e. Potgieter at once sent back
word to Kock, who, replying with the order: "Hold on to the trains at
any cost, I am following with the whole detachment," marched all
night, and joined his lieutenant near the looted train at break of day
on the 20th.

[Sidenote: French moves out Oct. 20th, but is recalled.]

News of the event was quickly received at Headquarters. At 11 a.m. on
the 20th Major-General J. D. P. French, who had only arrived at 5 a.m.
that morning, left Ladysmith with the 5th Lancers, the Natal Mounted
Rifles and Natal Carbineers, and a battery Royal Field artillery, to
ascertain the situation at Elandslaagte. An infantry brigade, under
Colonel Ian Hamilton, moved out in support. But whilst they were on
the march, the Free Staters at Bester's became so active that Sir
George White, fearing an attack whilst part of his force was absent,
sent orders to check the reconnaissance before it was half completed,
and by sunset French was back in Ladysmith, having seen nothing but
the German commando, Kock's screen.

[Sidenote: Encouraged by news of Talana.]

[Sidenote: White, Oct. 21st, sends French out again to Elandslaagte.]

[Sidenote: French retakes station.]

[Sidenote: but falls back.]

By this time news of the victory at Talana[117] had come in. Its
partial extent not fully understood at first, it not only lifted a load
from the General's mind, but showed him where he too could strike a
blow. The commandos at Elandslaagte, yesterday dangerous from their
position on Symons' line of retreat, were to-day in peril themselves,
and he determined to give them no time to remove into safety. At 4 a.m.
on the 21st French was again on the move towards Elandslaagte[118] with
five squadrons (338 men) Imperial Light Horse and the Natal Field
artillery. At 6 a.m. a half battalion (330 men) of the 1st Manchester
regiment, with Railway and Royal engineer detachments, followed by rail,
preceded by the armoured train manned by one company of the same
battalion. Moving along the Newcastle road, French made straight for the
high ground south-west of Elandslaagte station, and at 7 a.m. his
advance and right flank guards (Imperial Light Horse) came in touch with
the enemy, the former south of the collieries, the latter on the open
veld some four miles south of the railway. As the mist lifted, parties
of Boers were seen all about the station and colliery buildings, and
over the undulating veld, and it was observed that most of