Three Years' War

by Christiaan Rudolf De Wet

In the afternoon, as it turned out for the last time, Commandant Jacobsz, seconded by General Muller, made the following proposal, which was unanimously accepted by the meeting:—

"This meeting of Delegates, having in view the necessity of collecting means to provide for the wants of the suffering women and children, widows and orphans, and other destitute persons, who have through this war come to a condition of want, and also having in view the desirability of nominating a Committee, whose duty it shall be to arrange the necessary steps in this matter, and to finally decide on the management and distribution of the donations received, decides:—

"To nominate the Hon. Messrs. M.J. Steyn, S.W. Burger, L. Botha, C.R. de Wet, J.H. De la Rey, A.P. Kriel, and J.D. Kestell, as the Committee, to carry out all arrangements for the above-mentioned purposes, that may seem desirable and expedient to them, and also to appoint new Members, Sub-Committees and working Committees; and the said Committee is empowered to draw up regulations, and to amend them from time to time as shall seem to them expedient.

"This meeting further decides to send abroad from the above-mentioned Committee, Messrs. C.R. de Wet, L. Botha, and J.H. De la Rey, in order that they may help in collecting the above-mentioned donations."

Then this—the last meeting of the two Republics—was closed with prayer.

---

Index

• Aard, Commandant Frans van—
• Election as Commandant of Kroonstad, [115]
• Killed in engagement between Kroonstad and Lindley, [157]
• Abraham's Kraal—Bombardment by British, Boer Flight, [52]
• Achterlaaiers, [3]
• Active Service—Calling up of Orange Free State Burghers, [4]
• Commando Law as to Equipment, Provisions, etc., [3]
• Notification to Orange Free State Burghers to hold themselves in readiness, [3]
• Alberts, Capt.—Tribute to, [243]
• Albrecht, Major—Command of Boer Reinforcements at Koedoesberg, [28]
• Ammunition—Amount possessed by Boers in 1902, [408]
• Capture of Ammunition by the Boers, [173]
• Dewetsdorp, [178]
• Doornspruit, Capture of Train near, [132]
• Roodewal—Amount captured, [103]
• Digging up, [191], [193]
• Disposal of, [104], [106]
• Tweefontein, [282]
• De Wet's, Commander-in-Chief, Ammunition hidden in Cave, [298]
• Amnesty—General Amnesty for Boer Sympathisers in Cape Colony and Natal, proposed, [322]
• Annexation of the South African Republic—Battles fought after the alleged Annexation, [229]
• Peace Negotiations at Pretoria, References to the Annexation, [367]
• Armistice to admit of attendance of Officers at the Vereeniging Meeting (May, 1902), [315]
• Misunderstanding on the part of the British Columns, [317]
• Arms, Surrender of, see titles Banishment and Surrender
• Assistant-Commander-in-Chief Gen. de Wet obtaining Post from Government, [95]
• Assistant-Commander-in-Chief of the Orange Free State—
• Prinsloo, Mr. Marthinus, Illegal Election of, [126]
• Steenekamp, Commandant, Nomination of, [144]

• Badenhorst, Siege of, by Commander-in-Chief de Wet, [77], [78]
• Abandonment of Siege, [79]
• Badenhorst, Veldtcornet, [94]
• Vice-Commander-in-Chief in Districts of Boshof, etc., Appointment, [159]
• Baggage Animals of British Troops—Exhaustion of, [148]
• Use of, [279]
• Baker's, Col., Column—Commander-in-Chief de Wet lying in wait with a view to Reprisals, [271]
• Banishment Proclamation of Aug. 7, 1901 (Lord Kitchener's Proclamation), [247-250]
• Battles fought subsequent to, [252]
• Burghers, Effect on, [252]
• Kitchener's, Lord, Letter to Commander-in-Chief de Wet enclosing copy of Proclamation, [247]
• De Wet's, Commander-in-Chief, Reply, [248]
• Officers, Effect on, [250]
• President and Commander-in-Chief of Transvaal and Orange Free State—Replies, [250], [251], [257], [258]
• Steyn's, President, Letter to Lord Kitchener, [251-259]
• Terms of, [247-251]
• Bank Notes of the South African Republic—Peace Terms, Arrangements for honouring Notes, [380]
• Prisoners of War, Opportunity of sending in Notes for Payment, [386]
• Barbed Wire Fences, see Wire Fences
• Barton, Gen., Attack on at Frederiksstad by Commander-in-Chief de Wet and Gen. Liebenberg, [164-167]
• Beijers, Gen.—Continuance of the War, Spirit of the Nation an obstacle—Speech at Vereeniging Conference, [410]
• Waterberg District, Situation in—Report to the Vereeniging Conference, [339]
• Bergh, Capt.—Attacks on Boer Forces with bands of Kaffirs, [271]
• Bester, Commandant A.J.—Continuance of the War, Argument in favour of at the Vereeniging Conference, [421]
• Bester Station, Skirmish at, [10]
• Bethlehem—Commandants of Boer Forces, Appointments, [227], [228]
• Defence of—British Reinforcements, Arrival of, [121], [122]
• Dispositions of Commander-in-Chief de Wet, [120], [121]
• Voetgangers on Wolhuterskop, Bravery of, [121], [122]
• Engagement near, [194], [195]
• Fall of, [122]
• Bethlehem Commando—Fidelity of Burghers, [94], [note]
• Bezuidenhoutspas—Occupation by Vrede Commando, [7], [8]
• Biddulphsberg Engagement—English wounded burnt by veldt fire, [84]
• "Big Constable"—Transvaalers mistaking President Steyn for Police Agent, [86], [87]
• Birkenstock, Mr.—Continuance of the War, Terms of Surrender, etc., [399]
• Situation in South Africa on May 15, 1902—Report to the Vereeniging Conference, [343]
• Blauwbank, Fight at, [30]
• British Camp abandoned—Booty taken by Boers, [33], [34]
• British Convoy, Commander-in-Chief de Wet's Attack on, [32], [33]
• Blijdschap—Arrival of Laager of Women, [268]
• De Lange sentenced to death for High Treason at, [268], [note]
• Massing of Commandos at, [268]
• Blikkiescost, [4]
• Blockhouse System—"Blockhead" System, alleged, [260]
• Boer Success in breaking through Blockhouses, [260], [261]
• Bothaville, Boers breaking through Blockhouse Line, [299]
• British loss of faith in Blockhouses, [291], [292]
• Cost of erection and maintenance, [262]
• Description of, [262]
• Districts surrounded by the British, [261]
• Failure of, alleged, [261]
• Lindley-Kroonstad Line, Boers breaking through, [287]
• Palmietfontein, Boers breaking through Line near, [289], [290]
• Prolongation of the War by, alleged, [263], [264]
• Small number of Captures effected, [260], [261]
• Springhaansnek—Commander-in-Chief de Wet breaking through the Line of Blockhouses on the march to the South, [173]
• Thaba'Nchu and Sanna's Post, Forts between—Capture by Commander-in-Chief de Wet, [201], [202]
• Trenches dug by British near Blockhouse Lines, etc., [288], [294], [295]
• Bloemfontein—Capture by British, [55]
• Defence of—Commander-in-Chief de Wet's Arrangements, [54]
• Water Works—Occupation by General Broadwood, [61]
• "Boer Biscuits," [3]
• Boer Forces—
• Burghers who had returned home after fall of Bloemfontein, Re-call to the front, [71]
• Commandos left with Commander-in-Chief de Wet after fall of Bloemfontein, [note 57]
• Confusion among Burghers at Holspruits, [294], [295]
• Discipline, see that title
• Disposition of Forces after fall of Bethlehem, [124]
• Harrismith Commando, Refusal to part with Waggons—Return home, [161], [163]
• Medical Certificates, Abuse of, [note 59]
• Mobility, see that title
• Numbers at Outset of War, [408], [414], [415], [419]
• Numbers at the Termination of the War, [322], [338], [339], [347], [348], [359], [360], [361], [362]
• Orange Free State Commandos—
• Commander-in-Chief, Election of, [6], [7]
• Harrismith, Concentration at, [4], [6-7]
• Heilbron Commando, see that title
• Number of Burghers ready to fight after fall of Pretoria, [94]
• Panic after Paardeberg, [48], [49], [51], [52], [note 57]
• Permission given to Burghers by Commander-in-Chief de Wet to return home, [56] [note], [57]—Gen. Joubert's Protest, [57]
• Reduction in numbers due to Paardeberg Surrender, etc., [89], [90]
• Roberts', Lord, Surrender Proclamation—Effect on Numbers rejoining Commandos, [60]
• Non-observance of Terms, Burghers returning to Commandos, [80]
• Separation of Free Staters and Transvaalers after fall of Kroonstad, Reasons for, [89], [90]
• Boesmanskop Skirmish, [80]
• Boshof, Vrow—Gift of Clothes to Burghers who had swum the Orange River, [221], [222]
• Bosman, Landdrost—Continuance of the War, Terms of Surrender, etc., [404], [405], [406]
• Situation in South Africa on 15th May, 1902—Report to the Vereeniging Conference, [361], [362]
• Botha—Capture at Honingkopjes, Subsequent Escape and Death, [110]
• Botha, Commandant-General—
• Continuance of the War, Arguments against—Terms of Surrender, etc., [414], [415]
• Estcourt Skirmishes—Capture of Armoured Train, etc., [19]
• Fortitude after Fall of Pretoria, [93]
• Independence of the South African Republic and Orange Free State—Vereeniging Conference Delegates' power to decide as to Independence, [411]
• Junction with Commander-in-Chief de Wet at Rhenosterriviersbrug, [88], [89]
• Middelburg Peace Proposals, see that title
• Mission to Europe on behalf of Relief Fund Committee, [428]
• Peace Negotiations—Member of Commission of National Representatives at the Pretoria Conference, [320], [365-396]
• Situation in South Africa on 15th May, 1902—Report to the Vereeniging Conference, [337], [338], [354-358]
• Botha, General Philip—
• Dewetsdorp Defences, Occupation of, [175], [176]
• Engagement with General Knox's Forces, [194], [195]
• Kroonstad War Council, Presence at, [58]
• Reinforcements sent to Commander-in-Chief de Wet before Paardeberg, Command of, [36], [37]
• Stinkfontein—Failure to recapture Position, [45]
• Storming of, [40]
• Tabaksberg, Engagement at, [83]
• Botha, Mr. Jan—Commander-in-Chief de Wet's Tribute to, [150], [151]
• Bothaville—Boers breaking through Blockhouse Line, [299]
• Surprise Attack by the British on Commander-in-Chief de Wet's Forces—Boer Panic, [168-170]
• Losses of the Boers, [170-171]
• Bout Span, [5]
• Boys—Presence with Commandos, [287], [289], [290]
• Children killed and wounded, [289], [290], [295], [296]
• Brabant's, General, Successes, [50]
• Brabant's Horse—Attack on Commandant Kritzinger and Captain Scheepers, [185], [186]
• De Wet's, Commander-in-Chief, Opinion of, [75], [76]
• Brand, President—Assistance rendered to South African Republic in War of 1877-1881, [422], [423]
• Brandfort, Boer Forces at—Hotels closed by Commander-in-Chief, [60]
• Brandwachten, [22]
• Breijtenbach, Veldtcornet B.H.—Continuance of the War, Impossibility of Carrying on the Struggle, [403], [404]
• British Forces—Artillery, Commander-in-Chief de Wet's Tribute to, [25]
• March from Bethlehem to Reitz, under guidance of Free Staater, [263], [264]
• Sixty Thousand Men, Cordon of, [291], [292], [293], [294]
• Broadwood, General—Occupation of Thaba'Nchu, [65], [66]
• Retreat towards Thaba'Nchu before General Olivier, [62]
• Broodspioen, [207], [208]
• Bruwer, Commandant—Appointment to Command of Bethlehem District, [227], [228]
• Buller, Sir Redvers—Drakensberg Frontier, Crossing of, [93]
• Landing at Cape Town, [21]
• Relief of Ladysmith, [50]
• Strength of Positions operated against by Sir Redvers Buller, [21]
• Bulwana Hill—Boers surprised by British, [21]
• Burger, Vice-President—Continuance of the War, Terms of Surrender, etc., [398], [421], [422], [424], [425]
• Meeting with Orange Free State Government, Letter to President Steyn, [301], [302]
• Situation in South Africa on 15th May, 1902—Address at the Vereeniging Conference, [336], [337], [351-354]
• Steyn, President, Resignation of—Announcement at Vereeniging Conference, [411]