These two falls are about a couple of miles apart, and lie a little below Fort Wylie, and quite close to the scene of the great battle.
[Dec. 15, 1899.
At this point, when the troops were in a good position for crossing the river and assaulting Fort Wylie, General Buller at last heard of the catastrophe to the two field batteries. It was represented to him as even worse than it really was, since the six naval 12-pounders were said to have been silenced with Colonel Long's guns. The terrible news that the artillery, which he so urgently needed and upon which he had relied to cover the final rush of the stormers, had been thrown away may well have staggered the general. Without the support of guns he considered that Fort Wylie could not be taken. There seemed to be nothing left but a withdrawal, and a withdrawal was ordered, though the Colonel of the Surreys begged to be allowed to attempt the rescue of the lost guns and to be permitted to hold Colenso till nightfall.
While the Surreys were drawing off attention in the direction of Colenso two companies of Devons had crossed the railway and had gone to the help of the field guns. They were supported by two companies of Scots Fusiliers from Barton's brigade. But this half battalion could effect little or nothing. It was forced to take shelter in the donga behind the guns, whence it fired steadily at the Boer trenches some hundreds of yards away.
S. T. Dadd.]
To see what could be done, and in response to urgent messages for help from Colonel Long, about 9·30 General Buller with General Clery and their Staff rode down to the guns under a terrific fire. "Out of this, please," he said to the naval 12-pounders which had fought so bravely and with so much constancy behind the dongas, and these guns were moved back by the bluejackets, but only with the greatest difficulty. No less than 32 of the oxen which dragged them had been shot, and the black drivers had all bolted. An ammunition waggon had perforce to be left behind for the moment, but even it was not finally abandoned. A heroic Natal farmer named Pringle went out alone with a team of slow-moving oxen, deliberately inspanned them under fire, and withdrew the waggon. It now remained, if possible, to save the twelve field guns, 400 yards or more to the front in the very vortex of a storm of shot and shell which broke over them all the more fiercely as the Boers realised what was purposed.
Dec. 15, 1899.] Victoria Cross Heroes.
Death of Lieutenant Roberts.