These Irregular Troops Of Horse Might
Be Criticised By Martinets And Pedants, But They Contained Some Of
The Finest Fighting Material In The Army, Some Urged On By Personal
Hatred Of The Boers And Some By Mere Lust Of Adventure.
As an
example of the latter one squadron of the South African Horse was
composed almost entirely of Texan muleteers, who, having come over
with their animals, had been drawn by their own gallant spirit into
the fighting line of their kinsmen.
Cavalry was General Buller's weakest arm, but his artillery was
strong both in its quality and its number of guns. There were five
batteries (30 guns) of the Field Artillery, the 7th, 14th, 63rd,
64th, and 66th. Besides these there were no fewer than sixteen
naval guns from H.M.S. 'Terrible' - fourteen of which were
12-pounders, and the other two of the 4.7 type which had done such
good service both at Ladysmith and with Methuen. The whole force
which moved out from Chieveley Camp numbered about 21,000 men.
The work which was allotted to the army was simple in conception,
however terrible it might prove in execution. There were two points
at which the river might be crossed, one three miles off on the
left, named Bridle Drift, the other straight ahead at the Bridge of
Colenso. The 5th or Irish Brigade was to endeavour to cross at
Bridle Drift, and then to work down the river bank on the far side
so as to support the 2nd or English Brigade, - which was to cross at
Colenso.
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