The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-18

ened rain in the morning, I had put on
an overcoat. Consequently, mounted on
my moke, whom in vain I was trying to
persuade to give me canter, or at
least a IrOt, I was, no doubt a pitiable
object. Returning to town in this wise,
after short excursion to the outskirts,
I met one of my friends. The per-
spiration was streaming down my face,
my horse, in spite of his slow and I'M
certain gait, was exhibiting every sign
OF fatigue, and 1 began to sur1nise thar
J had enetered on Quixotic adventure
"Hulloa." called out my friend II
see you've got your horse. What do
you call him?"
My sorrowful reply was, 'Rosinante!"
AT a subsequent period, it is true,
had the pleasure Of riding some very
fine horses The Wiry and springy Boer
horse is the best of mounts, especially
one that has been trained to the jaunty
gait called tripping
The delay caused by my rejection Of
my first steed had an important influ-
eHce on my career in the TranSVaal.
There had been considerable discussion
as to the advisability of forming a sec
Ond Irish brigade, as there was a good
deal of stray fighting material of the
best quality which found itself i'll at
ease in the existing commanders. 1 was
invited by the president, the state sec
rotary and General Joubert to CO.
operate with those who had already
taken the matter in hand. The most
prominent of these was Captain Mitch
ell, an officer who had, under Colonel
Blake of the Irish brigade, won golden
opinions for his bravery and soIdierlike
qualities Mitchell, whose nOdeSty was
equal to his courage, proposed that 1
should take command of the new brig
ade, and, by the unanimous desire of
the men, 1 found myself d'emblee, in
that position. The following day a COM
mission was made out for me, signed
by President Kruger and the state
secretary. ratifying my appointment
and giving me the title of colonel of
the Second Irish brigade. Mitchell was
appointed major.
The most notable of my other officers
was Captain Oates, a militant Irishman
OF South Africa, and one of the most
Jealous promoters of both Irish brig
ades Captain Oates had lost his eldest
son at Modder's Spruit, a young man of
great promise and greatly beloved by
ALL Both father and son had the quail
ity of courage even in too high de-
gree. and 1 always had difficulty in re-
Straining my captain from rushing i'm
petuOuSly into danger.
The history of the brigade cannot we'll
be told in a short space. To the origi-
nal nucleus of IriShmen there was ad-
young Afrika uderS, a contingent of
Germans, who had all been officers in
the German army, a smaller body of
F'renchman, likewise mainly composed of
ex-officers, and representatives of every
country in Europe, except Turkey.
searched in vain for a Turk I had also
a fair force of Americans, and even an
Englishman, born in England, of whom
l can say there was no smarter trooper.
My brigade became very popular in
Natal, and l was subsequently Joined
by several genuine Beers of the soil.
Still later some smaller commanders
came over to me en- bloc. Mr. status,
as well as that of the other leaders of
important volunteer corps, was de-
clared by a decision of the war council
to rank as that of ''commandant," and
my brigade was treated on the same
footing of those OF the Boer COM
mandoes.
We arrived too late before Ladysmith
to participate in anything more excit-
ing than the famous retreat-truly one
of the most wonderful SpectacleS I have
ever beheld. The Second Irish brigade
was on of the rearguard, and among
the last to reach Glencoe.
Our first action was in an attack or
ganized by General Botha against the
British forces at Elandslaagte. They
had prepared an advance against our
lines in the Biggarsberg, but Botha met
and threw them back with serious loss
and in great confusion. Had the plan
devised by the general been carried out
by all the Boer commanders we should
have '-scooped" the entire advance
guard. AS it was, the matter stands
for a two days engagement of some
consequence. The only rifle fire on the
occasion was that in which my brigade
participated almost exclusively.
Apart from parties of patrols and |
scouts, and frequent brushes with SIM
liar bodies of the enemy, the next en- |
counter in which we took part was |
after the English had burst through our |
Biggarsberg defences at Helpmakar. |
On that occasion we helpd to save some |
guns of Commandant Viljoen. My brig |
ade succeeded in beating back a rush |
of lancers and ORA goons, and in holding |
the main body in check long enough to |
save the artillery, which was heading |
for Dundee.
Subsequently, after retreating to
Laing'S Mex, we were orederd to the |
Free State, and took part in the vari- |
Gus enga gements of that running |
the occupation of Pretoria.
We helped to keep the enemy in |
check before johannesburg. and, dur
ing two days, at BaragWanath and |
Doornkop, inflicted temporary defeats.
Between Pretoria and Johannesburg |
we again attacked theadvance guard of |
the English at Reitfontein, and saved |
the road for a period long enough to
allow of a perfectly orderly retreat be
tween the two cities.
Such is the outline of my activities in
South Africa, and if the course of |
events was a little more exciting than
that of the average journalist I had Of
ten occasion to regret that I had not |
been able to keep open my line to Col |
lier's Weekley; but shall hope to make |
up for the desrtion by writing more in /
detail, in the near future, the story of |
my service with the brigade and posi- |
an INSIDE view of the war which will |
be of interest.
AFTER FIFTY YEARS