When I saw how untenable their position was becoming I sent in a flag of truce, asking them to surrender, so as to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.  One of the officers sent word that, seeing Captain Spandow had already fallen, and their losses were so great, he considered further resistance useless.

We found that 15, including the captain, were killed, and 14 wounded.  Six of the wounded died soon after their surrender.  One of their men was at once sent to Cradock for an ambulance.  Our losses were 1 killed and 2 wounded.

The men I had left behind had off-saddled, and so only arrived after the enemy had surrendered.  The officer, on inquiring where our men were, and who had engaged them, only shook his head when I told him that we were but 13, and that 3 of these had been put out of action almost at the beginning of the engagement.  The British numbered 84 in all.  We were again provided with a good supply of ammunition, and 105 horses in excellent condition.

Some months later Major Warn’s column was attacked at the same place by Commandant L. Wessels.  Several of the enemy’s horses were shot down, while a number of men were wounded.  So suddenly had they to turn back, that many a helmet dropped down and the owner had no inclination to pick it up.  The English had fallen once more into an awkward trap from which they had to extricate themselves with the utmost speed.

On another occasion Commandant Fouche awaited the enemy at the same spot and made about 150 prisoners.  Long Kloof Valley has thus become a noted place.  The traveller passing through that valley will always be reminded of the South African War on seeing the fourteen graves alongside the road, and near to the stone wall.

SPRAGGE’S COLUMN CAPTURED.

The following report, bearing on Colonel Spragge’s surrender, has been submitted to me by my military secretary, R.D.  McDonald.

“On the 27th of May, 1900, Spragge entered Lindley.  Our commando was then stationed at a farm eight miles to the north of the village.  General Colvile, whom Spragge was to have joined here, left early on the morning of the 27th.  What urged him on we could not guess.  Had he waited another day, Spragge would not have been captured.  We followed him up for some miles, and inflicted slight losses on his rear.

“At noon the burghers returned to the laager.  About an hour before sunset our scouts returned with the news that the English had reoccupied Lindley, and that it was but a small column without guns.  When the burghers heard that the column was only 500 strong, and had no guns, they required no other inducements, but started immediately for Lindley.  Our men are, as a rule, more daring if they discover that the enemy has no cannons at their disposal; the big, monstrous guns they do not like.  We had thus decided that this detached column would