South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 3 (of 8) From the Battle of Colenso, 15th Dec. 1899, to Lord Roberts's Advance into the Free State, 12th Feb. 1900

"South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 3" by Louis Creswicke is a historical recap of a period during the Second Boer War, starting with the Battle of Colenso in December 1899 and ending with Lord Roberts's movement into the Free State in February 1900. The book focuses on British military strategies, the difficulties the British army faced, and the stories of soldiers from both sides. The author starts by discussing early British failures, showing the disappointment of British leaders as their strategies failed against Boer defenses, causing chaos and discouragement among soldiers and supporters. Creswicke then points out the important lessons learned from these initial battles, showing changes in British military strategy as they adjust to the unexpected methods being used in the war, dealing with big losses and the stress of future military actions. The first part of the book sets the stage for understanding the war, highlighting the complicated military situations that define the ongoing conflict in South Africa.