II. CHAP. doubt that, encumbered as he was with a large convoy, his prudence in stealing away at midnight prevented his being taken at a serious disadvantage when crossing the river, and probably suffering very severe loss. Commandant-General Joubert is said to have afterwards stated that, while a force was following in Captain Froom's track from Paarde Kop, another was actually crossing the Waterfall river, under the belief that it would be in time to join in the attack, which it was intended to make when the troops were attempting to cross the Vaal. It was also said that Commandant Van der Schijff was removed from his command for having allowed the troops to escape him. While great credit is justly due to Captain Froom1 for having thus brought a hazardous march to a successful termination, and contributed to avert a disaster similar to that which overtook the Lydenburg column, all his officers and men seem to have well performed their parts, and the transport- waggons were ably handled by the conductor in charge, M. F. L. Cassells of the Commissariat and Transport Staff, who afterwards distinguished himself at the siege of Standerton. 1 Captain Froom was highly commended by H.R.H. the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, for the manner in which the march was performed. 2 Conductor Cassells was subsequently promoted to the rank of Quartermaster. 97 CHAPTER III. THE DEFENCE OF PRETORIA. CHAP. Town and around. THE mountainous nature of the country about Pretoria affords a great contrast and pleasant relief from the monotonous open highveld- undulating plains country -passed over for a hundred miles when travelling thither from Standerton. Range after range of lofty hills, throwing out their spurs here and there, with narrow valleys between, form the characteristic of this district. Farmhouses, belonging almost wholly to the Boer class, surrounded by trees, with fruitgardens and large cultivated patches, give evidence of greater fertility of soil and civilisation. Six miles from the capital the road winds between high hills, with thorn-trees and slight bush in places; but it is not until it emerges through the South Poort-a gap in the chain of hills immediately south-that the town appears in sight, with pretty and pleasing effect, less than half a mile away, situated on a gentle downward slope, its houses nestling amongst trees, and in the midst of gardens crowded with fruit-trees, and surrounded by hedges of wild roses. G Its streets are III. CHAP. regularly laid in rectangular style, but many plots are still vacant; and its buildings-of the usual South African ground-floor type-are much scattered, except in the central part, and spread over a space of about a mile square. The market-place, frequented by the Boers with their waggons bringing in produce for sale, with the usual Dutch Reformed Church standing in the middle, occupies the centre of the town; while another market - place, at the eastern entrance, is allotted to the natives to outspan their waggons on. The public buildings are all of a rather primitive description. The Court-house, used also as the place for the Legislative Assembly to meet in, is on one side of the central market-place. Government House, a private residence rented, lies to the right, close to the road or street, with shady verandah looking on a pretty little garden. Close by is the English cathedral, a large red-brick structure of no pretension to architecture. Water-furrows run on either side of the streets, for purposes of house supply and garden irrigation. There is a general aspect of dirt and untidiness everywhere. The streets are grass-grown, and altogether present rather the appearance of very badly kept village lanes than what their designation implies they should be. The town is placed between two parallel chains of lofty hills, running east to west about two miles apart, whose rocky débris are imperfectly covered with the turf. The ground slopes gradually from the southern range to the river Aapjes, to the river Aapjes, an inconsiderable stream, generally fordable in many parts, which flows III. on its eastern side, and thence passes along the foot CHAP. of the northern range. position. The camp ground, as it was called, to the right and Military left of the Heidelberg road, as it emerges from the South Poort, was the military position, commanding to some extent the town and its approaches to the east and west; but practically Pretoria was an open town, which depended almost wholly for its defence on the adequacy of the military field force available to oppose any attempted entry and occupation by an enemy. The military headquarter camp, at the time we write of, was 800 to 1000 yards to the left of the main road; while Fort Royal, a redoubt thrown up in the early part of December, lay about 400 yards to the right. The jail and Loretto House-commonly called the Convent-occupied an intermediate position on the left of the road as it entered the town. law pro The 21st December was an eventful day in Pretoria. Martial Before daylight-at four o'clock in the morning-it claimed. became known that the Lydenburg detachment of the 94th Regiment had been destroyed. It was at once recognised by the military authorities that they had a most determined foe-more so than had been anticipated-to deal with, and that the Boer leaders were displaying unexpected daring and ability for organisation. The loss of between two and three hundred stanch soldiers-who were to have marched in to reinforce the garrison that day-very materially lessened the power to hold the extended lines, taken 1 See Appendix F. CHAP. up in order to include the town. The increased III. The towns people ordered into the military camp. pres tige accruing thereby to the Boer arms, and, inversely, the diminished moral influence exercised by British troops, could not but have a baneful effect with all disloyal and wavering inhabitants. Martial law was seen to be necessary. Only a firm hand, guided by a cool head, would now suffice to control and weld together, for the general defence and common good, the diverse materials of which the population was composed. By seven o'clock after consultation between Sir Owen Lanyon, Colonel Bellairs, Lieut.-Colonel Gildea, and Major Le Mesurier-the proclamation of martial law was ordered, and the removal of the inhabitants from the town to the military position on the camp ground decided on. Only so could Pretoria, with several thousands of the enemy within striking distance, be saved from liability to share a like fate to that which had befallen Potchefstroom. It was not alone that it was desirable to avoid the possibility of street fighting, in a town filled with women and children, with the attendant probability of panics arising among the untrained defenders-or that the defence itself was difficult, from the town being open and unprotected, except from the camp side, and its houses enclosed in gardens scattered over a considerable extent of ground; but that, apart from the inexperience of townspeople to take care of themselves under such trying circumstances, the people could not be wholly trusted. Many were known to sympathise with the outside party, and others to be |