-Powell arrived at Pretoria, where he had an enthusiastic reception. He stayed but two days, and was off again on his return journey towards Rustenburg. This town at the time was garrisoned by a very small force and one gun, whose occupation it was to continue the work of pacification, and accept the surrender of arms—most of which appeared to be of obsolete type.

MAJOR-GENERAL R. A. P. CLEMENTS, D.S.O., A.D.C.
Photo by Elliott & Fry, London

At this date, between Rustenburg and Pretoria, a body of the enemy under Commandant Du Plessis were roaming about, and these were met on the 19th by Hutton’s Mounted Infantry, who came out of the fray with two guns to their credit. It was not often in the history of the war that Boer guns were seized, and the little British force was justifiably pleased with their prowess. There was no end to the activity of Hutton’s Mounted Infantry, and skirmishes with wandering tribes of the enemy were of almost daily occurrence. On the 24th Captain Anley had a smart “set-to” with Boer patrols south of Pretoria, in which Lieutenant Crispin and one man of the Northumberland Fusiliers were wounded.

Railway Map showing Lines to W. and S.W. of Pretoria.
(Scale, 1 inch=64 miles. By permission of the Publishers of “South Africa.”)

About this period an informal armistice was in operation; Botha having been given time to consider the philosophy of fighting against the inevitable. Lord Roberts made the suggestion that the Boer commandant should disarm his forces, and thus avert unnecessary bloodshed, but the Dutchman doggedly refused to surrender without the consent of his Government, and demanded further respite to obtain the same. This being probably another ruse to enable the Dutch rebels, mercenaries, and others—who were gathering round the standard of the commandant—to gain breathing time, the request was refused, and hostilities were resumed. An official warning was given to the effect that any further activities in the form of the destruction of railway lines, &c., would be met with prompt punishment, and involve the demolition of all farms within five miles of the point molested. Colonel Girouard was also authorised to compel leading residents to accompany trains—a wise precaution, reminiscent of the policy of the East, which forces the Grand Vizier to taste of every dish prepared for his sovereign!

When the cat is away the mice may play, and the opportunity for a game was not lost on the Boers. During General Baden-Powell’s absence from Rustenburg a party of Dutchmen under Commandant Limmer made an effort to lodge themselves on the heights commanding the town, and demanded its surrender. Major Hanbury Tracy, who with 120 men was in charge of the place, replied that he held Rustenburg for her Majesty’s Government, and intended so to do. Thereupon hostile artillery began its thunderous detonations, and things grew frowning. But Colonel Holdsworth (7th Hussars) from the region of Zeerust, forty-eight miles off, scenting fight from afar, made a brilliant march, and assisted by Colonel Airey and his mettlesome Bushmen drove back the enemy. Two Bushmen were slain, and Captain Machattie and three men were wounded. This was the state of affairs when General Baden-Powell returned on the 9th of July. By the 10th the Boers had betaken themselves to Olifant’s Nek in the Magaliesberg range, and so as to secure the other pass—Magato Nek—the Rustenburg party seized it. Unfortunately, nearer Pretoria was another nek, the Commando Nek, and here, as we shall see anon, the Boers, on the 11th of July, managed cunningly to locate themselves, thus cutting off General Baden-Powell from Pretoria.