In spite of Symons’s confidence and enthusiasm White hated to leave troops at Dundee, and Sir Archibald Hunter, his chief of staff, agreed with him.  But not to occupy a place is one thing:  to abandon it after it has been occupied another.

They decided to ask Sir Walter Hely-Hutchinson what consequences would in his opinion follow a withdrawal.  They visited him at ten o’clock at night, and put the question straightly.  Thus appealed to, the Governor declared that in that event ‘loyalists’ would be disgusted and discouraged; the results as regards the Dutch would be grave, many, if not most, would very likely rise, believing us to be afraid ... and the effect on the natives, of whom there are some 750,000 in Natal and Zululand, might be disastrous.’

On hearing this opinion expressed by a man of the Governor’s ability and local knowledge, Sir Archibald Hunter said that it was a question ’of balancing drawbacks,’ and advised that the troops be retained at Glencoe.  So the matter was clinched, ‘and,’ said Sir George, ’when I made up my mind to let Symons stay I shared and shared alike with him in the matter of troops, giving him three batteries, a regiment, and an infantry brigade, and keeping the same myself.’

For his share in this discussion the Governor was at one time subjected to a considerable volume of abuse in the public Press, it being charged against him that he had ‘interfered’ with the military arrangements.

Sir Walter Hely-Hutchinson, with whom I have had many pleasant talks, makes this invariable reply:  ’I never said a word to Sir George White until I was asked.  When my opinion was called for I gave it according to the best of my judgment.’

In the actual event Dundee had to be abandoned, nor was this a deliberate evacuation arising out of any regular military policy, but a swift retreat without stores or wounded, compelled by the force of the enemy.

It is, therefore, worth while considering how far the Governor’s judgment had been vindicated by events.  Undoubtedly loyalists throughout the Colony were disgusted, and that they were not discouraged was mainly due to the fact that with the Anglo-Saxon peoples anger at the injury usually overcomes dismay.  The effect on the Dutch was grave, but was considerably modified by the electrical influence of the victory of Elandslaagte, and the spectacle of Boer prisoners marching southward.

The whole of the Klip River country, however, rose, and many prominent Natal Dutch farmers joined the enemy.  The loyalty of the natives alone exceeded the Governor’s anticipations, and their belief in the British power and preference for British rule was found to stand more knocking about than those best able to judge expected.  We have reaped a rich reward in this dark season for having consistently pursued a kindly and humane policy towards the Bantu races; and the Boers have paid a heavy penalty for their cruelty and harshness.