Battle of Chieveley

On 15 November, Colonel Long organized a reconnaissance force to head from Estcourt to Colenso, as they had received reports of Boers heading towards Estcourt and Weenen.^[1] The train passed Frere station, and Natal Police reported that all was clear ahead. The train continued towards Colenso when they passed a Boer position 600 yards away from them. The artillery on board the train opened fire, followed in quick succession by the riflemen, and the train reversed in order to get closer to the Boer position. Just a bit further past was a ridge, in which Boer artillery and a Maxim "Pom Pom" was situated. The Boers opened fire with their artillery and derailed the three train cars.^[3] Winston Churchill, who was present as a correspondent, along with Lt. Frankland, managed to pile the wounded onto the engine, whilst Captain Haldane held off the Boer forces. The engine was still operational, and Churchill and Frankland sent the train down towards Estcourt, where it reached safety.^[1][6] Churchill then returned to the battlefield to assist Haldane in holding off the Boers. The rest of the forces present tried to hold off the Boers, with a few managing to head back to Estcourt.^[5] The rest of the British force was captured by the Boers.

After the armored train was captured by the Boers, they continued moving south. By 21 November, they had advanced towards Estcourt, where they occupied the hills around the city. The British forces were worried that the Boers would move south and occupy Pietermaritzburg, and the city began construction of earthworks, and stationing naval guns on the nearby hills. ^[4] The Boers, under General Joubert, moved further south, reaching the hills in an area called Willow Grange. Walter Kitchener dispatched forces from further down the line in order to halt the Boer advance on 23 November, resulting in the Battle of Willow Grange.^[5] Whilst the battle was a loss, it halted the Boer advance, and Joubert withdrew his troops on 24 November, retiring to Colenso. Buller and his relief force soon arrived, and began pushing towards Colenso and the besieged city of Ladysmith.