The Boers were well armed Bearing_arms and struck Attack first , besieging Ladysmith , Kimberley , and Mahikeng in early 1900 , and winning important battles at Colenso , Magersfontein and Stormberg .

Battles Hostile_encounter were fought Hostile_encounter on this front at Graspan , Belmont , Modder River before the advance Self_motion was halted Process_end for two months after the British defeat at the Battle Hostile_encounter of Magersfontein .

The army of Boer General Piet Cronjé was retreating Escaping from its entrenched position at Magersfontein towards Bloemfontein after its lines of communication were cut Removing by Major General John French , whose cavalry had recently outflanked Besieging the Boer position to relieve Kimberley .