Longmans, Green & Co, 39 Paternoster Row, London. New York and Bombay, 1900.
Contents
DEDICATIONINTRODUCTORY NOTE
CHAPTER I. STEAMING SOUTH - R.M.S. 'Dunottar Castle,' October 26 and October 29, 1899
CHAPTER II. THE STATE OF THE GAME - Capetown; November 1, 1899
CHAPTER III. ALONG THE SOUTHERN FRONTIER - East London: November 5, 1899
CHAPTER IV. IN NATAL - Estcourt: November 6, 1899
CHAPTER V. A CRUISE IN THE ARMOURED TRAIN - Estcourt: November 9, 1899
CHAPTER VI. DISTANT GUNS - Estcourt: November 10, 1899
CHAPTER VII. THE FATE OF THE ARMOURED TRAIN - Pretoria: November 20, 1899
CHAPTER VIII. PRISONERS OF WAR - Pretoria: November 24, 1899
CHAPTER IX. THROUGH THE DUTCH CAMPS - Pretoria: November 30, 1899
CHAPTER X. IN AFRIKANDER BONDS - Pretoria: December 3, 1899
CHAPTER XI. I ESCAPE FROM THE BOERS - Lourenço Marques: December 22, 1899
CHAPTER XII. BACK TO THE BRITISH LINES - Frere: December 24, 1899
CHAPTER XIII. CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR - Frere: January 4, 1900
CHAPTER XIV. A MILITARY DEMONSTRATION AND SOME GOOD NEWS - Chieveley: January 8, 1900
CHAPTER XV. THE DASH FOR POTGIETER'S FERRY - Spearman's Hill: January 13, 1900
CHAPTER XVI. TRICHARDT'S DRIFT AND THE AFFAIR OF ACTON HOMES - Venter's Spruit: January 22, 1900
CHAPTER XVII. THE BATTLE OF SPION KOP - Venter's Spruit: January 25, 1900
CHAPTER XVIII. THROUGH THE FIVE DAYS' ACTION - Venter's Spruit: January 25, 1900
CHAPTER XIX. A FRESH-EFFORT AND AN ARMY CHAPLAIN - Spearman's Hill: February 4, 1900
CHAPTER XX. THE COMBAT OF VAAL KRANTZ - General Buller's Headquarters: February 9, 1900
CHAPTER XXI. HUSSAR HILL - General Buller's Headquarters: February 15, 1900
CHAPTER XXII. THE ENGAGEMENT OF MONTE CRISTO - Cingolo Neck: February 19, 1900
CHAPTER XXIII. THE PASSAGE OF THE TUGELA - Hospital-ship 'Maine': March 4, 1900
CHAPTER XXIV. THE BATTLE OF PIETERS: THE THIRD DAY - Hospital-ship 'Maine': March 5, 1900
CHAPTER XXV. UPON MAJUBA DAY - Commandant's Office, Durban: March 6, 1900
CHAPTER XXVI. THE RELIEF OF LADYSMITH - Commandant's Office, Durban: March 9, 1900
CHAPTER XXVII. AFTER THE SIEGE - Durban: March 10, 1900
Maps and plans
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Dedication
THIS COLLECTION OF LETTERS IS INSCRIBED TO THE STAFF OF THE NATAL GOVERNMENT RAILWAY WHOSE CAREFUL AND COURAGEOUS DISCHARGE OF THEIR EVERY-DAY DUTIES AMID THE PERILS OF WAR HAS MADE THEM HONOURABLY CONSPICUOUS EVEN AMONG THEIR FELLOW COLONISTS
Introductory Note
This small book is mainly a personal record of my adventures and impressions during the first five months of the African War. It may also be found to give a tolerably coherent account of the operations conducted by Sir Redvers Buller for the Relief of Ladysmith. The correspondence of which it is mainly composed appeared in the columns of the Morning Post newspaper, and I propose, if I am not interrupted by the accidents of war, to continue the series of letters. The stir and tumult of a camp do not favour calm or sustained thought, and whatever is written herein must be regarded simply as the immediate effect produced by men powerfully moved, and scenes swiftly changing upon what I hope is a truth-seeking mind.
The fact that a man's life depends upon my discretion compels me to omit an essential part of the story of my escape from the Boers; but if the book and its author survive the war, and when the British flag is firmly planted at Bloemfontein and Pretoria, I shall hasten to fill the gap in the narrative.
WINSTON S. CHURCHILL.
March 10, 1900.
