h his cup of happiness when he found himself
once more united to his family.

[Footnote A: Rev. Kestell, 'Through Shot and Flames.']

[Illustration: MR. R. MCDONALD.]

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,
Smithfield, and Bethulie entered the Cape Colony at different points.
Having occupied several villages in the Eastern Province, they
concentrated towards the end of the month in the Stormbergen. Our tents
were pitched on the northern slopes of this mountain range, which runs
from east to west, six miles to the north of Molteno. Here we were to
have our first lesson in actual fighting; for up to that time we had not
encountered any resistance on the part of the enemy.

On the 9th of December, the night fixed on by General Gatacre to strike
a blow at the Boer forces at Stormberg, Assistant Chief Commandant
Grobler left that place with about nine hundred burghers, intending to
occupy Steynsburg. The enemy, having heard of their departure, and
knowing that our positions were in consequence so much weaker, left that
same evening, fully resolved to surprise us, and, if possible, reoccupy
the Stormbergen, which were abandoned at the first approach of our
commandoes.

The object of the British was to attack us on our right flank before
dawn, seize our positions and force us to surrender or retreat. On paper
this plan presented no difficulties, but its accomplishment was not
quite so easy, and proved a dangerous operation. The English general, as
we afterwards learnt, had started for the Boer p