n the
invasion of the Orange Free {p.270} State was 34,000; 23,000 infantry
and 11,000 mounted men. They were accompanied by 98 pieces of
artillery, and by supplies in 700 wagons, drawn by 9,000 mules and
oxen.

French's division, three brigades, 4,800 men, accompanied by seven
batteries of horse artillery, left Modder River Camp at 3 A.M. Sunday,
February 11th. Diverging slightly from the railroad, they marched due
south--away from the enemy--seventeen miles to Ramdam, which is about
ten miles east of Graspan Station. At sunrise they were out of sight
of the empty tents, standing deceitfully behind them. At noon Ramdam
was reached, and the division halted till 3 A.M. of the 12th, when it
again marched due east for a ford called Waterval Drift, on the Riet
River, which it will be remembered is a tributary of the Modder,
flowing from south-east to north-west. Reaching there soon after
sunrise, the ford was found to be held by a party of the enemy.
Covering his change of purpose by a feint upon this position, French
swung the rest of his division to the right, and with slight loss
forced a passage at De Kiel's Drift, apparently somewhat higher up.
That evening he {p.271} held both sides of the Riet, the enemy having
retreated. During the night Kitchener came up with a division of
infantry which had made its journey in part by rail, and with which
arrived also supply trains, whose slow movement would have delayed
unduly the progress of the horse division.

Owing to delays in distributing provisions and fodder, French could
not start again until 11.30 A.M. The loss of the five early hours,
says an eye-witness, cost 100 horses, which died or failed in the
march that day. The goal now was Klip Drift, about twenty-five miles
distant. Passing well east of Jacobsdal, suffering intensely from heat
and thirst, the division sighted the Modder when still eight miles
away. All were much spent, the artillery horses could scarcely drag
their pieces, and there was a showing of opposition on the right
front; but French, despite the general exhaustion, decided to drive on
without halting, lest the enemy, recovering from their surprise,
should concentrate to oppose his passage. Thus hastening, the Boers,
taken unready, were routed. At 5.35 P.M. French reported back to
Roberts, who received the message at {p.272} De Kiel's Drift, that he
had occupied the hills on the north of the river, capturing three of
the enemy's laagers with supplie