The Orange Free State's strategy to continue the Anglo-Boer War in July 1900: a lost opportunity?

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Date
2011-09
Authors
De Bruin, Jaco
Wessels, Andre
Henning, Johan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of the Humanities, University of the Free State
Abstract
More than 4 000 Orange Free State (OFS) burghers, inclusive of their most senior officers, surrendered in the Brandwater Basin in the Eastern Orange Free State (OFS) during the period 30 July to 9 August 1900. It was a military catastrophe from which the OFS would never recover. This contribution endeavours to provide new perspectives on the events leading up to the surrender by evaluating the various strategic options considered by the OFS military command during July 1900 to continue the war. It appears that two basic strategies were considered. An analysis of these provides new insights into the confusion prevailing in the Brandwater Basin, as well as the lack of effective and decisive leadership, the contradictory decisions and the concomitant conflicting orders.
Description
Keywords
Anglo-Boer War, Orange Free State, Brandwater Basin
Citation
De Bruin, J., Wessels, A., & Henning, J. (2011). The Orange Free State's strategy to continue the Anglo-Boer War in July 1900: a lost opportunity?. Journal for Contemporary History, 36(2), 112-134.