Such a union occurred, however, in the early days of February 1902, when Smuts, Malan, and several other Boer leaders showed great activity in the country round Calvinia.  Their commandos seem to have included a proportion of veteran Republicans from the north, who were more formidable fighting material than the raw Colonial rebels.  It happened that several dangerously weak British columns were operating within reach at that time, and it was only owing to the really admirable conduct of the troops that a serious disaster was averted.  Two separate actions, each of them severe, were fought on the same date, and in each case the Boers were able to bring very superior numbers into the field.

The first of these was the fight in which Colonel Doran’s column extricated itself with severe loss from a most perilous plight.  The whole force under Doran consisted of 350 men with two guns, and this handful was divided by an expedition which he, with 150 men, undertook in order to search a distant farm.  The remaining two hundred men, under Captain Saunders, were left upon February 5th with the guns and the convoy at a place called Middlepost, which lies about fifty miles south-west of Calvinia.  These men were of the 11th, 23rd, and 24th Imperial Yeomanry, with a troop of Cape Police.  The Boer Intelligence was excellent, as might be expected in a country which is dotted with farms.  The weakened force at Middlepost was instantly attacked by Smuts’s commando.  Saunders evacuated the camp and abandoned the convoy, which was the only thing he could do, but he concentrated all his efforts upon preserving his guns.  The night was illuminated by the blazing wagons, and made hideous by the whoops of the drunken rebels who caroused among the captured stores.  With the first light of dawn the small British force was fiercely assailed on all sides, but held its own in a manner which would have done credit to any troops.  The much criticised Yeomen fought like veterans.  A considerable position had to be covered, and only a handful of men were available at the most important points.  One ridge, from which the guns would be enfiladed, was committed to the charge of Lieutenants Tabor and Chichester with eleven men of the 11th Imperial Yeomanry, their instructions being ’to hold it to the death.’  The order was obeyed with the utmost heroism.  After a desperate defence the ridge was only taken by the Boers when both officers had been killed and nine out of eleven men were on the ground.  In spite of the loss of this position the fight was still sustained until shortly after midday, when Doran with the patrol returned.  The position was still most dangerous, the losses had been severe, and the Boers were increasing in strength.  An immediate retreat was ordered, and the small column, after ten days of hardship and anxiety, reached the railway line in safety.  The wounded were left to the care of Smuts, who behaved with chivalry and humanity.