The enemy had made some preparations for a stand, but Hamilton was near Heilbron upon their left and French was upon their right flank.

The river was crossed without opposition.

On the 24th the army was at Vredefort Road, and on the 26th the vanguard crossed the Vaal River at Viljoen's Drift, the whole army following on the 27th.

Hamilton's force had been cleverly swung across from the right to the left flank of the British, so that the Boers were massed on the wrong side.
Preparations for resistance had been made on the line of the railway, but the wide turning movements on the flanks by the indefatigable French and Hamilton rendered all opposition of no avail.

The British columns flowed over and onwards without a pause, tramping steadily northwards to their destination.