is conflicting. The
actual motive which led Lord Roberts to desire General
French's presence at Cape Town was anxiety as to the
expenditure of horses and ammunition, which the brilliant
operations around Colesberg had involved. He did not summon
him in order to discuss with him the plan of campaign, which
was only incidentally disclosed to him during his visit. The
demonstration that in all essentials that plan had been
definitely formed; and that Lord Kitchener and Sir W.
Nicholson had been engaged in making the necessary changes in
the distribution of transport in order to carry it out; and
that they began this work about two or three days after Lord
Roberts arrived, is complete. Moreover, there is not a trace
in the records or in the memory of any of those at Cape Town
of an idea of employing in command of the cavalry division
anyone else but the man who had given so much cause to put
trust in him. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that General
French acquired the impression, from his conversations with
Lord Roberts and Lord Kitchener, that he only with difficulty
persuaded them on January 29th to send the cavalry division
and himself in command of it. What, other things apart, makes
it certain that this cannot have been so is that the cavalry
division moved at once when General French returned to
Colesberg. To make so sudden a change was a physical
impossibility. The preparations had required weeks of
strenuous work.]

[Sidenote: The cavalry division.]

The commander of the cavalry division was Lieut.-General J. D. P.
French. It consisted of three cavalry brigades and two M.I. brigades;
of these the 1st cavalry brigade (Brig.-Gen. T. C. Porter) was formed
of the 6th Dragoon Guards, 2nd Dragoons, one squadron of the
Inniskilling Dragoons, one squadron of the 14th Hussars, New South
Wales Lancers, and T., Q., and U. batteries R.H.A.; the 2nd cavalry
brigade (Brig.-Gen. R. G. Broadwood) was made up of the composite
regiment of the Household cavalry, 10th Hussars, 12th Lancers, and G.
and P. batteries R.H.A.; the 3rd cavalry brigade (Brig.-Gen. J. R. P.
Gordon), of 9th and 16th Lancers, and O. and R. batteries R.H.A. To
the 1st M.I. brigade (Colonel O. C. Hannay) were assigned the 1st,
3rd, 5th, an