Tensions between the British and the Boers, descendants of Dutch settlers, had been simmering for years. It was a battle for control, resources, and ideals. The spark that ignited the war was the discovery of gold in the Transvaal region, which attracted a flood of British miners, known as "Uitlanders." The Boers, feeling threatened by the influx of outsiders, imposed harsh restrictions on the miners, fueling British outrage. On October 11, 1899, the Boers, led by President Paul Kruger, mobilized their army, and the British, under the command of General Sir Redvers Buller, prepared for battle. The war had begun, marking the beginning of a brutal and devastating conflict that would last three years and claim thousands of lives.