Sanna's Post On the 28th of March a council of war was held.

The first business transacted referred to disciplinary matters; the council then proceeded to lay down the conditions under which the commandos were to operate.

It was decided that General De la Rey with his Transvaalers should remain at Brandfort with certain Free State commandos under General Philip Botha, and that the remaining troops, under my command, should withdraw in the evening.
Great was the curiosity of the officers and burghers concerning our movements, but no man learnt anything from me.

I was determined that in future my plans should be kept entirely secret.

Experience had taught me that whenever a commanding officer allows his intentions to become public something is sure to go wrong, and I made up my mind to hold the reins of discipline with a firmer hand.
It is, of course, true that scarcely anything could be done without the free co-operation of the burghers.