We found that they had been at first checked by the cross fire from One Tree Hill, and by a considerable fire directed on them from the front, but had held their own, pouring in a constant fire, until the pressure on the right weakened somewhat the intensity of the Boer musketry, and enabled our men to continue their advance over the bare, level, burnt up ground.
The advance became quicker and quicker, the men came up with a livelier step and at last could be restrained no longer, and, with cheers and yells, which were taken up by the supports in rear, they dashed up the slope.
Here, amongst the rocks on the summit, they found the usual signs of recent occupation, cartridge cases and so on, and traces of the gun, which had evidently been removed some time earlier, besides a number of loose ponies, whose owners had apparently been unable to ride or unwilling to waste time in mounting.
The companies then formed up and joined hands with those who had been engaged on the right; the rolls were called,[5] and we moved off to find the Brigade, eventually discovering that our camp was to be just beyond One Tree Hill and practically on the field of action. Here in the dark we sat and waited for our baggage: no water, no wood was procurable, and we had eaten nothing except a scrap of biscuit since six o'clock that morning. Those who had husbanded their water during the day now scored, and, with what bits of wood they had secured from the Boer shell cases, and had since carried on their backs, soon had their canteens boiling.
Later, the baggage arrived, and the water carts, the contents of the latter being divided among the companies; and the men soon settled down, tired out and hungry, and dropped off to sleep among the piled arms.
FOOTNOTE:
[5] Our casualties were as follows:—
| KILLED:— | ||
| Private | J. Simmonds, | D Co. |
| Private | H. Braiden, | G Co. |
| DIED OF WOUNDS:— | ||
| Corporal | J. Hollington, | E Co. |
| Private | W. Lucas, | F Co. |
| Private | G. White, | G Co. |
| Private | H. Wells, | Vol. Co. |
| WOUNDED:— | ||
| Sergeant | W. Funnell, | C Co. |
| Corporal | W. Backshall, | B Co. |
| Private | J. Archer, | C Co. |
| Private | C. Ellis, | D Co. |
| Private | E. Honeysett, | D Co. |
| Private | E. Cooper, | E Co. |
| Private | T. Smith, | F Co. |
| Private | G. Pelling, | F Co. |
| Private | E. Colwell, | F Co. |
| Private | G. Fuller, | G Co. |
| Private | E. Young, | G Co. |
| Private | A. Vitler, | H Co. |
| Private | H. Wells, | Vol. Co. |