Battle of Modder River

Battle of Modder River
Part of Second Boer War
Date 28 November 1899 Location Modder River, Cape Colony Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	South African Republic  Orange Free State
Commanders and leaders
Lord Methuen	Piet Cronje Koos de la Rey
Strength
8,000 men, 20 guns	9,000 men, 6 guns, 1 pom pom
Casualties and losses
72 killed, 372 wounded, 7 missing	75 killed and wounded

The Battle of Modder River (known in Afrikaans as Slag van die Twee Riviere, which translates as "Slaughter of the two rivers") was an engagement in the Boer War, fought at Modern River, on 28 November 1899. A British column under Lord Methuen, that was attempting to relieve the besieged town of Kimberley, forced Boers under General Piet Cronje to retreat to Magersfontein, but suffered heavy casualties themselves.

When the war broke out, one of the Boers' early targets was the diamond-mining centre of Kimberley, which stood not far from the point where the borders of the Boer republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, and the British-controlled Cape Colony met. Although their forces surrounded the town, they did not press home any immediate assault. Nor did they attempt to cross the Orange River on this front to invade Cape Colony.

Meanwhile, British reinforcements were on their way to South Africa. Their commander, General Sir Redvers Buller detached the 1st Division under Lieutenant General Lord Methuen to relieve the Siege of Kimberley. This decision was made partly for reasons of prestige, as the capture of Kimberley (which contained the famous Imperialist and former Prime Minister of Cape Colony, Cecil Rhodes) would be a major propaganda victory for the British.

During November, Methuen's force advanced north along the Western Cape Railway. They fought and won two engagements against Boers from the Orange Free State under General Prinsloo at the Battle of Belmont and at Graspan.

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