Battles of the nineteenth century . ough to be sure of the nature or extent of theenemys defences. On the morning of the 28th,as the troops broke up from their camp andbegan to move northwards along the veldtbeside the railway, a native brought word thatthe Boers were in force along the river then native reports of the enemys numbershad been generally found to be unreliable ; andas Methuen rode with his staft well to the frontof the advance, he spoke of being over the riverearly in the day, and even pointed out a laryewhite house surrounded by trees, near therailway bridge, as a good
Battles of the nineteenth century . ough to be sure of the nature or extent of theenemys defences. On the morning of the 28th,as the troops broke up from their camp andbegan to move northwards along the veldtbeside the railway, a native brought word thatthe Boers were in force along the river then native reports of the enemys numbershad been generally found to be unreliable ; andas Methuen rode with his staft well to the frontof the advance, he spoke of being over the riverearly in the day, and even pointed out a laryewhite house surrounded by trees, near therailway bridge, as a good place for the staff tohalt for breakfast and establish the that moment, Boer sharpshooters werewatching his advance from the house, andwaiting for the word to open fire. The force with Lord Methuen had beenaugmented on the eve of the battle by thearrival by railway of the Argyll and SutherlandHighlanders, the first battalion of GeneralWauchopes Highland Brigade to reach thefront. This made up for the small infantry. 86 TIIK EOER WAR. detachments lie had left on his hue of com-munications. At sunrise the Lancers had beensent out to scout in front. On the rightmarched the Guards Brigade, under Colvilc ;on the left the Ninth Brigade, now under thecommand of Brigadier-General Highlanders formed a link between thetwo brigades. Lord Methuens artillery at thebeginning of the battle consisted of the navalbattery and the i8th and 75th Batteries 62nd had been left at Belmont onthe line of communications. In the course ofthe morning a telegraphic message was sent tocall it up to the front, and the guns arrived athalf-past four in the afternoon, after a march oftwenty miles under the blazing sun. Thehorses were so tired that for the last few milesall the gunners walked in order to help them alittle. The fact that the battery was left behindis one more proof that at the beginning of theday Methuen did not any serious oppo-sition to his
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1901
