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

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

HISTORY OF THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA

1899 1902

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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

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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