He preferred to resign.

My secretary procured paper, and the Commandant wrote out his resignation.

I at once gave him his dismissal, and felt that a weight had been taken off my shoulders now that I was free from so wrong-headed an officer.
There was no time now for the burghers to elect a new Commandant in the usual way.

I therefore assembled the Winburg commando, and told them that Vilonel had resigned, that an opportunity of choosing a substitute should be given to them later on, but that in the meanwhile I should appoint Veldtcornet Gert Van der Merve.

Nobody had anything to say against "Gerie," who was a courageous and amiable man; and, after he had given orders that the waggons should be sent home, we continued our march.
I met some of my spies at a _rendezvous_ which I had given them on the road to the Water Works, and learnt from them that the force under General Broadwood had come that evening from the direction of Ladybrand and now occupied Thaba'Nchu.
I had ordered my generals to take up positions opposite Sanna's Post and east of the Modder River.