VAL (Charles du).
News of the Camp.
PRINTED IN PRETORIA DURING THE SIEGE
Rare. Published during the siege of Pretoria, News of the Camp “affords an interesting narrative of the daily life of Pretoria during the investment, the military incidents of the siege, the sorties and engagements of the garrison, as well as accurate information with regard to the progress of the campaign in other localities” (Mendelssohn). It is a precursor of the siege newspapers published in Kimberly and Ladysmith during the Second Boer War.
The above copy belonged to Paymaster Serg. G.F.B Wells and appears to have been collected by him during the siege, therefore this is not one of the 200 copies bound after the cessation of publication. It took Mendelssohn five years to obtain his standard copy.
Wells has seen fit to include in this souvenir volume the Government Gazette announcing Martial Law. (December the 21st 1881). “Whereas acts of violence and murder … by those of Her Majesty’s subjects who are now in open rebellion …” and that of January 31st 1881, which outlines the various sorties and engagements conducted against the Boers during December and January 1880-81.
Mendelssohn I, p504.
