The operations against Smuts, the flank bases of which, Beaufort West and Lambert's Bay, were over 300 miles apart, attained only negative success. A large convoy drawn by donkeys fell into the hands of the rebels between Beaufort West and Fraserburg, and a smaller convoy in the Sutherland district.

French now took in hand the Drive, the last weapon left in the British Armoury, which his colleagues in the Transvaal and the Orange River Colony had been wielding for some months. It was brandished northwards from Beaufort West on February 17; but it only dispersed without destroying the rebels, most of whom had retired to the north and N.W. Not a few scraped round the right flank of the drive, crossed the railway, and plunged into the Graaff Reinet and Aberdeen districts, where they were joined by a band under Fouché, which had been lurking and conniving far away to the N.E. between Dortrecht and Aliwal North.

Smuts withdrew to the N.W. and laid siege to Ookiep, which was relieved on May 3 by an expedition sent from Capetown through Port Nolloth; Smuts having in the meantime retired in order to attend the Peace Conference. He had done his best to carry out the instructions given to him by the Boer Council of War held in June, 1901, to foment a general insurrection in the Cape Colony, but he had failed.

Footnote 61:(return)

L.M.O. Requiescat in pace.

Footnote 62:(return)

It is not easy to understand why an empty convoy on the march, not from, but to a base of supplies, should have taken over 700 rounds per man.

CHAPTER XVIII

The End

Nearly two years had passed by since the negotiations for peace between Lord Roberts and L. Botha and between Sir Redvers Buller and C. Botha had fallen through shortly before the battle of Diamond Hill. In February, 1901, another conference for peace was held at Middelburg in the Transvaal between Lord Kitchener and L. Botha, who after parleying for a fortnight, abruptly broke off the negotiations. If, as seems probable, he was led to adopt that course by the news of the escape of De Wet from the Cape Colony, a historical parallel may be found in the sudden dissolution of the Congress of Vienna, when the courier brought the news of Napoleon's escape from Elba.

In January, 1902, an offer made by the Government of the Netherlands to mediate between the combatants was declined by the British Government. The incident of the offer was, however, communicated to the Transvaal Government, which was then lying north of Balmoral, and which asked for and received permission to discuss proposals for peace with the Free State Government at Kroonstad. Schalk Burger, the Acting President of the Transvaal, arrived at Kroonstad on March 22. Steyn, who was with Delarey, was sent for; De Wet was searched for, and for the first time found; and the allied Governments, the chief members of which were, on the one side, Schalk Burger and Delarey, and on the other De Wet and Steyn, met in conference on April 9 at Klerksdorp, which was, at Steyn's suggestion, chosen as a more convenient place of meeting than Kroonstad.

It was soon decided to open negotiations with Lord Kitchener, at whose invitation the Governments proceeded to Pretoria, where they met him and Lord Milner. The Boer proposals, which postulated the continued independent existence of the two shattered Republics, were rejected; it seemed that the war must be fought to a still bitterer end. Finally, it was agreed that the negotiations should be adjourned for a month, in order to allow the feelings of the burghers at large to be ascertained, and reported at a Convention to be held at Vereeniging on May 15. In the meantime the military operations were to be continued, subject to the permission to be given to the Boer leaders to go freely among and consult their people.

When the Convention assembled it was found that while the Transvaal was generally in favour of submission, the Orange River Colony was still implacable. A compromise was effected between them, and the heads of a treaty, of which the chief clause ensured a qualified independence to the late Republics, under the guise of British Protectorates, were drawn up by J.C. Smuts, who had come from Ookiep to resume his former profession and to act as legal adviser to his colleagues. It was submitted to Lord Kitchener at Pretoria, who, as the delegates might have foreseen, refused to consider it and handed to their counsel Smuts a document, in which the Boer leaders were required, on their own behalf as well as on their followers' behalf, to acknowledge themselves as British subjects.

The negotiations at Pretoria were conducted by a deputation from the Vereeniging Convention: Delarey, Botha, Smuts, De Wet, and Hertzog. These did their best, and even obtained some verbal changes of phraseology which made Lord Kitchener's terms less unpalatable. The question of British nationality was waived for the moment to allow of the other stipulations of the document being discussed; and the general subject was referred to a minor convention consisting of Lord Milner and his legal adviser on one side, and of Smuts and Hertzog on the other.

A proposal for a final settlement was drawn up, which, with certain alterations insisted on by the Colonial Office, was presented by Lord Kitchener as his ultimatum, to be accepted within three days by the Vereeniging Convention. Botha and his colleagues returned to Vereeniging and laid it before the delegates. Steyn refused to entertain it and immediately resigned his titular office of President of the Orange Free State; De Wet, implacable almost to the last, protested against its terms. The hopelessness of the Boer cause in South Africa was, however, manifest. Even De Wet yielded, and voted with the majority in favour of accepting the British terms of peace.

On May 31, 1902, the Treaty of Vereeniging brought to an end the War of 960 days.

FINIS

COMMANDERS OF DIVISIONS AND BRIGADES, OCTOBER 1899-JUNE 1901

CAVALRY.

DIVISION—French.

BRIGADES.

MOUNTED INFANTRY BRIGADES——Alderson, Le Gallais, Martyr, Ridley, Hutton

INFANTRY.

DIVISIONS.

I Methuen
II Clery, Lyttelton, Clery
III Gatacre, Chermside
IV White (troops in Ladysmith), Lyttelton
V Warren, Hildyard
VI Kelly-Kenny
VII Tucker
VIII Rundle
IX Colvile
X Hunter
XI Pole-Carew
Colonial: Brabant

BRIGADES.

1 (Guards) Cplvile, Pole-Carew, Inigo Jones
2 Hildyard, E. Hamilton
3 (Highland) Wauchope, MacDonald
4 Lyttelton, Norcott, Cooper
5 (Irish) Hart
6 (Fusilier) Barton
7 I. Hamilton, W. Kitchener
8 Howard
9 Featherstonehaugh, Pole-Carew, C. Douglas
10 Talbot Coke
11 (Lancashire) Woodgate, Wynne, W. Kitchener, Wynne
12 Clements
13 C. Knox
14 Chermside, Maxwell
15 Wavell
16 B. Campbell
17 Boyes
18 Stephenson
19 Smith Dorrien
20 Paget
21 B. Hamilton
22 Allen
23 W. Knox

INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES

(It has not been thought necessary to include in the Index names of towns or of physical features which constantly occur in, or are not material to the narrative; and incidental or unimportant references and allusions have also been generally omitted.)

Abon's Dam, 56, 165
Abraham's Kraal, 187-190
Acton Holmes, 99, 100
Airlie, Lieutenant-Colonel the Earl of, 244
Alberts, 357
Alderson, Brigadier-General E.A.H., 202, 203
America Siding, 233
Amersfort, 272
Amphlett, Major C.G., 198-200

Babington, Major-General J.M., 321-324
Baden-Powell, Major-General R.S.S., 4, 34, 213-222, 224, 273-277, 280-282, 320
Bakenlaagte, 341
Balmoral, 283, 284, 291
Bankkop, 355
Barberton, 289
Barton, Major-General G. 53, 69, 73, 76, 132-135, 294
Bastion Hill, 100, 101
Battles, Sieges and Engagements, chief—
  Alleman's Nek, 269, 270
  Belmont, 55
  Bergendal, 286-288
  Botha's Pass, 268
  Caesar's Camp, 141, 143, 145-149
  Colenso, 69-78
  Dewetsdorp, 297, 298
  Diamond Hill, 241-245
  Doornkop (Transvaal), 237
  Driefontein, 189-191
  Elandslaagte, 42-44
  Graspan, 56
  Kimberley, 87-92
  Ladysmith, 140-155
  Lindley, 247-252
  Lombard's Kop, 49-50
  Mafeking, 212-221
  Magersfontein, 58-63
  Modder River, 56-57
  Paardeberg, 172-183
  Pieter's Hill, 133-135
  Poplar Grove, 185-188
  Rhenoster Kop, 316
  Rietfontein, 45
  Sannah's Post, 198-206
  Six Mile Spruit, 239
  Spion Kop, 102-115
  Stormberg, 65-69
  Talana, 39-41
  Vaalkrantz, 116-120
  Wepener, 209, 210
  Zand River, 233
Beatson, Brigadier-General S.B., 329
Belfast, 272, 285, 286, 325
Bell's Kopje and Spruit, 144
Benson, Colonel G.E., 322, 329, 337, 340-342
Bethlehem, 249, 252, 256-258
Bethune, Colonel E.C., 265, 309
Beyers, General C., 315, 317-322, 325, 326, 328, 337
Biddulphsberg, 252
Blijdschap, 345, 346
Bloemfontein, surrender of, 191
Blood, Lieutenant—General Sir B., 329, 330
Blood River Poort, 338
Boekenhoutskloof Ridge, 241, 242
Boesman's Kop, 199-204
Boschbult, 360
Boschrand (Driefontein), 189
Boschrand (Kroonstad), 234
Bosjespan, 164
Botha, General C., 254, 264, 266, 270, 272, 339, 365
Botha, General L., 52-54, 70, 75, 78, 100, 112, 117-119, 126, 128, 132, 193, 196, 232-242, 245-247, 254, 264, 283-291, 314, 315, 322, 325-327, 337-341, 345, 354, 355, 365-367
Botha, P., 232
Bothaville, 295, 296, 298
Brabant, Brigadier—General Sir E.Y., 194, 206, 207, 209, 210, 230, 247, 252, 256
Brakfontein (Natal), 97, 106, 116-119
Brakfontein (Transvaal), 277, 278
Brak River (Cape Colony), 305-307
Brak River (Transvaal), 360
Brand, 307, 308, 335
Brandfort, 197, 198, 232, 233
Brandwater Basin, 257-261, 271, 278, 280, 295, 331
Britz, 355
Broadwood, Brigadier-General R.G., 198-205, 244, 245, 259, 278, 316, 317, 319, 321, 333
Brocklehurst, Major-General J.F., 269-271
Brook, Major-General E.S., 352
Buller, General Sir Redvers, 51, 53-55, 69-79, 86, 89, 90, 96-103, 107, 112-127, 131-133, 136, 140, 152-155, 231, 240, 254, 256, 262-272, 284-291, 365
Bulwana, 122, 123, 125, 135, 136, 142, 145, 147, 148
Burger, Schalk, Acting President of the Transvaal, 100, 103, 105, 112, 117, 142, 356, 365
Burn-Murdoch, Brigadier-General J.F., 135, 136
Byng, Colonel the Hon. J.H.G., 350-352

Campbell, Colonel W.P., 326
Campbell, Major-General B., 346, 347
Carleton, Lieutenant-Colonel F.R.C., 47-49
Carolina, 272
Carrington, Lieutenant-General Sir F., 274, 277, 278, 290, 314
Chermside, Lieutenant-General Sir H., 230, 232
Chieveley, 53, 76, 97, 121
Chrissie, Lake, 326
Christiana, 226, 235
Cingolo, 123, 124
Clements, Major-General R.A.P., 81, 194, 195, 206, 227, 252, 256, 257, 316-321, 324, 339, 340
Clery, Lieutenant-General Sir C.F., 72, 77, 101, 103, 107, 113, 124, 143, 264, 267, 268, 270, 315
Clump Hill, 132
Coke, Major-General J. Talbot, 102, 103, 106-111, 113, 114, 127, 128, 269
Colenso Kopjes, 127-129
Colesberg, 64, 80, 81, 145, 157, 309
Colvile, Lieutenant-General Sir H.E., 62, 63, 166, 167, 170, 171, 175, 177, 178, 180, 198, 202-206, 216, 232, 233, 247-253, 255, 256
Conical Hill, 102, 105
Cookson, Colonel G.A., 360, 361
Council of War, see Krijgsraad
Crabbe, Lieutenant-Colonel Eyre, 309
Crofton, Colonel M., 106, 108, 109, 113
Cronje, General A.P., 46, 140, 167
Cronje, General A.P.J., 163
Cronje, General P., 56-58, 61, 63, 81, 126, 131, 133, 141, 145, 158-164, 166-175, 179, 181-185, 192, 193, 213-217, 219, 220, 223, 281
Cunningham, Brigadier-General G.G., 321, 322, 324
Cyferfontein, 321

Dalgety, Colonel E.H., 209
Damant, Lieutenant-Colonel J.H., 349, 350
Damvallei, 189
Dartnell, Brigadier-General Sir J., 327, 346, 347
De Beer, 172, 179, 182
Delarey, General, 55-58, 61, 81, 189, 190, 194, 221, 232, 239, 241, 242, 245, 274, 275, 282, 283, 315-326, 330, 332, 337, 342-345, 353, 357-362, 365, 366
De Lisle, Colonel H. de B., 245
De Wet, General C., 47, 151, 152, 162, 163, 167, 168, 170, 171, 173, 178-182, 185-191, 198, 200-204, 207-211, 232, 241, 247, 252-256, 258, 259, 274, 278-282, 294-310, 322, 330, 332, 337, 345-353, 358, 359, 365-367
De Wet, General P., 188, 198, 199, 202-204, 230, 254
Dickson, Major-General J.B., 242
Dixon, Brigadier-General H.G., 324, 330, 342
Donkerhoek Range, 241, 245
Donkerpoort, 245
Doornberg, 297, 302, 303, 305, 310, 351
Doornkop Natal, 97, 119
Doornkop Spruit, 74
Douglas, Lieutenant-Colonel W., 329
Douglas, Major-General C.W., 316
Drifts—
  Bosman's, 57
  Botha's, 309
  Brandvallei, 169
  Bridle, 74
  Brown's, 56, 61, 161, 164
  Commando, 353
  Commissie, 329
  De Kiel's, 162, 163, 166
  East, 74
  Jager's, 39
  Klip, 163, 164, 166, 168, 169, 171, 174, 192
  Klip Kraal, 163, 164, 169, 171
  Koedoesberg, 159, 167
  Koodoos, 171, 173, 179
  Makow's, 307
  Munger's, 117, 118
  Oertel's, 190
  Old Viljoen's, 235
  Paardeberg, 169-171, 173, 176, 178
  Potgieter's, 54, 55, 96, 97, 99, 103, 106, 108, 116, 121, 146, 151
  Rondeval, 163
  Schoeman's, 278, 279, 294
  Trickhardt's, 97, 99-102
  Vanderberg's, 176
  Vendutie, 169, 171-173, 178, 180, 184, 192
  Viljoen's, 236
  Waterval (near Koffyfontein), 91, 132, 162, 166, 167, 171, 179
  Waterval (near Sannah's Post), 204, 205
  Wegdraai, 166, 167
  West, 74
  Wonderwater, 235
  Zand, 304, 305, 308, 309
Du Cane, Lieutenant-Colonel H.J., 191
Dullstroom, 329
Dundee, 37, 39
Dundonald, Major-General the Earl of, 76, 99-101, 109, 123-125, 135, 153, 154, 265, 266, 268, 269, 271
Du Plooy, 64
Dwarsvlei, 276

Elandsfontein, 237
Elandskop, 350, 351
Elliott, Major-General E. Locke, 331-334, 337, 346, 349-353
Eloff, 219, 220
Emmett, 328, 338, 339
Ermelo, 272, 326, 327, 330, 332, 354
Erasmus, 40-42
Estcourt, 52, 53, 79

Faber's Put, 228
Fairview, 100, 102
Ferreira, 165, 172, 173
Florida, 237
Forestier-Walker, Lieutenant-General Sir F., 63
Fort Itala, 339
Fort Prospect, 339
Fort Wyllie, 73, 76, 77
Fouché, 364
Fourie, 100, 307, 308
Frankfort, 234
Fredrikstad, 294, 298
French, Lieutenant-General Sir J.D., 48-50, 52, 64, 65, 80, 91, 141, 157-159, 162-168, 171, 172, 182, 183, 186, 187, 189-192, 195, 197, 198, 205, 230, 232-239, 242, 245, 272, 277, 283-291, 313, 315, 320, 321, 326-328, 334, 364
Frere, 53, 76, 96
Froeneman, 304
Fuzzy Hill, 132