I had with me at that time General Hattingh, General Wessel Wessels, and General Michal Prinsloo.
An English force had encamped two days previously on the farm of Jagersrust, which lies some ten miles to the south-east of Heilbron, and about the same distance from Blijdschap.

I had wished to make an attack on them the night they arrived, but they were too near to Heilbron for me to venture on it.
The previous week three columns which came from Winburg and Kroonstad had been operating near the Liebenbergsvlei, and driving a large laager of women before them towards the north-east of the Liebenbergsvlei.

But they had now left the laager alone and returned to Kroonstad.

The women had arrived at Blijdschap at noon on November 28th on their way back to Lindley.
The morning following, two hours after sunrise, I received a report from General Hattingh, who with Commandant Cilliers and a hundred men was stationed close to Blijdschap.

The General reported that the English from Jagersrust were hotly pursuing the women's laager.