Frederiksstad and Bothaville When I was on the road to Heilbron, I heard that the commandos under General Hattingh (those, namely, of Harrismith and Vrede) were near the Spitskopje, seven miles to the south-east of Heilbron.

I therefore went out of my course and proceeded in the direction of these commandos.

They were among those who had stood the crucial test, and had not surrendered with Prinsloo.
It was a real pleasure to me to meet the Harrismith burghers, and to talk with them over bygone days.

This was our first meeting since December, 1899.

The last time we had seen each other was when we were encamped round Ladysmith, where we were, so to speak, neighbours--our positions being contiguous.
But what a shock went through my heart when I saw the cumbersome waggon-camps which had come both from Vrede and Harrismith! For I remembered what trouble and anxiety the waggons and carts had already caused me, and how my commandos, in order to save them, had been forced to fly 280 miles--from Slabbertsnek to Waterberg.