s not in camp
till dark. It was not, however, disturbed during the night.

The column left Grobellars Recht on the 16th with the 5th and 6th West
Australians as rear-guard, supported by the Devonshire Regiment. The
Boers followed up smartly for some hours, but there were no casualties,
and camp was reached at Kromkrans at about 4 p.m. Smutsoog was reached
the next day. On the march Pulteney's column, which was seen in the
distance, mistaking Kitchener's column for a commando of Boers, shelled
them with field guns. Their shooting was accurate, and it was not till
General Kitchener threatened to send a 5-inch shell at them that they
desisted. Fortunately no damage was done. From Smutsoog the column
proceeded to Goedevervachting, a few Boers sniping the column on the
march.

Much inconvenience was experienced from the cold, as it froze hard every
night.

On the 20th the column marched to Florence, passing Bothwell and Lake
Chrissie, and on the following day reached Veltevreden. Here the 2nd
Rifle Brigade and the West Australians left the column. On the march to
Veltevreden a few Boers were seen, and there was some firing at the
rear-guard.

On the following day a short march brought the force to Uitkyk, where a
halt was made on the 23rd.

On the 24th the column on its march to Schapenberg captured 800 cattle
and 4000 sheep, and five Boers surrendered.

A halt was made on the 25th and 26th at Schapenberg. Here 16,000 sheep,
which were being driven along with the column, were slaughtered. These,
daily increasing in number, hampered the movements of the rearguard on
the march to such an extent, that it was found impossible to drive them
on to the railway; they were therefore slaughtered.

Lekkerloop was reached on the 27th, on which day the I.L.H. captured
twenty-two prisoners. A halt was made at Lekkerloop from the 28th to
31st, during which time the I.L.H. under Colonel Mackenzie were busy
capturing prisoners and clearing the country.

On June 1st the column marched to Bushman's Kop, proceeding on the
following day to Vierwonden, crossing the Theespruit _en route_. The
I.L.H. brought six prisoners into camp with them. The main column halted
at Vierwonden from the 3rd till the 8th, whilst Captain Bartlett left
for Hoilake on the 3rd in command of three companies as escort to a
convoy, and on the 4th Captain Wren was ordered with one company and
five guns to Bonnybraes. On the 9th the column marched to Bonnybraes,