An exiled general

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Part One

Copyrighted March, 1906. by B. J. Viljoen.

A. NOBLE PRINTING COMPANY, 207 NORTH THIRD STREET,

ST. LOUIS, MO., U. 8. A.

l]BHARY7f"cONGRESs] Two Conies Received

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CL/SS CC x^c, No

COPY B.

AN EXILED BOER, rr

As I watched the sun on this evening set

The beginning of this new year,

I wander back, and the thoughts that come

Bring unaware a tear.

I think of all I have passed through

Since last I saw that radiant hue

At its setting a few years gone by.

Of the joys and the sorrows that were mine.

Of the days that were cloudy and others sunshine.

No wonder my heart heaves a sigh.

When it opened the £ear was stormy and dark,

Our hearts as heavy as lead;

For cruel the war in our own country did rage.

And precious the blood that was shed.

For Freedom we fought; for Liberty died,

For a cause that was righteous and grand;

Alas! 'twas in vain; for each uright fireside

Is laid waste under Albion's hand.

Ah! well may we mourn at the threshold of this year

When we think of those once happy homes.

Of our country that's ruined, or our heroes who fell,

And are buried in wild, unmarked tombs;

Of a fair land, once free, now oppressed and waste,

Of all we lost in that year;

Yes, I mourn, an exile, in a strange foreign land,

Far away from my childhood's scenes so dear.

But though darkness envelopes South Africa now.

Her freedom is not lost for aye.

For some day she will rally and shake off her bonds

That hold her to Albion a prey.

Then away, mournful thoughts, let us live in the hope

That the day of deliverance will come soon;

When prosperity shines on Africa's free sons.

Like the sun on her pastures at noon;

When the burden we bear will sink out of sight.

As the sun of this evening set,

To hail a new era, where again she doth rise.

And on free soil once more we can tread.

Introduction

The enthusiastic welcome extended the first and smaller edition of this work by the public press in Europe and Africa, has encouraged me to write the sequel to the story which concluded while I was a captive in the hands of Great Britain at St. Helena. To complete this work I wrote an authentic account of the discovery of South Africa, embracing the tragic encounters by its first settlers with the British. Their subsequent rejection of English rule, followed by their memorable trek (move) into the unknown regions of Africa, encountering millions of hostile savages, exposed to the perils of the wilderness, seeking freedom.

A brief view of what the future of the nation now deprived of their coveted ideal; may be, is also ventured. The new edition forms part one of this book.

If I am more outspoken in the subsequent than in the earlier part of the book, then the explanation must be that the former was written under the severe censorship of my captors, with the chains of captivity firmly fastened to my ankles, while the new edition to the book was written in this free country, where my heart speaks as I feel, with memories of but a few years ago, repeatedly illuminated anew by news of oppression, hatred and desolation rife in my native land. I was of ttimes, tempted to retaliate against those who never cease their venomous abuse against our unhappy people, but abuse is no argument, and my endeavor is to tell a story, though simple, writing in a strange tongvxe, as I do, it is given to interest and inform.

My earnest hope is that this American edition of "An Exiled General" may be of benefit and entertainment to the good people of my adopted country, America.

BEN J. VILJOEN, Lieutenant General Late Boer Forces.

Boer Settlement, Chamberino, New Mexico, U. S. A., Feb. 22nd, 1906.

A WORD OF INDORSEMENT FROM THE ENEMY.

General Ben Viljoen, while engaged on this work, suggested to me to write a short introduction to it. This request I gladly comply with.

General Viljoen was a prisoner-of-war at Broadbottom Camp, St. Helena, where, after two years' service in South Africa, I was stationed with my regiment. It was at the General's further request that I conveyed the first part of this work to Europe for publication.

The qualities which particularly endeared this brave and justlyfamous Boer officer to us were his straightforwardness and unostentatious manner, his truthfulness, and the utter absence of affectation that distinguishes him. I am certain that he has written his simple narrative with candour and impartiality, and I feel equally certain, from what I know of him, that this most popular of our late opponents has reviewed the exciting episodes of the War with an honesty, an intelligence, and a humour which many previous publications on the War have lacked.

During his stay at St. Helena I became deeply attached to General Viljoen; and in conclusion I trust that this work, which entailed many hours of labour, will yield him a handsome recompense.

THEODORE BRINCKMAN, C. B., Colonel Commanding 3rd, The Buffs (East Kent Regt.)

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SYNOPSIS— PART ONE.

Descriptive history of the origin and early struggles of the Boer people. And a review of the future of the vanquished people.

Chapters I, II and III.

The Long Ruinous War Ends; Peace is Agreed Upon; and a New Epoch is Before South Africa. — My Banishment is Withdrawn and Ana Allowed to Leave St. Helena on Condition that I Only Remain Long Enough to Settle My Affairs, as I Refused to Swear Allegiance to England. — My Last Days in South Africa are Tumultuous. — Secret Service Agents Shadow Me Day and Night, and We Clash Constantly.

Chapter IV.

I Leave My Fatherland to Seek a Home and a Free Flag in America. — Unpleasant Experiences on an English Boat. — My Impressions of London. — I Greet the Statue of Liberty at the Entrance to New York Harbor With Joy. — How New York Impressed Me.

Chapter V.

How America Impressed Me. — A Comparison With the Old Country.

SYNOPSIS— PART TWO.

Chapters I and II.

Tie Cause of, and the Chief Actors in the Prologue to the Bloody Drama. — The Boer Army is Called to Arms. — Picturesque Scenes at the Mobilization Centers.

Chapters III to V.

The Boer Army invade British Colonies to Intercept the Advance of the British Forces Under Buller and Roberts. — First Clash of Arms at Elandslaagte. — We Suffer a Defeat and My Men Are Dispersed. — A Company of Lancers Pursue Me. — I Lose My Horse, and Have a Narrow Escape.

Chapters VI and VII.

I Organize My Men Again in a Few Days, and Am Ready for the Fray. — General Joubert is Displeased Yet Over Elandslaagte and Wants to Keep Us Back; In Spite of His Orders We Pull Out, and Join in the Fighting Line. — A Successful March Into the Enemy's Country. — Suddenly Abandoned Because of General Joubert's Superstitions.

Chapters VIII to XIII.

We Beat the British Forces at Colenso and Spienkop and a Third Time at Vaalkraus on the Tugela; They Are Driven Back With Heavy Losses. — I Succeed in Rescuing an Abandoned Gun and Am Wounded. — The British Break Through Our Lines at Peters Heights, and We Fall Back Towards Our Borders. — A Further Withdrawal to Laingsnek.

Chapters XIV to XVIII.

I Am Ordered to Reinforce General Botha. — We Lose Pretoria, Our Capital, Without Any Defense Being Made Because of Confusion. — A Hot Fight at Diamond Hill Near Pretoria, Lasting Three Days; We Inflict Heavy Losses on the Enemy, but Are Forced to Withdraw. — We Reorganize; a Number of Old Generals Are Dispensed With. — I Am Made a Lieutenant General. — Our Camp Burned Out.

Chapters XIX to XXII.

My First Fight as a General Successful. — One of the Biggest Battles of the War is Fought at Bergendal, Lasting Six Days. — We Are Again Compelled to Retreat Farther North. — I Release the Last Batch of 2000 British Prisoners of War, Very Much AgBlnst My Will. — Our Government Has to Flee. — We Abandon the Last Links of Our Railroads and Commissariats and Decide to Fight in Guerrilla Style to the Bitter End.

Chapters XXIII to XXVII.

I Lead a Force of 2500 Men Through a Fever-Stricken Desert to Get Around the British, Who Were Blocking All Other Roads. — I Reach My Goal and We Replenish Our Exhausted Stores from the Pro-British at Pietersburg. — We Arrest a Large Number of Traitors and They Are Severely Dealt With. — I Am Attacked by General Paget With a Superior Force at Rhenosterkop, and After an All-Day Fight, in Which We Repelled the Enemy, With Telling Effect, We Fell Back Through Lack of Ammunition and Food. — We Spend Our Second Christmas in Patriotic Style in the Field.

Chapters XXXVIII to XL.

We Succeed in Flapdoodling a Bunch of Boer Traitors by Trapping Them in Good Sliape and Then Give Them Their Deserts. — We Capture a Kaffir British Murderers' Den and Root Out the Most Despicable and Inhuman British Fighting- Force the World Ever Knew.

Chapters XLI to XLIV.

Fights With Walter Kitchener; We Are Surprised and We Surprise the Enemy. — I Meet and Hold a Conference With (the English) General, Sir Bindon Blood Over the Vexed Question of Abuse of the White Flag.^ — A Captured Tommy Tells Us That Our Commander-in-Chief's Wife Had Been Visited by the Stork in Europe, and He is Surprised Because We Are Not Surprised. — How We Enjoyed Ourselves the Third Christmas in the Field With Games and Races.

Chapters XLV to XLVIII.

The Last Days of My Usefulness in the Field. — I Am Ambushed at Midnight, Shot Down, Horse and All, and Captured. — I Am Banished for Life From South Africa by Kitchener's Proclamation and Shipped to St. Helena. — Gloomy Days in Captivity on the Dismal Rock, Where Napoleon Died of a Broken Heart.

Chapters XLIX to Lli.

Why We Are Justified, and the Manner in Which We Waylaid and Destroyed Armoured Trains. — How We Fed and Clothed Our Forces Without a Regular CommissariaL — My Judgment and Impression of the English Soldier as Compared With the Boer as a Fighter.

ORIGIN OF THE BOERS AND THEIR FIGHTS WITH KAFFIRS.

The Cape of Good Hope, the most southern point on the African Continent, was discovered by Bartholomeu Dias, a Portuguese explorer, A. D. 1486,

Almost two centuries after the discovery before any power actually claimed ownership of South Africa, and the country was called No Man's Land.

The Hottentot, a yellow race, inhabited the country along the coast, while the Kafflr tribes in vast numbers (like the American Indian) dwelt in the interior, and lived principally on game, herbs, wild fruit and Kaffir corn ; of the two races, the Hottentot was the inferior physically as well as morally.

The lion, elephant, rhinoceros and many animal species, now almost extinct, roamed in large droves in the sandy prairies (cape flats) around where Cape Town now stands.

In March, 1602, the Dutch East India Company occupied the Cane of Good Hope with a number of settlers, consisting of Hollanders, and they were under charge of the Dutch Naval Surgeon, J. A. van Eiebeck. The first seeds tliat were sown on African soil consisted of maize, corn, tobacco and other vegetables. Some years later, Germans and Danes emigrated and joined the population at the Cape of Good Hope; then came the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, when the French ^ persecution took place, and one hundred and fifty families of the many persecuted Frenchmen fled to Holland, and from there were taken by the Dutch East India Company to settle at the Cape of Good Hope.

The oflEicial language was Hollancl Dutcli, of course, and through intermarriage the small population was soon welded together, and before many years the French and Danish tongues were no longer spoken ; and the Holland Dutch, though maintained in schools, the conversational language became a distinct "patua," somewhat similar to plat Duitch.

In 1786 a great number of colonists crossed the vast prairie known as the "Karoo," and explored the country as far as the Orange river. By this time, the population had grown out of its baby clothes and had become a nation. They had invigorating perils with wild beasts and savages, and became self-reliant, irrefutably clinging to the principles of Scripture, remaining virtuous and pure.

Vanriebeek, the first Governor, ruled successfully, but unfortunately, his successor, Vannoot, was a tyrannical, stupid mule, who through his aspirations for dictatorship and despotism, soon estranged himself from the people. He was hated, and he revenged with bitter tyranny in retaliation.

In 1795, following the example of the seceding states of North America, a portion of the Boers, as they were now known, who had settled far away into the interior, declared their independence of Holland and the Dutch East India Company. For this, however, Holland would not stand, and began to collect forces and sent three regiments, which they called the Swiss, Wurtenberg and Luxenbourg — no fighting occurred, however.

The breach was patched up, and peace once more reigned, only to be followed soon after bv a rude awakening from its apparent tranquillity, bv the ever-hungry vultures who seek to devour the smaller prey without danger to himself.

The happy isolation of South Africa had come to an end, rumors of fabulously rich diamond mines had reached England, and the CaT>e of Good Hope began to take a notable place amonsrst the maritime nations of the earth. England thought the Cape a most convenient coaling and watering station for her ships plying the commercial route to India,

The population of the new country had by now grown to 15,000, and as a whole, the country was flourishing.

The settlers had trouble with native tribes from the outset; but up to this period no clash occurred, beyond isolated instances when the Kaffirs made thieving raids, which were usually suppressed, and the offenders punished.

The same year the French Republic drove out the House of Orange, England claimed the right of succession to Batavia from Holland, following her usual bulldozing course in the autumn of the following year ; she sent a fleet to the Cape, landed troops and took possession of the country, the settlers being scattered and unprepared, showed little opposition, beyond declaring their unwillingness to accept British rule.

After the peace of Amiens in 1803, the Colony was handed back to Holland. This was only temporary peace, however, as gold had been discovered and English statesmen clamored for the possession of the land that produced the yellow metal.

Cause was easily found, through an English missionary who kept up a constant stream of complaints to England against the Boer people, and in 1805 the British pounced down upon the unprepared young Colony with multitudes of soldiers, and took the country. By this time the numbers of the settlers were augmented by many German families immigrating and settling there. A census at that time showed a population of 30,000.

THE SLAVE QUESTION.

The Boers, however, did not accept their new masters with equanimity, as they began at once to enforce the English language, and heavy taxation on the colonists.

The colonists had bought about 7,000 slaves from English slave traders at enormously high prices; these slaves were brought from the East Coast of Africa, and principally from Masembiqui, Portuguese Africa, by the same traders who brought the slaves to the United States. The British Government desired to set the slaves free, and agreed with the colonists to pay them back their outlay in government notes, negotiable in five years. This was accepted, and the slaves set free. The colonists did not discover until too late that these notes were to be paid only to bearer on presentation after five years in England.

British officials in their anxiety to aggravate the colonists, employed the ex-slaves as police and soldiers. These latter did not fail to get back at their old masters with double revenge ; so hateful were these ex-slaves that a deputation of Boer elders waited upon the British high commissioner and laid before him numerous complaints of outrages upon women and indignities against men. He refused to listen to the deputation, however, saying it served them right.

The powerful Kaffir tribes known as the Geika and Galeka Nations, came from beyond the Orange river in large hordes, plundering, murdering and taking away thousands of cattle and horses from the scattered colonists. The English red coats, with their ex-slave allies, failed to check the savages, and not until the Boer farmers organized a commando of 700 horsemen and drove the Kaffirs back, did they succeed in s^topping tlie retreating British.

It was not long after this raid, which left many families in poverty, that the Boers found that the government repudiated payment of the notes they had given for the slaves, and all attempts to get adjustment failed.

In the meantime, further outrages against the Boers were committed by ex-slaves without protest from their new masters. Bitterness against British rule grew stronger and the condition of the colonists became more and more intolerable. Courts of law were biased, and there was no recourse for the colonist.

No woDder tliat in 1815 a number of the Boers were driven into rebellion, a rebellion which found an awful ending in the liorrible occurrence on the 9th of March, 1816, where six Boers were half hung up in the most inhuman \\i\y, and in the compulsory presence of their wives and children. Their death was truly horrible, for the gallows broke down before the end came; but they were again hoisted up in the agony of dying, and strangled to death in the murderous tragedy of Slachter's Nek. Whatever opinions have been formed of this occurrence in other respects, it was at Slachter's Nek that the first blood-stained beacon was erected which marks the boundary between Boer and Briton in South Africa, and the eyes of posterity still glance back shuddering through the long vista of years at that tragedy of horror.

After two years' experience of British administration it had become abundantly clear to the Boers that there was no prospect of peace and prosperity before them. They decided to sell home, farm and all that remained over from the depredations of the Kaffirs and trek away from British rule.

The country to the north of the Orange river lay outside of British sphere of influence or authority, and as far as known was inhabited by numerous savage tribes. But the Boers preferred to brave the perils of the wilderness and to negotiate with the savages for a tract of land and so form an independent community, rather than remain under British rule.

The following declaration to his countrymen by the first Boer leader, Piet Ketief (whose name as a patriot and hero is indelibly engraved upon the heart of every Boer), issued at the time, speaks the feeling that prevailed in simple, dignified almost pathetic, yet straightforward language :

"Grahamstown, South Africa, 17th April, 1834.

"We despair of saving the Colony from those evils which threaten it by the turbulent and dishonest conduct of vagrants who are allowed to infest the country

la in every part; nor do we see any prospect of peace or happiness for our children in a country thus distracted hj internal commotions.

"We complain of the severe losses which we have been forced to sustain by the emancipation of our slaves, and the vexatious laws which have been enacted respecting them.

"We complain of the continual system of plunder which we have for years endured from the Kaffirs and other colored classes, and particularly by the last invasion of the Colony, which has desolated the frontier district and ruined most of the inhabitants.

"We complain of the unjustifiable odium which has been cast upou us by interested and dishonest persons, under the name of religion, whose testimony is believed in England to the exclusion of all evidence in our favor ; and we can foresee, as the result of this prejudice, nothing but the total ruin of the country.

"We quit this Colony under the full assurance that the English Government has nothing more to require of us and will allow us to govern ourselves without its interference in future.

"We are now leaving the fruitful land of our birth, in which we have suffered enormous losses and continued vexation, and are about to enter a strange and dangerous territory; but we go with a firm reliance on an all-seeing, just and merciful God, whom we shall always fear and humbly endeavor to obey,

"In the name of all who leave the Colony with me.

"P. Retief.'"

We journeyed then with our fathers beyond the Orange river into the unknown north, as free men and subjects of no sovereign upon earth. Then began what the English member of parliament, Sir William Molesworth, termed a strange sort of pursuit. The trekking Boer followed by the British Colonial Office, was indeed the strangest pursuit ever witnessed on earth.

The first batch of Retief's follow^ers were surrounded by the Kaffirs and almost entirely extinguished. The remaining few who eseai)ed were rescued by a second trek, who pushed ahead. The same Kaffir king, infuriated by the yet fresh, reeking blood of his victims, attacked the pioneers in the still of night, but this time they were prepared, and received the howling hordes with steady aim. The next morning the dawning daylight revealed one of those bloody spectacles which the Boer pioneers had so often after to look upon.

The Boers penetrated into the interior, encountering the one hostile savage race after the other; lions, tigers and other wild animals gave much trouble. Their supply of ammunition was very limited, and they had to be careful how it was used.

The British authorities had given instructions strictly prohibiting the sale of rifles or ammunition to the Boers, also prohibiting the establishment of a Republic, even though beyond English sphere of influence.

The Boer leaders concluded a deal with the bloodthirsty King of the Zulus, named Dingaan, by which they paid him 400 head of cattle for a strip of land known as Natal. Hardly had the families begun to scatter and commence farming when Dingaan sent an army wliich attacked the Boers suddenly and slaughtered over 500 men, women and children. The followins: day men gathered, and after a battle lasting twentv-four hours at Blawkrans the Zulus were beaten and driven off.

Only after the savages were dispersed, could the survivors attend to the murdered people. The scenes of the massacres at Blood river and other places were the cruelest ever witnessed in the histoid of the country. Mothers were lying dead with the infants on their breasts jot alive; others were cut to pieces and mutilated as is the custom of the Kaffirs to do.

The brave Piet Ritief was invited by Dingaan to meet him at his stronuhold shortly after this, stating that he would now make a peace compact that would not again be violated. Against the wish of his friends,

Retiefj accompanied by 60 men, went to Dingaan's stronghold. At the entrance the king met them, saying they must leave their arms outside the enclosure, as the conference was one of peace.

Again Retief trusted the black devil, and when they were inside the enclosure, at a sign from the king, about 10,000 Zulus jumped out of obscurity and massacred Retief and all his followers.

Dingaan immediately started his army out and fell upon the Boer families who were expecting Retief to return with the glad news of peace, and who, when the Zulus approached, thinking it Avas Retief and his followers, really went out tO' meet them.

Again, the most heart-rending tragedy occurred; more than 50 per cent of the pioneers being massacred before resistance could be organized. Relying on their God and shooting straight, the Boers drove the Zulus off with telling effect.

This time the valiant Boer leader Pretorius followed the fleeing hordes close on their heels and drove them into Dingaan's Kraal (stronghold) and on December 16th, 1838, defeated the Zulus and destroyed Dingaan's military power forever after.

After this, the Boers established the Republic of Natal, With PieterMaritzburg as the capital, but their peace was not to be undisturbed.

On April 10th, 1842, Lord Stanley instructed Governor Napier to send Commissioner Cloete tO' annex the young republic. Twice we successfully withstood the military occupation. In driving back the English it is a remarkable historical record that 50 per cent of the soldiers drowned in crossing a river in their flight.

The annexation, however, only took place under strong protest. On the 21st February, 1842, the Volksraad (Senate) of Maritzburg, under the chairmanship of Joachim Prinsloo, addressed the following letter to Governor Napier :

"We know that there is a God who is the Ruler of heaven and earth, and who has power, and is willing to protect the injured, though weaker, against oppressors. In Him we put our trust, and in the justice of our cause; and should it be His will that total destruction be brought upon us, our wives and children, and everything we possess, we will with due submission acknowledge to have deserved from Him, but not from men. We are aware of the power of Great Britain, and it is not our object to defy that power ; but at the same time we cannot allow that might instead of right shall triumph without having employed all our means to oppose it."

The Boer women of Maritzburg informed the British Commissioner that, sooner than subject themselves again to British sway, they would walk barefoot over the Drakensberg to freedom or to death.

And they were true to their word, as the following incident proves : Andries Pretorius, our brave leader, had ridden through to Grahamstown, hundreds of miles distant, in order to represent the true facts of our case to Governor Pottinger. He was obliged to return without a hearing from the Governor, who excused himself under the pretext that he had no time to receive Pretorius. \^'hen the latter reached the Drakensberg on his return he found nearly the whole population trekking over the mountains away from Natal and away from British sway.

Sir Harry Smith, wlio succeeded Pottinger, thus described the condition of the emigrant Boers: "They were exj)osed to a state of misery which he had never before seen equaled, except in Massena's invasion of Portugal. The scene was truly heartrending."

Another portion of the trekkers (pioneers) had in the meantime fought and beaten M'sili Kaats, a powerful Kaffir king, and established the Orange Free State, and they were now joined by the persecuted stragglers from Natal.

The British Government sent Sir Harry Smith to annex the Free State without any ceremony. He came with an army of 11,000 men. We resisted, and on 29th August, 1848, the Battle of Boomplaats was fought, in which we were defeated. Many Boers again trekked further north and crossed the Vaal river and established the South African Kepublic (known as the Transvaal). British authorities soon clashed with Mosesh, the Besute King, whose territory adjoined the Free State, and a war commenced from which England emerged with dishonor. After a fruitless endeavor to rule the country, they gave the Free State back to the Boers, retaining the diamond mines at Kimberly, which were stolen from the Free State. The first treaty of peace was signed at Alieval North, the second at Zand river, but England never intended to respect these peace compacts, for hardly was the ink dry on one treaty when such a breach was committed that a second was required.

The Transvaal grew in population, many Boers constantly joining from the Cape.

The country, however, was financially poor. There were no markets, no factories, postal communication was primitive, and the struggle for existence was a tough one. Yet the people were happy and contented. Their ideal was attained; they were free. The Kafflr King Sekukunic on the northern, and M'Zilikatsie on the western borders of the Transvaal, were a constant menace, and they made the life of the people along the borders unbearable, urged on by missionaries, supplied with arms by English traders. We were compelled to wage a long and costly war against them before they were subdued.

The Orange Free State was now again under Boer sway minus their diamond mines. At about this time (1877) gold was discovered in the Transvaal and a steady influx of Englishmen continued, bringing along with them discontent. They taught the Kafflr not only their virtues, but also their vices. We were poor and struggling after all the many vicissitudes we passed through. The Sekukunni Kaffirs mobilized again after submission and war started afresh. The British, under pretext that we were unable to subjugate the Kaffirs, sent Theopulus Shepstoue on the 12th April, 1877, to annex the Transvaal. The Boer Volksraad (Senate) protested. The people protested. President Kruger protested, but all in vain. We sent two deputations to England, who returned without any success, and for three years we contended fruitlessly to get our country's freedom back peaceably.