After the guerrilla war began, a force under Clements harried the Boers in the Moot, a valley in the Magaliesberg mountains.

On 2 December, De la Rey's commando ambushed an ox-wagon convoy east of Rustenburg, killing and wounding 64 British soldiers and capturing 54 men and 118 wagons.

De la Rey's deputy, Jan Smuts had a close call when a bullet intended for him killed another Boer.

The camp had good water supply and a nearby mountain allowed communication by heliograph with Major General Robert Broadwood at Rustenburg.

Beyers then launched his attack on the mountaintop, but his tired men were soon stopped by sturdy resistance from the Northumberland Fusiliers.

After witnessing De la Rey's initial attack being repulsed in the valley below, Beyer's men became inspired and stormed the British positions on the mountaintop.

Meanwhile, De la Rey and Smuts had managed to capture all the kopjes in the Moot except one, Yeomanry Hill (Hartebeestfontein).

A 4.7-inch naval gun was even saved by rolling it downhill from its original perch and dragging it back to the main British position.