From late May 1900, the first successes of the Boer guerrilla strategy had been at Lindley (where five hundred Yeomanry had surrendered), and at Heilbron (where a large convoy and its escort had been captured) and other skirmishes resulting in fifteen hundred British casualties in less than ten days.

In December 1900, De la Rey and Christiaan Beyers attack and maul a British brigade at Nooitgedacht.

As a result of these and other Boer successes, the British, led by Lord Kitchener, mount three extensive searches for Christiaan de Wet, but without success.

However, the very nature of the Boer guerrilla war and the Boer raids on British camps are sporadic, poorly planned, and have little overall long-term objective, with the exception to simply harass the British.

This leads to a disorganized pattern of scattered engagements between the British and the Boers throughout the region.