Thus our plan came to nothing.
Shortly afterwards De la Rey was sent to the commandos at Colesberg, and I succeeded him in the command of the Transvaalers at Magersfontein.

The Government then put General Wessels in sole command at Kimberley, and gave General Cronje the chief command over the Free State burghers at Magersfontein.

Thus it was that I, as Vechtgeneraal, had to receive my orders from Cronje.

I had the following Commandants under me: Du Preez, of Hoopstad; Grobler, of Fauresmith; D.Lubbe, of Jacobsdal; Piet Fourie, of Bloemfontein; J.Kok and Jordaan, of Winburg; Ignatius Ferreira, of Ladybrand; Paul De Villiers, of Ficksburg; Du Plessis, and, subsequently, Commandant Diederiks, of Boshof.
* * * * * The English had entrenched themselves at the Modder River, we at Magersfontein.

There was little or nothing for us to do, and yet I never had a more troublesome time in my life.