The division that was marching to Heilbron suddenly turned aside towards Kroonstad, only to meet with General Botha, who left them in anything but an undamaged condition.
The division which had been despatched to deal with General Fourie and Commandant Prinsloo entered Senekal.
When I arrived at General Botha's camp, which was situated six miles to the east of Lindley, I found that General Knox had already taken Kroonstad.
After this we allowed ourselves a rest.
On the 8th of January I received reports from Commandant Kritzinger and Captain Scheepers dealing with the state of affairs in Cape Colony.

They informed me that they had safely crossed the Orange River by a foot-path.

There was another footpath, more to the south, which an English outpost of eight men was guarding.

These soldiers occupied a house near by, and the first warning they had that we had crossed the river was when the door of their abode opened, and they heard the order to "hands up." Commandant Kritzinger and Captain Scheepers also assured me that the sympathies of the Colonial burghers were strongly with us.

Like every other right-minded man, I had expected this to be the case, for "blood is thicker than water."[79] Although the Colonials were well aware what a dangerous course they would be pursuing if they joined us, and how, later, they would be sure to be treated as rebels, they nevertheless threw in their lot with ours.
From Judge Hertzog I received a very encouraging report as to the burghers in the north-western parts of Cape Colony.