Here is a letter form the Boer War that I thought I would post. I hope you find something interesting. thanks, barry Orange River 10/3/01 Dear Miss Clarke, Many thanks for your letter on 28th Dec. The excitement in this neighbourhood has at last subsided and permitted me to have a small amount of leisure, of which I am availing myself to answer a great accumulation of private letters. I have been presented with a B.P.'s head Mafeking Siege stamp which I have much pleasure in forwarding to you in case you have not got one already. If you have it will do as a "swop". I am very glad to hear that Sir Arthur has improved in health and I trust the improvement has been continued since you last wrote. I suppose this letter will reach you before you change your address. I expect your opinion of DeWet has modified since he shot the two peace envoys. I was out on the scene of the Taiborch smash up (between Declar & Naauwpoort on Feb 18th) shortly after it occurred. It was a bad wreck. Two I.Y. were killed by the accident and the fireman of the train and 2 natives were shot by the Boers and a Yeoman and 1 native wounded. We arrested 10 "peaceful inhabitants" against some of whom the evidence was so strong that one of them turned Kings evidence and "let in" 5 of the others and also 2 others as accomplices. I sincerely hope the authorities will not exercise their usual idiotic leniency in this case. If they do I think the British Public ought to be clearly informed of the facts of the case so as to influence public opinion on the side of severe measures. Most these men were not British subjects but in the employment of the Imperial Government. I am anxiously awaiting the published result of the Court Martial which was composed of a very strong body of officers. It is believed DeWet has never before received such blows as he did during his attempted invasion of the Colony. There are also persistent rumours of the submission of terms of surrender by Botha, which are supposed to be under consideration at home. Whatever happens I think that as soon as the veldt becomes dried up and forage becomes scarce we ought to have a very good chance of bringing the war to a speedy conclusion - perhaps I should say tardy conclusion. Had a better system of intelligence been arranged we would most likely have given DeWet and Hertzog very bad knocks with the armoured trains, besides the HoutKraal affair on Feb 18th, but there was no news of the Boers approaching the line till they had actually crossed it. There were a tremendous number of armoured trains of sorts about during this period. I myself saw 13 between Naauwpoort and Kimberley and I knew of another one up North! I am hoping to go to Cape Town shortly on duty in connection with accounts. It will be a pleasant change though very hard work. With kind regards to Sir Andrew and yourself, Believe me, your sincere1, H.Osborne Mann