As we could not drive the English from the kraal before the arrival of the reinforcements, we had to give way.
Although I had given orders that all the waggons which had managed to escape should be sent on to Reitz, in the actual event only a few carts went there.

The women had left the waggons behind, close to the hill at the foot of the English position, where I could not see them, in order to await the result.

They had forgotten what I had told them, namely, that they were to get away as quickly as possible.

This order I had given in the expectation that a reinforcement might arrive at any moment.
After I had ordered a few men to bring the wounded into a safe place, I retired with the remainder, some forty-five in number.

Among these was Veldtcornet Serfontein and his burghers.
The English now directed their fire upon the women's laager, to compel it to come to a standstill.