It was terrible to hear the wounded and dying praying and calling to their God for help. Nationality, language, enmity, and bitter hatred were forgotten as side by side those mortal foes prepared to meet their God—one God!
Imploring one another for help, praying for one drop of water to alleviate their dying agonies—in vain!
Two cannon were taken by the Boers, one of which they destroyed at once, keeping the other for their future use.
When all was over General Botha spoke a few touching words to his men, thanking them for their bravery, and congratulating them on their success.
Unpleasant though it may be to think of, it is my duty to relate that, before burial, the soldiers were stripped of their clothes, and every Boer permitted to take what he required, but the bodies were treated with respect.
Naudé, for purposes of his own, chose the uniform of the dead Colonel Thorold, which had six bullet holes through it and was covered with blood-stains.
Revolvers, leggings, whistle, helmet, all was complete, even to the stars and crown on the Colonel's shoulders.
Naudé felt himself rich indeed in the possession of articles which he knew would be invaluable to him on his next entry into Pretoria.
One of his men took Colonel Benson's uniform, but handed the crown to him (Naudé) at his request, and then the bodies were covered with blankets for a hurried burial.
Oh, cruel war when men slay one another!