[Oct. 20-24, 1899.
Yule's march.
The battle won, ammunition for another fight was wanting. Ladysmith was cut off; on the 21st Joubert showed in force to the north, and two big 40-pounders, to which the British had nothing that could effectively reply, began to bombard the camp. A new position was taken up to the south of Dundee, out of range of the enemy's big guns. Hence, on the 22nd, General Yule, who had succeeded to the command after General Symons' fall, hearing of the victory of Elandslaagte, marched with a detachment to intercept the flying Boers. The task was too serious a one for his small force, and he had to return. So dangerous was his position growing hour by hour, that late that evening he determined to retreat. The night was rainy and misty; at 9 p.m. he marched out with all his transport, abandoning his camp and his wounded, even the stricken Sir Penn Symons, and set his face for Beith. He was not molested; on the 23rd, with beating hearts, the little brigade of Britishers, now only 4,000 strong, crossed the difficult pass through the Biggersberg, where a single handful of Boers might well have barred all passage, and brought about a terrible disaster: the pass, however, was unguarded. Thereafter the way was plain. On the 24th Sir George White's guns were heard; next day the advance of the column gained touch with the main British force. On this day General Symons died in the enemy's hands, and was buried sadly at night by a small body of Englishmen and English sympathisers in Dundee. A message from our gracious Queen and well-won promotion came too late for his dying ears.
R. Caton Woodville.] [From photo taken on the Battlefield.
GORDONS ADVANCING AT ELANDSLAAGTE.
The retreat of the Dundee force was admirably conceived and well executed. Yet it is impossible to deny that the gravest risks were run by hanging on to a very exposed position with a small force. Had the Boers shown their wonted activity, the detachment must have been destroyed or captured. It owed its escape to gallant fighting and good luck.
Oct. 20,21, 1899.] Operations at Elandslaagte.
While these things had been happening at Dundee, General White, at Ladysmith, had not been inactive. Much of his attention had been occupied by the Orange Free State commandoes, which showed in great strength, perpetually threatening Ladysmith and the route to Colenso, but always retreating when any attempt was made to bring them to battle. This was good strategy, and an essential part of the campaign for the capture of Dundee and its garrison. On the 19th the arrival of a small force of the enemy at Elandslaagte and the capture of a train at the station there became known. A previous train, which was actually standing in the station when the Boers arrived on the scene, escaped through the daring and presence of mind of the engine-driver, who turned on full steam and dashed through the enemy towards Dundee, before they could bring guns to bear.
On the 20th General French went out towards Elandslaagte with a few mounted infantry and some cavalry, supported by two battalions, to reconnoitre. As the troops moved off, far away from the north-east came the dull booming of the cannon, which told of battle raging at Dundee. The day was so rainy and misty that little could be ascertained. The British troops fell back in the afternoon, and heard the cheering news of a great victory at Dundee.