try that
General Hart had been operating in. The following account of some of
their hardships and privations is given by Lieutenant and
Quartermaster Burke:--

_With General Knox's Brigade in the sweeping movement by General
French on the eastern side of the Transvaal. Detail of a few orders as
showing the hardships the troops suffered through bad weather and
scarcity of food._

Brigade Orders. 'Witcomb, 8.2.01. Owing to the late arrival of the
convoy, the force will go on 2/3 biscuits.'

This all the time we were marching daily and fighting.

16.2.01. Our force reached Piet Retief.

Brigade Orders. '20.2.01. The following will be the scale of rations
until further orders:--2 ozs. rice, 4 ozs. jam, 1/2 lb. mealie meal,
1-1/2 lb. meat. No coffee, tea, biscuits, vegetables, or salt.'

Orders received from General French:--'Convoy under General
Burn-Murdoch is terribly delayed by swollen rivers and bad roads. The
Pongola is fifty yards and the Intombi 300 yards wide. You must use
your utmost resources to economise food, and so meet this unfortunate
state of affairs, which will assuredly last till the weather
improves. No forage for horses and mules. Send parties for food to
search out as far as ten miles. Kaffirs to receive 1_l._ in gold for a
bag of mealies, or a heifer for five bags.'

21, 22, 23.2.01. 1 oz. jam, 1/2 lb. mealie meal, 1-1/2 lb. meat,
nothing else.

24, 25. Same.

26. No jam, 1/2 lb. mealie meal, 1-1/2 lb. meat, nothing else. I paid
a shopkeeper at Piet Retief 2_s._ 6_d._ for a quarter-handful of salt.

Brigade Orders. 27.2.01. By General French: 'O.C. units will take
steps to let the troops know how highly their spirits and bearing
under the privations they are suffering from bad weather and short
rations are appreciated by the Lieutenant-General Commanding.'

27.2.01. Burnt mealie cobs issued for coffee.

Telegram from Lord Kitchener to General French, Piet Retief,
28.2.01:--'Explain to the troops under your command my admiration of
the excellent work they have performed, and the difficulties they have
overcome.'

8.3.01. Full rations, first issue since 14.2.01.

To show that the troops, besides suffering from frightful bad weather
(constant rain for a month), had to work hard, the following results
are shown.

General Orders. The following results of our operations since 27.1.01,
is published for officers and men:--

_Boers_, killed, wounded, and captured, 393; surrendered, 353. To