Discipline was low and individualism high in the Boer army.

Every man might repudiate the decision of his commandant, as every man might repudiate the white flag of his comrade.

On the first day no more than eleven hundred men of the Ficksburg and Ladybrand commandos, with fifteen hundred horses and two guns, were surrendered.

Next day seven hundred and fifty more men came in with eight hundred horses, and by August 6th the total of the prisoners had mounted to four thousand one hundred and fifty with three guns, two of which were our own.

But Olivier, with fifteen hundred men and several guns, broke away from the captured force and escaped through the hills.