SPION KOP
The country immediately round Springfield was level and well
cultivated, with pretty farmhouses and orchards scattered about. Some
little distance to the west rose two hills, Swartz Kop, which had been
occupied by the mounted infantry, and Spearman's Hill, named from a
farm near its base. Here General Buller had established his
head-quarters. Spearman's Hill, which was generally called Mount Alice,
was a very important position, and here the naval guns were placed,
their fire commanding the greater portion of the hills on the other
side of the Tugela, and also Potgieter's Drift, where it was intended
the passage of the river should be made. Swartz Kop was a less
important position, though it also dominated a wide extent of country;
but as ridges on the other side covered some important points from its
fire, Mount Alice was selected as the position for the naval battery,
and also for the signallers, as from here a direct communication could
be kept up by heliograph and flash-light with one of the hills held by
the defenders of Ladysmith.
[Illustration: THE NAVAL GUNS ON MOUNT ALICE]
It was late on the 16th when the convoy which the Maritzburg Scouts
were escorting arrived at Springfield. All day they had heard the boom
of artillery and the rattle of machine-guns and musketry along the line
of hills on the other side of the Tugela and from the heights of Mount
Alice, and groaned in spirit as they laboured at their work of
assisting the waggons, that they were thus employed when hard fighting
was going on within eight miles of them.
At half-past two that day Lyttleton's brigade had moved forward along
the foot of Mount Alice to force the passage of the river at
Potgieter's drift. As soon as the Boers caught sight of them, they
could be seen galloping forward to take their places in the trenches.
A thunder-storm that burst and a torrent of rain screened the movements
of the advancing troops from view for some time, and enabled them to
near the river without having to pass through any shell fire from the
Boer batteries on the hilltops. Between Mount Alice and the river the
brigade passed across meadows and ploughed fields. They reached the
ferry, but the boat was stuck fast, and an hour was lost at this point
before a party of sailors and colonial troops accustomed to such work
came forward to the aid of the Engineers, and speedily got it into
working order. But in the meantime the Scottish Rifles and the Rifle
Brigade had moved along the banks to the drift. Although usually almost
dry, the water was now coming down it breast-deep. Two gallant fellows
went across, and when they found the line of shallow water they
returned and guided their comrades over. The rush of the water was so
great that many would have been swept away; but, joining hands, they
crossed in a line, and although this was broken several times, it was
always reformed, and not many lives were lost.
As soon as some of the troops had passed, they lined the bank until the
two battalions were over, and then advanced over some low hills,
clearing out a few Boers who occupied some advanced trenches. By six
o'clock the ferry-boat began to carry the main body across, taking over
half a company at a time; but it was not until half-past three in the
morning that the horses, waggons, the guns of the brigade, and a
howitzer battery were on the northern bank, and the whole brigade
established on a ridge a mile beyond the river.
The Maritzburg Scouts were delighted at receiving orders on the morning
after their arrival at Springfield that they were to move forward at
once and encamp close to Spearman's Farm, and to furnish orderlies for
carrying messages for the general. They started at once, and after an
hour's fast riding arrived at the point assigned to them.
Twenty men and an officer were at once sent to the farmhouse. They took
with them three tents which they had brought in the regimental waggon,
and erected these some fifty yards from the house; the rest of the
troop established their camp at a point indicated by a staff officer a
quarter of a mile away. It had been two o'clock in the morning before
the convoy had reached Springfield, and horses and men were alike tired
out; and as soon as breakfast had been prepared and eaten most of the
troopers turned in to sleep. Chris and half a dozen of his party,
however, obtained leave from Captain Brookfield to ascend Mount Alice
and see what was going on. From half-past five a tremendous fire had
been kept up on the Boer positions. The naval guns were distributing
their heavy lyddite shells among the entrenchments distant from three
to six miles, and occasionally throwing up a missile on to the summit
of the lofty hill known as Spion Kop away to the left front. Not less
steadily or effectively the howitzer battery was pounding the Boer
position.
At eight o'clock the lads reached the top of Mount Alice, and watched
with intense interest the picturesque and exciting scene. Here they
were far better able than they had been when at Chieveley to see the
general aspect of the country. On the right from Grobler's Kloof hill
after hill, separated apparently by shallow depressions, rose, and from
the higher points occasional flashes of fire burst out as the guns
tried their range against those on Mount Alice, whose heights, however,
they failed to reach. Spion Kop stood out steep and threatening, its
summit being some hundred feet higher than that of Mount Alice. They
could now see that it was not, as it had appeared from the distance, an
isolated and almost conical hill, but was, in fact, connected with
hills farther to the left by a ridge of which it was the termination.
Immediately behind it was a deep valley, and the ascent from this side
was to some extent commanded by the guns on Mount Alice and Swartz Kop.
Between Spion Kop and the river there was a flat belt of country, and
it was along this that Lord Dundonald had ridden with his brigade of
cavalry to Acton Homes, where he was still stationed. The point of
greatest interest, however, was at Trichardt's Drift, lying six miles
west of Mount Alice. From their look-out they could make out the
division under the command of Sir Charles Warren advancing to the ford.
As far as they could see, no serious opposition was being offered; they
could, however, in the intervals of silence of the guns, hear a
dropping musketry fire in that direction, and a few rounds of shot from
Warren's field-guns, but it was evident that only a small party of the
enemy could be disputing the passage.
Peters, who was intently watching what was going on through his
glasses, said: "They are at work at two points on the river. I think
they are building bridges."
The naval guns dropped a few shells among the farm buildings and
orchards facing the spot where the troops were gathered, as a hint to
the Boers that it was well within their range, and that they had best
abstain from interfering with what was going on. In an hour from the
time the troops reached the bank two bridges had been thrown across the
river, and the passage began. By ten o'clock the whole were across, the
firing soon after ceased, and Warren's troops bivouacked quietly. It
was all over for the day, and the lads returned to their camp. The next
day passed quietly, except that in the afternoon the Boer entrenchments
near Spion Kop and Brakfontein, a hill facing the position occupied by
Lyttleton's brigade, were pounded by the naval guns and howitzers. A
message was heliographed from Ladysmith that two thousand Boers were
seen moving towards Acton Homes, and as the occupation of that village
was of no value until the infantry arrived there, the cavalry were
recalled to a position where they could protect Warren's left flank
from attack.
On the 19th, Warren pushed forward a portion of his force with a view
to driving back the Boers' right and gaining the main road leading
through Dewdrop to Ladysmith, while Woodgate's brigade watched Spion
Kop. Fighting went on all day, the British forcing the enemy back step
by step. On the 20th it began early and continued the whole day. Every
inch of the ground was contested stubbornly by the Boers, but the Irish
Brigade, who were in the hottest position, pressed them back fiercely
with sudden rushes, and, had the rest of the division kept up with
their advance, might have cleared the way through the enemy's centre.
But the cannonade to which the advancing troops were exposed was
terrible. Maxims and Nordenfeldts, the heavy cannon, and the
field-pieces captured from us a month before, hurled shot and shell
incessantly among them, while the rattle of the Boer rifles was
continuous. Still, fair progress was made, and with less loss than
might have been expected in such strife. Two officers only were killed,
Captain Hensley of the Dublin Fusiliers, and Major Childe, who was a
most popular officer. He had a presentiment that he would fall, and
actually asked a friend the evening before to have a tablet placed over
his grave with the inscription, "Is it well with the child? It is well."
At three o'clock the fighting slackened, and a heavy thunderstorm
seemed to be the signal for firing to cease. Later Sir Charles Warren
summoned all the officers commanding corps, and pointed out that there
was not sufficient food remaining to allow of the wide circuit by Acton
Homes to be carried out, and gave his opinion that now they had won so
much ground, it was better to continue to advance by the shorter line
on which they were pushing, but that in order to do this it was
necessary that Spion Kop, whose fire would take them in the rear,
should be captured. This was unanimously agreed to, and General Warren
then saw the commander-in-chief, and obtained his consent to the change
of plans. It was not, however, considered necessary to take Spion Kop
until the troops had farther advanced. All Sunday, fighting was
continued as before, but the progress made was slower, as the Boers
were largely reinforced and fresh guns brought up.
The 22nd was comparatively quiet. The situation was not improving. Five
miles of rough ground had been won in as many days' fighting, but the
force was becoming lengthened out and the line weaker. Lyttleton's
force had to guard the line from Potgieter's Drift to Warren's right
against any attempt of the Boers to cut the lines of communication.
Woodgate was similarly employed in keeping the line from Trichardt's
Drift to Warren's left, and it became increasingly evident that not
much further progress could be made until the left of the advance was
protected by the establishment of guns on the great hill. It was then,
on the 23rd, decided that Woodgate's brigade should assault Spion Hop
that night. It was known that it was not strongly held.
Starting at six o'clock, the column made its way slowly and with vast
difficulty up the ascent. This was everywhere rugged and rocky, and in
many places so precipitous that men had to be pushed or pulled up by
their comrades.
Colonel Thorneycroft led the way with a few men, finding out the spots
at which an ascent was practicable, and scouting on either side to
discover if Boers were hidden; behind him followed Woodgate leading his
men. He was in bad health and quite unfit for such a climb, but in
spite of remonstrances he had insisted upon going, although he was
obliged to be assisted at the more difficult places. The distance was
not more than six miles, but it was not until nearly ten hours after
starting that the summit was gained. The hilltop was enveloped in mist,
and they were unseen until the Lancashire Fusiliers, who were leading,
were within fifty yards of the top. Then a Boer challenged them, and
directly fired his rifle. Almost instantly a dozen of his comrades
joined him, and bringing their magazines into play opened a fierce
fusillade. But the aim was hurried, they could scarce see their foes,
and the Lancashire men, cheering loudly, rushed up to the crest without
loss.
The Boers did not await their arrival; only one of them was bayoneted
before he turned to fly, and but two or three were overtaken by the
eager soldiers. As soon as the Boers had gone, the troops set to work
to construct breastworks to hold the spot they had gained against any
attempts of the Boers to recapture. The ground was too rocky for
digging, and the stones that were scattered thickly about were used for
the purpose; but long before the breastwork could be completed a
dropping fire was opened by the enemy. The morning was gray and misty,
and the clouds hung heavily on the hilltop. As these cleared off
slowly, it could be seen that the position was less favourable than it
had seemed, for the flat crest extended some distance beyond the point
they had entrenched, and from the rocks and low ridges a hot fire broke
out. Before the mist cleared off, the Boers had crept up in
considerable force, and were, it was evident, preparing to retake the
position that had been wrested from them.
By six o'clock the scattered fire had grown into a continuous roar, the
Boers occupying not only the nek itself, but the flanks of the hill.
Several times our men made rushes to endeavour to clear off the foe,
but these proved too costly, and they were now lying or kneeling behind
the unfinished barricade. In a very short time the clouds had lifted
sufficiently for the Boer artillery to discover the exact position, and
from the hills on three sides a terrible fire of shot and shell, from
cannon great and small and machine-guns, rained upon them. Again and
again parties of men started to their feet and dashed forward to drive
the hidden Boers facing them from their hiding-places. Sometimes they
succeeded for a time, but their numbers thinned so fast that the
survivors were forced to fall back again. To add to the horror of the
situation, the shot from our own guns also fell among the defenders,
the officers commanding the batteries not having been informed of the
intention to occupy the hill, and knowing nothing of the situation.
Scores of men were killed or wounded, but the position was held
unflinchingly.
At ten o'clock General Woodgate was mortally wounded by the fragment of
a shell that struck him in the eye, and Colonel Crofton took the
command. He at once flashed a message to General Warren, stating that
Woodgate was killed, and that reinforcements must be sent at once;
General Coke was therefore ordered to take the Middlesex and Dorset
regiments, and assume the command. Immediately afterwards Warren
received an order from General Buller to appoint Lieutenant-colonel
Thorneycroft, who was colonel of a colonial force, to take the command.
It was now hoped that all was well there. Unfortunately, neither Buller
nor Warren was able to give his undivided attention to the struggle on
the mountain, for Lyttleton's brigade had advanced before daybreak
against the eastern slopes of the hills running north from Spion Kop.
They advanced briskly, their Maxims clearing out the Boers, from whose
fire they suffered but little; but they sustained some loss from the
shell fire from Mount Alice, the sailors having been as uninformed of
the advance the brigade were to make as they were of the capture of
Spion Kop. The Scottish Rifles and the 3rd King's Royal Rifles pushed
on rapidly and gained the spur farthest north. Had there been guns on
Spion Kop the object of the movement would have been attained, and the
advance by direct road on Ladysmith have become a possibility; but no
guns had reached the summit, and the troops there were so far from
being able to render assistance that they were with difficulty
maintaining their desperate resistance. As the two rifle regiments were
therefore exposed to a concentrated fire from the Boer batteries, and
were without support, they were directed to withdraw, but the order had
to be repeated three times before it was obeyed. The fire slackened at
this point to some extent in the afternoon, no farther advance being
attempted, but it raged as hotly as ever on the summit of Spion Kop.
As neither General Buller nor Warren had come up to see the state of
things on the all-important position of Spion Kop, General Coke went
down in the evening to explain the situation. He stated that unless the
artillery could silence the enemy's guns the troops could not support
another day's shelling. In the evening two naval twelve-pounders, the
R. A. mountain battery, and one thousand two hundred men as reliefs,
started to ascend the hill and to strengthen the entrenchments. On the
way up they met Colonel Thorneycroft and the rest of the force coming
down, that officer, who had displayed splendid gallantry throughout the
day, having decided on his own responsibility that the position could
not be longer held. Strangely enough, the news of the retirement was
not communicated to General Buller, who, after reporting in his
despatches written next morning that Spion Kop was firmly held, was
riding to the front when he for the first time learned the news.
Altogether it was a day of strange blunders, redeemed only by the
splendid bravery of the troops engaged. The news came as a heavy blow
to the army, but it was supposed that a fresh attempt would be made to
capture the position by ascending the northern spurs that had been
carried and held for a time by the two rifle battalions. But while
soldiers think only of the chances of battle, and burn to engage the
enemy, a feeling only accentuated by previous failures, generals in
command have to take other matters into consideration. They may feel
that they may conquer in the next fight, but what is to follow? In this
case the chances of success would be smaller than before, the loss more
serious, for the Boers from all parts had united to oppose us. Many of
the cannon had been brought over from the positions from which
Ladysmith was bombarded. The advantage of surprise gained by the long
march from Chieveley had been lost; more serious still was it that a
large proportion of the provisions, brought at the cost of so much
labour and exhaustion of the transport animals, was consumed, and what
remained would be insufficient had fresh battles to be fought to
capture the positions, one behind another, held by the Boers.
General Buller was the last man to retire as long as there was a hope
of success. He knew that not only at home, but all over the civilized
world, men were anxiously awaiting the news of his second attempt to
relieve Ladysmith, and it must have been hard indeed for him to have to
acknowledge a second reverse; but in spite of this he sternly
determined to fall back. The movement was admirably executed; every
horse, waggon, gun, and soldier was taken safely across the Tugela
without hindrance by the Boers, a fact that showed how deeply they had
been impressed with the valour of our soldiers. Sullenly and angrily
the troops marched away. Had they had their will they would have hurled
themselves against the Boer entrenchments until the last man had
fallen. To them the necessities of the situation were as nothing; to
retreat seemed an acknowledgment that they had been beaten, a feeling
that is seldom entertained by British soldiers. Their losses had been
heavy, but there were still enough of them, they thought, for the work
they had to do, and it was with a deep feeling of unmerited humiliation
that they received the order to retire.
The feeling, however, was not of long endurance, for two days later,
when they had settled down in camp near the Tugela and round Spearman's
Farm, the general rode through the lines, congratulating the troops on
the valour they had displayed, and promising them that ere long they
would be in Ladysmith.
"I shall be heartily glad when we are there," Chris said when he heard
what the general had promised, "not only for the sake of the town, but
for our own. We are really doing no good here. It is hateful to look on
when other fellows are fighting so desperately. If it were not that the
orders were strict against the mounted Colonial corps going out over
the country, to clear the scattered Boers out, we might be doing useful
service; and as soon as Ladysmith is relieved--that is to say, if we
can hold out till we get there--I should certainly vote that we come
back here instead of staying with the army, and go on again on our own
account."
"I quite agree with you," Carmichael said. "Still, it is something to
have seen two big fights."
"Yes," Brown grumbled, "but if we tell anybody that we were there,
naturally the first question will be, 'What part did you take in it',
and we shall have to own that we took no part at all, and only looked
on at a distance at the other fellows fighting. I call it sickening."
"Well, never mind, Brown," Chris said; "after all, during this
business, we have killed twice our own number of Boers at the least,
and if everyone had done as much the Boers would be pretty well
extinct."
"Yes, there is certainly something in that," Brown admitted, "but if we
had been allowed to scout on our own account it would be hard if we had
not killed twice as many more by this time."
"We certainly might have done so, but you must remember, also, that a
great many of us might have been killed too. One cannot always expect
to have the luck we had in those two fights; and, I am sure, we should
bitterly regret gaps being made in our number."
"That we should," Harris said warmly. "We were all good friends before,
but nothing to what we are now after living so long together, roughing
it and sharing each others' dangers. For my part I would rather go
without any more fighting than that any of us should go down."
"I agree with you thoroughly, Harris," Chris said. "As most of us are
likely to remain out here for life, we shall often meet, and I do hope
that when we talk of these times we shan't have our pleasure marred by
having to say how we miss so and so, and so and so. I should be sorry
even to lose one of our blacks. They have stuck to their work well, and
are always cheerful and willing in the worst of weather and under the
most miserable conditions. I should really be very sorry if any of them
were killed."
It needed but a day or two for the troops to recover their
cheerfulness. It was certain that they would soon be launched against
the enemy again, and it was known that General Buller would himself
command. The ground was now more known than it was before, the plans
could be better laid, and all looked forward confidently to the next
engagement.
No thanks were due to the weather for the renewed spirits of the men.
It rained almost unceasingly. The flat ground on which the troops were
encamped was a sea of mud. There was one good effect in this: there was
water in all the spruits, and the men were able to indulge in a wash-up
of their clothes and an occasional bath; and although they had to put
their clothes on wet, they were scarcely more damp than when they took
them off. There was other work to be done. Two naval guns, a mountain
battery, and some large cannon were with great labour got up on the top
of Swartz Kop.
The lads had given up the two tents allotted to them to let the rest of
the men have more room, and they now felt the full benefit of their
little shelter tents. The allowance throughout the rest of the camp was
sixteen men to a tent. On coming in and out, as the men were muddy up
to the knees, it was impossible to keep these even tolerably clean, and
the discomfort of so many men crowded together and obliged to live,
eat, and sleep in such confined quarters was very great indeed.
The lads on the other hand, suffered from none of these inconveniences,
and except that they could not stand up, and could only sit upright in
the middle of the tent, they were perfectly comfortable. The tents were
about seven feet wide on the ground, and as much long. Their natives
had cut and brought in bundles of grass, which made them soft beds, one
on each side of the tent. A blanket was stretched on each bed, another
doubled lay over it. It was a strict rule that everyone should take off
his boots on entering his tent, and leave them just inside the
entrance. They had purchased at the sale of the effects of some of the
officers killed in action some more blankets and rugs, and these were
thrown over the entrance to the front of the tents at night, and made
them perfectly warm and comfortable. A trench some eighteen inches deep
was dug round each tent, and this kept the floor fairly dry.
Some blankets had been given to the Kaffirs, who constructed a little
shelter, in which they squatted by day and slept at night, and in which
cooking operations were carried on. The lads had no occasion to feel
dull, for they now knew many officers in the line regiments, and among
the Colonial troops, as well as the naval brigade; and "Brookfield's
boys", as they were generally called, were always welcome, and it was
seldom that more than half of them dined in their own camp. Chris could
always have been an absentee, for the sailors had told to each other
the story of his attempt to blow up the bridge at Komati-poort, and he
received any number of invitations. But he by no means liked to have to
retell the story, and generally made some excuse or other for remaining
in camp.
Another battery of artillery arrived on the 31st of January, and on the
3rd of February there were sports in the camp of the South African
Light Horse, and a camp-fire sing-song afterwards. The men were all now
in high spirits, for it was certain that in a day or two another attack
would be made. On Sunday, February 4th, it was known that the move
would commence the next day.
General Buller's plan was to make a strong feint against Brakfontein,
the highest hill of the ridge connected with the Spion Kop range, while
the real attack was to be delivered against an isolated hill named Vaal
Krantz, which, as viewed from Swartz Kop and Mount Alice, seemed to be
the key to the whole position, and it was thought that its possession
would open the way for a direct advance to Ladysmith. All was now in
readiness for the attack, and the sailors had with steel hawsers, and
the aid of the troops, got four more naval guns on to Swartz Kop.
Before daybreak the troops were ready to advance. The regular cavalry
were near the base of Swartz Kop, while all the Colonial Horse, under
Lord Dundonald, were near Potgieter's Drift. At six o'clock the cavalry
went forward, but not far, for the morning was so misty that the
artillery could not make out the Boer positions until an hour later,
when a tremendous fire was opened from Mount Alice, Swartz Kop, and
guns placed on a lower spur of Spion Kop. While this was going on, a
bridge was thrown by the Engineers across another drift. Major-general
Wynne led the Lancashire brigade in the direction of Brakfontein. They
went forward in skirmishing order, supported by five field batteries
and the howitzer battery, all of which kept up an incessant fire of
lyddite, shell, and shot against the Boer position, their fire being
guided by an engineer officer in a balloon, who was able from a lofty
altitude to signal where the Boers were clustering most thickly.
When another bridge had been completed General Lyttleton advanced with
his brigade across it, and as the feint against Brakfontein had
succeeded in gathering the greater portion of the Boers at the spot
they supposed to be most in danger, the Lancashire brigade was
withdrawn, retiring in excellent order, the movement being covered by
an incessant firing of the guns with them, which completely dominated
those of the Boers. Lyttleton's brigade now pressed forward under a
storm of musketry and shell from machine and other guns, which were
answered even more thunderously by the British artillery. The din was
tremendous--greater even than any that had been previously heard. It
seemed impossible that men could live for a moment in such a storm of
missiles. But they pressed on unfalteringly, and the batteries with
them as steadily maintained their fire, though shells fell continually
round and among them. The batteries that had gone out with the
Lancashire Brigade now directed their fire against Vaal Krantz, having
moved across from Brakfontein under a tremendous fire. One of the
waggons lost all its horses; but the five artillerymen with it manned
the wheels and brought it safely out of fire.
At three o'clock Lyttleton's brigade advanced in earnest, and dashed
forward at the double against Vaal Krantz, heedless of the rifle fire
from the hills on both flanks and from the front. The defenders soon
lost courage, as they saw the Durhams and 3rd King's Royal Rifles
dashing up the hill with bayonets fixed, and scarce two hundred of them
remained till the British gained the crest. These were speedily
scattered or bayoneted.
The position when won was found to be unsatisfactory, for it was
dominated by a hill beyond, which could not be seen from the British
look-out stations, and the cannon of Spion Kop were able to sweep the
plateau. At one time the Boers gathered and made an effort to retake
the hill, but two more battalions were sent up to reinforce the
defenders, and the enemy were driven back and the fire gradually
languished. The troops remained on the ground they had won during the
night. From prisoners they learned that four thousand Boers occupied
Doornkloof, the hill on their flank, and that the whole of the
Transvaalers under Joubert were gathering in their front.
The baggage waggons were all collected by the river in readiness to
advance; but the way was not yet sufficiently cleared for them, and the
Boer guns on Brakfontein and Spion Kop commanded the road which they
would have to traverse. It was evident to all that no advance was
possible until the guns on these heights had been silenced or captured.
For the same reason the two brigades of cavalry had remained inactive.
During the night the Boers set fire to the grass on Vaal Krantz, and by
the assistance of the light kept up a shell and Maxim fire upon the
troops holding it. By morning they had brought up one of their big
hundred-pound Creusot guns on to Doornkloof, and it added its roar to
the chaos of other sounds. Under the shelter of its fire and that of
the other guns the Boers made several attempts to recapture the hill,
but were smartly repulsed each time they advanced.
All day Tuesday and Wednesday the uproar of battle never ceased. We
could advance no farther. The Boers could not drive us back, although
they made a very determined night attack on Hildyard's brigade. That
afternoon General Buller held a council of war, at which all the
generals were present. Their opinions were unanimous that the Boer
position could not be forced without terrible loss, and that when they
arrived at Ladysmith they would but add to the number shut up in that
town, as it might be found as difficult to force their way out as to
arrive there. General Hart pleaded to be allowed to make an attempt on
Doornkloof with his brigade; but, strongly held as that position was,
it was deemed impossible that it could be captured by a single brigade.
The original intention was that guns should be taken up on to Vaal
Krantz, and that with their assistance a strong force would wheel round
and take Doornkloof in the rear; but owing to the discovery that the
former hill was dominated from several points, it was found
impracticable to carry the plan into execution. Orders were therefore
given for the supply column, which had advanced some distance, to
retire.
As the movement was being carried out, the Boers kept up a heavy fire
upon the waggons and on the hospital, which, relying upon the
protection of the Red Cross flag, had advanced within range, but here,
as upon almost every occasion, the enemy paid no respect whatever to
the Geneva emblem, although when, as once or twice happened, one of our
shells fell near an ambulance of theirs, they had sent in indignant
protests against our conduct. All that night and the next day the
movement to the rear continued, and not only were the infantry moved
across the Tugela, but the guns on Swartz Kop and Mount Alice were
removed, and orders were given for a general retirement to Springfield,
a proof that the next attack would be made in an entirely different
direction.