Murray was leading his company when he was hit in the shoulder and his arm was shattered. Glyn, who was near him, ordered some men to take him to the rear; but before he could dismount, another shot struck him, which passed through the body and injured the spine. He lived till about midnight; and was buried under a peach-tree at Boemplaats. Sir Harry Smith in communicating his death to his father, Major-General the Honourable Sir Henry Murray, says that ‘he proved himself a most gallant officer; his loss deeply regretted by the men of his company.’
In this letter Sir Harry Smith observes that ‘this outburst of rebels has cost as smart an affair as I ever witnessed.’ Yet he had witnessed many; and some of them very smart affairs. ‘Your son,’ he continues, ‘led an attack as bold as it was successful, under a storm of fire, in a difficult position, but fell an honour to his father and to his country.’[203]
The wounded were left at Boemplaats, except Colonel Buller, who was conveyed with the troops.
About ten o’clock at night the tents arrived and the Battalion encamped. It had marched more than twenty-six miles; had fought a sharp action; and followed the enemy with a most active pursuit.
But they were not long to rest. They paraded at one o’clock on the morning of the 30th and by two o’clock leaving blankets, tents and all that could impede rapidity of march behind them, were again following up the Boers. Both the companies of Riflemen were now commanded by 2nd Lieutenants, the Hon. Henry Clifford[204] and W. W. Knight, and they led the column as an advanced guard.
About daylight they arrived at a place called Welman’s Pass, where it was thought that the enemy might make a stand. Accordingly the Riflemen were extended, and skirmished over the hills on each side, which commanded the defile. However nothing was seen of the Boers, who were in fact utterly disorganised and demoralised by their defeat at Boemplaats, and who never attempted to rally.
The Riflemen continued their march and halted for the night at a Dutch farm-house, named Bethany.
Pursuing their march they arrived at Bloem-fontein on September 2; and halted there until the 4th. During this time a General Court Martial was held to try some rebel Boers, and an English deserter from the 45th, who had acted as a leader of the revolted Dutch, and they were sentenced to death. On the 4th (the sentence having been executed) the Riflemen marched at daybreak for Weinberg, a settlement on the Vial river, and arrived there on the 7th. Here Sir Harry Smith received the unconditional submission of the rebellious Dutch; and fell back to Bloem-fontein on September 14. The Governor having directed a field-work to be erected here the Riflemen worked at it, until its completion, when it was garrisoned by the 45th and 91st detachments; and the Riflemen marched for King William’s-town on October 16.
In the expedition thus concluded, the Riflemen had marched between 1,100 and 1,200 miles; had crossed several difficult rivers with insufficient means of transit, had worn their clothing to shreds and their shoes off their feet. General Orders highly laudatory of the conduct of the officers and men were issued by Sir Harry Smith, both on August 30, immediately after the fight at Boemplaats, and also on his leaving the troops at Bloem-fontein on September 15. Colonel Buller was appointed Companion of the Bath, and Major Beckwith received the brevet rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
During the time the Battalion was near King William’s-town the men were employed in building. ‘They built a town, they built barracks, they built houses for their officers, some of “wattle-and-daub,” some of bricks, and roofed with various materials. They also made an aqueduct some three or four miles long to supply the camp with water, and for the purpose of irrigation. When we left they had more than half built permanent barracks of stone. That was all done by one battalion, without neglecting any of its military duties.... We had a daily parade, inspected arms, &c., and saw that the men were in proper order, and then dismissed them to their working parties.’[205]