LADYSMITH BESIEGED
On the 30th, the Boers being now in force on many of the hills around
the town, and having inflicted the first annoyance upon Ladysmith by
cutting the conduit that brought down the water-supply to the town from
a reservoir among the hills, and so forced it for the future to depend
upon a few wells and the muddy water of the river, it was determined to
make an effort to drive them back and to gain possession of some of the
hills from which it was now evident the town would stand a risk of
being bombarded. Hitherto there had been considerable apathy in taking
measures for keeping the enemy as far as possible out of range. A few
redoubts thrown up during the last week and strongly held would have
been invaluable, but it seemed to be considered by the military
authorities that the siege could be but a short one, and that the Boers
would speedily be driven off by the troops now pouring into Durban.
An effort was now to be made to repair the consequences of this
remissness and to drive the Boers off the positions they occupied, and
it was hoped that if a heavy blow were dealt them they would draw off
altogether. The forces of Joubert, Meyer, and the Free Staters were now
all within a distance of a few miles, and were all to be beaten up.
Their central position was on a hill afterwards known as Signal Hill,
and on this they had already planted a forty-pounder gun. A force
composed of six companies of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, four and a half
of the Gloucesters, a mountain battery and a troop of Hussars started
at midnight towards a hill known as Nicholson's Nek, occupied by the
Free Staters. Major General Hunter with a brigade of infantry, three
batteries, and a small cavalry force were to attack Meyer's commando to
the east, while General White, with two infantry brigades, French's
cavalry, and six batteries of field artillery moved against Joubert's
force on Modder Spruit. It was hoped that the Boers, if defeated, would
find their retreat barred by the force that had stated early for
Nicholson's Nek. All were well away from the town before daylight broke.
At five o'clock in the morning the guns spoke out, and were at once
answered by the Boer artillery, and the roar of fire soon became
general. General White's central column was screened by a ridge near
the railway, and the big gun on Signal Hill directed its fire partly
against the town and partly against the cavalry which could be seen by
them in rear of the column. As only a few of the Volunteer Horse had
been ordered to accompany the attacking force, Chris and his companions
took up their position on an eminence that afforded a general view of
the battle, and here a large number of the townspeople also gathered.
The general plan of operations was that the two movable columns should
form a rough arc of a circle and, driving in both flanks of the Boers,
sweep the whole force before them.
"They have a great many guns," Peters said, as the rattle of the
machine-guns and the thud of quick-firing one-pounders joined the
continuous fire of several Boer batteries and the deeper roar of their
big gun, "and they seem to be in greater force than was supposed, for I
can make out large reinforcements coming up to them from behind."
Our artillery were first placed about four thousand yards from the Boer
position, but as this was on higher ground than that occupied by our
guns our fire did not appear to be effective. They were therefore moved
forward some distance, supported by two battalions of the Rifles and
the Dublin Fusiliers. The infantry force with them pushed forward
rapidly and gained a crest from which they threatened to take the Boer
position on Signal Hill in rear; but the Boers, very strongly
reinforced, moved to meet them, and heavy fighting took place, until
the enemy's force became so strong that they not only checked the
further advance of the brigade, but threatened it on both flanks. Two
batteries went to their assistance, but even with this aid they could
not continue their advance, pressed as they were by greatly superior
numbers and harassed by the fire of the Boer field batteries on the
hill.
At other points our advance was opposed as hotly. Nowhere were our
infantry gaining ground. The enemy had not wasted their time, but had
thrown up intrenchments on the steep hills they occupied, and from
these shelters maintained a terrible fire, while their numerous
machine-guns swept the ground with a hail of bullets and shells. On
such ground the cavalry were useless, and the range of the Boer guns
was much greater than that of our own.
"It seems to me," Chris said, "that instead of gaining ground we are
losing it. We can't see at all what is going on, but certainly the
firing seems nearer than it was."
All had thought the same though none had cared to suggest such a thing.
"Hurrah! there is a train coming in," Field said. "I heard they were
expecting a party of sailors with naval guns. They would be useful just
at the present moment. Let us go down and see, we can make out nothing
from here."
Glad to be doing something they went down the hill. As they reached the
station they saw a large detachment of sailors at work detraining some
twelve-pounders and two large quick-firing guns. Teams of oxen were
brought up, the sailors harnessed themselves to ropes, and with
tremendous exertions one of the guns was taken up to an eminence, and
at eleven it opened fire. It was but just in time. In steady order the
columns were retiring with their faces towards the Boers, answering
shot for shot, carrying off their wounded as they dropped, in spite of
the terrible rifle fire and the roar of the Boers' batteries; but as
soon as the first naval gun opened fire, amid the cheers of the
townspeople, the situation was changed. The first two shells burst
close to the Boer big gun, the third in the midst of the artillerymen,
and it was some time before its fire was resumed. In the meantime the
sailors had turned their attention to other Boer batteries which the
field artillery had scarcely been able to reach, and one by one these
were withdrawn over the crest.
At one o'clock Colonel Hamilton's brigade, which had hitherto been
lying behind the crest they first occupied, in readiness to repel any
counter-attack the Boers might make, now moved out and took up their
position to cover the retirement of Hunter's column and Howard's
brigade, and although the Boers pressed hotly upon them they held their
ground steadily until their comrades had all reached their camp, and
then marched in unhindered by the enemy, whose big cannon had now been
finally silenced by the naval gun and their batteries for the most part
obliged to retire.
After seeing the naval gun open fire Chris had gone down to speak to
Captain Brookfield, when he met two soldiers of a mountain battery
carrying an injured comrade. They took him into the hospital and then
came out. Their shoulder-straps showed them to belong to the mountain
battery that had gone out with the Royal Irish Fusiliers and the
Gloucesters, of whom nothing had been heard, though occasionally, in
momentary intervals of fire, the sound of distant musketry could be
made out in the direction of Nicholson's Nek.
"How are your party getting on?" he asked.
"We don't know anything about them, sir," one of the men said, "except
that they have been heavily engaged since daylight. I am afraid that
they are in a tight place."
"How is it you know nothing about them?"
"It has been a bad job altogether," the man said. "We were marching up
a steep valley with only room for us to lead two mules abreast; we were
in the rear of the column. Suddenly a boulder came rolling down the
hill and some shots were fired. In a moment the mules stampeded. One or
two began it, kicking and plunging and squealing like wild beasts, then
the others all set to. There was no holding them? it was almost
pitch-dark, and before one could say 'knife' they were tearing down the
road we had come up. There was no time to stop, and those who were
lucky jumped out of their way, those who were not were knocked down and
trampled on. As soon as they had gone those of us who were not hurt set
off after them and looked for them everywhere, but only two or three
were caught. Where the rest went I don't know, but I hope that they got
into the enemy's line of fire and were all shot. At last we gave it up
as a bad job and went back to bring in the fellows who were hurt. I
think most of them are in now. We have been a long time, for Thompson's
leg was broken and one of his arms, and, I expect, most of his ribs,
and it hurt him so to be moved that we have had to stop every two
yards."
"It is a bad business indeed," Chris said; "and of course all your guns
are lost?"
"Every one of them, and what is worse, all the reserve small-arm
ammunition is lost too. The mules carrying them were with ours, and as
the fighting up there has been going on ever since, I am afraid the
infantry must have pretty well used up their last cartridges."
It was not until the next day that the extent of the calamity was
known, when a Boer came down with a white flag asking that doctors
might be sent up. The little column instead of, as had been hoped,
surprising the Boers had itself been ambushed, being suddenly attacked
by two strong parties of the enemy. They at once seized a little
eminence, threw up a breastwork of stone, and defended themselves
successfully until the ammunition was entirely exhausted, and a hundred
and fifty had been killed or wounded. The Boers had, by taking
advantage of every bit of cover, crept up close to them, and a
murderous fire was poured in. The two regiments asked Colonel Carleton,
who commanded them, to allow them to charge with their bayonets and cut
their way through. He consented to allow the desperate attempt to be
made, and the men were in the act of fixing bayonets when someone
raised a white flag, and the Boers standing up advanced to receive the
surrender.
After this the laws of war permitted no further defence, and the men,
half mad with fury at the situation in which they were placed, threw
down their rifles and were made prisoners. This was at two o'clock in
the afternoon, after the rest of the force had returned to Ladysmith;
and thus some nine hundred men fell into the hands of the Boers. Apart
from this the loss was comparatively small considering the heat of the
engagement. The day's work had been altogether unsatisfactory; no
advantage whatever had been gained beyond the discovery of the Boers'
position, and their unexpected strength and fighting powers, and it was
evident that the force at Ladysmith was unable to drive off the enemy
unaided, and must undergo a siege until the arrival of a relieving
army. There were provisions calculated to last for two months, and no
one doubted that long before that time General Buller would arrive to
their rescue. So confident had the military authorities been, that not
only had no defensive works been thrown up, but they had omitted to
send the women and children, and the men unfitted to give active
assistance, to the rear.
On the following morning the scouts held a council of war.
"Now," Chris said, "we have to decide the all-important question. It is
quite certain that the town is going to be besieged, and I should say
that the siege will last for some time, as nothing can be done to
relieve them until a lot of troops arrive from home. We have shown at
Dundee and Elandslaagte that our fellows can drive the Boers from their
kopjes, but a force arriving to relieve Ladysmith would have to fight
its way through a tremendously mountainous district, and to capture at
least eight or ten such positions. At Dundee and Elandslaagte the Boers
had only a few guns, and the big one from Pretoria had not arrived, nor
had they time to fortify themselves. It is certain, therefore, that it
will require a very big force to fight its way in here, especially as
the Tugela has to be crossed, and the Boers will of course destroy the
bridges.
"It may be a couple of months before the place is relieved. Of course
the question is, Shall we stay here or go? I don't think we should be
of much use here; indeed, I don't see that cavalry would be any good at
all, whereas if a portion of the Boers push south we may be very useful
in our own line of scouting. Still, this is a question for you to
decide. You chose to make me your commander when at work, but we should
all have an equal voice in a matter of this sort."
There was little discussion; all were of their leader's opinion that it
was best for them to leave. The prospect of a long siege in which they
could take but little active part was not a pleasant one, and it was
decided at once that they should leave.
"Very well," Chris said. "Then I will go in to Captain Brookfield and
ask his permission to go. Now that we are in camp with him he must be
consulted."
They had since Elandslaagte taken their places as a part of the
Maritzburg Scouts, and had been drilled for some hours each day. They
were already favourites among the corps, who were proud of the work
they had done, and being a pleasant set of lads their uncouth
appearance, which had at first been viewed with much disfavour by many
of their comrades, had been forgiven. Chris went to the commander's
tent and laid the matter and their decision before him.
"I think that it is just as well that you should go, Chris," the
officer said; "and indeed I was on the point of telling you that we are
all leaving. For myself I cannot understand why the cavalry should be
kept here, and indeed I know that it is their opinion also, and that
they have asked the general to let them leave. However, he has decided
to keep them. I am sure it is a mistake. Before the siege is over
forage is sure to run short, and half the cavalry will be dismounted
before the end comes. However, I have seen him and pointed out that as
scouts we should be useless here. He has given me leave to go, but has
requested me to join the first troops that come up the line. When we
are once away I shall give you leave to act altogether independently of
us, which will I am sure suit you better than being kept for weeks
perhaps at Colenso or Estcourt. Another thing I will do. General Yule
was speaking to me only yesterday of the manner in which your party
defeated and cut up more than double your number, and how you and three
of your party went into the Boer camp at Talana and ascertained their
strength for General Symons. I expect that General Buller will come on
here, as it is certainly the most serious point at present. I will ask
Yule to give you a letter of introduction to him, it will be useful;
and I have no doubt that he will give you a free hand, as I have done.
I should not call upon General Buller in that rig-out, if I were you. I
have heard he is somewhat of a martinet at the War Office, and we know
that they have a very poor opinion of volunteers there."
Chris smiled. "Volunteers have done good service at the Cape before
now, sir, and have shown over and over again that a man can fight just
as well in plain clothes as if he were buttoned up to the chin in
uniform; and as the Boers are themselves nothing but volunteers, I
should think that before this war is over the War Office will see its
mistake."
"I should think so indeed, Chris, but at present they have certainly
not woke up to the fact. I see by the telegrams that the London
Scottish and the London Irish have both volunteered almost to a man for
service here, and that they have not even had a civil reply to their
application. I tell you, lad, this war is going to be a big thing, and
before it is over we may have both militia and volunteers out here, and
perhaps troops from the colonies. I heard that some of the Australian
colonies have already offered to send bodies of mounted men, and that
our government are ordering out a larger number of men than was at
first intended. I hear this morning that at Kimberley and Mafeking
fighting has begun. On the 24th Kimberley made a successful sortie, and
on the 25th a general attack on Mafeking was repulsed. The fact that
both these places are beleaguered, and that we have again been obliged
to fall back here, and are likely to be cut off altogether, has
evidently stirred them up, and they begin to understand that it is
going to be a much bigger affair than they expected.
"I wrote to your mother yesterday at Durban, and told her that I
intended to leave while it is still possible. Of course you have
written; but I told her of the flattering way in which General Yule had
spoken of the doings of you and your party, and said that I hoped she
would not be anxious, for it was quite evident that you were able to
take good care of yourselves. My letter was in answer to one she wrote
to me from Durban, begging me to keep you from undertaking what she
called 'mad-brained business', and expressing some regret that you and
the others had been allowed to form a separate corps, instead of being
under the command of an experienced officer like myself. I told her
that I thought that you would have less chance of coming to harm in
scouting work than if you had to work in a regular way as the general
ordered. If this sort of fighting--I mean, of attacking in front every
position the Boers choose to take--goes on, our numbers will very
speedily dwindle away.
"The fact is, as far as we colonials can see, the regulars do not as
yet understand fighting the Boers. Nothing could be more splendid than
the behaviour of the troops, both at Dundee and Elandslaagte, but in
our humble opinion neither fight was necessary; and if Talana was to be
attacked, it should have been done by marching the troops round the
hill and taking it in the rear. In that case the Boers would have
bolted without firing a shot. That it could have been done is shown by
the fact that the cavalry did it, and encountered no difficulty on the
way. Again, at Elandslaagte the object of keeping the road open would
have been equally well attained if, after driving them out of the
station, we had taken up a strong position there and waited for them to
attack us. Therefore, Chris, I think that fighting in our way--that is
to say, in Boer fashion--and trusting to skill as much as to shooting,
you will be running a good deal less risk than you would in fighting
under British generals in British fashion. We shall go off quietly this
evening. We must keep a bright look-out on the way, for the trains have
been fired upon, and at any moment the Boers may pull up the rails and
block the roads altogether."
Two hours later all was ready for a start, and just before sunset the
corps rode out of Ladysmith. They kept a sharp look-out as they went,
but saw no signs of the enemy, and crossing the Tugela by the bridge
near Colenso, halted there for the night. Here Captain Brookfield
reported his arrival to the officer in command of the troops, and on
the following day Chris and his friends rode on to Estcourt. They had
seen some parties of mounted men in the far distance, but none had come
near them, and as the military authorities were well aware of the Boers
being in the vicinity, there was nothing to be gained by scouting. But
it was now decided that they were in advance of the point that any
large number of the enemy were likely to reach, and might therefore
strike across the country and resume what they considered their regular
work. They added to their stores several articles whose want they had
felt, had slits made in the waterproof sheets, and covers sewn on to
close the holes when they were used for tents, and had some triangular
pieces of the same material made to buckle on so as to close the rear
of the tents, which had before been open to the wind and rain. They had
employed much of their spare time in training their horses and in
teaching them to lie down when ordered, and thus share the shelter
taken up by their masters, behind rocks or a wall.
The officer commanding the small force at Estcourt had at first viewed
them with some suspicion, but Colonel Yule had purposely left open the
letter with which he had furnished Chris, so that it could be shown to
any officers commanding posts or detached forces, and its production
now caused his cold reception to be converted into a warm welcome.
Riding across country they met more than one farmer trekking with his
cattle and belongings towards the ferry across the Mooi river. These
reported that the Boers had overrun the whole of the country north of
the Tugela, and that some parties had already crossed at the ferry on
the road between Helpmakaar and Greytown. Fugitives had come in from
the villages on the other side, and complained that the Boers were
looting everywhere, and had driven off thousands of cattle and numbers
of horses, and had everywhere wantonly destroyed the furniture and
everything they could not carry off, in the farmhouses they visited.
A vigilant look-out was kept as the scouts advanced. On the second day
after starting they encamped on a slight elevation near Mount Umhlumba,
and early next morning they saw a party of some twenty Boers riding in
a direction that would bring them within rifle-shot of their camp. All
were at once on the alert.
"We will not go out and attack them," Chris said to the lads who were
running towards their horses. "That would mean that though we might
kill all of them, half of us would probably be shot. We will ambush
them. Get the picket ropes loose and the bridles on ready for mounting,
and then leave the horses in charge of the natives where we camped.
They will be out of sight there. When you have done that take your
places quietly among the rocks. Do you, Capper and Carmichael, put
yourselves twenty or thirty yards apart; you are our best shots. When
the Boers get within a thousand yards, which is as near as they will do
if they keep the line they are going, open fire upon them and keep it
up steadily, but not too fast. When they see that only two men are
firing they will think that you are a couple of farmers whose place
they have plundered, and who are determined to have their revenge. You
are safe to hit some of them, and the others will decide upon wiping
you out, and will probably leave their horses and crawl up in their
usual style. When they get close it will be our turn. I don't think
many of them are likely to get away."
His orders were carried out, and five minutes later the two rifles
flashed out one after another. The Boers were riding in a clump. One
was seen to fall, and the horse of another gave a violent plunge.
"Very good," exclaimed Chris, who, like the rest, was lying down behind
a rock. "Don't fire too fast. Wait half a minute, and then each take
another turn, one a little time after the other." The man who had
fallen was instantly picked up by one of his comrades, and all rode off
at full gallop, but before they could get beyond the range of the
Mausers each of the lads had fired two more shots. No more of the Boers
dropped, but the watchers, who had their glasses directed upon them,
thought by their movements that two had been hit. The Boers, when the
firing ceased, stopped, and for some little time remained clustered
together. Then they took a long sweep round to a point where the ground
was broken, and a shallow donga ran up in a direction that would bring
them within a hundred yards of the position occupied by their hidden
assailants. There they were seen to dismount, and, after some talk,
leaving all the horses in the charge of one man, probably one of the
wounded, they entered the donga. Its course was irregular, and once or
twice the two lads were able to get a shot at them. The Boers did not
return the fire but hurried past the exposed points. As they approached
a head was occasionally raised above the bank to view the position, and
then disappeared again. The ground between the camp and the nearest
point of the donga was thickly strewn with boulders, with bushes
growing between them. The lads had all shifted their position to this
side.
"Don't open fire till I give the order," Chris said quietly. "We have
got them now."
Except for a slight movement of the bushes, it would not have been
known that the Boers had left the donga. Once or twice Capper and
Carmichael caught a momentary glimpse of one of them, but held their
fire, as Chris had said.
"Let them come within twenty yards, then both fire at once, whether you
catch a glimpse of them or not. Thinking that your rifles are
discharged, they will all jump up and make a rush. Then it will be our
turn."
[Illustration: "BOTH RIFLES CRACKED AT ONCE."]
Presently a man's head was seen peering round a rock at about the right
distance. Both the rifles cracked at once, and a Boer fell prone on the
ground beyond his shelter. At the same moment there was a shout, and
his comrades all sprang to their feet and rushed forward. A volley from
the whole of the scouts flashed out. Twelve of the Boers fell, the
others leapt back behind their shelters, and in turn opened fire.
"Keep in shelter!" Chris shouted. "They know now that we are two to
their one, and will soon be making off."
The combatants were so close to each other that neither dared expose
shoulder or head to take aim, and after the first shots fired at the
Boers all remained quiet. Chris waited for three or four minutes, and
then told four of the lads who were in the best shelter to crawl back,
mount their horses, and ride out down the other side of the slope, and,
after making a slight circuit, to gallop straight at the Boers' horses.
"The fellows may be some distance away already," he said, "as they may
have slipped off directly they discharged their rifles. In any case
there is no time to be lost in getting hold of their ponies, or at any
rate in driving them off."
As two or three minutes again passed without a shot being fired by the
Boers, Chris was in the act of calling off half the troop to watch the
donga and fire at the Boers if they saw them running past the exposed
points, when at this moment he heard the horses returning, and directly
afterwards one of the lads he had sent off ran up to him.
"There are a whole lot of them coming round the other side," he said,
"sixty or seventy of them at least. Some distance behind I can see a
lot of cattle and waggons. I suppose they were making for home when
they heard the firing." Just at this moment two or three shots rang
out, telling that the surviving Boers were seen running down the donga.
"Never mind them," Chris shouted; "we are going to be attacked by a big
party. Put down your rifles all of you, and pile the stones on the
crest, so as to make a shelter, as quickly as you can. We shall have a
few minutes. Those who are coming up can't know yet what the firing
means." He ran up to the top. "They are not more than six or seven
hundred yards away," he said, "and it would be better to fight it out
here than to take to our horses. Some of us would certainly not get off
without a bullet. You need not mind showing yourselves when they come
up. They won't be able to make out what we are."
The Boers, indeed, reined in their ponies when they saw Chris appear on
the brow of the eminence, and as a preliminary some of them rode off in
both directions and endeavoured to ascertain the position. Those on the
right soon caught sight of the clump of horses.
"They will soon know all about it," Chris said, as two of them galloped
off. "We may as well teach them to keep their distance. Take your
places behind rocks, and then open a sharp fire with your magazines.
They cannot know how many of us there are here. Now, are you all ready?
Yes? Well, then, set to work!"
In a moment an almost incessant rattle of musketry broke out upon the
astounded Boers, who, turning their horses, scattered at full gallop to
escape the hail of bullets; but more than a dozen had fallen before
they were beyond the range of the Mausers and were fully two thousand
yards away.
"I don't think we need stop," Chris said. "Fill up your magazines
again, and then make for the horses." Directly the first party of Boers
had been seen, Jack and Japhet had set to work taking down and rolling
up the tents and loading the spare horses.
"Jump up," Chris said to them, "we are off. Mind you keep well with us.
Now," he went on, as they rode off in a body, "we will do a little
cattle raiding on our own account. Make for them, lads!"
With a shout they rode off at full gallop towards the great herd of
cattle. As they approached, the Kaffirs who were driving them fled.
Separating as they rode, waving their hats and shouting at the top of
their voices, the lads dashed at the herd, who at once turned and went
off at a rate that would have astonished animals accustomed only to
small pastures and other enclosures.
"Don't press them too much," Chris had ordered before the band
separated, "or they will break down. Listen for my whistle; when you
hear it, Field, Willesden, Harris, and Bryan will follow up the herd
with the Kaffirs and keep them moving, the rest will dismount, make
their horses lie down, and open fire. That narrow valley we passed
through yesterday afternoon will do to make a stand. It is about five
miles away, head the cattle for it. The Boers won't be far behind us
when we get there."
The enemy indeed had not noticed them leave the little kopje, as they
were hidden by a slight fall in the ground where they descended, and it
was not until they observed a commotion among the cattle that they
perceived what had happened. Then, furious not only at the loss they
had suffered, but at seeing their booty driven away, they mounted and
pursued in hot haste. But the party had obtained a start of fully a
mile, and the valley was reached by the fugitives while the Boers were
still half that distance in their rear. Chris rode along until he came
to a narrow and defensible point; the horses were taken a hundred yards
on and made to lie down, and he and his sixteen companions then ran
back and took up their positions among the rocks on each side of the
track and the slopes above it.