PREFACE

This book was written in 1901, while its author was a prisoner at Ahmednagar. It was written in Dutch, and has been put into English by a young lady from what was the Orange Free State.

The author is a friend and relation of mine, son of a clergyman in the Transvaal, and of old Afrikander stock on both sides. His book is the more valuable because of the absence of all literary pretensions, and it may be taken as truly representative of the Afrikander spirit, which has been so much misconceived in England.

FREDERIK VAN EEDEN
WALDEN, N. HOLLAND,
July, 1902

CONTENTS

Page


[Preface][v]


[Contents][vii]


[Foreword][1]
Chapter[I]AT THE BOUNDARY--ENTRANCE INTO NATAL--DUNDEE--LADYSMITH[3]
Chapter[II]SIEGE OF LADYSMITH--BATTLE OF THE ROOIRANDJES--BLOWING
UP OF THE CANNON		[14]
Chapter[III]THE EIGHT-DAY BATTLE OF THE TUGELA--TALK
OF INTERVENTION--RELIEF OF LADYSMITH		[25]
Chapter[IV]DEWETSDRIFT--RETURN TO, AND FLIGHT FROM, PRETORIA[35]
Chapter[V]TREK FROM MIDDELBURG TO RUSTENBURG--BATTLE OF SELIKATSNEK[43]
Chapter[VI]GUERILLA LIFE ON THE MAGALIES MOUNTAINS--NARROW ESCAPE
OF PRESIDENT STEYN AND GENERAL DE WET		[58]
Chapter[VII]WITH PRESIDENT STEYN TO PRESIDENT KRUGER[68]
Chapter[VIII]WITH PRESIDENT STEYN IN THE BOSCHVELD--LOST[76]
Chapter[IX]PRACTICAL HINTS--ADVENTURE ON THE SABIE--NORTH OF LYDENBURG[86]
Chapter[X]FROM ROOSSENEKAL TO PIETERSBURG--WITH GENERAL BEYERS
TO THE MAGALIES MOUNTAINS		[97]
Chapter[XI]BATTLE OF NOOITGEDACHT[106]
Chapter[XII]PAARDEKRAAL DAY--BATTLE IN THE MOAT--ATTACK ON
KAALFONTEIN STATION		[118]
Chapter[XIII]COMMANDO SUFFERINGS[130]
Chapter[XIV]BATTLE OF BOESMANSKOP--FLIGHT OF WOMEN[140]
Chapter[XV]BATTLE OF CHRISSIESMEER--REUNION WITH GENERAL BEYERS[151]
Chapter[XVI]CAMPED NEAR TAFELKOP[162]

[CONCLUSION]BATTLE OF STOMPIES--IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY[171]

MY LIFE ON COMMANDO