CHAPTER III.

ENGAGEMENTS.

And in the hope of freedom they possess
All that the contest calls for,--spirit, strength,
The scorn of danger, and united hearts.

_Cowper._


With the exception of the Stormberg engagement we do not intend to dwell
on the battles of the first part of the campaign. They have already been
described by able hands, by men who participated in them, or were in a
position to ascertain their true history. By this we do not infer that
all accounts are correct, for it requires many eyes to see one battle in
all its aspects. Besides, some writers are unconsciously influenced and
prejudiced by their national sentiments, and thus fail to do justice to
the parties concerned. We shall confine ourselves to the engagements in
which we personally took part, and shall record only the more remarkable
among them.


BATTLE OF STORMBERG.

In the beginning of November, 1899, the commandoes of Rouxville,