FOOTNOTES: 

[12] The Cavalry Rush to Kimberley. By Captain Cecil Boyle, Nineteenth Century, June, 1900.

CHAPTER VIII

ROUNDING UP THE BOERS

    French in the Modder—­At Bloemfontein—­French and the
    Artist—­An Ambush—­Doing the Impossible Again—­Short Shrift
    with Barberton Snipers—­Some French Stories.

To have relieved Kimberley and partially effected the capture of the redoubtable Cronje in the course of a fortnight, was no mean accomplishment.  The average commander would have been content to rest his forces after such exertions.  But French is never tired.  The very day that Cronje surrendered news came through that a rescue party was coming to Cronje’s assistance, and already held a hill on the south-east of the Modder.  Although the river was in flood, as the result of torrential rains, French forthwith led out two brigades with their batteries to make a reconnaissance.  In forcing the stream both French and his A.A.G. very nearly lost their lives.  Losing its foothold the General’s horse took fright and fell, flinging him into the raging torrent.  As the animal strove to recover, it upset Colonel (now Sir Douglas) Haig, who was coming to the rescue, dashing rider and horse into an over-hanging willow tree.  Both French and Haig luckily managed to get themselves free from their plunging animals and struck out for the shore.  Dripping but determined, they jumped on to fresh mounts, and advanced in two steamy haloes across the dusty veldt.  Of course, not a solitary Boer was in sight for ten miles at least!

[Page Heading:  AT POPLAR GROVE]

It very quickly transpired, however, that the Boers were strongly entrenched at Poplar Grove.  At their head were French’s most redoubtable opponents in the Colesberg campaign—­De Wet and Delarey.  For once his old antagonists were able to get back at least a little of their own.  Their position extended across the river and was protected by a chain of hills, with kopjes between, not to mention the wired fences, ditches and other wiles in which they excelled.

Lord Roberts determined that an attack must be delivered before the enemy had time to recover from the shock of Cronje’s surrender.  French was, therefore, ordered to circle round the Boer left flank, thus cutting off his retreat, while the infantry delivered a frontal attack.

The result was a compliment to the terrible French and his cavalry.  No sooner did the Boers realise that the horsemen were upon them, than they beat a hasty retreat.  Before the cavalry were in position, the Boers and their wagons could be seen scurrying off for the river.  Arm-chair critics at home have strongly criticised French for what followed.  They claim that what should have been a rout, ended in an orderly escape.  But they forget several factors in the situation.