My March to the South The horses of the burghers were in a very weak condition; and as the Boer is only half a man without his horse--for he relies on it to get him out of any and every difficulty--I had now to advance, and see if I could not find some means of providing my men with horses and saddles.

I went on this errand in the direction of Zandriviersbrug to the farm of Mr.Jacobus Bornman.
Here, however, I divided the commandos.

General Froneman, with the Vrede and Heilbron burghers, I sent back to cross the railway lines between the Doorn and Zand Rivers, with orders to operate in the northern districts of the State.

I took with me Commandant Lategan of Colesberg, with about one hundred and twenty men, and Commandant Jan Theron, with eighty men, and proceeded on the 10th or 11th of November across the railway line between Doorn River and Theronskoppen, with the intention of executing my plan of making an inroad into the Cape Colony.
We wrecked the railway line and blew up a few small bridges, and then proceeded in the direction of Doornberg, where I met Commandant Hasebroek and his burghers.

I sent orders to General Philip Botha to come with the Harrismith and Kroonstad burghers, which he had with him.
They arrived about the 13th of November.
We then marched, with about fifteen hundred men, in the direction of Springhaansnek, to the east of Thaba'Nchu.