And still I did not hear anything from General Froneman.
At last I came to the conclusion that he must have misunderstood my instructions.

If that were the case, I must do the best I could myself.
Accordingly I opened fire on the English with my Krupp.
Still no news of General Froneman! Then I ordered my burghers to advance.

Our first movement was over the nearest rise to the north-west; we halted for a moment, and then made a dash for Leeuwspruit Bridge--but we found nothing there.
Late in the evening I met General Froneman, and heard from him the narrative which I have given above.
The following day I sent well on to twelve hundred prisoners of war--including Kaffirs--to the President's camp, which lay east of Heilbron.

We then advanced to a point on the Rhenoster River, near Slootkraal, remaining in concealment there until the night of the 16th of June.

The following morning we occupied some ridges at Elandslaagte, on the look-out for a large English force which was marching from Vredefortweg to Heilbron.
My intention was to give them battle at Elandslaagte, and to hold on to our positions there as long as possible; and then, if we could not beat them off, to retire.