I asked our guest, General De la Rey, what he thought about the matter.

He at once replied that we must go and liberate the women.

As we were already up-saddled in readiness for our march, I had nothing to do but to give the order to start.

The President, with his staff and some of the bodyguard, remained behind; while General De la Rey, Commandant Davel and I, with fifty-five men, hurried off.

The retired General, Piet Fourie, was also with us.
The enemy had marched with the laager on to a hill near the Kaffir kraal, consisting of four or five huts and a building made of sods.
We first caught sight of the English when we were at a distance of four miles from them; they were then busy drawing up the waggons of the women in rows of ten or twelve.