It is probable that the deliberation with which the operations were conducted was due to Rundle's instructions to wait until the other forces were in position.

His subsequent movements showed that he was not a General who feared to strike.
On Sunday night (April 22nd) Pole-Carew sallied out from Bloemfontein on a line which would take him round the right flank of the Boers who were facing Rundle.

The Boers had, however, occupied a strong position at Leeuw Kop, which barred his path, so that the Dewetsdorp Boers were covering the Wepener Boers, and being in turn covered by the Boers of Leeuw Kop.

Before anything could be done, they must be swept out of the way.

Pole-Carew is one of those finds which help to compensate us for the war.