But it will be easily seen, even from the scanty information I can give of these skirmishes, that our small commandos had a splendid record of success.
It is my intention to ask all my Vice-Commanders-in-Chief to narrate their experiences.

And when the whole story is told I am convinced that the world will be astonished at what we were able to accomplish.
But however well these small commandos had fought, I myself believed that the time had now come to make a great stroke.

With this object in view I gave orders that a number of the burghers should come to Blijdschap, in the district of Bethlehem, under the command of the following officers:--General Michal Prinsloo with Commandants Olivier, and Rautenbach of the Bethlehem Commando; Commandant David Van Coller, who was in command of the Heilbron burghers in the place of Commandant Steenekamp, who had resigned; Commandant Hermanus Botha of Vrede; Commandant Roen of Ladybrand; and Commandant Jan Cilliers of Kroonstad.
By the beginning of November I had a force of seven hundred burghers under me at Blijdschap.[101] Although the spring was now far advanced, the veldt was in a very backward condition.

I therefore ordered the various subdivisions of my commando to go and camp on the different farms in the neighbourhood.

I spread the horses over a large area, as they would thus find better pasture and so the sooner recover their strength.
When November was drawing to a close I had an engagement with the English to the south of Lindley.