, 1881-03-05
THE WAR IN THE TRANsvAAL.
From the TSmes.1

- 1SSAIO As NnOkN DIS lIdISpOIU
conductor 10 the head quarters of the Oath
on their march from Leydenburg, rid Mid.
delburg, to Pretoria. Egerton states that
on the Zoth, at l. 70 p. m, he was riding
alongside the colonel, so yards ahead of
the column, to select q camping ground
about one and a half miles from Bronker's
SprulG (3S miles from Pretoria), when the
band ceased playing. On turning round
to ascertain the reason, they saw $50 Beers
on the left OF the road in formation, ten
PAGES between each horseman, and all
mounted. The Beers were about 500 yards
from the column, and ON the left flank.
The colonel galloped back and gave the
word to halt. The rear wagons and the
men then closed up.
Egerton proceeds to say
" saw a flag of truce approaching, and
RODE to meet 1T. The messenger gave me
d sealed despatch, which / handed to the
colonel. There was only one man with it
He was unarmed. The letter was in Eng
hsh. The colonel read it out to me the
purport was as follows = The Republic
having been declared at Heidelberg, and
the Dutch people being determined to
maintain it, any movements of the Eng
Ilsh troops we're prejudical to their inter-
estS, and If the colonel advanced beyond
the Sprult they should consider it a declara-
ton OF War, and he must be responsible for
the consequences. The MESSENGER said
verbally that two minutes We're allowed for
the colonePS decision. Th colonel replied
that his orders were to march to Pretoria,
ana he should go there. Each party gal
hRfd n9aGGtQ AiS> own force. and no snnnny
commenced firing. The troops were ex-
tended in skirmishing order in front OF The
wagons. at about four PAGES interval. Inc
firing lasted 90 minutes. The officers all
fell in the first ten minutes. The Beers
were behind trees on rising ground above
our men, who were lying down on the
grass. The fire of the Beers was directed
on the officers. oxen, and the ammunition
wagons, the latter being denoted by a red
flag. The ammunition was III the hrst
wagon, and the band land prisoners III
were getting out the reserve ammunition.
All the officers were wounded and the
account of their wounds as stated by Ser
eeant Brady is correct. Between 30 and
40 men were killed and 70 or so wounded:
The doctor told me that i'll killed and
wounded he had about 100. DR.. Ward was
the doctor. lie was not hurt When
Colonel Anstruther saw that all the
officers were shot aud the men falling fast,
and that there was no chance, he told
them to throw up their hats and wave
their handkerchiefs as a signal OF surren-
del. There were 81 wagons and e2rta in all.
The men with wagons had not time to get
up to join the main body. The %rear-guard
were then prisoners. At the very com.
mencement the Beers galloped up and
took them prisoners. The convoy extend
ed about half-a-mile, and the rear guard
was in real of all. They were about ~
strong. Mr.. Carter, of the Commissarlat
and Transport staff, supposed to be with
the rear guard, was missing when L lett.
I saw his horse. The band were at the
time of attack playing the last piece: they
were to join the ranks on getting to camp.
The Beers took off the arms and ammunition
and the three wagons. The remainder
were standing there when | left. The
Beers formed a circle round the regiment.
Commandment P. G.. Joubert gave leave
for the men to take what rations they
pleased, and pitch tents for wounded, and
work the wa~ter-carts. | heard the Beers
talking about when we take Middelbnrg
aud ~Lydenburg.' Joubert gave me permits
sion to come in for doctors and ambu-
lances, but allowed me to carry no weapon
and he would not give me a horse. He
allowed Sergeant Bradley to accompany
me. I took the colours of the Oath Regl-I
ment with me, which some of the men tore
off the poles and gave to me. [ held them
round my waist, under my coat. Joubert
asked for the guns and colours. | told.
them there were NO guns, and not being in
the Oath I did not know vberethe colours