The third party I commanded myself.

It consisted of Commandant Fourie and eighty burghers, with one Krupp; and with this force I pushed on to Roodewal Station.
At Doorndraai I left behind me a few waggons, with twenty men to guard them.

I had previously stationed a hundred burghers there, with the object of keeping in touch with the enemy.
The information which Captain Scheepers had gained while scouting was amply sufficient to show me how the land lay.
Although I had heard that there were not more than fifty of the enemy at Vredefort Road Station, I had nevertheless sent three hundred burghers there.

This was because I was aware that the main English force lay to the north of the station, so that these fifty men might be reinforced at the shortest possible notice.

The numbers which General Froneman had to encounter were much greater, and the enemy held safe positions.