IX. missariat stores and intrenchment being with the CHAP. 58th Regiment. When these troops left, only one company of the 94th Regiment, under Captain Froom, replaced them. In accordance with instructions, Captain Froom took up a position near that which the King's Dragoon Guards had vacated, completed a small fort, and moved into it the commissariat iron shed and supplies from the other side. ed state trict. Meanwhile the district was in a disturbed state. DisturbPressure was being exercised in the collection of taxes. of the disPayment in many cases was offered here, as elsewhere, conditionally on its being recognised that it was made under protest to the existing Government, but refused in this form. On the 3d December, about one hundred mounted Boers entered the town, with the view to intimidate the Landdrost, on account of some seizures he was about to make. Mr Schotz thereupon requested the assistance of the military; but Captain Froom-in accordance with the orders given to all the outposts, not to endanger the safety of the military position at any time through detaching too many men, or overweakening the post-did not deem it prudent, with the small force he had at his disposal, to send any body of soldiers into the town, though he himself rode down and watched the proceedings, afterwards reporting the incident by telegraph to Pretoria. Instructions were sent from military headquarters to hasten the completion of the fort, and have all in readiness for any emergency that might arise. Captain Froom, IX. CHAP. having been relieved by Captain Saunders with two companies of the 58th Regiment, left with his company on the 17th December for Standerton. An account of his march has been given in the latter part of Chapter II. Arrival of Leaving Newcastle on the 14th December, with four Saunders. companies of infantry and thirty-three ox-waggons, Captain Saunders reached Mount Prospect-where Sir George Colley later on established his camp-early the following morning. There a young Englishman delivered a message informing him that a force of Boers was on the Transvaal border, under Commandant Van der Schijff, who had orders to prevent the troops crossing. Proceeding on, considerable delay was experienced-four to five hours-in passing the waggons over a difficult spruit in the vicinity of Majuba Hill and Laing's Nek. Six mounted Boers were seen on a hill to the right, but these soon rode away, and Laing's Nek was crossed and Coldstream reached the same evening. Two of the companies and the convoy of commissariat waggons, intended for Standerton, were detached to join Captain Froom's party coming from Wakkerstroom. Continuing his march at daybreak, Captain Saunders, with his two companies, arrived at his destination on the afternoon of the 16th. On the 18th, a special messenger brought intelligence from Standerton that the Boers, having occupied Heidelberg, had proclaimed the Republic. The following day, not being able to communicate with IX. Pretoria the telegraph line having been destroyed CHAP. in that direction for some days-Captain Saunders succeeded in passing a message through to Pietermaritzburg, inquiring whether the country was to be considered in a state of war; how far he would be justified in proceeding to extreme measures with armed parties approaching the town or camp; and whether a detachment should be sent to hold the town. No reply was received for some days, the line having apparently been damaged. But on the 24th it had again been put in working order, and messages were received from Major Montague-who had just reached Standerton and the Deputy Adjutant-General at Pietermaritzburg. The former officer told of the Bronkhorst Spruit disaster, and gave a warning against being deceived by parties attempting to approach under flags of truce. Colonel Deane intimated Instruc that a copy of Sir George Colley's instructions for the Sir George guidance of officers commanding garrisons would be forwarded; meanwhile armed parties approaching the camp or town, refusing to answer when challenged, were to be fired upon; on other matters of defence Captain Saunders was to exercise his own discretion. A message also from Sir George Colley directed the Volunteers Landdrost to call a meeting of the loyal inhabitants of the town of the district, so as to ascertain how many were willing to take up arms in defence of the town, in conjunction with the military. The meeting was held the same day, about eighty persons attending. At the commencement of the proceedings every one was required to sign a declaration, to the effect that he Ꮓ tions from Colley. for defence called for. CHAP. Projected capture of the town frustrated. was a loyal subject of her Majesty; whereupon about thirty people left the Court-house. The object of the meeting having been explained, Captain Saunders offered to furnish thirty soldiers for the defence of the town, provided a similar number of volunteers would join them. More than that number having given in their names, a picket of an officer and thirty-three men was sent to occupy the Court-house, which was then placed in a state of defence. The last post-cart, bringing letters from Pretoria, arrived on the 22d December. All letters had been opened at Heidelberg,- those of an official nature, containing orders or instructions, retained; but private ones, after being marked in red ink, "Z. A. R.” -South African Republic-allowed to pass. Captain Saunders received information of an intention on the part of the Boers to enter the town in large numbers, under pretext of attending the Nachtmaal, then being held in the Dutch church. Their arms were to be hidden in a waggon, and, when opportunity offered, distributed, and an endeavour made to take possession of the town. Orders were therefore given to watch all waggons, and prevent their being drawn up in the market-square in such a manner as readily to form a laager. Had any large number of Boers come in, Captain Saunders intended searching the waggons. On the 26th, however, the last day of the Nachtmaal, a mounted man brought a letter, which had the effect of causing the Boers hastily to leave the church, although the service was not concluded, inspan their oxen, and quit the CHAP. town. IX. fences. As soon as the Boers had left, the military-a pro- Town detest made by the Dutch minister notwithstandingtook possession of the church to form a central defensive station, and fortified the building. The Courthouse being commanded by the church, at a distance of a hundred yards, was considered untenable, and thereupon dismantled, and the public records removed. The upper or western side of the town was, besides, hidden from it by rising ground, whereas the church had a good look-out all round. The daily process of relieving the town detachment being found to weaken the garrison at the fort for the time, as well as render the party liable to be cut off going or returning in the event of sudden attack, a permanent detachment of the same strength was given, from the 28th December, under Lieutenant Read, furnished with two hundred rounds per man, and twenty-one days' provisions. Two stores-Murray's and Richard's -were also placed in a proper state for defence and occupation by volunteers. Of the latter, about fortyfive had been enrolled, mostly mounted. A refugee having brought intelligence that the Boers were to hold a large meeting at Graskop, eighteen miles off, on the 28th, preparatory to attacking the place, Mr Fawcus, C.E., volunteered to proceed there and endeavour to ascertain their intentions. Private Osborne, dressed in civilian's clothes, was sent with him. The latter returned the same night, but Mr Fawcus remained a couple of days, at great risk |