"(a) Hold Arundel as a pivot.

"(b) Using that as a pivot, act energetically with your mounted
troops against any of the enemy's detachments which may leave his
main position and cross open ground.

"(c) Select and hold certain points (such as Vaal Kop), to retain
the enemy and make him fear an offensive movement against his
line of retreat; (which is via Colesberg wagon bridge)."

[Sidenote: French, because of effect of "Black Week," takes command at
Arundel and reorganises. Dec. 16th.]

[Sidenote: Dec. 17th.]

On the 16th, however, notwithstanding these instructions, the officer
commanding the detachment on Vaal Kop fell back from that post on its
being threatened by distant artillery fire, and the whole of the
troops at Arundel were turned out on a false alarm that the enemy was
advancing. The defeats at Stormberg, Magersfontein, and Colenso,
recorded in later chapters, had meantime darkened the prospect, so
that manifestly the utmost care must be taken by all commanders to
obviate mistakes which might lead to further misfortunes. General
French, therefore, moved his Headquarters to the front, and assumed
personal command of the troops at Arundel. He had telegraphed on the
previous day offering to despatch all his cavalry to the Modder river,
but this suggestion was negatived "on account of scarcity of water."
He reorganised the Arundel command into a division as follows,
appointing Major-General Brabazon second in command:--

_1st Cavalry Brigade (under Colonel T. C. Porter)._

The Carabiniers.
New South Wales Lancers (40 men),
1 company mounted infantry.

_2nd Cavalry Brigade (under Lieut.-Colonel R. B. W. Fisher)._

The Inniskilling Dragoons (2 squadrons),
10th Hussars (2 squadrons),
1 company mounted infantry.

_Divisional Troops._

Brigade division R.H.A. (under Colonel F. J. W. Eustace).
New Zealand Mounted Rifles.
R.E. company.
Bearer company.
Half-battalion Royal Berkshire }
regiment. } under Major F. W. N.
2 guns R.G.A. } McCracken.

[Sidenote: French pivoting on certain strong points continues "policy
of worry." Dec. 16th-17th 1899.]

Major McCracken was directed to fortify the kopjes north of Arundel,
and to hold them "at all costs" as a pivot of manoeuvre. The country,
for purposes of reconnaissance, was divided into two zones, the
railway bein