Battle of Stormberg

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Battle of Stormberg

Date	December 10, 1899
Location	Stormberg, Cape Colony, South Africa
Result	Boer victory

Combatants

Great Britain

Boers

Commanders

William Forbes Gatacre

Field Kommandant Olivier

Strength

1,200 infantry
250 mounted infantry
12 guns

2,300 men total

Casualties

135 killed and wounded
696 captured

unknown, but trivial

Second Boer War
Talana Hill – Elandslaagte – Belmont – Modder River – Stormberg – Magersfontein – Colenso – Spion Kop – Bloody Sunday – Paardeberg – Ladysmith – Sanna's Post – Mafeking

The Battle of Stormberg was the first British defeat of Black Week, in which three successive British forces were defeated by Boer irregulars in the Second Boer War.

When the plans for action against the Boer republics were drawn up, it was intended that a division under General William Gatacre would secure the area known as the Cape Midlands, immediately south of the Orange Free State. In the event, troops had to be diverted to Natal after disasters there, and Gatacre's reduced force arrived late. By the time they were ready to take the field, Boers from the Orange Free State had already seized the important railway junctions of De Aar and Stormberg.

Gatacre heard of the loss of Stormberg on 8 December at Graaf Reinet. He determined on an immediate counterattack to recover the place. A force of 1800 were to be taken by train to Molteno, the nearest railway station to Stormberg still in British hands, and march by night to attack a hill known as the Kissieberg which dominated the Boers' position. Organizationally the force consisted of the 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers (960 men), the 2nd Irish Rifles, (840 men), the 74th and 77th batteries of the Field Artillery and 250 mounted infantry.

There was no time for reconnaissance, and preparations were rushed. Early the next day, the British troops hastily boarded the trains, but then sat for hours under a hot sun while locomotives were found. They were already tired when they reached Molteno, to set off on a night march with fixed bayonets after a hasty meal and very little rest. Gatacre's locally engaged guides were soon lost, and the force wandered about the veld all night.

As dawn broke, the British at last came in sight of the Kissieberg. A small Boer picket with one 75mm Krupp gun opened fire. Although Gatacre's force had merely to march around the hill to force the Boers to retreat, about half the infantry rushed forward without orders to storm it. They found that the hill was a typical kopje, ringed by a vertical rock face, which they were unable to climb. The British guns came into action, but shelled the British infantry already downrange.

The other half of Gatacre's force began to fall back in disorder. Gatacre gave the order to retreat to Molteno. Mounted Boer reinforcements appeared and attacked from both sides. The retreat of the exhausted British infantry was covered by the mounted infantry and the artillery, although two 15-pdr. guns were lost. Not until they reached Molteno did Gatacre realise that 600 men had been left behind on the Kissieberg. Hopelessly cut off, they were forced to surrender.

The Free State Boers and local rebels were slow to take advantage of Gatacre's defeat. By the time they did so, British reinforcements had arrived, and the area was secure. Gatacre was blamed by many for the defeat.