, 1881-03-23

from a point Immediately below us to the
B ufalo River.
So far our su ccess had been complete.
Is was clear that our occupation of the
Hill rendered the Boer position absolutely
ire nchments In reverse.
Our own camp, although four miles
away, looked quite close, for we were at
an elevation of two thousand five hundred
feet above it.
The enemy's principal lager was about
two thousand yards away.
The position we had secured was UNI
doubtedly one of immense natural strength.
On the summit was a plateau, so that all
the troops not actually engaged 10 repel-
ling assaults could lie down perfectly
secure from fire from below.
For an hour the greater part of the troops
rested, a portion, however, helping the
sailors, who had not, SO far, been able to
get the Calling gun up the bill.
At sunrise the Beers Uere to be seen
moving in their lines, but it was not until
nearly an hour later that o party of mount.
ed videttes were seen t~rottiDg out towards
the hill, upon which they evidently inten-
dsd to take their stand.
AS they approached, our outlying pickets
fred upon them, and our presence was
for the first time discovered.
Tie sound Of our guns was heard at the
Dutch laager, and the whole scene chang
ed as if by magic.
Ia place of a few scattered figures, there
appeared on the scene swarms of men
rushing hither and thither, some rushed
to}tbeir horses, others to the Wagons, and
the work Of iuspanoing the U2en and pre-
pairing Cor an instant retreat began at once.
When the Grst panic abated it could be
seeu that some person in authority had
the command,
The greater portion of the Beers began
to move forward with the evident intention
OF attacking Us, but the work of preparing
tor a retreat in case of necessity still went
on, aud continued until all the Wagons
were s~panned aud ready to move away
some, indeed, at once began to withdraw.
At about seven O'Clock the Beers open.
ed fire, and the bullets whistled thickly
over the plateau. The men were all per-
fectly cool and confident, aud | do not
think that the possibility of the position
being carried by storm occurred 10 any
one.
From seven to eleven the Beers lying
all round the hill maintained a constant
fire. Their shooting was wonderfully
accurate. The stones behind which our
men in the front line were lying, were hit
by almost every shot.
Opposed to such shooting as this, there
was 10 need to impress upon the men to
keep well under cover. They only showed
to take an occasional shot ; and, accurate
as was the %eneny's shooting, up to eleven
o'clock we had but FIVE casualties.
Commander Romiily was dangerously
wounded as he was standing close to
General Colley ; he was struck by a ball
fred from a long distance, az he was out
of the line of fire from the Beers below.
Four of the 2snd were slightly wounded.
Twenty men of this regiment, under
Lieutenant Hamilton, held the point which
was most threatened by the Beers. No.
thing could exceed the stsadipess OF these
Highlanders. They kept well under cover
and although they fred but seldom, they
killed eight or ten of the Beers who
showed themselves from behind cover.
SO far, cur position appeared perfectly
safe. The Beers had, indeed, got between
us and the camp but we had three days
provisions, and could hold out until the
reinforcements came mp Our casualties
-