Less than sixty kilometers from Pretoria, there is a river, called the Murray Taylor River by the Boers. The East African army's 111th, 123rd, and 514th divisions are camped on the north bank of the Murray Taylor River for rest.
After over ten days of high-intensity marching, the East African soldiers were generally exhausted. Even Ernst, riding on horseback, was finding it difficult to bear. Additionally, they had engaged in a skirmish with a small Boer unit in Petersburg previously, so the East African army needed to rest, and also wait for the supplies transport unit.
The battle at Petersburg was hardly even an appetizer for the East African army. The Boer troops numbered less than five hundred, and their weapons were more outdated compared to the East African army. An East African cavalry battalion was enough to rout these Boers.
At night, the gentle breeze brought a slight chill. From the military camp on the bank of the Murray Taylor River came waves of singing:
