A fairer mark for a dashing leader and a raid of mounted riflemen was never seen.

The chance passed, however, as so many others of the Boers' had done.

Early in November Colesberg and Naauwpoort were abandoned by our small detachments, who concentrated at De Aar.

The Berkshires joined the Yorkshire Light Infantry, and nine field guns arrived also.

General Wood worked hard at the fortifying of the surrounding kopjes, until within a week the place had been made tolerably secure.
The first collision between the opposing forces at this part of the seat of war was upon November 10th, when Colonel Gough of the 9th Lancers made a reconnaissance from Orange River to the north with two squadrons of his own regiment, the mounted infantry of the Northumberland Fusiliers, the Royal Munsters, and the North Lancashires, with a battery of field artillery.