Letters from Hamilton to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army, 1901-1902 n

References on this page: HAMILTON: 2/3/1-33

HAMILTON: 2/3/1

1901 Nov 13

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, advocating an armistice of one month in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony, and further musketry practice for British forces in South Africa, and hoping to initiate decentralization of military command in Kitchener's office and in the districts. 4pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/2

1901 Nov 26

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, suggesting Kitchener perceived himself unappreciated by the British press and public, and on Hamilton's discussions with Sir Walter Francis Hely-Hutchinson, Governor of Cape Colony, and Maj Gen Arthur Singleton Wynne, General Officer Commanding Administration, Cape Colony, on the difficulty of clearing rebels from the Cape Colony, and the welcome arrival of Indian battalions to South Africa. 3pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/3

1901 Nov 26

Typescript copy of telegram to Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa from FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army, requesting Hamilton send the British Cabinet his opinion on the progress of the war in South Africa and to comment on Kitchener's health and condition, and rejecting Hamilton's proposal of an armistice for the Boers. 1p

HAMILTON: 2/3/4

1901 Nov 26-1901 Dec 2

Typescript copies of three telegrams to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, with his views on the progress of the war in South Africa, including his discussion with Lt Gen Sir John Denton Pinkstone French, General Officer Commanding Mobile Columns Cape Colony, on pacifying Cape Colony, 27 Nov 1901, and his impressions of the blockhouse system and Kitchener's command, 2 Dec 1901. 5pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/5

1901 Nov 29

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, including his favourable impression of recently constructed blockhouses, his discussions with Lt Gen Sir Charles Tucker, Officer Commanding Mobile Columns and South African Constabulary (SAC), Orange River Colony, on the duties of the SAC and the abilities of column commanders. 2pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/6

1901 Dec 6

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, suggesting columns should be located in districts defined by blockhouses to deal with Boer rebels; the inability of Maj Gen Arthur Singleton Wynne, General Officer Commanding Administration, Cape Colony, to work with Lt Gen Sir John Denton Pinkstone French, General Officer Commanding Mobile Columns Cape Colony, and Kitchener's opinions on the respective command capabilities of Lt Gen Sir Henry Macleod Leslie Rundle, Lt Col Alexander Whitelaw Thorneycroft, Maj Gen Frederick Walter Kitchener and other officers. 4pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/7

1901 Dec 12

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, on the workings and responsibilities of officers on Kitchener's staff; on the likely transfer of the railways from military to civil control; his proposals for raising battalions using Boer prisoners. 7pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/8

1901 Dec 16

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, on the daily routine of Kitchener's staff, on Kitchener's increasing decentralization of command, and Hamilton's opinion of the leadership capabilities of Maj Gen Geoffry Barton, Lt Gen Sir Charles Tucker, Maj Gen Laurence James Oliphant and Lt Gen Sir John Denton Pinkstone French. 6pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/9

1901 Dec 24

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, on his attempts to have columns and horses rested; Kitchener's views on a proposed new 18 pounder field gun; on the differences in opinion between Alfed Milner, 1st Baron Milner of St James's and Cape Town, Governor of the Transvaal and Orange River Colonies, and Kitchener on a settlement with the Boers; the failure of Lt Gen Sir Henry Macleod Leslie Rundle to resist the Boer attack on the column of Lt Col Robert Bertram Firman at Tweefontein, Orange River Colony. 6pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/10

1902 Jan 1

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, including on the formation of a new column to be commanded by Lt Col Sir Henry Seymour Rawlinson, 2nd Bt, to pursue Boer Gen Christiaan Rudolph De Wet; on the command of 6 Bn Mounted Infantry by Lt Col Henry De Beauvoir De Lisle, and on his dining with Alfed Milner, 1st Baron Milner of St James's and Cape Town, Governor of the Transvaal and Orange River Colonies. 6pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/11

1902 Jan 9

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, including on the purported superiority of the South African Constabulary over soldiers for pacification purposes, on the suitability of Gen Sir Redvers Henry Buller to command 1 Army Corps and on the retention of military control of South African farms. 6pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/12

1902 Jan 16-17

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, with the evaluations of Lt Gen Sir John Denton Pinkstone French of French's column commanders, and enclosing draft typescript copy of letter from Hamilton to Rt Hon (William) St John (Fremantle) Brodrick, Secretary of State for War, on the dangers of forcing the Boers to an unconditional surrender, and proposing that Kitchener be allowed to negotiate peace terms with Boer leaders. 10pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/13

1902 Jan 21

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, including his discussions with Lt Col Michael Frederic Rimington, commanding Mounted Column, on engaging Boer forces in Orange River Colony, on the likely advance of Boer Gen Christiaan Rudolph De Wet into the Cape Colony, and on the activities of Boer Gen Christiaan F Beyers at Petrusburg, Orange River Colony. 5pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/14

1902 Jan 25

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, including the failings of the Ordnance Committee and its president Lt Gen John Fletcher Owen; Hamilton's proposal of Capt Arthur Alexander Wolfe Murray for Inspector General of Garrison Artillery and his suggestion that Lt Gen Sir John Denton Pinkstone French be transferred from the Cape Colony to tackle Boer forces in Orange River Colony. 7pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/15

1902 Feb 1

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, including Kitchener's reluctance to relinquish military control of the railways; the inadequacies of the instruction provided by the Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, and Hamilton's proposals for a new curriculum; Hamilton's opinion of (Joseph) Rudyard Kipling's attitude towards the amnesty granted to Cape rebels. 14pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/16

1902 Feb 8

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, including on the escape of Boer Gen Christiaan Rudolph De Wet through the blockhouse line between Lindley and Kroonstad, Orange River Colony; his opinions on the military capabilities and character of Lt Col Michael Frederic Rimington, Lt Col Henry De Beauvoir De Lisle, Brig Gen Edwin Alfred Hervey Alderson, Col Thomas David Pilcher, Lt Col Douglas Haig, Col Henry Jenner Scobell, Col William Pitcairn Campbell, Lt Col Alexander Whitelaw Thorneycroft and Maj Vivian Henry; on the poor quality of Australian horses despatched to South Africa. 11pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/17

1902 Feb 16

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, including his observations of the drive by the mounted column of Lt Col Sir Henry Seymour Rawlinson, 2nd Bt, against Boer Gen Christiaan Rudolph De Wet at Zuikerbosch Rand, Eastern Transvaal, and on his request for more infantry to be dispatched to South Africa for blockhouse duties. 11pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/18

1902 Feb 27

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, including the capture of a British convoy by Boer forces at Klerksdorp, Transvaal, and news from Kitchener at Harrismith, Orange River Colony, on the capture of Boer commandos and cattle by the mounted column of Lt Col Sir Henry Seymour Rawlinson, 2nd Bt, at Lang Riet. 11pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/19

1902 Mar 4

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, including the alleged ill treatment of an Australian officer attached to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; Hamilton's quarrels with two of Kitchener's staff, and Hamilton's proposal to deliberately give Boer forces documents containing false information. 6pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/20

1902 Mar 23

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, including his suspicion that highland regiments would lose the kilt as fighting dress and his urging that Boer leaders be given honourable peace terms to avert further conflict. 5pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/21

1902 Mar 29

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, suggesting that the Pretoria Conference would lead to peace and proposing a visit to Japan to report on the Japanese Army. 5pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/22

1902 Apr 1

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, on the progress of peace negotiations with the Boers and the threat to a settlement posed by the political ambitions of Alfred Milner, 1st Baron Milner of St James's and Cape Town, Governor of the Transvaal and Orange River Colonies, to exert control over the colonies. 5pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/23

1902 Apr 11-12

Typescript copy of telegrams exchanged by Hamilton and Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, on actions during and after the battle of Rooiwal, Western Transvaal, 11 Apr. 3pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/24

1902 Apr 18

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, on his participation in the battle of Rooiwal, Western Transvaal, 11 Apr. 8pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/25

1902 Apr 18

Typescript report by Hamilton to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, on the battle of Rooiwal, Western Transvaal, 11 Apr. 5pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/26

1902 Apr 23

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, including his intention to confiscate Boer food crops near Klerksdorp during his drive in Western Transvaal; his attitude towards Gen Sir Redvers Henry Buller, and the military capability of Lt Col Sir Henry Seymour Rawlinson, 2nd Bt. 4pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/27

1902 Apr 30

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, including his destruction of Boer food crops during his drive in Western Transvaal; his opinions on the respective merits of massed and dispersed artillery, and the retention of swords and lances for cavalry in South Africa. 9pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/28

1902 May 18

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, including his view on the suggestion of the British Cabinet to try column commanders in South Africa by Courts Martial for failures in the field. 9pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/29

1902 May 25

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, including his presidency of a committee to recommend a new medal for service in South Africa (the King's South Africa Medal); on the military capabilities of artillery officers, including Lt Col Frederick Drummond Vincent, Col Alexander Nelson Rochfort and Maj Stanley Brenton Von Donop; his dining with Boer Generals Jacobus Hercules De La Rey, Jan Christiaan Smuts and Louis Botha. 6pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/30

1902 May 29-30

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, comprising his remarks on an enclosed typescript memorandum from Col Henry Crichton Sclater, Staff Officer, South Africa, 29 May 1902, containing Sclater's proposals on the supervision and disposition of artillery fire. 4pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/31

1902 Jun 1

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, on the signing of peace terms at Vereeniging. 3pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/32

1902 Jun 7

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, including on the eligibility for staff duties of officers by virtue of war service in South Africa; the proposed visit to Germany by Boer leaders at the invitation of the Pan-Germanic League; his suggestion that Boer Generals Jacobus Hercules De La Rey and Louis Botha be given British Army commissions and invitations to visit Britain. 7pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/33

1902 Jun 15

Typescript copy of letter to FM Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Waterford and Pretoria, Commander in Chief of the British Army from Hamilton, Chief of Staff to Lt Gen Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Baron Kitchener of Khartoum and Aspall, Commander in Chief South Africa, with his opinion on The Times history of the war in South Africa, volume 2, edited by Leopold Stennett Amery (Sampson Low, Marston and Co, London, 1902); his suggestions for a temporary South African department in the War Office to deal with his operational archives; his preferences for future magistrates and governors in South Africa. 4pp

HAMILTON: 2/3/34

Undated[1902?]

Typescript copy of a letter from an anonymous officer, with recommendations to be adopted in British musketry practice in the light of the experiences of the Second Boer War, including long range sniping, the importance of firing at unseen or hidden targets, and the necessity of rapidity and accuracy of fire at extreme short ranges. 3pp