Two Letters by Boer Delegate during Vereeniging Peace Negotiations

Two hand-written letters in Dutch/Afrikaans of 4 pages each (7 pp in pencil and one in ink) by Conrad Birkenstock to his wife during the peace negotiations at Vereeniging in May 1902. In the letter dated 24 May he describes his journey from Rietfontein on the 12th and points out that that he is not sure when he will leave Vereeniging. He expresses his hope that peace will be attained - "May the Lord guide us in this". He mentions that he had left Willie and Johan behind at Rietfontein and that he'd recently seen his daughter Annie in Vryheid. On 30 May he wrote that they were based near the Vaal River in a tent town of about 20 tents where they invited delegates from the Free State for talks, that they are busy finalising their work in Vereeniging and refers to a delegation that must meet Lord Kitchener in Pretoria to sign the peace treaty. The two letters come with an original photo (6×11cm) of Birkenstock taken at the tent town and an envelope (with censored stamp) addressed to him (Conrad Birkenstock- General de Boeren) while in Vereeniging but forwarded from there to Vryheid. Birkenstock was one of the 54 (from 60) Boer delegates that voted for peace. During the negotiations "Mr Birkenstock (Vryheid) said that he would go more fully in to a few points relating to his district that the Commandant General had been able to do in his general view. In Vryheid during the last six to eight months they had been much harassed by large forces, and the district had been completely devastated. The presence of families caused the greatest difficulties. Lately the British refused to receive more families. They were also continually in danger of Kaffirs who were decidedly hostile to them. Horses and corn were scarce. But yet, as far as grain was concerned, they would manage, if the enemy did not again make incursions into that district. Recently in the early morning, before daybreak, a Kaffir Commando had attacked a Boer Commando consisting of 70 men of whom they had killed 56 (see LOT 442 - Battle of Holkrans). The families in that district had said to him 'you must make peace in any case', and he feels it is his duty to inform the meeting of this". From The Peace Negotiations by Rev. J.D. Kestell.