At 3.30 a.m. patrols were pushed out on all sides, while the force as silently and rapidly as possible was got ready to move off.
At 4 a.m. a heavy fire was opened by the Boers on the column, and the patrols driven in from the north and east sides.
Under the direction of Major R. White (assisted by Lieutenant Jesser-Coope) the column was formed under cover of the slope.
Soon after this the patrols which had been sent out to the south returned, and reported that the ground was clear of the Boers in that direction.
The growing light enabled us to ascertain that the Boers in force were occupying pits to our left and lining the railway embankment for a distance of one and a half miles right across the direct road to Johannesburg.
I covered the movements of the main body with the B.B.P. and two Maxims under Colonel Grey along the original left front of the bivouac, and two troops M.M.P., under Major K. White on the right front.
During all this time the firing was excessively heavy; however the main body was partially sheltered by the slope.
Colonel White then led the advance for a mile across the vley without casualty, but on reaching the opposite rise near the Oceanic Mine, was subjected to a very heavy long-range fire. Colonel White hereupon very judiciously threw out one troop to the left to cover the further advance of the main body.
This was somewhat delayed, after crossing the rise, by the disappearance of our volunteer guide of the previous night.
Some little time elapsed before another guide could be obtained.