History of the War in South Africa 1899-1902 v. 1 (of 4) Compiled by Direction of His Majesty's Government

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[Transcriber's note: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected, all
other inconsistencies are as in the original. The author's spelling
has been maintained.

The sign + around words have been used to mark bolded text.

The errors noted in the errata have been corrected in the text.]




HISTORY OF THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA

1899-1902


[Illustration: Editor's arm.]


COMPILED BY DIRECTION OF HIS MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

BY

MAJOR-GENERAL SIR FREDERICK MAURICE, K.C.B

WITH A STAFF OF OFFICERS


VOLUME I


LONDON

HURST AND BLACKETT LIMITED

1906

_All rights reserved_




[Illustration: The Chapel River Press Kingston Surrey.]




PREFACE.


The decision of His Majesty's late Government, mentioned on the first
page of this history, was not finally given till November, 1905. It
was, therefore, not till December 12th, 1905, that I was able to
obtain approval for the form in which the political facts connected
with the war are mentioned in the first chapter. Since then the whole
volume has necessarily been recast, and it was not possible to go to
page proof till the first chapter had been approved. Hence the delay
in the appearance of the volume. I took over the work from Colonel
Henderson in July, 1903. He had not then written either narrative of,
or comments on, the military operations.

                                   F. MAURICE.

_May 22nd, 1906, London._




CONTENTS.


VOLUME I.

  CHAP.                                                           PAGE

      I.--Preparation for War                                        1
     II.--The Outbreak of the War                                   35
    III.--The Theatre of War                                        54
     IV.--The Boer Army                                             68
      V.--The British Army                                          87
     VI.--The Navy in the Boer War                                  96
    VII.--Talana Hill                                              123
   VIII.--The Retreat from Dundee, and the action of Rietfontein   142
     IX.--Elandslaagte                                             157
      X.--Lombards Kop                                             172
     XI.--The Arrival of Sir Redvers Buller                        196
    XII.--Advance from the Orange River                            211
   XIII.--Belmont                                                  218
    XIV.--Graspan                                                  229
     XV.--The Battle of the Modder River                           243
    XVI.--The Raid on Southern Natal                               261
   XVII.--Operations round Colesberg up to the 16th December       275
  XVIII.--Stormberg                                                285
    XIX.--Halt on the Modder River before Magersfontein            304
     XX.--The Battle of Magersfontein                              316
    XXI.--Sir Redvers Buller in Face of Colenso                    332
   XXII.--Colenso, December 15th, 1899                             351
  XXIII.--Lord Roberts' Appointment to the Command in South
            Africa                                                 376
   XXIV.--Operations Round Colesberg--December 16th, 1899, to
            February 6th, 1900                                     389
    XXV.--Lord Roberts at Capetown; reorganises                    408
   XXVI.--The Army Moves Forward                                   428


APPENDICES.

  No.                                                             PAGE

  1. Reinforcements sanctioned on 8th September, 1899              453
  2. Distribution of British Forces on 11th October, 1899,
     in Cape Colony                                                455
  3. Distribution of British Forces on 11th October, 1899,
     in Natal                                                      456
  4. Strengths of the Forces of the Transvaal and Orange Free
     State                                                         457
  5. List of H.M. Ships and Vessels serving on the Cape Station,
     October 11th, 1899, to June 1st, 1902                         460
  6. Approximate Strength and Casualties at Various Engagements
     described in Volume I                                         462
  7. The Expeditionary Force as originally organised and
     sent to South Africa                                          471
  8. The Composition and Distribution of British Troops
     in Southern Natal, 23rd November, 1899                        477
  9. Reinforcements Landed in South Africa up to the
     13th February, 1900, other than those given in
     Appendices 1 and 7                                            478
  10. Distribution of Troops in South Africa on 11th
     February, 1900, when the March from Ramdam began              485

  Glossary                                                         492

  Index                                                            497


LIST OF MAPS AND FREEHAND SKETCHES.

(_In separate case._)

MAPS.

  General Map:--South Africa.
  Special Maps:--
    No.