They were already in the best of spirits, as they might well be, for their General had but recently won victories over Von Donop and Lord Methuen.
Dr.Van Rennenkampf, having examined the President's eyes, said that he must remain for some time under his care.

Accordingly I left President Steyn with De la Rey, and, on the third day after our arrival, set out with my staff to join General Badenhorst, who was then in the neighbourhood of Boshof.

It was becoming more and more important that I should see Badenhorst and Nieuwouwdt, and discuss with them how best they might collect their forces, for I wished to be able to attack the first English column that should enter the western district of the State.
I had received reports that, with the exception of the garrison at Boshof, the west, for the moment, was free from the enemy; and this information caused me no surprise, for I could well believe that they had just "packed up their trunks" in the north.
On the 25th of March I joined General Badenhorst on the Gannapan,[108] thirty miles to the north-east of Boshof.

I at once sent an express to General Nieuwouwdt, ordering him to come to me with all speed, and to bring about four hundred and fifty of his men with him.

Meanwhile, General Badenhorst received instructions from me to get all his scattered commandos together.[109] Before there had been time for these orders to be carried out I received, on March 28th, a letter from President Steyn, giving me the following information: Mr.S.W.Burger, Vice-States President of the South African Republic, had written to President Steyn, saying that he was at Kroonstad, and that he wished to meet the Government of the Orange Free State.