Lot Essay
INDENTOn the 15th. December, 1880 the South African Republic was proclaimed at Paardekraal and the elected triumvirate Kruger, Joubert and Pretorious established themselves at Heidelberg; on the same day a large Boer Commando rode into Potchefstroom and disregarding all protests, took over the printing works. The small British garrison of nearly 200 Royal Scots Fusiliers, about 20 Artillerymen with two 9 pounders, and some volunteers, took up defensive positions; 20 regulars and 46 volunteers fortified the brick courthouse, another 20 men defended the stone prison and the remainder occupied a fortified earth work 30 yards square. Insults were thrown, and on the following morning shots were fired. After an argument as to which side fired first a general action ensued -- the opening shots of the First Boer War had been exchanged. The Prison garrison on the redoubt and the men in the courthouse surrendered two days later.
Food, rationed from day one of the siege, consisted of three pounds of Indian corn (intended as animal fodder) daily with four ounces of tinned meat on alternate days; sweet water was found after digging down 15 feet. The defenders occasionly cried foul especially when severe gunshot injuries led to the assumption that the Boers were using explosive bullets. Hostilities were often suspended for lunch, wounded men were courteously exchanged and Sunday was declared a day of peace.
At the end of January, 1881 food rations were cut drastically, dysentery was rife and scurvy appeared; typhoid and enteric feaver cases joined the wounded in the hospital tents.
By early March, the defenders were down to eight bags of rotten mealies and on 12th. March out of physical necessity they sent out a flag of truce and asked for terms of a surrender. Cronje the Boer commander, unaware of their true condition offered the British some most acceptable concessions. Officers and men were to keep their private property and arms except rifles; no prisoners were to be taken and the garrison was to be permitted to march out with honours of war to Natal.
On 23rd. March, the defenders of Potchefstroom marched out from their redoubt en route to Natal; flags flew at their head, bugles played and over four hundred burghers lined up on both sides of the road saluting their former adversaries.
Almost at the frontier the British discovered the bitter truth -- the war had ended on the very day they had proudly marched out of Potchefstroom
Food, rationed from day one of the siege, consisted of three pounds of Indian corn (intended as animal fodder) daily with four ounces of tinned meat on alternate days; sweet water was found after digging down 15 feet. The defenders occasionly cried foul especially when severe gunshot injuries led to the assumption that the Boers were using explosive bullets. Hostilities were often suspended for lunch, wounded men were courteously exchanged and Sunday was declared a day of peace.
At the end of January, 1881 food rations were cut drastically, dysentery was rife and scurvy appeared; typhoid and enteric feaver cases joined the wounded in the hospital tents.
By early March, the defenders were down to eight bags of rotten mealies and on 12th. March out of physical necessity they sent out a flag of truce and asked for terms of a surrender. Cronje the Boer commander, unaware of their true condition offered the British some most acceptable concessions. Officers and men were to keep their private property and arms except rifles; no prisoners were to be taken and the garrison was to be permitted to march out with honours of war to Natal.
On 23rd. March, the defenders of Potchefstroom marched out from their redoubt en route to Natal; flags flew at their head, bugles played and over four hundred burghers lined up on both sides of the road saluting their former adversaries.
Almost at the frontier the British discovered the bitter truth -- the war had ended on the very day they had proudly marched out of Potchefstroom