We did not advance very fast,[81] as we expected that we should soon once more have to face the difficulty of marching with exhausted horses.
In the afternoon we continued our way till we had passed Tabaksberg.

The following morning, January 28th, I received a report that the English were advancing in two divisions.

I ordered my burghers to up-saddle and to occupy positions to the east of Takasberg.
The enemy's right wing was to the east, and we stationed ourselves on some ridges that lay in front of them, but were unable to deliver an attack.

We charged their left wing, however, and captured a Maxim-Nordenfeldt, which was in perfect order, at the cost of one killed and three wounded.

Our other losses amounted to a very small number.
As to the enemy's losses, they took some of their dead and wounded away, but they left behind them several of their dead at the spot where we had captured the gun.
To remain there and continue the fighting the next day could not even be thought of; for if we had waited the English would have had time to bring up reinforcements, and my plan of entering Cape Colony would have been rendered impossible.
Our position was difficult enough.