That evening General Buller determined to force the passage of the river with all his troops on the 15th. The mounted troops under Dundonald were to occupy Hlangwane Hill, covered by the 7th Battery; the English [Hildyard's] and Irish [Hart's] Brigades, supported by artillery, to advance towards the river and endeavour to cross by the fords, Hart's Brigade by the Bridle Drift, above Colenso, Hildyard's by the main ford close to the iron railway bridge. The 7th Battery was, if possible, to take up a position on Hlangwane Hill so as to enfilade the enemy's position. Barton's Brigade was to take ground between Hildyard's and Dundonald's, Lyttelton's between Hildyard's in the British centre and Hart's on the British left, ready to support either. The naval 4·7's and four of the 12-pounders, under Captain Jones of H.M.S. Forte, took up a position on the top of an eminence two miles from Colenso, prepared to set to work when the advance began.
THORNEYCROFT'S MOUNTED INFANTRY PACKING KIT AT MOOI RIVER CAMP, BEFORE GOING INTO ACTION.
STEAM ROAD LOCOMOTIVES USED BY THE BRITISH GENERALS IN SOUTH AFRICA TO BRING UP SUPPLIES.
[Photo by Lieut. Crawford.
PANORAMA OF THE BATTLE OF COLENSO.