As serious as the loss of over a thousand men in the none-too-strong relief column was the loss of ten guns. This reduced Sir Redvers Buller's available artillery to the contemptible total of twenty field pieces. It is wonderful that the Boers made no attempt whatever to follow up their victory; instead, they seemed perfectly satisfied with the results that had been obtained. But had they pressed vigorously upon the British flanks during the retirement, they might have greatly increased the casualties in our ranks, and, perhaps, have converted defeat into catastrophe. It is certain that they were strong enough to do this had they been well directed, and their own mobility was such that they could have had no fear of any untoward consequences resulting to themselves from such a course of action.
[Photo by the Biograph Company.
FIRST AID TO THE WOUNDED: THE ARMY MEDICAL CORPS AT WORK UNDER A HEAVY FIRE AT COLENSO.
Dec. 15, 1899.] Conduct of the Wounded.
Scarcity of water.
The day was fiercely hot and water was scarce, which greatly increased the sufferings of the British troops. The wounded, especially, had to endure terrible agony under the scorching sun, yet the demeanour of the men was above all praise. None complained; few uttered a groan; they faced pain with a heroic stoicism. A man who was shot through the abdomen had a cup of water brought to him by an orderly as he lay writhing with parched mouth. "Take it to my pal first," he said, "he is worse hit than me." It was the spirit of Sir Philip Sidney. A drummer boy of fourteen sat, with his left arm shattered, on the ambulance, eating a biscuit. Admiring his bravery and endurance, an officer went up to him and gave him half-a-crown. "Thank you," said the lad, "but would you mind putting it in my pocket, as I mustn't let go of my biscuit." Thus were the sublime and the ridiculous blended around those sorrowful tents to which the stricken painfully pilgrimaged from all parts of the field. Some limped in as best they could; others were borne on stretchers; all, as they arrived, were given food.
Bravery of the Army Medical Corps.