It was at Brandfort, in the Free State, several weeks after Bloemfontein was occupied, and all the Boer generals in the vicinity met in Krijgsraad and voted to make a concerted attack upon the British force at Tafelkop, midway between Bloemfontein and Brandfort.

Generals Smuts and Botha made a long night trek to the positions from which they were to attack the enemy at daybreak.

It had been arranged that General De la Rey's commando should open the attack from another point, and that no operations should begin until after he had given a certain signal.

The signal was never given, and, after waiting for it several hours, the other generals returned to Brandfort only to find that General De la Rey had not even moved from his laager.
When the lower ranks of officers--the field-cornets and corporals--disobeyed the mandates of the Krijgsraads, displayed cowardice or misbehaved in any other manner, the burghers under their command were able to impeach them and elect other officers to fill the vacancies.

The corporals were elected by the burghers after war was begun, and they held their posts only so long as their behaviour met with the favour of those who placed them in authority.