I would be the last to assert that they had done wrong in voting thus.

The whole world is convinced that, whatever the Boers might have done, England was determined to colour the map of South Africa red! And England succeeded beyond her expectations! For South Africa was stained with the blood of burghers and defenceless women and children, and with the blood of English soldiers who had died in a quarrel for which they were not responsible, and which could have been avoided! There were other members--and I had no patience with them--who had said: "We will give our last drop of blood for our country," and then had taken good care that no one should have a chance of getting even the first drop! They preferred to remain quietly at home, and wait for the English to come and make them prisoners of war! Only a minority of the members had remained faithful to our cause, and these did not constitute a quorum; and so no sitting could take place.
This small party, as far as I can recollect, consisted of the following ten members: C.H.Wessels Bishop, Chairman; Wessel Wessels (Vrede); J.B.
Wessels (Winburg); A.P.Cronje (Winburg); Jan Steijl (Bloemfontein); Jan Meijer (Harrismith); J.J.Van Niekerk (Fauresmith); Daniel Steyn (Heilbron); Hendrik Ecksteen (Vrede); and Hendrik Serfontein (Kroonstad).
We marched from Doornberg on the 26th of January to Commandant Sarel Hasebroek's farm, which is eight miles to the north of Winburg.
There was a strong English force seven or eight miles to the east of Winburg, and another body of the enemy eleven or twelve miles still further to the east.

In addition, a column was marching northwards from Ventersburg, west of our position.
It was perfectly plain that the enemy were aware of our intentions; but this, as I have already said, could not be helped.

Our army was so constituted that no secret could be kept; and I decided for the future to tell no one of any further plans I might form.
On the 27th of January I reconnoitred to the east of Winburg, and took care to let myself be seen, for I wished to make it appear that it was my intention to proceed in that direction in the evening.

Meanwhile I secretly sent my scouts to the west.
That night I marched to the west of Winburg, crossing the branch railway without meeting with any opposition, and arrived on the following morning at the Vet River--to the south of the town.