Vlaakfontein,
Transvaal,
6th, July, 1900.
Dear Sir,
Yesterday I was ordered to send Major Snyder and one hundred men to escort Lt. Harper whose troop of "A" in Major Snyder's Squadron was ordered to reinforce "C" Squadron at Greyingstad and they marched at 9:30 a.m. when the fog cleared off. The duty was performed and Major Snyder's on his way back.
I may mention Gen. Cleary sent an officer (Major Roycroft) to command the men of this Corps sent on the duty. Major Snyder was not aware of this when he started so his valuable experience as a scout etc. was lost. It is however fortunate that he did not go. although the action of placing in command an Officer of another regiment and not even of our brigade was unjustifiable in every sense.
The squadron scouting its way back was attacked at different points on the line by a party or parties of about three times their number; the maxim gun killed several and Lt. Ketchen who handled his troop with great skill accounted for at least ten besides some wounded carried off.
Six men of your corps were ordered by Major Roycroft to take a position on a kopje a mile from support. and that officer as you will observe by Major Snyder's report would not permit any attempt to be made to permit them to retire. Thus all splendid men were left in the lurch. Heavy firing was heard from them and their enemies as the poor fellows deserted by no fault of their own officers or comrades defended themselves no doubt against odds. They are still missing, but an effort is being made to get them or their remains.
If this had not happened the Regiment would have good cause for congratulation; the men behaved admirably. When Thornycroft's corps was ordered out I went with all the men in camp (35) and placed them with the supports, but unfortunately they did not require it. The men missing had been left long before that. Two (2) black scouts working on our left were wounded. Three other men who went without leave beyond the outposts are missing.
To-day 70 of the regiment are the escort of Gen. Buller with Thornycroft's Corps, and 80 will escort him from here to Botha's Kraal, a place some tem miles from here. I send you the official report of the day. Since I commenced this letter the men absent without leave have returned. They were attacked by a number of Boers and had to take refuge on a kopje where they were forced to remain all night. No tidings yet of the six left behind yesterday.
Hoping to have better news next time I write, I am,
Respectfully yours,
(Signed) S. B. STEELE,
Rt. Hon. Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal.
