Side-Lights on the March; The Experiences of an American Journalist in South Africa (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1901 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII THE MARCH ACROSS THE ORANGE FREE STATE--THE NIGHT BIVOUAC OF THE ARMY--DAWN QRIEFONTEIN, where the Boers were completely routed, was practically the last stand made by them; from there they retreated as fast as possible on Bloemfontein. Our progress thence was uninterrupted, only the cavalry in advance having occasional skirmishes with the enemy. The forty-five miles to Ferreira Siding, which is the point within five miles south of Bloemfontein where we struck the Orange Free State Railroad, were therefore accomplished practically without opposition. In covering this distance we made three stops. Fifteen miles a day, to the casual reader, may not seem very much, but it must be taken into consideration that the Force moved with an immense re transport, the motive power of which chiefly consisted of oxen, necessitating slow movement. Words can hardly describe the spectacle of this army moving across the open veldt in one great column, the ends of which it was impossible to see with the naked eye, and hardly with a field-glass. In the words of the late P. T. Barnum, I believe it was verily "the greatest show on earth." Sitting in the saddle for hours and letting our horses almost choose their own pace was in itself wearisome; yet the magnitude of the caravan, and the many trifling incidents by the way, coupled with the fact that we were not altogether sure at what moment the enemy might actually endeavour to contest our progress, helped to keep up our interest. There was much on the route that was pathetic in the extreme--on the other hand, not a little that would reach the comic sensibilities of one's nature: such are the incongruities of war. On one occasion, at some distance to the right of the line of march, a cavalry horse, fully equipped, cou...