THE BOER REACTION GUN HILL, 7-8 DECEMBER 1899 SIEGE OF LADYSMITH

摘要

'Heden nacht ten ongeveer half twee wordenrnonze stellingen onverwacht door vyandrnaangevallen...25 man en officieren enrnmanscappen hebben tot het laatsternuitgehouden wy waren daarna verplicht ternvluchten voor overmacht.'rn(War telegram, Major Erasmus to Joubert, Volksrust, 04.30, 8 December 1899).rn('Last night at approximately 02.30 our positionrnwas unexpectedly assaulted by the enemy...25rnmen and officers held out as long as possiblernbefore being compelled to flee in the facernof superior numbers.')rnThe markedly lax security in standing encampments, a feature of the Boer siege-ring during the Siege of Ladysmith, became a bone of contention in the commando ranks, especially in the wake of the attack on Gun Hill on the night of 7 to 8 December 1899. The burghers outside Ladysmith were vulnerable by early December 1899 as complacency and inefficiency in the siege laagers had replaced the initiative and drivernassociated with their war of movement. They were as unsuited to a static war as were the Natal Volunteers. Nevertheless, the Boers should have placed special emphasis on the security of the Creusots, considering that the Boer leadership were particularly concerned, for propaganda reasons, that these prestigious guns not fall into the hands of the enemy.