Friday 3 and Saturday 4 November 1899

British Sitrep - Recon die roll 2

The British have no firm intelligence on Boer movements following the Battle of Kronenfontein Spruit but General Wetherby knows he must make a determined advance to make amends for the defeat. These are his D6 command decision options:

1 or 2 = Leave 2nd Brigade, Naval Brigade, Mounted Brigade and the Guards Brigade at Steenkampsdrift and march the rest of the army up the route of the railway towards Uitvlugt.

3 or 4 = Leave 2nd Brigade, Naval Brigade and the Mounted Brigade at Steenkampsdrift and march the rest of the army up the route of the railway towards Uitvlugt.

5 = Leave 2nd Brigade and the Mounted Brigade at Steenkampsdrift and march the rest of the army up the route of the railway towards Uitvlugt.

6 = Leave 1st East March Regiment and the Mounted Brigade at Steenkampsdrift and march the rest of the army up the route of the railway towards Uitvlugt.

Wetherby rolls a 6 and the whole army move off except for 1st East March Regiment and the Mounted Brigade who remain behind to recuperate and guard the camp.

The British force prepares to move out of Steenkampsdrift.

Boer Sitrep - Recon die roll 1

The Boers fail to spot that the British are advancing in strength towards Uitvlugt. Commandant-General Rensburg has the following D6 command decision options:

1 or 2 = Order the Roodeport and Buffelshoek commandos to withdraw to the high gound south of Tweefontein and order General Viljoen to concentrate the Southern Field Force at Kaalplaats.

3 or 4 = Order the Roodeport and Buffelshoek commandos to withdraw to the high gound south of Tweefontein and order the Welgevonden Commando to join with them there. Order General Viljoen to concentrate the Southern Field Force at Kaalplaats.

5 or 6 = Order the Roodeport and Buffelshoek commandos to withdraw to the high gound south of Tweefontein and order the Welgevonden Commando to join with them there. Order General Viljoen to concentrate the Southern Field Force at Kaalplaats. Order General du Toit to concentrate the Northern Field Force at Grootlaagte.

Rensburg rolls a 6 and orders for the concentration of forces are issued. Meanwhile the Welgevonden Commando move south to the position near Tweefontein. General Viljoen himself rides down to take personal command.

Wetherby leads his force north towards Kaalplaats unimpeded as the Boers fall back allowing him an uncontested crossing of Kronenfontein Spruit. The advance continues the following day until scouts report that the Boers are holding a position on high ground to the west of the railway line. The British halt and Wetherby makes plans for an attack on the Boers the next day.

The situation near Tweefontein on the evening of Saturday 4 November is as below:

It looks likely there will be a battle in the morning.