vestment would be needed to weaken its powers of resistance. To this
task, therefore, the main body of the Boer commandos was assigned;
but, as an erroneous report had come in that 5,000 English troops had
concentrated at Frere, it was decided that a strong reconnaissance,
under the personal command of General Joubert, should cross the Tugela
to ascertain the disposition and strength of the British column. On
the evening, therefore, of the 13th November, a force about 4,200
strong was assembled at Colenso with orders to push to the south. As
agreed, Joubert, although Transvaal Commandant-General, went with it.
Louis Botha, promoted to the rank of "Fighting General," was second in
command. There is reason to believe that the presence of the senior
General was due to a desire to restrain the impetuosity of his
subordinate.

[Sidenote: Defensive measures taken during the time of grace given by
Boer delay.]

The fifteen days' breathing space which the authorities in southern
Natal had thus been given, after receipt of the disquieting
intelligence of the battle of Lombards Kop, had been of great value.
Captain Percy Scott, H.M.S. _Terrible_, had reached Durban on November
6th, and was appointed commandant of that town. A defence scheme was
prepared and a battalion of "Imperial Light Infantry" was raised to
assist the Naval contingent,[181] and guns (including two 4.7-in. guns
and sixteen 12-pr. 12-cwt.) were landed for its protection. At
Maritzburg a position in the vicinity of Fort Napier had, under the
supervision of Col. C. C. Rawson, C.R.E., been prepared for defence,
the work being executed by a hastily improvised Pioneer Corps of
artisans, assisted by native labour. In selecting this position and
planning its defence, it was assumed that if the force at Estcourt
fell back on Maritzburg, 4,000 men in all would be available for its
occupation. Meanwhile, in addition to Thorneycroft's corps, the
recruiting and training of which were proceeding satisfactorily, a
provisional garrison was arranged for Maritzburg by the despatch of
two 12-pounders and a Naval detachment from the fleet at Durban, by
the withdrawal of the detachment of the Naval Volunteers from
Estcourt, and by the organisation into a Town Guard of all able-bodied
citizens willing to carry a rifle. Moreover, some 150 loyal and
zealous Natal colonists volunteered for scouting duties, and were
formed into a corps under the command of the Hon. T. K. Murray,
C.M