BATTLE // March 7, 1900
Battle of Poplar Grove
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Source · Wikipedia
Significance
The Battle of Poplar Grove occurred as Lord Roberts's army advanced on Bloemfontein following the Relief of Kimberley. Boer morale had already been severely damaged by the surrender of Piet Cronjé at Paardeberg, and at Poplar Grove this demoralization translated into a precipitous abandonment of positions. Christiaan de Wet, commanding the Free State forces, later described the episode in his own account as a 'Wild Flight from Poplar Grove,' a characterization that underscores how completely British pressure had broken organized Boer resistance at this stage of the advance. The engagement cleared the path toward Bloemfontein and was followed three days later by the Battle of Driefontein, continuing the momentum of the British offensive toward the Boer capital.
Tactics
General Sir John French's cavalry attacked the Boer force from the rear while mounted infantry and horse artillery attacked from the right flank. Faced with this converging pressure, the Boers abandoned their positions in panic before the cavalry could close the engagement decisively.
Forces & casualties
Troop strength
- United Kingdom5,000medium
- South African Republic5,000medium
Both sides were near-evenly matched in numbers
Commanders (2)
South African Republic
Christiaan De Wetgeneral
United Kingdom
Lord Robertsfield marshal
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Related
6 sibling battles · 2 factions