General French surprised the enemy and occupied Barberton on the 13th.
And you're still valeting for Barberton, are you, Mr. Stevens?
But Barberton was always inclined to be a little 'eadstrong.
The Boers were prepared for his attacking Barberton from every direction save one.
Barberton and the Boers saw the oncoming of the British force with blank amazement.
Barberton was about thirty miles from the camp, and to reach it they had to cross Hicks Bridge.
It was in Barberton gaol General French found him and once more set him free.
Some commandos withdrew eastwards along the line, others broke off towards Lydenburg and Barberton.
On the 8th a Boer gang near Barberton made a violent and indeed valiant lunge at the troops guarding the place.
The development of the Barberton Goldfields was a revelation to the peasant mind of what the power of gold is.