Steyn came very close to capture in Reitz on 11^th July 1901. His scouts had reported that Colonel Broadwood’s column was five miles away and headed towards Bethlehem. Thus Steyn and his government went to sleep in the deserted town. Just after midnight Broadwood turned around and galloped back into Reitz. The haul was 29 prisoners but President Steyn and his groom, a coloured lad named Ruiter, managed to evade the crowd of British soldiers and gallop out of the town.