Some rolling stock, one small gun, and something under a hundred prisoners were the trophies of the capture, but the Boer arsenal and the printing press were destroyed, and the Government sped off in a couple of Cape carts in search of some new capital.

Pietersburg was principally valuable as a base from which a sweeping movement might be made from the north at the same moment as one from the south-east.
A glance at the map will show that a force moving from this point in conjunction with another from Lydenburg might form the two crooked claws of a crab to enclose a great space of country, in which smaller columns might collect whatever was to be found.

Without an instant of unnecessary delay the dispositions were made, and no fewer than eight columns slipped upon the chase.

It will be best to continue to follow the movements of Plumer's force, and then to give some account of the little armies which were operating from the south, with the results of their enterprise.
It was known that Viljoen and a number of Boers were within the district which lies north of the line in the Middelburg district.

An impenetrable bush-veld had offered them a shelter from which they made their constant sallies to wreck a train or to attack a post.