Siege of Ladysmith, Natal, Second Boer War.


Herbert, A Kenney, Capt. Survey Department, Field Intelligence Division. Country around Ladysmith Natal enlarged from Major Althams photo dispatch map. P[ieter]m[arets]burg, December 6th 1899, with manuscript additions taken on the ground in Ladysmith, c.January 1900. Sepia lithographed field map of the disposition of forces at the Siege of Ladysmith, with manuscript additions in brown (Boer) and red (British) ink, by a Field Intelligence Officer called "Dick" adding one new Boer gun emplacement on Star Hill, and a series of British batteries around the besieged town, both north and south, on Cemetery Hill, Maiden Hill and Caesars Camp. Old folds, a few with light browning, one short clear tear along fold. Together with a 3 pp ALS to "My dear old Chum," signed Dick, dated "Field Intelligence Dept, Standerton, 28th July, 1900," a chatty letter discussing characters in the Field Intelligence Division, exchanged gifts and commenting "I sent you along with letter a transvaal registered envelope containing a copy of a map made by the Boers ... found in one of their laagars ... you can compare it with the map I sent you some time ago & the two together will give you an idea of our situation," no doubt referring to this map showing the situation of the Siege of Ladysmith from the British angle.An attractive military situation map annotated by a Field Intelligence Division Surveyor inside the siege in Ladysmith, with updated information of the latest gun and troop movements around the besieged town. The siege of Ladysmith was one of the early engagements of the Second Boer War, with the garrison town of Ladysmith in Natal (forces 12,500) being surrounded by several Boer armies (21,000). After some skirmishing to occupy the various hills around the town, both sides settled in for a siege, which was only broken when General Buller broke through to relieve the town in February 1900.