They had been detached from Gatacre's 3rd Division, the headquarters of which was at Springfontein.

On the abandonment of Thabanchu and the disaster of Sanna's Post, it was obvious that we should draw in our detached parties to the east; so the five companies were ordered to leave Dewetsdorp, which they were garrisoning, and to get back to the railway line.

Either the order was issued too late, or they were too slow in obeying it, for they were only halfway upon their journey, near the town of Reddersberg, when the enemy came down upon them with five guns.
Without artillery they were powerless, but, having seized a kopje, they took such shelter as they could find, and waited in the hope of succour.
Their assailants seem to have been detached from De Wet's force in the north, and contained among them many of the victors of Sanna's Post.

The attack began at 11 A.M.of April 3rd, and all day the men lay among the stones, subjected to the pelt of shell and bullet.

The cover was good, however, and the casualties were not heavy.