Convoy attacked by De Wet.
In the rear of the grand army marched a convoy of over 200 waggons, laden with immense quantities of stores, forage and provisions for the army, and drawn by over 3,000 head of oxen—a month's supplies for a force of 40,000 men. They were in charge of a quite small escort, composed of a company of Gordons and eighty mounted infantry. The convoy had moved slowly behind the army, where, it was thought, no danger was to be feared, from Ramdam to Waterval Drift. At Waterval Drift it began its crossing of the river under cover of the Ninth Division, some 10,000 men strong. But the drift was of such an execrable nature that its passage by the enormous train of waggons was a matter of many hours, and at this moment, when troops might be wanted, and badly wanted, on the banks of the Modder, time could ill be spared. The banks of the Riet at Waterval, as is common with South African streams, were steep; at the bottom lay the river bed, 100 yards wide, with only a trickle of water in the centre and everywhere else soft sand three feet deep, in which the waggons sank up to their axles, inflicting the most prodigious labour upon the teams of oxen and mules that dragged them. Three teams had regularly to be employed to drag each laden vehicle up the northern bank, which meant that two waggons had to stand still for each one that moved. And thus it came to pass that after hours of waiting, the Ninth Division marched off before the crossing was nearly completed. The convoy was left to its diminutive escort. "There are no Boers in the country," said everyone. Yet at this very moment De Wet with a party of about 1,000 men, summoned from Colesberg to Cronje's help, was riding up the Riet from the squalid hamlet of Koffyfontein. A great way off he saw the dust and heard the tumult of shouts and cracking whips that proceeded from the convoy, and, after reconnoitring and discovering that there was no British force near capable of resistance, opened a tremendous fire, just after 9 a.m.
COMMANDANT CHRISTIAN DE WET.
The Gordons at once extended and replied, while the officer in charge of the convoy telegraphed to Lord Roberts detailing his position and asking for reinforcements. Some squadrons of Kitchener's Horse, the 1st Scottish Borderers, and a battery of the Seventh Division were promised, and, though well on the way to Wegdraai, received orders to march back with all speed. But already the Boers had brought up guns, and were playing upon the convoy with deadly effect. The oxen were falling fast, though the men did not suffer so much, being under cover. But when at last the boom of the British field battery to the north told that relief had arrived, the Boers ceased their bombardment, and could be seen falling back. Kitchener's Horse now came up, and attempted, but without complete success, to turn the Boer flank. The convoy had been saved—for a time. All that were left of the oxen were at once sent down to the river to be watered, a difficult process with so many beasts when the drivers could not be found. But as they came up again from the river a fresh mishap occurred. The Boers again opened fire, killed or drove away the men in charge, and the animals forthwith went grazing along the river banks, direct towards the enemy. Attempts were made unsuccessfully to head them off, but only a few could be saved. Of the 200 waggons, 176 were left helpless for want of cattle.
Waggons abandoned.
Lord Roberts learned these facts and made his decision. Should he save the convoy with its immense stores, and perhaps allow Cronje to escape, or should he sacrifice everything to the destruction of Cronje's army? Many generals would have wavered; the risk of continuing the advance, with what appeared to be a strong mobile Boer force well supplied with artillery in his rear, was no pleasant prospect, and if anything went wrong might prove simply disastrous. But Lord Roberts had learned that nothing great can be achieved without risk. He issued orders to the small force with the waggons to abandon them under cover of darkness and steal away. No lights were to be shown and no noise made. At 2 a.m. of the 16th the escort began its retreat. To crown the list of misadventures, half-a-dozen men of the Gordons and some small parties of stragglers were not warned of the withdrawal. Next day they were captured by the Boers, who carried off or burnt the 176 abandoned waggons.
A BOER FARMHOUSE FLYING A WHITE FLAG.
A British soldier on guard to prevent looting.