I had disclosed my plan to them, and sent them out to reconnoitre.

There were--so they told me--according to their estimation, about two hundred English troops which were stationed in such and such positions.
I at once summoned Generals A.P.Cronje, J.B.Wessels, C.C.

Froneman, and Piet de Wet, and took council with them, telling them of my plans and enjoining strict secrecy.

I then gave orders that Commandant P.
Fourie and C.Nel, with their burghers, three hundred and fifty in number, should proceed under my command to Koorn Spruit, and be there before break of day.
[Illustration: SANNA'S POST.
FROM A SKETCH BY THE AUTHOR.] We settled that Generals Cronje, Wessels, Froneman, and Piet De Wet should proceed with the remaining burghers, numbering eleven hundred and fifty, to the ridges east of the Modder River, right opposite Sanna's Post.

They were to take with them the guns, of which we had four or five, and bombard Sanna's Post as soon as it was light.
The English, I expected, would retreat to Bloemfontein, and then from my position in Koorn Spruit I should be able to decimate them as they passed that ravine.