The English Swarm over our Country On April 25th we arrived at Alexandrie, six miles from Thaba'Nchu.

The latter place was already occupied by English outposts.

General Philip Botha now joined me; he had been engaging the enemy in the triangle formed by Brandfort, Bloemfontein and Thaba'Nchu.

My commandos numbered some four thousand men, and I decided that it was time to concentrate my forces.
Lord Roberts was about to carry out the plans which he had formed at Bloemfontein, namely, to outflank us with large bodies of mounted troops.

He attempted to do this to the north-east of Thaba'Nchu, but at first was not successful.