The Battle of Enslin Station was an engagement during the night of 6-7 December 1899 between the forces of the Orange Free State and the British Empire during the Second Boer War. Before the battle, Lord Methuen had advanced past the Riet River and towards Spytfontein after the Battle of Modder River on 28 November. With his supply line extended, the railways were subject to attack, as the bulk of the army was situated at the front, with sparse vanguards patrolling the various sidings between De Aar and Modder River. The railways were guarded by barbed wire and patrols, though before the arrival of the Australians and Canadians in 1900, the British forces were spread thin. A previous battle had occurred near Enslin on 25 November; after the major battle, a small force was detached to guard the station in-case of future attack.
In November 1899, Lord Methuen set out to relieve Kimberley as part of General Buller's three-pronged offensive of the Boer republics, which would be based primarily around the railway extending from Cape Town to the beleaguered city. Starting on the 20th of November, he moved from De Aar and across the Orange River, arriving at the town of Belmont on 22 November. After repelling the Boer forces there on 23 November, they stayed at Belmont. On 24 November, the British advanced to Enslin, where Boer forces were reported on Graspan-kopje; the battle the next day would force most of the Boers to retreat to entrenched positions at the Modder and Riet River s.[1] Between 25-27 of November, Lord Methuen moved from Enslin to Klokfontein, believing there to only be a small force of Boer infantry at Modder River; on 28 November, Methuen launched an assault on the Boer positions there. Methuen had received poor reconnaissance, as the Boers had entrenched and heavily fortified their positions along the banks of both rivers.[2][3] The Boers eventually retreated from their positions, but not after a long afternoon in which many British soldiers were unable to move. After the battle, Methuen spent his time consolidating his forces and attempting to repair the bridge across the Modder River to continue his advance. Methuen's supply line was the railway, which was vulnerable to attack from irregular Boer forces; small guards had been dispatched to the railway sidings in order to keep watch and prevent the Boers from sabotaging the railways.
Battle
On 6 December, Boer commandant Prinsloo set out with a force of 1000 men and three artillery guns from Major Albrecht; he moved west into what is now Mokala National Park and, after evading British patrols, moved upon Enslin Station. The station and a nearby orchard was guarded by two companies, equating to roughly 260 men, of the 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Infantry; this unit was under the command of Captain H.C. Godley, and was tasked with defending the British supply line along the Cape Railway. Godley had created sangars and barbed wire as defenses in case of Boer attack.[2] Prinsloo's force arrived and began bombarding the station, with the British scrambling to defend the station. Despite being overwhelmed, Godley held off the Boers, preventing them from reaching the station itself; this did not, however, prevent the damage of British barbed wire and of actual track itself.[4][5][6]
Upon the news of the Boer attack, Lord Methuen sent out the 65th Battery of Artillery, two companies of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, an armored train of Seaforth Highlanders under the direct command of Major-General Wauchope, and the New South Wales Lancers. These forces arrived en masse in the early hours of 7 December, pushing back the Boers; after six hours of fighting, Prinsloo retreated, and the damage on the British railway was swiftly repaired.[4][7] Boers that remained took up positions at Graspan, though they retreated after a British assault.[8] Prinsloo's retreat would cause him to be voted out as the Free State Commandant, replaced by A. M. Ferreira on 8 December.[5]
Aftermath
With the raid at Enslin Station, Methuen continued to delay his advance, waiting for further reinforcements of the Highland Brigade to pursue his objective of relieving Kimberley. On 7 December, the railway bridge across the Riet River was completed, allowing for large numbers of troops to cross over. The Boers used this time to consolidate their forces at Magersfontein kopje; on 10 December, Methuen launched an artillery barrage and ordered the Highlanders to perform a night march. On 11 December, the Highlanders would attempt to attack Boer positions at Magersfontein - the resulting engagement would result in the most costly battle of the conflict to date, permanently halting Methuen until Lord Roberts took command.[6]
References
↑ Conan Doyle, Arthur (1902). "Lord Methuen's Advance". The Great Boer War (16thed.). Undershaw and Hindhead.
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