Their primary object had been to prevent the further advance of the Freestaters into the colony, and, during the most critical period of the war, this had been accomplished with much success and little loss.

At last the pressure had become so severe that the enemy had to weaken the most essential part of their general position in order to relieve it.

The object of the operations had really been attained when Clements found himself back at Arundel once more.

French, the stormy petrel of the war, had flitted on from Cape Town to Modder River, where a larger prize than Colesberg awaited him.

Clements continued to cover Naauwport, the important railway junction, until the advance of Roberts's army caused a complete reversal of the whole military situation..