COLENSO RAILWAY BRIDGE.
BRINGING A BOER MESSENGER INTO THE BRITISH CAMP.
Bearers of messages between the opposing commanders, and in many cases ordinary prisoners of war, are blindfolded before being led into camp, in order that they may not be able to report particulars of the defences.
[Photo by Knight.
Nov. 24-30, 1899.] British Concentration Effected.
Arrival of Lord Dundonald and General Buller.
This foray was not without its comic side. On November 24 the 6,000 British troops at Mooi River manned the trenches and prepared to do or die, under the impression that the enemy, in overpowering force, was all around. At that very moment the Boer commandos, 3,000 strong, were scuttling back to Colenso with their plunder, only too pleased to be unmolested. The high-water mark of the Boer advance had been reached. On the 24th the Estcourt force pushed forward to Frere unopposed, but found that further progress was stopped by the destruction of the railway bridge over the Blaauwkrantz. The engineers at once went to work to build a trestle bridge. In the next two days the railway was repaired between Estcourt and Mooi River. On the 30th Lord Dundonald, who had arrived and taken over the command of the mounted troops, pushed forward with 1,400 mounted infantry and a battery of artillery to Colenso, and drew a very heavy fire from the Boer positions. After reconnoitring these he fell back without the loss of a man. On the same day the railway bridge at Colenso was blown up by the Boers.