This news decided me on leaving behind, in their own districts, parts of the commandos from all the various divisions, and on taking others to join with me in a second expedition into Cape Colony.

The following were the officers I took with me, ordering them to assemble at Doornberg, in the district of Winburg, on the 25th of January, 1901: Generals Piet Fourie, Philip Botha and Froneman; Commandants Prinsloo (Bethlehem), Steyn (Ficksburg), Hasebroek (Winburg), De Vos (Kroonstad), Merve (Parijs), Ross (Frankfort), Wessel Wessels[80] (Harrismith), Kolbe (Bloemfontein), and Jan Theron, with the renowned Theron Scouts.
From the 8th to the 25th of January we were in the north-western districts of the Free State.

We were waiting for a suitable opportunity to make a dash into Cape Colony.
[Footnote 78: _Vlei_--a valley with stagnant water in it.] [Footnote 79: The Boer proverb is:--"Blood creeps where it cannot walk."] [Footnote 80: I had appointed him in place of Commandant Truter, who had resigned.].