By Winston Spenser Churchill
Longmans, Green & Co, 39 Paternoster Row, London. New York and Bombay, 1900.

Contents

DEDICATION

INTRODUCTORY 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

THE STATES MODEL SCHOOLS
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THE THEATRE OF THE OPERATIONS IN NATAL
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POTGIETER'S FERRY
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MAP OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE NATAL FIELD ARMY FROM JANUARY 11 TO FEBRUARY 9, INCLUDING: THE CAPTURE OF POTGIETER'S FERRY, JANUARY 11 THE PASSAGE OF THE TUGELA AT TRICHARDT'S DRIFT, JANUARY 17 THE AFFAIR OF ACTON HOMES, JANUARY 18 THE ACTION OF VENTER'S SPRUIT, JANUARY 20 AND 21 THE BATTLE OF SPION KOP, JANUARY 24; AND THE COMBAT OF VAAL KRANTZ, FEBRUARY 6, 7, AND 8
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POSITION AT MONTE CRISTO
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THE COLENSO POSITION
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MAP OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE NATAL FIELD ARMY FROM FEBRUARY 14 TO 28, INCLUDING: THE RECONNAISSANCE AND CAPTURE OF HUSSAR HILL, FEBRUARY 14 THE CAPTURE OF CINGOLO, FEBRUARY 17 THE ENGAGEMENT OF MONTE CRISTO, FEBRUARY I8 OCCUPATION OF THE HLANGWANI PLATEAU, FEBRUARY 19 AND 20; AND THE BATTLE OF PIETERS FEBRUARY 21 TO 27
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MAP OF MR. CHURCHILL'S ROUTE
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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.