d to arrive. Early on the 12th a telegram
from a post of observation of Natal Carbineers at Acton Homes gave
information that a strong column of Boers, with four miles of train,
was on the march through Tintwa Pass, the head of it being already
across the border; furthermore, that there seemed to be an advance
guard concealed in Van Reenen's Pass. Sir G. White prepared to strike
instantly; but a British detachment which reached Dewdrop next day saw
the Boer vanguard, halted in the mouth of Tintwa Pass, and as
previously described (p. 123) returned to Ladysmith. A cavalry
reconnaissance[112] in the same direction on the 16th found that the
commandos had not stirred and, though Olivier's Hoek, Bezuidenhout's,
Tintwa and Van Reenen's Passes were all occupied,[113] the country
east of them was as clear of the enemy as heretofore. There appeared
an unaccountable hesitation amongst the Free Staters. Rumours of
disagreement, and even of actual hostilities between the commandos,
reached the British camp. They were not altogether groundless, and Sir
G. White, utilising the respite, set himself to consider how his field
force might be turned into a garrison, and his place of rest into a
fortress, should it be necessary, as now seemed likely, to stand a
siege in Ladysmith. A complete scheme of defence was drawn up on the
16th, and a mobile column organised for instant service in any
quarter. But, whilst the real enemy lay idle on the west, rumour,
working in his favour far to the southward, troubled the British
general and robbed him of troops he could ill spare. On the 17th a
telegram from the Governor of Natal announced that there was evidence
of a contemplated Boer raid via Zululand upon Pietermaritzburg and
Durban,[114] and asked for reinforcements for the defenceless capital.
They were promptly sent,[115] and quitted Ladysmith just as the Free
Staters in the mountains received with much discussion the order to
cross the frontier. Before dawn of the 18th all the commandos were on
the move down the defiles, the men of Bethlehem in Olivier's Hoek
Pass, of Heilbron in Bezuidenhout's, of Kroonstad in Tintwa, of
Winburg in Van Reenen's, of Harrismith in De Beer's, of Vrede in
Mueller's. By 8 a.m. Acton Homes was in the hands of 3,000 Boers, and
shortly after, west of Bester's station, a piquet of the Natal
Carbineers was sharply attacked by the Harrismith commando, and forced
to retire with loss. The Boers then occupied Bester's sta