And the It was most likely sometime during the day on December 11th, 1899 that Winston Churchill picked up a pen to write the note.

He was still a prisoner of the Boers in South Africa, but he didn't plan

on being one much longer. In fact, at that time, as far as Churchill knew, he would only be a prisoner for a few hours more.

For he was waiting for the sun to go down that night to make his bold escape.

And in anticipation of that escape, Churchill,

ever the gentleman or perhaps ever the pompous,

smug aristocratic prick, both labels have been assigned to him at one point or another.

He drafted a goodbye letter to the Boers.

But it wasn't addressed to the Boers as a group. It was addressed to Louis de Sousa, the Transval Secretary of State for

war.

Now I won't read the whole letter here, but I will read the good parts, as I think it provides us a real feel for who Winston Churchill was at the age of 25 when he was a prisoner.

Churchill begins the letter, quote,

Dear Mr. DeSusa, I do not consider that your government was justified in holding me,

a press correspondent and a non-combatant, a prisoner, and I have consequently resolved to escape.

The arrangements I have succeeded in making in conjunction with my friends outside are such

as to give me every confidence. But I wish in leaving you, thus hastily

and unceremoniously, to once more place on my record my appreciation of the kindness which has been shown me and the other prisoners by you."

End quote.

Churchill then goes on to praise the Boers a bit more before ending with the final sentence, quote,

regretting that circumstances have not permitted me to bid you a personal farewell,

believe me.

Yours very sincerely sincerely Winston Churchill."

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